God bless America! God bless its corrupt wars, its high gas prices, its attempts at legitimizing torture, its pathetic health-care system, its racism, its incarceration rate, its corporate welfare, its greed, its destructive environmental policies, its ineffective test-focused education system, its inhuman immigration policies, its distrust of diversity, its fear of same-sex marriage, its wholly useless drug-war policies, its … well, I could go on, but let’s just say we’ve got a lot of stuff that needs blessing!
- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT
- GOD BLESS THE AMERICAN WAY! : The Reverend Horton Heat brings its revved up rockabilly madness to Pozo Saloon on July 4.
Next up comes The Supersuckers, who modestly bill themselves as “The Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band in the World.” Formed in 1988 and fronted by the irascible bassist Eddie Spaghetti, the band’s forays into countrified rock have won them legions of fans, all of whom are well versed in the band’s “fake encore,” in which they pretend to end their set but burst back onto stage after about 15 seconds.
Third on the bill is Nashville Pussy, which hails from Atlanta and whose favorite word is “motherfucker!” Go to nashvillepussy.com and it says, “Welcome to the Official Nashville Pussy Webpage, Motherfucker!” Lots of their songs have the word “motherfucker” in ’em, and they play both kinds of music: rock and roll … motherfucker!
The headliner is really going to bring the heat, The Reverend Horton Heat, that is! Rev. Heat (n»e Jim Heath) is the “biggest, baddest, grittiest, greasiest, greatest rocker that ever piled his hair up and pounded the drinks down,” according to his publicist. How’d he get to be known as ‘Reverend’?
“Well, there used to be this guy who ran this place in Deep Ellum, Texas who used to call me Horton—my last name is Heath,” explained The Rev. “Anyway, this guy hired me and right before the show he goes, ‘Your stage name should be Reverend Horton Heat! Your music is like gospel’ ... and I thought it was pretty ridiculous. So I’m up there playing and after the first few songs, people are saying, ‘Yeah, Reverend!’ What’s really funny is that this guy gave up the bar business, and actually became a preacher! Now he comes to our shows and says, ‘Jim, you really should drop this whole Reverend thing’.”
Only in America, people. God bless her!
Gates open at 4 p.m., the show’s at 5 p.m., and tickets are available at local Vallitix outlets, including Boo Boo Records, the Mustang Ticket Office at Cal Poly, the Mid-State Fairgrounds, or online at www.vallitix.com.
What passes for beautiful Downunder?
- PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
- SING IT, SISTERS : The Beautiful Girls, who are technically not girls at all, play June 27 at Downtown Brew.
The Beautiful Girls are back on the West Coast playing predominantly breezy, beachy roots music; touring in support of their new EP Morning Sun, and reminding audiences that they also have three full length albums under their belts: Learn Yourself, We’re Already Gone, and Ziggurats.
Mixing such genres as rock, reggae, pop, and folk have led to comparisons with Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, and even The Police.
Opening acts include Timmy Curren, a pro surfer; and Jim Bianco, who has long been associated with the famed Hotel Caf», touring with the Caf», since its inception in 2005, throughout the U.S. and into Europe. He joined up after stumbling into the Hollywood venue accidentally on one “Songwriter Sunday,” where he played a few songs and was asked to return next week as a marquee performer.
True Freedom!
- PHOTO COURTESY OF RANCHO DELUXE
- GOOD COUNTRY BOYS : Templeton resident Mark Adams (left) and Bay Area resident Jesse Harris are Rancho Deluxe; the duo plays June 27 at Paso’s City Park Gazebo to celebrate a killer new CD True Freedom.
“I’m the only local and met the guitarist, Los Angeleno Jesse Harris, at Chico State where we had a roots rock band in the ‘90s called Northern Lights that mostly played San Francisco, Sacramento, Tahoe, and Humboldt,” explained Adams. “After college we got serious about playing roots Americana—country rock, alt.country, whatever the fuck ya wanna call it—and moved to L.A., forming Rancho Deluxe in 2004. We released the self-titled debut in 2005 to raves from No Depression (RIP), Dirty Linen, and other ‘zines, and we’re just about to officially put out True Freedom. [It was released on June 23.] I moved back home to Templeton three years ago (hence the local themes on True Freedom) to farm grapes and make wine with an old high-school friend who owns a winery here. Now Rancho Deluxe plays most every weekend, either in the north county of SLO, L.A. or S.F., where the guitarist now lives.”
As for True Freedom, Adams has clearly been inspired by returning to his hometown roots. In “Valley of the Bears,” Adams sings about escaping the North County heat by heading to Los Osos. In “Pine Street Saloon,” Adams anoints the popular Paso watering hole a “grand old house” where you can “swing your sweetheart by the arm and mister, she can swing you, too.” There’s also a song called “Templeton Gap,” and the whole collection demonstrates a level of musicianship and production values that rival anything coming out of Nashville.
More music…
- PHOTO COURTESY OF MOIRA SMILEY & VOCO
- APPALACHIA SWEETHEARTS : On June 26 at Painted Sky Studios, fans of acoustic music are in for a treat when Moira Smiley and VOCO will perform Appalachia and Eastern European music
The San Luis Obispo County Band is set to deliver live music all summer long, beginning with a Thursday, June 26, 7 p.m. twilight concert at SLO’s Mitchell Park, where they’ll be most Thursday evenings through Aug. 14. Viewers are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy music in the park. The San Luis Obispo County Band, directed by Leonard Lutz, is celebrating its 134th birthday this year. It traces its origins back to the SLO Military Band, which was founded in 1874.
Fighting Chance will headline a show at Monteleone’s Rock in Paso on Thursday, June 26. It’s 21 and older, costs $3 at the door, starts at 9 p.m., and includes New Mexico band La Junta opening the show.
Klockwyze will play at Mongo’s in Grover Beach on Friday, June 27, during a 9 p.m., 21-and-older, $5 show, with La Junta opening, followed by Fighting Chance.
- PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL KREIBICH
- RAY CHARLES’ DRUMMER! : On June 29, former Ray Charles drummer Paul Kreibich will head up a trio of pianist Marshall Otwell (Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie) and bassist Luther Hughes (Louie Bellson, Nancy Wilson) in the next installment of the Famous Jazz Artist Series at the Ham
On Sunday, June 29, former Ray Charles drummer Paul Kreibich will head up a trio of pianist Marshall Otwell (who’s played with Carmen McRae and Dizzy Gillespie) and bassist Luther Hughes (who’s backed Louie Bellson and Nancy Wilson) in the next installment of the Famous Jazz Artist Series at the Hamlet in Cambria. Concert co-producers Charlie and Sandi Shoemake (vibraphone and vocals) will join in for two performances: 4 p.m. for $15 and 7:15 p.m. for $12. See both shows for $20. Call for reservations: 927-0567.
Cafe Musique plays Gypsy, tango, classical, swing, and ethnic folk at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at Temple Beth David. Cost is $15. If you’ve never heard this amazing quartet, do so. There’ll be a special finale, with dancers, singers, storytellers, and other musicians, for this family friendly event. Those 17 and younger can come for $5!
New York City singer-songwriter Kierstin Gray’s music feels like a fresh East Coast breeze on a hot summer day, and an immediate touchstone for listeners may be Tracy Chapman. Gray mixes pop, jazz, soul, and blues into a sweet bopping acoustic stew. See her at The Clubhouse on Tuesday, July 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Don’t forget that your friends at Downtown Brew and GALA are bringing SLO’s only drag show and pride dance to town next Thursday, July 3 from 9 p.m. to close. This is the first event of GALA’s Pride Week, and it begins with four fantastic female impersonators hailed as the Glamour Boyz. Presale tickets cost $20, available online at slopride.com.
CD Reviews
Dread At The Controls—Dub
Various Artists—Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels
—Malik Miko Thorne, of Boo Boo Records and KCBX’s “Night Train.”
Glen Starkey is a vomitous mass of boogers taking up space in the universe (as submitted by Gayle Hudgens). Come up with a better insult and send it to [email protected].
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