Arts DEVO

Let it burn As many local-music fans already know, after two years as a band, French Reform are calling it quits this week. That’s right, the local dance-floor faves and winners of the Best Indie/Experimental Band and Best Local Act awards at the CAMMIES a mere two weeks ago will play exactly one more show, this Saturday, April 26, at Duffy’s Tavern. I’ve had conversations with a couple of the dudes in the band over the last few weeks and, as I understand it, the thought process for disbanding is in order to free up time to branch out and work on other projects, and in the process to end French Reform on a high note.

I don’t know, man. Most of the time, I am in favor of rock bands burning out over fading away, but if a band is actively stoking a roaring fire, I say let the mutha-fucka burn! I hate to dampen any enthusiasm for what promises to be a great send off, but since the bucket of water is already swinging toward the stage, that’s my two cents offered to one of the very few bands I have personally been excited to see (every time) over the last year or so.

That’s it. I got it out of my system. Now I’ll just show up at Duffy’s Saturday, nod my head along as the girls dance along, and raise a glass in appreciation of five righteous dudes who together rocked Chico so well.

You should go, too.

More local music news Local music promoter Jonas Beeler has started his own concert production company, Big Oak Productions, and is kicking the enterprise off with a series of “bump days” at the Maltese. The Wednesday Night Bump will go down the first three weeks in May, and feature a typically eclectic Beeler lineup of local/touring bills: rootsy Santa Cruz folk-rockers the Coffis Brothers are joined by local singer/songwriter (and co-owner of Chico Rockstars: School of Music) Jess Braun on May 7; South Lake Tahoe funk-rock duo Black Star Safari team up with local newcomers Suns of the Pacific on May 14; and on May 21 it’s a funk pairing with Chico’s Sofa King and Big Sticky Mess from Davis.

And speaking of busy freelance music promoters, fuzzy bear and friend to local music Sesar Sanchez has already been up to tons of music-good this spring. In addition to his customary offerings of heaviness (such as the Friday, April 25, bill at Monstros with Seattle “doom-gazers” He Whose Ox is Gored and locals Cold Blue Mountain and Shadow Limb) and Nor Cal mashups (like Redding’s Belda Beast and Monk Warrior meeting Chico’s West by Swan and Cities at Café Coda on May 3), he’s bringing together 20-or-so local acts for another cover-night tribute—this time to the godparents of pleasure-to-pain dynamics, the Pixies. It’s May 10, at Café Coda, and proceeds benefit the Chico Peace & Justice Center.

DEVOtions

• Beatbogg: Local MC TyBox teams up with Chico’s busiest jazz quartet, Bogg, for a live collaboration tonight, April 24, at Café Coda. Avant Groove and Playboy Smooth open.

• Twilight Zone Live: The Blue Room hosts more live-action episodes of the TV classic. This week: Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, at 7:30 p.m.; and next week at a later time: 10:30 p.m., on May 2 and May 3.

• Joke’s on You: A one-act festival presented by members of Rogue Theatre and featuring the original work of four teams of actors/playwrights, each adhering to the same criteria: use a randomly selected prop, a very limited set, and one really terrible joke. April 24-26, 7:30 p.m., at 1078 Gallery.