the hum / By Bob Doran

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If you want to see what YMSB is all about, you’ll have to skip Vetiver. They play the same Thursday night at the Eureka Theater with special guest Sam Bush, a master of hot licks they revere.

As noted last week, while Vetiver is playing in The Depot Thursday, the Joshua Redman Trio will be upstairs in the Kate Buchanan Room. The acclaimed sax player, who has visited Arcata with many bands, just released a new album, Compass, and is touring with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Greg Hutchinson, who was part of the Compass combo. Said Redman regarding the direction-finding CD, “I feel like we may have discovered something in our musical travels, perhaps even arrived somewhere: We placed ourselves in an unfamiliar, untested musical context, and relied on our instincts, camaraderie and shared aesthetic values to create music which we hope feels honest, heartfelt and spontaneous.” Knowing Redman’s work, that’s also what you’ll find if you go hear him Thursday.

Regarding the Green Day 2009 show Saturday at the Arcata Theatre Lounge: First, for those who may be confused, this is not a show by the punk-pop band Green Day. The event name was coined by the InferKnow folks last year for a show held around St. Patrick’s Day; they flipped the meaning of the word “green” by making it a fundraiser for local enviro orgs, as well as a bennie for their outdoor venue, Area 74. This time out, it’s past St. Pat’s, but still eco-green: funds go to the NEC and the Arcata Recycling Center (and the still-in-progress Area 74). “Green Day brings together some of Humboldt’s best danceable bands in support of our local eco-based nonprofits,” says key InferKnow-ite Tisha Sloan. “So you can dance local to support global!” To be specific, we’re talkin’ four of Arcata’s top bands: WoMama, AfroMassive, Moo-Got-2 and The Nucleus with Vj/lighting design collective Humboldt Visualize providing “cerebral stimulation of the highest order” on the big screen behind the bands. Added bonus: Shea FreeLove of the Freelove Circus will “perform mind-blowing feats that defy common sense,” between sets. Pounding a nail up his nose is one of his specialties.

As you are probably aware, April 20, aka 4/20, is a big deal here in the heart of the Emerald Triangle. So, even though 4/20 falls on a Monday this year, there are beaucoup shows happening — but first Diamondback has a pair of hip hop events April 17 and 18 they’re calling “Pre-420 Humboldt Parties.” Featured artist is Houston underground rapper Devin the Dude on his “High as an Eagle” tour, with support from local faves Potluck plus RBL Posse and LCA, and on Friday (when the party is act Nocturnum) THIC Family, then on Saturday (when it moves to Mazzotti’s) Hiway.

Four-twenty proper brings Bermudan dancehall star Collie Buddz to Nocturnum with The New Kingston Band and DJ Pee-Wee. Also on the bill: Pep Love of the Hieroglyphics, Ishi Dube and Massagana, and DJ Selecta Prime spinning in the “reggae room.” Hard to beat a 4/20 show headlined by someone who calls himself Collie Buddz.

Meanwhile, that night at the Eureka Theater, Dark Star Orchestra “recreates Grateful Dead shows, song for song, live on stage,” as they put it, drawing on specific setlists from the Dead’s touring days. Which is not to say DSO aims to replicate songs exactly. It’s more like they’re an improv band jamming on songs they revere. Greensky Bluegrass plays for an associated after-party with a late set at the Red Fox. At Six Rivers that night, guitarist Greg Camphuis of Bump Foundation debuts a new jazz combo he’s calling Fire it Up!

This just in from Zac of The Zac Institute: His band and “a new band called Taped Machines (with Chris Colland and Kris Swan of the Eureka Garbage Co. and Tommy Chase and Jesse Pearson of Arrogant Hare) are going to be opening for an awesome band from Seattle called The Intelligence at the Accident Gallery in Eureka next week (Thursday the 16th). It is my last show until next year, so I would like to promote this. I am a local archaeologist at CR and Humboldt and I would love to do some kind of interview to promote the show. I know it is late (possibly too late…)”

Yes, too late, as I’m heading off on vacation to Vegas and Death Valley in the morning. Juli B sits in next week. See you when I return.

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