THURSDAY 11/12
NEW FOLK
JAKE XERXES FUSSELL Jake Xerxes Fussell might not roll off the tongue, but Fussell is fast becoming a mature seasoned master of 21st-century folk music. A student, field recorder and collector of traditional American folk music, Fussell has sat at the knee of Precious Bryant, Georgia’s greatest blues woman, and learned the feel of the blues. In Stephen King talk, Fussell has the “shine.” He’s gained national recognition the NPR way by appearing on A Prairie Home Companion and touring as the opening act for Wilco and The Decemberists. A wise-for-his-years presence, Fussell can bend his guitar so it speaks for all of us. DNA
INFO: 8pm, Felton Music Hall, 6275 Hwy 9, Felton, $28. 704-7113.
FRIDAY 11/13
EXPERIMENTAL
MAX JAFFE For percussionist Max Jaffe, music is more than just playing an instrument. It’s about pushing the boundaries of sound and the definition of what a song can be. Which is one of the reasons why he likes to use Sensory Percussion, a software-and-hardware system that turns acoustic drums and cymbals into electronic controllers which he learned about from the inventor over coffee one day. His innovative nature is apparent in his solo work, along with his music in bands like JOBS and Amirtha Kidambi’s Elder Ones, the latter of which he got to play with at the Kennedy Center when it was still just a venue with one name. MAT WEIR
INFO: 8:30pm, Indexical, 1050 River St. #119, Santa Cruz. $18-$20. (509) 627-9491.
FLAMENCO
PIPO ROMERO Guitarist Pipo Romero mixes Mediterranean and Atlantic currents in his “Spanish Acoustic” style. Playing steel-string guitar rather than the traditional Spanish instrument, he folds flamenco, Celtic, classical, and country threads into compositions with a strong narrative pull. His 2017 debut Folklórico cracked the top ten of the World Music Charts Europe, and his fourth album, Alborada, arrived in 2025, stirring in themes from the quiet energy of early morning. Romero has brought his music to Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and festival stages across Europe, North America, and Asia. SHELLY NOVO
INFO: 7pm, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz. $39. 427-2227.
LITERARY
IT STARTS WITH ANGER Cartoonist Johnny Damm will be moderating a conversation with the filmmaker and graphic novelist James Spooner. His new graphic novel, It Starts with Anger: A Punk Beginning. An AFROPUNK Ending, tells the original story of the AFROPUNK Festival. It all begins with a young biracial kid navigating the nineties New York City Punk scene. After the conversation, James Spooner, Johnny Damm, and punk historian John Malkin will be signing their respective books. Johnny Damm will have his latest comic, I’m a Cop: Real Life Horror Comics No. 3. John Malkin recently released his book Punk Spirit! – An Oral History of Punk Rock, Spirituality, and Liberation. ISABELLA MARIE SANGALINE
INFO: 6pm, UCSC, Institute of the Arts and Sciences, 100 Panetta Ave, Santa Cruz. Free. 502-7252.
SATURDAY 11/14
GARAGE ROCK
JON SPENCER Context is important. The mid-1980s were caught in homogenization and when Jon Spencer arrived, rock and roll was getting a new tuning. Alongside bands like Cop Shoot Cop, Firewater, Jesus Lizard and ultimately touring the US with the Beastie Boys it’s tough to pigeonhole Spencer. Live, back then, he projected someone reaching behind the facade of social conformity to find the tastiest riffs. Spencer kept pumping with Pussy Galore, Boss Hog and when the Blues Explosion happened Spencer was primed. There is something so understated about the importance of that late 1980s to mid-1990s era of rock. Spencer carries the torch for experimentation, pure rock and smashing fences. DNA
INFO: 9pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, $25 advance/$30 day of show. 479-1854.
HIP HOP
ISAIAH RASHAD With humble beginnings recording rap on his laptop in tenth grade, rapper Isaiah Rashad has spent over a decade building a catalog defined by candor and sonic curiosity. A founding member of the hip-hop collective, The House, his style is quintessentially Southern hip-hop. His third album, It’s Been Awful, arrived this year. It’s a reflection on his personal stories, addiction, growth, and redemption while drifting musically into jazz, psychedelic guitar, and neo-soul. His newer works have positioned him as an emotionally driven storyteller, beyond just being a rapper, but pushing into soul. SN
INFO: 8pm, Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, SOLD OUT. 423-1338.
SUNDAY 11/15
AMERICANA
DRAG THE RIVER Anyone into the alternative country or Americana scene probably already knows about Drag the River. Formed in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1996, it was the country project by veteran punks Chad Price (All), Jon Snodgrass and Paul Rucker (Armchair Martians) and J.J. Nobody (The Nobody’s). They added pedal steel guitar player Zach Boddiker in 2001 to solidify their sound. Over the years Drag the River has had some ups and downs. They’ve played mainly as a duo (Snodgrass and Price). However, a lucky few have seen the whole band together for special occasions and this Sunday’s matinee show is one of those as the band celebrates 30 years of their whiskey-soaked sound. MW
INFO: 4pm, Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. $20-$25. 479-1854.
LITERARY
YOSEMITE FALLS Daniel Duane explores and examines the so-called “wilderness” in California in his latest book Yosemite Falls. His love for the park encouraged him to study it, and to study it meant to confront the messy, violent, and absurd history of it. His book looks at the relationship his family had with the park. He also tells stories of others who are connected to the park, such as Ishi, the last living member of the Yahi people and object of study by UC Berkeley. He also confronts the worldview of John Muir and his gospel of the wild. He uncovers how white supremacy, cultural theft, and government overreach influenced the history and legacy of California’s wilderness. IMS
INFO: 4pm, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Free. 423-0900.
TUESDAY 11/17
INDIE FOLK
DAVID DONDERO Born in Duluth, Minnesota, and raised between suburban Chicago and northern New Jersey, David Dondero has spent over two decades on the road as a solo troubadour. His path runs from drumming in the post-punk quartet Sunbrain to a place few songwriters occupy, where heartbreak, hopefulness, and everyday labor are handled with a wry sense of humor. NPR’s Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton once placed him among the ten greatest living songwriters, and he has toured alongside The Mountain Goats, Pedro the Lion, and Against Me! His wit weaves together a musical style that’s difficult to lock down and themes that touch nerves while incorporating an easy humor. SN
