The Davis Odd Fellows Thursday Live! concert on Sept. 5 features Mike Blanchard & the Californios. Thursday Live! is a continuing concert series at the Odd Fellows Hall, 415 Second St.
in downtown Davis. Shows are held on the first Thursday of most months; admission is free but donations for the musicians are encouraged. Doors open at 7 p.
m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The bar will be open for sales of beer, wine and sodas. After years of wandering the highways playing gigs and watching the internet transform the music industry, Blanchard decided that it was time to get back to the source and bring down the stage volume. Lucky for us, he came off the road and put together a band of some of the best musicians around who are also his friends.
A good combo. Based around Blanchard's singing and songwriting, the Californios play in the traditional country and Americana genres. Heavily influenced by Merle Haggard and 70s California country bands like Crosby, Stills and Nash; Commander Cody and the Flying Burrito Brothers; the songs, originals and select covers, feature soaring four-part harmonies over a tight rhythm section.
The songs take you down dusty roads, up into Laurel Canyon and out onto the beach at sunset. Joining the Californios on acoustic guitar is Vince Montoya who, along with Blanchard, was the heart of the award-winning northern California twang rock band Tattooed Love Dogs. On both standup and electric bass is Rob Meyer, a veteran of the Sacramento music scene.