Beastie Boys replaced at Outside Lands replaced by … Tenacious D

Tenacious D
Tenacious D

I didn’t know there still was a Tenacious D! But apparently they will be replacing the Beastie Boys in the Outside Lands festival as the headline act on the last day.

The festival is August 28-30 and features, IMHO, a less-good lineup than last year. But that may just be me. Incubus? Tom Jones? Jason freakin Mraz?

“The Adventures Of The Ganglians And Pete”

Heckasac has a video of Sacramento psych/noise pop band Ganglians playing their song “Hair” on the immortal show “The Adventures of Pete & Pete.” That’s not exactly what’s happening — the video is a mashup of the Ganglians song dubbed over the original track by members of the band Polaris, who did most of the music for the show. (But if you have never seen the members of the band Ganglians, like me, it would have taken you 20 minutes, like me, to figure out what was going on. Good thing I was Ace Blogger on this one and not my usual Post Now Google Shit Later Hack.)

However, the Ganglians song could be from 1994 — it has a sort of California garage mid-90s vibe. It reminds me of Further, an LA band from that era. The Ganglians tune is probably not for everybody, but I dig it a lot.

Beckler claims to be “too old to have watched Pete and Pete” but you’re never too old to enjoy that show. I don’t think I’m younger than Ms. Heckasac, but also I don’t actually think of “Pete and Pete” as something of my past. It seems like one of those things that you’ve either never heard of, or you love it so much you don’t go a week without thinking about it. Right? Right? Anyone?

Your Sacramento Jazz Festival (Jubilee) Guide for 2009

Bill Dendle/Eddie Erickson
Bill Dendle/Eddie Erickson

It’s that time of year again: Memorial Day weekend. It’s a weekend of jazz, good weather, and a civic event that is older than time itself (or at least older than anyone in their mid-thirties) the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

The big news this year for Jubilee fans is the renaming of the festival to the generic and absolutely non-descript name of “Sacramento Jazz Festival.” Despite the name change, it’s still a great event, maybe a little smaller this year, and maybe a little lacking in international or New Orleans talent, but still a blast. This year’s emperor is one of the best trombone players of the last 50 years, Bob Havens. A vet of the Lawrence Welk band, Havens could always swing the hell out of songs that should have been undeniably square. Check out this video for proof. For those of you who have never been to Jubilee before, I highly suggest you read last year’s Jubilee Primer to get tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to avoid. It’s also filled with really good jokes. I mean, really good.

For this year, use the following suggested schedule to get the most out of the festival whether you’re going one, two or all four days. Check here for ticket prices and info. Continue reading “Your Sacramento Jazz Festival (Jubilee) Guide for 2009”

KWOD RIP (1977-2009)

Unless you are unemployed, drunk or an insomniac, by the time you are reading this, 106.5 KWOD is gone. As of 9AM on Friday 5/22/09, the commercial home to alternative music in the Sacramento Valley since 1991 is off the air. Be careful not to step in the pools of black mascara left by mourning fans of the holy trinity of mope rock (Morrissey, The Cure and Depeche Mode).

The irony is, according to rumor, it will be replaced by a station called The BUZZ, which will specialize in 90’s rock and alternative music. That’s right. KWOD may very well be replaced by a station that will be using KWOD’s exact format, but from 15 years ago.

Continue reading “KWOD RIP (1977-2009)”

Great Jazz Weekend in Sacramento

Bobby Hutcherson
Bobby Hutcherson

TONIGHT! 9PM, Shady Lady Saloon: The debut of the Free Badge Serenaders, Sacramento’s only and best novelty banjo/washboard duo. Come on by and tap your feet, clap your hands, and generally shake your money maker. 14th and R streets. Free entrance if appropriately attired in saloon prohibition regalia.

SUNDAY- 5PM, Red Lion’s JB’s Lounge: Shelly Burns, with Bill Dendle and Sacramento’s nicest man Shelley Denny. If you haven’t checked out the new lounge at the Red Lion, it’s really something special — great sound system, beautiful bar, neat vibe — a great place to listen to jazz. Come hear some of the best interpretations of American classics and kick off your Jubilee week right. Red Lion Inn, Arden Blvd and Business 80.

SUNDAY- 7PM, American River College: World renowned vibraphone player Bobby Hutcherson makes a rare Sacramento appearance. Playing with the Capital Jazz Project, Hutcherson will bring his 50 years of playing experience to bear on an exceptionally lucky audience. Tix are $20, $15 with student ID. It’d be worth it at twice the price.

!!! to play Austin City Limits festival

The just-announced lineup for this year’s Austin City Limits music festival includes former Sacramento band !!!. (I thought about ending that sentence in three exclamation points.) The font size of the band’s name on the lineup poster puts them in the same tier as Sonic Youth and The B-52s.

The festival will be held October 2-4 in the Austin of Texas.

Of all the rotten luck!

The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem.

Depending on how you look at it, either due to extreme good fortune or some severe karmic missteps in Sacramento’s past, Wednesday night held possibly the best night of live music in Sacramento’s history (for the indie pop/rock set):

  • Jenny Lewis at 6:30 PM at Empire
  • The Gaslight Anthem at 7:30 PM at the Boardwalk
  • The Hold Steady at 9:00 PM at Harlow’s

All three come highly recommended by basically anybody who has heard them. If it wasn’t for the Boardwalk being way out in Karma-knows-where, I suppose an enterprising hipster could have made all three performances (and then commit ritual suicide, obviously) but I think they probably had to settle for Ms Lewis and The Hold Steady and paying lots in cover charges.

Continue reading “Of all the rotten luck!”

Update on Chi Cheng’s condition

Chi Cheng, bass player for Sacramento’s Deftones, remains hospitalized since a traffic accident left him in a coma early last November.

In her most comprehensive statement since the accident occurred, Cheng’s mother updates us on her son’s condition and their fight to pay for his care. If you would like to help, visit http://www.oneloveforchi.com/. Deftones also report that they are beginning to book shows with Sergio Vega on bass. Fans may remember when Sergio briefly filled in for Chi in 1999.

I have included her entire note after the page jump, and please remember to keep Chi and his family in your prayers.

Continue reading “Update on Chi Cheng’s condition”

Did Someone Say BANJO-RAMA?

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!  At the Carmichael Elks Lodge, come and see your favorite dixieland banjo players strum it up.  According to the website, the event runs from 11:40am to 5:30pm (banjo players are very specific with timeliness). 

If you’ve never attended a Banjo-Rama before, then you owe it to yourself to probably not come to this one.  Honestly, this is the 42nd annual Banjo-Rama, and if you haven’t come out for one of the 41 previous events, you’re not coming this year.  I know that: you know that: let’s stop pretending that you care about my banjo obsession. 

There, I’ve said my piece.  You can all go about your business.

Can’t wait to go back? Check out The Constants

LockeIf you’re eagerly awaiting the return of “Lost” on ABC next week, make sure to check out Sacramento’s premiere “Lost”-themed band The Constants. Their MySpace page boasts three songs and a video, and I suppose there must have been a long band meeting about whether or not to cover “You All Everybody,” and though I would love to hear it, I guess I probably would have also decided not to do it.

Sounds like: “We can’t really say that practicing is our… primary objective”

In the off chance that you have recently emerged from a time capsule and are currently burning through the “Lost” DVDs, the song “Who Will Go” will reveal lots of characters who die.

(Found this via Heckasac, of course)