This One’s for the Ladies

HOTEL CALIFORNIA: Making a noteworthy return to town next Thursday, October 9, are the reigning voices of Hollywood’s famous Hotel Cafe. Following a series of strong and diverse showings at SOhO (sohosb.com) and Stateside (statesidesb.com) over the course of the past year, the venue turned touring vehicle will attempt to conquer State St. yet again-but this time, there’s a catch. Unlike past stops (which have brought such voices as Jim Bianco, Cary Brothers, and Ingrid Michaelson), Thursday’s show will feature an all-female line-up. Following in the footsteps of past Cafe grads like KT Tunstall, Rilo Kiley, and Rachael Yamagata, these lovely ladies will share a full night of stage time playing both solo and in the round, as the Cafe folk have been known to in the past. While the all-female bill differs from city to city, the crew stopping over at SOhO this week is undeniably one of the best. Together, Meiko, Brooke Fraser, Erin McCarley, Jaymay, and Holly Conlan will sit down for a night of intimate, rocking, brooding, and soulful songs that stand as a testament to the quality of singer/songwriters that the Cafe tour has always backed. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $15. For more information, call 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com.

SHE’S A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY: Following last week’s powerhouse performance by Victoria LeGrand and Alex Scally’s Beach House, this Monday Muddy Waters Cafe (myspace.com/muddycafesb) will play host to yet another dynamic duo. The Seattle-bred Ruby Dee And The SnakeÂ-handlers (rubydeemusic.com), led by leading lady Ruby Dee Phillipa and guitarist Jorge Harada, is nothing short of a rockabilly lover’s dream. Combining country twang with vintage swing and an obvious affinity for all things Cash and Carter, the duo are about as delightfully retro as they come without sounding derivative. And the band’s swagger, combined with Phillipa’s classic pitchy vocals and captivating stage presence, make this a night of throwback goodness that should not be missed. The show starts at 8 p.m. at Muddy Waters (508 E. Haley St.). Visit myspace.com/muddycafesb for details.

A WOMAN OF INTEGRITY: Say what you will about Santa Barbara-bred pop tartlet turned Billboard-topping songstress Katy Perry (katyperry.com). No really, we encourage you. Since busting onto radio, television, and these very Indy pages back in June, Perry has been stirring up dance parties and controversies wherever she goes, and few have been shy to comment. In fact, it was an image we ran alongside my own interview with Miss Perry that prompted a fellow coworker to draw a comparison between the “I Kissed a Girl” singer and, well, a blow-up sex doll. Suffice it to say, I cannot help but consider said staffer a bit of a prophet now that Integrity Toys, Inc. has announced that Katy Perry: The Limited-Edition Collectible Doll (integritytoys.com) will begin to ship to stores and homes in late fall 2008. (Be warned: The initial batch of pre-order Perrys is already sold out, so those of you scurrying to the computer right now will have to settle for the waiting list.)

Coproduced by Integrity and designer Jason Wu, Perry’s plastic personage joins the company’s ranks of a number of “high-end collectible dolls,” including an uncanny Barbie-sized miniature of the renowned drag queen RuPaul. Yes, RuPaul. So, for the many of us who’ve been waiting to add to our replica dolls of sexually ambiguous pop stars with spotty recording careers collection, I say, “Thanks, Mr. Wu.” Without you, I’d have nothing to buy my favorite coworker for Christmas.