Three to see: Ben Folds visits the Crest and Americana, electropop hit Harlow’s
Tennyson
Electronic/pop/jazz
6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22
Harlow’s
It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what Tennyson (the moniker of brother/sister duo Luke and Tess Pretty) actually is, but the guessing game is part of what makes this youthful outfit so gleefully challenging. With Luke manning keys and electronics and Tess on drums, the two zigzag through a minefield of electronic pop and free-wielding jazz pop, somehow managing to sound deliberately lost and expertly calibrated at the same time. With Photay. $14 adv./$15 door. www.harlows.com.
Valley Queen
Rock/indie
10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22
Harlow’s
Once Tennyson clears the house on Friday, Valley Queen sails in on the coattails of a stiff Laurel Canyon fall breeze. Frontwoman Natalie Carol has the scintillating tonal edge and vibrant mystique of a Florence Welch, delivered with a properly laid-back California vibe with her band pouring out blustering Americana-juiced rock ’n’ roll behind her. Beautiful Dudes opens the show (that’s the actual band name, not a descriptor). $12 adv./ $14 door. www.harlows.com.
Ben Folds
Pop/rock
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26
Crest Theatre
There are precious few generational musicians like Mr. Ben Folds, whether he’s rockin’ the suburbs as a consummate icon of modern pop rock or lending his piano compositions to some of the world’s most renowned symphonies. His talents are seemingly limitless, as are the boundaries of his live performances. Tall Heights opens. $49-$79. www.crestsacramento.com.
Looking ahead: Celtic Festival. Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Nevada County Fairgrounds
International touring act Skerryvore headlines this annual fall treat, with a feast of fiddling, bag-piping and whistling musical performers along with all the Celtic-themed activities. www.kvmrcelticfestival.org.
This story was originally published September 18, 2017 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Three to see: Ben Folds visits the Crest and Americana, electropop hit Harlow’s."