It’s impossible not to smile along to a song like “Green Shoes,” the opener of singer-songwriter Craig Nuttycombe‘s new album, Limestone Wizard. I figured Nuttycombe just invented its funny little story out of whole cloth, but it turns out the song is autobiographical.
“It’s a fun story,” Nuttycombe said. “Are you familiar with the brand of shoes called Allbirds?”
Apparently, the brand is known to be eco-friendly, so Nuttycombe Googled them, found what he called an “odd pair of green shoes,” and he ordered them.
“I got them, and I thought, ‘God, I don’t know if I’m cool enough to wear these.’ And anyway, I’m wearing them, and I swear to God, I have never had so many people compliment me on my shoes. I’m walking my dog at the beach and this man and his wife said, ‘Oh, wow, we really like those shoes. What are they?’ And I said, ‘Oh, they’re Allbirds.’ I’m in CVS at the pharmacy, and a Black gentleman goes, ‘Man, I like them shoes. Where’d you get them shoes?’ I’m walking down the street, and I would get comments from people on my green shoes.”
The song just came to him: “Everyone I see, they all seem to be, crazy ’bout my green shoes, wild about my green shoes. Walking down the street, half the folks I meet they say, ‘Where’d you get those green shoes? I’m wild about those green shoes.’ I said, ‘I bought ’em on a lark but they seem to cause a spark. I never thought that I could be so cool. But now I know much better, I’m a natural trendsetter in my green shoes.'”
You’ll no doubt hear stories like that about many of the songs on Nuttycombe’s new album when he holds a listening party for it on Sunday, July 20, at The Bunker (810 Orcutt Road, SLO; doors at 2:30 p.m.; listen at 3; all ages; $20 presale at my805tix.com includes a complementary CD). Nuttycombe will be joined by album producer Damon Castillo, who played on the record, and after listening and talking about it, they’ll “play two or three songs together,” Nuttycombe added.
It’s a terrific album chalk full of Nuttycombe’s clever and catchy songs. A couple of them were first recorded with Café Musique—his old ensemble—but he wanted to re-record “She” and “Half Step Behind” for this solo album. Those two and “I Fall In Love With Women” are some of the many quirky love-themed songs Nuttycombe has included.
He was talking to two friends from Canada who filmed the documentary about his life, It’s Just a Life Time: A Portrait of Craig Nuttycombe (2023), which won the Audience Choice Award for Feature Documentary at the Central Alberta Film Festival, and he told them, “‘I’ve had better luck with dogs in my life than women,’ and she said, ‘That would be great on your gravestone.'”
Nuttycombe laughed, adding that he’s being cremated. For the record, his current dog’s name is Jarvis.
One of the things that make the recording shine is the production from Castillo and all the talented players who added their parts. One of the reasons Nuttycombe is having a listening party instead of a concert is he’d need to round up close to 20 people to re-create the album’s rich, beautifully arranged sound.
For those on the left, “Rise and Fall” will appeal as it skewers our dumbed-down reality TV and social media culture and offers some choice lines about our current “leader.” Nuttycombe takes the public domain children’s song “Mama’s Little Baby” by Reese DuPree and updates the lyrics into a funny food song.
The album’s title comes from a lyric from another cover song, Sopwith Camel’s 1973 psychedelic song “Dancing Wizard.” The whole album bears repeated listening.
If you can’t make the listening party, you can buy a CD on craignuttycombe.com.
“I’m also making a free digital download available on my website,” he added, “with a little notation. If you choose to donate something, it’s going to go to Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay, where I volunteer. People don’t have to donate, but if they do, that’s where the money’s going to go.”
Hot summer nights
The biggest little fair anywhere—aka the California Mid-State Fair—is on like Donkey Kong through Sunday, July 27, in Paso Robles. In addition to all the traditional fair stuff like livestock, displays, carnival rides, competitions, a monster truck show, and dangerously unhealthy food, there’s a ton of entertainment—too much to list, but you can find it all at midstatefair.com/fair.
There are five free entertainment areas, but the really big shows are the ticketed concerts of the Michelob ULTRA concert Series in the Chumash Grandstand Arena, which this year include country star Jon Pardi on Thursday, July 17; rock act 311 on Friday, July 18; country star Cody Johnson on Saturday, July 19; Mexican music celebration Viva La Quebradita Tour on Sunday, July 20; country rockers The Red Clay Strays on Monday, July 21; rock legend David Lee Roth on Tuesday, July 22; country up and comer Bailey Zimmerman on Wednesday, July 23; Australian-American country singer Keith Urban on Thursday, July 24; and former The Eagles guitarist Don Felder on Friday, July 25.
Grab a deep-fried Twinkie, ride the Tilt-A-Whirl, look at some FFA pigs, and hit some shows on those warm Paso nights.
Beautiful moments
Southern gentleman and singer-songwriter Paul Thorn returns to The Siren courtesy of Good Medicine, Numbskull, and KCBX this Tuesday, July 22 (6:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $37.80 at goodmedicinepresents.com), and he’s got a new album in tow, Life Is Just A Vapor, with a title track about life’s transience.
“Every day’s a gift. Breathe in and hold it. Every day’s a gift. It’s gone before you know it.”
The song begins with a line about the late, great John Prine, who Thorn has a funny story about. I won’t ruin it here, but if you go to the show, he’ll probably tell it before he plays this song.
“I like for people to be touched by music and get something from it, something that they can take with them throughout the day,” Thorn said in press materials. “Every song on this album, there’s a message in it of some sort about how to live life.”
I like the message in album opener “Tough Times Don’t Last”: “Tough times don’t last but tough people do.” His live shows are always amazing.
Also this week, Good Medicine and Numbskull bring St. Louis-based The Band Feel to Club Car Bar on Friday, July 18 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $19.26 at goodmedicinepresents.com), with musician/actor Tristan Lake Leabu opening. The Band Feel is inspired by the ’70s classic rock era.
Back at The Siren, Texas New Age blues-rockers The Ally Venable Band make a stop on their Money & Power Tour on Wednesday, July 23 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $24.93 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Venable is a soulful singer and guitar shredder who will light your fire.
The Siren also has an in-house show with third wave ska act Mephiskapheles on Thursday, July 24 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15.30 at tixr.com). Formed in New York’s East Village in 1991, the group plays dark ska. Their horn section is called the Horns of Hell. Oy!
And you should also know that The Siren is hosting The Flower Machine, in their first local show since relocating to Morro Bay from Los Angeles, on Saturday, July 19 (doors at 7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). Fronted by Dutch American singer and guitarist Peter Quinnell, The Flower Machine is one of the longest-running neo-psyche rock bands in California having formed in 2004.
According to Quinnell, they draw inspiration from the “Syd Barrett-era of Pink Floyd, Dutch legends The Outsiders, and Kevin Ayers.” They just released their fifth album, Waterloo Green. Noise Solution and Longstraw open.
From father to son
If you’re a fan of Southern rock, you know Dickey Betts, the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. He passed last year, but his son Duane Betts and his band Palmetto Motel have carried on the legacy of soul-stirring blues rock. Expect searing guitar solos, heartfelt storytelling, and some improvisational jamming when they play Rod & Hammer Rock this Sunday, July 20 (doors at 6 p.m.; all ages; $32.26 at ticketweb.com). Water Tower opens.
Also this week at Rod & Hammer Rock, check out Miami punk act Jacuzzi Boys on Saturday, July 19 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $20.79 at ticketweb.com). Snacks and Joone’s open.
Faux Fab Four
Good Vibez and the Fremont Theater present award-winning Beatles tribute act Liverpool Legends this Saturday, July 19 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $39.11 To $75.16 at prekindle.com). According to their bio, the four band members “were hand-picked by Louise Harrison, sister of the late George Harrison of The Beatles.” They recorded an album of Beatles covers called Fab Fan Memories, and it was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Festival Mozaic
The Summer Festival has begun and runs through Saturday, July 26, and you can get the details at festivalmozaic.org, but I’m going to tell you about one show that sounds amazing, Orquesta Akokán, playing Thursday, July 24, in the Fremont Theater (7:30 p.m.; $30 to $115 at ovationtix.com).
This Latin ensemble blasted into the music stratosphere in 2018 with their fresh take on Cuban mambo inspired by mambo legends such as Perez Prado, Benny Moré, and Machito. Their debut self-titled album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Akokán is a Yoruban word used by Cubans that means “from the heart or soul,” and you’ll feel it when they play. The hard part will be staying in your seat. The grooves and rhythms are undeniably caliente!
More music …
The Bunker and The Frequent Weaver present Ojai multi-instrumentalist Rob Magill playing solo and in duo with Morro Bay percussionist Abe Gibson on Saturday, July 19 (doors at 7:30, show 8 p.m.; all ages; $12.56 at my805tix.com).
Calling all musicians! It’s Newtie time!
It’s time to submit your entries to the New Times Music Awards. Visit newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/NTMAHome/Page to see rules and find entry forms. Submissions will be accepted starting Thursday, July 24, through Monday, Aug. 11, at 5 p.m. Winners must be available to play the showcase on Friday, Nov. 21, in Rod & Hammer Rock. Good luck, players! Δ
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jul 17-27, 2025.