Earthwise brings another musical chameleon to Palo Alto to kick off the weekend. Sonny Smith “finds comfort in returning to his roots in the wake of personal upheaval” on his latest album with the Rhinestone Sunsets, Longtime Companion. Released in 2023, the album finds the Bay Area artist and his band in a decidedly country mode—one that suits these world-weary songs about the breakdown of a decade-long relationship perfectly. It’s a marked evolution from the doo-wop beach-pop on his previous two records, but Smith grew up with a father who instilled a love for the banjo in him. In that sense, he’s right at home.
Sonny & the Sunsets
Fri, 8pm, $20
Mitchell Park, Palo Alto
