Best local places to hear American roots music

Local musicians (from left) Nick Simmons, Marcus Owens and Jayme Eldridge performing at The Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa during a Wednesday evening devoted to folk and Americana music. (Photo: Erik Castro)

Most musicians hate labels. Categories like “folk,” “blues” or “country” exist more for the people who market music than for those who make it.  Players like to blend styles and experiment with different instruments. But clubs have to be able tell fans what kind of music they’re going to hear.  That’s why the term “Americana,” currently used to describe American roots music of all kinds, comes in handy. It’s an umbrella category that includes acoustic, folk, bluegrass and country music.

“It’s a big movement. The term Americana evolved to fill a niche,” said Josh Stithem, founder of North Bay Hootenanny, which books Americana music into clubs and other venues.  “As folk music became traditional and country music got more commercial, a new, broader, looser category was needed to encompass the mixing of influences and crossovers from one category to another.”

A lot of the music is acoustic, but amps aren’t necessarily banned. Traditional tunes are allowed, but the Americana genre embraces contemporary singers and songwriters as well.  Think of it as traditional music with a rich history and fresh energy.

Every local club books all kinds of bands, of course, but here are five spots where you can hear Americana music often.

The Last Day Saloon
Josh Stithem’s North Bay Hootenanny produces the “Pick-Me-Up Music Revue” every Wednesday at Dave Daher’s venerable live-music venue in Railroad Square. The series celebrates its first anniversary Feb. 8 with a free show.
“I really like the music,” Daher said. “It draws a niche crowd. They’re very mellow, pretty laid back.”
120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 545-5876, lastdaysaloon.com

Russian River Brewing Co.
The beer is the star attraction at Santa Rosa’s busy downtown brewpub, but live bands play every weekend, and some of the regulars, like Old Jawbone, with its lineup of both strings and horns, fit comfortably within the Americana category.
“We do book a lot of Americana bands,” said co-owner Natalie Cilurzo. “It’s almost like a resurgence for folk-bluegrass music that maybe takes the older folks back to a simpler time in the world. But it also appeals to a younger generation as well, maybe looking for that same feeling, trying to unplug for a moment. We see a very diverse crowd at these shows. The music is always positive, upbeat and fun.”
725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 545-2337, russianriverbrewing.com

Mystic Theatre
“I like to be supportive of bands that write their own stuff,” said Ken O’Donnell, co-owner of Petaluma’s long-lived downtown nightspot.
As a prime example of the singer-songwriter side of Americana music, O’Donnell cites up-and-comer David Luning of Forestville, a frequent opening act at the Mystic.
“David probably epitomizes the crossover of the different styles,” O’Donnell said.
Another leading singer-songwriter with varied music roots is Jackie Greene, playing at the Mystic in March.
23 Petaluma Blvd. N. 765-2121, mystictheatre.com

HopMonk Tavern
In the Abbey showroom at HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol, where Patrick Malone books the bands, roots music of all stripes is welcome and well-received by fans.
“The Americana scene is very much alive and well due to its long-standing roots in acoustic, folk, bluegrass and country music,” he said.
“Music with this kind of history is not going anywhere and will continue to be a driving force on radio charts and record sales as long as we have young, emerging artists like David Luning and more established guys like Jackie Greene. The recent revival in old-time music and culture hasn’t hurt it, either.”
230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 829-7300, hopmonk.com

Gaia’s Garden
Here’s a vegetarian restaurant with something extra — live music of all kinds up to five times a week, and even regular poety readings.
Run by Ari Camarota, a veteran professional musician, and Susan Church, the cozy cafe also has American roots music on the menu. The fare includes music by next-door neighbor Doug Jayne, co-owner of the adjacent Last Record Store, and his band Laughing Gravy. And North Bay boogie-woogie pianist Wendy deWitt makes monthly appearances at Gaia’s Garden.
“I even sit in,” Camarota said, “as often as you need a saxophonist in Americana. The musicians like it here, because you get a real audience. People come and listen, like more of a cabaret setup.”
1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 544-2491, gaiasgardenonline.com

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. See his ARTS blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.

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