1. Karl Denison's Tiny Universe featuring Zach Zeputy-Ray Charles Boogaloo Dance Party @ Harlow's. The title of this show alone sounds fun enough doesn't it? But when things got cookin', it came down to one thing-this show was one of the purest, joyous events of the year. Nothing but mighty fine music played with verve and received with total adoration and love from the dedicated dancin' fools in attendance.
2. Los Lobos-40th Anniversary show @ Fillmore, SF. Speaking of knowing how to party, Los Lobos have been playing some of the best American music we have known for the last four decades. So how do they celebrate their 40th anniversary? By throwing down some classics, punching up the Tex-Mex and bringing out Boz Scaggs, Taj Mahal and Blondie Chaplin (guitarist/vocalist who has backed up the Stones and many others.) The guests were amazing, but the song selection was phenomenal. Maybe the finest versions I've heard of "Tears of God" and "Angel Dance." Long may you ride fellas!
3. Heartless Bastards-Easter night @ Harlow's-On a rainy easter Sunday, the Heartless Bastards rolled into town and transformed a sleepy J. Street into the center of the musical universe. Singer/guitarist Ericka Wengstrom was at her soaring finest, with the band shifting from power Americana to kick-ass rock n' roll at the flip of a switch. (*this shot is from High Sierra)
4. Mike Dillon Band @ The Blue Lamp-There is only one Mike Dillon and only one Carly Meyer. And on this night, their one-two punch was more than enough to enrapture a fun-loving crowd with their brand of zany, go-go and off-kilter hip-hop madness and jazzy funk.Serious FUN.
5. Brubaker @ Old Ironsides-A wicked blast of a performance by the Sac meets the Bay supergroup. Supercharged riffs, thundering rhythms and a soaring sound make their forthcoming album one of the most heavily anticipated of 2014.
6.Michael Franti and Spearhead @ Sac St. University Ballroom-The wife of a great friend texted me when this show was announced, writing- "Let's go see Spearhead and dance our asses off!!" That's exactly what happened at this excellent show. It was a homecoming for Franti, who grew up in Davis and hadn't played Sactown in quite some time. One of the many highlights was Franti bringing his mom, a retired teacher onstage and telling a little bit of the story of his upbringing as her adopted son. Good-hearted moment.
7. Rubblebucket @ High Sierra Music Festival and Harlow's-A one of a kind band playing out in the midst of a July heatwave.Despite the soaring temperatures, they brought a big crowd of people joyously to their feet-dancing, jumping around, loving, living. Rubblebucket connects with their audience like no other in their very own quirky, semi-nerdy and very funky way.
Days after the High Sierra show, singer Kal was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and went immediately into treatment. She reappeared with the band in early November at Harlow's cancer free and hair free as well. It was as if she had never lost a beat. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, fun night of music.
8. Clutch w/ The Sword @ Ace of Spades-This was the powerhouse show of the year, and it just happened to fall on National Metal Day (11/11). A great gift to fans of both bands, who were in TOP form. Clutch in particular, left little doubt that they are in the top tier of heavy band there is these days. Scratch that, they are in the top tier of ALL touring bands these days.
9. Anders Osborne @ Hangtown Halloween Ball-One of NOLA's favorite adopted sons, Osborne brought a unique energy and sound with his blues in open D. Sometimes subtle, sometimes heavy in electric mayhem and always steeped in plenty of soul.
10. Matisyahu w/The Dub Trio @ Ace of Spades-(and elsewhere...)-Through festival line-up luck and circumstance, I caught Matisyahu with the Dub Trio a total of 5 times over the last fourteen months. Touring relentlessly for the great album Spark Seeker, the formerly bearded one was riding high with a great batch of new songs that he really believed in. The remarkable, Brooklyn-based Dub Trio, who have become his backing band, amazed each time as they somehow managed to rearrange and morph Matisyahu's songs into something different every single time out. Epic.
