December 2010

My top three are better than your top three

Eddie December 30, 2010 No Comments

A look at the locals’ favorite tunes of the year

2010 ends this week and, for those of us who actually still listen to (and purchase) new music, this has been an exceptionally good year. Barring all the recent data that physical sales of music are fast coming to an altogether disastrous and timely death, there are those who have the foresight and wherewithal to look beyond their local radio station to satiate their musical appetite.

I’ve taken it upon myself to ask various members of the musical community—from band members to talent buyers, industry folk to local legends—what releases or individual songs hit them the hardest this year. This by no means is an all-encompassing map of the entire scene’s tastes. But, at the very least, it’s a litmus test with some results one might never expect. Without further ado, let’s see what some of Sacramento’s finest, in alphabetical order, think of this year’s crop of music.

Random Abiladeze, artist

Who Cares, Teenage Ego Trip
Macklemore, The Language of My World
Black Star, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Bilal, 1st Born Second

David Watts Barton, Sacramento Press

Girl Talk, All Day
The Black Keys, Brothers
The Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

Sam Coe, musician

Grinderman, Grinderman 2
Beach House, Teen Dream
Sea of Bees, Songs for the Ravens

DJ CrookOne

Black Milk, Album of the Year
Gangrene, Gutter Water
Chico Mann, Analog Drift
Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma

Marty DeAnda, owner, Dig Music

Kevin Seconds, Good Luck Buttons
Jackie Greene, Till the Light Comes
The Mother Hips, Pacific Dust

Kevin Dockter, musician

Rufus Wainwright, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu
Autolux, Transit Transit
Yann Tiersen, Dust Lane

Rick Ele, KDVS

Tyvek, Nothing Fits
The Whines, Hell to Play
Drunkdriver, self-titled

Derek Fieth, Pets

The Black Angels, Phosphene Dream
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Crocodiles, Sleep Forever

Ross Hammond, musician

Peter Gabriel, Scratch My Back
Zach Hill, “The Primitives Talk”
Phillip Greenlief, Lines Combined

Laurence Herman, engineer, Electron Pro Audio

The Books, The Way Out
Voivod, Infini

Sarah Huang, manager, The Beat

The Black Keys, Brothers
The National, High Violet
Beach House, Teen Dream

Ryan Lindow, producer

Shed, The Traveller
Scuba, Triangulation
Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid

Terra Lopez, Sister Crayon

Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma
Warpaint, The Fool
Baths, Cerulean

Marc Malakie, promoter, curator

La Plebe, Brazo en Brazo
Killing Joke, Absolute Dissent
Disappears, Lux

Nick Miller, SN&R

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Before Today
F, Energy Distortion
Shad, TSOL
Honorable mention: Antoine Dodson, “Bed Intruder”

Robby Moncrieff, producer

How to Dress Well, Love Remains
Mayer Hawthorne, I Need You 12-inch single
Appetite, Scattered Smothered Covered
Pregnant, “Uphill Divination”

Dave Park, CEO, Recombinant

Cee Lo Green, “Fuck You”
Broken Bells, “The High Road”
LCD Soundsystem, “Drunk Girls” (song and video)
Honorable mention: The Black Keys, Brothers

Barry Prickett, Portmeirion

Girl Talk, All Day
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening

Evan Schneider, Tha Fruitbat

Meat Beat Manifesto, Answers Come in Dreams
Opiou, Slurp and Giggle
Bassnectar, Wildstyle EP

Amy Scott, photographer, http://localindiemusicphotos.com

Doom Bird, DoomBird
Sea of Bees, Songs for the Ravens
Musical Charis, People, People

Danny Secretion, the Secretions

The Queers, Back to the Basement
Bastards of Young, California Redemption
Semi-Evolved Simians, End Holocene

Shaun Slaughter, deejay, producer

Favorite dance release: Azari & III, “Into the Night”
Favorite indie-rock release: El Guincho, Pop Negro

Jae Synth, producer

DLRN, The Bridge
Wacka Flocka Flame, Flockaveli
Taylor Swift, Speak Now

Adam Whitley, the New Plague

Triptykon, Eparistera Daimones
Dio, At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987
Forbidden, Omega Wave

Sherman Baker, Musician

Doom Bird, DoomBird
Portugal. The Man, American Ghetto
Dusty Brown, This City Is Killing Me

Paul Wilbur, manager, Armadillo Records

Gaslight Anthem, American Slang
Inquisition, Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult (reissue)

Dennis Yudt, writer, musician

High Wolf, Ascension
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Kollaps Tradixionales
Pan Sonic, Gravitoni

And while the glut of new releases that clog up the music pipeline continue to be force-fed down our throats (by major labels and independents alike), there are still viable releases coming out with each successive year. Upon further inspection, 2010 has not been any worse (nor any greater) than the previous years. Visit your local library if you want to check out new music, or make the effort to keep up with your favorite labels or artists.

Finally, in case you’re wondering, my favorite records of the year were, in no particular order: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Kollaps Tradixionales; The Books, The Way Out; Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me; and honorable mention for Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang’s The Wonder Show of the World.

Now go figure out your own list and buy an album or two, damn it!
(SN&R)

Sun, Jan 2, The Slackers

Eddie December 30, 2010 No Comments

Harlow’s, 8 p.m., $12

Harlow’s2708 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 441-4693

Certainly not your typical ska band, the Slackers exude a great reverence for reggae, jazz and even dub classics. For the better part of nearly 20 years, this group has been anything but sedentary and, more importantly, have worked in defiance of their self-imposed moniker. Although their last release, The Great Rocksteady Swindle, came out in April earlier this year, expect the band to play newer material as well as classics from their earlier Hellcat Records output. Currently a six-piece ensemble led by the multitalented Vic Ruggiero (vocals and keyboards), this is one post-New Year’s show worth slotting into your Outlook calendar. 2708 J Street, www.theslackers.com.
(SN&R)

Fri, Dec 31, DJ Larry Rodriguez

Eddie December 30, 2010 No Comments

Fox & Goose, 8 p.m., $5

Fox & Goose

1001 R St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 443-8825

Larry Rodriguez has a special place in my heart. A week after my father passed away (two years ago, mind you), I went to Old Ironsides to clear my head and be around some close friends. Rodriguez was spinning that night and floored me with the incredible depth of his repertoire. Unlike other deejays who don’t frequent record shops and rarely spin the oddball tune, Rodriguez is one of the few I recommend to this day. Looking for some vintage soul? Brazilian fare? Joe Bataan, anyone? If so, he’ll be hosting a New Year’s Eve soiree at the Fox & Goose. For $5, you can’t do much better. 1001 R Street.

(SN&R)

Wed, Dec 29, Antsy McClain

Eddie December 23, 2010 No Comments

The Palms Playhouse, 8 p.m., $25

The Palms Playhouse

13 Main St.
Winters, CA 95964

(530) 795-1825

palms@yolo.com

Everybody has a little bit of white trash in ’em. We’ve all eaten white bread with yellow-matter mustard, played in our underwear out in front of house (when we were young, hopefully), and bought wine at the Dollar Tree. Antsy McClain embraces the value of being frugal and, moreover, welcomes all into his twisted world of trailer parks and ass-backward freak shows. If you’ve never been to a show, expect a kick-ass live band with a frontman who weaves tales like a drunken buffoon winds his way through the parking lot of a dilapidated national park. Confused? Curious? Just do it. 13 Main Street in Winters, www.unhitched.com.
(SN&R)

Thurs, Dec 30, Pinback

Eddie December 23, 2010 No Comments

Harlow’s, 8 p.m., $15

Harlow’s

2708 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 441-4693

Pinback, a.k.a. Zach and Rob Crow with a rotating cast of characters, will close out 2010 for Abstract Entertainment, Brian McKenna’s live-production company who has consistently routed touring national acts to the Sacramento Valley. Although its pending release on the boutique label, Temporary Residence Limited, has been delayed for what seems like decades, this short run of December dates should whet the appetite of its fans. Over the course of 12 years, Pinback has released a bevy of EPs, four studio albums (Blue Screen Life is my favorite), and toured all too infrequently. Two thumbs way up. 2708 J Street, www.pinback.com.
(SN&R)

Ugly sweaters, tight pants

Eddie December 16, 2010 No Comments

Wear your holiday worst:
Truth be told, I’ve never actually been to a bad-holiday-sweater party. But I’m quite intrigued as to which of the five performers at this Friday-night gig will take home the prize of ugliest damned Xmas sweater: Chris Twomey, Dean Haakenson of Be Brave Bold Robot (playing with full band), Ken Burnett or Adam Varona of the Inversions? If I had to put money on it, I’d bet on Haakenson, as he’s a man with a vision who’s sure to deliver some tacky-ass threads. Though I won’t underestimate Twomey, either. Or, hell, maybe I’ll have the best dang sweater? Find out this Friday, December 17, at the Fox & Goose, 1001 R Street; $5. (Nick Miller)

Lord of the ball-squeezing falsettos:
I’m certain my wife and I were the only Sacramentans present at the recent Blind Guardian show in San Francisco at the hallowed Regency Ballroom. It’d be a good guess, as there were (maybe) around 300 metalheads in an area that safely holds three times as much on a good night. Even the balcony was closed. WTF?

Either way, as my luck would have it, her favorite band is Blind Guardian, that plays a brand of music that I, out of sheer hate, have dubbed “Mordor metal.” What is that? If you took the elements of Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings and all the bombastic, unnecessary singalong choruses you could (or couldn’t stomach), this would be the ungodly result.

As luck would have it, Holy Grail, a Pasadena-based five-piece old-school outfit, replete with ball-squeezing falsettos, was the highlight of the night. Touring in support of their latest release, Crisis in Utopia, these lads came out swinging to the near empty room with a dual guitar assault that would make any mom proud. James Paul Luna ran around the middle of their allotted stage (they’re openers, you know?) screaming at the top of his lungs, only pausing for brief interims to head-bang.

What about the headliner? Blind Guardian took the stage, and its drummer was shirtless before the first song even started. Enough said. (Eddie Jorgensen)

Pizza-parlor mosh pit:
A crowd of guys—and two or three girls—wearing either plaid shirts and polos, emo glasses or uncomfortably tight pants, Vans or Chuck Taylors, and all with disheveled long hair, waited eagerly at the foot of Luigi’s Fun Garden’s stage for A Lot Like Birds.

The openers of the show—local bands So Stressed, the Speed of Sound in Seawater, and Oregon-based Duck. Little Brother, Duck!—managed to get a few shy head bobs at the beginning of the show. And the lineup was a pretty good mix: the Speed of Sound in Seawater boasted upbeat melodies and catchy bass lines; Duck. Little Brother, Duck!’s emo-rock instrumentals and memorable vocals, comparable to Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara, kept me interested and genuinely head-bobbing along with the crowd.

But when A Lot Like Birds’ Cory Lockwood’s scream vocals filled the room, a mosh pit was already in the making. The ridiculously long changeover almost had me indifferent by the last set, but A Lot Like Birds’ first song converted. Lockwood’s onstage antics, Ben Wiacek’s guitar skills and the stage presence of the entire band created an epic atmosphere.

The witty banter among the band’s members and some random guy’s failed attempt to crowd-surf were entertaining, but A Lot Like Birds’ ending performance was definitely the cherry on top. (Jamie Santiago)

(SN&R)

Tues, Dec 21, Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack

Eddie December 16, 2010 No Comments

Veterans Memorial Theatre, 7 p.m., $8-$20

Veterans Memorial Theatre

203 E. 14th St.
Davis, CA 95616

(530) 757-5626

“Home for the Holidays” is a benefit show for the Davis School Arts Foundation featuring a bevy of local talent. From the inimitable and ambidextrous Joe Craven to Little Charlie showcasing his live trio to Chris Webster (of Mumbo Gumbo fame) and her Gardenia Azul project, this is one concert that delivers a lot of bang for your buck. Also on the bill is Rita Hosking, whose infectious blend of country, folk and honest songwriting have earned her a devoted fan base in the area and outskirts. She’ll be playing with her Cousin Jack quartet, featuring a group of outstanding players that rival any in the surrounding areas. 203 E. 14th Street in Davis, www.ritahosking.com.
(SN&R)

Sun. Dec 19, Christmas Jug Band

Eddie December 16, 2010 No Comments

The Palms Playhouse, 7 p.m., $20

The Palms Playhouse

13 Main St.
Winters, CA 95964

(530) 795-1825

palms@yolo.com

’Tis the season for a twisted yet talented group of Bay Area-based musicians, whose pedigree originates from such disparate acts as Commander Cody, Country Joe McDonald and Those Darn Accordions, to embark upon yet another regional tour. In their bag of tricks, campy Christmas songs aplenty, varying from “Santa As Seen on TV” to the family favorite “Santa Lost a Ho.” If you’ve never been to a Christmas Jug Band show, also expect loads of humor injected into even the holiday’s most popular tunes. For the better part of 20 years, CJB has delivered a good time and, of course, a reason to knock back a pint (or seven). 13 Main Street in Winters, www.christmasjugband.com.
(SN&R)

Sat, Dec 11, Agent Orange

Eddie December 9, 2010 No Comments

Club 916, 3 p.m., $12-$15

Club 9165525 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95841

(916) 331-0916

Promoter Big Jay over at Club 916 has been bringing in some solid, left-of-center punk rock as of late. He’s also setting a world record for putting the most supporting acts on a bill. While some (myself included) prefer to show up at the very moment his/her favorite act takes the stage, others prefer to get their money’s worth and check out the entire show from start to finish. As of press time, it appears nine acts will appear before SoCal punk stalwarts Agent Orange take the stage. Although Mike Palm is the only original member, the band still packs a punch. Pack a lunch; it’s going to be a long night. 5525 Auburn Boulevard, www.agentorange.net.

(SN&R)

Fri, Dec 10, Notorious

Eddie December 9, 2010 No Comments

PowerHouse Pub, 10 p.m., $12

Powerhouse Pub

614 Sutter St.
Folsom, CA 95630

(916) 355-8586

Ninety-nine percent of the cover bands who traverse Interstate 80 to grace us with their presence suck. Most either lack solid musicianship or simply don’t know how to translate someone else’s music into something tangible. Notorious, thankfully, is the exception. For those who care about songs being played in their proper key or hearing their favorite chorus repeated the correct number of times, this band doesn’t let you down. For the uninitiated, its shows are not sit-down affairs, and copious amounts of liquor can and will add to the experience. This Friday support a band willing to go the distance to make fans happy. 614 Sutter Street in Folsom, www.notoriousrocks.com.

(SN&R)