Don your green and get into the St. Patrick's Day spirit this weekend! Sacramento celebrates everyone's favorite Irish holiday this Saturday and Sunday with a slew of entertaining events. In addition to the ones listed below, see even more selections in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Events section. Family-friendly fun: -17th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade: Old Sacramento; Sat 1pm Hundreds of colorful marchers dressed in green, along with Irish and Highland dancers, pipe and drum bands, historic re-enactors, and a variety of cultural organizations, will all join together to be a part of the 17th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. -St. Patrick's Day at the California Automobile Museum: Ca

People get gung-ho about repetitive dates, and so do we here at Sacramento365.com! In that spirit, we decided to get in the groove of 12/12/12 and round-up 12 fun things for you to do in Sacramento today. 1. See choirs from the Lodi Seventh Day Adventist Elementary School (11am) or the US Army Corps of Engineers (Noon) perform holiday tunes for free at the Capitol's annual Holiday Music Program. 2. Do a little shopping at Sacramento Downtown Plaza and then bring your receipt to the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink for a free skate rental. 3. Learn about the local and regional impact of the arts at Pence Gallery's Art Grown Locally panel discussion. 4. Shop for wine while drinking wine at E

Al Stewart returns to Harlow's On an evening from a Stewart concert in a city where they have good times, I strolled out of Harlow's crowd like all was hunky-dory, contemplating the rhymes of Al Stewart's provoking and image-filled songs. I thought just then as I walked back to my car, “I hope Al returns to Sacramento. The cat does great stuff.” That's especially so when he shares the stage with another great guitarist, one who lives just across the causeway in Davis, named Dave. All that played in my head Dec. 18, 2011, one of those Years of the Cat, if you know what I mean. In 2011, Stewart and Dave Nachmanoff ruled from the Harlow's platform as I sat there, rapt. I had missed out,

After an outcry from neighborhood leaders, police agreed recently to rescind a recommendation for a restriction on the liquor license transfer at Harlow’s, a nightclub at 2708 J St. A shooting Aug. 18 spurred some neighbors to act when the license came up for transfer to new owners – with the residents arguing that alcohol sales on the block, which includes several restaurants and bars, were partly responsible for the shooting. A group of residents have historically opposed alcohol-selling businesses on the block, and one of the most vocal of the group, Vito Sgromo, told police in an Aug. 19 email that he intended to protest the liquor license transfer due to crime in the area. Sgromo d

!!! (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 y

Music critics greeted The Lumineer’s self-titled debut album with adjectives like “gritty,” “rustic,” and “nostalgic,” so it seems fitting that lead-singer Wesley Schultz’s used the word “primal” to describe their live shows: The songs, minimal as they already are, are trimmed of studio fat  when performed live. “I think one of the things that we try to do live is to let it all hang out...” Wesley told The Observer’s Kitty Empire. “We don’t try to be perfect at all.” That “primal” quality, along with Bing-commercial-popularized “Hey, Ho,” will make their Sacramento debut Oct. 9th and 10th in Midtown’s Harlow’s when the Lumineers stake their claim as the next banjo pop/folk rock/acoustic

Music review by Gary Chew Jazz and blues vocalist Catherine Russell came into my “sonic” view late. I'm so much the richer for that now-comfortable music connection with this native New Yorker. I know that, after scrutinizing her talent, I'm the poorer for not having heard this woman sooner. But Catherine, as they say, was a late bloomer, albeit has worked with names that have blinked on marquee lights, just like her father, Luis Russell, did. Luis Russell was Louis Armstrong's music director in the mid-forties, and was a pianist, composer-arranger and big band leader. Catherine sings at Harlow's (2708 J St.) on Friday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. Swell Productions and Capital Public Radio (my

A common assumption that's really just a myth is that the past, present and future have nothing to do with each other. Many people might assume that Sacramento's local history is all about things that are never coming back. Yet, an event called Retro-Union on Labor Day weekend was like time travel to the past and future. The event was held at Harlows on Saturday, September 1 and attracted hundreds of people who still cherish the alternative dance music of the 80s and 90s. The futuristic part of the evening was performed by Gotham Chorus with Harrison Price, unleashing an innovative light show and new layers of electronic sound, captured on video by SacTV.com. One of the show's highlig

The fatal shooting of a man walking near 28th and J streets in Midtown early Saturday morning has nearby residents concerned about a perceived connection between violence and the local bar scene, but Sutter District business owners say there is no cause for alarm. “Midtown is a safe district,” Midtown Business Association Executive Director Elizabeth Studebaker said Monday. “It’s not the kind of place where we’re accustomed to this kind of violence. It’s definitely not the norm for us.” The Sutter District is a popular destination and draws thousands of people each week, according to Studebaker. That concentration of people can create occasional problems, she said, but not unlike any oth

King Arthur’s Castle, a pirate ship setting and Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest were a great background for the third annual Moonlight Costume Ball held at Fairytale Town on Friday, Aug. 3. This year’s theme was “Men in Tights.” The event was held to raise funds to renovate Fairytale Town’s Sherwood Forest playset. Sharlene Lal-Hernandez, education and program manager at Fairytale Town, estimated that over 400 people attended the 21-and-over ball. The Mother Goose Theater served as a concert stage for the Celtic rock band Tempest. This prolific San Francisco-based group was formed in 1988, and has 15 CDs to their credit. Tempest continues to tour regularly and is currently on a West Coast

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

"You're the kinda trouble that's hard to resist. I'd hate to think of all the fun I'd miss. I've heard the rumors, I hope they're true. You're the kinda trouble I could get into." (Solomon Burke) Wendell Holmes, Sherman Holmes and Popsy Dixon poured their passionate spirits into every bluesy note played Thursday night at Swell-Productions’ presentation at Harlow’s. The laid-back atmosphere and hip decor helped make it the perfect venue to host the Holmes Brothers. These three soulful guys displayed their diverse talents in a wonderful mix of gospel, R&B, rock ‘n' roll and blues, and every song received a great reception from the energetic audience. Within seconds of breaking into bluesy

The third annual Sacramento Electronic Music Festival swarmed into Harlow’s and the Momo Lounge this weekend. From Thursday to Saturday, tremendous pulsating music attracted an overwhelming crowd to Midtown. Three nights of great music brought over three dozen premier entertainers to the stages. The festival had been in the works for months, and the promoters worked feverishly to bring a great lineup of electronic artists for each evening. Co-creators Adam Saake and Clay Nutting brought together great talent to perform this year. Although Thursday night’s crowd started off small, it grew quite rapidly as the evening progressed. Doors to the venue opened at 7 p.m. and performers took

Have you seen the line-up for this year’s Sacramento Electronic Festival? It’s chock full of electronic artists of all varieties, well known and upcoming, spanning three days--May 3-May 5--taking over both Harlow’s and the Momo Lounge. Founded in 2010, SEMF’s third year promises to be bigger and better than ever. Sacramento365.com sat down with SEMF co-collaborators Adam Saake and Clay Nutting to find out the behind-the scenes scoop. How did the Sacramento Electronic Musical Festival get started? Adam: It’s a grassroots festival and even though we’re approaching year three we are in no way, shape, or form even done building the foundation of this thing. We try to keep that in mind, try to

  photographs by Barry Wisdom | The hair and trademark round spectacles are long gone, but 1980s synth-pop icon Thomas Dolby, whose 1982 worldwide hit "She Blinded Me With Science" helped launch MTV, delivered a two-hour set to a capacity Harlow's crowd April 14 that proved his unique storytelling ability, voice and musicianship are as fresh as ever. The stop, part of Dolby's current "Time Capsule" tour that kicked off March 16, 2012, in Austin, Texas, featured well-known cuts from the last 30 years – such as "Europa and the Pirate Twins," "One of Our Submarines," "Hyperactive!" and, of course, "Science – plus selections from his recently released CD "A Map of the Floating City." Thou

A group of college friends conceived of an idea based on a passion: produce concerts that give back to the community. Formed in 1999, Concerts 4 Charity (C4C) obtained official 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2002, and has since expanded from its humble beginnings in Worcester, Massachusetts to several locations across the country, following the initial founders as they dispersed after graduating. Along with Worcester, chapters are now present in Portland, Maine; Ashland, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Sacramento, California. The Sacramento Chapter, run by founding member Clay Nutting, focuses on causes he is devoted to: music, arts education, and supporting the local music community.

Thank you, Joel Nathaniel Cummins, for hitting the nail on the head. “Thanks for making us feel like it’s South Bend back in about 2000,” Umphrey’s McGee’s keyboard player proclaimed when the band stepped back on stage for the evening’s encore, a funky take on “A Fifth of Beethoven.” In a room filled with predominantly devout followers of the road raging jam band, there was a palpable buzz throughout Harlow’s on Sunday evening not only about the band’s first ever visit to Sacramento, but about seeing them in such a small joint. Like this reporter, many folks had caught their show the night before at Oakland’s sprawling Fox Theatre. Both shows were stellar examples of this band’s unique

Sacramento is coming alive this weekend for St. Patrick's Day! To build upon the great round-up of events included in this article, here are a few more to consider for this Saturday. Block Parties & Pub Parties: -St. Paddy's R Street Pub Crawl: R Street Corridor (14th-15th Streets), Sat Noon-1am Come celebrate St. Paddy's Day at your favorite R District bars: R15 Bar, Ace of Spades, Burgers & Brew, and the Shady Lady. Enjoy a performance by The Cheeseballs, drink specials, and Irish grub at all locations. -St. Paddy's in The Sutter District: The Sutter District, Sat Noon-1am Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day at your favorite Sutter District bars: Ink Eats & Drinks, Blue Cue, BarWest, Mon

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

If you’re really bored (or a total setlist nerd who likes to look for cheeky cover songs), take a moment to peruse the meticulously curated archives of Umphrey’s McGee touring history. With a catalog of shows that numbers in the triple digits each year since 2000, you’ll find one California city that’s noticeably absent from any year in their history. Any guesses? Well, you’re not reading a news site called the Stockton Press right now, are you? They’ve tap danced around us before (San Francisco, Truckee, Tahoe, Chico, Santa Cruz), but Sunday’s show at Harlow’s will indeed be the increasingly popular jam jockeys’ first show in Sactown. Not only that, but if you look even closer at that t