Santa Cruz has another weirdly awesome weekend of music for you with a lineup that includes psychedelic rock, ska-fusion, old-fashioned pop and some seriously futuristic sounds—all at a reasonable price. We know you’ll already be outside PokemonGo-ing around (don’t deny it—we see you), so why not see some live music while you catch ‘em all?
Friday, July 29
Beach Fuzz at The Crepe Place
“Warriors of darkness, earthquakes and volcanoes, rivers and seas boiling, the dead rising from the grave. Old Testament s@#$, UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, and full trance mediums.” Local psychedelic rockers Beach Fuzz always put on a crackin’ live show and, from their self-penned event description, it sounds like they plan on bringing the same weirdly awesome stoner rock that has made them a Santa Cruz favorite over the past year to the Crepe this Friday. They will be joined by Wally Joyner, Must Be The Holy Ghost and Mountain Tamer.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $5.
Friday, July 29
Shawn Wasabi at The Catalyst
21-year-old Salinas-born and raised producer Shawn Wasabi is living proof of why it’s silly to not let your kids enjoy the boundless creative limits modern technology has to offer. Shawn has literally made a career out of pushing arcade buttons—and that is a lot more awe-inspiring and intricate than it sounds. Using a 3D-printed, laser cut-and-engineered, one-of-a-kind MIDI Fighter 64 controller as his instrument, Shawn uses his insanely nimble fingers to control pre-programmed lights and sounds to create some insanely catchy and groundbreaking tunes. He has become a worldwide internet sensation with his live mashup YouTube videos and clever digital persona. His most recent release “Marble Soda” hit one million plays within 48 hours of being released, and has since garnered millions more listeners. Come see him in town while you still have the chance
Show at 9pm. Tickets $10 in advance/$12 at the door.
Saturday, July 30
Matamoska! at The Blue Lagoon
Horns, Harrington jackets and two-tone suits—oh my! Ska group Matamoska brings their L.A. ska-style with a Latin and reggae twist to Santa Cruz while on a nationwide tour alongside fellow So-Cal ska heads The Steady 45s. They’ll be joined by locals Sea Wolves and Fulminante, who bring their punk rock flavor to the table, giving you a well-rounded musical meal for the evening. Dust off those mod shoes and do some dancin’.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $5.
Saturday, July 30
Shwayze at The Catalyst
Shwayze and writing partner Cisco Adler first burst on to the indie-rap scene in the summer of 2008 with a massive single, “Buzzin,” off their debut self-titled album. The laid-back summer anthem would go on to hit #46 on the Billboard charts, and inspire an MTV reality show (aptly titled, “Buzzin”) about the duo’s endless summer lifestyle—while also inspiring thousands of Instagram posts about “Corona and Lime”. Even if you don’t recognize the name there is a pretty good chance you’ve found yourself humming one of his tunes over the past few years. Regardless of your musical tastes, it’s hard to deny that he has a certain talent for embodying a kind of cliché West Coast hedonistic beachy summer lifestyle. All that being said, there is a lot more to the man than just buzzin’ through the summers. If you’re interested check out our interview with him from the last time he came to town, or just go see him on Saturday.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $17 in advance/$20 at the door.
UPDATE 7/29/16 9:48a.m.: Shawn Wasabi will play at the Catalyst on Friday, July 29, not Saturday, July 30 as previously stated. We regret the error.
