the hum / By Bob Doran

Dread from Texas

Did you miss the debut of The Lowdown? (I did.) Don’t worry, they haven’t left for New Orleans yet, so we have another chance to catch them Saturday night when they share a bill at the Jambalaya with Chris Wixson‘s Speakeasy Saints. “B ready 4 a funky-good time!!!” sez Wixson, referencing the late great James Brown.

Blues belter Kay Bohler, who dazzled at Blues by the Bay, brings her hot band to the Riverwood for a Saturday night bash.

The Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit Show comes to Old Town Coffee Monday with self-described “folken-word” artist Chandler’s “raucous repertoire of radical music” accompanied by roots/Americana “guitar guru” Benoit. They’ve finished a new CD, “named after the first thing ya say to a hitchhiker: So, Where Ya Headed?” as Chandler explains. “Ya see the whole CD seems to be a conversation with a stranger about the road and the places it takes you. Paul Benoit plays the part of an amazing radio station that just keeps picking the right tune. It is fully recorded and mixed and wow does it sound good…” Now, like many struggling recording artists, they just need some cash for manufacturing (it’s only virtual so far). To that end you can buy a copy in advance at chrischandler.org, or go hear them play and drop some money in the tip jar.    

Sunday at the Red Fox, it’s another roots/Americana guitar guru, Vince Herman, formerly of “polyethnic Cajun slamgrass” band Leftover Salmon, now fronting the country/rock jamband Great American Taxi. GAT has a new album too, something called Reckless Habits, which will undoubtedly be available at the merch table.

Friday’s Rebel Bass all-women DJ show at the ATL has been replaced with a screening of The Big Lebowski (yes, the Dude abides), but there’s still tons of electro fun: Thursday the Fox has a free Team BunnyBear dubstep thing: Dubliminal Overtones featuring T-Dub and Jsun. Friday it’s Kraddy, Selector Science and Masta Shredda at Mazzotti’s (with an organic fashion show beforehand). Saturday the Red Fox shifts into hip hop mode for the Equipto/CognitoWake and Bake Tour. Sunday the Deep Groovers ramp up Sundaze at the Jam a notch with Ghosts On Tape, Mike D and their own Jsun. Then Team BunnyBear returns to the Fox Tuesday (March 16) as Grasshoppa and Itchie Fingaz “hit the breaks!” It makes me wonder, does the dance crowd only sleep on Mondays?

If you live in the greater Arcata/McKinleyville area, you might have heard about the rolling blackouts PG&E has planned for Saturday. Six Rivers Brewery is marking the occasion with “The Black Out Party” starting at 1 p.m. “where the power will be on, drinks will be pouring, food will be served, and DJ JDub will be spinning to keep you busy while your house is dark!”

Coming up Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day, Six Rivers celebrates its Sixth Anniversary with an all day party starting at noon with rootsy music on two stages. (Details in the St. Paddy’s piece in the Calendar section.)

How long will it take local fans to snap up tickets to see country superstar Vince Gill? The Arkley Center was well on its way to selling out the same day the Oct. 27 show was announced. If you’re lucky there might still be seats in the balcony.

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