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A Floral review (playing Jan 7 in SF)

Nothing really says DIY like a good ol' house show, and nothing says underground like bands that have forged their own distinct sound. I'd known Floral's guitarist since his punk rock days back when our bands were equally pissed off and equally terrible in that beautiful way that only punk is. What a few semesters at Berklee had done to him was simply mindblowing. With only a compressor to cut out feedback and static, his high treble tapping brought the room to a mathy frenzy. Fingers flashed and blurred. Feet flew over massive and elaborate pedalboards. Surely, math has never before been this rock. Or rock been this math. You know, whichever.

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Six people dressed in formal, vintage-inspired attire pose around a brown leather chair in a dimly lit room; three women in elegant gowns and hats, and three men in suits, all looking at the camera.

Latest World Music

How's your spring break? If the pollen count and your allergies are keeping you inside, you can still sit back and travel the globe like a jet setter with new releases discovered by the KZSC World Music Department. Tops this…

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Six adults pose outdoors, smiling and relaxed. Two large colorful star shapes with the words "extra" and "large" overlap the image. There are trees and a house in the background.

Extra Large March 15th

"Extra large what?" Well, this isn't a "what", it's a "who". Local favorites Extra Large have been called "uniquely Santa Cruz” by serving up their supersized sound of reggae, Latin, hip-hop, funk, and rock for years. Voted "Best Band" for…

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A simple, hand-drawn sketch of a cartoon animal resembling a Pikachu wearing a cape with an "S" on it, suggesting it is dressed as a superhero.

Henry: My Hero

Have you ever wondered what kind of spider that is in your bedroom window? Is it a wolf spider? Is it a black widow? (If you responded yes to the last question, kill the spider immediately. Please.)  No matter what…

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