Samantha Fish, with Cedric Burnside Jr. and Jon Spencer
Samantha Fish is arguably the only blues rock artist who last year opened for pop superstar Ed Sheeran at a festival in New Orleans (or anywhere else) as a prelude to the 2023 edition of Eric Clapton’s star-studded Crossroads Festival in Los Angeles.
The adaptability of this Kansas City-born guitarist, singer, and bandleader is further demonstrated by a look at the set list from her Dec. 11 concert in Seattle.
She opened that show with her version of the MC5’s 1968 proto-punk rock rave-up, “Kick Out The Jams,” and closed with her reworked version of delta blues pioneer Bukka White’s 1937 classic, “Shake ‘Em On Down.” In between came eight of her own songs and her rendition of Nina Simone’s 1965 chestnut, “Either Way I Lose”.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Fish now embarks on her second annual Shake ‘Em On Down tour, which this year pairs her with former Jon Spencer Blues Explosion frontman and namesake Jon Spencer and Mississippi guitar and vocal ace Cedric Burnside Jr., who only every 13 years. when he became the drummer in the band led by his now deceased grandfather, the legendary guitarist and singer RL Burnside.
The opportunity to hear Fish, Burnside and Spencer perform with their respective bands should be a triple treat. Ditto the opportunity to hear all three do a song or two together, should they be so inclined. Here’s hoping they do.
20.00 Friday. The Sound, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. $61.55. thesound.com
“Christmas Especial”, featuring El Vez and The Centuries, featuring Rey Wolf
Robert Lopez began performing as El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, in 1988 in Los Angeles, a decade after he left the seminal San Diego punk rock band The Zeros.
As El Vez, Oregon-based Lopez sings in English and Spanish, as befits a cross-border artist whose goal from the start has been to “comb Elvis (Presley) mythology, Chicano mythology and music reference(s) mythology.”
His repertoire includes such memorable songs as “You Ain’t Nothing But a Chihuahua,” “GI Ay, Ay! Blues,” “Esta Bien, Mamacita,” “Graciasland,” and “En El Barrio.”
El Vez’s rockabilly-themed holiday show here will likely see him perform such seasonal favorites as “Poncho Claus,” “Santa Claus is Sometimes Brown,” “Oranges for Christmas,” “Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus?” and “Feliz Navi-Nada,” which mixes Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” with “Public Image” by PiL, the Johnny Rotten post-punk band that formed after the Sex Pistols imploded.
Ho, ho, ho indeed!
20.30 Saturday. The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd., Middletown. $25-$30 (must be 21 or older to attend). casbahmusic.com
Gary Hoey’s “Ho Ho Hoey Rockin’ Holiday Tour” with Taz Taylor
For at least some music fans, nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a rock power trio.
Guitarist Gary Hoey and his band’s annual holiday tour is arguably the only seasonal concert trek that combines versions of “The First Noel” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Red House” and Focus’ “Hocus Pocus” (presumably minus the accordion solo), along with a mash-up of “The Little Drummer Boy” and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”
Will “Stairway to Santa” and “Whole Lotta Elves” be in the works soon? Fingers crossed.
20.00 Saturday. Ramona Mainstage, 626 Main St., Ramona. 30 USD. Only 21 years and over. 760 789-7008; ramonamainstage.com
Rebecca Jade & Friends: A Soulful Holiday
An eight-time winner of the San Diego Music Awards, Rebecca Jade has toured the world as a member of Sheila E’s band and toured the country as part of saxophonist Dave Koz’s annual Christmas tour, which includes a stop here tonight, Dec. 19, at Balboa Theatre. She has been on Koz’s annual music cruises since 2016, which visit Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands next summer.
Jade’s credits also include her performance with Elton John at the 2020 edition of the Academy Awards and, that same year, on the all-star CBS TV special, “A Grammy Salute to Prince.” In November, she opened the Average White Band’s show at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay and provided vocal support at the end of the group’s concert.
On December 28, she will headline the “Rebecca Jade & Friends: A Soulful Holiday” concert at Sycuan Casino’s Live & Up Close. It comes a year after the release of her five-song EP, “Just Another Christmas Album”.
The EP features such winning Jade originals as “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe” and her lively versions of seasonal favorites from the songbooks of Patti LaBelle and The Carpenters. There’s also a great, ska-tinged version of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings’ “Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I’ll Sing Along),” co-written by former San Diego saxophonist Cochemea Gastelum.
Jade’s friends at the concert include Angela Chatelain Avila, Joshua Taylor, Darryl Walker and Daneen Wilburn. It should be a suitably festive affair to remember.
20.00 28 December. Sycuan Casino Live and Close Theater, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon. $49 (must be 21 or older to attend). sycuan.com
