I had wanted to write about something else, but once again the gears of my attention span are gummed up quite a bit. I’m all for stopping to smell the flowers, but that behavior can appear frankly insane and willfully ignorant when the endless stench of crimes against humanity has been rising for years against the horizon like an endtimes tidal wave. I am informed by representatives from both American parties that we are not in fact at war, which is good, because nothing regarding that was voted for, thus saving those same reps from any future embarrassment by attaching their names to such a mess. It’s further a good thing we are not officially at war with Iran because at over 90 million people, Iran is larger in population than any single country we have been in a hot war with, with an army that sits in the top 10 globally in size and firepower. Another first for our country if we are stupid enough to engage, which, thankfully, I am informed by our very intelligent and scrupulously honest leaders, we are not and have not. This is reassuring because attacking a country that controls one of the most active shipping channels in the world would be really bad for anyone currently facing an extreme cost of living crisis. Thankfully, our supreme leader’s recent State of the Union address put to rest any notion of financial concerns for the average citizen, for whom he is a noted advocate for and tireless representative.
So why can’t I shake this feeling that I am spending my time writing about music at a time of impossible horror when the worst of us are destroying every aspect of what makes life livable, before finally destroying life itself? Creatures who are so heartless, evil and stupid they don’t even seem human anymore, but rather some mutated malignancies created by an infernal leak of demonic radiation from a dimension of pure hell. I’ll have to investigate my problems and get back to you. This must be a “me” thing, a figment of my imagination brought on by shaky nerves. Because if it weren’t, you’d think everyone with the slimmest stake in the future would be in the streets day and night fighting to the last breath against this disgusting takeover, this extinction and enslavement of all human good. I’ll try to get more sleep and get back to you. Sorry for having an off week; I’ll try to be better soon. Meanwhile, have fun out there.
Thursday
The Back Seat Drivers are bringing the blues to the Logger Bar during a free gig this afternoon at 4 p.m. Expect some of the anchored picking sounds of the pre-war, Piedmont-style guitar blues, along with some variations coming in the form of bespoke tune arrangements by the group.
Friday
The Eureka Symphony is back with an early welcome to spring, playing tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts. Tonight’s program is called Legends and Spirits — Stories in Sound and features bassoon soloist Rufus Olivier playing the music of living Chickasaw composer Jerod Impichchaachaahá Tate, along with the Symphony’s rendition of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
Later on down the street around 9 p.m., the Shanty is offering a free metal show in the Swan Room, featuring Germany-to-Colorado black metal act Hexenwald and locals Bloodspire.
Saturday
Three options tonight, so I’ll get with the facts. Two 7 p.m. gigs in Arcata. Over at the Arcata Playhouse, Harmonic Howl presents Women of Country, a group featuring singers Ruby Ruth George, Elle Penner and Briana Penner for $20. There’s a “Classic Cuntry” (costume contest, so dress accordingly.
Meanwhile over at the Moss Oak Commons, you will find a shoegaze and rock gig featuring Glacier Dorm, Vulture Feather, Lady in Waiting and Blackplate.This one’s a suggested $10 at the door.
And finally, back at the Shanty at 9 p.m. for some interstellar travel jams courtesy of The Freeks, who are back in town and playing with Midnight Dumpster Fire and The Uncredible Phin Band for free.
Sunday
Back over to the Arcata Playhouse for more Zero to Fierce Fest action, come check out singer/songwriter Ruth Theodore as she teams up with singer/songwriter and playwright Katie Dahl for an evening of original music. It starts at 7 p.m. and $30 is the price for this jamberoo.
Monday
The Outer Space is hosting Seattle indie musician Sarah Weszely’s act Where’s Beth, along with support from Halfwing and Luna Sofia.The music starts around 7:30 p.m., and the entrance fee for this all-ages, sober show is a suggested $5-$20.
Tuesday
The demand for Bay Area rapper Mike Sherm was so great they added another night at the Arcata Theatre Lounge tonight at 8 p.m. and the early bird tickets are already sold out. So if this one is of interest to you, last I checked general admission tickets are going for around $60, which doesn’t leave a lot of money for refreshments, sherm or otherwise. That’s a joke, I am not endorsing wasting your money — and possibly yourself — on PCP.
Wednesday
Back to the Arcata Theatre Lounge for sci-fi night, where tonight’s offering is Under the Skin, a creepy and stylish bit of alien horror starring Scarlett Johansson. This is an earlier film from Jonathan Glazer, one of the only people in mainstream Hollywood to draw a direct (and obvious to anyone with a functioning conscience) line between the mass dehumanization in the west regarding the genocide in Gaza and the same willfully evil behavior that helped fuel the extermination machines of the Holocaust when he gave his speech after winning an Oscar for his recent film The Zone of Interest. Since his days as a music video director — anyone remember “Virtual Insanity?” — he has always been an ace at his art. Same deal as ever, roll through before 7 p.m., $6 to get in $10 if you want to leave with a poster. Enjoy.
Collin Yeo (he/him) is looking forward to his upcoming decontamination cycle in the Adelson Wing of the Jolly West Institute for Relaxation and Fun.
This article appears in King Salmon Recovery, Egg-citing Condor News + Black Heritage Ball.