The Sacramento Electronic Music Festival (SEMF) 2011 held at the Townhouse Lounge on 21st Street had its third day of local, regional and international talent showcased on Saturday night. I showed up a little early and was greeted by Adam Saake organizer of the event. Adam, Clay Nutting and Tais Arises did an extraordinary job of putting on this 3 day event. (Adam Saake said let there be SEMF) Both floors of the Townhouse were used for SEMF. Each floor had DJ and lighting stations and a bar was fully equipped on both floors as well. Tais Arises was on hand as well announcing acts and getting the crowd into the show. I attended the show on Saturday and heard good things about the Thursd

Day 2 of the second annual Sacramento Electronic Music Festival continued at the Townhouse Lounge on Friday, featuring performances by Little Foxes, Boss Magic, Melee Beats and FAVORS, among others. The three-night festival showcases local and international electronic-centric artists, and the SEMF vision is "to continue to foster a supportive music community while attracting world-class talent to Sacramento, not just at the annual festival, but throughout the year." Friday night Roger Carpio and Shaun Slaughter were among the DJs who held court nonstop on the first floor with a wide range of music (New Order, The xx, Crystal Castles) and kept the sexy people of Townhouse sweaty all night

Electronic music artists from all over the globe will fill the Townhouse Lounge for three nights this weekend. In its second year, the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival (SEMF) will host 28 live acts, with bands playing simultaneously on two floors. Doors open for the Festival at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Each artist will bring something different, said Adam Saake, the festival’s organizer. Some will incorporate synthesizers, visual projectors and laptop programs, but all of the performers will still fit under the umbrella of the electronic music scene. Saake said his motivation for starting SEMF was to give something back to Sacramento. Being a supporter of musi

If you cruise on over to Daedelus’ website and check out his list of upcoming shows, the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival is not listed. No cause for panic - he will indeed be there. Plus, the absence of events like an SEMF in the world of “formal” event lists is actually pretty common. What is worth taking notice of is the events that are listed. A trio of gigs in New York and Washington D.C. alongside Lotus, followed by a buffet of shindigs across the pond at various clubs and festivals. Oh yeah, there’s one other gig on the Daedelus page that isn’t listed – it’s some little gathering down in the desert we keep hearing about? While he would have to be considered the most widely k

Two years after winning a Sammie award, fans of The New Humans were wondering when they’d get to hear a full record. After various production hurdles, on August 21st The New Humans will release what fans have been asking for: a surprising and entertaining EP entitled Avalanche. Much of the eight track record is filled with the same heart-pounding synthesizer-driven electro pop that we have come to expect out of The New Humans. Tracks like “All the Kids” and “Tremors” seem like parts of the same explosive song and together they open the EP with a bang.   “Fever,” their first single (now available on iTunes), is still their signature track. This big band-inspired and well-composed dance hit

 Sacramento band The New Humans celebrated the release of its debut EP, “Avalanche,” with a high-energy show at Townhouse on Saturday. “Avalanche” comes out later than expected, after the band experienced a futile lead singer search (synth man Scott Simpson eventually took on vocal duties) and scrapped six months’ worth of recording, but these past hurdles were not apparent at the show. After a quick warmup set by Favors downstairs and a rare performance by Dusty Brown side project Little Foxes upstairs, Simpson wasted no time going crazy onstage and setting the tone for the rest of the night. The New Humans also includes Robbie LaCasse (bass), Mike Steez (drums) and Cole Cuchna (keys).

Blast from the Past: On Friday night, local promoter Jerry Perry unveils his footage from Nirvana playing the Cattle Club 20 years ago with a free screening, here is the lowdown. The Future is Coming On: Has anyone else noticed how many concerts are locked and loaded for the next couple of months? Atmosphere, Dave Matthews, JJ Grey, Devil Makes Three, Trombone Shorty - whoa nellie, we’re going to be busy here at the Rundown in September. Stay tuned… Here and Now: A little bluegrass, a dance party, and a sultry and slightly crazy songstresses for your weekend. Here’s what’s on deck: Hot Buttered Rum – Drums in a bluegrass band? Depending on who you talk to, it can either be a welcome add

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) has released the 2010 schedule for the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. The free, outdoor concert series will rock Cesar Chavez Plaza (10th and J streets) every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting May 7 though August 13. For the latest concert news, visit www.downtownsac.org/concerts. 2010 CONCERT SCHEDULE* May 7 - Kepi Ghoulie The Kelps, Dog Party, Simpl3jack May 14 - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Low Down Dirty Dogs May 21 - Dance Gavin Dance Phallucy, Con of Man, Desario May 28 - Mike Farrell Aaron King & The Imperials, One Eyed Rhyno June 4 - Method Echo The Nibblers, Live Manikin June 11 - The Nickel Slots Los Blazing Hangovers

From its first note to its last song, The New Humans rocked the Sacramento State campus earlier today. The New Humans, a Sacramento-based four-piece band that describes its sound as "electro piano rock," played a 40-minute set in the University Union for approximately 150 students. It was part of Sacramento State's weekly "Wednesday Nooner" free concert series, presented by UNIQUE. The band opened with an intro that quickly set the tone for the show: Drums, synth and loops swelled until the band launched into its first song, a dance-worthy tune that featured heavy drums and piano hooks. The rest of the set was filled with energetic songs that showcased The New Humans' ability to mix so

Beats, beards and booze filled the Townhouse Lounge Saturday as the Sacramento Electronica Music Festival wrapped up its third and final night. The Sacramento Electronica Music Festival ran Thursday, Jan. 28 to Saturday, Jan. 30 offering a chance to check out Sacramento's vibrant electronica scene as well as experience something unique. Adam Saake, the event's organizer, said the event was born out of a desire to bring Sacramento's electronica musicians together. Saake knew many of the electronica artists in the area, but none of them ever played together. "The dots weren't connected, and there was never any electronica bill," Saake said. "We could do a really dope electronica festival.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch New Helvetia Theatre By Tony Sheppard Capitol Weekly This column normally focuses on film, but occasionally something else comes along that warrants attention. “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” the first full production of the New Helvetia Theatre, is one of those. Familiar to many from the film adaptation or prior stage productions, “Hedwig” tells the story of a transgendered East German who undergoes a botched sex change operation in a bid to emigrate to America. That brief description alone makes it clear that it’s not material that would appeal to all audiences, and it’s certainly not a show for most kids. But this is a phenomenal production of a heartfelt and in