Many might associate soul music of the ’60s with American acts, especially with the explosive popularity of Motown, but it also had a major scene in England with what has become known as Northern soul. Artists like Gloria Jones and Geno Washington had major hits that took a lot of cues from American music, and […]
Many might associate soul music of the ’60s with American acts, especially with the explosive popularity of Motown, but it also had a major scene in England with what has become known as Northern soul. Artists like Gloria Jones and Geno Washington had major hits that took a lot of cues from American music, and now that appreciation has come full circle with Santa Cruz’s very own The Inciters taking inspiration from Northern soul. The 10-piece — yes, 10-piece — band will be performing at Moe’s Alley Friday.Pickle Mafia are technically a jazz band, but they are inspired by all sorts of genres: neo-soul, hip-hop, Latin jazz, bebop and even rock and roll, having been known to break out live covers of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The name is a reference to drummer Marco Cirigliano’s Italian heritage as well as pianist Charlie Lindner’s hobby of pickling. Much like cucumbers soaked in brine, this show will spark memories audiences want to preserve. The band still tours extensively, including a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, but given how expensive tickets are, it is no wonder tribute bands have popped up as a more economical alternative. One such band, Take It To The Limit, will be bringing some of the biggest Eagles songs to the Rio Theatre Thursday.
Taking from the Northern soul scene and the Motown/Stax Records sound of the ’60s and ’70s, The Inciters mix soulful melodies with a dance beat that will have audiences harkening back to a time when R&B ruled the world. Attire suitable for dancing is highly recommended. San Francisco garage rock trio Hot Laundry will open.
The concert is 7 p.m. Wednesday at 320 Cedar St. Doors open at 6:15. Tickets are .99 in advance. For more information, go to KuumbwaJazz.org. The concert is 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rio, 1205 Soquel Ave. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are . For more information, go to RioTheatre.com. This week’s calendar was compiled by Nick Sestanovich. When discussing the most popular music acts of the ’70s, The Eagles have to come up. The Los Angeles band soared with their blend of country and both soft and hard rock, earning a string of hits throughout most of the decade and launching the solo careers of Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh. Their 1976 greatest hits album even holds the distinction of being the best-selling album of all time in the United States, and many of their songs still get regular airplay to this day.
Get ready for big show with The Inciters
Take It To The Limit hail from Vancouver and were formed in 2001, earning fans such as longtime National Hockey League player Glenn Anderson. Their repertoire includes some of the best-known Eagles songs such as “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Desperado,” “Take it Easy,” “Lyin’ Eyes” and, of course, the legendary “Hotel California.” This will be their first show in Santa Cruz, and they will be bringing back the spirit of the Eagles — one that hasn’t been felt since 1969.
SANTA CRUZ Pickle Mafia to deliver the hits at Kuumbwa Jazz FELTON
The concert is 8 p.m. Wednesday at Felton Music Hall, 6275 Highway 9. Doors open at 7. Tickets are .07 in advance. This is a 21-and-older concert. For more information, go to FeltonMusicHall.com.
If you were listening to the radio in the winter of 1994, you likely remember an acoustic ballad sung by a man with the bassiest voice this side of Barry White, consisting of a chorus with no words, just humming. That song was “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” by Canadian alt-rockers Crash Test Dummies, and it was a smash hit that year that topped the charts in nine countries, including the American alternative charts, and received a Grammy nomination. They also have released eight studio albums and have spent the past six years touring off and on. This time around, their tour will bring them to Felton Music Hall Wednesday.
Take it easy with Eagles tribute at Rio
The concert is 9 p.m. Friday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 8. Tickets are in advance and the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For more information, go to MoesAlley.com. Crash Test Dummies were formed in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1988 and had their first top 10 single in their home country, “Superman’s Song,” three years later. However, it was their 1993 album “God Shuffled His Feet” and breakout single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” that earned them international fame. The song, a rumination on children unable to explain their physical abnormalities, caught a lot of listeners’ attention with its melancholy tone and Brad Roberts’ unique bass-baritone vocals, and even inspired “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parody “Headline News.” That same year, Crash Test Dummies were also featured on the “Dumb and Dumber” soundtrack with their cover of XTC’s “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.” Three decades later, most of the original band is touring North America with additional tours planned in Australia and the United Kingdom later in the year. Once again, audiences at Kuumbwa Jazz will find themselves in a pickle when the Rochester, New York, trio take the stage Wednesday.
