the hum / By Bob Doran

Notes From Bob’s Mailbox

(April 12, 2007)  Since I’m heading out to tour Cali over Easter vay-cay, I’ve put the Hum on autopilot, basically just dumping the mailbag directly into this space (sort of anyway).

First one from Carol B., via Yvonne: People Productions and KMUD proudly present “Stephen Marley: Mind Control North American Tour” Wednesday, April 18, at the Arcata Community Center. Stephen Marley, Grammy-winning artist and producer, and son of the legendary Bob Marley, has been tearing up the charts and collecting rave reviews with the release of his highly anticipated solo debut album, Mind Control, which represents a new stage in his evolution, one that brings together the genius of his production and his wise and soulful voice with hip-hop beats, smoky bass and winding keyboard runs. This is the sound of a man coming into full realization of his powers — and his legacy. The tour is happening in association with the Ghetto Youths International Foundation and will feature special guest “Jr. Gong” and acclaimed African artist K’Naan. (Bob notes: Saw K’Naan at Reggae, he’s awesome. The Marley bros — Stephen and Damian (aka Jr. G.) of “Welcome to Jamrock” fame — are pretty good too.)

Stephen Marley. Photo by Kim Sallaway.

GALLERY >

E-mail from Justin at the Mateel, received more than once: On Saturday, April 14, the Mateel Community Center in Redway is proud to present Mateel Forever 2, a fundraiser for the Summer Arts and Music Festival at Benbow Lake. The event will function as a mini-Summer Arts, complete with vendors, dancers, fine art, children’s entertainment, martial artists and lots of music. The line-up for Mateel Forever 2 will include regional acts like Bayonics, David Jacobs-Strain, Lansdale Station with Ruben Diaz, Axe and Malicki Diallo Bah, plus local favorites Lost Coast Marimbas, Steel Toed Slippers, Dragon Heart Tang Soo Do, Lakshmi’s Daughters, Humboldt Capoeira, All Shook Up Belly Dance, Raymond Thoya, Shae Freelove, The Elliots, A’OK The Clown, The Bindis, and more. For more info visit mateel.org.

One of The Brendas writes asking (and answering) the rhetorical question: Who on Earth are The Brendas? The Brendas are an eight-piece all-female band with members from The Czech Republic, Denmark, Canada, The UK and The US, who have come together to be based here in Humboldt, and more specifically, Blue Lake. The ladies formed together as The Brendas one year ago and have been making some interesting sounds ever since. At the moment we are championing the slide whistle, as it has had a hard time in the serious instrument realm, as have those much maligned egg shakers. If you try to pin The Brendas down to a description of their sound the most concise they can come up with is a mix of European folk, bluegrass, country-punk and music hall. The Brendas also emphasize that they like to dress theme-atically, because that is the basis of rock glory. The Brendas are playing on April 14, at the Logger Bar, Blue Lake along side their fellow Blue Lakers, Tainted Zucchini(Byronic rock), and a special line up of The Jade Stems (some original members, and then some members of FUSIQ and Tainted Zucchini lending a hand as well). “We love playing with the Zucchinis and The Stems,” says one Brenda. “They are all noise and grime and testosterone, then we step up dressed in cow hide and fishnets and sing ditties about lost love and vacuuming. It’s the perfect foil - or alternatively the perfect foil is foil itself, as it’s good for hair frosting and roast dinners.” The Show starts at 9 p.m. and has no cover charge.

*Tamaras writes to say: “**We start The Pearl Sessions*withTamaras and Nate Kaplan next Thursday April 12, and we need help spreading the word. We are very excited about our Thursday night residency at The Pearl Lounge and how generous The Pearl folks have been to offer it to us. It is free to the public and want it to be a nice experience for all our neighbors and friends to come connect with each other and enjoy our Acoustic Grunge Jazz band.”

Note from some record company flak:NUDITY - Thursday April 12, E&O Bowl.They say they are astral travelers, but these four rockers from Olympia, Wash., cite influences rooted deep in Hawkwind, Amon Duul II, Velvet Underground and the MC5. They serve up their singular vision of rhythm and heat through a driving brand of psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll. The Olympia super-group consists of Dave Harvey (Tight Bros From Way Back When, Behead the Prophet) on guitar, vocals, sitar, harmonica and flute, Chris Sutton (Dub Narcotic Sound System, Spider and the Webs, C.O.C.O.) on guitar and vocals, Jon “Quitty” Quittner (Tight Bros From Way Back When, Behead the Prophet) on bass and vocals, and Eryn Ross (Growing) on drums … Nudity is bent on making some of the most sonic and insane bionic boogie to come out of the Northwest … the colors of their lighting and clothing reflecting and intensifying the electric hues leaping from amplifiers and drums. [*Ed. note: Flak, never leave out the local connection. Jon “Quitty” Quittner was, of course, the bass player for Arcata supergroup Brent’s TV way back in the day.*]

Via Humboldtmusic.com: What: Strength&Strix Vega When: Friday, April 13. Where: Jambalaya. Description: Portland garage disco vets Strength return to Humboldt after headlining last year’s Bummerfest to give the locals another night of sweaty satisfaction; local boys Strix Vega join in on the fun.

Ian from the Alibi always gets right to the point: Saturday, April 14, Dragonheart Records/Cruz del Sur Records artists Slough Feg (folk-tinged power metal from San Francisco — featuring ex-Hammers of Misfortune) + Ketea (female-fronted doom from Louisiana). Sunday, April 15, DRAGGEDbyHORSES (local heavy rock) + The Long and Short of It (heavy rock from San Diego). All shows @ The Alibi/21 and over only/10:30 p.m. doors/11:15 p.m. music.

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