Sacramento's own post-hardcore outfit, A Lot Like Birds, is off on the road today to record their third full-length album with Producer Kris Crummett (Sleeping With Sirens, Dance Gavin Dance) at Interlace Studios in Portland, OR. For the last year or so the band has been slaving away at their rehearsal space at House of Hits in Sacramento, in-between touring the US and Europe, to lay the groundwork for their latest project which according to the band, is to be their most ambitious release to date. "It's gonna be nuts," says drummer Joseph Arrington, stating that the band is both very excited and very stressed about the culmination of their journey on this new record. "We have 10 songs wri

Forget about “America’s Got Talent” – the TV show filled with strange and questionable performances. Access Sacramento is hosting the first “Sacramento Has Talent” live show filled with legitimately talented local people, many young and on the rise. A comedian, spoken word artist, flutist, vocalist, bands and dancers will take the stage in a showcase of Sacramento’s performing artists at the Crest Theater on Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. Show proceeds will benefit Access Sacramento’s youth correspondent program. The program trains youth, ages 16 to 21, to write news stories and produce video news about their own neighborhoods. Students selected for the program learn career skills while re

www.sactoberfest.com http://sactoberfest.eventbrite.com/ Cesar Chavez Park – 910 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 Saturday, October 6, 2012, 12:00pm – 5:00pm Active 20-30 Club #1 Sacramento presents their 31st Annual Oktoberfest. In past years Oktoberfest has been held at venues such as Fairytale Town, and Cal Expo. This year the fun returns to the Cesar Chavez Park, right in the heart of Downtown Sacramento. One of the year’s largest fundraising events for Active 20-30 Oktoberfest will provide a fun and exciting day for all attendees. Like other Oktoberfest events the beer will be flowing, but Active 20-30 raises the bar for their event. Along with multiple craft beer breweries there wi

Over the weekend I spent some time exploring various indie music scenes around America. Instead of getting in my car and driving around America, I just stayed home and clicked around on ReverbNation, which hosts over a million indie bands worldwide. Of course, besides going to shows, listening online is about the only way to find out about local music scenes because even if you drove city to city, chances are you wouldn't hear much indie music on the radio. You either have to go to a bunch of dive bars in order to construct a report on indie music, or just listen online. My latest SacTV.com video explains how indie music would be stronger with better navigators and presenters.  The great

The plink of a ukulele and the beat of drums filled the air when the Pacific Rim Street Festival took over Old Sacramento Sunday. Despite temperatures reaching into the 80s, thousands crowded the streets and plank wood boardwalks from end to end of Front Street to enjoy the celebration of Asian and Pacific Rim culture at the annual street festival. The day included a long lineup of events including live music, taiko drum demonstrations, arts and crafts booths and activities just for children. A bevvy of pageant beauties paraded through the streets during the festival, each one a winner in the 2011 Miss Vietnam Sacramento pageant. The festival is an opportunity for people to experien

Somewhere between the stilt-walkers, the horn section and the drum line, the members of the March Fourth Marching Band find a way to mix funk, jazz and burlesque into one spectacle of a show – and they’re bringing it all to Harlow’s Wednesday night. March Fourth Marching Band – M4 as it’s come to be known by fans – is a self-styled, cross-genre musical extravaganza from Portland that boasts a roster of more than 30 members who rotate in the lineup for shows. “It’s a spectacle, for sure,” stilt-walker and part-time band manager Nayana Jennings said Monday. “There’s something to watch, something to hear, and an interaction between the audience and the band that you don’t often see.” The c

On Saturday, April 21st, 2012, from noon to 6pm, we’re blocking off 35th street in Oak Park between Broadway and 5th Avenue…and prodigious painters will perform…on pavement. It’s all part of the 3rd Annual Painters Paradise …named so in observance of the numerous artists who will actually be performing their craft live throughout the day. Besides the entertaining brushwork, other attractions include: · A classic car show with over 20 custom cars, from the 1920s to the 1960s · A fun, educational and interactive larger than life kaleidoscope exhibit presented by Captain Kaleidoscope · Live performances by blues rockers, Neckbone, Sacramento rapper PREF1X and the Sac High M.I.S.S.E.S Step

Sacramento's ever popular dance band HIP SERVICE returns to Harlows for a night of dancing and soulful surprises. Nationally recognized as "Best Dance Band in America," the 14 piece HIP SERVICE collective promises to deliver a memorable night of funky dance grooves. "There ain't no party like a Hip Service party!" We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Guest host for the evening is the beloved Sacramento radio personality Lee Perkins, hosting a benefit show for Soles 4 Souls. Bring an extra pair of shoes for donation, wear your most comfortable dancing pair and we'll see you on the dance floor. Usually a sell out, so buy yours in advance. Saturday, March 31 10 pm Ages 21+ Harlow's

Verge Center for the Arts has remained a consistent hub of creativity for Sacramento since they first opened their doors as a private art gallery in 2009. In 2010 they expanded into their current space—a 22,000 square foot warehouse in Downtown Sacramento—and organized as a nonprofit. Now home to 30 resident studio artists, plus extensive gallery and event space, Verge continues their mission of exposing Sacramento to the contemporary art and artists of the region. 2011 was a particularly big year for Verge. Among many other achievements, they had a more-than-successful Kickstarter campaign ($9,165 raised on a $7,500 goal!), won the First Place award of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Co

    Come join us for our 1st Annual Bands, Beans, & Brews on Sunday, October 23, 2011 in Howe Park, 2201 Cottage Way. Enjoy local bands, including Still Kicking and JackWagon from 1pm until 5pm. For purchase, enjoy the beer garden sponsored by Hoppy Brewing Company (ID required) and additional food vendors. As an added fun treat, enter the homemade Chili contest for prizes, $5 per entry, please inquire about entry form and rules at www.fecrecpark.com or by calling 916/927-3802. Six categories include meat (mild, medium and hot) and vegetarian (mild, medium and hot). Chili’s will be available of purchase during the event at $1 a cup…or you can participate in choosing the “fan favorite

10 Bands…10 Restaurants…5 years.   We did the math…it adds up to big fun at the… 5th Annual Blues for Life, which takes place on Sunday, October 2nd, from 1pm to 7pm, at the Torch Club, 904 15th Street.  (inside and out in the parking lot…two stages)   This popular fundraiser, described in this news release, which has grown every year, benefits Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation, which raises money for expensive diagnostic breast cancer tests such as PET scans and mammograms for women in need. At Albie, we like to say, “Your mother, your sister, your daughter, your best friend... Who Cares?…..Albie Aware!   Besides performances by the area’s leading blues bands, the popular Pasta Cook-

"Road 88" is announce the Best local band in Sacramento and is sponsored by Cowboy Up and Dean Guitars!! Tell the readers, who are the members of “Road 88”? What instruments do you play? Answer: Rachel Steele is the lead singer, Scott Prentice plays rhythm guitar and lead vocals , David Phelps is the lead guitarist and also sings lead vocals, Sherry Eidhammer is the background vocalist, Joe Anderson plays the drums and Joe Irwin plays the bass. When did you start your band and where was your first show? Answer: Rachel, Dave and Scott put the band together in the spring and summer of 2009. We had our first show at Tex Wasabi’s in January 2010. I saw you play at the Laguna Town Hall an

The Hair Garage salon in Folsom hosted a fashion show to showcase Nini’s Boutique summer collection. The Hair Garage is located at 990 Riley Street in Folsom and it opened in 2008. In addition to the fashion show on Friday night, two live bands entertained guests. A barbecue and drinks were provided free of charge. Designer tops, jeans and handbags were available for purchase and many of Nini’s Boutique items were available for special prices. The salon was packed as many came to see the fashion show and stayed to listen to Rise From Within and Silence of the Grimm. Both are local bands and both were quite entertaining. Christina Mercadel, advance stylist, provided me with information

Sacramento musicians and their followers are waiting to see whether this summer brings an end to an era of live music at Old Ironsides. Countless local bands broke into the music business at the bar/restaurant known as "Old I" over the last two decades. But there's currently only one weekend show booked for July. Two shows that had been set for next month have been moved to another location, one has been canceled and future bookings have been postponed for now. The family that has owned the bar at 1901 10th St. for 76 years is working to replace a rented sound system that was removed Sunday. The Kanelos family rented the system for about 17 years and was unable to negotiate a lower fee

Locals boogied to music from Miss Lonely Hearts, Keri Carr and The Golden Cadillacs at Cesar Chavez Park for Concerts in the Park Friday night. The host said that several audience members shook their hips like “country zumba dancers” to each of the bands. Mothers danced with their sons and daughters, couples boogied down and children ran in front of the stage. Around 1,000 people came out to buy food and drinks and enjoy the music. Miss Lonely Hearts band is an experimental country and roots band from Davis. The band includes Wyatt Hesemeyer as the lead singer, Patrick O’Connor on suitcase percussion, Doug Keen on bass and vocals and Keith Cary on lap steel and mandolin. Hesemeyer’s lo

As I walked into Harlow's, I tried to push aside preconceived notions about the kind of band that does an all-ages show at a nightclub (strike one), has a Facebook page that insists they're not a band but rather "a movement” (strike two and three) and inserts a period into the middle of their name. Portugal. The Man was good, though. And so was their opening musician, Telekinesis. Telekinesis is the alter ego of singer, drummer, songwriter (etc.) Michael Benjamin Lerner, who is accompanied by Cody Votolato and Jason Narducy while on tour. Lerner has worked extensively with Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, and the influence was easy to recognize in Telekinesis’ song “Rust.” Tho

After their Cinco de Mayo performance at Harlow’s, the members of Portugal. The Man were wandering just outside the club, signing posters, hugging people, hanging out. After reading through a lot of PR crap in researching the band, I was convinced they would be unapproachable. Or perhaps, more like, I was convinced I didn’t want to approach them. Luckily fellow Sac Press contributor Lindol French and I ran into Zach Carothers, Wasilla, Alaska, native and PTM bassist. With a Pabst Blue Ribbon shoved into his shirt’s front pocket, Carothers happily offered us cigarettes and some interesting info, especially concerning former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin and her involvement/non-involvement in t

Portugal. The Man, as you can read, has a period placed in the middle of their band’s name. Internet legend has it that co-founder and frontman John Gourley once explained this as, “an attempt to create a demi-mythic entity bigger than the individual members.” Whether a “demi-mythic entity,” or just four humble dudes in flannel shirts and tight jeans show up, Portugal. The Man will be performing a special all ages show for their fans this Thursday night at Harlow’s. Portugal. The Man Show begins at 6:30. Harlow's Tickets are $17.50 and can be purchased through Harlow’s web site. 

The walls of McClatchy High Auditorium vibrated mightily today when 150 tubas gathered for the 31st annual TubaChristmas concert. Big, bold, and brassy sounds of tubas, euphoniums, sousaphones and baritones filled the space and entertained an estimated crowd of 800. During the free Christmas music concert, the audience sang with gusto, asked questions about the different instruments and wanted to hear the very lowest sound that tubas can make. Steve Iwata and others conducted the aural and visual feast for the senses. Powerful, yet melodic sounds arose from instruments decorated with garlands and blinking lights while the players themselves were adorned in red and green TubaChristmas kni

Celebrating Halloween is now a month-long occasion. Here are some spooky activities to get your skin crawling and set your nerves on end all the way through the 31st. All events are in Sacramento, unless noted otherwise. Trash Film Orgy Halloween 2010 Crest Theatre, 1013 K St. Oct. 31: 8 p.m. (doors open) 9 p.m. (show begins) All seats cost $10 ($1 discount for those wearing costumes) Ages 18 and older only More information: www.trashfilmorgy.com or call 916-44-CREST Trash Film Orgy presents “Heavy Metal Halloween” at the Crest Theatre. Live bloody stage shows, audience participation, games and costume contests will accompany a showing of the 1986 film “Trick or Treat,” featuring cameo