Bay Area Teen Musicians Open for Special Consensus on Jan. 25th

By Barbara Lewis

Pleasanton’s will host a mid-week evening of bluegrass music with headliner, Special Consensus, and local opening act, Them Boys, on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

The Firehouse Arts Center is located at 4444 Railroad Avenue in downtown Pleasanton.

Special Consensus, a “traditional, yet modern” bluegrass band has toured nationally and internationally to the Britain, Canada and South America since 1979 and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, on cable television and National Public Radio.  

In a review of their album, “35”, which was released in 2010 to mark the band’s 35th anniversary, Mark S. Tucker calls the band “a superb bluegrass outfit in a classic vein but with more than enough modern sensibilities to attract every ear in this now pleasantly fractionating genre. The vocals are spotless, the playing as shiny as a newly minted penny, and music like this is the reason people come to love bluegrass.”

Local group Them Boys will open for Special Consensus, making their first professional appearance under their new name.

The group is comprised of four teenagers, Nate Schwartz, 17, and Max Schwartz, 14, of Walnut Creek, Marty Varner, 16, of Boulder Creek, Calif. and Alex Sharps, 18, of Rio Vista. 

They have performed individually for several years with other bands and the California Bluegrass Association's "Kids on Bluegrass" program. 

The quartet is known to play the traditional, driving bluegrass of their mentors as well as complex, innovative instrumentals that they sometimes write on the spur of the moment. 

Their goal is "to emulate our influences while at the same time pushing bluegrass and American acoustic music into previously uncharted territory." 

Tickets are Adult: $15, $20 and $25; Child: $12 and Senior: $20.  Group discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.firehousearts.org up to three hours prior to the performance, by phone at (925) 931-4848, or in person at the Firehouse Arts Center Box Office. 

Box Office hours are Wednesday-Friday, noon-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and for two hours prior to the performance. 

The entrance to free parking is on Spring Street near First Street.