Capital city music lovers, rejoice! Sacramento and the surrounding areas are a hotbed for incredible music talent and excellent venues.  Sacramento’s collection of venues includes notable venues such as Harlow’s, Ace of Spades, the Crest Theatre, the Memorial Auditorium, and Power Balance Pavilion.  Add Thunder Valley, Folsom’s Three Stages, UC Davis’ Freeborn Hall and Mondavi Center, and seasonal outdoor venues such as Wheatland’s Sleep Train Amphitheatre and Cal Expo’s stages during the California State Fair, and there are so many places to go for a great show.  And no, I haven’t forgotten about Midtown favorites like The Distillery, Blue Lamp, and Marilyn’s.  I also never forget about

Who gives a shout out to the Central Valley? Well, someone from the Central Valley. This week, Cake played twice for eager Central Valley crowds. The local band performed for happy Cakesters at Freeborn Hall on the UC Davis campus on both Thursday and Friday nights. Friday night, the Memorial Union hall was at capacity, 1,775 people deep. On Thursday, nearly 1,300 people came out to sway and nod with Cake. An hour before the show on Thursday night, fans were already lined up outside, ready to vie for a good spot in the community center hall. Thursday night drew a devoted crowd with one (especially) veteran fan who declared she’s been to over 20 Cake spectaculars over the years. The alt

Cake. Simple, home-baked, yet such a delicacy. The five member band will start the academic year off right for UC Davis students. The local favorite will perform at University of California, Davis’ Freeborn Hall this Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7. While the band's tunes are so rollicking and varying that they are essentially without genre, Cake is known for a number of hits including, "The Distance" and "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle." "Never There" and "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" also function effectively as cult classics for the current twenty-something generation. (Even if some have now reached their thirties.) The band's newest album, "Showroom of Compassion," was released in Januar

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Defending The Caveman at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Through Sunday, July 24th: Music Circus presents Oliver! at Wells Fargo Pavilion on 1419 H Street Sacramento. Shows at various times. Tickets are $30.00 - $59.00. Beginning Tuesday, July 26th - Sunday, July 31st: Anything Goes Through Sunday, July 31st: CA State Fair Concert Series at Cal Expo. Info

These aren't the kind of shows you necessarily have to be "in the know" to know about. Most of Cake's hometown shows here in Sacramento over the past couple of years have been centered around their occasional surprise shows at the relatively tiny Blue Lamp, with announcements for the gigs usually coming the day before or day of - or not at all. You may now consider yourself "in the know." Cake will perform a pair of concerts on Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7 at Freeborn Hall on the University of California Davis campus. Tickets are $37 in advance and $42 the day of the show. Tickets are currently in pre-sale, and will be on sale to the general public on Friday, July 22 beginn

What was supposed to be one of the biggest (non-election day) Tuesdays in history just got a bit smaller with the cancellation of Social Distortion's show with Chuck Ragan and Lucero at UC Davis' Freeborn Hall. According to Social D's website, the shows were cancelled "due to an outbreak of the flu," and tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. That officially means "cancelled," not "postponed," so we'll have to wait for the next tour. Bummer - but there's still plenty to do tonight. Check out the sunny sweet Dawes over at Odd Fellows Hall in Davis with Jonny Corndawg, or Clutch over at Harlow's in Midtown. Details on both shows are available here. Reportedly, in the wake of t

It’s hard to say if the ol’ Rundown screening process is easier or harder when there’s a lot going on – but Lord have mercy, is it a big week here in Sactown! And it’s not just this week either. In addition to last Saturday’s Ra Ra Riot show selling out (as has Friday’s Goapele show), has anyone else noticed that the calendar of concerts at Harlow’s has gone completely berserk in the last couple weeks. Just look at some of the names on deck: Kaki King, ALO, Murder by Death, North Mississippi Allstars, Truth & Salvage Co., Zach Deputy, Young the Giant and Rocky Votolato, just to name a few. There’s one more that’s not listed: G. Love & Special Sauce make their return on April 13. Stay tun

Don’t worry, Sactown, this week’s Rundown has been crafted so that playoff viewing won’t be a conflict (hangovers notwithstanding). We’ve got some ferociously creative names on deck throughout the remainder of the week, and a ton more brewing over the next few, including a four-concert indoor series out in Davis from the same folks who handle the summer stock at Sophia’s, and a three-day festival at the ToHo. Stay tuned to Sac Press, it’s gonna be a winter party! If you are planning or promoting a concert in the Sacramento area, or just know of a show you’d like to see featured in the Rundown, shoot me an email Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights – Certainly fortuitous timing of today’

Drifters, turn back! We’re keeping it good and local (kinda) this week as we celebrate our last weekend of theoretical playtime before Christmas all but consumes our ability to gobble up live music. We’re flanked by two gigs over the course of five days from one of the darlings of our local music family that have since relocated, but are spending a little time at home for the Holidays. I’ll be taking next week off to dunk my head in a giant bowl of eggnog, but keep your eyes peeled the week after for a special New Year’s edition of the Rundown once we’re done singing “O, Tannenbaum” – because Lord knows we need something to counter all the usual NYE nonsense of paying $50 for a cover band

It would be easy for many loyal concert-going aficionados to have a beef with what Band of Horses does not do when it plays live – and that beef might be legitimate. A Band of Horses concert is a little like going to a gourmet restaurant and ordering a meal made entirely of ingredients you have in your own fridge. It’s hard to shake that little snarky voice in the back of your head that’s reminding you that you already have all this stuff. But the reality is, you’re going to have it simmered and served up better than you could get it left to your own devices. Band of Horses’ sonic feast of a set Thursday night at UC Davis’ Freeborn Hall was heavy on familiarity, but equally heavy on refi

More than 1,200 fans attended the sold-out Passion Pit show Wednesday at UC Davis Freeborn Hall and were ready to get their groove on. An hour before the event kids were lined up, dressed to impress with glow stick and all, ready to stake their spot close to the stage. It was a spectacle to see such an interactive audience harmonizing, chanting and singing along. Passion Pit received quick success from its introductory ep "Chunk of Change," which was released in September 2008. Since the ep's release, the band has released a full-length album, "Manners," and is currently making its way south to play at this weekend's Coachella Festival in Indio Valley. The Southern California desert festi