May Daze
ELECTRIFYING UKELELE: Ever ponder what Jimi Hendrix might have
sounded like if he played a ukulele? Me neither, but Jake
Shimabukuro has. While he respects tradition as much as the next
Hawaiian, the 28-year-old virtuoso is instilled with a thirst for
experimentation. Occasionally transforming the gentle four-stringed
instrument into a roaring guitar is his idea of a good time. An
excitable guy this Jake, he loves to jump through a wide range of
styles like jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk,
flamenco, and, of course, rock. Next Wednesday, May 10, SOhO’s
audience is in for a wild ride. — Tyler Blue
NIGHT FALLS HARD: Emerging from the musical breeding ground that
is Portland, Oregon, is At Dusk, an indie rock band whose intensely
original sound refreshes and makes their upcoming May 11 show at
Giovanni’s in I.V. way worth the trip from State Street. Comprised
of three friends who went to high school in L.A. together — Greg
Borenstein (bass, guitar, vocals), Cary Clarke (guitar, bass,
vocals), and Will Hattman (drums, vocals) — At Dusk compares
themselves to Mission of Burma, “had they been from the West Coast,
fronted by a confused Colin Blunstone and Brian Wilson, with Jorge
Ben, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and the Pace Twins go-go dancing,
clapping out a beat, and cheering from the wings of the stage.” At
the very least though, these are good buddies who know each other
well, and so should you. They’re touring to promote the release of
their third album, You Can Know Danger, which is downloadable from
their website atduskmusic.com. The show starts next Thursday, May
11, at 9 p.m. — Matt Kettmann
WE LOVE LES SHELLEYS: It’s a band name forged in the mind of
singer/songwriter Tom Brosseau from a romanticized remembrance of a
schoolhouse friend of the second grade. Such idyllic beauty is
clear in Les Shelleys’ music. The duo, Brosseau and Angela Correa,
both successful solo artists, joined forces out of a mutual
appreciation for traditional folk, country, and jazz, although the
almost eerie angelic harmony of their voices couldn’t have hindered
them, either. “I have a real passion for lo-fi sound,” said Correa
about her love of bare-bones music. With influences like Bob Dylan,
Leadbelly, and John Prine, the duo’s guitar-playing is deep and
melodic and runs like a river. They aim for folk and try to bring
their audiences with them, back to a simpler time with simpler
music, where messages and feelings are clear and don’t rely on
“bells and whistles” to make their point. They’re playing a free
show in UCSB’s Storke Plaza at noon on May 9. — Hudson Hornick
WESTSIDE HOMECOMING: Daniel Parslow is back in town and his
band, Anything but 3 Bucks, is ready to momentarily rekindle their
rock ’n’ roll glory. Regarded by some as being among S.B.’s finest,
this reunion is bound to bring old fans out of the woodwork. The
improvisational guitarist has been passing his time in Hawaii,
playing with drummer Bill Kreutzmann of Grateful Dead fame.
Anything but 3 Bucks will be landing at Palmieri’s on Saturday, May
6. The word is their sound is influenced by the likes of James
Brown, Rush, and Black Sabbath. There is no cover and the music
goes from 9:30-12:30. — TB
MOUSTACHE DE MAYO: Break out the Coronas and grease up the
margarita-making blenders, for it’s Cinco de Mayo on Friday. State
Street’s sure to be bustling with activity, but for the best time
on this celebration day in memory a major Mexican military victory,
head down to Zelo’s, where young rockers Holden are holdin’ a
“Moustache de Mayo” bash. It’s an 18 and up show, and anyone who
comes with a mustache — man or woman — gets a free copy of their
latest CD, When You’re Here. It’s a good bet they’ll play some
Mexican-inspired tunes too. — MK