Eight Gigs: Eliane Elias

Eddie June 18, 2015 No Comments

Mon., June 22, 8 p.m., City Winery, $35-$65

Although Eliane’s first name has probably been misspelled on more marquees and programs than she’d like to admit, her fans certainly know who she is. If you’re a fan of Brazilian music and enjoy a heavy dollop of piano thrown in for good measure, Elias serves up a wonderful concoction. Like the popular drink from her native country, the caipirinha, her music is both sweet and tantalizing while amazingly potent. Her latest album is called Made In Brazil and was released in late March to rave reviews. After stints on both RCA Victor and Blue Note records, the move to her current label Concord only seemed natural. 1030 Main Street in Napa, http://elianeelias.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Tesla

Eddie June 11, 2015 No Comments

Sat., June 13, 6:30 p.m., Thunder Valley Casino Resort, $32.75-$169.75

Say what you want about Sacramento’s Tesla, but this group of guys has been doing things their own way ever since their debut record, Mechanical Resonance, on Geffen Records. Although unceremoniously lumped in with the hair bands that dominated the scene at the time, this band proved it’s staying through sheer determination and a bunch of solid records. And while it may be best known for an acoustic version of Les Emmerson’s “Signs,” the group’s catalog is quite impressive on its own. Tesla’s latest record is called Simplicity and was released yet again on its own Tesla Electric Company Recordings label. Bay Area hard rockers Y&T open the festivities. 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln, http://teslatheband.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Pinnacles

Eddie June 11, 2015 No Comments

Fri., June 12, 8 p.m., Center for the Arts, $10-$12

Nevada City’s Pinnacles started in 2013 and released the album Automaton in 2014. Fans of well-crafted art rock and harmonies will enjoy the vocal interplay between Justin Hunt (sBach, Them Hills, The Bears) and guitarist Robbie Landsburg (Ghost Pines) on standout tracks like “Johnstone” and the ever-so-catchy “Nocturne.” If you’re a fan of Them Hills, By Sunlight or simply smart, angular rock, you are hereby summoned to check out this show. It’s one of the many local showcases dubbed “The Discover Series” by the Center for the Arts—a great way to kick off the weekend. Opening are Number Station and Bull Goose Loony. 314 West Main Street in Grass Valley, www.facebook.com/pinnaclesband.

(SN&R)

Eat, drink, dance

Eddie June 11, 2015 No Comments

7 p.m., Juneteenth Ball

Now in its fourteenth year, the Juneteenth Ball, presented by Sacramento Juneteenth Inc. and the Sacramento Juneteenth Black Chefs Collaborative, aims to please. The event, part of the holiday celebrations to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, will feature culinary concoctions from area wineries and chefs. The festivities are part of a broader three-day event that will also include a gospel ball and a parade. 7 p.m., Saturday June 20, $50. The California Museum, 1020 O Street; http://sacramentojuneteenthinc.org/
festival/juneteenth-ball.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Psychosomatic

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Thurs., June 11, 8 p.m., Psychosomatic, $10

Jeff Salgado and his cohorts in Psychosomatic can play on virtually any metal or punk bill and go over like gangbusters. The band toes the line between furious and spurious heavy metal fare and breakneck punk rock. Salgado, who at times resembles a younger Tom Araya (Slayer)—while simultaneously playing bass and belting out vicious lyric schemes—doesn’t let you stand still at his shows. Since 1988, this band has been opening for many big-name national acts including (but certainly not limited to) Exodus, M.O.D., Fang, Attitude Adjustment and Hirax. Also on this raucous bill are punk legends Dr. Know, Kill the Precedent and the Strange Party. 2030 P Street, http://officialpsychosomatic.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Agalloch

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Sat., June 6, 8 p.m., Midtown Barfly, $15

Portland’s Agalloch will make Sacramento the second stop of its tour of the greater West Coast area. It’s a testament to the many devoted talent buyers locally (which include Shuffle Six) that shows of this magnitude and ilk even get routed here. Once a pass-through city for touring acts, Sacramento has seen a healthy resurgence of headlining acts not only coming to the area, but returning after successful shows. Agalloch mixed elements of folk, black metal, doom and even post-rock on the fabulous The Serpent & The Sphere in 2014 and its back-catalog is equally impressive. Joining Agalloch on this trek is Helen Money. 1119 21st Street, www.agalloch.org.

(SN&R)

A struggle in sound

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Lion Songs

Writer Banning Eyre tells the story of his longtime friend Zimbabwe-born musical legend Thomas Mapfumo and his fight against the corrupt government that led to his eventual, self-imposed exile. (Mapfumo now resides with his family in Eugene, Oregon). Lion Songs: Thomas Mapfumo and the Music That Made Zimbabwe (Duke University Press, $34.95) chronicles how Mapfumo founded chimurenga, or “struggle music,” an uplifting style of music characterized by odd, oft-repeating guitar and bass phrasing against a similar juxtaposing drum beat. His lyrical content, however, was what helped land him in jail and made authorities consider him a threat.

(SN&R)

Singer-songwriter, socialist activist

Eddie June 4, 2015 No Comments

Some artists were always destined to be hidden in the annals of music history. Some, however, come to public light through the hard work and perseverance of people who they influenced. Such is the case of Joe Hill, who will be honored this Friday by folk great John McCutcheon in a show appropriately dubbed Joe Hill’s Last Will. For the uninitiated, Joe Hill was an American activist and songwriter who wrote songs about worker’s rights, immigration, war, religion, home life and everything in between. This show was adapted from a play written by Si Kahn that debuted in 2011 and is now finally memorialized on record as John McCutcheon’s 37th release. McCutcheon, who realized he could do pretty much anything at this point in his career, chose wisely this time, and the fruits of his labor of love for Hill’s music is wholly and utterly evident and there for all to reap. Joe Hill’s Last Will, 8 p.m. Friday; $25. Palms Playhouse, 13 Main Street in Winters; www.folkmusic.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Dokken

Eddie May 28, 2015 No Comments

Sat., May 30, 7 p.m., Ace of Spades, $22

Singer Don Dokken is known for being a complicated guy. As frontman of Dokken, which started in 1976, he’s seen many bandmates come and go. Drummer Mick Brown, fortunately, lasted the majority of that time. The band rose to fame and fortune with guitarist George Lynch and bassist Jeff Pilson, but those two pivotal members are no longer part of the equation. If you’ve been dying to hear Dokken classics “Breaking the Chains,” “Alone Again” and “In My Dreams,” your thirst for quality glam and hard rock will be quenched. Restrayned, Roswell and Force of Habit open the show; so come early and support your locals. 1417 R Street, www.dokkencentral.com.

(SN&R)

Eight Gigs: Ufomammut

Eddie May 28, 2015 No Comments

Thurs., June 4, 8 p.m., The Press Club, $12

Italy’s Ufomammut has produced some of the greatest atmospheric doom metal in years. Since starting the band 16 years ago, this trio has paid tribute to its most obvious influence, early Pink Floyd, and incorporated an ethereal heaviness not readily found in the genre. Ecate is Ufomammut’s latest six-song release and features many tracks that are much too long for any commercial station. The new album strikes many internal chords on tracks like the pummeling “Plouton” and the ambient track “Revelation,” which recalls moments of Jean-Michel Jarre during his Oxygene era. Uffomammut’s joined this night by Usnea, Lycus and Church—are all headliners in their own right. 2030 P Street, www.ufomammut.com.

(SN&R)