Mon., June 20, 8 p.m., Sacramento Community Center Theatre, $35.50-$129.50
At 43, ’90s R&B sensation Maxwell hasn’t lost a step. The forthcoming blackSUMMERS’night, which is part of a trilogy and comes out on July 1, proves he still has the magic groove. And while nothing may compare with 1996’s Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite and the sultry yet poignant follow-up in 1998, Embrya, his new album pleases on all fronts and is as hot and heavy as you would expect. This modern-day Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye or even Barry White equivalent is much more than a one-trick pony. 1301 L Street, www.musze.com.
If you’re hell-bent on knowing the real names of all band members in Greenville, North Carolina’s Valient Thorr, you are doing it wrong. After a successful six-album run on Volcom Entertainment (home to Pepper, Riverboat Gamblers and Guttermouth), Valient Thorr are back with a bad ass new album on Napalm Records inappropriately dubbed Old Salt. The band played a whopping 272 shows in 2006 alone and have supported countless acts including Gogol Bordello, Red Fang, Early Man, Riverboat Gamblers, The Sword and even more. Vocalist Valient Himself took time out of busy schedule to check in with Submerge. “I am honored that folks would even listen to our music … as people don’t have a lot of time. The fact that they spend any on us is great. We’ve opened some great tours for Motörhead and definitely made a lot of memories. I especially enjoyed the 2011 Motörhead run with Clutch. That tour was sold out all over the U.S. and Canada,” said Valient Himself. Collectors take note, the band has limited stuff for sale. “We probably have about four boxes of our old albums left on CD and will have three brand new shirts, a new hat, new patches, new 15-year anniversary pressed posters and a plethora of other stuff,” he said. Get the new album on July 29, 2016 at Napalmrecordsamerica.com or check out Valientthorr.com. Their show on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at Starlite Lounge in Sacramento starts at 8 p.m. and also features PEARS, Solanum and Cromson Eye.
Many Sacramentans got their first taste of Costa Mesa band the Growlers at TBD Fest last year, though they’d come through town previously for smaller shows. They’re now a fast-moving train, presently on their “Wet Dreams” tour; the night after this, they play the historic Fox Theatre in Oakland, if that gives you an idea of their trajectory. Take the name of their tour and the fact that their most recent EP was titled Gay Thoughts (and boasts a track called “Uncle Sam’s a Dick”), and all signs point to a fun, irreverent live show. 1417 R Street, www.thegrowlers.com.
Chocolatiers and chocolate enthusiasts alike will revel at the presentation of Ginger Elizabeth’s “Summer Ice Cream Social” events. As luck would have it, the first of four installments just so happens to fall on my daughter’s birthday. When temperatures soar in the Sacramento Valley, this downtown haven for all things delicious and decadent features special ice cream dishes. This year’s events showcase ingredients which make one’s mouth water incessantly upon first glance. If a “Ferrari Farms Bing Cherry Brown Betty made with Manresa Bread Pain au Levain, Cherry Butter Sauce, Frozen Custard made with Contreras Farm Duck Eggs and Chantilly” dessert doesn’t cause intense spasms of the mouth and/or brain, perhaps a visit to a convenience store for a crappy Blue Bunny popsicle would suit you best. These once-a-year dishes may be $9, but are worth every penny. All ice creams are made in small batches using the very best organic milk from Clover Stornetta, chocolate from Valrhona and eggs from Vega Farms. Expect them to sell out of these quick so consult the store’s website for more details. Odds are, you’ll be smiling from head to toe with a brain freeze you will never forget. Just do it, already. Go to Gingerelizabeth.com for more details.
Another Sacramento great is leaving the area and headed to Portland. On June 10, violinist Joe Kye will play what has been dubbed as his last show before he heads to a much wetter climate. “I am a full-time musician, and have been since 2013. Before that, I was a high school English teacher in Seattle,” said Joe Kye. “ My wife is very supportive! She’s finishing up her residency at UC Davis Medical Center, which is why we moved down here in the first place. A partnership is about jointly discussing and agreeing to a division of responsibilities. I like to think we do a pretty good job of always searching for balance.” This show is also special because it’s a benefit for the Mustard Seed School, a free private school that helps “meet the needs of homeless children.” Tickets for the show can be purchased at Joekye.com/tour. And while Kye doesn’t actually move to Portland until July, he will be back in late July at California WorldFest in Grass Valley and again in late October as part of a tour.
Fri., June 3, 7:30 p.m., 24th Street Theatre $27.50-$30
Country Joe McDonald has been releasing records since well before most SN&R readers were even born. For those who look to their elders for inspiration, this is one show no music fan should miss. He’ll be honoring the late Woody Guthrie in a night appropriately dubbed “A one-man show of story and song” and playing many timeless and time-appropriate songs that filled the hearts of both the common working man and Guthrie’s fans alike. Also on the bill are locals Jacob Golden, Richard March and Sasha Prawalsky. 2791 24th Street, www.countryjoe.com.
With band members from Alterbeast and Journal, and the now-defunct Sepsis and Soma Ras, this is one supporting act you don’t want to miss. “We’re looking at a late July/early August release date for our new album Funeral Winds. …This will be our first show and we’re totally stoked!” says guitarist Nate Graham. Fans of Death, Nocturnus, Pestilence or other like-minded and technically challenging death-metal fare should come out en masse. Also on the bill are Australia’s King Parrot, Child Bite, Purification by Fire and Ostracized. 235 Commercial Street in Nevada City, http://wastewalker.bandcamp.com.
A new venue promises to bring national acts while supporting local charities
Robert Snyder (left) and Akash Lal aim to lift up Sacramento’s music scene.PHOTO BY GABRIEL MONNAREZ
Look for the Arcade Underground (and its website) to go live on June 17 at 1108 Second Street.
Like most towns, Sacramento and its surrounding areas have seen a fair number of live music venues shut down in the past couple of decades. Think back to the Cattle Club, Bows & Arrows, Witch Room, Big Shots, Assembly Music Hall, Luigi’s Slice and Fun Garden and Cafe Paris. Now, the Winters Opera House’s fate is uncertain as well.
But with those departures also—sometimes—comes an exciting new venue. Enter the Arcade Underground.
The Arcade Underground is scheduled to hold its grand opening on Friday, June 17. The spot is located in Old Sacramento, an exceptionally challenging place to host live music as it lies just off the downtown grid and is buried by the freeway overpass. It comes from local promoter Robert Snyder and real estate mogul Akash Lal. Their goal with the Arcade Underground is twofold: to help worthy charities and leave an indelible mark on the music community.
“The reason we are doing charities is that both Akash and myself are fortunate,” Synder says. “We have good reason to give back to the community which supports us in everything we do, whether in music, real estate or any other venture.”
At the Arcade Underground’s soft opening in mid-May, Snyder and Lal raised $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation—a huge feat considering there were only 100 guests. Snyder says he already has his eyes set on more fundraisers throughout the year for organizations, such as Saint John’s Program for Real Change. The soft opening’s ritzy, Great Gatsby vibe helped draw folks to the venue, and Snyder plans to similarly adopt specific themes for special events to boost the Arcade Underground’s brand.
Snyder realizes Sacramento is a tough market. However, he still plans to have smaller shows aimed at the regular, Midtown-dwelling music fan. He expects the cover charges to range from $10 to $50, and potentially go even higher. Though no official shows have been announced yet, there are some whispers about Jeff Keith (Tesla), Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour) and Aaron Lewis (Staind), as well as huge blues names Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Local bands won’t be left in the dust, either.
“When we bring in large regional or national acts to headline, we will always use those opportunities to give exposure to Sacramento local acts,” Snyder says.
As for styles of music, Snyder wants to keep it eclectic but focus on Americana, folk, jazz, blues and acoustic varieties.
The 3,500-square-foot, 450-person space features ornate lighting, exposed brick walls and a gorgeous courtyard. Until the grand opening, it’s being used for fundraisers, private parties and other ticketed events.
“[We] are keeping this on the down-low on purpose,” Snyder says. “We have successfully created a cool, local speakeasy-type venue with a nondescript entrance. If you were walking by our place right now, you wouldn’t even know it exists except for the two ushers standing in front of our elevator leading to the downstairs level.”
Eddie
