Kyle Loomis is a journalism senior and Mustang Daily music columnist.
As this quarter comes to its closing weeks, it’s important to remember to balance an intensified study schedule with some down time. For music fans such as myself, down time usually translates to live music, and SLO Brewing Co. downtown has traditionally been a great venue to catch some good music in an intimate setting (even for those under 21).
Get your schoolwork done in the daylight hours, and spend a little cash to check out some of the artists SLO Brew is bringing in the coming weeks.
Lindsey Stirling — Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.
All ages, $18 presale, $20 at the door
Some of you may recognize the name Lindsey Stirling from 2010 when she was a quarter-finalist on the fifth season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” I came to discover her through surfing social media, where I discovered Stirling’s YouTube channel and was blown away.
Referred to as the “hip-hop violinist” on TV, Stirling has since started a musical career with a foundation grounded on her ability to infuse the organic sounds of her violin into a diverse range of genres — from classical, to pop and even dubstep. The music she and her band have produced is the ideal mix of raw musicianship and unorthodoxy needed to capture my curiosity.
On Tuesday, Stirling and her ensemble will come to SLO Brew to deliver what I expect to be a tremendously eye-opening performance for anyone who thinks the violin doesn’t belong in today’s most popular music genres.
The show, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., is for all ages (21 and older to enjoy the bar, obviously) and costs $18 if you buy your ticket online in advance, or $20 for those who buy at the entrance.
The Green — Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
All ages, $15 presale, $17 at the door
Hailing from the Hawaiian islands, reggae/pop bands The Green and Natural Vibrations will make a stop in San Luis Obispo on Nov. 17 for The Green’s Liars and Lovers Tour.
The two bands’ music falls in the same rock, pop and hip-hop-saturated reggae subgenres that have been made popular among young people by bands such as Pepper, The Expendables, Rebelution, Iration and others. It’s a sound that has been exhausted by my generation, yet has remained enjoyable to see performed in a live setting. Be on alert for an energetic presence onstage from both artists — you may be surprised at how hard these bands go.
Check out this event on Nov. 17. This show, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., is for all ages. Tickets are $15 presale and $17 at the door.
40 Oz to Freedom — Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
All ages, $10 presale, $12 at the door
I have yet to meet someone who does not like Sublime.
Sadly, the Long Beach ska legends are forever incomplete after the 1996 death of frontman Bradley Nowell. But their music lives on, and remains a staple for college playlists, giving rise to plenty of Sublime tribute bands, such as San Diego-based 40 Oz to Freedom.
Winners of the San Diego Music Award for Best Tribute band in 2010, 40 Oz to Freedom will bring the songs of Sublime to SLO Brew on Nov. 25 for a mere $10. End your Thanksgiving vacation by treating yourself to some funky ska after you get back into town during the weekend.
The band will be supported with an opening set from Central Coast-based Klockwyze, which plays a blend of punk rock and reggae. The seven-piece act includes brass instruments and rapping vocal performances.
The all-ages show begins at 7:30 p.m., tickets are $10 presale and $12 at the door.
The English Beat — Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Ages 21+, $21 presale, $23 at the door
Perhaps the most high-profile show coming up at SLO Brew, The English Beat (known as just “The Beat” in the band’s native country of England, not surprisingly) is scheduled to play only for a drinking-age crowd on Dec. 1.
Touring with famous acts such as David Bowie, The Clash and The Police, the ska band drew some international fame between 1978 and 1983 (when the band broke up). One of its most well-known singles, “Mirror In the Bathroom,” was from the band’s debut album “I Just Can’t Stop It” (1980) and remains popular on classic rock radio stations to this day.
The band touring this year is a mix of the original members of The Beat with some members of The Paul Collins Beat, as part of the “Two Beats Hearting As One Tour.”
For some old-school ska mixed with post-punk, indie rock, check out the Dec. 1 show at SLO Brew at 7 p.m. The show is for those who are 21 or older, tickets are $21 presale and $23 at the door.