Mac Sabbath, with The Cybertronic Spree and Playboy Manbaby
For every 10,000 rock bands and pop acts who take themselves way too seriously, there are a few who embrace poking fun at themselves and lampooning the conventions of their chosen musical genre.
But Mac Sabbath — the Los Angeles quartet that celebrates its 10th anniversary next year — stands out for several reasons. And not all of them are silly.
Yes, this fast-food themed Black Sabbath tribute act likes to describe itself as a “drive-through metal band.”
Yes, Mac Sabbath’s gaudily costumed members boast memorable stage monikers, including thrash-metal and Mayor McCheese-inspired guitarist Slayer MacCheeze and lead singer Ronald Osbourne (who is named after Ronald McDonald and former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne).
And, yes, Mac Sabbath lays siege to various Black Sabbath classics with palpable relish, as evidenced by their turning “War Pigs” into “More Ribs,” “Sweet Leaf” into “Sweet Beef” and “Paranoid” into “Pair-a-buns.” But a closer look at this seemingly cartoon-ish band suggests something genuinely subversive under its fat-fried surface.
Consider “Chicken for the Slaves,” Frying Pan” and “Never Say Diet,” which spoof, respectively, Black Sabbath’s “Children of the Grave””Iron Man” and “Never Say Die.” The lyrics to “Frying Pan” include such choice couplets as: “I once burned your meal / My old job was cooking veal” and “I have frying pan / Cows we are now going to grind.”
It should come as no surprise, then, to learn Mac Sabbath’s four members eschew eating meat. And that their band is dedicated to promoting veganism and railing against genetically modified foods, preservatives and factory farms.
Or as Mac Sabbath manager Mike Odd explained to me in a 2016 Union-Tribune interview: “Mac Sabbath’s songs are strongly against fast food, GMOs, processed food and (companies like) Monsanto. The whole idea to let as many people as possible know about the dangers of this food — and about how wonderful Black Sabbath is. It’s a combo platter!”
Happily, that combo platter has expanded over the years. It now includes “We’re Not Going to Shake Shack” (a variation on Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Going to Take It”) and songs first recorded by everyone from The Misfits to the late Wesley Willis, whose 1995 song, “Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s,” is now Mac Sabbath’s closing number.
7:30 p.m. next Friday. Brick by Brick, 1130 Buenos Ave., Bay Park. $28 and $34 (must be 21 or older to attend). brickbybrick.com
Tom Paxton and The DonJuans
Tireless singer-songwriter Tom Paxton was 71 when he received a Lifetime Grammy Award in 2009. He’s still making music 14 years later.
Best known for having written such classics as “The Last Thing on My Mind,” “Ramblin’ Boy,” “Bottle of Wine” and “Peace Will Come,” he influenced Bob Dylan — and preceded him — as a key figure New York’s Greenwich Village folk-music scene in the early 1960s.
For the past few years. Paxton has been touring with The DonJuans — Don Henry and Jon Vezner — who open Paxton’s concerts and then accompany him.
Teaming with the Nashville duo inspired Paxton to shelve his plans to retire from the road. For that, we should all be grateful.
7:30 tonight. Templar’s Hall, 14134 Midland Road, Poway. $25 and $30. (858) 613-0858; sdfolkheritage.org
The Joshua White Trio
Just back from his European tour with San Diego trumpet innovator Steph Richards, El Cajon-bred piano marvel Joshua White excels in virtually any musical setting.
Cutting-edge jazz, hard bop, fusion, Great American Songbook favorites given a fresh spin — White performs each with equal poise and panache, skill and ingenuity, improvisational aplomb and unerring grace and fire.
His second-place finish in the 2011 Thelonious Monk Institute’s Jazz Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., brought White — then 26 — national attention. Nothing I’ve heard him do since then has been less than first-class.
4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at La Jolla Music Society’s Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. (858) 459-3728; theconrad.org.