Though slower than usual thanks to the holiday, there are still a few noteworthy shows this week. For instance, local hipster heroes The Ragged Jubilee play SLO Brew on Friday, Nov. 23, with Magazine Dirty opening the show (7 p.m.; all ages; $10 presale or $14 at the door).

• PHOTO BY JONATHAN DAVID
• AMERICAN GOTHIC : The Ragged Jubilee brings its blues and rock’n’roll sounds to SLO Brew on Nov. 23.

The Ragged Jubilee is Ethan Burns on guitar and vocals, Aaron Wick on drums, Chandler Jacob on bass, and Philip Wahl on banjo. Front man Burns wears those little southern ties like Col. Saunders, and their blues and rock’n’roll sounds can move from quaint to thunderous.

Magazine Dirty is a super awesome punk roots band, whose bio sums itself up pretty well: “One day some folks were taking about how punk is boring and metallish or lame and pop. So then they started a band. Will it work? Who fucking knows! Tired of the same old growling 'hardcore' style of modern punk direction, we are putting together a roots punk influence band.”

What does that mean? Imagine Mick Jagger if he was American, born in L.A., and was too hip for Silver Lake! Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about!

Then on Sunday, Nov. 25, Sublime tribute act 40 Oz. to Freedom plays SLO Brew with Klockwyze opening (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $10 presale or $12 at the door).

Fronted by six-time San Diego Music Award nominee Dane Scott—who plays with Tubby, The Fryday Band, Smooth Move, and now 40 Oz. to Freedom—40 Oz. features his soulful voice and ripping guitar riffs. The band also features Terry Davis (bass and vocals) and Mark Leblanc (drums).

• PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGAZINE DIRTY
• FILTHY!: Roots punk act Magazine Dirty (pictured) will open for The Ragged Jubilee on Nov. 23 at SLO Brew.

Sublime was, of course, the Long Beach-based ska-punk act fronted by the tragically doomed Bradley Nowell, he of great talent and powerful appetites, who overdosed on heroin in 1996. Formed in 1986, they recorded the cassette demo Jah Won’t Pay the Bills in 1991, followed by the studio albums 40 Oz. to Freedom, Robbin’ the Hood, Sublime, Second-hand Smoke, and Stand By Your Van.

Klockwyze is a New Times Music Awards winner who also has shades of Sublime in its sound. The bio reads like this: “Seeping out of the garages of the Central Coast comes a distinct sound that refuses to go unheard, a developed style that showcases the musical influences and raw talents of eight individuals’ contributions towards orchestrating chaos. Don’t worry; this is not a reality T.V. show or a caged wrestling match. It's more like a well-devised, well-executed plan to make you get up and dance. Klockwyze delivers like a wrecking ball breaking down the walls of stale, conventional arrangements, and building upon the remaining foundations with an organic blend of up-beat reggae, dub, punk rock, funk, soul, and STRAIGHT FUCKING GANGSTA RAP!!!”

They sing the songs that make the whole world sing

Steve Key’s Songwriters at Play injects a little country into your Sunday, Nov. 25, when country rocker Stephen Styles plays Sculpterra Winery (1 p.m.; all ages; pass the hat).

• PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• GET ’EM JUMPING! : Klockwyze (pictured) will ignite the dance floor at SLO Brew on Nov. 25 when they open for Sublime tribute act 40 Oz. to Freedom.

“Stephen Styles has that kind of voice that turns heads and quiets bar chatter,” said concert co-producer Bonnie Nelson. “The Buellton-based singer-songwriter has played many of our showcases. Styles songs like ‘Jesus Drives a Pickup Truck’ and ‘Set ’em Up, Shoot ’em Down’ are aimed straight at the country charts. His voice is already much in demand at Nashville recording studios, and his songs are being recorded by up-and-coming country stars such as Scott Lindsey.”

Local Tim Jackson headlines the Tuesday, Nov. 20, show at Kreuzberg (6:30 p.m.; all ages; pass the hat). The Central Coast native spent the ’80s fronting popular rock acts only to reinvent himself as a singer-songwriter who draws influences from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. His most recent album, To Stare at the Sun, is filled with Jackson’s narrative songs and hooky melodies.

Happy cry!

Choro is a Portuguese word for “cry” or “lament,” but it’s also a Brazilian style of music traditionally called chorinho, or “little cry” or “little lament.” The instrumental style developed in the 19th century in Rio de Janeiro, and though it sounds like it would be depressing music, it’s actually an upbeat, happy sound characterized by jazz-like improvisation. Choro is considered the first popular urban music of Brazil.

I tell you this because Choro de Ouro, a Central Coast choro band, is releasing a CD soon and playing a couple CD release parties and a couple other local gigs to promote it. But first, I’ll let them tell you their story.

“Choro quickly spread throughout Brazil and eventually became a unifying point of pride for the country,” wrote the band. “Composers like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim were famous and honored for their contribution to Brazilian culture. Today people are rediscovering this music as it has continued to evolve and grow with a wonderful history and life. It is a passionate music full of virtuosity and excitement as well as expression and the quality of something quaintly beautiful.

“When Grant Chase started the Choro de Ouro (which means Weeping Gold or Tears of Gold in Portuguese), he had no idea how far it would go or the life and energy that the project would take on. Being introduced to this music was a life-changing event for Grant, and he quickly became very devoted to music and started gathering musicians to play this music together. For years the project lived under the title Chorinho, which is what one might call a musician who plays choro. When flautist Lara Kiani had to leave the band, Ron McCarley, who had been coaching them at Cuesta College, replaced her and the band took on the name Choro de Ouro. Later, percussionist Graham Yates was also added to the group.

“When the band finally felt that they were ready to do a first-rate recording project, they realized that they had enough material for two CDs! So they decided to take the best of the best and present something very special. Now years from the beginning of the project, they are proud to present their first recording of this beautiful music of Brazil and how they have made it their own.

Choro de Ouro has played at the Live Oak Music Festival, several city-concert series, local wineries and events, the SLO Farmers market, and many other events. Joining them on this recording is the internationally known Brazilian singer Téka Penteriche and guitarist Paul Rigby.

“The band only has a few performances after the CD is released and before they will take a trip to Brazil at the beginning of 2013 to study with the masters of choro. They plan to return in the spring with a deeper knowledge of the music and making better music than ever.”

Check them out at the following events: a CD release party on Saturday, Nov. 24, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at D'Anbino’s Wine Tasting Room in Paso Robles (your $15 includes admission and a CD); another CD release party on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. at the Steynberg Gallery in SLO; a free concert at the Court Street Mall in SLO on Saturday, Dec. 8, from noon to 3 p.m.; a free show on Thursday, Dec. 20, at the SLO Farmers Market.

After that, it’s off to Brazil!

More music …

ZZAH will bring its contemporary jazz sounds to D’Anbino’s Tasting Room on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. According to the band, ZZAH mixes melodic West Coast sensibilities with an East Coast approach to soloing. They’ve been featured at many festivals and venues up and down the West Coast, and their songs have appeared on more than 260 radio stations throughout North America. They’ve also shared the stage with acts such as George Benson, Billie Preston, Spyro Gyra, and more. Admission is $10 ($5 for Record Club members).

This Sunday, Nov. 25, head back to D’Anbino for the annual Famous Jazz Artist Series concert that salutes the fine jazz professors of the Central Coast, in this case tenor saxophonist Ron McCarley of Cuesta College and pianist Paul Rinzler of Cal Poly, along with members of their staff. There’s only one performance, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 and reservations are recommended by calling 927-0567.

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