the hum / By Bob Doran

Natural

It’s hootenanny time Saturday at the Arkley Center, with a flashback to the folk revival featuring The Kingston Trio and The Brothers Four, two combos that had smash hits back in the ’50s and early ’60s with their clean-cut take on folk. Formed in 1957 in Palo Alto, The Kingston Trio made their name with an extended gig at San Francisco’s hungry i and a surprise hit version of the murder ballad “Tom Dooley,” and a series of very successful albums. The original trio lasted 10 years, disbanding in the Summer of Love. One member, Bob Shane, wanted to keep things going and bought the name from the others. Until he retired in ’05, Shane worked with a rotating group of singers included former members of The Limeliters and The Brothers Four. The Brothers Four were frat brothers at U. Wash in Seattle when they got going in 1958 (which means they’re celebrating their golden anniversary). They followed a trajectory similar to the K. Trio, moving to S.F. and scoring pop hits with “Greenfields” and “Green Leaves of Summer.” Only Bob Flick remains from the original line-up; Mark Pearson has been a Bro off and on since 1968.

Meanwhile across town at the Eureka Theater, it’s a flashback of a different sort as San Fran-based House of Floyd offers a tribute to the psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. Expect a Floyd-esque show with lights, lasers and theatrics. Like Deadheads, they’re devotees who say, “For each of us, Floyd has simply become an all-encompassing obsession about life, death and everything in between.”

And out in Blue Lake Saturday we have another tribute: Garratt Wilkin and The Parrotheads present “A Celebration of Jimmy Buffett’s Music.” I’m guessing margaritas will be the drink du jour.

The Bucky Walters play “bluegrass and beyond” Saturday as part of the Mateel’s massive Humboldt Hoedown down at SoHum Community Park (see calendar for full details), but first, on Friday, the band celebrates completion of a new CD, Phone, at Mosgo’s. Of course the Phone of the title is one of those old timey models, not cellular or Bluetooth. Berel Alexander opens the Mosgo’s show.

Mosgo’s is CD release central this weekend: Saturday, ex-local Casio cuties The Ian Fays are up from Frisco for an all-ages CD release party for their latest, Dylan’s Lost Days. The Fays also play Friday at the Lil’ Red Lion; both local shows pair them with their friends Hey Eleanor. Incidentally, if it’s like the twins’ other albums, the Dylan of the title is probably not Bob, but some ex-boyfriend.

Classical fans have a choice to make Friday: The new season of the Eureka Chamber Music Series at Calvary Lutheran begins that night with pianist Anton Nels playing Beethoven. Over at Fulkerson Hall, it’s “Fascinating Rhythms” with soprano Elisabeth Harrington, clarinetist Virginia Ryder and pianists Deborah Clasquin, Ching-Ming Cheng and John Chernoff (HSU music faculty all) performing jazz-inspired classics. The show’s name comes from one piece that Clasquin will play, part of a collection of etudes by Earl Wild based on Gershwin tunes.

Humboldt Baykeeper celebrates another birthday Friday with a bash at the Arcata Community Center. Dinner from Hurricane Kate’s, speeches, awards and the requisite auction are followed by vibrant music by The West African Highlife Band, an all-star ensemble from the Bay Area. Leader Ken Okulolo came to the U.S. from Nigeria with King Sunny Ade and later formed Kotoja. Guitarist Soji Odukogbe, also from Nigeria, played for years with the late great Fela Kuti. Percussionist Nii Armah Hammond, from Ghana, was a founding member of Hedzoleh Soundz. Is this sounding familiar? The same band played for the same event last year. And same as last year, you’re welcome to skip dinner and just come to dance.

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