BeatNonStop A Weblog by Chris Macias Bee pop music critic Music geek (n. myü-zik 'gEk) 1: A person who proudly wore KISS commemorative pajamas in third grade. 2: A person who owns multiple copies of the same album, still buys vinyl and has a room dedicated to 2,000 or so CDs and records. 3. A person who wrote a five-part series about traveling with a local band in their stinky van - and loved every minute of it. 4: Chris Macias, the Bee's pop music critic, serving Sacramento's music scene since 1999.

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« February 2006 | | April 2006 »

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March 30, 2006

Thursday is the new Friday

Not that most of us need an excuse to get a head start on the weekend, but here’s some info about a charity show tonight at Harlow’s. Call me Ishmael, Spider Silk Dress, Be Brave Bold Robot (hey, that’s a cool name) are all banding together for a show that benefits the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op. The show starts at 9 p.m., and a $5 minimum donation is suggested. Information: (916)441-4693 or www.concerts4charity.org.

Posted by cmacias at 4:50 PM | Comments |

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March 28, 2006

New shows, yo

Psst … Beck is coming to Freeborn Hall on May 24 at UC Davis’ Freeborn Hall. Tickets go on sale April 7 through Tickets.com. Common, the great hip-hopper from Chicago and Kanye West’s pal, is also playing Freeborn Hall. His show will go down on April 30; ticket information is coming soon.

And here’s a reason to trek to the Shoreline Amphitheatre this summer: Nine Inch Nails, Bauhaus and Peaches are sharing a bill (but hopefully not a backstage trailer) on July 8. Tickets go on sale through TicketMaster on Sunday at 10 a.m. These bad boys will set you back $24-$49.50. For more information: (916) 649-8497.

Now pass it around …

Posted by cmacias at 4:25 PM | Comments |

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March 23, 2006

PodNonStop 019: Pussycat Dolls

Don't Cha wish your podcast was cool like me? Jessica from the Pussycat Dolls calls in for fun with Chris Macias.

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Posted by icahir at 3:43 PM | Comments |

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March 22, 2006

Listen up!

BeatNonStop wants to get some audio from local bands/musicians going on this blog. Have any demo tracks, advance music or any other tunes that you'd like to share with Sacramento and cyberspace? If so, send some music to:

Chris Macias
c/o The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q Street
Sacramento, CA 95816

And feel free to drop me a line at: cmacias@sacbee.com

Posted by cmacias at 4:58 PM | Comments |

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March 21, 2006

Purple Reign

Prince’s new album, “3121,” dropped today and it hasn’t left my CD player yet. I’m still trying to digest some of these tunes, but so far I’m thinking that this CD pretty much tops anything that Prince released in about 10 years. The first few moments of the album sound like some experimental take-it-or-leave-it style, but this album gets super fonky (as Prince would say). “Black Sweat” is my favorite track so far, and it reminds me of “Controversy”-era Prince with un updated “Hollaback Girl” kind of beat.

But I’m not really feeling these new ballads so much. “Te Amo Corazon” is kind of “zzzz” to me, but I’ll give it a pass because Salma Hayek directed the video. I’m going to give this CD another listen, so look for a review in Sunday’s Ticket section.

Posted by cmacias at 4:40 PM | Comments |

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March 20, 2006

Doll Parts

Don’t cha wish your interview was hot like mine? Yup, I kicked off the week by interviewing Jessica from the Pussycat Dolls (she’s the sort-of goth looking Doll with Bettie Page bangs). Jessica sounded downright giddy when she called during a rehearsal break. She said that she’d never been on a full-scale tour before, and the Pussycat Dolls are just a couple days away from a national swing opening for Black Eyed Peas. The Dolls' second date of the tour is Friday's show at Arco Arena.

Jessica was cool with the comparisons between Spice Girls and Pussycat Dolls. She admitted that Posh Spice was her favorite Spice Girl, and she even fessed-up to owning a Spice Girl doll back in the day. The Pussycat Dolls are coming out with their own doll later this year. But it’s probably not suitable for kids under five – or men over 30.

Posted by cmacias at 4:16 PM | Comments |

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March 17, 2006

Erin Go Bragh

Hooray for four-leaf clovers, leprechauns, U2 albums and all-things Irish (though I’ll pass on the green beer, thanks). Sounds like tonight is going to be quite the party time with the Brodys at Old Ironsides, Mind X’s St. Patrick’s party at the Torch Club, DJ Icon at Silk, plus all the people kissing the Blarney Stone at pubs around town.

But BeatNonStop is going to stick close to home. I pretty much cashed in my party chips last night, first with the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show at Empire. It almost seemed like two different bands up there, starting the set with the rootsy and bluesy tunes from their latest album, “Howl.” Good stuff, and it kind of reminded me of the gothic Americana group 16 Horsepower. But Black Rebel Motorcycle Club really broke out with its older tunes that are in the fuzzy style of Jesus and Mary Chain. What a great and hypnotic sound. Greatly hypnotic, I guess?

I heard that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played for two hours, but I left early to catch Pete Rock at Zokku. The sushi spot – slash – nightclub was pretty dead when I got there, and the dancefloor was empty, save for the three ladies trying their best “Dance Dance Revolution” moves. The opening DJ, Choice Cuts, spun a nice mix from hip-hop’s “golden age”: Nice & Smooth’s “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow,” plus some tracks from Beastie Boys, Digital Underground and KRS-ONE. But it had been a long day, so I cut out before Pete Rock took to the turntables. If anyone heard his set and wants to give me the scoop, holler at cmacias@sacbee.com.

Posted by cmacias at 3:28 PM | Comments |

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March 15, 2006

License to Chill

Sacramento’s going to get a sneak peek at “Awesome; I … Shot That,” the new Beastie Boys concert film.The flick doesn’t open nationwide until March 31, but there will be an advance screening on March 23 at Natomas Marketplace Stadium 16 (3561 Truxel Road). So grab some popcorn, a box of Hot Tamales and peep the Beastie Boys as they rock Madison Square Garden.

The movie starts at 8 p.m., and costs $10 in advance, $12.50 day of show.For more information: (916) 419-0205 or www.BigScreenConcerts.com

Posted by cmacias at 4:44 PM | Comments |

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March 13, 2006

Classical Gas

This weekend was something like a press of the iPod “shuffle” button, and it started on Friday night with a trip to Lomo Argentine Grill in Old Sacramento. Jerry “Papa J” Martini was leading a duo and blowing some tasty saxophone licks while diners noshed on rib-eye steaks. Martini is the saxophonist from Sly & the Family Stone, and you might’ve seen Papa J blowing his horn during the Sly & the Family Stone reunion/tribute at the Grammy’s last month. I’d only heard Martini play funk and blues-rock, but this gig at Lomo was out of the jazz standards songbook (“Girl From Ipanema,” “Misty”). Papa J sounded very tasty, and so did his keyboard player, who played some nice walking bass lines that made the duo sound like a trio.

Later that night I popped into Old Ironsides to catch the Trouble Makers. The band was halfway through their set when I got there, so that was kind of a bummer. But at least I got to hear “Wild Man” and a few other garage-punk gems.

But the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night’s show with the London Philharmonic. It was my first symphonic concert at UC Davis’ Mondavi Center, and wow, Jackson Hall has some fantastic acoustics. The volume was practically at rock-concert levels when the London Philharmonic played at triple forte, but the nuances of softer passages were also well captured. Backstage after the show, conductor Osmo Vanska even remarked on how great Jackson Hall sounded.

I wasn’t too blown away by the concert’s first half, a violin concerto by Aram Khachaturian. I’d played some of Khachaturian’s “Gayaneh Ballet” back in my trumpet playing days, and remembered the composer’s flair for Armenian folk themes and charged rhythms. But this violin concerto felt kind of flat as a composition. The themes didn't really gel and the piece was merely a launching pad for Sergey Khachatryan’s violin heroics. Put this soloist on electric guitar and he’d be like Eddie Van Halen, but 45 minutes of cadenzas got a little old.

But the second half of the concert, Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1,” was a complete mind blower. The work encompasses so many emotions - triumph, tragedy, reconciliation and exaltation – and it’s delivered by a gorgeous sounding string section. The brass players were the rock stars of this group. The London Philharmonic has a huge horn sound, and the French horn licks from “Symphony No. 1” were brass nirvana. The brass was sometimes so pronounced that they overpowered the strings. But the finale of “Symphony No. 1” was all about turbo-charged energy, with Vanska practically jumping up and down on the podium and the London Philharmonic just cranking with power. Bravo? You could’ve given a cigarette lighter salute for this concert.

Posted by cmacias at 2:48 PM | Comments |

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March 10, 2006

PodNonStop 018: Jackie Greene

Take a musical ride with Sacramento's favorite singer/songwriter, Jackie Greene, as he prepares for his major-label debut to be released.
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Posted by icahir at 1:51 PM | Comments |

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The Ozzfest Cometh

Ozzfest has been confirmed for July 2 at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre. But it doesn’t look like Ozzy Osbourne himself will be performing at this Sacramento-area show. The Ozzman is only performing at 10 dates on the entire tour because, as he said in a statement, “After 10 years I feel it's time to let someone else share the headlining spotlight. We want to shake it up a bit this year."

This sounds more like double-speak for “I’m too old to perform much anymore,” but it’s probably better that Ozzy sits out some shows. He was looking pretty winded at previous Ozzfest gigs. And Ozzy's absence is good news for bats in the Marysville area.

Here’s the Ozzfest line-up for July 2 at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre:

Rocking the main stage

System of a Down
Disturbed
Hate Breed
Lacuna Coil

Second stage headbangers

Zakk Wylde
Atreyu
Bleeding Through
Unearth
Norma Jean
Strapping Young Lad
The Red Cord
Walls of Jericho
Between the Buried and Me
Full Blown Chaos
A Life Once Lost
All That Remains

Posted by cmacias at 12:01 PM | Comments |

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March 9, 2006

Twelves' Tribute to J-Dilla

DJ Psol from the Twelves Wax crew just dropped a reminder about tonight’s show at Harlow’s (2708 J St.). It’s a tribute to J-Dilla (a.k.a. Jay Dee), the hip-hop producer who died last month from complications related to lupus.

J-Dilla was pretty much the go-to producer for rap music’s more conscious artists. De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Common and Talib Kweli are just a few artists who called upon Jay Dee for his soulful beats and buttery production techniques. So DJs Psol and Fooders will celebrate J-Dilla's songs and spirit by spinning his choice tracks.

The show starts at 10 p.m. $5. Proceeds will go toward J-Dilla's family and the Sol Collective, a local cultural arts center that sponsors DJ workshops around Sacramento. For more information: (916) 441-4693 or www.twelveswax.com

Posted by cmacias at 11:50 AM | Comments |

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March 7, 2006

Oscar Got Fly-y-y-y-y

Sunday night's Academy Awards are in the books, but people can't seem to shut up about Three 6 Mafia’s win for best song. In one corner, you have the hip-hop heads and other rap-friendly folks who are stoked that “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” from “Hustle & Flow” nabbed the Oscar. Others think that Three 6 Mafia’s win sets a new Oscar low, that a rap song about pimping should’ve been left in the streets, not the Kodak Theatre podium.

People just need to chill out and understand “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” in the context of "Hustle & Flow.” Djay from “Hustle and Flow,” played by best actor nominee Terence Howard, is more complex than his pimping persona suggests. He’s definitely an anti-hero, and is trying to find a kind of salvation, or just a steadier way of life, through hip-hop. If you rooted for Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull,” you’ll pull for Djay.

“It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” is just what a “best song” should do: Sets the tone for a both movie and its lead character in a single tune. This is also why Eminem won the best song Oscar for “Lose Yourself.” So enough of the moral hand wringing, and let's give a hip-hop hooray for Three 6 Mafia.

Posted by cmacias at 5:05 PM | Comments |

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March 3, 2006

Now Hear This

Attention local bands: The Sacramento Film and Music Festival needs your instrumental skills. The festival, which is set for August, is a collaboration between the local music and film scenes. Musicians submit their music, and filmakers add camera and storyboard treatments to make a video. Bands that have been featured in past editions of the Sacramento Film and Music Festival include Aaron King & the Imperials, Bucho, Ghostride and Headrush.

So get cracking and send your music over for consideration. It doesn’t matter what you play – rock, jazz, blues, death metal, Gregorian chants, Amish hip-hop – it’s all good. To download an application visit http://www.sacfilm.com/music.html.

Posted by cmacias at 3:03 PM | Comments |

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March 2, 2006

The Cult: A recap

Sometimes it's just fun to go to a concert and leave the notebook back at the office, no matter what the band is. So I took a trip last night night to the Fillmore in San Francisco, where the Cult was kicking off its first tour in more than three years. I got into the auditorium around 7:45 p.m. and made my way to a choice spot in the fourth row or so. Then I waited, and waited … and waited some more. This “evening with the Cult” was supposed to start at 8 p.m., and I know this is rock ‘n’ roll and all, so I wasn’t tripping that it was 8:30 and the concert hadn’t started yet.

What we were treated to was the longest sound check in recent memory, and by 9 p.m. the sold-out crowd was getting riled and booing the guitar and drum roadies as they tweaked with cables and amplifier knobs.

The lights finally went down around 9:10 and the theme from “A Clockwork Orange” blasted through the speakers. Then the Cult came on stage and started rocking through “War.” And not long after that, one of Ian Astbury’s microphones went out. The singer in snakeskin boots did not look happy. And the show was filled with a few too many technical problems – microphone feedback, guitars that couldn’t generate sound, and what appeared to be cable problems near the drum riser.

But the Cult sounded fairly powerful, technical weirdness aside. Guitarist Billy Duffy still cranks pretty hard, and Ian Astbury can still hit the high notes on “Fire Woman” and “Love Removal Machine.” I wish the band would’ve focused more on its older material, but so it goes. The crowd, which seemed to be dominated by drunk dudes wearing wedding rings, was pumped pretty much the entire time. A lot of the Cult’s music still sounds like b-grade AC/DC to me, but it was still good times for an otherwise soggy Wednesday night.

Posted by cmacias at 5:04 PM | Comments |

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March 1, 2006

Did ya hear?

Madonna has been added to the Coachella Festival. The Material Girl will perform on April 30, the second day of the festival near Palm Springs, in the dance tent. This is great news if you’re a Madonna fan, but a bummer if you were still holding out for a purported Smiths and/or Smashing Pumpkins reunion at Coachella.

And what’s this I’m hearing about a Dave Matthews Band show at Raley Field this summer?

On the other end of the musical spectrum, I got a heads-up that Billy Childish will perform on April 23 at Old Ironsides. It’s his first show in Sacramento, and this will be a huge deal if you’re a fan of garage-rock and retro music in general. Billy Childish is a guru of modern day garage-rock, releasing dozens of albums with such bands as Thee Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats and Thee Mighty Caesars. Check the latest issue of GQ magazine for a cool article on the man and his career.

Billy’s show at Old Ironsides will be a solo deal where he’ll read poetry and perform some blues tunes. I’m planning to be there, and will prepare for now by cueing Thee Milkshakes’ “Red Monkey” on my iPod.

Posted by cmacias at 2:45 PM | Comments |

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