2016

WORLD’S FOREMOST ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS VISIT FOLSOM FOR INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT • FEB. 10, 2016

Eddie February 8, 2016 No Comments

Guitarists who want to feel inadequate are hereby summoned to Folsom’s Harris Center for a night of six-stringed wizardry. One of the featured artists on this year’s International Guitar Night ticket is Lulo Reinhardt—yes, from the lineage of the late jazz legend Django Reinhardt—whose playing recalls another time and place without sounding dated or derivative. He’ll be joined by the night’s founder, Brian Gore, an awesome player whose playing style combines folk, classical and jazz with seemingly little effort. German-born Andre Krengel—dubbed “the guitar wizard with magic hands“ by German press—also joins the distinctive cast to weave a spell of disparate music styles including (but most certainly not limited to) R&B, flamenco, rock ‘n’ roll and even gypsy-jazz. The multi-talented English guitarist Mike Dawes rounds out this able quartet of musicians. Dawes is most known for his uncanny ability to sound like a full band playing only one instrument. From percussion to bass, harmony to melody, Dawes sounds as if he’s got a couple of extra musicians hiding in his guitar case. Tickets start at $12 for students with valid ID and go up to $39 for premium seats, available at Harriscenter.net

(Submerge)

VIRTUOSO ORGANIST CAMERON CARPENTER LIVE SCORES THE 1920 SILENT HORROR FILM THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI

Eddie February 8, 2016 No Comments

Arguably Berlin’s greatest export, organist Cameron Carpenter is on a U.S. tour with his International Touring Organ. The fully mobile and $1.2 million dollar instrument is quite an amazing beast that somehow captures the spirit and essence of a stationary pipe organ yet has more bells and whistles than should be allowed. On this special occasion, the 34-year-old Carpenter will be playing a bunch of his own works—all of which he chooses and are never divulged beforehand—along with a special improvisational work to accompany The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. For the uninitiated, Cameron is anything but a conventional player and dons a mohawk, wears fancy stage garb and plays music from memory with a gusto and fervor unheard of in today’s classical world. Check out his wonderful take on Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” on YouTube if you need further coercing. Carpenter’s show will leave both newcomers and classical aficionados alike yearning for more. Grandiose events like this don’t come along often so be sure to send a special “thank you” message to Mondavi Center’s talent buyer after the show. Get tickets now at Mondaviarts.org and impress your peers who never do anything but stare at their phones at no-cover-charge bars.

(Submerge)

Eight Gigs: Cameron Carpenter

Eddie February 4, 2016 No Comments

Wed., Feb. 10, 8 p.m., Mondavi Center, $13.50-$51

Defying the laws of tradition, Berlin-based organist extraordinaire Cameron Carpenter returns to Mondavi, but with his custom-built International Touring Organ in tow this time. The instrument cost $1.2 million to construct and now affords him the ability to bring his organ skills to any venue that will accommodate him. This particular engagement finds Carpenter playing a short recital before launching headlong into a wholly improvised score for the infamous 1920 silent horror flick The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, www.cameroncarpenter.com.

(SN&R)

Into the cold

Eddie February 4, 2016 No Comments

Disney’s Frozen on Ice

To date, the 2013 animated flick Frozen has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office. As such, evidenced by Disney On Ice’s adaptation, the franchise’s possibilities are seemingly endless. The show skates into Sacramento Wednesday, February 10, for a six-day run at Sleep Train Arena.

Skater Becky Bereswill was cast as the story’s protagonist Elsa and in a recent interview talked about the pressure she’s felt in representing the role model.

“Elsa really is a dream role for me since she is such a wonderful character, so beloved by her fans,” said Bereswill.

Getting the job came from Bereswill’s lengthy experience on ice—and knowing the right, um, people.

“Since I was known and came from a competitive skating background, Elsa herself approached me,” she said. Of course.

A huge amount of work goes into each production. “This show goes through great lengths to bring the movie onto the ice with awesome effects including lots of snow machines and even Elsa’s ice tower,” she said. Cue the opening notes of “Let it Go.” $28-$101.50; 7 p.m. February 10-12; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. February 13-14; noon and 4 p.m. February 15. Sleep Train Arena, 1 Sports Parkway; www.disneyonice.com/frozen.

(SN&R)

FREE ORCHID WORKSHOP AT EXOTIC PLANTS • FEB. 6, 2016

Eddie February 2, 2016 No Comments

Sacramento’s very own Exotic Plants will be hosting a free class to teach both wannabe and veteran green thumbs about the orchid and its many growing complexities. To date, there are over 27,800 species in the orchid family and these make up nearly 11 percent of all seeded plants. This event will teach all interested gardeners or parties how to re-bloom and grow these flowers and, most importantly, keep them alive and thriving. This class will be led by owner Kifumi Keppler who first opened the independent business back in 1972. Her full-service store has been blossoming ever since it came to town and is lauded for both its on-site plant maintenance services and magnificent retail store. Not-so-coincidentally, Exotic Plants will also be having a special tent sale that day with some magnificent specials on everything from gently used plants to palms, bromeliads to orchids. The class starts at noon and lasts for 90 minutes so everyone in attendance can get his or her questions answered without being rushed out. Call (916) 922-4769 now to hold your space before it’s too late. Visit Exoticplantsltd.com in the interim.

(Submerge)

MARDI GRAS 2016 OLD SACRAMENTO SPEAKEASY TOUR & PUB CRAWL

Eddie February 2, 2016 No Comments

Tired of drinking at the same watering holes every weekend? As luck would have it, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership are hosting a totally cool pub crawl replete with a history lesson, guided tour and a drink menu sure to please even the biggest cocktail snob. Starting at Old Sacramento’s infamous River City Saloon, the pub crawl kicks off in grand fashion in a bar that looks as if were transplanted from the prohibition era. This particular soiree will be led by history guru and Downtown Sacramento Partnership tour guide Shawn Peter in an effort to both educate and, more importantly, lead stumbling folks to their next destination. Learn about the Sacramento of yore and all of its purposely hidden history while drinking an old fashioned or a pint of beer. For only $15, you can reserve your spot and enjoy a night of drinking to remember (or not). This two-hour event moves along at a brisk pace so make sure you’re on time at 5 p.m. and have the drinking stamina to last until 7. Odds are, there is not a more entertaining ticket in the immediate area this weekend. Buy your passes now at Eventbrite.com (search Mardi Gras 2016)

(Submerge)

Boom, crash, pow

Eddie January 28, 2016 No Comments

Monster Jam

The spectacle known as Monster Jam is back for one weekend and will this time out feature three, wholly different vehicles: ATVs, speedsters and, of course, everybody’s favorite trucks. Eight teams will compete against each other to win the most enthusiastic crowd approval by racking up points for stunts such as wheelies, donuts, freestyle, racing and more. For those who care to meet the drivers and take selfies in front of the trucks, a pit pass for an additional $10 gets you right in the thick of it all. $18-$55; 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 29, and Saturday, January 30; 2 p.m. Sunday, January 31. Sleep Train Arena, 1 Sports Parkway; www.monsterjam.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Black Saddle Hookers

Eddie January 28, 2016 No Comments

Sat., Jan. 30, Old Ironsides, 9pm, $6

Fans of dirty rock ’n’ roll with blazing solos, saucy hooks and more posturing than should be allowed can rejoice: Black Saddle Hookers are going to be rocking their favorite 10th Street haunt this weekend. The trio features a veritable who’s who of the local music scene, including T-Bone Hooker (vocals and bass), Gavin Zappatica (guitar) and John Cavanaugh (drums) and have been known to have special guests like Skid Jones join the fray when the spirit moves. Sacramento’s own rude-boy reggae outfit the Scratch Outs close out the night’s festivities. 1901 10th Street, www.facebook.com/
blacksaddlehookers.

(SN&R)

Don’t Conform: An Interview With Atypical Organist Cameron Carpenter

Eddie January 27, 2016 No Comments

Thirty-four-year-old organist Cameron Carpenter has made a name for himself in the classical music world by flaunting the rules and shirking the norms. And, while he’s received much criticism from the establishment, who resent his nouveau arrangements, elaborate costumes, and less-than-typical hairstyles, he has also gained an immense following. In fact, half the fun of attending a Carpenter show is not knowing what he’s going to play because that’s the other thing about him: He performs sans music charts and rarely divulges a show’s program in advance. 

[jump] “Honestly, nobody really cares about the difference between composers and the next,” he told All Shook Down. “Most don’t even know the difference or who they’re even listening to.”

Carpenter started playing the organ at the age of four and had his own reasons for sticking with it. “I felt like I was touching time,” said Carpenter who attended the Juilliard School in New York for both undergraduate and graduate school. “That is something that doesn’t leave you.”

Jokingly, he adds, “However, I should add it doesn’t make great sense to choose the organ as an instrument for its many limitations and being stationary.”

Because of these limitations, Carpenter tours with a fully-mobile organ, called the International Touring Organ, that cost him quite a bit to purchase. (Its market value is $1.2 million, he said.)

When pressed as to why he went through the great expense to have the custom organ made, Carpenter was quite candid. “I have played the organs at both Davies Symphony Hall and Grace Cathedral. They are wonderful, but they are not my instruments,” he said. “I think the idea of the traditional pipe organ being considered the king of the instruments is nonsensical since it has so many drawbacks. I paid for this instrument myself and helped design it to make a one-of-a-kind instrument. It’s not meant to be a substitute for an organ because it does more than any pipe organ ever could. This organ is simply the beginning. One of my ultimate goals is the international standardization of the organ.”

Cameron Carpenter plays January 28 to January 31 at SF Jazz Center.

(SF Weekly)

Eight Gigs: The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit

Eddie January 21, 2016 No Comments

Sat., Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m., Auburn Event Center, $16.82

Oakdale’s greatest export (aside from the many crops grown there) is a six-piece musical group with a penchant for lazy country. The band quickly ascended to headliner status playing rooms like the 600-person capacity Great American Music Hall, where they not-so-coincidentally play the night before this Auburn soiree. Fans of bluegrass, Americana and everything within a couple points of separation need attend this show, as it will be one of the last for an indefinite amount of time. Opening the show are The Sumner Brothers and Jonny Mojo & Friends. 145 Elm Avenue in Auburn, www.facebook.com/
TheGoodLuckThriftStoreOutfit.

(SN&R)