the hum / By Bob Doran

Say Aye

Five HSU jazz combos jam Friday evening in Fulkerson Hall offering a program organizer/teacher Shao Way Wu describes as “diverse and true to the mercurial nature of jazz.” The Slippery Society takes on classic New Orleans jazz, The Peanut Gallery Quartet and The Bird Like Quintet play bop, The Austin Power Trio offers a samba number, and there’s funk from Watermelonperson, specifically the Curtis Mayfield classic, “Superfly.” Now that’s diversity.

After four years as The Sidekicks, Gin and Laura are becoming The Soulful Sidekicks, and just in time for a gig at Plaza Design for Friday’s Arts! Arcata, “playing mostly folk, soft rock, light bluegrass/blues, and country ballads and swing,” says Laura. Also at A!A, the usual suspects in the usual places: Clean Livin’ pickin’ at Bubbles, Weather Machine jazzing at Café Brio, plus Striped Pig String Bandat Garden Gate.

If you were part of the throbbing sold-out crowd at last week’s Beats Antique show at the Red Fox, you undoubtedly know that Random Rab is playing the same club Friday night. The vibe is along the same lines: live organic electronica operating on a higher plane; once again, Portland electro-producer Danny Corn shares the bill.

The night before (Thursday, Nov. 12), the Fox brings back loopy guitarist J Wail, again with drummer aNdu. Guest DJs Soniq Al-Khemyst and Psy-Fi open, and there’s something called Blue Angel Burlesque. Admission: free.

Elsewhere on Thursday, HSU’s Associated Students present alt. rockers Pinback in the Kate Buchanan Room; Joe Jack Talcum of Dead Milkmen fame opens.

Barbara Manning has a long history in indie rock, starting with the mid-‘80s neo-psychedelic group 28th Day, on through World of Pooh, SF Seals, the power trio, The Go-Luckys! with solo albums along the way. What’s she been up to lately? Well, she just completed her biology degree at Chico State (she’s from Chico) and, as noted on her MySpace, she “hopes that having a ‘real’ job will enable her to continue her passion of making music,” which apparently has continued unabated. This weekend she makes the 299 drive for a Saturday show at the Lil’ Red Lion with her friends The Monster Women and Agent Ribbons, a three-woman guitar/drums/cello-violin trio from Sacto.

The reggae massive will be jumping this week. Thursday they must choose: Tanya Stephens, who won new fans this summer with high-energy sets at Reggae on the River, then the Organic Planet Festival, plays at Mazzotti’s backed by Yellow Wall Dub Squad. The same night, Arcata Theatre Lounge has roots/soul/dancehall by Virgin Islands-born, NYC-raised Pressure and Perfect, a Jamaican Bobo Shanti Rasta from St. Anns. Sunday it’s lanky singjay pioneer Eek-A-Mouse at the Red Fox with RudeLion Sound. And last but not least, as stated in a press release, “Gyptian and Warrior King will bless up the irie reggae vibes at Humboldt Brews Tuesday, Nov.17.

How ‘bout a hip hop weekend? Start with Pep Love of Hieroglyphics, consciously rapping Saturday at Nocturnum. Then on Sunday hit Mazzotti’s for a show featuring the legendary Raekwon from Wu Tang Clan touring behind his long-awaited disc, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II. He’s joined by Skyzoo and Queen Yonasda for what’s allegedly an early show, starting at 8 and ending by midnight.

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