THURSDAY 7/3
SKATING
WHEELIE GOOD THURSDAYS
This is Santa Cruz, the home of NHS, Santa Cruz Skateboards, The Boardroom, and Derby skatepark. Skateboarding is a part of the city’s DNA. There’s another kind of skating that’s just as important to Santa Cruz but doesn’t get nearly as much recognition: Roller skates. For too long, roller skates have been the forgotten stepchild, despite Santa Cruz being home to the Roller Palladium and the award-winning Derby Girls. This summer, that’s about to change. On four different Thursdays throughout July and August, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is opening its doors for four hours of non-stop skating. Santa Cruzans can start training for Derby Girl tryouts on the very track they play on. MAT WEIR
INFO: 5:30pm, Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz. $10/adv, $12/door. 420-5240.
PUNK
KEPI GHOULIE
The mighty Kepi Ghoulie, he of Groovie Ghoulies fame, a living breathing cartoon who has magically become a real live boy, master of poppy, kitschy punk, whether he’s applying brightly colored paint to canvas, or making loud melodic, irresistibly boppable sounds with his well travelled guitar and amp, is a world builder, and the world of Kepi is a fun and frenetic place to pass the time. Your inner child is invited to come out and play, and dance, and sing along, and celebrate being alive in a present with such a fun past. KEITH LOWELL JENSEN
INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
FRIDAY 7/4
AMERICANA
ALEX LUCERO BAND
Santa Cruz-based Alex Lucero leads this lively soul/Americana outfit. The group placed in the Top 3 in the Battle of the Bands competition at the Whale Rock Music Festival. Lucero has released six albums to date, five of those with the group. In addition to the standard guitar/bass/keys/drums setup (with Lucero on bass and lead vocals), the group’s musical arsenal features melodica and saxophone, expanding their sonic vocabulary. The Alex Lucero Band’s latest single is “Long as You Like.” Party band The Swag Tones open the show. BILL KOPP
INFO: 1pm, El Vaquero Winery, 2901 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville. $20. 607-8118.
SATURDAY 7/5
BEER
FREE DAY
Freedom isn’t free. With the current state of things, it’s an idea that many are waking up to by looking out into the state of America and wondering, “Is this freedom?” This Saturday, Discretion Brewery invites freedom (and beer-loving) Americans to celebrate the principles this country was founded on in their garden with the release of their annual Free Day IPA. Each year it’s a different recipe, because they have the freedom to do so and aren’t trapped by the tyranny of repetitive taste. Pair it with an assortment of Italian finger food from Sugo and rock out with a free selection of live music. What better way to celebrate being American? MW
INFO: Noon, Discretion Brewery, 2703 41st Ave., Capitola. Free. 316-0662.
ALT COUNTRY
VANDOLIERS
Draped in a Lone Star outfit with twangy guitar, wailing fiddle, heartfelt lyrics, and often donning boots and cowboy hats, Vandoliers present their most personal record yet, Life Behind Bars. Frontwoman Jenni Rose offers unflinching honesty in her lyrics that detail her journey through addiction and gender dysphoria. This Dallas-born collective delivers a performance both cathartic and celebratory, with a range that incorporates rock, punk, and even mariachi. With upbeat, often shirtless performances, Vandoliers bring country and punk fans together. SHELLY NOVO
INFO: 8:30pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20/adv, $25/door. 479-1854.
FLAMENCO
SANTA CRUZ FLAMENCO
The proud Spanish cultural tradition of flamenco is more than 250 years old, and the form has long been an integral part of Andalusian culture. This evening of live flamenco features guitarist Robbie Aguilar, who studied the style in Spain and has performed extensively with San Francisco’s Theatre Flamenco. The ensemble also includes vocalist Roberto Zamora and guest dancer Melissa Cruz. The evening will also feature a troupe of five dancers, plus students from Marianna Mejia’s Flamenco Romantico. This performance is part of Santa Cruz Flamenco’s Ritmo y Pasîon (Rhythm and Passion) series. BK
INFO: 5pm, Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $30. 431-8666.
SUNDAY 7/6
THEATRE
J.E.N.
J.E.N. brilliantly weaves together incisive comedy, a history lesson, and poignant commentary on consumerism and the climate crisis. From the minds of Rachel Ropella and Jennifer Kehl comes a hilarious guide through not only the morning routines of women through the ages, but also their thoughts and desires. Kehl delights audiences with incarnations of women from neanderthal caves to apocalyptic futures. Delivering belly laughs, J.E.N. makes us wonder if we are so different from our predecessors, or if we all share the same human folly. SN
INFO: 3:30pm, Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz. $15. 431-8666.
TUESDAY 7/8
LOUNGE
KOLUMBO
With Frank LoCrasto at the center of the cyclone, the four members of psychedelic lounge act Kolumbo lock in and create a vibe that transports you to another place. Lounge is often thought of as mellow, but there’s delightful interplay between these musicians, building and then relieving tension, making sounds that work together to form the original ASMR. The goods can be sampled in advance. Sandy Legs, Kolumbo’s first full-length album, was released last year. Headphones and the volume set to a reasonable side of loud are recommended, but it still can’t match the aural delight of a live jam. KLJ
INFO: 8pm, Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
LITERATURE
WHITNEY HANSON
Life is always changing, whether or not it is wanted. Whitney Hanson compares life’s changes to the weather in her recently revised bestselling poetry book, Climate. Some days are bright and sunny while others are calm and gray. At times, the constant change can feel tumultuous, and hard to accept. She guides the reader through her experience, accepting and embracing the internal and external changes life brings. Hanson believes that through poetry, people can form deeper connections with each other. Her honest and vulnerable prose gives space for readers to recognize their own journey to accept change. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 7pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
