MUSIC
Katy Perry, Alphabeat
Today, 7:30 p.m., $20
Empire Events Center in Sacramento
Never mind Katy Perry – also known as the woman responsible for arguably the most annoying song of 2008 – I’m turning my focus to Alphabeat. The Danish dance-poppers have been associated with the Wonky Pop movement, a musical crusade for the “quirky, credible and catchy” that is rooted in the offbeat side of pop music of the ‘80s.
Sweet Hollywaiians
Today, 8 p.m., $5 to $10
The Spirits House
I would never have thought to put together The Big Island with the likes of Afro-Caribbean Calypso and ragtime blues, but in the case of this Osaka- and Los Angeles-based group, the result is a sweet, sweet medley of vintage Hawaiian tunes.
Fruit Bats, Sera Cahoone, The Ancient Sons
Today, 8 p.m., $5
Luigi’s Fungarden in Sacramento
Fans of The Shins should easily warm up to the Fruit Bats – Fruit Bats mainstay Eric Johnson is a member of both bands! Also worth mention is the Patsy-Cline-Neko-Case-Cat-Power reincarnate Sera Cahoone, who provides a good balance between cool indie brooding and upbeat alt-country – plus, she got her start by playing drums for notable bands like Band of Horses and Carissa’s Wierd.
Brilliant Red Lights, Purple Girl
Friday, 8 p.m., $5
Luigi’s Fungarden in Sacramento
Unnecessary fact: My first show in Davis was a BRL at the ASUCD Coffee House my freshman year! Aw, I was just a baby then.
After the Crash, The Federalist, The Athens
Friday, 10 p.m., $3 to $5
The G Street Pub
A look into the history of After the Crash (dare I say, a look before the crash?): The product of a fortuitous Craigslist.com advertisement, the San Diego-based band (think of rock acts like Staind or A Perfect Circle) took advantage of networking sites like Myspace.com and have been on permanent tour ever since. Bottom line: Behold the power of the Internet.
C’Mon Everybody, The Teutonics, DJ The Analyst and DJ Birthday Girl
Saturday, 8 p.m., $5
Delta of Venus
What happens when members of two Oakland bands from different sides of the modern garage movement (specifically, Russell Quan, Tina Luccesi of trash rock band The Bobbyteens and Yea-Ming of lo-fi trio Dreamdate) get together? Answer: C’Mon Everybody, a new bubblegum glam band.
Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Toasters, Monkey, Deal‘s Gone Bad, Punch the Clock
Saturday, 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show
The Boardwalk in Orangevale
Ska is dead? Most certainly not, despite the name of the recurring “Ska is Dead” tour. This year’s headliners The Toasters and Voodoo Glow Skulls paved the way for third wave ska acts like Bomb the Music Industry! and Streetlight Manifesto.
Matt and Kim, Hawnay Troof, Bananas
Sunday, 8 p.m., $8
Luigi’s Fungarden in Sacramento
I’m always a sucker for indie pop duos (think Mates of State), so Brooklyn-based Matt and Kim provide me with yet another source to quench my musical thirst. Also worth noting is Hawnay Troof, a poppy, dance-punky electronic solo project from Oakland musician Vice Cooler.
AT THE MOVIES
Taken
Today only, 6:30 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre on Second Street
What’s better than a free advance screening, provided our very own Campus Cinema? Liam Neeson, that’s what.
Revolutionary Road
Opens tomorrow at the Varsity Theatre on Second Street
Mixed reviews have gotten me all kinds of confused about whether or not I should see this movie, but see one person’s opinion of the film on this page.
ART / GALLERY
Art Studio Program Lecture Series: Catherine Wagner
Today, 4:30 p.m., free
Technocultural Studies Building (formerly the Art Annex)
It’s not too often that I actually look forward to attending lectures, but I can make an exception for artist Catherine Wagner. For more information, check out page __.
subject/verb/object
On display now at the Design Museum
Artist and designer Simon Johnston investigates the nature of visible language, including issues of semantics and operation. A free opening talk and artist reception will take place today at 6:30 p.m. in Everson Hall.
MONDAVI
Kodo
Wednesday, 8 p.m., $35 general admission, $17.50 with a student ID
Jackson Hall
Kodo takes the art of traditional Japanese Taiko drumming to a new level.
RACHEL FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
