• PHOTO COURTESY OF 3 LEG TORSO
• SONIC DELIGHT : Experience the thoughtful, unusual arrangements of 3 Leg Torso on Nov. 14 at the Steynberg Gallery.

Sure, if you listen closely you can discover some subtle touchstones on their newest instrumental offering Animals & Cannibals—a touch of the Decemberists, some Hungarian gypsy fiddle music, Japanese pop and jazz, Latin dance, American blues, cabaret, cartoon music—all rendered on tuba, French horn, piano, Weissenborn, violin, and double bass.

Their music delivers one surprise after another, moving from lush poignancy to quirky comedy in a blink. One second you’ll feel like you’re skipping through a sun-dappled forest surrounded by fairies and woodland creatures, the next you’ll find yourself in a smoky speakeasy with guys sporting pencil-thin mustaches and dolls charging 10 cents a dance.

Experience the thoughtful, unusual arrangements of 3 Leg Torso on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Steynberg Gallery. Tickets are $12, available at the venue.

SLO Brew Ha Ha

On Thursday, Nov. 11, SLO Brew hosts Mae (an acronym for Multisensory Aesthetic Experience) in the “Goodbye, Goodnight, Farewell Tour” (6:30 p.m.; all ages; $14 presale or $15 at the door). Terrible Things will open.

Rock, pop, and soul singer Tyrone Wells returns to the club on Friday, Nov. 12, with opening act Andrew Bell (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $10 presale or $12 at the door). Wells is touring in support of his second album, Remain.

Folk artist Sean Haynes with opening act Mike Annuzzi plays the club on Saturday, Nov. 13 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $16). Wrote Haynes, “Hello Sean Hayes here … choices ... chaos ... chocolate. 

I write songs and sing in bars. Somewhere out there in the great bigness there is a Black Hole singing and eating up little baby stars. So be careful of mean people backed up by whiskey. 

I like the sound of claw hammer banjo. 

Years ago in North Carolina I played Irish music and traditional American songs in a band called The Boys of Blue Hill. 

I also like PJ Harvey.”

• PHOTO COURTESY OF ALKALINE TRIO
• PUNK’S NOT DEAD : Alternative rock act The Alkaline Trio plays SLO Brew on Nov. 14.

Come Wednesday, Nov. 17, check out Eisley, the indie pop rock up-and-comers who promise to charm (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $12 presale or $14 at the door).

• PHOTO COURTESY OF DORIAN MICHAEL AND KENNY BLACKWELL
• ACOUSTIC ECSTASY : Enjoy dinner and a show when Dorian Michael and Kenny Blackwell play Sustenance Cooking Studio on Nov. 12.

Dorian Michael and Kenny Blackwell play frequently throughout the county, but I personally can’t recall them playing in SLO Town itself, which is why on Friday, Nov. 12, local fans of amazing acoustic music are in for a double treat. Not only can you feed your ears on Dorian and Kenny’s virtuoso sounds, but you can feast on amazing food by Sustenance Cooking Studio, which is hosting the 7 p.m. concert. Dinner—included in your ticket price—will be served from 6 to 7 p.m.

Michael has been playing finger-style acoustic guitar for more than 40 years and has released several CDs and instructional books. He describes his acoustic solo music as “contemporary traditional; original music that reflects my interest in a number of styles of music.” Blackwell is an amazing mandolinist, and he and Michael released an awesome acoustic CD called All Dressed Up.

Tickets cost $25 presale (at the venue) or $30 at the door. Feel free to bring your own beverages. There’ll also be wine tasting and sales by Pithy Little Wine Co.

More music …

Remember that on Thursday, Nov. 11, San Francisco performer Jesse Brewster plays at The Porch at 6:30 p.m. during Steve Key’s Songwriters at Play showcase. Brewster’s sound fuses a rock/Americana style he describes as “Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd get into a bar room brawl with Neil Young and John Mayer.”

• PHOTO BY BARRY GOYETTE
• TWO GOOD FOR WORDS : Incredible local folk duo Bob and Wendy returns after a brief hiatus to play the Steynberg Gallery on Nov. 11.

The Paul Chesne Band bio says, “Dr. Dre meets Johnny Cash. A Sun Records feel with outlaw California country roots.” Check them out on Thursday, Nov. 11, at Frog and Peach, and Friday, Nov. 12, at Mongo’s Saloon.

Linnaea’s Café has become a regular stop for singer-songwriter Amy Obenski, who returns to the café on Friday, Nov. 12, for an 8 p.m. show. “I’ve been getting a really good crowd that grows every time,” she said. With lyrics that have been called “gripping” and vocals called “haunting,” Obenski shifts seamlessly between folk, jazz, and rock. She’s currently working on her fourth album.

Bev Barnett and Greg Newlon play the Música Del Río House Concerts in Atascadero on Friday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. “Building a stable bridge between roots Americana and contemporary folk music has really become the life’s work for Bev Barnett and Greg Newlon,” according to their press materials. “And, making sure the human heart and soul never gets lost along the way. The remarkable fit of their voices means coming along for the ride is a refreshing treat for those of us having the pleasure of their musical company.” For info and reservations, call 466-6941. Tickets cost $15 at the door, with 100 percent of the money going to the musicians.

• PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY HOLLAND
• MS. HOLLAND’S OPUS : Sony Holland will bring her smooth jazz sounds to three shows this week: Nov. 12 and 15 at Rose’s Landing in Morro Bay and Nov. 14 at Spyglass Inn.

That Little Black Train is still rolling, this time to Painted Sky Studios for an intimate acoustic concert on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. ($15 tickets at Boo Boo’s, the Cambria Business Center, or by calling 927-8330). The traditional Americana band will be joined by Amaya Dempsey, an award-winning fiddler and singer from Paso Robles the band says “is certain to steal a few hearts that night.” The 11-year-old Amaya will open the show with a short set of her own, and will later join the band for a grand finale.

• PHOTO COURTESY OF ZUILL BAILEY
• BOW ME, BABY : The SLO Symphony’s 50th Anniversary keeps getting better and better. Superstar cellist Zuill Bailey is their next special guest, performing on Nov. 13 at the Christopher Cohan Center.

The San Luis Obispo County Band will perform its 16th annual Benefit Concert for the Homeless on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Frederick St., SLO. Guest saxophonist soloist and conductor David Becker will lead the band through a program called “Music From Many Places and Times,” commemorating the band’s 136th anniversary. There’s no admission charge for this concert, but a free-will donation to support the Homeless Shelter will be taken at the door.

Now in its 62nd season, the SLO County Concert Association presents Bronn & Katherine Journey on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church (940 Creston Road, Paso Robles). Expect heavenly harps in a performance that is “nothing short of glorious. Katherine’s radiant voice and skill on keyboard will lift you to the front row.”

• PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHITNEY MYER BAND
• A FAMILY AFFAIR : The Frog and the Peach hosts The Whitney Myer Band, which features Myer’s dad and uncle, on Nov. 14.

Nebraska natives Tom Corbett and Brad Colerick will share featured billing on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Steynberg Gallery during Steve Key’s Songwriters at Play showcase from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ($5 cover). Both are now L.A.-based touring singer-songwriters with new CDs out this year. Corbett just released his third CD, Tonight I Ride; Billboard Magazine called Brad Colerick “one of a baker’s dozen of acts to watch in the folk community around the world.”

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, Daniel Park of Las Cruces, N.M., headlines the next Central Coast Songwriters showcase from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Clubhouse (all ages; no cover).

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Spyglass Inn, jazz guitar playing brothers Goh and Kai Kurosawa perform during Steve Key’s Songwriters at Play showcase from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Known for their dynamic style and creative blending of classical, folk, rock, flamenco, and world music, the Kurosawas will be one of eight performers on the bill.

• PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE + RUTHY
• SHOOT ’EM UP FOLK : Woodstock, NY-based indie folk duo Mike + Ruthy will bring their sublime acoustic sounds to the Steynberg Gallery on Nov. 17.

Look who’s turning 42!

KCPR is a real rarity, a college radio station run by students, playing music most commercial stations wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot-needle, if they still had turntables, which most don’t—but KCPR does. It’s a station where you’ll hear live DJs putting together music for you on the spot, music they pick instead of pre-recorded shows put together by some corporate board. Yep, KCPR is special, something to be nurtured and protected and supported. So here’s your chance.

KCPR 91.3 FM will be holding its 40th annual fundraising auction Monday, Nov. 15, through Friday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Listeners are encouraged to call in to bid on auction packages made up of various merchandise donated by local businesses in SLO and Santa Barbara counties.

Keep up with Glen Starkey via twitter at twitter.com/glenstarkey, friend him at Myspace.com/glenstarkey, or contact him at [email protected].