2023

YouTube sensation and powerhouse Chicago tribute, LEONID & FRIENDS , returns to their favorite Sacramento haunt after a couple of successful Crest Theatre shows. November 7.

Eddie November 4, 2023 0 Comment

For the better part of 9 years, founder Leonid Vorobyev (bass guitar, keyboards, piano, synth, backing and lead vocals), Igor Javad-Zade (drums) and an ever-changing batch of uber-talented musicians have been releasing countless YouTube videos to great acclaim.

And while Chicago’s music has been quite popular and viral, they have also garnered an amazing 10 million views for Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” and an astounding 6.5 million views for “Beginnings.” Today, their set list can also include songs by such classic bands as Blood, Sweat & Tears, Steely Dan, Tower Of Power, and more.

For the uninitiated or simply unaware, bandleader Leonid Vorobyev is a multi-instrumentalist, a recording studio sound engineer, and choir conductor who trained initially at the East Siberian Institute of Culture. To date, he and his band have recorded 3 Chicago-themed records simply titled ‘Chicagovich,’ ‘Chicagovich I,’ and ‘Chicagovich II.’ Additionally, they released a 13-song compilation earlier this year called ‘Oldies but Goldies, Part 1’ which features 13 well-known songs by classic acts that are not Chicago including Earth, Wind & Fire, Blood, Sweat & Tears and more.

At present, the touring band is Leonid Vorobyev (bass guitar, keyboards, piano, synth, backing and lead vocals), Igor Javad-Zade (drums, percussion), Vasily Akimov (lead and backing vocals, percussion, occasional rhythm guitar), Ksenia Buzina (backing and lead vocals, percussion), Valery Martynov (trumpet), Oleg Kudryavtsev (tenor and alto saxophones, flute, percussion, backing vocals), Maxim Likhachev (trombone, percussion), Sergey Kurmaev (keyboards, backing vocals), Konstantin Kovachev (lead guitar), Danil Buranov (lead and backing vocals, percussion), and Mikhail Puntov aka Michael Puntov (lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion).

We caught up with the band’s manager and Leonid Vorobyev’s son, Roman Vorobyev, who are in the middle of an ambitious and long-winded US tour that started September 3rd in Wisconsin and takes them up to November 24th in Las Vegas.

Capital Chaos TV: The band had a huge upward trajectory ever since a couple of well-timed YouTube videos went viral. Did you expect this kind of response?

Roman Vorobyev: To be honest, it is still a bit of mystery to us how this happened. We could only imagine this in our wildest dreams so we still have to pinch ourselves sometimes! Any Russian musician has a dream to play for the American audience and we make this dream come true.

Capital Chaos TV: Your US tours have now become a regular thing. I actually booked your first Sacramento show on your first ever US tour at The Crest Theatre back in 2019. Are there other countries you’ve done well aside from your own?

Roman Vorobyev: So far we have successfully played a great festival in Germany (the full recording of that one is actually available on our YouTube channel) and we also played the International Music Festival in Vietnam. And there are many plans ahead since we have a great amount of fans all over the world.

Capital Chaos TV: What is the current line-up and how much has that changed from the beginning?

Roman Vorobyev: The current line-up has many of our original members and a couple others have been with us for a few years – they are all extremely talented musicians and vocalists and are personally hand-picked by Leonid.

Capital Chaos TV: Do you plan to release a record of originals as Leonid & Friends? Any other side projects worth mentioning?

Roman Vorobyev: We had great success with our original song – “The Speck of Dust” – and we definitely plan to produce several more originals between our next tours. Leonid also became a member of the Recording Academy (Grammy) so we plan to do some collaborations with them too.

Capital Chaos TV: How much more expensive is it to tour after COVID? Have your costs for work visas also increased?

Roman Vorobyev: The costs seem to always increase one way or the other. That’s just how the economy works these days. But we strategise better, become more proficient in planning, we research better options for transport, hotels, etc., and so we are able to balance it out. The visas itself have not changed in price so that has not become a problem.

Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $43.50 and go up to $65.50 and can be purchased at www.crestsacramento.com. The Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K Street in Sacramento, CA.

Local troubadour and Berlin transplant, ANTON BARBEAU, to play an intimate Sacramento venue to celebrate his latest record. November 4.

Eddie November 2, 2023 0 Comment

Perhaps one of the most prolific musicians to ever rise out of the Sacramento Valley, singer / songwriter Anton Barbeau has been busy for the last three decades releasing an astounding 30 full-lengths and myriad singles, EPs, and more.

His new double album, ‘Morgenmusik/Nachtschlager,’ was recorded in 2022 and features some well-known names including Colin Moulding of XTC, Andy Metcalfe (ex-Robyn Hitchcock’s Soft Boys/Egyptians), Julian Cope guitarist/producer Donald Ross Skinner, and longtime collaborator Allyson Seconds. To top it all off, Grammy Award-winning producer Oz Fritz mastered it all.

If you’re a fan of acid rock, folk, pop, funk, and everything else in between, you are hereby summoned to attend his upcoming record release party.

How many leftover songs didn’t make your ambitious 2-record set?

There was roughly a third album’s worth of songs. Some were too dreary and some were way too cheery. But an album always knows best.

How many shows do you have before you head back overseas? Plans for shows in Berlin or other overseas cities?

My father’s health isn’t so great, so I’m staying close at hand these days. I had concerts booked for Berlin, the UK, and Estonia, but it made better sense to let those go for now. The Sacramento show will be the final of only a few album launch gigs.

Who makes up the ‘Maude Squad’ band at your live shows?

Jeff Simons on bass, Tom Monson on drums, Kevin Allison on guitar and my wife Julia sings harmonies and plays synth.

Why The Side Door over Old Ironsides or even Harlow’s?

I think Allyson (Seconds) told me about the Side Door and suggested it’d be a good place for a gig like this. I lived abroad for 15 years and came back when the pandemic hit, so my view of the Sacramento scene is pretty vague at this point. Anyway, regarding the Side Door, the Maude Squad has been playing with a lower stage volume lately, which is ironic as I’ve discovered my true calling as ‘Proper Terrible Guitar God.’

What mediums are the new album being made available?

CD and digital only. One of the labels that released the new one, Think Like A Key, does loads of vinyl, including reissues of all sorts of fab 60’s and 70’s music I adore, but timing-wise and money-wise, we couldn’t make vinyl work for this one. I only release cassettes when I have an album I want no one to hear! I’m not a purist or a snob. I love music more than the medium it’s on, but CDs remain the most practical physical format for me.

Do you ever see yourself being a California full-time resident again?

Well, I sorta am right now! I’m living on my wife’s family farm in Auburn, back and forth to Sacramento to see my dad. My status in Germany is a little unknown – I had a permanent residence visa – and during the pandemic there was a lot of leeway allowed. I could be away from Berlin for a year without my visa being affected. My ex-wife and I divorced and my visa was initially through her, but the passport cops kept letting me back into Berlin. As far as they were concerned, the visa was valid. One way or other, it’s always my aim to return to Berlin, though far more likely it would be for small blocks of time. Julia loves her job here and I’ve got a great little studio going now for writing and recording.

I love how you reference Momus as a musical comparison. Have you done any shows together?

He’s brilliant, right? Intimidatingly so. I’ve had coffee with him, but no gigs together. We lived in the same Berlin Kiez. He’d lived at Sanderstrasse 13, moving out just before I moved into 14. In typical Berlin fashion, we check in from time to time, asking the other knows of an sublettable apartment etc. He described my song “Even The Swans Are Dirty” as “an anthem for Neukolln,” which pleased me.

Who are your labels here and abroad?

Think Like A Key is the US label releasing ‘Morgenschlager.’ A new label for me, but one with a roster that feels like home. Contemporary acts like Novelty Island and label boss Roger’s own Ex-Norwegian, plus reissues for classic 60’s and 70’s bands such as Kaleidoscope and Os Mutantes. In the UK, Gare du Nord has not only released my new album, but has put together a fab album of remixes of ‘Morgenschlager’ tracks. I’m going to re-record a couple songs from the album in a gruntier guitar style for a Spanish label called Lucinda. I’ve worked with various other labels in France, Spain, the US and UK.

Do they have any plans to reissue your older material?

Nick Saloman from the Bevis Frond has a new label called Blue Matter and they’re going to reissue my “authentically” psychedelic album, ‘In The Village Of The Apple Sun.’ That makes great sense, as it was when I was working with the Bevis Frond on an album in Bromley that “Village” really took shape in my head, so we’ve got a nice full circle thing happening. Meanwhile, I’m talking with Think Like A Key about putting out a fresh “Introducing Anton Barbeau” collection. I did one called Empire Of Potential which was meant to save me from having to drag a suitcase around Spain loaded with 25 odd Ant albums. I’ve released more than 50 times my body weight in material.

Tickets are $20 advance and can be purchased at www.thesidedoor.net. The Allyson Seconds Band opens the show. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts soon thereafter. All ages are welcome. The Side Door is located at 2900 Franklin Blvd. in Sacramento.

(Capital Chaos TV)

San Francisco’s very own DEATH ANGEL to bring some thrashing good times and their own version of Christmas cheer at both the Great American Music Hall (December 21 and 22) and The Catalyst in Santa Cruz (December 20).

Eddie October 26, 2023 0 Comment

Although the Big 4 always seemed exclusionary and possibly needed revision or mere additions, there is little doubt that Death Angel have flown the flag of thrash metal with great effect for over three decades. What started with the release of the 1983’s ‘Heavy Metal Insanity’ demo and boatloads of word-of-mouth about their menacing live shows, eventually turned into a full-fledged record deal and the ensuing release of 1987’s ‘The Ultra-Violence.’

For the uninitiated, the band have released 9 full-lengths and have since became a staple of the Nuclear Blast records roster. A veritable headliner in the US and abroad, it would seem their trajectory has been on an upward swing ever since solidifying a new (er) core line-up 14 years ago.

Since 2009 and eventually the recording of 2010’s ‘Relentless Retribution,’ the line-up has remained the same with Rob Cavestany (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Osegueda (lead vocals), Ted Aguilar (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Will Carroll (drums), and Damien Sisson (bass).

With Death Angel’s annual Christmas shows looming, we caught up with drummer / KISS fanatic / metal DJ / heavy metal nice guy, Will Carroll, just before their headlining tour overseas with Arizona’s own Sacred Reich.

Death Angel and the brand has been growing at an insane rate since COVID. What do you attribute that to besides more people wanting to get out of the house, etc?

I think most bands are “going for the throat” so to speak in terms of exposure and getting their name out there as much as possible since the pandemic. Being dormant for two years really showed everybody how quickly everything you love (concerts, movies, restaurants etc.) can be taken away and the possibility of it happening again is a reality. There’s a huge demand for live music, new albums, merchandise, meet and greets, etc.. Any band worth their weight should be supplying it.

You and Damien first recorded on 2010’s ‘Relentless Retribution.’ Since then, the band only released (3) more records. You seem to have boundless energy. Do your own aspirations ever clash with DA’s release timetable?

Not really. I have plenty of other musical outlets to keep me busy (Old Grandad, Hellhunter, Scarecrow, AC/DZ) when DA aren’t touring or recording. And they’ve been really cool about me doing other projects or jamming with other bands. The schedules always end up working out. All my other bands know my situation and know that DA is my #1 priority so when I’m unavailable for 5 or 6 months at a time it’s no surprise.

If you had to rate just the records you played on, would ‘Humanicide’ top the list? Any records you wish you could have recorded or mixed differently.

Actually ‘Humanicide’ would be at the bottom. My list from favorite to least favorite is 1. Dream, 2. Evil, 3. Relentless, 4. Humanicide. I’m not really happy with the snare sound on ‘Humanicide.’ It’s not bad, but It just doesn’t sound like me. The drum sound overall lacks a uniqueness. They sound great, but also sound like a million other metal drum tones out there today. There’s a lot of great material on ‘Humanicide.’ but there are a few moments where it seems to be not up to par with everything on the other 3 albums. It felt like we maybe played it safe whereas the other 3 albums very much have their own personality in the production, songwriting, performance and just overall vibe. I’m very proud of all the albums I’ve recorded with DA and think they’re all awesome in their own way, but one of them has to be at the bottom, right?

What is the working title of the new yet-to-be-released record? How many songs are finished?

There’s no working title as far as I know. We have a handful of songs demo’d and are working on more. We keep getting these amazing tour offers which slows down the album making process. I can think of much worse situations to be in.

If Nuclear Blast has a re-issue campaign, do you guys have unreleased bonus tracks and special live versions?

I believe there is only 1 song this current version of the band has recorded that has never seen the light of day. I think it’s called “Spiral” and was recorded during ‘The Evil Divide’ sessions. It’s a complete song, mixed and ready-to-go. We have a shit ton of live stuff. Our sound guy, Thilo records our shows almost every night. Usually during soundcheck, he’ll blast some stuff from the night before to get his levels. It’s neat to hear last night’s performance at that volume and it’s also a great way to keep tabs on my playing.

You’ve had a terrible experience with COVID on the first round. How bad was your most recent? Knowing you had pretty much experienced death via visions, hallucinations, etc, are you worried when you go on lengthy tours?

Obviously my second bout with COVID was nowhere near as intense as my first but it kicked my ass for sure. I was down for about a week. Right after we got back from our Japan/Philippines trip. I was getting weird recall of how I felt the days leading up to my coma. Not a pleasant experience. As I do this interview, I’m packing for our European co-headlining tour with Sacred Reich. It’s obviously going to be an amazing tour and I’m excited about playing for all of our Euro fans, but I’m not going to lie, a part of me is dreading going across the pond. I almost died from a virus/disease I contracted over there so I will always equate Europe with my COVID ordeal, which is unfortunate, as I love Europe.

You play drums quite differently than Andy Galeon yet bring a whole new ambiance and sound to the records he played on. Do you consciously think about the original beats, fills, and cadence when doing a song like ‘Evil Priest.’

I definitely pay attention to the original beats and do my best to keep them true to the original recording. I like adding more double kick to certain spots of the old songs. As far as fills go there’s a number of key fills that I have to do but, for the most part, I do it my way. It’s a delicate thing. On one hand, I want to keep it true to the original but I also want to keep it up to speed with our current sound since Damien and I joined. That’s where the extra double bass and more Thrash metal related drum fills come in.

Who are your current sponsors. Any ones you’re chasing that you’d love to represent?

I’m endorsed by Pearl Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Czarcie Kopyto Pedals and Low Boy beaters. I’m very happy with all of them. However, there may be a change coming in the not- too-distant future. That’s really all I can say about that. The one company that I’ve wanted to represent since I was a child is Ludwig, but I know that’s next to impossible.

The annual Christmas shows at GAMH sold out immediately. Any chance of adding another GAMH show? Very excited to see you’ve added The Catalyst this year.

Two shows at the GAMH is good enough. I think there was talks about possibly doing a third night but we decided it would be fun to play Santa Cruz the night before. We’re doing two different sets for the SF gigs so we’ve been rehearsing a lot of songs.

The newly-reformed Forbidden play support on both shows. Frolic opens Thursday night’s billing and Tornadic opens Friday’s festivities. Doors open at 6pm and the show starts promptly at 7pm. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $35. However, both shows are now now sold out. A handful of tickets may be released day of show. See venue for details and updates at https://gamh.com. The Great American Music Hall is located at 859 O’Farrell St. in San Francisco.

(Capital Chaos TV)

Trick or Tribute: Halloween covers back at Phoenix

Eddie October 24, 2023 0 Comment

The Phoenix Theater, besides being a safe haven for teenagers and adults alike, has been producing annual Halloween shows that feature some of the greatest talent in the area.

For the uninitiated, it’s an all-night affair featuring some of the best local musicians from a handful of different eras. Each group of musicians picks their favorite band and plays a spirited handful of songs of their choosing and adds their own distinctive flair.

Featured acts this year include The Killers (as interpreted by Brandon Hendrickson & Trebuchet), The Adolescents (Tiger Brown and friends), Lady Gaga (Tisha Coates and friends), Stone Temple Pilots (Gas Money), The Cure (James Ryall, Michael Weldon, Derek Nielsen, Tony Ferronato, Campbell McIntosh), Alice in Chains (The Jellyfish Method), Ozzy Osborne (Eric Lee, Lance Brown, Billy O’Donnell and more), Gwen Stefani (MOGGS) and Pink Floyd (Dylan Baltazar, Alex Fabian-Davies and friends).

Phoenix Theater’s talent buyer Jim Agius offers some background on the tradition.

North Bay Bohemian: When was your first Halloween Covers Show?

“Our first Halloween Covers Show took place in 2016. It was originally booked to be a house show in Santa Rosa, but the venue could no longer host it, so we took the lineup at the Phoenix and then started booking it ourselves as an annual tradition. This will be our eighth year,” says Agius.

Highlights of that first show included Cara LP doing Post Malone, which Agius calls “a wild one.” Down Dirty Shakes doing Spice Girls was “a lot of fun,” according to Agius. And Bad Thoughts doing Sex Bob-Omb “is our most popular YouTube one, with over 150k views,” Agius continues.

“We like to do a mix of older and younger bands. We have veterans of the show who are pros who always get a slot if they want it. Tisha Coates/Moon Sick, Trebuchet, Brandon Hendrickson and James Ryall are among them and have some incredible moments on our YouTube playlist,” says Agius.

Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased at thephoenixtheater.com. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the show starts promptly at 7pm. The Phoenix Theater is located at 201 Washington St. in downtown Petaluma. All ages are welcome. Costumes are encouraged.

Each group of musicians picks their favorite band and plays a spirited handful of songs of their choosing.

(North Bay Bohemian)

Just say Yes: Classic rock giants in Napa on Halloween night

Eddie October 24, 2023 0 Comment

Fans of progressive rock staple YES, have suffered through myriad line-up changes due to health issues, death, and personal issues. Whatever the case may be, the end reward has always been the same: new music and touring by YES is always good news. 

The band is currently knee-deep on their ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ that finds the band revisiting some lesser-known but equally compelling YES tracks. What started in Bethlehem, PA, towards the end of September will carry on until the first week of November in Riverside, CA. 

The current line-up is original member Steve Howe (guitars, vocals), along with mainstays and longtime members Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals, acoustic guitar), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar, vocals), and new (er) member Jay Schellen (drums). Together, they will be also supporting YES’ latest record, ‘Mirror To The Sky,’ on InsideOut Music. 

Additionally, each show will commence with a presentation by English artist and designer Roger Dean, whose striking art has been featured on classic album covers by YES and, of course, Asia (which featured Howe and Downes). 

North Bay Bohemian: There were many skeptics but also many who rallied for you. What kind of pressure did you feel even though Jon Anderson had been out for some time?

Jon Davison: On day one of agreeing to join Yes, the press announcement widely spread online. Right away, there were heated discussions among Yes fans. I remember thinking there was really no need to pay attention to it all. I was more concerned with getting my voice trained up and fit to go onstage and give the music everything I could give. That’s really the only “pressure” worth applying. Such discipline transforms into motivation, whereas the pressure you referred to can only be limiting.

North Bay Bohemian: Your newest album is a massive leap from the ‘Heaven & Earth’ LP. What made this album better than ‘The Quest’ aside from possibly preparation time?

Jon Davison: Since the making of the ‘Heaven and Earth’ album, we’ve greatly evolved as a performing and writing unit, having grown from so much personal loss, inside and outside the band. We lost Chris and then Alan. Steve had an extremely tragic personal loss as well. As a result, the band has found a renewed strength, and its creative efforts are exponentially expanding toward greater heights of productivity. 

‘The Quest’ was a rewarding experience for us, but to a large degree, one of uncertainty. Because it was created during the Pandemic—which was such an incredibly strange time – it meant not being able to convene much and only writing remotely. There was a lot of file sharing from our respective places of isolation. 

Nonetheless, the process was successful and it therefore gave us the confidence and momentum to then leap into the creation of our latest album, ‘Mirror to the Sky.’ Whenever I listen to it, I can smile and hear that we were truly inspired. I feel we possess a renewed sense of appreciation for being in a band and having the ability to express ourselves creatively.

North Bay Bohemian: You have written songs with Howe, Sherwood, Squire (RIP), White (RIP), and Downes. Does any particular member make the songwriting process easier? 

Jon Davison: As a true Yes fan, I can say all the varying writing processes with different members past and present have all been fulfilling in their own unique ways. It’s thrilling just to be invited to the creative table with those you have deeply admired. I also love the challenge of taking on another’s musical style which is so unique to that of the others, and finding a voice or character in that style. For example, the mood and shades of Geoff’s writing are very different to that of Steve’s, yet as the lead vocalist, I’m the common denominator. This allows me to wear slightly different hats of compositional approach. I really enjoy having that challenge of creative diversity. 

North Bay Bohemian: Were all the current members of YES involved in this year’s ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ setlist?

Jon Davison: What generally happens is Steve will first propose an outline of a set which we can all then help tweak. For the longest time he’s had a heartfelt desire of doing a ‘Tales of Topographic Oceans’ medley. He played a massive role in the conception of the four-song double album and therefore wanted to find a way of portraying much of its musical essence without taking up too much of the show. The rest of us wholeheartedly decided to take on this endeavor and help realize his vision. Currently on tour, the medley has really been a fun experience to share with so many surprised and delighted fans.

As well, we all voted on what new songs we should perform from our latest studio effort, ‘Mirror to the Sky.’ I also suggested we do “Turn of the Century” which is one I had missed singing since it last appeared in a set in 2014.

North Bay Bohemian: Any songs you particularly enjoy playing / singing live more than others from the classic YES years? What about songs from the last three studio records?

Jon Davison: It’s been a real rush to perform the new material and witness just how supportive audiences are. Then of course, I love singing all the classics as well. As I mentioned earlier, “Turn of the Century” is one that is so rewarding to sing. I’ve also been enjoying singing and playing guitar on, “Time and a Word,” which is from the 60’s album of the same name. 

North Bay Bohemian: How do you cope with the long travel days and 22 hours you’re not playing?

Jon Davison: It can all feel quite grueling a lot of the time. The secret for me is to stay engaged in diversions which help for a time to escape the pressures of tour life. Hopefully to this end I can enjoy watching inspirational or often humorous films or series. Lots of rest is vital, as is moderate exercise to help boost the immune system. Then at other times, I feel inspired from performing and so desire to create music. I actually work in GarageBand on my iPad, which means I can create music during the long hours of riding in the back of a car or van. 

It’s a mad life, I realize. Although it can also be one of excitement and adventure. I reckon, once a road dog always a road dog. 

YES plays The Meritage Spa & Resort located 875 Bordeaux Way in Napa. Live Presentation and Art Gallery outside at 850 Bordeaux Way. Tickets can be bought in advance at www.bluenotejazz.com/napa/shows starting at $69 for Bronze seating and topping out at $244 for the YES VIP Tour Package – Gold Ticket. Doors open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Ages 8+ are welcome. No babes in arms.

(North Bay Bohemian)

On the eve of her Oct. 12 show at Golden 1 Center, a Sacramento music writer recalls working with Pink in her early days

Eddie October 9, 2023 0 Comment

Pink. Photograph by Andrew McPherson

Back in 1999, I was Pink’s BMG distribution representative and involved with promoting her debut record on Laface / Arista records, “Can’t Take Me Home.”

To help launch it, Pink visited one of the biggest record one-stops, Valley Media in Woodland, where I walked her around the marketing and sales departments. She carried no instruments but, rather, sang acapella versions of songs from her yet-to-be-released collection for anyone who would listen. A handful of employees brushed her off, staying on their phones to take orders from accounts instead of giving her a minute of their time. It was a tough task for the then-20-year-old, but she barreled through it.

Nearly six months later, after her album blew-up on the radio, Pink played a sold-out show at Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. Upon arriving backstage to say hello to the newly-minted pop star, she immediately said, “Hi Eddie, thanks for coming out” before I could even get a word in. I could not believe that, with her busy tour and record promotion schedule, she still remembered her Sacramento BMG rep.

That is the kind of artist who Pink was and still is today.

From my vantage point, she’s one of the hardest working ladies in the business and brings a magnificent stage-show and band when she tours. The now-44-years-young Alecia Beth Moore Hart, a.k.a. Pink, released “Trustfall,” her ninth studio album, in February. It has already yielded four singles and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200.

In a recent article in Women’s Health, Pink said of her new album, “I had time, because of a worldwide pandemic, so I went really, really slowly.”

She added of the three-year endeavor, “I was able to take more chances. COVID slowed down life in a ‘what matters’ kind of way for me. Now all I want is to put things in the world that are meaningful and see my kids grow up.”

To date, Pink has sold a whopping 135 million records worldwide and is one of RCA Records’ biggest acts. Additionally, she won numerous accolades, including a couple of Grammy awards and coming in 10th on VH1’s Top 100 Greatest Women In Music.

Pink brings her show to Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center on Thursday, Oct. 12. Grouplove and KidCutUp open the show. Doors for this all-ages show are at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m Visit www.golden1center.com or www.livenation.com for tickets. Golden 1 Center is located at 500 David J Stern Walk in Downtown Sacramento.

(SN&R)

Sacramento Philharmonic director talks teaming up with Harry Potter for performances on Oct. 6 & 7

Eddie October 3, 2023 0 Comment

It’s been 22 years since the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released in theaters across the globe. The fantasy series has been a huge success for all involved.

For those Harry Potter fanatics who can’t ever get enough, the initial film will get some special musical treatment this week from Sacramento’s own Philharmonic orchestra, which will perform John Williams’ original score for a limited run this week at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center.

SN&R reached out to Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera’s executive director, Giuliano Kornberg, to get the lowdown on the upcoming show.

SN&R: As executive director, do you have as much pull for the film choices?

Kornberg: In January 2023, we were approached by the promoting company of the Harry Potter series, Innovation Arts & Entertainment, to see if there might be the possibility for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera to provide the live music for the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. After a bit of back and forth, we agreed and got to work. We’ve developed a great rapport and collegial collaboration with them, both with production planning and marketing, that has everyone excited about the concerts taking place. I think those that will attend are in for a real treat.

For this concert, we were approached with the choice to participate on this film specifically, and generally, for partnership opportunities such as this, the movie, music, production, etc. is pre-determined. That doesn’t make it any less interesting – this concert will be a great way for our musicians to get more performance opportunities, our organization to get a little more exposure, and most importantly, our community to engage with amazing music in this manner for the first time that I can recall.

SN&R: What are some of the past movies that have included the Sacramento Philharmonic?

Kornberg: While we haven’t performed other full movie concerts like this Harry Potter opportunity (to my recollection), we have performed other movie soundtrack performances featuring music by John Williams; superhero music (we performed a ‘Superhero Scores’ concert in June 2022); and other film concerts such as ‘Hooray for Hollywood.’ These performances are quite fun and great for both musicians and concert attendees, and I’m confident that everyone will really enjoy themselves with the full HP1 movie.

SN&R: How many members of the orchestra can we expect for the Harry Potter installation?

Kornberg: There will be about 80 musicians on stage – a full complement of string instruments (12 first violins, 10 second violins, 8 violas, 8 cellos, 6 basses), 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 5 percussionists, harp, piano, and 2 synthesizers. It will be one of the biggest orchestras that we’ll have ever put on stage at one time.

SN&R: Have you ever considered doing a horror, sci-fi, or dystopian drama score like The Shining, 2001: A Space Odyssey or 1984?

Kornberg: Possibly. With the Harry Potter performances taking place next week, I’m really looking forward to seeing how they go, what the audiences and our community think of the performances, how our musicians enjoy performing this music, etc. These sorts of performances and partnerships are a wonderful way for our subscribers, patrons, and donors to engage with our music in a different way than our other performances at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, and are a wonderful point of entry for families, younger individuals, and first-time attendees. From people that I’ve spoken with, there is a great buzz around these Harry Potter concerts, and if they’re the hit that I think they will be, we can certainly explore the potential for producing more performances like these.

SN&R: What other performances are you looking forward to in 2023 and beyond?

Kornberg: This Harry Potter concert will be a great way to start the season, but there a quite a few other musical opportunities for the community to engage with this season. Our Opening Night concert will be on October 21, just a couple weeks after Harry Potter; November will be our first performance with Maestro Ari Pelto as our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor; we’re providing live music for all performances of “The Nutcracker” in December 2023 with the Sacramento Ballet; and we’ll again produce two operas with Die Fledermaus in February 2024 and Don Giovanni in May 2024. We’re also already sketching out what our 2024-25 season will look like, and are assessing if we can produce other concerts like these Harry Potter performances.

The show plays on Saturday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, October 7 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets start at $47 and premium seats are $150 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com in advance. SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center is located at 1301 L Street in Sacramento.

(SN&R)

Nevada County’s annual Celtic festival returns for three days of music, dancing and mental escape Sept. 29 thru Oct. 1

Eddie September 25, 2023 0 Comment

The Elders will be one of many musical acts performing at Nevada County’s Celtic Fair.

Now in its 25th year of bringing national and international acts to the Sierra foothills, the KVMR Celtic Festival is back for three fun-filled days to close-out late September.

Whether one’s a fan of music from Ireland and Scotland, this curated festival delivers something for everyone, featuring attractions that range from falconry to living story guilds. But, of course, the musical acts on this year’s docket are a mainstay and include Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, Talisk, The Elders, The Jeremiahs, On the Lash, The Moxie Strings, Cassidy Joy, Eamonn Flynn & Dublinesque and San Miguel Fraser.

The non-musical experiences KVMR is providing bring attendees face to face with jugglers, story tellers and athletes competing in Highland Games. There will also be a plethora of Celtic food and craft vendors. This family-friendly event typically draws well over 5,000 each year who are connecting with their ancestry or getting a fresh taste of the shamrock culture. It has multiple demonstration stages, a youth arts program, open sessions, magic, art, dance and singing. Additionally, it is the largest fundraising event of the year for KVMR Community Radio which operates as a not-for-profit.

 Tune in to KVMR for updated schedules of live broadcasts at www.kvmr.org.

Friday’s activities feature a free Youth Arts program and, of course, camping is available all weekend long.

Tickets can be purchased at www.kvmrcelticfestival.org in advance or at the door for an extra charge. Single day options are available for both Saturday and Sunday. The 2023 KVMR Celtic Festival takes place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley.

(SN&R)

Jethro Tull brings ‘The Seven Decades’ tour to Lincoln on Sept. 29 

Eddie September 23, 2023 0 Comment

Photograph by Assunta Opahle

Formed in England in 1967, Jethro Tull has since amassed an immense body of work that’s caused it to headline myriad festivals and play arenas and stadiums all over the world. Led by the boundless energy of Ian Anderson, the group released 11 Gold and 5 Platinum-plus records and also won a Grammy award for their 1987 opus, “Crest of A Knave.”

Tull’s ever-evolving sound, which blends blues, progressive rock, folk, jazz, classical and Celtic tones, has won fans over with its over-the-top arrangements that change with each successive album release. The band’s highly regarded 1972 outing, “Thick as A Brick,” featured only two tracks (divided into Part 1 and Part 2) clocking in at 22 minutes and 21 minutes, respectively.

“RökFlöte” is the group’s 23rd record. It just recently came out on progressive rock-leaning label, Inside Out Music. The album’s 12-tracks are based on Norse mythology and find Anderson further exploring the rock flute, a.k.a. the RökFlöte. The song collection comes on the heels of Tull’s 2022 release ‘The Zealot Gene.’

Today, bandleader Anderson is the only original member of Jethro Tull that’s left, but this is not necessarily a bad thing: The flute virtuoso will be joined by longtime bassist David Goodier, veteran pianist and organist John O’Hara, and new (er) additions drummer Scott Hammond and guitarist and mandolin player, Joe Parrish-James.

As luck would have it, Lincoln was included on the band’s limited-run US tour which started on August 18th in Highland Park, Ilinois and will inevitably wrap up on November 4 in Albany, NY. Tickets start at $54.95 and top out at $114.95 and can be purchased at www.thundervalleycasino.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts promptly at 8 p.m. This is a 21-and0over only performance. The Venue is located inside Thunder Valley Casino at 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln.

(SN&R)

Earth, Wind & Fire tribute group Kalimba plays Vino Godfather Winery

Eddie September 14, 2023 0 Comment

For those Earth, Wind and Fire fans who missed their last area tour dates in June, the upcoming show with the Pacific Northwest’s greatest R&B export, Kalimba, should appease their fans and then some. 

Taking on the vocal styling of EWF singer Philip Bailey is no easy task, but the band plays their catalog like it’s their very own. And while tribute acts today may seem a dime-a-dozen, this collective provides a show worthy of any venue’s stage.   

Expect fan favorites such as “Reasons,” “Shining Star,” “September,” “After The Love Has Gone,” “Let’s Groove,” “Serpentine Fire,” and a handful of other dance-able EWF hits. For those still on the fence, visit Kalimba’s website to see and hear the band live in all its magical splendor. 

Kalimba already played a handful of shows in the area recently, including (but not limited to) Sacramento, El Dorado Hills, Ripon, and San Francisco, and play up and down the coast with semi-regularity. And while most folks need to work on buying tickets for winery shows of this ilk, it would be wise to reserve your spot before the tables are gone. 

Come hungry, as Fred’s Barbeque will be cooking up a storm. The day’s menu includes tri-tip sandwiches, BBQ Ribs, BBQ Chicken, hot links, hot dogs, tacos with beans & rice, chicken & shrimp pasta, and a handful of vegetarian options.

This “Fall Dance Party” lasts for three hours and will be a great way to burn off some calories you’ll rack up by eating the venue’s food fare beforehand. 

The show starts at 1 pm, Sunday, Sept. 17. And all ages are welcome (sorry, no babes in arms). Tickets are $40 in advance and can be purchased here. For those who wish to try their luck at the door, tickets will be $45 the day of the show. The Vino Godfather Winery is located at 1005 Walnut Ave. in Vallejo. 

(North Bay Bohemian)