Politics at SOhO

ARIA GETS NAKED: A new artistically inclined
multimedia organization called ARIA Global is
hosting a multi-band, all-acoustic event called
“NAKED” at SOhO this evening, with proceeds going
to the Save Naples Coalition, which is opposing
development on a sensitive portion of the Gaviota Coast. Heads-up
to S.B. music lovers: All the bands slated to play claim our area
as home. Buellton’s Ona, with its heavy electric
sound and Incubus-esque vocals, should be interesting to hear
unplugged. They’ll segue into Jonas Day, who
describe themselves as “Jeff Buckley dreaming that
Radiohead meets Damien Rice at a
Dave Matthews concert.” Matt
McAvene, whose art has been described as both primitive
and realist, is best known musically for his
stream-of-consciousness lyrics, but is also a prolific artist who
will design the stage’s backdrop. There’s also sultry
songstress-on-the-mountain Jennifer Terran as well
as ARIA’s creative director Stephanie Croff and
classical pianist/songwriter Jason Serfling. All
of the artists are supported by the burgeoning ARIA Global group,
which was founded last year by Brandi Bennitt as a
company devoted to promoting — via downloads, marketing, and
branding — one-of-a-kind music, art, and writing. The group is also
dedicated to supporting environmental and social justice causes
across the globe, which means proceeds from downloads go straight
to charity. Check the Web site at ariaglobal.org, but more
importantly, go to the show, which starts tonight at SOhO at 7 p.m.
— Hudson Hornick

VELVET VARIETY: If you love Bob
Marley, Sublime, and Jack
Johnson and you’re a regular on the State Street scene,
then chances are you’re already crazy about
Rebelution. Their combination of reggae, hip-hop,
and rock have made them a favorite of music lovers all over town,
so join the crew tonight, Thursday, April 6, at Velvet Jones.

Then on Friday, April 7, prepare for a lineup of heavy,
progressive hard rock bands called Trace Element
and Red With Envy. No eardrum will be left
undisturbed. The evening will also feature the hypnotic yet humble
orchestrations of Born Tonight, whose music is as
enticing as Tool but, at the same time, strangely
optimistic. Last up that night will be Barry
Sparks, a longtime touring rocker and champion of
old-school metal. He’s played with everyone from the
Michael Schenker Group to Uli Jon
Roth, and been on tour with big names like Ted
Nugent, Whitesnake, and the
Scorpions. How’s that for authority? On Saturday,
the Velvet variety continues with an R&B/soul night that should
be a real treat for regulars. Ron Patterson has
been singing in R&B and hip-hop groups since he was just a kid,
and now his musical talents are at their peak. He’ll be there April
8. — Mary Vanderpool

COMING HOME: Eli Goldsmith and David
Courtenay, former teammates on Santa Barbara High School’s
baseball team, may be pursuing music careers in L.A., but they
haven’t forgotten where they came from. Slated to perform at SOhO
on Sunday, April 9, singer/songwriter Goldsmith will open for
The David Courtenay Band. While the band plans to
entertain from an arsenal of originals that mix reggae, funk, and
rock, some crowd-pleasing Elton John,
Billy Joel, and even Frank
Sinatra covers are also on the playlist. Make it a family
affair: Courtenay’s strong, classic vocals have cross-generational
appeal reminiscent of his early folk rock influences. For those who
like to mix their music with their politics, or vice versa, a
portion of the night’s proceeds will be donated to MoveOn.org. Artists’ originals
can be found at musicdavid.com and eligoldsmith.com. —
Elizabeth Tippet

BETTER THAN LEFTOVERS: Other shows to watch for
include The Hard to Find’s gig on Thursday, April 13, with
headliners Crush, Kill Destroy, a
band outta Chicago on the Contraphonic label with truly original
melodic and distorted rock. . . . Also, on Friday at Reds in the
Funk Zone, Canadian songwriters Laurell Hubick and
Mary Simon will play. They follow it up with a
show at Finestra Caffe on Sat., Apr. 8. — Matt
Kettmann

WMC IN MIAMI: In the 21 years since the
Winter Music Conference began in South Beach
Miami, contemporary dance music has spread more rapidly then any
other form of music in history. This year, we sent Indy editor
Charles Donelan to see what the fast-growing buzz
was about. Read his report online at
independent.com/artsandentertainment/2006/04/on_decks.html