February 2006

Grand ole opera

Eddie February 23, 2006 No Comments

From the Sacramento Ballet to the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, we’ve had more than enough reason to make the brief sojourn to the Community Center Theater. This weekend, rather than taking in a Kings game or heading out to the bars, consider experiencing the Sacramento Opera. Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot will be performed with a live orchestra. Composed in 1924, the opera includes “Nessun Dorma,” the aria Aretha Franklin performed at the 1998 Grammy Awards. Though the production may not be on the scale of the one staged in Paris this summer—with more than 35,000 people in attendance—you’ll be able to witness one of the genre’s finest pieces. So, get a babysitter, enjoy dinner at an Italian restaurant and take in Turandot on a full stomach. It doesn’t get much better than this. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $15-$115, and the Community Center is located at 1301 L Street. Visit www.sacopera.org for more info.

(SN&R)

Mayhem on a Monday

Eddie February 16, 2006 No Comments

If you haven’t been to a hardcore show in the last 10 years, the Warriors’ upcoming appearance at the Boardwalk is just the shakeup you need. Although the follow-up album to the band’s highly lauded War Is Hell won’t be available until May, you might be able to hear some new material at the show. In the meantime, the label has not-so-coincidentally re-issued War Is Hell with two bonus tracks and live footage. The Warriors conquer The Boardwalk, located at 9426 Greenback Road in Orangevale, on Monday at 8:30 p.m. with Blacklisted, Embrace the End and With or Without You. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show. The Warriors’ sound, a combination of the best elements of ’90s hardcore and today’s metal, should incite more than a few random acts of violence. Let’s hope The Boardwalk’s security team is ready for this one. Free karate lessons for the first 100 paid.
(SN&R)

Watch Mould grow

Eddie February 9, 2006 No Comments

Those who were fortunate enough to get hold of early Husker Du records during their initial 1980s release schedule surely know the importance of seeing Bob Mould live. After all, the man not only helped create the sound of one of the most important punk-rock bands, but also created an immense body of work both as a solo artist and with his other influential band, Sugar. Body of Song, his latest album, was released in July 2005 on Yep Roc Records. It features some familiar faces, like Brendan Canty of Fugazi and David Barbe of Sugar, and, happily, it’s truly a return to form.

Mould will play Harlow’s, located at 2708 J Street, on Sunday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 in advance or $15 on the day of the show. Because Mould deviates from his traditional set list on his solo tour dates, I’d expect you’d want to secure your slot now.

(SN&R)

Are you gonna go his way?

Eddie February 2, 2006 No Comments

As we head into another year of arena rock and corporate-sponsored tours, there are a handful of package tours you don’t want to miss. Forty-year-old Lenny Kravitz makes a rare appearance this week opening for Boston’s original bad boys Aerosmith. Although Kravitz’s sound has changed dramatically from his 1992 debut, Let Love Rule, his fan base (and bank account) has grown exponentially. What separates him from the barely discernable pop melee is his attention to subtlety and his reverence for early soul. Although at home in the studio, this slowly aging rocker is anything but subdued when he hits the stage. Though many critics have struggled to find problems with each of his successive releases, Kravitz will get the last laugh. He’s touring in support of his Greatest Hits Limited Tour Edition CD and DVD, but expect a few surprises on the set list. Kravitz and Aerosmith hit Arco Arena Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$125 for this all-ages show. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for more info.

(SN&R)