Kidz Bop, really: A Kidz Bop concert may seem funny to the outsider, with little children ages 5 to 12 screaming at the top of their lungs. However, one must remember a hard fact: this is their Beatles. And for one night only, the Crest Theatre was their Liverpool.
For the uninitiated, the Kidz Bop brand has been around for 15 years. Each of the 28 records released since 2000 feature a cast of children singing over re-recorded and reworked versions of modern hits.
Kidz Bop’s recent Sacramento soiree drew a capacity crowd of both adoring and adorable fans, featuring a cast of dancers, backup singers, solo artists and more costume changes than a Las Vegas act. At the core of the Kidz Bop crew, however, were the ultratalented singers known simply as the Kidz Bop Kids: Grant Knoche, Bredia Santoro, Ashlynn Chong and Matt Martinez.
A brief conversation with the merchandise vendor and one of the performer’s fathers yielded some little-known information: the singers have a three-year contract; all kids in the show travel with a teacher-advocate and their parents; and all shows are scheduled as fly-in dates on weekends to make sure that school is the top priority.
Highlights of the show, which lasted over 100 minutes, included male singers Knoche and Martinez singing and serenading two younger fans from the crowd, as well as a spirited version of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” that had everyone on their feet.
Another hilarious addition to the night’s program was a brief Q&A session where any fan could ask questions about how the performers attend school, their favorite letter and special things each of the performers can do, such as impersonating Daffy Duck.
And while most live children’s events are brief for very good reason, everyone stayed for this nearly two-hour show. During the short intermission, kids bought flashing Kidz Bop microphones, T-shirts and compact discs and returned for the second set to party like it was 1999.
Over the years, the sprawling McKinley Park area has been used for a plethora of gatherings including weddings, ceremonies, parties and more. This Saturday it will be transformed yet again into the “River City Marketplace,” and will feature more than 100 vendors. The event will feature loads of extracurricular activities, including a dedicated interactive kids area and live music, as well as many vendors showcasing and selling their wares. 10 a.m to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 2; free. 601 Alhambra Boulevard, https://rivercity marketplace.squarespace.com.
The members of the Sacramento-via-Austin band help kickstart the rock ‘n’ roll economy
If you’re lucky, the band will soon sell these outfits through Hot Topic.PHOTO COURTESY OF STANDBY RECORDS
Catch One-Eyed Doll at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 2; at The Boardwalk, 9426 Greenback Lane in Orangevale. Fair Struggle, Dream In Red, Chick Habit and Promo Queen are also on the bill. Tickets are $12 and the show is all ages. For more information, visit www.oneeyeddoll.com.
These days music fans are bombarded via social media and various web outlets by acts that don’t seem to have ever paid their dues. Whether this is the result of nepotism, chance connections or corporate-sponsored tours, it would seem many touring acts don’t know how to do just that—tour—and build a grass-roots following organically.
The members of One-Eyed Doll are taking another route. After four years of playing live and releasing a roster of well-received, self-produced records, the Sacramento-via-Austin, Texas-based duo has become something of an Internet sensation. The band launched a YouTube channel in 2010 that’s since garnered more than one million views; their video for “You’re A Vampire” alone boasts nearly half-a-million views to date.
Drummer Jason Rufuss Sewell, a.k.a Junior, a Sacramento native, is certainly aware of what it means to pay one’s dues. The musician says he became disenchanted with the music industry while working at Valley Media Inc., the now-defunct music distribution hub based in Woodland. Sewell, who worked as a sales rep for the company’s internal distribution company during the late ’90s and early 2000s, says he learned the benefits of being on a smaller label and owning one’s own content.
Valley Media went bankrupt in 2001, which in turn motivated Sewell to start his own recording studio, which he ran for several years.
Eventually, however, the musician decided to try something new, selling his studio and house to move to Austin, where he says there was an opportunity to get more land for less money. There he started recording bands and, perhaps more importantly, met the Austin-based songwriter Kimberly Freeman. Soon the goth-punk band One-Eyed Doll was born.
The meeting wasn’t serendipitous; Sewell says he’d been searching for just the right musician with whom to work—although not initially as part of his own band—when he finally stumbled upon Freeman.
“I basically scoured the Internet looking for a good band to use as a resume piece for my studio. … I found Ghetto Princess [an Austin -based band featuring Freeman] in 2006 and that band became One-Eyed Doll,” Sewell explained during a recent tour stop from Chicago.
The band has since recorded several albums and is now on tour in support of its latest, Witches, released in March on Standby Records.
Sewell says he and Freeman went with a one-album, one-year deal with Standby because the label offered them more creative control.
“We have gotten offers from bigger labels, but they wanted to own our previous records which we put out, take over our website, own our trademark and more,” he says.
One-Eyed Doll spends considerable time on the road and, after years of playing support slots for bands such as Otep, Wayne Static and Butcher Babies, has evolved into a veritable headliner on the club circuit. They’ve also found alternative ways to make money on the road, offering so-called “VIP packages” to fans that include a meet-and-greet and, in some cases, the chance to record background vocals with the band on its tour bus.
“We’ve sold out of these [packages] nearly every night,” Sewell says.
And while the economy may still seem slow for other touring bands, the members of One-Eyed Doll say they make a tidy profit from merchandise sales.
In addition to stickers and several T-shirt and sweatshirt options, the band also offers a unique souvenir, an $80 handcrafted magic wand made of animal bones and tusks. The price may seem hefty but, Sewell says, the band’s followers are more than willing to open their wallets.
“Our fans are huge collectors and we always sell lots of merch,” he says.
Further proof that all good things come to those who actually work for it.
Bring on the bevy of overhyped hard rock dudes: Faith No More’s new album Sol Invictus isn’t released until May 19, but that hasn’t stopped the band from debuting songs on its set lists.
The band’s rabid fanbase and reputation for a strange, yet equally great live show earned an early sell-out for a recent stop at the Warfield in San Francisco. Sadly, the tour skipped Sacramento, but Faith No More was worth the drive.
Dressed in all-white on a stage heavily adorned with flowers and white drapery, the band’s look certainly juxtaposed its sound on hard rockers like “Caffeine” and “Cuckoo For Caca.” Impressively, singer Mike Patton could still hit the high notes on more difficult songs like “Evidence,” and he also delivered a stellar performance of the Commodores classic “Easy.”
It seemed like every second someone was getting tossed from the lower general admission section wearing either a tight muscle shirt or a backwards baseball cap. But of course, no Faith No More show would be complete without a bevy of goofy, overhyped dudes.
Dinorah & Crosswinds will perform a tribute to Selena.PHOTO COURTESY DINORAH & CROSSWINDS
The calendar may change every year, but celebrations always end up taking place on the weekends. This year’s Fiesta En La Calle production celebrates Cinco de Mayo with great reverence and respect for the culture. Headlining the soiree is El Chicano supported by Dinorah & Crosswinds (pictured, performing a tribute to Selena), Midnight Players and Latin Touch. The vibe at these shows is always festive and there are always many great food vendors to choose from while frolicking in the park and enjoying the splendor of a Sunday. There will also be a car show, Aztec dancers, salsa dancers and activities to keep the little ones from being restless. There are no ice chests or outside food and drink allowed at this festival this year, so come ready to spend a little cash since the concert didn’t cost you anything. All ages are welcome to attend this six-hour event. Fiesta En La Calle; noon, Sunday, May 3; free. Southside Park, 2115 Sixth Street; http://fiestaenlacalle.com.
Purification by Fire is, clockwise from top left, Jared Bonds, Josh Lease, Andrew Bussey, Danny Torres and Jason Brehemstone.
Spring Meltdown Metal Fest 2015 is at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 at Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor, 71 S. Wells Ave., 384-1652. Tickets are $20 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, and $45 for a VIP package. Advance tickets available at www.inticketing.com/events/SpringMeltdown2015/. For more info on the festival, visit www.facebook.com/BornDeadProductions.
It’s festival season again, and with it comes the veritable onslaught of multi-band bills with abbreviated sets and a flurry of activity for those working the event. Josh Lease of Tahoe-based Born Dead Productions, along with his partners in crime, have put together this year’s ninth annual Spring Metal Meltdown Fest, taking place May 1 and 2 at Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor in Reno.
Friday night will feature 17 bands beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday will feature a barbecue from noon to 1 p.m., which is when the first of 26 bands will kick off.
“We will have 25-minute set changes between sets,” said Lease. “I’ve held events similar to this a few times in Jub Jub’s before and it works out really well. Our Born Dead crew really help a lot as well by having a ton of experience running smaller tours to really large festivals.”
The festival includes a bevy of regional, national and local metal acts focusing on the extreme and thrash side of things. From Ghoul to Warbringer, Purification by Fire—Lease’s own band—to Conducting From The Grave, Embryonic Devourment to Blasphemous Creation, Awaiting the Apocalypse to Solitary Priapism, and Oden Sun to Symbolik, there’s something for every metalhead.
Because thrash veterans like Warbringer get larger guarantees, most of the opening acts have an understanding that there will be little money to go around after covering operating expenses like sound, lights, security, and all the necessary hospitality demanded—and deserved?—by the bigger acts.
“I take care of the bands that have been consistently promoting my shows and not griping,” said Lease. “Of course, touring bands that have driven are the first bands to be reimbursed. All of the bands that play with me know the deal.”
Lease’s main focus is Purification By Fire, an extreme metal band based in Grass Valley. He will also play in Idekay, which broke up in 2011, but will reunite for this show and another in South Lake Tahoe at Whiskey Dick’s Saloon.
“Purification By Fire just got done tracking drums for our yet-to-be-released new album, and we’re recording in Nevada City,” said Lease. “The song topics and lyrics are all over the map with some about fantasy, some about [history], and some just being gruesome. We do have one song called ’Dinner With The Donners.’ That talks about the history of the area, that’s pretty cool.”
And while there are only 450 tickets available for the two-day event, Lease aspires to a much larger event.
“I’m hoping that this year’s event actually grabs the attention of the industry folk or perhaps an investor or two to really take this thing to a whole new level for 2016,” he said. “Ideally, I’d love to turn Spring Meltdown Metal Festival into a European-style, open-air festival with camping. Since I’m an adrenaline junkie myself, it would be cool to add a big-air snowboarding event or rail jam someday down the road with some BMX jumps or maybe even some freestyle motocross in there.”
If you’re in the need of some high-energy funk and rock music with a heavy dollop of soul, Old Ironsides should be your destination this Saturday night. Tipsy Hustlers are led by the multitalented Ken Rudulph on vocals and guitar alongside longtime friend and bassist John Mullick. They will be joined by their former band’s guitarist, Vince Mellone from the defunct Mama’s Gravy, and have big plans for the night’s set list. This is also a CD re-release show for Pressure which was released in 2013, but now includes new songs and special remixes. Also on the bill are Back Alley Buzzards and Clouds Roll By. 1901 10th Street, www.facebook.com/TheTipsyHustlers.
It’s no secret that women have suffered at the hands of the male species for centuries. Sexism still exists in countless settings and while many do their best to learn the nuances of what makes equality possible, education is key. This film festival, now in its 10th year and currently run by the UC Davis Women’s Resources and Research Center, offers a focus on art from women and people of color. Selections include the documentary In the Turn about a 10-year-old Canadian transgender girl. There’ll also be experimental genre flicks and traditional narrative films. 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1; $5-15 suggested donation. Veterans Memorial Center Theater, 203 East 14th Street in Davis; http://femfilmfest.ucdavis.edu.
Booking veteran Tanaka Leal is putting on some high-quality metal shows around the Sacramento area. For the price of a coffee at Starbucks, you can catch some crazy death metal from Imbibed By The Quasar, which may just have the coolest band name ever. If you’re into frenetic, fast-paced death metal with some cool synthesizer workouts, these five lads will take you on a nauseating journey through time and space. If you’ve always wanted to know what it would feel like to be excreted and splattered into the stratosphere aurally, you best come out to this one. Also on the bill are Perfect Nightmare and Bloodgeon. 670 Fulton Ave, www.facebook.com/imbibedofficial.
“I think I’m falling for you, Franz.”PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Placer Theatre Ballet has been practicing its choreography and honing its stage skills to perform the lighthearted Coppélia, aided by the wonderful music of composer Léo Delibes. Unlike other cities that do not spend time nor money on their set pieces or wardrobe, this crew will be adorned in some of the most lavish costumes seen in quite some time. Additionally, the young cast will showcase some of the greatest talents in the Sacramento Valley and beyond. The event will help the nonprofit ballet company, which opens its doors for so many talented young folks who would otherwise remain unknown. If you’re into theatrical dance or would someday like to get your child involved, there has never been a better opportunity to see his or her reaction to a live production. Perhaps a rising star is living right under your own roof. Coppélia; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18; noon and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 19; $16-$24. Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway in Folsom; www.placertheatreballet.org.
Eddie
