G. Love & Special Sauce Plays Mr. Smalls; Flux Capacitor to Appear at Club Cafe (Thurs., 2/2/17)

1) Sometimes blues, sometimes hip hop, sometimes rock—G. Love & Special Sauce certainly run the gamut, and on their newest release, 2015’s Love Saves the Day, the Philadelphia trio delivers a smorgasbord of all their sounds often in one song. Just look at who’s featured; it’s not often where one can find Money Mark, Lucinda Williams, and David Hidalgo (of rock band Los Lobos) on the same record. G. Love & Special Sauce have always had some great friends. Love Saves the Day comes off of Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records, and the trio has also recorded with Johnson. That’s not to say they’re not an impressive group all their own. How else would they have remained a viable act over 20 years into their career? For further proof, check out their show at Mr. Smalls. As a special bonus, bassist Jim (“Jimi Jazz”) Prescott returned in 2014 following a five-year hiatus. It’s the original lineup with Jeffrey (“Houseman”) Clemens on drums/vocals and Garrett (“G. Love”) Dutton on guitar/vocals. Ripe open. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

Flux Capacitor visit Club Cafe not from 1885, 1955, 1985, or 2015 Hill Valley, California, but from present-day West Reading and Philadelphia. In 2007, the psychedelic, jam trio, composed of brothers Jason, Michael, and Peter Specht, formed Flux Capacitor, named after the time traveling device in the Back to the Future movie franchise. The band’s first full-length release, They Know We Know, was released just two years later. They have steadily built a following, touring the United States, Canada, and England. Twice they have received Philadelphia’s Tri-State Indie Jam Band of the Year Award (2013, 2015). Umphrey’s McGee, Keller Williams, and Rusted Root are just a few of the bands that Flux Capacitor have shared the stage with. 2013’s Cycle 9, their third album, is their latest release. No new music yet, but Pittsburgh fans eager to get their flux on can check out this month’s live show. Chillent opens. 8 p.m. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side. (CM)

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