Top Picks for Santa Barbara Bowl this Fall

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This fall, there’s a lot more than the pumpkin scones at Starbucks to look forward to. Arts & Lectures, UCSB’s premier event company, has much in store for students, with tickets running a third of the normal adult price for shows like Matt Groening and John Cleese. Then there’s the Santa Barbara Bowl, the 4,562-seat amphitheater which is playing Lorde, Ray LaMontagne, Hall and Oates and Foster the People this fall season. We at Artsweek love the local stuff and these two companies never fail to disappoint. So take your pick with our easy-to-follow event guide. NOTE: All prices regarding Arts & Lectures events are for student tickets only. Your parents and great-uncle Jim will have to pay a bit more.

POP GODDESS:

Lorde w/ Majical Cloudz
WHEN/WHERE: Thursday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m., SB Bowl
COST: $45-$70
WHY YOU SHOULD FORGET ABOUT THIRSTY THURSDAY AND GO:
The woman is 17 and has already tacked two Grammys under her metal-studded belt. Famous for posting pictures of acne-prone skin in an attempt to show the lies perpetuated by magazines and their Photoshop skills, Lorde has identified herself as a feminist and was named one of Time’s most influential teenagers in the world. To say that Lorde is talented is an understatement; the woman is THE pop goddess of 2014, fighting the likes of Miley Cyrus in pursuit of becoming a “Pure Heroine,” like her newest album title suggests. Fun facts: she loves peanut M&Ms, is from New Zealand and doesn’t have a driver’s license. That’s why she drives Cadillacs in her dreams. Heh. Heh.

BLUES GUITARIST:

Ray Lamontagne with The Belle Brigade
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m. SB Bowl
COST: $44.50-$74.50
WHY YOU SHOULD VACATE ISLA VISTA/THE DORMS THAT SATURDAY AND GO: LaMontagne is a massively successful guitarist who came from humble beginnings working at a shoe factory in Maine. His latest album, one of five, has been hailed by NPR as “explosively creative,” boasting a 60s-pop tone. This show is part of LaMontagne’s Supernova Tour, which will take him across Canada and the States. Often compared to Otis Redding and Van Morrison, the 41-year-old bluesy guitarist has a strong reputation to withhold. Artsweek suggests you immediately play “You Are the Best Thing” on Spotify and let LaMontagne’s smooth drawl take you away to clicking on Ticketmaster.

TIMELESS DYNAMIC DUO:

Daryl Hall and John Oates
WHEN/WHERE: Sunday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. SB Bowl
COST: $45-$90
WHY YOU SHOULD GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE EARLY THAT SUNDAY AND GO: Ahem, this is HALL AND OATES we are talking about here, people! Not only are they the number-one selling duo of all time, but their music has transcended the 70s and is still very present today in the new remix culture, with fans like Ben Gibbard, John Mayer and Gym Class Heroes. This is a chance to see a band your parents listened to when they were in college. And anyway, what could be better than taking the 24x bus downtown to catch Hall and Oates sing “You Make My Dreams Come True?” Nothing.

INDIE POP BAND:

Foster the People w/ Sylvan Esso and Soko
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m. SB Bowl
COST: $34.50-$54.50
WHY YOU SHOULD VACATE ISLA VISTA/THE DORMS THAT SATURDAY AND GO:
Foster the People is probably most famous for “Pumped Up Kicks,” but there’s more to them than the catchy keyboard beats of that lyrically depressing tune. Fun Fact: according to a Rolling Stone article with lead singer Mark Foster, the intention behind the catchiness of the song was to call out hipsters who would dance to the song without knowing the meaning behind it. (We got you now, hipsters!) The L.A. band, which consists of Foster, bassist Jacob “Cubbie” Fink and drummer Mark Pontius, has put out two albums since forming five years ago. This tour will be in support of the second album, Supermodel, which has received rave reviews.

 

NOTE: Check out this article in the Daily Nexus here:

Top Picks for Santa Barbara Bowl This Fall

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