A+E

Have you seen that show Sons of Anarchy? Ron Perlman and that hot blond guy? Katey Sagal from Married With Children? It's not that great, although compelling enough as an escapist-evening-soap-opera kinda thing. Anyway, L.A.-based band Jeff Crosby & The Refugees have two songs featured in upcoming episodes. The band is also opening for Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons and playing with The Heavy Guilt at Hum Brews. Tickets are $15, show is 21-and-over, and things get going around 9 p.m. A 7 on the low-risk-sure-I'll-have-the-wings-as-usual meter.


Yogoman Burning Band, possibly Humboldt's most beloved non-Humboldt band, drops into the Jambalaya. It's fun! It's energetic! It's ridiculous! The only people not having fun at a Yogoman show are, well, nonexistent! Tickets are $12 — get'em in advance — and show starts at 9 p.m. with Free Rain's post-rock/analog funk. A 10 on the never-take-yourself-too-seriously meter.

But wait! That's not all! You also get a special all-ages family show on Sunday at 1 p.m. Yeah! This one is $10 and, be warned, will be packed with tiny people full of unflagging energy. A 10 on the ecstatic-grateful-exhausted-parents meter.


San Diego's Earthless features members of Rocket From the Crypt, OFF! and Howlin' Rain, which means the band's cosmic jams are as heavy and juicy as you'd expect. Along with fellow San Diegans and shred rockers Joy, Earthless gets stoner spacey at the Alibi. Depart this planet for a mere $5. Music starts late, go early and have drinks. Show's 21-and-over. A 9 on the I'm-40-not-dead meter.

Full Hum here.

The Soul Spectacular Tour, in which Karl Denson's Tiny Universe presents a Ray Charles Boogaloo Dance Party with special guest Zach Deputy and The Cosmic Horns, erupts at the Arcata Theatre Lounge. Quick history: Denson first came to prominence as a member of Lenny Kravitz's band, then, in 1993, joined DJ Greyboy in creating Greyboy Records and released the legendary acid jazz staple, Freestylin. Out of that collaboration, Denson formed The Greyboy Allstars, which spread "West Coast Boogaloo" worldwide. Denson's been emphasizing vocals and adding funk, R&B and hip-hop elements all the way to his latest release, Brother's Keeper, which continues his artistic evolution fusing sounds from rock to funk to Afrobeat. For his part, Deputy serves up soulful rhythm and blues, with flavors of Al Green, Taj Mahal and Stevie Wonder.

Doors opens at 8 p.m., cost is $25 with advanced tickets available at Wildberries Marketplace, Peoples Records, The Works and the ATL. $20 limited advanced tickets available at the ATL's website. 21 and over. An 8 on the date night meter — a 9+ if you get dinner at Tomo or Renata's first.


Singer/songwriter Christine Lavin cracks people up with her smart, funny original songs and giddy stories at the Arcata Playhouse. Fans of witty, insightful, silly folk artists, rejoice! Claudia Russell opens with Bruce Kaplan on mandolin. Russell has shared stages with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Loudon Wainwright III, Kris Kristoffersen, Willie Nelson and then some.

The show is presented in association with Humboldt Folklife Society. Tickets are $15 general and $13 HFS or Playhouse members and are available at Wildwood Music, Wildberries Marketplace or by reservation at 822-1575. Doors at 7:30 p.m., show time at 8 p.m. A 7.5 on the place-where-singles-can-meet-smart-mature-women-under-low-pressure-circumstances or long-established-couples-not-into-loud-music-date-night meters, respectively.

Full Hum here.

The Teutonic hedonists who came up with schadenfreude and the autobahn knew we needed a little something in the fall — a chance to appreciate the season before the big holidays swoop in. They also knew we needed beer.

Shake out your lederhosen, volks, it's Oktoberfest. On Saturday in Rohner Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can get your oompah on with the Scotia Band's Pumpernickel and Sauerkraut Band and the Humboldt Accordionaires. Feel free to jam with them on your complimentary kazoo. No other band will ever be OK with that, so carpe kazoo.

There's a raffle, races involving beer barrels and steins, even a pretzel toss, and proceeds go to Fortuna Senior Services. Prepare to skip dinner, as bratwurst, red cabbage, German-style potatoes and apple strudel are all on the menu from noon 'til 3 p.m. ($20, $10 for kids under 12). Don't worry, it's good for you — look at Heidi Klum. Wash it down with a stein of Hofbrau, Warsteiner, Lagunitas, Gordon Biersch or Eel River Blonde Ale. Or Coors Light. This is still America, people.

Earl Thomas and Eddie Angel sit down for some "coffee-house style blues" at the Arcata Playhouse. Earl'll tell stories from the road and Eddie'll make his acoustic guitar sing. Soulful Jesi Naomi opens the show, which starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 advance, $15 at the door. A 10 on the grown-up meter.

Aesir, a new local band about which little information exists on the Internet other than that the band covers Zeppelin and Sabbath and does some original "high voltage electrifying rock music," plays the Jambalaya, around 9 p.m., one supposes. This show is 21 and over. Potentially a 7 on the reliving-your-youth meter.


GRiZ's The Rebel Era Tour featuring Two Fresh and Anvil Smith lands at the Arcata Theatre Lounge. This is a big deal hip-hop show — GRiZ combines passion and skill to make melodies bigger and better and beats funkier and more awesome. Also, saxophone. Very cool. Two Fresh is comprised of twin brothers Kendrik and Sherwyn Nicholls — get it? — who add kickass drummer Colby Buckler to their stage shows. They've compelled audiences to dance at fests across the U.S. and continue ascending up the hip-hop ladder as if summoned from above. Anvil Smith is Russian and reputed to be "nothing short of astounding." Should be hours of excellence.

Doors open at 9:30 p.m. with happy hour food and beverage prices until 10:30 p.m. $20 limited advanced tickets are at People's Records, DTA, Wildberries and The Works. This show is 21 and over. A 9.5 on the make-you-sweat meter.

And, oh yeah, Reggie Watts is at the Van Duzer. The show is sold out, but if you can find a miracle, do it. An easy 10 on the I-saw-him-when meter.

Full Hum here.

On Friday night, when that gorgeous harvest moon is shining in the night sky, you'll wish you were out at a barn dance celebrating. And you could be! Blue Lake Harvest Days kick off under Dell'Arte's big top tent with Colin Vance and the Striped Pig String Band. Just mosey over to the Blue Lake Business Park at 7 p.m. and follow the sound of caller Tony Mates out of Portland.

Once you've recovered on Saturday, there's the Mad River Grange Harvest Fest. Kids can carve a pumpkin (BYOP), press some apples, get their faces painted and whip up a scarecrow while you procure some pulled pork and pumpkin pie. Back at the business park, there'll be artist booths, ghost tours, an interactive mural and pony rides. Pony rides! Ahem.

At 3:30 p.m. you can enter the Pumpkin Chuck Contest, which requires no explanation but possibly a good arm. Get back under that tent for the kids' concert at 4:30 p.m. and the Story Howl at 7 p.m., when local yarn spinners take the stage and get spooky in the moonlight. There's even room for a tale or two from the crowd if you get inspired. When it's over, shake off the goosebumps with Beatles tunes from Silver Hammer then roll to the La Patinas gig at the Logger Bar for one last howl at the moon.

DJ Matt Jackson

Many years ago, pitching the idea that Arcatans would come out to a dance party would have sparked incredulity at best, derision at worst. Somehow, though, the guys from Missing Link – and Hum Brews' management – saw an opportunity and pounced. For over two years, DJs Matt and Adam and friends have compelled people to come out and get down. Take a look at the most recent Soul Night with Chuck Johnson's fantastic set of photos and then get your tickets for Halloween's "Soul Fright."

Anybody else a little burned out on CG and 3D at the movies? Feel like you're one Dolby sound check away from a burst eardrum? It might be time for a special effects break.

The ArMack Orchestra fundraiser at Arcata High this Thursday, Friday and Saturday is just the ticket ($5). The students are showing a double feature of Two Tars and Sherlock Jr. and playing the live soundtrack like it was done in the heyday of silent film. Silent? No color? Yes and yes. And you're going to love it.

Two Tars is about a couple of fellas who get stuck in a traffic jam along with their dates. Road rage simmers to the surface and drivers start vandalizing one another's cars. Don't pretend you can't relate. Sherlock Jr. stars Buster Keaton, who was doing his own stunts before it was cool or properly insured. In this one, he goes amateur detective in the name of love. Pale and deadpan, he takes plunges and pratfalls that would make Jackie Chan wince. That's some movie magic right there.

Showings are Thursday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m., Fri., Oct. 18, 7 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 19, 2 & 7 p.m. Info at 839-1009 or armack.org

Tapping nodding shaking grooving shimmying. Mind freed by music an electronic shortcut to meditation. Happily lost somewhat confused unafraid even as the crescendo builds. Cave’s music “rolling funk minimalism”? Sure that’ll do. Some instrumental music leaves me cold, but this is all hot energy and I'm wanting more. Maybe that’s the fever talking — don’t worry just go to the Ink Annex and lose your mind it’ll be a good trip promise.

And... At long last we’ve come to a rare Alibi show featuring Total Punk Records artist Buck Biloxi and the Fucks out of New Orleans. By the end of the previous sentence, you should have known if that’s the sort of thing that appeals to you. I can do no more. Five bucks, late show, drinking age and up only.