The weather’s heating up on the coast and so are the summer shows. We’ve got a masked guitar hero and an unsung Titan of the string industry sharing the city with burgeoning local folk stars and a musical industry powerhouse. If you’re bored in Santa Cruz, you’re just not trying hard enough.
Wednesday, June 22
Getaway Dogs at The Crepe Place
The Getaway Dogs are one of those bands whose backstory distinctly matches their sound. They’re the brainchild of Kai Killion, who, born of a Brazilian immigrant and a California artist, has spent most of his youth in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, discovering his past while tapping into his musical history. Kai’s Brazilian musical influence and skills as a singer-songwriter combine seamlessly with his talented band members, creating an almost otherworldly indie, folk, soul extravaganza.
Thursday, June 23
Berner at The Catalyst Main Stage
Berner is a walking example of what the music and medical cannabis industries can accomplish when their powers combine. Similar to what his Taylor Gang labelmate Wiz Khalifa, Berner has made a name for himself on the West Coast by giving a musical voice to the fast and hard partying lifestyle while simultaneously being the face of the marijuana clothing and lifestyle brand Cookies. Regardless of how you feel about the subject matter, there is no denying his star power—he has sold out just about every big venue in the Bay with one of the most crowded and smoky hip-hop shows in the land.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $35
Saturday, June 25
David Bromberg Quartet at The Rio Theatre
“The reason man created stringed instruments. David touched them with a lover’s fingers and they moaned that true love right back at him. Wood and wire and flesh spoke.” [source] If you can get Texas’ most famous guitar player, Jerry Walker, to sing your praises like that, you must be doing something right. While you may not be familiar with the name, David Bromberg has written a song with George Harrison of the Beatles and shared the stage with the likes of Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson. A behind-the-scenes-legend, Bromberg is a master on anything with a string, from the fiddle to the guitar. Come watch a genius and revel in only being one degree of separation away from all those greats.
Show at 8pm. Tickets $28 at the door
Sunday, June 26
Buckethead at The Catalyst Main Stage
Maybe you’ve worshipped him ever since you saw one his many faster-than-light fingerpicking YouTube videos, or maybe his bonus level in the video game Guitar Hero made you want to rip your hair out, or maybe you’ve just seen the Michael Myers-esque guitar player with a KFC bucket emblazoned with the letters “FUNERAL” on his head, but chances are you’ve at least heard of the infamous Buckethead. He has released 256 studio albums, four special releases and an EP, while also performing on 50 more albums by other artists. He even made it to #8 on GuitarOne Magazine’s “Fastest Shredders of All Time.” His multi-instrumental musical catalogue spans everything from metal-inspired bluegrass to jazz to ambient and avant-garde. Come see what he has in store for you this time.
Show at 8pm. Tickets $25 in advance/$30 at the door.
