Plenty of local music action this weekend to help you shake off those turkey blues and pumpkin pie calories. We’ve got legends from the ‘60s, a multi-talented reggae act, some excellent blues and even some bluegrass.
Friday, Nov. 23- Midnight Sun Massive
Midnight Sun Massive is an all-original reggae-calypso act that combines potent Caribbean rhythms with conscious lyrics to move your body and your mind. The collection of multi-instrumentalists and song-writers, each drawing from diverse backgrounds creates a genre-hopping, booty-shaking experience. The act has been appearing in and around Sonoma County in one form or another since the early ‘80s, and most recently, has enjoyed a large upsurge in popularity, filling dance floors wherever then play.
Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530
Friday, Nov. 23 – the Pulsators
Rooted in the fertile musical soil of the Sonoma County wine country, the Pulsators are a five-piece band that plays its own brand of music. With a get-up-and-dance kind of orchestration, their music has been defined as a spicy blend of driving blues, New Orleans funk, R&B, rock steady reggae and rock-and-roll. Their music supports an ever-growing legion of faithful fans that have followed the act for many years. The Pulsators have been voted a Sonoma County fan-favorite four times in reader’s choice polls given by the Press Democrat.
Venue: Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, 707-545-5876
Friday, Nov. 23 – New Riders of the Purple Sage
The New Riders of the Purple Sage (NRPS) were initially formed as a vehicle for Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, and Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead to indulge their tastes for country music beyond the albums Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. Their original lineup at early performances consisted of Garcia on pedal steel, Lesh on bass and other Bay Area musicians. The New Riders essentially disbanded in 1982, although the name was later picked up by a new lineup built around Gary Vogenson on guitar and Rusty Gautier on bass, carrying on the songs that gave the act it’s strong regional following.
Venue: Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, 707-765-2121
Saturday, Nov. 24 – Steve Pile Band
With a guitar on his back Bay Area native Steve Pile has traveled the world from Alaska to Austin to Africa, “…distilling his own hybrid of blues, rock and melodic African music, all topped off with a little cowboy swagger” John Beck, Press Democrat. After landing back in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2007, Pile went about assembling the finest musicians he could find. In 2008 the Steve Pile Band was born. Morphing from the acoustic Americana he nurtured while living in Austin, TX to a more electric, cross-cultural stew of styles, the Steve Pile Band represents the full drop of roots music.
Venue: HopMonk Tavern, Sebastopol, 707- 829-7300
Saturday, Nov. 24 – Jason Bodlovich
Jason Bodlovich is a North Bay guitarist, composer and band leader. Originally from Huntington Beach CA, he now resides in Sonoma County where he performs with a mix of original projects. Eclectic is a good word to use for J’s sound as he blends rock, funk, blues, swing, jazz, Brazilian and more. This cross-over appeal has led to opening slots for various artists including instrumental rock guitarist Joe Satriani; jazz artists including Diana Krall and Rites of Strings featuring Al Di Meola Stanley Clarke and Jean Luc Ponty; blues groups including The Ford Brothers featuring Robben Ford and Volker Strifler Group. Bodlovich will be performing as a trio at this show, with one of his protégé students, Owen Barrett on drums and Steve Froberg, from the local act Frobeck on bass.
Venue: Lagunitas Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary, Petaluma, 707- 778-8776
Sunday, Nov. 25 – the David Thom Band
The David Thom Band is fast becoming one of the hottest regional bluegrass acts in the North Bay. Playing in the style of Flatt and Scruggs, the band covers many from the days of Bill Monroe and the “golden years” of bluegrass and even their original songs share a similar take on the genre. The band recently played the legendary Freight and Salvage in Berkeley to rave reviews and is continuing their trek around the North Bay. This is an afternoon show.
Venue: Lagunitas Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary, Petaluma, 707- 778-8776