It’s everyone’s favorite time of year! No, not Burning Man—and raise your hand next time, please. It’s Back To School! While not everyone is buying binders and pencils or scheming about how to get the attention of their homeroom crush, we all have homework to turn in next week. Here’s your assignment:
Assignment: Attend at least one full set of amazing live music, happening in Santa Cruz this week
Requirements: Show up for the opening band, applaud sincerely, dance for a minimum of one song (“dancing” may be loosely defined)
Points deducted for holding your phone in front of people’s faces and recording a terrible video that no one, including you, wants to see.
Extra Credit: Bring a friend.
Extra Extra Credit: Make a new one.
Enjoy, students! And please, show your work.
Thursday, September 1
Royal Jelly Jive at Moe’s Alley
Born in The Boom Boom Room, one of San Francisco’s finest musical establishments, Royal Jelly Jive is a little bit country and a little bit swing with a whole lotta soul. Singer Lauren Bjelde’s velvety pipes expertly navigate the band’s dark and funky licks, featuring a horn section that’ll make you look around to make sure you haven’t ended up on Bourbon Street somehow. These guys have been causing quite the hubbub up in SF and are poised to make some moves. See them up close and at a good price while you can.
Show at 8:30pm. Tickets $7 in advance/$10 at the door
Friday, September 2
Black Tiger Sex Machine at The Catalyst Club
After being introduced to the international ecosystem from their native Canada back in 2011, the three-piece animal that is Black Tiger Sex Machine quickly worked its way to the top of the sonic food chain on the back of an impressively diverse electronic musical catalogue. Featuring everything from video game samples to movie track thriller remixes, their progressive and technically astounding live set-up comes complete with slick tiger helmets á la Daft Punk. Check out our interview with them last time they came around before you see the real thing this Friday.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $17 in advance/$20 at the door
Friday, September 2
The Law Offices of Terry Malts at The Crepe Place
“Have you suffered from being wrongfully employed by a long-time employer? Do you feel like you’re simply “not there”? Are you worried that Nobody realizes this is Nowhere? We’re here to help. No case is too small for the associates at The Law Offices of Terry Malts. We have over 52 years of combined experience at defending detached, disillusioned so-and-so’s who are thriving on barely trying.” [source] Somewhere between Interpol and The Smiths are the noise pop/punk crooners Terry Malts. If their description wasn’t enough to go by, let me be clear: this band definitely appreciates a little irony, and some tongue in cheek sarcasm at the audience’s expense is never frowned upon, and practically encouraged. Loosen up—you won’t regret it.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $8 at the door
Sunday, September 4
The White Panda at The Catalyst Club
One of the pioneering groups of the Mashup genre, The White Panda introduced music lovers to a whole new breed of remix back in the mid-2000’s alongside artists like GirlTalk. They topped the charts of music blogs like HypeBeast and Fratmusic with their exciting new twist and approach at mashing up the hottest music on the market, which launched the two students fresh out of college into the spotlight on a huge national tour. It’s been almost ten years since then, and The White Panda is still going strong, creating eclectic remixes, mashups and doing their endangered stunts on stage. Come down and break some bamboo with the bears themselves.
