Hey! It’s the Eye’s weekly preview of bands, big-name and not-so, stopping in town – and WOW! are things rocking and rolling the next couple weeks. Part of the increase in action stems from CenterArts kicking off the 2008-2009 season, but all kinds of live music goodness awaits in the usual variety of venues. Summer may be winding down, but the scene is ramping up. Way up. Enjoy! – JS/Eye Scene Ed.
Monday, Aug. 25
The Let Go
Jambalaya
(“Molly”? I get “Chris,” “Bob” and even the occasional “Thomas,” but Molly’s a new one!)
“Greetings Molly! My name is Jeff Tune and I am the tour manager for Louis Logic (Fat Beats, Brooklyn, NY) and independent Seattle group The Let Go. The Tomorrow Is Today Tour is coming to Arcata, and I wanted you to have all the info!”
From myspace.com/theletgocrew: “The Let Go is a hip hop group comprised of two emcees, Type and Kublakai, and one producer, Captain Midnite. All members were born and raised in Seattle, where they all currently reside. The combination of their talents came together naturally for the three friends and each member has something distinctively unique they bring to the group: Type is known for his satirical content and smash mouth punchlines, Kublakai made a name for himself by having catchy hooks and genuine style, while Captain Midnite brings the art of true composition back to boom bap hip hop, with crackin’ drums and bold sample chops in a beat bound to have at least three change-ups before the tracks ends.”
Tuesday, Aug. 26
The Waifs
Van Duzer
CenterArts presents The Waifs and special guest Krystle Warren. In case you’ve missed their prior performances – and failed to listen to your local folksy radio stations/programs, here’s the skinny: Sisters Vicki and Donna Simpson and guitarist Joshua Cunningham have crafted a totally unique and fresh sound that has earned The Waifs a devoted following and a string of sold-out concerts across the country. Redefining the folk tradition even as they embrace it, the Waifs are a group bubbling over with talent, verve and vitality. They also sell out whenever they land in Humboldt.
Tickets are $35 general, $30 senior/child, $15 HSU students and available at the University Ticket Office, the Works and The Metro. For more information and credit card orders, call CenterArts at (707) 826-3928
Tuesday, Aug. 26
Town Mountain
Humboldt BrewsHere’s a little bit about the band North Carolina bluegrass band Town Mountain: “Jimmy Martin, Hank Williams, and the Ramones had a baby. And its name is Town Mountain. Born out of the all-night jam sessions and fertile picking scene of Asheville, N.C., Town Mountain has emerged as one of the premiere young American bluegrass bands.” And, wait! There’s more: “It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that gives Town Mountain its unique, contagious energy. It could be the visual performance…. The guys bob and weave around each other, to and from the microphones, in order to facilitate their surprisingly sophisticated vocal and instrumental arrangements. The result is a natural choreography, an exciting visual performance that makes the band almost as fun to watch as it is to listen to. Almost. “This is the hard-driving, no nonsense, slammin’ bluegrass that makes you whoop and holler and stomp your feet.”
Tuesday, Aug. 26
System and Station
Lil’Red Lion
The inclusion of Eureka shows is haphazard and subjective. Typically, we have so much going on in A-town that expanding the listings across the bay isn’t an option. But Amy’s been booking great bands at the Lil’Red Lion, plus it’s a cool little venue and the band is System and Station, whose music appears semi-regularly on my Tuesday music feature, “North by Northwest” on KSLG 94.1 FM. So, check’em out!
From their people: “System and Station returns with its fourth full-length A Nation of Actors to deliver its most solid work to date. A Nation of Actors rides through poppier terrain that its predecessor Here Is Now, without sacrificing the angular guitar works or the two-ton rhythm section. The band has performed with Marky Ramone to Shiner, Alex Chilton to Built To Spill, Jermy Enigk to Canyon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Meat Puppets.”
Hear them for yourself at systemandstation.net, or myspace.com/systemandstation.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
Steel Pulse
KBR
CenterArts presents the band probably the UK’s most highly-regarded roots reggae outfit – Steel Pulse. Their sound features strong reggae beats mixed with powerful political commentary. Since their debut in 1975, politics have been at the forefront of their message. In 1992, they even went so far as to challenge the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme Court, asserting that their cab drivers discriminated against black people in general and Rastas in particular.
Tickets are $35 general, $25 HSU students and are available at the University Ticket Office at HSU, the Works in Eureka/Arcata and The Metro. For more information and credit card orders, call (707) 826-3928.
Note: This event is restricted to those who are at least 18 years old or a current HSU student with ID
Wednesday, Aug. 27
“Weird Al”
Van Duzer
CenterArts presents America’s foremost song parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic.
From new wave to gangsta rap; the comedy/music of “Weird Al” has sold millions of CDs and videos, which led to multiple Grammy Awards.
Now enjoying the most successful chart-topping CD, single and video of his career with Straight Outta Lynwood’s “White and Nerdy.” Don’t miss “Weird Al’s” legendary live show! You can expect a full multi-media extravaganza, complete with video, costume changes and his full band.
Tickets are $55 general, $45 senior/child, $35 HSU students. Tickets are available at the University Ticket Office HSU, the Works, The Metro and through humboldt.edu/~carts/.
For more information and credit card orders, call CenterArts at (707) 826-3928.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Humweek Concert
HSU Soccer Field
AS Presents and Student Affairs present the Humweek Concert 2008 featuring Ozomatli, Brett Dennen, Upright Citizens Brigade and more on the Soccer Field (corner of Harpst and Rossow).
Ozomatli bring their unique sound concoction of Latin salsa, urban hip-hop, and jazz-funk as headliners of the Humweek 2008 concert. Other artists include Brett Dennen, the dance-punk revivalists !!! (“chk, chk, chk”) and original comedy from the twisted minds of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre’s best improv, sketch and stand up comedians.
Tickets are $25 general, $10 HSU students and available at the University Ticket Office, the Works and The Metro. For more information and credit card orders, call CenterArts at (707) 826-3928. Note: This event is restricted to those who are at least 18 years old or a current HSU student with ID.
Future gigs
HSU has just booked Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman for Nov. 6 in the Community Center and The Reverend Horton Heat on Feb. 11 in the Kate Buchanan Room. Tickets go on-sale this Friday, Aug. 22.
And, if all that isn’t enough, some local bearded longhairs have been planning and plotting behind the scenes recently and will be presenting The Future is Unwritten psych-rock music fest next month in Arcata and Eureka. Details here.
Arcata Eye Scene 
Thanks for mentioning The Future is Unwritten Fest.