(Almost) All about You Your week in sing-alongs and how to play By Jennifer Savage thehum@northcoastjournal.com
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his week is not exactly overflowing with myriad musical opportunities, but the ones that are out there sound pretty fine.
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Beer & Sake on 18th St., between G & H, Northtown Arcata 826-1988
black irish texas
An early, raucous weekday show
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This’ll be a fun show, for example: Austin’s Black Irish Texas plays The Logger Bar on Thursday as part of a West Coast tour promoting the band’s latest effort, An Ode to Saint Cecilia. Prior stagemates include Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Scott H. Biram and Social Distortion, all appropriate given the blend of Celtic punk-twangy Americana served up at a high rate of speed. The Logger Bar is the perfect place to watch mohawked Mark Maughmer II set his fiddle ablaze. Other band members include James “Fitzy” Fitzsimmons on guitar and vocal duties, James Sheeron on drums, Shannon Morino on upright bass — upright bass! — and Chad Fitzsimmons on banjo. Local fave Rooster McClintock opens and the music, promises promoter Ian Hiler, “starts at 8 p.m. sharp.” Pull up blackirishtexas.com to hear some tunes — and learn the words so you can throw back some Jameson and sing along.
34 North Coast Journal • Thursday, AUG. 8, 2013 • northcoastjournal.com
Karaoke wisely
Keeping the singing-along theme going, Arcata Theatre Lounge presents Chris Clay’s Karaoke on Friday. Doors opens at 8 p.m., cost is free with a minimum $5 beverage or food purchase and the evening is all ages — although parental guidance is strongly suggested as some of the more-than 100,000 songs to choose from contain “inappropriate” content. Rock ‘n’ roll, folks! It’s devil music! Some tips for karaoke novices, courtesy of my karaoke-obsessed friends: Pick a song everyone knows because the crowd will be too busy instinctively singing it with you to notice how far away from the original tune you actually are; make up for your lack of singing talent by freeing those inner rock star moves previously only performed in the privacy of your kitchen; do not pick a ballad or a song over three minutes long or one with repeated instrumental gaps; do not attempt Zeppelin, Queen or Frank Zappa — and if you choose a Pink Floyd song then please warn your audience so they can use this time to visit the restroom, order another drink or go pick that thing out of their teeth.
’80s vs ’80s
Also on Friday, and also a perfect opportunity to sing along — or at least lip sync — to your favorite songs, are two versions of 1980s dance parties. In Arcata, at the Jambalaya, you’ll get DJ Red spinning all vinyl, just like in the olden days. Segues will be smooth and back-to-back tracks will make sense, just like when listening to the radio saved your teenage life. Easily the most authentic option, plus Friday is Arts! Arcata night, so you can drift through town and into
the night without driving. Should you be in Eureka, you’ll get an also-fun if more mish-mash of ’80s dance hits at the Palm Lounge, courtesy of the Pressure Anya DJs, who are celebrating the birthdays of The Lost Luvs’ Becky and Rondi. Dressing up encouraged. Hopefully both bars will have specials on wine coolers, too.
Oh, look! Another festival!
What would a summer Saturday in Humboldt be without a festival? This round it’s the Blue Lake Music Festival and Picnic out in Perigot Park. On offer, the usual food, beverages, children’s area, beer and wine, art, wares and dancers, plus music by Motherlode, The Foggy Bottom Boys, Silver Hammer, Blue Rhythm Revue, Doug Fir and the 2x4s, The Movers and the Shakers, Abstract and Seed. Also, barbecue. Bring a couple of blankets, some reuseable picnicware and soak it all in.
Sexy stompin’ shakin’ sounds
Later that night, get dark and different at the Alibi, where one-man band Shake it Like a Caveman promises a tranceinducing experience via the electro blues combo of kick drum, hi hat, slide guitar, harmonica and vocals. Shake it’s Blake
Shake it Like a Caveman