“It’s a hymn to desire, a blessing of ghosts, an invitation to a cup of tea,” San Luis Obispo-based singer/songwriter Ynana Rose said in press materials to describe her latest album, Tea Leaf Confessions, which was released at the end of last year.
There’s no such time as a bad time for tea in my opinion. I can’t say the same for ghosts; I prefer encountering them during the day. I can barely stand seeing ads for horror movies at night, let alone an actual apparition.
But I’ll accept the invitation, as the tea sentiment rings true, specifically hot tea for me. No matter what type of weather, but especially during cold or windy seasons, when allergies are given free roam to plague even the most innocent souls. My nose feels like a sleeping dragon as I type these words, ready to flare up violently at the slightest disturbance. Hobbits and dwarves best keep away.
Other than the invitation to listen to the album, Rose also extends a welcome to the community to a live performance on Friday, April 12, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Blast 825 Brewery in Orcutt. In terms of genre, Rose wears many hats, performing her own unique Americana mix of classic and contemporary folk, honky-tonk country, gypsy jazz, and blues.
“Songs are like puzzles of the heart that I have to solve in order to sleep well at night,” Rose said. “Songwriting keeps me honest, staying true to the emotion and structure of the song. Music invites an eternity of pursuit, and I feel blessed to be able to go chasing it down.”
Each song on Tea Leaf Confessions deals with the theme of love in one way or another, whether it’s for nature or a specific person, or the self-love required to forgive others and heal heartache.
“I am fascinated by the resiliency of the human heart, and this album celebrates our vulnerability and infinite capacity for love,” Rose said. “These songs are the confessions of ghosts and muses, born of a deep love for the Earth and our crazy tribe, and the support of my loving family.”
Local folk, blues, and jazz artist Dorian Michael will be accompanying Rose at the concert, providing lead guitar. When it comes to playing someone else’s music, Michael, who also joined Rose for her album release party in Cambria last November, always promises to add a personal touch of his own, to keep things a little surprising, or just for fun.
“Some music makes you feel, some makes you think, and some music is just for the fun of it,” Michael said in press materials. “I try to get to all those places in the space of a performance.”
Admission to the Blast 825 concert is free. The brewery is located at 241 S. Broadway, Orcutt. Call (805) 934-3777 or visit rooneysirishpub.net for more info. Tea Leaf Confessions is available for purchase at ynanarose.com.
Spring is in the air
The Nombres will perform their signature dose of classic rock ’n’ roll with a spoonful of country on Saturday, April 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cold Spring Tavern off of Highway 154. Blues and rags duo Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan take the tavern’s stage on Sunday, April 7, from 1:15 to 4 p.m., followed funk/soul group Soul Biscuit, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The following weekend, Salty Strings perform at the tavern on Friday, April 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. This Santa Barbara-based six-piece string band strives to push the boundaries of traditional bluegrass, adding elements of Latin, jazz, and untraditional percussion. Some of their influences include the Grateful Dead, Leftover Salmon, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Keller Williams. Brandi Rose will also be stopping by the tavern on Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. to perform her blend of hip-hop, blues, and soul. The weekend concludes with blues/rock trio Teresa Russell and Cocobilli on Sunday, April 14, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Admission to each performance at Cold Spring Tavern is free. Call (805) 967-0066 or visit coldspringtavern.com to find out more.
More music
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra presents its spring concert, Tango in the Rain, on Monday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Lompoc’s First United Methodist Church. Under the guidance of conductor Brian Asher Alhadeff, the 45-piece orchestra will be incorporating a distinct tango theme for the performance, which will be accompanied by live dancing. Guests can expect to hear “Gliding Girl Tango,” “Blue Tango,” “Maleguena Blast,” and other tango tunes. Featured violinist Sharon Cooper will perform a special rendition of “Meditation from Thais.”
Indie pop artist Danielle Taylor and her band perform on Friday, April 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Naughty Oak Brewing Company in Orcutt. Taylor will be performing songs from her new album Colors. A fusion of Indian and Pakistani food from Javed Kabab Paradise will be available for purchase. Taylor will also be performing the following day, Saturday, April 6, at 4 p.m. at Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos.
Calling all AC/DC fans! Tribute band High Voltage is performing at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez on Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. The saloon also hosts country rockers Tex Pistols on Saturday, April 6, at 8 p.m. and reggae group Blown Over on Sunday, April 7, at 1 p.m.
Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote this week’s Local Notes. Contact him at cwiseblood@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Apr 4-11, 2019.