The cooler-than-dry-ice Cats in Space Tour is coming through Sacramento for one night. Starting at 8 p.m. (when the sun is down), people of all ages are encouraged to come fight it out to benefit the Make-A-Wish chapters of Northeastern California and Northern Nevada. This pop-up event is brought by the folks at Newmindspace, who have been doing cool stuff likes this for over 11 years. Last December, the group’s flash mob-style tactic worked and they drew over 2,000 people in San Francisco. Many good men and women lost their lives as well as little children (not really, but it sure sounds cool) after having a light sabre tear their worthless spine in half (again, not true). For the price of only $10, a catblade is yours to inflict pain upon the unsuspecting masses. A catblade is a cool weapon that lights up and says MEOW on its surface. These three-foot instruments of death (er, light) can change up to six colors. If you don’t find that the least bit cool, the staff at Submerge will take you out in the first three seconds of battle. Find out more at Catsinspacetour.com.
One listen to this 23-year-old should be more than enough reason to break down for a ticket to this Friday night’s soiree. The Florida-born singer can hang with the best of the jazz divas like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. With a voice that sounds as if it belonged to another time and place, Salvant excels at interpretations of Hammerstein, Bacharach, Bernstein and Sondheim as though the original pieces were written specifically for her. And while her 2015 album For One Love won her a Grammy in 2016 for Best Vocal Jazz Album, it’s wholly apparent she’s just getting started. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com.
Old Sac Chocolate Week (May 2–8, 2016 … does every week have a theme in Sacramento these days?) is one multi-day event that everyone with a sweet tooth should partake in. Relegated to the city streets of our most famous and frequented region of Sacramento, this event has many special nights that are equally tantalizing and, if attended, wholly fulfilling. Of worthy mention is the gathering happening at both Ten22 and Rio City Cafe deliciously dubbed “Chocolate Pairing Nights.” Sure, chocolate is one of those foods that stands on its own but, more importantly, also serves as a great companion piece for beer, wine and more. Ten22 have two beer tastings that are served alongside a marshmallow chocolate bar for only $10 while the Rio City Cafe gets crafty and delivers several, different mini tarts adjoined by your choice of port, sauvignon blanc or zinfandel for only $15. The two-hour event starts at 5 p.m. leaving just enough time to slam your beers at the former establishment and later relax and simmer with some specialty wines. You’ve been good this week and actually worked your salaried hours rather than leaving your desk to take 10 breaks a day. This one’s for you. More info and ticket link at Oldsacramento.com/special-events/chocolate.
Despite the fact that the band broke up almost 20 years ago, London’s short-lived queens and kings of ethereal and psychedelic pop fare, Lush, returned to San Francisco to play for an at-capacity crowd of much older, but no less enthused fans. Before the band’s split in 1998, the group only released a handful of full-length albums and extended plays, yet they still managed to make an indelible mark on both the indie and shoegaze scenes as evidenced by the crowd at last night’s reunion show at The Warfield. (In addition to playing the United States, Lush will be heading back overseas to play the festival circuit followed by yet another round of dates in major markets.)
The stage was adorned with moving lights and a circular Lush banner that served to accentuate patterns when projected upon. Many of those in attendance were also the very same show-goers who went to Lush’s original shows in small clubs and theaters over 20 years ago, However, thanks to both nostalgia and social media, the band was able to graduate to the much larger 2,300 capacity venue.
The four piece group took command of the stage by doing just the opposite. Lead singer Miki Berenyl engaged very little with the crowd and used the space in between songs to let the band tune up and, more importantly, remember the running order. With a set list totaling 19 songs and spanning several different releases, it was customary to play a note or two of each song beforehand to remind all the players which song was coming next.
The quartet had played Southern California’s Coachella festival the day before, but I’m of the belief that their sound is best suited for an indoor stage. That notion was fully evident by the band’s inclusion of more introspective numbers like “Stray” from Spooky (1992) and the always meandering guitar lines of “Desire Lines” from Split (1994).
Tonight, Lush sounded much like fans remembered them during their heyday. Highlights included set opener “De-Luxe” from Mad Love EP (1990), which was met with rounds of applause following the closing chords, as well as nearly everybody’s favorite, “Sweetness & Light,” which closed out the band’s set just before a generous, three song encore.
Also of note was the addition of “For Love” — also from the lauded Spooky record — which received moderate success as a commercial single, landing at No. 9 on Billboard‘s Modern Rock charts (no small feat during the early ’90s). And, if “Kiss Chase” didn’t make everyone smile in tandem, perhaps the audience was silently enjoying with some celebratory shoe-gazing of their own.
Berenyi and Emma Anderson carried the group with their well-layered and thoughtful guitar lines juxtaposing the rhythm section which, at times, seemed rushed when compared to earlier years. But even a few faster songs couldn’t take away the fervor of their delivery and, of course, the fans’ excitement at hearing songs from so long ago.
What Lush may sometimes have lacked in musical prowess on this particular night, they certainly made up for in song and spirit. Nary a person in the crowd seemed to notice anything amiss as attendees all appeared elated and wholly fulfilled upon exiting.
Critic’s Notebook:
•San Francisco’s resident DJ and program director for Live 105, Aaron Axelsen, kept the music interesting between sets by opener Tamaryn (who played mostly in the dark much to the chagrin of fans and new listeners) and Lush. With a keen sense of musical history and, more importantly, San Franciscans as a whole, his inclusion on the bill was a smart choice of behalf of the promoter.
•The line for the band’s merchandise stretched to the front door upon entry and many fans were buying multiple items. Additionally, handfuls of mega-fans walked around the venue with records and other Lush goods to get signed. Even more gathered near the tour bus at the close of the show. Who couldn’t help but smile seeing 40 and 50-year old male and female fans alike acting like a bunch of giddy school kids upon the show’s closing notes?
Arguably one of the best stoner-metal acts still currently headlining the dive-bar circuit, this quartet has been dealing out some super stonerific fare, showcasing a group that can dish up some musical main courses on par with brethren Kyuss and Sleep. Although different and far more bombastic than the aforementioned acts, these East Bay musicians often blow away the headliners wherever they roam. This Sunday’s show features a rare chance to see ’em play longer and, more importantly, destroy everything in their path in a green-filled haze. 1517 21st Street, http://saviours.bigcartel.com.
Brenda Dixon Gottschild, professor emeritus at Temple University, is slated to give a spirited lecture on her experiences with dance and race studies. The 90-minute talk will chronicle Gottschild’s storied background including work as a cultural advocate, a dance studies scholar and her early life as a performing artist and choreographer. Free; 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at UC Davis’ Nelson Hall, 1 Shields Avenue in Davis; http://arts.ucdavis.edu.
Fifty-four-year-old Clint Black has been putting out records since 1989. The multi-instrumentalist modeled his early career after greats like the late Merle Haggard and George Jones, and while many know him as the husband of actress Lisa Hartman (the couple married quietly in 1991) and for succumbing to label demands when commercial country was king, he returned in 2004 with his own label, appropriately dubbed Equity Music Group, and reclaimed his rightful place on the throne. Don’t miss this chance to see a country great who never really went away. 242 East Main Street in Stockton, www.clintblack.com.
Fans of both rural blues and singer-songwriter fare will be pleased to know Atlanta, Georgia-based Mouths of Babes have routed a stop in Sacramento on their current set of West Coast dates. After a handful of releases under the Girlyman moniker, singer and mandolin player Tylan “Ty” Greenstein decided to put together a duo with her girlfriend and partner in crime, Ingrid Elizabeth (from Coyote Grace). The result is a wonderful collection of well-executed soul with heaping dollops of celebratory blues and folk styling. This pair of road warriors sound refreshingly new and breathe life into a seemingly overcrowded genre. Although relatively new to the scene—the group formed in 2014 —the members quickly gained traction both within the general populace and the LGBT community in part to the well-timed Faith and Fumes EP (2014). Those who enjoy acoustic music rich in passion and fervor would be wise to check out their midweek show at Harlow’s. And while the two women are babes in their own right, their musical talent and inherent charm onstage is the real lure. Buy tickets now at Harlows.com and follow them at Mouthsofbabesmusic.com.
Enjoy guitar-driven rock? Like playing air guitar, bass and drums? As luck would have it, the Bay Area’s own Points North—Eric Barnett (guitar), Uriah Duffy (bass) and Kevin Aiello (drums)—will play a proper show in the Sacramento Valley, opening for bassist extraordinaire Stu Hamm. The trio released a self-titled album on Magna Carta earlier last year—a wonderful collection of hard rockers, instrumental ballads (see the magnificent “Child’s Play” for reference) and much more. Come early and get a spot to have your doors blown off. 2708 J Street, www.pointsnorthband.com.
Eddie
