“Yeah I’m sending you a Merry New York Christmas/ And a prayer for peace on earth within our time/ And the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah/ We understand them/ Now more than ever.”
It’s only fitting that singer/songwriter Rob Thomas would name his nonprofit the Sidewalk Angels Foundation, after a lyric from his holiday anthem “A New York City Christmas.” Winter has come and gone as we’re about one week into spring, and it’s a bit too early for Christmas in July, but the giving season isn’t over for Thomas, whose concert at the Chumash Casino Resort on Friday, March 29, at 8 p.m. benefits Sidewalk Angels.
The New York-based foundation, co-founded by Thomas and his wife in 2003, is the primary supporter of several no-kill animal shelters and animal rescues across the country. Sidewalk Angels also supports additional causes, including childhood health and wellness providers, efforts to fight homelessness, and other types of localized grassroots organizations.
But let’s back up a little bit, who exactly is this Rob Thomas guy? I wouldn’t call you crazy if you didn’t know he’s the lead vocalist of Matchbox Twenty—just a little unwell. Get it? You will in a sentence or two, or three, maybe. I’m personally not a huge Matchbox Twenty fan, but you know, I’ve “dabbled.” I just haven’t listened to enough from them, so they’re basically anonymous in my mind, confined to the hodgepodge of other early 2000s “post-grunge” bands—Foo Fighters, Nickleback, Creed—that all sound more or less the same to me and my naive palate. There really needs to be a Pepsi challenge on the subject.
On the other hand, I’ve heard “Unwell,” from Matchbox Twenty’s third album More Than You Think You Are, enough times on the radio throughout my adolescence to confidently compete on The Singing Bee, Don’t Forget The Lyrics!, or any other karaoke-style game show you wanna throw my way. “But I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell/ I know right now you can’t tell/ But stay awhile and maybe then you’ll see/ A different side of me.”
I’m not as confident in reciting the lyrics to the band’s other biggie “3AM,” from their debut album Yourself or Someone Like You, however—although I’m sure I’ve heard it almost as many times as the former. “And she says baby/ It’s 3 a.m. I must be lonely.” Yep, that’s all I’d be able to do.
Although the Chumash Casino concert starts at 8 p.m., it’s gotta be 3 a.m. somewhere, right? The resort is located at 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Admission ranges from $99 to $159. Call (800) 248-6274 or visit chumashcasino.com for tickets and more information.
Rock ’n’ roots
The Ruben Lee Dalton Band, a Buellton-based Southwest rock group, is bringing their blend of rock and roots to Vino et Amicis Wine Bar in Orcutt on Friday, March 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. Special guest soloist Lois Mahalia is joining the band for this performance. The songs found in the band’s latest album, A Night Like This, tell tales of love, desire, regret, and reflection through poetic lyrics and eclectic instrumentation. The weekend lineup at Vino et Amicis continues with classic rock artist Keith Cox on Saturday, March 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. The wine bar is located at 165 S. Broadway, suite 101, Orcutt. Call (805) 631-0496 or visit vinoetamicis.com to find out more.
Cox will also be performing his usual mix of covers and originals at Hangar 7 in Lompoc on Friday, March 29, from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Indie folk artist Kevin Graybill performs the following week at the Hangar on Friday, April 5, from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Graybill’s influences include Jack Johnson, Sam Beam, and Cyndi Lauper. Hangar 7 is located at 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. Call (805) 430-8328 or visit the venue’s Facebook page for more info.
More music
The Infamous Troubadours, a classic rock cover group, perform on Friday, March 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Naughty Oak Brewing Company in Orcutt. Admission is free, but food from Lido’s will be available for purchase. Just a little north, Moxie Cafe in Santa Maria presents pianist Tom Mutchler on Thursday, March 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cafe also hosts alternative rock group Carter on Saturday, March 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Bryan Titus Trio bring country, rock, and folk to the stage at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. The saloon also hosts cover groups Soundhouse on Friday, March 29, and Moonridge on Saturday, March 29. Both shows start at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, the saloon’s neighbor Cold Spring Tavern offers its usual weekend relay of complimentary live music, starting in the form of Oddly Straight on Friday, March 29, from 6 to 9 p.m. Soloist John Lyle takes the baton on Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by The Shorelines and Reef City from 5 to 8 p.m. Blues duo Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan finish the race with their Sunday, March 31 performance from 1:15 to 4 p.m.
Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Local Notes. Contact him at cwiseblood@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Mar 28 – Apr 4, 2019.
