Even the casual reader of this blog knows I’m partial to stories. Songs lend themselves easily to this. And since I met Russell Brutsche a few years ago, I’ve learned that paintings are also fine storytelling medium. Russell’s a painter *and* songwriter. His paintings are self-described “incisive yet often whimsical perspectives of our central coast as a would-be promised land.” You’ll find post-apocalyptic imagery often slanted with a bit of hope (or humor) in the same piece. My personal favorites are works like “Wigwams”, an abandoned set of golden arches (yes, that fast food place) reconfigured as a native American homestead or a homeless encampment built out of abandoned cars and an old freight train that’s just a tad ironically named “Empire Builder”.

This Sunday, March 13th, Russell brings a hybrid concert/showing in an evening titled “New Songs, New Paintings” to the Corralitos Cultural Center. He’ll be backed by Dayan Kai and Steve Uccello as he plays songs from The Westbound, his latest CD. He’ll also have many of his paintings on display.

Russell Brutsche’s “Lifeblood” (click for more paintings)

Doors open at 6:00. Show starts at 6:30. Suggested donation (sliding scale) $10-$20 at the door. The Corralitos Cultural Center is at 129 Hames Road, in Watsonville.