April King's Rook Club Schedule Gets Funky, with Splashes of Metal

Contributed

Mark your calendars to be at the King's Rook Club all month. With a packed slate of diverse shows, catch Chestnut Grove, Dead Cassette, Sophistafunk, Brahctopus, FUBAR and more this April.

Saturday, Apr. 11

Chestnut Grove, Steely Mac, and Deja Blue

A perennial favorite at the King's Rook Club, Chestnut Grove returns with their high-energy blend of rock charisma, jam band psychedelia, and soulful funk. Renowned for their festival-friendly bravado and atmosphere, they'll take to the Downstairs Concert Complex stage well into the evening. Prior to that, Steely Mac will perform. Perhaps Erie's most innovative tribute act, the band will be reelin' in their trademark interpretation of Steely Dan, led by Mckenzie Sprague (40 Under 40 Class of 2025) of Optimistic Apocalypse. Opening up the show will be the stellar sounds of Erie's dreamy alt-rockers Deja Blue, fronted by Rebecca Kuhn.

9 p.m. to 3 a.m. // 1921 Peach St. // $10 adv., $15 day of show // 21+ // Tickets: tickets.eriereader.com

Thursday, Apr. 16

Dead Cassette, Featherweight, Fastfall, and ZaKrahe

For a fist-pumping night of metal and post-hardcore, the Rook is where you want to be. Soon rattling the bus windows will be Dead Cassette. The northeast Ohio five-piece is no stranger to Erie, having sunk their infectious metalcore hooks into many a local stage. Akron's Featherweight will be joining Dead Cassette on a run of six April shows throughout the Midwest, their technical compositions and intensity pairing perfectly with their Ohio brethren. Coinciding with the release of Caesar Salad, Erie's post-hardcore heroes Fastfall will take the Rook stage again to bring their high-energy fan favorite flavor. Prog artisans ZaKrahe will open the show, their complicated riffs outlining a distorted treatise for the evening.

8 p.m. to 1 a.m. // 1921 Peach St. // $5 adv., $10 day of show // 21+ // Tickets: tickets.eriereader.com

Saturday, Apr. 18

Sophistafunk, TobyRaps with SANIS After Party

Another one of Erie's favorite imports – Syracuse, New York's Sophistafunk will once again grace the Rook's Downstairs Concert Complex. The group served as the house band for Guy's Ultimate Game Night on the Food Network and brings an easy-to-love groove that lives up to their name. They'll be in Erie on one of their regular weekend treks across upstate New York and elsewhere. Cleveland's TobyRaps will open the night, his awkwardly introspective intelligence shining through in a soulful celebration. Erie's SANIS, the alt-rock brainchild of LoneSav (40 Under 40 alum Alex Staley) will steer the afterparty upstairs into the late night hours.

9 p.m. to 3 a.m. // 1921 Peach St. // $15 adv., $20 day of show // 21+ // Tickets: tickets.eriereader.com

Saturday, Apr. 25

Dirty Leaf's Mammoth Funky Reggae Jam

Pittsburgh's Brachtopus and FUBAR, Cleveland's C-Level, and Erie's Logan B. & Dirty Leaf will fill the upstairs of the Rook with groove-heavy jams. As part of the "Spring Into Squiggle" Tour, Brachtopus will find themselves all over the northeast, capping things off with a stop in Erie. Fellow yinzers FUBAR will lighten things up with their breezy attitude and reggae vibes echoing through the upstairs pool room and beyond. Blending reggae and alternative rock, Cleveland's C-Level recently released a single in collaboration with H.R. from none other than the legendary Bad Brains. Erie's own Dirty Leaf will organize the show, their numerous talents and members lining the stage for a solid invitation to jam. – Nick Warren

9 p.m. to 3 a.m. // 1921 Peach St. // $10 adv., $15 day of show // 21+ // Tickets: tickets.eriereader.com