Foxy
Todd and the Fox returns with a whole mess of friends
Iconic local musician Todd Lovato is slammed these days. Between a day job, kids and the fam and the general pull of life, Lovato has plenty on his plate, but he’ll still make time for some fall shows with his band Todd and the Fox, and this time he’s got more backup than the familiar two-piece setup on which he’s relied for years.
“I’m just doing whatever I want and writing less on the banjo,” Lovato tells SFR, while carefully adding that the banjo for which his band is known is still part of the equation. “I’m excited that…my roots are in soul, R&B and deep funk—like, my first loves were Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic and cool jazz—and what I’m trying to do is explore those funky roots.”
Santa Feans of a certain age will surely recall Lovato’s time in funk act Felonious Groove Foundation, and though Todd and the Fox has been a borderline folk project for years, he’s embracing the old days. To best do that, Lovato says, he enlisted longtime ...and the Fox bandmate Eric Sawyer, plus help from Bryan Highhill of ska-ish act Lumpy and Queen Bee Music Association Artistic Director Brian Nelson.
“Now that I’m in my mid-40s and have children and can’t travel around in the back of a van touring, the creative instinct is somehow stronger,” Lovato explains. “Whatever I want to do, I’m going to do that, and it has to be social. This is something I want to do with people.”
Since Lovato and his bandmates are all multi-instrumentalists, the sky’s the limit, he says, which has broadened his lyrical scope, too.
“I’m working on a song about my relationship to understanding the conscious mind and its relationship to the universe—maybe a foot in Zen Buddhism and a foot in science,” he says. “I’m doing another about a neighbor I sadly saw transition into being unhoused; another is just about the vibe of going to a party. The challenge is distilling these human emotions.”
Todd and the Fox hits Second Street Brewery’s Rufina Taproom this week with Highhill’s Lumpy and songwriter Cali Shaw opening. (Alex De Vore)
Todd and the Fox w/Lumpy and Cali Shaw: 8 pm Friday, Sept. 26. Free. Second Street Brewery (Rufina Taproom) 2920 Rufina St., (505) 954-1068
Miracles on Miracles
Provided
Though multidisciplinary artist Atalaya Magdalena hails from Santa Fe—and was even our Youth Poet Laureate at one point—they’ve been off at college for the last few years. Magdalena is back, however, and celebrating their homecoming with a new show of paintings, prints and, according to the promo material, “other things.” Their work is certainly varied. In recent years, Magdalena has tackled anything from installation and sculpture to illustration, printmaking and beyond. Also cool? Magdalena’s show takes over the Alas de Agua Art Collective’s Southside space with an opening reception on Sept. 25, and the collective will offer appointment-only viewings through Oct. 15. (ADV)
Atalaya Magdalena: Between Miracles Opening: 6-8 pm Thursday, Sept. 25. Free. Alas de Agua, 1520 Center Drive, alasdeagua.com
Stella!!!!!
Courtesy National Theater Live
You can be sure that when the Lensic Performing Arts Center uses its film screen to present next-level theater productions spanning eras, it’s going to be the sort of thing you’d otherwise never have had the chance to see. Take this week’s screening—a 2014 production of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire from London’s Young Vic theater. OK, that’s a classic, of course, but why highlight this one? Two words: Gillian Anderson. The timeless actress’ take on Blanche Dubois and her descent into madness still dances in the heads of anyone who caught the screening when the Lensic initially ran it 11 years ago. Also in the cast are Ben Foster (Hostiles) as the brutish Stanley and Fantastic Four alum Vanessa Kirby as Stella. The word we want to use here is “haunting.” (ADV)
National Theater Live (though this one’s not live): A Streetcar Named Desire: 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 27. $29 Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W San Francisco St. (505) 988-1234
Bohemian Soup Cans
Courtesy Eduardo Ruiz
If you had any interest in the psych-rock/power-pop and/or shoegaze scene of the late-1990s into the aughts, you’ve certainly heard of The Dandy Warhols. As their name implies, the indie rock band carries a tongue-in-cheek attitude, and their and their wry styling makes its way into just about every live performance. Don’t take that as a lack of artistry though, because the music of The Dandy Warhols can span from crazed and manic to slow and sensual in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re a longtime fan or someone looking to spread your musical wings, this mainstay indie powerhouse act is sure to provide you with an eclectic night. (Callie Elkins)
The Dandy Warhols: 7 pm Monday, Sept 29. $44-$49. The Bridge @Santa Fe Brewing Co., 37 Fire Place, lensic360.org
