Tonight at 5:00pm on Public Access Channel 17’s live public affairs show LiveWire! catch 2008 SAMMIES pop nominee The Ancient Sons. What you’ll like about The Ancient Sons is their melancholy Syd Barrett sound — this is not your typical ’60s throwback band. Expect a review of the Son’s debut album “The Dark Gospel” on this site soon…

• The Ancient Sons on myspace

Thursday at Blue Lamp enjoy SAMMIES nominees The Evening Episode, Red Host and Them Hills. The Evening Episode is nominated in the “Indie” category, while the other two are in the more descriptive Rock category. Them Hills, with former members of Pocket for Corduroy, have a tight and sincere sound with swirling guitars. For The Evening Episode, the immediate comparison that comes to mind is Portishead–for a local angle I’d say Park Avenue. Red Host tells us they play “black metal,” and it is decidedly dark but it is more rock than metal. Who knew Sacramento pop-rock was so damned dark!?

• Them Hills on myspace - Buy “Greener Grassing” on CD Baby
• The Evening Episode website
• Red Host on myspace

SAMMIES Showcase
July 3rd, 8:00 p.m.
$5 (cheap!)
Blue Lamp
1400 Alhambra Blvd

You can still vote for the SAMMIES on SN&R’s website; the awards ceremony is July 17 at the Crest.