Warren Haynes is an absolute legend. He was the longtime guitarist for the Allman Brothers and a founding member of Gov’t Mule. He also worked with folks like David Allan Coe and the Dickey Betts Band as well as surviving members of the Grateful Dead, touring with Phil Lesh and Friends and the Dead. He’s on live recordings from the Dave Matthews Band and played on some Derek Trucks Band recordings and too many others to list here. He’s a real Southern and blues rock guitar slinger.
This week, the Warren Haynes Band plays the Fremont Theater on Friday, May 9 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $52.50 to $107.60 at prekindle.com). As a solo artist and with the Warren Haynes Band he’s recorded four studio albums, most recently Million Voices Whisper (2024), his first solo recording since 2015’s Ashes & Dust with Railroad Earth.
“I’ve been writing songs all my life from a more folky, singer-songwriter, even Celtic direction,” he said of Ashes & Dust in press materials. “For a while, I’ve been compiling songs that didn’t necessarily fit in with Gov’t Mule or the Allman Brothers or even my last solo album. So this record was really a chance to bring a lot of that music to fruition. It’s really given me the opportunity to take a lot of songs I love, that didn’t have a home, and build a home for them.”
Million Voices Whisper follows that formula, delivering 11 new originals recorded with New Orleans-native Terence Higgins on drums, organist and keyboard wiz John Medeski, Mule bassist Kevin Scott, and fellow guitar master Derek Trucks on a couple tracks.
The record debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Blues Albums Chart and also entered the Americana/Folk Albums chart at No. 3, Current Rock Albums chart at No. 5, and Top Current Albums Sales chart at No. 29.
For his current tour, he’ll be supported by Higgins and Scott, as well as Matt Slocum on keys and Greg Osby on sax. Haynes is also in the news for partnering with Gibson to release Haynes’ first signature guitar, the Gibson Warren Haynes Les Paul Standard, available worldwide now.
Also at the Fremont, check out Straight Tequila Night (a ’90s country tribute) on Saturday, May 10 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $27.78 at prekindle.com). From Garth Brooks and George Strait to Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn to Shania Twain and The Chicks, they play all the ’90s radio songs you loved.
Finnish observational comic ISMO does his stand-up thing on Sunday, May 11 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; 12 and older; $55.08 to $66.92 at prekindle.com).
Depresión Sonora, a Spanish hip-hop artist with post-punk sensibilities, performs on Thursday, May 15 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $33.96 at prekindle.com).
Saddle up, pard
Good Medicine and the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department present country hitmaker Easton Corbin at the Paso Robles Event Center as part of the SLO County Sheriff’s Rodeo on Friday, May 9 (6 to 9:30 p.m.; all ages; $20 adult, $10 children 6 to 12, kids 5 and under free).
The baritone singer is known for No. 1 singles like “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It,” along with recent releases like “I Can’t Decide,” “Marry That Girl,” and “Lonesome Drinkers,” all included on his newest album, Let’s Do Country Right.
“It’s about being authentic, and that’s what I always focus on when I write or record,” he said in press materials. “I keep one foot in traditional and one foot in the modern and marry those two. That’s really been my motto through the years.”
Good Medicine also presents Dan Curcio (of Moonshiner Collective) on Friday, May 9, in SLO’s Libertine (6 p.m.; 21-and-older; $22.87) with Adam Pasion (of Briertone) opening.
“Join us for a very special acoustic performance by two of the Central Coast’s favorite singer-songwriters, Dan Curcio and special guest Adam Pasion,” Good Medicine announced. “Dan was inspired to start his own band in his early Cal Poly days after seeing Briertone performing in SLO, so this feels like a full-circle moment for him to be able to share the stage with Adam for the first time together.”
Siren folk
Ynana Rose recently released a lovely new Spanish language single with guest artist Arturo Lugo called “Los Ejes de Mi Carreta” and she’s having a concert to celebrate this Friday, May 9, in Cambria’s Sonic Milk Studios (doors at 7 p.m.; $20 at my805tix.com). She’ll be backed by Logan Castro on cello, Taylor Hatch on lead guitar, and Luca Zovich on piano. Special guest Ricky Berger opens the show.
Ynana’s newest album, Under A Cathedral Sky, is out now. The award-winning songwriter has taken home trophies from the New Times Music Awards, the Dallas Songwriters Association, and American Songwriter magazine.
Set my concerts free!
The Siren has a bunch of freebies this week, most notably the Hillbilly Surf Stomp featuring the Cadillac Angels and Hillbilly Soul Surfers on Friday, May 9 (7 to 10:30 p.m.; 21-and-older). According to The Siren, expect a “night of awesome rockabilly, surf, western swing and good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. Two bands, one hot night!”
You can witness 4th District SLO County Supervisor and musician Jimmy Paulding with his band Oso Sol on Saturday, May 10 (7:30 to 10 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). The quartet plays reggae rock with a mix of hip-hop, dance, ska, and more.
Pedal to the Metalachi
and some So-Cal pop
SLO Brew Live at Rod & Hammer Rock is bringing mariachi metal band Metalachi back to the club on Friday, May 9 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.36 at ticketweb.com). Get ready for some tequila-fueled mariachi debauchery as they “combine the humor of Steel Panther, the flamboyance of GWAR, and the eclectic rawness of Rob Zombie,” according to their bio.
Cayucas plays Rod & Hammer on Thursday, May 15 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.21 at ticketweb.com). The Santa Monica-based indie pop group is fronted by twin brothers Zach and Ben Yudin, and their music is positively effervescent. Δ
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in May 8-18, 2025.