Are you ready for an event that “honors diversity and our shared planetary experiences, uniting local DJs, musicians, fashion designers, and [a] painter?” Then plan to join live Gypsy and electronica duo Elysian Moon as Sunset Tribe and Luv Lab Present Earth: Day Party this Sunday, April 20, at Kreuzberg California (4 to 11 p.m.; 21-and-older; $10 presale at posh.vip/e/earth-day-party or $15 at the door).
Elysian Moon describes their sound as a “dynamic fusion of Gypsy, organic, and sparkly techno sounds.” Featuring Tyson Leonard on violin and Grace Jiia on keyboard, the pair composes music that “spans neoclassical, cinematic global house, and folkloric rhythms” that highlight “the intricacies of culture, nature, and human experience.”
They call their live performances “an artistic display, offering an immersive, ritualistic experience that draws the audience into a global and connective atmosphere.”
DJ Hobeaux kicks the event off with some disco from 4 to 5:30 p.m. DJ Gack follows with house music from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. DJ Wizdom spins drum ‘n’ bass from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jungle Haüs (Dante Marsh of the Vibe Setters) plays Afrohouse from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The headliner, Elysian Moon, plays from 8:30 to 9:45 p.m. Finally, DJs Okay Aj and Sam Stearns spin back-to-back sets from 9:45 to 11 p.m.
Fashion vendors include Radiant Robes, Déjà Vu Designs, and Sacred Sevens Jewelry. The event is sponsored by Nosotros Tequila & Mezcal, Megan’s Organic Market, and the Morro Bay Vet Clinic.
“This event is more than a gathering; it’s a platform for creative expression and deep community bonding,” Elysian Moon’s Jiia explained. “We aim to create music and experiences that serve as the foundation for our community’s peak experiences, or as we like to say, ‘eternal sunsets.'”
(Not) Just Another Band from East L.A.
I usually don’t cover shows in Northern Santa Barbara County, but Los Lobos is too good a show and Santa Maria too close not to tell you that Numbskull and Good Medicine present Los Lobos at Presqu’ile Winery on Friday, April 18 (6 p.m.; all ages; $67.67 at goodmedicinepresents.com).
What started as a Mexican American rock group in the ’70s has expanded into a genre jumping powerhouse over the band’s five decades that shifts easily between rock, folk, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as bolero and cumbia.
With 17 studio albums, most recently 2021’s Native Sons, three compilations, two EPs, two DVDs, seven live albums, and four Grammy Awards, they’re simply one of the best bands working today. What’s truly amazing is the original founding members—David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez Jr., Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Steve Berlin—are all still in the band.
Psych rock from Down Under
Good Vibez and the Fremont Theater have a few events to keep you entertained this week, but the highlight, in my opinion, is Australian psychedelic rock band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets playing on Tuesday, April 22 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $33.96 at prekindle.com).
Formed in Perth in 2014, the band lists classics such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and The Beatles as inspiration, as well as fellow contemporary Aussie bands King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Tame Impala. They’re supposed to be releasing their seventh studio in May, so expect some new music like the album’s first single “March On For Pax Romana,” which they call “a frenetic journey with a heavy dosage of riffs, pounding bass, and thumping drums, but still making space for Jack McEwan’s call-to-action vocals to take a lead role.”
Also at Fremont, The Emo Night Tour returns on Friday, April 18 (8 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.78 at prekindle.com) with all your favorite tracks by Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, and more.
United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience happens on Saturday, April 19 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $27.78 at prekindle.com). “Immerse yourself in … an electrifying night of EDM hits, immersive visuals, and nonstop energy on the dance floor,” organizers announced.
The Queen of Rock
During her long career, Linda Ronstadt amassed 11 Grammy Awards through various genres such as rock, folk, pop, country, Latin, and the Great American Songbook. She retired from performing in 2011, no longer able to sing thanks to progressive supranuclear palsy. Obviously, it’s no longer possible to see Rostandt perform live, but Different Drum (A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt) may be the next best thing when they debut at The Siren on Sunday, April 20 (2 p.m.; 21-and-older; $13.17 at tixr.com).
Fronted by Cassi Nicholls, the group aims to create a “faithful re-creation [that] takes you from the early days with the Stone Poneys and on through the decades as Linda became ‘one of the greatest rock singers in music,'” the band announced. “The scope of Ronstadt’s body of work is indeed enormous, but Different Drum encapsulates the hits and the eras of her career, including songs such as ‘Long, Long Time,’ ‘You’re No Good,’ ‘Silver Threads,’ ‘Blue Bayou,’ ‘When Will I Be Loved,’ ‘Tracks Of My Tears,’ ‘It’s So Easy,’ ‘Desperado,’ and, of course ‘Different Drum.'”
The idea is to take this new tribute act on the road, so if you go, you’re going to be the first test audience. The musicians are solid. The band includes Rob Espinosa, Lee Ann Vermeulen [full disclosure, a New Times sale associate], her husband Rob Vermeulen, Chris Lopes, and Dean Giles. Stereo Chickens opens the show.
Also this week at The Siren, Led Zeppelin tribute act Legend Zeppelin plays on Friday, April 18 (doors at 7, show at 7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $24.30 at tixr.com).
Raunchy rapper Mickey Avalon’s 420 Party returns on Saturday, April 19 (doors at 8; 21-and-older; $30.12 at tixr.com), with Blake Banks opening.
Roots Americana, blues, Southern rock, and outlaw country singer-songwriter Rob Leines plays on Wednesday, April 23 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15.30 at tixr.com). “Artists such as Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, and the Allman Brothers Band have left their imprint on his sound, echoing through his electrifying guitar work and heartfelt lyrics,” his bio explains.
Morro Bay-based Americana, folk, and country duo The Turkey Buzzards play on Thursday, April 23 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15.30 at tixr.com). They are working on their third album and plan to tour with it this spring through summer.
Blue- and brown-eyed soul
Lots of stuff happening this week at Rod & Hammer Rock, but soul fans will want to see The Sextones on Saturday, April 19 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $21.82 at ticketweb.com) with Los So-Lows opening.
Formed in 2015, their big break came in 2017 when their self-released debut album, Moonlight Vision, became—pause for dramatic effect—huge in Japan via P-Vine Records. Soon after, they were touring the U.S. and Europe. They’re the blue-eyed soul. Los So-Lows from Oxnard supply the brown-eyed soul. I dig their matching outfits.
The Sauce Pot Metal Fest presents Punk Rock Times Machine, Bears, Suppressed Intentions, Pentacaustic, AIP, and Jovian Queen on Friday, April 18 (doors at 6 p.m.; 18-and-older; $20.79 at ticketweb.com). All these amazing local metal acts in one place? Melt your brain.
An evening with Steely Dead returns on Sunday, April 20 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $30.30 at ticketweb.com). The Denver band offers a unique blend of Grateful Dead and Steely Dan music.
Authentic country awaits when Colby Acuff plays on Thursday, April 24 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $32.36 at ticketweb.com), with Ryan Delmore opening. Both these guys play straight-shootin’ country with zero gimmicks. Δ
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Apr 17-27, 2025.