Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "nightlife"

Monthly beer tasting: Grab a pint of Fool's Gold

2013-05-22T06:46:27Z

In honor of a recent weekend excursion to the foothills, this month’s tasting will be Auburn Alehouse's Fool’s Gold Pale Ale. “The Pale that Packs a Punch,” as they proclaim, is made just up the road in Placer County.

At first glance, the off-white head is generous, dense and foamy. The aroma is fresh and bready, and the body is pale, golden straw in color.

The taste is immediately fresh and light – a real easy drinker, but with a warming alcohol finish. This brew is 7.8 percent ABV, surprisingly high for a “pale ale” – rightly so, as they refer to it more specifically on the label as a West Coast strong pale ale. Others refer to this type of beer as a strong American blonde, or more simply, a strong ale.

The body is perhaps the best characteristic of Fool’s Gold. The medium body and creamy head are full enough to leave a feeling of weighty satisfaction on your tongue without ever being excessive. Combine that with the warming aftertaste, and the flavor profile is complete without trying to do too much.

Sometimes it’s nice in this complicated world to sip on something full-flavored, simple and balanced. If your brain is tired, you are feeling like a zombie and all you want is a little satisfaction and a few warm feelings, not much is better than a well-made strong blonde. It’s not bitter, not sweet, not heavy, not sour, not light or fizzy, not pretentious or complicated… no frills when you’re not in the mood, just a damn good beer for the 21st century.

Other local and regional variants of this style (by no means all identical) include the well-known Mendocino Brewing Company’s Eye of the Hawk, Loomis Basin Brewing Company’s Alohawk, and a certain Big Blonde Zombie said to be coming soon from rising local star New Helvetia Brewing Company.

Fool’s Gold is great alone, but would pair nicely with something simple, creamy and nutty – Danish Fontina cheese and whole grain crackers come to mind. Trade sips and bites and you’ll soon feel alive again.

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Don't forget to check out our upcoming beer event while you're at it! “Taste, Review & Brew” will be held next week at New Helvetia Brewing Company.

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.

Get festive with Cinco de Mayo in Sacramento

2013-04-30T18:41:45Z

Tequila, tacos, maybe some more tequila—these are but some of the tasty aspects of the quickly-approaching Cinco de Mayo. If you're lucky enough to spend this fifth of May in Sacramento, there's also comedy, music, and more to make your Cinco de Mayo celebration a festive one.

In addition to the events below, find even more in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Events section.

Laugh a lot:

Sacramento Cinco de Mayo Festival: Sleep Train Arena; Sun 6pm
Enjoy non-stop laughter on stage with the Latin Stars of Comedy, row after row of low rider cars on display, and Latin All-Stars Band playing all your favorite songs non-stop live.
Cinco de Mayo Comedy Jam: Punch Line Comedy Club; Sun 7pm
Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo along with the funniest Latin and urban comedians in California, all in one show.

Feast festively:

Tamale Party: Food Co-op's Community Learning Center & Cooking School; Thurs 6pm-8:30pm
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, students are invited to join Chef Dio for this hands-on workshop, where they'll learn to make delicious tamales in their home kitchen.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: Centro Cocina Mexicana;
Sat Noon-2am; Sun Noon-9pm
The two-day party will include drink and food specials, an extended patio, no cover, an outdoor bar, music, and a pinata giveaway.
Tapas & Tutus: Elks Tower Historic Ballroom;
Sun 2pm-5pm *VIP Party 5pm-7pm
The benefit for the Sacramento Ballet features a variety of tapas stations, margarita and tequila bar, celebrity salsa bar, and entertainement galore.

Get your drink on:

6th Annual Tequila Festival: Zocalo; Thurs 6pm-9pm
Get your Cinco de Mayo weekend started right and join for this event featuring tequila tastings, appetizers, and a cigar bar.
Cinco de Old Sacto: Old Sacramento Bars; Sun 6pm-2am
All participating bars will have food and drink specials as well as live music, comedy, karaoke, and dancing.

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As an event partner for The Sacramento Press, Sacramento365.com provides information on activities happening in the Sacramento community. Find these and many more events on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

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.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Perfect weather and a beer, anyone?

2013-04-12T01:31:13Z

April and May are the perfect months for enjoying the Sacramento sun. Sure, you can drink a decent beer outside on many a streetside table, but this is about back patios, gardens and out-of-the-way spots to drink out of doors. A lack of car traffic is key, and both fountains and live music earn you extra points.

Before long it will be far too hot to sit and bask with a beer, so without further ado, here are five excellent places in the area to enjoy a beer outdoors. If you agree, disagree, or wish to share your favorite spot in the area, I invite you to do so – secret spots welcome!

Bows & Arrows

This collective has a nice, albeit generally minimal, selection of beers; excellent food made by in-house chef Gabriel Nokes; a great back courtyard and a constantly changing supply of art throughout the complex. Going to Safeway for groceries? Why not stop for a drink and bask in the sun for an hour or two on the way?

They are set up to sell almost anything in the place – clothing, art, jewelry, you name it. Don’t be intimidated – this is a benefit. There are things you are going to want. If you haven’t been, go. It’s a fountain oasis back there.

The Shack

The Shack has amazing beer and plenty of it – and a fire pit for breezier evenings. They also have live music Thursday nights, mussels on Belgian Beer Night (Tuesdays) and Sacramento Beer Week master Dan Scott hosting trivia on Wednesdays.

Belgian beers, local beers, lambics, saisons, German beers – The Shack has choices for everyone. In fact, they have so many beers that you won’t know where to start.

Dad’s Kitchen

Dad’s Kitchen, featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives back in 2011, opened a new tap room and expanded patio on Tuesday night. The shady back patio can get rather packed, but the atmosphere is fun and the staff very friendly. They also frequently have live music. They stock numerous local brews, and as you may have guessed, their food is terrific and goes well with beer - health food fanatics need not stop by.

“Holy crustification,” Guy Fieri said about the Dad’s Burger, a burger encrusted with blue cheese and bacon. Pairs well with an IPA.

Notable facts: All-day happy hour Tuesdays means all beers are $4. During regular happy hours they have a $7 pitcher of PBR, plus one featured craft beer – usually for $4. They also serve Temple coffee if you are headed there for brunch and prefer not to drink in the morning.

Berryessa Brewing Company

This one is a must. It’s true, Berryessa Brewing Company probably isn’t within walking or biking distance of home, but it’s well worth the drive to Winters. They make great brews and the location is picturesquely situated between a vineyard and an orchard. In fact, they share the property with Berryessa Gap Vineyards. They also have frequent live music and along with it, a food truck or specialty caterer such as The Pasta Queen, The Hotdogger or Fuzion Eatz on site. You can also bring a picnic of your own.

Festivals

I admit, this is not a place, per se; you cannot just stop by any day of the week. But on a perfect spring day with sun and just the right amount of heat, there is no better place to be than at an outdoor beer festival. Fremont Park, Discovery Park, Raley Field - picture it.

There is an abundance of outdoor beer festivals in the Sacramento region, starting with the Sacramento Beer and Chili Festival at Fremont Park last Saturday and the Bockbierfest at the Sacramento Turn Verein, also this past weekend.

If you missed last weekend, fear not. There are many more opportunities to come. Pick your favorite locale and get yourself a ticket. Bring friends and enjoy the beautiful weather and the insane variety of beers to choose from.

Upcoming festivals include the Capitol City International Beerfest at the Sacramento Turn Verein (STV) on Saturday, April 27. Proceeds from this event will go to the United States Handball Association FirstAce. The STV’s annual Maifest will take place on May 5 from noon to 5. Now there’s a way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Of all the beer festivals around, those hosted by the STV are the most family friendly. Before you are done with a liter, your son or daughter may be signed up for German language classes, dancing lessons or the STV soccer team. They also generally serve up some pretty delicious traditional German eats.

The West Coast Brew Fest will be Saturday, May 18 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Miller Park – a great spot right on the Sacramento River - and the 7th Annual Raley Field Brewfest will take place on Friday, June 7. Tickets are already on sale, so check it out for your chance to have a beer in the outfield.

If you’re a real planner, the California Brewers Festival at Discovery Park has already been set for Sept. 21, 2013. This festival serves as a terrific sendoff to the summer heat.

Honorable Mention goes to Lagunitas in nearby Petaluma. It’s not local, but it just isn’t right to have a list of outdoor drinking spots without mentioning them. Actually, next week here at the Sacramento Beer Writer we will be laying out a beer road trip. Block off a weekend in your calendar because you're not going to want to wait long before giving it a try.

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What would you give your left testical for?

2013-03-27T20:29:04Z

Think about it... a dream job, a $10,000,000 wire-transfer into your checking account, fame, power, a place in history?

This is the subject of the Actors Workshop of Sacramento's latest stage production Road to Nirvana (Arthur Kopit) starring 2012 elli award-winner Eason Donner. Eason plays Jerry, the ex-best friend of Al Sereno, played by critically acclaimed theater actor Stuart Campbell. Al invites Jerry to LA to discuss the possibility of coming on board to produce the life story of global pop sensation, Nirvana, played by local theater darling Nicole DeCroix.

In a non-stop tale of friendship and sacrifice, Jerry is lead, inch by inch, down a dark and dangerous road... the road to Nirvana. Rounding out the cast in the role of Al's business partner and beguiling girlfriend Lou, is up and comer Amber Marsh. Directed by Mark Heckman and produced by Ed Claudio, this is sure to be one of the hottest and most enthrauling stage productions of the season!

Run: Friday April 5- Sunday May 12 (Wilkerson Theater - 25th & R)
Fri & Sat Night Performances: 8:00pm Sun Evening Performance: 7:00pm

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.

The switch to spring beers

2013-03-18T23:23:32Z

We all love IPAs, but what else out there can ease us into the warm spring afternoons? The answer is the saison.

On cool nights, get your last few sips of the beers that are going out – barley wines, porters and sweet stouts. These rich varieties tend to go out of favor after the temperature gets above 80.

To be clear, there is no need to get rid of these beers. Strong, dark beers generally age very well. Find a dark, cool place to store them for the summer and they will be even better next fall. Heed the warning on storage though; both light and drastic temperature changes are dangerous for beer of any style.

Now on to the saison, a farmhouse ale. Lately, I just haven't been able to stop thinking about a light and refreshing 750 milliliter bottle of saison and how perfectly it pairs with the spring weather. I have tried something like eight in the last eight days – the perfect ratio for these fine afternoons we’ve been having. A saison is a Belgian beer, though not your typical Belgian beer. It is generally lighter in body, earthier and much more mellow. This type of beer, traditionally drunk in spring in Wallonia - the French speaking southern portion of Belgium – is normally bottled in a wine bottle and corked due to the high amount of carbonation.

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Bretta is a personal favorite. Check out my recent review here on The Sacramento Press site. It may be a little hard to find, but it’s worth it. Lately it has been available at both The Davis Beer Shoppe and Capitol Beer and Tap Room.

Beware that certain farmhouse ales, usually those of a lighter hue, contain what is known by beer connoisseurs as a “funky” yeast. If you want to be technical about it, Brettanomyces Bruxellensis. This yeast is most unfortunately known for having the very distinct aroma of…horsehair.

Yes, horsehair. Some people actually like a certain amount of this flavor in a beer.

If it really gets to you, let it warm for a few minutes and it will lessen. The other option is to stick to the slightly maltier varieties such as the aforementioned Seizoen Bretta, North Coast Brewing Company's Le Merle or Hennepin, Brewery Ommegang's Farmhouse Saison. Saison Rue from The Bruery is yet another nice option. If you find yourself really enjoying this type of beer, expand your search to include all farmhouse ales and the always haughtily enticing French country ales.

You may have heard that Odonata Beer Company has plans to return to life in the near future. Its flagship beer was a saison that received 98 out of 100 at RateBeer.com. Unfortunately, this beer is currently only available as a limited-edition reserve release, available by special request or for special events.

In other news, we are about to see the end of blow-your-mind IPA season. Pliny The Younger season is over, but there are still a couple of interesting developments to look forward to. The first is Knee Deep Brewing Company’s Hopoholic 4x IPA. It should be released on tap and in bottles in the very near future – as soon as later this week – I suggest staying glued to their Twitter feed for updates.

The second development worth watching is Stone’s “Enjoy By” series. Enjoy By 04.20.13 will be available in Sacramento after March 20. Talk to your local beer proprietor to see if it’s going to be on their tap or bottle list. This particular version of the limited-release series is a double IPA at 88 IBUs and 9.4 percent ABV. It was bottled just last Friday and is the fifth in Stone’s “Enjoy By” series, Enjoy By 02.15.13 being the most lavishly hailed so far.

Stone chooses a number of sites around the country for each limited distribution, so not every release will be available in Sacramento. Enjoy by 04.20.13, though, is going to be available in pretty much the stoniest places in the country – Colorado, Alaska, Washington and Sacramento. Well done, Stone.

Monthly beer tasting: Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Bretta

2013-03-18T23:22:28Z

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales Seizoen Bretta is a specialty organic farmhouse ale from Hood River, Oreg.

For a saison, the beer is alcoholically strong (8 percent ABV) and slightly sour, owing to the use of wild Bretta yeast. The yeast that is used results in slightly sour undertones, countered by the ample use of sweet crystal malts. Together, the beer is incredibly complex, at the same time sweet, dry, sour and fruity.

The color is a rich and unfiltered golden straw yellow. The large bottle is perfect for sharing; open a bottle with a couple of friends and drink it together while comparing opinions. Seizoen Bretta is so complex that everyone will notice something different, while someone will insightfully summarize its various palatal pleasures.

A couple of other things should be mentioned. A beer of this style should be served at about 50 degrees, meaning you should let it warm out of the fridge for about 25 minutes before opening. When pouring, use a smallish, stemmed glass, not a pint glass. This type of glass is much better at holding temperatures and capturing yeasty aromas. If you don’t have beer glasses like this, wine glasses will do the trick.

Seizoen Bretta is typically available at Capitol Beer and Tap Room and The Davis Beer Shoppe in 750 milliliter bottles for about $10, but don’t wait too long to seek it out. What’s on the shelves now won gold in the American-Style Brett Ale category at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival.

Go green for St. Patrick's Day this weekend

2013-03-14T16:53:12Z

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:
California Automobile Museum; Sun 1pm-4pm
Adults and kids get in for just $4 if they wear primarily green. Coloring stations and a “Luck o’ the Irish” scavenger hunt will be available for kids and families to enjoy.

-Four-Leaf Clover Scavenger Hunt: East Sac Mercantile; Sun 2pm-5pm
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by going on a scavenger hunt. Highlights of this event include light hors d'oeuvres, wine, and the chance to win raffle prizes and a $100 gift certificate for East Sac Mercantile.

Beer-filled shenanigans:

-5Hundy's St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl 2013:
Begins from Blue Cue; Sat 3pm-Midnight
Join the 8th Annual 5hundy Social Club St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl revelers as they journey through downtown Sacramento bars, all in the name of St. Patrick’s Day. Wristbands entitle you to drink specials at select bars.

-St. Patrick's Day Pub Party: de Vere's Irish Pub; Sun 9am-2am
There’s no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than at de Vere’s, the only Irish-owned, Irish-run, and authentically Irish pub in Sacramento. Even better? There’s no cover!

-K Street Krawl: Downtown Sacramento; Sun Noon
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the K Street Krawl. Hop from one party to the next and collect 9 hole punches at different locations for a chance to win a one ounce solid gold nugget.

Musical meanderings:

-St. Patrick's Day with Wil O'Mylar:
Gallagher's Irish Pub; Sat 8pm-11pm & Sun 4pm-7pm
Wil O'Mylar returns to perform beloved traditional Irish music for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration.

-Torch Goes Irish: Torch Club; Sun 4pm-11pm
Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Torch Club. Your favorite artists—including Mind X, Delta City Ramblers, Lew Fratis, Golden Cadillacs, Peter Petty, Denim Wedding, Island of Black and White, Emmie Jones, and Sawmill Gravy—will be covering Irish bands.

-St. Patrick's Day with Stepping Stone, Whiskey & Stitches, and
The Three Way: Harlow's; Sun 6pm
The night starts with Stepping Stone playing traditional tunes and songs from Ireland, Shetland-Scotland, and Old Time America. Then it will get kicked up with performances by Whiskey and Stitches and The Three Way.

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Above all, be sure to travel safe this St. Patrick's Day. Berg Injury Lawyers is offering their Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home and the Sac Town Hopper will be out and about as well.

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As an event partner for The Sacramento Press, Sacramento365.com provides information on activities happening in the Sacramento community. Find these and many more events on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Good beer vibes at the Capital Beerfest

2013-03-05T06:14:55Z

Saturday afternoon visitors from all over the region headed to the Capital Beerfest for beer, fun and food trucks. Like last year, there were tons of local breweries pouring, but unlike last year, the locals were the stars this time around. Move over Sierra Nevada.

Highly enthused visitors streamed into Cal Expo starting at noon. At 2 p.m. when general admission opened there was a flood of new people and the exhibition hall was soon packed. The first two hours of the festival food was available, but it came with a price – a long line and precious pouring time wasted. Thankfully, there were also more than enough great food trucks, so no one went home hungry.

The selection of beers poured was undeniably great. There were just under 100 breweries and almost everyone was pouring their best.

Sutter Buttes Brewing had Franklin Jr. on tap. At more than 158 IBUs (International Bittering Units), they call it an Imperial Triple Hop made especially for hop heads. I call it delicious, unique and worth a try. Loomis Basin Brewing Company poured Avenger XX IPA. Although it was a bit bitter for my taste, the aroma was terrific.

Black Diamond Brewing had a really nice Imperial Hoppy Red called Fracas. Assistant Brewer Paul Mallory was on hand talking to visitors about their new initiative to brew an experimental beer each month. Mallory also said that while their previous brewpub in Walnut Grove closed, they have a new tap room open in Concord.

Belgo Hoptologist was on cask at Knee Deep Brewing Company’s booth – a delicious treat while it lasted - but this wasn’t the biggest news coming out of Knee Deep. Brewer Jeremy Warren confirmed that they had brewed a quadruple IPA. Word is that it’s just over 12 percent, but Warren stated that the official laboratory results are yet to come in. Knee Deep will be working on several trial versions in the coming months. Many are skeptical about the possibility of creating a quality beer that is hoppy enough to be called a quadruple IPA, but they have accepted the challenge.

Speaking of imperial IPAs, Moylan’s poured Hop Craic XXXXIPA. Is this truly a quadruple IPA? Probably not, but with Hop Craic and Hopsickle, they will surely be continuing on the race towards IBU bliss.

Knee Deep in Beer Week, the collaborative brew, was available both at Knee Deep and Track 7 during the festival. Both breweries brewed a slightly different version, and I’m hopeful that either one or both will become permanent Sacramento beers. As you can tell from the photo above, there was never a dull moment at their tents. It was great to see two young local breweries doing so well and pouring such high-quality beers.

The absence of homebrewers put a bit of a damper on the day for some. Around and around you could go, but you would find no local homebrewers at this year’s Capital Beerfest. The Greenbelt Brewers Association, which meets at Sudwerk Brewing, got a call on Friday at 3 p.m. that said they were out, so all their bottles and kegs (including one on nitro) had to be left at home come Saturday. The exact reason that they were unable to participate this year was unclear, but regardless, their presence and fresh ideas and brews were missed. In a word, lame.

Also missing from the action was North Coast Brewing Co. Just where were you last Saturday, Old Rasputin?

Despite the almost complete and total hop takeover of the California beer scene over the last year or two, there were still a few good spots at the beerfest for those uninterested in hops. Sierra Nevada had their Ovila Quad on tap, Stone Brewing Co. poured oak-aged Old Guardian – always a treat – and Oakland had something unique and not hoppy as well. Their Saison du Madre was a very healthy saison. The body was a touch sweet and the spritzy carbonation did it good.

Runnin’ For Rhett volunteers did the pouring and benefited from the proceeds of the event. The positive energy they bring to the beerfest each year is always a terrific addition to the day. Runnin’ For Rhett provides scholarships to college students enrolled in special education teaching programs and helps fund youth fitness programs for Sacramento area schools. They truly know how to “Uplift, encourage and move,” as their mission statement says.

So many breweries and so many great brews – just imagine all that is to come for this beer scene. Until next year, Sacramento Beer Week; until next week, Sacramento Beer Readers.

Pretty in black: Black Veil Brides to play Ace of Spades

2013-02-27T21:46:21Z

Don't let the party stop after you've had your fill of beer and fashion this week, Sacramento!

How do tattoos, black face paint, and tight, black leather sound?

Good? Then check out Hollywood rock band Black Veil Brides at Ace of Spades next Wednesday, March 6.

While seemingly more known to some for their visual aesthetics than their music, these wild-haired bad boys in eye shadow are continually refining their musical style and have seen it evolve from screaming heavy metal to a more anthemic rock sound.

They're making a play for the big time with their third album, "Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones," an ambitious rock opera à la My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade."

BVB will be joined at Ace by William Control and Overwatch.

General admission tickets are $18 plus a $3.95 service fee. Doors are at 7 p.m. and it's an all ages show.

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.

Adrift in Beer Week

2013-02-25T08:38:35Z

Sacramento Beer Week kicked off on Friday, and since then our region has played host to plenty of fun and real social contact in the name of beer. Fests, happy hours, tap takeovers, brunches, dinners and exclusive tastings – it has all been happening and there is more to come.

Some great local breweries have been featured and new collaborative brews released. The Knee Deep in Beer Week Track 7 collaboration, a really great Belgian double IPA, was both fresh and rich. Try it at Track 7 while it lasts, at Final Gravity on Thursday or at Capitol Beer and Tap Room on Friday.

Remember that author and brewing scientist Dr. Charlie Bamforth of the University of California, Davis, will be at New Helvetia tonight. The event is $30 at the door and includes up to six 10-ounce pours. If you prefer, learn to cook with beer at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op from 6 to 9 p.m.

Also tonight, The Davis Beer Shoppe will turn all its taps over to IPAs – 90 percent of which will be limited-release. Sure to be fantastic. Plus, when else do you get to try Sculpin on nitro? It’s rare to see an IPA of this kind of tap, but Sculpin’s balanced profile looks to be a very good fit.

If you missed the sold-out Mikuni and 21st Amendment dinner on Saturday, try Mikuni again Tuesday throughout the region. In Davis, Mikuni will feature Green Flash’s 5th Anniversary Double IPA. If you’re closer to Mikuni Roseville, stop in to try Rhizing Bines, an imperial IPA brewed by Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada. This beer is part of its Life & Limb collaboration series.

On any given night, if your group is fading but simply must continue on, head to 3 Fires Lounge at 15th and L for a Sierra, a pulled pork slider and garlic fries for $5 all beer week long. Other things to watch out for include Oskar Blues taps at Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Pliny the Younger at Burgers & Brew (Sacramento and Davis) and Track 7’s Port Barrel Aged Dubbel.

Wednesday night at Magpie there will be a Drake’s tap takeover. Flights? Check. Hopocalypse, its wonderful and limited seasonal double IPA? Check. Hopocalypse Black Label Triple IPA? Go and find out.

There are, in fact, plenty of stops to help you make it through hump day. Barwest will be pouring Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA and Birra Etrusa, an herbal beer brewed as part of its Ancient Ales series. The Band of Gypsies collaboration will be at Flaming Grill on Wednesday as well.

Chimay is just $6 on Thursday at Zocalo, which sounds like the perfect opportunity for a mid-beer week date night. The Bruery, hailing from Southern California, will be featured at Pangaea Two Brews Cafe. The 750-milliliter bottles are perfect to share with an intimate group of beer-loving friends. If your friends are wine lovers and beer skeptics, this is a perfect gateway event. Thursday evening, don’t forget the tasting at the California Automobile Museum from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday things will really pick up again. The Davis Beer Shoppe will go all barrel-aged, and Lagunitas founder Tony Magee will be making music at The Torch Club at 5:30 during happy hour. The Shack will host Coronado Brewing Company and the Whole Foods Folsom Bier Garten will be having a Grand Teton Tap Takeover.

Don't forget to get your tickets for the Capital Beerfest, with or without food, before Saturday rolls around. This is your best chance to try any and all beers you missed throughout the week, not to mention tasting and sharing some new favorites discovered during beer week. For a nice breakfast before the beerfest, start your Saturday at a Bluegrass Brunch at Hoppy Brewing.

If you didn't get out this weekend, be not afraid, there are still enough days and events to go. Take a look below to see just a taste and a sip of what went on this past weekend.

Follow me on Twitter for photos and updates on the beer scene throughout the week, or check back here at the Sacramento Beer Writer site. You can also sign up to have the Beer Writer delivered directly to your inbox.

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.

Navigating Sacramento Beer Week 2013

2013-02-18T18:37:08Z

There is no more exciting time in the Sacramento craft beer scene than right now, a mere five days before Sacramento Beer Week. Starting Friday, SBW will consume bars, restaurants, breweries and tap rooms in the area and bring in new SBW brews, rare treats and more. The fourth annual week of fun will continue until March 3, when the week will conclude with a delicious brunch after a full Saturday at the Capital Beerfest on March 2 at Cal Expo. Come from noon to 5 p.m. for beer and food tasting and 2 to 5 p.m. for beer tasting only. Tickets are $75 and $45, respectively.

Like last year, the number of events scheduled on the official SBW calendar is in the hundreds and continuing to grow. Who could have imagined just four short years ago that the beer scene in Sacramento could have grown to such a tremendous level – with so many breweries, bars and local brews to be proud of.

As always, the tough part is deciding which events to choose, which beers to try and how exactly to make the most of what SBW has to offer. While there will be no shortage of hopportunities this year, there are a couple of key terms that you should certainly keep your eye on, specifically, tap takeovers and vertical tastings.

A vertical tasting is a tasting that includes several of the same beer from different years – vintages, you might say. This allows a beer enthusiast to experience, in one sitting, how a beer evolves over time by tasting multiple vintages in succession. Rubicon's Old Stock Ale vertical tasting is already inked in on my calendar for Wednesday. They will be pouring North Coast Brewing Co.'s Old Stock Ale from ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘10 and ‘12. Along with cheese, charcuterie and grapes – it is simply not to be missed. Vertical tastings typically include dark, rich and barrel-aged beers. A high-ABV doesn’t hurt either.

If you are a newborn hophead and don’t see any vertical tastings to your liking, be understanding rather than disappointed. IPAs, and especially double and imperial IPAs, are best served fresh – very fresh. A year-old imperial IPA would be a waste; hop aromatics just don’t last. There’s a reason Pliny the Younger is only available two weeks a year.

A tap takeover is when a proprietor changes all their taps to one brewery or type of brew. This type of event is especially prevalent this beer week. What’s great about a tap takeover is that the brewery comes to you – or better yet, to your favorite local watering hole. Worthwhile tap takeovers include Green Flash at the Pourhouse, Deschutes Night at Hot City Pizza, Ruhstaller at Old Soul at The Weatherstone, or for those feeling like a night of luxury, Allagash Brewing Company at Pangaea Two Brews Café.

Be Beer Curious

Knowledge will be in plentiful supply this beer week, so be sure to get out and chat. Ask Dr. Charlie Bamforth of the University of California, Davis questions at New Helvetia Brewing Co., watch a brewing demonstration at The Brewmeister in Roseville or attend a class on tasting and describing at Pyramid with David Teckam, a Grand Master III level judge (Beer Judge Certification Program).

Hotspots

Each year there seems to be one brewery or establishment that really shines. Last year, Ruhstaller was everywhere, and in 2011 Lagunitas was the star. So far this year it looks like Rubicon Brewing Company has snatched that title. They will host some quite notable events – let’s just hope their aesthetically perfect patio has enough space available. Their events are varied, but each shines in a special way. Firkins kick it all off on Friday, followed by Craft in a Can Fest on Sunday. On Monday, hopheads and Deadheads unite while Vincent Sterne spins some Grateful Dead at the release of a collaboration with Two Rivers Cider.

On the food front, brunches will be held at The Shack, Low Brau and The Porch. They all look so delicious that it is impossible to even make recommendations. Beer dinners are more than plentiful as well, although you should be sure to get tickets early because they tend to fill up. The Oskar Blues Beer Pairing dinner at The Porch on Friday, March 1 is just one mouthwatering possibility.

Gubna. Enough said.

Support your local breweries at River City Brewing Company’s kickoff event on Friday, where they will be pouring beers from seven local breweries. You’ll get even more local taste at Final Gravity’s Local Brewery Total Tap Takeover the next day.

Besides the giant, 90-brewery Capital Beerfest, the 2nd annual Sour Fest at Hot City Pizza and Funkfest at Samuel Horne's Tavern in Folsom are both worth checking out.

Every single day more events show up on the SBW calendar, so don’t rule anyone out. Join the SBW mailing list or follow them on Twitter to stay informed.

Do it up right for nine days, making sure to take advantage of the aged, the new, the rare and the paired. Morant’s Sausages are just the beginning, and that’s saying something.

If it seems like it’s all too much, Extreme Pizza is having its own brewery tour. Reserve a spot on the bus and see three or four great local breweries in one day.

The Sacramento Beer Writer will now be posting columns on The Sacramento Press site twice a month – the date varying depending on the events in the spotlight and whether I am at home and free for the typing or out on the town at an unbeatable event. Check back for beer week coverage and return next month for advice on how to survive your beer week hangover. You can sign up to have the Beer Writer delivered directly to your inbox.

Enjoy!

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.

The Art of Beer kicks off California Craft Beer Month

2013-02-03T20:11:18Z

The second annual Art of Beer brought together great craft brews and art at the Fusion International Arts Center on Friday night. The event highlighted the more artistic aspects of beer – the fermentation tanks, the wort and simply the love of beer.

This year 24 breweries were present, some of them serving up to five types of beer to the 500 guests present. Absolutely delicious bites were everywhere – as long as you came early. Tuli Bistro and Roxie Deli, in particular, were very nearly attacked each time a plate of sandwiches, apps or pizza was set out.

The art on display ranged from crystal clear pictures of the brewing process by Rawi Nanakul to a piece by Eli Trujillo illustrating the undeniable draw of Pliny the Elder. Supporters of the event – both sponsors and attendees – helped Ales for Autism and Stanford Youth Solutions, both tremendous organizations that certainly know who to put first. Ales for Autism has another big event coming up Feb. 15, the Black & White Beer Ball in Santa Rosa, Calif. The next big thing for Stanford Youth Solutions is Vintage 2013 on April 25.

The Barrelworks Lounge, occupied by Firestone Walker, was a great spot off to the side to grab a table and chat with friends – new or old. Nearby, 21st Amendment Brewery had its own lounge. The area was handsomely arranged and festooned in 1930s décor. An exhibit illustrating the creative process for the brewery’s distinctive labels and boxes adorned the wall. While most mingled the evening away, the unique lounges provided a place to sit for a minute out of the path of the crowd of buzzing attendees.

Near the front stage where a silent auction took place for much of the night, Sierra Nevada was serving up the newly introduced Ovila Abbey Quad with Plums, a top pick of the evening.

North Coast Brewing Co. always brings their best for dark beer lovers. They poured Brother Thelonious and Old Rasputin. Anderson Valley was another essential stop. They were pouring Brother David’s Triple. They also have something new on their beer list, a Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout. Mad River Brewing Co. had great taps as well.

For the cider lovers out there, Two Rivers Cider Co. had two on tap, a Dry Macintosh Cider and a Blood Orange cider. The latter had a pink tinge that brought a little extra excitement to the glassware circulating the room.

Cypress Grove Chevre had cheese on hand for tasting, and the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op and The Pasta Queen had lines all night and the supplies to keep the people snacking. The porcini and truffle egg ravioli, topped with blue cheese fredo sauce and roasted hazelnuts was enough to warrant a virtual shopping trip to their site. They paired the dish with Berryessa Brewing Co.’s Belgo Dark – just imagine.

To really make the most of the night, it was best to alternate beers and chatting up brewers with talks with the artists in the room. Shannon Jane Morgan of Girl Glass Studio, paired with Track 7, had plans for an Art of Beer Glass class. Participants will be making their own beer glass and later, Morgan will buy them their first beer.

Track 7 paired up with Knee Deep Brewing Co. and created a fresh, citrusy double IPA for beer week that attendees got a chance to taste. At 100 IBUs and 9.7 percent ABV, this one’s going to be sought after during beer week. Another stop for IPA lovers was Rubicon, where they were pouring Hopsauce.

Sustainability was a key word at The Art of Beer this year. Almanac Beer Co. poured “Farm to Bottle Beer” and Sierra Nevada handed out pamphlets highlighting their sustainable practices in all areas.

Magnolia Pub and Brewery, which has five casks on tap and makes a commitment to the slow food movement, seems like a great place to stop during San Francisco Beer Week, coming up next week.

Sacramento’s Digital Town Square Forum was present for the event as well. You can replay the evening’s discussion, “The Art of Beer… and ZOMBIES!” online.

It was great to see so many breweries, artists and restaurants come together with local establishments like Brew Ferment Distill (BFD), Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. and Sacramento365, among many others, to put on such an enjoyable and worthwhile event.

This year, The Art of Beer served as the kickoff for the first ever California Craft Beer Month. Judging by the enormous crowd, we should continue to expect more from this event for our annual fix of art, music, discussion, goodwill and beer. With so much creativity on their side, it’s clear that this event will just keep getting better.

The finest of beer proprietors

2013-02-01T07:18:34Z

Friday evening, Feb. 1, the Art of Beer marked the start of what might be called beer season in the Sacramento area, and where better to get warmed up for the season than the bottle shops and tap rooms in the area. Taylor Ramos of The Davis Beer Shoppe and Capitol Beer and Tap Room’s Ken Hotchkiss weighed in on the beer scene and Sacramento Beer Week, coming up Feb. 22 through March 3.

Before it all gets started, it might be advantageous to take a look at the last few years, and notice and appreciate how far the beer scene has come and just how richly it has developed. To name a few, New Helvetia Brewing Co., Ruhstaller, Track 7, Berryessa Brewing Co., Black Dragon Brewing Company, Loomis Basin Brewing Company and Roseville Brewing Company have all been established in the last two years, as well as the two aforementioned beer shops. Pangaea Two Brews Café is just slightly older, and even still, their bottle shop is just 18 months old.

In the last few years, we’ve seen cans take craft brewing by storm, and we’ve seen the word, “imperial,” come back into style big time. IPAs - India Pale Ales - went from specialty to loved by all, thanks to breweries such as Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada, and now there’s no limit to what an IPA can be – black, Belgian, wheat, white, double, triple or imperial. Thank goodness we have mentors like Hotchkiss and Ramos to lead us on.

Bottle shops that double as tasting rooms – or better yet, cozy bars – are a tremendous way to get to know an almost unlimited number of beers. This is great for both seasoned craft beer aficionados and those new to the scene.

The problem for some, though, is getting started. Both men had some advice to offer.

“If people don’t like beer, there are a lot of odd-style beers,” began Ramos. He said that many people who are new to craft beer find a path in through one of the more unique styles – especially if they are wine or cider drinkers. Sour beers are becoming more and more popular, and in addition, wheat beers, American wheats and Belgian wits are all good places to start, he explained.

For those who aren’t new to the scene, Ramos spoke of a few favorites, one of which was Berryessa Brewing Co.’s Imperial IPA – a local brew that is 10.5 percent ABV, super fruity and balanced. Most unfortunately, the keg of this particular gem that was tapped Monday at the Beer Shoppe is already out, so it could be a challenge to find more.

Hotchkiss himself admitted to being a hophead, although he also stated that he liked about everything. He was very hesitant to give names, perhaps saddened at the thought of letting anything fall by the wayside.

Both shops do their best to work with local and regional brewers. Berryessa Brewing Co., Sutter Buttes Brewing, Hoppy Brewing and Auburn Alehouse, among others, have all seen time on the taps.

“We do try to support all those local guys,” Hotchkiss said. The Capitol Beer and Tap Room has only been open for six months, but it seems that Hotchkiss has put in his time getting to know others in the field. Track 7, Knee Deep Brewing Co. and a new regional beer publication on the scene, Hops to Table, were mentioned frequently during the interview.

Another new development in the craft beer industry is that beers are now being purchased like quality wines - packaged similarly in larger bottles for sharing and priced into the double digits.

Amongst discussion of current trends, Ramos made a case for yet another development in the industry. He explained that people are now beginning to appreciate small beers, in other words, table beer that is low in alcohol.

“They don’t necessarily associate alcohol content with value,” Ramos said, explaining the change.

“There’s definitely a market emerging for consumers that don’t want to be drunk.”

Whether you prefer small beers or perhaps one large, strong, hoppy one, beer week will surely fulfill your needs. Both shops will be taking part in grand ways.

The Capitol Beer and Tap Room will have events every night of the week, teaming up with Tokyo Fro’s for many of them. The events start Friday night with a Speakeasy night, followed by a night chock full of brews from Humboldt County. Sunday is when it really gets going. 21st Amendment will be the brewery of choice, but that’s not even the best part – they are hosting a homebrew competition complete with local brewers and beer experts as judges. The winner of the competition will brew their beer at the 21st Amendment Brewery facilities and eventually have it tapped at the Capitol Beer and Tap Room. Unfortunately, most of the participants have already been invited, though you may be able to squeak in if you have a strong enough case.

Beer week will continue at the Capitol Beer and Tap Room on Tuesday with Colorado Brewers' Day, featuring Flying Dog and Oskar Blues, a brewery which is always worth noting. Still to come on Wednesday and Thursday are Sierra Nevada and Firestone Walker, respectively. Firestone Walker night, in particular, might be worth putting on your calendar, since they have plans to tap a keg of their 16th Anniversary Ale. Knee Deep and Track 7 Takeover Night is March 1, and the pair will surely end beer week with a bang.

Hotchkiss is hopeful that this year’s beer week, their first, will bring them more visibility than they’ve had in the past. The bar and shop is located at Fair Oaks Boulevard and Howe Avenue next to Tokyo Fro’s. The tap room has twenty taps, one of them nitro, and an opportunity for great beer education – any four 5 oz. beers for $14.

The Davis Beer Shoppe plays a similar role just across the causeway. The establishment will have been open for two years in March, and with an unbelievable number of beers in the store in back and ever-changing taps in the front, their ideal location in downtown Davis keeps them packed to the brim day in, day out. They recently added six additional taps to their original eight and one nitro, with a cask option frequently featured. They, too, have a few things up their sleeve for Sacramento Beer Week, but they aren’t revealing details just yet. With that many beers in the shop, they are likely struggling to narrow down their options.

Starting tomorrow, Sacramento area beer lovers should be gearing up for an enjoyable few months of beer, social gatherings in honor of beer and grand dinners paired with the perfect beer. The SBW calendar is expanding daily, so take a look. In addition, check back for a thorough piece on how to best handle SBW here on The Sacramento Press site. Drink water, get in shape and start planning.

Editor’s note: Join The Sacramento Press on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Chops Steakhouse to honor Journalism Open winners. Get tickets!

State of Downtown: ‘Dreamers are welcome’

2013-01-21T06:22:28Z

The 15th State of Downtown Breakfast took place last Tuesday morning at the Sacramento Convention Center, with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom as keynote speaker.

Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, opened the event and ran through a plethora of topics and issues. Public safety, K Street, the sale of Downtown Plaza and parks are just a few of the many that were highlighted.

“Personal connection makes a difference,” Ault said, regarding the 26 new businesses that opened up in the district last year. Ault cited the executive committee’s efforts to get to know brokers, owners and storefronts as the difference. He was optimistic about the strides that have been made, but also called out to civic leaders, property owners, entrepreneurs and downtown brokers.

“We need our civic leaders to instill a culture of can-do attitude and create a start-up-friendly focus at all levels of city and county government. Together we can foster an environment that helps cultivate local talent.”

“We need to be creative,” said Ault in reference to developing the area and dealing with competition.

The annual VIBE award is given for just this, and this year it was given to Sid Garcia-Heberger for her work with the Crest Theatre.

Nominees for this year's award included Troy Carlson (Theatre of Lights), Carina Lampkin (Blackbird Kitchen & Bar), La Shelle Dozier (Studios at Hotel Berry) and Mike Hargis and Clay Nutting (Launch Festival). Nominee videos can be viewed by clicking on the name of each nominee.

Ault also said a few words about outgoing Police Chief Rick Braziel and all that he has done for the downtown area.

Mayor Kevin Johnson began by thanking the elected officials in the room before going on to discuss the year’s accomplishments and the process he referred to as “shifting from recession to recovery.”

Johnson’s next item of discussion was a “state-of-the-art entertainment and sports complex.” He introduced keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, but beforehand spent just under ten minutes introducing and detailing his “Playing to Win Strategy” regarding the Kings, a downtown stadium and the March 1 NBA filing deadline – all following the model San Francisco used with the Giants.

Newsom applauded Johnson for his persistence in “a world that is so in need of leadership,” and echoed Ault’s call for creativity.

“What world are we living in?” Newsom asked, using words like unique, individual and distinctive, but also Facebook, Twitter, apps and the Cloud.

Newsom strongly stressed the importance of learning from your competitors, whatever your business.

“We’ve got to get back to the future business,” Newsom said.

“If you don’t like the way the world is when you’re standing up, stand on your head; go local. Remarkable things are happening in local governments.”

Just minutes after using Wal-Mart to demonstrate how to case your competitors, Newsom went on to underscore the importance of the little things.

“Sweat the small stuff,” Newsom advised, in closing.

Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Sacramento New Year's Eve events 2013

2012-12-27T16:42:46Z

It's almost time for a new year again. Can you believe it? 2012 has been a bit longer than most (we're looking at you, leap day!), and it's finally time to ring in 2013.

In addition to the myriad club and bar events (LowBrau, MiX, Dive Bar, District 30, Midtown BarFly, Bulls, Social Nightclub, KBAR, Pine Cove Tavern, R15, Fox & Goose, The Hyatt, The Hilton, and The Park all promise to keep you entertained as well as moving and grooving), we've rounded up some alternate New Year's Eve options for you.

Enjoy fun for the whole family

Noon Year's Eve Family Festival:
Crocker Art Museum; Mon 10am-2pm
At this fun and free celebration all ages will learn about New Year festivities from around the world through live music and dance performances. Count down to the New Year at Noon.

New Year's Eve Sky Spectacular:
Waterfront Park; Mon 6pm-12:30am
This free celebration features activities for the whole family to enjoy including children's programming, fireworks, live music, dinner specials, hot food and drink vendors, and a variety of colorful street entertainment.

Laugh a little (or a lot)
Leslie Jones New Year's Eve:
Tommy T's Comedy & Dinner Theatre; Mon 7pm & 10pm
Leslie Jones performs her wild and crazy standup for comedy clubs and television audiences both nationwide and internationally with appearances on Showtime at the Apollo, BET’s Comicview, the international hot television show Comedy Factor and HBO’s Def Comedy Jam 2006.

Dat Phan and Friends:
Laughs Unlimited; Mon 7:30pm & 10pm
Dat Phan's culturally insightful comedy inspects ridiculous stereotypes and shares his experience of being a regular American guy with a Vietnamese heritage.

Eat well

New Year's Eve Gala Cruise:
Empress Hornblower; Mon 9pm-Midnight
Enjoy a fabulous New Year’s Eve four-course seated meal and open standard cocktail bar, as well as festive New Year's Eve party favors, a pre-boarding photograph, and DJ entertainment for dancing.

Good Tidings: A Celebration of the New Year:
Enotria Restaurant & Wine Bar; Mon 5pm-8:30pm
Chef Pajo Bruich and his team have taken New Year’s culinary traditions throughout the world and assembled them in a twelve course dinner that pays homage to these traditions while reinventing them.

See a play
DMTC's New Year's Eve Gala Follies Preview:
Davis Musical Theatre Co. Performing Arts Center; Mon 7:45pm-12:45am
Ring in the New Year with Davis Musical Theatre Company and a gala preview of Stephen Sondheim's Follies. The evening starts with the show; then a full catered buffet dinner; and then a live DJ, dancing, and more.

Experience live music

ConFunkShun and the Dazz Band New Year's Eve:
Red Lion Woodlake Hotel & Conference Center; Mon 9pm-1:30am
ConFunkShun is a star-quality attraction delivering a superb, high-energy show with electrifying choreography, glistening six-part vocal harmonies, and a dash of humor.

Mr. Wendal & Friends New Year's Eve Ball:
Ramada Plaza Hotel; Mon 8:30pm-1:30am
Come out and celebrate the New Year in style with MC Mr. Terry Moore, Mr. David Replace, saxophonist Mr. Shawn Raiford, and a special guest performance by Kingdom.

New Year's Eve with Nevada Backwards:
Blue Lamp Lounge; Mon 9pm
A quartet of acoustic musicians, Nevada Backwards' sound is an amalgam of alt-punk and jamband bluegrass. Also performing are Scratchy the Clown and Storytellers.

Start your resolution early

Walk in the New Year with the Sacramento Walking Sticks:
Pioneer House; Mon 5pm-9pm; Tues 9am-3:30pm
Get fit, have fun, see the sights, and meet new people. Choose between a 5K or 10K route; see the sights of downtown Sacramento and Old Sacramento with its light show on New Year's Eve.

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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.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

12 things to do in Sacramento on 12/12/12

2012-12-12T17:13:13Z

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 Enotria's Great Holiday Blowout.

5. Bring a canned food donation or a new and unwrapped toy to the Sacramento Zoo and receive $1 off your admission.

6. See B Street Theatre's holiday play, A Pail of Grace, which has two show times on Wednesdays to choose from: 2pm & 6pm.

7. Keep healthy this holiday season by attending Arden Hills' Live with the Chef: Healthy & Sweet Holiday Treats cooking class.

8. Hear multi-faceted musician Charlie Hunter live in concert at Harlow's.

9. Traipse from District 30 to Pizza Rock to Dive Bar at MetroWize's Party on K Street.

10. Celebrate Sacramento's finest at Sacramento Magazine's Best of Sacramento 2012 Party.

11. Laugh along at Bows & Arrows' free Stand Up Open Mic Night, and even try your own hand at humor if you're feeling brave.

12. Close out the 12 Days of Midtown at the Nutcracker Meet & Greet with dancers from the Sacramento Ballet.

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.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Anne Lamott inspires at St. Mark's

2012-12-09T02:25:42Z

Celebrated author Anne Lamott spoke on Friday night as the third and final speaker in the Fall 2012 Moon Lecture Series at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Lamott spoke on her newest book, “Help, Thanks, Wow,” and becoming a Christian in her 30s, something she really, really didn’t want to do, she explained.

The best-selling author, professor, lecturer, political activist, mother and grandmother has devoted her life to sharing her knowledge. For years, Lamott has taught writing courses, given lectures and travelled around the country simply trying to help others live their lives more happily and peacefully.

For nearly an hour Lamott cracked jokes about bantering denominations, growing up with atheist parents, perfectionism, drug addiction, weight and her current health problem - A.G.E. syndrome - as she said her doctor calls it. Her advice spanned nearly the broadest spectrum possible. She advised on how to stop worrying about what your butt looks like, she shared her experience working with deadlines, and during the Q&A she answered pleas from parents worried about the future of their entirely non-religious children.

As a writer, Lamott commended deadlines and simply writing whether you feel like it or not.

“I do really well with deadlines and structure,” Lamott said.

She considers the idea of waiting for inspiration, “just a way to get out of a day’s work.”

Somewhat ironically, there were many in the crowd at St. Mark’s who seemed to be there for just that – inspiration. Visitors listened and laughed with adoring eyes as they heard about one woman’s ongoing journey with life and what she says is her, and possibly everyone's, biggest challenge - the mind. She talked extensively about knowing when to get help, calling a friend or family member to chat over a cup of tea, for example.

Lamott continued the lecture by reading aloud from her newest work of non-fiction.

“Thank you for my sobriety, my grandson, and my flowering pear tree,” she read from the first chapter of “Help, Thanks, Wow,” an honest and informal book on how she prays.

One of her last points of the evening was a familiar reminder to appreciate every day.

“The tangled web of the mind,” she says, is something that everyone deals with.

Friends, family, the outdoors and walking her dogs are all things that she chooses over getting caught up in fear, jealousy and worry.

The Moon Lecture Series is endowed by Rev. Bob Moon and Dorrie Moon. Visit the St. Mark’s website to stay up-to-date on future lectures, concerts and events.

Danú opens the holiday season for the Mondavi Center

2012-12-07T04:33:06Z

On Wednesday the holiday season officially began at the UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. “An Nollaig in Éirinn,” or “Christmas in Ireland,” was the theme for the evening of entertainment by award-winning Irish ensemble, Danú. The performance was all about sharing Irish Christmas traditions – both those that include music and those that don’t.

Christmas in Ireland must be a whole lot of fun. The six-member group shared the stage throughout the night, each taking the mic on different occasions to introduce a song, story or joke to educate and amuse the Jackson Hall audience.

Lead vocalist Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh had a voice that was powerful, smooth and entirely enchanting. She could have been singing about anything and it would have been lovely. The fact that she was oftentimes singing traditional Christmas hymns simply added to the romanticism of the evening. Nic Amhlaoibh also played the flute throughout the night and even jumped on the whistle once or twice. Donal Clancy, on the guitar, had a tremendously rich voice as well.

Brendan (Benny) McCarthy played melodeon and button accordion, while Martin O’Neill, a self-proclaimed half-Irish, half-Scottish addition to the group, played the Bodhran, an Irish Drum, with superlative skill. O’Neill also hopped on and off the piano throughout the night.

Éamon Doorley sang backup vocals and played the Irish Bouzouki, cracking jokes along with the others. Liam Flanagan shined on the fiddle, and was a particularly noteworthy addition to Nic Amhlaoibh’s lead vocals in “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Flanagan clearly demonstrated his ability to use the fiddle to inspire an amazing range of emotion.

Danú’s repertoire included a few songs known by all, but also several more “instructional selections,” one might say.

How and when should one make a Christmas cake? Exactly how much liquor is fed to the marzipan encrusted cake? The morning after a pleasant and appropriate Christmas day in Ireland, when does the drinking begin?

The group’s responses and explanations were certainly both entertaining and educational. They introduced each and every piece, noting that they would play “several reels” and “a few reels;” they played so many reels, each of which made you feel unreasonable giddy and wanting for a beer to sip along with your toe-tapping.

As is the Irish way, pubs were mentioned on no less than two dozen occasions. Add to this the way English rolled rollickingly off their tongues and the fascinating licks of Irish we got to hear, and I’m searching for flights. Christmas in Ireland, I’m on my way!

The night flew by, even with a short intermission, and soon it was all ending.

After the first verse of “Silent Night,” which was beautifully sung in Gaelic by Nic Amhlaoibh, the crowd joined in for the English version.

The evening’s display of Christmas spirit and tradition was the perfect start to the month of December. Danú has released seven CDs as well as a DVD over the last decade and a half. Following Wednesday evening’s show, the group has just a few more U.S. performances before heading back to Ireland just in time for Christmas.

The next holiday event hosted by the Mondavi Center will be this Saturday, Dec. 8. Cantus Vocal Ensemble will perform, “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” For tickets and information for the Theater Latté Da performance, visit MondaviArts.org.

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.

Cosmo Cabaret to get new nightclub as theater moves out

2012-12-04T16:45:12Z

The Cosmopolitan Cabaret will have new tenants soon, as the California Musical Theatre has pulled out of the downtown entertainment venue.

According to an article in the Sacramento Bee, local restauranteur Randy Paragary will take over theater operations to open a nightclub called The Assembly. At 10th and K Streets, the cabaret includes a 200-seat theater and shares the ground floor with Cafe Bernardo on K and the KBar, which Paragary operates.

Local historian William Burg said this is good news for Sacramento, as it lacks many medium-sized performance spaces. "It's also a natural synergy with the growing number of dance clubs and live music venues around K Street like Marilyn's and Shenanigans, plus ones on the drawing board like the venue planned for the 700 block of K Street," Burg wrote in an email.

This could also lead to businesses extending their hours to capture a growing level of evening foot traffic, Burg said.

The local theater scene is certainly active and alive, Burg said, but may be better suited for other neighborhoods, such as Mansion Flat, Midtown and along Del Paso Boulevard. "Theaters in those neighborhoods might also be more accessible to visitors less comfortable with the growing level of energy downtown," he stated.

The California Musical Theatre is Sacramento's oldest professional performing arts organization and the state's largest nonprofit musical theater company, according to its website. In the early 1950s, Russell Lewis, Howard Young and Eleanor McClatchy (president of the Sacramento Bee) launched Sacramento Music Circus, which incorporated into Sacramento Light Opera Association (now known as California Musical Theatre).

An Entertaining Night of Theatre

2012-12-04T05:17:45Z

A man on the phone doesn’t exactly sound like an entertaining night of theatre. A desperate theatre producer at the end of his rope, using everything in his arsenal to placate everyone involved, get the play produced and attempt to save lives (yes, save lives), all over the phone, makes for a very entertaining night of theatre.

In “Mistakes Were Made” at Capital Stage, author Craig Wright delights his audience with this fast-paced, quick-witted comedy about a guy who just wants to put on a show. The 90-minute, one-sided conversation is funny, moving and downright entertaining to watch.

Eric Wheeler, a veteran actor of Capital Stage, takes on the role of Felix Artifex, a people-pleasing theater producer at his wit’s end trying to produce “Mistakes Were Made,” a new epic play about the French Revolution. Felix has a lot to say to a number of different characters, none of whom are ever seen. Felix cajoles and placates the people involved, and pours his energy into creating ideas, scenes and solutions, all on his side of the telephone.

And Wheeler works hard. He spreads his energy to the extreme, angrily screaming obscenities at some, calmly reassuring others that everything he does is in their best interests and wearily seeking comfort from a woman who once loved him. And he makes it look as natural as breathing.

Save for a few choice interruptions from his timidly helpful secretary, Esther, played by Anne Mason, and the constant presence of a pet fish, a hilarious, googly-eyed puppet designed by Richard Bay and brought to life by Rob August and Janey Pintar, Wheeler is the show. He takes Felix on a wild comedic ride, and he and director Carolyn Howarth make some expert choices, knowing exactly when to pull back to allow a little humanity to peep through Felix’s salesman exterior.

There is a saying that if a man walks across a stage, and there is one man to see him do it, it is theatre. “Mistakes Were Made” is proof of that, but takes walking to a whole new level that is definitely worth watching.

“Mistakes Were Made” is playing at Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento, Calif. Performances continue Wednesdays through Sundays through Dec. 16. Ticket information can be found at Capital Stage Box Office, (916) 995-5464, or online at www.capstage.org.

Journey back to an era when square meals were king

2012-11-06T23:46:35Z

Remember when TV dinners were the norm and Swanson’s became a household name? Time travel back to the mid-century with Verge Center for the Arts' TV Dinner event this Thursday, November 8, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., where these pre-packaged meals are revitalized and transformed.

The event—a brainchild of Mike Thiemann, executive chef at Ella Dining Room and Bar; Liv Moe, Executive Director of Verge; Becky Grunewald, Food Editor for Sacramento News & Review; and Ryan Donahue, editor of Edible Sacramento—will feature a three-course, sit-down meal plus dessert and art galore. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in period attire.

Arrive at the start for a no-host cocktail hour before the meal, which, Moe says, will be set within an art installation that fills the whole 1600 square foot space. During dinner, which begins at 7 p.m., a video installation will be screened and two DJs will play period-appropriate music.

Each course of the meal, created by Thiemann, is inspired by a different TV show of the period. Moe claims her favorite traditional TV dinners as Salisbury steak and chicken pot pies, but there's no telling what Thiemann will use for inspiration in creating his TV dinner masterpiece. You'll have to attend to find out! Get a taste of what's in store, both drink and food-wise with this preview video.

Tickets to TV Dinner are $75 per person and are available online. The event benefits Verge's general operating fund and will help support their myriad projects, including their expansion.

Not able to attend this Thursday? You can still contribute to Verge's success through their Kickstarter campaign, starting at $5.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Ways to spend your Halloween day (or night) in Sacramento

2012-10-30T20:29:52Z

Think the Halloween fun ended when the weekend did? Think again. Halloween on a Wednesday doesn’t deter the spooky fun in Sacramento. From nightlife to theatre, kids and family events to haunted houses, there’s plenty of Halloween events on the 31st. Take a look at our picks below, and see even more in Sacramento365.com’s Holiday Event section. Happy haunting!

Fright-free Family Fun:
Wee Halloween: Crocker Art Museum; Wed 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Celebrate the "wee" in Halloween with this fright-free alternative to trick-or-treating. Families will start by decorating treat bags before being guided in small groups through the galleries.

Boo at the Zoo: Sacramento Zoo; Tues & Wed 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Kids can safely trick-or-treat around the lake at twenty-five different candy stations and other activities include magic shows, costume dance party, ghoulish games, and lots of family fun. You can also ride the spooky train or creepy carousel; just watch out for things that go boo.

Halloween Carnival & Haunted House: Jose Rizal Community Center;
Wed 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
This event will feature a costume contest, family-friendly haunted house, monster photo shoot, carnival games, a neighborhood-themed candy walk, and more.

Nighttime Thrills:
Halloween with DJ Crooked: The Park Ultra Lounge; Wed 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
For the third year in a row, DJ Crooked returns to kill the dance floor with his thrilling beats at this spooky Halloween party. Come dressed in your sexiest, scariest, and wildest costumes and compete in a $1,000 costume contest.

Nightmare in Old Sacramento: Old Sacramento Bars; Wed 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Join the 8 participating restaurant/bars in Old Sacramento for a Nightmare in Old Sacramento. Each bar will feature drink specials, entertainment, and no cover charge.

Transylvania: District 30; Wed 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.
District 30 is magically transformed into the dark fantasy world of Dracula's Transylvania. DJ Donald Glaude provides the beats for this free Halloween party.

Laugh Yourself Silly:
Black Out Show: Halloween Bash: Punch Line Comedy Club; Wed 8 p.m.
Come out to this year's hilarious Halloween comedy showcase and see Cocoa Brown plus special guest Cheryl "The Soccer Mom" Anderson.

Teen Slasher: Improvised Halloween Comedy: Blacktop Comedy;
Wed 8 p.m.
Equal parts comedy horror and audience suggestions, Teen Slasher will leave you laughing long after the lights die.

Theatrical Spooks:
The Haunt: UC Davis Main Theatre – Wright Hall;
Tues & Wed 7:30 p.m. – Midnight
This inaugural performance-based haunted house and dance party provides a spine-tingling way to celebrate the Halloween season. The haunted house includes seven performance stages with start times every 30 minutes and a costume dance.

Blood Kiss: A Play to Chill You: Fusion International Arts Center;
Tues 8 p.m.; Wed 8 p.m. & 11 p.m.
The best players from Scream Society, an online gaming community, are invited to an evening of live game playing. As the evening progresses they see that the usual virtual reality become true reality and realize that possibly no one will survive.

The Woman in Black: A Halloween Thriller: Capital Stage;
Wed & Thurs 8 p.m.
A Capital Stage tradition, this 7th annual fundraising event presents Stephen Mallatratt's classic ghost story, The Woman in Black, as a staged-reading.

Frightful Film:
Wednesday Halloween Nooner: Ghostbusters Film Screening: Sacramento State – University Union Redwood Room;
Wed Noon – 1:45 p.m.
Come out and enjoy a free movie screening of the 1984 comedy Ghostbusters, starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Sigourney Weaver.

Nerd Night: Dorktober Fest: Bows & Arrows; Wed 7 p.m.
Enjoy a costume contest, karaoke contest, and scary movie scenes on the patio hosted by Barry'd Alive.

A Nightmare on Trash Street: Crest Theatre; Wed 8 p.m. *Show 9 p.m.
Trash Film Orgy Halloween 2012 features A Nightmare on Elm Street, the 1984 horror classic presented in glorious 35mm. There will also be a live stage show, games, contests, prizes, weird horror shorts, beer, wine, shenanigans, and much, much more.

Haunting Experiences:
Mysterium: East Valley Church; Tues 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Wed 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Mysterium will have you guessing around every corner with surprises and riddling rooms. Remember: not everything is as it seems.

Dave’s Haunted Corn Maze: Dave’s Pumpkin Patch;
Tues & Wed Dusk-Midnight
Also known as the “field of screams,” Dave's haunted corn maze is based on an eerie story about a man named Clyde and his terrifying experience with scarecrows. Come learn about the story and be scared out of your pants.

Fright Planet Haunted Theme Park: Cal Expo;
Tues/Wed/Fri 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sacramento's only indoor scream park features nine different attractions this year, including the Scream Max Theater in 3-D, the Distorted maze, and Buried Alive the ride.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

The Haunted Forest at Townhouse Lounge

2012-10-24T21:01:31Z

Friday will be one of the last chances to party at Townhouse Lounge, as the business is set to close around the end of the year, and The Haunted Forest event organizers are planning live DJs Shaun Slaughter and Adam J, adult trick-or-treating and a midnight costume contest.

Townhouse Lounge is located at 1517 21st St. Doors open at 9 p.m., and there is a $5 cover charge.

View the story "Reactions to the announced closing of Townhouse Lounge " on StorifyReactions to the announced closing of Townhouse Lounge Storified by Jared Goyette · Tue, Oct 23 2012 09:27:09 DJ Slaughter wrote a tribute to Townhouse on the Facebook page for the Rough House Records Club: As it has, the last 2 times it's closed, Townhouse being non existent in a sea of venues in Sacramento, will create a huge void....Most of the folks who've ever been there, complained about the bathrooms, complained about the bar or anything else will realize that even though despite it's flaws, it was an AMAZING place to cut loose and somehow created this very weird, no holds barred vibe no other venue could duplicate. This closing is very different. It will most definitely stay closed probably not returning as the place it was. I'm sure there's A LOT of folks who'll be happy to hear something rad and different is happening to the place and while i'm sort of on board with that too I also can't help feeling like we're losing one of the last divey, dirty and fun to party in, spots in Sacramento. Jon Droll and I walked in when it was a dive, gay bar who's biggest night was drag queen karaoke, built it as a dance venue and so many others (Dan, Roger, Jay Ira, Arnold, Adam, the bartenders, honestly too many to name) have taken it further. Anyway, I have NO idea where I was going with this other than what i've repeated a million times in my posts.....Come out and celebrate a VERY long run of amazing times, with amazing friends and say bye to THE most infamous places Sacramento has ever seen. We are doing (what looks to be) only TWO more Fridays at Toho. This friday and our big, annual, HALLOWEEN PARTY on Friday the 26th. - SHAUN Fans shared their stories about the venue and their feelings about its pending, and possibly permanent closure. I'm going to miss townhouse so much!Autumn Hardy only now have i realized just how much ive taken the townho forgranted. in the sea of dying dinosaurs sacramento has to offer, this one is truly an affair to remember. oh townho, where will i aquire my holiday decorations now?Jenifer Evert Sylvia Vu so many great memories at this place; eating lasers, taking bras off and hiding them in the kitchen, live music, DJs, Shark Dancing in the fan, miss you and going to miss this place :(Ell Arr A few have been discussing ways to save it: So we need to do something about <a href="http://www.facebook.com/townhouselounge" class="">The Townhouse Lounge</a>. This place has been my home for music the past few years...I don't want it to go. Ideas? Buy it?Chris Rouge Save the townhouse party! FundraiserMargaret Flanigan

Jane's Addiction at the Mondavi Center: photos

2012-10-22T18:52:17Z

Alt-rock godfathers and Lollapalooza festival founders Jane's Addiction brought their "Theatre of the Escapists" Tour to the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis Saturday night. Thenewno2 ("the new number two") opened.

The band played a mix of songs ranging from three off of their most recent album, 2011's The Great Escape Artist, to their classic back catalog that prompted many full-throated audience sing-alongs.

Their first studio album, 1988's Nothing's Shocking, was well-represented with "Mountain Song, "Ted, Just Admit It...," "Ocean Size," "Up The Beach," and with "Jane Says" played with Dave Navarro (on acoustic guitar) and bassist Chris Chaney sitting in comfortable upholstered chairs, while Stephen Perkins played a steel drum.

"Chip Away" from their debut (live) album, 1987's Jane's Addiction, a.k.a. XXX, was played with the band members all on drums.

Lead singer Perry Ferrell was in a joyous mood throughout, and as the night wore on he was increasingly laden with bracelets and necklaces gifted to him by fans. Ferrell returned the generosity by sharing a bottle of red wine with the crowd, appropriate, as he said, given the vineyards right outside the Mondavi Center.

During the show, guitarist Dave Navarro passed out drumsticks from drummer Stephen Perkins to two young audience members in the front row. And Farrell took it upon himself to later give the kids a brief instructional speech on how to properly rock out. As the classic album intro to 1990's Ritual de lo habitual says:

"señores y señoras

nosotros tenemos más influencia con sus hijos que tu tiene/

pero los queremos…"

[Ladies and gentlemen/

we have more influence over your children than you do/

but we love them...]

For those two young fans, Jane's Addiction's influence is likely to last.

For higher-res images, visit my website.

Sacramento gets Spooky this weekend with pre-Halloween events

2012-10-18T22:58:27Z

Although Halloween may still be a bit away, Sacramento is already in the holiday spirit. This weekend spooky events abound for the young and the young-at-heart. See our selection here, and tune into Sacramento365.com’s Holiday event section for even more possibilities.

Family haunts:
Monster Bash: 6 - 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at Sacramento Children’s Museum
Get those costumes ready for Halloween with a night of music, dancing, refreshments, and museum play at the Sacramento Children’s Museum’s Monster Bash.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: 7 p.m. Fridays, 12 p.m., 2 p.m, and 4 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 only, through Oct. 27 at Free Fall Stage at Victory Life Church
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a play about Linus' yearly quest to see the Great Pumpkin and get gifts and candy from him—forsaking all other festivities of the evening and dragging the ever-adoring Sally with him.

21st Annual Halloween Haunt: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Safetyville USA
The miniature village at Safetyville USA takes on a harvest festival theme and provides activities and fun for the entire family in a safe environment. Entertainment includes a magic show by Trevor Wyatt and a maze.

Spookomotive Train Rides: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays, through Oct. 28 at California State Railroad Museum
The diesel-powered Spookomotive train rides take you aboard a whimsically decorated train crawling with spiders, cobwebs, and cornstalks while staffed with an entertaining skeleton crew.

Spooky outdoor fun:
Living History Ghost Tours: 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, through Oct. 27. Tours begin from Eagle Theatre on the half-hour.
Walk the streets of Old Sacramento on an eerie journey back in time. Venture through centuries of history and hear ghost stories dating to the Gold Rush era. Guides (and ghosts!) will relate tantalizing tales of how folks lived and died in our fair city.

Running Dead: 5K-10K Zombie Mud Run: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Gibson Ranch
In this 5K/10K mud run you aren't just running against the clock—you are running from zombies. You must travers military style training obstacles and mud pits that in order to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Denio’s Scarecrow Festival & Parade: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Denio’s Roseville Farmers’ Market & Swap Meet
Activities will include caramel apple sales, a scarecrow contest and auction, trick or treating, raffle, and children’s parade and activities. 100% of proceeds from the day’s activities will be donated to the Roseville Firefighters Caring for Kids & Community charity.

Fright-nightlife:
Teen Slasher: Improvised Halloween Comedy: 8 p.m. Fridays and Wednesday, Oct. 31 at Blacktop Comedy
Equal parts comedy horror and audience suggestions, Teen Slasher will leave you laughing, long after the lights die. Expect killers, blood, teens, and more blood. (Theatrical blood will likely hit the first row of the audience. Come ready to get messy.)

Chuck’s 15th Annual Halloween Party: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Marilyn’s on K
At a Chuck’s party expect great costumes, great jokes, great music, and great fun. Come in your costume, the more outrageous or erotic the better.

Theatre with thrills:
The Ogre: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 27, at Big Idea Theatre
Enter Brede Place, the sinister mansion inhabited by famed American author, Stephen Crane, during the final days of his life. Surrounded by a cast of enigmatic characters, Crane begins to question his sanity as he is haunted by mysterious screams and things that go bump in the night.

Blood Kiss: A Play to Chill You: 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. & 11 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, through Oct. 31, at Fusion International Arts Center
The best players from Scream Society, an online gaming community, are invited to an evening of live game playing. As the evening progresses they see that the usual virtual reality become true reality and realize that possibly no one will survive.

Evil Dead: The Musical: 8 p.m. & 11:55 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 28 at Sutter Street Theatre
This hilarious live stage show takes all the elements of the cult classic horror films Evil Dead 1, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness then combines them to make one of the craziest theatrical experiences of all time.

Haunted Houses to make you scream:
Fright Planet Haunted House: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Thursday & Sunday, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday, additional hours through Oct. 31, at Cal Expo
Sacramento's only indoor scream park features nine different attractions this year, including the Scream Max Theater in 3-D, the Distorted maze, and Buried Alive the ride.

Heartstoppers Haunted House: 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday, additional hours through Oct. 31, at Abandoned Mine Shaft Amusements
Heartstoppers Haunted House presents four world-class haunts all in one location, all for one ticket price. Head for the already haunted and abandoned Mine Shaft Amusements in Rancho Cordova and travel back in time to an old west town overrun by zombies…and worse.

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As an event partner for The Sacramento Press, Sacramento365.com provides information on activities happening in the Sacramento community.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assistant Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Sofia Talvik migrates to California for the winter

2012-10-18T02:44:32Z

Swedish singer and songwriter Sofia Talvik will be spending the week in the Sacramento area. Talvik’s string of live performances began Tuesday night with a performance at the Coffee Garden in Curtis Park and will continue Friday with a stop at KDVS radio in Davis and another at ZuhG Life Store for a concert Friday night.

"What defines you as an artist is that you never give up."

This piece of advice was given to Talvik by her father, and she has clearly taken it fully to heart.

Achieving success as an artist signifies a life of constantly working to be seen, heard and hopefully remembered. For many, this is a lifelong effort. It takes energy and courage to step out of your shell and into a new world. For Talvik, a native of Sweden and self-taught guitarist, stepping out into a new world is nothing more than her personal way of life.

Her current U.S. tour, approximately two years in length and scheduled to last until next September, is not her first American can tour but her fourth or fifth, her first based around a performance at Lollapalooza in 2008. Talvik has performed at South by Southwest (SXSW) twice, and hopes for a third stop this year.

She has released five albums, the latest of which is titled, "The Owls Are Not What They Seem.” The album was released in January of this year. Talvik has almost exclusively produced her own records, in 2006 starting her own record label, Makaki Music.

Talvik began her Drivin’ and Dreaming tour by purchasing an RV in Florida. She and her husband have now put on more than 19,000 miles and she has played in 34 states in the last ten months, living out of an RV, mind you.

Now that the touring RV has reached California, they plan to stay for the winter, hoping to keep warm, though I can’t help but think that almost anywhere in the U.S. is warmer than Gothenburg, Sweden.

For the small group of people at the Coffee Garden Tuesday night, a night with Talvik was soothing relief after a workday. She sang from any number of her albums - all her own creations, of course - with cute little compulsive segues between each and every song. For more than an hour the plant-filled cafe courtyard was filled with smooth, pure folk with a delicate touch of pop. Notable tunes included “The War” and “If I Had a Man.”

Talvik will be on KDVS 90.3 FM on Friday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to noon. Following her live session she will travel back to Sacramento to the ZuhG Life Store, where she is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m.

For more information on upcoming shows, visit one of the many Sofia Talvik social media hubs, taking your pick from her Facebook page, website and YouTube site, among others.

Carrie Underwood brings Nashville to Power Balance Pavilion

2012-10-15T03:13:43Z

Saturday night Power Balance Pavilion hosted country superstar Carrie Underwood and “The Blown Away Tour,” complete with singer and songwriter, Hunter Hayes. The tour is based around Underwood’s fourth album, “Blown Away,” released earlier this year.

The mostly-female crowd was dressed and ready for a country night out in Nashville - cowboy hats and boots and all.

“Is that the line to the women’s!?” I overheard one woman exclaim, “Mother of pearl!”

The merrymaking and revelry was pure entertainment for all involved.

Underwood won the hearts of many, waving and chatting throughout the show despite her slightly hoarse-sounding voice. She gave a shout out to “American Idol,” saying that she would always be thankful for the show and all it has helped her to achieve.

She sang her classics one after another, to the delight of the crowd. Fan favorites were those that most pulled the emotional heartstrings, “I Told You So,” “I Know You Won’t” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Of course her more feminist songs certainly riled the crowd as well. “Before He Cheats,” in particular, was one that everyone was waiting for. Throughout the bulk of her repertoire, it seemed that Underwood was giving lessons on life. Love, men, wasting your life away, home, even one-night stands; she touched on them all.

After witnessing the passion with which she sings, you might just consider going home, quitting your job and doing something you love.

It is obvious Underwood likes her sparkle. She used five different outfits during the show, three of them gowns and most giving off a fair amount of shimmer in the spotlight. Her Daisy Dukes and Willie Nelson t-shirt were the exception, but what else could she be wearing while throwing leis into the crowd and encouraging audience members to play with enormous beach balls while singing “One Way Ticket”?

Underwood made the most of what Power Balance Pavilion had to offer, sometimes disappearing in and out of the floor, moving five screens together and apart at different angles throughout the show, and later gliding through the air on a hanging stage with several of her musicians.

Hayes, who has been playing since age 4, is the opener for “The Blown Away Tour.” The crowd was enthusiastic, with fans singing along from song one. At times Hayes performed on both guitar and piano besides his lead vocals, which one might call Mraz-esque country.

Hayes’ self-titled album was released in October of 2011. His current single, “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” was well-received by the audience, though not in comparison to his No. 1 hit, “Wanted.” Near the end of the show Hunter pleased audience members by joining Underwood onstage for “Leave Love Alone.”

On the way in on Saturday evening, I happened to hear a few staff members muttering about the amount of pyrotechnics that would be used in the show. While pyrotechnics may not have been the right word, by the end of the final encore, I certainly understood what they meant. Underwood started and finished her tour with a tornado scene. The final scene ended with paper debris swirling around the stage and a flume of smoke enveloping Underwood as she sang “Blown Away.”

The tour continued to San Jose after Sacramento and will include three more shows in California this week - in Los Angeles, Bakersfield and San Diego - before heading back east. Visit the tour website for information on future shows or to purchase tickets.

SN&R's SAMMIES Festival and Music Awards this Friday

2012-10-10T23:41:08Z

Sacramento's music scene has gotten its fair share of criticism lately, but every year, when The Sacramento News & Review's Sacramento Area Music Awards (SAMMIES) rolls around, there seems to be an endless supply of local talent to showcase. This year marks the 21st year the News & Review has hosted the SAMMIES awards, which are given out to local bands and artists after a public voting period.

There are 38 SAMMIES categories, ranging from Best Indie to Best Latin to Best Emcee. Artists who have received three awards are retired into the SAMMIES Hall of Fame (among the Hall of Famers this year are DJ emcee Random Abiladeze, reggae/punk band Arden Park Roots, and jazz musician Ross Hammond).

Last year, indie darling Autumn Sky stole the show with the most votes of any artist and two SAMMIES--Artist of the Year and Best Singer/Songwriter. This year, she's as popular as ever--but vying for Artist of the year is also hip-hop trio Death Grips, which has become nationally well known over the past few months and was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered Tuesday. This is the beauty of the SAMMIES: adorable redheaded chanteuses are featured right alongside hardcore rappers whose latest album cover features a penis with "No Love Deep Web" written on it.

Friday's SAMMIES Festival and Music Awards will be hosted by Casey Lewis of 94.7FM and Andy Hawk of 98 Rock, and will feature live performances as well as awards presentations. Eighteen local musicians including Autumn Sky, Musical Charis, Arden Park Roots, and Live Manikins are scheduled to perform. Tickets are $5 door.

There will always be those who criticize Sacramento's music scene, but SN&R Editor Nick Miller put it well in his SAMMIES writeup: "It may not be as bouncy, sexy or celebrated as in the past. But the Sacramento music scene in 2012 sure has verve."

The SAMMIES Festival and Music Awards will be held at Ace of Spades, 1417 R Street, from 6:30pm to 12am on Friday, October 12th.

Editor's note: An edit has been made to the Hall of Fame inductees.

Chat preview: Too many bars in Midtown?

2012-10-10T00:08:04Z

Does Midtown have an overconcentration of bars? It’s an issue that has divided readers on The Sacramento Press since we launched four years ago.

Sacramento Bee Associate Editor Foon Rhee wrote about the issue on Sunday, and we’ll have him and Midtown resident George Raya on Sac Press Live Wednesday to discuss it.

The video chat window will be live streamed here on Wednesday at noon:

Some longtime residents say the Midtown area is overrun with drinking establishments, and it’s destroying their quality of life. Others cite the walkability of the district – and the amount of bars and restaurants – as reasons to live nearby.

When new restaurants apply for alcohol licenses, they often face stiff opposition from neighbors, who attempt to have conditions placed on them. Those conditions sometimes include limiting hours the patios can be open, requiring security guards and limiting hours when alcohol can be sold.

For some restaurants, restrictions have outlasted the business – as was the case when Red Lotus went into the space formerly occupied by G.V. Hurley’s.

Red Lotus has since closed and been replaced by Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar. Located on the 2700 block of J Street, it is joined by a series of restaurants and bars, including BarWest Burgers & Wings, Centro Cocina Mexicana, Blue Cue and Harlow’s.

The issue also came up in a Sac Press Live chat in August with local historian William Burg. In a response to a comment on Sac Press that he was a “NIMBY” for raising concerns about what he sees as the negative effect of bars in Midtown, he said his issue is not that the bars are there, but that they don’t show enough concern for residents.

"I have this opinion that these places can be run reasonably and with respect for the neighborhoods around them, and I expect that of them," he said.

Do you think there are too many bars in Midtown? What would you like to see our guests discuss? Post a question in the conversation below.

To find out about our chats or learn about ones you can participate in, follow The Sacramento Press on Google+.

Sacramento among Yahoo's 'unexpectedly romantic' cities

2012-10-09T15:02:52Z

Looking for love in all the wrong places? Might we suggest a little more browsing around your own backyard. Last Wednesday Yahoo Travel listed Sacramento among its top ten list of "unexpectedly romantic" cities across the U.S., sharing the honor with places such as MInneapolis, Little Rock, and Salt Lake City.

Our town "packs a gentler romantic wallop" than say, San Francisco, it says, but we possess our own charming ways to woo, such as romance on the river aboard the Delta King. Keep up the good work, Sacramento.

Roseville Welcomes Sammy's Rockin' Island Bar & Grill

2012-09-20T04:29:46Z

Saturday, September 15, 2012 was declared Sammy Hagar Day in Roseville, California.

Roseville, trying to bolster it's downtown business district and nightlife reputation took the opening of Sammy's Rockin' Island Bar & Grill and turned it into a full weekend of festivities with Sammy being presented with the key to the city and a charity concert by the Red Rocker himself.

Five placer county non-profit organizations benefited from the proceeds of the events; as Sammy said "We haven't even opened the doors yet and we've already raised $40,000 for local charities." It is hoped the restaurant will be the catalyst for change in downtown Roseville, where businesses along Vernon Street seem to have a tough time making a go of it. Additionally the city recently started construction on a Town Square that will be a space for future events including concerts, farmer's markets, and other community festivities.

Sammy spoke with the press about his investment in downtown Roseville, "You know, developers might have wanted to come in here and just knock it down. I travel the world and see these old towns with history, and I'm really glad that Roseville wanted to preserve it."

The reason for choosing Roseville? "Hey, you know everybody thinks I'm such a smart guy. I don't think these things up. Smart guys come to me (like Steve Pease, my partner here) with proposals, and I go okay I've got an idea, and they go build it." "Hey, you know, two weeks ago, when I was here I didn't think we were gonna make it in time - somebody hasn't been sleeping - not me, I never touched a hammer."

Sammy also spoke of the positive impact that the restaurant will make in the community, having already provided jobs to 150 (as his fans are called) Red Heads; additionally the restaurant will continue to make donations to community based non-profits through sales of the guitars that hang over the bar, and through the Hagar Family Foundation. The Me-One Foundation, Tommy Apostolos Fund, Placer Breast Endowment Fund, The Keaton Raphael Memorial Fund, and Woodshop Rocks were selected as the beneficiaries of the opening night festivities. Radio station 96.9 The Eagle hosted the event, emceed by on-air personality Kat Maudru. Sammy graciously accepted the key to the city, the Sammy Hagar day proclamation, and other gifts from Roseville Mayor Pauline Roccucci, while teacher Duane Calkins and some of the kids from the Buljan Middle School Woodshop Rocks program waited anxiously in the wings to present Sammy with a custom made rosebud shaped guitar.

While red was the theme of the day, the restaurant is a tropically themed "Island" in the middle of downtown Roseville. Oceanic blue, starfish orange, and sea foam green dominate the color scheme. There are two levels of seating with a bar on each level, serving up Sammy's newest libation "Beach Bar Rum." Turns out, Sammy is quite the bartender, concocting a tasty rum cocktail on the spot for members of the media to sample. He called it, "The Sammy." Several menu items share a similar moniker; including Cubano Sammy (a roasted pork sandwich) and Sammy's Loco Moco, a rice dish described as an Island Favorite on the menu.

In addition to the wonderful array of tropical fusion cuisine being offered, the restaurant is expected to serve up live music three nights a week, however, Sammy left any possible future appearances a mystery, "Hey one day, I'll be kicking around, bored or restless and I'll say 'I'm gonna go play a gig in Roseville,' but you'll never know about it." Luckily, there are already several good shows coming up including, (according to Sammy) Jeff Watson (formerly of Night Ranger) with his cover band this Saturday night. The Spazmatics, Auto Replay, and Frank Hannon are going to be rockin' Sammy's Rockin' Island Bar & Grill in October.

With all of the ceremonious hoopla and the addition of a destination restaurant that's sure to be a hit with residents and visitors alike, Downtown Roseville may have scored the biggest coup in revitalization history. As Sammy noted, "With this restaurant, you can expect to be transported; look at this place; it's a beach hut, the dress code here is t-shirt, shorts and flip flops; especially when we get this place full of Red Heads and the music starts playing, it's a place to put your feet in the sand and it's fun, fun fun! When you leave you're gonna be like, 'Hey look I'm still in Roseville!'

The restaurant is expected to hold its official Grand Opening this Saturday, September 22.

Sacramento theatre events this week

2012-09-11T18:45:28Z

As an event partner for The Sacramento Press, Sacramento365.com provides information on activities happening in the Sacramento community. This week focuses on Theatre. Even though we're into September, it's not quite fall and the weather is still warm. Consider cooling off by heading indoors to see a play!

Catch them before they're gone:
Red: B Street Theatre; through Sept 23
Tues & Wed 7pm; Thurs 2pm & 7pm; Fri 7pm; Sat 8pm; Sun 1pm
Red is a raw and provocative portrait of Mark Rothko, master abstract expressionist, whose artistic ambition and vulnerability clash as he tries to create a definitive work for a historical mural commission in the extraordinary setting of the Four Seasons in New York.

Mahalia: A Gospel Musical: Guild Theater; through Sept 23
Wed-Fri 7pm; Sat 2pm & 7pm; Sun 3pm
This musical tribute, featuring the incomparable talents of Bernardine Mitchell, incorporates humor, history, and twenty rousing gospel songs as it chronicles Mahalia Jackson's journey from "grandchild of plantation slaves" to "the voice of the Civil Rights Movement."

Red Herring: Big Idea Theatre; through Sept 15
Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 2:30pm
Combine a film-noir thriller, a murder mystery, and three love stories, and what do you get? One biting and witty play and a blunt-nosed, sharp-eyed look at marriage and other explosive devices.

The Fox on the Fairway: Chautauqua Playhouse; through Sept 23
Fri & Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm
This farce is a charming, screwball comedy about love, life, and man's eternal love affair with golf.

For the kids:
Rapunzel: 24th Street Theatre; through Sept 29
Sat Noon & 2pm
Written and directed by Runaway Stage Storybook Theatre's own Lillian Baxter, this story is a fairy tale of a girl with really, really long hair, and her world search for the prince of her dreams!

Alice in Wonderland: Sutter Street Theatre; through Sept 16
Sat & Sun 1pm
This production delights all ages as viewers are introduced to Alice and then follow Alice’s dream of Wonderland, or is it a dream?

New to the stage:
The Best of Broadway: Fair Oaks Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre: Sept 14-Sept 30
Fri-Sun 7:30pm
The Best of Broadway is a popular musical revue featuring over 150 performers singing the very best of Broadway, so come on out and be prepared to be entertained and delighted!

Schemes & Scams of Scapan: Arden Playhouse; Sept 14-Oct 20
Fri & Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm *No show 9/16
This revised and updated version of Moliere’s classic farce Scapin retains all of the wild farcical situations, commedia style, dazzling comic dialogue, and fast pace of the original.

City of Angels: Davis Musical Theatre Co. Performing Arts Center; Sept 14-Oct 7
Fri & Sat 8:15pm; Sun 2:15pm
City of Angels is a stylish comedy from the glamorous days of Hollywood and a 1940s pinpoint accurate detective drama rolled in one. At Davis Musical Theatre Company, the show’s two storylines are presented in a visually stunning way--one in color, and the second, produced in black and white.

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See more performances in Sacramento365.com's Theatre events section. Not interested in theatre? Check out what else is happening this week in Sacramento365.com's Top 10 Events.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Thriving karaoke scene offers nightly entertainment

2012-09-06T00:04:26Z

Whether you’ll admit it or not, you’ve probably caught yourself belting a few lines of Bohemian Rhapsody while you’re in the shower. Or, perhaps, you’re a firm believer in blasting the radio and singing along to Adele (or Gotye) in the car instead. So, why not take all that hidden talent to the many stages of Sacramento’s karaoke scene? Here are some of your options:

The Distillery
7 days a week, 9 p.m.
2107 L St.

This local dive is known for its affordable, strong drinks as well as its dedication to making every night a sing-along night. On its website, the Distillery said that as of January of last year, management decided to cancel booking live bands in exchange for karaoke — good news for karaoke fiends.

“I went on a slower night, but I enjoyed it,” Sacramento resident David Hart said. “There’s mostly a local crowd there.”

Old Ironsides
Tuesday, first Thursday of the month, 9 p.m.
1901 10th St.

Manager Mark Gonzales recently introduced karaoke to the eclectic mix of events at Old Ironsides, and he said the event has gotten much bigger since it started.

“We’ve got regular people that come in every week now, and also people that come after work,” Gonzales said. “I’m glad to see it’s become pretty successful.”

Hosted by Sac City Entertainment, Gonzales said that Tuesdays are more crowded, and not everyone has a chance to sing. Thursdays are less so, and he said those who want their 15 minutes often get to sing two or three times during the night.

“It’s good that a lot of places around town have karaoke and it’s working,” Gonzales said. “You go where you feel most comfortable.”

River City Saloon
Thursday (live band), Friday, Saturday, 10 p.m.
916 Second St.

One of the few karaoke venues to offer a live band as backing to the singing star, River City Saloon’s Thursday night atmosphere is full of twanging guitars and loud drums. The karaoke is run by the bartenders, and since there is no stage, performers can sing from their seats with wireless microphones or, if they’re feeling more adventurous, roam the bar and encourage audience participation by asking friends for help with the song.

On The Y
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 9 p.m.
670 Fulton Ave.

Plastered with band posters, local art and all-around spirit, On The Y is hailed on Yelp as one of Sacramento’s best karaoke spots. With multiple monitors for lyrics, a stage complete with lights and music selections ranging from rap to opera, the bar is packed to capacity on karaoke nights.

“I love karaoke nights because I get to meet fun people and put smiles on their faces,” Karaoke Manager Shay Toles said. “If they’ve had a bad day, it makes me feel good to give them a breather.”

Rurulala
7 days a week
9721 Folsom Blvd.

This karaoke haven comes equipped with everything a true karaoke-goer could dream of: 12 private karaoke rooms with dance floors designed for groups of six to 35, a large variety of English, Korean and Japanese songs and even the option to record your whole session on a CD.

“We are a fun, family place,” owner Julie Kin said. “Some people come here with their church choirs to practice, and some people even have their wedding receptions here.”

If you’re into the idea of karaoke but still haven’t gotten your sea legs, you can practice at Rurulala without pressure.

“Each room has its own machine, and no one walks in unless they knock,” Kin said. “You don’t have to worry, and you can gain confidence.”

Another perk includes late hours – most nights Rurulala stays open until 4 a.m.

Labor Day Weekend events in Sacramento

2012-08-30T00:01:00Z

Everyone loves a good three-day weekend, and what better way to celebrate than in Sacramento! Enjoy a fun-filled and relaxing Labor Day weekend by checking out some of the activities and events listed below, which are sure to keep you happily busy all weekend long.

Food, Music, & Art Galore!
Chalk It Up! to Sacramento Festival: Fremont Park, Sat-Mon 10am-6pm
Enjoy three full days of fun, family friendly outdoor activities. This event will feature live musical performances, art, and great food.

4th Annual One Love, One Heart Reggae Music Festival: Rio Ramaza Marina & Event Park, Sat-Sun 11am-Midnight; Mon 10am-2pm
Experience a multicultural collection of world music, dance, and cuisine.

6th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival: Cesar Chavez Plaza,
Sun 1:30pm-8:30pm
This Festival hosts four music events in one weekend as well as dancers, a Selena singing contest, and an abundance of Tex-Mex food.

Celebrate History & Heritage
Gold Rush Days: Old Sacramento: Fri 9am-4pm; Sat & Sun 11am-7pm; Mon 11am-6pm
Transport yourself back to the days of gold and glory. This event will feature gold panning, period artifacts, storytelling, horse-drawn carriages, and much more!

Sacramento Greek Festival: Sacramento Convention Center,
Fri-Sun 11am-11pm
Enjoy a culturally rich weekend filled with plenty of Greek food, Greek dancing, and much more.

African Cultural Festival: William Land Park, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm
Travel across the globe and immerse yourself in African culture without ever leaving Sacramento.

Fun-Filled Festivals
Rainbow Festival: Midtown - 20th & K Streets, Fri 8pm; Sat 10pm-2am; Sun 10am-6pm
Raise money for charities that have a significant importance to the lesbian and gay community and enjoy a celebration of pride.

The 2nd Annual Show N' Shine Car Show: Southgate Plaza, Sat 11am-5pm
This event will include a car show, live DJ, free kids crafts, a rock wall, dancers, raffles, and much more.

The Five-O-Show-Rodeo: Sacramento Horseman's Club, Sat 1pm-3:30pm
Enjoy a day of BBQ, raffles, a rodeo-inspired equestrian show, and more!

Unique Family-Friendly Entertainment
Pop-Up Cinema: The Wizard of Oz: Fairytale Town, Fri 7pm & 10pm
Celebrate the completion of the Yellow Brick Road play set with two screenings of the beloved family classic.

The Bone Zone Grand Opening Weekend: Discovery Museum, Sat-Mon 12:30pm-4pm
Bring the whole family to learn about skulls, bodies, and health, all in a fun and exciting way with this new exhibit!

Sacramento Anime Convention: Woodlake Hotel Sacramento,
Fri & Sat 10am-2am; Sun 10am-6pm
SacAnime is the Anime convention where fans come to play, providing the Japanese-influenced pop culture for fun for the entire family.

After Hours Activities
Dirty Kitty 6: Summer Finale: The Park Ultra Lounge, Fri 9pm-2am
The Park will be shining through with a black light party featuring DJ's Eddie Edul and Peeti-V on the turntables.

MiX LDW2012: Donald Glaude: MiX Downtown, Sun 4pm-8pm
Come out and see one of the heroes of the West Coast house music scene, Donald Glaude perform live.

Monday Specials:
Sacramento Free Day of Yoga: Sacramento Yoga Studios, Mon, times vary
All day long, participating studios in the Sacramento area will be offering free classes as an opportunity for people of every age and fitness level to try yoga for the first time.

Free Treat Monday: Unleashed by Petco - Elk Grove, Mon 9am-9pm
Bring your pets and celebrate Labor Day by getting them free treats just for stopping by!

Little Buckaroos Day: Crocker Art Museum, Mon 11am-3pm
Families with young children will have a yee-haw time at the Crocker in celebration of Sacramento's annual Gold Rush Days. The West will be wild with wiggles and giggles at this event!

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This information provided by Sacramento365.com, an event resource partner of Sacramento Press.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Clips of Faith film and beer fest in Davis

2012-08-11T22:32:06Z

Friday evening over 1,200 people flooded Central Park in downtown Davis for Clips of Faith, a bike-in beer and short film festival brought to the area by New Belgium Brewing. The event was a fundraiser for Davis Bicycles! and was supported by dozens of volunteers from around the area.

Patrons were able to taste over a dozen kinds of beer, including Prickly Passion Saison, featuring prickly pear and passion fruit juices; Belgo, a Belgian IPA; and Cocoa Mole, a chocolate beer with more than a hint of chili pepper. Of course, they also served their classics. Fat Tire and Shift, for instance, are generally quite popular, and were available, though many chose to try out the newbies rather than taste those that can be found at any old grocery store.

In addition to those tasting, children and families packed the green space in the center of the park with blankets and lawn chairs. Some focused intently on the short films, submitted by fresh filmmakers from around the country, while others simply hobnobbed and laughed as they sipped the goods. Food for the event was provided by Monticello Bistro and Woodstock Pizza, both of Davis. Wastebusters and the compostable corn cups provided by New Belgium Brewing kept the event green.

Many of the jovial Clips of Faith volunteers seemed to make this service opportunity an annual event. Most servers were there representing either Davis Bicycles! or the Davis Food Co-op. Joined by others from the area, some spent the three-hour event pouring for the second or third year in a row.

Davis Bicycles! is a community group that promotes bike safety and education, besides promoting bicycling in the Davis area in general. Last year the organization was able to raise over $5,000 for bicycle advocacy and had higher attendance than any other stop on the New Belgium Clips of Faith tour. Though the final numbers were not yet available when this article went to press, the Davis Bicycles! team was optimistic that this year was even better than the last.

The New Belgium team will do 18 Clips of Faith events this year. Each festival is paired with a local non-profit, the vast majority of them bicycle-related. They continue on from Davis to Missoula, Mont. for a festival on Aug. 17.

The REEL scene

2012-08-03T23:58:17Z

The Greens Hotel on Del Paso Boulevard hosted the first event of a summer series that will hopefully become a requisite Thursday evening activity for Sacramentans in-the-know. The REEL Bike-In Theater hosts an outdoor movie on the big screen every first and third Thursday through the end of October. The purpose of the event is two-fold: to give the creative minds of the city something fun to do on Thursday night and to work towards changing the stigma that has been placed upon the area of Del Paso Boulevard for so long.

Indian Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was up first. The hotel complex was the perfect place to start the cool down after an ultra-hot Sacramento day, and neighborhood residents and others from around Sacramento came early, trickling in beginning around 6 p.m. Some took the time to check out the work of independent artists while others preferred to hang by the pool eating terrific food truck fare paired with a Track 7 brew or a glass of California wine.

The hotel's creative storefronts, aka rooms, serve as Pop Up Shops for events like this, in addition to housing a number of Artists-in-Residence full-time. This week rooms were occupied by fresh faces like Noelle C. of FineTuned::: Threads Trims & Shit, and slightly more seasoned store owners like Vanessa Lopez of heart. The heart clothing Boutique is located in midtown at 1903 Capitol Ave. and is coming up on its two-year anniversary.

Julia Beckner of "just" brought simple and colorful handmade Indonesian jewelry, clothes and much more. Cherie Hacker had mixed media of all kinds, from photos to screenprinted records. Pieces from her "Lamp & Endtable Project" are currently on display at the AXIS Gallery in Sacramento. Other Pop Up Shops included the Gypsy Mobile Boutique, art by Jeffrey DeVore, Molly Brown Design and Body Advantage, where attendees could stop in for a massage before the film.

Among giant pots of exotic plants, lawn chairs and blankets reserved space on the lot. Even an air mattress made it to the show. By 8:30 everyone was about settled in to enjoy the movie and the fact that the summer sun had gone down.

For many at The Greens it seemed that the movie was somewhat irrelevant. Groups throughout the complex gathered to chat, eat and have a glass of peach ginger sangria. At times, one got the feeling that it was more about getting out and being seen than about the movie. Tips on both style and free spirit were readily available for the taking.

Perhaps Indiana Jones summed up the event best of all.

“I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.”

Next up is “Dogtown and Z-Boys” on Aug. 16. The quirky, lettered rooms of the The Greens Hotel should be fully booked, with many more artists and vendors available to share their creative wares, so if you're sitting around on a Thursday waiting for the weekend to begin, head to The Greens. There's a scene there just waiting to be had.

The Greens Hotel, located at 1700 Del Paso Blvd., will continue to host this unique bike-in art and movie experience until Oct. 18. The event is free and open to those 21 years of age and up. For more detailed movie information, see below or visit the REEL Facebook page.

Aug. 16: “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (documentary)
Sept. 6: “Best In Show” (comedy)
Sept. 20: “Waste Land” (documentary)
Oct. 4: “Snatch” (crime thriller)
Oct. 18: “Exit Through the Gift Shop” (documentary)

Memorial Day weekend events in Sacramento

2012-05-23T21:52:21Z

For many, Memorial Day weekend evokes the start of the summer season—warm days, cool nights, and lots of outdoor fun. On the other hand, Memorial Day itself serves as a day of remembrance for those that have given their lives for our country. Sacramento events this weekend take on both those meanings, with ways to honor those that have fallen, plus plenty of outdoor festivities and summery fun. Be sure to check Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section for even more options.

Take advantage of your extra day with these weekend-long events:
Festivals: 76th Annual Sacramento County Fair:
Cal Expo; Thurs-Sun 10am-10pm; Mon 10am-7pm
The 2012 Sacramento County Fair celebrates 76 years of fair memories and magic with a carnival, food, barn animals, music, shopping, bull riding, and the popular demolition derby.

Festivals: Sacramento Music Festival:
Old Sacramento & Downtown; Fri-Mon, times vary
This year’s Sacramento Musical Festival is one giant party as the sounds of jazz, blues, zydeco (and related styles) permeate Old Sacramento and the Downtown area. The Festival offers more than 400 sets of live music, featuring 20 venues with over 70 bands, including a few dozen internationally-known artists that will have revelers dancing in the streets!

Museums: Jazz-Related Activities at the CA State Railroad Museum:
California State Railroad Museum; Fri-Mon 10am-5pm
Coinciding with the Sacramento Music Festival, the Railroad Museum will offer jazz musicians performing inside the Museum and aboard the weekend excursion train rides, and offer complimentary admission to event badge holders.

Festivals: Roseville Greek Food Festival: St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church;
Fri 5pm-10pm; Sat Noon-10pm; Sun Noon-6pm
Do you like gyros? There'll be plenty of them at Roseville's Greek Food Festival. Come enjoy Greek food, music, and dancing.

Kids & Fam: Discovery Weekend: It’s Butterfly Time:
Discovery Museum Science & Space Center; Sat-Mon 12:30pm-4pm
Flutter by the Discovery Museum this holiday weekend and enjoy a bounty of butterfly activities. Don't forget to enjoy the grounds; bring a picnic lunch and check out the butterfly garden!

Food & Wine: Memorial Day Weekend at Carvalho Family Winery:
Old Sugar Mill; Sat-Mon 1pm-4pm
Come join on the Crush Pad for a weekend full of great wine, great food, and great music! Enjoy a bottle of wine, BBQ tri tip, and live music performed by DeWald/Taylor Jazztet and Ray Iaea.

Honor those who have fallen:
Special Events: Reading of the Names: Memorial Day:
Capitol Park – California Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Sun 7am
Please join in honoring and remembering those California Vietnam Veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War, as well as Veterans from all wars, all services, and those currently serving at this Reading of the Names in honor of Memorial Day.

Music: A Day of Remembrance Concert:
Westminster Presbyterian Church; Sun 4pm
Camerata California Chorus with the Camellia Symphony Conductor, Dr. Les Lehr present this Memorial Day Weekend concert featuring the West Coast Premieres of “Last Letter Home” by Lee Hoiby (composer will be in attendance!) and “Elegy” by Lewis Songer, plus “A Great and Glorious Victory” by Jonathan Willcocks, “Third Mass” by Joseph Haydn.

Sports & Rec: Buzz Oates No Excuses 5K:
William Land Park; Mon 8:30am *Kids’ Runs begin earlier
You forgot your racing shoes? You drank too much the night before? Your shorts kept riding up? One excuse you can’t use at the No Excuses 5k is “I’m too old.” The unique age-graded formula guarantees everyone an equal chance of winning the overall title. The beneficiary of the race is The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 500, a non-profit Veterans organization serving all Veterans.

Sports & Rec: Wounded Veteran Run:
Folsom Parkway Trails; Mon 9am
The Wounded Veteran Run is inspired by the daily perseverance and dedication of our nation’s combat wounded service members. The goal of the race is to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom, and to raise awareness and donations for the Wounded Warrior Project through community outreach.

Special Events: Memorial Day Parade:
Begins from Family Community Church; Mon 8am-11:30am
VFW Post 4647 is proud to present the 46th Annual Memorial Day Parade honoring all those who gave their lives in defense of our great country.

Sports & Rec: Military Appreciation Day with the Sacramento River Cats: Raley Field; Mon 1:05pm
Players will wear special camouflage uniforms as the River Cats honor the military members who protect our freedom. Military members and their families will take part in between-inning fun.

Make memories with Sacramento Nightlife:
Gilligan’s Island Pub Crawl Memorial Weekend:
Begins from Blue Cue; Sat 6pm
5hundy Social Club & Blue Cue are back together for their 2nd Annual Summer Kick-Off Pub Crawl. Free wristbands entitle you to drinks specials at each bar on the crawl. Don't forget to come dressed as your favorite Gilligan's Island Character!

Night + Day Party: Memorial Day Weekend:
MiX Downtown; Sun 2pm-2am
Enjoy music, sun, and fun with three special guest DJs in addition to amazing resident DJs Gabe Xavier and DJ Peeti V. Sangria and Margarita specials to cool you off at the hottest rooftop party in the city. Sun worship encouraged!

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Even more Mother's Day events in Sacramento

2012-05-09T19:24:38Z

You know Mom deserves a day off, so why not take her out on the town this weekend in celebration of Mother’s Day? Below are a few choices, but be sure to check out this previous article on the Sacramento Press and visit Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section for even more options.

Museum hop:
Mother’s Day at the Auto Museum: California Automobile Museum,
Sun 10am-6pm
Take a step back in time with classic cars at the California Auto Museum. Mother's receive free admission on this day.

Mother Nature Stroll: Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sun 1:30pm-3pm
Celebrate the beauty of spring with a delightful guided walk through the Nature Preserve on Mother’s Day. You may want to bring your binoculars (or borrow some from the Center).

Feed Mom well:
C.L.A.S.S.Y. Mother Daughter Brunch: Holiday Inn Express – Elk Grove, Sat 10am-1pm
C.L.A.S.S.Y. (Captivating Ladies Acquiring Successful Standards Yearly) will be hosting their annual Mother, Daughter, Big Girl, Little Girl Brunch, offering a buffet style brunch, Mother Daughter photo, gift bag, music, dancing, and so much more!

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Hyatt: Hyatt Regency Sacramento,
Sun 9am-3pm
Treat your mother like a queen with made-to-order omelets, a seafood bar, a carving station, and a fantastic assortment of desserts, plus live music and, of course, a special treat for mom!

Wine for all:
The Hen’s in the Vineyard: McConnell Estates Winery, Sat 11am-5pm
This is a fabulous event featuring local artisans and their one-of-a-kind handmade designed goods. You will find the perfect Mother's Day gift, plus be able to shop with a glass of wine in hand.

Bring Mom Out for WIne, Chocolate, and Berries: Old Sugar Mill,
Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Treat mom to a massage from Keola Bodyworks, jewelry by Silpada, and Farmers Fresh (vegetable, fruit, flowers and plant stand), plus chocolate samples from Capital Confections. Camellia Symphony Quartet will be performing on Saturday.

Music for Mommys:
Sac’s A-List Poetry & Music Event: The Show:
Florin Business Arts Complex, Sat 7pm-9pm
This is a special Mother's Day Dedication Poetry & Music event featuring M.E. Miller, T.D. Trice, Malik Saunders, Jamie Jackson, Terry Moore, and the band LSB.

Jazz Sunday: Clint Baker: Dante Club, Sun 11:30am-5pm
Since this Jazz Sunday takes place on Mother's Day, all moms in attendance will receive a free carnation! Socialize, dance, or just hang out and listen to some great live music at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s monthly 2nd Sunday celebration. This month’s guest artist is multi-instrumentalist Clint Baker.

A Jazzy Mom’s Affair: Red Lion Hotel, Sun 5pm-8pm
This Mother's Day Jazz Celebration features Virginia Ayers-Dawson (vocals) & AyerPlay (Eric Tillman/piano, Bob Bell/bass, Jeff Minnieweather/drums, & Otis Mourning/reeds).

Sunday Circus: Mother's Day MILF Edition: MiX Downtown,
Sun 8:30pm-2am
Celebrate all the beautiful mothers of the world by joining MiX Downtown for Sunday Circus with hip hop & dance remixes by DJ Gabe Xavier. Enjoy amazing drink specials: $3 you-call-it cocktails (up to a $10 value), $4 vodka-Redbulls, & $4 jack & cokes all night! $125 Kettle One Bottles available for VIP booths.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Nashville musician Katie Herzig makes first appearance in Sacramento

2012-05-03T19:46:41Z

Although she’s traversed across the United States before, this Friday marks singer-songwriter Katie Herzig’s first trip to Sacramento. And, she’s looking forward to discovering a good restaurant while she’s here (we’re sure she’ll be able to do that!). Abstract Entertainment is bringing her to the Blue Lamp Lounge along with special guest, fellow singer-songwriter, Andrew Belle.

Sacramento365.com was able to squeeze in a few quick questions with Katie in between her touring schedule. Check them out below, and be sure to take a listen to her music here.

1. Describe your music in 6 words or less.
Dynamic, rhythmic, cinematic, intimate, honest, mysterious.

2. Who was the first artist to get you into music?
Toad The Wet Sprocket.

3. How has your musical style changed over time?
It's definitely evolved. Less acoustic, more layered, more musical movements.

4. What can the audience expect to see at one of your live shows?
Lots of energy, full band. It draws you in to quiet intimate moments mixed with high energy songs. Like to keep it ebbing and flowing...fresh feeling.

5. How did you an Andrew Belle decide to tour together? How does your music complement one another?
We became friends on the Ten Out of Tenn tour. I sang on one of his songs "Static Waves," so lots of our fans have asked us to tour together. It was good timing for both of us; we're having a great time.

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Tickets to the show are $12 in advance ($15 at the door) and can be purchased here.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Even more Cinco de Mayo events in Sacramento

2012-05-02T21:27:32Z

Sacramento’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations branch out this year with Mexican music, tequila tastings, full-on fiestas, of course the requisite drinking & dancing events, and even a few options for the non-drinking crowd. In addition to the events included in this article, discover even more options in the round up below, and don’t forget to head over to Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section to check out the whole shebang. Ay-yi-yi!

Foodie focus:
5th Annual Tequila Festival: Zocalo, Thurs 6pm-9pm
This year features six different tequila distilleries: Siete Leguas, Herencia Mexicana, Fortaleza, Avion, Seleccion, and Tres Agaves. Hosted by Joe Anthony, Jimmy, and Ernesto. And, for aficionados, a cigar bar hosted by Fat Man Cigars.

Tequila & Beer Social: Centro, Thurs 6:30pm-8pm
Tequila representatives from Partida, Tradicional, and Cazadores, along with beer representatives from Modelo Especial, Corona, and Pacifico, will be at Centro on Thursday to share tastings of their delicious tequilas and beers.

Cinco de Mayo Viva la Vino: Old Sugar Mill, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Clarksburg Wine Company, located within the Old Sugar Mill. There will be complimentary tacos, a live Mariachi band, and, of course, wine!

All-day Fiestas:
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Centro: Centro, Fri 11:30am-11pm; Sat 3pm-1am
Friday features all-day drink specials to kick off Cinco de Mayo weekend. Enjoy $1-off all Mexican draft beers all day long! On Saturday, celebrate Cinco de Mayo on the extended back patio and outdoor bar. There will be drink specials (such as $6 margaritas), music, food, and a bartender competition.

All Dayo Cinco de Mayo: Zocalo, Sat 11am-Midnight
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with all the fixings: live mariachi, ballet folklorico dance performances, drink specials, pig roast, street tacos, plenty of tequila and beer, and much more.

Bulls Cinco de Drinko Fiesta: Bulls Restaurant & Bar, Sat 3pm-2am
Don't miss the biggest Cinco de Drinko Fiesta at Bulls! $1.50 street tacos on the patio, $6 tacos and tequilas, free sombreros, and raffle tickets for a chance to hit the pinata!

Cinco de Old Sacto: Old Sacramento Bars, Sat 4pm-1:30am
Sacramento celebrates Cinco De Mayo in Old Sacramento with 12 bars all within two blocks! So, if you’re looking for live music, DJ dancing, sports, theatre, comedy, and great Mexican food & drink, then Old Sacramento has your party this Cinco De Mayo.

Celebrations for the non-drinking crowd:
Sober Cinco de Mayo Dinner & Awards Ceremony:
Sacramento Association of Realtors, Thurs 7pm
The event will include guest speaker Dr. David W. Smith, awards in four categories, a silent auction to benefit the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Sacramento's programs, and Mexican cuisine.

Zaira Meneses: Three Stages Performing Arts Center, Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm
Mexican sensation Zaira Meneses and Cinco de Mayo coincide! Born in Xalapa, Mexico, from an early age she showed great talent for music, studying both classical guitar and voice. Since moving to the USA in 2001, she has built a stellar reputation for her warm sound, limpid technique, and superb natural musicality. Her beautiful singing voice and talent for the dance are both frequently featured in encores following her appearances as guitarist.

Get your groove on:
Pop Freq: Cinco de Mayo Edition: Townhouse Lounge, Sat 9pm-2am
This Cinco de Mayo, Pop Freq will feature dance music and party jams with resident DJs X-GVNR upstairs and DJRigaTony downstairs.

Cinco de Mayo at District 30: District 30, Sat 9pm-3am
DJ David Carvalho will be playing the best in hip hop, house, electro, and more. There'll be live conga drummers, sexy salsa-style dancers, Bud Light promo girls, and San Francisco & Northern California's finest talent. Enjoy $3 Bud Light Lime a Rita and $5 Avion Tequila Shots.

No matter what you do: stay safe!
Berg Injury Lawyers Safe & Sober Program
On Sat, May 5, 3pm-3am, call Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento at (916) 444-2222 and tell them the ride is on Berg Injury Lawyers. There’s a $35 cap on all rides; patrons are responsible for costs more than $35. Patrons must be picked up at a participating restaurant, hotel, or bar within Downtown Sacramento to qualify for a free ride.

Cinco de Mayo: Hopper Style
Join for a night of fun on the Sac Town Hopper to celebrate Cinco De Mayo! $10 gets you all night access to the Hopper & the wristband also gets you front of the line access to Social with free entry all night and front of the line at Barwest! Take advantage of the Hopper and start on their 9pm bus to Downtown. Three pick ups near Sac State, five stops Downtown.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Sacramento Electronic Music Festival goes big for year three

2012-05-01T21:08:04Z

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 be humble about what we’re doing, and make sure we’re doing something really, really cool, but also not putting ourselves in a position where we’re going to fail so miserably we won’t be able to do it again.

Clay: You know my philosophy is you do something once and pull it off, you do something twice you confirm it, and by the third year you can’t do the same thing again, so I was like, “You know what, let’s just go big. F*ck it.” We just called every big artist and were like “Hey, this could be a shot in the dark, maybe not, but we’re doing this--do you want to come play?” We basically pulled it out in classic DIY fashion which is by the skin of your teeth and you know...

Adam: ...the seat of your pants.

Clay: I guess I don’t do things any other way.

How was it decided to move the venue for the Festival this year?
Clay: We outgrew Townhouse; there were lines all the way to Zelda’s. Which is cool to say, but if you’re in that line, it sucks. We just thought we needed a bigger space and we were looking hard. I had done a lot of work with Harlow’s and Momo Lounge and I knew that...when the whole complex was being used it was really cool because you could go upstairs, downstairs, outside, on the patio, and it’s almost like you could curate three different spots. And with electronic music, it’s so varied--you can have something that’s really heavy hip hop beat, you can have something that’s really industrial, you can have something that’s really dance, or you can have something that’s really mellow and ambient--you can do that in those spaces and switch it up.

Describe the scene of the event for me. What would I see if I were there?
Adam: Lasers.

Clay: I made a conscious decision, no matter where we were going to be, that I wanted to transform the space so that it didn't feel like you were in Sacramento; I just wanted them to be taken to another space when they walk in. We're working with a few visual artists who are doing projections, and LC Mural and Design is doing this really badass [installation on plywood], and we’re working with these people to do some lasers. You’re going to go there, and you’re going to have three different spaces that are curated, something interesting in each space. If the main stage isn’t for you, you can go upstairs and check that out, if that’s not for you you can go outside and check that out. It’s just going to be a very visceral kind of experience.

Adam: You’ll be seeing a lot of people having the best time of their entire lives. You’ll be seeing a lot of that.

There are over 35 artists this year. What’s the decision process? Do you seek out particular artists?
Clay: We had a list of our dream artists and we originally were doing two days, and they just started saying yes and we were like “There’s no way we can do this in just two days!” I mean, we would have been happy just to have Shlohmo...

Adam: Same thing with Lorn. Lorn was my big one this year. I always have one dude that I always really want. Last year it was Daedelus and we got him. This year it is Lorn.

Clay: There’s something for everyone, too. The dance scene’s represented, the dubstep, the glitch hop, the ambient head tripping stuff. Everything’s represented and…if you care about our music scene and just cheering on something that’s kind of bigger than itself you’ll help make things better for other people of similar passions--whether it’s a blues festival or any DIY people who sit around and say “you know what, there should be a festival” and go out and do it.

Adam: And I want to stress the importance of that, because that’s a huge part of Clay’s and my mission statement, if you will...This is a festival for Sacramento. This is not the “Something Something Electronic Music Festival”...this is the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival. This isn’t going to be in LA next year, this isn’t going to be in San Francisco next year. It’s something that we give to the Sacramento music scene because Clay and I really love music a lot, we love our local scene, we love Sacramento.

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Tickets for SEMF are $30 for a three-day pass or $13 per individual day. They can be purchased here. Check out samplings from SEMF artists here.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

The Shins at the Mondavi Center: photos

2012-04-26T05:32:50Z

The Shins (with opening act Gardens & Villa) played Monday night at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis. The show was the last of series of four concerts in Davis in April produced by the Bay Area's Another Planet Entertainment that I started calling "mini-Coachella," since the headlining bands (and many of the openers) also played that desert mega-festival the last two weekends: Explosions In The Sky at the Mondavi, Bon Iver at Freeborn Hall, and Florence + the Machine at the Mondavi. Other recent Coachella stopovers in the region include fIREHOSE at Harlow's, The Buzzcocks at Ace of Spades, Givers at Harlow's, and Mazzy Star at Harlow's.

The Shins are touring to support their album "Port of Morrow," released in March.

Gardens & Villa return to Davis on May 24th at Sophia's Thai Kitchen.

Peaceful Davis picnicking

2012-04-24T02:00:19Z

University of California, Davis Picnic Day 2012 came and went, and for the most part, both Davis and outside participants “handled their shit,” much to the pleasure of the Davis authorities. While much of the Picnic Day coverage focuses on crime statistics, it is well worth noting that for the vast majority involved, Picnic Day was a lovely day spent out-of-doors.

Events were spread around the town and on campus this past Saturday and included enormous variety in terms of entertainment. The day started off with crowds flooding into Downtown Davis for a morning parade. From there, locals and visitors spread throughout the area looking to get their fix of sunshine, music and food.

The UCD Quad hosted student groups selling food, beverages and snacks of all kinds. Attendees enjoyed cantaloupe juice, chicken satay and ice cream, to name a few, while watching live entertainment on one of four stages that hosted bands, musical theater, a capella groups and dance throughout the day.

While most students spent the morning lingering and lounging on the grassy lawn, others headed to UCD athletic facilities to take in a track and field meet, an alumni soccer game, a lacrosse match or one of many other athletic demonstrations or competitions.

Bugs! was the buzzword of the day for most kids at the 98th Picnic Day, although there were so many family-friendly events it was likely they spent their whole day trekking from one side of campus to the other. Many families headed to the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Pavilion or Hutchinson Field for the Doxie Derby and Frisbee dog competition, respectively. Others went to Briggs Hall to watch cockroach races, ponder maggot art or pet and hold walking sticks before heading over to visit the apiculturists for a taste of honey. The Multicultural Children's Fair at Hoagland Hall had another 20 or 30 entertainment possibilities as well.

The Chemistry Magic Show was a hit, as always, with just one notable mishap that occurred when an explosion was a bit too grand.

The annual Battle of the Bands went on for hours, and hundreds of spectators lined the grassy Arboretum hill to watch. While the University of California, Berkeley went home early, the remaining five bands powered towards the tentative end time of 10 p.m. This year’s participants also included the University of California, Irvine; University of California, San Diego; Humboldt State; Stanford University and the largest group, the UCD Band-uh. As usual, bandmembers' attire left no room for imagination. Music selections spanned from the classic “Wipeout” to Lady Gaga. Perhaps the best part of the show was the cool shade provided by the well-developed natural setting and the beautiful backdrop that Lake Spafford provided.

As the sun set on Davis, picnickers migrated back to their homes or towards downtown for the evening hours. Due to the many new zero-tolerance policies and safety precautions, a number of businesses downtown closed early while others never opened on Picnic Day at all.

The city of Davis had prepared for the event by sending out a strong no tolerance message to all potential participants. Area police forces, city officials, businesses and student organizations all took part in the effort to make Picnic Day 2012 a problem-free event.

Overall, the message got across and many Sacramento and Davis locals chose not to participate, stating that the event would be, well, boring. It is possible that both Sactomofo and the causeway holdup of April 20 affected the number of incoming visitors as well.

Boring, it was not. For most, Picnic Day was a great time and just a sunburn away from being a perfect day.

Florence + the Machine dazzles Davis

2012-04-20T20:00:31Z

Appearing behind a sheer shadow box a top the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts stage on Wednesday night, Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, launched into her lilting “Only if For One Night,” the starting track off her 2011 record release “Ceremonials.”

The crowd, captivated by Welch’s charisma and gold-studded cloak, cheered as the singer reverently raised her arms like a black bird and crooned the chorus line: “But you came over me like some holy rite, and although I was burning, you're the only light! Only if for a night!” Her graceful, yet guttural vocals permeated the theatre full with Florence aficionados.

Behind her, a tapestry of stained glass cathedral windows and celestial harps echoed "Ceremonials"' recurring theme--the spiritual struggle between good and evil, darkness and light. Her fascination with doom and salvation has not only surfaced in her lyrics (“Looking for heaven in the devil in me,” she sings in “Shake it Out”), but also through her UC Davis debut performance.

Now standing center stage, Welch, dressed like a druid, twirled like a dervish and unraveled her proverbial black cape to reveal an angelic, white gown ala “The Lady of Shalott.” As if finally free from her past, possessed persona, the renewed Welch fluttered from one end of the stage to the other, her sleeves flowing behind her in a blur.

It wasn't until after the fifth song of the night, “Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)," that the singer spoke.

“If you saw a pale girl in short shorts playing basketball today, that was me,” she said, confessing that the way she plays is just “rubbish.”

The audience laughed and perhaps some wondered if they had passed up, while walking through campus, a rare chance to shoot hoops with a Brit-pop star.

One opportunity Wech ensured the crowd would not miss, however, was to sing along with her. This was most apparent during the acoustic “Heartlines” where, before the number reached the first verse, she suddenly stopped the song.

“Oh! I forgot to ask,” she said, the drums crashing to a halt. “You can sing this one with me!”

She then lowered the microphone to excited members of the audience, encouraging them to harmonize. “Yeah... Yeah... Just keep following the heartlines on your hand!” the room roared.

Accompanying Welch were her supporting "machine" of musicians, which included harpist Tom Monger, two back-up singers, drummer Christopher Hayden and her original music partner, Isabella “Machine” Summers on keys.

Backed by this enigmatic engine, Welch finally broke into “Dog Days are Over,” one of the group's most played songs to date. The audience went wild as Welch coordinated the crowd to jump in complete unison, and soon the singer was conducting a full symphony of springing, singing fans.

Then, prior to the encore, Florence + the Machine ended the evening with “Never Let Me Go," which the audience made very clear they were not ready to do.

Photography by Rik Keller. To view more photos from the evening, please visit his image gallery.

Explosions In The Sky at the Mondavi Center: photos

2012-04-17T06:22:29Z

Texas band Explosions In The Sky visited the Mondavi Center at UC Davis Sunday night and provided a pure guitar wall of sound bliss.

Their show is the first of a set of four concerts in Davis in April produced by the Bay Area's Another Planet Entertainment (books shows for the Outside Lands Festival (2012 lineup to be announced tomorrow), the Treasure Island Music Festival, The Independent in SF, and the Fox Theater in Oakland, among others) that I am dubbing "mini-Coachella" since the headlining bands (and many of the openers) are playing there both last and next weekend. Upcoming Davis shows are: Bon Iver on Tuesday, April 17th at Freeborn Hall; Florence and the Machine on Wednesday, April 18th at the Mondavi; and The Shins on Monday, April 23rd at the Mondavi.

But rather than battling 75,000 of your closest friends in urban-warrior-princess headbands on the polo fields of Indio, the cushioned seats and impeccable acoustics of the Mondavi make for a civilized alternative, especially if one is within cycling distance of the venue.

Explosions In The Sky brought their emotionally expansive instrumentals to an enchanted capacity crowd. The band's frequent closed-eye playing and rhythmic swaying provided echoed the audience's reverie. During one particularly head-banging passage, a nascent rebellion of several audience members defied the ushers and danced at the foot of the stage. In the end, order was restored until EITS thanked the audience to an instantaneous standing ovation to close.

Fellow Texans Zammuto, Nick Zammuto's project after the disbanding of The Books, opened the show. With a collage and pastiche approach to songsmithing, their final number was "The Best Autoharp Solo Of All Time!" which mixed precisely-edited footage and sound from an autoharp instructional video as the basis of a rousing song.

[See a full set of higher-res photos on my website: http://www.rikkeller.com/Music/Explosions-Sky-Mondavi-4-2012/22482190_KZCMTq]

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats Light Up The Torch Club

2012-04-01T22:25:52Z

First, a disclaimer: I have been a fan of The Nightcats since “Little Charlie” Baty fronted the band in the 80’s.

Balancing this potential (but not actual) bias, however, was my lack of enthusiasm at the idea of venturing out, dateless, into the pouring rain on Saturday night to see them perform.

But venture I did.

I arrived at The Torch Club little after the beginning of the first set—which, by the way, lasted an amazingly energetic hour and fifteen minutes—and the place was already wall-to-wall people. I claimed the last empty barstool, and wished I’d dressed for the weather indoors, which was about ten degrees warmer than the nastiness outside. What little dance floor exists in front of the stage was crowded with couples, trios, and girls who just wanted to have fun. The Nightcats’ beat tends to be contagious, so there were a lot a lot of people sort of bouncing at bar tables, and, as the night wore on, clusters of people created small makeshift dance floors in various spots around the room.

The Torch Club is really the ideal venue for Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, old school and intimate, but able to draw a crowd as diverse as its Downtown neighbors. This night was no exception. The crowd ran the gamut from twenties to sixties, easily. There were girls in party dresses, and good old boys in cowboy hats. Bartenders slid everything from coffee drinks with four inches of whipped cream to vodka cranberries to countless bottles of beer across the bar.

Up front, Rick Estrin was a powerhouse on the harmonica, belting out songs from their longtime repertoire, engaging the audience in tunes like “Dump That Chump,” and also showcasing new material from an upcoming CD. Always slick in a signature sharkskin suit, Estrin played the crowd as smoothly as he played the harp. The most recent addition to the band, guitarist Chris “Kid” Andersen, who came from playing with Charlie Musselwhite, showed some crazy skills of his own. Strutting across the stage, hair flying, fingers on fire, he makes a more than fine showing in the position once held by the ban’s former front man, Little Charlie.

It’s true that I have a history with the Nightcats, first fronted by great guitar man Charlie Baty, and now in the title role, their long-time vocalist and harp player, Rick Estrin. But as with so many artists I have loved over a lifetime, every time I buy a ticket, I think, Is this going to be it? Is this the show that will be one too many? The one I wish I hadn’t seen? Or more accurately, heard? I’ve already experienced that show with a few of the bigger names, but Rick Estrin? Not even close.

Even more St. Patrick's Day events in Sacramento

2012-03-16T18:17:41Z

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, Monkey Bar, Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Paragary's Bar & Oven, Centro Cocina Mexicana, and Harlow's. Enjoy $3 Guinness at all locations.

-St. Patty's Day at The Golden Bear: The Golden Bear, Sat 1pm-2am
Watch bartenders compete in the cocktail competition; enjoy the sounds of Dusty Brown, Hot Tar Roofers, The Great Northern Divers, and Horseneck on the outdoor stage; and dance the night away when DJ Shaun Slaughter provides jams for the after party. Plus, enjoy a special Irish Food Menu including a Corn Beef Banh Mi & drink specials all night on Red Breast, Jameson, and Absolut.

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Nightlife:
-St. Patty's Day Party with Lynt Trap: Vega's, Sat 8pm
Celebrate St. Patty's at Vega's with drink specials, green beers, swag and goodies, and tunes from rock 'n' roll band Lynt Trap.

-St. Patrick's Day & Faces App Launch: Faces Nightclub, Sat 8pm
St. Patrick's Day at Faces offers an all new way to get lucky! Enjoy a traditional Green Beer with our 10 GoGo Bois all night long! Plus, enjoy free giveaways and live app demonstrations.

-DJ Peeti V: St. Patrick's Day: The Park Ultra Lounge, Sat 8:30pm
Enjoy green beer, Irish whiskey, and Guinness. Gold and green dress themed. DJ Peeti V will keep everyone going all night with top 40 remixes and thumping bass.

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Music:
-St Patrick's Day with Wil O'Mylar: Gallagher's Irish Pub, Sat 4pm-9pm
Once again, singer/songwriter William Mylar dons an Irish brogue and performs his annual show, performing traditional and some not so traditional Irish music to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

-St. Patty's Party with The Coalition: Torch Club, Sat 9pm
Come and get some luck of the Irish this St. Patty's Day! Enjoy drinks and entertainment by The Coalition all night for this once-a-year celebration. Don't forget to wear something green!

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Kids & Family:
-Green Day: Sacramento Children's Museum, Sat 9am-5pm
May the luck of the Irish be with you! Wear the color green in honor of St. Patrick's Day, and receive 50% off your child's general admission.

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The Day After:
-Family Sunday: de Vere's Irish Pub, Sun 11am-4pm
Maybe you overdid it yesterday on St. Patrick's Day and need a place to recuperate. Maybe you stayed in yesterday to avoid “amateur hour.” Either way, come join for a family-friendly brunch. Good food, live music, happy hour all day, and more!

-At the End of the Rainbow: Movies on a Big Screen at Guild Theater,
Sun 7:30pm
This 1965 kids' movie has to do with a young Irish boy who skips school because it's St. Patrick's Day, finds a frog, and shoves it in his pocket. He gets lost in the woods and comes across a leprechaun whose beard is stuck in a log, and in exchange for freeing the little man, the kid gets a bag of magic coins. And the plot continues...You might want to have some post-St. Patrick's Day libations prior to coming to this.

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See even more St. Patrick's Day events in Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

HIP SERVICE coming to Harlows for a "Soles 4 Souls" show

2012-03-16T01:34:27Z

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 Restaurant & Nightclub

2708 J Street, Sacramento 95816

916-441-4693

$12 tix or bring a pair of gently used shoes for donation and get in for $10

www.harlows.com

www.hipservice.com

Disclosure: Steve Bloom is the owner of Hip Entertainment.

A beerfest 2-for-1 at Cal Expo

2012-02-27T05:54:21Z

The Sacramento Brewers showcase took place this past Saturday, Feb. 25 from noon to 2:30. Already at noon, beer enthusiasts were lined up at the gate ready to taste beers from the nearly 20 local breweries located within an hour's drive. This year, visitors were pleased to see a lineup of food trucks outside of the Cal Expo Pavilion, Wicked ‘Wich, Mama Kim’s, Frickle, Drewski’s and the new Willie’s Burger truck, included.

Local beer enthusiasts thoroughly enjoyed the event. The intimate and community feel allowed attendees to visit with friends, brewers and food truck owners alike.

The Old Hangtown Beer Works El Camino was the first sight for most visitors. Likewise, their IPA was a welcome start to a great day, and had good body and a nice full flavor. With all the new attempts at double and triple IPA’s, it was great to taste a new, high-quality (single) IPA as well.

The Auburn Alehouse had a full schedule planned for their handsome table-top bar. Their Gold Digger IPA and a Scotch Ale, brewed with Peter Hoey, started out the day. PU 240, an Imperial IPA and ZZ Hop, a triple IPA, came later in the day. ZZ Hop went so fast I never even saw it on tap.

Sierra Nevada had more than enough possibilities for tasters, and the tent had something between a line and a small crowd for much of the day. Tasters lingered so they could taste their beers one after another. Their Sloughhouse and Persimmon were experimental brews and were available just for this beer week. Persimmon, a Farmhouse Ale, was a unique and delicious brew nothing like their hoppier varieties, but more appropriate for a lovely afternoon in a sunny backyard reading a book - perhaps a history of Belgian beer styles. It was very light, almost ladylike in taste, but strong enough for a man. Of course, their Harvest Ale was a treat to have on tap as well.

Berryessa Brewing Co. is all over the place this week. They will be working with eight different establishments around Sacramento and Davis, and the majority of their events are listed under “Special Events” on the SBW website. Events include beer and appetizer pairings, cheese and beer pairings and beer festivals such as those that took place on Saturday.

New Helvetia Brewing Company wasn’t pouring, but gave out plenty of information on their upcoming May opening and plans for the future. Later in the day, I found that River City had the Buffalo Lager available along with their own creations.

Sutter Buttes Brewing had a great showing at both the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and the Capital Beerfest. Along with their Franklin DIPA, which debuted at last year’s Beer Week, they had a 10 percent ABV Imperial Oatmeal Stout. This rich and flavorful brew had a great head and was my pick for the best brew of the first festival. Others clearly felt the same, as when I returned a short while later, the tap was gone and had been replaced by a new strong ale, ‘Ol Lefty.

Loomis Basin had great beers on Saturday as well. Big Boy (aka Alohawk) was a nice strong ale. They also had a double IPA worth checking out.

For their first Beer Week, Ruhstaller certainly had a great day at the festival. Their tasting line was twenty people long almost all day. Businesses all around might want to take note of the PR practices of this gypsy brewery. Ruhstaller poured both Capt. and 1881 from their truck. The old Rusthaller truck was a nice touch. The thick smell of oil that permeated the space around it really made you feel like you were throwing one back in somebody’s garage.

Other breweries fresh to the scene included Western Pacific Brewing in Oroville, Track 7, ‘Ol Republic and Roseville Brewing Company, which will soon be opening a tasting room.

The Sacramento Brewers Showcase was truly a testament to the upwardly mobile Sacramento craft beer scene. Everyone involved - the people, the breweries and the support - should feel proud of all that has been accomplished. It is amazing that in a world with connectivity that brings everything to your fingertips, local ties have become more important than ever.

Following the Sacramento Brewers Showcase, everyone was herded out of the building for a break from 2:30 to 3. Those with green wristbands who would be sticking around for the second festival in the venue were directed outside. While you would think a half-hour break between the two fests would be awkward, the beautiful weather proved it to be just the ticket. Those sticking around for the Capital Beerfest could be seen enjoying cigars at the cigar tent or snacking on food truck specialties while lounging on the grass debating the intricacies of the IPA or which Runnin’ for Rhett volunteer was the cutest, the nicest or gave the best pours.

The 2012 Capital Beerfest provided an outstanding day of tasting for local beer enthusiasts. The event had nearly 80 breweries present. The second annual fest was a clear success, and the planners should be proud of the small but important improvements that were made over last year’s festival. The presence of local food trucks, for instance, surely made the culinary aspect of the festival way, way, way better. There’s nothing like a hemi from Drewski’s paired with a nice porter or perhaps a Bacon Brown Ale from Uncommon Brewers. Uncommon Brewers, formed in 2008, brews all-organic beers packaged in those handsome 16 oz. tallboy cans.

Heretic Brewing Company was surely a highlight of the day. Evil Cousin, an 8 percent ABV, 100 IBU beer was a great imperial IPA with a hop profile similar to that of Green Flash’s Imperial - a great beer for true hop devotees, a little dank for the rest. While they were not available for tasting, their special brews, all Belgian in character, looked quite intriguing, specifically Worry and Tafelbully, supposedly a Belgian-style session beer with a "mere" 4.8 percent ABV.

The Greenbelt Brewers Association, a group with around 65 members, was a great stop off or starting point. They had twelve beers to taste, contributed by at least ten different members. Their thirteenth, a secret pour, had a story of its own. The sour brown was brewed by a previous Greenbelt president who then passed it on to the current president, who in turn transformed it into a nicely authentic sour beer that has been aging for five years. For those interested in joining the Greenbelt homebrew club, make it quick. Heretic’s head brewer, Jamil Zainasheff will be speaking at their March meeting at Sudwerk.

It isn’t often that you see the line for homebrew tastings rival those of the established breweries. That being said, one of the best beers of the day was the lone nitro tap in the building. Jason Ledford provided an outstanding coconut robust porter. The faint touch of coconut was provided by “dry hopping” toasted coconut. You can always count on the homebrewers to bring new ideas to the table, or should I say, to the tap.

In essence, every brewer starts as a homebrewer, so it is these groups of creative men and women brewing in their garages, basements and bedroom closets that are the real champions of the day. When there is a constant push for new, new, new in the beer world, the momentum and rampant creativity has to come from somewhere.

Even Sierra Nevada, for instance, previously known almost wholly for their Pale Ale, has now taken the tenets of today’s brewing world in stride. Saturday they had so many different beers on tap that I had to look twice to make sure they actually had their Pale Ale there as well.

Continuing around the hall, Drake's also had a nice following throughout the day. Their Hopocalypse is quite smooth in spite of its 9.3 percent ABV and 100+ IBU. In addition, their double IPA, Denogginizer (9.75 percent ABV and 90 IBU), was a nice surprise. It had a clean taste not muddled with the superfluous bitterness that often comes with Imperial IPA's.

Other Bay area contributors included High Water and Triple Voodoo brewing. High Water Brewing was the most likeable brewery of the day. Besides a load of cheerful staff members and great pours that included Hop Riot IPA and Aphotic, they gained my respect when I noticed that they were pouring a few of their personal favorites as well. These included several Alesmith brews as well as something that was both North Coast and barrel-aged. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Triple Vodoo Brewing had several taps and staff members on hand to do the pouring. Their Kaleidescope, made in collaboration with Kneedeep Brewing, was a great beer, something like a heavily smoked Black IPA. The smoky twist was a nice change from the often unfulfilled flavor of Black IPA's.

Russian River was present but ran out early on. Their pours included bottles of Supplication, Redemption and Damnation. In truth, I never actually saw them at their booth. The green button-down Pliny the Elder shirts wandering about the facility may have been just a trick of the eye, a figment of my imagination.

Deschutes Brewing is a brewery that never fails to come without a new brew or two in tow. On Saturday, they brought Hop Trip, a fresh-hopped pale ale. Their heavy and flavorful Jubelale was available as well. Another winter warmer was Shipyard's highlight, Prelude, which had an aroma that could be likened to the bouquet of a good wine. The scent of its caramel maltiness still has my mouth watering, though I admit that I was hoping for more in terms of body.

Lost Coast of Eureka was there pouring their standard favorites. One of their staff members dazzled crowd members throughout the day with his moonlighting gig, Jack’s Caps, aka, bottle cap art. Several members of the crowd wore a sample pair of his “beerings,” as I have decided to call them. In the craft beer world today, the possibilities are endless.

My last taste of the day was, as you might have guessed if you have ever read anything about my beer tastes, an Old Rasputin. Most fortunately, after a taster of Old Rasputin, Ken Kelley of North Coast and a young man I believe to be his son pulled out a box of bottles filled with their barrel-aged goodness. Thus, my last taste of the day was North Coast Grand Cru. It was a perfect end to a terrific day of beer tasting at Cal Expo. It’s hard to believe there is still a full week of great beer events to come.

Check out photos of the Capital Beerfest, Sacramento Brewers Showcase and any of the 400 other events this beer week at the Bokeh Box website. To stay up to date on Sacramento Beer Week events, get the Beer Week app and follow Sacramento Beer Week on Twitter.

The biggies of Beer Week

2012-02-21T16:32:04Z

The third annual Sacramento Beer Week (SBW) is nearing, and the week will start off with a bigger bang than ever. Friday marks the official start of SBW and already Saturday, beer enthusiasts from all around will gather for the Sacramento Brewers Showcase and the Capital Beerfest at Cal Expo.

The Brewer’s Showcase, previously held at the Crocker, will be held at the Cal Expo Pavilion this year and will begin at noon on Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $20, or $55 when paired with the Capital Beerfest. The Beerfest, also located at Cal Expo, will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature over 80 breweries. Tickets can be purchased online or at various businesses in Sacramento, at Samuel Horne’s in Folsom or at Perfecto Lounge in Roseville.

The cream of the crop in terms of beer festivals may well be “The Art of Beer: A Celebration of California Craft Beer and Fine Art.” The event will take place this Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom and will feature 20 great breweries from around the state. General admission is $40.

Proceeds from the Art of Beer event will go to the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. Sponsors include the California Craft Brewers Association, Bokeh Box Media, Eben Weisberg and the Northern California Brewers Guild. For those considered to be VIP, ($100 will make you one), the event begins at 5 p.m.

Not to be forgotten are the mini beerfests hosted by local businesses throughout the week. The Tentfest and Pig Roast, hosted by Dad’s Kitchen, is one such example. This Monday will be like none other. The Davis Beer Shoppe will be holding a beer and cheese pairing event that will feature Berryessa Brewing Co. brews. Shackfest is yet another fabulous event for which you will want to get a ticket.

Come beer week, dozens of local and regional establishments pull out all the stops to bring you the best they’ve got. With more than 300 hundred events and counting, it can be difficult to navigate your way through the week, especially with so many craft brews that now nudge up to 10 percent ABV - and higher!

Should you stay close to home and remain a loyal local at your favorite bar, or should you try something new at River Rock Tap House or even make the trip to Davis to visit The Graduate or the fairly new and always at capacity, Davis Beer Shoppe. (Yes, SBW is for more than just Sacramento). Should you go for broke on the hops or drink a little Belgian goodness at The Shack or Pangaea Two Brews Cafe?

Sacramento Beer Week officially spans from Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, March 4. Before SBW really gets started, take a moment to check out all that the celebration has to offer. Use the Beer Week’s stellar tag system to search your favorite places or varieties and styles of beer. Click Cask Ales if you are interested in something rich, dark and aged with the sweet touch of a cab, merlot, brandy or bourbon barrel. Check out IPA’s and DIPA’s for more than a little bit of hoppiness, and still others might investigate Ciders or Sour Beers. You can also search by venue or location. Once the week gets going, you can use the website, clearly organized by day, to find out what happy hours, beer dinners and late night specials they have to offer.

If you’ve done the bar circuit, don’t forget to stop at the many brewpubs and microbreweries that have popped up in and around Sacramento in the last 25 years. Rubicon, who will celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and Sudwerk of Davis, where a stein holding competition will be held on Sunday, are not to be forgotten. Hoppy Brewing and River City Brewing Company will both also have special events for the weeklong celebration of craft beer ingenuity.

New this year is Ruhstaller, under the direction of Brewmaster Peter Hoey, which is so popular they’ve been known to run out before the next batch is done fermenting! Just where exactly is Ruhstaller beer brewed, anyway? Track 7, located in Curtis Park, had over a thousand people at their grand opening on Dec. 31. Berryessa Brewing Co. is another newbie, located in Winters, that is playing a role in more than a dozen events this beer week. Make sure to try their Disorderly Strong Ale. Other new developments include Black Dragon Brewery of Woodland and American River Brewing of Rancho Cordova.

The craft beer industry has been excelling. Some of the pioneering moments of the industry happened in California and still today, brewers young and old are finding new ways to experiment with hops, malt and yeasts of all varieties. Before you even step foot out of your house, take a look at Beer 101 on the Sacramento Beer Week website and learn a little about the art of brewing.

As always, the organizers and participating businesses of Sacramento Beer Week encourage safe and responsible consumption. All beer festivals include ticket options for as little as $5 for designated drivers. In addition, Capital Beerfest attendees can take buses from the R/30 light rail station in Midtown to and from the event at Cal Expo. Buses will utilize 29th and 30th streets. Take it from one who knows, the bus ride home can be one of the very best parts of the day (School bus + beer tasting = new friends). Try it!

To wrap up a week of incredible, beer-based events, take in the Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival on Saturday, March 3 at 12 p.m. at the Southside Park Amphitheater. Buy a ticket for the chili, or buy a ticket for the beer and partake in both for four hours of good food and fun all to benefit the Sacramento Artists Council, Inc. Presale prices are $15.75 for chili only and $35.50 for both chili and beer, $20/$40 at the door. The event is organized with the help of Dad’s Kitchen and the Sacramento Press.

Smile - a record review

2012-02-20T18:54:13Z

It is a new found love and great privilege to be asked by an artist to write about their craft, their love, their product, and their passion. I approach the task with great seriousness and with much study and contemplation so that my product - my writing - will convey to you the reader, an informative and pleasurable read.

It has been my honor to have spent several recent evenings listening to the new CD by David Rosales titled Smile. David is a gifted songwriter and vocalist. His vocal stylings on Smile are reminiscent of Johnny Cash blended with that familiar touch of Jim Morrison that fans of Silent Treatment (David's straight-up rock band) are so incredibly turned on by. Smile could be labeled "Americana/Folk" - a compelling blend of David's rich voice and music that reaches into the depths of life, loss, and love. It is indeed a deeply personal offering, and David wisely chose collaborators who would let the beauty of his heartfelt lyrics shine through the simple yet significant backdrop created by the talented musicians enlisted to create this record. In particular, the piano and guitar chords on ~~"Kiss Me"~~ "Key to My Heart" serve as a musical cloud for the lyrics of love and devotion to drift leisurely upon. Other ~~"Kiss Me"~~ "Key to My Heartcontributors include Olivia May on vocals; her pretty, floaty voice adds sweetness to the emotionally charged fourth track. In contrast, simple acoustic guitar underlines the pure romance of the song, "Wedding Day". The title track "Smile" plays homage to the memories that, no matter how far in the distance, can make us smile - I imagine David sitting on his surf-board out in the Pacific, where waves and memories wash over him, looking towards the shore with a peaceful, loving smile on his face. The first song, "Ponderosa Pine" is a picturesque analogy of a timeless love that grows solid and strong. It is reminiscent of an old-school country song complete with loneliness, earnest proclamations of love, and begged-for forgiveness. Overall, David Rosales has created a musical tome to be enjoyed and savored; like a fine whiskey poured slowly over ice, it slides over the senses and warms the heart.

Don't miss David Rosales this Friday, February 24th at Luna's in Sacramento.

Smile is available at http://davidrosales.bandcamp.com, and on iTunes and Amazon.com
All Songs Written by David Rosales
Produced by Mark Renk
When The Rose Bells Ring Music (ASCAP)
Photos by Dori Savino Lawrence
Players:
David Rosales - Vocals + Guitar
Mark Renk - Piano + Percussion
Steve Abel - Bass Guitar
Olivia May - Vocals
Vern Monnett - Pedal Steel + Dobro
Phillip Peterson - Cello
Kevin Chown - Upright Bass
Zac Rae - Organ
Jeff Kollman - Nylon String Guitar

For more information:
- SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/DavidRosalesMusic
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DavidRosalesMusic
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DRosales

Editor's note: Corrections were made to a song title in this article after publication.

Disclosure: I am a blogger and a live music fan. I have the good fortune to have many friends who are talented musicians and I enjoy the many artists, venues, and events that make Sacramento a wonderful place to see live music. www.aftertheencore.blogspot.com

Celebrate Mardi Gras & Presidents' Day this Weekend in Sacramento

2012-02-16T22:56:32Z

Not only does this weekend hold the majority of Sacramento's Mardi Gras events (Mardi Gras is officially Tuesday, February 21 this year), it is also a three-day-er for many, given Monday's Presidents' Day Holiday. If your weekend's not already action-packed, or if you're looking to add a little bit more to your plate, here are a few viable options.

If you're the type to get up and dance, head to The Park Ultra Lounge for their Mardi Gras Weekend Celebration, featuring two nights of decorations, masks, and beads galore. Friday night features DJ Scene and Saturday celebrates the 150th Anniversary of Bacardi Rum.

If you prefer to hop around from spot to spot, there are two great pub crawls organized for Saturday night—the Mardi Gras Bloc Party in The Sutter District and Old Sacramento Mardi Gras, which features live music, entertainment, and drink specials at nearly a dozen Old Sacramento bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Perhaps stop in at Marilyn’s on K on your way between the two for their Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball (be sure to wear your carnival mask & Mardi Gras attire)!

And, since you'll get to sleep in on Monday, consider taking in a Sunday evening Music or Comedy performance, see a film, or get a little lesson in Sacramento brewing history prior to Sacramento Beer Week.

On Monday afternoon, take the kiddilies to Power Balance Pavilion to see Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 which has two performances (Noon & 4pm) that day, or take your time strolling through one of Sacramento's many Museum or Gallery exhibits.

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Tesla to kick off Summer Concert Series at Thunder Valley

2012-02-11T02:21:34Z

Thunder Valley Casino Resort will kick off their summer concert series on May 18.

Thunder Valley has brought a diverse lineup of acts to their summer stage in past seasons, and 2012 promises to be just as good, with everything from local favorites such as Tesla to cross-border sensations, including three-time Grammy-winner Diana Krall.

Krall also just recently collaborated with Paul McCartney on his latest album, “Kisses from the Bottom.”

According to Doug Elmets, spokesman for Thunder Valley;

“Our hope is that the entertainment will appeal to a broad cross-section of our patron base while also attracting people who haven’t experienced our AAA Four Diamond resort,” Thunder Valley spokesman Doug Elmets said.

Ahhhh – Lest we forget about the gambling and other amenities that Thunder Valley has to offer.

“The Thunder Valley summer concert series has helped bring much needed entertainment to the Sacramento region, and we are certain that the lineup for this summer will be a crowd pleaser too,” he said.

And how can it not be with Tesla opening the season? While Thunder Valley hasn’t announced its entire lineup for the season, it’s bound to be a great summer with a little something for everyone.

I’m sure we’ll see an artist or two for the younger crowd, or how about a mixed martial arts fight or two?

For the getting older crowd we have Tesla and I’m sure we’ll see other 80’s and 90’s artists throughout the season.

For the really older crowd, well, there’s always Pano Hall.

Whoever makes it to the Thunder Valley stage, it’s bound to be a great summer concert series. Check out thundervalleycasino.com/entertmenaint for the latest updates.

Valentine's Weekend Events in Sacramento

2012-02-09T20:29:23Z

Looking for a special way to turn your Valentine’s Day into a memorable holiday? There are myriad options out there, but here are a few highlights for the upcoming weekend:

For the foodie (Fri & Sat 6pm): Let GrubCrawlUSA's Pre-Valentine's Sexy Singles Mingle & Consensual Couples Crawl take you on a taste-tastic tour of Sacramento's finest dining spots. Whether you’re single or paired up, there’s a spot for you—Friday is aimed toward singles & Saturday to couples (so, presumably, if you find someone on Friday you can make a return tour on Saturday!).

For the single lady (Fri 9pm): Stroll Now 100.5’s Mile of Men at The Park Ultra Lounge and take your pick from the area's most eligible bachelors. Stay for the afterparty and get your photo snapped in the photobooth manned by Nicholas Wray.

For the sporty sort (Sat 7am): Rise & shine Saturday morning and get your jog on at Race for Justice: 9th Annual Valentine Run, which begins from Country Club Plaza. This fun run has a kids' race component, plus a costume contest for dogs & humans alike!

For the musical type (Sat 10pm): Make your way to Vega's Nightclub & Sports Bar this Saturday night for Valentine's Heartbreak Hotel. Not only you will you enjoy live music by Barrel Fever and the Fortunite Few, you'll also get to see a live burlesque show and participate in a free pin-up photoshoot by Bad Bones Photography.

For the animal lover (Sun 10am-4pm): Head over to the Sacramento Zoo Sunday afternoon for I Heart Sacramento Zoo and watch the animals receive their Valentines, plus participate in informative talks and peruse activity tables.

For the anti-Valentine (Sun 7:30pm): Movies on a Big Screen notes that around Valentine's Day, they like to screen "some kind of movie that might make your date a little uncomfortable with your idea of romance." This Sunday evening, they feature the 1923 silent classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which, they claim, is a romantic movie (if you remove all of the violence, murder, mayhem, and obsession, that is).

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

"Where We're Born" - Solid Ensemble Brings Big Talent to Small Space

2012-02-06T03:57:09Z

Where we’re born is more than a location, it’s part of who we are.

Where We’re Born, the stage play by Lucy Thurber, is a strikingly simple and honest look at a young woman’s struggle with life change, the desire to and difficulty of leaving the comfort of your home and history—however hurtful it may have been. It is not a story, but a more like a series of snapshots taken during the course of a few days when the relationships and potentially, lives of three people are forever altered.

The catalyst for all of this is Lilly (Jessicah Neufeld), on a quasi-vacation from college. She arrives back in the small Western Massachusetts hill town she calls home just as a domestic crisis is unfolding between her cousin, Tony, (Brian Harrower) and his girlfriend, Franky (Kelley Ogden), but rather than creating a welcome diversion, she unleashes unexpected drama of her own.

The cast of five, under the direction of Lisa Thew, gives solid individual performances, as well as performing keenly and comfortably as an ensemble.

Harrower gives an especially subtle, but emotional and compelling interpretation of Tony, a guy who spends most of his time drinking beer, smoking pot, playing pool, and listening to rock and roll with his best buddies, but also has a deep-seated need to keep all of the women in his life happy.

David Chernyavsky and John Gregory Young round out the cast as Tony’s ever-present pals.

Ooley’s is a little-known theater, intimate, but more than adequate. KOLT Run Creations makes good use of the space, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Even the concessions are notable, provided by Num Nums, homemade for each performance and chosen specifically for each show. (Lime mini-cupcakes: To. Die. For.)

Having just seen another local show earlier in the week, it was impossible not to compare and contrast the quality of the productions. The lead actress in the previous show tripped over numerous lines (more than a week into the run) and--along with others in the cast--over the area rug that kept flipping up throughout the show.

Not fatal mistakes, but distracting flaws.

When the lights came up at the end of Where We’re Born, my guest and I turned to each other and marveled that two hours had already passed.

That’s a rare and excellent entertainment experience.

If only there’d been more people there to share it.

Where We’re Born, February 3rd-26th. Ooley Theater, 2007 28th Street (near T Street). Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM; Sundays, February 19th and 26th at 2 PM. koltruncreations.com or (916) 454-1500. This production contains adult content.

Punch Line Teaching Us to Laugh at Ourselves

2012-02-03T05:12:22Z

“Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can.”

Sure, those words were written over five decades ago by gossip columnist Elsa Maxwell, but they still ring true in every comedy club today.

The ten talented comedians who performed at the Punch Line Comedy Club Wednesday night showed how self-depreciation can be one of the most entertaining elements of the show.

Stand-up comedians are notorious for having the gift of somehow making all things taboo sound hilarious, and there certainly was no shortage of racial insults and sexual innuendos directed at each other as well as the audience members. A few of them poked fun at a friendly couple sitting up front who shared that they had been dating for 43 years. The comedians used the fact that they have never been married (and just about everything else they said) as goofy improvisational material.

Many of the performers were African-American and were having a great time referencing racial stereotypes as they celebrated the beginning of Black History Month.

Tristan Johnson talked about growing up in a rough gang neighborhood and referred to himself as "hoodie-two-shoes."

The very animated Andre Bailey took the stage afterward and focused more of his jokes on cigarettes and weed. He sent out a humorous plea for the audience to pray for him in his endeavor to quit smoking marijuana and mentioned one of his recent conversations with God. "Father, as soon as you stop growing it, I quit!"

Eight more witty and vulgar men (including host Lance Woods) and women took the stage to share odd pieces of their lives that most, if not all, patrons in the room found hysterical.

The show included everything from Daniel Humberger taking pride in what he called ”high-brow toilet humor: poop jokes that make you think" and his ideas for chloroform towelettes, to Gina Ritter sharing her recent dating and sexual adventures and her disdain for large mustaches.

"I would rather give CPR to a dead ferret than kiss someone with a Tom Selleck mustache," she giggled.

Each and every comedian had something clever and unique to add to the show. Steve Danner, the only little person at the event, said he could beat Black History Month with December, which is the official month for little people as well as breast cancer awareness.

"What puts more smiles on peoples' faces than dwarves and boobies?" he asked.

With every jab they made at each other and themselves, they seemed to also promote a sense of mutual respect and admiration.

Seems that laughing at oneself makes everyone laugh right along with you.

Getting Righteous at Thunder Valley

2012-01-30T01:30:28Z

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member and legendary Righteous Brother Bill Medley brought a crew of extremely talented individuals to Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday, including daughter McKenna.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Righteous Brothers. The second half of the duo, Bobby Hatfield, died of a heart attack back in 2003; Medley now tours with the 3 Bottle Band and McKenna.

Kicking off the show was a video showing Medley as he made appearances in various shows throughout his career, including the David Letterman Show and the hit television series, Cheers. As the video ended, Medley started to sing “A Song for You” while he was still offstage. After about a minute he started to make his way to the stage, providing for a nice dramatic entrance.

71 year old Medley’s voice has taken a beating over the years. While sounding coarser and a bit rough at times, he was able to make it work. The audience was enthralled with Medley from the start as he continued with “Ready, Willing and Able” and “Soul and Inspiration.” In between songs he would talk about life and joke with the crowd.

For his hit song, “Time of My Life,” from the movie “Dirty Dancing,” Medley brought out McKenna to perform Jennifer Warnes’ part. McKenna did an awesome job and has a very melodic voice with a bit of a country/blues flavor.

McKenna went on to perform solo, singing “Silk Flowers” and “Give Me One Reason.” When McKenna completed her set, Medley sat down at the keyboards and called on band member Bob Gulley to sing some songs with him and McKenna. This is where Medley shined, providing the audience a glimpse of what it’s like to jam with the best.

3 Bottle Band has been playing together with Medley for over 35 years, and it shows. This is a very talented group of musicians including Gabe Rabben (drums), Bob Gulley (bass), Tim Lee (keyboards) and Larry Hanson (lead guitar). Also a member of the band is America’s Got Talent winner Michael Grimm. However, Grimm was not present at Friday’s show.

Saturday: Verge Ahead into 2012

2012-01-19T20:28:22Z

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 Commission and Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s Arts Innovation Fund, and Executive Director Liv Moe was named Arts Executive of the Year at the Arts & Business Council’s “Prelude to the Season” event.

This Saturday, celebrate Verge’s 2011 successes and help them “Verge Ahead” into 2012 at the “Verge Ahead Success Party” (6pm-Midnight at Verge, 625 S Street, Sacramento). If you have yet to check out this innovative local arts spot, there’s no better time than this!

In addition to exploring the studios of resident artists, you’ll be able to play “Art Golf” (each hole is specially designed by a Verge artist, and be sure to try for a hole-in-one at the Sac365 hole!), get your photo taken at the photobooth for instant sharing of the fun on your social media networks, see live performances by a multitude of bands (Mom, Christine Shields, Fine Steps, Gentleman Surfer, and Ganglians), and dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Scott Soriano and DJ Hailey. If that’s not enough, arts collective Future Art Notables will take over the temporary gallery with their installation “Assorted Spaces”, which allows viewers to walk among the pieces, fully immersing themselves in the art.

And, don’t worry, tasty beer is provided for the evening by local brewers Ruhstaller, as well as coffee from Insight Coffee Roasters (each $15 ticket includes two refreshments!). Plus, receive free giveaways throughout the night, and a little something extra if you're among the first 50 to arrive.

Come enjoy this soiree and celebrate Sacramento’s burgeoning arts community.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Written by Sacramento365.com Assistant Editor, Alison Kranz

Sometimes All It Takes Is One

2012-01-18T18:21:18Z

The first question presented to the panel was "What does Sacramento have that other cities don't have, and what don't we have?", and with that, the passionate discussion about 'The State of Live Music in Sacramento' was off and running. It was one question that fueled one-and-a-half hours of enthusiastic discussion.

On Sunday evening The Sacramento Living Library (curated by Time Tested Books' Peter Keat and hosted by Midtown Monthly Editor Tim Foster) brought together five notable Sacramento music industry insiders to talk about music, politics, venues, history, and demographics. Jerry Perry (legendary Sacramento promoter), Brian McKenna (Abstract Entertainment), Rick Ele (KDVS), Mindy Giles (Swell Productions), and Olivia Coelho (Bows & Arrows), comprised the panel of promoters with Dennis Yudt (contributing writer for Midtown Monthly), acting as moderator. Among the audience members were other promoters, musicians and many, many fans.

Addressing the packed house, the one and only Jerry Perry picked up his mic and responded to the query knowledgeably and passionately, "First of all, Sacramento has the bands, bands that other cities don't have." Certainly Sacramento's music scene has had its ups and downs, but one thing that hasn't changed over time is the fact that there are an impressive array of really, really talented people in this city. Everyone on the panel nodded in agreement with Jerry's succinct and simple answer.

From that point on the conversation tried to answer other portion of the question - "What doesn't Sacramento have?" And over the course of the next eighty-nine minutes it became clear that mainly due to policies and politics that make live music venues the "red-headed stepchild" in a city that has a golden opportunity to become another Austin or Portland (cities that embrace their musical culture), there simply aren't enough venues showcasing live music in Sacramento.

Listening to Olivia Coelho recount her recent trying experiences with the permit process in bringing live music to Bows & Arrows, it's no wonder we don't have more venues. As Olivia put it, "minors have been criminalized"; crackdowns in the downtown area on minors who violate Sacramento’s 10pm curfew make it hard to fill seats at all-ages gigs. Those curfew crackdowns were spawned by Second Saturday incidences which had nothing to do with live music. Additionally, venues with a capacity over 49 persons must provide (i.e. compensate) two security guards on show nights; whether or not there are 5 or 100 people in attendance. (The higher the occupancy the higher the number of security guards is required; however, Olivia was able to work with city and received a modification of this requirement for her 105 person occupancy business.) Still the issue seems to be a lack of respect for businesses that offer live entertainment. Regardless of a venue's record of incidences, any place wanting to bring the art of "amplified music" to the community is instantly subjected to far more regulation and scrutiny than say, a gallery, or a diner.

As fans it is our duty to show support for the venues by showing up, paying the cover, and acting responsibly. But is there more we can do? Mindy Giles cited an article from Irvine.org titled "Getting Into The Act", which promotes an entrepreneurial shift towards 'arts participation': Traditional media outlets are laying off arts & culture reporters so if you want to help your favorite band or artist get noticed you must take matters into your own hands and help spread the word; share invites to shows on Facebook, Twitter a link to a favorite artist’s latest release, write a review, join a street team, start a fan club, start a record label, and if you have the ways and means, by all means open a live music venue.

One audience member pointed to a lack of diversity in Sacramento's live music scene. Mindy’s response made a lot of sense, "There are many diverse and talented bands from Sacramento and coming through Sacramento, but they need "a home." In other words, as Rick Ele reiterated, hip-hop doesn't really have a "home" in Sacramento, nor does traditional Dixieland or a multitude of other genres, so music lovers seeking a place to consistently be able to listen to their favorite type of music face a challenge locating where reggae, or grind-core, or bossa nova, might be happening on any given night. Adding multiple smaller venues to the current mix would greatly benefit the promoters, the bands, the fans, and this city.

Getting those venues approved (let alone encouraged) is another matter entirely. Sadly, it appears that rather than supporting live music in Sacramento, the city is currently planning to charge an even larger "entertainment permit" fee, raising the rate from $1400.00 to a whopping $4000.00. This is a permit that must be renewed every two years! Every promoter, every musician, and every fan in attendance decried this as unfair, unjust, and unnecessary. An unidentified gentleman suggested that a petition be circulated and presented to the city council renouncing the fee increase. All in attendance applauded in agreement. Another participant suggested creating an association which would act as a lobbying group when it came time to publicize and challenge city policies, and champion city politicians whose cultural agenda echoes those of live music proponents in Sacramento.

The State of Live Music in Sacramento boiled down to four major points that are in need of support from the city government and from music lovers across the region are:
1) A larger, scalable all-ages venue; seating 300 - 1500.
2) Many smaller venues to give local and touring musicians a place to call "home" in our fair city.
3) Policy changes to enable business owners to provide "amplified music" without going broke.
4) A way to reach people and get them excited about live music in the city. As Jerry Perry pointed out, the city seemed more "alive" when postering and flyering were acceptable forms of communication. The connection between the band, venue, and fan was made right there on every street corner via those flyers - we need to breathe that colorful life back into the Sacramento music scene!

One question was asked tonight, and after ninety minutes of impassioned, intelligent, inspiring responses, the unified answer I heard from promoters and audience members alike was, ‘The possibility is there, it’s time for everyone and anyone who appreciates live music to participate.’

Disclosure: I am a live music fan. I am not a critic, nor a musician. Just a fan that would love to see Sacramento embrace is wonderfully talented pool of bands and musicians and become a nurturing "home" for more of them.

Motown comes to Thunder Valley

2012-01-16T02:45:19Z

Armed with 20 vocalists, six band members and four crew members impersonating the legends of Motown, RPM Crown Productions brought their Hitsville USA Legends of Motown Tribute Show to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday.

There was a sold-out crowd of diehard Motown fans there to enjoy some of the greatest hits from the Motown era. It was perplexing that more people weren’t up on their feet during some of the performances. However, after each performer finished their set they were met with more than a few people giving them a standing ovation.

The all-star lineup included acts such as The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and even a brief break from Motown for a little bit of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

With the plethora of tribute shows currently playing across the country, it’s refreshing to see a solid lineup of talented individuals bringing not just one, but nine legendary acts to the stage in one spectacular show.

I was worried that with so many acts playing on one stage we’d be there all night slogging through hit after hit. That wasn’t the case. Each act played full versions as well as shortened versions of their respective hit songs, keeping the show moving at a pretty good clip.

Emceeing the event was Nick Harper, a radio personality from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. As he introduced each act he provided a brief history and highlighted some of their hits.

Kicking off the show was The Four Tops. Decked out in white suits and moving in perfect harmony, they sang their hits, “Sugar Pie Honeybunch,” “Standing in the Shadow of Love” and “Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got.”

Following The Four Tops were The Supremes in evening dresses singing, “Just Keep Me Hanging On,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Love Child.”

Al Green was handing out roses to a number of the female audience members as he sang, “I’m so Tired of Being Alone,” “Let’s Stay Together,” and “Love and Happiness.”

And so it went throughout the evening as nine artists entertained the crowd bringing hit after hit.
Don’t miss the next tribute show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, the Legends of Soul Tribute Show. These shows sell out fast, so get your tickets ahead of time.

Below is a complete list of artists and the songs performed.

The Four Tops
“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
“Standing in the Shadows of Love”
“Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”

The Supremes
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
“You Can’t Hurry Love”
“Love Child”

Al Green
“Tired of Being Alone”
“Let’s Stay Together”

Smokey Robinson
“More Love”
“Ooo Baby Baby”
“Tears of a Clown”

The Spinners
Intro to “I’ll Be Around”
“Ghetto Child”
“Sadie”
“Rubberband Man”

Chaka Khan
“Sweet Thing”
“I’m Every Woman”

Prince
“Purple Rain”

Gladys Knight
Intro to “Use My Imagination”
“Save the Overtime”
“You’re Number One (in My Book)”
“Midnight Train to Georgia”
“Neither One of Us”

Stevie Wonder
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
“My Cherie Amour”
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
“Superstition”

The Temptations
“Getting Ready”
“I Can’t Get Next to You”
“Cloud Nine”
“Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down”
Intro to “Super Star”

CD review: Nathan Dale's "Major Keys Parade"

2012-01-03T02:47:34Z

Nathan Dale is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Sacramento. Some locals may remember Dale as the founding member of Sweet Vine back in the 90’s. The band went on to sign with Columbia Records, recording their self-titled CD at the famed Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York. The band toured nationwide before separating in the late 1990's.

Dale currently tours with The Jackie Greene Band and has recently release his own CD, “Major Keys Parade.” After listening to his new CD, it became quite obvious that Dale is an extremely diverse musician. The album has a little something for everyone including a little rock, folk and even a tad bit of a Hawaiian sound.

The CD starts off with “Him,” a brief instrumental with the sound of an old style film projector starting up. As it happens, the last song, appropriately named, “The End,” is another brief instrumental which winds down with the sound of the same old style film coming off the reel. Nice touch.

As you get into the meat of the album with “Ten Tiny Fingers,” you feel like you just walked under the big top. Sounding more like a circus waltz, this song might have been better played on a calliope rather than a piano. I didn’t care for the circus beat, but about halfway through it faded into the background.

Next was “Major Keys Parade,” which has an awesome driving beat with some equally awesome guitar riffs. Couple that with some great background vocals playing off of Dale’s chorus and you have one pumped up song that is deserving of the title slot.

“My Wonder Girl” is a great tune that really brings home the folk rock, weaving a tale of a young boy in love with a young girl. Followed by “Oh Messiah,” they are both great folk style tunes.

The CD takes a turn to the darker side with “One Bad Day,” followed by an even darker tune, “Way Down.” The latter has some really awesome guitar riffs bringing out the hard rock side of Dale. This song reminds me a lot of some of Alice Cooper’s work - yes it’s that dark - exquisitely so.

“With the Sea,” is a Hawaiian style tune that really rounds out the CD, showing just how diverse of a sound Dale has.

Using his music as his canvas, Dale paints his heart and soul into everything he writes, each song painting a story for all to hear. His latest CD is worth a listen. It’s a great album with some very diverse songs, leaving you wondering what other sounds Dale might have up his sleeve. I guess we’ll have to wait for his next CD to find out.

You can find out more about Dale’s latest projects at http://www.nathandale.com

Catch Nathan Dale at Naked Coffee in Sacramento on January 4th at 8:30. They are located at 1111 H Street.

Sinbad

2012-01-03T02:41:36Z

The purple one was in-the-house at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday.

Okay, not The Purple One (as in Prince), but the 55 year old standup comedian Sinbad, who was decked out in a freshly tailored purple shirt. I also wouldn’t say “in-the-house,” more like in-the-tent, since it was held in Thunder Valley’s Holiday Pavilion. While it’s a tent, it’s extremely spacious and exquisitely decorated, complete with several bars, restrooms and a whole lotta seats.

Sinbad put on a great show, playing to a full house of young and old alike. As soon as he hit the stage, he started talking about how this was such a great location for a casino like Thunder Valley.

There’s nothing around for miles except for cornfields and a landfill, he joked. He warned everyone that they should hold their breath when they walk outside and then come back inside and gamble some more, referring to the occasional minor aroma coming from the landfill a few miles down the road.

Continuing his rant about the location, he explained that after he put the address into his GPS, it asked him why he wanted to go there.

Sinbad wanted to know why it is 1200 Athens Road when there’s nothing around. Who came up with the number 1200, he wondered. There’s nothing around for miles, so why not a 1?

As he was going through his routine, bantering back and forth with audience members, he asked the ladies in the audience what made them angry. Several shouted out “Cheating!” To which he replied, if a man cheats or if he leaves the cabinet door open, you’re just as pissed. It’s the same thing, so why not cheat.

He’d rather not, but give us some options, he pleaded.

He also wanted to know why it is that everyone says it’s the man that’s cheating. There’s always a woman he’s cheating with. Sinbad used Herman Cain as his specific example for the evening.

Continuing with his questions for the ladies he asked them what they wanted and in time, dealt with a number of responses; money, communication, sleep and sex among them.

The best part of Sinbad’s shows will always be his interaction with the audience, responding without skipping a beat, and joking about real life situations. A fun time was definitely had by all in attendance.

As Sinbad ages like a fine wine (in his purple shirt), his jokes remain fresh. Add to the mix his quick wit and audience participation, and you end up with a very entertaining night out.

It’s refreshing to listen to a comedian who doesn’t believe he has to be crude to make people laugh. Sinbad is one of the few remaining comedians that puts on a clean and entertaining show.

Say hello to 2012 at these New Year's Eve nightlife events

2011-12-29T22:06:32Z

Can you belive 2011 is practically over? New Year's Eve is this Saturday and if you're still searching for plans, we here at Sacramento365.com have gathered up some activities for you.

If you're looking for a great, family friendly New Year's Eve experience, complete with fireworks, be sure to head to Old Sac for the New Year's Eve Sky Spectacular.

But, for those of you who are looking for some adult celebrations--no kids allowed--here're a few options to greet 2012 (see even more in our Top 10 & Holiday Event Section). Sacramento nightlife is kickin'!

1. New Year's 2012 Bash with Mickey Avalon: Ace of Spades, 7pm
Hailing from Hollywood, Mickey Avalon is known to the world as one of the hottest underground American rappers and has become a fan-favorite.

2. New Year's Eve Gala: Chicago: Davis Musical Theatre Company, 8pm
Ring in the New Year with Broadway favorite: Chicago. The Tony Award winning performance of the “truth-is-stranger-than-fiction” play is opening for a special preview, accompanied by a catered buffet dinner, champagne, dessert, party favors, a live DJ, and more.

3. Townhouse New Year's Eve Party: TownHouse Lounge, 8pm-2am
On the 365th day of the year, The Townhouse presents a very special NYE party with some of your favorite DJs on both floors: Electro/House/Progressive with Mike Diamond & My Cousin Vinny & Indie/Pop/Dance with The X-GVNR (Pop Freq, Get Wet) & Jon Droll.

4. NYE at the Hyatt Regency: Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 8pm-2am
Start the evening with a cocktail in the acoustic lobby lounge listening to the sounds of Quinn Hedges and Ryan Hernandez, then enjoy a gourmet four course meal in Dawson’s, followed by the big event in Sacramento’s largest nightclub with DJ Rated R and the Cheeseballs.

5. New Year's Eve 2012: The Golden Bear, 8pm
What better way to welcome 2012 then spending your evening partying it up at The Golden Bear? There is no better way! Live and direct--DJ Crook on the 1s and 2s spinning all your favorite joints and jams. Cheers with a champagne toast at Midnight, plus take advantage of New Year's Eve drink specials all throughout the night.

6. NYE 2012 Celebration: MiX Downtown, 8:30pm
Celebrate the end of 2011 and the start of 2012 inside Sacramento's favorite rooftop nightclub and lounge, which is also celebrating its third year of amazing parties and fabulous events. Complimentary champagne at Midnight, party favors, and lush decorations get you in the mood for a hands in the air night of dancing and partying with friends.

7. New Year's Eve Bash with John Nemeth: Torch Club, 9pm
John Németh is a rising blues star; a singer steeped in the tradition and reminiscent of B.B. King, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, and a harmonica player of riveting intensity and virtuosity.

8. NYE Dance Party with DJ Larry Rodriguez: Fox & Goose, 9pm
DJ Larry Rodriguez's Dance Party celebrates its 15 year anniversary on New Year's Eve with round, warm sould & funk. DJ Larry Rodriguez is bringing some of Sacramento's favorite dance party kings Mike C. and Tim Matranga to round out the night.

9. Roaring '20s NYE: Crescent Club, 9pm
Take a trip back in time to America's glorious Prohibition Era as you celebrate the New Year with gangsters, glamour, and gambling. The evening’s entertainment includes a Speakeasy Casino, Ballroom Swing Dancing, Gypsy Jazz, Blues, & Cabaret, featuring live music by the notorious Crescent Katz.

10. D30 New Year's Eve with DJ Serafin: District 30, 9pm-3am
In addition to the innovative sound of DJ Serafin, enjoy a huge balloon drop, dazzling confetti rain, complimentary champagne toast at Midnight, delectable confections at Midnight, and complimentary party favors.

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Find more detail on these events along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Jingle Bells Rock Thunder Valley

2011-12-17T02:39:29Z

Sixty-two-year-old veteran rocker Eddie Money brought his Jingle Bell Rock tour to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Thursday. Scheduled to appear was former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm and former Jefferson Starship lead singer Mickey Thomas.

The day before their performance at Thunder Valley, it was announced that Gramm would not be performing for the remaining tour due to acute laryngitis, so Gramm was not in attendance.

As the concert kicked off with Money and Thomas taking the stage, the audience immediately started chanting, “Lou! Lou! Lou!” Money responded by explaining the situation and said they had added a couple of songs to their setlist to make up for the missing Gramm. This was followed by more than a few polite boos – is there really such a thing as a polite boo?

Money exited stage left while Thomas started singing “Jane.” Thomas wore a striped shirt with a loosely worn red Christmas tie, while he banged out “Sara,” “We Built This City,” “Nothings Going to Stop Us Now.” Thomas ended his set with “It’s Christmas Time Pretty Baby,” singing in the style of Elvis Presley.

The 62-year-old Thomas’ vocals really stood out throughout his set, sounding just as good as he did all those years ago, in particular when he sang Annie Lennox’s “Winter Wonderland.”

Backing Thomas was Money’s regular crew consisting of longtime band members Tommy Girvin (lead guitar) and Glenn Symmonds (drummer), with more recent additions Lee Beverly (bass) and Chris Groves (keyboards).

Following Thomas, Money came out singing “Baby Hold On” and “I Wanna Go Back.” As Money sang, he shuffled back and forth across the stage and even pulled out the saxophone to show everyone he can still play.

Rounding out the show, Money and Thomas took the stage together singing “Jingle Bell Rock” and a rocking version of “Jingle Bells.” For their encore they performed John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”

While Money’s vocals were not as pristine as Thomas’, he made up for it with his overall stage presence, sense of humor and kindness toward the audience, reaching out to shake hands with a few people in the front row.

Offstage, Money is extremely generous and cordial to all those around him, introducing himself to anyone standing near. His generosity doesn’t stop there.

Money is a strong supporter of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which helps support families of military personnel lost in service to our nation and for severely wounded service members and veterans.

Money is hoping fans will help bring some holiday cheer to heroic members of the armed forces by going to eddiemoney.com and purchasing his single “One More Soldier Coming Home.” All the proceeds will go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Air Supply in demand at Thunder Valley

2011-12-12T03:12:11Z

Wow. What the hell happened out at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday night?

It seems soft rock group Air Supply, playing to a packed house of lovesick fans, actually came out and rocked the house.

I know. I still don’t believe it, but it’s all true! It was bedlam, I tell you.

“Here I Am” thinking “Sweet Dreams.” What are the “Chances” I would find myself in a “Sanctuary” where “Me Like You” can feel “The Power of Love” “Everywhere,” only to have a real rock concert break out. Seriously!

Air Supply started out innocently enough with “Even the Nights are Better,” and then segueing into “Every Woman in the World.”

OK so far, but as veteran performers Russell Hitchcock (lead singer) and Graham Russell (lead guitar) weaved their hits through the guise of soft rock, I should have noticed the younger band members standing at the ready. That should have been my first clue.

The newest members to the band could have been playing for Papa Roach the way they were attacking their instruments, running and jumping around the stage. This should have been my second clue.

Jonni Lightfoot (bass guitar), CJ Burton (drums), Amir Efrat (keyboards) and Aaron McLain (guitar), all kicked out some serious tunes.
As the band made their way through their repertoire, the crowd started to react more and more with every hit played, but that all changed when Russell went acoustic with their new song, “Everywhere.” Just prior to the song, Russell requested that some audience members crowd down on the floor in front of him, having them sit on the floor.

While everyone was gathering around Russell, he explained how he enjoys sitting on his balcony at home and looking off into the mountains. He pointed to the spotlight, saying it represents the sun going down, and you all are the mountains.

“This song is about how love is all around us, and it’s called ‘Everywhere,’” he said.

Now I know you’re asking yourself, how is this not soft rock? Well, it is, but it’s really rocking in a Tesla/Eric Clapton unplugged kind of way.

But really the trick here is how Air Supply corralled a large portion of the audience to the very front of the stage and between the aisles. As soon as Russell was done with “Everywhere,” the band struck up “The One that You Love,” and Hitchcock headed out into the sea of madness, followed by Russell on guitar, neither of them missing a beat. That’s when they begin working the crowd into a complete frenzy.

Hitchcock was handing out hugs and kisses as he made his way up one aisle and down another. Women were grabbing at him as his crew fought to keep them at bay. Once they made their way back onstage, it was too late for the audience. They were under Air Supply’s spell, swaying to the music, with the periodic fan jumping up to grab Russell as he came close to the edge of the stage.

For their encore they played “Me Like You” and “All Out of Love.” It was quite obvious the crowd was not ready to leave, and there could only have been a handful of people who left before the end of the show.

I hate to say it, but Air Supply is a master of entertainment. There, I said it.

I like Air Supply.

Blame Sally performs at KVIE

2011-12-07T02:30:05Z

Public Broadcasting’s KVIE studios in Sacramento was transformed into a concert venue Saturday night as Blame Sally took the stage for a fundraiser.

This was not your run of the mill fundraiser either. KVIE recorded the performance and will be using the footage to produce a PBS Special, which will ultimately be used in pledge drives across the country and made available in DVD format.

So why choose Blame Sally for such an event? KVIE is using Blame Sally to show women of all ages, middle age in particular, that you can accomplish so much more. In their 30’s and 40’s they put their individual careers on hold to start Blame Sally. As a role model, Blame Sally proves that women in their 30’s and 40’s can get together and form, of all things, a rock band. Let me add – a successful and great sounding rock band.

Not only are they an inspiration to women around the world, but to anyone out there who has thought about walking away from their career to pursue their bliss.

Blame Sally had a large contingent of diehard fans in attendance, with most traveling from the San Francisco Bay Area by car, train and bus. Okay, not so sure if anyone took a bus, but I did talk to someone who took the train from Berkley. It took her four cabs to finally find a driver who knew how to get to the KVIE studios.

This was my first Blame Sally concert, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had listened to some of their music prior to attending the show to see what I was in for, so I knew I was going to enjoy their sound, which I did – immensely.

What I didn’t expect was the relaxing back and forth banter amongst the group. They looked completely at home as no less than eight cameras were rolling, including a boom camera reaching out over the audience zooming in on unsuspecting band members and concert goers alike.

Blame Sally kicked it off with “Big Big Bed” off of their latest album, “A Speeding Ticket and a Valentine.” Pam Delgado was on percussions, Renee Harcourt on guitar/bass, Jeri Jones on guitar/bass and Monica Pasqual on piano and accordion. All band members share the responsibility of lead vocals and switch off as the song dictates.

I totally missed the fact that there was a man playing bass. Rob Strom, who recently joined Blame Sally, could be seen in the background. All I had to do was focus and look beyond all the stunning beauty at the front of the stage. Not to say Rob isn’t stunning, he is – at least when he’s playing with Blame Sally.

The only case of nerves I noticed? As they were a few chords into their second song, Pasqual shouted “Cut!” stating she started off with the wrong chords because she was just noticing all the cameras.

Pasqual didn’t leave it at that either. Just prior to “Orange,” she was ready to go with her accordion at the ready. Only problem was, the song called for keyboards. It was comical as the band members would exchange barbs back and forth during times like this.

They had plenty of time to exchange those barbs too. Why? In between songs Jones and Harcourt would tune their guitars. Okay, Harcourt would sometimes tune her guitar and then wait for Jones to finish tuning hers, but that was all good. During those times it was as if I was at a comedy club with the jokes going back and forth.

Let me see, there were comments about someone’s new hairdo, wardrobe malfunctions, instrument malfunctions and so much more. You’ll have to wait for the DVD.

For their last song, Delgado led the audience through a chorus of do-da’s and da-doo’s or some such nonsense. Did I say nonsense? I don’t think so. The result was nothing short of amazing. She taught the audience their part and explained that everyone was to start as soon as she signaled to them. The audience started right on cue. As the song started to come to a close, the instruments started to slowly die down with the audience still singing. It was a serious goosebump moment. The song? Again, you’re going to have to wait for the DVD!

If you’re in the Bay Area make sure you catch Blame Sally at Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse on December 9th. They will be touring out of state during January and February, returning to California in March. Their complete schedule can be viewed at http://blamesally.com/shows/

Give them a listen – you’ll be glad you did, and if for some reason you don’t like them? Blame Sally, not me.

KVIE PBS Teams up with Blame Sally

2011-11-29T04:17:06Z

I was recently approached by Todd Wagner at Ninth Street Opus to help publicize an upcoming event over at Public Television’s KVIE in Sacramento. Ninth Street Opus represents a San Francisco all-female group, Blame Sally, scheduled to perform at the KVIE TV station on Saturday, December 3.

KVIE and Blame Sally are working together to create a pledge program to help raise money for Public Television on a national level. KVIE will be filming Blame Sally during their performance and using the footage to produce a PBS special which will ultimately be used in their pledge drives across the country.

I don’t think I need to go on about the value of public television and what it means for the community as a whole, but I do want to make sure that everyone understands who Blame Sally is and why they were chosen to perform at KVIE.

PBS wants to use Blame Sally as a role model for women everywhere. They are an example of healthy, authentic women, proud of their age and defying the odds by forming a successful rock band in their 40’s and 50’s. What they have accomplished is an inspiration to women across America.

Blame Sally is a little bit country, a little bit of rock, a little bit of folk and a whole lot of heart. They have been compared to the Indigo Girls, Dixie Chicks and even Radiohead - but forget about all that, because one day some all-female band is going to come along and they will be compared to Blame Sally.

The band is made up of four young women, alright, let’s say four not-so-young women. They bring a lifetime of love, happiness, disappointment, trials and tribulations, and really just a whole lot of life to the table. It shows in their music, especially in their latest album, “A Speeding Ticket and a Valentine.”

A few tracks really stood out on their fifth album, “Living Without You,” named for a hard-rocking song about a woman uncertain whether to be devastated or exhilarated by a relationship’s end. “Countdown,” with its driving beat and “Big Big Bed,” which you gotta love simply because of the washboard playing in the background, are just a couple of them.

So who are these women of wisdom and why do they work together so well?

Pam Delgado, on percussion and vocals, wishes she still owned the family car from when she was just a kid. It was a Lavender Pontiac Bonneville complete with a Clamshell from Sears.

Renee Harcourt on guitar, bass and vocals is really the talented one out of the four, but don’t tell the others that. She can juggle, ride a unicycle and whistle loudly with or without fingers, though not all at the same time and hopefully not onstage.

Jeri Jones is on guitar, bass and vocals. I tried to call Jeri but never did get through. All I heard on the other end of the phone was, “Who the &$@%# is calling me before I’ve had my morning coffee!”

I did hear she’s prone to pre-coffee accidents. Luckily all their performances are late in the day.

Monica Pasqual, on piano, accordion and vocals, has started a billion songs and never finished them. There’s something about being superstitious when it comes to songwriting. She has to have at least two good verses and a chorus before she can walk away, otherwise it’s a lost cause.

All the other songs she’s completed? Perfection.

Together these women make up Blame Sally. Granted, they are an odd bunch and there’s not a Sally in the lot, but it doesn’t matter as long as they keep pumping out some really awesome tunes.

Get out there and show your support for Public Television and Blame Sally.

I'll see you there.

You can get more information here.

Where:
KVIE TV Station
2030 W. El Camino Ave. Sacramento, Calif. 95833

When:
Saturday, December 3
7:00-8:30 p.m. and 9:00-10:30 p.m.

Cost:
Regular Admission: Per Show: $25 / Both Shows: $45 (150 seats available)
VIP Seating: Per Show: $100 (Only 50 VIP seats available!)

Christmas with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2011-11-21T03:25:35Z

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra mesmerized the audience Saturday afternoon at Power Balance Pavilion in the first of two Christmas shows.

For those of you who may not be familiar with TSO, they are a progressive rock band that incorporates classical, orchestral, symphonic and progressive elements into hard rock and heavy metal. They are famous for their series of rock operas and storytelling.

This was a high-energy show with a combination of lasers, lights, pyrotechnics and video screens all synchronized to TSO’s music.

Dressed in black, the orchestra made their way on stage while chimes were playing. As they were assembling onstage, there were clips of Martin Luther King Jr. from the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, as well as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and others, with each round of new faces drawing applause and cheers. Once onstage they started playing “Who I Am,” with video screens and lights blazing in perfect unison.

The talented storyteller Phillip Brandon started weaving a tale of an angel coming down to Earth on Christmas Eve. Brandon’s phenomenal voice, reminiscent of the famous James Earl Jones, drew the crowd into the tale as a hush came over the audience. After the introduction, the orchestra started playing “An Angel Came Down,” complete with lights and lasers.

As the orchestra began “First Snow,” it actually started to snow in the arena. OK, not really snow, but the pretend kind of snow. You know the one with tiny bubbles raining down? Couple that with all the video screens filled with snow added to the sensation of real snow. It was quite breathtaking, leaving the audience in complete awe as they listened to an extremely talented line-up of musicians.

A newcomer to TSO, violinist Asha Mevlana was off the charts rocking it with her purple high-tech violin. As she ended a solo routine, the crowd gasped in unison as she snapped her bow in half over her knee, ending the song. This was so much more dramatic than smashing a guitar to smithereens, since it was completely unexpected.

As they wrapped up the story, the orchestra treated the audience to a number of songs, including a mix from one of their albums, “Christmas Canon Rock,” at which point they brought out founder, composer and producer Paul O’Neill.

This was my first exposure to TSO, and I have to say they left me wanting more, even after a two-and-a-half-hour performance.

Chippendales seducing the ladies

2011-11-18T02:56:36Z

OMG! I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to write this after the Chippendale’s performance at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Wednesday night.

It was only after taking a cold shower and having a glass – scratch that – a bottle of wine that I was able to start thinking clearly.

What? No! The water heater went out and a “glass” of wine is how I like to end my day.

My intent on writing this is to warn any unsuspecting women who may decide to take in a show like the Chippendales’. Don’t. Seriously, nobody liked the show!

It was quite obvious that every woman in the place, which was around 99.9 percent of the people, couldn’t stand the show. I couldn’t believe it! I was completely dumbfounded. They were screaming “Get off!” almost the entire show. The Chippendales never got the message. They stayed onstage the whole time!

The strange thing is when they finally ended the show and did get off the stage, all the women started screaming “More, more, more.” I know, I find women confusing, too. They say one thing and mean another. (Come to think of it, they may have been screaming “Take it off!”)

As for the men onstage, I felt bad for these guys. It appeared to be a little chilly in the room, but that didn’t seem to dampen their enthusiasm. All I can say is I was feeling a tad inadequate at this point.

The biggest criticism I have of the show? It was the most disgusting display of pure animalistic behavior I have ever witnessed. It was really quite a sight to see. None of the women could keep it together. They were falling over in the aisles, standing on chairs, trying to get back stage, onstage, or anywhere close to those big hunks. Now hold on a minute! I’m only referring to them as big hunks because I know that’s how women refer to those large glistening bodies of pure muscle and all their gyrating ways.

I will say there was definitely an excitement in the air as the show progressed, but it’s difficult for me to explain the atmosphere. I liken it to when I receive a package from FedEx that I have to sign for because I know it’s got to be something really cool, otherwise I wouldn’t have to sign for it. Well, that’s the way all the ladies were acting, but I guess they weren’t interested in a FedEx package.

Speaking of packages – the Chippendales were the complete package, with eight of the most physically perfect male dancers all competing for the audience’s attention, all dressed in their trademark bow ties and shirt cuffs with bare torso, at least some of the time.

The opening was quite dramatic with the stage dark and ominous and smoke filling the air. One by one they took center stage with a lone spotlight lighting their muscular curves and superior physique. Is it getting hot in here?

The first few routines found these delectable morsels stripping down to pretty much nothing – why do I keep writing like this? Delectable morsels? Now I’m starting to worry.

As each layer came off, the decibel levels in Pano Hall rose exponentially. People were gathering outside trying to get a glimpse of the show. Quite the curious crowd.

A couple of times during the show, they danced around the audience, going down aisles and over chairs. One of the Chippendales was looking for someone to give an autographed poster to. He found her when he exclaimed she deserved it for grabbing his penis. Yes – there you have it. I said it, now it’s out there for all to see.

Several people had the opportunity to jump onstage. In one case three ladies were in a game show where they were told to complete a task. The first one had to perform her best lap dance on one of the Chippendales. The second had to demonstrate her favorite position when making love, and the third had to demonstrate her favorite way of putting on a condom. The third won due to her technique and the timely fashion of completing her task. Oh – I should clarify. She put it on a banana.

This was definitely ladies’ night out. There were a few men in attendance, and you could tell which ones were straight. They were carrying a ball and chain and didn’t look all too happy. I believe my count was two husbands/significant others in attendance.

The show was so successful that Thunder Valley had to provide additional seats to accommodate the larger-than-expected crowd.

After the show, the Chippendales remained onstage so audience members could have their photos taken with their favorites. I declined. They also announced they would be going to Thunder Valley’s Falls Bar for an after-party. [Insert loud cheers here.]

So at the end of the day I feel like I was able to embrace my inner gayness and survive. As I’m sitting here writing this, I’m convinced that I have no lingering side effects from the show.

Man on the street: If given $100 to spend on a locally owned business in Sacramento, how would you spend it?

2011-11-17T07:11:12Z

Mom-and-pop stores and locally owned businesses are often the ones that suffer when consumers tighten up their budget during tough economic times. With the local economy in mind, The Sacramento Press asked locals if they were given $100 to spend on a locally owned business in Sacramento, how would they spend it?

"I support a lot of the small businesses throughout Sacramento, or mom-and-pop (stores), because they are the bread and butter of today's economy,” Financial Analyst Soua Lee, 27, said.

Lee, a Rosemont resident, said that he would spend it on groceries at Vang’s Market, a grocery store.

"I have to say, I would spend my $100 on a place called Crimson and Clover. It's a really really small store on 16th Street," Barista Terra Lopez, 26, said. "I have a hard time buying stuff for myself, so I would probably buy my girlfriend something."

She said that she would buy her girlfriend some jewelry or nice dresses. With the cheap prices, she said that she could buy a couple pairs of shoes and two dresses and still have some left for jewelry.

"A lot of places have closed – unfortunately – that I really loved," Lopez said.

Lopez, a Midtown resident, said that she loved UnitedState Clothing Boutique – a clothing store on J Street that is now out of business.

"I really like the Toyroom on K Street, but they don't exist anymore," Zoo Fabrication Designer Kevin Holmes, 25, said. "They had an art gallery for local artists, (the clothing brand) Obey got in there a couple of times, and they sell really sick T-shirts."

Holmes, a resident of East Sacramento, said he would spend his money on a local art place. Unfortunately, he said, his favorite closed down.

"I like supporting local art and music," Holmes said. "I would either go to five different rock shows at local bars, or go buy one badass painting."

"I'd probably take a bunch of friends to Pizza Rock for pizza and beer," Downtown Guide Gary Mclaughlan, 57, said.

He added that $100 would probably only go as far as pizza and a couple pitchers of beer.

"(My boyfriend and I) would spend the $100 at G Spot, it's the adult store next to the Hot Rod’s in the Lavender district," Sacramento City College Student Rainie Costello, 21, said.

Costello, a North Highlands resident, said that she would buy some adult toys and clothes and a pair of stripper shoes.

If you were given $100 to spend on a locally owned business in Sacramento, how would you spend it? Share your response in the comment section below.

British invasion causes riot at Thunder Valley

2011-11-15T02:29:40Z

Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone played to a full house of old diehard Herman’s Hermits fans at Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s Pano Hall Sunday night. That’s not to say everyone in the audience was old, just older than most.

The Noonatics, those who carry around vinyl albums and old Herman’s Hermits 8-tracks, may have known what they were in for, but I sure as bloody hell wasn’t.

The 64 year old rocker joined the British band as the lead singer (Herman) at the young age of 15. You do the math.

I went to see Herman’s Hermits to relax and enjoy some oldies but goodies, so when Noone took the stage and started singing, “I’m Into Something Good,” I was thinking, “Ahhhh, this is perfect.”

Then the bloody bloke started yapping and from that point on there was no relaxing for anyone. All we could do was laugh at the bugger. He’s completely bollocks!

He explained to everyone that a friend told him that Sacramento, Yuba City and Clarksburg were way out in the country and if he wanted to make us happy he had to play some country music. He started singing Johnny Cash’s, “Ring of Fire,” resulting in the audience laughing throughout the song.

Noone was all over the map, singing songs from Johnny Horton, Tom Jones, Mick Jagger, and of course Herman’s Hermits hits as well.

At one point, one of the noonatics in the front row pulled out an old vinyl album cover from years and years ago. Noone, the mad hatter that he is, grabbed the album and stuck it over his face, displaying the old photo of himself. He then started singing and marching across the stage. It was quite comical.

Another rant was about looking like Nick Nolte. He said as he was coming through the casino someone stopped him and asked about the show. They got all excited, screaming as they pointed at him, “Hey! You’re Nick Nolte.”

In between jokes he actually did sing a hit or two. This guy has a great voice and as soon as the band started up any of their past hits, the audience erupted in cheers and clapping.

Those that could still stand did.

Noone sang most of their hits including "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter," "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am” and “There’s a Kind of Hush.”

Prior to the show, Noone went out of his way to engage people, shaking their hands and saying hi. You could tell he lives for this stuff and thoroughly enjoys it.

After the show, a path was cleared by the ever so diligent security staff at Thunder Valley to make way for Noone as he made his way to the exit. There he started signing autographs and chatting it up with anyone who would listen. The guy just can’t help himself – It’s who he is. After all, what do you expect from the son of an accountant!

Peter Noone is the real deal. Not only does he sing, but he entertains too – with a smile.

Cirque Shanghai’s Bai Xi

2011-11-14T04:21:33Z

The Cirque Shanghai’s Bai Xi put on a breathtaking show Thursday and Friday night at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, playing to a standing room-only crowd both nights.

Bai Xi translates to “100 amazing acts.” However, I only counted 16, but they were 16 amazing displays of physical strength and grace. The show was full of spectacular colors, talented young men, women and a number of young girls. It was a magical night with some mind-boggling performances and a variety of visually stunning costumes.

As the show opened, the performers started in the back of Pano Hall dressed in spectacularly colorful costumes. Working their way through the audience with a winking parade-style dragon and waving giant flags, they were saying hi to audience members and shaking hands.

Once onstage they immediately started in with their incredible balancing act with a unicycle riding on top of a red umbrella and then appearing to fall off stage.

These guys had everything from contortionists to roller skating, including juggling pottery and even juggling hats!

The contortionists, dressed in yellow, ranged from little girls to young women. They started by arranging themselves in a single-file row from front to back, with the smallest in the front as they spread their arms out. They started climbing over each other, bending into unimaginable positions. It was quite the spectacle.

Next up was a number of young men balancing on a single ladder. As one man made his way on stage, he was balanced on a ladder, wiggling his way to center stage. Once there another man climbed on from behind and made his way to the shoulders of the first man. They finally ended up with four men balanced on the ladder.

At one point a number of young kids came out stuffed in colorful barrels, and I mean stuffed. These kids were very bendable, and at one point there was one in one end of the barrel and another in the other end and then they would trade off balancing each other on the one end. Crazy!

There was an awesome hat routine that was very well choreographed. These guys made their routine look deceptively easy, until they called a few audience members onstage to help them out.

That was when I noticed Rachel Steele, lead singer of local country rock band Road 88, sitting in the audience. As they were looking for volunteers it was obvious that Steele did not have her hand up, but one of the men went right to her and insisted she come up onstage. It was funny watching Steele, who is used to leading, having to follow these guys as they directed her, and three other audience members through several routines.

I’m thinking with fellow Road 88 band members Scott Prentice and Billy Haggard in attendance that they had prearranged Steele’s selection. Steele was definitely caught off guard and very entertaining.

Steele was doing a great job, and you could tell she felt this was in the bag when they had her dancing and clapping her hands above her head. However, once they started showing her their hat routine, she had quite a bit of difficulty duplicating their moves.

The other two audience members didn’t fare any better than Steele, but kudos to the young lady who actually did a cartwheel, much to the audience’s delight.

This was a fast-paced show with stunning acrobatics, gymnastics and a whole lot of grace. The only downside of the night was the height of the stage. During several acts the stage was so low that it was difficult to see what was going on. Luckily there were only a few parts where it was difficult to see.

I’m sure they will be back to perform at Thunder Valley again, and if they do, you don’t want to miss it!

Boston Takes Over the Naked Lounge This Tuesday

2011-11-03T06:38:39Z

In the mood for a low-country Regina Spektor-meets-Jimmy Buffett-on-whiskey act followed by a Dave Matthews crossed with a beached-out Buddy Holly number? Well, you can... this coming Tuesday, November 8 at the Naked Lounge in downtown Sacramento (1111 H St.), starting at 8:30. This all ages show features two of California's up-and-coming, on-the-scene singer-songwriters, Jo Elless (www.joelless.com) and Mike Macchia & Tyler Canaday (Mike's Lost and Found, http://www.youtube.com/TheMikeMacchia). Midwest and northeastern roots, with a little dixie thrown in for good measure, Jo Elless is a Berklee-trained multi-instrumentalist who arranges her songs for wind orchestra (all of the instruments, of course, she performs herself-- ranging from flutes to tinier flutes to saxophones and various clarinets). Her songs feature musings of foggy, city, subway life and Decemberists-like folk tales of the deserted south. Her latest album, Copley Inbound, received national acclaim, including landing Elless a spot on the cover of the magazine Saxophone Journal. Coincidentally, Boston native Mike Macchia will also perform along with Tyler Canady, in the form of Mike's Lost and Found (it's also his birthday, so join in the party!) follow her with a blend of sultry, acoustic rock sure to get you kickin' back, tapping your toe, and reminding you of past summers in love. It's all this coming Tuesday, November 8 starting at 8:30 at Sacramento's downtown Naked Lounge, 1111 H St. Sacramento CA 95814.

Disclosure: Sacramento music scene columnist

Midnight Star Shines on Thunder Valley

2011-10-31T03:17:55Z

Seventies musicmakers Midnight Star and A Taste of Honey packed Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Friday night, keeping the audience on their feet for most of the show.

A late start didn’t dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm as Grammy Award-winning A Taste of Honey, featuring original band member Janice Marie Johnson, stormed the stage. Johnson was decked out in a pink sequin dress and high heels and sporting her bass guitar.

As soon as the band kicked into gear, the audience was on their feet, as the band played all their hits like “I’m Talking About You” and “Disco Dancin’.”

After a quick wardrobe change into an orange kimono, Johnson sang her hit song “Sukiyaki” as the audience settled back in their seats.

The audience catapulted out of their seats as Johnson finished the set with their biggest hit, “Boogie Oogie Oogie.”
Prior to the show, Johnson was backstage meeting some of her fans. I’ve attended a number of meet-and-greets, and Johnson was one of the most down to earth artists I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. She asked everyone their name, repeating it back to ensure she got it right. She would give them a hug and then start asking them questions while they were getting their picture taken. Class act all the way!

After a longer than expected break to change out equipment, the audience was back up on their feet as founding Midnight Star members Belinda Lipscomb (vocals), Melvin Gentry (guitar/vocals), Bo Watson (keyboard/vocals) and Bill Simmons (keyboards) took the stage with longtime bandmates Kenneth Gant (bass) and Bobby Lovelace (drums).

Pumping out their signature R&B electro-funk sound, they had the crowd singing and cheering to “Electricity,” leading into a brief version of “Headlines,” “Wet My Whistle” and “Midas Touch.”

I thoroughly enjoy bands like Midnight Star that take the time to choreograph their moves for each song. It adds a completely different dynamic to the performance, and it just plain looks good. Obviously the crowd agreed, because as soon as the band started moving in sync with each other, the audience responded with a round of applause.

After ending their set with “Freak-A-Zoid” and “No Parking (On the Dance Floor),” it was obvious the crowd was quite satisfied with the night’s performances by both bands.

Halloween sizzles at Thunder Valley

2011-10-29T00:58:44Z

Thunder Valley Casino and Resort kicked off the Halloween spirit Thursday night with the sexy Lodi native and star of the reality TV show “The Girl Next Door,” Bridget Marquardt. DJ D-wrek from MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” was — you guessed it — the DJ, and Tone Loc made a special guest appearance.

Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino was transformed into a nightclub, complete with semi-private lounge areas, a couple of dance floors, a popular DJ, a well-stocked bar and a few hot babes thrown in for good measure.

Most of the attendees dressed for the occasion. Some wore evening wear, while others wore their favorite Halloween costume. Myself: jeans and t-shirt (just thought you’d want to know).

Marquardt was a Playboy Playmate and one of Hugh Hefner’s girlfriends, which was the basis for the TV show. Luckily she brought a few of her close friends and playmates along to show off her new line of Halloween costumes called Bridget by Roma.

Marquardt wore her Peacock costume, which she designed with the help of fellow playmate and Hefner girlfriend Holly Madison.

Prior to the show, a number of the “girls” were working the room and taking pictures with audience members, while DJ Dwerk attacked the turntables. There was even a photo booth where people were taking their pictures and having them printed out.

Once the fashion show started, everyone crowded around the runway to take a gander at the new costumes — or should I say the ladies.

Starting off the show was Branae Whitney, a Playboy Live model wearing the Ring Master outfit. I won’t go into all the details of the ensemble other than to say it was red — hot.

There were 11 costumes in all ending with the Fruit Cup worn by Leticia.

Tone Loc took the stage armed with his deep, gravelly voice, a Nike T-shirt, sunglasses and a towel wrapped around his neck. I’m sure a large portion of the crowd was wondering how the rapper was doing in light of recent events.

A couple of weeks ago, Loc collapsed during a performance in Atlanta while singing “Funky Cold Medina.” He had a similar incident at a Pensacola, Fla. concert back in 2009 while singing the same hit.

If I’m not mistaken, Loc didn’t play “Funky Cold Medina” and ended his set with “Wild Thing.”

Loc’s voice has stood the test of time. He sounded just like he did all those years ago, and the audience ate it up. He walked up and down the runway shaking people’s hands while he belted out his hit songs.

He appeared to be in good health and spirits, joking around with the audience and remaining active most of his performance.

Continuing with the Halloween theme, Thunder Valley Casino is hosting a huge Sinners and Saints party on Saturday at 9 p.m. I have it on good authority that the photo booth will be back. Sorry, guys, the playmates won’t be there, but they will have go-go dancers!

Oktoberfest in SactoBavaria

2011-10-10T04:11:51Z

Dirndls and lederhosen on men, women and children of all ages were abundant this Friday and Saturday at the Sacramento Turn Verein (STV). Friday evening and all day Saturday the organization, founded in 1854 as a gymnastics club, hosted its 44th annual Oktoberfest.

The Turn Verein is a place “where folks with German ancestry and people with an interest in German culture congregate.” From the atmosphere this weekend, the STV has made it easy for families in the Sacramento area to keep their German heritage alive and thriving.

Surrounded by Bavarian blue and white, nearly every moment was filled with great German food, entertainment and company. Differing from typical Oktoberfest celebrations, real German beer brought in from Munich and sausages piled high with sauerkraut were only the tip of the iceberg.

The Gruber Family Band was a great addition to the weekend’s events. The band played throughout, integrating various competitions for Oktoberfest participants, a women’s stein holding contest and a children’s yodeling contest included. Nearly all of the participants wore traditional German dress. One got the feeling that the parents of the young yodelers have been training them for years.

One tiny participant, still too young to officially compete as a yodeler, was 17 month old Riley. Her mother, Cyndi McCluskey, found Riley’s tiny dirndl online. When asked if this was a family tradition, McCluskey responded positively.

“Every year!” She said.

Perhaps Riley will be ready for next year’s yodeling contest.

Later on Saturday night, a supposed men’s stein holding contest was announced. Eager participants gathered only to find that they would actually be participating in a yodeling contest. The results were quite extraordinary, really; the final yodel-off involved some mighty fine yodeling.

The Alpentänzer Schuhplattler, a traditional German folk dancing group, performed numerous times throughout the event. Their dances included a grand march, German hat dance, wooden pole dance and a maypole dance, among others.

Friday evening, the 2011 Turn Verein Oktoberfest maxed out at around a thousand people. This doesn’t usually happen on Friday evening, explained Heinz Ludke, Recording & Financial Secretary of the STV, though they usually reach maximum capacity sometime Saturday evening each year. Already at 4:00 on Saturday, the crowds were larger than usual. The Main Festhalle was full already at 4:30 and only got more packed as the night went on.

A lively rendition of “The Beer Barrel Waltz” really got things going Saturday night. Along with the lulling winding and unwinding of the maypole led by the Alpentänzer Schuhplattler, this perfect Oktoberfest only got better as the night went on.

There were German sing-a-longs and American sing-a-longs, the chicken dance and then the young folk dancers were up again. The dance floor cleared and the strapping young lads remained. There was dancing and box jumping, followed by a go at the Bavarian Hat Dance that broke out into a mock fight between two shirtless lads in lederhosen.

At times, if you found a spot on the dance floor you were lucky; a seat was a near impossibility.

In the upstairs hall, the mood was a bit more modern, with AKAlive rocking the room.

For a quiet escape, you could visit the Kaffeehaus for a cup of Jo(han) and a piece of cake.

Joann Schuler, a member of the Turner Harmonie, the choir that performed several times this weekend, helped man the Kaffeehaus. She seemed delighted to be a part of the event and was perfectly willing to discuss German culture, family stories, and best of all – she offered tips on the best German desserts at the Kaffeehaus.

The fruit basket dessert came highly recommended, as did the Black Forest cake, of course, and the Bienenstich, which Schuler described as containing, “almond and honey and creamy yumminess.”

One of the best parts of the event was the family feeling that filled the air. Everywhere you looked there were children, and large families congregating, usually three generations strong.

“Last time I was forced to wear lederhosen at the age of seven,” said Jordan Hess of Sacramento, “and now at the age of 27, I get to enjoy the beer!”

Hess’s parents were married at the Turn Verein and his grandfather participated in the STV soccer league in the 70’s. Saturday night it was just him and his younger sister Aubrey, who recently returned from a lengthy study abroad in Bremen.

Outside, both sides of the hall were flanked by a beer garden. While the white plastic chairs in the Turn Verein Biergarten were less charming than the wooden picnic tables in Bavarian beer gardens, everything else about the event certainly held its own.

I’ve been to the Hofbräuhaus, to a beer hall in southern Bavaria and a biergarten in Munich’s city park, but I never imagined that I would find such an enjoyable event right here in the middle of Sacramento.

“Durst ist schlimmer als Heimweh!” reads a sign in the main Festhalle.

“Thirst is worse than homesickness.”

There are many Oktoberfests that excel in celebrating drinking delicious German beer a liter at a time, but the Sacramento Turn Verein does much more than that - although there was plenty of good beer to go around. They show off the marvelous methods of celebration in Bavaria, bringing out German American families and friends for a night of celebrating what they are and what they have, a shared German heritage.

Late Saturday evening, while the rest of The Gruber Family Band took a break, Michael Gruber played “Amazing Grace” on what can only be described as a super-length beer bong. I had been there for almost six hours and I wanted to go home so badly. At the same time, I knew that if I went home, this magical German world would disappear.

Until next year.

The next event at the Sacramento Turn Verein will be their annual Christkindlmarkt. The Christmas market will include a unique holiday shopping experience, glühwein (spiced wine) and their usual abundance of delicious German baked goods. Admission is free for the whole family with the donation of a children’s coat.

Besides numerous annual events like the Oktoberfest and its spring counterpart, the STV Bockbierfest, the Turn Verein offers German language classes, athletic clubs and various other social activities.

A double dose of Cake

2011-10-08T22:23:49Z

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 alternative rock band, as they are sometimes called - though those who try to truly define the genre struggle to do so in less than 30 words - started the show with a tribute to their local roots. The instrumental, “Arco Arena,” aided in building so much anticipation that one especially excited man nearly jumped up on the stage.

Early in the show, they played several songs from their newest album, “Showroom of Compassion." The song of the same name was first and was a song about “leaving the central valley,” said lead singer John McCrea.

Thus far, the album is proving to be just as addicting as previous albums, the unending commentary of an angry American running throughout. “Sick of You,” in particular, was another great addition to Cake’s sing-a-long favorites. “Long Time” and “Mustache Man,” featuring Xan McCurdy on guitar, were performed as well.

“Sad Songs and Waltzes” was an entrancingly mellow addition to the set list and featured the remarkable trumpeting skills of Vince DiFiori. While his trumpet skills were far more impressive in person, the acoustics of Freeborn Hall did nothing to enhance the experience.

The venue seems to be a terrific place for a college concert, but Cake’s performance was hardly that. There were more thirty-something spectators in attendance than anything else.

Cake played two sets split by an intermission, “Which, I think, is a very civilized thing to do,” said McCrea.

Whether it’s the fault of the genre-less music or audience skill level, it was obvious that Cake fans don’t really dance. The point was made apparent Thursday night during the “dance-off” for a blood orange tree, the most powerful moves being a strong “robot” and a kicky “shopping cart.”

In the end, the band gave Davis local Jacob Belway a healthy, young blood orange tree. On Friday night, the arboreous gift was a lemon tree.

The band played old favorites including, “Stickshifts and Safetybelts” and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Lifestyle,” as well as newbies such as “Federal Funding” that were very well-received.

By the end of the night, the stage was practically dripping with sarcasm and disdain. You almost began to wonder if there really isn’t hope.

At times, it was even difficult to figure out if the band loves the central valley or hates the Central Valley, if they love America or hate America, and if they hate it so much, why they’re still here.

The answer, perhaps, is because misery loves company. If your favorite pastime is serenading fellow comiserators with cynicism and sarcasm, where else could you find such a goldmine of willing listeners than here, in the Central Valley?

Valley soil is caked on their shoes, and it’s not coming off.

There were just a few moments when you got a glimpse of the sweeter side of Cake. “Mexico,” for one, let the audience see that not all hope is lost in the race to an implosive bitter end. The ballad was quite therapeutic after a show filled with so much sarcasm and bitterness.

Perhaps our dear McCrea and Cake will someday find inner peace. Then again, how could we survive without the ever-present Cake criticisms of society?

McCrea reinforced this sentiment Friday night when he finished the weekend in Davis with “I Will Survive,” citing that it was the only hope he had.

Cake. Simple, home-baked, yet such a delicacy. This uniquely addicting group is sure to survive forever and ever, riling and romancing fans for many years to come.

Cake to take on Freeborn Hall

2011-10-05T05:08:14Z

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 January of this year. The album was produced in their very own studio, a solar-powered jewel right here in Sacramento. As always, lyrics succeed in making Christians blush and Patriots fume.

Read more on their highly developed website, complete with their regular website polling, mocking and cynical as it is. In addition, the Onion-like news headlines of their website newsfeed keep listeners on their toes.

Whether it's the semi-enthusiastic almost-singing of John McCrea that constantly draws you into a hapless and cynical political debate or the strong rhythmic line intertwining Gabe Nelson's bassline with Xan McCurdy on guitar, spectators are surely in for a great night both Thursday and Friday. Tom Monson will only add to the performance with his driving beat on drums.

Come Monday, the melody of Vince DiFiori on trumpet is sure to be hummed along the cycling paths of old Davisville.

Currently, Friday’s show is already sold out. Tickets for Thursday night’s show can be purchased online or through the UC Davis ticket office either in person or by phone at (530) 752-1915. The show will begin at 8 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday night.

Rock Allegiance at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-09-27T02:37:28Z

The Rock Allegiance Tour pulled out all the stops for the last night of their summer tour.

Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion hosted an unforgettable evening of loud riffs and primordial deafening screams. Seven bands were schedule to perform. Drive A, Crossfade, Red, P.O.D. and Puddle of Mud were scheduled to perform, as well as co-headliners Buckcherry and Papa Roach. Puddle of Mud was unable to attend due to an illness. Me be thinking hangover, but what do I know?

This concert was off the charts with people jumping over barriers to get to the bands and the bands jumping over barriers to get to fans. I didn’t know whether I should be watching the bands or the crowd. Both were entertaining, both were over the top and both were screaming at each other. It was a mess!

Out of all the bands, I think Buckcherry had the best performance of them all. While just as crazy as the other bands, they had a modicum of control to the point of sounding like a real band. Not to rip the other bands, but when these guys are screaming into their mics with their guttural growls and flying through the air like Mighty Mouse on crack, it’s hard to hear them because they’re out of breath - or headbanging with someone in the crowd. It was obvious that absolutely nobody agreed with me, since everyone was screaming and singing along with each and every band.

Once Buckcherry took the stage there were a number of people jumping the barriers, only to be rewarded with the ever so gracious security team greeting them and quietly and politely dragging their sorry arse to the curb. Once Buckcherry jumpstarted the crowd into a renewed frenzy, they passed the baton to Papa Roach to finish the night off in style.

Papa Roach hit the stage in full stride and had heads bopping, fans rocking and people jumping off the stage. It was quite an event and all caught on tape, since Papa Roach was filming their part of the show for a new music video. They even had a $100,000+ camera on a boom moving over the crowd to catch all the action.

This really was a night to remember – such a bestial display of pure testosterone all on one stage. As I was heading home listening to the Backstreet Boys I kept wondering what it would be like to fly around like Mighty Mouse on crack, maybe next time.

Vietnamese Autumn Breeze

2011-09-26T07:17:01Z

The Asian invasion was back at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort this weekend with the Vietnamese Autumn Breeze bringing some of the biggest names in Vietnamese entertainment. Most of the show was spoken in Vietnamese, but there was a scattering of English thrown in for good measure.

Due to a pretty cold evening, at least compared to recent nights this week, the audience was somewhat thin. Checking inside, it was obvious that many concertgoers made a last-minute decision to try their luck inside the casino rather than brave the elements outside.

Kicking off the show were the emcees for the evening, Leyna Nguyen and Trinh Hoi. As in past Asian shows I’ve attended, it was fun trying to figure out what was going on. At one point, Nguyen and Hoi were talking in Vietnamese, and Nguyen started saying “chop chop” and using her fingers as scissors. Hoi paled and the audience was on the floor laughing, so you can only imagine what they were talking about. Once I realized what they were talking about, I think I went pale too.

The first artists out of the gate were singing duo Truc Linh and Truc Lam. They brought along with them a small dance troop. The audience was pretty non-responsive through their set, as they were for most of the evening, until the later acts. Linh and Lam are sisters in their mid- to late-20s and got their start in 1992, when they performed for the first time in public for a television program in Saigon.

They sang two songs, “Xin Cho Anh Yeu” and “Bang Bang.”

Huong Thuy, a singer from southern Vietnam known for Ca dao and Cai Luong singing, was up next. Thuy appears frequently on the long-running Vietnamese diaspora variety show, “Paris by Night.”

Thuy sang “Ben Song Cho” and “Hop Mat Lan Cuoi.” The audience was a little more upbeat when she first came out but quickly settled down.

Vu Khanh, one of the crooners of the night, came out singing “Yeu.” As he started his second song, Y Lan joined him and they sang “Chieu” and “Tram Nho Ngan Thuong.” This was met with quite a bit of applause.

Lan finished off with a solo of “What’s Up,” which she sang in English. She did an awesome job, hitting the high notes spot on. This got a partial standing ovation – remember most of these people were freezing.

My favorite act of the night was Tuan Anh. She – scratch that – He came out making a couple of jokes. I have no idea what he was saying, but I was on the floor laughing. This guy is just plain funny with his mannerisms, accents and, of course, his style – very comical, but once he started singing, it’s obvious he’s a singer first, comedian second. He sang “Em Lat Tat Ca” and “I Who Have Nothing.”

Trieu Minh hopped on stage and sang “Chi La Di Vang” and “Tinh Yeu Khong Quat Ve.” She sounded great, and at one point she had the dance crew join her onstage.

Bang Kieu was up next singing “Chuyen Tinh Yeu” and “Nang Hoi.” He was a mix between crooner and pop.

Comedian duo Bao Liem and Bao Vy came out to a cool reception, but by the middle of their set they had the audience laughing. It’s at this point I wish I knew what the two were going on about, since I started laughing without knowing why.

The second crooner of the evening was heart throb Quang Dung – yes, I said dung. Stop laughing! It’s the guy’s name! So, Dung came out singing “Vi Ngot Doi Moi” and “Vet Thu Tren Lung Nguoi Hoang.” I heard many of the women screaming. I’m thinking they must have sat on a cold chair or something.

Headlining the evening’s event was Toc Tien. This young lady wanted to be a doctor as she was growing up and still aspires to do so, but her singing career has temporarily sidetracked her. She has a wonderfully soulful sound and definitely got the crowd going. She was the only performer of the evening who really got the entire crowd cheering. She is an awesome performer and earned the right to headline such an event.

As I’ve said before, although I don’t speak Vietnamese, it was interesting to attend a concert where you can’t understand the language. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what language you speak when listening to music. It’s what moves you that counts.

Girls' Night Out at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-09-26T06:53:46Z

Local radio station V101.1 hosted the Freestyle Explosion at Power Balance Pavilion, with radio personality Dr. Don Sainte-Johnn as the emcee and Expose headlining. Giving Expose top billing was a brilliant idea, since they are credited for bringing the freestyle genre of music to the forefront back in the ’80s.

The Freestyle Explosion revisits the freestyle sound that was popular in the late ’80s and early ’90s, an underground mixture of Latin hip-hop, electronic supplementation and the occasional house grooves. Despite their brief stint in the spotlight, the artists who brought freestyle music to the masses have been immortalized on the club circuit, with a die-hard fan base throughout Europe and in most major cities in the United States.

Friday night was definitely girls’ night out, as hundreds of women packed into Power Balance Pavilion, with a few guys dragged along, to see Expose, Lisa Lisa, Shannon, Debbie Deb and Cynthia. And there was some eye-candy thrown in for the ladies, like Johnny O, and Nice & Wild.

First up was David Torres, one of the three original members of Nice & Wild. He opened with “Diamond Girl,” gyrating across the stage, much to the delight of all the women. I’m not so sure the guys were happy with the opening, but, hey, they could have grown a pair and stayed home. I found his vocals flat, but he put on a good show.

Next up was Cynthia singing a medley of her hits, including “Change on Me” and “Gonna Get Over You.” She was less energetic than the others, but she made up for it with her stellar vocals.

Following Cynthia was Johnny O singing a medley of his hits, which included “Fantasy Girl.” He was joined by Cynthia, and together they performed a great rendition of “Dream Boy/Dream Girl.” Johnny O was very energetic, eliciting screams from all the women and a few men — but I’m sure you’ll never hear them admit it.

Debbie Deb came out with three ladies from the audience. She only introduced them as her backup dancers, without mentioning anyone by name. She sang two of her hits, “Lookout Weekend” and “When I Hear Music.” She sounded great.

The Cover Girls, consisting of Evelyn Escalera, Lorrain Munoz and Sabrina Nieves, came out singing “Wishing on a Star” and a number of other hits, ending with “Inside Outside.” They did a great job and had some old-school choreography going, which I think is just classy.

Shannon came out and sang several of her hits, closing with “When I Hear Music.” Prior to taking the stage, several enlisted soldiers were introduced to the crowd. Shannon and Debbie Deb had performed in Iraq, where she met Specialist Gonzalez, Sargent Gray and Specialist Bradford.

I spoke to Bradford prior to the show, as he was sipping his cocktail – compliments of Shannon. Hailing from the 49th Military Police Brigade, Bradford first met Shannon at Camp Liberty. He said Shannon committed to the troops during her visit in Iraq, and that they were welcome at any show, wherever she was playing. As she tours across the country, her tour manager has been keeping in touch via Facebook and phone, letting troops know her schedule and arranging VIP passes. All three soldiers wanted to be sure I mentioned how thankful they were to Shannon for giving them the opportunity.

Shannon danced with the soldiers during her performance. Having two left feet, as I do, Bradford struggled with his moves, but he gave it a valiant effort. Both Gonzalez and Gray were having a great time, getting down with Shannon.

After a brief intermission, the concert really took off with Lisa Lisa jumping up on stage. She played a number of hits, including “Can You Feel the Beat,” “Lost in Emotion” and “Kiss Your Tears Away.” She had the audience up on their feet the entire set. She sounded great, while her two male dancers rocked the stage. She looked like she was having a great time, showing us her infectious smile. From my perspective, Lisa Lisa should have been headlining, but I get it.

Finally Expose arrived singing “Seasons Change.” They sounded good and had a well-choreographed routine going. They sang several hits, ending with “Point of No Return.” While they did a fantastic job entertaining the crowd, I believe Lisa Lisa stole the show. By the time they were finished, many people had already started leaving. This may have been due to the concert going well past 11:30 p.m.

It was fun watching young and old enjoy a bit of old-school music. I didn’t mind either. Let’s face it — there was a bit of eye-candy there for the guys, too.

Lynyrd Skynyrd at Thunder Valley Casyno

2011-09-24T01:05:21Z

Lynyrd Skynyrd arrived with both barrels blazing promoting their latest album, “God and Guns,” in their Florida’s Finest tour at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Thursday night. The band entertained and delighted a full house of die-hard Skynyrd fans – a.k.a. the Skynyrd Nation.

It was obvious that their music is enjoyed by a number of generations, as I watched young and old stand up and cheer. Crowds of non-ticket holders gathered in the parking lot area and on the sidewalks outside the amphitheater.

When they took the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers, with the band kicking it off with “Working for MCA.” As they were leading into “I Ain’t the One,” lead singer Johnny Van Zant said hello to the crowd and thanked everyone for being there.

The audience never sat down the entire concert, even through the slower medleys, such as “That Smell.” The band sounded great and had a solid stage presence, keeping the audience engaged throughout the evening.

Guitarist Rickey Medlocke was tossing out guitar picks to the audience and I thought to myself, how does he know they need a guitar pick, let alone that they play guitar? But it didn’t matter. They were gobbled up before they even had a chance to hit the ground.

They dedicated “Simple Man” to our troops as a huge backdrop fell into place showing the U.S. flag and emblems of the various armed services. It was a touching moment, with the crowd going quiet but remaining standing.

Toward the end of the concert, Van Zant waved an Alabama state flag attached to a microphone stand. He was encouraging the audience to scream “Alabama!” to prepare for their next song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” As soon as they started up the song, they were met with the wildest and loudest cheers of the show.

For their encore the band came out with Van Zant taunting the crowd.

“You know what you want to hear,” he said.

“Free Bird!”

“In the words of my brother Ronnie Van Zant, what is it you want to hear?”

“Free Bird!” And with that last request, they started up the song.

Le Butcherettes

2011-09-23T19:01:38Z

Scanning the Harlow’s crowd an hour or so before Le Butcherettes were slated for the stage, you would have found lead singer Terri Gender Bender leaning against a large pillar, her small foot tapping in rhythm with the hard drumming coming from Diciembre Gris, the second opener.

This small metronome action would have been the only outgoing behavior exhibited by Terri, who, off stage, seems quiet, docile and introverted. When approached by fans or curious bystanders, Terri offered the same genuine smile and sweet responses, a reaction surprisingly different from what you would expect to come from a bawdy woman known for her bloody apron uniform.

That is until Ms. Gender Bender got on stage. Quite quickly, drummer Gabe Serbian, bass player Jonathan Hischke and frontwoman Terri Gender Bender transformed what was a quiet, table-seated night at Harlow’s into a frantic mosh pit and interactive musical rock-out.

"Performing lets me get all the demons out,” Terri said.

Her theatrical, but authentic performance included aggressive thrashing about, numerous acrobatic attempts and playing the “trust fall” game where Terri without hesitation, lunged forward, backward, and upside down onto the crowd multiple times.

This dual persona is exactly what Terri tries to express through her artistic project.

“I want to show this shift — the change from domestic housewife who is silent and sweet and who spends her time cleaning the kitchen to this breaking of all feminine duties, to this raging animal release!” Terri said, breaking into Spanish to better express herself.

Jumping off stage wasn’t Terri’s only public interaction. After running through the crowd, singing and shouting, Terri ran out the front door, straight into oncoming traffic on busy J Street, hailing cars and drawing the crowd out behind her. The first car to stop was the Sacramento Police.

A few dance moves and a mad dash back inside, Terri was back on stage with the crowd short on her heels.Soon enough, Terri’s singing was interrupted as she was asked to come outside.

“Umm, sorry, but the police force wants to have a few words with me. Please hold on,” Terri heavily breathed into the microphone.

Minutes passed, and still Terri remained outside, time enough that concerned band members Serbian and Hischke alarmingly shuffled outside too. Onlookers gawked, traffic stopped, and fans shared their frustration.

“C’mon, its artistic expression!” one female yelled.

Eventually Terri was allowed to return to her guitar. Without any sign of anger, she convinced patrons that we should thank the police.

“They look after us and our health,” she said. And then led a screaming frenzy which morphed into possessed rag-doll dancing and spit spraying, scenes only a little short from “The Exorcist.”

But Le Butcherette’s offered a variety of musical compositions. A few, select pieces started slow, with seductive, stand-alone, eerie vocals. But they didnt last long, blasted unexpectedly by fast drums and loud guitars. The energetic ups and downs only added to the musical intensity put on by the trio.

Long-time admirer, Adrienne Beatty shared, “She’s just so nice and sweet. But up there [on stage], its surprising how empowering she is! You get a sense that this is a strong woman-led band.”

Le Butcherettes strong talent has put them on tour with extremely well-know musicians, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Deftones, Iggy and the Stooges, and currently, The Flaming Lips.

“They all are really, really great people. Its been amazing to tour with them. But maybe my favorite has been Deftones. They were just so nice, offering us coffee and joints,” Terri shared bashfully.

Applause goes out to I’m Dirty Too and Diciembre Gris who played alongside Le Butcherettes evening performance.

Catch Le Butcherettes again when they come back to northern Californian this December. In the meantime, head over to Harlow's to see the next fine bands in line.

KC and The Sunshine on Thunder Valley

2011-09-20T03:12:31Z

Singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Harry Wayne “K.C.” Casey brought disco back, for at least one night, as KC and the Sunshine Band took over Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Sunday night. Creating a theatrical display of dance moves that he created back in the 70’s along with four stunning young ladies, KC had the audience putting on their boogie shoes - all under one huge disco ball.

But first, starting off the evening was the venerable Con Funk Shun, an R&B group made up of five frontmen and four band members. The band got their start out of Vallejo, Calif. back in the 70’s, churning out hits through the 80’s. They are responsible for a number of hits including "Chase Me," "Got To Be Enough" and "Electric Lady."

The frontmen, comprised of Michael Cooper, Karl Fuller, Felton Pilate, Paul "Maceo" Harrell and Danny "Sweet Man" Thomas, came out dressed in blue blazers and white pants. Immediately they jumped into a well-choreographed routine that had some audience members cheering. They looked classy performing in lockstep while holding their instruments.

That might not have come out right, but you get the idea.

It was obvious many of the audience members had not heard of Con Funk Shun, but they quickly became fans after the first couple of songs. With their six-part vocal harmonies, horns and more, they blasted out a whole lot of funk, some dance party grooves and a dash of romantic ballads, all to a very receptive audience.

Their set appeared to run long when the announcer jumped in.

“Let’s give it up one more time for Con Funk Shun.”

The band kicked it into another two songs; it was obvious they were up there having a good time and didn’t want it to stop.

During intermission I had a chance to talk to three individuals who I will affectionately refer to as the three stooges. Sporting afros, fake moustaches, headbands and other accoutrements, these guys had a following of their own.

They would only give me their stage names of Stefan, Jethro and Samson. I asked Samson what gives with the outfits.

“We’re f**king fans, baby. It’s disco and that’s why we go man.”

Women were having their picture taken with them almost the entire concert. They were very entertaining.

An instrumental introduction began and the crowd started cheering as, one at a time, each band member slowly took the stage, walked to the front, stopped for a beat or two, and then took their place on stage. This made for a very dramatic entrance. You could feel the tension build in the crowd as they anxiously waited for KC to make his way on stage.

Will he enter on the right, or the left?

People were looking back and forth trying to figure out where he would pop out.

Prior to KC arriving, the Sunshine Girls grooved to the beginning of “Shake Your Booty.” KC finally emerged (from the right) and went straight to the keyboard and started pounding away and doing what he does best – entertain.

A couple of verses into his first song, KC blasted from the keyboard, dancing with the ladies from one side of the stage to the other. As he started into his second song, “Boogie Shoes,” he sounded somewhat out of breath and was breaking out in quite a sweat.

At the end of his second song, KC acknowledge his weight gain and how much older he was. The catch phrase for the night was “What the hell happened?” in reference to how much time had elapsed since he started over 39 years ago.

He also tried to educate all the younger people in the audience as to who he was.

“For you young people, you’re probably wondering who I am. I was your mother’s *NSYNC.”

Going on, he warned them that this is what Justin Timberlake will look like in thirty years.

“I should change the name to KFC and The Sunshine Band,” said KC, referring to his weight.

He said he wanted to play a few slow songs next, but promised that the remainder of the show would remain upbeat. He went on to play a number of slow songs including, “Yes, I’m Ready,” “Let’s Just Kiss & Say Goodbye” and “Please Don’t Go,” before picking up the tempo with “I’m Your Boogie Man.”

At 60 years old, KC has been in the entertainment industry a long time and knows how to put on a great show. While his vocals are nowhere near what they used to be, he makes up for it by sheer energy, musicianship and by surrounding himself with some of the best talent in the industry – the lights aren’t bad either.

Ramon Ayala at Thunder Valley

2011-09-20T02:53:33Z

The “King of the Accordion” and four-time Grammy winner Ramon Ayala played to norteño and tejano fans from both sides of the border, with most fans singing along to every song. A mostly older crowd jammed into Thunder Valley Casino and Resort to watch their old favorite perform. There were a few younger fans peppered throughout, enjoying the music just as much as their elders.

Ayala arrived on stage with his trademark green, white and red accordion. The crowd erupted in cheers and several individuals made their way up to the stage to pay tribute to the man.

Ayala was joined on stage by his band, known as Bravos del Norte. Band members were Mario Marichalar (bajo sexton and vocals), Fidencio Ayala (bass), Jose Luis Ayala (drums and vocals), David Laure (percussion) and Raul Rosales (emcee and percussion).

Ayala played a number of his hits including “Mi Piquito de Oro,” a Latin version of "Cotton Fields," and “Un Puño de Tierra,” which had the entire audience on their feet.

I’m used to seeing Thunder Valley Casino’s outdoor stage packed with instruments, amps and gear of all shapes and sizes, but when I looked at the stage there was a set of drums, congas and some microphones. I thought for sure they hadn’t finished setting up. The band performs with a minimum amount of gear which consists of a set of drums, congas, two accordions, bajo sexto and a bass.

It was fun watching the crowd react to each and every song. You could see couples looking into each other’s eyes. I’m sure some were remembering when they first met, others their first kiss, all to the music they were listening to at the time. Some songs had people swaying in their seats, while others brought them to their feet. It was obvious they knew each and every song.

Ramon Ayala has been singing, composing and playing his accordion for over 45 years. He has recorded over 100 albums and has been featured in thirteen movies. He is considered a legend of norteño music and is one of the most recognized and bestselling artists of the genre.

Dazzling belt buckles at Thunder Valley

2011-09-18T03:47:39Z

Thunder Valley Casino Resort hosted Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson this Friday night in their outdoor amphitheater. It was a perfect summer night for an outdoor show. Both the performers and the audience fulfilled expectations. The Musik Mafia, as they call themselves, rocked a full house on Friday night.

“Sitting on your ass is extremely prohibited throughout the entire Xtreme Musik Show,” spoke an electronically-enhanced voice that served as a flight attendant style introduction to the concert.

John Rich seemed to lead the performance, the likely choice considering his successful stint on Celebrity Apprentice. Big Kenny sported his usual top hat. His fringed vest and snug pinstriped pants completed his attire and only added to his untamed dance moves onstage.

Gretchen Wilson was a strong and sweet hostess as well, constantly encouraging fan participation and calling out to the other “redneck women” in the crowd. Wilson was loved by the crowd, both women and men. The women were ignited by her enviable confidence and the men loved her as well - probably for the same reason that Shania Twain has always had such a large male following.

Road 88 was the show’s opening act. The local band, recently voted as 2011 Best Local Band on KCRA’s A-List, was well received by the audience. The act stayed around for the rest of the show, enjoying themselves amongst the audience.

Big & Rich, together with Wilson, began the show with “Fake I.D.” They were excited to announce that the recent release will be featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming “Footloose” remake starring Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell and Julianne Hough.

Wilson then kicked it up a notch with “Here for the Party,” the title track from her 2004 debut album. Big & Rich and Wilson hopped on and off the stage throughout the show. They performed a song or two before bowing out for a break. This strategy worked well and allowed them to keep the energy and intensity high.

It was almost impossible to decide whether the show was more rock or more country. With so many references to Tammy Wynette and Charlie Daniels, it would have to be marked down as country. Then again, with Cowboy Troy rapping and a couple of background guitarists riffing their way to Cleveland, the Musik Mafia certainly knows how to rock.

While introducing a cover later in the show, Wilson called out, “I’ve got a feeling…you know how to rock.”

A second later, the band launched into the opening of “I Gotta Feeling,” by the Black Eyed Peas.

“I’m not singing that!” Wilson cut in and the band shifted, starting into Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded.”

Whether country or rock ‘n’ roll, one thing’s for sure; these fans know how to party. The Thunder Valley Outdoor Amphitheatre was host to a rowdy crowd that night. The bar, manned by Zebra Club of Sacramento, was serving up Jack Daniels and Crown Royal like there was no tomorrow.

Even the three headliners took a moment to have a drink on stage. The performers took a few minutes to recognize National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which falls on the third Friday of September each year. MSgt. Surita A. Rorie and TSgt. Eric Grant, both currently stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, were brought up on stage for a toast.

MSgt. Rorie quite eloquently spoke a few words, remarking that they would never stop until every single soldier is home.

The show slowed down just once when Wilson invited the audience to join a bit of afterparty on the main stage. She explained that in the trailers after the show, they bring out the acoustic guitars and fiddles. She performed John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” with just an acoustic guitar alongside.

Audience members seemed to enjoy the departure. While she does perform this number regularly during concerts, you could tell that she enjoyed it and sang from the heart. One particular couple even made their way to the front to slow dance near the stage.

It was probably good the tender-hearted couple didn’t know that in that same spot a rowdier audience member had prepared to rally for the second half just a few minutes earlier, puke and rally, that is.

Rock ‘n’ roll and rhinestones were the theme of the country show. Between John Rich’s bedazzled suit, Wilson’s glittering belt, Cowboy Troy’s enormous belt buckle and the audience’s similarly sequined attire, the truckload of lights that the group brought in their caravan of semis was multiplied times ten.

The energetic women in the crowd were decked out in cowboy hats and glittering tank tops. The men were huge, tall and burly cowboys and ranchers coming from all parts of northern California and throughout the valley, and there were so many Camels and Marlboros - in back pockets, in bra straps - it was a real country show.

The show ended with Big Kenny shredding his t-shirt and throwing it into the crowd, much to the pleasure of one female audience member.

Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich, who together comprise Musik Mafia, sport matching bejeweled rings that mark their participation. The combination becomes more united with each passing year. The group nearly creates a new genre of music, so much rock and so much country. Fans have to wonder if the end result will be a country rock band playing under the name Musik Mafia, and if they would really mind if they did.

Country collaboration at Thunder Valley

2011-09-14T19:11:08Z

Thunder Valley Casino Resort will host Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson this Friday night, September 16 at 8 p.m. The event will take place in Thunder Valley’s Outdoor Amphitheater, an excellent venue for a fun night of country music.

The country duo of John Rich and Big Kenny will perform this weekend as part of their Xtreme Musik tour. The show will be one of just a couple of shows in California before the tour heads north. Grammy, CMA, ACM and AMA award winner Gretchen Wilson is paired with Big & Rich for the evening. Wilson has been co-headlining the tour since it began in mid-June.

The pairing is ideal considering the numerous collaborations among the three of them. “Fake I.D.” is one such example, released earlier this year.

Friday night’s show will also include appearances by 2 Foot Fred and rapper Cowboy Troy, as well as opening act, Road 88.

The event will likely bring country music fans from all over the Sacramento valley. Spectators should be in for a great show, Big Kenny in his top hat rapping hick-hop, Rich in his more traditional country attire but rocking all the same.

Wilson is sure to put on a great show as well. She brings a strong-minded feminine quality to the show, drawing like-minded women from all around. Just a few years ago, at the age of 34, Wilson finished her GED, an accomplishment that had fallen to the wayside as she worked her way through her teens and twenties.

The country artist currently has four albums, “Here for the Party,” “All Jacked Up,” “One of the Boys” and “I Got Your Country Right Here.” The latter is her first release from Redneck Records. Yet another of Wilson’s notable accomplishments is her recently launched label, Redneck Records, which she started in the fall of 2009.

Country fans are sure to see an excellent show this Friday night. For additional ticket and venue information, visit the Xtreme Musik tour website or check out Thunder Valley’s entertainment listings.

Following the Thunder Valley show on Friday, the tour will head to Molalla, OR and Puyallum, WA before heading to Canada where they will perform in various locations in British Columbia.

Iris Dement at CSA Event Center: photos

2011-09-13T02:58:10Z

Folk/country singer Iris Dement played a solo show at the Center for Spiritual Awareness (CSA) Event Center in West Sacramento Thursday night with Jay Shaner opening.

Dement played such crowd favorites as "Our Town" ~~"Our House"~~ from her Grammy-nominated My Life album released in 1994. Accompanying herself on piano and acoustic guitar, Dement's distinctive high-lonesome warble relayed plaintive songs of heartbreak and hard times. Her stage presence is warm and self-deprecating, with a sly humor. At one point she remarked about the venue: "I'm not sure how much more awareness I want," and that she might have enough (spiritual awareness) as it is. This writer would tend to agree.

The Human League

2011-09-09T00:47:43Z

The Human League teamed up with Men Without Hats at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Wednesday night, playing to a less than packed house.

Both groups are synthpop bands who got their start in the early ’80s. The Human League has had a number of hit songs since and in March of this year released their 10th album, “Credo,” 30 years after their first album.

Men Without Hats kicked off the evening playing a number of their hit songs, including "Moonbeam," "Pop Goes the World" and "The Safety Dance."

The only original band member, Ivan Doroschuk, came out donning a cowboy hat. He was bathed in red or blue light almost the entire time on stage. Doroschuk was very energetic, dancing back and forth across the stage, waving his arms in the air and looking like he was having a good time.

The music was loud, making it difficult to hear Doroschuk sing. I don’t believe he sounded that great, but that may have been because he was being drowned out by his own music. I was really disappointed, and it seemed the audience agreed. Only a handful of people were up on their feet until the last song “The Safety Dance,” when everyone got moving.

I should have known the moment Doroschuk came on stage with a hat that this wasn’t going to be good. Let’s face it, Men Without Hats means men without hats. I kept looking for “America’s Got Talent”’s Piers Morgan in hopes that he could buzz them and be done with it. These guys were more reminiscent of a bad ’70s band than an ’80s revival band.

Once The Human League took the stage, it all changed. These guys put on a great theatrical production, complete with a video backdrop with the drummer playing front and center of the screen. The video splashing all over the drummer made for a great look.

Founding member and lead singer Philip Oakey was dressed in black with a black hood for the first song, “Never Let Me Go.” Oakey started by walking slowly into the spot light singing the chorus, “Go/ go/ go,” and then fading back, out of the light, until the next chorus. The whole time band mainstays Susan Anne Sulley and Joanne Catherall were singing and dancing in unison on both ends of the stage.

The Human League has evolved over the years but remains true to their unique electronic pop sound with smooth vocals overlaying synthesizers and digital keyboards.

They had the attention of the audience from the moment they stepped out on stage. They had several wardrobe changes, various videos playing in the background and good, solid vocals. All the band members were high energy, including Nic Burke, who was jumping from keyboards to guitars and back again.

I would highly recommend checking The Human League out the next time they are in town. They put on a great theatrical production and have a number of hits spanning several decades to enjoy.

Planning Commission to decide on tap room liquor permit

2011-09-07T23:06:08Z

The city’s planning commission will decide whether to OK a permit for alcohol to a proposed bottle shop and tap room planned for a shopping center near the intersection of Howe Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard Thursday night.

Capitol Beer and Tap Room is a potential business set to take an empty space at 2222 Fair Oaks Blvd. put together by business partners Ken Hotchkiss and Patti Aguierre.

“It’s going to be kind of a high-end craft beer tasting room and bottle shop,” Hotchkiss said Wednesday.

If given the go-ahead by the Planning Commission, the business could open as early as December, and Aguierre said she plans to participate in Beer Week, in late February.

About 20 beers will be on tap at all times, though the beer selections will rotate, and a website will let customers know which brews are currently being poured. In addition, hundreds of different beers will be available in the bottle shop, according to Hotchkiss.

Hotchkiss said he’d like to carry a large selection of local brews as well as other craft beers.

Some of the breweries whose beers he said he hopes to include are Rubicon, Allagash, Chimay, Sierra Nevada and Russian River.

Food won’t be prepared on-site, but Aguierre said they plan to carry snacks that go with beer as well as some premade deli sandwiches.

According to a city staff report, the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control noted that the area is overconcentrated with liquor licenses based on population statistics.

The ABC required the owners to get a letter of convenience or necessity from the Sacramento Police Department, which they did.

Nearby business owners said they are happy to see the proposed business and hope it gets approval from the Planning Commission.

“I want it, because it creates synergy,” said Jeff Davis, also known as “Fro,” who owns adjacent Tokyo Fro’s. “If you put a McDonald’s next to a Burger King, both get busy.”

Davis said the only drawback he can see is with parking in the shopping center, which is already busy, but he characterized it as a minor hurdle that is the result of having businesses that draw lots of people.

“I’m rooting for them,” Davis said. “I want to help them, maybe cook food for them. This is a great spot for them, with Ruth’s Chris, Roxy and Banderas all nearby.”

Tony Galuzzo, who owns nearby Atlantic Bay Insurance, agreed with Davis.

“I think anytime in this economy that a new business is opening, it’s good for everyone,” he said. “Being a merchant in the neighborhood, anytime something can go into a space that’s uninhabited, that’s a good thing.”

Hotchkiss and Aguierre said the toughest part of the yearlong quest to open the business was choosing the location.

“We originally looked in downtown and Midtown, but we decided on this,” Hotchkiss said.

Being a mile and a half from Sacramento State wasn’t one of the reasons, but he said it might prove beneficial.

If approved, the 1,500-square-foot space will be composed of two rooms: a tasting room with a bar, and a bottle shop. About 40 people will be able to be seated in the area, including 12 to 14 on a patio.

Live music and entertainment are not planned to be included in the business, but TVs might be added. Details haven’t been decided, pending the outcome of Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting.

Hours are planned to be 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Lost in the 80's at Thunder Valley

2011-08-29T02:04:44Z

Friday night was quite the ride down memory lane for everyone who listened to the radio back in the ’80s. The Fixx, Wang Chung and Naked Eyes all played to a packed Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino Resort.

You could say this was a British invasion of sorts, since all three bands hail from England. They were a smashing success in the ’80s, all with No. 1 hits. It was quite an impressive lineup, with only one concern: What time will I get home? There’s a whole lotta hits to be played from each band.

Naked Eyes, best known for their first single, “Always Something There to Remind Me," kicked off the evening with “Voices in My Head.” The band’s original members were Pete Byrne on vocals and Rob Fisher on keyboards. Fisher died in 1999, so Byrne is touring with three new members.

During his set he kept telling the audience that it was OK to get up, dance and have a good time. The audience was slow to respond. However, by the end of the set he had a few people on their feet dancing, but only a small fraction of the audience.

Byrne had a good stage presence and was very energetic, but the lack of vocals on some songs hurt his performance. He sounded great on some of his older hits but not so good on others, as he seemed to struggle on the higher notes.

Wang Chung followed with a number of their hits, including “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Original band members Jack Hues (vocals, guitar) and Nick Feldman (bass, guitar) were simply awesome. Hues worked up the crowd with his theatrics and excellent vocals, while Feldman did it with pure energy and total absorption in his performance.

The amazing story here is how awesome the band sounded, despite only rehearsing together for one day. I spoke to young keyboardist Dave Appelbaum, and, needless to say, he was quite ecstatic about being able to play a couple of gigs with the talented Wang Chung.

Appelbaum explained his involvement with the band, that it was one of those friend-of-a-friend-type of scenarios, and, before he knew it, he was hooked up with the band along with the drummer who happened to be in the same circle of friends. On Saturday they headed to Fresno to play another gig with the band, and they hope to hook up with them at future concerts.

Each of the “newbies” were armed with MacBooks and referencing their sheet music often. Regardless, they appeared to be playing effortlessly, as if they had been playing the songs for years. Appelbaum looked totally immersed in the moment, pounding on the keyboard and just plain rocking it.

Wang Chung had the crowd worked up in a sweat. Most of the seats were empty, with people filling the aisles dancing. They didn’t sound just like they did when they were younger, but they still sounded awesome with Hues’ deeper, more mature vocals taking center stage. They played “Rent,” a new song off their latest CD, “Abducted by the ’80s.” The song is a very ’80s reminiscent, catchy tune with Feldman throwing a bit of Prince-like vocals into the mix.

With such an exceptional set by Wang Chung, I started to wonder how The Fixx was going to be able to follow such a performance. I didn’t have to wonder long. Front man Cy Curnin was just as animated, if not more so, than Hues. As Curnin sang, his hands were always on the move, telling their own story.

The Fixx stills tours with all its original members: Curnin, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, guitarist Jamie West-Oram, drummer Adam Woods and bassist Dan K. Brown. The band’s dynamic style and high energy immediately created a connection with the audience, bringing the majority of people to their feet. By night’s end there wasn’t a single person sitting.

It was a fun night for all. Pano Hall started out full, but by the end of the night, about a third of the audience had left. I’m sure that was because the concert went past 11 p.m.

Gladiators take over Thunder Valley

2011-08-28T05:52:22Z

“Unleashed” – a Gladiators Challenge (GC) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event took place at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort this evening. The fight featured many of the top contenders in the MMA; including four title fights and two contender fights.

“Unleashed” showcased a title match between the GC Super Heavyweight Champion, Rick Vardell, and MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn, GC Middleweight Champion James “The Educator” Fanshier defending his strap against Keith “KO Kid” Berry, and a GC Heavyweight Championship fight between title-holder Rob “Caveman” Jackson and fan favorite Deutsch Pu’u.

The packed crowd at Thunder Valley Casino showed their support for the sport of MMA and their favorite fighters. Cheers and screams could be heard throughout the stadium from the first fight to the last.

Marc McLaughlin is a contributing writer and photographer for the Sacramento Press.

Settlin’ for nothing less than Sugarland with a side of Sara Bareilles

2011-08-26T20:57:30Z

The warm voice of Sara Bareilles welcomed fans to Thursday night’s show at Raley Field. Bareilles seemed at home here in Sacramento, perhaps due to the proximity to her hometown of Eureka. There was an extra bounce in her step as she sang away to the ballpark stands, the smell of hotdogs wafting in the air.

She let fans hear, “Love Song,” early on, which made everyone happy, and followed up soon after with “Many the Miles.” Throughout her performance, Bareilles really took liberties with the sound and tempo for both old and new material. She also informed the audience that she had spent all of Wednesday filming the music video for “Gonna Get Over You,” her newest single, which she then performed.

Sugarland fans got a treat when Kristian Bush made an appearance onstage, collaborating with Bareilles on “Basket Case,” a sweet melody on her newest album, “Kaleidoscope Heart."

“Gravity” came next, a title off of her first album, “Little Voice.” As she strummed, there was something adorable about her knee-dipping sway that underscored the fact that she is just a sweet NorCal girl at heart.

Just after sundown, Sugarland came on stage to packed stands at Raley Field. By this time, the heat had begun to subside and the hope of an incoming delta breeze – plus a hard lemonade or two – had the crowd ready for a great sing-a-long show.

Sugarland, led by Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, played all of their big hits, starting with “Settlin’” and “Stuck Like Glue,” as well as, “It Happens,” and of course, “California King Bed.”

Throughout the show, the audience was very engaged - dancing, singing along and letting out so many wolf whistles that it was almost distracting to the show.

Nettles was a great hostess, wishing happy birthday to anyone who asked, sending her well wishes to Indiana and the victims there, and encouraging the audience to get into the show and the music in any way that they could. She brought everyone to their feet on various occasions, some standing for the whole show, particularly those on the floor just couldn’t get enough.

When the duo needed a break, rather than just taking a break, Bush surprised the crowd by giving away his guitar. He took a nice 10 minute break to walk through the crowd looking for a worthy fan, and then they were right back on stage, singing their hearts out.

Late in the show, Sugarland performed, “The Incredible Machine,” the title track of their newest album and the inspiration for this tour. They also covered a number of artists - mashup style - Britney Spears, Simon & Garfunkel and Dolly Parton among them.

All said and done, Sugarland provided a fun night of music for Raley Field spectators. There was hardly a trace of sadness from the unfortunate events earlier in the month, just an infectious display of life, and a desire for peace and happiness for all.

Sugarland finished by bringing Sara Bareilles back on stage. Together, they sang, “Come on Eileen,” the audience belting every word along with them. It was a great audience for a great show; Sugarland would settle for nothing less.

Soul searching for Sugarland

2011-08-24T04:25:08Z

The Incredible Machine Tour, featuring Sugarland paired with one of several other artists, has already been tried and tested. Earlier this month, the band witnessed a tragic accident at the Indiana State Fair when high winds knocked down portions of the stage, killing six and injuring many others.

After almost a week off, Sugarland members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush turned back to their music for comfort. According to the Associated Press, their show in Albuquerque, the first since the accident, was a somber affair. The group devoted a minute of silence to those lost and injured.

At present, the Raley Field pairing with Sara Bareilles is scheduled to go on, though saddened fans and spectators may find a grieving duo rather than the bright, award winning stars that they were expecting.

A private memorial service is being planned for those in Indiana who were affected by the horrific accident. According to Sugarland’s blog, they got back on the road and back on tour as soon as they could.

“We have always celebrated music as a Healer,” reads their latest post.

Sugarland has sold more than eight million records and has won various CMA, Grammy and ACM awards. In 2011 alone, they won an Academy of Country Music Award for Top Vocal Duo of the Year and a Country Music Television award for Duo Video of the Year for “Stuck Like Glue.”

The country duo will be joined by Sara Bareilles in West Sacramento. Bareilles is a singer, songwriter and pianist, and is most well known for her 2007 single, "Love Song." Raley Field spectators should hear some favorites from her first album, “Little Voice,” as well as new material from her 2010 album, “Kaleidoscope Heart.”

Following Thursday's performance, Sugarland is scheduled to play at the Shoreline Amphitheatre on Friday, August 23. Sara Bareilles will perform again with Sugarland on August 27 in Las Vegas.

Josh Groban, “Straight to You,” at Power Balance Pavilion

2011-08-23T05:10:07Z

Singer and songwriter, Josh Groban, will perform at Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday, August 24. Groban, a native of Los Angeles, recently released his fifth album. The surprisingly well-established 30 year old continues to expand his skills and interests, co-writing 11 out of the 13 titles on his newest album.

Groban’s rich, classical voice is most often described as a tenor or baritone, his range exceeding the traditional expanse of both categories.

Most recently, Groban made his debut film appearance in “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” He also reappeared in the world of television, starting with his recent role as a judge in “Glee.” He is said to have a role in an upcoming episode of “The Office” as well. Groban’s first acting stint was on “Ally McBeal” in 2001, a role which played a prominent role in launching him into rather sudden stardom.

Groban performed in Sacramento early on in his career, singing “All I Ask of You,” at the inauguration of California Governor Gray Davis in 1999.

In addition to selling over 20 million albums in less than 10 years, Groban was named one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People in 2008. Pavilion spectators are sure to be wowed Wednesday night, in more ways than one.

Mr. Fluffy puffs up Thunder Valley

2011-08-22T02:20:53Z

The one and only Gabriel Iglesias, better known as Mr. Fluffy, performed at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort on Saturday night, entertaining well over 3,500 people with his hilarious mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects. I say well over 3,500 judging by the overflow in the parking lot next to Thunder Valley’s outdoor amphitheater.

Just prior to his performance, Iglesias had over 10 chocolate cakes delivered by fans to his dressing room. He said he performed a routine around seven years ago about a chocolate cake, and to this day fans are still delivering cakes to his performances. The record is 27 cakes at one event. Why do people bring him cakes from a joke made seven years ago? Iglesias said it’s all because of reruns.

As Iglesias took the stage, he told the crowd he was checking his tweets. He found out there was an 11-year-old with his family in the parking lot listening to his show. He apologized in advance for any foul language he may use. For the most part, it was a refreshingly good, clean show with very few offensive words. The four opening acts were Martin Moreno, Alfred Robles, Rick Gutierrez and Noe Gonzalez, and they were a bit more offensive.

The audience thoroughly enjoyed Iglesias’ ability to joke about the local area, including taking jabs at competing casino Cache Creek and joking about Chipotle in downtown Sacramento, where he ate earlier in the day.

This was a fun show with new material that Iglesias is trying out for an upcoming DVD. Even though the audience was falling on the floor laughing, some audience members were chanting for some of his older material. Being the gracious man he is, he did one more new routine and ended the evening with several routines from the past, starting with his Krispy Kreme joke, which had the audience cheering. When he did the Volkswagen routine, the audience started telling the joke in unison with Iglesias.

Normally the bars are hopping, but the audience was completely caught up in Iglesias’ routine and remained in their seats the entire show. As he ended the evening, he was sure to tell the audience that he’s a gambling man and will be in the casino later on. He wanted to make sure that if anyone saw him gambling that he would be honored to have them come up say hi and take a picture with him.

I had a chance to talk to Iglesias prior to the show – my opportunity to ask Mr. Fluffy himself a hard-hitting journalistic type question.
“So what do you think about your new Xbox with Kinect?” Pretty lame question, but he loved it. He has the Zumba dancing game, and he’s been burning up some major calories. He did jokingly say that he was not about to go live with it.

Iglesias was in the fourth season of “Last Comic Standing” and won Comedy Central & Comcast Cable's Comedy Special of the year in 2003. In 2004 and 2005 he was voted into the Top 25 of Comedy Central's “Standup Showdown.”
He also has a brand new series on Comedy Central starting on Oct. 6th called “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution.” The show will feature stand-up routines from Iglesias and other comedians.

Toad had Harlow's Hopping

2011-08-20T01:26:28Z

Years ago when our kids were young, my wife would set their alarm to play Toad the Wet Sprocket’s CD “Fear.” Every morning I was treated to the song “Walk on the Ocean.” Some mornings I would hear just the beginning chorus, and other mornings I’d hear the entire CD. Those were the bad days – not to say the music was bad, but the kids just wouldn’t get their butts out of bed.

Well, the kids are all grown up now and in their 20s. Don’t ask me for their exact age. I’m not wired that way. So it was quite a delight to take a couple of them over to Harlow’s in Sacramento to see Toad the Wet Sprocket on Thursday. Seeing the two of them watching the band that started their day, every day as kids, brought a tear to my eye. I can still hear the CD going off in the morning as if it was just this morning – wait a second, it was this morning – they still live at home! I cried a lot that night.

The evening started out with Garrison Starr, a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles. She did a great job warming up most of the crowd, but there was a lot of chatter going on while she performed. She didn’t appreciate the fact that so many people weren’t paying attention and took several jabs at the audience.

After a brief set change, Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage with barefoot lead singer Glenn Phillips belting out “Something’s Always Wrong.” This caused the standing-room-only crowd to shout and cheer.

Phillips made his political views clear between songs, describing the Tea Party as an accident between two buses. The first bus was full of libertarians, the second full of Tea Partiers. The resulting crash combined the worst elements of both.

“Great, now I’m going to get my ass kicked after the show,” Phillips said after several more Tea Party jokes.

“Finally Fading” was a tune Phillips wrote during the band’s 14-plus-year hiatus. It was nice to see him perform it with the original members, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning and drummer Randy Guss.

Recently Toad re-recorded their original songs, allowing them to distribute and publish their own work, since rights to their original recordings are held by Columbia Records. This has helped them stay true to their original sound. Phillips, despite throat surgery early in his career, sounds exactly like he did at the beginning of his career, over 25 years ago. He doesn’t look like he has aged much since then, either.

Toad is scheduled to release their first new studio album since 1997’s “Coil” sometime next year. They played several songs that are slated to be on the new album. The audience enjoyed the newer music, but it was a completely different atmosphere when they started playing music that the audience was familiar with.

Toad ended the concert with “Walk on the Ocean.” That’s when I woke up. Realizing I must have been dreaming, I reached over to turn off the alarm clock and the music stopped. Once out of bed, I headed to the bathroom and yelled to see if Mom had breakfast ready yet. Ahhh, life is good – waking up to Toad and having a nice hot meal waiting for me. Why leave?

DISCLAIMER: I don’t live with Mom. Yes, I did once. OK, maybe more than once, but I don’t live with her now. I do live with my lovely wife Ruth and too many kids.

Huey Lewis and The News

2011-08-15T02:20:19Z

Huey Lewis & The News rocked Thunder Valley Casino and Resort on Friday, playing to a sold-out crowd of over 3,500 cheering fans.

It was quite impressive watching as no fewer than 10 people (The News) stormed the stage while a booming heartbeat played in the background. As the crowd cheered, Lewis arrived onstage singing “The Heart of Rock & Roll” with the crowd joining in.

The next seven songs were off their new CD, “Soulsville,” which are soul cover songs from the Stax Records catalog. This earned a polite applause from the crowd with some shouts of “Hip to Be Square” and “Heart and Soul.” Starting with “Jacob’s Ladder,” Lewis got a bigger reaction out of the crowd. It was apparent the audience was looking for songs from the early years.

If anyone has seen Lewis perform in concert, then they know he always performs a couple of a cappella songs. Friday’s performance was no different. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the group’s rendition of The Dominoes’ “60 Minute Man” and “Uh-Huh,” both performed a cappella.

About an hour into the performance, Lewis had the audience on their feet with “Heart and Soul” and “I Want a New Drug.” That’s when I realized there was a sizable crowd gathered outside the amphitheater dancing and having a great time in the parking lot. To each their own. They serve alcohol in the amphitheater, not in the parking lot.

With a veteran 10-piece band that includes an awesome horn section, Lewis has a small arsenal at his disposal to perform a very diverse mix of songs. Add to that a 61-year-old voice, which, much like a fine wine, has matured with age. From the moment he hit the stage, his gravelly voice commanded attention and the audience was quite happy to give it.

There were a couple of Sacramento natives in the band. In the horn section was Johnny Colla, who was born in Sacramento and raised in Suisun. He is credited for writing "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "The Power of Love" and "If This Is It." Drummer Bill Gibson was also born in Sacramento and is currently living in Mill Valley.

It’s great to see a band like Huey Lewis & The News still going after all these years, although I was a little disappointed that they didn’t stick to their earlier hits. Playing songs from their “Soulsville” CD was nice, but I believe most people, myself included, would have rather had Lewis stick with the hits that brought him here, but, hey, someone has to keep working for a living.

Peter Frampton

2011-08-08T13:42:22Z

Local guitar heroes Brian Wheat and Frank Hannon from the Tesla showed up to see legendary guitarist Peter Frampton play to a full house of hard core fans Saturday at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort.

The audience was chanting “Frampton! Frampton!” in anticipation of the start of the show. Just prior to the start, William Shatner’s voice came on the loud speaker to explain the no photography or video policy, although even before the end of the performance, videos were making their way on to Youtube.

Some of you may recall Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy” making it onto Guitar Hero 6. Well, they followed their guitar hero, who was featured in Guitar Hero 5 with "Do You Feel Like We Do" off his “Frampton Comes Alive!” album. So it was quite a treat to see the boys from Tesla meet one of their favorite guitarists.

Frampton started off the set with “Something’s Happening” and “Doobie Wah,” both songs keeping the crowd cheering and on their feet. “Lines on My Face” had the crowd sitting down, but giving him a standing ovation at the end of the song.

Cheers broke out as soon as he started “Show Me the Way”. In classic Frampton style he started in with his signature talkbox which really got the crowd going. While Frampton wasn’t the first to use the talkbox, he’s credited for bringing it mainstream with “Show Me the Way,” which was record in the ‘70’s. He’s been using it in concerts ever since.

The gracious Frampton said, just prior to starting “I Want to Go to the Sun,” that a guy by the name of Carlos had asked if he could sign one of his guitars, which was the same model used by Frampton. Frampton said not only would he sign it, but he would play it. After the song, Frampton invited Carlos up on stage to give him back the guitar and gave him a big hug.

After the show I was able to talk to Carlos Pereda about how all this came about. Believe it or not, Frampton keeps tabs on his Facebook page. Pereda posted a message on Frampton’s wall and Frampton responded that he would love to sign and even play the guitar. Arrangements were made with Frampton’s management team, and Pereda was able to hand off his guitar just prior to the show.

I heard Pereda telling the gentlemen to treat the guitar well because it was a special guitar that Frampton would be playing that evening. Pereda purchased the guitar used at the Concord Guitar Center several years ago and has always felt the guitar was something special. Well, Carlos, it is now!

The format of the night’s show followed the same format as the 25th anniversary deluxe addition of “Frampton Comes Alive!” including a 13-minute rendition of “Do You Feel Like We Do”. Frampton just recently ended his “Frampton Comes Alive 35” tour, where he performed the album in its entirety, with his performances lasting as long as three hours.

The Rise of Sactown's Social Athletes

2011-08-08T03:47:28Z

The Fall season officially begins this week for Sacramento’s very own sport and social club. Appropriately named the Sacramento Sport and Social Club (SSSC), this unique adult sports experience has something in store for all types of social rec athletes in the Sacramento area.

The idea first arose in 2008 when SSSC founder Brad Satterwhite (“the Commissioner”) and a co-worker of his wanted to get a group of their colleagues together for some good-natured out-of-office fun. They decided on bowling, but when the crew couldn’t find a local league that fit their needs, Satterwhite stepped into the role of league organizer. This league of work colleagues started with 12 teams in what later became known as the Planning, Policy, Urban Development Bowling League (or ‘PUDL for short, named after their career field). Three years later, PUDL is back for the Fall season and more popular than ever before. Longtime PUDL member Jim Clark says:

“PUDL gives you that chance to have a really great time with really great people. You will not find a bowling league that has as much fun both in the alley and out than we at PUDL do.”

But even this is just the tip of the sport and social iceberg... Last year league members started asking about other sports and activities. Recognizing the potential, Satterwhite has since set up leagues that appeal to the socially inclined, coed crowd, adding Cornhole (bean bag toss), Team Trivia, and Indoor Soccer to the mix.

The Club also offers bike and pub crawls, parties, and philanthropic opportunities. The Commissioner also emphasizes rewards and prize opportunities for SSSC participants. Thus, SSSC is creating a niche for itself as THE social league in greater Sacramento. You can almost think of it as a well-organized, never-ending carnival for adults.

If you’re interested in trying something new and fun, now is the time to register for one of SSSC’s upcoming leagues or tournaments.

UPCOMING LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS

All of our leagues include two games a night, weekly raffle prizes, awards to season winners, and more. Everyone makes the playoffs. Teams can be male, female, or coed. There is no need to be experienced as our leagues use a handicap-scoring format.

Monday Night Bowling League                       Thursday Night Bowling League
10 week season                                                  8 week season
Teams of 4 (6 on roster)                                    Teams of 4 (6 on roster)
League starts: Sept 19                                       League starts: Sept 8
Registration ends: Sept 12                                Registration ends: Sept 1

These two leagues also include discounted bowling on non-league nights, discounted shoe rental, and discounts at Frank’s Pro Shop.

Cornhole (Bean Bag Toss) League (Sunday Nights)
8 week season
Teams of 2 (4 on roster)
League starts: Sept 11
Registration ends: Sept 8

Indoor Soccer Tournament                 Bowling Tournament
Nov 12th @ South Natomas Arena     Oct 22nd @ Capitol Bowl
Men’s 21 and up                                     Teams of 2, coed, handicap format
Includes 3 games min., medals for Includes 3 games min., pitcher of
top 2 teams, MVP, and best goalie,     beer and pizza, prizes and medals
and free round of beer to winners.       to the top 2 teams.

Visit SSSC online at www.SacSportandSocial.com for registration and more information.

Be sure to “like” Sacramento Sport and Social Club’s Facebook Page!

Disclosure: Erin is an active SSSC league participant.