Hide your daughters. Bring your potted plants inside. Keep your lawn ornaments out of sight. Why? Because a swarming locust of rolling two-wheeled thunder comes to SLO Town tonight, Thursday, May 3.
Soon, the streets will be filled with the wing-ging-ging of dozens
# of two-stroke Italian scooters and the screaming engines of a gang of English cafe race bikes as Mods-n-Rockers descends on Downtown Brew. Remember Hollister? This will be worse. Did you see The Wild Ones? Pansies!
Soon, SLO Town will be filled with the smell of gasoline, leather, and hair grease, and the sounds of Tres Gatos, Cadillac Angels, and Slim Jim Phantom (formerly of The Stray Cats). Garden Street will be transformed into a bikers' paradise, where anyone without an iron steed can expect to get their freakin' asses kicked!
Or maybe it will be a bunch of mild-mannered bike enthusiasts walking around talking about their displayed bikes, their thriving dental practices, their work as anesthesiologists or divorce attorneys.
Mods-n-Rockers is brought to you by the famed motorcycle club Ace Cafe London and clothing line superG by Hein Gericke, the latter of which will be presenting a fashion show of new biker apparel because that's the way these bad asses roll, people! Bikes, rockabilly, and fashion! Look out!
Fashion line superG by Hein Gericke is a luxury brand by Fairchild Sports USA Inc. Because Doc Martens were a huge part of the '60s mod scene, they're also a sponsor and will be on display during the fashion show.
And speaking of cool threads, there will be prizes for best-dressed rockers (male and female) and best-dressed mods (male and female), not to mention prizes for best cafe racer motorcycle and best mod scooter.
The event, which is completely free and open to the public,
# begins at 6 p.m. at Downtown Brew. Most of the motorcycles and scooters on display on Garden Street will have ridden up from L.A. earlier that day, and will leave on Friday, May 4, for a ride to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay to celebrate the second annual Legend of the Motorcycle Concours D'Elegance, which begins on Saturday, May 5 (www.lotm.com).
The music begins at 6:30 with Tres Gatos (www.tresgatosrocks.com) of Atascadero, which will start the evening "somewhere between the lands of Ed Wood and 007" with some "funk-punk-psychedelic-blues" thrown in for good measure.
Next up is Cadillac Angels (www.cadillacangels.com), the roots, rockabilly, and surf act that's shared the stage with music legends such as Dick Dale, Santana, Carl Perkins, The Violent Femmes, Etta James, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cowboy Mouth, Bo Diddley, Dwight Yoakam, Wanda Jackson, and Link Wray.
Slim Jim Phantom (www.slimjimphantom.com), the "coolest stand-up drummer on the planet," will headline the show. The former Stray Cats skin beater was born in Brooklyn but grew up in the Long Island area. In addition to being in one of the biggest acts of the '80s, he had the good fortune to be married to super hottie Britt Ekland from 1984 to 1992. (Yeah, yeah. I know. Show me the hottest babe in the world and I'll show you a guy who's sick of her shit.) The couple had one son TJ McDonnell von Shrempkin who now works at the Roxy in Hollywood, and also plays in the band The LMNOP. Phantom owns The Cat Club on the Sunset Strip and he records with Lemmy and Danny B Harvey under the name The Head Cat.
P.S. Kidding about the hide-your-daughters thing. Bring 'em to Downtown Brew (www.downtownbrew.com). They'll be perfectly safe. Really!
Phat Mexican jazz
Jazz vocalist Iraida Noriega is widely considered the leading proponent of American-style jazz in Mexico, a country that's adopted American ideas into its own traditional music. Noriega, on the other hand, sounds decidedly American in her vocalization and arrangement aside from singing in Spanish of course!
On Thursday, May 3, she plays SLO's Monday Club at 8 p.m., delivering a stripped down, intimate show with her on piano and voice and Agustin Bernal on bass. This is Noriega's first Central Coast appearance, where she's playing in support of Asi Era Entonces, Ahora, on which she interprets the big band works of important Mexican composers of the '40s.
This all-ages, $20 concert (tickets at Boo Boo's or $25 at the door) is sponsored by the SLO Jazz Federation, with co-sponsorship by KCBX radio and the Cal Poly Salsa Club. Pedro Arroyo is the promoter.
Country's new queen
"I couldn't avoid them," Cash said about the 12 songs that constitute the album. "I couldn't let any of them simply return to the ether. Some of them literally wouldn't let me sleep."
On Sunday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in Harman Hall of the Christopher Cohan Center, Cash will sing her achingly beautiful compositions: elegies of loss, ancestry, and personal redemption.
According to her bio, Cash was born in Memphis to Johnny and his first wife, Vivian Liberto. She moved to Los Angeles with her mother in the mid-'60s when the couple separated. After high school, she joined her famous dad's road show, working her way up from laundry duty to backup singer to soloist.
Her breakthrough album Seven Year Ache went gold and yielded
# her first three No. 1 singles, including the title track. Cash recorded 1982's Somewhere in the Stars, which contained two No. 1 singles, as did
1985's Rhythm & Romance, whose "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" track won her a Grammy.
1987's King's Record Shop yielded four No. 1 hits, including "The Way We Make a Broken Heart." She also took "It's Such a Small World" a duet from then-husband Rodney Crowell's Diamonds & Dirt album to No. 1 that year.
Cash was named Billboard's Top Singles Artist in 1988 and the next year, she released Hits 1979-1989, adding a few new songs and scoring another No. 1 hit with the Beatles' "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party."
When her marriage to Crowell failed, she fearlessly documented its dissolution in 1990's Interiors and 1993's The Wheel.
All tickets for the performance are $38, with student discounts available. Get 'em at the PAC Ticket Office or by calling 756-2787.
More music
Savior of the indie rock scene, Pocket Productions, continues to apply the soothing salve of commercially untainted rock to your wounded soul, as it will on Friday, May 4, at the Steynberg Gallery when it brings The Finches to town. This "really awesome two-person band has a very family band feel, kind of like the Carters or something," said concert organizers. Allison Milham from Treluna and Josh Baloh will open the all ages, $5 show. Learn more about the acts at www.myspace.com/thefinches and www.myspace.com/allisonmilhammusic.
# Local country act Red Eye Junction will be joined by The Dives of Bakersfield on Friday, May 4, at 9:30 p.m. at The Clubhouse, the new sports bar and nightclub located on Foothill where This Old House was once located. Get your country on, people.
Numbskull Productions presents a night of indie music with Minus the Bear, with openers The Honorary Title and Chin Up Chin Up at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 4. Minus the Bear recently returned to the studio to record a follow-up to 2005's Menos El Oso. The new record is tentatively titled Planet Of Ice, and you can clearly expect to hear some new material. "So far, we are working on roughly 14 tracks and are still working on finishing up a few more," said guitarist David Knudson. This is a 16-and-older, $16.50 show (advanced tickets at Boo Boo's).
It's going to be like Night of the Living Deadheads on Saturday, May 5 (that's Cinco de Mayo, to those of you in the know), at Mongo's, when the Skydogs start with an acoustic set at 6 p.m. with stand-up bass, mandolin, and banjo. The drums and electric guitars will fire up at 9 p.m. The Skydogs, who've been around even longer than I have, include Drew Iverson and Mitch Fadum, formerly of Trees of Mystery, plus Andy Bird on bass, Fred Rodrigues on lead guitar, and Spanky (just one name, like Madonna) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Prepare yourself for some Grateful Dead-influenced jam band tunes.
Frog and Peach is getting into the Cinco de Mayo act, too, with San Francisco's very own Diego's Umbrella playing "Mexicali Gypsy Pirate Polka" beginning at 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. Arriba!
The Seamus Conroy Band jigs its way into the Red Barn Community Music Series on Saturday, May 5, at the Red Barn in
# the South Bay Community Park. Composed of four Irish music aficionados who met at the weekly Morro Bay Irish session, the band plays a mix of traditional Irish ballads, reels, and jigs, along with some original pieces. They've become the house band at the Crooked Kilt in Paso Robles and can be seen performing there every Thursday night. Lead singer Seamus Conroy also plays guitar, bodhran, and fiddle. Melanie Marie adds vocals, guitar, and bodhran, with Chuck Aronson on fiddle. Saturday's show begins at 7 p.m., but there's a potluck supper and acoustic jam beginning at 6 for those interested. A $10 donation is requested at the door.
On Sunday, May 6, the Hamlet in Cambria hosts guitarist Ron Anthony (George Shearing, Frank Sinatra) for the next installment of The Famous Jazz Artist Series. Anthony, who records for the Fresh Sound Jazz label, will be joined by bassist Luther Hughes, drummer Steve Schaeffer, and concert co-producers Charlie and Sandi Shoemake (vibraphone and vocals.) There's a 4 p.m., $15 performance or a 7:15 p.m., $12 performance, or see them both for $20. Reservations are recommended by calling 927-0567.
The Painted Sky Concert series, in association with the Yew Tree, presents an evening of acoustic Celtic harp music with Robin Huw Bowen on Sunday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. The award-winning harpist's influence on the worlds of Welsh folk music and harping has been far-reaching. He's recognized internationally as the leading exponent of the Welsh national instrument and ranks among the most important figures that Welsh traditional music has produced. Whether it's a fiery tune from the repertoire of the Welsh gypsies, a long forgotten hornpipe, or a slow air showing off the intricacies of his harp's three sets of strings and the unique style of variations on the melody, Bowen is a master musician. Tickets are $18 at Boo Boo Records, the Cambria Business Center, or by calling 927-8330. If not sold out, tickets will be available at the door.
# One of the world's finest singers, Raul Malo, has no problem crossing cultures and blurring musical boundaries. Born in Miami of Cuban parents, Malo is best known as the founder and frontman of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum band the Mavericks. He made his mark in the country music world and then drifted into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock'n'roll. See him on Monday, May 7, when he plays the Templeton Performing Arts Center. According to concert organizers, fans are coming from all over the Western United States and a few from as far away as Pennsylvania. Tickets are $30 at the Templeton School Box Office. Learn more about Malo at www.raulmalo.com.
Prepare yourself for The Blasters, who had to cancel their previously scheduled Downtown Brew show but are rescheduled to play Thursday, May 10, at 8 p.m. with local act The Hydramatics. This is a 21-and-older, $13.59-advance show (at Boo Boo's). More on The Blasters next week!
New venue for you and your pooch
A new outdoor dog-friendly venue for live music with a fantastic view kicks off with the first happy hour of summer at Pete's Pierside Cafe at the end of Harford Pier at Port San Luis, near Avila. Enjoy the fine musicianship and funny tunes of longtime local favorites Abner Malady and the Village Idiots on Thursday, May 10, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Just so you know, Pete Kelley has sold his famous Pierside Cafe to his young manager, Courtney, who's continuing to prepare those yummy shrimp enchiladas and signature black beans, as well as fresh fish tacos and more. Expect beer specials for these Thursday happy hours. Info: 595-7627.
Attention singer-songwriters and fans thereof
Also, the First Annual Central Coast Songwriters Festival is coming to the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande on Thursday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. The talent line-up includes Jude Johnstone, Jill Knight, Damon Castillo, Chase Emery, Katie Boeck, and Jay Horn. A special welcome will be presented by Jon Anderson of the band Yes. Each artist will perform three or four of their favorite songs and tell stories in an acoustic, unplugged format.ÜReserved seat tickets are $15 and $20. Info and tickets are available at the Clark Center Box Office or by calling 489-9444.
Glen Starkey drank the last cup of coffee and now he's rifling through your stash. Tell him to chill at [email protected].
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