Hi friends,
With all that’s happened with the once dependable and amiable relationship between the U.S. and Canada, is it unpatriotic to pull for the Blue Jays to win the World Series over the Dodgers? Let me answer that. No, it is not.
Now, on with the show.
THIS JUST IN
Can you even conceive of a Mount Rushmore of jazz guitarists without Pat Metheny on it? The one-of-a-kind master guitarist plays live at the Rio Theatre in a show presented by the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on May 3. The great 1980s punk band The Violent Femmes — hey, isn’t that what Fox News calls the Democratic Party? — is set to play March 3 at the Santa Cruz Civic. The rapper Berner revisits The Catalyst on Jan. 10. The underrated band Tobacco City is set for a date at The Crepe Place on Feb. 5. The Karla Bonoff show originally scheduled for next week at Felton Music Hall has been moved to May 2. And the one-and-only El Vez (the “Mexican Elvis”) visits Moe’s Alley for a Christmas-themed show Dec. 17.
Be sure to check out Lookout’s carefully curated and constantly updated planning guide, Down the Line, for the staggering riches and amazing choices awaiting Santa Cruz audiences. It’s our look ahead at the best shows, concerts and events through the rest of the year at clubs, stages and venues all over the county.
The Muertos moment
With all the hullabaloo over Halloween, it’s easy to overlook the wonderful Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos. The “Day of the Dead” comes from an impulse that is sadly lacking from Halloween celebrations — that is, to remember those loved ones, friends or family who are no longer among the living. The beautiful thing about Muertos — besides the glorious calavera-inspired art and the amazing ofrendas that come out of it — is its insistence that grief and sorrow do not have a monopoly on our memories of those who’ve passed before us. This is a time, after all, of gratitude and even joy.
Locally, Día de los Muertos has been an occasion for big public events for years, and this year is no different. Pajaro Valley Arts, the South County arts organization, has been a stalwart in honoring the event. This year, PVA’s annual “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” show is subtitled “Rooted in Remembrance,” and it’s an artistic nod to the humanity of the holiday, featuring deeply personal displays on loss and memory. The show is ongoing, but on Sunday, there will be a reception for “Mi Casa” with live performances and dance, from 1 to 3 p.m. (Note: This is the last show at PVA’s longtime home on Sudden Street in downtown Watsonville. The organization is moving from the old Victorian to its new space in the Porter Building on Main Street.) The following Sunday, Nov. 8, artist Amalia Mesa-Bains will give a talk on the artistic expressions of Day of the Dead at the Porter Building at 280 Main St.
Also on Sunday, Watsonville Plaza will be the site of the return of “Calles Libres (Open Streets),” a public street festival taking place locally for the first time since before the pandemic. This year, Calles Libres will have a Día de los Muertos theme, from noon to 4 p.m.
Elsewhere, the Quarry Amphitheater at UC Santa Cruz is hosting a free Día de Los Muertos Ceremonia on Sunday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., complete with a community altar welcoming mementos and photographs from the public.
At Chanticleer Park in Live Oak, the Muertos to the Park event takes place Saturday, featuring live entertainment, vendors and Muertos-themed displays, from 4 to 8 p.m. (with a free screening of the Pixar classic “Coco” at 6:30 p.m.). Also Saturday, Branciforte Middle School hosts a Día de Los Muertos celebration with the group Senderos and the sights and sounds of Oaxaca.
CHECK THIS OUT
Best 9: Top events for the week ahead in Santa Cruz County arts & entertainment, Oct. 30-Nov. 6
THIS WEEK IN A&E
New downtown walking tour aspires to tell Santa Cruz’s hidden stories
San Francisco has lots of themed walking tours. Monterey has a few as well. Why not Santa Cruz? At least, that’s the thinking of local Matt O’Leary, who is putting together a business offering walking tours of downtown Santa Cruz, maybe to expand to great […]
Experimental music and avant-garde art finds a home at Indexical
At 10 years old, the arts nonprofit Indexical is not only drawing consistent audiences to adventurous and avant-garde music, it’s taking its place in Santa Cruz County’s long, honorable tradition of supporting cutting-edge experimental music.
Tricks and treats: Santa Cruz County Halloween and Día de Los Muertos events
Here’s a bit of what’s going on across Santa Cruz County this week for Halloween and Día de Los Muertos.
The sound of Jesse Thorn’s America: A podcasting pioneer returns to Santa Cruz
Los Angeles podcaster and radio host Jesse Thorn comes to Santa Cruz on Saturday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his interview and arts show “Bullseye.” It’s a full-circle moment for Thorn, a UC Santa Cruz alum who was one of the first radio […]
Fandom gone fatal in Actors’ Theatre’s ‘Misery’
Who needs ghosts or gore when human obsession can be even more terrifying? Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre delivers a slow-burn psychological thriller with “Misery” – a dark dive into the twisted side of fandom and the monsters we create ourselves.
That’s all I got, friends. Come at me with comments, ideas, complaints, or thundering insights. Thanks to all Lookout members for your faith and support, and please, spread the word on what we’re doing.