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Week of August 20-26, 2008
Picks by Gabe Meline
Mill Valley
Sammy's Last Laugh
Poor Sammy Hagar. The longtime rocker might just well be the Bay Area's own Rodney Dangerfield. Passed over in the Bay Area Music Awards year after year and snubbed on the recent reunion tour of Van Halen, Hagar could easily get away with muttering "no respect" while adjusting his tie. This is, if he ever wore a tie. Famously casual in his ever-present T-shirt and beach shorts, he's also gotten the last laugh: he recently sold an 80 percent interest in his Cabo Wabo Tequila company for a cool $80 million. He appears with his band, the Waboritas, in a one-night only benefit for 142 Throckmorton Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 27. 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. 8pm. $100. 415.383.9600.
Nicasio
Ridin' with Bob
Keeping aflame the spirit of Bob Wills for over 35 years now, Asleep at the Wheel is one of the few ensembles still performing today that can boast of having 20—count 'em 20!—former members. Which makes you wonder: Where did they go? Did some of them become Wall Street CPAs? Did they jump ship to a Spade Cooley tribute band or get jobs as flygirls on In Living Color? Whatever the current lineup, the long-running group is the finest living representation of what's essentially a fringe genre, Texas swing, but also one of the most fun-loving and danceable bands out there. Catch them in action at either a dinner show on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 8:30pm, or an outdoor barbecue show, with horseshoes and cold ones, on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 4pm, at the Rancho Nicasio. Town Square, Nicasio. $35. 415.662.2219.
Cotati
Myron Floren, R.I.P.
The keys, the bellows, the buttons—if you've ever wondered about those famous bumper stickers ("Use an Accordion, Go to Cotati"), sate your curiosity when the 18th annual Cotati Accordion Festival takes over downtown Cotati this weekend. Around the bronze statue of the late, great squeezebox extraordinaire Jim Boggio, hundreds of accordions descend for fun, frivolity and, as per annual tradition, a collective recital of "Lady of Spain." There are over 20 acts appearing, but the don't-miss performer this year is Vagabond Opera, a highly theatrical and macabre Gypsy-cabaret group appearing Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 23–24, at La Plaza Park in downtown Cotati. 10am–8pm. $15–$17; two-day pass, $25. 707.664.0444.
Napa
Lil' Bit of Everything
COPIA's biggest event of the year is its Edible Gardens Festival, a collection of cooking demos, winetasting, garden presentations, artists' marketplace and more. The fifth annual event this year features seminars on beekeeping and garden landscape; demonstrations by acclaimed chef John Ash and James Beard Award–winning author Marie Simmons; over two dozen offerings in the South Gardens food market; and talks, books and crafts in the special kids' area. Live music by the Wild Catahoulas, Zydeco Flames, Le Jazz Hot and Pride and Joy keeps the festivities lively Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 23–24, at COPIA. 500 First St., Napa. 11am–5pm. $10–$15. 707.259.1600.
Santa Rosa
Listen Hard, Dude
Whenever the radio gets boring, it's recommended to flip the dial to the local hard rock station and play the figure-out-the-words game. Take, for example, the new hit by Tantric, currently receiving radio play on 101.7-FM, "the Fox." With its heaving power chords and novelty fiddle, singer Hugo Ferriera growls the lyrical goods: "I'm comin' up for air so I can / Check myself again in eye's land / Groove into the manhood shelter / Cop a dense in Jenna's shell fin." At least, that's what we think he saying! Discern for yourself when the enduring Louisville band plays on Monday, Aug. 25, at the Last Day Saloon. 120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 8:30pm. $15–$17. 707.545.2343.
