For those lucky enough to catch Last In Line, a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, at the downtown Goldfield location, there was little doubt how important Dio’s band members were to defining his sound. Since the band’s formation ten years ago, the key members have not rested on their laurels and, instead, released two new albums of new material – Heavy Crown (2016) and II (2019) – and are supporting a new EP ‘A Day In The Life.’ Although Jimmy Bain (original bassist) sadly passed away during Def Leppard’s rock cruise in 2016, he was replaced by the ever capable Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne). The band is rounded out by drum legend Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Dio), singer Andrew Freeman (Lynch Mob), and guitarist extraordinaire Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy). Special guests Evolution Eden, Arminius and Nova Sutro open this heavy-handed bill. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.goldfieldtradingpost.com for $26.50 and a VIP seating option is also available for an extra $30. Doors open at 5pm and the show starts at 6pm. Goldfield Trading Post is located at 238 Vernon Street in Roseville. All ages are welcome. (SN&R)
For the uninitiated, Leonid & Friends rise to fame was wholly and utterly unexpected. What started as a humble tribute to the band Chicago via some well recorded in-studio videos, has now blossomed into a well-oiled and wildly popular touring machine. Thanks to word-of-mouth and the power of YouTube, the band’s near perfect interpretations of classic group fare are drawing capacity crowds across the greater U.S.. To date, the group has 4.9 million views of Chicago’s “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and a staggering 9.5 million views of an Earth Wind & Fire staple, “September.” This Saturday’s show marks the group’s 3rd time in the market after playing the Crest Theatre in 2019 and 2021. Today, the touring troupe also incorporates a small amount of original music along with more cover songs by Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and whatever suits their fancy. You really can’t go wrong if looking for a weekend winner. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30pm. Tickets are $43, $53 and $65 and can be purchased at www.crestsacramento.com or via promoter, SBL Entertainment. The Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K Street in Sacramento, CA. As always, all shows at the Crest Theatre are open to music fans of all ages.
Sacramento, little by little, has become a destination rather than a pass through town for many touring artists. Such is the case for Flor De Toloache, a wonderful group led by bandleaders/founders Shae Fiol and Mireya Ramos, who play a dreamy blend of acoustic-based mariachi music. As luck would have it, their U.S. tour supporting their fifth album, ‘Motherflower,’ starts in our lovely town and ends in Colorado in mid-November. The new release features all original material and is the long-awaited follow-up to their Grammy nominated 2019 release, ‘Indestructible.’ Doors open at 6pm for the all ages show which starts at 7pm with opening act, Chika Di. Upper tier tickets start at only $23 while lower tier are $33. The Sofia is located at 2700 Capitol Avenue in downtown Sacramento.
Although he’s not technically supporting a new record, Minas Gerais via Rio De Janeiro native and multi-instrumentalist, Milton Nascimento, has more than enough material to fill up the night’s program. Over 43 albums, Nascimento AKA Bituca has proven himself a vertitable force both at home and abroad. And while his first solo record – ‘Trevessia’ – was released a handful of years after playing in samba groups Evolussamba and Sambacana, he has been anything but idle since the earfly 60’s. Thanks to Weather Report’s Wayne Shorter, Nascimento broke through to American crowds after playing on Shorter’s ‘Native Dancer (1974)’ release which also featured fellow Brazilians including percussionist Airto Moreira, drummer Robertinho Silva, and organist Wagner Tiso. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. Advance tickets for this family friendly event are $50 and can be purchased at www.theuctheatre.org and the promoter, Brazilian Nites (www.braziliannites.com), who are presenting a handful of shows in the United States. The UC Theatre is located at 2036 University Avenue in Berkeley. All ages are welcome.
If the ‘Bay Area Strikes Back’ tour has proved anything both here in the U.S. and overseas, it’s that Death Angel’s style has an enduring, staying power. Although the group‘s line-up and sound have changed somewhat since ‘The Ultra-Violence’ released in 1987, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Singer Mark Osegueda has never sounded better as evidenced at their live shows and on their latest record, “Humanicide.’ YouTube videos of their recent tour abroad show a band firing on all cylinders and able to play all eras of the band with relative ease. Additionally, drummer Will Carroll is a veritable beast on the drums who commands your attention and adds a special shuffle to older tracks that pleases on all fronts. Doors open at 6pm and the show starts promptly at 6:50pm. Advance tickets are $29.50 and can be purchased at Recycled Records Reno and at www.cargoreno.com. The Cargo Concert Hall is located at 255 North Virginia in Reno. All ages are welcome. Thrash ‘til death.
Although most know Mr. Rollins for his brief tenure fronting punk rock greats, Black Flag, it’s his radio and internet presence along with spoken word mini-tours that have earned him great praise as of late. To say that Henry is well-versed in music alone would be a great understatement. From film to author, voice-over artist to world traveler, it seems there is nothing stopping Rollins from living out his bucket list and sharing those experiences with whoever will listen. His current run of shows is dubbed ‘Good To See You 2022’ and hints at many new stories both pre-and-post-COVID that are bound to tantalize and titillate. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $33.95 and go up to $179 for a VIP experience (this option is now sold out) and can be purchased at www.crestsacramento.com or via promoter, SBL Entertainment. The Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K Street in Sacramento.
Since the trio’s formation back in 1990, Porto Alegre, Brazil’s Krisiun have proven themselves one of the fastest and most ferocious metal acts on the touring circuit. For the uninitiated, the trio consists of Alex Carmago (bass/vocals) and brothers Moyses Kolesne (guitar) and Max Kolesne (drums). Additionally, they’re considered South America’s undisputed kings of death metal known for a crushing live show few bands in their genre can top. Amazingly enough, even with a relentless tour schedule, the band has released twelve full-lengths to date with new record, ‘Mortem Solis,’ coming out in late July earlier this year via Century Media records. If you’re a fan of blast beats and like your death metal fare as devastating as humanly possible, look no further. Doors open at 5pm and the show kicks off with openers Katholik at 5:30pm. Also on this heavy-handed bill are Revocation (supporting ‘Netherheaven’ on Metal Blade Records), Alluvial, and Inoculation. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.goldfieldtradingpost.com for $20. Goldfield Trading Post is located at 238 Vernon Street in Roseville. All ages are welcome.
Roger Waters performing at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Photograph by Sugarwolf
After being stalled by the Covid pandemic and logistics issues for over two years, Roger Waters’ ‘This Is Not A Drill’ show finally made good to patient yet hungry fans by descending on Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center last Tuesday night.
Aided by a high-tech video wall, a few well-placed flying projectile animals (including a sheep and a graffiti covered pig), and a minimalist stage with four joining sections, this in-the-round experience proved just as impressive as it was thought-provoking.
From the strange, purposely sterile opening etude of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” – both reworked and shortened without guitar solos – to the full band playing “The Happiest Days Of Our Lives,” Waters’ slow, somber transition to an all-hands-on-deck arena rock show totally delivered.
Roger Waters wowing a Sacramento crowd. Photography by Sugarwolf
And while the legend’s song choices from his solo records may have fallen on deaf ears with some of his newer fans, longtime followers couldn’t have been more pleased hearing an excerpt of “The Bar” and a beautifully reworked version of “The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range.”
Highlights included a revved-up version of “Have A Cigar,” with a soaring and searing lead guitar solo courtesy of Dave Kilminster. His work on the six-string during the night was nothing short of mind-blowing. Another crowd favorite, “Wish You Were Here,” served as a tribute to Syd Barrett, the late co-founder of Pink Floyd and Waters’ best friend; and included vintage band visuals few in attendance had seen before.
Also worthy of mention was “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” which started during the song’s instrumental section with great effect, instead of playing the entire piece.
Waters continues to use music to probe dark currents in world history. Photograph by Sugarwolf.
Perhaps the greatest spectacle, though, was the inclusion of the song “Sheep” from the ‘Animals’ record. Inspired by the works of both George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, the song used menacing animal and human images to remind fans that powerful – some would say ‘evil’ – forces continue to rule the current landscape.
The second half of the set was led by even more selections from ‘The Wall’ record, before going headlong into the reflective Waters’ solo numbers, ‘Deja Vu” and “Is This Really What We Want.” Throughout it all, his set showed thoughtful transitioning.
But it was the handful of songs culled from Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ that really struck a chord with the near-capacity crowd. Of particular note was the inclusion of “Us and Them,” which launched into the gorgeous instrumental “Any Colour You Like” without much ado from his able backing performers. The arraignment also highlighted the patient and tasty grooves of drummer Joey Waronker.
Roger Waters brings the moon’s dark, disorienting shadows to the Capital City. Photograph by Sugarwolf.
And, while at times, Roger’s visuals laden with a heavy-handed vocal delivery seemed overwhelming – especially during a scathing war criminals section – all was not lost on his adoring fans. His many visuals, in effect, served as a makeshift history lesson and highlighted where we’ve failed as a society and to ourselves.
The ‘This Is Not A Drill’ tour was all at once a statement about our mortality (life is anything but a dress rehearsal), a well-oiled arena tour, a sweeping, wide selection of songs from different records – and a call to trying to live your best life.
Give yourself a pat on the back, Roger. You made a rock show as entertaining as it is life-affirming and educational. Not an easy task. But if anyone was up to the challenge, I’d put my money on you.
It’s not just any guitarist who can claim they were a teacher to Steve Vai (Frank Zappa), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Larry LaLonde (Primus, Possessed, Blind Illusion), and even the great jazz sensation Charlie Hunter (Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy) all in the same breath. For Joe Satriani, it’s all in a day’s work. Since the release of his debut record, ‘Not Of This Earth (1986),’ Satriani has developed a loyal legion of fans that will travel anywhere and everywhere when he infrequently tours. And while ‘Surfing With The Alien (1987)’ really put him on the map by achieving Platinum plus sales, it’s his steady stream of impressive and consistent catalog that has garnered him yet even more fans. He is currently on tour – dubbed ‘Earth Tour’ – supporting his ‘The Elephants Of Mars’ record which was released in April earlier this year. Doors open at 7pm and the show kicks off at 8pm. Tickets range from $39.50 to $79.50 and can be purchased at www.stocktonlive.com . The Bob Hope Theatre is located at 242 East Main Street in Stockton, CA.
Although Roger Waters’ ‘This Is Not A Drill’ tour has drawn considerable ire for his political rhetoric (with nods to George Orwell and Aldous Huxley) and in-your-face visuals, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As bassist / singer of Pink Floyd until his exit in the early 80’s, Waters has never been one to sit idle and rest on his former band’s laurels nor keep his mouth shut when it comes to important current world events. The touring show is bound to please Pink Floyd fans and features songs from ‘Animals,’ ‘Wish You Were Here,’ ‘Dark Side Of The Moon,’ ‘The Final Cut,’ and quite a few from ‘The Wall.’ Some of his greatest solo material will also find its way onto the two-part set. Doors open at 7pm and the shows kicks off at 8pm. Believe it or not, good, affordable tickets are still available at www.golden1center.com for as little as $25 for the nosebleeds. Golden 1 Center is located at 500 David J Stern Walk in Downtown Sacramento. Doubleplusgood.
Eddie
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