Live Music

Photos: Black Veil Brides at Ace of Spades

2013-03-08T07:09:48Z

Hollywood band Black Veil Brides performed at Ace of Spades on Wednesday night in support of their new album "Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones."

The air was thick with anticipation as support bands Overwatch and William Control played their sets. When Black Veil Brides finally took the stage, the packed venue erupted with the defeaning squeals of teenage girls and made me very thankful I had brought hearing protection.

I can say with complete confidence that it was an entertaining show.

Want to see what shows are coming up at Ace of Spades? Click here.

Pretty in black: Black Veil Brides to play Ace of Spades

2013-02-27T21:46:21Z

Don't let the party stop after you've had your fill of beer and fashion this week, Sacramento!

How do tattoos, black face paint, and tight, black leather sound?

Good? Then check out Hollywood rock band Black Veil Brides at Ace of Spades next Wednesday, March 6.

While seemingly more known to some for their visual aesthetics than their music, these wild-haired bad boys in eye shadow are continually refining their musical style and have seen it evolve from screaming heavy metal to a more anthemic rock sound.

They're making a play for the big time with their third album, "Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones," an ambitious rock opera à la My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade."

BVB will be joined at Ace by William Control and Overwatch.

General admission tickets are $18 plus a $3.95 service fee. Doors are at 7 p.m. and it's an all ages show.

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Hot Water Music, La Dispute at Ace of Spades

2013-02-09T05:25:20Z

If you didn't make it out to Ace of Spades last night to catch the Hot Water Music tour, you missed some great performances.

Critically acclaimed group The Menzingers kicked off the night right with a set of rough, blue-collar punk.

Vocalist Greg Barnett mentioned that it was the band's first time in Sacramento. Mission accomplished on making a good first impression.

After finishing a set that included fierce songs like "Nice Things" and "Irish Goodbyes," the crowd hoped to hear more, chanting "One more song!" which doesn't happen very often with supporting bands that no one cares about.

All signs (my past experience) pointed to second support act La Dispute putting on a passionate, entertaining show, and that's what happened.

Starting out in fine fashion with "The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit," the set also included songs "Harder Harmonies," "Andria," and "New Storms for Older Lovers," which vocalist Jordan Dreyer dedicated to headliners Hot Water Music.

The songs played like confessional diary entries; spoken and shouted-word lyrics accompanied by minor-chord harmonies. The crowd would finish some of Dreyer's lines by shouting out lyrics which added another visceral element to the show.

Dreyer mentioned playing a "pizza place" in Sacramento before, recalling a 2010 show at Luigi's Slice and Fun Garden with Touché Amoré, Loma Prieta and A Lot Like Birds.

The band ended with the excellent "King Park," which draws you in and paints a picture of a drive-by shooting and its aftermath in intense detail.

Unfortunately, La Dispute didn't allow any photography, so my overall experience was soured a bit. You'll just have to use your imagination to get a visual.

Headliners Hot Water Music wrapped up the night with a set of raw, butt-kicking organic rock.

The Gainesville, Fla., band has a catalog eight albums deep going back to 1995, and they dipped into a little bit of everything.

Their set included the songs "Remedy," "Mainline," "Trusty Chords," "Giver," "State of Grace" and "Paper Thin."

The band came back on stage for an encore of "True Believers," a Bouncing Souls cover, and "Turnstile," from 1997's "Fuel for the Hate Game."

Check the Ace of Spades website for information on upcoming shows.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

Andrew McMahon to perform at Ace of Spades

2013-02-01T08:22:22Z

Ladies, prepare to swoon.

Fresh off some dates opening for Fun., singer and songwriter Andrew McMahon will be in Sacramento to headline at Ace of Spades on Friday, Feb. 8.

McMahon was the vocalist, pianist and primary songwriter for now-defunct bands Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate, and now performs solo (with a full backing band).

Expect the seasoned and energetic pianist to reach deep into his catalog and belt tunes from his previous bands in addition to his new solo work.

Next up for McMahon? Four more dates opening for Fun., and then a continuation of his North America headlining tour through April. He also plans to release a new EP in February.

Tickets are $22.50 plus a $3.95 service fee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and it's an all-ages show.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

Hot Water Music to play Ace of Spades

2013-02-01T01:41:13Z

Florida's Hot Water Music has been refining a brand of gravel-throated rock somewhere between punk and post-hardcore (or whatever you want to call it) for nearly 20 years now.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, they bring it to the best live music venue in Sac, Ace of Spades.

Led by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Ragan and featuring a very tight and complex rhythm section, HWM is touring behind 2012's "Exister," their eighth studio album and first album of new material in eight years. A live album, “Live in Chicago,” was also released in late 2012.

Joining HWM on the bill are the indisputably excellent Grand Rapids, Mich., band La Dispute and The Menzingers, from Scranton, Pa.

The Menzingers' "On the Impossible Past" was recently voted the number one album of 2012 by AbsolutePunk, Punknews.org, and Rock Sound.

Do yourself a favor and get there early for La Dispute and The Menzingers!

Tickets are $18 plus a $3.95 service fee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and it's an all ages show.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

Disclosure: I have seen La Dispute perform before and I was VERY impressed.

Photos: !!! !!! (Chk Chk Chk) at Harlow's

2012-10-06T00:49:52Z

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) is back in California for a few days, and they put on a banger of a show last night at Harlow's.

I was hoping frontman Nic Offer would be wearing tiny little shorts and I was not disappointed. His pair on Thursday featured The Rolling Stones' “Some Girls” album artwork.

Guitarist Mario Andreoni and the rest of the band sounded great. The skinny and lithe Offer thrust his pelvis all over the stage, and came down into the crowd a couple of times to get sweaty with the audience. He smelled awful, and freely admitted as much himself when he got back on stage.

If you're wondering about the next !!! album, Offer said they were working on it and it'll be released next year.

Great show by !!! as usual. Impossible not to like, very danceable and guaranteed to put a stirring in your loins.

The show was presented by Concerts 4 Charity and Record Club. Concerts 4 Charity's mission is to help foster a healthy independent music and arts community in Sacramento, and Record Club throws some sweet music-related events.

Photos by Steven Chea.

90's revival with Stone Temple Pilots, Bush

2012-09-25T01:49:28Z

I can't remember the last time there was an all-day music festival in the city limits with some big-name acts, so I was excited to check out the Monster Energy Aftershock 2012 festival at Discovery Park on Sunday.

The bill was a mix of "hard rock" bands on two stages. Performers included FallRise, Stepchild, Oleander, Beware of Darkness, Gemini Syndrome, Hell or Highwater, Escape the Fate, Ho llywood Undead, Theory of a Deadman, Chevelle, Bush, Deftones, and Stone Temple Pilots.

I was especially excited to see Deftones, Bush and STP, since they remind me of being in high school, and they play songs I recognize.

Sacramento bands were well-represented (FallRise, Stepchild, Oleander, and Deftones) and all the bands got a great response from the crowd. Sacramento continues to go crazy for Deftones, and their set sent the crowd into easily the biggest tizzy of the day.

The festival had its hiccups, but everything ran smoothly as far as I could tell. The parking situation was hit or miss; going left took you to a parking area right next to the festival entrance and going right took you to one that was a good deal further away. What I think happened is that the closer lot was originally supposed to be the VIP parking area but anybody who made a left at the traffic light ended up parking there because it wasn't easy to turn around and go to the other lot.

Almost every band's set started later than posted start times. It wasn't a big deal unless you hate standing and waiting. In that case, it was rough.

The main stage and the second stage were close enough so you didn't have to walk too far back and forth, and here was no sound bleed over from the two stages since only one stage was going at a time. The lines for food, drinks and Porta Potties were long, but not ridiculously long. I had an extremely delicious $5 chicken burrito with tomatillo salsa from a Mexican food catering truck. I can't remember the name of the business but I believe they have a restaurant on Northgate.

There was a lot of shade in the park, but boy was it hot.

I heard rumblings that the city would be pushing to have the Aftershock festival return next year, possibly in a two-day incarnation. That would be neat, and great for Sacramento. But can we please get some free water-refilling stations next year?

Photos by Steven Chea

Hyper Crush plays Ace of Spades

2012-05-01T00:53:02Z

Ace of Spades hosted the tour finale of the Glow Sticks for Breakfast Tour Sunday night, featuring performances by Hyper Crush, Benzi, Silver Medallion and Sacramento band Playboy School.

Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's DJ project with Spencer Peterson, Black Cards, was also scheduled to perform, but the duo had to pull out a few days before the show due to an ankle injury.

Playboy School kicked things off in the early slot with a lukewarm set as people trickled in. Benzi livened the mood up with an electronic/Top 40 set that had a few guys raging, and a while later Silver Medallion came out and grabbed the mic, adding some organic energy to the stage as he ran around, whipping his long hair around and getting the crowd fist-pumping.

Headliners Hyper Crush are an "electrohop" band from Los Angeles, working the ‘80s/’90s retro/synth/neon-clothing angle. They are rapper Donny Fontaine, vocalist Holly Valentine and keytarist Preston Moronie.

They are currently promoting their album “Night Wave,” released in February. They made the most of it on a slow Sunday night with songs like "Werk Me" and "Bad Boyz," which borrows the chorus from the gem "Bad Bad Boys" from ‘90s Swedish group Midi, Maxi & Efti.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Mat Kearney to play Colonial Theatre on April 10th

2012-04-01T22:24:01Z

Critically acclaimed Nashville-based singer/songwriter Mat Kearney has added West Coast dates to his current tour and will make a stop in Sacramento on April 10 at the Colonial Theatre in Oak Park.

Sounding at first like a solo effort from Coldplay's Chris Martin, Kearney's latest album "Young Love" is a punchy collection of playful, summer-ready tales of love, pain and redemption.

Kearney's current tour has included several sold-out shows at places including the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles, House of Blues in Boston and Ogden Theatre in Denver.

The second single from the album, "Ships in the Night," was recently performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and is the featured music in the promo for NBC's new series “Awake,” which aired during this year's Superbowl and premiered on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 the day of the show. The concert is all ages.

MUTEMATH at Ace of Spades

2012-02-10T02:22:23Z

"We've got quite a set here," announced MUTEMATH vocalist and keyboardist Paul Meany. "We've been around for eight years. That's a lot of songs to choose from!"

Quite a set it was.

Making an unconventional entrance from the back of the venue with instruments and Christmas lights in tow, the New Orleans electro-alt rock band went on to do a little face-melting for the packed house at Ace of Spades Wednesday night.

The Grammy-nominated four-piece put on a sonic and visual spectacle, covering a massive setlist over more than two hours and sampling a bit from all their studio albums and EPs, including all 13 songs from their latest release, 2011's "Odd Soul."

Aided by tons of frantic, colorful lights and visuals projected on a backdrop, Meany channeled Sting and Coldplay's Chris Martin as he banged on his upright pianos, while new guitarist Todd Gummerman and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas got nasty on their guitars. Drummer Darren King is one-man show, well known for his relentless energy (and ear protection taped to his head) and pounding skins so hard he broke a snare mid-song.

The band took the energy created on stage and brought into the crowd, too. During the second half of the show, Meany and King played their instruments in the middle of the audience on a small "stage," and Meany went for a ride on a black inflatable raft with lights that was passed from one end of the room to the other on a sea of outstretched hands.

The show's uplifting vibe even inspired one fan to jump on stage, do a backflip and dive back into the crowd as quickly as he had appeared.

Heard outside as I was walking back to my car: "That was the most amazing show I've ever been to!"

Photos: New Year's Eve with Mickey Avalon

2012-01-03T07:10:46Z

Hollywood rapper Mickey Avalon headlined a New Year's Eve show at Ace of Spades on Saturday.

Supporting Avalon on the bill were 2ME, Richard the Rockstar, and producer Big Chocolate.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Wallpaper. at Ace of Spades

2012-01-03T02:48:13Z

A couple hundred people wanting to get an early start on 2012 partying headed down to Ace of Spades on Friday, where Oakland musician and frequent Sacramento visitor, Wallpaper., headlined an eclectic bill.

Starting the show was Chaotic Fusion, a drummer and DJ duo. DJ Oasis spun radio hits – "Teach Me How To Dougie," "Ghosts 'n' Stuff," "Last Resort" – while Radio 94.7 on-air personality Casey Lewis drummed along to the beat.

Performing next was Oakland-by-way-of-Panama Latin rap duo Los Rakas. Rhyming in Spanish over dancehall and hip-hop beats, the up and coming young pair were well-received by the slowly growing crowd.

Headliner Wallpaper. took the stage next, with the men of the group dressed to the nines in cheap tuxedos.

Wallpaper. is the solo project of Eric Frederic, who performs as Wallpaper. vocalist Ricky Reed.

Frederic received a music degree with a focus in composition from the University of California, Berkeley and now creates poppy party songs with lowest common denominator lyrics.

"That's a grown ass woman with a grown ass," is one example from the song, "Butt2Butt” (feat. Too $hort).

Although his two LP’s are called "Doodoo Face" and "#STUPiDFACEDD," the songs are well-produced and have sharp hooks. MTV uses Wallpaper. songs on shows like Jersey Shore, and sometimes this type of music resonates with everyone (see: LMFAO).

Kicking things off with the song, "Shotgun," Reed worked to establish a connection with the Sac crowd early, referencing past visits to the city.

"We're gonna take you right back to Press Club, Town House, Luigi's!"

Flanked by two drummers, a standing percussionist in the back and a female vocalist/dance partner, Reed and Wallpaper stayed hyphy the whole set and made sure the crowd did too.

At one point Reed lamented the fact that it was the day before New Year's Eve, and had the crowd do a mock countdown before performing the catchy, "Okay."

Later it was a short cover of Prince's "1999," played with a ukulele, before another sing-along ditty, "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR."

After Wallpaper. came back on stage for the encore, Reed let the crowd know that the band has a tradition where they finish a bottle of Jameson before coming back on.

Stupid, but fun.

Not bad for New Year's Eve eve.

Photos by Steven Chea

Selena Gomez, Gym Class Heroes at Jingle Ball

2011-12-03T02:32:21Z

107.9 The End's Jingle Ball 2011 went down at Power Balance Pavilion on Thursday night.

The concert featured performances by JoJo, Breathe Carolina, Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes, and Selena Gomez.

Photos by Steven Chea

Dirt Nasty at Ace of Spades

2011-11-28T05:15:20Z

If you don't know Dirt Nasty (aka ex-MTV VJ Simon Rex), take a look at some of his song titles and you'll know what you're getting into: "Suck My D***," "Baby D***" and "F*** Me I'm Famous."

It was all about the lowest common denominator at Ace of Spades on Saturday, as Nasty rapped for a crowd that was about half full. In addition to genitalia and sex, he also covered themes like cocaine use ("1980") and bestiality ("Animal Lover").

But that’s his shtick, so you were either there for the juvenile party raps or maybe to catch a glimpse of the actor who was in “Scary Movie 4” and an episode of “MTV Cribs.”

"He's hot! I don't even know his music. I came for him!" said Melissa Renee, 19.

Nasty had a lot of interaction with the crowd; making reference to the different drinking sections at Ace of Spades, talking about how drunk he was ("If I throw up on stage don't judge me!") and praising the quality of the females in Sacramento: "There's something in the water. Sacramento's got the hottest women ever. Why y'all have to have the hottest women in the Bay?”

Leaving the stage after a short 30-minute set with his DJ, Killer Cam, Nasty came back for a quick two-song encore, bringing a bunch of guys and girls on stage to dance and finish with the appropriately titled song "My D***."

Opening for Dirt Nasty were DJ Fedi, Status Goes, Richard the Rockstar and Rock & Rhyme.

Photos by Steven Chea

Minus the Bear: Ten Year Anniversary Tour

2011-11-09T02:49:11Z

With the cover art pattern used on their seminal debut LP, "Highly Refined Pirates," as their backdrop, and a light show on acid, Seattle's Minus the Bear thrilled a packed house at Ace of Spades on Monday night.

The band is wrapping up their 10 Year Anniversary Tour, celebrating a decade of music and performing “Pirates,” released in 2002, in its entirety.

The popular math-rockers put on a tremendous performance for a very jazzed audience. Featuring guitarist Dave Knudson's signature complex finger-tapping guitar work - used on every song on “Pirates,” the band combined powerhouse indie band swagger with down-to-earth Northwestern charm.

Songs like "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse" and "Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister," which sound good and maybe even a little quirky when recorded, gained heft and intensity when played live. During "'Absinthe," a flashing light sequence kicked in when the verses turned into the more up-tempo choruses. This complemented the music perfectly, although for much of the show, three thin light panels backlighting the band were a bit much and a bit distracting.

"We've been playing our first album across the country," said Snider. "This is the third to last show of the tour. It's been a fucking awesome ten years and thank you Sacramento for being a part of it!"

Opening for Minus the Bear was Santa Rosa's, The Velvet Teen.

Photos by Steven Chea

Thrice tour stops at Ace of Spades

2011-11-08T06:40:20Z

It was a nearly sold-out show at Ace of Spades Sunday night. Thrice, hailing from Irvine, Calif., headlined an excellent post-hardcore bill.

Opening for a healthy-sized audience was the band, Moving Mountains, an intriguing group of musicians who captured the room's attention immediately. With a complex and multi-layered sound, their atmospheric rock songs set a great tone for the rest of the night.
Atlanta-based O'Brother was musically in the same vein; a melodic three-guitar sonic assault marrying the atmospheric with the distorted. A solid showing, but when they went ambient, they went ambient. At times they seemed to meander as some songs drifted slowly past the five minute mark.

Main support was La Dispute, a very impressive five-piece band from Grand Rapids, Mich.

"It's been about a year since we've been out to the West Coast, and that's an absolute crime, because I don't know if there's a place where we have a better time," said appreciative vocalist Jordan Dreyer.

Fist around microphone and microphone cable wrapped around fist, the barefoot and constantly moving Dreyer shouted his spoken-word style lyrics with raw intensity, complemented perfectly with delicately explosive rhythm and powerful, technical guitar work.
A comparison to defunct frenetic El Paso, Tex. band, At The Drive-In, is easy to make because of Dreyer's voice, delivery and the chaotic harmony of the music. On the other hand, the easier-to-swallow guitar melodies and Dreyer's realistic, confessional lyrics are a couple of areas that set this band apart.

"It’s only temporary, that fleeting feeling of warmth. Just a flash before the line gets blurry. Between a longing for more than what the body wants now and what the body wants now more than anything."
Thrice has been around for thirteen years and has a serious and passionate following. To a new fan, the anticipation was thick in the air and when the band took the stage the release from the crowd was palpable.

Opening strong with lead track, "Yellow Belly," from their new album “Major/Minor,” their set was heavy on critically well-received new material, including "Promises," "Call It In The Air" and "Treading Paper." They also played a number of tracks from 2009's “Beggars;” among them, "All The World Is Mad," "The Weight," "In Exile" and "Circles;" taking the audience on a journey through the different styles and nuances the band has experienced lyrically and musically up to this point in their career.

It was clear the older material was held in high regard; the frenzied crowd and their pumping fists were jolted with energy when the band played tracks from 2003's “The Artist in the Ambulance.”

Fans come and go as bands experiment and mature, and after hearing the music and speaking with some fans, Thrice is doing a good job of continuing to delight as they evolve musically.

"The music, the beats, everything," said Sara Molina, 25, of Dixon. "Everything meshes together; their music is amazing!"

The guys in Thrice are also humanitarians, and took a moment to raise awareness about Invisible Children, a group they support and one that is currently on tour with them.

Invisible Children is a movement seeking to end the conflict in Uganda and stop the abduction of children for use as child soldiers. The band specifically asked for support in building radio towers in the Congo for communication directly with the child soldiers in an effort to bring them home. Kudos to Thrice for using their platform to inspire change and educate others about a worthy cause.

Photos by Steven Chea

Photos: Foo Fighters at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-11-03T01:24:42Z

After an original Oct. 20 show date that had to be rescheduled, alt-rock powerhouse Foo Fighters performed at Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday night for about 10,000 fans.

Opening the show was fantastic L.A. punk band The Bronx, playing as their alter-ego Mariachi El Bronx, which is less a gimmick than you might think.

What started as a lark for the punk band has grown into a love that has seen the band release two mariachi albums and gain a following, and, yes, they stay true to the authentic mariachi style of music as well as wear black charro suits.

The band performs in a variety of ways, sometimes incorporating mariachi into their punk set, sometimes performing as a punk band and mariachi band on consecutive nights, and sometimes having one band open up for the other.

Following Mariachi El Bronx was Cage the Elephant from Bowling Green, Ky. The band found success with their 2009 single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" and have been touring constantly since then. Vocalist Matthew Schultz is known for stage diving at Cage performances, and this night was no exception.

"Promise me one thing," Schultz told the crowd from the stage. "If I jump into the crowd and get knocked unconscious, I want you to promise to keep passing my body around and having a good time!"

And then it was time for the rock.

With seven studio albums and tons of singles to their credit, the Foo Fighters had plenty of popular material to draw from.

Excited fans in the house received a high-energy 23-song rock 'n' roll set that lasted over two hours and was worth the wait.

Photos by Steven Chea.

Panic! at the Disco performs at Ace of Spades

2011-10-12T00:54:16Z

Although the band lost its original guitar and bass player in 2009, it doesn't appear that Las Vegas' Panic! at the Disco has lost any fans.

Performing for a sold out crowd at Ace of Spades Monday night, handsome lead singer Brendon Urie and company had fans in a tizzy from the get-go as a steady stream of clothing landed on stage after the first song.

"Wow. Thank you!" said a surprised Urie.

Panic!'s set focused mainly on their debut album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" and 2011's, "Vices & Virtues."

They played only two songs from 2008's well-received album, "Pretty. Odd." They included "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)" and "Nine in the Afternoon."

The Panic! pop was a bit of nostalgia for some.

"The twelve year old in me is so excited to see Panic!" said college student Amy Lane, 19.

Providing main support was Patrick Stump from on hiatus-Fall Out Boy and his ambitious new self-titled solo project.

Almost unrecognizable from his Fall Out Boy days, Stump strutted out in a neat powder blue suit and bow tie, a cropped blond haircut and black, fingerless gloves.

At times channeling both Prince and David Bowie, Stump tore through an R&B-flavored set that included a cover of Phil Collins' “In the Air Tonight.”

If you're a fan of Fall Out Boy, the new material feels like a departure and at the same time seems completely expected and natural for Stump's next direction. His solo debut "Soul Punk" drops next Tuesday the 18th.

Opening the show and setting the bar for the rest of the night were the crazy characters of Cincinnati rock band Foxy Shazam.

The band sounds good on record, better live, and their fun show is a kick. Highlights included pianist Sky White standing up on his keyboard and playing by stomping his feet, drummer Aaron McVeigh spitting into the open mouth of vocalist Eric Sean Nally (he asked him to), and Nally later lighting and puffing on a nearly full pack of cigarettes before shoving them all into his mouth and eating them.

Stage antics aside, they play good music.

"It's kind of close to pop cabaret," said Sacramento rock music aficionado and photographer Kevin Graft, 44.

Photos by Steven Chea

The Joy Formidable at Harlow's

2011-09-08T01:50:01Z

If you're looking for an example of a band in the middle of making it big, look no further than The Joy Formidable.

Formed in North Wales, the now London-based power trio has been riding a monster wave of success this year, touring and playing major U.K. and U.S. festivals – Reading, Coachella, Lollapalooza – and garnering praise from critics and their musical peers alike.

They made such an impression on Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters earlier this year that he took to Twitter to sing their praises: "I would like to personally thank The Joy Formidable for writing the song of the year "Whirring". xxx Dave". The band will open several dates with Foo Fighters in November.

The band has a massive, noisy sound: chunky guitar riffs, overdriven bass, and pounding drums, all laced with the sweet vocals of firecracker front woman Ritzy Bryan. A chance to catch them up close and personal should not be passed.

The Joy Formidable will perform at Harlow's this Saturday at 10 p.m. Tim Reynolds, the ridiculously talented guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band, plays an earlier show the same day at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are a steal at $13.50.

Uh Huh Her sweats it out at Harlow's

2011-07-26T23:40:50Z

In a rare all ages show at Harlow's last night, L.A.'s Uh Huh Her performed for a packed room of excited fans ready to make the most of a typically low-key Monday night.

Taking their name from the 2004 PJ Harvey album of the same title, Uh Huh Her is a sultry electro-pop duo made up of ex-Mellodrone bassist and keyboardist Camila Grey (who has collaborated with Busta Rhymes, Kelly Osbourne and Dr. Dre) and musician and actress, Leisha Hailey, formerly of The Murmurs and most well known from her role as bisexual journalist, Alice Pieszecki, on Showtime's, “The L Word.”

While Hailey's resume could suggest the band is an actor's passing fancy, the pair are seasoned performers and multi-instrumentalists to boot, even swapping their bass and guitar at one point.

The flirty stage banter was effortless as they forged a connection with the enrapt, overwhelmingly female crowd.

"We just came from Vegas," said Hailey with a smile, explaining a brief technical difficulty with her synth, "so you can imagine what my keyboard has been through!"

The music Uh Huh Her has put out so far – their 2010 debut, “Common Reaction,” and 2011's, “Black and Blue” EP – could be described as synth-driven pop with electronic rhythm, made all the more dreamy with Grey's and Hailey's melodic vocals.

Seeing the songs performed Monday with a second guitar and live drums gave them a rawness, turning the performance into more of a rock ‘n' roll show than you might have expected from listening to their recorded material.

The only issue seemed to be that the precision of the keys and vocals were overpowered by the accompanying muscle, not that it mattered to the dancing and now sweaty crowd. If anything, the organic live show enhanced the experience of seeing the twosome play, and they weren't the only ones generating body heat.

"I'm sweating balls up here. Balls, I tell you," said a soaked Grey, wiping the top of her chest with a towel to deafening squeals of delight from the crowd. "I don't know what that means, but it's happening."

Songs from their yet-to-be-released second LP, “Nocturnes,” were also being honed on the road. Originally planned for a 2011 summer release, Hailey said she thinks the new album will be out in October.

After a quick show and encore that lasted a little over an hour, the ladies of UHH sent their fans home exhausted and happy, as they stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures for a long line of fans that snaked along the inside of the club.

"They're hot," said new fan Lisa Burns, who found out about the show – and band – through meetup.com. "I've never heard of them but I'm very impressed!"

Photos by Steven Chea

Uh Huh Her to perform at Harlow's

2011-07-25T01:59:20Z

Taking their name from the 2004 PJ Harvey album of the same title, L.A.-based Uh Huh Her is a sultry electro-pop duo made up of ex-Mellodrone bassist and keyboardist Camila Grey (who has collaborated with Busta Rhymes, Kelly Osbourne and Dr. Dre) and musician and actress Leisha Hailey, formerly of the Murmurs (and who you might recognize from her role as bisexual journalist Alice Pieszecki on Showtime's “The L Word”).

The pair creates lush, layered synth-driven pop, complemented by soothing, ethereal vocals and driven by up-tempo electronic beats.

The band most recently released their dark and moody "Black and Blue" EP in May and is currently preparing to release their second album, "Nocturnes."

Uh Huh Her will perform at Harlow’s on Monday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Ace of Spades gets "Jane Fonda" lesson

2011-06-20T04:33:02Z

Hollywood sleaze-rapper Mickey Avalon performed for a huge crowd of die-hard fans at Ace of Spades Friday night, whipping the young crowd into a lustful frenzy with his provocative sing-along raps.

Folsom rap duo Ill Effect kicked the show off with some tight rhymes and beats, sounding the best as they flowed over B.o.B's well-known hit "Airplanes," featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore.

After a 30-minute delay that had everyone wondering what exactly was going on, rapper Ty$ (Ty Dolla Sign) took the stage. Unfortunately there was nothing spectacular in his short set that made up for the long wait. Highlights included some call-and-response about which side of the crowd was louder and boasting about how one of his songs was "everywhere" (it's not).

Next up was L.A. hip-hop/pop group The Divine, who put forward the effort but didn't quite hit the mark for the Sac crowd, getting booed and inciting chants of "Mickey! Mickey!" in between songs.

"His voice was too high,” Folsom resident Andrea Wilson said of vocalist Shane Gelinas. “It sounded like Backstreet Boys behind a beat.”

With a seedy backstory straight off an “E! True Hollywood Story” episode – former male prostitute, ex-junkie and teen pot dealer – Avalon has a lot of interesting experiences to draw from for his rhymes.

He ran through several of his super catchy party raps: "So Rich, So Pretty," "Jane Fonda,” "Mr. Right" and "My Dick," accompanied on stage by his scantily clad dancer, Jillian, who turned out to be extremely flexible.

In addition to his filthy sex appeal, Avalon's strong points are his unique flow, hooky beats and sing-along lyrics: "One, two, three, four/ Get your booty on the dance floor/ Work it out, shake it, little mama/ Let me see you do the Jane Fonda."

Drugs, booze, sex – it's all there. Shirtless and sometimes chugging a bottle of wine, Avalon oozed sexuality as he slinked his way across the stage, using his salacious glances and pelvic gyrations to start a bra collection on stage.

"I like his raw style,” said Frank Cornwall, who traveled to the show from Grass Valley with some family and friends. “He's one of those guys who sings what he wants to sing and doesn't care who he pisses off. He's like a combination of Eminem and Snoop Dogg: smooth and rude."

And for all his bawdy raps, Avalon is actually a soft-spoken, friendly guy and loves his fans. After the show, he stayed until every last person could get a picture taken with him or get their breasts signed.

It's no wonder why they love him back.

Photos by Steven Chea

Party at Harlow's with Foster the People

2011-06-04T06:24:23Z

You know that song with the can't-get-it-out-of-your-head whistling called "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John that people seem to either love or hate?

Los Angeles band Foster the People has a comparable track called "Pumped Up Kicks" – a sing-along with a cheery melody and dark lyrics about youth gun violence – that has the same effect.

Polarizing song? For sure.

One-hit wonder band? It doesn't look like it.

Without seeming like they had anything to prove, the young group with more buzz than a beehive let its music speak for itself for a sold-out crowd at Harlow's Thursday night.

Support act The Chain Gang of 1974 (aka Kamtin Mohager) from Denver came ready to warm up the crowd with solid post-punk and new wave stylings. Imagine The Bravery writing an album after watching a 24-hour John Hughes marathon.

The Chain Gang had played Sacramento before, and things were a little different this time around.

"The last time we played here was at a pizza place in front of two people," Mohager told the packed house, referencing a November 2010 show at Luigi's Slice Fungarden.

Foster the People is vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mark Foster, bassist and backing vocalist Cubbie Fink and drummer Mark Pontius. Originally called Foster & the People, the new name stuck after the original was misheard enough times and the band warmed to the image it invoked of "taking care" of the people.

The synth-enhanced dance-rock music and Foster's falsetto draw comparisons to Passion Pit and MGMT, but they still find a way to project an identity and make their broad pop sound unique. It took about an hour for the band to run through all 11 songs on their recently released debut album, “Torches”.

Although you would have no problem throwing on “Torches” as the soundtrack to your summer pool party, the songs come alive and breathe when performed live. A track like "Broken Jaw" really shines when performed live, allowing Foster to demonstrate his vocal range and making at least one person in the crowd turn to his friend with his own jaw dropped in amazement as soon as it was over.

The band members had fun as they rotated on instruments throughout the show, taking turns on the various synths and energetically banging on the stand-up bass drum. Can't go wrong with a tastefully used Apache war drum.

Throw in some yellow maracas and a drunk blonde in a black dress from the audience dancing on stage, and you have yourself a very satisfying, high-energy soiree.

With sold-out shows as they tour through October, upcoming performances at huge music festivals (Lollapalooza, ACL Music Festival) and iTunes love ("Helena Beat" was the Free Single last week), expect Foster the People to keep the party going for a while.

Photos by Steven Chea

Photos: Pepper performs at Ace of Spades

2011-05-19T04:44:02Z

Hawaii/SoCal-based bands Iration and Pepper made a stop in Sacramento on May 12, 2011, with each group performing their fusion of reggae, dub and rock for a very receptive audience at music venue Ace of Spades.

The well-attended show was another in a streak of many at AOS, which is quickly becoming the go-to venue for mid-sized artists. Take a look at their site for some upcoming shows, which include performances by Fitz and The Tantrums, Deftones, and Mickey Avalon.

Here are some shots from the Pepper show:

The Soundtrack of Our Lives to perform at Harlow’s

2011-03-24T01:45:29Z

ABBA they are not.

Stop by Harlow’s this Friday to see Swedish psych-rockers The Soundtrack of Our Lives as they make a quick run up the West Coast before heading back to tour Europe.

Influenced by ’70s psychedelia, prog and classic rock, the six-piece from the land of IKEA and Absolut found critical success in the United States with their 2002 release “Behind the Music,” which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

At the time of its release Noel Gallagher of Oasis proclaimed “Behind the Music” to be “the best album to come out in the last six years.”

TSOOL followed up that success with 2004’s “Origin Vol. 1,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Swedish charts, and 2009’s “Communion,” a double album that some say is their strongest effort to date.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives perform at Harlow’s this Friday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 plus a $2 surcharge. 21+.

'Welcome to Hell' tour at Ace of Spades

2011-03-14T07:03:32Z

Music venue Ace of Spades hosted another sold-out show on Friday, the "Welcome to Hell Tour" featuring performances by metal/hardcore bands Whitechapel, Chelsea Grin, I Declare War, The Acacia Strain and Veil of Maya.

I Declare War and Chelsea Grin started things off with lots of growling, screaming and calls for the crowd to get violent.

The circle pits were large and constant the entire night, with sweaty, aggressive men running around in the open space formed in the middle of the crowd, using their flailing body parts to punch and kick whatever happened to be in front of them as hard as they could.

It's the norm at these types of shows, but if you're there to enjoy the music it's annoying having to worry about being punched in the back of the head or side-kicked in the back.

Veil of Maya was third on the bill and continued the heavy guitar assault. There were more melodic flourishes in the guitar playing than in the first two bands, which was nice (although the guitarists from the first two bands were very talented). In this genre of music a sound that sets you apart is a breath of fresh air.

The band really got things going when vocalist Brandon Butler announced, "Our bass player says the first person to get on stage gets a free T-shirt!"

Almost immediately people started lunging over the crowd barricade in an attempt to get on stage, putting the security personnel to work defending the stage.

Eventually a young man made it up and put one of the guitars momentarily out of commission by stepping on and disconnecting a guitar pedal.

"Don't step on the pedals and it's all good!" Butler said.

It happened again a few minutes later, stopping the show while techs came on stage to get things back to working order. A quick test of "Für Elise" by guitarist Marc Okubo, and Veil was back in business.

Taking the stage next was the heaviest band of the night, Massachusetts-based The Acacia Strain. The lights came up for the first song just as vocalist Vincent Bennett spit bursts of water into the air -- a great bit of theatrics.

The Acacia Strain band members had an impressive presence, stalking the stage liked caged animals and glaring at the audience.

The captivating performance progressed and the circle pits continued to be filled with a mindless fervor as those in the audience found a way to release their aggression.

Headliners Whitechapel closed out the show, and while their show was impressive and the crowd loved it, The Acacia Strain set the bar very high with their previous performance.

"Bang your head and do something illegal!" Acacia Strain vocalist Bennett commanded earlier. "I want you to remember this show for the rest...of...your...fucking life!"

Escape the Fate tops Dead Masquerade bill at Ace of Spades

2011-03-08T02:03:07Z

"Escape the Fate! Escape the Fate!"

With appetites violently whetted by the three-guitar screamo attack of the final opening band Alesana, the loud chanting of hundreds of eager fans filled Ace of Spades Sunday night, beckoning Escape the Fate, the headliners of the Dead Masquerade tour.

The sensory onslaught began with appropriately named opener "Massacre," as the Vegas post-hardcore band pounced on the young crowd like a rabid pack of hyenas on defenseless baby gazelles.

The response to ETF's latest Facebook wall posting before the show ("Sacramento Ace of Spades tonight it's on! You guys ready?" – 1,429 Likes and 539 comments at the time of this writing) indicated a large and dedicated fan base, and it was reflected in the enthusiastic packed house.

The young audience was kept rapt throughout the show, obeying readily when vocalist Craig Mabbitt split the crowd like the Red Sea and instructed the opposite sides to run toward each other at the beginning of the next song and collide in what's known in as a "Wall of Death."

When they weren't running into each other, those in the crowd were enthusiastically shouting out lyrics and crowd-surfing, clearly enjoying the ride.

Escape the Fate members are good at what they do – putting on an energetic show with music that combines melody and pop sensibilities with their hardcore/metal foundation, with a little screamo mixed in to round things out. (They worked on their latest LP with Linkin Park producer Don Gilmore, to give you an idea).

The setlist drew almost exclusively on ETF's last two albums, 2008's "This War Is Ours" ("Something," "The Flood" and "10 Miles Wide) and 2010's eponymous release ("Issues," "Zombie Dance," "Gorgeous Nightmare" and "Day of Wreckoning"), with "Situations" being the lone song played from 2006's debut album "Dying Is Your Latest Fashion."

Guitarist TJ Bell from supporting act Motionless In White did double duty on the bass for ETF, filling in for regular bassist Max Green, who is at home recovering (he entered rehab for drug and alcohol addiction late last year), Mabbitt said.

Mabbitt made it a point to connect to the audience not only on a visceral level as a hyperactive frontman, but on a personal one as well, at one point encouraging those in the crowd to ignore the naysayers and follow their dreams – "How many people in here are artists? You write, you sing, you draw? You work at Subway, you're a sandwich artist?" – before leading everyone in a middle finger salute directed at those who might have issues with artistic expression, in the food industry or otherwise.

And later: "We want to dedicate this next one to the brave men and women who serve this country," declared Mabbitt, before launching into the first song of the encore, "This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)." "And also to the greatest video game in the world in my opinion, and that's Halo!"

Escape the Fate top Dead Masquerade bill at Ace

2011-03-03T06:19:08Z

DGC/Interscope band Escape the Fate will headline the Dead Masquerade tour at Ace of Spades this weekend, joined by support acts Alesana, Motionless In White, Get Scared and Drive A.

Las Vegas-based hard-rockers Escape the Fate are touring in support of their self-titled third album and recently released “Issues Remix” EP, featuring remixes of their first single "Issues" done by Jakwob (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lily Allen), LA Riots (Tiesto, The Ting Tings), Wolves At The Gate (The Cure) and Does It Offend You, Yeah? (Muse, The Raconteurs, Bloc Party).

The band currently graces the cover of Outburn magazine, which declares, “the band’s new album is a compelling modern day masterpiece.”

Bassist Max Green will be returning to the band after entering rehab for drug and alcohol addiction last November.

See all the bands on the Dead Masquerade tour perform this Sunday at Ace of Spades. General admission tickets are $21.95, all fees included. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. The show is all ages.

Welcome back, Papa Roach

2011-02-28T06:01:35Z

Vacaville natives Papa Roach certainly know how to make an entrance.

Friday night at Ace of Spades opening bands Track Fighter and Will Haven had just finished their sets. As Queens of the Stone Age's "No One Knows" played on the PA during the set change before Papa Roach came out, something on stage (a light?) blew with a loud pop, giving off small plumes of smoke and triggering the fire alarm. Cue the firefighters walking through the sold-out crowd a few minutes later, but there was no indication that it was anything more than a precaution.

Thankfully it turned out to be a non-issue. The show went on as planned, and guy-linered frontman Jacoby Shaddix and company came out to much love from the international crowd (Shaddix said he recognized people from New York, London and Texas) and kicked things off with "Kick in the Teeth" from their latest album, "Time for Annihilation: On the Record & On the Road."

Years of touring and performing have not slowed down Shaddix. Whether he was revitalized by Sacramento or not, he made his presence felt — fingers pointing, wild eyes, jumping on speakers — as the band tore through energetic versions of "Lifeline," "Blood Brothers" and "Burn."

"Is Sacramento in this motherfucker?" he shouted, egging on the crowd. "Is Vacaville in this motherfucker?”

They were, and they were loving it.

Up next was radio-friendly "Hollywood Whore," and then banger "Broken Home," with its nasty, catchy guitar riffs. Shaddix's voice sounded a little hoarse, but the guys were still setting them up and knocking them down.

"It's great to be here in Sac! NorCal!" Shaddix said. "I've been tripping around the world for the last 10 years, and it's been a long time — a few years — since we've played a club show in Sac. I want to say thanks to Bret Bair and Eric Rushing for buying this venue so there's a proper place to see rock ‘n’ roll here. It's up to you to keep this place open by coming to see shows here!"

The alt-rock onslaught continued with "The Enemy," "Scars," "Getting Away with Murder," "Forever" and "Between Angels and Insects," a well-rounded set with radio singles balanced evenly with those cuts lesser known to the casual fan (who were probably few and far between at this show).

It's always interesting to see a successful band play a homecoming show. There was definitely a heavy sense of electric connection between band and audience in the air, and based on conversation I overheard, the VIP section was filled with family and friends. (I understand Shaddix lives in El Dorado Hills with his family, and guitarist Jerry Horton and family live in the Sacramento area as well.)

The cash-cow of the Papa Roach catalog, "Last Resort," was saved for the last song of the encore, ending a fun night and bringing it all back full circle, as Shaddix announced:

"We're gonna take it back to the fucker that started it all!"

Papa Roach: Two-night stand at Ace of Spades this weekend

2011-02-25T01:01:56Z

No discussion on alternative rock circa 2000 would be complete without mention of Papa Roach and their radio-ready hit single “Last Resort,” especially if you were in high school or college during that time.

The Vacaville band (also known for singles “Scars,” “Forever” and “Lifeline”) broke out of Sacramento and went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide. They return this weekend for a two-night stand at the recently opened venue Ace of Spades, touring behind their seventh album, "Time for Annihilation."

More alternative rock than nu-metal now, the band can probably still be counted on to deliver a high-energy rock show filled with heavy guitars, sharp hooks and “guy liner.”

Papa Roach performs at Ace of Spades this Friday (with special guests Will Haven and Track Fighter) and Saturday (with special guests Middle Class Rut and Lonely Kings). General admission tickets are $29.95, all fees included. 7 p.m. doors and 7:30 p.m. start. All ages.

Note: Saturday's show appears to be sold out, but tickets are available for Friday.

Growls, screams at Soundcheck showcase at Ace of Spades

2011-02-21T05:31:52Z

Ace of Spades hosted its second event Saturday night, an "all locals" show called "SacShows Presents: Soundcheck", featuring performances by Oneira, Above The City, Carcerys Vale, Batten Down Your Heart, City of Kings, The Winter Formal and Ten After Two.

The theme for the night seemed to be "screamo," and it was delivered in spades (pun intended) with the exception of maybe The Winter Formal, which leans more toward sung vocals.

The tattooed and skintight jeans-wearing band members whipped their hair through quick 20- to 30-minute sets, cheered on by pierced and gauged teenage boys and girls, while overly aggressive males swung their fists around and ran into each other hard in the circle pit. Heavy, metal guitar riffs and machine-gun kick drums were the standard on stage, and by all accounts it was mission accomplished for Soundcheck.

The new venue Ace of Spades looks like a winner. It's a large, open space that fits nicely between Harlow's and Memorial Auditorium, size-wise. There are lots of places to sit, and the audio sounds good. The venue boasts an busy upcoming slate of Boardwalk-type medium-sized acts, including As I Lay Dying, Travie McCoy, and (hed) p.e.

A pending liquor license prevented alcohol sales Saturday night, but it didn't seem to be a large issue due to the largely underage crowd (and band members). A bartender said they expect to have a license "hopefully next week."

Monsters of Bass tour brings bass, dub to Town House Lounge

2011-02-20T00:58:06Z

It's dirty, it's grimy, it's nasty.

The two musical genres of bass and dubstep continue to spread through the underground and infiltrate the mainstream. See some of dub and bass music's finest purveyors -- FreQ Nasty, MartyParty and Opiuo -- this Tuesday when the Monsters of Bass North American tour makes a stop at Town House Lounge.

Here's some background on the performers from the Monsters of Bass press release:

A major player in London’s mid-nineties dance music revolution, the enigmatic FreQ Nasty is one of the most influential names on the bass music scene. From his earliest work on seminal UK labels Botchit & Scarper and SKINT, FreQ Nasty has since gone on to release a slew of cutting-edge records while collaborating and remixing a diverse range of artists including Fatboy Slim, Kelis, KRS One, Roots Manuva, Rodney P, and Reggae legend Junior Delgado. Recent years have seen the release of “Creator,” his crossover hit collaboration with MIA producer Switch and Santogold, and the ground breaking, genre-defying FABRICLIVE 42 mix CD which was picked as DJ Magazine’s compilation of the month. He is a regular at the Burning Man festival, where he brings his signature Bass-heavy mix of genres: from Breakbeat to DubStep, GlitchHop to DrumStep. The new FreQ Nasty EP, Dred At The Controls, will be released internationally through California’s Muti Records in January; The A Side is a fusion of lush Detroit strings, skittery 2-step beats, wobble bass with a stupendous glitched-out dub-step breakdown, while the AA Side is a drum-step roller fusing the hyper speed of drum and bass and the half-time swagger of dance-hall.

Born and raised in South Africa, MartyParty (also one half of PANTyRAID) has been coined the Iggy Pop of electronic music both for his energetic live spectacle coined the “Purple Opera” and his own “Purple Music” concept – a hybrid of electronic music, dubstep and hip hop that together forms a totally new flavor of urban beat with the pretty, hypnotic elements of electronic music and the story telling of traditional song writing. MartyParty is releasing several EP’s in late 2010, namely, “Blueberry Kush” (Out Feb. 15), “Skukuza,” “Sour Diesel” and a full length Purple album to support the Monster’s of Bass Tour on April 1.

Imagine a precisely blended concoction of tight irresistible grooves, chunk fueled bouncy beats, luscious brooding soundscapes, dollops of stomach morphing bass, and a bowl of scrumptious glitch. Welcome to the musical world of Opiuo. The highly sought after Opiuo sound is being included in DJ sets from some of the biggest names in the business and features on high profile radio stations including BBC Radio One. His latest full length release “Slurp And Giggle” was nominated for Best Dance / Electronic Release at the Australian Independent Music Awards and reached number 10 on iTunes.

FreQ Nasty, MartyParty and Opiuo perform at Town House Lounge on Tuesday, Feb 22nd. Tickets are $20. 21+. Doors at 9 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m.

Interview with Above The City guitarist Simon Pesely

2011-02-19T01:49:16Z

On the heels of an inaugural show last week featuring Rob Zombie, the first "all locals" show at new music venue Ace of Spades goes down Saturday. SacShows Presents: Soundcheck will feature performances by local bands Ten After Two, Carcerys Vale, Batten Down Your Heart, Above The City, The Winter Formal, City of Kings, and Oneira.

Above The City is a relatively young, currently unsigned band made up of members Davey Sparks (vocals), Simon Pesely (guitar), Taylor Whitehurst (guitar), Zack Lee (drums) and Toby Hart (bass).

The Sacramento Press recently spoke with Pesely, 21, about being in an up-and-coming band in Sacramento.

How did Above The City get started?

We started about nine months ago. I believe it was March of 2010. Taylor and I initially got together and started jamming, and then Davey came into the picture, and and we played with Zach, and then we had another guy on the bass. Things got more serious, so we brought our friend Toby in, and he's been with us virtually from the start as well.

Where does the name Above The City come from?

The name was Taylor's idea. It doesn't have any real particular meaning aside from the fact that it was just a name we really dug, and it was rare and unique and we liked it for that fact, and it just caught on. And it's a simple nickname, and the abbreviation is ATC.

ATC flows well.

Yeah, exactly. It's easy to remember.

How long have you been playing guitar?

I've been playing guitar for about two years now. I initially started out playing the drums and then switched over, and Taylor and I got together and started playing and it just really worked out.

What kind of gear do you use?

Peavey 5150 heads, Schecter guitars, a few different Boss effect pedals. For the most part it's pretty straightforward.

I'm pretty new to the "screamo" genre. How would you describe ATC's sound for someone who wasn't familiar with it?

It's an alternative, poppy sound with the higher vocals and more in-depth melodies, and really heavy, crunching breakdowns. Hardcore, screamo, a little bit of everything in there.

What sets apart a good screamo song from the rest?

I think it's really just being unique and being able to combine all styles — a lot of smooth transitions and just showing your talent and that you can all work as one. Being prolific, you know?

What do you think about the current music scene in Sacramento?

I'd say the scene right now is really strong. There's a good driving force of young teens to mid-20s and older. Everyone's being really supportive. There's so much family for all the bands out there. The scene is this connected web of musical allegiance, I guess is a good way of putting it.

It's great to see the Sac music scene coming about. Eric Rushing is a guy who's doing a great thing by opening this venue, and everyone is working really hard to make the Sacramento music scene better. I couldn't even say it lacks really. There's a lot of great shows coming through here. Ace of Spades is going to open up huge doors.

I'm looking forward to checking out Ace of Spades. It looks like it's going to be pretty cool.

It's definitely going to be, I think, one of the biggest assets to Sacramento's music scene in the history of the music scene, hands down. Large capacity, better sound, better quality, everything.

What local bands are you into?

Ten After Two. They're great guys. They're really young and they got a lot of talent, a lot of good stuff going for them. Carcerys Vale is another really good one. They're great friends of ours, good musicians. They're coming up really big in the world.

What's your favorite venue to perform at?

It's always fun to play at the Boardwalk. There are always a lot of great shows out there. Now, everyone is really, truly looking forward to Ace of Spades. This one coming up is the big shebang for us. We're all really excited and really proud to be playing it.

What can people expect when they go to see ATC perform?

We're really into the music. We have a great light show. A guy named Aaron Muir does lights for us, and he does a really good job at it. We're really solid playing live, and energetic. We're out here doing what we love: trying to spread the word and be as unique as possible, bring the fans out and play good music.

Any plans for a tour in the near future?

We're hoping to by the middle of this year. We're planning on going out and hitting a few dates in Southern California and hopefully a lot more than that. In the next month or so we should have a lot more things set in stone.

What's your ultimate goal as you continue to pursue music?

Our ultimate goal is to hopefully get signed to a record label, and to get out there and tour and spread the word, enjoy the scene and meet new people, and to travel and see the world.

What's next for ATC?

We actually just went and recorded some stuff, and we have some really good news we'll be dropping here in the next month or so. We're really excited we're with Outerloop Management. They're doing a lot of good stuff for us. As of right now, we're just marketing and trying to get ourselves out there more and more. We just released a brand new studio update, our first one ever today, actually — our very first video blog.

As a fairly young band, you guys have made a lot of progress.

Yeah, we work really hard. We dedicated our lives to it. We spend every day practicing, nonstop. Davey lives in Yuba City and Taylor lives in Stockton, so we have long commutes. We put in a lot of miles to come and play every day and make sure we're solid.

This takes 100 percent dedication.You're going to have your ups and downs regardless, and it's about being able to prosper through that, and keep the right mindset and stay on the right track.

Support local live music and see Above The City perform Saturday at Ace of Spades. General admission tickets are $13.95 and include service fees. All ages. 5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show.

Sugar & Gold with Yip Deceiver at Blue Lamp

2011-02-14T02:48:52Z

There was a surprisingly small turnout for Sugar & Gold and Yip Deceiver, two quality indie acts, at Blue Lamp Saturday night. Maybe the numerous free options of Second Saturday kept folks away, but, despite the numbers, both groups turned out solid performances.

Yip Deceiver — featuring Of Montreal members Davey Pierce and Nicolas Dobbratz — took the stage late and kicked things off with their take on experimental electro pop, performing songs including "Sadie Hawkins Day" and "For All the Haters."

Pierce bantered with the crowd constantly — "People who know me, who truly know me, know I like two things: karaoke and meth. We're going to do some karaoke, because that's fun for us." — and engaged by coming down off stage to sing and dance.

Sugar & Gold continued the disco-funk assault, again with Dobbratz on keys and Pierce (this time on drums) who were joined by Philipp Minnig on vocals and guitar. Minnig shone in his sparkly houndstooth jacket, white Ray-Ban frames and Wham!-era George Michael dance stylings. The group's ‘80s synth riffs, sleazy beats and R&B crooning had pretty much every single person on the floor dancing and having a great time.

"Let's work off those beers," Minnig said. "C'mon, it's sexy time!"

It was a great workout, and a shame more people didn't come sweat it out.

Alt-country rockers Murder by Death to perform at Harlow's Sunday

2011-02-12T00:00:39Z

No, Murder by Death is not a screamo or metalcore band.

But the band does explore some dark themes, like revenge, the devil and drinking away your troubles with whiskey. Taking their name from the 1976 Robert Moore/Neil Simon film of the same name, the four-piece rock band from Bloomington, Ind., takes their listeners on a ride through a "country gothic" soundscape, led by the powerful Johnny Cash-meets-Nick Cave baritone of frontman Adam Turla.

Armed with galloping punk-country, somber themes and interesting concepts — their 2003 "Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?" is an album about the devil being shot in a small, Western town and the aftermath that follows — this show has the potential to be an honest-to-goodness barn burner.

To get a taste of MBD, check out their song "Comin' Home," which you may have seen on the FX show “Sons of Anarchy” or a trailer for the Quentin Tarantino film “Inglorious Basterds”.

Murder by Death performs at Harlow's at 8 p.m. on Sunday, with support from The Builders & The Butchers and Damion Suomi & The Minor Prophets. Tickets are $12.

Preview: Dance party with Sugar & Gold and Yip Deceiver at Blue Lamp

2011-02-11T04:19:00Z

Attention hipsters and indie dance music fans! Head on over to Blue Lamp this Saturday to catch indie dance duo Sugar & Gold with special guest Yip Deceiver.

Shaking off comparisons to MGMT and Hot Chip, the San Francisco-based S&G weave together elements of funky disco, melodic electro and smooth R&B to create dance-heavy pop grooves with their unique signature.

Rated "Best Local Dance Band" in 2007 by SF Magazine and "Best Party Band 2008" by SF Weekly, S&G are known for their energetic, outrageous live shows that will have you sweating in your skinny jeans.

Davey Pierce (Of Montreal) side-project Yip Deceiver opens.

Sugar & Gold and Yip Deceiver perform at Blue Lamp this Saturday at 9p.m. Tickets are $10 and the show is 21+.

House music at District 30, Donald Glaude spins

2011-02-05T02:05:33Z

By now you've probably heard a few things about the three venues that opened on K Street recently: Dive Bar, Pizza Rock and District 30. I've experienced the novelty of Dive Bar and tasted the rocking pizza, and Thursday night I visited District 30 for the first time to see house music legend Donald Glaude in Sacramento's newest boutique dance lounge.

Access into the club was painless. I arrived early and there was no line at 9:30 p.m. Stepping in, you'll find the club's lone bar is on the right, and VIP booths line the left side. Keep going and you'll hit the dance floor and DJ booth, with some larger VIP booths tucked in the back. The smaller VIP booths toward the front run about $300 and seat six comfortably, and the price includes a bottle of your choice and gratuity. The larger booths closer to the DJ booth are $400 and seat eight to 10.

The sound in the club was noticeably excellent right away, as you would expect from a club of this newness and ilk (the owner is George Karpaty of San Francisco's Ruby Skye). District 30 resident DJ David Carvalho was spinning a funky club mix as the suit jackets and miniskirts trickled in, and it was a super clean mix with deep, rich bass, spread evenly throughout the club.

The decor inside is modern and trendy without being tacky. There are some very cool large mixed-media collages on the wall above the smaller VIP booths, and I was told they were created by artist Matthew Byrd, who also bartends at Dive Bar. If you've been to Dive Bar, you would recognize Byrd as the one with the Sideshow Bob-ish hairdo, and he's also created pieces for Ink and House Restaurant & Bar.

Huge disco ball over the dance floor? Check. Hard-bodied go-go dancers in Flintstones-meets-Burning Man outfits? Check.

It's not a large club — hence the "boutique" adjective — and with all the patrons, cocktail waitresses and security staff walking around, it gets congested. Better than having a big empty club, though. There's no place in the club to sit down (unless you're with a table.) Sure, you should probably be at the bar getting drinks, mingling with beautiful people, or out on the dance floor, but sometimes you just want to sit down.

Main attraction Donald Glaude took command of the DJ booth around 11 p.m., and it was a full house assault straight off. No slow-building trance here, just energy and more energy. Glaude, who has been ranked as high as No. 48 on DJ Mag's Top 100 List, is known for his energy and engagement with his audience, and he worked D30: stepping out of the booth and onto the floor at one point, taking shots with people when they came up to the booth, and always ready to scream "Make some fucking noise!" to squeeze out every last drop of energy from the packed house.

It's great to see the name DJs finally coming through Sac. There's definitely a market for house music here, and District 30 is a sleek and shiny addition.

Photos: Sacramento Electronic Music Festival - Day 2

2011-01-31T04:53:22Z

Day 2 of the second annual Sacramento Electronic Music Festival continued at the Townhouse Lounge on Friday, featuring performances by Little Foxes, Boss Magic, Melee Beats and FAVORS, among others.

The three-night festival showcases local and international electronic-centric artists, and the SEMF vision is "to continue to foster a supportive music community while attracting world-class talent to Sacramento, not just at the annual festival, but throughout the year."

Friday night Roger Carpio and Shaun Slaughter were among the DJs who held court nonstop on the first floor with a wide range of music (New Order, The xx, Crystal Castles) and kept the sexy people of Townhouse sweaty all night.

After a literally in-your-face performance by FAVORS on the dance floor, the beats continued upstairs where artists like Boss Magic, Little Foxes (my favorite of the night) and Melee Beats killed it in a haze of fog and lasers.

SEMF covers all the bases in the electronic genre, from “straightforward” DJs with laptops to groups that incorporate organic instruments with their synths, and does a fantastic job of showcasing quality acts in a well-organized and centralized environment. SEMF is a blast for old and new fans of the genre (and good music in general), and Sacramento is lucky to have it.

Coverage of Day 1 of the festival can be found here.

FAVORS

Brian Camera of Boss Magic

Brian Camera (left) and Michael Calero (right) of Boss Magic

Jacob Golden of Little Foxes

Dusty Brown of Little Foxes

Jacob Golden of Little Foxes

Melee Beats

Crowd

DAY 3

Jessica Brown of Dusty Brown

Dusty Brown

Zac Brown of Dusty Brown

Cole Cuchna (left) and Scott Simpson (right) of The New Humans

Scott Simpson (left) and Mike Steez (right) of The New Humans

Photos by Steven Chea

Preview: Deerhoof performs at Harlow's Thursday

2011-01-26T06:50:29Z

San Francisco art-pop band Deerhoof kicks off a new tour at Harlow's Thursday in support of the hot-off-the-presses LP release "Deerhoof vs. Evil."

The quartet is recognized by many as pioneers of improv-style experimental pop, with its distinctive sound influencing many others: Sleigh Bells, Of Montreal, Xiu Xiu and more.

Count on a striking sonic mix of poppy melodies, waves of noise, and chaotic fun from these former Radiohead tourmates. Potentially challenging, but sure to be fresh and different.

Deerhoof performs at Harlow's at 9 p.m. Thursday, and tickets are $12. Nervous Cop opens.

Ra Ra Riot performing at Harlow's this Saturday

2011-01-19T02:34:24Z

New York-based band Ra Ra Riot performs at Harlow's Saturday, fresh off an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday.

The eclectic indie pop band combines Arcade Fire's orchestral maneuvers ('Riot instruments include a cello and violin) with Vampire Weekend's pop sensibilities, and the efforts of the young group have resulted in two well-received albums on Barsuk Records: 2008's "The Rhumb Line" and 2010's "The Orchard;" the latter being mixed by Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla.

Taking over drumming duties in Sacramento will be Kenny Bernard, who replaces current drummer Gabriel Duquette. Duquette says on the Ra Ra Riot website he is "off to prepare for the collapse of industrial civilization!", and the Kimmel show will be his last with the band.

Supporting Ra Ra Riot Saturday will be Givers and Pepper Rabbit. Tickets are $15, and the show starts at 9 p.m.

Weezer tribute band 'In the Garage' at The Refuge

2011-01-10T04:05:45Z

I'm an old-school Weezer fan: The pop geniuses' classic self-titled debut, more commonly known as "The Blue Album," was the second CD I ever bought, and their follow-up, coming-in-under-the-radar release "Pinkterton" was the soundtrack for part of my freshman year in college.

So I was very excited to see Weezer tribute band In the Garage perform at all-ages venue The Refuge downtown Friday night. Also on the bill were Rat-O-Matic, Drastic Actions and Green Day tribute band Totally Green Day.

Punk bands Rat-O-Matic and Drastic Actions warmed up the young crowd at the start of the night, and Totally Green Day tore through a respectable set of some of Green Day's older material, which whet the crowds' appetite for the upcoming Weezer tunes.

A tribute band differs from a cover band in that they strive for a near-perfect imitation of the original artist's songs and appearance, whereas a cover band simply plays the artist's songs. In the Garage was right on the money, down to the nerdy glasses, matching cardigans and large Weezer "=W=" sign that hangs behind the band.

The four core members were joined by a synth player, and the melodic pop assault began with "Tired of Sex." The set was heavy on songs from the first two albums of the Weezer catalog ("Undone (The Sweater Song)," "El Scorcho," "Buddy Holly," "In the Garage"), which was a smart direction to take.

Weezer has released nine full-length albums to date, but I find the first two seem to have the most depth, as is the case with a lot of bands. Not that the later albums are bad, but the most recent material is lightweight in comparison (i.e. they're past their prime) and I think for the most part ignored by older Weezer fans.

But they still put out pop gems, and In the Garage also knocked out honorable versions of "Island in the Sun" from 2001's "The Green Album," "Pork & Beans" from 2008's "The Red Album," and "You Gave Your Love to Me Softly", a B-side to the single "El Scorcho," which was a welcome surprise for the hardcore fans.

No telling when the real Weezer tours through Sacramento next. In the meantime, if you're a Weezer fan, or like excellent pop/rock songs, In the Garage is definitely worth checking out for your fix.

In the Garage

Ryan Garcia of In the Garage

Crowd watching In the Garage

Ben Steinert of In the Garage

In the Garage

Andy Dibben of In the Garage

Mike Woodall of In the Garage

Joe McKinney of Totally Green Day

Joe McKinney (left) and David Hayden (right) of Totally Green Day

Ryan Garcia of Totally Green Day

Crowd watching Totally Green Day

Joe McKinney of Totally Green Day

Drastic Actions

Jasson Drastic of Drastic Actions

Rat-O-Matic

Photos by Steven Chea

Photos: First Naked Lounge show of 2011

2011-01-04T03:55:48Z

The first show of 2011 at Naked Lounge Downtown took place Saturday and featured performances by Sacramento artists Adrian Bourgeois, Ricky Berger, One Eyed Rhyno, Brian Rogers of Izabella, and Autumn Sky.

The musicians celebrated the new year by performing a selection of songs written in 2010.

Naked Lounge Downtown is a live music venue located at Naked Coffee on 11th and H Street. Click here for upcoming events.

Adrian Bourgeois

Adrian Bourgeois (foreground) and Ricky Berger

Ricky Berger

One Eyed Rhyno

Brian Rogers

Autumn Sky

Photos by Steven Chea

Pinback at Harlow's on Dec 30

2010-12-26T15:43:46Z

This Thursday you'll have a chance to end 2010 on a good note by catching indie-rock fave Pinback at Harlow's.

The heart of the San Diego band has always been Zach Smith and Rob Crow, and with an upcoming album on the horizon and to stay fresh creatively, the duo is taking a different approach to performing on their current outing. As Smith explains:

"We've decided to have some fun and present our songs in a new light. Instead of playing our songs the traditional way by having a backup band play all of our extra parts we thought it would be entertaining and fresh for just the two of us to play live. The idea is to present our music at times in a more broken down manner very similar sounding to how it might be for Rob and I when we're coming up with a song for the very first time. Hopefully, this way we can create a new atmosphere for a familiar song."

Sounds like the makings of an interesting show for old and new fans alike.

Pinback performs at Harlow's on Thursday, Dec. 30, with support from Los Angeles' JP Inc. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $15. To purchase tickets click here.

Photo: www.pinback.com

Photos: Country fans come out for The Judds

2010-12-13T19:12:01Z

Country music fans came out in droves on Sunday night to see superstar duo The Judds perform at Arco Arena.

The iconic mother and daughter team of Naomi and Wynonna Judd drew approximately 6,500 predominantly female fans to Arco, selling out the seating layout for this particular performance.

It has been more than 10 years since the The Judds toured last, and this current outing – “The Judds: The Last Encore" – is being billed as their final reunion.

The pair opened with “Had a Dream” and followed with Judds classics “Girls' Night Out” and “Love Is Alive.”

Here are some photos from the show:

Naomi Judd greets a fan in the front row.

Wynonna Judd

Naomi Judd

Photos by Steven Chea.

The Gracious Few to play Harlow's

2010-12-06T01:37:12Z

Making a stop in Sacramento this Monday is a fresh, new band called The Gracious Few, featuring members of '90s alternative rock veterans Live and Candlebox.

After Live effectively disbanded in 2009 due to the departure of singer Ed Kowalczyk, the remaining members sought to continue making music and recruited longtime friend and Candlebox frontman Kevin Martin for their new venture. Martin in turn brought aboard Candlebox guitarist Sean Hennesy to round out the sound and complete the lineup.

TGF describes their sound as being influenced by '70s rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones. The band’s eponymous debut album was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads. Expect the rock.

See The Gracious Few perform at Harlow’s on J Street at 8 p.m. on Monday. Danielle Barbe opens, and tickets can be purchased here.

Photo: http://www.thegraciousfew.com

Jingle Ball 2010 featuring Paramore, B.o.B

2010-12-06T00:52:47Z

Some of Top 40 radio's hottest acts performed at a packed Arco Arena on Friday night for 107.9 The End's annual Jingle Ball concert.

The 2010 edition featured performances by 3OH!3, Jesse McCartney, B.o.B, and Paramore.

Here are some photos from the show:

3OH!3:

Nathaniel Motte of 3OH!3

Sean Foreman of 3OH!3

Crowd at 3OH!3

Nathaniel Motte of 3OH!3

Jesse McCartney:

Jesse McCartney

B.o.B:

B.o.B

B.o.B and friend.

B.o.B

Paramore:

Hayley Williams of Paramore

Guitarist Taylor York of Paramore

Vocalist Hayley Wiliiams and bassist Jeremy Davis of Paramore

Jeremy Davis of Paramore

Hayley Williams and drummer Zac Farro of Paramore

Hayley Williams of Paramore

Guitarist Josh Farro of Paramore

Hayley Williams of Paramore

Photos: Steven Chea

Filter: Welcome back to the fold

2010-11-24T01:03:09Z

The extensive gear set up inside Harlow's Monday night foreshadowed a serious rock show taking place for the gathered crowd of 200. Drum kit and amp stacks on the stage covered in black cloth, two extra soundboards at the back of the house and side-stage, multiple guitar road cases – this band was here for here for some in-your-face rock.

In a performance promoting its new record “The Trouble with Angels,” Filter returned to the "Short Bus”-era formula that worked so well the first time around in the mid-’90s and gave fans the hard-charging riffs they expected to hear from the former alt-rock chart toppers.

Taking the stage dressed as the Unabomber, the former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Richard Patrick dove right into material from the new record, "The Trouble with Angels."

The riff-heavy new songs (“Drug Boy,” “No Love” and “The Inevitable Relapse”) detail Patrick's hedonistic past with drugs and alcohol (he's been sober for several years now).

The setlist was well-rounded, striking a neat balance between new material, a couple of lesser-known songs from recent Filter records ("The Take" and "So I Quit") and the tracks that made it easy for Patrick to draw on past experiences with the rock lifestyle's excesses.

Tracks that are more suited for the studio, like “Jurassitol” from “The Crow: City of Angels” soundtrack and “(Can’t You) Trip Like I Do” from the “Spawn” soundtrack took on a different iteration as they were played with live drums.

Fans expected and received the two biggest Filter hits.

“This is one of our fucking mega-hits. I hear this song in grocery stores,” said Patrick as he introduced “Take a Picture” from 1999’s “Title of Record,” sharing the example of hearing the track while shopping for diapers (Patrick has two young children).

The last song of the night was “Hey Man, Nice Shot” from 1995's "Short Bus." Sometimes misinterpreted as being about the suicide of Kurt Cobain, but actually about the public suicide of Pennsylvania state Treasurer Budd Dwyer, the song was an obvious crowd-pleaser, and Patrick screamed the chorus as if it were '95 and the song was just being released.

Patrick catered heavily to the Sacramento crowd. At times it seemed forced (repeated proclamations of “Sacramento rocks!”), but Patrick’s desire to connect with fans was endearing. He proclaimed his love for the Deftones, said the band would be hanging around afterward to take pictures and sign autographs ("We want to meet you guys!"), and several times during the show used fans' iPhones to take pictures and videos of the band performing before handing the phones back to their thrilled owners.

As Patrick himself told the crowd, "It's been like 10 years since the last decent Filter record came out, right?"

To his credit, it doesn’t seem like this tour is about riding on the coattails of past fame to make a quick buck. The new record is a return to form, and Patrick was turned up to 11 and completely engaging the entire show.

The enthusiasm for the band is still there from hardcore fans – Patrick succeeded in inciting a circle pit during the song "Dose," which I haven't seen done in Harlow's before. Will the group reach the heights of past alt-rock radio glory? Probably not – the success the band achieved the first time out is hard to replicate. But as one black T-shirt-clad fan said after the show, “That was the best ... rock show I’ve seen in a really long time.”

Photos: Steven Chea

Q&A with Filter's Richard Patrick

2010-11-20T01:13:34Z

Filter frontman Richard Patrick had his first taste of success in the music industry as a touring guitarist for the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails.

He left the band after four years due to discord within the group and co-founded Filter, whose 1995 album “Short Bus” featured the massive hit single “Hey Man, Nice Shot.”

Two more Filter albums followed, 1999’s “Title of Record,” featuring the hit “Take a Picture,” and 2002’s “The Amalgamut.” During promotion for “The Amalgamut,” Patrick abruptly left the tour to enter rehab for alcoholism, putting Filter on hiatus.

After becoming and staying sober, Patrick formed a short-lived band with Dean and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots called Army of Anyone, and then released a fourth Filter album entitled “Anthems for the Damned,” which explored Patrick’s personal views on the state of the world, including such subjects as the Iraq War.

Filter is now touring with renewed vigor in support of its fifth studio album, “The Trouble with Angels.” They will perform at 8 p.m. at Harlow’s on Nov. 22nd.

The Sacramento Press recently spoke with Patrick about the new album, the tour, and why the band has so many soundtrack contributions.

What are you up to today?
I’m in Reno. We have a day off, and I literally have not left my hotel room unless I was going out to eat. We are the hardest-working band in the world right now. I’m just grateful that I have a moment to myself and I can go to the hotel room and chill out.

It looks like this tour is coming to an end pretty soon.
Yeah, we’re gonna hit it pretty hard next year though. We did one tour, and then we’ll probably pair up with someone and be out all January and February. We got an offer to play out in Germany, and we’re thinking about when we’re going to go out there. There’s a bunch of activity.

How’s the reaction been for the new single “No Love”?
It’s starting to take off. It’s in that early stage, and we’re watching it get a great reaction from people, and it’s exciting. It feels like when I first released “Short Bus,” the building anticipation and people are starting to freak out about it. It’s cool.

I take it you’re playing a lot of new material on this tour.
We’re playing a lot of the heavy stuff from the record, and it’s amazing. We go right out for the gusto, and all the super-young people are there for that, and then the older folks are more into the older stuff. Well they’re not that old, but you know what I mean. It’s pretty cool to see such an amazing response from the young people. They’re really into it and digging it. It’s nice.

I was in high school when “Short Bus” came out, so I would be one of those older folks at the show with my kids.
It’s pretty cool! There are parents showing up with their kids, and they’re like “I love ‘Hey Man,’ and he’s into ‘No Love!,’ ” so that’s cool. And they love the new record. That’s the one thing, I finally got it right. It’s been a tumultuous 10 years. I had serious health issues with my drinking, and I messed around for a couple of years, and then I (was in the band) Army of Anyone. That took four years out of my life. And we did ‘Anthems.’ That was a tribute to a friend of ours that was killed in Iraq, and then by the time I got around to business as usual with another pure Filter record, it had been almost 10 years!

You’ve been to the Middle East to perform for U.S. troops several times. I think that’s awesome that you do that, and it’s incredible for the troops. How did you get involved with that?
Well we had this friend, his name was Sgt. Justin Eyerly, and he was a 14-year-old kid when “Short Bus” came out. He was the first kid to make an unofficial Filter website. He had this tiny little page, and we thought it was so awesome that he did that, and we became friends with him.

And (our friend) Adam Hubka knew him, and Adam gave me a call and said ‘Hey man, Justin Eyerly is in the army and he’s headed to Iraq.” And he gave me updates like “Justin just landed, and he said it was the worst thing he’s ever seen,” and he said the only thing he had was his iPod filled with Filter. He was talking about how war is horrible, and then the next e-mail I got from Adam, it said “Rich, Justin was killed yesterday.” Twenty-one years old. So when I was in Army of Anyone, I dedicated my portion of the record to him, and I did “Anthems for the Damned” for him.

When my agency found out that I was behind the troops – protesting the war but behind the troops – they called me up and said, “Would you want to do this thing called Operation MySpace?” and we said, “Absolutely.”

So we went out there, and we played and met all the people out there, and we would sign autographs for two to three hours afterward. And just meeting these kids – they’re kids, these soldiers! They’re there because they made a commitment to this country that they would serve, and then a lot of them would then get into college, and make a living, and a lot of them would stay out of trouble.

It was fascinating to meet those guys. And we found this organization called Stars for Stripes, and they called us up and said, “Would you be willing to go back and play for the troops again?” and we said, “Absolutely.” So we went a second time in 2009, and we went back again two months ago. So we’ve been there three times. It was an amazing experience.

You wrote all the songs on “Short Bus.” Is that how Filter operates now? Do you write all the songs and then hire a band for the live shows?
Not necessarily – the first version of Filter that put out the “Short Bus” record that we all love – that was me and a computer and an engineer by the name of Brian Liesegang. The idea of this band is similar to Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen in the sense that if there’s a change, it’s still going to be my band.

I’m essentially responsible for everything, but I do a lot of collaboration, so it’s more than just I do everything and then hire the band.

Brian Liesegang just worked on this last record as an engineer, a sound designer. (Guitarist) Mitch Marlow wrote a song with me, “No Love.” There are definitely other people that are allowed to get creative, and they get everything you would get from songwriting, but ultimately it’s kind of my band. And I love my new band members: Phil Buckman, Rob Patterson, and Mika (Fineo). John Spiker played all the bass on the record. (Producer) Bob Marlette pretty much co-wrote every song on this new one. It’s more than just a bunch of hired people around me. I push them, and I try to challenge them and make them “a part of,” as opposed to just dudes on the road who resent me and are like, “Dude, you don’t let me do anything!” I hate that. I used to be in that situation when I was in Nine Inch Nails.

Do you stay in touch with Trent Reznor at all?
Not really. When a guy writes a song called “Piggy” about you, there’s obviously tension or some leftover shit. My nickname was Piggy. He’s writing songs about me ... you know, I wish it hadn’t been so complicated and so weird. I wish it would have been a little more fun. Maybe one of these days we’ll talk and it’ll be OK, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a friendship, that’s for sure.

Trent’s most recent group is called How to Destroy Angels, and your new album is called “The Trouble with Angels.” Is there a story there?
No, I had no idea about that! In fact, the first thing out of my mouth was “Holy fuck, how did that happen?” Then I Googled it and saw I had mentioned it in a Fender article back in 2009 and he came out with his thing a month or two later. So I was the first, but I didn’t know anything about it. Obviously they have totally different meanings – I’m talking about organized religion and how sad it is that there are so many bad things that happen when it comes to religion. It seems like religion is maybe holding us back. And I think he actually got his from a Coil song.

You’re married and you have kids. Has that changed anything for you?
I do. I have young children. I get the meaning of life. I just want to do the best I can. I want to write the best music, I want to tour harder, I want to make more money, obviously.

The reality is it’s pretty easy to goof off when you’re single, or married and both of you are rocking out or doing whatever, but as soon as you put a timeline on it – these human beings are probably going to be dependent on me until they’re 20 – it just makes you “show up.” It makes you respect life so much more. It makes me want to be the best man I can be.

I can think of two adult artists who have recently put out children’s albums, The Verve Pipe and Keller Williams. Do you have a kids’ album in you?
Umm...maybe! I have some amazing gentle music. I look at it like this – Filter is one of those bands like The Clash, they could do all kinds of music. Whether it’s radio Clash or reggae or Caribbean kind of stuff, or really experimental – that’s what I view this band as. People were taken aback when I wrote “Take a Picture,” but if they had any idea how much pain and suffering that song is talking about ... it’s still heavy as fuck. It sounds really dreamy and pretty, but it’s still heavy.

A lot of film soundtracks feature Filter songs, most recently the films “2012” and “The Stepfather.” Is that just about getting your music out there and reaching a bigger audience and getting paid, or do the film projects attract you in another way?
I love the directors, I loved working with (“2012” soundtrack composer) Harald Kloser. It was a total collaboration. He had the music, and we co-wrote a song together. All these directors, (“The Stepfather” director) Nelson McCormick, Ben Stiller and all these guys – I really enjoy meeting these guys and talking to them. I love film, I love the meetings, hanging out at the studios. I’m a big fan of my bro (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day’s” Robert Patrick). I did some acting in these last two videos we did, “No Love” and “Fades Like a Photograph,” and I really love the interaction you can have with the camera and working with another actor.

Are you planning to start going on auditions?
I would love to. I would love to get more involved in it, but right now Filter is the main thing, and it’s taking such a huge priority in my life. I feel like performing is where it’s at. And I also love writing! My brother and I are working on a screenplay for something.

What do you like to watch when you have the time?
My ultimate favorite TV show was probably “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” from Carl Sagan. “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman.” Anything with science, but I love some drama. I love “House” – that’s a fucking great show. Jon Stewart, I’m a massive Jon Stewart fan. Stephen Colbert. I’m not a democrat, but I do lean left.

Krist Novoselic of Nirvana said his favorite Nirvana song was “Smells Like Teen Spirit” because it paid for his house. What’s your favorite Filter song?
I have to say my favorite Filter song right now is “No Love.” The whole record really – because of Bob Marlette and John Spiker and all the other guys that helped me do it, it just was a joy. And I think that’s why people are digging it right now, because you can tell there’s a lot of love in there, and it’s fun. For many people out there in the world, music is the only thing that gives them relief, so it’s awesome to be a part of that tradition.

Photo by Steven Chea.

Filter performs at 8 p.m. at Harlow’s on Nov. 22nd. For tickets, click here.

Hot-blooded soul from Cold War Kids

2010-11-13T02:08:54Z

If the long line snaking in front of Harlow’s on a chilly Thursday night was any indication, this city was ready to play with Cold War Kids.

Indeed it was, easily selling out the popular venue and providing a packed, electric atmosphere for the Long Beach-based band to feed its ravenous fans.

Anchored by the pounding kick of drummer Matt Aveiro and the soulful vocals of Willett, the ’Kids soldiered through a setlist that included several cuts from their first two albums, ’06’s “Robbers & Cowards” (“Red Wine, Success!” and “Hospital Beds”) and ’08’s “Loyalty to Loyalty” (“Mexican Dogs” and “Dreams Old Men Dream”), as well as ’09’s “Behave Yourself EP” (“Audience” and "Santa Ana Winds”).

The band is also using this tour to showcase tracks from upcoming album “Mine Is Yours,” due to be released in January 2011.

The new material doesn’t stray from the formula that got the ’Kids where they are now, and the new tracks sounded very strong. Songs like “Royal Blue” and “Louder than Ever” are a cocktail of the blues-inflected verses and hooky, sing-out-loud choruses the band has used to great success on songs like “Hang Me Up to Dry,” its most well-known song, which drew the biggest cheers of the night.

There lies the 'Kids strength: They strike the delicate balance between playing music that has indie-rock credibility and is also accessible for a larger mainstream audience. It seems inevitable that they'll lose some of that cred as they become more successful, but for now, all parties involved reap the rewards.

They inspire their fans too. Toward the end of the show, one overzealous female fan crawled up on the edge of the stage where Willett had just taken a seat at his piano. She engaged Willett and was apparently trying to request her favorite song. When her friends realized she was becoming a bit too comfortable clinging to the side of the piano up there and holding up the show, they had to gently pull her away.

After experiencing a raw, honest Cold War Kids live performance, it's easy to understand her fervor.

Photos: Steven Chea

For info on upcoming shows from Abstract Entertainment, please click here.

Godsmack plays Arco, eardrums stand no chance

2010-11-04T01:31:42Z

For those wanting to release some stress after a rough day of voting on Tuesday, Arco Arena was apparently the place to do it.

Four-time Grammy-nominated band Godsmack was in town, delivering the hard rock and splitting the eardrums of a crowd that struggled to fill the lower level of the arena.

After energetic warmup sets by bands Drowning Pool and Five Finger Death Punch, the marketing machine was in full swing as the anxious crowd was shown a promotional video touting Godsmack frontman Sully Erna’s solo album, “Avalon,” which we were reminded was available at the merchandise booth.

Next, we were treated to a dated documentary clip connecting hard rock/metal music with devil worshipping, with bands like Twisted Sister presented as supporting evidence.

With the crowd now feeling sufficiently rebellious, a huge, glowing red orb rotated to reveal drummer Shannon Larkin, frozen in pose with drumsticks held in front of his face. Several amps on both sides of him were raised off the stage with cables and suspended in the air, and Godsmack was off with “Cryin’ Like a Bitch,” the first single from its fifth studio album, “The Oracle.”

The alternative rock hits that dominated the airwaves in the early 2000s came fast and loud: “Awake,” “Keep Away” and “Voodoo.” Interspersed with those radio staples were a healthy dose of tracks from the band’s new album, including “War and Peace,” “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain,” “What If” and other cuts including "Straight Out of Line" and "The Enemy."

Yes, the thick, crunchy guitar riffs of every song tend to make them indistinguishable from one another after awhile, but the sweaty, shirtless men aggressively slamming into each other in the circle pit didn’t seem to mind.

Godsmack members also paid homage to some of their musical influences during their set, when two additional drum kits were brought out on rotating risers: one for Larkin and one for Erna, who is an accomplished drummer in addition to being a songwriter, frontman and guitarist.

The classic rock medley included AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” some Led Zeppelin and a hint of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer,” while videos of the live performances of the songs by the original bands played on the large screen behind the stage.

Between-song banter was entertaining: Erna let us know there were a couple of interesting people in the audience (two members of the Deftones) and also gave a shout-out to several Sacramento Hell’s Angels who were enjoying the show from in front of the crowd barriers. He was even nice enough to use one of the Angels’ cameras in order to take a photo of some half-naked women sitting atop shoulders in the crowd.

After an encore of No. 1 singles “Speak” and “I Stand Alone,” the band was off to Los Angeles to play the last date of the tour. Erna may even get to tell the L.A. audience what he said he wanted to tell them about Sacramento: “This may not be the biggest crowd we’ve played to on this tour, but it may be the craziest!”

Images #1-4: Drowning Pool

Images #6-8: Five Finger Death Punch

Images #10-18: Godsmack

Photos by Steven Chea

A highbrow evening with Stew and The Negro Problem

2010-10-28T00:14:09Z

Would a group called Stew and the Negro Problem be at home playing a venue like the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis?

Absolutely.

The intimate, lounge-like 250-person Vanderhoef Studio Theatre was the perfect setting for musician Stew and his provocatively-titled band, The Negro Problem, on Tuesday evening. The name is meant to challenge perceptions be in-your-face and humorous, which also describes the band’s music quite accurately.

Announcing that his band was probably mad at him because he had no setlist, Stew guided the seated older crowd on a musical journey that was insightful, comical and just plain sounded great.

The lyrically driven songs were the stars, with each being a slice-of-life anecdote coupled with simple but sophisticated accompaniment provided by collaborator and bassist Heidi Rodewald and the rest of The Negro Problem.

They fused styles seamlessly – including Baroque pop with jazz sensibilities and a tendency to rock. There were even opportunities for synth riffs and a flute solo.

At times juvenile, Stew’s lyrical content was elevated by the underlying wit and social commentary and the cohesive Negro Problem instrumentation.

Two songs into the set the audience was presented with the song “Ken,” about a Ken doll in a Mattel factory who realizes he’s gay: "My name's Ken, and I like men/But the people at Mattel … are somewhat bothered by my queer proclivities."

Complete with ski-pole charades from Stew, “Black Men Ski” dealt with stereotypical perceptions of what black men do and don’t do, including Stew's experiences visiting Aspen. The act drew fits of giggling from the amused crowd.

And after proclaiming “I love marijuana, I just don’t have the time to score it” and extolling the joys of getting high, Stew and band played “Bong Song,” with its addictive “Bong! Song!” doorbell-like repetitive chorus. Puerile perhaps, but relevant here as California’s upcoming elections feature Proposition 19, which among other things seeks to legalize personal marijuana-related activities.

It seemed to be the theme for the night: music and melodies so sweet it was easy to lose sight of the deeper themes being discussed. And, yes, they would rank high on a list of bands with generally offensive names. But if you get the joke and see them perform, you’re in for a very enlightening evening.

Stew and the Negro Problem play a second show on Wednesday at the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre in Davis. Tickets are $49 general, $24.50 for students.

Photos by Steven Chea

Los Lobos: still on top after three decades

2010-10-15T00:17:11Z

Playing a combination of their own songs and classic covers, Latin rockers Los Lobos had the baby boomers out of their seats and dancing at the Mondavi Center’s gorgeous 1800-seat Jackson Hall in Davis on Wednesday night.

Many genres are used to describe the music of “The Wolves” – roots rock, folk, Norteño, blues – and what Los Lobos does so well is blend the different styles to create a hybrid euphony that has given them a unique identity.

Essentially they started out 30 years ago in East Los Angeles with classic Mexican songs that were deceptively simple, added various styles of music and elevated the sound into music that has garnered the band three Grammy Awards.

The talented group dove into its set with the flamenco-styled guitar picking of vocalist/multi-instrumentalist David Hidalgo on “La Pistola y El Corazón” from the 1988 album of the same name. Each member's instrument was layered successively until the different sounds came together in head-nodding harmony, anchored by the walking bass lines of bassist/vocalist Conrad Lozano. Evident was a cohesiveness and intuitiveness that is only found when the same people in a band have been playing together for many years.

In between songs like “On Main Street,” “Tin Can Trust” and “Cumbia Raza,” the band took the opportunity to hawk its new album and mention that the musicians would be in the lobby after the show to sign it. Not something you see every day from artists or bands of this stature.

After a short intermission, Los Lobos went straight back to work, breaking out their version of Ritchie Valens’ “Come On, Let’s Go.” It was just what the house needed, and the newly engaged crowd started calling out names of songs they wanted to hear with one fan urging the band to "Rock out!"

The energetic second half of the set continued as Hidalgo brought out the accordion during the next song, “Kiko and The Lavender Moon,” and a couple of brave ladies in the audience felt the spirit, stood up and starting dancing. Another followed, then a couple more, and soon a domino effect had the entire house out of their seats and dancing awkwardly in place together.

A medley of The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and Santana’s “Oye Cómo Va” gave songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Louie Pérez a chance to put the guitar down and sit in on drums as the band segued into “Volver, Volver,” first made famous by “El Rey” of ranchera Vicente Fernandez.

The familiar opening guitar riff of “La Bamba” soon filled the air, and when Hidalgo turned the microphone to the audience, the true fans had no problem singing the entire Spanish-language chorus. A twist to the classic was added as The Rascals’ “Good Lovin” was woven in for good measure.

The band ended the lively show by pulling up several women (and a few men) from the audience to dance on stage with the musicians as they played their last song, and with an "Adios Amigo!" from Hidalgo, Los Lobos left the stage.

But as promised, the band soon reappeared in the lobby to pose for photos and sign autographs with the long line of fans who had gathered. When you consider that graciousness with the great music they put out, it’s easy to see why this band has such a strong following after all these years.

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) brings dance party to Harlow's

2010-09-15T01:05:04Z

A packed house at Harlow’s was infected Monday night.

Infected with dance fever, courtesy of !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk).

As the band members themselves tell it, when creating a name for the band they wanted something that stood out. They took the !!! from the African Bush language, which was a repetitive clicking sound made with the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The band left pronunciation up to your choosing; it was any three repetitive sounds (Bam Bam Bam, Pow Pow Pow, etc.) Over time the preferred pronunciation evolved into “Chk Chk Chk,” which is used by the band in things like the URL of its official website.

Monday’s show was a homecoming of sorts (the band formed in Sacramento in 1996 but now calls Brooklyn home), and the band opened the highly anticipated show with its single “AM/FM” off its current album, “Strange Weather, Isn’t It?,” and the party never stopped.

Showing off his legs in a tiny pair of shorts, vocalist Nic Offer was everywhere – flamboyantly dancing all over the place, jumping off stage and interacting with the audience – he was everywhere except behind the bar. It was apparent the band was having a great time playing for a hometown crowd, and the audience latched on to that energy and never left the musicians’ side.

“We only get nervous playing two places,” Offer said, “Sacramento and New York. You don’t want to suck in front of your friends!”

Most of the set was focused on “Strange Weather” (“Wannagain Wannagain,” “Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass,” “Hollow”), and the band also jumped back to other material, like 2007’s well-reviewed LP “Myth Takes,” playing tracks like “Must Be the Moon” and “Heart of Hearts.”

Offer was joined by a subdued Savannah Macias, the band’s other vocalist, but anyone would look subdued next to Offer.

Drummer Paul Quattrone kept the percussion choppy, and the beats worked seamlessly with the music’s synth elements, supplied by talented, multi-instrumentalists Dan Gorman and Allan Wilson. Sinewy bass lines provided by new bassist Rafael Cohen and guitar by Mario Andreoni rounded out the electro-dance sounds.

It was a great night of feverish dance music, and the high-energy performance lived up to the hype, leaving a sweaty crowd in it's wake. There was love in the house for !!!, and the feeling was mutual: “Sacto we love you! Still!”, said Offer at the end of the show.

Photos: Steven Chea

"New" start for The New Humans

2010-08-23T23:55:32Z

Sacramento band The New Humans celebrated the release of its debut EP, “Avalanche,” with a high-energy show at Townhouse on Saturday.

“Avalanche” comes out later than expected, after the band experienced a futile lead singer search (synth man Scott Simpson eventually took on vocal duties) and scrapped six months’ worth of recording, but these past hurdles were not apparent at the show.

After a quick warmup set by Favors downstairs and a rare performance by Dusty Brown side project Little Foxes upstairs, Simpson wasted no time going crazy onstage and setting the tone for the rest of the night.

The New Humans also includes Robbie LaCasse (bass), Mike Steez (drums) and Cole Cuchna (keys). The four bandmates played tightly together. The set was long on catchy, electro-pop tracks, and several sound single-worthy.

There were no lulls – deep bass, hooky synth riffs and soaring vocals kept the full house whipped into a frenzy for the entire show.

Simpson takes on his frontman persona with gusto, screaming into the mike and running around on stage while his bandmates hold down the pounding beat. Standout tracks were "All the Kids," "Fever" and the Muse-y "Avalanche."

The New Humans are planning a fall mini-tour in support of their EP to continue getting their music out. If the packed house and sweaty crowd at the end of the night at Townhouse meant anything, they should have no problem getting a few more people dancing.

Photos:

1-3: FAVORS

4-8: Little Foxes

9-15: The New Humans

The White Buffalo plays Old Ironsides

2010-07-18T06:58:03Z

When I hear the name The White Buffalo, I picture things like the The American Old West, Native Americans, and of course, bison roaming the plains. The man Jake Smith, aka The White Buffalo, is a big, bearded guy, and I think that type of imagery suits him. I could picture him sitting in an old saloon, strumming his guitar and playing to a room full of frontier types.

TWB played his first show in Sacramento last Friday night at Old Ironsides. His baritone voiced folk-rock brought a wide range of people out to the show, form hipsters types to an older crowd - I'd say there was more of the latter. When I first heard his songs, it reminded me of the solo work that Eddie Vedder did for the Into the Wild soundtrack, but with less banjo; very earthy, very personal. He's been riding some buzz for a few years now and has built up a dedicated fan base; one woman and her friends had come from Placerville to see the show, and model Angela Lindvall recently mentioned his music in October's Allure magazine (my subscription to Allure just expired, otherwise I would tell you what she said).

TWB was friendly with the audience and bantered frequently, at one point asking the crowd to buy merch so he and his band could have some gas money. He played songs from both the EP and full-length he has out, The White Buffalo EP and Hogtied Revisited. The show was a crowd-pleaser, and chants for an encore came immediately after the set was finished. After going off stage and taking a few swigs of beer, TWB came back on and played a song, solo, and then the other band members joined him for the last song of the night, an appropriate cover of Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues'.

Opening band Prieta was impressive as well. Vocalist/keyboardist Alex Ayers easily sounds like Chris Cornell, and the band puts their own Southern rock spin on a tight classic rock/Led Zeppelin sound. Everyone seemed to really dig them, including the front row full of girls. They're playing at Cesar Chavez Plaza next Friday for Concerts in the Park.

The Kelps kicked things off for a sparse crowd around 9:30pm. These three guys appeared to still be in high school but that makes their mature sound that much more impressive. They won over the crowd with their driving bluesy rock and soulful vocals and performance. Now if only they would trade the white t-shirts and khakis for some real rock n' roll gear.

Jerry Perry Presents The White Buffalo this Friday

2010-07-13T05:51:12Z

The White Buffalo, also known as versatile singer/songwriter/guitarist Jake Smith, brings his self-described "darker side of folk" to Sacramento this Friday.

With fan favorites The White Buffalo EP and full-length Hogtied Revisited under his belt, TWB continues to garner buzz by word of mouth and by touring constantly, performing solo and backed by a band (he'll be with a band this Friday).

TWB has previously toured with Donavon Frankenreiter, Xavier Rudd, State Radio and Ziggy Marley, and his songs have been featured on the soundtrack to surfing movie Shelter and on FX series Sons of Anarchy.

The White Buffalo will play Old Ironsides with Prieta and The Kelps on Friday, July 16th, at 9pm. Tickets are $7. For details please contact Old Ironsides.

Photos from www.thewhitebuffalo.com

River Cats declaw Grizzlies in extra innings Friday night

2010-07-04T06:11:08Z

The Sacramento River Cats defeated the Fresno Grizzlies 4-3 in the 11th inning Friday night, putting them 5 games behind first-place Fresno in the Pacific Coast League South Division. The River Cats play Fresno again Saturday night, leaving eight games before the All-Star game.

Following are some photos from Friday night.

River Cats mascot Dinger poses for pictures with young fans before the game in front of Raley Field.

Pitcher John Halama (#48) about to release.

Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (center) dispenses wisdom to outfielder Corey Wimberly (right).

A Grizzlies player (left) leading off first base waits for a hit from his teammate before taking off.

Raley Field

Outfielder Michael Taylor (#52)

Members of the River Cats ground crew "The Groove Crew" shake it for the fans during the 7th inning stretch.

Rickey Henderson (left) signs a baseball for a young fan.

Outfielder Matt Watson hit a homer and game-tying single in the eighth.

River Cats manager Tony DeFrancesco (center) giving third base umpire Jeff Latter (right) a piece of his mind after being ejected from the game by home plate umpire Darren Budahn (not pictured). DeFrancesco was ejected after arguing balls and strikes during a Matt Watson (#22) at-bat.

Grizzlies outfielder Ben Copeland (#12)

Outfielder Corey Wimberly (#3) gets ready to connect.

A young fan hopes a Grizzlies player will look her way and toss her a baseball souvenir.

Rickey Henderson coaches at first base. The Oakland A's roving instructor and Hall of Famer holds the major league records for career stolen bases (1,406), runs scored (2,295), unintentional walks (2,129), and leadoff home runs (81 games).

River Cats mascot Dinger entertains the crowd during a changeover.

First baseman Chris Carter (#33) lets one fly.

A Grizzlies coach (right) plays a prank on a Grizzlies player in the dugout: the coach is holding shut the door to a small storage room, and there is a player in the room who can't get out. A crowd manager said that it smells awful inside the room.

Two fans both hope to catch a foul ball.

The River Cats congratulate third baseman Dallas McPherson (#8) after he scores the winning run in the 11th inning.

The Submarines @ Blue Lamp

2010-07-02T07:25:41Z

The Submarines are an indie-pop group comprised of married couple Jack Dragonetti and Blake Hazard. Touring with drummer Jason Stare and new bass player "Scott," they passed through Sacramento on Wednesday night, playing a small show at Blue Lamp.

If you don't recognize the band name, you would certainly recognize the music. Their songs have been featured in Nip/Tuck, Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl, and in maybe the most well-known placement, the songs "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" and "Submarine Symphonika" were used in Apple commercials for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

Originally working as solo artists in Boston, Dragonetti and Hazard played in each other's bands and were romantically involved for four years. The relationship ended, but because Hazard still recorded her music in Dragonetti's home studio, the pair quickly discovered the songs they were writing were about each other and their sadness in having broken up. They starting working together again and eventually married. They have released two full-length albums, Declare a New State! and Honeysuckle Weeks, and a third release is upcoming.

Fun fact: Hazard is the great-granddaughter of The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Dum Dum Girls @ Blue Lamp

2010-07-01T03:43:20Z

There was a lot of fishnet at Blue Lamp on Wednesday night, which could mean a few things, but in this case it was lo-fi pop quartet Dum Dum Girls visiting Sacramento in support of their debut album I Will Be.

Dum Dum Girls is led by Dee Dee (real name: Kristen Gundred), the creative force behind the all girl group, á la Trent Reznor. The name of the group is a nod to both The Vaselines' album Dum-Dum, and the Iggy Pop song "Dum Dum Boys". The 27-year-old singer/songwriter started recording songs in her bedroom and eventually looked to her friends to take the show on the road. The debut album I Will Be was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who is responsible for writing 60's classics "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy", and who has also worked with artists like Blondie and The Go-Go's.

The 'Girls were all dressed in some variation of a tiny black vintage dress and black fishnet stockings; a nod to their 60's girl group sound, but maintaining the edginess of a modern punk band. Dee Dee has a very pleasant voice; the sweet pop harmonies and fuzzy vocals and guitars played well together, putting them somewhere between The Shangri-Las and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Dee Dee stared straight ahead most of the time and there was minimal banter with the intimate crowd, and the group tore through almost all the short songs on their album (the average length of the songs are about two and a half minutes). The 'Girls don't move around on stage much, but overall it was a fulfilling live show filled with a great pop-punk sound and delicious, ethereal harmonies. I would recommend checking out their single "Jail La La" to get an introduction.

For more info:

Dum Dum Girls

Blue Lamp

Abstract Entertainment

Tyga @ The Colonial Theatre

2010-06-26T04:47:27Z

The young rapper known as Tyga performed to a large crowd at The Colonial Theater (3520 Stockton Blvd) Thursday night, June 24th.

The twenty-year-old is signed to Lil Wayne's record label Young Money Entertainment, where his label mates include Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. He released his debut album No Introduction in 2008, and has an upcoming album entitled Careless World, featuring collaborations with artists including Chris Brown.

Fans in line wait to get into The Colonial Theatre before the show.

Local rappers warm up the crowd before the show.

More local rappers warm up the crowd before the show.

Tyga comes out to an screaming crowd around 11pm.

Tyga

Tyga pulls an excited fan from the front row and brings her on stage to dance.

Fans in the pit take photos and record video of Tyga with their cell phones.

Tyga interacts with the ladies in the pit while security stands by.

Tyga says goodnight to the audience.

Rooney @ The Boardwalk

2010-06-25T02:25:23Z

There is Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus pop, and there is Rooney pop. It was nice to see the Rooney kind on Wednesday night at the Boardwalk in Orangevale. Both Rooney and one of their support bands on this tour, The Young Veins, have a throwback pop sound that isn't so common these days. As someone who grew up with Weezer, I was definitely looking forward to seeing Rooney for the first time.

The Young Veins were a great opener (the other support bands were local band Flatlin, and Black Gold, from Brooklyn). The 'Veins are compromised of two former members of Panic! at the Disco and are touring in support of their first release Take a Vacation! If The Byrds and The Beatles had a baby, their love child would be named The Young Veins. The upbeat and catchy tunes, like "Take a Vacation!" and "Cape Town" had the young crowd (and some parents) primed for the main attraction.

Rooney took the stage next and dove right into songs from two of their albums, Rooney and Calling the World, and their recently released Eureka, which they are touring in support of. They played classics like "Blueside" and "When Did Your Heart Go Missing," as well as new songs like "Stars and Stripes" and "I Can't Get Enough." Rooney songs are insanely catchy and infectious, and the young crowd lapped it up. Imagine driving down the PCH in your convertible on a hot California summer, and you'll have a good idea of the vibe of a live Rooney show. They were also playing with a new bassist, Brandon Schwartzel, and it was neat to see him occasionally looking around to stay with the changes of his bandmates and then slide in perfectly on his bass into the beat.

For their encore, the band played two songs: “Not In My House,” from their new album, and “I'm Shakin',” from their first. It was an intimate show for a decent sized crowd, and based on the dancing and the screams of teenage girls in the crowd, I'd say the show was a crowd pleaser for everyone.

Flatlin

Black Gold

The Young Veins

Rooney

Rooney

Rooney

For more info:

Photos by Steven Chea

Portugal. The Man at Harlow's

2010-06-19T09:19:09Z

A roadie turned on the smoke machine, and a few moments later, Portland by way of Alaska band Portugal. The Man emerged from the dense fog to take the Harlow's stage. The experimental indie rock four-piece visited Sacramento Thursday night, touring in support of their latest full-length American Ghetto.

Portugal. The Man is John Gourley (Guitar/Vocals), Zachary Carothers (Bass/Vocals), Jason Sechrist (Drums), and Ryan Neighbors (Keys/Vocals). Think psychedelic indie rock with synth and dashes of electronica and hip-hop beats thrown in for good measure. It's a progressive and complex soundscape, and at the same time very much melodic and head-bobbingly accessible.

Their show at Harlow's drew evenly from their first five full-length albums, of which they have put out about one a year since 2006. Foregoing crowd interaction to work through the set, the group's jangly choruses occasionally meandered into extended sonic jam sessions, anchored by the tightness of a group that has a few shows under its belt. A lighting scheme that did not include spotlights on stage helped to create a dramatic mood for the show; the band was lit from a few low lights on the stage and the light/dark contrast (along with the smoke and lasers) created dramatic surroundings to accompany the upbeat performance.

I enjoyed the show a lot and I'm glad I caught these guys in an intimate setting as they continue to build a larger fanbase and play increasingly larger venues. I definitely recommend checking out their albums and catching them live if you can.

Zachary Carothers (Bass/Vocals)

John Gourley (Guitar/Vocals)

John Gourley (background) and Ryan Neighbors (Keys/Vocals)

Zachary Carothers

Ryan Neighbors

Fans in front of the stage watch Ryan Neighbors on keys

John Gourley

Jason Sechrist (Drums)

Zachary Carothers

The band gets ready to say goodnight

Setlist:

My Mind
The Sun
Guns & Dogs
Chicago
1989
Colors
Do You
The Woods
Oh Lord
Marching With 6
Stables & Chairs
And I
People Say
AKA M80 The Wolf

Photos by Steven Chea

For more information:

Portugal. The Man

Harlow's

Abstract Entertainment

Matt Schofield at Harlow's

2010-06-14T02:52:20Z

In the midst of his debut North American tour, highly regarded UK blues guitarist and singer Matt Schofield (Guitar & Bass Magazine picked him as one of the "Top Ten British Blues Guitarists of All Time) electrified the standing-room only audience at Harlow's last night with a showcase of why he is one of the premier blues guitarists of this generation.

Accompanied by Hammond organ player Jonny Henderson and the jazzy rhythms of former Robert Cray drummer, Kevin Hayes, Schofield was in stellar form as he demonstrated mastery of the blues guitar in an impressive set that rocked Sacramento on a windy Saturday night.