Backtrax will be playing their last scheduled show of the year on Saturday, Oct. 18, in their debut performance at Rossi’s 1906 in El Verano. The band is the brainchild of Oscar Mooneyhan, who grew up here in the Valley and after raising his family in Reno, returned and married a fellow Sonoma Valley High graduate Kathryn Barton.
Having played music since he was a child, it wasn’t long before he started to put a new act together. As a teen, his act Blue Smoke, which included the late Michael Hinton, won the battle of the bands in Santa Rosa. Upon returning to town, he formed Bacchus (the wine god) and then the act migrated to Backtrax to reflect the style of music the band plays, classic rock covers. Mooneyhan and his promotion company, Mooneyhan Promotions, also booked all the musical talent for the Tuesday night market this past year. The show kicks off at 9 p.m. and if you arrive in time for dinner, the venue waives the $5 cover charge.
B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen will be wrapping up its “Summer Music Series” on Saturday, Oct. 18, with an appearance in the olive grove by Beso Negro. Beso Negro has reinvented a jazz genre and brought a modern sensibility with the style. The love for tradition has collided with a modern sensibility and has transformed this new genre into a vibrant new beast. Darker, faster, more danceable, more blues, more Gypsy, Beso Negro’s indelible fingerprint brings “Jazz Manouche” to a new generation and to the 21st century. Music is at 6 p.m. but your ticket also includes a pre-concert pig roast, which kicks off at 5 p.m. For tickets and more info, go by the tasting room in Glen Ellen or point your browser to brcohn.com/event/summer-music-beso-negro.
Rossi’s 1906 in El Verano has live music tonight, Oct. 17, with T-Luke and the Tight Suits playing Cajun and zydeco for a 9 p.m. show. Sunday, Oct. 19, it’s an afternoon show with the Bayou Noir on the patio, kicking off at 5 p.m.
Burgers and Vine presents the Timothy O’Neil Band tonight, Oct 17, kicking off at 9:30 p.m. The band mixes origin roots of punk rock with a strong nod to bluegrass, folk, and a lifetime and adoration for songwriters and songwriting. Saturday, Oct. 18, it’s one of the most popular reggae acts in the region when Creation comes to the stage. The act has a “reggae- soca -worldbeat groove” and is comprised of seasoned players hailing from Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Trinidadand the U.S. The band presents the best of reggae music with a mystical vibe, including members who performed with Bob Marley and the Soul Syndicate. The band will present a combination of roots reggae, lover’s rock, Soca, calypso, mento, ska, samba and worldbeat Caribbean styles. Showtime is also 9:30 and there is a $10 cover.
The Annex Wine Bar welcomes Tres tonight, Oct. 17, for a 7:30 p.m. show playing Latin style music. Saturday, Oct. 18, it’s Dawn Angelosante and Tony Gibson also for a 7:30 p.m. show. There is no cover but the venue is 21 and over only.
The Erik James Tasting Room has music tonight, Oct. 17, with Charlie Hickox, Tim Eschliman and Bowen Brown kicking off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, it’s the Left Coast Syncopators featuring Tim Eschliman, Snakebite Jacobs and Kevin Zuffi, also for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover either night, but there is a $10 minimum.
Palooza Gastropub in Kenwood presents “Sangria Sunday” on Sunday, Oct. 19, with Full Circle. The show kicks off at noon.
HopMonk Tavern Sonoma has Dan Martin playing reggae and ska on the beer garden stage today, Oct. 17, for a 5 p.m. show. Later on the tavern stage, it’s Joe and Vickie Price laying down roots blues at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, the beer garden stage welcomes Michael Bloch, playing Americana. Later that night on the tavern stage, it’s Ricky Ray playing blues, for an 8:30 p.m. show. Sunday, Oct. 19, it’s an afternoon show on the beer garden stage at 1 p.m. with Chris Stewart and Avery Hill playing folk. There is no cover and the shows are family-friendly.
The Plaza Bistro presents the Bryan Girard Trio, Oct. 17, for a 7 p.m. show. There is no cover for the show.
The Epicurean Connection presents Sebastian Nau tonight, Oct. 17, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, it’s an early start for Clusterfolk. Showtime is at 1 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub presents Solid Air tonight, Oct. 17, kicking off at 8 p.m.
The Blue Moon Saloon has karaoke on Saturday, Oct. 18, starting at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, the saloon presents the continuation of the blues jam, starting at 9:30 p.m. There is no cover.
Showcase the Band will be at the Moose Lodge on Sunday, Oct. 19, playing dance music, kicking off at 4 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.
The B.R. Cohn Winery presents Solwave on the tasting room lawn on Sunday, Oct. 19, kicking off at 2 p.m. There is no cover.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery presents Devendra Banhart and friend and longtime collaborator Andy Cabic of Vetiver on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The duo is hitting the road together to play a few special shows. Tickets will be available at the door.
Singer-songwriter C. Daniel Boling, who was the Kerrville Folk Festival 2014 New Folk winner and featured Showcase Artist at this year’s Folk Alliance Conference in Oakland, will be performing at the Community Room of the First Congregational Church, 252 W. Spain St. on Monday Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. Boling has been called “a subtle intertwining of Steve Goodman, John Prine and Tom Paxton” by Real Roots Cafe magazine. Suggested donation is $15. For more info, please call 299-7684.
Wildflower Weed is at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley on Saturday, Oct. 18, for an 11 a.m. show.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. Hit me 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.
Hot 45s
The Bad Jones –Saturday, Oct. 18; 19 Broadway – Fairfax; 415-459-0293
35R – Saturday, Oct. 18; Peri’s – Fairfax; 415-459-9910
Coco Montoya – Saturday, Oct. 18; Biscuits & Blues – San Francisco; 415-292-2583
Petty Theft – Saturday, Oct. 18; Mystic Theatre – Petaluma; 765-2121
Kevin Russell and Friends – Saturday, Oct. 18; The Fenix – San Rafael; 415-813-5600
Zepparella – Saturday, Oct. 18; Sweetwater Music Hall – Mill Valley; 415-388-3850
Leon Russell – Thursday, Oct. 23; City Winery – Napa; 260-1600
Temptations + the Four Tops – Thursday, Oct. 23; Wells Fargo Center – Santa Rosa; 546-3600
Levi Lloyd and the 501 Blues Band – Saturday, Oct. 18; Rio Nido Roadhouse – Rio Nido; 869-1600
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