the hum / By Bob Doran

Love, etc.

The Luscious Ladies, Albino!, Inked Hearts, etc.

(Feb. 11, 2010)  How did the heart become the symbol of love, the supposed romantic focal point in our bodies? It may trace back to a time when the heart was considered the center of thought, because surely love is something that comes from the mind. But when your heart seems threatened, you quickly learn how much you are loved. That’s what happened to me last weekend. While visiting the Bay on alt. news biz, I was hit with a pain in the middle of my chest that the docs initially thought might be my heart. It wasn’t — the trouble was elsewhere (and I’m fine now) — but I quickly learned how much love surrounds me. As my loving wife sped to my side (with our doctor friend in tow), close friends back home took charge of things like feeding the cat and writing this column. My coworkers rallied and covered other work chores. I felt loved in many ways. And that’s a good feeling.

Of course love and romance are in the air this weekend. St. Valentine’s Day may not come until Sunday, but the whole weekend seems to revolve around it. 

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Among the shows specifically dedicated to love etc. is a tribute to Stevie Wonder on Friday at the Jambalaya featuring The Luscious Ladies and SambAmore. Friday is also Arts! Arcata night, so they’ll start with the drum/dance troupe on the Plaza luring everyone in. As you may recall, The Luscious Ladies is a spin-off from AkaBella, with a backing band that includes Aber Miller (from Bump and Vintage Soul) on keys, guitarist Jesse Elias (Weather Machine/Berel Alexander Ensemble), John Severn (Kulica) on sax, Shasta Kersh (Massagana/Ponche) on bass and legendary local drummer Mike Meyers. Expect guest vocals from Berel Alexander and Madi Simmons.

Why music by Mr. Wonder? “Stevie is the ultimate romantic,” said LL Melody Walker,  “but we’re not just sticking to his sappy stuff — we went with super danceable crowd-pleasers to keep the floor moving all night. We will also be doing other sexy/funky favorites from Chaka and Prince, and everything from classic jazz to reggae.”

Mr. Alexander has his own Valentine plans, a pair of concerts — Saturday at the Arcata Playhouse and Sunday (V-Day) at the Morris Graves Museum — with the Berel Alexander Ensemble‘s “Vintage Valentine” featuring music from their album Hooked (yes, there are love songs) etc. “We’re covering Etta James, ‘Sunday Kinda Love,’ a Chilean folkloric love song in Spanish, and some classic Bob Marley lovers rock,” noted Berel. 

Also on Valentine’s Day proper (Sunday) another World Famous Pajama Party with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey “and special guests” at the Red Fox. ‘Nuff said.

It’s not a Valentine thing at all, but the show Thursday at Red Fox Tavern should be killer. Self-described “heavy, heavy Afrobeat” band Albino! headlines with the above-mentioned AkaBella opening, thanks to former Arcata resident and Afromassive bassist, Aaron Bortz, now plays with Albino.  They come with a new release in hand, Peralta House, along with the designation “Best Band of the Bay,” as voted by readers of the East Bay Express (who, BTW, were our gracious hosts last weekend).

The old phrase, “wear you heart on your sleeve” takes on new meaning in the hands of a tattoo artist. Hearts will no doubt abound at “Inked Hearts: A Valentines Tattoo Expo” running Thursday through Sunday, mostly in the Blue Lake Casino’s Sapphire Palace. The main focus is on inkers with booths galore, but there’s also music, etc. Friday local hip hoppers Never Die play at the show (7 p.m.) with Redding rock trio The Billies in the Wave later. Saturday, various tatted Humboldt Roller Derby stars appear in the afternoon (1 and 4) and Side Iron rocks twice (3 and 6). Surf instrumental band Robbie Allen and the Outer Edge is in the Wave (appropriately) Saturday night (they also play Friday at Six Rivers) and there’s an after-party at the Pearl with Jsun. Sunday (Valentine’s Day) bellydance queen Shoshanna and company shake it at noon, followed by 4 Star Bravado (at 2) and White Trash Country Club (4). I suppose somewhere in there you could get a heart tat (there will be temps if you don’t want to get permanent).

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