20 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY May 23-29, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com says before chuckling at his passion. “I’ve tried hard to be a snob, but I don’t have the palate.” The Expendables guitar player tells of visiting Corner 103 in Sonoma with his wife for a private tasting. As his wife offered her impressions of each wine, the staff member guiding the tasting applauded her descriptions. When Bianchi’s turn came, the expert responded with a baffled “Huh.” While The Expendables were on tour in the summer of 2023, Booth visited them on their California swing. Band members sampled different varietals and styles. The result was The Expendables 2021 Bottle for Two Petite Sirah, which Bianchi notes has sold very well. “I try to have the bands involved with the selection as much as possible,” Booth notes. This involves inviting them to his Paso Robles tasting room or lugging cases to a hotel, where he can hole up with band members in a conference room. When Boston-based The Elovaters expressed interest in a wine, Booth shipped bottles across the country. The sparkling wine they settled on won a gold medal and sold out. “We’ve turned people onto wine,” Booth says. The Wine Boss has worked with other groups, including KBong and Through the Roots. The confluence of wine and reggae has generated some excitement. “We’re going to do another,” Bianchi reports. “It’s pretty cool. I think it’s a cool thing for the fans.” Many of the band labels are named for songs. The Elovaters, for instance, chose their 2021 release “Criminal” for their recent Cabernet. The Expendables, rather appropriately, is a play on the 2022 single “Bowl for Two,” a Cali Roots mix featuring Collie Buddz. Which song will The Expendables pay tribute to on their next wine label? The 2020 single “You’re Right Here” might be an appropriate choice. But definitely not 2007’s “S.T.D.,” no matter how much the band likes to dip back into past songs. As for their Cali Roots performance, Bianchi is excited. “There will be a lot of energy,” he says. “It will be fun.” And afterward, wine will flow. If you must pick and choose the performances to see at California Roots, the task can seem both obvious and daunting. Certainly the Marleys—Ziggy plays on Friday, Damian and Stephen on Saturday—are a must. Ice Cube is a rap legend and Rebelution a Cali Roots favorite, and both take the stage on Sunday. There are other bucket list groups, such as Stick Figure (Friday), Burning Spear, The Elovaters, Pepper and Collie Buddz. The Expendables have a big international following and an even bigger one on the Central Coast. The list could go on. That’s why the festival has become such a draw, both for artists and fans. Here are just a few of the other not-to-miss bands in the lineup from Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26. Living Legends Friday 1:30pm • The Bowl The hip-hop group never really went away, although there were 15 years between their previous album and 2023’s The Return—which they have, with a maturity and assuredness to their storytelling honed by life. E-40 and Too Short Friday 6:20pm • The Bowl Respect is due to both as pioneers of West Coast hip-hop, as challengers and collaborators, for their grit and slanguage and especially for their extensive catalog of music. Pop open a 40 and blow a whistle, biaaatch. Claire Wright Saturday 12:50pm • Cali Roots Stage Claire Wright’s debut album— Setting Out for the Sun—recently hit the streamwaves. This Northern California artist gives reggae a country flair, with a bit of carefree West Coast affection. Collectively, her songs are like a day at the beach under clear skies. Souls of Mischief Saturday 1:40pm • The Bowl It’s hard to explain Souls of Mischief. If you tune in to what they are laying down, you get it. And their music becomes rooted in you. For others, appreciation may take some time. But it happens. That is why it took their single “93 ’til Infinity” 30 years to earn gold. Rawayana Saturday 2:50pm • Cali Roots Stage The collective formed in Venezuela and their background informs their broad understanding of reggae. It’s lively, teased with funk, salsa and West African inspiration. And the group is known for putting on potent live shows. Artikal Sound System Sunday 1:30pm • Cali Roots Stage Vocalist Logan Rex and the boys craft an unexpected form of reggae, influenced by R&B and jazz and their quest for a good time. The music can pick you up and put you down, set to emotional, relatable lyrics. Lupe Fiasco Sunday 5:40pm • Cali Roots Stage Thoughtful and sometimes controversial, Lupe Fiasco presents next-level rap. Where others are blunt to be effective, the Chicago MC spins stories that dig deep, that chisel away at comfortable narratives. He can be conceptual and metaphorical. But he can also be catchy. Lani Headley contributed to this report. Bands Stand Beyond the headliners, there’s a lot to see at Cali Roots. By Dave Faries California Roots Music & Art Festival Performances take place on two stages from noon-11pm May 2426, Friday-Sunday. $155 per day/ general admission; $300/twoday package (Saturday-Sunday); $345/three-day package; VIP packages are also available. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. californiarootsfestival. com. With two stages going and a lineup that includes performers in the musical canon as well as those just getting started, Cali Roots has become a must for those who love good music and a good time. Daniel Dreifuss
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