MUSIC
CAKE
Today and Friday, $42 (at the door)
Freeborn Hall, Memorial Union
The day has finally come: Cake is in town! For two exclusive concerts, tonight and Friday night, Cake will bring a sure-to-be-memorable show at Freeborn Hall. Cake will perform their old hits as well as songs from their 2011 release, Showroom of Compassion. Don’t forget to read and re-read The Aggie’s exclusive interview with Cake’s Vince DiFiore.
Random Abiladeze w/Bread Fam and DJ Professor K
Tonight, $5 (ages +21)
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, 129 E St.
You’re probably familiar with Sophia’s Thai Kitchen as bringing some of the best indie-rock bands around (particularly in the Portland and Seattle areas). But how about hip-hop? Well, here to remedy that is Random Abiladeze. Abiladeze is known in the Davis-Sacramento area for spitting sick rhymes and ill beats – so don’t miss out.
ART/GALLERY
Cosmos Cathedral Featuring work by Jose Di Gregorio
Friday, free
Bows and Arrows, 1815 19th St., Sacramento
Transforming an art space is a vital part of the art itself. Artist Jose Di Gregorio will transform Bows and Arrows in Sacramento into a celestial portal. The exhibition is entitled “Cosmos Cathedrals” which focuses on Gregorio’s signature astral color palette. The gallery space will be an interesting space consumed by Gregorio’s work.
The 5th Annual Davis Jazz Festival: Beyond the Beat Generation
Today – 29th, various locations downtown, free
Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St.
The power of poetry and art expressed in Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl” (1956) launched an entire movement called the Beat Generation. The Natsoulas Gallery continues the Jazz Festival, which pays tribute to the movement. There will be art and live music featured at the gallery and various locations downtown.
THEATER/MONDAVI
Yamato
Today and Friday, $8
Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
Yamato, a Japanese Taiko Drum Ensemble, is a high-energy group that coordinates the sound of drums to synchronized movements of its members. Utilizing traditional Japanese Wadaiko drums, Yamato will showcase the beauty of unusual instruments and music.
LITERATURE/POETRY
Jonathan Franzen
Saturday, $25
Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center
National Book Award-winning author Jonathan Franzen makes his way to UC Davis’ Mondavi Center. Noted for his bestseller, The Corrections, which was released in 2011, Franzen has continued to make literary masterpieces. His was included in The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2010, as well as being considered a finalist in the fiction category for the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award. On Saturday, Franzen will share his process as a fiction-writing author and explore various topics of literature. For literature lovers out there, this is a rare opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.
UYEN CAO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
