Things to do in Sacramento

Sacramento's Baby! is, with just five shows played a, well, baby of band. But that doesn't mean that the trio doesn't have chops.

Fronted by Roach, formerly of the longtime area punk band, Groovie Ghoulies, it also features Kortnee (Riff Randals, Whiz-Bang!) on bass and Christine (The Pizzas) on drums.

The group is so new, they've only recorded a few songs so far - one of which written specifically for Roach by a Dutch rock'n'roll pal, Jerry Hormone.

Baby!

Song: "You Better Run"

Style: The Shangri-La's amped up on punk

Behind the song: "I thought the song was great when I first heard it," Roach said. "Now I'm trying to get other guys to write songs - I want to release a CD called 'Roach & Her Boy Toys.'"

So far however, she hasn't had much luck.

"I don't think (the guys) are going for it," she says, laughing.

Although the band stayed pretty faithful to Hormone's original demo, they did add a few personal touches to the track.

"We added a real rock ending - I needed it to have fireworks," Roach says.

Hormone, in an e-mail from Rotterdam, admits writing a song, from way across the Atlantic Ocean, was a bit of a challenge.

"I didn't really know what (her) band sounded like yet but I knew - and really dig - Roach's guitar sound from her stuff with the Ghoulies.

"I figured I'd make it a garage-y early 70's glam tune, because it's got these boogie woogie chords that really fit her style."

See them: Friday at Capitol Bowl's 300 Room, 900 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento. The Enlows and the Boyfriendz are also on that bill. The 21-and-over show starts at 9 p.m. and is free.

On the Web: www.myspace.com/babysactorock

Listen to "You Better Run" here:

The first thing I thought last night as the Democratic convention came to a close and the Brooks & Dunn song "Only in America" filled Invesco Field was, well: "Weird."

Second thought? "Ah, politics - it's all about the strategy."

What's next? McCain busts out some U2, Will.I.Am or Kanye West? Afterall, those artists aren't just some of Obama's personal favorites - they're also ardent supporters of the Democratic candidate.

Then again, the Brooks & Dunn song has already been around the political block: Both George W. Bush and John Kerry used the track during their 2004 presidential campaigns. Brooks & Dunn have also done some in-person campaign time with Bush.

What did the country superstars think of the choice? Kix Brooks offered this centrist point-of-view.

"Seems ironic that the same song Bush used at the Republican Convention last election would be used by Obama and the Democrats now," Brooks said in a written statement released to the press this morning.

"(It's) very flattering to know our song crossed parties and potentially inspires all Americans."

Spoken like a true American - and politician.

Sacramento rock trio The Grumpy have a lot of reasons to be, well, not so grumpy. Not only did the band just release its latest album "Throes of Contemplation" but they've also got a sweet gig opening for the Sacramento Monarchs before tomorrow's game at Arco Arena.

The band, featuring Cameron (vocals, guitar), J.W. Brooks (drums) and Jake Ferguson (bass), has a decidedly American rock sound - aggressive, yet slick. Perfect for, say, a sporting event.

The Monarchs game (against the Houston Comets) starts at 7 p.m., the band performs at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $10-$90 via TicketMaster.com

Don't want to pay that much? The band also plays Friday, Sept. 5 at Ugly's (7161 Auburn Blvd. , Citrus Heights). The 9 p.m. show is 21-and-over.

So you're the world's greatest ABBA and "Mamma Mia!" fan, but some of those Swedish-to-English lyrics still puzzle. Why for instance, would anyone want to "feel the bean on the tambourine?" What's it doing there, anyway?
To clear up confusion, Universal is offering a sing-along version of its popular, Meryl Streep led movie musical, starting Friday. Fans can follow along to the lyrics on the screen and sing to their hearts' content at three local theaters: Century Stadium, Century Laguna and UA Roseville.
And yes, this will be your chance to show that you really can sing better than Pierce Brosnan!

The band may list Brooklyn as its hometown on its MySpace page but the members of !!! wanted to make one perfectly clear: Sacramento was, is and always will be home.

"This band is not afraid to say it's from Sacramento," said back-up singer Shannon Funchess as the band played to a packed house at Harlow's on Tuesday night.

"Sacramento you own !!!."

And Sactown made good on its investment as the band ripped through its blistering set. With singer Nic Offer - clad in a polo shirt and shorts - leading the groove, there wasn't a stationary pair of feet in the building.

Well, there was that one guy in front me who kind of barely tapped his Converse in time to the rhythm, but he doesn't count. Seriously, how can you go to a !!! show and not shake what your mama gave you?

As always, !!! (pronounced "chk chk chk" - or you can use any rhythmic, repetitive sound really) proved that "disco" and "punk" aren't mutually exclusive tunes. Moving through tracks off of their three albums, the band delivered beats so raw they seemed to cut to the very core of your soul. With horns, keyboards, tambourine and killer guitar riffs, !!! marries its dance floor vibe with gospel, soul and hard rock.

The show, a benefit for Concerts 4 Charity, also featured Touchez in the opening slot and more skinny jeans, thrift store tees and ironic mustaches per square foot than is probably legal. But I mean that in a good way, really. Hey, if you're not too cool to dance (Converse-tapping guy, I'm looking at you), then you understand what I mean.

Good news for fans of Paul Robins: Soon he'll back be on the air - with his famous voice and, get this, his face, too!

Word just reached 21Q that Robins will be joining KTXL's new morning TV show called "Fox40 Live.". (Check out the station's promo clip.) He joins anchors Natalie Bomke and Rosemary Orozco along with reporters Bethany Crouch and newcomer Darsha Philips.

The show will air from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays beginning Sept. 8.

OK, that's if all the parts for the station's new set arrive in time.

Fox40 news director Brandon Mercer is downright giddy about getting Robins to join the team.

"We were trying to find each other," Mercer says. "One day I left him a voicemail and he left me an e-mail. We finally talked, and it was a perfect match. He's the perfect guy for us because he knows this market - along with everybody in town. We're adding a voice people already know."

So will Robins go from being known as the "nicest guy in radio to the nicest guy in TV?"

One thing's for sure: It doesn't sound like he's been rising and shining too early since leaving Y92.5 (KGBY-FM) back in December. (Robins hosted "The Paul & Phil Show" for 18 years and "The Paul Show" for most of 2007.)

"To be honest, I'd hoped to never get up before the sun ever again. Ever!" Robins says. "But this opportunity with Fox40 ... it was just too good to pass up. But Monday was the first time I got up before the sun, when I came down to the station to hang out with the morning crew."

So what has Robins been doing since December?

"I spent three weeks in Australia with my lovely wife. Time in Costa Rice with my lovely wife and took a cruise to Canada with my lovely wife. And I've written 15 chapters in a novel. Nothing remotely described as work."

He's also a new grandfather!

Mercer adds the new morning show (which means no more "Andy Griffith" at 8 a.m.) will be very news driven and very relevant in what is becoming a very competitive TV timeslot locally. In fact, Mercer would have launched the 4:30 a.m. gig sooner than any other local station had the set been in place.

"We want to explain to viewers why they should care about a particular story instead of just reciting scripts behind the anchor throne," he says. "Viewers are too smart for that."

Robins' charm and smile should make for a decent wake-up call. But sorry Paul, I'll have to catch you around 6:30 a.m.; 4:30 is out of my time zone.

"Being on TV, I guess I can't show up in a ballcap and unshaven," Robbins says. "I'll have to talk to Brandon about casual Fridays."

Fox40 (KTXL) anchor Thomas Drayton has confirmed he's leaving the station.

But he can't tell us where. Or exactly when.

OKayyyyyyy,

Seems like Drayton, who currently co-anchors the 10 p.m. news with Donna Cordova, is not at liberty to divulge such pesky details at this time.

Who knew media job switcheroos could be so Secret Spy-like?

Drayton can, however, tell us this The new gig is as the lead anchor in a Top 5 market and he'll be leaving Sacramento the first week of September and, in all likelihood, starting his new job by mid-September.

Although he's excited to take on the new assignment, Drayton said he's sorry to say goodbye to Sacramento and Fox40.

"I had every intention of re-signing (with Fox40)," Drayton said. "But then I was contacted by this station and it was a great opportunity."

Drayton said he'll keep up with Fox40 and its upcoming changes.

"It's an exciting time to be at Fox40 - we're about to launch a new, expanded morning show with a brand new look," he said. "But at some point, you have to decide if you want to continue with what you have or do you want to move on. And now was the time for me to make this transition."

Fox40 news director Brandon Mercer praised Drayton's talents.

"Thomas helped Fox40 get to where we are now and we wish him the best of luck," said Mercer who also confirmed that Fox40 is indeed launching a new morning show in the near future but declined to give the specifics at this time.

Finding a replacement for Drayton will be tough, he added.

"We've got to do an anchor search - to replace him we need to find someone who knows news, someone who's able to ad lib, someone who's authentic and someone who has a voice that (viewers) will respect)."

We'll keep you posted on the details.

I'm not a huge fan of gigantic outdoor music festivals - they're crowded, stinky and unless you get there at an indecently early hour, chances are you'll barely be able to see the bands.

Even this weekend's Outside Lands Festival didn't quite pull at me - as much as I'd like to see Radiohead or Beck or Tom Petty again or even as much as I'd love to check out newer, younger acts such as Bon Iver.

But, I am a huge fan of Wilco and because the Chicago-based band was otherwise bypassing Northern California, I decided to make the trek to SF's Golden Gate Park to check out their set on Sunday.

I'd actually hoped to also see Canada's Broken Social Scene because I imagine that, like the Arcade Fire, they're quite an exciting band live.

But, alas, Muni is not my friend and after the N line dropped us off somewhere near one tail end of the park, it took us nearly an hour (for reals) to find ourselves to the Twin Peaks stage - exactly 10 minutes after BSS finished its set.

Note to festival organizers: Signs pointing the way to the appropriate entrances would've helped. Really.

Sigh.

But, all was not lost. That still gave us plenty of time to get a much-needed beer and find a spot on the grass for the show - only about five miles out (see accompanying photo for lack of detail).

And, although I wish Wilco had been the headliner instead of Jack Johnson and, thus, played beneath the night sky, they still put on a great show.

A grew show that was, however, definitely geared toward the latter half of the band's catalog. Playing for about an hour-and-a-half, Jeff Tweedy, Nels Cline and the rest of the band stuck mostly to fare from their last two albums, 2004's "A Ghost is Born" and 2007's "Sky Blue Sky."

They did pull out a few older tracks including "Via Chicago" (from 1999's wonderful "Summerteeth" record) and "California Stars" (from the band's 1998 "Mermaid Avenue" collaboration with Billy Bragg).

But, if you were hoping for a dose of early country-rock ("Casino Queen" or "Passenger Side" anyone?!?), then this wasn't the show for you.

Instead, the band stayed pretty faithful to its current noise lovefest. What do you expect, that's why they hired Nels Cline to be in the band. The guitarist, who's played with everyone from Charlie Haden to Thurston Moore, is an amazing musician and his very presence lends to Wilco's current obsession with noisy, noodle-y rock and guitar solo freakouts.

If you can get yourself out of the past (and it's hard, I know, it's hard), Wilco is still a great band - albeit a very different one that rose from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo in 1994..

Still, the best moment for me, came via 2001's pretty, quiet "Jesus, Etc." And, judging from the chorus of cheers that rose from the crowd as the band struck that song's very first note, I wasn't alone in my happiness for its inclusion.

Wilco will probably never get the acclaim or even album of, say,a Radiohead who, of course, headlined Friday's Outside Lands set to much fanfare.

But, for me at least, they were more than worth the drive, public transportation adventures, endless walking, that really bad overpriced vegan burger and the slightly nagging feeling that I'd gone to all the trouble to watch a band from a distance that approximated at least one full city block.

What a girl won't do for rock'n'roll, y'know?

As a longtime viewer - and blogger - of "American Idol," the news today that Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi DioGuardi will join the show for its eighth season shocks me little.

I figured the show would start shaking things up after longtime executive producer Nigel Lythgoe announced his departure this summer to persue other ventures.

Kara will become the show's fourth judge, along with Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, when the next installment begins in January on FOX.

My guess is Paula is wiped out from all the snarkiness - even if it's just in "Idol" fun. She's taken her swipes from both fans and, of course, from Simon for seven seasons for being either out of it or too darned sweet to the contestants. Randy just "dawgs" from the sidelines, especially this past go-round.

Girls against guys? Bring it on!

Allyson Seconds is well-known around Sacramento. Over the years, she's been in numerous bands including Go National and Ghetto Moments but it'd been years since she'd performed front and center, with the spotlight of attention shining solely on her.

So, the 39-year-old musician, ready to find her voice, called on longtime friend Anton Barbeau, currently playing music in the U.K., to help her make some music. The resulting songs, which will appear on the upcoming album "Bag of Kittens," are sweet pop gems steeped in melancholy and regret.

Allyson Seconds

Song: "I Used To Say Your Name"

Style: Soft, hypnotic pop

Behind the song: "This was the first song I heard, I loved it right away," Seconds says. "Anton did exactly what I was hoping - write a song with my voice in mind. It's my favorite out of all the ones he did; I really love the piano.

"I went to Europe to play with Anton - every time I even do an open mike in Sacramento I get butterflies like crazy," she says. "But I thought, what better way to throw myself into singing then go to a different continent and play to a roomful of strangers?"

Barbeau says Seconds has made the song entirely her own.

"It doesn't even sound like something I've written," he says. "I just feel like it's her song. She has a lovely voice and a very relaxed style and when she's up there singing she's just very true to herself."

On the Web: www.myspace.com/bagokittens

Listen to "I Used to Say Your Name" here:

You learn a lot about a band from seeing them play live. After seeing a heated, often searing set by Radiohead headlining the opening night of the Outside Lands Festival at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, I've learned the five piece British art band are indeed the state of art in 21st century creative rock music. They represent the times both sonically in their complex music and emotionally in their poetic, disaffected lyrics.

The band's 22-song set, nearly two-hour performance, including a five-song encore, leaned heavily on their latest record, "In Rainbows," (seven songs) and four from "OK Computer," the most acclaimed record in their distinguished discography. Songs had full muscular rock guitar sound live, and the band's electronica leanings added a pulsing, rhythmic push to much of the material.

Opening with the percussive funky "15 Step" and then "Reckoner" from "In Rainbows" (initially sold over the Internet as a pay-what-you-want offering), the band played seven tunes from their newest record. From "OK Computer" they performed "Airbag," "Paranoid Android," Exit Music (For a Film)," and "Karma Police" with Yorke at an upright acoustic piano wheeled out to center stage. Other tunes included "Pyramid Song" and "You and Whose Army?" from "Amnesiac," and "Idioteque" and "The National Anthem" from"Kid A" and they closed with "Everything In Its Right Place," also from "Kid A."

Throughout, lead vocalist Thom Yorke showed a strong, impassioned voice while guitarist/keyboardist Jonny Greenwood blazed through the effects-laden songs. Yorke moved from electric guitar to acoustic guitar and piano during the set, while the animated Greenwood worked fluidly between a keyboard station and lead guitar. Bassist Colin Greenwood (Jonny's brother) solidified the band's bottom, while drummer Phil Selway injected sharp often surprising flourishes. Guitarist Ed O' Brien added dense textural layers to the music's shifting moods.

Bands as eccentric as Radiohead often gain obsessive cult followings, but rarely combine it with equally strong commercial draw. The band builds on inspirations from diverse sources, including enigmatic singer song writer Scott Walker, modern composer and electronic music innovator Olivier Messiaen, and jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus. Though the outsize hype initially blindsided the band in certain ways, they have clearly made peace with their appeal (a capacity crowd of over 60,000 was estimated at Friday night's show), and they brought an intense focused energy and spontaneity to the performance. As Yorke graciously apologized for some early sound problems (the music dropped out completely for long stretches of the third and fourth tunes) the singer said, "We didn't really have much time to set up our gear. But it's ultimately about the music, and we thank you for your patience with us."

They apparently had time to set up an intricate, often stunning lighting and video accompaniment to the show. Huge video screens split into four quadrants projected close-ups and treated images of the performers from both sides of the stage.

Outside Lands continues today and Sunday with headliners like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Jack Johnson still to come.

The final dog days of summer are as good for listening to music as they are for catching up on reading.

And that's a good thing because there have been some good CD releases recently, two of which I've listed below along with three I keep returning to....

1. "The Berlin Concert" - Simone Dinnerstein - (Telarc) new release
Dinnerstein leaves no doubt she can play the Romantics with an electric performance of Beethoven piano sonata No. 32.

2. "Ay Amor!...Constantinople" - Francoise Atlan (ATMA)
A truly wild and totally infectious CD of world music from Spain, Persia and French troubadour traditions. Hard to push the off button on this one.

3. "Eight Grounbreaking American Composers - "Class of 38" - (Naxos) new release
The concept is simple: a compilation of 8 composers born in 1938. The music? Compelling and indefinable. Includes the likes of Gloria Coates, Joan Tower, Frederick Rzewski and John Corigliano.

4. "Fiesta" - Gustavo Dudamel w/Simon Bolivar Orchestra - (Deutsche Grammophon)
Classical music of Latin America gets the impassioned Dudamel touch. A showcase for this awesome orchestra.

5. "Continuo" - Avishai Cohen - (Sunnyside)
Forward-thinking jazz that grows on you and grows on you and...well, you get the picture.

VitrualEShopping

I know lots of folks who love to shop in their pajamas. Why fire up the car when you can fire up your laptop - especially when the kids are asleep and you've got the "mall" all to yourself.

Well, now you can. The world's first virtual, 3D shopping mall has been "built" in Sacramento. It's called VirtualESacramento.com.

I visitied the site and, I have to admit, it really simulates the sounds of a mall - without the jampacked parking lots! Shoppers can peruse the main mall, specialty malls (for men, women and teens) or stay within their own city's mall. (The individual city malls, like Sacramento's, cover the major English-speaking cities in the world!)

You can shop by style - only pants or certain colors - and even makeup for particular skin tones. There's also a way to grab and redeem coupon offers from certain merchants. Some of the stores you'll find are Barnes and Noble, The Apple Store, Champion, Zales, Walmart - even Fredericks of Hollywood.

Mark Stein, chief executive officer of VirtualEShopping.com, answered questions on the Web site about this concept.

He says the shopping destination launched July 21, so for now most of the merchants are national, like Sharper Image and Old Navy.

"Over time, we anticipate that local attractions, businesses and even professional services (doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, etc.) will want to have storefronts and billboards in the mall," Stein says. "So over time, the city malls should look more and more like the cities they are named after."

To check it out, click here.

KXTV News10, the ABC affiliate in the Sacramento region, is again cutting its workforce, President and General Manager Russell Postell confirmed Thursday.

Postell would not reveal the number of people let go, although one employee told The Bee that at least six people were terminated.

The "staff reductions are throughout the building, in technical and engineering," Postell said. "The (layoffs) will not affect the news product."

One laid-off employee contacted The Bee but would speak only on condition of anonymity, saying future job references might be jeopardized if a name is cited. The former employee said no on-air talent is affected by this round of layoffs.

Staffers learned at a meeting last month that downsizing was in the works with some of the new technologies in place, the former employee said. A letter given to affected employees stated that News10 is restructuring its broadcast operations, and the positions are being eliminated - effective immediately. Severance packages were handed out.

News10 laid off eight newsroom employees in May. The station also has lost others through attrition.

The show must go on. The Dave Matthews Band show scheduled for Monday at Raley Field will still happen despite the death of longtime DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore.

Moore, 46, died Tuesday due to complications from injuries he sustained during a June ATV accident. Moore was not playing the tour and Jeff Coffin (Bela Fleck & the Flecktones) will continue to play his parts through the remainder of the band's shows.

I spoke with DMB violinist Boyd Tinsley on Monday - the day before Moore's death. At the time, Tinsley and the rest of the band were still hopeful he'd make a full recovery and join the band on the road for the next round of dates.

"LeRoi's playing came from the heart and soul" Tinsley said at the time. "Everybody in the band has realized you can't replace him."

You can read my interview with Tinsley, Sunday in the Bee's Explore section.

Tickets ($58-$70) are still available through TicketMaster.com. For more information, visit the Raley Field site.

One of the more daring classical musical organizations of the last 20 years -- Bang on a Can - will be featured on a segment of "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" tonight on PBS.

Bang on a Can was started 21 years ago by three young composers from the Yale School of Music -- Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe. David Lang won a Pulitzer Prize in music earlier this year. The organization has grown into a $1 million plus organization of great influence that garners commissions from the likes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall.

Through its record label -- Cantaloupe Music, the organization has also been elemental in bringing such genre-bending musical ensembles like So Percussion and Ethel into the contemporary classical music mainstream.

The segment will be the second one in the program and will air on KVIE at 6 p.m. tonight.

For fans of new and contemporary classical music this segment should provide some interesting food for thought.

OK, Neil Young fans, this may be the closest you get to heaven.

Young just announced a new North American tour and while, so far, it's not coming to Sacramento or even San Francisco, he will play Nov. 1 at the Reno Events Center.

Death Cab for Cutie and Everest will open the show.

(To be honest, I love Death Cab but I'm more than a little bit disappointed that Wilco's run with the band starts at the end of November. Now that would be a perfect show.)

Tickets ($75-$250) go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster

Want to get a preview of Everest? The buzz band is playing Sunday at Old Ironsides for a whole lot cheaper. The 21-and-over show is $7 at the door and also features The Parson Redhead and local band An Angle.

For more information: myspace.com/theoldironsides

More news is breaking on the local TV front.

Ron Hyde returns to television - but not in sports. He's anchoring the morning news at CBS-13. After leaving as sports director at KCRA-3, Ron (pictured) spent the last two years running a video production company, RONHYDE.NET. It's nice to have him back on the air - somewhere.

Also, I got an e-mail from Dennis Shanahan, who recently completed his contract with KOVR and has moved over to Fox40.

He writes: "My last day at Channel 13 was July 31. I started reporting at Fox40 this week. The decision to leave KOVR was mine. I'd been a reporter there for about eight years, and the time was just right for a change. ... Fox40 offered me a great opportunity to grow in a talented news department that's doing some really exciting things. It feels great to be part of the team."

Congrats to Dennis.

And, for the reader/viewer who was wondering what's up with the lack of face time for a couple of folks at CBS-13 and CW31 - Chris Burrous and Stefanie Cruz - Chris is on vacation and Stefanie was on the air this morning. Believe it or not, they do get time away from the cameras!

KIRO 7

I've got breaking TV news: KCRA 3 news director Anzio Williams just put out the word that the station has hired award-winning anchor/reporter Gulstan Dart (pictured). He will co-anchor the weekday evening newscasts, including KCRA Reports at 11 p.m. with Edie Lambert.

Hey, and that's just in time for the rest of us to go to bed at a decent hour after all the late nights watching the Olympics!

To be honest, I totally got brain freeze on who Dart is replacing opposite Lambert. According to Gene Robinson, creative services director for KCRA and sister station
KQCA My58 TV, "There was no one holding that spot down on a regular basis."

The station rotated several anchors, including Walt Gray and Teo Torres, in that position.

In a statement, Williams says, "Gulstan has an exceptional range of experience as both an anchor and a reporter. We are very excited to have a journalist of his caliber join our news team."

So Dart is trading the Pacific Northwest - that would be Seattle - for sunny Sacramento. He has anchored weekday morning and noon newscasts at KIRO 7 for five years.

His other gigs? Atlanta (WSB) and three years with MSNBC. Dart also filled in as a news reader on NBC's "Today Show."

Quite a pedigree. And let's not forget the Emmy and Associated Press awards for reporting and spot news coverage.

His background? Dart is a grad of the University of Texas at Arlington. He's married with three kids, and is into hiking and water sports. That should make for a smooth transition to our fair city's waterways and trails.

His first day behind the anchor desk is Sept. 8.

IADT

There's a whole lot more going on at the fair besides goats and deep-fried anything.

In fact, fashion will get some much-needed attention when the Natomas-based International Academy of Design & Technology previews its "The Night of 1,000 Gowns" on Tuesday and Wednesday inside Cal Expo Building 8.

The shows will debut some of the designs created by more than 100 IADT student designers. The real "The Night of 1,000 Gowns" show is Sept. 26.

On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be two previews - at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. - hosted by Naima Mora, winner of Season 4 of "America's Next Top Model." If you'll recall, Naima also hosted the school's first-ever student fashion show back in March at the Crest Theatre.

The school is also partnering with the nonprofit organization The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation for a collection of celebrity apparel that will be on display during the run of the fair.

Some of the celeb attire includes Minnie Driver's Jimmy Choo Emmy shoes, America Ferrera's Golden Globe gown designed by Brian Reyes, Neil Patrick Harris's Dolce & Gabbana Emmy tie and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Narcisco Rodriguez Emmy gown.

You can bid on these items and more by clicking here.

Of course, you can always grab a deep-fried White Castle burger between shows!

Nine Inch Nails just announced dates for its upcoming Lights in the Sky tour and Sacramento made the cut.

Look for the Trent Reznor-fronted icons of industrial rock, Dec. 12 at Arco Arena.

No word yet on when tickets go on sale to the general public but if you're a registered member of the band's Web site, you'll get first dibs on a pre-sale tickets, premium seats, etc.

Visit www.NIN.com for futher details.

Local jazz musicians Ross Hammond and Scott Amendola had played together many times before but when the two were paired on a recent project, they decided to continue the partnership by forming a duo.

The Lovely Builders is Hammond on guitar, Amendola on percussion and both on electronics and the resulting sound is playful, confident and, as the name may suggest, exquisitely innovative.

The Lovely Builders
Song: "Vote"
Style: Sprawling, free-form jazz
Behind the song: "We had some extra time in the studio and just started playing through some ideas we'd sketched out. 'Vote' just came out of that," Hammond says.
"We wrote it around a rhythmic figure as opposed to a melody or chord progression - Scott is really a mad scientist, he's an incredible, great drummer but he's also into electronics, (creating) lots of sounds - it's like 'where the hell is that coming from?' It's fun, it's cool."
See them: August 25 at the Java Lounge, 2416 16th St. Sacramento.
The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. and is $5 at the door. For more information: (916) 441-3945
On the Web: www.myspace.com/rosshammond

Listen to "Vote" here:

It's hot, so that must mean the California State Fair is open for business. And, in an effort to keep costs down for fairgoers, the fair is partnering with Coca-Cola to offer unlimited ride wristbands for the full run of the fair - every day.

In the past, these bands have only been available on Fridays and Labor Day.

Special wristband coupons are available on specially marked 12-packs of Coke at pretty much any grocery store or market. Grab the coupon. Once you get to the fair, you pay $30 for the unlimited ride wristbands Monday through Friday (buy until 8 p.m., ride until 11 p.m.) and $35 on Saturday and Sunday (buy until 4 p.m., ride until 7 p.m.).

Don't worry. If you're not a Coke drinker, Fridays and Labor Day will still be carnival wristband days - with or without a coupon.

Olivia Coelho sent me one of the most ecstatic e-mails I've ever received. Seems OIivia, who owns Bows and Arrows boutique in midtown, got a surprise visit the other day.

OK, I'll let her tell the story:

"My all -time fashion icon and favorite actress just came into my store!
If ever in the entire world I would want someone to walk into
my store and shop it would be Chloe Sevigny!" (She's pictured above with Olivia, left, in the boutique.)

Maybe someone else has spotted her, too. Chloe is in Sac filming
for "Big Love," her HBO series. Olivia says the actress arrived earlier this week. She's made several stops at Bows and Arrows, so obviously she's got good taste!

I didn't know this, but Olivia tells me Chloe is constantly on People magazine's worst- dressed list, but Olivia thinks they're nuts!

"She can do no wrong!!"

Word is the company is in town until Friday filming, even in Old Sac, so let me know if you've spotted Chloe, too.

One thing's for sure, she'll be taking a piece of retail back to L.A.

Bravo

On last night's episode of "Project Runway" the remaining 12 designers were given the challenge to create an outfit for a high-powered, glam professional woman. Sounds fairly routine, right?

Well, the "woman" turned out to be Brooke Shields, who will return this fall in her role as mom/wife/studio executive on the TV show "Lipstick Jungle."

Heck, I wasn't even sure this show was coming back because it got bashed by critics. Actually, I liked "Lipstick Jungle." It was a weekly diversion from the daily grind. And the three main characters had amazing wardrobes.

So the challenge was to create an outfit for Brooke's character, Wendy Healy, on the show. The winner's look will be worn during Season 2.

Each designer had 30 minutes to sketch an outfit and show it to Brooke. She picked six favorites and they, in turn, picked another designer to form six teams of two. Their budget was $150.

The team concept never goes over well on "PR." Too much drama, too much ego. Mentor Tim Gunn even blogged: "Designers, why is it so difficult to listen to each other, absorb content and meaning, and ... behave??"

But I'll give props to Keith, who worked with Kenley.
His idea was a two-piece print top with a skirt. They argued over the print fabric and ended up buying both. Tim called Kenley's choice "Ma Kettle" and urged them to go with Keith's fabric. Smarts won out, and the top was paired with a high-waisted skirt in diaphanous chocolate fabric. A wide black belt connected the two pieces. The judges, including Brooke, loved it.

Kelli, who browbeat Daniel throughout the competition, deserved to go home after coming up with a leopard-print bustier that was more Frederick's of Hollywood than ladies who work.

Leanne, formerly of Yuba City, is still in the running!

Next week's challenge? "Good Queen Fun." The designers will be creating outfits for drag queens. Guest judge is RuPaul.

If Judy Britts gets her way, the region's newest children's chorus - the Northern California Children's Chorus - will have a big musical impact on Placer County .

The new group seeks to provide a choral music program for boys and girls in
Grades 1 through 8. There will be two groups: a training level and an advanced level ensemble, said Britts, who is NCCC's founder and artistic director.

The group will hold an introductory event, "Come, Sing with Us!" at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church at 2401 Olympus Dr., Roseville

The festival will give parents and singers an opportunity to meet the conductors, learn more about the NCCC, and a first chance to schedule an informal audition to be a charter member of the NCCC.

"My approach to repertoire is to provide vocal training through the classics, art songs, folk music of different countries, as well as selections suitable for a child's voice," said Britts.

She added that the NCCC's long term goals involve developing a multi-level program that includes weekly rehearsals, summer camps, day camps for the community, and eventually, tours nationally and internatioanlly to festivals.

For more information, call (916) 798-0104 or go to www.norcalchildrenschorus.org.

The CW

They're calling it "Cycle 11" (odd), but whatever it is, the next installment of the CW's "America's Next Top Model" will feature another Sacramento connection - Analeigh (pictured but no last names yet), 19, who grew up here and is currently a student living in L.A.

She's not the first local model to make it on to the Tyra Banks-hosted reality show. Two years ago, A.J. Stewart, a St. Francis High grad, appeared on the show and was the fifth contestant ousted.

At the time, she told my 21Q colleague, Rachel Leibrock, the experience proved to be a
"camera-induced headache."

Let's hope the snipping and back-biting won't be as annoying for Analeigh.

Anyway, the show's 14 finalists make their debut from 8 to 10 p.m. Sept. 3 on Channel 31.

The winner will be managed by Elite Model Management and rack up a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl. And then there's the cover and a six-page fashion spread in Seventeen magazine. Which, by the way, splashed Miley Cyrus on its September cover with this tease: "Exclusive! For the first time, she opens up about dating Nick Jonas."

Be still my teen heart!

I don't get out enough. That's a given. And when I do, I normally don't hang with the "jet set."

But, if I could, I'd start saving up for an upcoming event that will benefit the Sacramento Children's Home. It's called Luxe for Life, and it will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Aug. 22 at the Sacramento Executive Jet Center, 6133 Freeport Blvd.

The Kings' Kevin Martin is honorary chair for the event. And anyone who's a jet-setter will be there.

Of course, your job will be to buy a ticket to the event and then prepare to nosh. Guess who's cooking?

The event will feature food by Restaurant 55 Degrees, Lounge on 20, L Wine Bar and Urban Kitchen, Mason's and the hottest restaurant that's set to open thiis fall - the Hot Italian.

The "Objects of Desire" suite will be the setting for a silent auction.

If that's not enough, there will be dancing and a raffle ($50 per ticket) to win a 2008 Mercedes Benz C300!

Event tickets are $125 per person in advance, $150 at the door and $250 for VIP access and the red-carpet treatment.

All tickets and info can be found by.clicking here.

The Foothill Theater Company of Nevada City finds itself in desperate financial straits. The company, which has existed in some form for 32 years, needs $90,000 by Saturday or it won't be able to mount its next scheduled production, "On Golden Pond." They would then need $247,000 to complete the season.
At a standing room only meeting last week in Nevada City, FTC made a public plea for donations and support.
Artistic director Carolyn Howarth said waiting as long as they did - and finally going public with their problem - was a last resort.
"We were trying to solve it. We were doing everything we could think of," Howarth said.
"We were trying to be grown ups and solve our problems. It was a really hard decision to go public even when we did because it is so embarrassing."
"We're really in trouble and we need some help," she said.
FTC has a $1.6 million economic impact on the local community but Howarth said the city and county governments have never provided any financial backing. The company operates out of the historic Nevada Theatre on Broad Street, and helps preserve and maintain it as one of the oldest theaters in the state.
Howarth said that while the company had worked on reducing long standing debt from previous seasons, a combination of factors related to the economy is to blame.
"We've seen a small downturn in ticket sales because of the economy but it wasn't that which really hurt us.
What has hurt tremendously is second level fall out from the slumping economy - the loss of student matinees, which local schools said they could no longer afford. The price of gas for busing in the students became too costly and they also lost sponsorships with business that usually supported the theater company. Also losing the $300,000 Tahoe Shakespeare Festival contract (beginning this summer) created a significant cash flow problem for the company.
Since going public with the crisis the company has received about $20,000 in contributions from around the community.
In addition, a benefit concert for FTC will take place at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug.14, at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City.
Tickets are $20 and 100 percent of sales will benefit the Foothill Theatre Company.
For more information go online at www.foothilltheatre.org. or call (530) 265-9320.
Howarth said she tries to remain upbeat.
"I'm hopeful, but I'm nervous because we don't have much time. If we don't get it, we don't see any other choice but to close our doors. We have no other options."

With banjo, accordion and a stand-up bass, Woodland's Bottom Dwellers conjure sounds of an old ghost town, backwoods bonfires and the long and lonesome open road.
The band, featuring Ivan Sohrakoff (vocals, guitar, banjo), Adam Hancock (vocals, guitar, lap steel), Mark Eagleton (upright and electric bass) and Chris Eynon (drums), has two albums under its western wear belt.

The Bottom Dwellers

Song: "Think I Need a Drink"
Style: Twangy Americana / classic country
Influences: Buck Owens, Neil Young, Hank III
Behind the song: "Every now and then a song comes in and, instantly, everyone knows it's something special," Eagleton says.
For Sohrakoff, the track stood out among the band's rowdier songs.
"We do a lot of songs that are fast-driving, honky-tonk, truck-driving songs and this one was relaxed and laid-back," he says.
See them: Tonight at the Buck Owens tribute at Old Ironsides (1901 10th St); the 21-and-over show starts at 8 p.m. and is $8 at the door. Or, Saturday at Sophia's Thai Kitchen (129 E. St, Davis). The all-ages show starts at 10 p.m. and costs $3.

On the Web: www.bottomdwellersmusic.com

Listen to "Think I Need a Drink" here:

Associated Press

We've all been beaten over the head that the Beijing Olympics are 15 hours ahead of what's going down in Sacramento.

That said, the Opening Ceremony is already over, and athletes are probably snoozing, ready for the competitions to really get fired up on Saturday.

Anyway, I'm not really spoiling anything about what Team USA wears when they walk into the stadium. Matt Lauer of the "Today Show" unveiled the men's and women's outfits on TV this morning. (See basketball player Kobe Bryant, above, looking dapper.)

As I posted the other day, American designer Ralph Lauren - and his team - created the apparel in about three months. And I love it! Very classy - very reminiscent of Olympic wear from decades ago.

Matt put it this way: "They aren't wearing sweatpants!"

Senior vice president David Lauren (Ralph's son) showed off the men's and women's outfits, which are pretty much identical except the guys wear ties, the gals ascots (striped scarves).

There are eight pieces to each outfit and, when asked if the athletes would be toasty in the 80-degree-plus temps, David said they were constructed of lightweight, tropical wool. What did it remind me of? Think the U.S. team in the Olympic movie "Chariots of Fire."

Of course, there's always got to be a chapeau. For these Games, it's a white newsboy cap with a snap. Personally, I don't think it will come even close to the Salt Lake City beret in 2002, which was created by Roots - a Canadian company no less.

The rest of the outfit includes a navy blazer with crests and white trousers.

The Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony outfits are both Polo creations. We can't get those because they're just for the athletes, but if you click here you can snap up other really patriotic (and fashionable) Ralph Lauren Olympic-style clothing.

I particularly like the dog sweater.

Fox

I must have missed this bit of TV news, but it seems "American Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (pictured) is exiting stage right from the singing competition he and Ken Warwick, the show's other producer, have worked on for seven seasons.

According to the Associated Press, Lythgoe is putting together a deal with "Idol" creator Simon Fuller and 19 Entertainment. That could be anything from another reality show to movies to, well, anything Lythgoe's British heart desires.

I've covered the singing fest for three seasons now and, while this year's series averaged about 28.4 million views per show, per week, the ratings have dipped - perhaps as "Idol's" loyal audience ages.

However, viewership for May's "Battle of the Davids" finale was the second-highest for the show in five years.

Lythgoe, who often was seen smiling in the "Idol" audience (while Jeff Archuleta - David's dad - growled at him), has taken on other projects, including the popular "So You Think You Can Dance?" competition, which he produces and helps judge.

Many "Idol" fans have told me that they expect a shakeup in how the show unfolds for Season 8 next January. Maybe a different take on the audition process, a different format for Hollywood Week - who knows?

As we chat, auditions are under way with the next round taking place Friday in Kansas City, Mo. (I'd love to know what Simon, Paula and Randy think of Lythgoe's departure.) Also, no tips on whether anyone local made it through the first audition last month in San Francisco.

No doubt Fox is disappointed Lythgoe is leaving, but it still remains a mystery what role Warwick will play in "Idol," if any. The AP quotes 19 Entertainment spokesman Eric Green as saying the producers for next season have yet to be decided.

As for me, I'll get through the fall TV season with another installment of "Dancing With the Stars." (Is there any validity to the rumor that Florence Henderson, aka Carol Brady, will be attempting the samba?)

Yikes!

Interested in learning more about the world of opera?

An online learning course may be just the ticket.

This fall, 12 North American opera companies, including the Sacramento Opera, are partnering with OPERA America, the national opera service organization, to deliver a 2008-09 season of online learning courses.

The courses are designed as a portal into the operatic repertoire, but also geared to the opera aficionado. This season's offerings include: Verdi's "La Traviata," Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," and the world premiere of Andre Previn's "Brief Encounter."

Each course offers content that delves into the history, musical style, and dramatic structure of each opera. Written course lectures are emailed to participants once each week for four weeks. This allows participation at an individual pace.

So, what's not to like?

And audio clips and production photos are provided. An attractive feature is each course's interactivity, which allows for discussion among participants and instructor.

The Sacramento Opera, and each partner company, offers the courses at no charge to its patrons. The courses are available to the general public for only $10 each.

For more information, click here.

September marks the first anniversary of the death of Luciano Pavarotti.

To celebrate the anniversary PBS's Great Performances series is presenting "Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias," a new performance documentary by David Thompson. It will air on KVIE Sunday, Sept. 7.

The documentary combines rarely seen archival footage of Pavrotti and also includes fresh interview footage with Plácido Domingo, Joan Sutherland and Juan Diego Flórez.

Somehow, it feels entirely fitting to revisit the great Pavarotti on the TV screen. For it is there that he reached out to the largest audiences as opera's greatest ambassador of the 20th century.

The Crocker Art Museum is gearing up for the Aug. 16 unveiling of its highly anticipated "American Pop" exhibit. But there's no better venue than Second Saturday to spike interest in the upcoming exhibit, which will feature art from Andy Warhol and others of the so-called Pop Era.

So, this Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. the Crocker is sending a team of Segway scooters through the streets of downtown/midtown. The goal? To encourage art-loving urbanites to put the exhibit on their electronic calendars!

The Segway team will maneuver through the Second Saturday throng, handing out dollar-off Crocker admission coupons. The barflys, coffee drinkers and restaurant patrons will likely be sporting promotional pint glasses, coffee sleeves and coasters with replicas of the famous Warhol-esque soup can.

It's a smart way to introduce a new, younger audience to the Crocker.

"Midtown businesses have shown great support for the Crocker by allowing us to promote all around the Grid with our Warhol pint glasses, banners and other items," says Lial A. Jones, museum director, in an e-mail.

The museum acknowledges the Segway approach is an outside-the-box idea but, with its expansion set to be completed in 2010, it's vital the museum retain and grow its membership.

So, this is a perfect "segway" to the upcoming exhibit.

Never let it be said that the average couch potato Olympics viewer can't look stylish while watching world-class athletes compete - especially the U.S. team.

Most of us will tune in to at least some portion of Friday night's Opening Ceremony from Beijing. And when the U.S. team marches into the stadium they'll be fashionably outfitted in Polo Ralph Lauren attire.

The company was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to outfit the team for their parade appearances at both the beginning and the end of the Games. Try as I might, they're keeping the outfits top secret until Friday night.

A global audience - estimated to be at more than 4 billion - is much better for a fashion parade!

Polo also has designed a variety of outfits for the athletes to wear when they're hanging out in the Olympic Village. What I do know is that the Opening Ceremony attire will be more tailored; the Closing Ceremony attire more sporty.

As for the rest of us, certain apparel from the collection (including limited-edition pieces) can be purchased at select Polo Ralph Lauren stores and at the U.S. Olympic Committee Web site. Just click here.

One of the items that caught my eye is the Ralph Lauren men's Beijing Mesh Duofold Jacket (pictured) for $144.99. There's women's clothing and accessories, too.

As far as fan favorites, I'm not sure anything will top (no pun intended) the U.S. team's beret from the Salt Lake City Winter Games (2002)

Knock Knock's latest album "Girls on the Run," released on the band's Wilde Records label, is the perfect mix of beachy, breezy pop and frenetic rock. The four-piece, featuring singer-songwriter / bassist Allen Maxwell, guitarist Heather Conway, guitarist Mike Cinciripino and drummer Nicola Miller, is on hiatus through the early fall but plans to start working on a new album or EP soon.

Knock Knock

Song: "She Knocks Me Out"
Style: Punchy power pop
Influences: Indie rock and punk meets classic rock
Behind the song: "It's a really old song (from when) Nicola and I had a band called Slumber Party," says Maxwell. "At some point, in Knock Knock we were going all these old songs and this is one that we ended up using.
"It sounds really different now (because) Mike and Heather obviously put their own thing into it. Mike came up with the intro and then we all added the hand claps."

On the Web: www.myspace.com/knockknocktheband

Here's the player to hear "She Knocks Me Out"

Tonight - from 7 to 9 p.m. - a very special fashion show will take place in the auditorium at the UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X St. in Sacramento.

Fourteen "models" (10 women, four men) will walk the runway at the center's sixth annual fashion show, which features former bariatric (read:bypass surgery) patients as they model fall fashions for business, evening and leisure wear. Each model will be introduced with his or her personal story and photos from their lives before surgery.

For these models, including Carrie Davis of Colfax, the weight loss and the chance to show off styles she couldn't imagine wearing, is a dream come true. In fact, according to UC Davis, Carrie has lost 120 pounds and dropped 14 clothing sizes since her surgery a year ago.

"I'm amazed at the things I can do again," she says in a statement. "I'm even planning to run and chase the kids during soccer practice this season. It's wonderful!"

Tickets are $10 for children 10 and under; $20 for adults. Proceeds support the UC Davis Bariatric Surgery Program.