If your weekend plans include showing off our beautiful views and eclectic inhabitants to visiting family members, don’t forget our music scene puts on quite a show as well. They came out to the Best Coast, after all, so why not show them a good time?—with the added bonus of getting them out of your hair for the night. If, instead, you’re looking forward to a little R&R sans aunts and uncles, take some time this holiday weekend to treat yourself to a night out of truly exceptional music.
Friday, November 25
Judo No at The Crepe Place
“A short time ago, in a galaxy much like ours, a band of troubadours calling themselves JUDO NO stole music from the rich and revamped it for the poor, fertilizing the sterile soundscape with chunks of their majik raw sonik super juice. With their thievery goals accomplished, they now set forth to appease the middle class by performing in bars and concert halls. Some say their music is like the Amazon, with the ability to cause and cure any illness known to man. ” [source] Although we can’t vouch for their magical healing powers, we can attest that the Latin, soul, and slow sensual funk music that JUDO NO prescribes is downright tasty. The lyrics may be in Spanish, but the music is universally epic, so regardless of your language skills this would be a great opportunity to dance off some of that stuffing.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $8 at the door
Saturday, November 26
Minnesota on The Catalyst Main Stage
Although he was born and raised in the state that shares his name, Christian Bauhofe moved to Santa Cruz at the age of 18. It was here where his alter ego, an underground party-destroying DJ was born and in 2011, Minnesota released his first EP, “Panda Snatching Tycoon”. It immediately blew up in the Bay Area and on national charting sites like Beatport and Hype Machine. From there it was a fast rise for the hometown hero. Over the past five years he has released multiple EP’s and albums and frequently claims a spot on major electronic festivals in the US. He’s also opened sets for big name artists like STS9, Big Gigantic, MiMOSA and Gramatik. Minnesota is known for being all over the place in terms of genre, but always providing quality bass heavy music and epic live shows.
Show at 9pm. Tickets $20 in advance/$25 at the door.
Saturday, November 26
The Kyle Gass Band at Moe’s Alley
Kyle Gass made history when he co-invented the marriage of stand-up comedy and acoustic rock as half of the infamous Tenacious D alongside actor and musician Jack Balck. But when he’s not playing with The Greatest Band in the World, Gass is touring with his own mob of badass musicians in The Kyle Gass Band and bringing their mythically awesome, earth-shattering rock ‘n roll to the wanting millions. Gass has elevated the artform, melding roof-shattering Americana with big belly laughs that have been imitated time and time again, but never replicated, by tribute artists and wannabes for more than two decades.
Show at 9pm, Doors at 8pm. $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Sunday, November 27
YG at The Catalyst Main Stage
A new Compton-based rapper will break out at least once a year, riding a wave of buzz until most of them fizzle out. But when DEFJAM signed YG as their first West Coast rap artist since Warren G and the Regulators back in the 90’s, people took notice. YG’s passionate “SouthLand” attitude could be compared to his predecessors as well—infectious, real and sometimes the violent. Listeners love it or hate it, but they never don’t notice it. With hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, sold out international tours, and tracks with hip-hop royalty like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Wayne, YG is destined for stadiums. Come see him at our intimate Catalyst Club while you have a chance.
Show at 7:30. Tickets are on sale through The Catalyst, but sites like StubHub and Ticketfly still have plenty from $60-$100.
