By Amanda Nix Special to the Herald Those looking for a good time and even better music can come down to Benicia’s First Street Cafe tonight at 8 p.m. to support the local indie rock band, Floral Jacket. Despite being heavily influenced by successful bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Frights and Fidlar, the members […]
Violinist to join for Vallejo Symphony’s final concert of season
The sun is setting on Vallejo Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-17 season. What better way to cap it off than with a program titled “Evening”? Eagle-eyed concertgoers may have noticed a theme with this year’s main VSO concerts, namely that they all have been named after parts of the day as well as nicknames for symphonies by […]
Carquinez Choraliers group seeks new members
The Carquinez Choraliers, a volunteer choral ensemble established in Benicia in 2015, is looking to add a few new members. “We’re always looking for new singers,” founder Jeanie Brown said. “We hope to bring cheer to people who need a little extra joy in their days.” The group performs regularly for seniors in Benicia […]
Music Notes: Multiplatinum musicians’ brushes with Benicia
I’ve written so much about Benicia in the past year and a half that I’ve been working here that I’ve decided I would like to take occasional detours to talk about one of my passions: music. However, I’m not ready to venture too far out of my wheelhouse just yet, so I figured I’d compromise […]
2017 BottleRock Napa Valley music festival lineup announced
Although the year just started, music lovers will have plenty to look forward to this summer when it comes to music festivals. However, if you live in the Bay Area, you will have to spend a lot of travel time just to go to them. There is Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, but they require plane tickets […]
Nick Sestanovich: Five unconventionally classic holiday tunes
I can’t help it. As much as I like to think I’m one of those people who’s nauseated by the very thought of Christmas music, I actually like a fair amount of it, enough to make my own Spotify playlist out of it. Songs that I tend to shun the other 11 months of the […]
Local band makes it official: Bodhi Shrugs to play at Lucca’s on Saturday
Bodhi Shrugs, a local band that has been performing in the Bay Area since 1995, made it official this week by running a fictitious business name statement with the Benicia Herald on Tuesday. The band released its first album in 2004, “Wherever We Roam,” composed of songs written and produced by guitarist Elan Laporte and […]
The gift of a golden voice: Paying tribute to Leonard Cohen
As 2016 winds down and the history is written, one aspect of the year people will inevitably bring up is the sad amount of musical talent that has been lost. On Thursday, the music world lost another incredible figure: Leonard Cohen, the Canadian-born folk singer died at 82. Much has already been written about Cohen’s […]
’70s, ’80s tribute bands to steal shows at the Empress in coming days
For the next few nights, the Empress Theatre will be flooded with tribute bands— all of whom have names that imply theft. Nonetheless, all of them pay tribute to your favorite classic rock acts so well that you won’t even mind. It all begins tonight at 8 when Benicia’s very own Cars tribute band, The […]
Female soprano ensemble to kick off Vallejo Symphony’s new season
In addition to its regular symphony concerts, Vallejo Symphony Orchestra likes to highlight other talented composers and groups through its Vallejo Symphony Presents series. For its first production of the 2016-17 season, Vallejo Symphony will be featuring the vocal and instrumental talents of Bella Sorella. Bella Sorella are an award-winning soprano ensemble who have […]