the hum / By Mark Shikuma

Independence and Connections

Jazz guitar virtuoso and co-founder of Garaj Majal, Fareed Haque brings his new group, The Flat Earth Ensemble, to the Red Fox Tavern Thursday, July 3. On the new album, Flat Planet, Haque and company fuse jazz, East Indian (Hindustani) folk and funk grooves. “Hindustani music swings!” said Haque, in a recent jazzpolice.com interview. “Punjabi folk music is to India what gospel is to America — funky, fun, danceable and spiritual.”

There are plenty of celebrations in store on Saturday, the Fourth of July, Independence Day: Arcata hosts its Fourth of July Jubilee on the Plaza starting at 10 a.m. with a string of local performers, including Jenni Simpson, Bandemonium, UKEsperience, The Bayou Swamis and DJ Dub Cowboy, to name of few. Consult the Arcata Chamber website for details and time schedules. Not to mention … there will be a Humboldt Crabs doubleheader (vs. the Nevada Bighorns). The first game starts at 12:30 p.m., with the first pitch of the second game thrown at 7 p.m. What’s a Fourth of July celebration without a hot/tofu dog, soda (or beer), shelled peanuts, philosophical announcers and two good baseball games?

Eureka’s Arts Alive! intersects with its Fourth of July festivities, including a street fair in Old Town. Expect bustling activity all day and all of the night. And in the midst of this bustle, between 2nd and C streets (near the Eagle House), KSLG-FM will be presenting a live broadcast, hosted by Syd Reagan and Jen Savage, with performances by three notable local rock outfits, The Malone, Strix Vega and, headlining, the notorious Magnum. “When I imagine how the show will go,” commented Magnum’s lead wrangler and vocalist T. McNally, “I have a running picture of the crowd consisting of an 8-year old licking an ice cream cone while his frowning mother cups his ears.” With tender songs such as “I’m Gonna Kill You” and “Beautiful Things,” one might predict an epic extravaganza of mayhem, loud guitars and primal rhythms, perhaps a perfect soundtrack compliment to the rockets’ multicolored glare. “We intend to explore our freedom and First Amendment rights as much as possible,” concluded McNally.

The evening of the Fourth, Diamonds on Fire, nom de plume for LA-based singer/songwriter Vanessa Silberman, delivers burning folk/rock songs (with patriotic fervor, no doubt) at Muddy’s Hot Cup. The Red Fox Tavern hosts a dub-heavy 4th of July reggae hootenanny with Rude Lion Sound and special guests.

On Tuesday, July 7, soul jazz grooves dig heavy and deep at the Red Fox Tavern with the touring quartet McTuff, led by saxophonist extraordinaire Skerik. The band also features Joe Doria on Hammond organ, guitarist Andy Coe and drummer D’Vonne Lewis. McTuff was inspired by two legendary jazz organists, Jimmy Smith and “Brother” Jack McDuff, known as organist pioneers of hard bop and “soul jazz.” This show should run the gambit of genres within a jazz framework.

Snoop Dogg, with his Old School, West Coast, understated deliveries, will be kicking it at Redwood Acres on Wednesday, July 8, touring with Stephen Marley. Reggae, rap and rhythms, right? And judging from Mr. Dogg’s recent Humboldt performance, there should be a booty of buds, blunts and beats bouncing, if you get my drift. Gates open at 5 p.m. See our Calendar section for more details. For serious partiers, there’s a VIP DJ after party at Nocturnum starting at 11 and running into the wee, wee hours.

I always contend that it’s not “a small world,” as the popular adage goes. Instead, you make your own “world” larger by going out into it. It is how connections occur. So do yourself a favor: participate in some of these entertainment events planned for the week, and get yourself connected. Safely. Special thanks to Bob, who will be back next week, and to Emily for her assistance.

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