Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "parie wood"

Four generations of women to perform at Fairytale Town

2012-08-30T01:10:23Z

On Wednesday, Sept. 5, Fairytale Town will open its gates at 5:30 p.m. for a late summer evening concert by four local female musicians who represent not only the talent found in our area, but four generations of that talent.

Parie Wood, Autumn Sky, Larisa Bryski and Valerie V will perform on the Mother Goose stage, and attendees are invited to bring chairs and blankets. The all-ages concert begins at 6 p.m.

The idea for this concert began last year with Marty DeAnda of Dig Music LLC when he presented three generations of local male performers. Because of the event’s success, DeAnda “immediately began working on a female version,” and said that he’d like to make the event semi-annual with a goal of seven generations for the next event, mixing male and female performers.

“We want to show people how deep and long lived our talent pool is in Sacramento,” added DeAnda.

The talent of these four women, attendees will discover, covers a spectrum of musical styles, including Valerie V and her jazz influence and Autumn Sky’s indie-folk style.

Parie Wood and Larisa Bryski, who have worked as student and teacher for three years, shared their thoughts on their work and the upcoming concert.

Wood said, “I think the idea of combining four generations of music is genius because we all come from unique backgrounds, and from those backgrounds we get unique perspectives that affect us greatly as people, and then of course as musicians. I'm honored to represent the youngest generation of music.”

About performing with her vocal coach, Wood said “It’s a full-circle thing.”

Wood recently released her first EP, and she spoke briefly about that experience, which included utilizing Kickstarter.

“Releasing an album is something I've wanted to do since I was 10 years old, and it's been such a learning experience for me. It's made up of a compilation of songs I've written since I was 12. Getting it recorded, produced and released was a very grass-roots thing which I find really fitting for my first album.”

DeAnda, the show’s organizer, offered much guidance to Wood for this project, which included raising funds through a grass-roots effort using crowd-source funding. Kickstarter helps creative people fund creative projects, and Wood’s campaign raised $3,700 dollars.

“A thousand of which came from a grant from my school, The Met Sacramento. So I've received a lot of help and am totally thankful and humbled,” Wood said.

Although she’s never performed with the others, she has seen Autumn Sky and Larisa Bryski perform.

Bryski spoke about the concert, Marty DeAnda and her music.

“The multi-generational aspect of this particular show really makes it feel more about celebrating the legacy of female singer/songwriters in Sacramento. Marty at DIG Music cares deeply about the artists that he works with, and really appreciates the passion we put into creating our art. I think this show will allow us to convey that passion in a simple, honest way. I'm really honored to be a part of it!”

About Wood, Bryski said, “I am hoping to get Parie Wood on stage with me during my set. I've always wanted to duet with her.”

Although she’s never heard Autumn Sky or Valerie V, Bryski is looking forward to hearing both women perform.

Also regarding Wood, Bryski said, “As for Parie, I can't say enough good things. She's a former protege of mine, although that's probably not fair to say, because her talent and wisdom at only 16 years old surpasses anything that I could possibly teach her. She's a good friend and a beautiful young artist.”

About her own music and influences, she said “I'm a classically trained vocal coach and mommy to a three-year-old daughter by day, and a rock and roll musician by night. My music stems from my childhood, listening to the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin. I love what I do and am proud to say I've been making music with my band in the Central Valley for over a decade. And, I'll never stop.”

Both Wood and Bryski offered their thoughts on the diverse group of musicians.

“The four of us are different stylistically, sure. But I think our love of music is universal,” Wood said.

Bryski added, “I do think that our styles, although very different, will complement each other at this show. I believe that each of us represents a certain cross section of the music culture in Sacramento. So, there will be a little something for everyone.”

Everyone includes adults and children, as Kathy Fleming, Fairytale Town’s executive director, is quick to point out.

“Fairytale Town is a great venue, especially for concerts,” Fleming said.

During regular hours, adults without accompanying children are not permitted in Fairytale Town, but concerts like Wednesday’s give all adults the opportunity to “experience Fairytale Town and an event that is meaningful to them.”

About children, Fleming continued, “it is important that children be introduced to music at an early age.”

Fleming spoke of the many programs offered at Fairytale Town and the importance of play, pointing to the fast pace of today’s society allowing for “less time for children to do free, imaginative play.”

Fairytale Town “provides a safe place to do that, and when we add events like this concert, it’s a win-win for the adults, too.”

Gates open at 5:30 for this ticketed event, and the music begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are a bargain at $10. Membership at Fairytale Town means two for one admission. Children 12 and under are free. This family-friendly event is sure to please fans of local music and open musical windows for the next generation.

Summer Concerts at Fairytale Town

2012-07-10T22:05:06Z

Sacramento favorites and up-and-coming musicians will rock Fairytale Town’s Mother Goose Stage this summer.

Mumbo Gumbo brings their signature danceable sound—a mixture spanning rock to soul, afropop to lush balladry and zydeco to country—to Fairytale Town for a live performance on Wednesday, Jul. 11. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and go on sale in June. Members receive 2-for-1 admission, and children 12 and under are free. Blankets and chairs are welcome, food and drink will be available for purchase.

Jackie Greene returns to Fairytale Town for a fourth annual benefit concert on Saturday, Aug. 18. The outdoor concert supports Fairytale Town’s education programs and park improvements. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 if purchased in July and $35 in August. For concert rules and restrictions, please visit fairytaletown.org. This concert is sponsored in part by Otto Construction, Berryessa Gap Winery and Sudwerk Brewery.

Four generations of local female artists take to the Mother Goose Stage for “Voices: Where the Girls Are,” an exciting and unique evening concert on Wednesday, Sep. 5. Performers include 16-year-old up-and-comer Parie Wood, indie darling Autumn Sky, rock vocalist Larisa Bryski and jazz vocalist Valerie V. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Event tickets are $10 per person. Members receive 2-for-1 admission, and children 12 and under are free. Tickets go on sale in August. Blankets and chairs are welcome. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.fairytaletown.org or call (916) 808-7462. Concerts are sponsored in part by Capital Public Radio.

Fairytale Town is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit children’s park and educational center in Land Park whose mission is to promote the imagination, creativity and education of children. Established in 1959, Fairytale Town is home to more than 25 three-dimensional play sets based on favorite fairytales and nursery rhymes, a family of rare and miniature breed animals, interactive learning gardens and two performing arts stages. From March through October, the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. From November through February, the park is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards is the Marketing Manager for Fairytale Town, a magical children's park in the Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento. Her favorite play set is the Crooked Mile.

Urban youth lounge Vibe opens Oct. 8

2011-10-06T06:57:13Z

After several years of planning, Vibe, the new urban youth lounge, will host a party at 5 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate its grand opening. Located at 1725 K St., the center will provide a place for teens to do their homework, socialize and be safe, said Catherine Pentoney, spokeswoman and former chair of Vibe’s Board of Directors.

Since 2007, the Vibe Foundation has been raising money to open its youth lounge. The nonprofit organization was founded by Julian Nagler and David Schenirer.

“Vibe was a concept that came out of a need in Sacramento for the youth to have productive things to do,” said Nagler, one of Vibe’s co-founders.

Nagler said he believes places like the Boys and Girls Club of America didn’t have the ability to attract modern teenagers.

“There needed to be something else in Sacramento that had a more inviting social atmosphere,” he said.

Nagler said that he and Schenirer came up with the idea for Vibe after the Sacramento Youth Commission identified “a significant lack of safe and relevant places for Sacramento teens to socialize, connect to community resources and seek … employment.” They then surveyed teenagers across the city, asking them what they would like to see an after-school hangout look like. Before long, the idea of Vibe began to solidify.

One of the main ideas behind the center is that teenagers should play an active role in administrative decisions. Two boards, a youth board and an adult board, are in charge, but the youth board has the final say on most matters.

Many prominent people are on the board, such as City Councilmembers Angelique Ashby and Steve Cohn, Steve Briggs, the marketing manager at The Sacramento Bee, and several students from local high schools.

The party on opening night will feature performances by a wide variety of local teen musicians. Pentoney says that many genres, from hip-hop to indie acoustic, will be represented. Some of the acts include the 2011 Jammies 3rd place winner Parie Wood and the spoken-word group Sacramento Area Youth Speaks.

During some of the musical sets, performance art will take place as well. Pentoney said that Matt Bird, a local visual artist, will be doing an art piece on a blank wall while the musicians play.

The party is free and open to the public. Food will be sold, including coffee donated by Starbucks and baked goods made by Vibe’s teenage volunteers. Pentoney said that the money raised will go to help fund the lounge and its activities.

“We want people to come out and participate,” she added.

At the party, teenagers will be able to sign up for a Vibe membership, which Pentoney said will be structured similarly to a gym. Any student enrolled in high school is eligible for a membership.

The cost of a membership has not yet been set, but Pentoney said that it will be around $10 per month. Members will be allowed one guest to encourage more people to sign up. She added that scholarships will be available to low-income teenagers who are willing to work on site at Vibe.

Membership will allow teens to come after school and take advantage of the center’s amenities, such as laptops and tables, to do homework and hang out with friends, said Pentoney. They will also host regular events.

“(There will be) everything from rap battles to video game contests to poetry readings,” she added.

She said that to decide what events will be held at Vibe, surveys will be done routinely at local high schools to get a feel for what would be popular.

“We try to make all of our events reflective of what the youth in Sacramento want,” Pentony said.

Pentoney said that she believes Vibe will have a positive impact on high schoolers growing up in Sacramento. “The way I look at (Vibe) is that it’s a place for people to teach and inspire each other and to do things that they otherwise couldn’t,” she said.

Art Happens 2011

2011-06-07T19:22:59Z

The 2011 Art Happens, hosted by the Sacramento Artists Council, took place June 4 in Midtown. The venue was held inside the Sacramento Art Complex on 2110 K Street.

This was a benefit event to support art in Sacramento. Sutter Middle School and Nevada Union High School students exhibited works of art by their students. Artwork created by the students also helped their school art programs as ~~one~~ 100 percent of sales was given to the respective school’s art program.

The event was sponsored by Sacramento News and Review, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Press and others. A day full of art, music, food, wine tasting and great music contributed to the festivities.

The Sacramento Art Complex was full of guests and they were able to partake in activities at the main gallery where artwork by Nevada Union High School students was exhibited and available for purchase. A stage for performers was also set up here as was a prize table for raffle winners to select prizes. A merchandise table was also set up for musical guests to sell their CDs and other items. The Sacramento Press had also set up a prize wheel and give-away area and provided streamed live media coverage of stage performances.

The back patio had activities for kids and face painting by Christine Conklin and friends. Artwork by Kristen Hoard was being shown and sold. Coconut Al’s Catering cooked some delicious food in the back patio as well. Out in the sculptural Garden, Steve Cook’s artwork was available for viewing and purchase.

Susan Rabinovitz, at one point took the microphone to say, “Once again thank you so much for supporting Art Happens and the students and local artists. Thank you also for watching all of the great bands that have been playing and really hanging out with us today. It’s been awesome.” she then announced some winners from the raffle. In between acts she came up and announced raffle winners who were then able to pick a prize from a table that held all the prizes and winners had to be present.

The event is set up to raise money for art related scholarships and grants. Art Happens assists artists and musicians to exhibit and sell their product. Sponsor support creates most of the generated funds that go toward grants, scholarships and school artwork exhibits.

The event began at 11 in the morning and Julianna Zachariou, a 2010 Jammies winner and a Sacramento Artists Council scholarship 2010 winner, was scheduled to perform. When I arrived at the gallery Parie Wood, 2011 Jammies 3rd place and Judge’s Award Winner as well as Adam Lewis had already performed. I arrived when Alyssa Cox and the Flatland band were already on stage.

When I first arrived Alyssa Cox and her group had already started their set. I walked in and heard the sweet vocals and melody of “Less Than Comforting”. This was the first time I’ve heard them play and their melody was quite captivating.

I walked around the main gallery and looked at the art hanging on the walls created by Nevada Union High School students.

I met with Mark Rabinovitz, Vice President, Sacramento Artists Council and he filled me in on the art being exhibited. The Nevada Union High School of Grass Valley artwork was in exhibit at the Main Gallery and the Sutter Middle School gallery was set up towards the back.

Sutter Middle School’s art instructor Miss O’Neill said the art on exhibit was from the 7th and 8th grade classes and art club. “I’m their art teacher Miss O’Neill, the assignment was that it had to be something colorful, anything they chose had to have a rough draft and for their second coat they had to use all mix colors. They couldn’t use anything straight out of the bottle. That was the only criteria.” she said when asked to say something about their art.

Her enthusiasm was great to witness and her passion for the arts came through as she discussed her student’s work.

O’Neill is the only art teacher at Sutter Middle School. As friends and family members came to see the artwork she was able to direct them straight to where that particular student’s art was. All had a number to help identify each art piece and she seemed to know where each piece of art was situated.

In the back patio Coconut Al’s Catering was serving some delicious dishes. I tried their Pinchos which was skewered chicken with a very tasty Caribbean pineapple sauce. This catering service is available for private parties, corporate events, cocktail receptions and festivals. For more information on their services you can contact Coconut Al’s at 916-549-9517.

Other Coconut Al’s recipes offered were Steakbites, Chilean Empanadas, Spinach and Queso Blanco Empanadas, Tomato/cucumber/cilantro salads, Dan’s Potato Salads, Arroz con Pollo and guava based ribs along with other delicious dishes.

Alex Perez can provide further information on the items mentioned as well as other available dishes. Perez said they had been in business for about a year and a half and concentrate primarily on Latin cuisine. He lived in Puerto Rico for a while and had the chance to taste many of their best dishes. He’s also been to the Dominican Republic, Chile, Peru and was able to draw from dishes he’s been able to enjoy.

The food I tasted was delicious with spices that were quite tasty and not very spicy. Alex indicated that he’s been busy doing some graduation parties and other functions that have kept him busy.

The covered back patio was also used for children’s activities. Music from the front gallery was heard back there as well. As I returned to the front Alyssa Cox and the Flatland Band were finishing up their set.

Alyssa is a singer and songwriter whose vocals are quite pleasing. Her original songs and melodies are well accompanied by her backup vocals and band. I only caught a couple of their songs and wished I had gotten there earlier to catch more of their performance.

As I walked through the gallery I met resident artist Gary Garley who introduced me to Steve Cook (another resident artist). We talked about their current and future projects and each, as always, had something in the works.

Deborah Edward, from Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office came to the stage to say a few words. Edward is involved with the "For Arts’ Sake" initiative in Sacramento and indicated that the work being done at the event was a great example of things that should be going on around Sacramento to promote the arts.

Edward noted that she’s seen the growth of art in Sacramento and was happy to be at the Art Happens event noting the fine work the Sacramento Artists Council has been doing. “What I see when I walk around here today is artists who are established and artists who are new. We all know that art in the schools are really hard to come by today. A lot of schools in the area are not providing or are cutting back on art.” she said and again complemented the Sacramento Artists Council on their work.

After her speech Edward and I talked about the event and indicated Mayor Johnson has had a very busy schedule lately but wanted to show his support and Edward was glad to be at the function. She noted Johnson had participated in the Pride parade earlier in the day. I had also attended the parade but did not get a chance to see the Mayor. The parade and Pride event took place under a cloudy and at times rainy day.

Jaxx the 2011 Jammies winner soon took the stage to start their performance. After a quick sound check they dove into “The Unknown Return”. The talented young band from El Dorado Hills then played “March of the Elephants” a Jaxx composition.

After “Waterfall” they played Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” showcasing their guitar playing skills. From time to time one of the kids’ dads would go up to help with sound and stage as Jaxx played and enjoyed putting on a great performance. “Vagabond” an original composition came next and that song worked well with each player complementing each other and is one of their smoother and softer harmonic pieces.

“Debbie’s Rejoice” another of their original songs played to a receptive audience. The song started somewhat slow and increased in tempo to end with an energetic note. Another original composition followed as they played “Prisoner 13”. Their last scheduled song was “Tongues” another song showcasing their instrumental abilities.

As they were about to leave the stage they were told they could play some more and proceeded to play “Hey Joe”. They ended their performance by playing Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”. After their last song they graciously thanked everyone for the opportunity to perform.

Susan Rabinovitz, Founder and Executive Director, Sacramento Artists Council came to the microphone and thanked Jaxx for their performance and announced other raffle winners and then introduced Fishlips.

Fishlips opened with a cover song by the Rolling Stones “Miss You”. “Crossroads” was another cover performed by Fishlips. They moved from one song to the next and in between encouraged visitors to take a look at the art and purchase something for a good cause.

I enjoyed their interpretation of Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and Should Never Be” as well as the Jimi Hendrix tune “The Wind Cries Mary”. Actually their whole repertoire was quite excellent.

After a couple of more songs that I did not recognize they played The Doors “Roadhouse Blues” and then took a break. During the break more winners were announced.

An appropriate song was performed by Fishlips after their break as they launched into Bill Withers’ “Ain't No Sunshine”. My favorite cover of the night was their rendition of ZZ Top’s “La Grange”. Fishlips ended their set with their rendition of “Feeling Alright”.

Elaine Hunter was a member of last year’s winning Jammies band (One Eyed Rhyno) and was at the event to perform. As was the case with other performers and young artists she was supported by the presence of her parents and friends.

“Hello everyone I’m so happy to be here, my real name is Elaine Hunter, my stage name is Elaine Kate but what I really want to go by is Buttons del Rio.” she said and continued “I will be accompanied by Matt Swartzendruber but I would rather refer to him as Bobo (I did not get the last name).” She renamed the band since James Hunter is in London. Elaine, Matt and her brother James make up One Eyed Rhyno.

Elaine initially went on stage alone and began her performance starting off with an excellent interpretation of “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles. She followed with Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)”.

This is the first time I’ve really been able to enjoy Elaine’s vocals and is the first time that I can remember not seeing her playing the drums. As part of One Eyed Rhyno she keeps rhythm for the band and it was such a delight seeing her perform and show her vocal range. Her personality and radiance makes the audience feel at ease and helps her voice draw the audience to her musical talent.

Elaine sang an original song she wrote “Some Day” and then followed with an interpretation of a Regina Spektor tune. Soon after she followed with a Corinne Bailey song “Like a Star” both which were very well done. Matt Swartzendruber sitting by her side on some songs switched back and forth between two guitars he had on stage.

In between songs Elaine noted she had walked around the gallery and liked the work and said her mom was an artist. Elaine went on to talk about a great painting her mom, Mary, had made of a cow. The audience enjoyed her description of the cow painting.

One of the first songs I ever heard Elaine sing was “Sea Of Love” by Phil Phillips, she still does a great interpretation of this classic and I was glad she sang it at this event. Matt accompanied Elaine for this last song and she mentioned that Matt was going off to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston after graduating from high school.

Currently there’s a “Sing Like Lady Gaga Competition” where the winner has a chance to meet Lady Gaga, have a sit-down with a representative from Lady Gaga’s record label and receive an autographed synthesizer. Elaine said she has entered the competition and if you log on to www.singlikeladygaga.com under the End Sacramento 107.9 tag you can help her win when you vote for her video. You can vote as many times as you want. Elaine then proceeded to play “Speechless” by Lady Gaga.

The final act was Musical Charis. I’ve seen them play several times and have yet to see the same line up twice. I’m not sure if I was around when they played their first song but I was able to enjoy “Changed” which can be found on their Electra City Church Bells EP.

Blake Abbey spoke to the audience about supporting local music and artists and helping by purchasing art. Abbey indicated they had played a show in San Francisco the previous night and Jessie Brune drove back after the show. She didn’t mind since it was, I believe she said, doughnut day and they stopped to get some coffee and a doughnut before coming back home.

Abbey introduced the next song “Big Ball” followed by “Eye Candy”. “Thank you guys for listening to us this next song is called “The Life” Abbey said introducing another song. Jessie called out “Buy art!” and Abbey emphasized that as well.

Musical Charis talked amongst themselves as to which song they should play next. I guess this type of interaction is what separates them from other bands that may have a set list and perform only the songs on the list. Musical Charis seems to improvise what songs they play. With revolving band members on stage I guess that can happen but at the same time this gives Musical Charis the charm that brings in new followers especially when they involve the audience to participate.

The song decided upon was a song written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore and recorded by Johnny Cash in ’63. That year it was number one on the Country Charts and number 17 on the pop charts. They introduced “Ring of Fire” saying, “This one was written by Johnny Cash’s wife, June.” There’s actually a great story behind the song, its meaning, about who wrote it and why.

Somewhere in the middle of the song someone forgot the lyrics and they stopped for a couple of seconds and continued to perform the song until they finished. They are so much fun to watch them play and interact with each other.

Musical Charis always has a couple of tambourines around so that audience members can join in the fun. They asked if anybody wanted to play and someone onstage pointed out Byron Tobin who usually plays the congas but was not around to join the band when they started. He took up a tambourine and joined his pals on stage for “Jezebel”.

“Tell Me”, another sweet harmony followed and then they took a break giving Shawn King and Bradley Abbey, two members from the Musical Charis School of Music a chance to take the stage and perform. They had played at the Hot Lunch Concert Series with Musical Charis on Thursday and seemed more confident as they performed a couple of songs.

Musical Charis took the stage one more time to finish off the musical entertainment for the day. By this time it almost seemed more like an intimate house party. “Anatomy” preceded a short improvisation of “Hey Jude”. They pointed out Adrian Bourgeois who was in the audience and invited him to come up on stage. Musical Charis ended the evening playing “Forward”. Musical Charis is scheduled to perform at Harlow’s on June 16.

Thus ended the 2011 Art Happens event with a cozy musical ending to a great day of art, food, wine, beer and musical entertainment. Community support allowed the two schools to raise $1000 to save their art programs. A successful event ending to a delightful day of community partnership.