One of the many things in life that make me feel overwhelming guilt is the fact that I don’t make it out to many shows these days. (I won’t spend the time here blaming our children for robbing me of almost every free moment of life and making my body shut down at 8:30 p.m. […]
The Setlist
Our picks for the week’s best live music plus interviews and music news.
Posted inMusic
The Rebel Incubator
June 12, 2003 should be a local holiday. On this day, a raucous and deafening cultural event took place, the immediate effects of which have been overshadowed by the sonic mushroom cloud that continues to unfold to this day. The site of this Manhattan Project was The Alibi. The elements fused together were local bands […]
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The Youngest
As an independant musician (i.e. poor) I’m always rooting for the underdog. The unknown songwriter struggling to afford coffee in the morning. The musician who has fully let down their parents. The goals of fame and stardom are for narcissists who spend more on haircuts than gear or practicing. The tangible goals for independent musicians […]
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Balance in the Force
Beatles or Stones? It’s a silly question that’s at least 50 years old. My wife answered “The Beatles” without hesitating. Yet it’s one that haunts many of us music lovers who hold cherished spots for both in our hearts. Would modern music exist as anything even close to resembling itself had John and Paul never […]
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Arts! Arcata and Beyond
Friday Arts! Arcata gets us into our weekend and although I’m checking out the weather forecast here more than 20 minutes in advance, it looks like we should have a rather sunny weekend. Starting tomorrow that is. Brave the rain and wind — or whatever we get — to circle around the greater Arcata Plaza […]
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The Keepers of Jewels, Run the World
Although we live in an age of alternative facts, I can’t sit here and lie to you and say that I’m a big fan of rap music. I’m not one who is necessarily “anti-rap,” it’s just not my thing. Although I do have a soft spot for some vintage De La Soul and The Beastie […]
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Come Together
Somewhere and some time ago, I remember hearing the idea posited that music had the power, if we’d only let it, to stop war and aggression. It was phrased a bit more eloquently than that and perhaps not as naively, but the thinking went something like this: Imagine that soldiers on two different sides of […]
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To Our Health
To be healthy, wealthy and wise. Now not many folks know this, but music can help us achieve two of those goals, and I’ll give you a half-second to ponder which one music rarely helps out with. I heard an interview on KHSU not too long ago with Jeffrey Smoller of Making Headway, which helps […]
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For Two Nights Only!
Thursday If you’ve been holed up since New Year’s trying to stay dry through our winter storms, you’ve got a full weekend of events to check out. You can start out tonight at the Mad River Brewery Tap Room at 6 p.m. for free “alternative folk/rock” tunes from Cygne. Local poet Jerry Martien will get […]
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Carpe Noctem
The year 2017 is upon us, presenting us with the opportunity to start somewhat fresh. Deep-seated character traits/flaws aren’t likely to change — more superficial habits are the best targets to take aim at. Some call these resolutions and the rest of us just see a chance to try something different. Perhaps you, like me, […]
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The 10 That Got Away
Another year is behind us and, fortunately, another in front of us. When we look back to take stock of the year we’re leaving, it’s easy to focus on the times in which life had its bloody way with us. It’s less easy to remember the multitude of small and daily joys we experienced throughout. […]
Posted inMusic
Happy Christmas
At the Murphy’s Market not far from my house this past Sunday, I got to chatting with Noah there about rock music in general and he made the astute point that Christmas seems to be the only holiday that is also a music genre. Christmas music for some may sound like Bing Crosby or Johnny […]