The title of this week’s edition comes from Minnesota punk pioneers Hüsker Dü’s intense 1981 concert album, after the group had — allegedly — discovered a performance-enhancing drug that sometimes goes by the second word in the said title, but before they essentially invented pop punk. It is a rough and wonderful crash course of a record, and everyone should give it a listen. I was revisiting it while typing this column out because I got held up by some Labor Day idylls and found myself having to move a little faster than usual. Music is a great performance enhancer for that, and between that record and 1994’s Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone — Norwegian Black Metal’s answer to Motörhead — I believe I have set a deadline record of my own. So things are sleek, loud and fast this week. See below if you wish to take a spin or two on the track.
Thursday
Francis Vanek is a Pennsylvania-born but West Coast rambling ace saxophonist of the latter-day jazz genre. He is bringing his Quartet back to the Basement tonight at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of the good stuff that will heal what ails you for a mere $5.
Friday
I have been told by my friends who tend to know about such things that there is a singer/songwriter in the modern Americana style who is bringing his sound back to our county for anyone with the vision and funds to catch a $25 ticket to his 7 p.m. gig at the Arcata Playhouse. The Marty O’Reilly Trio is the name of the ship he helms, and the vessel from which his travelin’ tunes are turned from dreams into expression. Dig it.
Saturday
As regular readers of this space are aware, I tend to avoid reporting on the bigger festivals in favor of gems and treats for those who wish to stray a bit “far from the madding crowd.” So instead of filling in line-up boilerplate about Cannifest, which is happening in Crab’s Field next the Arcata cop shop, I’ll make two quick points. The first is that Garberville still has a nightlife, and you can see what that’s all about at Stone Junction tonight when cumbia masters Makenu and DJ Blancatron take over the joint around 9 p.m. ($15).
The second point is simply that all laws are completely make-believe and generally weaponized against the underclass in this country, especially drug laws. Oh, and as an addendum, fuck the police.
Sunday
I recently had a blast and reconnected with a childhood mate when I went to a movie night at the Shanty to watch part of an early Abel Ferrara flick presented by Wild Billy Burgess, the silver screen slasher. Tonight at 8 p.m. he and his cohorts in Movie Party Tonight are showing the 1974 Kung Fu Blacksploitation flick TNT Jackson, starring Jeanne Bell as a woman on a mission to recover her lost brother from the clutches of a Hong Kong street gang. Fun, fun, fun, and free at the door, so find a seat and plant a butt, or stand in horse posture as I often do while typing to keep the glutes tight into the future.
Monday
Snorefest. ZZZ. Boring. Stay home and read something cool, perhaps with a record playing in the background. I recommend Eberhard Weber’s 1979 ECM Records release Fluid Rustle.
Tuesday
Author, professor and music journalist — yes, we aren’t extinct yet — Richard B. Simon will be reading from his novel The Dolphin Ambassador’s Daughter at the Miniplex tonight. Local dream-team supergroup Winter Band and Seraphina from Seattle will be providing some lovely musical interludes. The show starts at 7 p.m., but the Richards’ Goat bar opens at 5 p.m. and it is Taco Tuesday which is quite a pre-show delight. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance.
Wednesday
There are a few unrelated bands across the nation who roll under the trailer park mansion moniker TripleWide. Our regional version will be jamming a free show of some loose, good time rock tunes at the Local Cider Bar tonight at 7 p.m.
Collin Yeo (he/him) is a friendly maniac.
This article appears in Condors of the North Coast.