If Jon Arbuckle (Garfield’s human) or Lawrence Welk come to mind when accordion music is mentioned, then a surprise awaits when Those Darn Accordions mix it up on originals and covers of rock standards like Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” complete with accordion showdown, and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Fronted by Paul Rogers and Suzanne Garrmone with Michael Messer on drums and Lewis Wallace on bass, Those Darn Accordions have a sense of humor that is featured on the original “The Story of Lawrence Welk.” The Mad Maggies joining Those Darn Accordions on their Alive and Squeezing tour. 13 Main Street in Winters, www.thosedarnaccordions.com.
—Trina L. Drotar
15SAT
Punk Rock St. Patrick’s Day
Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 7 p.m., $12-$15
How do people that just aren’t that into Celtic music celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Well, for punk rockers, the answer is to head over to Nevada City and enjoy six great punk-rock bands. Headlining the event is Sacramento’s Dog Party (pictured), which has been blowing up as of late. The Ramones-loving garage-rocking sisters write superfun, infectious punk-rock songs that rock harder than 95 percent of the other so-called punk bands. Another highlight is Shinobu, a criminally underrated, neurotic, brainy jangle-punk quartet from San Jose. The rest of the lineup includes some loud local talent: Pug Skullz, Alarms, Slutzville and the Devil’s Train. 325 Spring Street in Nevada City, www.minersfoundry.org.
—Aaron Carnes
15SAT
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Bob Hope Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $52.45-$90.85
Steve Martin’s love for bluegrass goes back to his teens: He’d slow down records and tune his banjo accordingly to learn the notes. The famed comedian won a Grammy Award playing on an Earl Scruggs instrumental in 2001, then won his own for his 2009 bluegrass debut The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo. North Carolina’s Steep Canyon Rangers already had a following when they jammed with Martin and Edie Brickell at a dinner party in 1992. It led to a tour as Martin’s backing band and the 2011 collaboration Rare Bird Alert. It possesses a dusky fall flavor, the orange and burnt-umber leaves dappled with bright melodies, like sunlight dancing through the branches. 242 E. Main Street in Stockton, http://stevemartin.com.
—Chris Parker
15SAT
Golden Shoulders
Off Center Stage, 8 p.m., $10-$12
Of the 50 or so people that have at one point joined Adam Kline’s Nevada City indie-pop project Golden Shoulders, a couple are pretty big names in their own right (like Joanna Newsom and Little Wings’ Kyle Field). Even though the lineup is in constant flux, the sound isn’t. Kline is a Beatles fanatic, but adds a dash of awkward (Pavement, Violent Femmes, etc.), a splash of country folk and just a pinch of ’70s prog rock. Kline has a sharp, commanding voice. The songs have a dreamy, atmospheric quality, but are always just a joy to listen to and have a straightforward rock ’n’ roll attack 315 Richardson Street in Grass Valley, www.goldenshoulders.com.
—Aaron Carnes
16SUN
Sacramento Symphonic Winds
Crowne Plaza Hotel Sacramento Northeast, 2 p.m., $5-$10
Founded in 2001 by director Dr. Les Lehr, the 60-member Sacramento Symphonic Winds perform rock, jazz and show tunes. In its spring offering, the ensemble presents Broadway! Opening with West Side Story (1957, Leonard Bernstein) and closing with the challenging The Cowboys (1972, John Williams), this Sunday afternoon performance includes some of the best-loved and well-known works of the 20th century. Vocalists Sue Geddes and James Gentry join the winds on Oklahoma! (1943, Richard Rodgers) and flautist Morgan Thomas is featured on Flute Concertine, Opus 107 (1902, Cecile Chaminade). Lehr also pulls from Rodgers’ classics “Carousel,” “South Pacific” and “The Sound of Music.” 521 Date Avenue, http://sacwinds.org.
—Trina L. Drotar
16SUN
Magnolia Sisters
Beatnik Studios, 3 p.m., $15-$20
For a little Sunday-afternoon foot stomping, check out the Grammy Award-nominated, Louisiana-based Magnolia Sisters in celebration of their March release, Love’s Lies. Equipped with accordions, fiddles, concertinas and rubboards, the band plays Cajun and Creole styles, as well as dancehall standards, porch ballads and all-string tunes from the 1930s. Four ladies—Ann Savoy, Jane Vidrine, Anya Burgess and Lisa Trahan—make up the band, which notably puts a feminine, soulful spin on an otherwise male-dominated style. While all certainly talented, Savoy in particular boasts a wealth of accomplishments behind her: award-winning books, multiple Grammy nominations and an appearance in The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. 723 S Street, www.magnoliasisters.com.
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