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February 2019
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Groovality
Featuring Simon Russell, Billy Johnson, Rob Watson and Paul Branin
General Admission: $10
Doors open 5PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Blues, Funk, Soul and Jazz are fused together, wrapped into an eclectic, colorful package, and emerge as a funky, yet soulful sound that is called 'Groovality'.
Groovality is a Bay Area-based group that has its own highly distinctive sound. Each member has a discrete background and set of talents, but they come together with their simple, but absolute, love for music, creating a sound that is raw and honest. Like the name, the music is more than groovy-- it has a vitality that expresses joy, blues, passion, and soul all at the same time.
Gallagher – Comedy Night
Reserved Seating: $25 - $60
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Gallagher World-Famous comedian
Gallagher became a household name by smashing watermelons during his highly rated HBO specials. But millions of comedy fans around the world were already in love with his razor-sharp observations, hilarious dead-on insights, and incredibly creative word play. One need only see that he has joined the exalted pantheon of the "one-name only" celebrities (such as Oprah, and Madonna) to know how beloved Gallagher's comedy is. With a following built upon countless sold-out concert halls, uproarious HBO specials, and bestselling CDs, videos, and DVDs Gallagher's immense talent and broad appeal make him a "first ballot" Hall of Fame comedian Gallagher is not coasting nor is he slowing down, however ! To the delight of audience's across America. Gallagher is still making us fall out of our chairs with laughter.
Academy Awards Party
Doors 3PM | Free Broadcast at 4PM
Limo ride and glass of champagne 3:30PM - $10
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Red’s Blues Band
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Red’s Blues has a finger-poppin’ attitude—straight outta the golden years when blues, R&B and swing all meshed together and dance floors every night were filled with snake hips and slow drags. Beth, with her sensual, southern voice and classy behind-the-beat phrasing is more a Julie London or Bobbie Gentry-styled singer: smoky with languid, sexy sophistication.
March 2019
Curtis Salgado
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Award-winning soul, blues and R&B vocalist Curtis Salgado’s earth-shaking vocals and forceful harmonica playing have been devastating audiences around the world for over 30 years. Guitarist Alan Hager has been wowing fellow musicians from his hometown of Portland, Oregon and beyond for decades. Hager has been jamming with Salgado since 2003, and joined his band full-time in 2015. Together, the two blues fans and friends took time out of their busy touring schedule to record Rough Cut, a stripped-down album featuring a potent mix of newly written, timeless originals and carefully chosen blues covers. “We did it for the love of the music,” says Salgado. “This is where our hearts are. These are deep songs that we love to play.”
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Daniel Parenti Trio
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Daniel Lucca Parenti, AKA D-Lucca, is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has performed with many jazz legends, including Rosemary Clooney, Michael Brecker, Tom Browne, Ronnie Laws, Fred Wesley and Lionel Hampton. Bass Player Magazine said of D-Lucca, “Aptly handling a variety of basses, including melody-manning piccolo, [D-Lucca’s] material is alternately laid-back and fused-out modern jazz.”
Daniel has performed on “The View”, toured internationally, and at many popular Jazz Festivals, including the Stuttgart Jazz Open, Jazz Trax Smooth Jazz Festival and Westbury Jazz Festivals. Daniel has become one of the top call bassists in the San Francisco Bay Area performing with many well known Bay Area artists such as, Rodney Franklin, Terry Disley (Acoustic Alchemy), Billy Johnson (Santana), Frank Martin (Narda Michael Walden), Joel Smith (Walter Hawkins), and Lorn Leber (Jerry Garcia Band).
Rush VS Yes Tribute Battle
$20 Online | $25 Phone & Box Office
Doors and Bar open 6PM | Show starts at 8PM
Two bands going head to head for the title, spanning two generations of of audiences, delivering an unparalleled evening of epic progressive rock. Featuring Fred Barchetta playing the music of Rush, and Shine Delirious performing the music of Yes. Let's get ready to rumble!
West Coast Songwriters Competition – March 2019
$10 General | $5 Empress Members | Performers are free with WCS membership
Registration open 7PM | Show starts at 7:30PM
West Coast Songwriters (WCS) - Start of Season Three
Vallejo competition will be held every second Monday of the month at the Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St in downtown Vallejo.
Anyone may attend, but only WCS members may compete for prizes. Online membership registration is available. There are 2 winners of the Songwriting Competition each month for Best Song and Best Performance. Winners receive 3 hours free recording time, generously sponsored by 25th Street Recording in Oakland along with an invitation to compete at the Location Playoffs for Best Song of the Year on August 13th.
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Greg Rahn Trio
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Greg Rahn’s piano style is a silky smooth blend of jazz, blues and roots music. His compositions are dripping with honky-tonk, blues and blazing boogie-woogie influences from New Orleans pianists like Professor Longhair, Pete Johnson, James Booker and Dr John. He is currently playing with legendary blues guitarist Chris Cain while working on his solo piano release entitled Rent Party.
Piano - Greg Rahn
Bass -Tim Eschliman (Etta James, Commander Cody, Rhythmtown-Jive)
Drums - Jeff Campitelli (Joe Satriani)
Film Club – Silent Film “The Lost World”
Tickets: $10 | Free for Film Club Members
Doors open 6:30PM | Film Starts 7:30PM
The VCS Radio Symphony will perform their original score for the epic silent film The Lost World. This 1925 classic is based on the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and features special effects (uncredited) by Willis O’Brien (King Kong). In recent years, the UCLA Film Archive and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences helped restore missing footage that was believed to be lost forever.
The VCS Radio Symphony is the world-renowned student orchestra at Vacaville Christian Schools’ Radio Conservatory of the Arts. This endeavor is the ensemble’s 26th film score project under the direction of Ralph Martin.
Kenny Metcalf as Elton & The Early Years Band
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Elton” as portrayed by Kenny Metcalf, has the voice and appearance of Elton John when he was young. From rhinestones to sequins, every detail has been meticulously recreated. Iconic costumes including the infamous Los Angeles Dodgers uniform designed by Bob Mackie and glasses (created for Elton himself) by Ray Winston finish the illusion. Those fortunate enough to have seen Elton perform live experience a sense of “Deja Vu” while watching the captivating performance given by Kenny. Audiences and critics alike leave with a sense that they “saw” Elton and his band. Caleb Quaye Elton’s first producer and original lead guitarist states that witnessing this performance is like re-living infamous shows such as the one Elton performed at Dodger Stadium in 1975.
Generation Idol – Billy Idol Tribute
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Generation Idol performs an unforgettable night of classic Billy Idol music spanning almost four decades. The band faithfully captures the spirit of Billy Idol live in concert playing such mega-hits as “Mony Mony”, “Dancing With Myself”, “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell”, “Cradle Of Love”, “Hot In The City”, “Flesh For Fantasy”, and “Eyes Without A Face”. Going on their 5th year performing, the band has wowed crowds in major cities across Texas, Georgia, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Ohio, Nevada, and their home state of California.
Vallejo Jazz Society Presents Jeff Massanari / Kenny Washington Quintet
$20 General | $10 VJS Members | Up to two students free with adult ticket purchase
Doors open 4PM | Show starts at 5PM
Kenny Washington, a native of New Orleans developed a deep love for music at a very young age. Kenny grew up singing and performing gospel in church. He began performing with the school band, playing saxophone and singing. After graduating from high school Kenny continued his studies in music at Xavier University. While at Xavier, he studied various styles of music ranging from traditional and contemporary jazz to classical, rhythm and blues and pop.
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Chris Cole Band
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
This unique quartet is made up of 4 touring professionals, all based in the bay area. Singer Chris Cole, pianist Wayne Fettig, bassist Aaron Germaine and percussionist Gerry Kennett make up this ensemble. They bring a new energy and sound to classic tunes as well as their own original arrangements.
Ryder Green
$15 Online | $20 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
From blistering renditions of blues-infused rock and funk to sublime vintage blues, R&B, slide, rock ‘n roll, and everything in between, Ryder Green brings a dynamic mix of firepower and grit, effortlessly intertwined with melodic engaging songs, and straight-from-the-soul improvisation. His distinctive tone, infectious original songs and vocals, and attention-grabbing covers ignite crowds of all ages.
Vallejo Symphony Concert III – Profound
Doors open 6PM | Pre-concert talk 7PM | Symphony at 8PM
Beethoven | Leonore Overture No. 3
Sibelius | Symphony No. 7
Fauré | Requiem
Marc Taddei, conducting
Shawnette Sulker, soprano
Brad Walker, baritone
American Canyon High School Chamber Choir - Jaime Butler, director
Vallejo Symphony Concert III – Profound
Doors open 1PM | Pre-concert talk 2PM | Symphony at 3PM
Beethoven | Leonore Overture No. 3
Sibelius | Symphony No. 7
Fauré | Requiem
Marc Taddei, conducting
Shawnette Sulker, soprano
Brad Walker, baritone
American Canyon High School Chamber Choir - Jaime Butler, director
April 2019
V-Town Comedy Night!
$15 Online | $20 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Vallejo's known for its music, its naval history and soon it will be known for its comedy! Facebook's popular Bay Area Memes page, along with Hella Tall Entertainment brings a lineup worthy of the historic Empress Theatre in Downtown Vallejo! Hosted by Vallejo's own Jerrell Parker, Featuring comedic talents like Jerry Law, Even Stevens, Mark Noyer, Damon Duran, Guile Mosher, Deejay Stokes, Jade Theriault, Abe Woodliff and many more!
House of Floyd
$25 Online | $30 Box Office & Phone
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
House of Floyd returns to the Empress for an end of Summer Concert at the Historic Empress Theatre.
The S.F. Bay Area’s HOUSE OF FLOYD performs the music of Pink Floyd, and has gained a strong following for their unique ability to enthuse both the hard-core fans of the early adventurous Floyd and those who enjoy the songs and soundscapes that later brought them widespread appeal. They capture the essence of each of the various Pink Floyd eras from the formative Syd Barrett days, through the 70’s and the final post-Waters era.
House of Floyd is a 7-piece band that includes 2 bookend multi-instrumentalists that double on saxophone, keyboards and guitar, and 2 excellent female background vocalists. House of Floyd has been performing in concert venues for over 11 years in the U.S. and abroad including a recent month long tour of India.
In the Pink Floyd tradition, a HOUSE OF FLOYD concert incorporates sound effects, screen projection, moving lights & state of the art laser show. The set lists on any given night might be from an actual Pink Floyd concert, or a custom HOUSE OF FLOYD mix.
Pacific Mambo Orchestra Salsa Dance Party
$30 Online | $35 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
This 20-piece ensemble from San Francisco, led by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, won the 2014® Grammy for 'Best Tropical Latin Album' with their debut album, beating Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives. PMO rejuvenates the Latin Big Band sounds of the 1940s through 1960s.
Scott Capurro Comedy
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Offence economy is in overdrive, so Capurro has migrated from “inappropriate” to “problematic”, but his sharp eye for hypocrisy and relentless pursuit of gasp-inducing punchlines has only improved. In Capurro Comes Again!, Scott wrangles with rich friends, worthy yoga, marital improvement and the miseries of home ownership. Certain that every silver lining is attached to a rather imposing cloud, he spins yarns that are meant to resolve issues but oddly seem to have the opposite effect. Challenging and sometimes outrageous, Scott Capurro is a natural raconteur – confessional, intimate and most shocking of all, occasionally full of doubt.
May 2019
Yngwie Malmsteen with opener Paralandra and Sunlord
Reserved Seating: $35 - $65
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a world-renowned guitarist from Stockholm, Sweden. Yngwie Malmsteen's career has spanned over 40 years with over twenty albums to his name. Drawing influence from classical composers such as Bach, Paganini, and Vivaldi, Yngwie is responsible for birthing the neo-classical genre to the world of rock.
Robben Ford
Doors 7PM | Show 8PM
Watching Robben Ford take the stage is equal parts gratifying, awe-inspiring, and challenging—a perfect storm of creativity and emotion that results in some seriously good music. As soon as he plays his first note, you realize that you’re in the presence of a bonafide guitar master. With five Grammy nominations, a three-decade-long solo career, and a resume that includes Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, and George Harrison, his accomplishments reflect the versatility and musicality of someone who has pursued their true calling. During a live performance, Robben is acutely tuned in, feeding off of the energy of the audience, and fully prepared to throw you a curve ball at any moment. In other words, it’s an experience not to be missed.