Newsletter: Weekend of Laughs
Hello friends and welcome to Smart Mouth!
We've got a short one coming to you this week. No additional long reads, as I've got two deadlines for the Napa Valley Register I still need to meet by tomorrow at noon. That's 23 hours away. Surely, I'll make it in time! (In the voice of Arrested Development Narrator Ron Howard: "He did not make it on time.")
This past weekend I worked at the Petaluma State Fair, pouring beers for my employer Crooked Goat Brewing! I worked the morning and afternoon shifts and had a blast! I didn't ride a single ride. I watched a few cover bands. I ate an overpriced Hot Cheeto Corndog, that was cold. (ugh) But mostly I got to meet and talk with the wonderful locals of the area! Lots of great vibes and energy from everyone, plus I got to spend the day in the sun. It was a win-win-win for me personally!
I also worked a training shift at Santa Rosa's Lost Church! I'm going to be helping them run events, and hopefully help book events in the near future! The Lost Church is such a special place. The GM Bryce Dow-Williamson has already become a close friend.
I have a long read about Lost Church Santa Rosa coming soon, but I wanted to wait and add in some of my experience working some of the many different events before publishing it! Expect that in a few weeks!
I really enjoyed my first night working at the Lost Church! It was a stand-up comedy showcase from my new friends at Ok Good Comedy. It was a small show, but with huge laughs. Ok Good is doing the good work and slowly building their comedy empire. They have shows all over Sonoma County coming up!
Before moving to Santa Rosa, I ran an award winning comedy show in Napa. Ok Good has a TON of potential, and I look forward to working with them and the Lost Church to see if we can help them grow. I've got a piece in the works about the OK Good founder, Chantavy Tornado also coming up in the next few weeks!
Speaking of comedy, I'm super excited to see Atsuko Okatsuka at the Graton in Rohnert Park on Friday! I've been following her for years and it's been a delight to watch her rocketship to fame!
There's a lot of cool events happening around Sonoma County this Saturday, but I'm going to miss all of them because we're heading into the city to see the west coast premiere of Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma at the Castro! The film is playing as a part of the longest running LGBTQ+ film festival in the world, Frameline!
Teenage Sex is the new film from I SAW THE TV GLOW director Jane Schoenbrun and stars Hannah Einbinder (Comedian from HBO's Hacks!) and Gillian Anderson (X-files). Schoenbrun & Einbinder will both be there in attendance for a Q&A! We're also going to watch a Q&A with actor Coleman Domingo earlier in the afternoon! I'm excited to check out the newly remodeled Castro!
I put in for a press request to interview Einbinder and was very politely told that an email newsletter with about a hundred subscribers was waaaaaaay too small. Drat! Hopefully as we build this, there will be more potential for interviews and features of that kind!
Okay friends! I need to get back to writing about the new Napa Music Hall that opened last week, as well as the new Napa restaurant Thirdspace from the former kitchen staff at the Blue Note!
Here are this week's show recommendations:
THIS WEEKEND'S RECOMMENDED EVENTS:
I've been actively building a curated calendar of local events happening in and around the North Bay, that I feel should be on your radar. It still needs some work, but you can check out that work in progress at smartmouthcalendar.com.
There are SO MANY PROMOTERS in the area and so little details about the events happening in town. Most promoters do not have websites and only sparsely promote on Instagram making it difficult to find out more information. If you'd like to submit an event please email me at smartmouth707@gmail.com
Friday June 26 - Atsuko Okatsuka Live SOLD OUT @ Graton Resort & Casino - Rohnert Park!
This show is SOLD THE F OUT! The future comedy legend, Atsuko Okatsuka has built up a hell of an audience thanks to her deadpan humor and hilarious TikToks about her life (and her Grandma)! She's a hell of a comedian and has a hell of a life story which she explored through her comedy! This show is SOLD OUT, but there appear to be a handful of single tickets still available. If you missed out on this, make sure to watch her stand-up specials on HBO & Hulu! Both are well worth seeking out!
Saturday June 27: Where's West? + Eternal Wave - The Big Easy: Petaluma
Where’s West? began in the basement laundry room of their college house — a place that turned into late-night jam sessions and, eventually, a real band with a real vision. Their organic beginnings quickly grew from backyard gatherings and school shows to performances on major stages including The Troubadour, Sweetwater Music Hall and Wonderfront Festival. That momentum continues to build as the band pushes forward with new releases and an increasingly magnetic live presence.
Eternal Wave is a Santa Barbara-born independent surf rock band channeling the spirit of California through golden reverb-soaked guitars and laid back surf rhythms. Inspired by coastal sounds and classic rock ballads of the 60s and 70s, the band mixes vintage textures with bananas to create a groovy smoothie of leashless sunshine rock. FREE SHOW! 7:30pm
Saturday June 27: Chris Tucker – Blue Note Summer Sessions: Napa
Chris Tucker, Comedy Legend and the star of films such as FRIDAY, The RUSH HOUR TRILOGY & The FIFTH ELEMENT is coming to Napa as a part of the Blue Note Summer sessions at the Meritage! Tickets are $91.80 – 163.95. Ages 8+
Saturday June 27: Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters – Graton Resort & Casino: Rohnert Park
See Billy Bob Thornton, the actor behind Bad Santa, Sling Blade & Landman as you’ve never seen him before as he perform with The Boxmasters, a Sixties-Inspired original Rock and Roll band infused with Americana and country music. It will be a night to remember! Tickets start at $49.50
Saturday June 27: Art Vinyl: Art Sale & Benefit – Sebastopol Center for the Arts: Sebastopol
Art Vinyl is a one-night-only exhibition and art sale where music and visual art collide. Original works—each created on a vinyl record—transform the familiar into the unexpected, with pieces by both established and emerging artists.
Spend the evening immersed in sound and atmosphere as Bay Area legend DJ Page Hodel keeps the dance floor alive, while you sip signature cocktails from Sonoma County's own Griffo Distillery, and enjoy curated bites. $75 Tickets
LOOKING FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS?
Make sure you visit SmartMouthCalendar.com! Also, let me know what I'm missing! What shows and events are you looking forward to in the North Bay? Send them my way and let me know! SmartMouth707@gmail.com!
There is a TON of stuff happening in the area, and many venues, promoters and bands do not advertise much more than an instagram post or two. So there's so much happening off the radar. What cool shows are you planning on going to in the near future? Sound off in the comments!