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Death metal horde, Necrot, to play a rare Sacramento show at Café Colonial May 19

Eddie May 15, 2023 No Comments

Courtesy photo

Fans of Necrot may remember the band played at Harlow’s back in 2019 with gore merchants, Exhumed, and Sonoran death metal cretins, Gatecreeper. Now, fans of early Grave, Sinister, Blood Incantation and even Immolation will appreciate Necrot’s latest album, “Mortal,” which was dropped during the beginnings of the pandemic in August 2020. The trio’s upcoming show at Café Colonial will continue to support that release.

If live video of their semi-recent East Bay show supporting death metal legends Possessed is any indication, Sacramento is in for a real treat. Necrot is comprised of bassist/vocalist Luca Indrio (Vastum, ex-Acephalix), drummer Chad Galley (Mortuous, Vastum) and guitarist Sonny Reinhardt (Saviours, Watch Them Die, Vorlust). Unlike some death metal acts with their configuration, Necrot produces a massive wall of sound and some of the most-nauseating, extreme arrangements around.

Rounding out this heavier-than-should-be-allowed bill is Mortiferum, Deathgrave and Abhorrency. Tickets can be purchased online (while they last) for $20. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. All ages are welcome. Demons will die hard.

(SN&R)

Aftershock previews its next line-up as early tickets and spots become available for fall extravaganza

Eddie April 18, 2023 No Comments

Pantera. Photograph by Carla Harvey

Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, or DWP, Aftershock will be back to bring over 95 bands descending on Sacramento’s Discovery Park. The October event will showcase both big headliners and smaller, national acts who are warranting plenty of buzz. Last year’s installation drew a record-breaking 160,000 hard rock fans to the Capital, while also bringing some much-needed business to the Sacramento Valley.

Now in its 11^th year, this go-around’s biggest names include Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Megadeth, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Turnstile, Queens of The Stone Age, 311, Limp Bizkit, Godsmack and Incubus. And the undercard is equally impressive with Polyphia, Dethklok, Coheed And Cambria, Deafheaven, Converge, Dance Gavin Dance, Pennywise, The Cult, AFI, Babymetal, White Reaper, The Bronx, L7 and more.

One of the greatest attributes of Discovery Park is the lines of sight at each stage, meaning fans will get an impressive look at these acts. The venue has a reputation for minimal noise bleed, which so often plagues other festivals of this ilk. Its many trees and covered VIP area have also been a welcome respite from skyrocketing temperatures on some years.

AFTERSHOCK 2023 line-up:

Thursday, October 5: Avenged Sevenfold, Incubus, Turnstile, The Cult, AFI, Pennywise, Nothing But Thieves, L7, White Reaper, Senses Fail, Don Broco, The Bronx, Nothing, Nowhere., DeathByRomy, Beauty School Dropout, Bob Vylan, Holding Absence, Pinkshift, Thousand Below, Starbenders, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Static Dress and Letdown.

Friday, October 6: Tool, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Coheed and Cambria, Skillet, Bad Omens, The Hu, Deafheaven, Memphis May Fire, Converge, Fire From the Gods, Polaris, Rain City Drive, Gideon, Currents, Varials, Strange Kids, Dragged Under, Tallah, HANABIE., Widow7, and Death Valley Dreams.

Saturday, October 7: Korn, Pantera, 311, Corey Taylor, Parkway Drive, Babymetal, Polyphia, Dethklok, Avatar, Fever 333, The Amity Affliction, Sleep Token, Escape the Fate, Boston Manor, Fame on Fire, Catch Your Breath, Ten56., Reddstar, Holy Wars, ’68, Ithaca, Devil’s Cut, Traitors, Fox Lake, All Waves and As You Were.

Sunday, October 8: Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, Rancid, I Prevail, Dance Gavin Dance, Daughtry, Badflower, Billy Talent, Mayday Parade, Suicide Silence, Movements, Ayron Jones, You Me At Six, Dead Poet Society, Austin Meade, Alpha Wolf, Jehnny Beth, Redlight King, Tigercub, Call Me Karizma, Ryan Oakes, Gnome, Luna Aura and Asava.

Promotion and logistics

Avenged Sevenfold

Beyond its famed Sacramento throw-down, DWP also produces shows in other states, highlighting different genres and with equally successful turn-outs: Bourbon & Beyond (Louisville, KY), GoldenSky Country Music Festival (Sacramento), Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival (Mansfield, OH), Louder Than Life (Louisville), Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival (Columbus, OH) and Welcome To Rockville (Daytona Beach, FL) are all events it’s responsible for hosting.  

Tickets prices for Aftershock can be found for single days and 4-day packages at  www.AftershockFestival.com. There are advance payment options for only $10 down followed by monthly installments. Door times and set times will be revealed closer to show date. The Aftershock festival is held at Discovery Park located at 1600 Garden Highway. There is no on-site parking so plan ahead and buy Park & Ride passes to avoid getting towed from local shopping centers and neighboring businesses.

Tool – photo by Travis Shinn

The Cult

The Bronx

Converge

(SN&R)

Hard rock heroes Y & T return to Rocklin’s Quarry Park Amphitheatre on April 21

Eddie April 12, 2023 No Comments

Courtesy photo

Easily one of the most influential hard rock band still playing live, Y & T – formerly Yesterday & Today – is still going strong thanks to the tireless energy of its leader, Dave Meneketti.

Sadly, the other three original and highly revered members – bassist Phil Kennemore, drummer Leonard Haze, and guitarist Joey Alves – all passed away within a couple of years of each other.

Meneketti has been carrying on with replacements, including guitarist John Nymann, bassist Aaron Leigh, and drummer Mike Vanderhule. Whatever iteration of Y & T shows up, the Sacramento area is like a second home to the band. It’s regularly played at Ace of Spades in addition to many other Northern California haunts.

Although Meneketti was most prolific during the 1980s with a string of potent records – ‘Mean Streak,’ ‘Earthshaker’ and ‘Black Tiger’ among them – his voice is still a thing of wonder and has aged like fine wine.That’s evidenced in how he sings some of the band’s more challenging, early material.

Local act Red Voodoo will get the evening started. Gates open at 6 p.m. and this curfewed show ends at 10 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and top out at $125 and can be purchased at www.Rocklin421.eventbrite.com. Quarry Park Amphitheatre is located at 4000 Rocklin Road in Rocklin.

(SN&R)

After a long wait, Sting fans can see him at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland on April 12 & 13

Eddie April 6, 2023 No Comments

Courtesy photo

At this stage in Sting’s – a.k.a. Gordon Sumner’s – career, after the massive sale of his catalog and countless successful tours as a solo artist and with The Police, it would seem he could retire 1000X over. Yet now that he’s 71, his voice and musicianship still rival when he started playing 46 years ago.

Thankfully, for those who enjoy Sting’s music, this highly prolific artist with seemingly boundless energy still loves to tour. And while his schedule in the U.S. is extremely limited – these two Wheatland shows are the only others aside from a preceding 6-day residency at Caesar’s Tahoe in Las Vegas – locals can take advantage of him including the region in his 2023 itinerary.

Dubbed the ‘My Songs’ tour, Sting will be playing a 22-song set that includes some of his biggest hits, along with his own favorites and a handful of tunes from The Police. As always, he’ll be showcasing new arrangements of his older catalog to keep himself and his band on their collective toes. He’ll also be playing a couple of songs from his latest record, ‘The Bridge,’ released in November 2021. The artist claims he wrote the album “in a year of global pandemic, personal loss, separation, disruption, lockdown and extraordinary social and political turmoil.”

The all-age show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are very scarce but, as always, there’s an abundance of resale tickets at www.ticketmaster.com. The Hard Rock Live is located in Wheatland at 3317 Forty Mile Road.

(SN&R)

Cosplay will cause the full-effect at Roseville’s SacAnime from April 7 to 9

Eddie April 5, 2023 No Comments

Photograph by Aung Khant-Maung

SacAnime fans love to dress up, and when they come out in force, there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring costumes.

For those who love people-watching, any SacAnime gathering becomes a star-studded event. Recent instalments show that it’s smart to get in line early for tickets. Expect a bevy of vendors selling books, costumes, comics, media, and much more.

Special guests for Roseville’s upcoming gala include actor/voice-over personality Jessie James Grelle (‘My Hero Academia,’ ‘Attack on Titan,’ ‘Yuri on Ice’), voice actress Jamie Marchi (‘Fairy Tail,’ ‘Dragon Ball Super’), Felician Angelle (‘Dr. Stone,’ ‘Genshin Impact’), and Jad Saxton (‘Food Wars,’ ‘Fire Force’).

Attendees should keep in mind that food lines are often long, and vendors prefer cash over credit cards. Visit www.sacanime.com for full exhibitor list. Tickets to the event are available at door, with the Friday and Sunday prices being $20 and Saturday being $25. Full weekend passes are $35. Children under 11-years-old are free. Doors open at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Roebellen Center is located in Roseville at 700 Event Center Drive.

(SN&R)

Upcoming Esther Black show at Sacramento’s Cafe Colonial April 7 keeps a streak going  

Eddie April 3, 2023 No Comments

Esther Black. Courtesy photo

When live music finally opened up for post-pandemic, full capacity glory at venues in and around Sacramento, perhaps one of the greatest success stories was happening just outside the Downtown grid: Under the guidance of musician/soundman/bartender/booking agent Chris Lemos, the Cafe Colonial came back strong with a steady stream of metal, punk, alternative and everything in between.

Local group Esther Black, a metal-tinged industrial trio who’ve been causing a nice buzz, will add to that comeback this Friday.

The band is led by vocalist Erie Loch, whose resume includes studio work and video production for such disparate national acts as Ministry, Faith No More, Melvins, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, KMFDM, Prong, Lords of Acid, Front Line Assembly, and Rob Zombie.

The formidable group is rounded-out by bassist and vocalist Crash and guitarist and vocalist The Goht. They’re currently signed to Pittsburgh-based indie label, Distortion Productions, which released their “Dark Ways” full-length album back in April 2018. Sacramento music fans can check out those songs at Esther Black’s Bandcamp page at https://estherblack.bandcamp.com for a listen.

The group’s new platter, “Amongst the Monsters, Whores and Freaks,” is scheduled for a tentative July 17th release. Erie Loch boasts that “it’s a dark concept album comparing the entertainment industry to the circus.”

The band’s upcoming performance also includes Malcom Bliss and Ghosts Of Callisto on the bill. Tickets can be purchased at the door only for $15. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. All ages are welcome.

(SN&R)

Legendary rockers Blue Öyster Cult to make rare appearance at The Venue in Thunder Valley Casino on April 1

Eddie March 27, 2023 No Comments

Courtesy art

It’s hard to believe 56 years have passed since guitarist Buck Dharma – a.k.a. Donald Roeser – first formed a band under the moniker of Soft White Underbelly. It would only take a couple years to make a much-needed switch to Blue Öyster Cult and hire Eric Bloom as its charismatic frontman and singer.

Followers of early FM radio immediately took to the group after the release of its first, self-titled record in 1972, which was followed by a flurry of equally strong releases leading into the 80s. And while the majority of fans know Blue Öyster Cult for its hits – “Godzilla,” “Don’t Fear The Reaper,” and “Burnin’ For You” – a cult following continues to keep track of the band’s setlists and hope for surprise deep cuts at its shows.

Although the group was not as prolific during the 90’s and on, it did manage to release its 15th album, ‘The Symbol Remains,’ on the boutique Frontiers record label. Peaking at #10 on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums, the new material showcases a powerhouse collective who hasn’t lost a step – and still sells records.

If recent shows are any indication, Blue Öyster Cult’s upcoming performance opening for Kansas will be something classic rock fans shouldn’t miss. Tickets start at $49.95 and top-out at $109.95. They can be purchased at www.thundervalleycasino.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the 21-and-over show starting promptly at 7:30 p.m. Attendees aged 13 to 20 must be accompanied by adult who’s 21 or over. The Venue is located inside Thunder Valley Casino at 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln.

(SN&R)

Trauma is on the menu for some heavy-handed hard rock and metal at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades on March 16.

Eddie March 14, 2023 No Comments

Photograph by Joel Barrios

Looking for the ultimate tour package that will please from beginning to end? Look no further: Queensrÿche’s ‘The Digital Noise Alliance’ tour will be making its way around the country and descending into the Sacramento Valley with some big support acts in tow. Ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman will be presenting his solo material as part of the show.

The tour’s openers, Trauma, play both new and old music and count late Metallica bassist, Cliff Burton, among its original members. And while Trauma is now sadly down to its only original member, drummer Kris Gustofson, the current touring and studio band are anything but slouches. They count Sacramento’s own Michael Spencer (ex-Flotsam & Jetsam) on bass.

Trauma just released a new video for “Meat” that features late Trauma singer Donny Hillier’s lyrics and music written by guitarist Joe Fraulob. They’re on tour supporting their new record, ‘Awakening,’ which was released in 2022.

The tour winds its way around the states and ends on April 16^th in St. Petersburg, FL. Its March 16 stop is in Sacramento at Ace of Spades. Get to the venue early to get your money’s worth and to see one of the strongest opening acts the tour could have. Tickets are $45 advance can be purchased at www.aceofspades.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Ace Of Spades is located at 1417 R Street in downtown Sacramento.

(SN&R)

Black Sabbitch, an all-female tribute to Black Sabbath, readies for metal mass at Old Ironsides on March 11

Eddie March 6, 2023 No Comments

Black Sabbath leader Ozzy Osbourne recently announced he’ll be retiring from touring, opening the way for a handful of great tribute acts like Black Sabbitch to carry on his group’s legacy, putting their own spin Sabbath’s groundbreaking sound with great effect.

Not only are Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne fans of Black Sabbitch, which played the inaugural ‘Ozzfiesta,’ the tributers have also been featured at multiple festivals and venerable venues, counting the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl among their admirers.

Black Sabbitch’s current line-up includes drummer Angie Scarpa, bassist Melanie Makaiwi, guitarist Emily Burton and vocalist Alice Austin. Local promoter Brian McKenna, aka Abstract Entertainment, is presenting this ‘one night only’ extravaganza, meaning Sacramento is in for a treat.

Tickets to the band’s upcoming show at Old Ironsides are $15 in advance can be purchased at www.theoldironsides.com. Doors for this heavy metal soiree open at 8 p.m., with the performance starting at 9.pm. This show is for 21-and-over patrons only. Old Ironsides is located at 1901 10th Street in Sacramento’s Southside Park neighborhood.

(SN&R)

Supergroup tribute act, Death To All, gathers March 6 to pay homage to Death’s late bandleader at Goldfield Trading Post in Roseville

Eddie February 28, 2023 No Comments

For those lucky enough to have caught the metal legends Death in a live setting, no introduction to the band’s players is needed; and while its founder, Chuck Schuldiner, passed away from pneumonia and brain tumor complications nearly 22 years ago, his importance in the underground metal scene cannot be understated.

For the uninitiated, the North American Death To All touring band, or DTA, that’s coming to Roseville on March 6 will feature singer and guitarist Max Phelps of Cynic, bassist Steve Di Giorgio of Death, Testament and Sadus, guitarist Bobby Koelble of Death and drum master Gene Hoglan  of Death, Dark Angel and Dethklok.

This year’s tour will also commemorate the 30th anniversary of “Individual Thought Patterns,” featuring fan favorites and deep cuts from the band’s other storied catalog that includes “Symbolic,” “Human,” “Spiritual Healing” and more.

The tour kicks off on March 2^nd in Seattle and concludes in Denver on April 1^st. Special guests include the mighty Suffocation from New York and El Cajon’s own awesome thrash metal entry, Nukem.

Tickets to the Roseville show can be purchased in advance at www.goldfieldtradingpost.com for $35 and a VIP seating option is also available for an extra $25. All ages are welcome. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. Goldfield Trading Post is located at 238 Vernon Street in Roseville. Don’t sleep on this one.

(SN&R)