Barrio Manouche with DJ K. Bueno: Friday, May 10, 9:30 p.m., $15
San Francisco’s Barrio Manouche returns with a six-song lineup that’s sure to stimulate the senses. Led by the mesmerizing presence of guitarist and vocalist Javi Jiménez, the band evokes elements of romanticism that make you feel like you’re in a gypsy fever dream. Their original work has an emotional charge and wake-up dance moves you may not have remembered in years.
Barrio Manouche is a blistering force of sonic alchemy from around the world. Flamenco guitar soars over a base of Brazilian/Cuban percussion, interwoven with mesmerizing saxophone and hypnotic vocals. Gypsy jazz melodies inject a timeless quality into the equation. Expect to be blown away by this rich, energetic blend of acoustic Latin and French jazz.
Barrio Manouche formed a very natural pairing with DJ K. Bueno last time he was here. Just do it again! K. Bueno quickly rose to become the gold standard in the Nevada City EDM scene. He is like lightning, hitting any dance floor with a mesmerizing matrix of energy before people even know what hit him. He specializes in pulsating Latin beats, electro, cumbia, and funky fusion. He also produces some amazingly cool remixes of songs you know and love. K. Bueno is a chameleon who fluidly adapts to any environment or atmosphere, seemingly effortlessly. Working from deep within the zone, his laser-focused approach erases all inhibitions and unites people in the universal language of dance.
New Monsoon: Saturday, May 11th, 9:30pm, $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
“New Monsoon’s exhilarating blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation shines in an irresistible blend of sophisticated vocal craft, original musical exploration, and down-home rock and roll. They It’s a collective force, and it comes across as a real unifying force on stage. It’s more than just a band. It’s transcendent.” — Michael Shreve (Original Drummer, Santana)
New Monsoon is a Bay Area jam band institution that has recently experienced a resurgence. An eclectic blend of globally inspired rhythms, collaborative songwriting, deep grooves, and jams galore, New Monsoon incorporates many influences into his unique brand of rock’n’roll. Celebrating more than 25 years of music, New Monsoon is stronger than ever with national touring experience and playing top venues and festivals like Red Rocks, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits Fest. The band has an extensive catalog of studio recordings. Most notably, “The Sound,” produced by Michael Shreve (Santana) and Paul Kimble (Grant Lee Buffalo), and Platinum Award-winning producer John Cutler (Grateful Dead) It’s “V”.
New Monsoon stands out from the crowd with Jeff Miller and Bo Carper’s blend of electric and acoustic guitars. In addition to Phil Ferrino’s stellar keyboard work, these three of his founding members utilize a chemistry that has endeared them to countless fans over the decades. The addition of a new rhythm section injected fresh energy into the band’s signature sound. Dale Fanning is a great drummer who brings African and jazz influences to the mix. Those who remember his trio The Living Daylights know how lucky they were to have him. They’re playing the low end of lockdown, with Murph Murphy (Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, Tracolum, Band Beyond Description) on bass. This crazy horse fan favorite is his master of the groove that enhances every project he’s involved with.
Anna Moss & the Nightshades: Tuesday, May 14, 8:30 p.m., $20
When people talk about music being a religious experience, they are referring to the kind of spiritual journey that Anna Moss evokes through her performances. Moss’s vocal quality is so unique and deeply soothing that the crowd finds themselves floating in a space beyond time and reason. It is in this moment that you can fully absorb not only the smoky, seductive, and dynamic nature of her songs, but also her painstaking lyrics that accompany them. She transports you back in time to her bootleggers of yesteryear while carving out her own niche as one of the most powerful female artists of our time.
Anna is best known in the North American folk and festival scene as the frontwoman of the band Handmade Moments. She is a universally loved artist whose fans not only find her inspirational, but have every reason to relate to her like a friend. Her ability to play multiple instruments, especially guitar and saxophone, elevates her to her divine aura. She is an entertainer by nature, a musical shaman, a renaissance woman, an activist for peace and justice, and a freak of nature in the best sense of the word.
Moving to New Orleans several years ago influenced Anna’s arrangements and style. The project was conceived during the darkest days of the pandemic, as she weathered the overwhelming recession. It was during these dark times that Anna found her way to the light and honed her signature “bedroom pop” style. Watch the band’s debut video, “Slow Down Kamikaze,” and see how the musicians of the early incarnations of The Nightshades defined the essence of the band’s uniquely devastating emotion. is obvious. Fernando Lima, a local percussionist and drummer from São Paulo, Brazil, is at the heart of this sound. His sparse, jazzy style accentuates every breath of music.
Her Handmade Moments running mate Joel Radford anchors the bass groove. He’s usually a jokester and larger-than-life guy, but his low-key, down-to-earth approach with this band reflects the passionate focus The Nightshades bring to the stage. Versatile keyboardist Nat Lawrence adds a New Orleans flavor to the mix. Rounding out the group are vocals from Laurie Shook of the Shook Twins. She also plans to give the audience a small opening set of her own to warm up the venue.
Nevada City and Crazy Horse Saloon are Anna’s second home. She and Joel lived here for a long time. As if this wasn’t enough, we all come together on this occasion to celebrate this otherworldly goddess’ birthday! Before she hits the big stage at the High Sierra Music Festival later this summer , a great opportunity to experience the band in an intimate setting.