the hum / By Bob Doran

Love and Luck

V-Day brings Elvis and the Houndogs, allegedly “Humboldt County’s one and only Elvis tribute band” to Muddy’s Hot Cup for a “’50’s Sock Hop and Valentine’s Costume Party” on Saturday with the jazzy Luscious Ladies opening. “Costumes of a retro and/or Valentine’s nature are greatly encouraged,” advises one of the Ladies.

The retro-rockin’ Delta Nationals provide music for dancing at the Valentine’s Dance at the Arcata Community Center, which doubles as the Fireman’s Ball, with proceeds from the raffle, silent auction, no-host bar, etc. going to the Arcata Volunteer Fire Dept. Building Fund.

Über cool jamband Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey plays Valentine’s night at New World Ballet (in the Old Arcata Creamery) for the “Warm & Fuzzy Pajammy Jam” with a “special down-tempo set” by JSUN, plus Ragnarokk. “Why a ballet studio?” the organizers ask rhetorically, answering their own question: “Well, one word sums it: ‘Heat.’ That’s right heat, because who wants to hang in pajamas in the cold.” (They’ll have prizes for the “styliest pjs.”)

The Pajammy Jam starts late (11 p.m.) as does the V-Day show at the Alibi featuring self-described “psych-heads and way-outs” The Freeks, who indeed sound freaky, psychedelic and way out. They’re on tour with Sassy, a two-piece from S.F. who favor go-go boots and fishnet hose. The ladies, guitarist Trixie Delicious and drummer Kitty Largewood, sent me their latest, Get a Grip, a blast of short, tight neo-garage rock songs with ’60s-style girl-group vocals that sound, well, sassy.

How about before and after V-Day/F-13 weekend? Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Pearl Lounge you can dance to cutting edge electronica by 3WS, a collaboration between DJs Ana Sia and Danny Corn, who promise a bass-heavy 4-hour endless set as they kick off a 10 city tour.

That same Thursday at HSU’s Kate Buchanan Room, the not-particularly reverend, Rev. Horton Heat heats things up with some balls-to-the-wall punkabilly with retro-rockers Throw Rag from Salton Sea along for the ride.

You find more punka-/psychobilly Monday night at the Pearl as The Hillbilly Hellcats barrel in from Boulder, Colo.

Along with the above-mentioned BK3 show, there’s a TR3 show coming up Sunday at Humboldt Brews. TR3 is a trio led by guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Tim Reynolds, a long-time associate of Dave Matthews on a break from touring with DMB. TR3 is on tour with the like-minded Marcus Eaton Trio (aka ME3?)

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