Muse came to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in Sacramento Tuesday night to an almost sold out crowd. This was one of several stops in California to kick off their North American Tour. Band of Skulls opened for Muse. They were a great compliment to the headliners. The same old school rock and roll music quality that Muse has in some of their songs is mirrored in this band. The songs focused on instrumental solos and well played transitions almost as much as the lyrics. While this is a relatively new band, having only formed in 2009, I don't think it will be long before they are headlining their own show. They have a raw quality and a unity to their music that makes them special. Muse has be

It’s been almost three years since Slumgum released its self-titled debut album, but the band members are ready and excited to let the public hear how hard they have been working since then. The jazz quartet from Los Angeles will kick off the release of its sophomore album, “Quardboard Flavored Fiber,” with a performance in Sacramento on April 18 at Luna’s Cafe and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St. According to Rory Cowal, Slumgum’s pianist, the band was drawn to Sacramento because of the city’s strong community for jazz and improvised music. The band first played in Sacramento about a year ago during a Second Saturday Art Walk. “Since then, we have been visiting Sacramento more and more and are

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.”

Jackson Road, an indie alt-rock band that originated in Sacramento, has taken a leap of faith. Their sophomore album, 'Take Flight,' was released late this year amidst the bandmates' sprawling personal ventures. You may even question whether divinity had a hand in the matter when you consider that the album took shape while Lead guitarist Ted Weldon began a bold and ambitious new series of artwork, drummer Christian Peters embarked to Southern California to begin an intensive music study, and Singer/Guitarist Nate Weldon re-teamed with the Tahoe Hotshots - an elite group of wilderness firefighters. While many of the songs on 'Take Flight' do reflect the feel and rhythm of the bands' first

Winning a Grammy was not the defining career moment for Indigo Girls band member, Amy Ray. Working closely with R.E.M. didn't make the mark either. It was opening for the Grateful Dead. Ray described the unforgettable memory that stands out most from her 30-year music career. "It was a moment of playing this huge stadium [with] 30,000 people, and we were sure nobody would be listening to us. But that's not what happened." Adds Ray, "People really clapped and they loved us, and it felt like we kind of made our mark in some way, and were able to do something, just, really hard." The Grammy-award-winning duo, which also includes singer/songwriter Emily Saliers, will be playing at this yea