FELTON
Felton Music Hall organizes all-star tribute to Bob Weir
On Jan. 10, The Grateful Dead fanbase was shaken by the death of founding vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. One of the last surviving members of the band’s classic lineup, Weir was instrumental in furthering the band’s improvisational style, and he and Jerry Garcia became one of rock’s great duos. He also wrote fan favorite songs like “One More Saturday Night,” “Cassidy” and “Sugar Magnolia.”
For a place like Santa Cruz, which has long had a huge Dead fanbase, to pay tribute to Weir, it requires pulling out all of the stops. It will take the talents of the local music scene, including several Grateful Dead tribute bands, to honor his legacy — which is exactly what will be happening with an all-star tribute at Felton Music Hall Thursday.
The concert will feature performances by members of the China Cats, Jerry’s Middle Finger, Shaky Feelin, Cubensis, Mars Hotel, Wall of Sound, the Bella Rayne Band and Mark Karan, who played with Weir in RatDog and The Other Ones. This jam-packed lineup will prove a fitting tribute to Weir’s legacy.
The show is 8 p.m. Thursday at Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $29.83 for advance general admission. This is a 21-and-older concert. For information, go to FeltonMusicHall.com.
SANTA CRUZ
Emo Kids bring sounds of the new millennium to Catalyst
If you went to high school in the 2000s, listened to bands that screamed about pain and heartbreak and had a wardrobe that included eyeliner, studded belts, skinny jeans and nose piercings, the Catalyst Club has the show for you. Emo Kids will be returning audiences to this era with a tribute concert Friday.
Emo rock has its roots in the emotive hardcore scene of the ’80s and ’90s, typified by bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Rites of Spring, but it wasn’t until the 2000s that the style went mainstream. Through stores like Hot Topic, now emo had a fashion that matched the angst expressed by bands that mixed punk aesthetics with a more melodic sound. Los Angeles band Emo Kids has brought this era back by playing hits from emo and emo-adjacent bands like The Used, Taking Back Sunday, A Day to Remember, All American Rejects, Good Charlotte, Yellowcard and more. Those years of singing along to My Chemical Romance in the mirror will pay off: now you will have a whole crowd to share in that experience.
The concert is 8 p.m. Friday at the Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $28.72. This is a 16-and-older show. For information, go to CatalystClub.com.
Los Lobos guitarist Cesar Rosas plays Moe’s Alley
Los Lobos are one of the most consequential bands in the history of Chicano rock, and one element that helped them stand out was the punk-inspired guitar of Cesar Rosas that harkened back to the early days of rock ’n’ roll. While the band plays in Santa Cruz often — usually New Year’s Eve shows at the Rio Theatre — Rosas will take center stage when he plays Moe’s Alley Saturday.
Born in Mexico and growing up in Los Angeles, Rosas has been a member of Los Lobos from the very beginning and helped establish their sound with his fast-paced strumming inspired by the LA punk scene. This was a pivotal part of the band’s cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba,” which was a No.1 hit in 1987. He also has released two solo albums and played in the Latin rock supergroup Los Super Seven, featuring Los Lobos vocalist David Hidalgo and members of Calexico, Ozomatli, The Texas Tornados and country singers like Joe Ely and Lyle Lovett. He will be joined at Moe’s Alley by Los Survivors, a Central Coast band that plays Latin and soul music.
The concert is 8 p.m. Saturday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For information, go to MoesAlley.com.
Richard Thompson brings the bright lights to the Rio
Richard Thompson is quickly nearing 60 years as a prominent folk singer. He will get a head start on the festivities with a show at the Rio Theatre Easter Sunday.
In 1967, Richard Thompson joined the Fairport Convention, a band viewed by critics as the British answer to the Jefferson Airplane with its mix of folk and rock. A major component of their sound was Richard Thompson, whose power chords added an extra layer of power to their takes on Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell songs. His tenure in the band only lasted a few years, but after marrying Linda Peters in 1972, the two formed a duo called Richard and Linda Thompson who recorded the classic albums “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” and “Shoot Out the Lights.” After their divorce, Richard Thompson resumed his solo career to much acclaim, earning Grammy nominations and penning songs like “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” which was covered by Dylan. He also recorded an album of covers reflecting the history of music over the previous millennium, spanning from the medieval rota “Sumer is icumen in” to Britney Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again,” to give just one example of his diverse music career. Opening will be Richard Thompson’s wife, singer-songwriter Zara Phillips.
The concert is 8 p.m. Sunday at the Rio, 1205 Soquel Ave. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $48 for Gold Circle members. For information, go to RioTheatre.com.
This week’s calendar was compiled by Nick Sestanovich.