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Wednesday, May 14

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart
Stacey Earle and husband Mark Stuart have long lingered in the shadow of Stacey's well-known brother, Steve Earle, which is too bad. While Stacey Earle came to prominence playing guitar in her brother's band, she and Stuart have worked up an enviable body of work on their own, and deserve far more attention for their efforts. While many husband and wife musical duos succumb to treacly declarations of love and devotion, Earle and Stuart show their Nashville grit with a body of work that is clear-minded and honest. While there's no denying that the two are musically and nuptially joined at the hip, Earle and Stuart are two steady songwriting hands that are devoted first and foremost to the song. Don Quixote's; $10 adv/$12 door; 7:30pm. (Paul Davis)

Thursday, May 15

Big Sam's Funky Nation
Former Dirty Dozen Brass Band trombonist Big Sam is said to "preside over his Funky Nation," but what that accolade fails to account for is the New Orleans funk guru's uncanny ability to incorporate his entire seven-piece band into the horn-heavy grooves. Mixing a James Brown swagger with the wild gleam of George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars, Big Sam's Funky Nation recalls the '70s funk renaissance with as much gusto as the genre packed the first time around, which is to say, a boatload of it. Big Sam and Co. have been known to keep audiences wriggling and gigging until the early hours of the morning, so expect a dance party that would give the Energizer Bunny reason to take a cocktail break. Moe's Alley; $10 adv/$12 door; 9pm. (Garrett Wheeler)

Friday, May 16

The Waybacks
As the name suggests, the Waybacks have no trouble borrowing from the past, and the San Francisco foursome is comfortably at home with the latest in American roots music. Mixing and matching elements of folk, country, and good ol' quick-pickin' bluegrass, the Waybacks have cut out a solid fan base of jam-band festival goers and revivalist buffs, crooning their way into the hearts of amateurs and purists alike. Praise for the band's fiery performances pours in from a variety of sources, including the Chicago Tribune, which called the group a "near-ideal balance of irreverence, chops, discipline and originality." No surprise, then, that the Waybacks have already racked up an impressive gig resume that includes stage appearances alongside the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir. Poor Man's Whiskey opens. Don Quixote's; $20 adv/$23 door; 8pm. (GW)

Vermillion Lies
They're twisted, weird and infallibly bizarre, but that doesn't mean sisters Zoe and Kim Boekbinder "Vermillion" don't have a thing or two to say about global warming. "We'll build a freezer for the polar bears," they sing on their Scream-A-Long EP, because "they can't take their clothes off." Hmmm, wonder if Al Gore considered that solution? Like their strange ode to ozone depletion, Vermillion Lies' wry humor may not be entirely logical, or sensible, but what they lack in rationality the Vermillions surely make up for in ingenuity. Taking bits of old-time vaudeville, circus and '60s-style surrealism, the sisters engage in a spectacle of sound and sight that few could hope to explain. But of course, the absurdity is the beauty. Get it? Me neither. Moe's Alley; $12 adv/$10 door; 9pm. (GW)

Saturday, May 17

Superbooty
Once reigning champs of the Bay Area dance-party scene, Superbooty has since faded out of the multicolored spotlight, leaving fans to wonder if they'd ever see their beloved disco-troop again. The rumor mills were rife with stories of breakups, relocations and (gasp) settling down to raise families, but let's not speculate. Here are the known facts: Superbooty will be at the Catalyst for a Saturday night gig, and yes, they'll bring the funky fever like they did for more than 10 sweat-filled years. Be ready for ardent renditions of all the classics, from "Mr. Big Stuff" to "Brick House." So is Superbooty stayin' alive, stayin' alive? Ohhhh, yeah. Catalyst; $20 adv/$23 door; 9pm. (GW)

Army
While he has yet to receive the kind of attention enjoyed by fellow Virgin Islands reggae artists, most notably Midnite, Army's recently released fourth album, Zion Soldiers Chant, is certainly fuel enough to launch the St. Croix Rasta-man toward mainstream recognition. His primary weapon is his voice, a sweet rendition of the lovers-rock side of the genre, though Army himself seems more inclined to produce the dynamic strains of conscious roots reggae. Live performances have also proved to be a forte in Army's arsenal, as his multiple trips to the Monterey Reggae Fest have shown. The underground success of his 2005 release, Rasta Awake, proves Army's ability to capture a fan base; the only difficulty will be in translating his live appeal into record sales. The reggae showcase also features Tuff Lion, Star of David, Luv Fyah and Celebrity Hornz. Moe's Alley; $15 adv/$20 door; 9:30pm. (GW)

The Platters, The Drifters and The Coasters
It's a veritable battle of the oldies acts with declarative names at this triple-header blast from the past. Headlined by three of the most legendary names in classic R&B and soul, this show is an essential musical history lesson for the youngsters as well as a fond reach back to the days of the malt shops for the more aged in attendance. While few of the original members still remain among the three bands, it'll truly be a treat to see living legends such as the Platters' Herb Reed and the Drifters' Bill Pinkey laying it down, live and in person. Golden State Theatre; $50-$125; 8pm. (PD)

Sunday, May 18

Del Rey
Proving--hopefully once and for all--that a woman can just as easily kick out scorching guitar licks and moan the blues as any man, Del Ray stands as one of today's premier ladies of the blues. Wickedly picking away on her resonator guitar and churning out inflammatory country blues and hillbilly boogie, Del Rey has a persona as transfixing and gregarious as her playing. Taken under the wing of legendary player Sam Chatmon at the age of 4, Rey tears through tales of heartache and strings alike with nary a care, demanding and receiving that all in attendance worship at her rambunctious altar. Must have something to do with the moonshine in her veins. Don Quixote's; $10 adv/$12 door; 7pm. (PD)

Monday, May 19

William Parker
Free-jazz bassist William Parker sets his sights high. Though there is little doubt among jazz aficionados that Parker is one of the most iconoclastic talents of the day, mere critical plaudits are not enough for him. Instead, Parker aims to "light the fire of human compassion," in his own words. Whether you think he succeeds may depend on your personal feelings about experimental jazz in general; it can be a divisive genre. But there's little denying that Parker is a formidable talent who delves into his classical training for a sense of composition and tone that eludes many of his colleagues. Kuumbwa; $20 adv/$23 door; 7pm. (PD)

Wednesday, May 21

Peter Rowan
It's truly a week in which instrumental sparks are flying in Santa Cruz. Tonight brings the incomparable Peter Rowan, a guitarist and mandolin player who stands alone in the bluegrass field. Rowan earned his licks playing with the likes of Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia (in the venerable bluegrass project Old & In the Way,) but has long taken the forefront with projects like the rock-bluegrass amalgam Seatrain and the current cast of characters in the Free Mexican Air Force. No matter where Rowan turns his attention, high-energy bluegrass with furious picking is guaranteed. Don't miss this opportunity to see this down-home virtuoso effortlessly turn out instrumental feats of derring-do. Don Quixote's; $20; 7:30pm. (PD)