Submerge Magazine: Issue 108 (April 9 - 23, 2012)

Dive into Sacramento & its Surrounding Areas april 9 – april 23, 2012

#108

No Limitations

Death Grips Believe the Hype

jon MESS

Hardcore Artist

Planet of the Vampire Women spreads worldwide

Mux Mool

Setting the Mood at SEMF

SeA of Bees New Album is an Open Book • MoMo’s Meat Market Extra Napkins Necessary

PRESENTS

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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cofounder/ Editor in Chief/Art Director

Melissa Welliver melissa@submergemag.com cofounder/ Advertising Director

Jonathan Carabba jonathan@submergemag.com senior editor

James Barone Contributing editor

Mandy Johnston

Submerge

Contributing Writers

Robin Bacior, Corey Bloom, Bocephus Chigger, Anthony Giannotti, Blake Gillespie, Ashley Hassinger, Mark Lore Skylar Mundy, Ryan L. Prado, Steph Rodriguez, Adam Saake, Amy Serna, Jenn Walker

2308 J Street, Suite F Sacramento, Calif. 95816

916.441.3803 info@submergemag.com

Contributing photographers

Mike Ibe, Wes Davis, Carolyn Jaime, Rik Keller, Nicholas Wray

www.submergemag.com Follow us on Twitter! @SubmergeMag

4

108 2012

contents

Submerge: an independently owned entertainment/lifestyle publication available for free biweekly throughout the greater Sacramento area.

printed on recycled paper

cover Photo of element of soul by Kevin Prosch inset PHOTO OF DEATH GRiPS

BY Nicholas Wray

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

april 9 - 23

Dive in Submerge your senses The Stream The Optimistic Pessimist jon mess mux mool Planet of the Vampire Women CALENDAR tongue & chic

MoMo’s Meat Market element of soul album spotlight

SeA of Bees Orangefarben album spotlight

death grips The Money Store

the shallow end All content is property of Submerge and may not be reproduced without permission. Submerge is both owned and published by Submerge Media.

All opinions expressed throughout Submerge are those of the author and do not necessarily mean we all share those opinions. Feel free to take a copy or two for free, but please don’t remove our papers or throw them away. Submerge welcomes letters of all kinds, whether they are full of love or hate. We want to know what is on your mind, so feel free to contact us via snail mail at 2308 J Street, Suite F Sacramento, Calif. 95816. Or you can e-mail us at info@submergemag.com. cover photo of mux mool by Tim Saccent inset PHOTO OF SEA OF BEES

BY Gabriella Clavel

dive in There must be something in the water Melissa welliver melissa@submergemag.com The music scene in the Sacramento region is crackin’ this Spring!

First off, WOW, the list of national touring bands who are coming through or have recently played here is unreal. I mean, just name a few: Florence and the Machine, Fun., fIREHOSE, Childish Gambino, The Shins, Bon Iver, Mazzy Star and Drake. Not to mention that all of these shows are (or were) sold out! That just means you better step up your game and buy tickets in advance or you might not get into all these amazing shows.

Secondly, a ton of local musicians have, or are set to, release new albums this spring. Random Abiladeze, Element of Soul, Mahtie Bush, Sherman Baker, Havenside, Death Grips, Sea of Bees, Killdevil and Chuuwee. OK, OK…this list could really go on and on.

In this issue we actually talk about quite a few new releases.

We have two “Album Spotlights.” On page 28, Blake Gillespie gives his take on Death Grips’ new album The Money Store. It will be released April 24 on Epic and will also be available on vinyl exclusively on April 21 as part of Record Store Day. I’m going to go ahead and claim The Money Store is my favorite release of 2012 so far. The songs won’t get out of my head.

Case in point, every single morning I wake up singing, “I’m in your area,” from the last track titled “Hacker.”

Our second in-depth review, this one by Mark Lore, is on Sea of Bees’ sophomore full-length album Orangefarben. Since Bees’ debut Songs for the Ravens, I am constantly harassed by all of our contributors letting me know if I ever need anything Sea of Beesrelated, they would gladly be on call. Since we interviewed Julie Baenziger for a cover story around her first album (which you can read at Submergemag.com/featured/let-it-bee) we decided to go a different route and review her album this time around.

Orangefarben comes out in the United States on May 1 on Team Love (Conor Oberst’s label) and on page 27 you can read about what to expect as well as what makes this album so personal.

More regional music coverage: Element of Soul’s first fulllength album E.O.S. will be released April 20. You can see them play their new jams during the day at the City of Trees Reggae Music Festival or later that night at Shenanigans for their official Sacramento release show. Or, you could take a little drive east to Placerville, the band’s hometown, where they’ll be playing at PJ’s Roadhouse the following night on April 21. Read our feature story on the band by Steph Rodriguez on page 24 where you’ll learn more about how they classify their music, their lengthy recording process and how they live together, perform together and even meditate together. I can’t help but imagine that a band that meditates together, stays together.

Our other cover story is on beat-making master Mux Mool, who will be touring through on Friday, May 4 as part of the absolutely bonkers Sacramento Electronic Music Festival lineup going down at Harlow’s and Momo Lounge May 3–5. Turn to page 12 to read more about this much-hyped electronic artist whose latest offering, Planet High School, has the blogosphere buzzing.

Remember how I mentioned shows were selling out lately? Yeah, SEMF will more than likely sell out, so act now or don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Random Abiladeze has a new live album that is set to be released on April 20. In Submerge co-founder Jonathan Carabba’s column, which always talks about local happenings, “The Stream,” you cannot only read about Random’s uplifting messages but get the scoop on what to expect at his release show at Marilyn’s on K. Check out page 8.

Killdevil’s EP release show will be one not to miss. Going down on April 14 at Ace of Spades, it has to be one of the best local rock/punk/ metal lineups I’ve seen this year. To learn more about their release flip on over to page 6 and scope the “Submerge Your Senses” section.

As always, there’s more to Submerge issue No. 108 than just music coverage. We also have a feature on artist Jon Mess, and though he might be best known as co-vocalist of local posthardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, he has his first art exhibit starting April 14 at FE Gallery. Flip to page 10 where you can see and read about some of his abstract oil paintings.

On page 14 there is film piece on Trash Film Orgy’s Planet of the Vampire Women, which includes quotes from director Darin Wood and producer Christy Savage. Also check out our food review of MoMo’s Meat Market on page 23 that will have you yearning to try their hot link sandwich (if you’re not vegan and/or a vegetarian, that is). If you are, check out our preview on page 6 of the “1000 Vegan Cupcakes for Charity” event going down on April 22. Variety, it’s what we aim to give you here at Submerge.

Enjoy issue #108, Melissa-Dubs Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

5

HEAR

Your Senses

Killdevil’s CD Release Show

SEE HEAR TASTE Touch

April 14

Sacramento rock band Killdevil is releasing a new five-song EP titled For Survival at a huge blowout at Ace of Spades on Saturday, April 14. Two of their new tracks, “Psychic Medium” and “Rusted Dream,” will be released on 7-inch vinyl available at the show. It will also come with a download card giving access to all five songs. Also on the bill will be Kill the Precedent, City of Vain, Giant Squid, The Secretions and Black Mackerel. That is a seriously rockin’ lineup.

Doors open for this all ages show at 6:30 p.m. and it’s $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Go to Aceofspadessac.com for more details.

Advance tickets are available Phono Select Records in Midtown.

SEE

Rockin’ the Drive-In • April 19 On Thursday, April 19, grab some lawn chairs, pile up extra blankets in your car, heck, toss a couch in the back of your truck, do whatever you have to do to get cozy and warm and head to the West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive-In for a night of free movies and live music. It’s customer appreciation night, which means you get to check out Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The Lorax and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island for free along with music from ‘80s/‘90s rock cover band Adonis DNA. Their set list is littered with hit tunes from Green Day to The Ramones, Metallica to Foo Fighters and many more.

The band will play from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the movies will start after. There will also be a bounce house, face painting and plenty of concessions, making this a fun night out for the whole family.

Learn more at Westwinddriveins.com or at Facebook.com/adonisdnaband.

TOUCH

TASTE

Sew @ Bows • April 15, 16, 29 & 30 Local sewers Libby Bowles and Liz Donner have teamed up with Bows and Arrows to bring you an awesome new ongoing program called Sew @ Bows. Classes will cater to all sewing skill levels, from the beginner looking to get into it without losing a finger to the expert looking to hone their craft. Upcoming sessions include “Beginning Sewing” classes on Sunday, April 15 and Monday, April 16 as well as two “Reconstruction Classes,” one on Sunday, April 29 and one on Monday, April 30.

Classes have been filling up quickly, some may even be full by the time you read this, so if you are interested in attending future classes, learn more about how to sign up at Facebook.com/sewatbows or at Bowscollective.com.

6

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

1000 Vegan Cupcakes for Charity • April 22 In celebration of Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, Sacramento Vegan Challenge will present “1000 Vegan Cupcakes for Charity.” Ten local bakers will make 100 vegan cupcakes each with themes like Fresh ‘n’ Local, Cupcakes Around the World and Save the Rainforest, and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Embassy Suites’ Tower Bridge Bistro you can not only see the mass array of cupcakes (surely a spectacle to behold), but you can also purchase them and stuff your face on the spot. Take some home even, or maybe to the office the next day. Your family and/or co-workers will love you for it, and trust us, Submerge has had plenty of delicious vegan cupcakes; you cannot even tell they don’t have “normal” ingredients. There will also be gluten-free and sugar-free options available. Author and guest Colleen Patrick-Goudreau will be on hand signing copies of her book The Joy of Vegan Baking. For more information, visit Sacveganchallenge.com.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012 Audio Express — Sacramento Submerge — 4/9/2012

7

The stream

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Send regional news tips to info@submergemag.com Chicks rock, man: Brooke Sobol and Jason Moniz, two members of the now defunct local punk-rock band Blame Betty, have teamed up with Mickie Rat of The Secretions and drummer Brian Young to form Hey Pretty Pretty, a brand new female-fronted pop-punk/rock group that came together with the intentions of playing one night only. “I’m a huge fan of The Dollyrots. I’ve kept in touch with their booker over the years,” Sobol recently told Submerge. “She contacted me recently to see if I could help secure a venue for a show for them. I hadn’t been in the scene a while, so I contacted Mickie, knowing he is also a Dollyrots fan, for help.”

The two chatted and quickly came up with the idea to get a new group together to open the show. Within 24 hours they had the full band formed and the opening slot secured.

“Mickie and I nearly hooked up before when he had Rat-OMatic going, but it was super fast punk and I am more the ‘punk light’ type so that wasn’t the right fit,” said Sobol. “Hey Pretty Pretty blends punk and rock ‘n’ roll nicely, so it’s a good fit for both of us.”

When Submerge pried a little more to see if there’s a possibility the project might extend past the one gig, she said, “So far, it’s a one-night-only show for us, but there’s no telling for sure.

Anything’s possible.” Catch them with Los Angeles’ The Dollyrots, also a kick-ass, female-fronted rock group, on Friday, April 13 at Blue Lamp. Capt. Billy’s Whiz-Bang is also on the bill. Party kicks off at 9 p.m., $8 cover, 21-and-over only.

Random Abiladeze lives: the local MC has a new live album called Random Abiladeze Lives! set to be released on Saturday, April 21 at Marilyn’s on K. It’s a recording of his release show for Skill Before Swagger in June 2011, although there is one new unreleased track, “Death of the Poet,” on the album as well. In his April newsletter to fans, Random addressed his recent hiatus, or lull, if you will, stating that he never stopped making music and that he was just “tired of the incessant melee that is maintaining a public image,” he wrote. “I left behind the desire for fame a long time ago, but it seems I have to play into that game to get people’s attention to hear my message.”

I was having kind of a shitty morning when I received his email, but reading things like, “Yes, things are decaying at a rapid rate, but there is growth in the disappearance of the old world.

Remember, ‘energy is never created or destroyed.’ Be willing to accept the transformation taking place and manifest the patterns for elevation; otherwise, the path we’re headed on will seem much more painful than it needs to be,” or, “Read, drink water, refine your diet, exercise, regularly tell your family you love them, get in the sun and take time to regroup. It’s a gift to be here. Use it well,” somehow made me feel a whole lot better. Random has a way of doing that, making you see the brighter side of things and leaving you feeling uplifted. Join him on April 21, alongside his live band Bread Fam and openers Zebulon, James Cavern and Sleeprockers.

Hosting will be none other than TAIS. Show is 21-and-over, doors at 8:30 p.m., $10 at the door or $8 with a can of food. Learn more about Random Abiladeze at Randomab.com, where you can also sign up for his newsletter.

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m a y Sacramento 3, 4, 5 electronic music Festival may 6 murs may 10 Ledward Kaapana may 12 tainted Love may 17 Sizzling Sirens may 18 the cheeseballs may 19 Steelin’ Dan(7pm) may 23 clapYourHandsSayYeah may 26 B-Side Players

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Record Store Day is Saturday, April 21, and we here at Submerge ask you to not only support local shops like Dimple, The Beat, Phono Select, Records on Broadway and other mom-and-pop/brick-and-mortar stores on this day, but every day. There’s nothing like perusing through records, CDs, video games, posters and all sorts of other cool shit in person and not on the interwebs or at big, soulless corporate stores. On Record Store Day, most shops will have exclusive releases and some will have live bands, so get off your butts and get some new music in your life. You might just find your new favorite band.

may 31 Young Dubliners June 1 cash’d out (7pm) June 1 reminisce (10pm) June 8 cream of clapton June 10 new orleans Suspects June 19 Parlotones June 22 the Hits June 24 muriel anderson July 19 asleep at the Wheel aug 8 ottmar Liebert

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Please visit them and tell ‘em Submerge sent you.

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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SAT APr 28 (8Pm) KDVS fundraiser

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

The Optimistic Pessimist The Secret Life of Axel Bocephus Chigger bocephus@submergemag.com I’m starting to wonder what goes on at my house when I’m out. Often I will come home to find random objects moved from their traditional places. A T-shirt might be found in the kitchen. Sometimes there are strange odors to greet me. As if all that weren’t weird enough, today I came home from work to find my cat, Axel, laying in bed watching the Science Channel.

Normally, Axel greets me at the door with a look on his face like he just slept for 8 hours.

I’m convinced this subterfuge was created just to hide the truth about what really goes down at my house when I am not around. When I see weird things, I ask Axel what’s been going on, but he never has a believable answer (I’m sorry, meow is not going to cut it!). Who exactly is this cat? Should I trust him to be in my house alone? Why does he keep putting his toys in his water dish?

I guess after what I saw today, I should give him the benefit of the doubt. He likes the Science Channel, so maybe he is an astrophysicist. He is good at catching things, so clearly he has a physics background. I’ve seen him stare into the sky for hours as well.

I thought he was just looking for birds, but maybe there was more to it. His real name could be Neil deCat Tyson! Then again, I haven’t seen any errant math equations written on the walls of his litter box, nor does he seem too impressed with my Google Sky Map app.

Maybe he is an acrobat. I’ve seen him do back flips. He can jump 5.5 feet into the air from a dead stop. I’ve seen Axel jump into a corner, bounce off the wall, bounce off the other wall and run back the way he came. He can squeeze his body into the tiniest of places.

If his claws are long enough, he will hang off the window screens. On the other hand, he hates wearing ribbons and sashes, and I think that’s a requirement for an acrobat.

Maybe he’s more blue-collar than that.

Maybe Axel is a coal miner. He is the color

of ash and, considering the way he likes to scratch his post, he must be a good digger. I could see him rocking a little hard hat and heading into a tunnel to mine some of that sweet, sweet coal. I had him checked out for the black lung, but he seems to be clear. I looked at his driver’s license and it’s only a Class C, so he can’t be hauling coal either.

I’ve never seen him work with explosives other than to kick a lighter around. In fact, he seems to be rather afraid of loud noises.

There is one thing Axel is not afraid of.

Unfortunately, that one thing seems to be me.

I am attacked without provocation several times a day. Sometimes Axel gets wild-eyed, puffs up all his hair and comes at me on his tiptoes. We actually had to institute a ban on any acts of aggression for a period of 10 minutes upon my arrival home. It’s called the “10 Minute Rule,” and I invoke it regularly. With so much roid rage, I’m starting to wonder if he might be a professional wrestler.

Clearly, with his daring acrobatics and maniacal scratching skills, Axel would make a formidable opponent in the squared circle.

While I wish he were the return of The Ultimate Warrior, something just doesn’t add up. I’ve never seen any spandex tights lying around the house. I’ve found no empty syringes nor the remnants of any performance-enhancing drugs. His piss test came out clean six months straight. He doesn’t have a catch phrase or a gimmick. He isn’t tan, and I doubt he can lift more than 5 or 6 pounds. The most damning evidence of all is the fact that I’ve never seen him pin anyone. He’s no wrestler.

Maybe I’m just overthinking it. Axel is a wonderfully mysterious cat, but he is, at the end of the day, only a cat. Judging from how often I have to clean his litter box and refill his food bowl, maybe Axel just eats, sleeps and shits all day. And apparently, every once in a while he takes a break from the monotony and catches up on a little Science Channel.

The

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thuRsday, May 3

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Rockin’ Northern California Since 1987

FRIday, May 4

priMe d

yours for a niGht, crossroaDs, one more niGht, sky commanD Wednesday, May 9

thuRsday, apRIl 19

last nigHt in town take priDe, Wolf Bronski, plaGues of the armaDa, era lune FRIday, apRIl 20

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

9

CominUp, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 40’’ 2011

Ouch, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 80” 2012

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Greeting, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 40’’ 2011

Zero to 60

For Jon Mess, Music and Art Share a Similar Rhythm

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

rtist Jon Mess might be the only human example of going from zero to 60 and back in 3.5 seconds.

One second he is thrashing paint on a canvas with quick and forceful strokes; the next he is stopping and staring intently at the chaos before him. He likes to start off a painting at a very fast pace but then slows down to analyze each stroke. At times he will stare at his work for more than 30 minutes.

For the past 10 years, Mess has experimented with various art forms including painting, graphic design, writing song lyrics even perfecting screamed vocals. His causal demeanor and laid-back personality make it seem surprising that his well-known talent is screaming lyrics in front of raving fans. He has been in the spotlight as a vocalist for Sacramento’s post-hardcore band, Dance Gavin Dance, but has been under the radar as a talented local artist. Each creative side of him represents the perfection of organized chaos; that can be heard in the vocals and seen in his art.

“I try and create a sort of rhythm with the strokes… like the way that music or notes would go up and down on a scale,” Mess said while sitting on a bench outside of his art studio. “I like the element of just going at it and moving real fast but at the same time I want to have

Washing, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 40’’ 2011 Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Photo by Amy Serna

balance and stability and take into account [the] formal element of art.”

His abstract artwork is full of bright colors and sharp strokes that leave no empty space on the canvas. Each piece of art is completely open to interpretation and everyone will have a different opinion on what the image is or what it means to them.

It’s a “choose your own adventure” art show, Mess said. One minute you might see a rabid zombie dog but after a close examination you might see two eerie dark figures appear in the painting.

To get started on a painting, Mess lets his natural intuition and spontaneous side work together. “That’s one of the main things about my process is that I don’t work from an image or I don’t usually work from an idea,” Mess explained. “I put a mark on the canvas, then another one and then it starts to look like something.”

But if Mess does have a sporadic thought in his head it normally comes out as a painting, a lyric or sometimes both. From the most recent Dance Gavin Dance album, a song titled “The Robot with Human Hair Part 2 ½” contains three words that seemed to cause a small uproar with some of his fans.

“There is this one lyric that is ‘confusing ice cream cone.’ People were always misinterpreting or are confused as why the lyrics weren’t cohesive, just scatterbrained.

Well, my lyrics are confusing ice cream cones,” he said. “Then I painted a big ice cream cone with a big question mark.

If it works, it fits in the song and fits on the canvas, why do I need more meaning than that? Why can’t I just paint anything?”

Having a creative process isn’t new in his family; in fact his artistic talent could prove that the creative gene might be a dominant one. Growing up he watched his mom sculpt clay vessels and “curvy vases”; he worked for his uncle, a veteran artist who builds massive metal creations; he is related to one of the animators of the legendary cartoon show The Simpsons; and his cousin works for the art department at UCLA. “Why is everyone an artist? This must be genetic,” Mess said about his artistic family history. “My mom always had a studio attached to the house with kilns, a potter’s wheel, clay and paints. I learned and did sculptor clay when I was a lot younger and I starting painting when I was 16.”

“If it works, it fits in the song and fits on the canvas, why do I need more meaning than that? Why can’t I just paint anything?”

– Jon Mess

Unknown, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 40’’ 2011

Since then, he has completed many paintings that he is ready to share with the Sacramento community. Starting on April 14 the FE Gallery will display some of his work for his fans and art enthusiasts to enjoy. He is excited to move all of his artwork from his current studio (that he shares with other local artists in downtown Sacramento) and formally hang it in an official art gallery.

The final product of the art show will have a completely different vibe than Mess’ current workspace. At first glance his art studio resembles an abandoned warehouse, but after walking inside and smelling the paint fumes, anyone could sense the hard work that surrounds the studio. The crowded building is divided into multiple messy workstations, and it’s hard to tell where one art station begins and where the other one ends.

But this environment is a recent upgrade from working at home in his apartment. “I was getting paint on the carpet, the walls, my hands, bathroom and my cat. [It] would get on him and he would track it around,” Mess said. “So out of necessity I had to move it all out. It’s been really nice.”

His upcoming show will be his first official gallery show, apart from college galleries at Sacramento State. While attending college, Mess studied electronic art and started to feel out his interest in post hardcore metal music. This slight interest and curiosity led him to become a famous

hardcore screamer, a skill that he happened to pick up randomly.

“I didn’t know what I was doing at all at first and there was no real guidebook,” he said.

“I asked a vocal coach at Sac State and they were like, ‘You are going to destroy your voice.

You can’t do this. You’ll have no career.’”

If Mess had believed the unfaithful coach, he wouldn’t have toured with Dance Gavin Dance across the United States, and he wouldn’t have been called a “resident screamer” by Alternative Press. After being told he would have no career in screaming, Mess ended up headlining Sacramento State with his band almost right after his graduation date. But in terms of his future career, Mess is a little unsure of where his art will take him. He is going to “play it by ear” but doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“I’m trying to stay within the creative field but in terms of what specific path it’s going to take,” Mess said. “I know that I can always just paint forever.”

Check out the works of Jon Mess at the FE Gallery starting April 14. The exhibition will run through May 3. The gallery is located at 1100 65th Street, Sacramento and can be found online at Fegallery.com. If you’d like to see more of Mess’ artwork, go to Jondmess.tumblr.com.

Sick, Oil on canvas 30’’ x 40’’ 2012

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mason rex, alex & drew Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

11

Loss for Words

Mux Mool’s Planet High School gets its point across without speaking Words James Barone

I

t may not be an easy task for a lyricist to pen a song that accurately depicts what he’s feeling at any given moment, but he has one important tool that an instrumental artist does not: words. Such was the dilemma electronic music auteur Mux Mool (aka Brian Lindgren) faced when he sat down to compose his latest album Planet High School, released Feb. 7, 2012, on Ghostly International.

“When you write songs without words, first of all, it’s hard to name the thing,” Lindgren said in a recent interview with Submerge. “It’s hard for people to tell what it’s about.”

Lindgren’s album, in this case, addressed what he observed as a prolonged adolescence in modern culture—a culture where, amongst other annoyances, oversharing the minutia of everyday life has become all too prevalent.

“It was just something I was feeling when it came time to write another album,” Lindgren explained. “That’s what I was feeling more than anything over the past year, or year and a half.”

Though he was expressing these feelings through song, he did mention that it didn’t really change the way he worked all that much.

“It influenced how I felt, which may have influenced where I was grabbing things from, but it wasn’t like, “Oh, this is a high school gym class, this is a march song, this is a this,” he said. “It didn’t change it in that way.”

Though he acknowledged the lack of lyrics in his songs may make such concepts difficult for listeners to latch on to right away, their effect can certainly be felt through the album to those who are paying attention. Planet High School sheds the ethereality inherent in a lot of electronic music for something far earthier. The opening track, “Brothers,” seems to have a gin-and-juice-soaked swagger to its electro groove while the album’s first single, “Palace Chalice,” rattles with a sort of island beat. The overall feel of the album is one that is brash, headstrong, and perhaps a bit petulant, but that may not be surprising if you’d ever spoke to Lindgren, who, quite refreshingly, has no problem speaking his mind.

In the following interview, Lindgren, who will make an appearance at this year’s Sacramento Electronic Music Festival, divulged details about his creative process while offering pointed social commentary and voicing his opinions on experiencing electronic music in the live setting.

12

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

I was checking out the “Cash for Gold” video, and I thought it was a really neat clip. Did you have a lot to do with the concept of it?

The reason why I think I’ve hesitated on music videos for so long was because I never wanted to do a music video with me looking really cool with really cool things—anything flashy or anything like that. I actually wrote the story to the music video—the screenplay and everything was based on. It was just about being yourself and sticking it to your boss.

Do you think cinematically when you write your music?

I just think I think cinematically story-wise. I think narratively as opposed to a random collection of things.

The album does have a bit of a funk feel to it. Is that indicative of the music you were listening to while you were creating it?

No, it just was funky. I was definitely not listening to any more or less funk than I was in the past year.

So your funk intake has remained consistent throughout your entire music career?

Yes, it’s been almost entirely the same.

The album just came out in February, but are you already looking at what’s next? Are you the kind of artist who’s constantly writing?

Yeah, it’s an ongoing process. It’s not really done in blocks. You just have to work when you feel like working, which is not always.

Some people like to post that they work every single day and nonstop and all they do is work between flights and, “Oh my God, I’m on my way to a show and I’m working on a song,” and I don’t buy it for a second. Everybody has a limit where they’re like, “I don’t want to work on music. In fact, I don’t want to listen to music, and I don’t want to talk about music.”

Everybody has that. I definitely have that. I definitely work quite a bit, every single day, but with these songs it was all in the moment when I started making them at least.

Is that “in the moment” process something you utilized just for Planet High School, or was that also the case with your previous album?

With the last album, the record label wasn’t sure what I was going to do career-wise, so they wanted as many songs as they could get. At the time, they wanted to grab everything, so Skulltaste had less focus in terms of an album, because I think maybe about 12, 13 of those songs could have been an album and seven of those were songs they just grabbed.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

When you commented on people bragging about how they’re constantly working, it occurred to me that that may play into the idea of prolonged adolescence—sort of like the kid who’s too eager to answer questions in class.

There are some high-school-type social elements even among professional musicians… To me, there are these dudes who want to post, “Going into the studio!” every day, and it’s like, “Well, you’re a professional musician. That’s just your job.”

It’s not like if you’re a janitor you’d post “Scrubbing toilets!” and everyone’s like, “Oh, dude, that’s dope. You’re scrubbing toilets.”

It’s not all brag-able. It really isn’t.

Plus, all they seem to talk about is how much they’re working. To me, it seems like real-life experiences are the things that should inspire you to write songs. If your entire life experience is sitting in the studio behind a computer, it’s like, what is a computer song inspired by other computer songs?

There’s just no feeling there.

When you’re out on the road, do those experiences fuel what you’re writing?

Yeah, because you’re seeing stuff, and you’re away from home. I saw this thing on Reddit the other day that I thought was really funny, because it was like, “Bus window is a first year philosophy class,” and it’s kind of true. Because as soon as you sit there and you’re by yourself, and you have nothing to do but look out the window and think about stuff, you start thinking some basic philosophical stuff.

But when you do that forever, you do that for three years, and that’s every single day, you’re thinking about a lot of stuff for a lot of time.

Before you mentioned you wrote the story for your video. Do you often write stories and do those inform your songwriting?

I think the reason why I wanted to put the message behind the video, of just being yourself at all costs, it’s just more or less what I’ve had to go through in the past couple years, which is just being able to do music for a living, which is not always easy. It’s not always easy to convince people that it’s a viable career, but being myself has always been worth it, because that’s the message I’ve always agreed with.

Is it weird for you to hear yourself say that you’re a professional musician?

I don’t really tell people that. People I meet, I don’t really say that, because everybody’s a fucking DJ. Everybody is.

I’m the same way about telling people I write. I mean, I do, and I get paid for it, but the reaction is always weird.

Right, because they’re like, “Yeah, of course you are, dude.” And you’re like, “No really. I make money at it. It’s a job.”

And they’re like, “Uh huh.”

Either that, or they think it’s more interesting than it actually is.

Oh yeah and that, too. That’s the other side of that. That’s when you play shows and people come up to you like, “Oh my God, that was so incredible,” and you’re like, “Calm down. I didn’t just cure cancer.

I didn’t give your mom heart surgery or anything. I played with my computer in front of you. I’m glad you’re impressed, but let’s be realistic.”

SubmergeMag.com

Mux Mool will be featured on day 2 (Friday, May 4) of the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival, which will take place at Harlow’s. The festival runs from May 3–5. For more information and to get a glimpse of the full lineup, go to Sacelectronicmusicfest.com.

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Illustration by Michael Gaughan

“I saw this thing on Reddit the other day that I thought was really funny, because it was like, ‘Bus window is a first year philosophy class,’ and it’s kind of true. Because as soon as you sit there and you’re by yourself, and you have nothing to do but look out the window and think about stuff, you start thinking some basic philosophical stuff.

But when you do that forever, you do that for three years, and that’s every single day, you’re thinking about a lot of stuff for a lot of time.”

– Brian Lindgren, Mux Mool

You mention playing on your computer in front of people. How is it for you to connect with the audience? Do you sometimes have to be more physical to get people involved?

For me the show isn’t about what I’m doing physically. There are a lot of people who go out there with their sets preprogrammed, they press play, they tweak on filters for the next hour and a half and they dance around and throw their hands up during the exciting part of the song. They get a lot of credit, and they get really far that way, and I think that’s a fucking joke. I’m not a clown. I’m not up there to be a clown and choreograph the songs to whatever shitty dance I’m doing.

I’m trying to create the mood, but I think about it in a more European style, which means the mood should be created by the songs I’m playing and the order I’m choosing to play them in and how those things are working. It’s definitely more of a listening experience. I don’t dance. I don’t jump. I don’t even make funny faces.

At least, I try not to.

tony natsoulas: doing the basil. show dates monday, march 26–friday, april 20 reception thursday, april 5, from 6–8pm gallery hours mon–fri: 10:30am–3:30pm +special evening hours: wed & thur: 5–8pm location union gallery, 2nd flr–sac state, 6000 j street, 95819 | union.csus.edu/gallery

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

13

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Stephanie Hyden as Astrid Corvair

Hey Ladies!

Planet of the Vampire Women Not Rated

Words James Barone photos Bob Herron Anyone who’s stuck around through the credits of your run-of-the-mill Hollywood blockbuster knows that movies require the hard work of a lot of dedicated individuals. From actors to directors, caterers to key grips and so forth, it’s easy to see where a lot of the money from those astronomical budgets is going.

Small or even no-budget films aren’t any easier. They require just about as much work to get the job done. However, instead of relying on a vast team of trained professionals, a dedicated few are required to wear many hats. Such is the case with the Sacramento-based filmmakers behind Trash Film Orgy, headed by director/writer Darin Wood and his wife/producer/director of photography Christy Savage. The credits for TFO’s latest feature, Planet of the Vampire Women, which has just landed a U.S. DVD distribution deal through Seminal Films (international distribution is also being secured through ICAP Media), show a long list of names, but in this case don’t be surprised if you see the same name multiple times.

Paquita Estrada as Captain Richards

“I tell the guys this every time. I tell them this every month, and they’re like, ‘I don’t know how to do this, I don’t know how to do that.’ I’m like, we’re going to find out how to do it. I tell them, ‘You don’t understand—95 percent of the whole thing is creative problem solving,’” Wood says.

“Just figuring out what the thing is and then options, maybe trial and error. It’s all about that.”

The result may fall short of a James Cameron opus, but what you get is something that feels handmade and personal. Most importantly, though their budgets might be small, TFO certainly does not skimp on the fun. As Savage puts it, “We’re of the mind that at this budget level, you can’t take yourself too seriously, because no one else is going to. At least if you give the people the fun and the silliness, they’re going to have a lot more fun with it than trying to do a $25,000 uber-serious movie. I mean, it worked for The Blair Witch Project, but it doesn’t work for most people.”

This ethos is readily apparent in Planet of the Vampire Women. The film originally premiered at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento on Aug. 31, 2011, but it will return to the venerable movie house on April 13 to celebrate its distribution deal and official DVD release, which is set for April 24.

The film opens at a multi-billion dollar space casino that is ransacked by a group of space pirates led by Captain Mickey “Trix” Richards (Paquita Estrada). The heist doesn’t go unnoticed, Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Liesel Hanson as Ginger Maldonado however, and the group is pursued by the ever-dutiful space marine-turned-cop Sergeant Val Falco (Jawara Duncan). The chase takes its toll as both pursuant and pursuer end up crashed on a deserted rock of a planet on the outskirts of the universe.

To make matters worse, Captain Richards has become possessed; she is transformed from foxy inter-galactic plunderer into a vicious undead vixen who must feast on the blood of the living—you know, a vampire— unbeknownst to the unsuspecting crew.

Loyal crewmember Ginger Maldonado (Liesel Hanson) takes the reins, leading what’s left of the ragtag group on what turns out to be a futile expedition to find and rescue the missing Richards. As our heroes plunge forth into this extra-terrestrial heart of darkness, the plot begins to unfold, which involves a doomed race of parasitic beings fighting for survival and an effort to ensure that they don’t spread like a plague across the galaxies. Simple and effective, the story is B-movie gold, giving a wink and a nod to the great films of trash cinema past while casting itself as a new cult classic.

Planet of the Vampire Women’s most striking feature—other than the gratuitous blood and bare breasts—is its setting. Wood, Savage and co-producer Amy Slockbower have crafted an eye-catching world. From the gloriously gaudy interior of the casino to the surreal, cartoonish rock formations of the abandoned planet our protagonists have found themselves stranded upon, sets are cohesive and colorful, and the film’s plentiful CGI follows suit. While it may not look realistic per se, it meshes beautifully with the drugged-out look of the Vampire Women’s more conventional backdrops.

Computer graphics are something of a new feature in TFO’s bag of tricks. In fact, as Savage tells Submerge, Wood, putting his creative problem solving skills to the test, learned 3-D digital modeling on the job with help from students at Art Institute – Sacramento while making Planet of the Vampire Women.

“We knew it was going to be a space movie. There were spaceships and crap like that. We were going to do miniatures in the beginning,” Wood elaborates. “We SubmergeMag.com

were just going to buy a bunch of models and mash them all together, and make them look like something random, but I wasn’t going to get them to look the way I wanted them to look.”

Another feature that sets Vampire Women apart from TFO’s previous effort, Monster from Bikini Beach, is more coherent storytelling. Whereas the latter sometimes felt as if it was two movies in one—a story about a down-on-hisluck rogue cop entwined with local crime syndicates colliding with a Creature from the Black Lagoon-type tale—Vampire Women plows headlong into a straightforward story arc. While Bikini Beach wasn’t short on delightfully cheap thrills and snappy dialogue, TFO’s latest film feels more confident and ends up more thoroughly enjoyable. The snappy dialogue hasn’t suffered one bit, though, as evidenced in memorable lines such as “My bullshit meter is picking up huge readings of I don’t give a fuck.” Priceless!

The April 13 event at the Crest has implications beyond just a mere celebration.

TFO will also unveil its Planet of the Vampire Women comic book, written by Wood and featuring the artistic talents of Paul Allen. “[Allen] was at a screening of Planet of the Vampire Women, and he got really excited about it and went home and did some drawings over the next couple of days,” Wood says of the project’s beginnings. “It’s got this Ed Roth kind of style. He’s a really funky kind of artist. He kept saying, ‘We should do a comic book,’ but I was like, ‘We don’t really have any money. We just did the film. We don’t have the resources to do a comic book.’ I would see him at parties, and he would keep bugging me about it, but I never took him seriously.”

Eventually, Wood gave in to Allen’s tenacity to bring Vampire Women to the paneled page. Wood says the story of the book is a mix between a prequel and a sequel, following the exploits of pleasureclone Astrid Corvain (played by Stephanie Hyden in the film).

ds ken Weeluded!

Inc

Ariel Ryan as a Vampire Woman “It was a lot of fun,” Wood enthuses.

“I’ve never written a comic book before.”

Beyond that, the Vampire Women screening at the Crest will also serve as a fundraiser for TFO’s next movie. The film is untitled as of yet, but the working title is “Badass Monster Killer.”

“I’m hoping not to use that, but some days it grows on me,” Wood says of the name.

He describes the film as “A Blaxploitation take on a Lovecraftian world.”

As a result, Wood says he’s also been throwing “Loveshaft” around as a possible title, but jokes that it sounds too much like a porno.

TFO has also set up a campaign on Indiegogo.com to raise funds for their forthcoming production. A synopsis posted on the site reads as follows: “On the trashy side of Camaroville, there’s a mob turf war going down, but the new gang in town ain’t content with merely controlling the local dope and sex trade. They are also mixed up with dangerous black magic, intent on resurrecting hideous demon-gods who have waited centuries for the chance to eat all our souls and enslave mankind!”

Exclamation indeed!

See Planet of the Vampire Women in its newly remastered form at the Crest Theatre on Friday, April 13 at 10 p.m. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased through Tickets.com. Some official copies of the DVD will be for sale along with the Vampire Women comic book. If you’d like to donate more to the “Badass Monster Killer” fund, head to Indiegogo.com/ badass-monster-killer.

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

15

1417 r strEEt

all shows all ages

Iconoclast Robot

saCraMENtO tickets available @ dimple records, the Beat, armadillo (davis) Online: aceOfspadessac.com

By Phone: 1.877.GNd.CtrL Or 916.443.9202

May 4

s u N day

May 6

playah k kMac

F r i day

april 20

F r i day

april 27

PrEsENts LOw dOuGh shOw

stuck rickey JameS prOJect the Bell BOyS One lOSt mc kOdac viSualz w/ JOey gOrgeOuS

F r i day

F r i day

april 13 BOtS ere rO we w pSe i wiSh pOcaly a e ing th aWait

J.SiruS • yOung dizzy StatuS gOeS • higher learning

sat u r day

april 14

wsat E d uN rE sday dayapril May 2119

wsat E duNrE day s dayapril May28 19

nameSake • herO’S laSt miSSiOn taking’S nOt Stealing

Playboy School

s u N day

april 22

s u N day

april 29

wringS • the cOSmOnautS

M O N day

May 7

t u E s day

May 8

PrEsENts

imageS • BOatS!

t h u r s day

16

april 19

Prof

Brutha sMith

w E d N E s day

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

april 25

MuMbls

ill eFFect • Quette daddie+OptimiztiQ a-mad g • 53zipBOyz

t u E s day

May 1

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May 11

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sat u r day

will Be played in itS entirety

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June 8

t h u r s day

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supersuckers gOddamn gallOwS

kayaviBe • OFFicial reSpOnSe

w E d N E s day

May 25

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June 9

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July 17

Coventry Square eSCalon Some Seek ForgiveneSS the moth anatomy allinaday

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SubmergeMag.com

July 21

august 17

plus special guests

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June 2

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June 22

sat u r day

august 25

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

17

The Boardwalk Memorial Concert for Ronnie Montrose, 7 p.m.

904 15 Street 443.2797 th

Capitol Garage Get Down to the Champion Sound w/ DJ Esef, Jah Dan Blakkamoore, DJ Child and more, 10 p.m.

Between I & J • Downtown Sacramento

music, comedy & misc. Calendar

april 10 - 22 TUES BillMylar & Friends 5:30PM

10

lew Fratis trio 9PM

WED

acoustic oPen Mic 5:30PM 11 Polecat9PM X trio 5PM THURS 12 Bonnie BishoP 9PM FRI

Pailer & Fratis 5:30PM

13 John neMeth 9PM

Johnny Guitar KnoX 5PM

SaT MoFo 14 Party Band 9PM

15

TUES

17

wayne “the train” hancocK

8PM BoB woods 5:30PM

west oF neXt 9PM

Pailer & Fratis 5:30PM

20 thecoalition 9PM Johnny Guitar KnoX 5PM

21 SUn

ron thoMPson9PM Blues JaM 4PM Goldencadillacs8PM

22 torchclub.net

18

Monday

Ace of Spades Awolnation, Moostache, King Clifton, 6:30 p.m. (Sold Out) The Boxing Donkey Open Mic Variety Night, 8 p.m.

Geery Theater Autumn Sky, 8 p.m.

acoustic oPen Mic 5:30PM 18 Grant FarM9PM X trio 5PM THURS 19 JeFFJones 9PM

SaT

4.09 Fox & Goose Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m.

WED

FRI

use a qr scanner on your smart phone to view calendar online

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Blues JaM 4PM SUn

april 9 – 23

submergemag.com/calendar

Press Club FFFreak w/ CrookOne, DJ Hailey, Dogtones, 9:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fastlane, 7 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

Social Nightclub Designer Drugs, PLS DNT STP, Skitsnygg, Your Dirty Habit, Richie Panic, Monolith, Mike Diamond, My Cousin Vinny, DJ Nate D, 9 p.m.

T2 Nightclub & Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Bill Mylar & Friends, 5:30 p.m.; Lew Fratis Trio, 9 p.m.

Townhouse GRIMEY w/ Clicks & Whistles, Reilly Steel, Lil Miss Mixer, DJ Whores, Crescendo, 9 p.m.

4.11 Wednesday

Bows and Arrows The Sandwitches, Deep Time, Peggy Banks, 8 p.m.

4.12 thursday

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

The Coffee Garden Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.

District 30 R3hab, Mike Diamond, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Erik Spencer, Sly Park, Dante Romandia, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Brokedown in Bakersfield, Paula Frazier, 8 p.m.

Delta of Venus The Musical Drum Key, Mile Signs, 6 p.m.

Marilyn’s Rock On Live Band Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center Like Lepers, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino Yonder Mountain String Band, 7 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fastlane, 7 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays Open Mic, 8 p.m.

4.10 Tuesday

Colonial Theatre Mat Kearney, Zack Hackendorf, 7:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Le Twist Tuesdays w/ Sam I Jam, Adam J, Taylor Cho, 9 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Luigi’s (Davis) KDVS Trivia Night, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Dirt Nap & Friends, 5:30 p.m.

Mix Ryan Hernandez, 6:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center Like Lepers, Midnight Burial, Few Words for Comfort, California Medication, 6 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub DJs Rigatony, Alazzawi, 10:30 p.m.

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Harlow’s Sacca rocks! w/ Emilly Kollars and Kolorize, The Pete Nesteruk Band, The B&B Music Factory, 7 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Luigi’s (Davis) Religious Girls, G. Green, Poppet, Pregnant, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Jazz Gitan, 9 p.m.

Mix Midweek Magnum w/ DJs Gabe Xavier, Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s The Remedies, 9:30 p.m.

Luigi’s (Davis) Red Meat, Dry County Drinkers, 8:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Strapped for Cash w/ The Nuance, 7:30 p.m.

G Street WunderBar DJ Larry Rodriguez, 10 p.m.

G Street WunderBar The Nickel Slots, The Foxtails, 10 p.m.

The Boardwalk Calista Sky, Touche, First Class Act, In Theory, Adieux, 7 p.m.

Club Car The Double Shots, 7:30 p.m.

Press Club Yankee Brutal, Tuck and Roll, Incrusted Dust, 8:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose Hans & the Hot Mess, Sandbox, 9 p.m.

Javalounge Model A, Love Is Over, Hippo Campus, 8 p.m.

Javalounge Songwriters Club w/ Gordus, Mike James, Michael Tobias, 8 p.m.

Fox & Goose Steve McLane, 8 p.m.

Crest Theatre Club Live Lip Sync Contest, 7 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Mr. P Chill & Trunk of Funk, Blaquelisted, Oso Negro, MC Pigpen, Pat Maine, Burnell Washburn, DJ Ganzobean, 9 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Nebraska Mondays w/ Shawn Hale, Slumgum, hosted by Ross Hammond, 7 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Coconut Grove Sleeprockers, DJ Nick Nack, Soosh*e, 9:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Light Brigade, Barrel Fever, 9 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge Timewarp w/ DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center Super Water Sympathy, Sunny Days in Antarctica, Focii, The Switch, 6 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Michael Martin Murphey, Sunny Ledford, Amanda Gray, 7 p.m.

Press Club Leap in the Dark w/ Burnt Ones, Big Ups, DJs Mike C, Hailey Bop, Tim Matranga, 9 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Game Night w/ DJ Doofy Doo, 8:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s The Blues Monsters, The Chick P’s, Alli Batagglia, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides 2 or 3 Guys (Album Release), Wannabe Barnaby, Jet Black Popes, Groovin High, 9 p.m.

On The Y Divination of the Damned (Album Release), Blood Etchings, Sacrament ov Impurity, Nihlotep, 9 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge E-Rock, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Super Huey, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Mike Furlong, 5:30 p.m.; Steel Breeze, 10 p.m.

The Refuge Spencer Hoffman (of Honyock), Parie Wood, 99,100, Gabriella Ruiz, 8 p.m.

Shenanigans Illusions Echo, Wings of Innocence, Terra Ferno, KattyWompus, 8 p.m.

Shine Super Water Sympathy, Scheming Scarlet, Karlee Hormel, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Copperwire, 10 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Berlin, Larisa Bryski, 8:30 p.m.

Time Tested Books Martha Toledo In Concert, 7 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5:30 p.m,; John Nemeth, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fastlane, 7 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Danny Secretion and the Moans, The Left Hand, Bad Ending, Capital Bastard, 9 p.m.

Shine Blues & You, 8 p.m.

Townhouse Glitter Wizard, MOM, Fine Steps, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Peter Wolf Crier, Not An Airplane, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall Bettye LaVette, 8 p.m.

Torch Club X Trio, 5 p.m.; Bonnie Bishop, 9 p.m.

Vega’s Force Multiplied, Force of Habit, Salythia, 7 p.m.

Press Club Punk Rock Hootenanny w/ Bear Williams, Nick Ripley, Patrick Hills, Joe Friday, 8:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fastlane, 7 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Pole Cat, 9 p.m.

Uncle Vitos (Davis) Boom Bip w/ The Flower Vato, 10 p.m.

University Union Serna Plaza, CSUS Nooner w/ A Single Second, 12 p.m.

4.14 4.13

Veterans Memorial Auditorium (Grass Valley) Kansas, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Friday

Ace of Spades Iconoclast Robot, Stuck, Ricky James Project, The Bell Boys, One Lost MC, Kodac Visualz, 6:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp The Dollyrots, Hey Pretty Pretty, Capt. Billy’s WhizBang, 9 p.m.

Ace of Spades Kill The Precedent, City Of Vain, The Secretions, Giant Squid, Black Mackerel, Killdevil (EP Release), 6:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp The Inversions (Album Release), Brown Shoe, Carly DuHain, 8:30 p.m. continued on page 20

>>

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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No 6 MoNth BS • Good for 1 Year | Walk-iNS WelcoMe all daY everYdaY Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

19

Brown’s Corner The Liquornauts, Nat Lefkoff, Four Barrel, Under Pendegast, The Young Vintage, APT. D203, Con Of Man, The Infamous Swanks, 11 a.m.

The Boardwalk Serpent & Seraph (Album Release), Black, Dropseven, Restrayned, Vital Perception, Giving the Devil His Due, 7 p.m.

Bows and Arrows Autumn Sky, Bicycle Rider, Always Never, 8 p.m.

Center for the Arts Viva Brasil!

The Berkeley Choro Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.

Club Retro City of Kings (Farewell Show), Divine Restoration (Farewell Show), The Vera Project, Salythia, Straight Up Grizzly, Era Lune, 7 p.m.

District 30 DJ Foley, 9 p.m.

FE Gallery Art Opening for Jon Mess w/ Pregnant, Mandy Zeboski, 6 p.m.

Golden Bear It Takes 2 w/ Crook One, Shaun Slaughter, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Thomas Dolby, Aaron Jonah Lewis, Ben Belcher, 7 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Little Feat, 7:30 p.m.

Javalounge Asteroidia, The Dumb Fox, The Somebodys, 4 p.m.; Instagon, Issac Bear, Total Perspective Vortex, 8 p.m.

20

Marilyn’s Joel the Band, 9:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Fascination, 9:30 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub The Decades, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Mike Furlong, 5:30 p.m.; Steel Breeze, 10 p.m.

Sacramento Bike Kitchen 50-Watt Heavy, Bright Faces, Jem & Scout, 7 p.m.

Sacramento Community Center Theater Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra: English Grandeur, 8 p.m.

4.15 Sunday

The Blue Lamp WAXappeal w/ DJ Los, DJ Nocturnal, 8 p.m.

Capitol Garage Karaoke w/ Jeff Jenkins, 9 p.m.

Center for the Arts Tribute To Bob Wills w/ Dayna Wills, Kenny Miele, Doug Cohen & Craig Palmer, Bob Woods, Paige Anderson & The Fearless Kin, Master Of Ceremonies, KVMR DJ Wesley Robertson, 1 & 6 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Robbie Walden & Gunslingers, 7 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Chris Gardner, 7 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Zac and Jay Band, Lacy Lee & Hell on Heels, 7 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Wayne “The Train” Hancock, Cash Prophets (Johnny Cash tribute), 8 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall Explosions in the Sky, Zammuto, 8 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre Phil Kline, Theo Bleckmann, 2 p.m.

4.16 Monday

4.17 Tuesday

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Yonder Mountain String Band, Brown Bird, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Acoustic MRQ, 5:30 p.m.

Mix Ryan Hernandez, 6:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub DJs Rigatony, Alazzawi, 10:30 p.m.

4.18 wednesday

Ace of Spades Childish Gambino, Danny Brown, 6:30 p.m. (Sold Out) Club Car The Double Shots, 7:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Traditional Irish Jam Session, 7 p.m.

Harlow’s Harlow’s Sacca rocks! w/ Cat Mouse Trio, Full Melt, and Total Perspective Vortex, 7 p.m.; Zoolay, Jeru the Damaja, Chad Adams, Rebels to the Grain, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Crossing The River, 9 p.m.

The Boxing Donkey Open Mic Variety Night, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Todd Snider, Ashleigh Flynn, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Press Club FFFreak w/ CrookOne, DJ Hailey, Dogtones, 9:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Chris Gardner, 7 p.m.

Marilyn’s LP Session, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Givers, 7 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Nebraska Mondays w/ The Arkham Subunit, Microsphere, hosted by Ross Hammond, 7:30 p.m.

T2 Nightclub & Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Mix DJs Gabe Xavier, Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Strapped for Cash w/ The Nuance, 7:30 p.m.; UBO Hammer Jammers All Women Showcase w/ Aria, Century, Miss Ashleigh, Tiffany & Kim Reis, Ms. Vybe, Laura Cook, Ms. Mack, Stariser, 8:30 p.m.

UC Davis: Freeborn Hall Bon Iver, 8 p.m. (Sold Out)

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Caught In Motion, Exquisite Corps, 9 p.m.

Javalounge Sacramento Audio Waffle w/ Xome, Chopstick, Beast Nest, Deadly Nightshade, 12 p.m.; Dead Eny Gypsies, Stoneberry, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Roy Gray, 9 p.m.

Mix Sunday Circus w/ Gabe Xavier, 8:30 p.m.

Torch Club Johnny Guitar Knox, 5 p.m.; Mofo Party Band, 9 p.m.

Townhouse This Charming Band (The Smiths tribute), 8 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center Cabin Fire, Place Called Home, Swandive, Dare to Suck, Strain Zero, Sincerly Me, 6 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre Phil Kline, Theo Bleckmann, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Jeff Jones, Gumbo Stew, 3 p.m.

Veterans Memorial Auditorium Jimmy Cliff, 8 p.m.

Press Club Sunday Night Soul Party w/ DJ Larry & DJ Hailey, 9 p.m.

Shine Blake Jones and the Trike Shop, 8 p.m.

Fox & Goose The Twilight Drifters, The Cockfight Kings, 9 p.m.

Kinnee O’Reilly’s Blackeyed Dempseys, 8 p.m.

Luigi’s (Davis) Radio Shock, Buk Buk Bigups, A White Hunter, 8 p.m.

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Press Club Instagon, Doom Dong, Egg, 8:30 p.m.

Torch Club Bob Woods, 5:30 p.m.; West of Next, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall Anoushka Shankar, 8 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub The Crazy Harris Band, White Walls, Secure Sounds, Issac Bear, 9 p.m.

Press Club The Walking Dead, Perdition, Would Be Train Robbers, 8:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Chris Gardner, 7 p.m.

Shine Nano Whitman, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Grant Farm, 9 p.m.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

UC Davis: Jackson Hall Florence & The Machine, 7:30 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre The Bad Plus, 8 p.m.

Uncle Vitos (Davis) Boom Bip w/ The Flower Vato, 10 p.m.

University Union Serna Plaza, CSUS Nooner w/ Timothy Rhyme, 12 p.m.

4.19 Thursday

Ace of Spades Buzzcocks, Images, Boats!, 7 p.m.

The Blue Lamp The Session, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk Last Night in Town, Take Pride, Wolf Bronski, Plagues of the Armada, Era Lune, 7 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

Club Retro Battle of the Bands, 6 p.m.

The Coffee Garden Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Exquisite Corps, 7 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose The Mike Justis Band, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Grouplove, Company of Thieves, 7 p.m.; Sizzling Sirens Burlesque’s Baked! A Cannabis Cabaret, 10 p.m.

Javalounge Songwriters Club w/ Danny Secretion, Tony Silva, Lucas Anderson, Travis Latrine, hosted by Shelby Anne, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Rock On Live Band Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Bows and Arrows Nick Sentos, Pregnant, Burbank International, 8 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Paperback Writer (Beatles tribute), 9 p.m.

Capitol Garage Get Down to the Champion Sound w/ DJ Esef and special guests, 10 p.m.

Center for the Arts Charlie Musselwhite, Coco Montoya, 8 p.m.

Fox & Goose Be Brave Bold Robot, Caught In Motion, Nathan Dale, 9 p.m.

G Street WunderBar Poor Mans Poison, Doc’s Holiday, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Billy Blackburn, 10 p.m.; Arden Park Roots, Live Manikins, Sleeprockers, DJ Selekta Lou, 4 p.m.

Javalounge Stoner Rock 420 Super Party w/ Defyant Circle, Sasquatch, Motordrone, The Trees, 8 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre The Bad Plus, 8 p.m.

West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive In Rockin’ the Drive Inn w/Adonis DNA, 6 p.m.

4.20 FRIDAY

Ace of Spades Roach Gigz, Playah K, KMAC, 7 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Cura Cochino, Murderlicious, Stalking Distance, Keeping Score, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Tag! You’re Dead, Become the Oracle, Thou, The Giant, Auburn Nightmare, Dead

By Nightfall, Chasing Hollows, 7 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

Center for the Arts Peter Wilson, Mountain John Hillagoss, Moe Dixon, Peter Wilson, 8 p.m.

Club Retro Adhara (EP Release), The Eclectic (EP Release), Golden Youth, Roses for Lions, Our Vinyl Vows, Stero Ecstasy, American Samurai, 7 p.m.

District 30 DJ Ritz, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Felson, Jilt vs Jonah, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Midnight Players, 10 p.m.

Javalounge Magic Bullets, Bad Hand, 4 p.m.; Chikading!, Hardboiled Wonderland, 8 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino Lotus, 7 p.m.; Minnesota, Love & Light & Griz, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides One Lost MC, Funk.

Defied, Private Criminals, South Lot, Blaquelisted, 9 p.m.

On The Y Blownload, Sour Diesel, California Medication, Evil Plan, 9 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge Smokin’ Beats w/ Gabe Xavier, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Duran Duran Duran, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Rio Ramaza Marina RV & Event Park City Of Trees Reggae Music Festival w/ King Hopeton & the Soul Seekers, Simple Creation, Eazy Dub, Official Response, One Sol, La Noche Oskura, Element Of Soul, Ship of Foolz, Skunk Funk Sound System, White Glove Service, Squarefield Massive, DJ ESEF, 12 p.m.

Torch Club X Trio, 5 p.m.; Jeff Jones, 9 p.m.

Celia’s Mexican Restaurant Spanish Metal Night w/ Sicarius, 3 Lunas, Intruder Rock, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Ten Mile Tide, Dad’s LPs, 9 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge Timewarp w/ DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Chris Gardner, 7 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino The O’Jays, 8 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Los Lobos, 7:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino ESP Trio, 5:30 p.m.; Audiovoxx, 10 p.m.

Press Club Bastards Of Young (Album Release), Success, The Loss, Dead Dads, 8:30 p.m.

The Boardwalk Jamie’s Elsewhere, Lights Ahead of Us, The Winter Formal, Common Crooks, Lifeforms, The Will, The Way, 7 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Uncovered, Brick Red, Moot, 8:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Bluegrass Acoustic Jam, 7:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Dave Russell, 9:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp The Pinebox Boys, 9 p.m.

Shenanigans Element of Soul (Album Release), The Original, Josh & Aaron (of ADD), Verbatim, DJ Zephyr, 8 p.m.

Shine The Somebodys, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Buster Blue, Howelldevine, 9:30 p.m.

Straw Hat Pizza Hell Rooster, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Urbanfire, Dread Daze, DJ Wokstar 6 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5:30 p.m.; The Coalition, 9 p.m.

4.21 Saturday

Ace of Spades Cali Swag District, Who Ride, J. Sirus, Status Goes, Young Dizzy, Higher Learning, 6:30 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Picture Atlantic, Thomas Confession, Evolutia, Melissa Lingo, 8:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s Random Abiladeze (Album Release) w/ live band Bread Fam, Zebulon, James Cavern, Sleeprockers, hosted by TAIS, 8:30 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium Camellia Symphony: Opera Forever, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Darkness w/ DJ Natalie Liquori, 9:30 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Scene, DJ Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Phono Select Record Store Day 2012 w/ Knock Knock, The Four Eyes, Nacho Business, Appetite, Aly & Miek Sneak, Lee Bannon, 11 a.m.

PJ’s Roadhouse Element of Soul (Album Release), Sinizen, Dogfood, 8:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Frank Hannon (of Tesla), 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino ESP Trio, 5:30 p.m.; Audiovoxx, 10 p.m.

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Rio Ramaza Marina RV & Event Park City Of Trees Reggae Music Festival w/ Pressure, Mystic Roots, Pyrx, Rising Son, Dread Daze, Soulifted, My Peoples, Resonators, Highdro, Braata, King of Hearts, Triple Tree, 12 p.m.

Shine Mason Rex, Alex & Drew, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Legends of Soul, 8:30 p.m.

Torch Club Johnny Guitar Knox, 5 p.m.; Ron Thompson, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre The Bad Plus, 8 p.m.

continued on page 22

>> Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

21

4.22 Sunday

Ace of Spades Eve 6, The Audition, Namesake, Hero’s Last Mission, Taking’s Not Stealing, 6:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Songwriter Showcase & BBQ w/ Sandra Dolores, Sean Fleming, Dan Rau, Barry Crider, Nathan Dale, Stoneberry, hosted by Marty Taters, 2:30 p.m.; WAXappeal w/ DJ Los, DJ Nocturnal, 8 p.m.

Capitol Bowl The Pyronauts, Lava Pups, 1 p.m.

Capitol Garage Karaoke w/ Jeff Jenkins, 9 p.m.

Center for the Arts Lisa Loeb, 7:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

G Street WunderBar Element of Soul, Sinizen, 8 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Tru Grinders Comedy w/ Sean Peabody, Stephen Furrey, D Tyler, G King, Apr. 12, 8 p.m.

Pauly Shore, Apr. 13 - 14, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Best Of Open Mic Showcase, April 17, 8 p.m.

Claude Stuart, Lee Levine, Apr. 19 - 22, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Keith Lowell Jensen’s Comedy Night, every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Po’Boyz Bar & Grill (Folsom) Comedy Open Mic, every Monday, 9 p.m.

Punchline Comedy Club Steve Trevino, Apr. 12 - 14, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Blue Cue Trivia Night, every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Bows & Arrows Art Show: Fantastic Notion feat. new work by Troy Mighty & Justin Lovato, through May 1 Wine Tasting w/ Michele Herbert, Apr. 17, 7 p.m.

Record Swap for Record Store Day, Apr. 21, 11 a.m.

The Boxing Donkey Trivia Night, every Tuesday, 8 p.m.

Crest Theatre Planet of the Vampire Women Screening plus DVD & Comic Book Release Party, Apr. 13, 10 p.m.

The Vagina Monologues, Apr. 14, 7 p.m.

420 Triple Feature hosted by Keith Lowell Jensen, Apr. 20, 11 p.m.

FE Gallery The Work of Jon Mess, opening Apr. 14, 6 p.m.

Puff, Puff, Pass w/ Ngaio Bealum, Apr. 19, 8 p.m.

Fox & Goose Pub Quiz, every Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Jason King, 3 p.m.

Esau McGraw, Apr. 20 - 22, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Golden Bear Random Knowledge Trivia Night, every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Press Club Sunday Night Soul Party w/ DJ Larry & DJ Hailey, 9 p.m.

Sacramento Comedy Sportz Mayhem Improv Comedy, every Thursday, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Ace’s Up, 7 p.m.

ComedySportz, every Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m.

The Guild Theatre Movies On A Big Screen: The Truth Is Out There, Apr. 15, 6:30 p.m.; Motherhood By Choice, Not Chance and We Always Resist, Apr. 22, 7 p.m.

Mix Sunday Circus w/ Gabe Xavier, 8:30 p.m.

Rio Ramaza Marina RV & Event Park City Of Trees Reggae Music Festival w/ Khari Kill, King Schascha & Irusalem, Abja & the Lions of Kush, The Devine Crime, Diversifyd, Melodramatics, IFA, King of Hearts, AZ Redsmoke, 12 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Golden Cadillacs, 8 p.m.

UC Davis: Studio Theatre Empyrean Ensemble, 7 p.m.

4.23 Monday

The Boxing Donkey Open Mic Variety Night, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Nebraska Mondays w/ Signifiers, hosted by Ross Hammond, 7:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Strapped for Cash w/ The Nuance, 7:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Press Club Symphony of Distraction, The Porter Project, The Plastic Revolution, 8:30 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays, 8 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall The Shins, Gardens and Villa, 8 p.m. (Sold Out)

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

A Magical Place Keith Fields, April 14, 4 & 8 p.m.

Misc.

The Curry Kings of Comedy, Apr. 15, 7 p.m.

Javalounge No Beatings From Holly, One More Last Try, Incrusted Dust, 8 p.m.

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Comedy

Sacramento Comedy Spot Top 10 List Podcast Live!, Apr. 10 & 17, 9 p.m.

Worlds Worst Doctors, Apr. 13, 8 p.m.

Open Mic Scramble, Apr. 15 & 22, 7 p.m.

Gay Comedy Night, Apr. 20, 9 p.m.

Shine Daniel Humbarger presents Thursday Night Jive w/ Keith Lowell Jensen, Chazz Hawkins, Nick Aragon, Johnny Taylor, Daniel O’Connell, Apr. 19, 8 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Comedy Open Mic, every Monday, 8 p.m.

Tommy T’s Aries Spears, Apr. 12 - 15, Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Melanie Camacho, Apr. 19 - 22, Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

University Union Ballroom, CSUS The Gay Mafia: Free Improv Comedy Show, Apr. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Poetry Unplugged, every Thursday, 8 p.m.

Phono Select Records Double Impact feat. paintings and drawings by Navid Dehghan & Nich Lujan, opening reception Apr. 14, 7 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Sac Pong Circuit, every Monday, 8 p.m.

The Rink Sac City Rollers Present: Spring Loaded Roller Derby Double Header, Apr. 14, 6:30 p.m.

Sacramento Central Farmer’s Market SactoMoFo 4, Apr. 21, 11 a.m.

Shine Poetry with Legs w/ Brigit Truex and Philip Latta, Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Art Opening w/ Travis Latrine, Apr. 14, 6 p.m.

Sol Collective Art Exhibit: Sol 7 w/ Shaun Burner, Jose Di Gregorio, Dana Iske, Trent Liddicoat, Carson McWhirter, Miguel Bounce Perez, Trisha Rhomberg, closing reception Apr. 14, 7 p.m.

University Union Ballroom, CSUS Mountain Film On Tour: Free short films from the Telluride Mountain Film Festival, Apr. 12, 7:30 p.m.

University Union Gallery, CSUS Tony Natsoulas’ Doing the Basil, now through Apr. 20

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

TONGUE & chic

It Might Get Messy MoMo’s Meat Market 5776 Broadway • Sacramento

Words blake gillespie | photos melissa welliver March is a month-long, multi-tiered binge for me. It starts with harmless college basketball conference tournaments, escalates into money lost in bracket pools and escalates a step further at SxSW in Austin, Texas, with excesses in bands and southern barbecue. A week straight of booze, sleepless nights and on-the-go meals at food trucks serving some of the finest pulled pork sandwiches, fried chicken waffle tacos and rib tip sandwiches always ends the same: the mythical and embellished SxSW Hangover and a feverish addiction to barbecue.

The craving for sweet balanced with spicy led me and the founders of Submerge to MoMo’s Meat Market in Tahoe Park. Two smokers are roped off in the parking lot of a strip mall, making MoMo’s an easy find either by visual marker, smoke signal

or smell. Once inside the three of us were greeted with eager smiles and bountiful free samples to curb our hesitations on where to begin. Three Dixie cups of hot link, pork rib, spicy chicken and tri-tip is a generous offering. The free sample is mentioned first in nearly every Yelp review, which speaks to the staff’s friendliness and interest in learning a little about each customer. First timers can determine their preference in meat and meal without burning cash on repeated visits. The generosity is not a façade or business ploy, as we watched a little, bluish gray-haired grandma take notice of our samples, get one for herself and walk on out. No one batted an eye.

Five two-person tables are set up along the walls of MoMo’s Market. If a late lunch is in your daily itinerary, then a seat won’t be a problem. If

Adults $249* Young Adults $219* College $219* Child $99* Super Senior $99* PLUS ski/ride FREE the rest of this season!

noon to 1 p.m. is the preferred lunch hour, plan on taking a meal back to the office and ask for extra napkins.

There was no denying the hot link sandwich.

The links are chopped into coin-sized slices, so the juices seep into the barbecue sauce to give it an added kick, while the soft bun soaks up the rest. There are no tricks, nor proven science to eating barbecue without dripping sauce and meats out the sides of the bun. It gets messy, but that’s part of the joy. It gets on the corners of your mouth, random smudges on your nose from burying leaves face deep in a sandwich, as you revisit a messiness lost since bibs and highchairs.

Get the mild sauce to avoid adding a sting to the experience. We took the tenderfoot route, not daring the hot sauce, but the mild was manageable enough that we plan to return to tempt the heat.

The portions are hefty and challenge the durability of the Styrofoam to-go boxes. From behind the counter Sharon and Glenn Miller teased one of the patrons about his inability to finish his meal. The big fellow sat in meditation at a corner table, leaning back in satisfaction over a plate of barbecue-stained napkins and a few remains. The

option to double dip in two meat styles and two sides is more than enough to share. Among the three of us the pork ribs were stripped to the bone, but some chicken, baked beans and greens still remained, despite hard fought efforts to not let great food go to waste.

I cannot declare myself an official expert in barbecue and soul food just because I’ve been to a few notable places like Iron Works in Austin and The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. I’ve not explored the ins-n-outs of local markets and eateries, beyond the convenience of proximity I have to Sandra Dee’s, to be an aficionado of 916 BBQ. I’ll leave the debates up to food contests, Yelp reviewers and the palates of trained judges.

MoMo’s earned my good favor through the free sample that teased me in limitation. I could only pick one for that particular meal, despite wanting to explore each option in full.

MoMo’s Meat Market is partnering up with Blue Lamp for a Sunday Songwriter Showcase on April 22 that involves BBQ, bar spirits, and bands.

The first 100 people in the door, at a $7 cover, have free reign on a catered dinner from 4–7 p.m. The doors open at 2:30 p.m.

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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Pay to Play

Placerville’s Element of Soul Getting What They Deserve Words Steph Rodriguez • PHoto Kevin Prosch

F

or some musicians the thought of living with fellow band members seems more like a detriment to not only personal space, but to the creative process itself. For the guys of Element of Soul, five members living together over the past two years in Placerville not only has strengthened their bonds as friends, but inspired a common spiritual search and heavily influenced their first full-length album, E.O.S,. set for release April 20. Wanting a more in-depth experience into the recording process, EOS turned to a couple of old school rock ‘n’ rollers, Mark Harmon and Bruce Spencer of the 77s, who double as producers at Blue Limit Music recording studios in Rocklin. With over a year in the studio behind them, the time is now for Mike O’Briant, Ben Moore, Chris Brown, Seth Ahern (aka DJ Zephyr), Eric Opdyke and Tristan Brown. But their next test is tightening their living quarters from a house on five acres to a 22-passenger van.

Moore and O’Briant remember being the only young men at their junior high school dances busting moves on the dance floor to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” so naturally they became friends. Later in life the two would also find themselves sharing vocal and guitar duties in EOS. The six band members ultimately found each other linked through Ponderosa and El Dorado high schools, first playing as a three-piece acoustic band with the addition of Chris on bass. But what truly solidified EOS as a band, according to

O’Briant, was adding in Opdyke on drums, Tristan on lead guitar and DJ Zephyr on the ones and twos, completing the elements of their family in 2009.

“We’ve always wanted to do something that we enjoyed and understood that it was going to be out of pocket,” O’Briant explains. “You have to pay to play. You have to deserve it. And, we finally did it.”

When asked about categorizing their genre, O’Briant and Moore were reluctant in choosing just one. Sure, EOS brings the reggae feel to a live performance and yes, there’s plenty of acoustic elements, but what was to come, I wasn’t even prepared for.

“Right now, we have ourselves listed as reggae-folk-poprock,” O’Briant laughs. “Did I just blow your mind?

“The reason we say folk is because we have that acoustic aspect, but we’ve always been reggae and we’ve always put our own twist on it. More than anything, it’s the vibe and the energy that surrounds us with reggae. It’s pop because you can sing along to it.”

They started recording their 11-song album last March with Blue Limit Music’s Spencer and Harmon, who told the guys they were “a little rough around the edges” according to O’Briant. But that honesty is just what EOS were searching for when choosing a studio to trust with their first album.

“We definitely signed up for more than just an album.

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

We wanted to do it our own way,” O’Briant explains. “We’ve always been about family and home. We found some guys who were interested in helping us grow, rather than just put an album out. So, that’s why we’ve taken a year and taken step by step. There’s no need to rush anything that doesn’t need to be rushed.”

With good reason. Songs off the album like “The Movement” capture what each member of EOS brings to a sound they have spent the past three years perfecting.

“Right now, ‘The Movement’ blows my mind. It was the first song that completely gave me chills and gave me that outside perspective,” O’Briant explains. “I just close my eyes and got chills. It made me feel amazing.”

The song’s light, acoustic introduction marks the times when the band was in its infancy as a three-piece, then layered with DJ Zephyr’s 10 years of expertise in sampling and scratching. O’Briant’s spoken-word style delivery on vocals is complemented by the accents on guitar by Tristan, which then introduce Moore’s approach to the microphone singing melodies within the chorus, his voice reaching higher pitches as the song progresses. Call and response are how these two vocalist split time within a song equally, all kept on beat by the jazz-style percussion of Opdyke and the groovy-bass lines of Chris.

“With six members in a band, the studio process has helped us find where we need to be in the song. We all find where we need to be. Find the space and appreciate it,” O’Briant explains.

Moore adds, “During the whole album, we definitely swing a lot of different ways with the feel of the songs,” he says. “It’s a lot of self-improvement, self-empowerment, stand up for yourself, speak your mind and love yourself.”

And this philosophy rings true for the whole band thanks to a little band meditation courtesy of their spiritual life coach Dr. Kim Clarity, who has visited the band at their home in Placerville to assist them through guided meditations. Moore says these meditations helped them find a stronger bond, open better communication with one another and overall learn to coexist peacefully. The band also took time out together in 2011 to attend a three-day seminar sponsored by Dr. Clarity, dedicating 12 hours each day.

“It was a nice realization of somebody that was a really positive and spiritual person who was telling us that we have good energy that we need to harness and use for a good cause,” O’Briant explains. “She even said for six grown males to be able to get together and not be at each other’s throats is a blessing and you need to be able to share that with the world. From then, it took on understanding.”

Stay Connected with Submerge

“The biggest thing you can hope for in music as a band is to be unique and original. You don’t want to be classified because that’s what makes it interesting and different. There’s no point to listen to a song that you’ve already heard by a million different artists.”

– Mike O’Briant, Element of Soul They live together. Perform together. And even meditate together. The members of EOS thrive off of their newfound oneness and have all become certified teachers of meditation. O’Briant and Moore adorn malas around their necks during the interview, Buddhist prayer beads used to count the number of times a mantra is recited while meditating.

“I think it’s a blessing that we’re able to communicate as well as we do and we’re able to get along. It’s amazing, and we thrive off that,” O’Briant explains.

Yet, the six who make up EOS also thrive off of their music, which they say, is the constant throughout their days with booking their first three-week tour from San Francisco to Long Beach, recording and releasing their album in addition to writing new material with plans to go back into the studio for a 6-song EP release.

“The biggest thing you can hope for in music as a band is to be unique and original. You don’t want to be classified, because that’s what makes it interesting and different.

There’s no point to listen to a song that you’ve already heard by a million different artists.”

Moore adds to O’Briant’s sentiment, “[Our music is] full of self-expression. There are no limitations. I just play music that I feel inside me,” he explains. “Everyone’s already played everything. It’s just more self-expression. How do you express yourself?”

Element of Soul’s Sacramento CD release show for E.O.S. will take place at Shenanigans on April 20.

The next night, the band will have its hometown CD release party at PJ’s Roadhouse in Placerville. That show will also serve as the band’s tour kickoff. To follow the band’s travels on the road and get more information, go to Facebook.com/ elementofsoul.

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

photo Gabriella Clavel

Album Spotlight

Heartbreak Hotel Sea of Bees Orangefarben

Team Love

Words Mark Lore

Seeing Julie Baenziger live and listening to her on wax are two completely different animals. In the live setting the 25-year-old Baenziger (aka Sea of Bees) often performs with only an acoustic guitar. She’s shy, slightly awkward and once that voice cuts through the strums you can’t take your eyes off her. Sea of Bees’ last record—2010’s Songs for the Ravens—was just as captivating, with full instrumentation (a lot of which was played by the Sacramento native herself), with loads of bells and whistles and a glossy sheen.

And while the album served up plenty of ear candy, some of the intimacy was lost.

Orangefarben—Sea of Bees’ second fulllength (to be released on Conor Oberst's

Team Love label on May 1) —brings those two worlds together. This time around the production complements Baenziger and her guitar rather than threaten to take over the proceedings. And whereas it was difficult sometimes to discern whether Songs for the Ravens germinated from bedroom recordings or a studio, it’s clear that this new batch was at one time strummed and sang for no one but Baenziger in a cramped apartment.

The album follows Baenziger’s breakup with her first girlfriend, a circumstance intensified by the fact she had also recently come out of the closet. The immediacy of the material might be the byproduct of the album’s overall theme of

heartbreak, or perhaps the stripped-down feel of the songs (right down to the one-word titles) is to simply drive those sentiments home. One thing that hasn’t changed is Baenziger’s opendiary musings, and the songs on Orangefarben (German for “the color of orange”) still cut to the bone. Baenziger mixes the candid with the poetic, sometimes within the same line as on “Teeth” (“I try to remember her crooked teeth, how they danced with me”). Her take on John Denver’s 1966 classic “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (simply titled “Leaving” here) manages to squeeze even more sadness out of the line, “Hold me tight and never let me go.”

The subject matter is made all the more potent by Baenziger’s voice—both childlike and powerful—it sounds like nothing else. In fact, Sea of Bees might not be here if it wasn’t for Tape Op Magazine publisher John Baccigaluppi, who overheard Baenziger warming up one day in his Sacramento studio and immediately helped record her first collection of songs that ended up on 2009’s Bee Eee Pee. Baccigaluppi shows

less of a heavy hand here than with Songs for the Ravens, allowing the songs room to breathe.

And Thom Monahan’s mix has a little more grit.

There are just enough layers on Orangefarben to keep things from slipping into drab indie folk territory—they’re threadbare, but they’re also dynamic and catchy, and Baenziger has really come into her own as a songwriter.

Of course, there’s a good chance that when you see Sea of Bees it will be minus a backing band and the studio tricks. What it will reveal is just how good these songs really are. It may seem early in the game for a singer/songwriter to already have a cult following, but that’s how it feels with Sea of Bees (Baenziger has become a phenomenon of sorts in Europe, where she plays frequently). And that’s not a bad thing.

Baenziger is only 25, and at times she appears wise beyond her years, at others like a young woman still trying to figure out the crazy game of life. Those who are willing to take the journey with her, I think, will be rewarded for years to come.

read often. your brain will thank you.

FREE + BIWEEKLY SubmergeMag.com

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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photo nicholas WRAY

Album Spotlight

Game of Death Death Grips The Money Store Epic

Words Blake Gillespie

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The capital of California, which few could pick out on a map will be the talk of the industry with the release of experimental hiphop group Death Grips’ Epic debut, The Money Store. Sacramento will faintly appear in every major online and print music publication. It will travel to Ireland and the United Kingdom and stand out awkwardly amongst write-ups in French and German.

The strangest of times lie ahead.

Last year’s Ex-Military mixtape unveiled a top-secret project of a highly classified nature, kept in the confines of Oak Park.

Death Grips was not a local favorite that got its big break after years of cold shoulders. It was a phenomenon that rattled our cages and left us scratching our heads as to where the fuck it came from. Every announcement surrounding the band is bigger than the last; Coachella dates, All Tomorrow’s Parties appearance, signing to Epic, two albums in 2012 and a European tour. The warp speed of its success is as terrifying and mind-blowing as the music.

Ratchet man Andy Morin, aka Flatlander, and Zach Hill are the Reanimators of the group, who possibly stumbled upon the breakthroughs that led to Death Grips on Hill’s last solo album, Face Tat. The track “Jackers,” with its stem-warps, revving blips and manic drumming, sounds like the birthplace of Death Grips.

The two mad scientists were just missing a vessel, which they discovered in Stefan Burnett, aka MC Ride.

The Death Grips sound is a break beat science that experiments with hip-hop echoism, EDM machinations and the wonky warble of (groan) dub-step. The double helix is constructed with a precisionist’s care, only to have a deadly virus unleashed as though Hyde sought to sabotage Jekyll’s work.

As much as we want to seek derivatives for Death Grips, none of them will satisfy; because as you listen to the first five tracks on The Money Store, it’s undeniable that they are without contemporaries or purebred lineage. Sample-based music was a stagnant art form until now; evolving into the digital catalog of stems. Death Grips collect, record and warp them like diggers obsess over vinyl. But Death Grips’ source material is infinite since it ranges from borrowed drum breaks sent through heavy filter or a looped guttural roar from Ride. The Black Google zip file,

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

which included every stem, a capella and instrumental from ExMilitary, wasn’t just for us to tinker and remix, but a glimpse into the creative process. The same goes for the 109 GIFs currently obliterating computer speakers on the Third Worlds website. Ride is a threat without the assistance of effects, but Death Grips is all the more menacing when the track screeches and caterwauls much like horror films allow black cats to jump across cameras and serial killers to stand directly behind terrified damsels—the quick shock hits keep us on our toes.

Small traces of influence, or intention, trickle through The Money Store; Salt N’ Pepa’s “Push It” as performed by 2 Live Crew on “I’ve Seen Footage” is the most blatant, while “Hacker” bears striking resemblance to the outside-the-club sounds in the opening minutes of Daft Punk’s “Revolution 909,” except standing on the fringes of the hopeful patron line is Ride, plotting on whose car is getting jacked once they go inside.

The Money Store pushes Death Grips’ unique sound into a darker realm than the explorations found on Ex-Military, despite the mixtape crippling our senses and causing a cesspool of miscalculated pedigree. It’s inspired and moving faster than we can compute, which is frustrating since it’s only starting to sink in without the nuisance of definition beyond simply calling it Death Grips. In a year’s time, zero copycat bands or established groups attempted to mimic Death Grips as recognition of a new wave.

Death Grips stand unchallenged. As MC Ride puts it on “Hacker,” “The table’s flipped, now we got all the coconuts, bitch!”

Much of the intoxicating danger and aggro-rap histrionics in Ex-Military have undergone mutation and the progression suggests that by No Love, the band’s second 2012 record, we’ll have little trace of bread crumbs leading back to introductory tracks like “Guillotine” and “Known For It.” In 23 songs between two records, Death Grips’ movement rivals the intensity of a warpath or rampage with no looking back. It has led them to the kung-fu chamber to face their greatest adversary, themselves, in order to become masters. All that’s left in gauging the impact of The Money Store is the passage of time, but that’s for the canonical talkers, which Death Grips have no time for.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

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Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

You thought you had problems getting laid (oh wait, maybe that’s just me…), just be happy you’re not a giant panda.

Pandas are awesome, don’t get me wrong.

They’re adorable, what with those big black spots over their eyes, ponderously chubby bodies and shaggy fur and whatnot. They just don’t seem to be very fit for survival. It’s really amazing they’ve lasted as long as they have.

I hate to be harsh, but it’s true. I think most of what’s keeping them alive is that people love their adorable lil faces so much that all these scientists and zoologists do their darnedest to keep these lovable critters alive. No one wants to be the fuckwad who let pandas go extinct on his/her watch. They just look so damn huggable. I mean, you probably shouldn’t try to hug one because they’re big ass bears, but I mean, how awesome would some panda cuddle time be? The World Wildlife Fund even features a panda in its logo, probably because they know that they’re completely irresistible.

Nature isn’t as kind or forgiving as charitable, animal-friendly do-gooders.

It doesn’t care how cute you are. It’s a tough world out there, and currently there are fewer than 1,600 pandas left in the wild, according to an article on Foxnews.com.

Because of climate change (I didn’t realize Fox News was allowed to acknowledge climate change), the article goes on to say that 60 percent of the panda’s already small natural habitat will be unlivable in 70 years.

The deck certainly seems stacked against our furry friends. First off, most of their diet is bamboo, 99 percent of it, in fact. Humans will eat just about anything, which is probably why there are almost 7 billion of us on the planet right now. We’ll also have sex with just about anyone, so that probably helps too.

Pandas, as their diets may suggest, are also very finicky when it comes to getting it on. They’re notorious for being extremely difficult to breed in captivity. A new study shows that there may be a biological reason for this. According to an article on Msnbc.com, male giant pandas are “reproductively viable for six or more months out of the year,” which doesn’t seem like much, really. For females, however, the window they have for baby making is even smaller. “Females are only in the mood for one to three days each year, according to a new study,” the article states.

I’ll withhold making any obvious jokes out of respect for the plight of the pandas, but feel free to insert your own here.

Done? Good. Let’s continue.

Copper Aitken-Palmer, head veterinarian at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, was lead author on the study. She and her team followed eight male giant pandas for three years and “evaluated the interrelated seasonal changes in male panda testosterone levels, sperm concentration, testes size”—basically being all up in their biz-naz. The study found that sperm concentration changed over time, affecting male pandas’ moods. Basically, they’d become more riled up the hornier they got (that’s technical speak), but true to their adorable nature, male pandas were still respectful of the females’ wishes, even though they were eager as fuck to get busy.

“The males are generally very good barometers of female receptivity, and will not breed with females outside of their receptive period,” a co-author of the study, Rebecca Spindler, told Discovery News. It would seem your boyfriend probably could learn a lot from pandas.

Aitken-Palmer, however, has reason for hope in spite of all the odds. She cites that the panda’s celebrity status for being so fluffy and wonderful will likely help it out in the long run, calling it a “flagship species for conservation in general.”

“If we can’t have hope for the panda,” she asks, “who can we have hope for?”

Indeed. Unfortunately, not all species have that kind of cuddly clout. Take for instance another Chinese mammal, the Yangtze River dolphin, which was declared “functionally extinct” (such a degrading term, huh?) in 2006.

Industrialization played a major factor in these noble beasts going the way of the dodo. The last sighting of a Yangtze River dolphin took place in 2002. There may still be some left, but, you know, so it goes.

It’s been a while since one of these things was actually spotted, so you may not have seen one. I don’t like to speak poorly of the dead, but let’s just say that the Yangtze River dolphin wasn’t as sexy as your run of the mill Flipper-type dolphin. It’s clearly dolphinshaped; however, instead of a smiley face, playful eyes and sleek body, you’ve got sort of a disproportionately bulbous head coupled with a long, needle-y snout—sort of like an aardvark with fins.

It would appear that it pays to be goodlooking, but you probably had that figured out already.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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brokedown in bakersfield feaT. nicki bluHm (of THe Gramblers) & Tim bluHm (of THe moTHer Hips), scoTT law,dan lebowiTz, sTeve adams and dave broGan (of alo)

thursday

apr 12

paula frazier

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

Thomas Dolby

aaron JonaH lewis • ben belcHer

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 18 & over • 7:00pm

saturday

apr 14

Givers

monday

yonder mounTain sTrinG band

tuesday

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 18 & over • 7:00pm

brown bird

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

eviDence

lmno • fasHwan

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 9:00pm

The skaTaliTes The inciTeRs

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

apr 16 apr 17 sunday

apr 22 thursday

apr 26

saturday THe aGGroliTes apr 28 Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 9:00pm Girl in a coma monday

pinaTa proTesT • sara radle THe Honorable souTH

apr 30

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

special sHow in fresno

middle class ruT

Fulton 55 • 875 DivisaDero st. • Fresno • 21 & over • 8:00pm

wednesday

may 2

tiCkets at tiCketFly.Com

kaTie HerziG andrew belle

blue lamp • 1400 alHambra blvD. • saCto • 21 & over • 9:00pm

sam peliGroso (ep release sHow)

olmeca • o sT. dub • la nocHe oskura maHTie busH • THe desperados

friday

may 4 saturday

may 5

blue lamp • 1400 alHambra blvD. • saCto • 21 & over • 9:00pm

murs

dee-1 • wHo cares

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 9:00pm

ab & The sea

Tommy & THe HiGH piloTs

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

GaunTleT Hair

dana buoy (of akron/family)

blue lamp • 1400 alHambra blvD. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

clap your Hands say yeaH The DaRcys

Harlow’s • 2708 J st. • saCto • 21 & over • 8:00pm

sunday

may 6 monday

may 7 tuesday

may 8 wednesday

may 23

abstract entertainment

TickeTs available aT: The beaT (17Th & J sT.), Dimple RecoRDs, phono-selecT oR online aT: evenTbRiTe.com, TickeTs.com • TickeTs for Harlow’s sHows also available aT Harlows.com www.absTracTsacramenTo.com

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 108 • April 9 – April 23, 2012

31

Dive into Sacramento & its Surrounding Areas

April 9 – april 23, 2012

#108

Setting the Mood at SEMF

free

SeA of Bees

New Album is an Open Book

Element Planet of the of Soul Vampire Women

No Limitations

spreads worldwide

jon MESS

Hardcore Artist

Death Grips Believe the Hype • MoMo’s Meat Market Extra Napkins Necessary