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Eight Gigs: Charlie Musselwhite
Sun., Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Harris Center, $30-$45
Fans of the harmonica need no introduction to the great Charlie Musselwhite. For the uninitiated, the 72-year-old musician has been turning heads in the blues scene since the ’60s. As luck would have it, he’ll be joined by the equally compelling North Mississippi Allstars. Expect a night chock full of Southern-influenced fare along with some sweet and sticky grooves courtesy of one wicked rhythm section. The show is appropriately dubbed “Mississippi Home Cookin’,” so come hungry and leave some extra room for dessert served up at the encore. 10 College Parkway in Folsom, www.charliemusselwhite.com.
(SN&R)
Eight Gigs: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Fri., Feb. 12, 8 p.m., Mondavi Center, $18.50-$79
Those who were lucky enough to catch mezzo-soprano Susan Graham’s titillating cabaret-style performance last February need little coercing to come out in force again. She’ll be joining musical director and conductor Nicholas McGegan with San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. The program is equally compelling and includes special period pieces solely by the late great George Frideric Handel, considered by many one to be of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, http://philharmonia.org.
(SN&R)
Weak sauce
Opening assault: Starlite Lounge promoter Chris Lemos has an uphill battle booking local acts in Sacramento. Apparently, nobody wants to headline and nearly just as many don’t want to open. However, when national acts come to town, there is suddenly no shortage of groups vying to get on any slot. Of course, this is when Lemos gets to really exert his booking power.
Last Tuesday’s show with Act Of Defiance (former members of Megadeth and Shadows Fall) featured two local acts that, although totally different in sound and scope, worked alarmingly well together.
New(er) Sacramento quintet Odious Construct kicked off the night with a heady blend of progressive metalcore. And while the band’s early start time of 8 p.m. meant playing to only 30 or so people, by the end of the set, singer Casey Ryle and his able band found themselves playing in front of nearly double that number.
Most exciting was the dual guitar assault of Wes Yee and Ben Jackson, who weaved an astounding amount of guitar showmanship into their all-too-brief set. Also equally impressive was the rhythm section featuring drummer KC Brand and bassist Sam Datu, which played together at breakneck speed with wicked precision.
Up next was Vacaville’s West Coast Fury who, although by the logo and band appearance might be mistaken for a hardcore band, played a furious set steeped in ’80s thrash fare. Led by vocalist-guitarist Pat Woods, the group ripped through a set that recalled some of the best moments of the early San Francisco thrash scene. In fact, unbeknownst to many in the crowd, the band featured members of Torment, Malicious Intent, Blind Illusion, Piranha, Franzlist and Skeptic, all active Bay Area bands from the ’80s and ’90s. So there you go.
(SN&R)
Eight Gigs: Modern Man
Mon., Feb. 15, 8 p.m., The Colony, $7
Although still in its infancy, Modern Man is one Sacramento quartet bent on wrecking psyches with more sonic twists and turns than should ever be allowed in a song. One listen to “All Weenie, No Balls” will either dissuade listeners for eternity or make them instant fans. Most area residents will already know the faces and names from their various affiliations with local and national acts: guitarist Jeremy Clemmons, guitarist Biaggio D’Anna, bassist Carson McWhirter and drummer Alfonso Portela. 3512 Stockton Boulevard, http://modernman916.bandcamp.com.
(SN&R)
WORLD’S FOREMOST ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS VISIT FOLSOM FOR INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT • FEB. 10, 2016
Guitarists who want to feel inadequate are hereby summoned to Folsom’s Harris Center for a night of six-stringed wizardry. One of the featured artists on this year’s International Guitar Night ticket is Lulo Reinhardt—yes, from the lineage of the late jazz legend Django Reinhardt—whose playing recalls another time and place without sounding dated or derivative. He’ll be joined by the night’s founder, Brian Gore, an awesome player whose playing style combines folk, classical and jazz with seemingly little effort. German-born Andre Krengel—dubbed “the guitar wizard with magic hands“ by German press—also joins the distinctive cast to weave a spell of disparate music styles including (but most certainly not limited to) R&B, flamenco, rock ‘n’ roll and even gypsy-jazz. The multi-talented English guitarist Mike Dawes rounds out this able quartet of musicians. Dawes is most known for his uncanny ability to sound like a full band playing only one instrument. From percussion to bass, harmony to melody, Dawes sounds as if he’s got a couple of extra musicians hiding in his guitar case. Tickets start at $12 for students with valid ID and go up to $39 for premium seats, available at Harriscenter.net
(Submerge)
VIRTUOSO ORGANIST CAMERON CARPENTER LIVE SCORES THE 1920 SILENT HORROR FILM THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI
Arguably Berlin’s greatest export, organist Cameron Carpenter is on a U.S. tour with his International Touring Organ. The fully mobile and $1.2 million dollar instrument is quite an amazing beast that somehow captures the spirit and essence of a stationary pipe organ yet has more bells and whistles than should be allowed. On this special occasion, the 34-year-old Carpenter will be playing a bunch of his own works—all of which he chooses and are never divulged beforehand—along with a special improvisational work to accompany The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. For the uninitiated, Cameron is anything but a conventional player and dons a mohawk, wears fancy stage garb and plays music from memory with a gusto and fervor unheard of in today’s classical world. Check out his wonderful take on Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” on YouTube if you need further coercing. Carpenter’s show will leave both newcomers and classical aficionados alike yearning for more. Grandiose events like this don’t come along often so be sure to send a special “thank you” message to Mondavi Center’s talent buyer after the show. Get tickets now at Mondaviarts.org and impress your peers who never do anything but stare at their phones at no-cover-charge bars.
(Submerge)
Eight Gigs: Cameron Carpenter
Wed., Feb. 10, 8 p.m., Mondavi Center, $13.50-$51
Defying the laws of tradition, Berlin-based organist extraordinaire Cameron Carpenter returns to Mondavi, but with his custom-built International Touring Organ in tow this time. The instrument cost $1.2 million to construct and now affords him the ability to bring his organ skills to any venue that will accommodate him. This particular engagement finds Carpenter playing a short recital before launching headlong into a wholly improvised score for the infamous 1920 silent horror flick The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, www.cameroncarpenter.com.
(SN&R)
Into the cold
Disney’s Frozen on Ice
To date, the 2013 animated flick Frozen has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide at the box office. As such, evidenced by Disney On Ice’s adaptation, the franchise’s possibilities are seemingly endless. The show skates into Sacramento Wednesday, February 10, for a six-day run at Sleep Train Arena.
Skater Becky Bereswill was cast as the story’s protagonist Elsa and in a recent interview talked about the pressure she’s felt in representing the role model.
“Elsa really is a dream role for me since she is such a wonderful character, so beloved by her fans,” said Bereswill.
Getting the job came from Bereswill’s lengthy experience on ice—and knowing the right, um, people.
“Since I was known and came from a competitive skating background, Elsa herself approached me,” she said. Of course.
A huge amount of work goes into each production. “This show goes through great lengths to bring the movie onto the ice with awesome effects including lots of snow machines and even Elsa’s ice tower,” she said. Cue the opening notes of “Let it Go.” $28-$101.50; 7 p.m. February 10-12; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. February 13-14; noon and 4 p.m. February 15. Sleep Train Arena, 1 Sports Parkway; www.disneyonice.com/frozen.
(SN&R)
FREE ORCHID WORKSHOP AT EXOTIC PLANTS • FEB. 6, 2016
Sacramento’s very own Exotic Plants will be hosting a free class to teach both wannabe and veteran green thumbs about the orchid and its many growing complexities. To date, there are over 27,800 species in the orchid family and these make up nearly 11 percent of all seeded plants. This event will teach all interested gardeners or parties how to re-bloom and grow these flowers and, most importantly, keep them alive and thriving. This class will be led by owner Kifumi Keppler who first opened the independent business back in 1972. Her full-service store has been blossoming ever since it came to town and is lauded for both its on-site plant maintenance services and magnificent retail store. Not-so-coincidentally, Exotic Plants will also be having a special tent sale that day with some magnificent specials on everything from gently used plants to palms, bromeliads to orchids. The class starts at noon and lasts for 90 minutes so everyone in attendance can get his or her questions answered without being rushed out. Call (916) 922-4769 now to hold your space before it’s too late. Visit Exoticplantsltd.com in the interim.
(Submerge)