Local LGBT-produced internet radio show (or “podcast”) The Instant Gratification Podcast has been selected to participate in the 5th anniversary live broadcast of “Pride 48,” a 48-hour broadcast of LGBT-produced and LGBT-friendly podcasts celebrating Pride Month. Starting on the evening of Friday June 14th and running through Sunday June 16th, an assortment of shows will be hosting special live internet broadcasts. Topics of selected shows include comedy, political talk, pop culture, music, and more. The Instant Gratification Podcast has also been invited to participate in a similar Pride 48 live broadcasting event hosted at The Excalibur in Las Vegas, NV during the first weekend of Septe

The Sacramento Old City Association is organizing a public forum on Mckinley Village on June 8 at the Midtown Village Cafe. The Sacramento Press will be live streaming and blogging the event. To get emailed when the action kicks off, register here: I sent SOCA Chair (and Sac Press Elite Contributor and all-star commenter) William Burg a few questions about the event and its goals. His response are below. SP: Why did SOCA decide to do a forum on McKinley Village? WB: Our mission statement is based on achieving balanced and harmonious relationships among residential, commercial and employment uses. Change happens whether we like it or not, but engaged citizens can direct change in posi

Our editor Jared Goyette will be sitting down with Thomas Dodson at Bows and Arrows on Wednesday afternoon, May 19, for a live chat.  Dodson recently posted an op-ed professing his love for our city, telling the haters to either get proactive or move on.  Our readers weighed in onsite and via twitter.  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.

Sacramento's own Humor Times publication is celebrating its 22nd Anniversary by bringing the hilarious and nationally-touring Capitol Steps comedy troupe to Sacramento, on Sunday, May 5th. The show starts at 6:30pm, and will take place in the Martinique Ballroom at the Clarion Inn on 1401 Arden Way, which is next to the Arden Fair Mall. The Capitol Steps are renowned for their unique brand of musical political comedy, lampooning all sides in national politics with a non-partisan, equal-opportunity bashing that leaves no political party or personality unscathed The Steps use a fast-paced set of songs and skits, as the wildly popular group presents a show that is unequaled for its original

UNIQUE Programs is pleased to present a concert featuring twenty | one | pilots. The concert will be hosted in the Sacramento State University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013. In its purest form, music acts as a conduit of self-expression that's free from the conventions of society. That spirit of fearlessness lies at the core of twenty | one | pilots, an Ohio-based group whose musical vision is completely their own. Over the past few years the duo of front man Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun have built a hardcore following that seems primed to reach a fever pitch with the January 8, 2013 release of their Fueled By Ramen debut Vessel. They were recently names one

Runaway Stage Productions is a Sacramento theater company that's been presenting popular Broadway musical plays since the late nineties. Director Bob Baxter recently did a series of video interviews with SacTV.com to talk about the history and future of the company. The group plans musicals with voluneteers and seasoned professionals then performs at the theater next door on 24th Street. One of the productions coming to the live stage in 2013 will be 9 To 5, based on the Dolly Parton song and movie. Other shows coming to the theater  will be 42nd Street and The Wizard of Oz.  Bob explains how the theater group gives local people of various ages opportunities to develop their acting and si

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs is pleased to announce a live performance featuring Mary Youngblood at the University Union Ballroom on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Native American Mary Youngblood, half Seminole and half Aleut, is the first woman to professionally record the Native American Flute, and the first woman to win not just one, but two Grammy Awards for "Best Native American Music Album". In addition to Mary’s two Grammy Awards and three nominations, she was the first woman to win 'Flutist of the Year' in both 1999 and 2000. She also won 'Best Female Artist' in 2000 at the Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS). With five unique and accomplished albums under her b

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, in collaboration with Associated Students, Inc., is pleased to announce a free comedy show by the Ambassadors of Comedy at the University Union Ballroom on Thursday, February 23, 2012. The AMBASSADORS OF COMEDY is a Los Angeles-based, collective of multicultural stand up comedians. The hilarious theme show consists routines about life in the United States from a foreigner’s perspective from four veteran stand up comics, each from different cultural backgrounds. The Ambassador’s of Comedy motto is: “If you can’t go on vacation, we’ll bring the vacation to you.” Jeff Hodge, from The Virgin Islands, has credits that include “Crocodile Dun

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, Student Health & Counseling Services, and Active Minds are pleased to announce The Vagina Monologues at the Sacramento State University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Eve Ensler, a playwright and feminist, wrote The Vagina Monologues. The monologues are a compilation of Ensler’s interviews with hundreds of women on their views and experiences of sex, relationships, and violence and cover issues of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Sac State’s production will include only student actresses reciting the dialogues. The Vagina Monologues are part of V-Day, a global activist movement to end violenc

The "Sister Swing" trio and their seven piece band starts the holiday season off right this Sunday at the Coloma Center Auditorium. Singing holiday classics from the Andrews Sisters to Frank Sinatra, the event will be family friendly and feature lively dancing in addition to tunes popular to young and old. Tickets are available at the door or online. Join in the fun at 4623 T Streets Sunday at 3 PM. Proceeds benefit community media that "makes a difference, one voice at a time".

World-renowned pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman will perform at the Crest Theatre Nov. 4 with musical guests Anne Cochran and Benjamin Utecht. Brickman, who also sings at his concerts, said he will be performing romantic melodies, a few Christmas songs, but no breakup songs – that’s just not his style. "The Gift," "Valentine” and "Love of My Life" are just some of his famous love song compositions. He has collaborated with various musical talents, including Martina McBride, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Bolton and Lady Antebellum. "You have to find your own voice, because if you sound like someone else, then there's nothing unique about you," Brickman said. His distinct style of music

Sacramento has been listed in Time Magazine as one of most diverse cities in America. The city is also known for its trees and for being an hour away from everything including mountains, the ocean, and other major cities. The Sacramento Press took to the streets to ask: Is Sacramento a good place to live or leave? Dan Kaiser, a retired diesel mechanic who currently lives in Manteca, said Sacramento doesn’t have a bad rap like other major cities. “It’s a hub of activity. There are problems but (Mayor) Kevin Johnson is doing a good job. Old town Sacramento is an important part of Sacramento too because there’s a lot of fun things to do. It’s a very family oriented-town.”  Kao Xiong is or

I’ve been using the word “fantastic” a lot lately, a bad habit I picked up upon moving to California this year. I am trying to quit, but The Slackers show last night deserves no lesser superlative. The languid reggae sound of their albums betrays the intensity and raucous atmosphere of a live concert. Harlow’s was packed with a crowd that included those sporting pork pie hats, the “flannels” and even a few groovy baby boomers sipping their wine responsibly. Of course, also attending was the obligatory drunk girl in jeggings and high-heeled boots that would later storm the stage for an impromptu “performance.” We’ve all heard reggae or rock-steady before, but to witness the perfect fluidi

Candlebox and Live. The two bands combined have sold over 25 million albums. Candlebox's eponymous debut went platinum four times following its release in 1993, and peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Charts. Live's sophomore effort, "Throwing Copper," released the following year, sold over 8 million copies, reached #1 on the US Billboard Charts, and included four Top 10 singles, two of which ("Selling the Drama" and "Lightning Crashes") reached #1.  (I'm pretty sure that "Lightning Crashes" is – and will continue to be – the only number one hit in American history featuring "placenta" as a prominent lyric.) At the peak of its fame, Live was among the biggest rock bands in the country, if

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

Fox's 'So You Think You Can Dance' 2010 Tour made a stop in Sacramento on Tuesday night as it approaches the end of its mammoth 40-city run.  An estimated 5,000 people were in attendance to see Season 7's most popular routines as well as original pieces created specifically for the tour. The dancer line-up includes a mix of Season 7 contestants: Adéchiké, Ashley, Billy, Jose, Kent, Lauren and Robert, as well as All-Stars including Ade, Allison, Courtney, Dominic and Kathryn.  Also joining is Season 6 winner Russell. For upcoming events at Arco Arena, please click here. Contestants and All-Stars from SYTYCD Season 7 perform.    Season 7 All-Star and Roseville native Dominic Sandoval (l

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 ea

Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs is pleased to announce a free comedy show featuring DOUG BENSON at the University Union Ballroom on Thursday, October 28, 2010. Doug Benson is a man of many credits. He has his own own documentary called Super High Me based on a joke from his standup act. He finished in the top six of the 2007 season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and was a series regular on four seasons of VH-1’s Best Week Ever. He makes recurring appearances on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. His second Comedy Central Presents half-hour special premiered in January ’09. He has appeared on the classic sitcom Friends,HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, and CBS’ How I Met Your Mother, and

It’s always amazing to see the real power of words. The words — the way they can fill a room with sound and fury and electricity, all from someone speaking a certain way. All from poetry. The New Dimensions Learning Academy on 35th and Broadway hosts such talents and was graced by the presence of the award-winning “Queen of New York,” Tantra Zawadi, who performed some of her spoken word Saturday. The academy holds an open mic night every last Saturday of the month, and this particular night multiple artists hit the stage with rhythmic energy, syllabic enigmas and profound social commentary. “I feel like this is a place that I can come to live, you know?” attendee Maurice Sanders, 21, s

Friday Night Concerts in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza is about to meet this season's end Aug. 13. Join The Sacramento Press for the second-to-last installment of this free, all-ages outdoor concert series featuring The Golden Cadillacs, Light Rail, and Johnny Guitar Knox & the Soothers. The music and festivities begin at 5 p.m. and run till 8 p.m., and the concert features local bands specializing in folksy, bluegrass music In its 19th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park still attracts huge crowds from all walks of life. Interesting vendors, delicious food stands, great live music and the ever-popular beer garden make for a fun and inexpensive summer evening for the whole family.