After Hours is a jazz group composed of drummer Ramsey Isaacs, pianist Matt Seno, bassist Lee Phillips and Russ Thallheimer on the tenor sax, all of whom are young and wildly talented local players. The band is starting a residency at the Arcata Playhouse tonight at 7 p.m. that will run five times on the third Friday of every month. Tonight’s show celebrates 100 years of John Coltrane, whose centennial birthday is on the 23rd of this month and coincides with the 18th birthday of young master Isaacs. I had to double-check that when the fella hit me up to tell me about the show because he has been killing it for a while on the sticks and skins. So happy birthday to the late ’Trane and many happy returns to Ramsey Isaacs as well. The show costs $20 for advance tickets, $25 at the door, and there will be an extra element of tap dancing provided by Miles Schmidt to help celebrate the music of the immortal John Coltrane.
If jazz isn’t your thing tonight, Moss Oaks Commons has a groovy eclectic show with a similarly high pedigree of musicianship, albeit with a more contemporary underground flavor at 8 p.m. For a highly negotiable $10 entrance fee, you can enjoy the sounds of Philadelphia’s Mesh, Liquid Cross from Eugene, and the ever-amazing local tonal machine called Fek and the Future Friends of Sound who have played many shows for my ears over the years and have yet to hatch a stinker.
Music Tonight: Friday, Sept. 18
