John Fryer became a sort of godfather of darkwave, producing and/or engineering Depeche Mode’s Speak and Spell, Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine, Swans’ Children of God and various albums for Stabbing Westward and HIM.
And yet, in all this time, Fryer’s never had a band of his own, really, until now.
To understand the performance art–driven, strange musical juxtapositions of CocoRosie, a band frequently accused by critics of being pretentious or too bizarre for its own good, it’s important to understand the two women behind the group. As young children, sisters Bianca and Sierra Casady lived a bohemian existence with their mother, rarely staying in one town for more than a year and focusing more of their attention on weird art projects—at their mother’s insistence—than on schoolwork.
Catherine Willis’ eyes light up when she talks about the dance performances she has planned for the June 1 grand opening of the Tannery Arts Center’s Digital Media and Creative Arts Center on River Street. “We’ll have Haitian dance, Mexican folkloric dance, Bollywood dance, contemporary, even tango,” says Willis, the co-founder of the nonprofit Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center and a longtime dance teacher who joined the Tannery in February.
Fifteen years ago, banjos, mandolins and fiddles were about the last thing you’d find in young, hip indie bands. Now, with bluegrass-influenced indie rock bands like Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers touring the country and drawing hipsters like flies on honey buckets, times have obviously changed. This weekend the Redwood Mountain Faire returns for a third season following a 14-year hiatus.
Superhero antics, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson and of course the Beach Boardwalk’s free movie night.
The selection of the Doobie Brothers as this year’s Santa Cruz Blues Festival headliner is an inspired choice, both because of the band’s deep connections to Santa Cruz and because they’re in their fifth decade of commercializing a sound that’s rooted in the blues and American roots music. Ahead of his appearance on the BluesFest stage, guitarist Pat Simmons reminisces about surfing, playing music with Tom Scribner on Pacific Avenue and living on Vine Hill Road.
From Civil War battle reenactments and Broadway musicals to festivals honoring mountain men and cactus, Santa Cruz looks forward to three months of nonstop entertainment.
Some local classical music presenters, both traditional and new, seem to struggle for audiences and financial support. Yet, others flourish. Imagine a formula that would impart equal success to all such worthies. Likewise, imagine a formula that would deliver the promised “unlimited” energy of controlled nuclear fusion.
If James Durbin has his way, he’ll find time to eat a funnel cake and ride the Sea Swings after he kicks off the Boardwalk’s summer event season tomorrow, May 19. Unfortunately, time will be in short supply.
See if you can’t build a beer game around these Santa Cruz Blues Festival fun facts.
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