Arts & Culture Hearts of rock ’n’ roll
THIS WEEK
S.F.’s Zodiac Death Valley parties like it’s 1969
Ithe members of Zodiac Death Valley’s penchant for good ol’-fashioned
was told ahead of time about
rock ’n’ roll hedonism. Then I was right in the middle of it, seated at a booth next to guiby Mark Lore tarist/vocalist Nic Abodeely and mark@ thedaysof lorecom bassist Dan Burns at Portland’s Kenton Club sipping whiskey as they talked about their new record and the “rigors” of life on Preview: the road. Zodiac Death Valley “We like to performs tonight, Feb. 9, 8 p.m., at live,” explained Burns without Café Coda. Nate going into too much detail. “We Pendery, Master like the things that people should Lady and Kelly like. We get a bad rap, but we Bauman open. have big-ass hearts. We fall in Cost: $5 love with every town we go to.” Abodeely and Burns might be Café Coda 265 Humboldt Ave. familiar to Chico oldsters. A 566-9476 decade ago they ran together in www.cafecoda.com the Durham Rockers and V, and Burns played bass in Damelo while Abodeely was the OG drummer in Chico noise-poppers Cowboy and circus-rockers MeYow (later Experimental Dental School). Burns and Abodeely made the move to San Francisco soon after and have been there ever since. ZDV didn’t come together until late 2009. Abodeely had been playing solo acoustic shows around the Bay Area before finally getting Burns on board and filling out the lineup with keyboardist Nate Ricker, drummer Landon Cisneros and leadguitarist Jordan Villa. The band carried on with a rather fuck-all approach until someone from S.F. label Omega Records caught a ZDV performance in Oakland. The band signed on and released its selftitled debut in November of last year. It’s easy to see what Omega saw in these five rawk and rollers. At their Portland gig Abodeely— clad head to toe in denim—looked like a cross between Springsteen and Iggy Pop. Even the singer for the openers was anxious to see what was in store:
9
THURS
Special Events BEER RELEASE PARTY: Feather Falls Brewing Company releases “Wild Bill Winter Bock,” a full-bodied traditional German beer with deep amber color. Brewmaster Roland Allen will also offer free tours of the brewery. Th, 2/9, 6pm. Free. Feather Falls Casino; 3 Alverda Dr. in Oroville; (530) 533-3885; www.feather fallscasino.com.
Art Receptions OPPOSITES ATTRACT RECEPTION: A reception for
Paula Busch’s latest encaustics on display. Th,
2/9, 5-8pm. James Snidle Fine Arts and
ZDV, killin’ it in S.F. PHOTO BY JEFF BAUMANN
“I’m curious to hear what a band called Zodiac Death Valley sounds like.” ZDV’s immediate influences are difficult to track. Their back-alley blues is an unholy union of all that is right in rock music—loose, fun and noisy in all the right places, reaching as far back as Muddy Waters and landing on something resembling the Doors making sweet, sweet love to, well, Love. First single “The Room” begins with charred guitars that give way to a loping piano line, Abodeely’s vocals dripping swagger throughout. And organ slithers around fractured guitars (always pushed to the red) on druggy blues burners “Jail” and “Bad Girls.” Zodiac Death Valley’s scorching live sets are the talk of their town (a town that includes bands like Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees). ZDV have been making their way up and down the West Coast, and now they find themselves in full rock mode. “We just wanna be on the road,” said Burns. He admits to finding some comfort in a cramped tour van with four smelly dudes. “I feel endangered when I’m outside the van—it’s like being swaddled by a baby’s blanket of rock ’n’ roll.” I got the impression he was only half-joking. And while the members are lapping up the good times, there’s also a newfound dedication to the band. “That’s one thing about Zodiac Death Valley,” Burns said. “There’s never too much work.” Sex, drugs, work and rock ’n’ roll? It has a certain ring to it. Ω
Appraisals; 254 E. Fourth St.; (530) 343-2930; www.jamessnidlefinearts.com.
Music TAO: THE ART OF THE DRUM: An explosive mix of Taiko drumming, innovative choreography, colorful costumes and martial arts at Laxson Auditorium. Th, 2/9, 7:30pm. $20-$32. Chico State; 400 W. First St.; (530) 898-6333; www.chicostateboxoffice.com.
Theater THE LADIES MAN: A comedy revolving around a doctor’s frantic efforts to keep his young wife from learning about an indiscreet meeting he has with a female patient. Th-Sa, 7:30pm through 2/12; Su, 2/12, 2pm. $12-$16. Theatre on the Ridge Playhouse, 3735 Neal Rd. in Paradise, (530) 877-5760, www.totr.org.
Art Receptions CAROB BRADLYN RECEPTION: A reception featuring psychedelic portraits of inspiring public figures, with all proceeds benefiting the Shalom Free Clinic. F, 2/10, 5-7pm. Naked Lounge Tea and Coffeehouse; 118 W. Second St.; (530) 895-0676.
SIMPLE PLEASURES RECEPTION: A reception for “Simple Pleasures,” an art exhibit on display all month. F, 2/10, 4-8pm. Free. Sally Dimas Art Gallery; 493 East Ave. #1; (530) 345-3063.
Music LETS GET IT ON: Chico State’s Department of Music hosts its spring fundraiser in Harlen Adams Theatre. This tribute to Motown’s greats will include performances by Chico State students, faculty and community members. F, 2/10, 7:30pm. $20. Chico State; 400 W. First St.; (530) 898-6333; www.chicostatebox office.com.
Theater THE LADIES MAN: See Thursday. Theatre on the Ridge Playhouse, 3735 Neal Rd. in Paradise, (530) 877-5760, www.totr.org.
VAGINA MONOLOGUES: The Associated Students and Sexuality Equity Center’s annual spring production of the Vagina Monologues, which talks about sexual abuse, the female libido and the common woman’s experience. Held in Chico State’s Bell Memorial Union. F, 2/10, 7:30pm; Sa, 2/11, 2 & 7:30pm. $13-$15. Chico State, 400 W. First St., (530) 898-6333, www.chicostateboxoffice.com.
10
FRI
Special Events BLING FLING PARTY: A reception for the Valentines Day Bling Fling, a display of works
by seven jewelry-making artists. F, 2/10, 48pm. Free. Avenue 9 Gallery; 180 E. Ninth Ave.; (530) 879-1821; www.avenue9gallery.com.
ERIC BIBB
Monday, Feb. 13 Sierra Nevada Big Room SEE MONDAY, MUSIC
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