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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July 21, 2006

Gone fishin'

BeatNonStop is about to take a two-week summer siesta. This blog will be rocking again come Aug. 7, so come on back now, ya hear?

In the meantime, here's a plug for a show that's shaking on Saturday at the Capoeira Arts Academy (1811 Del Paso Boulevard). It'll be a night of music from Forrofiando, a group that specializes in Brazilian "forro" music. So grab your boogie shoes (and maybe a sweat towel) and get on down to that Brazilian sound. BeatNonStop has partied at the Capoeira Arts Academy, and these folks definitely know how to party down. The show starts at 10 p.m. $10 advance, $15 at the door. For more information: (916) 641-2988.

Catch you all on the flipside.

Posted by cmacias at 3:21 PM | Comments |

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July 20, 2006

Jessica & Justin

A couple of advance singles just landed at the BeatNonStop headquarters (a.k.a. my very messy desk that’s bottlenecked with CDs). Here's what I'm thinking so far:

“A Public Affair,” Jessica Simpson (out Aug. 29): I’m looking for a sentence on the credits that says, “Contains an interpolation of ‘Holiday’ by Madonna.” It’s not there, and Team Simpson is trying to pass this obvious rip-off as one of their own. “A Public Affair” steals just about every move, tempo and melody from “Holiday,” everything from the spanky guitar to the bubbly groove. And when Simpson sets up the chorus by singing, “All the girls stepping out,” it sounds exactly like the wind-up when Madonna shouts, “Holidaaaay.” Gimme a break!

“SexyBack,” Justin Timberlake (out Sept. 12): Where’s the blue-eyed, Michael Jackson “Off the Wall” wannabe that we love so much? “SexyBack” sounds like an electroclash remix of Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U.” (Sample lyric: “You see these shackles baby/I’m your slave”). Producer Tim “Timbaland” Mosley meanwhile treats Timberlake’s vocals with a distorted and synthesized sound and a drum loop that could’ve come from a Casio keyboard circa 1985. Blippity-blip-blip-blip! This is all a wind-up for Timberlake’s “Futuresexlovesounds” album, to be released Sept. 12, but this track IsALittleTooTweaked for its own good.

Posted by cmacias at 12:34 PM | Comments |

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July 18, 2006

The Reconstruction of Lauryn Hill

She arrived on the Harlow’s stage one hour late last night. At least it wasn't running two hours late, like her gig over the weekend in Santa Cruz. And just what would Ms. Lauryn Hill do, the rebounding and reclusive R&B/hip-hop star who announced a gig at Harlow's just three days ago?

Was Ms. Hill, as she asks to be called now, back for good? Was that live album from 2002 just a fluke, the one with the sandpaper vocals and half-finished songs? Is this a return to the glory days of the album that won her all those Grammys, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill?”

No question, this was "the reconstruction of Lauryn Hill." From a sold-out Harlow’s, with the baseball cap cocked to the side of her head, it was like a middle finger of free-jazz aimed at her back catalog. “Lost Ones” was reinterpreted, more like wrestled to the ground, with three guitarists sqwonking away and spacey chords on the keyboard. Think of it like a mix of Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” band, the I-Threes and Outkast’s “Hey Ya.”

These spontaneous shows, which in the past month have also gone down in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, are billed as a kind of “open rehearsal.” The show flyer listed “no press” and security was tight with any cameras or recording devices. But it's not known exactly what all the practice is for: A new album? An upcoming tour?

Only the former Fugee seems to know.

A good five minutes on some tunes were spent working out harmonies while the band vamped in the background. The bassist for Ms. Hill doubled as a bandleader, shouting all kinds of cues and throwing hand signals to the musicians around him. With all of these parts being scratched out, it was indeed like a big band practice.

But at $55 per ticket, the audience also expects some kind of a show. Ms. Hill didn’t seem overly bent on trying to entertain the crowd. She didn’t say much to the crowd, and spent most of the gig with intensity in her eyes, only rarely cracking a smile.

Any song fragment that sounded familiar was eaten up by a crowd that was hungry for hits. “(Doo Wop) That Thing” was performed fairly straight, except for the super fast reggae tempo and lyrics that sped into tongue twisters. But most songs were hard to recognize at first. "To Zion" was stripped of its mournful hip-hop vibe and reinvented as Afro-Cuban heat. “Ex-Factor” morphed into an R&B rave-up that was as insistent as it was overplayed.

The one-two punch of “Fu-Gee-La” and “Ready or Not” was practically worth the ticket price. This is where the show went buckwild, with Ms. Hill storming around the stage and the crowd collectively throwing its hands in the air. The show pretty much peaked here, and the rest of the night was filled out by some jazzy noodling and a cover of The Shirelles “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”

And the day after this show, some of Ms. Hill’s fans are probably still trying to figure that out: Do we still love her, or do we really just love the Lauryn Hill of 1998?

Posted by cmacias at 11:58 AM | Comments |

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July 14, 2006

Lauryn Hill in the 916

You read that right: Lauryn Hill is performing in Sacramento, and this show is coming up quick. How quick? We're talking Monday quick, as in three days from now. The show will go down at Harlow's (2708 J street) and it will be 21+ only. Don't have a word about time or cover charge, but prepare to pay around $50 for this one. For more info. check www.harlows.com or call (916) 441-4693.

Posted by cmacias at 1:40 PM | Comments |

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July 13, 2006

Farewell Warped Tour 2006

I am officially whooped from the Warped Tour. I'll probably be thirsty for the next week but the good news is that I've gained a tan that'll last for the rest of the summer.

This show has been the musical equivalent of attention deficit disorder. There's so much going on that your head's always turning, like to the dudes on the skateboard ramp or -- whoa, check out that crazy mohawk --while music blasts in all directions. And the sets are all short, just a half hour tops. So you're constantly scrambling from one stage to the next.

The upside of that is that you might stumble on a cool new band, like the Dollyrots from Los Angeles. Then again, it sometimes seems impossible to escape all the cookie-cutter screamo bands. And for some reason, watching punk and goth kids eat nachos is always funny to me.

So now I'm about to head home after catching a few songs of NOFX. My skin is like a giant salt lick and please don't call before 9 a.m. tomorrow, thanks. Farewell Warped Tour 2006.

Posted by cmacias at 9:09 PM | Comments |

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Slogan of the day

As seen on a handbag, "Dance is the new mosh."

Posted by cmacias at 8:11 PM | Comments |

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T-shirt of the day

"Don't Get Emo," with a guy crying with a hipster haircut, and he's cropped out.

Posted by cmacias at 6:50 PM | Comments |

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Jetting toward the finish

The Warped Tour is winding down. Merchandise booths are being disassembled and some folks are already streaming out to the parking lot. But the music is still going strong. Senses Failed just took the stage, and Joan Jett’s set ended about 10 minutes ago. That was the one place where you were most likely to see parents and their kids rocking out together. Jett’s 30-minute set was filled with favorites that are now two decades old: “I Love Rock 'N’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation” and “Cherry Bomb.” Jett is still one of the best bad girls out there. It’s kid tested and parent approved, except for maybe that one song called “Fetish,” which probably made some moms blush.

Posted by cmacias at 6:49 PM | Comments |

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New band alert

They're called the Dollyrots, a three-piece punk band that's tighter than the laces on a pair of Etnies. Jackie Chan, not to be confused with the song by Ash, was a three-minute sugar rush with a warped-speed beat. The guitarist gets brownie points for wearing a Groovie Ghoulies T-shirt, but this was one spunky burst of bubble gum. "We're from L.A. but L.A. sucks," said the singer/bassist to the crowd. "I'm moving to Sacramento. Anyone got a room for rent?"

Posted by swilliams at 5:25 PM | Comments |

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Good luck

The best spot for shade is right outside the VIP tent where the breeze kicks in just right and the sun is obscured. But good luck trying to get a spot there. Everyone is trying to cool off where they can. Some haven't been so lucky. I've seen a few people being wheeled to the medical tents.

Posted by cmacias at 5:17 PM | Comments |

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He should have worn a helmet

Holy power chords. Helmet just finished and they were so heavy and slow that it was like 1992, the glory days of grunge. Helmet is one of the oldest bands on the Warped Tour but in terms of guitar sounds, probably the chunkiest. Close to the stage, right near Page Hamilton's guitar amps, it's like being sucked into a sea of distortion and in the mosh pit I saw a guy get elbowed in the head. He should have worn a helmet.

Posted by cmacias at 4:49 PM | Comments |

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Trick of the Day

Ooh, someone just landed a frontside handplant with a fingerflip on the Van’s mini-ramp.

Posted by cmacias at 3:51 PM | Comments |

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True Believers

Bouncing Souls are on the Teddy Bear Stage and they’re rocking as hard as it is hot. The singer is wearing a button-down shirt which he’s already sweated through and a pink tie with skull and crossbones. There’s a touch of ska in their sound, but with the kind of punk energy that makes you want to get up and go. A mosh pit is swirling around, but I’d hate to take a tumble on this concrete. The band’s wrapping up its 30-minute set with “True Believer” and the singers just jumped in the crowd. The mosh pit spins more and more.

Posted by cmacias at 3:28 PM | Comments |

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Bring on the corn dogs

Six dollars and 50 cents gone. I've got a big bottle of water, a hot dog and I'm catching a bit of shade. I'm feeling for anyone who's wearing all-black today and there's a lot of them. I wouldn't be surprised if it's pushing 100 degrees out here. Sweaty faces and the beginnings of sunburn are everywhere. But the mood is good. Skater girls are flirting with dudes in tattoos, and the bands are screaming at full force. It's kind of like the state fair, but with a big nipple ring right through it. Bring on the corn dogs.

Posted by cmacias at 2:54 PM | Comments |

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They're this awesome ska punk band

Just ran into Rob Fatal, the local battle DJ who I profiled June 30th. He's out here covering the show for KSSU, Sac State's radio station. He just interviewed Rise Against but he's really stoked about Tat. They're a band from the UK that just played the Shira Girl Stage. "Dude, you've got to check them out sometime. They're this awesome ska punk band."

Posted by swilliams at 2:20 PM | Comments |

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Decisions, decisions

There are literally dozens of bands playing over 10 stages at today's Warped Tour. So what to see? Helmet is playing at 4 p.m. Senses Fail is at 6:55 on the Jack in the Box Stage. Saves the Day is playing an acoustic set at 2:30 but Less than Jake goes on at 2 p.m. I should have brought a PDA and a highlighter pen to keep track of everything.

Posted by cmacias at 2:12 PM | Comments |

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Let's rock and roll.

I'm out here at the Sleep Train and it looks kiinda like a hazy day. There's a control burn going on in one of the fields out here so it's kinda smoky. Maybe not tthe best thing for the lungs for these extreme athletes -- but the parking lot is filling up quickly. Checkerboard Vans slip-ons seem to be the shoe du jour. Seems like four bands are playing at once so I'm going to go get settled and check them out. Let's rock and roll.

Posted by cmacias at 1:59 PM | Comments |

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I'm here at the amphitheatre

The amphitheatre people are exoecting 11,000 folks here today and it already feels like that many once you're inside. I've also got a scoop: Tool is going to be playing the amphitheatre later this summer so stay tunred for that.

Posted by swilliams at 1:45 PM | Comments |

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The calm before the Warped

Sunscreen - check
$$$ for water and food - check
Pens/laptop/notebooks - check
Anti-Hero deck with Independent trucks and Spitfire wheels - check (on second thought, it's best to leave the skateboard at home; it's been a while since my days of noseslides and crooked grinds)

I'll be heading off to Warped Tour in just a little bit. The bands will start going on around 1 p.m., and I'm planning to get to the Sleep Train Amphitheatre right around that time. So how will this all play out? Who knows. At last count, there were, oh, 1.5 million bands playing at this Warped Tour. Well maybe not that many, but by the looks of the schedule it sure seems that way. It'll be hectic, but it should be some gnarly fun as well. Catch you on the flip ...

Posted by cmacias at 11:21 AM | Comments |

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July 11, 2006

Heat of the Moment

One of the important life lessons learned in "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" - besides just saying "no" to body waxing - was that a framed Asia poster should be eliminated pronto from any bachelor pad. But Asia may be getting the last laugh on this one. All of the pop-prog band's original members (Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and John Wetton) announced recently that they were reuniting. This is good news for Asia fans, especially those who still might have a framed "Asia" poster in their video game room.

There's been some half-baked Asia line-ups over the last few years, but now it's back to the real deal, the crew that brought you "Heat of the Moment," "Only Time Will Tell," and videos with Carl Palmer wearing Capezio shoes. Asia has announced a world tour, but Sacramento isn't on the itinerary. The closest local fans will get to Asia for now is a Los Angeles date on Sept. 23. Oil up the chain on your bike, get a chest wax and head on down.

Posted by cmacias at 12:06 PM | Comments |

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July 6, 2006

Who's Cryin' Now?

Were you planning to buy tickets to see Journey on Aug. 27 at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre? If so, here’s some news you should know: Singer Steve Augeri just dropped off the tour due to a chronic throat infection. (Is that what happens after hitting the high note in “Any Way You Want It” too many times?

Here’s what the band said in a statement:

“Steve’s been suffering with an acute throat condition since before we kicked off the tour with Def Leppard. We were hoping he’d be in well condition to handle the rigors of the road but unfortunately it appears to be a chronic condition requiring total voice rest. We all wish Steve a speedy recovery.”

Now you won’t be getting original Journey singer Steve Perry, or even the guy who replaced Steve Perry in Journey. So give a cigarette lighter salute to guitarist Neal Schon, who will be handling the vocal duties for this tour.

Posted by cmacias at 4:47 PM | Comments |

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The 'View

Tucked into a corner of the Starbucks on Meadowview Road, BeGee has his laptop propped on a table and some coffee for sippin’. BeGee’s been up early these days, around 6 a.m., when he loads his truck with lawnmowers and gets moving with his landscaping business, Lawnster Inc.

But he reserves the night for rapping. BeGee’s been in the south Sacramento hip-hop game since the early 1990s, rapping about his ‘hood: 69th Avenue, and the Meadowview area at large. “The View” starts near here, at this Starbucks off I-5 and Meadowiew Road, rolls past the notorious “Danger Island” apartment complex at Amherst St., past 24th and 29th streets and is bordered by Detroit Blvd.

Right now, BeGee, 32, is thinking about another place. On Friday night he’ll be in Portland, filming Brotha Lynch, First Degree the D.E. Zigg Zagg and other rappers from south Sacramento’s Siccmade label. This is a town that’s shown love for south Sacramento hip-hop, and BeGee plans to capture the action, maybe for a future DVD. Or something.

BeGee knows that Portland will be a quick-hit trip. Lately, his wife of 11 years hasn’t been so keen on this rap game that’s more like a rat race. She’d rather have him close to home, close to their two children and BeGee’s three younger siblings who all live with them.

But now it’s time to drop off some lawnmowers … and hitch a ride to Portland.

Posted by cmacias at 4:04 PM | Comments |

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July 5, 2006

Follow-up with Rob Fatal

A bunch of DJs recently duked it out in West Sacramento for the DMC USA American Battleground Tour. One of those mix masters at the DJ battle was the pride of the Pocket area, DJ Rob Fatal. He was profiled in Friday’s Ticket section and also featured in a scratch-a-licious podcast. Our boy didn’t win, and it turns out that the Top 3 places were won by DJs from the Bay Area: Mr. B (1st place), Ejay (2nd place), Gtek (3rd place). But Rob Fatal isn’t bummed that he didn’t wind up in the winner’s circle.

“The vibe was so great this year,” said Rob Fatal, who speaks with the speed of a “flare” scratch. “Everyone was being so supportive of one another. I haven’t seen it that cool in a long time. I did good, I got in the Top 10, and finished unofficially round fourth or fifth. But I got the response I wanted. I did my Operation Ivy juggle, and (afterward) one of these old punk guys in the crowd said, ‘Ah, that was awesome.’ That was my first place.”

Posted by cmacias at 3:16 PM | Comments |

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