Alas, 4/20 is upon us. Have you spaced on plans? Whether you want to hit the dance floor or melt into your chair, the North Bay offers plenty of post-tax relax. While some consider April 20 just another day, it’s the stoner’s holiday, and it means a serious smoke-athon. Regardless of whether or not you toke, we can all appreciate 4/20’s Marin County roots and give thanks for the natural vibes of the Northern California experience by seeing some live music.
From his roots as a lead singer for Black Uhuru, Junior Reid (pictured) has evolved into an accomplished individual artist and producer. A recent side project is his dancehall chant for marijuana emancipation, “I Love Chronic.” Starry-eyed Reid floats through phosphorescent ganga in this video anthem to herbal abundance. (April 20 at 19 Broadway, 19 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax; 9pm; $25; 415.459.1091.)
Daniel “Bambaata” Marley, son of Ziggy, is a Marley youth maturing into his own sound. As Bob’s eldest grandson, he builds upon a lifetime of grooming by a family of reggae royalty. “The Bay’s been good to me,” says Marley, approving the natural qualities of Northern Cali grade while relenting that “some herbs have chemicals, and that’s not dope.” His repertoire ranges from the Southern rap “600 Spliffs” to the smooth dancehall of “Live It Inna Fear.” (April 20 at the Mystic Theater, 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma; 9pm; $16–$20; 707.765.2121.)
On a West Coast Rootz Releaf Tour, Jamaicans Rootz Underground have a retro-reggae sound blending roots and lovers rock. The Releaf Tour is their mission of reforestation; opening is hip-hop reggae vocalist Ancient Mystic accompanied by Sonoma County’s finest reggae dancehall DJs. (April 20 at Hopmonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol; 9:30pm; $20–$25; 707.829.7300.)
Soul Pie is a Fairfax quartet soulfully blending sounds of the Meters and early Red Hot Chili Peppers, with a polished sound uniquely their own. Cozy up 4/20-style to some upbeat funk-rock at Sonoma’s favorite watering hole. (April 20 at Steiner’s Tavern, 465 First St. W., Sonoma; 9:30pm; free; 707.996.3812.)
Local roots-rock reggae posse Sol Horizon get crowds lifted when they take the stage with Sebastopol’s own Gypsy rag-time band the Jug Dealers. (April 20 at the Last Day Saloon, 120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa; 9:30pm; $10.) And two blocks away, ELEMENTAL is “an audio-visual journey through the elements that create us” says artist Ananta. She guides a full-on sensory trip with original music compositions and NASA images of the universe. (April 20 at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa; 8pm; $5–$15; 707.528.3009.)
