Nirvana Tribute celebrating the 20th anniversary of Nevermind at Luigi’s Fungarden on September 23, 2011.
local.indie.music.photos TOP PICKS OF 2010
Of the five and a half years I have been calling Sacramento home, I have been frequenting the local music scene for the last four years, combining my love for both music and photography into a photoblog I call local.indie.music.photos. 2010 has been a big one for the Sacramento music scene, and I thought I’d share some of my favorites with everyone.
Two bands who received a bunch of hype this year were also the two bands who I felt were most deserving of all that attention. Doombird, the latest music project of Kris Anaya and Joe Davancens, released their self-titled album (available for free download at their website www.doombird.com), in late August. Their album release show was the first time I had seen them perform as a full band, complete with a small orchestra, and the performance was quite impressive, one of the best I have seen. An Angle was one of my favorite bands, and when they broke up, it was hard for me to believe that I would enjoy a band as much as I enjoyed them. But Anaya’s new vision led to Doombird, and it has been proven to be all An Angle was, and more, and their album is quite possibly one of the best releases of the year. Go download it for free. No excuses!
Sacramento’s other hyped band this year has been Julie Baenziger’s, Sea Of Bees. Julie Ann Bee, or Jules, as she’s known, has the loveliest of voices. I was first introduced to Sea Of Bees when I saw Jules perform a solo set back in February at Clubhouse 24, and later saw her with the full band at Harlow’s, then at Concert in the Park. I enjoyed the music, but it wasn’t until I saw Jules perform another solo set in Clay Nutting’s Concerts 4 Charity pre-Thanksgiving show at Townhouse that I left deeply impressed. I bought a copy of Songs For The Ravens and instantly fell in love with Sea Of Bees and the album. Still not totally convinced? The album made NPR’s Robin Hilton’s Top 10 Albums of 2010.
Sister Crayon has been one of my favorite local bands since Terra Lopez started performing solo shows with her acoustic guitar and computer under the name. She then began performing with her friend Dani Fernandez, and since then, the band has gone through some lineup changes before becoming the foursome powerhouse behind today’s Sister Crayon. Signed to Manimal Vinyl in November of last year, the band has recorded a music video that can be found on vh1.com and has been aired on the LOGO channel. They have been touring on and off this year and are finally receiving much deserved attention.
Recently located to Los Angeles, Chelsea Wolfe has been one of my favorites since she fronted local rock band Red Host. Choosing to focus her energy on her solo music, she eventually added a band, The Death, as she calls them. Perhaps the single best word I’ve heard used to describe Chelsea’s music is “haunting,” which also is fitting with her stage presence, as she wears a black veil during her performances. Chelsea Wolfe will be back here in Sacramento performing at The Crocker Art Museum this Thursday, December 16 at 6pm. I suggest you make the effort to be there.
Musical Charis is one of my favorite bands to watch perform live. They possess an energy that has made them one of the most entertaining bands on the scene at the moment. They can pack a place even if they’ve played three other shows in town the same week, which is really quite impressive in today’s local scene. The band consists of a core set of members, but you never know who else might be singing with them or joining them on stage for their latest show. They also run the Musical Charis Music School where they give affordable music lessons to people of all ages.
I enjoyed The New Humans before Scott Simpson began doing vocals for the band, but they only grew stronger with him filling the role of singer. Their EP release show at Townhouse was the best I’ve seen them perform, and their EP, Avalanche, has been on constant rotation on my iPod, since then. Dusty Brown has been another one of my favorites for some time now. They also released an EP this year titled This City Is Killing Me, available as a free download, which has also made its way onto my playlist. I don’t often go to Prieta shows, but when I do, I am reminded that they are one of Sacramento’s best rock bands. In the coming year, I’d like to make it a point to go out to see them more often.
2010 has been a year of new band discoveries for me, some new to the scene, while others I have only recently been exposed to. This Luxury, or tLux as the kids call them, recently changed their name from Tough Luxury, and impressed me when I saw them perform at Old Ironsides when they brought their own sound man and lighting to the gig. My first thought? Very professional, this band is the whole package. Their sound man, John Callan, is perhaps one of the best sound men in the scene, if not all of Sacramento. He recorded their album, Electric Sun, released earlier this year. The best way I can describe their sound is dance rock, and I have found it nearly impossible to stand still through their set. Their album can be purchased through iTunes or amazon.com, as well as directly from the band.
Sound engineer, local promoter, and News and Review’s pick for “Best Ears in Sacramento,” Ira Skinner has referred to The Dreaded Diamond as the next big thing in Sacramento. I liked them the first time I heard them play back in mid-August. They are currently in the studio with Skinner, working on their debut album. Led by Call Me Ishmael’s Bryan Valenzuela, Exquisite Corps was another band I liked the instant I heard them perform. In fact, I was hooked before they finished the first song of their set. When I found out they were playing at Old Ironsides, I knew I had to be there. That night I discovered yet another band, Der Spazm, who is another band I have since then been following. They are taking off the remainder of the year to record their album. I’m Dirty Too is a two-piece band made up of Jess Gowrie (Red Host), and Zac Brown (Doombird and Dusty Brown). I hadn’t seen Jess perform since Red Host broke up, and it was a treat seeing her rock out on the drums again during their initial Sacramento show at the Townhouse. I’m Dirty Too is in the midst of recording an album, and it is expected to be released sometime early next year. The Kelps are a band that several of my music friends had included in their top Sacramento bands. Yet I hadn’t had a chance to see them until they opened up for Musical Charis at Old Ironsides back in early September. I immediately liked what I heard, and was even more amazed that such mature music was coming from a band of such youth. Be expecting great things from these guys.
Of all the songs I’ve heard this year, several have stood out and I feel they need a mention. One such song is Big Ball by Musical Charis, which can be found on their album People People. Reggie Ginn started a side project she calls Loverly, and has released a song about her celebrity crush, Michael Cera. My My Michael Cera can be downloaded from iTunes, and I recommend watching the music video on YouTube as well. It’s difficult for me to choose my favorite Sea Of Bees song, but Blind has stood out among an album full of amazing songs. Songs For The Ravens can also be found on iTunes, but if you pick up a copy (I purchased mine from Jules at a Sea Of Bees show), a copy of the Bee Eee Pee is also included (note that Jules recorded the Bee Eee Pee in a single day). Everything I have heard from Ricky Berger has been outstanding and impressive, including the rough tracks she has recorded on her computer and sent to me of new songs she’s been working on. These recordings are as good as many other artist’s tracks they are releasing and selling, and I cannot wait to hear the final recordings, done to her perfection. One of her newer songs, Temporary Love is not only one of my favorite Ricky Berger songs, but is also one of my favorite songs period. There isn’t yet a recorded version of the song, but you might be fortunate enough to hear it at one of her shows. I also have a live video recording of her performing the song at Luigi’s Fungarden from earlier this year.
Concerts 4 Charity’s Clay Nutting along with Adam Saake of the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival (SEMF) joined forces to put on some of the best music shows in midtown this year. Each on his own has contributed to building up the local music scene, and I know that any show under the Concerts 4 Charity or SEMF names will be spectacular. In addition, Concerts 4 Charity is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to support music and arts education projects while sustaining a healthy independent music and arts community in Sacramento.” Perhaps the single best production I’ve seen this year was Concerts 4 Charity’s Ballet + Live Local Music, a collaboration between the Pamela Hayes Ballet and local bands Sister Crayon, Doombird, Drifting Shapes, and Exquisite Corps. I can think of no better way to support music and arts in education than by seeing a fantastic show!
Finally, I would like to add that Reggie Ginn’s parents should win the award for most supportive parents, and though it’s unlikely that there is such an award, I feel that at the very least, it deserved to be mentioned. Of all the hundreds of shows I have been to, I have never seen anyone else’s parents so actively involved, attending nearly every one of her shows, many of them out of town. Her dad is perhaps her biggest fan, roadie, and friend. I’m sure I’ll see you at a Reggie show soon Doug!
The local music scene here in Sacramento is rich in talent. Most of the friends I have made here have been from going out to shows, enjoying live music, and documenting the scene through photographs. I am proud to be part of a collaboration between different people’s passions that has contributed to building the community in which i not only belong to, but live in. The next time you’re sitting around with nothing to do, consider going out to see some local live music. Who knows, you might really enjoy what you hear. And please, support the local arts, music, and businesses, so we can continue to live out our dreams.
Below is a list of my top local picks of 2010:
Albums:
1. Doombird - Self-titled
2. Sea of Bees - Songs For The Ravens
3. Musical Charis - People People
4. This Luxury - Electric Sun
EPs:
1. Sister Crayon - Enter Into Holy (Or)ders
2. The New Humans - Avalanche
3. Dusty Brown - This City Is Killing Me
Songs:
1. Musical Charis - Big Ball
2. Reggie Ginn (Loverly)- My My Michael Cera
3. Sea Of Bees - Blind
4. Ricky Berger - Temporary Love
Shows:
1. Ballet + Live Local Music (Sister Crayon, Doombird, Drifting Shapes, Exquisite Corps) - September 17, 2010
2. Musical Charis EP Release show with Blvd Park and Autumn Sky at Beatnik Studios - January 8, 2010
3. The New Humans EP Release show with Little Foxes and Favors at Townhouse - August 21, 2010
4. Lite Brite, Prieta, Musical Charis, and Goodness Gracious Me! at Beatnik Studios - July 25, 2010
5. The New Humans, Sister Crayon, Chelsea Wolfe, and Sea of Bees at Concert in the Park - July 2, 2010
6. local.indie.music.photos photo show with Hardy Harr, Justin Farren, Ricky Berger, Carly DuHain, and Reggie Ginn - June 11, 2010 (only because I booked some of my favorite people and they put on an amazing show)
Bands:
1. Doombird
2. Sea Of Bees
6. Prieta
New bands:
New discoveries:
1. This Luxury
2. Der Spazm
3. The Kelps
