Grammy Award? Check. MacArthur Fellow “genius grant”? Check. Amazing mandolinist, singer-songwriter, and composer? Check, check, check! Cal Poly Arts presents Chris Thile at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Feb. 28 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $45 to $74 at calpolyarts.org), and he spoke about his career during a recent Zoom call.
Thile, a founding member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, most recently released Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 2, a follow-up to 2013’s Vol. 1, but for the second volume, he took a very different approach.
“I think just about every serious musician I know at least loves Bach, and a lot of us love having a hands-on relationship with his music, so I would say that the first one was really just an extension of that,” he explained. “Like, I love this and I want to do it. And look, I can do it. And I still hear all of this joy in the sheer ability to play solo Bach on that first record. I still feel like it comes off as very sincere, and I’m proud of it.
“But taking that same approach into Vol. 2, it didn’t work. Something seemed wrong, or just kind of lifeless about it.”
To find inspiration, Thile decided to record Bach’s compositions in a variety of places.
“Recording them in different locations, and occasionally jumping locations mid movement, that was a fairly interesting process that I just couldn’t unhear in my inner ear once I dreamed it up, so we chased that sound.”
Some were recorded at Blackberry Farm, where Thile was married, some in New York’s Tompkins Square Park, some at Kentucky’s Murray State University where Thile performed Bach for the first time in front of an audience.
“I was a violin major there for a very short time before Nickel Creek took off, so, yeah, the ghost of me, just absolutely shitting bricks, getting ready to play Bach—that all came back, and my mom actually wanted to come, so it was an audience of one, my mom, in that hall.”
For his solo show here, Thile said he’d be playing half Bach and half reaching into his extensive catalog.
“It’s a pretty wide-ranging affair, but everything’s selected to go together and weave a coherent narrative. There are stories and songs that go with the Bach, and the Bach I picked out goes with the songs I want to play. There’s a theatrical element. It’s no longer as interesting to just straight-up play music. I’m putting on a show.”
When I think of Thile, I think like Béla Fleck and the banjo or Jake Shimabukuro and the ukulele. He seems determined to take the mandolin to new places, but he pushed back on that idea.
“I’m not trying to take the mandolin to new places specifically. I’m trying to take myself new places. It’s really just me chasing the sounds I hear in my head, that I hear in my heart of hearts. How do I get from hearing those sounds in my head to actually hearing them in a room or on a record or being able to give them to my fellow human beings?”
Also this week from Cal Poly Arts, see Broadway star Patti LuPone: Matters of the Heart on Wednesday, Feb. 25 (8 p.m.; all ages; $75 to $125 at pacslo.org). The event celebrates the 25th anniversary of her acclaimed theatrical concert Matters of the Heart, which she performed for extended runs on Broadway, London’s West End, and on tour nationally and internationally.
Cal Poly Arts also brings you Kal Penn: From White Castle to White House on Thursday, Feb. 26 (8 p.m.; all ages; $41 to $74 at pacslo.org). Emmy-nominated actor, author, and former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement is known for his starring roles in Designated Survivor, House, The Namesake, and the Harold & Kumar franchise.
SLO CAL 4EVER
Nonprofit, countywide marketing organization Visit SLO Cal presents Carbon City Lights at The Siren on Sunday, Feb. 22 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). They’ll be shooting video that night, so wash your face, you filthy animal. You don’t want to embarrass your mom.
“We’re excited to announce a special hometown show,” frontman Michael Venia said. “It’s more than a show—it’s a celebration of the Central Coast—the coastline, the hills, the small-town magic, and the music community that makes this place feel like home. I’m truly honored to be part of it, and when I look back on how I ended up here, the connections still feel almost too wild to be real.”
Venia grew up in Saudi Arabia.
“What many people may not know is that my wife did too,” Venia continued. “Years before either of us could’ve imagined settling down in SLO, she visited as a high school student in the early 2000s and discovered a local band you may remember: Jive N Direct. She even left a comment on their MySpace page and got a reply from Damon Castillo along the lines of, ‘How cool our music has made it to Saudi Arabia!’ Even then, the Central Coast scene was reaching far beyond its borders.”
Amazingly, two of Carbon City’s band members played in Jive N Direct: Kristian Ducharme (keys) and Jennings Jacobsen (drums). Small world. Join them, Josh Barrett (bass of B & the Hive), Bob Liepman (cello of Bob & Wendy), and Bret Heenan (lead guitar) this Sunday.
Sublime tribute band 40oz to Freedom plays The Siren on Friday, Feb. 20 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $18.48 at tixr.com). They won the 2010 San Diego Music Award for Best Tribute Artist and have been touring ever since.
Hard rock and pop punk tributes
Good Medicine and Numbskull present AC/DC tribute band High Voltage at The Siren on Saturday, Feb. 21 (doors at 8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $20.29 at goodmedicinepresents.com).
“Well, here we go again,” drummer Ray Rocha said. “High Voltage is back at The Siren.”
Formed in 2010, the band includers original members Rocha and Andy Shellcross (bass) accompanied by longtime members RJ Silvas (guitar/Angus), Anthony Tyminski (guitar/Malcolm), and touring vocalist Brian Donson.
“Brian travels from Pennsylvania to do shows with us,” Rocha added. “He’s a stellar presence onstage and does justice to both the Bonn Scott and Brian Johnson material. Paul Dunn on bagpipes will be debuting a new intro into ‘Long Way to the Top.’ We’ll be doing a single, concert-style set of over 20 songs.”
Good Medicine and Numbskull also present NOT.GREENDAY at Club Car Bar on Saturday, Feb. 21 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $18.75 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Expect both hits and deep cuts from every era of Green Day’s catalog. Melodic skate punk act Carry the 9 opens.
Hot, ha-ha, and Jah
Good Vibez and the Fremont Theater have a packed slate this week starting with Heated Rivalry Night on Friday, Feb. 20 (doors at 8:15, show at 9 p.m.; 18-and-older; $42.20 at prekindle.com). “@club90s_la takes over the Fremont for the ultimate Heated Rivalry Night,” organizers announced. “Dance all night to HR edits, pop throwbacks, queer anthems, and nonstop high-energy hits. Photobooth, giveaways, and more.”
See funnyman Harland Williams: Comzilla Comedy Tour on Sunday, Feb. 22 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $39.11 at prekindle.com). The comedian and actor is known for roles in Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Half Baked, Rocketman, Sorority Boys, Down Periscope, and more.
Progressive roots and reggae act The Elovators plays on Tuesday, Feb. 24 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $46.32 at prekindle.com). Their 2018 sophomore album, Defy Gravity, went to No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae chart. They’re currently touring in support of Endless Summer (2023).
Soul and R&B acts Thee Sinseers and The Altons (a side project of Thee Sinseers) play on Wednesday, Feb. 25 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $40.14 at prekindle.com). Great horn section and great singers! The McCharmlys open.
Last I checked, the Bored Teachers: “Is It Friday Yet?!” Comedy Tour was almost sold out. If you can score tickets, see it on Thursday, Feb. 26 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $39.11 to $81.86 at prekindle.com).
Two tributes and a beach party
SLO Brew Rock kicks off its week with Phish tribute act The Great Divide on Friday, Feb. 20 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $27.21 at ticketweb.com). “Phans can expect to hear favorites from every period of the band’s 40-plus year career,” organizers announced.
Led Zeppelin tribute band Legend Zeppelin plays on Saturday, Feb. 21 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.21 at ticketweb.com). The band obsessively works to re-create the Zeppelin experience with “period-correct gear, attire, and stage approach inspired by the band’s earliest tours and legendary bootlegs,” their bio explained.
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF SILVERBACK ARTIST MANAGEMENT
Finally, Slum Beach Records presents DENM on his Dual Nature DENM Tour on Sunday, Feb. 22 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $35.45 at ticketweb.com). DENM first made waves dropping his Slum Beach Denny album in 2021. The record has been streamed more than 25 million times. Evening Elephants and Obed Padilla open.
Tribute, nostalgia, and blues all-stars
The Clark Center’s lined up some fun ones this week starting with Simon & Garfunkel tribute act The Graduates on Saturday, Feb. 21 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $41.50 to $79.50 at clarkcenter.org). “Scarborough Fair,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water”—you’ll hear the classics as well as brief narratives about their careers together and as soloists.
The Doo Wop Project plays on Monday, Feb. 23 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $49 to $79 at clarkcenter.org) as it traces the evolution of doo-wop from classic street-corner harmonies to today’s biggest hits. The vocal supergroup features singers from Jersey Boys, Motown, and Beautiful.
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK HUMMEL
Finally, see Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout on Wednesday, Feb. 25 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $38 to $64 at clarkcenter.org). This year’s performers include Magic Dick, Curtis Salgado, RJ Mischo, Anson Funderburgh, Steve Freund, Rodrigo Mantovani, and Wes Starr.
Patriotism on parade
The U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus plays the PAC in SLO on Sunday, Feb. 22 (3 p.m.; all ages; free but reserve your spot at pacslo.org). The 60-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus “join together to offer unparalleled versatile programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics, and Broadway musicals,” organizers announced. “Their mission is to connect with Americans, share Army stories, and honor veterans as the Musical Ambassadors of the Army.”
Church jazz
In the ’20s, critics called jazz “the devil’s music.” Now you can hear it in a sanctuary when The G2 Project plays the Jazz Vespers Concert series at SLO’s First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Feb. 22 (4 p.m.; all ages; free but donations appreciated). Led by award-winning architect George Garcia (piano), the trio also includes Dylan Johnson (bass) and Darrell Voss (drums.) A reception follows. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Feb 19-26, 2026.