Throughout rock history, one thing has always been crystal clear: the best bands don’t stay still very long. Stagnation is death and repetition nothing but a bore. Taking risks, dodging complacency, never looking back—that’s where timeless music comes from. THE REAL NASTY, the celebrated Oakland, California-based trio formed in January 2009, has already done more evolving in that short span than most bands do in a lifetime. With the release of Dirty Dollars, their third CD for the Ninth Street Opus label in as many years, they’ve taken a quantum leap.

“Dirty Dollars represents the development and refinement of our sound,” says bassist/songwriter and co-founder Ryan Lukas. “Originally the concept was to play rock and country but as the band has developed, the need to find a common thread between the two styles has become apparent." To refine the sound the band leans on the blues, funk and even some jam elements to push forward. Lyrically the album is similar: songs about love, passion, romance, relationships good and bad, drinkin’, drivin’ fast and girls that love scrappy brutes that play loud, sexy music. Wherever they perform, it’s been love at first listen for the Real Nasty’s audiences. “People genuinely get into the music, stop talking, pay attention and listen," says Ryan. "We are a go-for-it band and I would crash and burn a hundred times for the one perfect moment. I think all of us share that sentiment because we want to be fearless, badass, shocking and exciting.” Having already achieved that in spades, the band's ever-expanding legion of fans love them for it. As one critic wrote, they may be called the Real Nasty, but these guys are anything but.

*Doors open at 8pm; show starts at 8:30pm
21+ event with ID