Fri, Feb 18, Cobra Skulls

Luigi’s Fun Garden, 8 p.m., $10

Luigi’s Slice and Fun Garden1050 20th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 552-0317

There are some quality acts from Reno, Nev. While the scene changed drastically from the ’90s era where seemingly every club thrived, Cobra Skulls is proof positive that a DIY ethos and solid songs are all you need. It’s about crisscrossing the United States playing small rooms like Luigi’s Fun Garden and spreading love for unabashed punk and rockabilly. For the better part of six years, the Skulls have released a handful of records, toured with various headliners and even signed with Fat Wreck Chords. Grab a leather jacket, a slice and a beer. It’s going to be sweaty. 1050 20th Street, www.cobraskulls.com.

(SN&R)

Sat, Feb 12, Young Dubliners

PowerHouse Pub, 10 p.m., $12

Powerhouse Pub614 Sutter St.
Folsom, CA 95630

(916) 355-8586

If you’re planning on catching one of Southern California’s greatest proponents of both Irish music and rock, you best show up early. For some ungodly reason, the Young Dubliners are opening (yes, opening) for cover band Superlicious. One would think that the band’s years of touring experience would make them a veritable headliner in any town by default. However, given the economic downturn that has greatly affected the live-entertainment sector, it’s no surprise that these billing fiascoes happen. While their most recent output is 2009’s Saints and Sinners, the band is anything but idle. 614 Sutter Street in Folsom, www.youngdubliners.com.
(SN&R)

Fri, Feb 11, Bill Frisell Trio and John Scofield Trio

Mondavi Center, 8 p.m., $12.50-$49

Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

9399 Old Davis Rd.
Davis, CA 95616

(530) 754-2787

tickets@ucdavis.edu

There are few guitar-based double-bills that can rival the pairing of John Scofield and Bill Frisell (pictured). While both guitarists have great bodies of work, it’s the juxtaposing of their styles that’ll make for one helluva spectacle. Frisell’s straddles the mellow yet contemplative side of the musical spectrum while Scofield’s output showcases him as the forerunner of fret board calisthenics. This is one event that’ll draw a crowd of listeners, guitar students and teachers alike. If you haven’t heard either artist, pick up Ghost Town or Nashville by Frisell, and simply anything by Scofield. 1 Shields Avenue in Davis, www.billfrisell.comwww.johnscofield.com.
(SN&R)

Fri, Feb 4, The Aggrolites

Harlow’s, 9 p.m., $15

Harlow’s2708 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 441-4693

Through sheer determination, sweat and a whole lot of road miles under their belt, Southern California’s Aggrolites are a DIY success story. One listen to “Free Time” or any of the band’s signature tunes is proof that this isn’t just another Sublime-esque throwaway. Hearkening back to the sound of the Trojan Records ska/reggae label, this is one band who manages to meld the old with the new. It’s doing some one-offs around California with Social Distortion and has already moved up to headliner status at Harlow’s. If you’re looking for solid, working-class reggae, this band delivers. 2708 J Street, www.aggroreggae.com.

(SN&R)

Thurs, Feb 10, Rob Zombie

Ace of Spades, 7:30 p.m., $35

Ace of Spades

1417 R St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 448-3300

aceofspadesca@gmail.com

During its short-lived heyday, White Zombie’s No. 1 DMA—that’s record-distribution lingo to describe what markets artists were selling or performing well in—was Sacramento. For those who witnessed the double bill with Pantera back in July of 1996, it’s no secret that Rob Zombie had fans in the Valley. Rob’s touring cavalcade of horror, shock and awe will play the intimate Ace of Spades, formerly dubbed Venue for a short while, and previously Empire. Horror movies and over-the-top stage show aside, Rob Zombie’s immense body of musical works are worth the ticket price alone. 1417 R Street, www.robzombie.com.
(SN&R)

Fri, Jan 14, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys

Center for the Arts, 8 p.m., $20

For more than 22 years, Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys have been dishing out heaping portions of country, swing and just about anything else in between. For the uninitiated, this touring troupe not only looks like a vintage act, they also play well-worn gear that lends to the band’s authentic sound. Although seemingly relegated to smaller capacity venues, this group has earned many accolades during its storied career. If you’ve yearned for a place and time to don that ’50s-era dress or to simply put that old hat to good use, simply pack up the car and head to the hills (Grass Valley, that is) this weekend. 314 West Main Street in Grass Valley, www.bigsandy.net.
(SN&R)

Sat, Jan 8, Left Hand

The Distillery, 10 p.m., $7

The Distillery2107 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 443-8815

Come early for the awesome French dip sandwich, stay for the punk onslaught. Folks looking to hear some local or national punk rock need to visit this L Street staple. Although seemingly off the radar for quite some time, this eatery/live-music venue has survived the economic crisis in Sacramento by sticking to the genre they do best. If you’re a fan of sloppy punk rock done with gusto, this four-piece delivers. They’re rounding out a five-band bill which also features Get Shot!, Dead Panic, Machine City and Zero for Zero. Cheap drinks and a cheap cover. What more do you need? 2107 L Street, www.myspace.com/thelefthandband.

(SN&R)

My top three are better than your top three

A look at the locals’ favorite tunes of the year

2010 ends this week and, for those of us who actually still listen to (and purchase) new music, this has been an exceptionally good year. Barring all the recent data that physical sales of music are fast coming to an altogether disastrous and timely death, there are those who have the foresight and wherewithal to look beyond their local radio station to satiate their musical appetite.

I’ve taken it upon myself to ask various members of the musical community—from band members to talent buyers, industry folk to local legends—what releases or individual songs hit them the hardest this year. This by no means is an all-encompassing map of the entire scene’s tastes. But, at the very least, it’s a litmus test with some results one might never expect. Without further ado, let’s see what some of Sacramento’s finest, in alphabetical order, think of this year’s crop of music.

Random Abiladeze, artist

Who Cares, Teenage Ego Trip
Macklemore, The Language of My World
Black Star, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Bilal, 1st Born Second

David Watts Barton, Sacramento Press

Girl Talk, All Day
The Black Keys, Brothers
The Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

Sam Coe, musician

Grinderman, Grinderman 2
Beach House, Teen Dream
Sea of Bees, Songs for the Ravens

DJ CrookOne

Black Milk, Album of the Year
Gangrene, Gutter Water
Chico Mann, Analog Drift
Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma

Marty DeAnda, owner, Dig Music

Kevin Seconds, Good Luck Buttons
Jackie Greene, Till the Light Comes
The Mother Hips, Pacific Dust

Kevin Dockter, musician

Rufus Wainwright, All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu
Autolux, Transit Transit
Yann Tiersen, Dust Lane

Rick Ele, KDVS

Tyvek, Nothing Fits
The Whines, Hell to Play
Drunkdriver, self-titled

Derek Fieth, Pets

The Black Angels, Phosphene Dream
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo
Crocodiles, Sleep Forever

Ross Hammond, musician

Peter Gabriel, Scratch My Back
Zach Hill, “The Primitives Talk”
Phillip Greenlief, Lines Combined

Laurence Herman, engineer, Electron Pro Audio

The Books, The Way Out
Voivod, Infini

Sarah Huang, manager, The Beat

The Black Keys, Brothers
The National, High Violet
Beach House, Teen Dream

Ryan Lindow, producer

Shed, The Traveller
Scuba, Triangulation
Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid

Terra Lopez, Sister Crayon

Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma
Warpaint, The Fool
Baths, Cerulean

Marc Malakie, promoter, curator

La Plebe, Brazo en Brazo
Killing Joke, Absolute Dissent
Disappears, Lux

Nick Miller, SN&R

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Before Today
F, Energy Distortion
Shad, TSOL
Honorable mention: Antoine Dodson, “Bed Intruder”

Robby Moncrieff, producer

How to Dress Well, Love Remains
Mayer Hawthorne, I Need You 12-inch single
Appetite, Scattered Smothered Covered
Pregnant, “Uphill Divination”

Dave Park, CEO, Recombinant

Cee Lo Green, “Fuck You”
Broken Bells, “The High Road”
LCD Soundsystem, “Drunk Girls” (song and video)
Honorable mention: The Black Keys, Brothers

Barry Prickett, Portmeirion

Girl Talk, All Day
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
LCD Soundsystem, This Is Happening

Evan Schneider, Tha Fruitbat

Meat Beat Manifesto, Answers Come in Dreams
Opiou, Slurp and Giggle
Bassnectar, Wildstyle EP

Amy Scott, photographer, http://localindiemusicphotos.com

Doom Bird, DoomBird
Sea of Bees, Songs for the Ravens
Musical Charis, People, People

Danny Secretion, the Secretions

The Queers, Back to the Basement
Bastards of Young, California Redemption
Semi-Evolved Simians, End Holocene

Shaun Slaughter, deejay, producer

Favorite dance release: Azari & III, “Into the Night”
Favorite indie-rock release: El Guincho, Pop Negro

Jae Synth, producer

DLRN, The Bridge
Wacka Flocka Flame, Flockaveli
Taylor Swift, Speak Now

Adam Whitley, the New Plague

Triptykon, Eparistera Daimones
Dio, At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987
Forbidden, Omega Wave

Sherman Baker, Musician

Doom Bird, DoomBird
Portugal. The Man, American Ghetto
Dusty Brown, This City Is Killing Me

Paul Wilbur, manager, Armadillo Records

Gaslight Anthem, American Slang
Inquisition, Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult (reissue)

Dennis Yudt, writer, musician

High Wolf, Ascension
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Kollaps Tradixionales
Pan Sonic, Gravitoni

And while the glut of new releases that clog up the music pipeline continue to be force-fed down our throats (by major labels and independents alike), there are still viable releases coming out with each successive year. Upon further inspection, 2010 has not been any worse (nor any greater) than the previous years. Visit your local library if you want to check out new music, or make the effort to keep up with your favorite labels or artists.

Finally, in case you’re wondering, my favorite records of the year were, in no particular order: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, Kollaps Tradixionales; The Books, The Way Out; Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me; and honorable mention for Bonnie “Prince” Billy & the Cairo Gang’s The Wonder Show of the World.

Now go figure out your own list and buy an album or two, damn it!
(SN&R)

Sun, Jan 2, The Slackers

Harlow’s, 8 p.m., $12

Harlow’s2708 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 441-4693

Certainly not your typical ska band, the Slackers exude a great reverence for reggae, jazz and even dub classics. For the better part of nearly 20 years, this group has been anything but sedentary and, more importantly, have worked in defiance of their self-imposed moniker. Although their last release, The Great Rocksteady Swindle, came out in April earlier this year, expect the band to play newer material as well as classics from their earlier Hellcat Records output. Currently a six-piece ensemble led by the multitalented Vic Ruggiero (vocals and keyboards), this is one post-New Year’s show worth slotting into your Outlook calendar. 2708 J Street, www.theslackers.com.
(SN&R)

Fri, Dec 31, DJ Larry Rodriguez

Fox & Goose, 8 p.m., $5

Fox & Goose

1001 R St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 443-8825

Larry Rodriguez has a special place in my heart. A week after my father passed away (two years ago, mind you), I went to Old Ironsides to clear my head and be around some close friends. Rodriguez was spinning that night and floored me with the incredible depth of his repertoire. Unlike other deejays who don’t frequent record shops and rarely spin the oddball tune, Rodriguez is one of the few I recommend to this day. Looking for some vintage soul? Brazilian fare? Joe Bataan, anyone? If so, he’ll be hosting a New Year’s Eve soiree at the Fox & Goose. For $5, you can’t do much better. 1001 R Street.

(SN&R)