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JoyRide and crazy cats at the Sunflower Caffé

Well, seems most of us survived the Mayan end of the world and the transition to 2013. Congratulations. It’s that slow time of year for live local music, so we like to showcase a local player or new musician in town, and this time it’s a musician that plays something not at all common, the pedal-steel guitar.

  Josh Yenne rolled into Sonoma County in 2000 and landed in Petaluma. At that time, he was hired as guitar player for the band Twang Ditty, but he had a hankering for something a little different, and felt the band might benefit from it as well. So he went out and bought a pedal-steel guitar. Not one to take a task lightly, Yenne practiced and practiced until he had dialed the instrument in. He soon left Twang Ditty for the Easy Leaves and was in great demand as a “hired gun,” becausae really, how many accomplished pedal-steel guitar players are there around?

  How does this all fit into Sonoma? Due to a Craigslist ad, he is currently the pedal-steel player for local country act Train Wreck Junction. Yenne, now a Sonoma resident, still splits his time between TWJ and other acts, just coming off an 18 date tour of America and Europe with the alternative rock act Mazzy Star. He also gives lessons, on guitar and pedal-steel if you’re interested in learning that instrument. To find out more about him, point your browser to joshyenne.com.

  The Sunflower Caffé has its monthly first Friday artist opening tonight, Jan. 4, kicking off at 5 p.m. The featured artist will be John Sumner, with more crazy cat images. The musical talent will be JoyRide and bubbles will be provided by Bubblie Blondie. There is no cover for the event.

  The Sonoma Classical Music Society has a special performance from Nigel Armstrong and Elizabeth Dorman on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. at a private location here in Sonoma, which will be revealed upon purchase of a ticket. Armstrong is currently the concertmaster of the Curtis Institute Orchestra, where he is completing his graduate studies and was recently awarded fourth place in the 2011 Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition and has received Silver Medals in the 2010 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition and the 2010 International Concerto Competition in Buenos Aires. Dorman is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory, where she is on the faculty, and also the San Francisco School of the Arts. For tickets and more info, call 938-8890.

  Kathmandu Corner begins a monthly Open-Mic tonight, Jan. 4, with sign-ups beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, members of BackTrax will be performing an acoustic show as FourTrax, kicking off at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, it’s an early show at 6:30 p.m. with Sean Carscadden and Isaac Carter. There is no cover for any of the shows.

  The Eric James Tasting Room welcomes “Snakebite” Jacobs and Benny Watson tonight, Jan. 4, for a 7 p.m. start time. Saturday, Jan. 5, it’s Macy Blackman, also for a 7 p.m. show.

  The Annex Wine Bar welcomes the DavEdJohn Quartet on Saturday, Jan. 5, kicking off at 7 p.m. There is no cover.

  The Gristmill Bar and Grill in Glen Ellen welcomes the Alan Early Trio on Saturday, Jan. 5, for an evening of jazz standards, kicking off at 6 p.m.

  The El Verano Inn has a birthday party for Jason Sinclair on Saturday, Jan. 5, and all are invited. The night will feature some of the finest punk rock in the Valley, with the Quitters, the Roadside Bombs and High and Tight, for a no-cover show that kicks off at 9 p.m.

  The Sonoma Springs Brewery presents Inthereoutthere on Friday, Jan. 5, for a 5 p.m. show. The band, headed up by Trevor Kinsel, plays folk-jazz. There is no cover.

  The Plaza Bistro has Leo Vigil tonight, Jan. 4, for a 6:30 p.m. show. Vigil recently toured and recorded with harpist-violinist Carlos Reyes. There is no cover for the show.

  The Epicurean Connection has Adam Traum tonight, Jan. 4, for a 6 p.m. show. Saturday, Jan. 5, it’s Jack Wagner playing acoustic “cowpunk.” There is no cover for the shows.

  If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. Hit me up at the address up at jmberry@sonomamusic.com.

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  J. M. Berry knows the local music scene. He also knows website services and social media marketing. Check out his other skills at jmberry.com.