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 ne

On Saturday evening, Old Ironsides hosted a lineup that included Lauren Wakefield, who also plays with The Solicitors, and multi-SAMMIE award winner Crazy Ballhead, but it was The Tipsy Hustlers’ debut that I had come to see and, even though this was their first public performance since forming less than four months ago, they rocked the house with their unique blend of rock, soul, funk and a little bit of rap. They shook out any nerves they may have had with their first number, “Remember The Good Times,” lead singer and songwriter Ken Rudulph’s look back at his first big band, Mama’s Gravy, and the times they had in local places like Old Ironsides. The song had a sweet rockin’ rhythm and

It’s been eight long years. Eight long years to find the right people and pursue one's dreams again. You see, when Mama’s Gravy, long-time Sacramento funk-rock-soul-rap band broke up eight long years ago, everybody scattered. The boys in the band went their separate ways. For two of the original guys in the band, a second chance, eight long years in the making, is right around the corner. On Saturday, June 23 at Old Ironsides in Downtown Sacramento, those two former bandmates will hook up again on stage. Ken Rudulph (lead singer) and John Mullick IV (bass) will be joined this time by guitarist Xavier Altimiras Lupon and drummer John Linn to form a new band called The Tipsy Hustlers. T

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Have a  Happy Halloween!! Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Running through January 2012: Bingo The Winning Musical at Cosmopolitan Cabaret at 10th & K street in Sacramento. Show at 7:30 PM.. Tickets are $32.00 - $48.00. Friday, October 28th: Sacramento Ballet presents Dracula at Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Tickets are $17.00 - $68.00. Friday, October 28th: Midnight Star - A Taste of Honey at Thunder Valley Casino. Concert at 8PM. Tickets are $20.00 - $30.00. Saturday, October 29th: Exotic Hallowe

Quashing persistent rumors that Old Ironsides would stop playing live music, staff told The Sacramento Press Thursday that the bar now has its own sound system, and concerts are booked into November. “For the record, we were never without a sound system,” said Mark “Gonzo” Gonzales, a manager for the establishment and also the man handling most of the booking for shows. In late June, there were rumors that the iconic establishment at 10th and S streets would no longer be hosting live music, which has been a mainstay of the business for 21 years. Gonzales said the old sound system, which had been leased, was taken out June 19, and a new sound system was being looked at, but in the meanti

One Sacramento Press user commented that, “I wish I could remember how the night ended.” Just in case you missed the end (or just thought you did) of Launch 2011 at the Greens Hotel on Saturday night, here’s what happened. Although the festival was scheduled to run into the wee hours of the morning, the event was shut down around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, due to what festival organizer Michael Hargis believes was most likely a noise complaint from nearby residences about the considerable amount of jovial “whomp” that was emanating from the bustling and hotly-attended event. According to Hargis, who was “under the impression we could go as late as we wanted,” there were issues with th

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

It seems like all eyes are on Raley Field this weekend – and amazingly, it’s not because of the Riverkittys. Country superstars the Zac Brown Band (one of the few popular “country” stars these days with the guts to actually sound like country) are getting after it on the field on Thursday night, setting up the stage for Friday’s night’s Brew Fest, and Saturday’s you-knew-it-had-to-happen-eventually “Sactopalooza” party, which features cover bands of the following artists: Journey, Beastie Boys, U2, Dave Matthews Band, No Doubt, Van Halen, Sublime and INXS. Coverpalooza? And no, we are not even "going there" with EndFest, we're just not. So, when you’ve wrapped up the beer tastings and p

So I hear there's some sort of a wedding going on early Friday morning? Yeah, well, we've got some music going on too, just as an FYI... The Builders & the Butchers - In a music scene bursting at the seams with raw, albeit often streamlined indie rock, folk and pop talent, Portland is a hard place to make yourself stand out - especially with the Dream of the '90s still alive. From their jovially twisted cover art to a sound that fits the same description, say hello to Neil Young's journey to Hell's big top. At their hear, Builders and the Butchers are a bluegrass band, but that core influence has been compressed in a vice and inserted into a pegboard of dark folk and inventive indie rock

It's Wednesday (as I prepare your weekly Rundown), and all I can think about is some G. Love! "I cherish the moment when I get the lucky chance/ To sing my song and let the funky people dance/ make it last. Sonic blasts move past fast fly/ Outta speaker's sneakers stomp to the rhythm that will romp/ Let the wild rumpus start cause it just can't stop." I'll have you covered with a recap of the show, but for now, let's look ahead to a fine week of shows. Sactown's got sauce! Interpol - Loyal Rundown readers may remember a few weeks back when Lindol French and I were musing about the overrated hipster spectacle that is Coachella - but we agreed that the one benefit of having such a festiva

In late February I went to a show at Old Ironsides, my first. I had come to see Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, an Americana rock group from San Francisco that I had previously seen absolutely dominate a set at High Sierra Music Festival. The other two acts on the bill were local bands Honyock and Walking Spanish. It's not surprising that a band with a nationwide reputation and fan base would enlist a couple local stalwarts to join them on stage and ensure a packed house. What was surprising, to me at least, was that Walking Spanish wasn't opening for Nicki Bluhm. Nicki Bluhm was opening for Walking Spanish. Knowing what an incredible show the Gramblers put on, I was skeptical (apprehens

Yo, winter storms - we've got your summertime right here! The concert calendar this week will be doing a little work to help us all not "t-t-talk about the weather" (as my main man Dave Matthews would say) with the outdoor (covered) patio concert series at Sophia's Thai Kitchen in Davis teeing off with a pair of shows. Plus, it's a pretty safe bet that Mr. Deputy will be wearing shorts. Just sayin'! Zach Deputy – Isn’t this the guy who should be popping the tops off your beers at the bowling alley bar, or maybe explaining the difference in quality among products at your local “tobacco” shop? He’s got that laid back, flip-flop island vibe to him, the kind of dude you could shoot the breez

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Through Sunday, March 20th: 9 to 5 The Musical at The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street in Sacramento. Shows at 8PM, 2PM, and 7:30PM depending on date. Tickets are $18.00 - $70.00. A Grand Night For Singing at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Friday, March 18th - Saturday, March 19th: Sacramento Ballet In-Studio Celtic Experience at 1631

The bright lights of Lipstick night will come to an end Tuesday as the Midtown bar Old Ironsides hosts their “We Turned It Up to 11” anniversary party in hopes of going out with a bang. Since 2000, Lipstick has been a staple event for Sacramento, especially in Midtown. The event was started by DJ Shaun Slaughter who has now decided to end it. “I think they want to end it on a high note,” said the Old Ironsides manager and bartender who only goes by Gonzo. Lipstick started when Slaughter approached Old Ironsides with the idea, according to Gonzo, and he was joined later by Roger Carpio and other guests over the years, Gonzo said. Though Gonzo didn't notice anything really evolve or chan

Old Ironsides is playing host to San Francisco’s Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers Saturday night. If you haven’t seen Nicki Bluhm perform before, you really should. Here’s your chance. If you have seen Nicki Bluhm perform before, well, then, I don’t have to tell you. I’ll see you guys Saturday. Mrs. Bluhm has been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and pretty much every other great leading lady of rock ’n’ roll. She is reminiscent off all of them at times, while retaining a voice all her own — comforting, smoky, velvety, textured, whiskey-tinged, beautiful. The Gramblers most recent album, “Driftwood,” features members of The Mother Hips (including her hu

Snow in Sacto? They tell us it’s coming – but perhaps an equally rare occurrence is the kind of weekends we’ve been having in this town over the last couple of months. You’ll never catch me on the bag-on-our-local-concert-scene bandwagon, but I’d be lying if I said that weekends like these happen all the time in this town, with the Stone Foxes ripping the roof off over at Old Ironsides and ALO thumping a sold-out Harlow’s crowd in the face, both on Saturday night. That’s at least two sold out nights at Harlow’s in the last month. Well done, Sactown! Let’s keep 2011 big and weird! Greensky Bluegrass with Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players – The street cred meter and hipster thermom

Neil Young wins Best Rock Song. The Avett Brothers share the stage with Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan. Wow, these were not the Grammys we know and hate! I’ll be the first to admit to being the type of music writer that has to look a few things up when the usually loathsome Grammy nods are announced – and I’m OK with that, especially with Sammies season coming up Boy, if we could actually get a few of these names below a golden gramophone sometime soon, now we’re talking! The Stone Foxes – The Stone Foxes did not kill Robert Johnson, and contrary to some misguided opinions, they are not flashing any irreverence towards the blues by saying that. The irony of the title of the folkloric “I K

Sac Press Reporter #1: “Coachella is overrated” Sac Press Reporter #2: “Never having been, I cannot speak intelligently to that contention, but definitely doesn't stir my fancy.” Sac Press Reporter #1: “Since when has that stopped you?” Touche! Drool seems to be filling the gutters from Sacramento all the way down to SoCal over the unveiling of the Coachella lineup, which features the usual diet of indie rock, electro tweak jocks, and a couple jam bands just for fun. And for some reason, Kanye West is a main headliner. Do you like fishsticks? Not that we specifically care about the Coachella lineup here at Sac Press – but the impact on our local calendar from some bands who may throw

Saturday Night’s temperature during Second Saturday kept many art lovers at home. The first Second Saturday of 2011 was sparsely attended. The cold weather which was in the upper 30s or low 40s seemed to have kept many people in the warmth of their homes. Truth be told the cold weather curtailed the number of galleries I attended. On 20th and J Streets a candle lit vigil included some singing that brought a crowd of people to that site. The singers seemed to have disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. The group was singing “This Little Light of Mine” (among other songs) although some of the lyrics were changed to fit the location and situation. The usual crowd that gathers at this s

As my good friends in Dr. Dog would say, “Where’d All the Time Go?” Like most concert junkies out there, it’s easy to look back on 2010 and think about the concerts that I should have gone to but didn’t, for whatever reason popped up that kept me on the couch with my blankie and watching “Friends” reruns. Tight budget? Hangover? General lameness? They all showed up at one point or another. But New Year’s is always a time for reflection on the year past, for looking ahead at what’s to come, and making stupid “go to the gym more” promises that will fizzle out in a cloud of whiskey and Häagen-Dazs by mid-January. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at some of the best concerts of 201