April 2024

Tu-Ner in Tune with Sweetwater

Eddie April 30, 2024 0 Comment

“Tu-Ner for Lovers” is the latest release from drummer Pat Mastelotto, guitarist Markus Reuter and bassist Trey Gunn.

Fans of King Crimson need no introduction to the trio, as they already released the highly ambitious Contact Information two-disc record set via the MoonJune Records label last August.

Although the new collection comes out just days before the guys hit the road starting on May 9 in Phoenix, Arizona, Marin County and its neighboring residents will be delighted to know the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley is among one of the first five shows on their abbreviated itinerary.

For the uninitiated, drummer Pat Mastelotto has proven himself quite the ambidextrous drummer, having played with such disparate acts as Mr. Mister, XTC, David Sylvian, The Rembrandts, Kimmo Pohjonen, King Crimson and Stick Men.

Trey Gunn, who is known in many musician circles as the master of the Warr guitar, also has an impressive resume, having worked with King Crimson, David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, Happy Rhodes, Puscifer, Tool and John Paul Jones.

Guitarist Markus Reuter is also a versatile musician, having conquered the Chapman Stick and then later the U8 Touch Guitar. Reuter has quite the catalog under his belt and has released numerous solo albums along with collaborating with Gary Husband, Robert Rich, J. Peter Schwalm, Mark Wingfield and Devin Townsend’s touring band.

Others may already know him from his work with Stick Men (also with Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin from Peter Gabriel and King Crimson fame), TRUCE (with Asaf Sirkis and Fabio Trentini) and the fabulous Markus Reuter/Tim Motzer/Kenny Grohowski project.

We caught up with drummer Pat Mastelotto while in preparation for yet another run of shows.

Pacific Sun: Tu-Ner has a brand new album coming out May 3. How long have these songs been brewing in the background?

Pat Mastelotto: The new album coming out is taken from our live tour last September. They’re basically improvs. We do play songs and several from the King Crimson catalog that Trey and I participated in. We also do others from Trey’s back catalog, Markus’ catalog, some stuff from Tu and Tu-Ner, along with a Stick Men song. However, we are more excited to put out the freshest jams. We put some of the strongest moments together, mixed them in a blender and came out with a cohesive combination of tracks taken from several of the shows.

PS: You’ve been making music on and off with Markus Reuter for 19 years now. Will we see more music from the duo aside from Tu-Ner?

PM: We’re always up to this and that, so even behind the scenes we’re helping each other with different projects. Will there be another duet? I’m not sure. I couldn’t predict that right now, but I am trying to arrange a time for Markus to come join me and record later this year or early next year.

PS: Tu-Ner’s latest is fantastic but begs the question: Will you be playing these compositions verbatim or throwing in even more improv?

PM: Ha! Besides playing songs, we play some of the more epic King Crimson pieces that Trey and I were involved with, as well as some Stick Men material and stuff off of Trey’s and Markus’ solo records. However, the band is largely a vehicle for improvisation, research and development.

Will we play the last record “verbatim?” The short answer is no and highly unlikely. That stuff was all played off the cuff. It was improvised, and then we did some editing as it was being mixed. Those are all live performances. You can expect something very similar, but not the same. The shows are unique and vary depending on the vibe of the venue.

Tu-Ner plays Sweetwater Music Hall, located at 19 Corte Madera Ave. in Mill Valley. Doors open at 7pm, and the show kicks off at 8pm, Tuesday, May 14. Tickets are $30 advance and can be purchased at sweetwatermusichall.com. All ages are welcome. For more info, visit Tu-Ner.com.

(Pacific Sun)

‘Petty Theft’ headlines Bodega Bay fest

Eddie April 29, 2024 0 Comment

For over half a century, the annual Fisherman’s Festival in Bodega Bay has been a destination for live music, crafts, food, entertainment and more.

And for those who love their libations, expect more than 25 Sonoma County wines and a plethora of top-shelf beer choices.

There are also many activities for the kids, such as face painting, spin paintings, games and a touch tank tide pool. Foodies can relish in the myriad eats, which include barbecued oysters, fish & chips, clam chowder and a handful of food trucks serving different fare.

At the heart of the outdoor festival are this year’s musical guests, on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, which include The Unauthorized Rolling Stones (a Rolling Stones tribute), Rotten Tomatoes (’70s and ’80s rock), The Pinball Wizards (a Who tribute), 7 Summers (a Morgan Wallen tribute), The 7th Sons (’60s to ’80s classic rock) and the longest-running and most successful Tom Petty tribute, Marin County’s Petty Theft.

We caught up with Petty Theft guitarist Monroe Grisman as the band was finishing a slew of April gigs and preparing for yet another handful of May shows, including headlining Saturday’s Bodega Bay festivities.

Bohemian: Petty Theft has been together for 21 years now. That’s quite an achievement for an original or tribute band. How many of the members were there from the beginning?

Monroe Grisman: Our founding members are Django Bayless (bassist/vocals) and Dan Durkin (lead singer/acoustic guitar). In the early years, there was some turnover in the line-up before we settled into our core group, which has now been performing together for 16 years. Our newest member, Steven Seydler (keyboards), has been in the band for six years.

B: How does the band juggle its members’ schedules with you and the drummer playing in AZ/DZ (an AC/DC tribute), your wife and you playing in the April & Monroe Grisman project, Dan doing solo shows and more?

MG: All of us play in other bands and still write and record our own original music too. Singer Dan Durkin also plays with The Illeagles (Eagles tribute) and Revolver (’60s tribute) and works a lot doing solo acoustic shows. Michael Papenburg (guitar) and Steven Seydler both do a lot of session work and also write music. Michael also teaches at the School Of Rock.

Adam Berkowitz (drums) and I are both in two other bands together, AZ/DZ (AC/DC tribute) and The 85’s (’80s dance). I also play in a reggae classics group called Soul Jah Family Band. My wife, April, and I have recently written a bunch of songs and have started recording and performing out locally under our names. As far as how do we juggle all this, I got two words for you: Google Calendar.

B: Any advice for budding musicians wishing to start a tribute?

MG: A lot of people think that starting a tribute band is an easy way to start packing clubs. While the process may be easier at first, as the songs are already written and the road map, musically speaking, is there, you still have to be good. It can be a double-edged sword, as fans already know the songs (and well).

It generally takes at least three years to really start hitting your stride playing the music together as a band. Petty Theft didn’t start drawing our own crowds until about five or six years into it, in part because our line-up was still in flux, but also because we were still developing our chemistry as a band. Some people think that tribute bands have it easy, but we have worked our butts off. My advice? Do it because you love doing it and always have fun doing so.

Petty Theft (a Tom Petty tribute) plays the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival inside Westside Regional Park located at 2400 Westshore Rd. in Bodega Bay. For more info and tickets, visit bbfishfest.org. All ages are welcome for this family-friendly event.

(North Bay Bohemian)

KVMR Celtic Festival, May 3 to 5 @ Nevada County Fairgrounds

Eddie April 26, 2024 0 Comment

Now in its 26th year of producing California’s greatest Celtic music festivals, this gathering features international, national, and local acts over three fun-filled days. Whether you’re a fan of Celtic music or not makes little difference as this curated festival delivers something for everyone.

Just some of the many, wholly different musical acts on this year’s docket include (but are certainly not limited to) Heron Valley (pictured), Old Blind Dogs, Boho Celtic Orchestra, Mec Lir, Wake The Dead, Socks In The Frying Pan, Cassidy Joy, and more. Also on the docket this year is The Friday Night Ceilidh featuring musical acts Ryan McKasson & Colin Cotter and Summer McCall for an additional fee. Featured Irish dance schools include returning troupes McKeever School of Irish Dance and Kennelly School of Irish Dance.

For those not in the know, the KVMR Celtic Festival now draws well over 7,000 music lovers over the weekend and has multiple demonstration stages, a fabulous youth arts program, magic expos, animal exhibitions, art, dance and collaborative singing groups. Additionally, it is the largest fundraising event of the year for KVMR Community Radio which operates as a non-profit. Tune in to KVMR for updated schedules of live broadcasts at www.kvmr.org.

For those looking to wander, shop, and engage in myriad activities, the Celtic Marketplace now features a whopping 100+ vendors with artisans selling and showcasing their wares along with storytelling groups. From Scottish Highland Games to Guild & Clan encampments (Living History), children’s activities to workshops, the options at this family-friendly gathering are endless.

The 2024 KVMR Celtic Festival takes place at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley. 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. Adult tickets start at $70 for single day passes.

Regular children’s tickets (6-16) start at $45 for single day passes. Children 0-5 are free. Both RV and dry camping passes are also available for a nominal fee.

(Rio Linda Online)

Denver, Colorado’s own WAYFARER to bring their own brand of black metal to the Cafe Colonial. May 1.

Eddie April 24, 2024 0 Comment

Now into their 2nd decade as a band, American black metal merchants Wayfarer will be making their way to the Sacramento Valley to showcase their distinct take on the black metal genre. Sacramento’s stop is just the second show of an ambitious full-fledged tour with Sonja that will take the band from Portland, Oregon to Lincoln, New England in just under a month.

Photo credit : Frank Guerra

For those not paying attention, they issued their ‘American Gothic’ album on Profound Lore Records last October and have since received numerous accolades from the press including landing on ‘Best Of 2023’ lists at Rolling Stone, Decibel Magazine, and Metal Hammer UK (to name just a few). One part black metal, one part Americana fare, and another gothic country, their head-scratching sound is sure to turn heads upon first listen. With a discography that now includes five full-lengths, one single, and a demo, fans Of Wayfarer have been able to watch their progression from largely a bedroom project to a veritable live force.

Highlights from the band’s eight track opus include “The Thousand Tombs Of Western Promise,” “The Cattle Thief,” “False Constellation,” and the mesmerizing instrumental interlude of “1934.” Fans of Borknagar, Enslaved, and dissonant black metal will appreciate the band’s wall of sound as well as their attention to detail. And while the group draws from myriad influences, these songs stand up nicely both in the band’s and label’s catalog and as part of the larger black metal diaspora.

At present, the band features Isaac Faulk (drums), James Hansen (bass, vocals), Shane McCarthy (guitars, vocals), and Joey Truscelli (guitars). Said founding member McCarthy about the upcoming tour dates, “This tour has been a long time coming for us – it will actually be the band’s first ever full US headlining tour in our 10+ year history. We are looking forward to hitting some places we have never been before and, of course, returning to several of the places that have always brought it in the past. We are thrilled to bring ‘American Gothic’ to the stage in a big way.”

Wayfarer play the Cafe Colonial located at 3520 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento. Rounding out the bill is tourmate Sonja and locals Dessication. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $18 at http://www.cafecolonial916.com. Cafe Colonial is located at 3520 Stockton Blvd.. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. As always, all ages are welcome. Get there early to score some fine Cafe Colonial food fare.

(Capital Chaos TV)

Germany’s BLIND GUARDIAN return to the Regency Ballroom yet again to shake the Bay Area to its core. April 28.

Eddie April 22, 2024 0 Comment

Blind Guardian’s 22-date US tour supporting ‘The God Machine’ started on April 18th at The Fillmore in Maryland and will inevitably end with a coveted headlining slot at the 2024 Milwaukee Metal Fest in mid-May. For those not in the know, it was preceded by the band’s highly successful ‘Somewhere Far Beyond Tour’ throughout across Germany.

And while the power metal quartet has been nowhere as prolific as their adoring fans would have wished, ‘The God Machine’ stands up nicely among their storied catalog without sounding dated nor derivative. Highlights from the latest album issued on Nuclear Blast Records include ‘Damnation,” “Secrets of the American Gods,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” and ’Architects Of Doom.”

Not ones to sit idle, the group also issued a wonderful collection dubbed ‘Legacy of the Dark Lands’ under the banner of the Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra back in 2019.

At present, the band includes founding members Hansi Kürsch (vocals) and André Olbrich (lead guitar), along with mainstays Marcus Siepen (rhythm guitar) and newest addition Frederik Ehmke (drums).

We caught up with vocalist Hansi Kürsch during the opening night of their US tour to get the lowdown on all things Blind Guardian-related and then some.

Capital Chaos TV: ‘The God Machine’ was released in 2022 after a seven year drought. Why the long wait?

Hansi Kürsch: There are plenty of reasons. On one side, we lost two years due to Corona; all plans had to be skipped. We also had two years of live activities after ‘Beyond the Red Mirror’ where composing was not possible at all. Blame the last years on our passion for perfection!

Capital Chaos TV: You have a lot of catalog to pull from each night. How often do you switch up the set list on a US tour?

Hansi Kürsch: We play mostly the same songs each night to be in control. We have approximately two different songs in the set each night to make sure we do not get too confident about what is coming next. It’s a mixture of routine and surprise. There are around 30 songs we can chose from, and a set contains 14 to 16 songs depending on the night.

Capital Chaos TV: What current bands are on your radar that you listen to regularly?

Hansi Kürsch: We have Night Demon along with us in North America. Before that, we had Sorcerer from Sweden and German band The Night Eternal. These are bands we like and we wanted to have with us. They are appealing to our audience, which is a top priority thing. All of these bands have a great chance to become bigger.

Capital Chaos TV: How do you and the others deal with the 22 hours you’re not on stage on a typical US tour? Any regimens you follow?

Hansi Kürsch: Everybody is free to do whatever he wants to during most of the other 22 hours. Everyone‘s focus is on the next upcoming show, though. I‘d say that 50% of our time is reserved for warm-ups, soundchecks and show-related stuff. The rest of the time we try to visit comic or record stores. When we have the chance, there is also a bit of regular sight-seeing involved. We love to visit churches and graveyards.

Capital Chaos TV: Does Blind Guardian still make residuals on previous Century Media and No Remorse records releases? Any plans to get the catalog back in full and re-issued by Nuclear Blast?

Hansi Kürsch: I think Nuclear Blast did great in distributing all our old records in every possible way. I don’t think we will add the old Century Media versions to the catalog as that would be a bit too much. Our focus is the future so we keep our focus not only on our legacy, but also on new songs that are going to be distributed on physical formats.

Capital Chaos TV: Some acts today live off of sync licensing in addition to live shows and merchandising. What films, commercials, etc have you been featured in? Is there anybody working on your behalf to secure more placement?

Hansi Kürsch: We take this as it comes. We have a bunch of stuff being brought in by several partners. Nuclear Blast and our publishing partners are good in acquiring such things. We also actively contacted many computer game companies ourselves. I might be the wrong one in telling you what we are involved in, but it ranges from computer games to movies, TV trailers, and TV- series. We take it as it comes. In this regard, we are very old school.

Capital Chaos TV: What do you attribute the band’s longevity to? It’s your 40th anniversary this year as a band and you are still bringing in newer generations.

Hansi Kürsch: The main reason – as with any band being in the music business for so long – is not only absolute passion and dedication to the music, but also confidence about our own musical mission. People keep saying that we’ve had a long run, but it does not feel like 40 years. I am grateful for the fact that younger generations are also loving our music. This is partly due to older fans passing the Guardian spirit to their children who became dedicated fans. Nowadays there are kids who are just now catching the spirit of our music because it is moving something within them. That is a precious thing.

Blind Guardian play The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco located at 1300 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Support comes from Night Demon. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. All ages are welcome. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased at www.theregencyballroom.com.

(Capital Chaos TV)

New York’s legendary CRO-MAGS set to tear the roof off Old Roseville’s Goldfield Trading Post. April 25.

Eddie April 22, 2024 0 Comment

Since forming 43 years ago, Cro-Mags would eventually turn the hardcore punk / metal scene upside down releasing some of the genre’s most important records:  ‘Age Of Quarrel (1986) and ‘Best Wishes’ (1989). And while the band would be riddled with various line-up changes and more commotion than necessary, its founding member Harley Flanagan has been flying the flag for New York hardcore and its scene for nearly half a century.

Photo by Mathieu Bredeau

At present, Cro-Mags personnel list includes Harley Flanagan (bass, vocals), Christian Lawrence (drums), Dave Sharpe (guitar), and Dominic DiBenedetto (guitar).

And while Flanagan would find himself embroiled in a lengthy trial over the band’s moniker, it was decided in April 2019 that he would eventually reach a settlement with former Cro-Mags members John Joseph (vocals) and Mackie Jayson (drums) that Flanagan would now retain the name and its trademark. Harley would soon receive a permanent injunction against his former members.

Their latest album – ‘In The Beginning’ – signaled a return to form even though released after a 20 year wait back in 2020. Since then, Flanagan and company have toured both in North America and Europe and with great results. Additionally, they also issued a three-song EP in 2019 featuring Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell appropriately dubbed ‘From The Grave,’ which was the precursor to their long-awaited full-length. The band also issued even more new music with a six-song EP in 2020 .

Sadly, Cro-Mags were forced to live stream a free performance from SIR studios as their big show with Body Count at Webster Hall in New York was canceled due to COVID restrictions back in March 2020. However, the event was an online success and one of the first of its kind.

Fans will be pleased to know Harley and company are in the middle of a lengthy US tour which will see the band co-headlining large capacity rooms with New York’s Helmet. Starting on April 14th in Michigan, the bands will criss-cross the country eventually ending on May 19th in Ohio.

Cro-Mags play Goldfield Trading Post located at 238 Vernon Street in Roseville. Also on the bill is Helmet. Doors open at 7pm and the show kicks off promptly at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 at www.goldfieldtradingpost.com. All ages are welcome.

(Capital Chaos TV)

Hellbender Releases ‘Scumlordz’ EP

Eddie April 16, 2024 0 Comment

Sonoma County-based metal bands of all styles come and go, but the four guys in Hellbender have always been inclusive when it comes to playing shows and have outlasted many others.

Rather than bringing a homogeneous cast out each and every time they play, Hellbender’s varied bills are what makes them a veritable live force and bring back their own and newbie fans time and time again.

With its four members part of many well-known and lesser-known bands, Hellbender’s strength lies in its members’ myriad influences. And although at first listen most would categorize their music as metallic hardcore, upon further inspection the guys are doing something much bigger with nods to classic thrash and New York’s underground punk scene.

And with a brand new EP waiting in the wings, the band is looking to play more in 2024 and, more importantly, broaden their fan-base playing coveted support slots with national acts when possible.

At present, Hellbender is rounded out by core members Eric Lee (bass), Greg “Clee” Clecak (guitar) and vocalist Bill Scheffler. Their latest addition is drum phenomenon Eric Strand. For those not in the know, Lee was part of Petaluma Junior High’s first metal band to play a talent show, the much-talked-about Sacrilege featuring the late Miles McNaught (also from Accolades) on guitar.

Bohemian: You guys have been around for a minute. Hellbender started in what year?

Eric Lee: Clee and myself started this band back in 2012, with Billy joining shortly after. We wanted to be the heaviest thing around, and that has always been the focus. We have been through six drummers, but not by choice. Our current drummer, Eric Strand, we have known since the ’80s.

B: For the newbies out there, what were members’ previous bands?

EL: I’ve been playing with guitarist Clee since 1996, including Porterhouse, Wingnut and Crimeseen. I was also in Accolades and an extreme metal duo called Concoction. Bill has been in several bands, such as Indulgence, Seeds of Hate, Bombsquad 707 and S.E.E.D. Eric (Strand) has been in too many bands to name, but he’s mostly known as a former member of Engage, Victims Family, Roadside Bombs, Closing In and is currently playing with Lucky Ol’ Bones.

B: What is the title of the new CD, and will it be pressed on vinyl as well?

EL: The EP is called Scumlordz. It’s a title that had been floating around since the beginning of the band. I would love to get it out on vinyl, but we are going to wait on that for now.

B: How many songs didn’t make the record? Where did those riffs initially come from?

EL: This was all new music. All five songs made the cut and we didn’t really have anything else. It was stuff I wrote during the pandemic that was recorded on my iPhone. Clee also had a bunch of new riffs, so we would get together at his house and try to organize parts before we played it with everyone. Riffs would also come up in the practice sessions. It was very much a group effort. We wrote with Eric (Strand) for about a year. The whole thing takes time and you have to try different ideas and melodies to hear and feel what works. We also used Dropbox a lot. Songs got rearranged a dozen ways.

B: You’re also playing a huge 8-band bill at the UC Theatre with New York’s Biohazard and Forbidden. How did that come about?

EL: Since we worked with Craig & Chris on the record, it was a natural progression to land a Forbidden gig. We are extremely honored to be part of the first Omega Fest on Saturday, May 4th. New York’s Biohazard hasn’t played here in 30 years. Also on the bill are Exciter, Warbringer, Hatriot, DeathGrave and Frolic.

B: Why the Phoenix Theater for your CD release show over other Sonoma County venues?

EL: Everyone in this band has basically grown up there, and we all have played countless shows since the ’80s. During the pandemic, we had no studio, and the great Tom Gaffey allowed us to do weekly rehearsals there until we finally got our own studio. The Phoenix is our home, so it’s a no-brainer to do a release party there.

Hellbender plays the Phoenix Theater, located at 201 Washington St., Petaluma. Supporting acts include Right To Remain, Here Comes The Comet, and Prostitution. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased at thephoenixtheater.com. Doors open at 7pm, Saturday, April 20, and the show starts promptly at 8pm. All ages are welcome.

(North Bay Bohemian)

Cult band Panchiko to headline Ace Of Spades. April 17.

Eddie April 11, 2024 0 Comment

Photo by Gabe Dreschler

Although point of origin shouldn’t be an issue, Panchiko hail from Nottingham, England. And while the band’s inception date has been hard to pin down, it’d be safer to say to it was over two decades ago and change. Their story, however, is an odd one and deserves your attention.

After releasing the ‘D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L’ demo in 2000 on a small batch of CDRs, the band’s music would sit dormant until an avid music fan discovered the demo in a small shop in Nottingham some 16 years later. Through the powers of social media, a 4chan user and new Panchiko fan contacted the group in 2020. The band would later re-issue the recordings as well as releasing more digital and physical media in the form of compilations and singles. At present, the song “D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L” has gone viral and racked up over 25,000,000 dedicated streams with other tracks “All They Wanted” and “Laputa” clocking an astounding 17,000,000 and 13,000,000 streams respectively.

For those not in the know, Panchiko includes core members Owain Davies (vocals, guitar, sampling, production, piano, artwork), Andrew “Andy” Wright (guitar, keyboard, sampling, sequencing, engineering, production, lyrics), and Shaun Ferreday (bass, bass programming, effects). The band is rounded out by newer musicians Robert Harris (guitar) and John Schofield (drums, percussion).

Today, Panchiko are touring in support of their first full-length effort – the oddly-named ‘Failed at Math(s)’ – released in 2023. Starting in Berkeley and just a day before their Sacramento show, the tour will inevitably end over a month later in San Diego with two headlining shows at majestic Southern California venue, The Observatory.

Fans of both the anime culture as well as electronic, shoe-gaze, and melancholy lo-fi indie fare will appreciate the songs found on their latest album. Highlights from the 8-song offering include the title track, “Gwen Everest,” and the largely instrumental “Breakfast Seance” which could easily have been an outtake from Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ release or a Clinic B-side.

We caught up with Andy Wright while the band was preparing for their pending US tour.

Capital Chaos TV: Will there be more shows after the tour ends on May 19th in San Diego?

Andy Wright: We’re planning some more shows and hoping to do another month to cover all the lovely places we had to miss on this tour later on in the year. We love to play to folks as often as possible, but we have families at home in the UK that we occasionally need to check in with.

Capital Chaos TV: What do you recall about your first US tour? Any highlights?

Andy Wright: The first tour was just incredible from start to end. None of us had spent any significant amount of time in the US before. We loved pretty much every show, but the highlight for us was on our second tour. In Los Angeles, someone made a marriage proposal on stage. They said yes!

Capital Chaos TV: How long did it take to write and record ‘Failed At Math(s)’? Any songs that didn’t make the record?

Andy Wright: At least half the songs from ‘Failed At Math(s)’ had been written 25 years ago, so we had a bit of a head start on the process. There were plenty of songs that didn’t make it onto the album for one reason or another, but we’re proud of the songs we released. The whole thing took about a year to finish whilst we were all juggling full time jobs, families and a new born baby.

Capital Chaos TV: Are there any other musical projects you or the other members are involved in aside from Panchiko?

Andy Wright: All of us have worked on various projects over the years, but we prefer our lovely Panchiko friends to find out about our old bands by themselves. It’s more fun that way.

Panchiko play Ace Of Spades located at 1417 R Street in Downtown Sacramento. You Ain’t Doing That Kitty Kat opens the show. Tickets start at $38 and can be purchased at www.aceofspades.com. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. All ages are welcome.

(Capital Chaos TV)

For the Record: Marin’s longest-running indie record store

Eddie April 10, 2024 0 Comment

A long-lost art form unto itself, the thrill of digging for vinyl records is slowly making a comeback.

The idea of finding that live Weather Report vinyl one only heard about or that long out-of-print King Biscuit Flower Hour 10cc live CD—sometimes after an hour or more of looking in every crevice and open box—is still very much a lure for many audiophiles.

Unlike the stale experience of going to Best Buy, Wherehouse or Sam Goody nearly 30 years ago, independent stores like Gary Scheuenstuhl’s Mill Valley Music thrive on the experience over the end purchase. At his store, it’s not uncommon to find many un-priced records, so a discussion and possibly even a little price haggling can occur.

Nestled on Miller Street, a high-traffic roadway leading both into town and back to the 101 freeway, Mill Valley Music is one of those rare stores where music lovers can freely talk amongst themselves about vinyl inserts, CD liner notes, upcoming concerts, gigs in the past and anything else music-related. With a largely hidden upstairs section and a very narrow walkway downstairs, it’s both a store where reputations as music-loving buyers grow and a musical destination to forge new and lasting friendships.

We caught up with Scheuenstuhl during a busier-than-normal week to learn how stores like his build a rapport by their mere existence.

Pacific Sun: Music distribution has changed so much over the years and, particularly, since the ’90s. How do you decide what stock to bring in aside from special orders?

Gary Scheuenstuhl: I worked at the world famous Village Music for about 27 years, and in that time, I was exposed to all kinds of music. Those years, plus the 16 years I have owned my own shop, have given me a deep and eclectic knowledge of many styles of music. That knowledge, plus service and reasonable pricing, have helped me build a reputation and a loyal customer base.

PS: How are the prices from one-stop distribution these days?

GS: There is so much new vinyl, which tends to have a low mark-up (margin) and no return options, so you need to know what people want.

PS: What is the biggest misconception about running an independent music store in today’s climate and economy?

GS: People don’t understand how expensive and difficult it is.

PS: What do you attribute to your longevity when other indie stores have shuttered?

GS: You really need to love music and run the store as a labor of love, not as a quick way to make money.

PS: Any certain customers that come in and shop like clockwork?

GS: I have a customer named John who, on his first visit, overheard a musical discussion with another customer and then joined in the conversation. Upon returning home, he wrote me a long email stating that this is what a store should be like: a place where ideas can be shared in a friendly environment. He has since become a loyal shopper and a friend as well. Over time, there have been many of those.

PS: What do you remember most about your days at Village Music?

GS: There are many things I miss about working at Village Music. I was part of a vibrant musical scene without having to worry about the overhead that comes with it. Many musical icons would either play in the store, or be part of the rich magical history between John Goddard (Village Music owner) and Jeannie Patterson (Sweetwater’s former talent buyer) at his now-famous parties at the legendary Sweetwater. Highlights definitely include Jerry Garcia jamming with Elvis Costello or Ry Cooder and his large band squeezing onto the small Sweetwater Music Hall stage.

PS: What do you do for enjoyment outside of the store’s hours?

GS: I have been playing drums and Djembe for years. More recently, I have a live band/project called The Marinfidels which does a show dubbed “Beatles versus Stones.” The crowd gets to decide which one they enjoyed most at the end of the evening.

PS: What keeps you coming back to the store day in and day out?

GS: I get to listen to music every day. Being around it will always be a large part of my life. Music is forever.

Mill Valley Music is located at 320 Miller St. in Mill Valley. The store is open 11am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 12 to 5pm on Sundays. Set aside an hour or two if you’re looking to get your hands dirty and find some musical treasures. Visit Scheuenstuhl and company online at millvalleymusic.com.

(Pacific Sun)

‘A Brazilian Carnaval in Sacramento’ to take place at CLARA Studios. April 13.

Eddie April 9, 2024 0 Comment

Brazilian-born dancer Marta Santos first came to California in 2000 and immediately started to promote Brazilian culture in Sacramento with events and dance classes. Additionally, she also runs a professional dance group – Samba da Terra – which has performed at countless venues and festivals all over the region.

Not one to sit idle, Marta has also traveled through a handful of different states and cities doing various dance workshops. At present, she also teaches a dance class on Thursday nights at Faces nightclub. Santos is often hired to perform at private parties and has participated in numerous parades hosted by Sacramento.

Her upcoming event – ‘A Brazilian Carnaval in Sacramento’ – has been in the works for quite some time. For those not in the know, her last full-fledged event of this magnitude was held over 15 years ago.

We caught up with Marta in preparation for her big South American cultural soiree which will take place both inside and outside of CLARA Studios.

Rio Linda Online: How many members will perform with your Samba da Terra troupe this coming weekend?

Santos: Samba da Terra typically has six drummers and anywhere from four to twelve dancers. I’m still organizing our performance, but I think I will have five drummers and six dancers.

Rio Linda Online: Who are the other featured acts?

Santos: I’m pleased to announce we’ll have two bands: Santa Cruz’s own SambaDá and Davis’ own Boca Do Rio. Other special guests include Marcia Almeida Jácomo (traditional Brazilian Bossa Nova) and Nilo Ayele (from the Namorados da Lua band). There will also be a Samba show with Samba Queen Maisa Duke, a Samba dance class with Valeria RioBela, and our very own Samba da Terra show. DJ RDM will be spinning throughout the event.

Rio Linda Online: What other cities have you performed outside of Sacramento in California?

Marta Santos: I’ve done Brazilian workshops including Samba, Samba-Reggae, and African-Brazilian dance with live performances in Berkeley, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. Also, I have performed in various states including Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Illinois and Hawaii.

Rio Linda Online: Will there be food & drink available?

Santos: Definitely! We will have traditional Brazilian and Ethiopian food, wine and beer, a lemonade truck, and even more surprises.

Rio Linda Online: Will you be doing this event every year from now on?

Santos: That is the hope. My goal is to continue to keep promoting Brazilian culture in Sacramento and at our events whenever possible. ‘A Brazilian Carnaval in Sacramento’ is such a great opportunity for the community at large to see and hear the dance, music, language, and culture of my native Brazil.

Samba da Terra presents ‘A Brazilian Carnaval in Sacramento’ at CLARA Studios located at 1425 24^th street in Sacramento. Doors open at 1pm and the show kicks off at 2pm. Tickets are $22 in advance and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brazilian-carnaval-in-sacramento-2024-tickets-846603853917 and at the door day of show for $30. All ages are welcome. Children ages 13 and under are free with paid parent admission.

(Rio Linda Online)