Tag: Music

The Great Sacramento Santa Hunt of 2008

I remember fondly going out to an annual breakfast with my dad, The Game Guy, Sr., one special Saturday in December for pancakes and then to a little mall full of non-chain stores to visit Santa Claus- who was the embodiment of ol’ St. Nick if I ever knew one.  One of the benefits of being at such a mall was the total lack of crowds which allowed our Kris Kingle to be take his time and actually engage in a conversation with me.  After I got done visiting with Santa, my dad and I would then go Christmas shopping for my mom (it wasn’t until many years later that I realized the Saturday alone was probably the greatest gift my Dad and I could have given her).

By the time my sister came along, we kept up this tradition for at least 10 years.  And for 10 years, the same Santa Claus.  No foolin’- it was the same guy every year, and after a few years, he started to remember my dad (something about the Scotch my dad would bring for him probably was the trigger).

So as I looking towards my first Christmas as a dad, I can’t wait to start this tradition with my own son, Game Boy.  Naturally this begs the question: where, dear readers, is the best place in Sacramento for a pancake breakfast (please don’t say Pancake Circus) and an awesome Santa? My first thought was to search out non-chain-based malls to capture the Santa experience of my youth, but then quickly realized that meant Florin Mall which instantly terrified me.  So, any other suggestions?

Sacramento Trivia Alert!

When we’re not asking the tough questions and searching for the right answers, we enjoy us some Sacramento trivia. With all the tension surrounding the state of the world right now, we were thrilled to hear from “Anna in Sacramento” today.

Anna writes (in my best Casey Kasem voice)…

Dear Sac Rag,

“Okay, we’re having a fit of nostalgia here in the office/random memory (very random!). Can anyone name/remember the bands that played at KWOD’s 1998 Summer Concert at Arco Arena (also known as the show that Green Day canceled because their drummer got bonked on the head by one of the guys from Third Eye Blind)?”

There’s not a ton of information on the InterWeb, so what say all you thirtysomethingers out there?

Beethoven’s 9th at Cathedral tomorrow


Academy Scholar Julie Anne Miller

The Academy at All Hallows, the resident symphony orchestra of All Hallows Catholic Parish, will present Beethoven’s 9th Symphony tomorrow night at 8pm at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

More than 150 musicians and vocalists will perform together when the Academy Orchestra and Chorus join with Nevada County’s Music in the Mountains Chorus to mount this inspirational monument of western art and music. Beethoven, long deaf at the time of composition, rocked the musical world of 1824 Europe with this work of unprecedented scope and vision. The finale, with its setting of Schiller’s “Ode to Joy,” has become one of the most socially important musical works of all time, and is often performed to mark historically significant times–most notably the performance led by Leonard Bernstein to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Continue reading “Beethoven’s 9th at Cathedral tomorrow”

NorCal Noise Fest XII

Fetch your earplugs, Sacramento, it is Noise Fest time again!

The only way to describe Noise Fest as a whole is to call it f-ing loud, although many acts are experimental, avant-garde, industrial, electronic, and/or hardcore. Hell, some of it can barely be called “music” in the literal sense and is more accurately tagged as “aural art”. My dog is PISSED that I have been listening to a sampling of this year’s artists. If you like music that pisses off dogs, this is your weekend to stay in town.

Forty acts from the West Coast and beyond will perform for three days at Luna’s Cafe and The Space Theater. A pass for the whole shebang is only $25, which is a deafening bargain for the amount of entertainment you’ll get. Check the web site for a complete schedule and links to most of the bands.

Mates of State announce show at Harlow’s

According to fft (*MLNSFW picture), Mates of State will play Harlow’s on October 6. Mrs Cool and I have seen some great Mates of State shows in our day (Old I, Capitol Garage…those were the days!), so I recommend highly. Between the Mates, the Shins and Electro Group, I was pretty much Omnibus records #1 fanboy from 1999-2001 or so. Mates of State have really turned into that label’s most successful alums; you’ve heard them somewhere on a cell phone commercial or something. Some tunes from the new album “Re-Arrange Us” are available on Mates of State’s website.

This show is not listed on Harlow’s calendar yet but 10/6 would fall between the band’s show in Portland and a show at the Fillmore in SF the next night 🙂

* Might Look NSFW (but everybody is covered).

Great show at Harlow’s

I saw one heckuva great band last night at Harlow’s. The funny thing is, this band has been together for slightly more than 30 years, yet they outrock bands half their age.

I speak, of course, of X, one of the best bands to come out of the LA punk scene, back in 1977. However, X is about far more than punk rock, although that is certainly integral to who they are. But they also bring in many other influences to their sound, such as country, rockabilly, old time rock n’ roll (a la Chuck Berry), even hints of jazz and funk. And there’s no denying that singers Exene Cervenka and John Doe are two of the most talented lyricists ever in the rock world. Continue reading “Great show at Harlow’s”

Gallus Brothers-Tonight in Davis

If you like ragtime guitar and turn-of-the-last-century tunes (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) check out the Gallus Brothers tonight at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen in Davis.

Cover charge is only $3, and for your three bones you’ll get a toe-tapping night of music and revelry (and maybe a free kazoo).

Gallus Brothers, 10:00pm
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen

Best Band in Sacto?

I went to the Chalk It Up festival on Saturday to meet up with an old friend and to enjoy the nice weather and chalk art. But I also was going to check out some of the bands that were playing. 

That’s a change from this festival in the past. Before, the music was kinda hippy-dippy, singer-songwritery, lightweight poppy stuff. I have nothing against that kind of music, but it just don’t float my boat.

Continue reading “Best Band in Sacto?”

The Ancient Sons CD release party tonight at Old Ironsides

the ancient sonsThe release party for the Sammies winners The Ancient Sons’ debut album “The Dark Gospel” is tonight at Old Ironsides. Also on the bill are Pets, Them Hills, and Phantom Floats. That’s a pretty solid lineup, at least judging by the songs I have listened to. I don’t go out much. Read on to download a solid track from “The Dark Gospel”…

Continue reading “The Ancient Sons CD release party tonight at Old Ironsides”