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Pricing note: All prices listed below are prices at the door evening of
the show. Since many shows do sell-out
in advance, advance tickets are recommended. All tickets bought
in advance at outlets are subject to added box office
service charges.
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Friday,
March 21
8:30pm |
$20 |
Roy Rogers & the
Delta Rhythm Kings
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www.roy-rogers.com |
Certainly one of the top handful of blues slide
guitarists in the world is Roy Rogers. His electrifying renditions of classic
Mississippi blues, especially Robert Johnson songs such as “32-20 Blues and
“Terraplane Blues,” are stunning, while his originals fit perfectly with these
classic tunes. First discovered over twenty years ago as guitarist in John Lee
Hooker’s band, Roy has gone on to gain the respect of the entire blues world as
a slide guitarist with few peers.
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Saturday,
March 22
8pm |
$20 |
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Bill Kirchen &
the Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods |
billkirchen.com |
Bill Kirchen has become widely known for the
trademark big-rig guitar riffs that powered the Commander Cody hit “Hot Rod
Lincoln” into the Top 10 in 1972. Since 1993, he has recorded seven critically
acclaimed albums of his own that have made him one of the musical elder
statesmen of today’s Americana music, which in truth was pioneered by acts like
Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen back in the ‘70s. Bill’s got a pretty new album,
Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods on Proper Records, and on this cd Kirchen puts the
accent on songwriting, a talent that is sometimes overshadowed by his dazzling
instrumental virtuosity. On Hammer, the man known as “The King of Dieselbilly”
and “A Titan of the Telecaster” visits most every sonic landmark along the
proverbial Route 66 of American music that he’s traveled for decades now as a
player, songwriter and singer, and serves up a blue-plate special of such tasty
and nourishing stylistic flavors as rock ‘n’ roll, honky-tonk, soul, rockabilly,
Western swing, country, blues, boogie-woogie and more. You can expect all this
this evening as Kirchen shows you how it is that the King of Dieselbilly truly
is The Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods.
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Thursday,
March 27
8pm |
$17 |
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Paul Thorn Band
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www.paulthorn.com |
Paul Thorn, with his Mississippi drawl, his knack
for hilarious storeytelling, and his passionate intensity of his highly
entertaining songs, is easily one of the most engaging solo performers we have
ever had here at The Palms. Thorn has just released a long awaited new CD titled
A Long Way from Tupelo. Thorn is one intense guy-a former professional boxer who
lasted seven rounds with Roberto Duran, a writer, a good painter,...he’s someone
who lives life the way it should be lived, and is talented enough to put this
intelligent passion and experience into his songs and performance. Thorn’s
unique perspective covers the songwriting terrain of life, love, and lust, with
some songs being poignant observations on the sometimes difficult nature of love
and life, other songs celebrations of the wild side of life, while others
(“Viagra”, “Two Dogs in Heat”) are just plain silly and, frankly, funny. He’s a
little bit devilish, a little bit angelic, and a whole lot of fun.
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Thursday,
April 3
8pm |
$20 |
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Chris Smither
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www.smither.com
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Chris Smither is one of the most thoughtful
lyricists and talented finger-picking acoustic guitarists on the folk circuit
today, with his blues and folk based songs ruminating wisely on the nature of
love and life. Raised in New Orleans and eventually moving to Boston, Smither
has been performing and writing songs since the mid 60’s, along the way writing
songs that have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt (who has made Smither's "Love Me
Like A Man" a signature song of hers, and refers to Chris as "my Eric Clapton")
and more recently Emmylou Harris with her recording of “Slow Surprise” on The
Horse Whisperer soundtrack.
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Friday,
April 4
8:30pm |
$20 |
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Norton Buffalo &
Friends |
www.norton-buffalo.com |
Legendary harp player Norton Buffalo returns to The
Palms with his 5 piece acoustic band. Whether playing rock, R & B, blues,
country or jazz, Buffalo is widely considered the finest multi-genre harmonica
player of our time. He’s been a highly celebrated member of the Steve Miller
Band, recorded and toured with some of the top names in music, worked in movies
and television, as well as performing with his own band, the Knockouts. Buffalo
has also been highly sought after as a recording artist, having played on over
100 albums by artists as diverse as Bonnie Raitt (he did that searing harmonica
solo on "Runaway"), Kenny Loggins, The Doobie Brothers (including the Grammy
Award-winning "Minute By Minute"), The Marshall Tucker Band, Johnny Cash, David
Grisman, Juice Newton, Laurie Lewis and Elvin Bishop. Always a great show.
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Saturday,
April 5
8:30pm |
$20 |
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Ray Wylie Hubbard
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www.raywylie.com |
Texas music icon Ray Wylie Hubbard has risen over
the last decade to elder statesman stature within the Texas music scene as well
as earning his place as one of the most esteemed songwriters within American
roots music. He is most noted perhaps for his anthemic outlaw country singalong
of over 30 years ago, “Redneck Mother”, but over the last decade and a half and
seven solo releases he’s noted for his provocative and thoughtful folk/country
songs becoming known as a master of everything from the poetic and poignant to
the gritty and greasy. His latest recording is called Snake Farm.
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Saturday,
April 12
8pm |
$25 |
Holly Near
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www.hollynear.com |
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Holly Near—an outspoken activist, singer, teacher,
and recording artist—has spent nearly 40 years working for progressive political
and social change. Over the years, Holly’s powerful anthems have captured the
mood of many movements and now her voice and messages are no less urgent than
when she began her work in the social change community. As one Holly Near fan
put it, "She is a divine mix of Pete Seeger and Judy Garland!"
Her new recording, Show Up, is a pointed and
provocative look at where society sits today. From her poignant treatment of
Jackson Browne’s scathing indictment of the big business war machine in Lives in
the Balance to an ironic rewrite of Laura Love’s I Want You Gone, no topic is
sacred to Holly Near. War, peace, love, family, corporation, government,
addiction—they all come under her scrutiny on Show Up. But Holly is not merely
an observer. She invites audiences to take a stand—to take the higher road of
vision, peace, perspective, and leadership—and to Show Up. Holly brings history
alive as she relates her work as a singer/songwriter and social change activist.
And history meets the present as she takes on the opportunities and challenges
facing the peace and justice movements of today. Holly Near is keeping the
political song tradition alive.
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Thursday,
April 17
8pm |
$22 |
David Wilcox
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davidwilcox.com |
For nearly twenty years, singer
songwriter David Wilcox has been making music that bravely
navigates a path through the emotional static of modern life
towards a better place. With the new release of his tenth studio
album Airstream, Wilcox once again hits home with thoughtful,
philosophical, yet straightforward songs, sung in his very
appealing voice, and self accompanied as one of the best
acoustic guitarists in the folk music world. With a style that
The Boston Globe says "Combines the best of both pop and modern
folk aesthetics," he writes songs that are wake up calls to the
heart, balm for the soul. Through yearning melodies and direct
lyrics, they dare us to remember the promises we made to
ourselves of who we want to be. They offer us a guiding hand,
along with the hope and courage to go forward.
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Friday,
April 18
8pm |
$20 |
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Antsy McClain &
Friends |
www.unhitched.com |
Antsy McClain returns with acoustic band in an
evening of songs combining the inspired craziness of his show with the Trailer
Park Troubadours and his quieter, sweeter songs, an evening that showcase
Antsy’s amazing breadth as a songwriter.. In this show, we’ll hear some of the
songs that keep bringing us back to hear the Troubs, as well as songs that don’t
quite fit in the usual Troubs repertoire, many of which are found on Antsy’s
2006, solo release Time Sweetented Lies.
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Saturday,
April 19
8:30pm |
$15 |
The Sun Kings
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www.the-sun-kings.com |
The Beatles. You know the name and remember the
songs. Their music redefined rock and roll for an entire generation, leaving an
imprint that endures to this day. Imagine the Beatles
at the beginning of their career - during their Hamburg days,
before the suits, haircuts and fame. Couple the energy and drive of those
early performances with the diversity of all the
Beatles records we know so well. Put it on stage
and you have a Sun Kings show. You have to hear them to believe it. The Sun
Kings will send more than one amazed shiver down your backbone with their
uncanny renditions of your favorite Beatles songs. This group of top notch
musicians share a common love and deep respect for the music of the Beatles.
From the trademark harmonies to the orchestrations, it’s all there. Not a
tribute band in the obvious sense, there are no collarless jackets, wigs or fake
moustaches. The Sun Kings are about the music, and their love for it shines
through in every song. It’s an enthusiasm that’s contagious, with a backbeat you
can’t lose. The Sun Kings offer something for every Beatles fan. From ballads to
belt-it-out rockers, and everything in between, they play your favorites just
the way you remember them. The Sun Kings, who take their name from one of the
more obscure songs on side two of Abbey Road. The Sun Kings are Drew Harrison on
vocals, guitars, percussion, Michael Barrett on vocals, keyboards, guitars, Bill
Zupko on lead guitar, vocals, Peter LoMenzo: vocals and bass and Steve Scarpell
on drums, percussion, and vocals.
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Thursday,
April 24
8pm |
$15 |
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The Fishtank
Ensemble |
www.fishtankensemble.com
www.myspace.com/fishtankensemble |
Fishtank Ensemble plays a unique blend of Gypsy,
Balkan, Flamenco, Klezmer and original tunes. The arrangements are always
surprising and include instruments from many countries such as violin,
accordion, flamenco and gypsy jazz guitar, shamisen, bass, saw and voice. From
the smokey cafes of Bucharest to the Gypsy caravans of yesterday, Fishtank
Ensemble evokes the spirit of a past age with the sounds of tomorrow. Fishtank
Ensemble formed around the arrival of the gifted young fiddler Fabrice Martinez.
Originally from France, he has spent the last seven years traveling around
Europe in a mule-drawn caravan learning and playing folk music with the ensemble
"Croque Mule." Much of that time was spent living in Romania, often in Romani
(Gypsy) villages. A series of chance occurrences caused the members of what
would become Fishtank Ensemble to meet in an Oakland performance space called
‘The Fishtank’ in the spring of 2005. After 3 short weeks together, they
recorded their debut album, Super Raoul. ‘Raoul’ is a gypsy slang term for
‘cool’. .In late 2005 the band took to the road, performing up and down the west
coast USA for delighted audiences everywhere.
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Friday,
April 25
8:30pm |
$18 |
Mumbo
Gumbo
CANCELLED |
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This seven-piece band does
it all. Fronted by two of the strongest singers a band could ever hope to have,
Tracy Walton and Chris Webster, Mumbo Gumbo plays an amazingly diverse and
appealing set of music. Their danceable music is legendary, with much of it
based in the Louisiana sound that was so prominent in their earliest years, and
which has broadened to include Latin, African, reggae grooves, as well as good
old fashion pop/rock. On the other side of the coin is the beauty and delicacy
with which they play the country and jazz style ballads. The songwriting is
shared by many members of the band while the musicianship is taken on by the top
level playing of drummer Rick Lotter, bassist Mike Palmer, sax player Reggy
Marks, accordionist, pianist Steve Stizzo, and guitarist Jon Wood. The dance
floor will be open and seating will be limited.
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Saturday,
April 26
8:30pm |
$20 |
Lavay Smith & Her
Red Hot Skillet Lickers
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www.lavaysmith.com |
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The Bay Area’s Lavay Smith is
internationally recognized as The Queen of classic Jazz & Blues
in the authentic style of the 1940's and 1950's.
Lavay, who’s become something of
a San Francisco landmark, incorporates a variety of classic
American musical styles, including swing, bebop, salsa, jump
blues, and New Orleans R&B. She has become an internationally
recognized Diva of Jazz and Blues, with a singing style
influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith,
Little Esther Phillips and other legendary greats.
This sultry chanteuse evokes a
sensuous era of Jazz queens and sexy pinups and adds a modern,
feminist twist. No wonder Los Angeles Magazine chose her as one
of the sexiest people around! Lavay first performed in 1989 and
immediately began attracting crowds thanks to her big, bluesy
voice, exciting stage personality, and glamorous approach..
Lavay approaches her material from the standpoint of an
independent woman, combining world-class singing and
musicianship with hilarious, provocative lyrics. Lavay's last
album received a prestigious 4 & 1/2 Star review in Downbeat
magazine and reached the top 10 on the National Billboard Jazz
Charts.
“The San Francisco-based Lavay
Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are a notable exception to
the retro-swing norm. The saucy vocalist and her eight-piece
crew actually know the difference between jump music and bland
R&B in corny suits. They have been a working unit since 1989 and
sound as tight as the legendary musicians they choose to
emulate.” ---Bob
Blumenthal, Boston Globe
“A lush vocal style recalling
both Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington.”
---Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
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