While live concerts with big crowds remain on hold in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis alumni musicians are sharing performances via social media. Some are filmed at home, while others reminisce about recent live shows just before the shelter-in-place orders.
Ruby Ibarra
UC Davis alumna Ruby Ibarra appeared from home with her band, The Balikbayans, during the Call to Unite livestream earlier this month. Ibarra, a rapper, spoken word artist and producer, performs an acoustic remix of her song “Someday” from the 2017 album Circa91. “We dedicate this performance to all of the fearless frontliners and those who have been affected/lost loved ones from COVID-19,” she posted. “We hope our music can bring you comfort in these times.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CAIso0bggWP/
Rogue Wave
Rogue Wave frontman Zach Rogue (Schwartz) ’96 is performing a Tom Petty song for every day of May on his band’s Instagram page. Rogue plays guitar and piano and is even joined by some guests on May 21 — Ira Elliot of Nada Surf and other members of Rogue Wave. In April, the band unveiled a new single, “Aesop Rock,” which is reportedly a response to that rapper’s new song, “Rogue Wave.” See him perform Petty’s “Breakdown”: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeXdjOBmBB/
Cam
As part of her ongoing Instagram series Coffee with Cam, the singer — and UC Davis alumna — offers a stripped down version of her 2017 song “Diane.” She appears to be social distancing in an empty theater. Cam, aka Camaron Ochs ’06, released a new single, “Till There’s Nothing Left,” earlier this year. Her new album is set to come out later this year. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAK5drtJOlZ/
DJ Shadow
With U.S. tour dates planned for the month of May, the musician was working on a new live show to promote the recent double album Our Pathetic Age. “It’s been tough watching the tour go from viability to cancellation and postponement, but I’m grateful that we were able to successfully perform the first seven shows as planned,” said DJ Shadow, aka Josh Davis ’95, on his website. “Between mid-February and March 1st, we played Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Glasgow, Manchester, and London. He added that he’s using the time at home to “tidy up,” which means organizing a massive music collection. Watch a bit of what his European shows looked like before he returned home on March 1: https://twitter.com/djshadow/status/1261695404460199938
The Dream Syndicate
Steve Wynn, frontman of The Dream Syndicate and UC Davis alumnus, recently talked about the band’s latest album while quarantining at home. His last appearance onstage was March 1 for a Lou Reed tribute at Bowery Electric in New York. Watch him perform Velvet Underground’s “I Can’t Stand It.” https://twitter.com/stevewynn/status/1257012818525782017