Curves and Chords
You sing, we fling! Join us for a night of karaoke accompanied by a burlesque performer and a spring student showcase by Academixxx!
Chris Cain
Among the greatest compliments a musician can receive is praise from his fellow artists. With more than three decades of touring and fourteen previous albums, master blues guitarist and vocalist Chris Cain has earned his reputation as a musician’s musician. Since his first release in 1987, Cain has created his very own blues sound inspired by his heroes—B.B. King, Albert King, Ray Charles, Albert Collins, Grant Green and Wes Montgomery. His jazz-informed blues guitar playing is fiery, emotional and always unpredictable. His vocals—gruff, lived-in and powerful—add fuel to the fire. His indelible original songs keep one foot in the blues tradition and both eyes on the future. The pure joy Cain brings to his playing and singing is palpable, and draws fans even closer in. Joining Alligator Records is a dream come true for Cain, who grew up idolizing label giants like Hound Dog Taylor and Son Seals. “Alligator cares so much about the music and the artists,” Cain says. “I’m really excited to be a part of it. And I’ve got the best pack of tunes I’ve ever written.” Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California in 1955. His parents were huge music fans and shared their love of blues, jazz and popular music with Chris. His African American father and Greek mother both loved music and had a huge record collection. His father first took Chris to see B.B. King when Chris was three, and, says Cain, “we never missed another show.” Thanks to his parents’ musical passion, young Chris saw almost every blues, jazz and rock artist that came through town, many of them repeatedly: James Brown, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, even The Beatles. He picked up his first guitar at age eight and learned lick after lick, song after song. He’d listen to his father’s records over and over until the music had seeped into his soul. Cain’s rough-and-tumble East San Jose neighborhood was a melting pot of soul, rock, blues, jazz and Latin sounds, and he absorbed it all as his guitar playing improved. By the time he was in his teens, he was starting to get noticed. In 1976, local San Jose singer and harmonica player Gary Smith gave Cain his first professional job playing guitar in his band. During this time Cain studied jazz at San Jose City College and soon began teaching jazz improvisation there. Cain formed his first band in 1986, and, in the hopes of getting more gigs, released his first album, Late Night City Blues, on the locally-based Blue Rock’It label. Almost immediately, everything changed. Booking agents came calling and Chris began touring Europe before he knew what hit him. The album received four W.C. Handy Award nominations (now the Blues Music Awards) and the offers to perform kept rolling in. He even opened for his heroes Albert King and Albert Collins, who both asked Chris to jam on stage. The more Cain toured and recorded, the greater his reputation grew. Four more albums on Blue Rock’It and three for Blind Pig Records kept Cain busy on the road for the better part of every year. AllMusic said Cain delivers “slow-burning, contemporary blues that positively swings…a tour-de-force. Licks are clean, warm and fluid. He seamlessly bounces between R&B, funk, jazz, jump blues and Chicago blues…refreshing and diverse.”
Eyehategod
Wormrot
Wormrot is a Singaporean grindcore band that formed in 2007, immediately after the founding members had completed their mandatory two years of national service. The band have released four studio albums to date, as well as a number of EPs and split releases with other bands. Since 2010, the band has been signed to Earache Records. They have been described as one of the top 10 grindcore bands by OC Weekly, and have toured Europe and the United States. In 2017, they became the first Singaporean act to play at the Glastonbury Festival. No/Mas – hardcore / crust / grindcore from DC Oxygen Destroyer – death / metal / thrash from Seattle, WA M.A.N. – (Mass Annihilation Now) – Non stop raging, punky grindcore and stupid dancing from Lincoln, NE Pigstye – death/grind from Lincoln
JawKneeVee
Bringin’ the circus to Omaha with the wild sounds of JawKneeVee. Joining in the madness is el Jefe and Tumbleweed. The Sydney is the place to be for this night of wonder and amazement. Only $10 to have your mind blown.
VAZUM
Formed in Detroit, MI in 2017, VAZUM is an alternative rock band known for their dark, introspective sound and captivating performances. The band draws inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including post-punk, gothic rock and shoegaze. VAZUM has garnered a dedicated following both locally and internationally, establishing themselves as a prominent force in the underground music scene.
Online Blunt – TICKETS AT THE DOOR
fish narc x GAG
Black Ends
✨ BLACK ENDS IS GUNK POP ✨ nicolle swims / guitar / vocals billie paine / drums ben swanson / bass
Holy Fawn
Arizona quartet HOLY FAWN bring an amalgamation of blackened-shoegaze and atmospheric post-metal; imbued with their somber textures, crushing wall of sound, and haunting imagery of nature and dream-like states, HOLY FAWN has made waves touring alongside bands like Thrice, Deafheaven, Rolo Tomassi, across North America and Europe.