SANTA CRUZ

Steel Pulse celebrate 50th anniversary with stop at Catalyst Club

This year marks 50 years since Birmingham, England, reggae group Steel Pulse first performed, and they are touring to mark this milestone. The tour includes a stop at the Catalyst Club, where they will be playing Saturday.

Steel Pulse was formed in 1975 after hearing Bob Marley and the Wailers’ classic album “Catch a Fire,” and released their first single “Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku” later that year. They were initially barred from performing in Caribbean venues in their hometown due to their Rastafarian beliefs, but that was not an issue for the punk clubs in the United Kingdom where their political songs about the dangers of racism fit right in. They even performed at Rock Against Racism concerts alongside other U.K. punk stalwarts like The Clash. Steel Pulse won a Grammy for their 1986 album “Babylon the Bandit” and were the subject of the 2005 documentary “Introspective.” Opening will be reggae singer Joe Samba.

The concert is 8 p.m. Saturday at the Catalyst, 1101 Pacific Ave. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $43.95. This is a 16-and-older show. For more information, go to CatalystClub.com.

Alex Lucero Band to shoot video at Moe’s Alley

As if seeing the Alex Lucero Band at Moe’s Alley was enough reason to smile, audiences will have an extra incentive to do so at Saturday’s show: they might be on camera.

The Santa Cruz country soul band will be shooting their next video live at the venue as they perform, so be prepared to smile and act casual — or ham it up if you want. The six-piece band has released six albums and performed with the likes of Michael McDonald, Pablo Cruise and Chaka Khan. They truly are local legends.

But the homegrown talent does not stop there. Opening will be Chris Jones of the band Wolf Jett, a Santa Cruz band known for its blend of country, folk and soul. For his solo performance, Jones will draw upon his upbringing in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains for an intimate set.

The concert is 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For more information, go to MoesAlley.com.

Elephant Revival founder Daniel Rodriguez to play Moe’s Alley

On the precipice the release of his second solo album, “Harboring Pearls,” former Elephant Revival member Daniel Rodriguez will be playing a show at Moe’s Alley Tuesday.

Rodriguez was among the founding members of Elephant Revival, a Colorado folk band that also incorporated elements of bluegrass, indie rock and Celtic folk. In addition to singing, Rodriguez also performed acoustic and electric guitar as well as banjo. The band toured frequently from 2006 to 2018, before going on hiatus. During that pause, Rodriguez released his first solo album “Sojourn of a Burning Sun.” Elephant Revival reunited in 2022, but Rodriguez was not a part of the reformed lineup. His upcoming album “Harboring Pearls,” co-produced by Lumineers frontman Wesley Schultz and recorded in New York’s Catskills, is about Rodriguez trying to navigate life’s choppy waters. The first single, “Graduation,” was released May 2, and the album is due Aug. 8. Opening will be Chico indie-Americana band Eyes Like Lanterns.

The concert is 8 p.m. Tuesday at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way. Doors open at 7. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. This is a 21-and-older concert. For information, go to MoesAlley.com.

Alison Bechdel to discuss new comic novel at the Rio

Many people are familiar with the Bechdel test, which highlights the lack of women’s representation in fiction by emphasizing that a work can only pass the test if it features at least two named female characters who talk about something other than men. This measure was named for its neologist, feminist author Alison Bechdel, who will be discussing her new comic novel, “Spent,” at the Rio Theatre Wednesday.

Bechdel has published many works, from her graphic novel memoirs “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” and “Are You My Mother?” to the long-running lesbian comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For.” “Spent,” Bechdel’s newest comic memoir, centers around Bechdel running a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont, all while a TV adaptation of her first memoir becomes a big hit, making her the envy of her friend group as she also becomes envious of the show’s success.

The event is 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Rio, 1205 Soquel Ave. It is presented by Bookshop Santa Cruz in conjunction with the Diversity Center and Santa Cruz Pride. Tickets are $39 and include a pre-signed hardcover copy of “Spent.” For information, go to BookshopSantaCruz.com.

This week’s calendar was compiled by Nick Sestanovich.