King’s X – Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA)
Eddie
February 2016
Eight Gigs: Children of Bodom
Tues., Mar. 1, 7 p.m., Ace Of Spades, $20
Although the band is currently supporting Megadeth and Suicidal Tendencies on a full-fledged national tour, Finland’s Children of Bodom will headline a special one-off show with Colorado’s Havok and Sacramento’s own Graveshadow. Led by guitarist-vocalist Alex Laiho, CoB will have lots of material to choose from, dating back to their formative years as well as the newest release, I Worship Chaos, which came out in October of last year on Nuclear Blast records. Fans of melodic death metal with heaps of guitar and keyboard prowess would be wise to check this one out. 1417 R Street, Sacramento, www.cobhc.com.
(SN&R)
Eight Gigs: David Lindley
Fri., Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m., Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub, $25
Although 71-year-old David Lindley has been playing music longer than he’d readily admit, it’s safe to say he and his fine catalog have aged rather nicely. Lindley’s first foray into live music started in 1966 with his band Kaleidoscope. However, longtime Lindley fans will all agree his 1981 debut studio record, El Rayo-X, really got the ball rolling for his solo career. And while the multi-instrumentalist has worked with Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Dolly Parton and James Taylor (to name but a few), his live shows are where it’s at. 2708 J Street, www.davidlindley.com.
(SN&R)
INDIAN COOKING AT SACRAMENTO NATURAL FOODS CO-OP
Looking to bolster your kitchen skills? Been eating Indian food out more than you should, and it’s finally breaking your bank? Meera Klein, author of My Mother’s Kitchen, will be teaching a special class highlighting Indian cuisine and its inherent flavors. Not only will she talk about the fine art of preparing said dishes, those in attendance will be treated to generous samples including Aviyal stew-vegetable coconut stew, sweet potato casserole, milk fudge and some hearty chickpea snacks. Additionally, she’ll tell stories of her childhood and read excerpts from her book, which give some insight into her upbringing. “It’s not a cookbook; it’s more like vivid food writing. I describe the lemon rice—how tangy, how fragrant, the process of how it’s made. At the end of the chapter, there’s a recipe. There are 25 recipes in the book. There are several rice dishes, stews, many favorites, all vegetarian,” said Meera Klein in an interview with the Sacramento Bee (in 2015). Folks who don’t own a co-op membership should buy their card in advance to take advantage of a discount on the class and, of course, discounts on all groceries for the calendar year. Admission is $45 for members and $35 for non-members. More info at Sacfoodcoop.com
(Submerge)
Eight Gigs: Charlie Musselwhite
Sun., Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Harris Center, $30-$45
Fans of the harmonica need no introduction to the great Charlie Musselwhite. For the uninitiated, the 72-year-old musician has been turning heads in the blues scene since the ’60s. As luck would have it, he’ll be joined by the equally compelling North Mississippi Allstars. Expect a night chock full of Southern-influenced fare along with some sweet and sticky grooves courtesy of one wicked rhythm section. The show is appropriately dubbed “Mississippi Home Cookin’,” so come hungry and leave some extra room for dessert served up at the encore. 10 College Parkway in Folsom, www.charliemusselwhite.com.
(SN&R)
Eight Gigs: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Fri., Feb. 12, 8 p.m., Mondavi Center, $18.50-$79
Those who were lucky enough to catch mezzo-soprano Susan Graham’s titillating cabaret-style performance last February need little coercing to come out in force again. She’ll be joining musical director and conductor Nicholas McGegan with San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. The program is equally compelling and includes special period pieces solely by the late great George Frideric Handel, considered by many one to be of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, http://philharmonia.org.
(SN&R)
Weak sauce
Opening assault: Starlite Lounge promoter Chris Lemos has an uphill battle booking local acts in Sacramento. Apparently, nobody wants to headline and nearly just as many don’t want to open. However, when national acts come to town, there is suddenly no shortage of groups vying to get on any slot. Of course, this is when Lemos gets to really exert his booking power.
Last Tuesday’s show with Act Of Defiance (former members of Megadeth and Shadows Fall) featured two local acts that, although totally different in sound and scope, worked alarmingly well together.
New(er) Sacramento quintet Odious Construct kicked off the night with a heady blend of progressive metalcore. And while the band’s early start time of 8 p.m. meant playing to only 30 or so people, by the end of the set, singer Casey Ryle and his able band found themselves playing in front of nearly double that number.
Most exciting was the dual guitar assault of Wes Yee and Ben Jackson, who weaved an astounding amount of guitar showmanship into their all-too-brief set. Also equally impressive was the rhythm section featuring drummer KC Brand and bassist Sam Datu, which played together at breakneck speed with wicked precision.
Up next was Vacaville’s West Coast Fury who, although by the logo and band appearance might be mistaken for a hardcore band, played a furious set steeped in ’80s thrash fare. Led by vocalist-guitarist Pat Woods, the group ripped through a set that recalled some of the best moments of the early San Francisco thrash scene. In fact, unbeknownst to many in the crowd, the band featured members of Torment, Malicious Intent, Blind Illusion, Piranha, Franzlist and Skeptic, all active Bay Area bands from the ’80s and ’90s. So there you go.
(SN&R)
Eight Gigs: Modern Man
Mon., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., The Colony, $7
Although still in its infancy, Modern Man is one Sacramento quartet bent on wrecking psyches with more sonic twists and turns than should ever be allowed in a song. One listen to “All Weenie, No Balls” will either dissuade listeners for eternity or make them instant fans. Most area residents will already know the faces and names from their various affiliations with local and national acts: guitarist Jeremy Clemmons, guitarist Biaggio D’Anna, bassist Carson McWhirter and drummer Alfonso Portela. 3512 Stockton Boulevard, http://modernman916.bandcamp.com.
(SN&R)