Want to go out for Halloween but not be surrounded by college kids hell-bent on destruction? May I suggest the SLO Blues Society’s upcoming Halloween dance party with three great bands delivering a night of rip-roaring fun for adults.
Head to the SLO Vets Hall on Saturday, Oct. 31 (doors at 6:30, show at 7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $28.90 presale at my805tix.com or $35 cash at the door) and start your evening with The Mojo Combo.
Led by guitarist Dudley Gimpel and featuring the propulsive blues harp of Debra Windsong, this group has been delivering the goods since 2011 and has taken home two New Times Music Awards along the way.
Next up is the fabulous Burning James Blues Band that features amazing guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader “Burning” James Scoolis as well as the youthful harmonica player and vocalist James “Jimmy G” Godfrey, who was mentored by the great John Clifton. The band also includes shuffling drummer Wes Starr and bassist Billy Baxmeyer. Good stuff!
The night’s headliner is the Ray Jaurique Big Band. Jaurique is known for his soulful sounds and original songwriting. As his website notes, Jaurique’s music is “a little taste of blues, a bit of soul; it rocks, it rolls, it swings … it’s music about love, heartbreak, bad times, good times, romance, and, in the end, making the most of life.”
Be there or be square.
Halloweenpoloosa
Good Vibez and the Fremont Theater are turning their Halloween dial to 11 this week. I wrote last week about Cal Poly’z Biggest 18+ Halloween Party on Thursday, Oct. 29 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.78 at prekindle.com), but that’s just the beginning.
The 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show screens twice on Friday, Oct. 30 (doors at 5, show at 6 p.m.; doors at 8, show at 9 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.78 at prekindle.com).
“Let’s do the Time Warp, SLO,” organizers announced “Join SLOQueerdos for the annual shadowcast performance of the iconic Rocky Horror Picture Show! Put on your finest fishnets and join us for an exciting evening of grit and glamour.”
It’s a 2000 (Halloween) Party: San Luis Obispo lands on All Hallow’s Eve proper on Saturday, Oct. 31 (9 p.m.; 18-and-older; $33.96 at prekindle.com). Expect a nostalgic blast from the past as you dance to the decade’s biggest hits across pop, hip-hop, and rock genres.
In non-Halloween related news, Good Vibez presents Tusk: The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac on Wednesday, Nov. 4 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $36.02 to $66.92 at prekindle.com). “Playing the hits and deep cuts spanning the career of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Fleetwood Mac, Tusk has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute,” their bio explains. “Five pro musicians turned into masters of their trade through decades of individual music study, live performance, creative risk, and devotion to the art. Tusk features note-perfect renditions of both the solo and full band songs, with each member specializing in one of the core lineups of Fleetwood Mac.”
Finally, hip-hop group SOB X RBE plays on Thursday, Nov. 5 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $46.32 at prekindle.com). SOB X RBE is an acronym of Strictly Only Brothers x Real Boi Entertainment.
NOLA soul, swamp rock, and more
Good Medicine and Numbskull have two really cool Southern-fried acts coming up.
My immediate response to Andrew Duhon’s voice and style is Van Morrison, baby! He’s incredible! As his bio explains, “Born, raised, shaped, and inspired by his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrew Duhon tours performing songs that are as much about recognizing our shared stories as they are about telling his own.”
He’s joined by bassist Myles Weeks (James Hunter Six, Eric Lindell) and drummer Jim Kolacek (Feufollett), and together they create gritty, bluesy, folksy, country sounds.
See the Andrew Duhon Trio at Club Car Bar on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (7 p.m.; all ages; $20.29 at goodmedicinepresents.com).
Good Medicine and Numbskull present one of my favorite live acts, Southern Culture on the Skids, at The Siren on Wednesday, Nov. 4 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $30.59 at goodmedicinepresents.com). This trio started in 1983 and plays swampy, campy, twangy honky-tonk and garage soul. So fun.
Also at The Siren, Electric Lavender Train returnson Friday, Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). This is a terrific local band with great players including vocalist Rachel Santa Cruz and guitarist Hunter Takao Nakazono. Easy listening rock ’n’ roll at its finest.
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MOLLY RINGWALD PROJECT
The Molly Ringwald Project ’80s Halloween Party returns on Saturday, Oct. 31 (8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $29.59 at tixr.com). They’ll play all your favorite neon-colored hits, perfect to dance to in your killer Halloween costume.
Psychedelic Americana? Yes, please!
Hawaiian slack key guitar, psychedelic pedal steel, masterful keyboard, and rock steady bass and drum converge as the five virtuosos of the Skeleton Crewe join forces to make their unique sound.
Talk about an all-star band! Keyboardist and vocalist Rob Barraco (Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends, The Dead); pedal steel, electric guitarist, and vocalist Barry Sless (Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros, David Nelson Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, MoonAlice); slack key guitarist, electric guitarist, and vocalist Stephen Inglis (Billy Kreutzmann, Dennis Kamakahi); bassist Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Phil Lesh & Friends, David Nelson Band, MoonAlice), and drummer and vocalist Jay Lane (Dead & Company, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, Ratdog)—that’s a lot of experience.
Credit: COURTESY PHOTO BY JAMIE SOJA
SLO Brew Live presents Skeleton Crewe at The Rock SLO on Friday, Oct. 30 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.26 at ticketweb.com).
Also at The Rock, Legend Zeppelin returns on Thursday, Nov. 5 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $29.27 at ticketweb.com). The group was formed “to preserve and expand Led Zeppelin’s raw, explosive live performances, delivering an authentic experience for both lifelong fans and new listeners,” their bio explains. “They aim to re-create Led Zeppelin’s entire career chronologically over the next six years.”
Do it!
Not run of the Mills
Whether playing country, Western swing, yodeling, or good old rock ’n’ roll, Monte Mills is an entertainment wonder. He got his start 50 years ago, and his early shows at F. McLintocks in downtown SLO were legendary.
Credit: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONTE MILLS
Whether playing classics by artists such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Bob Wills, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams, or delivering crowd-pleasing rock classics, his shows are parties.
Monte Mills plays his 50th anniversary concert on Friday, Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $19.76 to $40 at clarkcenter.org).
“It’s about how much energy you can give and get back from a crowd and create memories that transcend time,” Mills has often said, according to press materials. “Repeat business has made our history and our future.”
Low-ticket warning!
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF CAL POLY ARTS
Lyle Lovett is one of a kind—a singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and all-around quirky, charming Texas legend. Over his 46-year career, he’s worked new angles on classic genres like jazz, swing, gospel, rockabilly, blues, and Americana, but it’s probably easiest just to call him an alt-country artist extraordinaire.
The four-time Grammy winner with 14 albums to his credit returns to town when Cal Poly Arts presents Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band at the Performing Arts Center in SLO on Monday, Nov. 2 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $74 to $104 at calpolyart.org). Tickets are going fast, so don’t wait.
Monsieur Dadgad
French acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and composer Pierre Bensusan on his Infinite Guitar World Tour plays the SLO Library on Friday, Nov. 6 (doors at 6:30, show at 7 p.m.; all ages; $30 presale at pierrebensusan.com, or $35 at the door). Winner of the Independent Music Award for his triple live album Encore, voted Best World Music Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine’s readers poll, winner of the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival for his debut album—he’s considered as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
