Music happenings in and around Sonoma County – 9/13 – 9/16

Seems a lot of the action is in Petaluma this weekend, with three big shows, but also a classic club dance party at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa and an outdoor music festival in Gureneville. If you’ve come to Sonoma for the wine and food, factor some of these gourmet acts into your weekend.

Friday, Sept. 14 – Brothers Comatose

Brothers Comatose

Literally brothers, Alex and Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose grew up in a house that was known for its music parties. “The Morrison house was a gathering place for local musicians, everyone would bring an instrument, call out tunes, call out changes, and just play for hours” says Brothers Comatose bassist and Morrison music party goer, Gio Benedetti. “I learned more in that living room than in any class I ever took.” The brothers took this generous, inclusive and rowdy attitude and brought it to stages all over San Francisco. With the addition of members Philip Brezina and Ryan Avellone, the string quintet brings their original string music and the feel of an intimate music party to audiences all across the United States

Venue – Mystic Theater – Petaluma707- 765-2121

 

Friday, Sept. 14 – Pat Jordan

The Pat Jordan Band started in a garage, in living rooms, backyards, by lakes and on beaches and has grown into a powerful five-piece acoustic-rock band based in Northern California. With a sound carved from hundreds of live shows, and constant drive to evolve and progress, Pat Jordan Band has developed a devoted following spanning from coast to coast, and a style all their own.

Venue – VML Winery – Healdsburg – 707-431-4404

 

Saturday, Sept. 15 – Zeparella

Zeparella

An all-female Led Zeppelin tribute act? You got it. This would be the hot pick of the week. These girls put on a show worthy of a Zeppelin tribute act, and have gained followers all over the country with their act. Singer Noelle Doughty has found her way back to where she started, with a passion for Led Zeppelins music that was developed from as far back as she can remember, as the little sister in the room with the rocking older brothers. She was the kid who knew every word to every song. You will be truly impressed by this act.

Venue – Mystic Theater – Petaluma707- 765-2121

 

 

 

 

Saturday, Sept. 15 – Crossfire

Crossfire is a big dance band in the classic format, and plays rhythm and blues, classic soul, Motown, classic rock, ‘70s Disco and more. The band can lay down a range of grooves from smooth jazz for the cocktail-dinner set to the full blown house rockin’ show band with choreography and special effect lighting. Expect to be dancing long before the show ends.

Venue – Flamingo Hotel – Santa Rosa707-545-8530

 

Saturday, Sept. 15 – Redwood Grove Festival

Dan Hicks

The Annual Old Grove Festival takes place at the historic Redwood Forest Theater in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. This beautiful open-air theatre was built in the ‘30s. Concerts and theatrical events took place there for decades until the theater was closed in the ‘80s out of concern for natural resource protection. In 2006, the theater was reopened for limited use. This years headliner is Dan Hicks. Hicks is truly an American original. Since the early 1960s, Hicks has deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Country music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls “Folk Jazz.” Also on the bill are Solid Air, the Mighty Chiplings and Gordon and D’Orazi.

Venue – Armstrong Redwoods State Park – Guerneville – 707-869-9177

 

 

 

Sunday, Sept. 16 – Dave Matthews Tribute Band

Their name says it all; The Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Many go to their live shows with reservations, high expectations, and the burning question, “Do these guys sound like the real Dave Matthews Band?” Almost always the answer is “Yes!” Hailing from Chattanooga, TN, the Dave Matthews Tribute Band is the only nationally touring tribute to the Dave Matthews Band. This 6-piece ensemble strives to pay homage to their famous counterparts by matching the excitement, energy, intensity and intimacy of a DMB live show.

Venue – Mystic Theater – Petaluma707- 765-2121

Music happenings in and around Sonoma Country – 8/23

Friday, Aug. 24 – Volker-Strifler
Volker Strifler is probably best known as the “other” guitarist in Robben Ford’s band. Though not exactly a household name, Volker Strifler should be. As a longtime associate of the famous Ford brothers (Robben, Patrick and Mark), Strifler had proven his mettle as a guitarist and singer a long time ago. But with his new CD, “Let the Music Rise,” he delivers the complete package in the form of superb lyrics and vocals, as well as skill as a producer, in addition to his accomplished fretwork.

HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300

Frobeck

Saturday, Aug. 25 – Frobeck
This would be my personal Hot Pick of the weekend – One of the hottest funk rock groups of the North Bay, Frobeck has been entertaining audiences with their original funk rock music since 2005. Boasting a full lineup of high octane lead vocals, bass, drums, guitars, keys, replete with sultry backing vocals, Frobeck covers all the bases. Their songs and musicianship have landed them on stage with such acts as Bill Champlin, Booker T, Ozomatli, WAR, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Los Lonely Boys and many others. With the recent addition of the “Frobeck Horn Stars,” the band has entered into the realm of their musical heroes; Tower of Power, the Sons of Champlin, and Stevie Wonder. You can definitely shake you booty to these guys.

HopMonk Tavern – Sebastopol
829-7300

Brandi Carlile

Saturday, Aug. 25 – Brandi Carlile
From her earliest days on Seattle’s coffeehouse circuit, Carlile has demonstrated an uncommon gift for connecting with fans. Her remarkable vocals, by turns nuanced and raw, brilliantly uninhibited and always expressive convey a palpable emotion that seeps through every song.

Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa
546-3600

Tuesday, Aug. 28 – Diana Krall
This multi-platinum artist has written a new chapter in acoustic jazz improvisation. Krall has sold more than six million albums in the U.S. and over 15 million worldwide and she is the only jazz singer to have eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums. Her latest project has Krall and her band backing up Paul McCartney on his new release, “Kisses from the Bottom.”

Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa
546-3600

Saturday, Aug. 25 – Levi Lloyd and the 501 Blues Band
Levi Lloyd is a blues veteran, having played with B. B. King, John Lee Hooker and toured worldwide as the longtime guitarist for the legendary Joe Louis Walker. Lloyds well-worn ’68 Les Paul guitar and lowdown vocals tell it all. The band also won this years North Bay Music Awards for the best blues band.

Tradewinds – Cotati
795-7878