July 2005

A summer night in Winters

Eddie July 28, 2005 No Comments

The Palms Playhouse, once a barn located in Davis, always seems to be an epicenter for whatever town it happens to reside in. For the last couple of years, Winters has played host to the lovely club in a small opera house whose interior more resembles a high-school gymnasium than a place to hear arias and multipart love sagas. This week, Chicago-based Robbie Fulks, onetime member of Grammy-nominated bluegrass group the Special Consensus, will grace the venue on a tour in support of his latest release, Georgia Hard. Out now on Yep Roc Records, it’s largely a country record displaying Fulks’ penchant for off-kilter lyrics, awkward humor and musical prowess. Fulks’ unpredictability is his greatest attribute. If tracks like “Leave It To A Loser” and “All You Can Cheat” don’t put a smile on your frown, consider yourself hopeless. Fulks plays the Palms Playhouse, located at 13 Main Street in Winters, on Tuesday. The show is at 8 p.m. and costs $12. Visit www.robbiefulks.com for sound bites and more info.

(SN&R)

Quoth the raven

Eddie July 21, 2005 No Comments

Dave Mustaine, the fearless leader of Megadeth and ex-member of Metallica, has assembled a Lollapalooza for metalheads called Gigantour. The lineup boasts a bevy of high-caliber acts including Dream Theater, the Dillinger Escape Plan, Fear Factory and, of course, his own band. But one act stands out above the rest: Nevermore. Coincidentally, this Seattle-based band will release a new album, This Godless Endeavor, on the same day Gigantour hits the Cove in the Cal Expo Fairgrounds. The album promises to up the ante for “thinking man’s metal.” Vocalist Warrel Dane could make reading the Yellow Pages sound interesting, and his traveling band of gypsies—which now includes ex-Testament guitarist Steve Smyth—straddles the great divide between technical power-metal and unabashed thrash. Fans of Dane’s former band, Sanctuary, should be more than satisfied with newer songs like “Final Product” and “The Psalm Of Lydia.” Gigantour kicks off at (gasp!) 3 p.m. this Tuesday. Visit www.gigantour.com for info.

(SN&R)

Don’t drink the Kool-Aid

Eddie July 14, 2005 No Comments

It’s hard to believe that Brian Jonestown Massacre, named after the sadly departed Rolling Stones guitarist, was formed more than 15 years ago. Since its inception, the band has maintained an unhealthy touring and release schedule interrupted by various member changes and countless pissing contests. Thanks to the enormous popularity of the Dig! documentary—which made BMJ vocalist Anton Newcombe’s existence appear much more dramatic than any tabloid ever could—the band is back on the road yet again and the buzz is stronger than ever. Though countless fools believe the Dandy Warhols’ performance in Dig! was mightier than Newcombe’s tour de force, the proof is in the pudding. One listen to BMJ’s recently released (and well-timed) Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective should be enough reason to trash your copy of the Warhols’ Welcome to the Monkey House. The fact that the band is gracing the tiny, two-foot-high stage of Old Ironsides is the other. Catch them at 1901 10th Street on Saturday at 9 p.m. with Th’ Losin Streaks and Quarter After. Bring $10 for admission and your mescalin.

(SN&R)

The harsher side of Brazil

Eddie July 7, 2005 No Comments

While Brazil’s Sepultura was garnering seemingly all of the South American metal coverage in the U.S. press, many bands were yet to be discovered there. Raebelliun and Krisiun, perhaps the most extreme bands in the death-metal genre, upped the ante for metal bands worldwide with hyper-speed drumming and unrelenting guitar onslaughts. Krisiun, on tour in support of its latest release, Bloodshed, has done many treks across our country and amassed quite a following along the way. Brothers Max and Moyses Kolesne, along with guitarist extraordinaire Alex Camargo, have formed a trio whose speed, precision and depth is unrivalled. Check out the “Murderer” or “Slain Fate” MP3 samples on their site at www.krisiun.com.br or visit The Boardwalk this Tuesday and hear for yourself. Krisiun shares the stage with Hate Eternal, Incantation, Into Eternity and All Shall Perish. The all-ages show starts at 8:30 p.m. at The Boardwalk, located at 9426 Greenback Lane in Orangevale. Visit www.boardwalkrocks.com for more info.
(SN&R)