Get Out: See Tattoos, A Leaky Play, Jazz or Soul-ternative and a Hot Young Band

FRIDAY Jan. 6

MEETING OF THE MINDS

Tattoo Exhibition by the artists of

107 Elm Street

opening reception 6-10 p.m.

The trouble with tattoo art is that sometimes the best of it is hidden under clothes. The artists of F-U Tattoos in Santa Cruz have found a way to free their art for all eyes by printing it on substances other than skin and displaying at this top-flight avant garde gallery. Artists Amanda Payne, Hudge, Ron Hendrix, Nick Vargas and Derek Pratt will display on acryllic and paper with themes that go way beyond the butterfly on the valley girl's lower back.

The display lasts through the month and the gallery is open Thursday-Sunday noon-6 p.m.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

The Leak Phase, a play by Bridget Johnson

Broadway Playhouse 526 Broadway

7 p.m. daily and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday

$7 advance, $10 door
831-334-2020
leakphasetickets@gmail.com

Now that two young Santa Cruz singers have burst onto the national scene, one wonders where the next local talent will bubble up from? High school senior Bridget Johnson may be it. She is producing and directing her second self-written play this weekend, one with some adult themes.

The Leak Phase is about a boy with an incredibly rare disease called Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome and the misunderstandings of most people around him, except one.

Johnson says: "The Leak Phase is a comedy that ventures through a mishmash of themes including romance, illness, family conflicts, friendship, trust, and more, as its characters each find their own leak phases."

Here's a YouTube video about Johnson's last play and the new one.

SUNDAY

Me'Shell Ndegeocello

7 p.m.

$28.50, advance tickets at www.pulseproductions.net

If they fired every music critic who confused bassist Me'Shell Ndegeocello with David Bowie's bassist Gail Ann Dorsey, there would be a lot of job openings out there.

Yeah, right. Both are black. Both play bass. Both have shaved their heads at times.

But Ndegeocello had her big rock hit with another short, white guy, John Mellencamp. Their cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" was a big song in 1993. After teaming also with Madonna and Chaka Khan, Ndegeocello returned to the roots of the music she really loves, jazz.

Her new work, "Weather," is produced by Joe Henry and is said to be softer and freer. Here's what Henry said about recording it in his LA basement. And here's a video that should make you want to get out and get to the show.

SUNDAY

Erin and the Project

350 Mission St.

8 p.m. Free

Lindsay Erin (vocals/keys) and Paul Ezekiel (drums/percussion) have what one writer called a soul-ternative feel and a new album coming out next month produced by Oz Fritz, who has worked with Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain and Primus.

Sounds like a great sleeper show for the right price. Check out the video here...it's irresistible. If I were betting, this will be the last time you can see them in a small place for free.

SUNDAY

ALMOST CHAOS

5 p.m., Free

This hot young Santa Cruz band is a finalist in the School Jam USA contest, sponsored by Disney.

Almost Chaos is one of only eight bands competing in the finals and the grand prize includes a trip to Germany.  More future Santa Cruz stars!!!!