Sun Kil Moon plays Sonoma’s Sebastiani Theatre

The word 'gloomy' could easily be used to describe the weather around here of late. Enough with the rain already. 'Gloomy' has also been used to describe the music of the fellow coming to the Sebastiani Theatre on Tuesday, April 16.

Sun Kil Moon is a recording artist whose real name is Mark Kozelek. Kozelek played a gig in Chico recently, and the promotional material referred to him as 'the man behind the gloomy folk act Sun Kill Moon - and before that, the gloriously moody S.F rockers Red House Painters.' Oooh, let's go!

Actually, gloomy folk music has been a staple in this writer's home for some 50 years, and Kozelek has made a nice living delivering his version of that subgenre. The singer-songwriter has several dozen releases available on his website. He also has a new collection of songs titled 'I Also Want to Die in New Orleans.' His show at the Sebastiani will no doubt focus on the new stuff.

His new album includes a song called 'Coyote.' In his notes on the song, Kozelek says it is 'about my girlfriend thinking that there was a gas leak in my home and then deciding it was a skunk.' Another song, 'L-48,' is about his Gibson L-48, describing it as 'possibly the worst-sounding guitar I own.'

But wait, there's more.

The song 'Couch Potato' was 'sparked by conversations I'd been having about the homeless situation in San Francisco and also political things like border control.' 'Day in America' was written 'while we discussed gun violence in America.'

Yikes. I want to hear this guy cover 'Sugar, Sugar' by the Archies. I bet he could tear it up.

In fairness, his music is complex, meaningful and graceful. It is not unlike the sport Kozelek draws his stage name from – he calls himself Sun Kil Moon after the Korean super-flyweight boxer, Sung-Kil Moon.

The upcoming show at the Sebastiani will feature a stripped down band: Kozelek and his guitar, a guitarist and a keyboard player. The audience will get a rare insight into the man and his music, without the multi-layered and complex sounds of his recent recordings.

Music is at 8 p.m. on April 16 and tickets are $35 at eventbrite.com

The Sebastiani show is being produced by by FolkYeah and Jeff Bundschu -- the man behind the Huichica Music Festival, coming to Gundlach Bundschu Winery June 7 and 8. The indie music festival has been around since 2010, and brings a big-time festival feel to our little Valley. The 'family friendly boutique festival' is presented in the historic Red Barn and lawn amphitheater. This year's headliners include Lee Fields and the Expressions, Real Estate and Connan Mockasin.

Tickets to Huichica are on eventbrite.com. Let's hope the sun is shining by then. Enough with the gloom.

sunkilmoon.com. gunbun.com eventbrite.com. sebastianitheater.com