Submerge Magazine: Issue 137 (May 27-June 10, 2013)

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

5/31 Capital Cities

gold fields • dWTWN

6/9 The maiNe a rocKeT To The mooN This ceNTury • brighTeN

7/13 Too $horT lil biT • K-oTTic babNiT • Who ride

charlie muscle

6/11 6/1 7/19 NeKromaNTix fiNch ardeN ParK performing “What it isto rooTs Burn” in its entirety The origiNal oNe dyiNg secreT 6/17 We came 6/2 as romaNs fear 7/22 facTory BlaCk Flag The silver shiNe The commuNiTy

Thrive • simPle creaTioN islaNd of blacK aNd WhiTe

•

haTe eTerNal Kobra & The loTus Kill The PrecedeNT dead iN secoNds

6/4 logiC

c doT casTro • sKizzy mars

6/5 juicy j a$aP ferg

6/8 breT michaels force of habiT • maxxx

liKe moThs To flames uPoN a burNiNg body • seT iT off croWN The emPire • ice NiNe Kills

6/18 memPhis mayfire

i see sTars • sTicK To your guNs aTilla • haNdguNs • merchaNTs

6/21 Fiji

6/22 zavalaz

feat. CedriC Bixler Zavala (the mars volta and atthe drive in), dan elkan (hella and Broken Bells), greg rogove (devendra Banhart), Juan alderete de la peña (Big sir andthe mars volta)

hoT raiN

8/2 DogFooD Cd release shoW 8/11 maTisyahu

7/25 TraPT

8/17 sTePchild

deadvolT • overWaTch

T-mills • The ready seT

8/28 gary NumaN 9/05

lauNch fesTival KicK-off ParTy

7/27 y&T

eNd of days • resTrayNed

dreW deezy • fiNN

8/1 jBoog

good for you

7/26 6/19 Krizz KaliKo We The KiNgs sTevie sToNe • !mayday!

420 darKside boyz dylaN PhilliPs • cool NuTz richard The rocKsTar

7/31 bubba sParxxx

7/30 fiTz aNd The TaNTrums

WallPaPer aN aNgle misTer meTaPhor

9/11 adam aNT

youNgblood haWKe

1417 R STREET • SACRAMENTO ACEOFSPADESSAC.COM

All Shows All Ages SubmergeMag.com

Tickets Available @ Dimple Records, The Beat, Armadillo (Davis) Online: AceOfSpadesSac.com By Phone: 1.877.GND.CTRL OR 916.443.9202 Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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137

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

contents

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04 06 09 10 11 12 14 16 20 22 24 31 33 34

12 22

20 cofounder/ Editor in Chief/Art Director

Melissa Welliver melissa@submergemag.com cofounder/ Advertising Director

Jonathan Carabba jonathan@submergemag.com senior editor

James Barone

Submerge

Contributing Writers

Joe Atkins, Robin Bacior, Andrew Bell, Corey Bloom, Emily Bonsignore, Bocephus Chigger, Brooke Dreyer, Josh Fernandez, Anthony Giannotti, Lovelle Harris, Nur Kausar, John Phillips, Ryan J. Prado, Steph Rodriguez, Adam Saake, Amy Serna, Jenn Walker, Holly Woodcock

2308 J Street, Suite F Sacramento, Calif. 95816

916.441.3803 info@submergemag.com

Contributing photographers

Mike Ibe, Amanda Lopez, Liz Simpson, Nicholas Wray

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

4

2013

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

printed on recycled paper

front Cover Photo of city of vain by nicholas wray

May 27 – june 10

Dive in The Stream Submerge your senses The Optimistic Pessimist capital capture

concert fashion

jenn rogar city of vain the root of happiness !!! chris d’elia calendar the grindhouse

the hangover part III LIVE REWIND

TYLER, THE CREATOR 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. back Cover Photo of !!! by Piper Ferguson

dive in Submerge: Covering my, his, their and your favorite band since 2008 Melissa welliver melissa@submergemag.com Sure, everyone has a favorite band (maybe even two or three). But I can’t think of anything that can top the feeling of sharing and discussing music with a friend and/or a loved one and having the same fondness for the band reciprocated.

Really, it doesn’t have to be your favorite band, it could even just be something you like or recently discovered. But in my particular case, “favorite” is definitely an appropriate statement. For more than a decade now I’ve claimed !!! (Chk Chk Chk) as my most-liked band and several years ago I was able to share this appreciation with my fiancé and business partner, Jonathan Carabba.

Now with the release of their latest album this past April, Thr!!!er, !!! is once again blaring out of both of our stereos, computers and headphones. The words, “I’m not in the mood to listen to that,” have not, and probably never will, cross either of our minds. Seriously, being on the same page, it’s the best feeling ever.

With the announcement of their North American tour and a Concerts in the Park date intact (May 31), we are ecstatic to see them again in Sacramento and to dance it up at Cesar Chavez Park on a Friday after work. It’s also nice to have a reason to interview the band’s guitarist Mario Andreoni once again. On page 20, read Carabba’s Q&A with Andreoni, for which they sat down in the park !!! will eventually be performing in to discuss Thr!!!er, working with Spoon’s Jim Eno who produced their fifth album, as well as “space” in music.

Good bands, great bands, favorite bands, they can make you feel happy, carefree and even rejuvenated. They can get you excited and even make you do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. For instance, Danny Secretion (who if you’re unaware is from the epic local punk band The Secretions—check them out) reached out to Submerge a while back to let us know that he would be extremely interested in interviewing and writing about the equally awesome local band City of Vain when the time was right.

Finally, after much anticipation, City of Vain’s seven-song album Shaking Hands with Yourself is just a couple weeks away from being in your hands, and a release show is scheduled for June 13 at The Press Club. I highly recommend checking them out if you’ve ever loved good ol’ punk rock like The Bouncing Souls, Dropkick Murphys and The Specials.

I absolutely love the four tracks the band was able to share with me and know you will too! Read up starting on page 14 and get a feel for what is one of the best Sacramento punk bands out there right now.

Read Submerge, discover new bands, go see live music, catch a comedy show (see page 22) and try some kava (see page 16) already. Sacramento’s got a lot to offer, and we’ll always be right here to cover it for you, our valued readers.

Enjoy issue #137, Melissa-Dubs Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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The stream NUMBER STATION BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO SACRAMENTO’S ROCK SCENE FOLK GROUP AWKWARD LEMON RELEASE NEW ALBUM IT’S A GOOD THING LOCAL HIP-HOP DUO PRADUH & BP RELEASE BREW N RAPS Jonathan Carabba

Send regional news tips to info@submergemag.com

Metalphoria • June 4 - 29 Artists’ Reception: June 6, 6-9

Jessie Brooks

2nd Saturday Reception: June 8, 12-10

and

Kristen hoard

Show Grand Finale: June 29, 6-9

Music Note Sculpture on sale now for Grads & Dads!

Local post-punk/hardcore band Number Station may be relatively new to the scene, but as the saying goes, this isn’t their first rodeo. Vocalist Ean Clevenger, formerly of Northern California hardcore punk band Pipedown, who were signed to A-F Records (Anti Flag’s label) and toured/ played with bands like AFI, Thrice and The Bouncing Souls, started Number Station after he witnessed the local punk/hardcore scene “cave in on itself” while playing with his last band Dance for Destruction.

“It seemed bands, punk, hardcore, heavy, what have you, were beginning to be targeted for having too much heart and substance,” Clevenger recently told Submerge. “It was particularly hard to see the scene I was so closely connected to, one which I felt always had such a deep love for politics and meaning, drift toward a very provincial attitude.” So he said the hell with it, took some time to himself and started writing songs that were powerful and important to him regardless of what was cool at the moment. “When the energy was right, I sought out some of the best musicians I know, and luckily we were all on the same page.” Number Station is currently comprised of Clevenger and fellow seasoned musicians Theron Francis (guitar), Barry Crider (guitar/vocals), Pat Freeman (bass) and Jonathan Barklage (drums). They spent a fair amount of time working on material in the third story of a

LittLe ReLics Boutique & Galleria 908 21st Street (between I & J) Midtown, Sacramento 95811

916.716.2319 www.littlerelics.com

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OPEN TUES-SAT 11-11 • SUN 11-3

bowscollective.com tue may 28 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC

Jerry perry presents

Tele Novella, Olla, Mount Whateverest

fri mAy 31 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC Awkward Lemon (CD Release Party), Adrian Bellue, TJ McNulty

sat Jun 1 (5pm) MEEt & grEEt

Meet Actress Becca Battoe, the voice behind 50 Shades of Grey

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tue Jun 4 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC

OK Vancouver OK, Katie & The Lichen, Peggy Benks

thu Jun 6 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC

Beisbol, Doe Eye, Debbie Neigher

fri Jun 7 (8:30Pm) LIVE MUSIC

By Sunlight, Speed of Sound in Seawater

tue Jun 11 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC Pi Jacobs, Siv & Maddie, Sherman Baker

fri Jun 14 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC

Awkward Lemon, Orange Morning Band, Massive Delicious

sat Jun 15 (8pm) LIVE MUSIC

Sons of an Illustrious Father, Lexie Roth and Tre Burt

PararELatIVIStIC OMnIPOtEnCE PAINTS By

Omar Thor Arason OpeninG: fri Jun 7 (6-9pm)

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

On View: JuN 7-JuL 3

Local folk group Awkward Lemon are celebrating the release of their new album titled It’s a Good Thing on Friday, May 31 at Bows and Arrows.

This lovely band of old souls is made up of lead vocalist Alyssa Mattson, guitarist/vocalist Logan Phillips and Bryan Nichols (singer/guitarist of the band ZuhG, on stand-up bass in this project) and finally, one of the most integral parts of the group, banjo player Westin Harris. Their Facebook page (Facebook.com/awkwardlemon) sums it up quite well with the description, “Songs best heard around a bonfire.” It’s kick-off-yourshoes-and-stay-a-while-music, and we’re digging it. Also sharing the bill at their release show is Adrian Bellue and TJ McNulty. The show is for all ages, starts at 8 p.m. and the cover charge is $5.

“fucked up art space” in downtown Sacramento and as Clevenger put it, “the magic seemed to happen.”

Number Station’s new five-song EP, recorded with Patrick Hills at EarthTone Studios, is sure to tickle the fancy of fans of Sacramento rock staples like Far (who they point out as a large influence) but it also will interest fans of, dare I say, screamo. Think The Used, Story of the Year, Hopesfall, bands in that vein—plenty of guitar riffage, melodic vocals with screaming mixed in, solid song structures and a mature use of dynamics. They might be one of my favorite new local bands, even if the style of music they are playing might not be the most hip thing in Sacramento at the moment. “Once the people get behind it, we can help break people out of their own fears about what is cool or approved by the status quo,” Clevenger says. “Its fucking music from the heart, we don’t care how cool we are, we just care how much we can help people be free.”

Number Station will have an EP release show on Saturday, June 1 at Assembly (1000 K Street).

March Into Paris, Saint Solitaire and Goodbye Black Sky (featuring members of Will Haven) will also perform. For more information, visit Facebook.com/numberstationtheband.

I’ve got to give some love to a couple of kids out rockin’ in the burbs. It’s easy to get stuck on the grid, that’s where most of the cool shit happens in the region, but there’s always cats like PraDuh and BP, two dudes from Roseville that rep Diamond Wood Music and rap about drinking beer, skipping school and generally fucking off. Their new 12-song album Brew N Raps is high-energy, ‘90s-style hip-hop with smooth back-and-forth delivery over beats produced in-house by PraDuh. They’ve been cutting their teeth locally for the last few years, gigging here and there, but now they are releasing their fulllength with a blow-out at Bar 101 in Roseville on Friday, June 14. For more information, visit Diamondwoodmusic.com.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

p r e s e n t s At

the BoArdwAlk

The TickeTs AvAilAble @ Dimple RecoRDs, The beAT, ARmADillo(DAvis), TickeTs.com, musicToDAy.com, boARDwAlkRocks.com, boARDwAlk box office, AceofspADessAc.com, 1.877.GND.cTRl oR 916.443.9202

T h e b o A R D wA l k

T h e b o A R D wA l k

9 4 2 6 G r e e n bac k • O r a n G e va l e

ALL SHOWS ALL AGES

Simple Creation • KayaSana • rebel radio

wednesday, May 29

T h e b o A R D wA l k

thursday, june 20

T h e b o A R D wA l k

Ace of spAdes concerts

tuesday, july 30 between realmS

T h e b o A R D wA l k

T h e b o A R D wA l k

T h e b o A R D wA l k

friday, july 12

friday, june 14 SubmergeMag.com

sunday, july 28

saturday, aug 3 Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Step Jayne

Your Senses Words Steph Rodriguez

SEE

Art, fashion, music and more at Kaleidoscope at District 30

SEE HEAR TASTE Touch

June 5

Tink

TASTE

Wings and pints at the seventh annual Raley Field Brewfest • June 7

Chelsea Hedgepeth

Stay thirsty and be sure to come hungry because the seventh annual Raley Field Brewfest not only boats more than 60 beer venders at this year’s event, it’s also presented by Wing Stop. On Friday, June 7, starting at 7 p.m. the Raley Field outfield will transform into an all out smorgasbord with vendors laid out in a quarter-mile semi-circle, plus a stage set up near second base. Breweries include everything from Trumer Brauerei to Track 7 Brewing Co., and even featured ciders range from the Ace Cider and Fox Barrel Cider companies.

Tickets start at $30 in advance or $35 the day of the event, yet there’s always VIP. For just $50, VIP ballers, or ticket holders, will receive 18 tastings instead of the 10 offered and allowed an hour early entrance. Whatever package fits the budget, visit Raleyfield.com for tickets or simply stop by the box office. Bottoms up.

TOUCH

Up on history with a good ol’ fashioned train robbery in the Sacramento River Train • June 1

Face it. None of us are old enough to remember how it was livin’ in the Old West. Yet, friends and families can touch up on a bit of history right in our own backyard in West Sacramento. The Sacramento River Train’s “Great Train Robbery” departs on Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. taking people on an ol’ fashioned train ride through time. This three-and-a-half hour trip includes going by the Fremont Trestle and through the pretty countryside, but while riding along, watch out for outlaws hiding along the tracks. (I’m sure the marshall aboard will keep things Kosher.) The ride ends with passengers enjoying a Western-style barbecue lunch down by the river. For ticket prices and future rides into the past, visit Sacramentorivertrain.com.

SubmergeMag.com

SHOCKins Photography

Raw: Natural Born Artists is an independent artists’ organization that puts on exhibitions in more than 80 locations such as New York City; Austin, Texas; and now, Sacramento.

On Friday, June 5, this multi-art showcase, Kaleidoscope, will kick off at District 30 (1022 K Street) at 7 p.m. Leave your jeans and flipflops at home and instead dress to impress with your best evening cocktail threads.

Enjoy everything artsy about Sacramento all under one roof with art, fashion, music, hair demos, photography, performances and more.

Kaleidoscope features local artists working in the mediums of their choice, whether it’s hair and makeup or canvas and paint, feast your eyes for only $10 a ticket. DJ Shady Gaga will be spinning the jams throughout the evening and featured artists include Tink, Autumn Brown, Antoine and more. Live music will also be provided by the guys of hip-hop duo Tel Cairo and the rock ‘n’ roll sounds of Step Jayne. Visit Rawartists.org/sacramento/ kaleidoscope for more information.

HEAR

Stacks of music with The Staxx Brothers June 14

Soul/rock group The Staxx Brothers return to Sacramento and this time they’re performing with local funk band Phat Butta Jam. On Friday, June 14, Marilyn’s on K will witness the band’s coined “hard ass soul” music, a mixture of funk, soul and hip-hop. The Seattle-based band’s latest album Jungle Cat was produced by none other than Scott Colburn, the man behind albums like Feels, Strawberry Jam and Water Curses from Animal Collective, and Neon Bible from Arcade Fire. The Staxx Brothers 10-track full-length album is available for only $10 on iTunes and Amazon, but stop by Staxxbrothers.com to brush up on their music before the show.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

The Optimistic Pessimist Hate to Burst Your Bubble Bocephus Chigger bocephus@submergemag.com No one likes a dummy, so it’s probably a good thing that the federal government began offering student loans to the public in 1958. It was a great idea: poor, but intelligent kids got access to higher education and the country reaped the rewards of their future endeavors. The crazy part is that it actually worked for a while until Congress grew bored of it and began farming it out to private banks. At the same time they apparently began to avert their eyes from the ever-escalating costs of higher education.

By the time I got to college in 1998, things were getting expensive. Tuition at law school started out at $28,000 per year and got up to $35,000 by the time I graduated three years later.

I had no real way of knowing how much I would actually earn before I started school, but I had done my research and it seemed worth it when I started. Unfortunately, the amount I needed to borrow kept increasing each year with the tuition hikes and the amount of available jobs and their salaries kept shrinking.

After everything was said and done, I owed about $180,000. The default repayment term for student loans is 10 years, so with interest my estimated monthly payment was over $2000!

Luckily, my pals over at the banks allowed me a cool six months to cut my hair and get a damn job before they kicked me in the gut with the first bill. I had to laugh as there was no way I could pay it.

I still can’t afford that payment after four years of gainful employment. Fortunately, by taking advantage of every government program available, I’ve managed to whittle my monthly loan payments down to a mere $1200 over the last five years, but that took, and continues to take, extreme vigilance. And there is a downside to the lower payment: I will be paying these loans for 25 years, or at least I think I will.

I have multiple student loans with six different lenders. Each loan has a different interest rate that may or may not be fixed. Each lender sets a different payment date and has their own internal email system that you are required to log into to read any correspondence from them. They all have different policies about how payments can be made and when late fees are applied and how they are paid. The whole thing is a mess.

Good luck getting help from customer service. It’s not necessarily a strong suit for any of my lenders, but for sheer incompetence,

I think Sallie Mae takes the cake. No one there seems to know how to do anything. The payment goes up unexpectedly and they can’t explain why. They will tell you something on the phone and do something else later and then deny what they told you before. Their goal appears to be to wear you out until you give up and just pay them whatever they want to avoid another phone call. So far it’s been working. For a nice sounding name like Sallie Mae, she sure is a real bitch.

Congress, I have lost nearly all of my faith in you, but I need help damn it, and you are the only ones that can fix this. And it’s not just me. There are millions of us who collectively owe more than a trillion dollars in student loan debt. We need you to lower our student loan payments so we can spend that money elsewhere, and you need people to spend money to keep this red, white and blue riverboat casino that we call America afloat. It sounds like a match made in heaven to me.

Some of you are starting to get the picture.

I see that a few Democrats are attempting to lower interest rates for future borrowers, which is great, but what about the rest of us poor saps with existing loans? The Income Based Repayment program is also a good idea, but the execution has been lacking. The lenders don’t even understand the formula they are supposed to use.

Payments should be based on what you make, but they should also consider your other necessary expenses, like rent or mortgage payments, food costs, utilities and other student loan payments. I also think that after 10 years of interest-free payments, the balance of the loan should be forgiven without tax consequences.

The government can get their money back through a lifetime of taxation of the higher wages of those with college degrees. We also shouldn’t reward schools for overcharging for their degrees. If the cost of education can’t be paid back in 10 years, the school is charging too much. It’s acts like these that can bring around real education reform.

Students should not be seen as cash cows.

The point of student loans is to encourage education and to invest in the workforce of the future, not to line the pockets of colleges and lenders at the expense of students. Student loan default is our next big bubble, and if we don’t act soon, it just may pop.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Capital Capture Style and Shows Emily Bonsignore Music is a seamless part of fashion. Just as much as the right lyric is important to a song, so too is the right style for a band. Their looks complement their music, adding to the experience of a show.

Last week, I was able to see Australian band Atlas Genius, known for their song “Trojans,” at Harlow’s. The band donned that classic indie look, consisting of button downs, skinny pants and oxford shoes, which is a nice upgrade from faded rock tees and ripped jeans.

X

Concert wear has carved its own niche in fashion for fans as well.

Fans change their styles to match the music, but here are a few tips that work for any type of concert!

1)

X

<<

X

<<

Always wear flats. It took about five separate shows for me to learn that no matter how comfortable your heels are or what type of stamina you have, heels will result in major regret.

2)

Avoid tons of embellishments. This means no bulky bags, layers or fussy clothing. Simplicity is the way to go!

3)

Keep it casual. Concert venues are all dark on the inside, so if you intend to show off with the intricate details in your outfit, I suggest holding off to a more lighted event. Once the lights go down and the band comes on no one will be paying attention to you.

SubmergeMag.com

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MAGPIE Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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Making People Feel Happy for the Moment

Sacramento folk singer Jenn Rogar plays music with a message Words Zachary Ahern • photo Sandra Delores

I

t quickly became clear that Jenn Rogar is much more than just a singer performing folk music as a hobby. She is an artist actively trying to change the world and just happens to be a talented singer and songwriter who spreads her beliefs through song.

As a schoolteacher, law practitioner and mother, Rogar has a wealth of life experience to draw upon. She has also been playing music off and on since 1998, as time permits or whenever she receives waves of inspiration. As it turns out, she wasn’t even familiar with the folk music genre until she met her friend and mentor, singer Diane Patterson while attending college to become a schoolteacher. Rogar cites Patterson, a fellow political leftist, activist and socially conscious local, as a main inspiration for launching her music career.

Rogar debuted Place Called Humanity, a stripped down folk album, which on tracks such as “Tree of Life” and “Torah Song,” raises moral and societal concerns and challenges listeners to take the high road; simply by attempting to be more responsible and aware of our environment. Jenn has set forth upon releasing her sophomore album Shasta within the next couple months and plans on having an accompanying slide show of Mount Shasta while performing the title track. This album release event will likely be educational, similar to her experiences shared here. Jenn will also be performing every Thursday for the next few weeks showcasing this material at Old Ironsides.

The common theme of folk music is to tell a story.

What are your favorite stories to tell when you’re on stage?

I enjoy telling stories about the planet and antiwar sentiment with weaving in more mainstream topics while attempting to have a positive impact. As a history major and teacher, I have a background of caring about several issues such as the Navajo Indians and the environment. Some songs are simply born spontaneously.

What can we do to change the world? Where does it start?

Stop listening to the mainstream media. Seek out free speech radio news. You have to educate yourself and learn how things really work. There’s so much going on while everyone’s texting, playing games and watching reality shows. There are so many distractions and people are getting numb. But you can’t do it all. You have to find a niche that you care about, whether it’s the death penalty or birth control or trees.

When did you begin having these realizations as an activist and what has influenced you?

A Ph.D. graduate student, whom I was dating while in college at UC Davis, first influenced me.

With experiences I had and being open minded, I became more aware. It was a gradual process.

I was very influenced by the Redwood Summer, the Earth First kids who were activists who took residence in the Redwood trees in Humboldt, Calif.

Like Utah Phillips said, “You pick things up out of the river.” River would represent history to me.

I’m trying to spread the word through songs. I’m still trying to figure out how to reduce my carbon footprint.

How have you made a difference as a teacher, lawyer and songwriter?

I start by telling the truth. I taught in the classroom for several years and was good at

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imparting knowledge but was not good at strong connection to trees. Utah Phillips once said, disciplining the kids. There was a story written “There are too many people doing good things to about me by a right-wing organization that has afford me the luxury of being pessimistic.” If you claimed I have participated in ZEP [Zinn Education think about it, there are so many good people out Project] warfare, essentially claiming Howard Zinn there. We have the power of the purse. We can instructs teachers to infect children’s minds. So I make the choices for ourselves what to support. simply taught a chapter out of Zinn’s book about All people are good people if we get the truth.

Christopher Columbus. Any kid will tell you they Some people are just misinformed. know what he [Columbus] did to the indigenous people. The history books will tell you he was a Besides the causes you’re supporting by hero, but the story is now on the Web. Any time performing at rallies and fundraisers? What do you go outside of the box, you run risks, but you enjoy about these events? if not, what are you Community happens going to do? Just lie at these events. That’s “I’m just trying to make people feel down and die? something that the happy for the moment. I didn’t I also have a law current generation is degree from Lincoln starved for. Positive expect to be doing this. But that’s Law School. Since energy gets going and life. It takes you along on this then I have been everyone feeds off of journey and you have to be ready able to see things one another. You go to with a better vantage a café today and see to take the day head on.” point. I’ve been everyone on a laptop – Jenn Rogar taught contracts, real and no one’s talking. property, criminal law, so now I can see the bigger picture of what’s Can you explain the significance of your song going on. It’s shown me we need to focus on “Dove Spring Girl?” one area and then find the niche of where they Dove Spring is the area near Flagstaff, Ariz., belong. As a songwriter, I feel sharper. Songs just where the Navajo people live. All the relatives come out now. If I think too hard, it won’t happen. lived near each other and were forcibly relocated It’s important to have a concept and then refine due to the politics that began in the ‘50s. The what I’ve done. To just go out there and sing families lived there with no running water and about nothing can be bland or boring. weren’t able to grow crops or live a healthy or traditional way of life; they were forced to live What is your main focus or niche for activism a more modern way of life in the subdivisions, right now? eating pizza and playing video games. So the I’ve done rallies against the death penalty, song centers upon a girl, Janie, I met and the against domestic violence and anti-war rallies, hopes of her to have a better life. but my current focus is the war on dealing with the environment. But more specifically, we need How does your upcoming album Shasta differ to breathe the trees by limiting fossil fuels and from Place Called Humanity? saving the rainforests. I learned the other day Shasta is a bit of a departure from the first album. that we share half our DNA with trees, so I feel a After performing off and on for several years as a

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

solo artist, Mike Farrell and I started performing together and then recruited Eric Everett on the drums. Mike contributed a lot of music on the album minus the drums, produced the album and even learned to play the organ in the studio.

Eric cleverly added drums to Shasta and then to several other tracks, even though I hadn’t intended drums to be on the new album at all.

The songs are all over the map. There are folk songs and blues songs on the album. I started researching Mount Shasta on the Internet about its spiritual qualities. I visited Mount Shasta with my daughter and had an overwhelming feeling of joy permeating through my body, which I attributed to the secrets of the mountain. Mount Shasta is a true spiritual vortex. We need to reconnect with nature. And it’s not just about politics, but it’s about telling a story.

What’s the most memorable thing to ever happen to you while performing?

A lady came up to me and said, “I love your heart, soul and spirit. I’m totally a right wing enthusiast and don’t believe what you say, but you’ve got soul.” I didn’t quite reach her, but I did. We get caught up in performing and will get nerves, but the best thing to say to you is “this is not about me.” I’m just trying to make people feel happy for the moment. I didn’t expect to be doing this. But that’s life. It takes you along on this journey and you have to be ready to take the day head on.

See Jenn Rogar live at Old Ironsides every Thursday at 5 p.m. through June 20. The Shasta CD release party will take place at Fox and Goose on May 31 at 8 p.m. This is a 21-and-over show. For more about Jenn Rogar, check her out at Reverbnation.com/ jennrogar.

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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Your band consists of musicians from a variety of groups. What was it about this band that you wanted to do differently from your past music projects?

Newell Dunn: For me it was enjoyment. I wanted to have fun. After my last band, I had a long hiatus, so I was itching to play.

Steve Ross: I’m with Newell on that. I’d gone through relationships, had children and I realized I hadn’t done this [play music] in a while and that was my life’s blood before all that.

So did you approach music differently this time around than you did when you were younger?

SR: I appreciate it more!

ND: I appreciate that I get to play music again. I’m still playing music.

SR: I feel like to be able to get up there and for people to give you 30 minutes of their time regardless of where you’re at and who they are, to sit there and even sit through a song is still a privilege to me.

i i

Band of Brothers

If Sacramento’s City of Vain looks like they’re having the times of their lives, that’s because they are Words Danny Secretion • photos nicholas wray

A

t the risk of sounding like one of those guys who hasn’t been to a local show since 1989, regales in days of yore and constantly reminds “the kids” about how shows were better back in the day at some venue that closed during the Reagan administration, I’ve seen a lot of bands from our local punk scene.

Some good. Some not so good. When a band leaves you in such awe of what they present with both their live show and their music that it inspires you to the point of doing something you’ve never dreamed of doing (say, write your very first article for a magazine), that band is beyond good. That band is great. The band I speak of is City of Vain.

In late 2011, I started to see flyers (not just Facebook posts) that had a grainy image of a handgun along with the band’s name all over town. I took notice of the buzz they were creating at venues like The Press Club and Blue Lamp and decided to see what they were all about.

I remember coming home that night and excitedly telling my wife about this amazing band that completely blew me away.

Since then, City of Vain has played and toured with some of the hardest working bands in punk rock, co-headlined a successful alllocals show at Ace of Spades and played in front of 6000-plus people at the 2012 Concerts in the Park. An added bonus for me is that its band members also happen to be some of the most gracious and down-

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

to-earth musicians I have ever encountered. I’m honored to call them colleagues. I’m humbled to call them friends. Fast forward to Spring 2013, the band is adding the finishing touches to Shaking Hands With Yourself, the seven-song follow up to 2011’s American Nightmare recorded at the legendary Pus Cavern studios with master engineer Joe Johnston at the helm. I had the opportunity to sit down with Steve Ross, Minh Quan, and Newell Dunn, who along with Drew Boyce, Mario Maynor and Andy Simpson make up City of Vain.

Just spending two hours with half of this band left me feeling rejuvenated and hopeful. The gratitude I have for them is immeasurable.

Before this interview, I was fortunate enough to listen to rough mixes in Steve’s car. Set list standards like “New Helvetia,” “To You My Friends” and “Stuck Here With You” are delivered with all the power and glory of their live performances. Newer songs like “Moving Up Moving Forward,” “Out on an Island,” “Lessons in Social Class” and “Backs Against the Wall” will more than satisfy those of us who have been listening to this band for nearly two years. Fans of The Clash, Rancid, Bouncing Souls or The Specials who have yet to see this band perform live should hang their heads in shame. Your penance is to pick up two copies of Shaking Hands With Yourself and get your ass out to a show.

How did the different facets of our local music scene (the hardcore scene, the street punk scene, the pop-punk scene) react to you initially?

ND: I’ve played in hardcore bands and street punk bands before, and everyone I knew in this town from the hardcore scene were like, “You’re doing that? It’s so outside what you’ve done before.” But they all liked it. It was all positive. As far as the street punk scene, I played an early demo for Kenny Beasley [of Pressure Point] way before we even played a show, and he really liked it.

SR: Kenny is one of the most supportive people.

He’s an icon that we hold dear. I’m blown away that he’s interested in what we’re doing.

ND: There’s a wide range of people who come to our shows. I’ve seen metal heads, hardcore kids, punks, people you look at and say, “normal.”

SR: I don’t think we ever stopped to think about who was coming to the shows. We were just extremely fortunate. Our first show was one of our best-attended shows, and we were just surrounded by good friends who were excited to see us up there and were intrigued because they hadn’t heard it. To this day, that show is ingrained in my mind as one of my most favorite times ever playing.

Because of the message you send through your music and live performances, I’m not alone in saying City of Vain is one of the must-see bands in Sacramento. Did you ever feel like you were on to something special and unique when you started playing bigger shows?

Minh Quan: I felt so, but it wasn’t because of the size of the show. We could play for one person or 1000 people, but for me it’s that I love playing the music and I’m up on stage with five of my best friends.

SR: When we go up there, we go up there as a unit.

I make it a point to outwardly exude the fact that we are a family. You’re watching friends that hang out outside of this. We go out to shows together, because that’s just what we would do even if we weren’t in a band. If it looks like we’re having fun onstage, it’s because we’re genuinely are having fun.

ND: Having so much fun! I love it!

You’ve toured with bands that aren’t even from the same time zone as us. What’s your reasoning for touring with bands from across the Atlantic?

SR: Mike Bolado from the band Old Glory has done more for us than we’ve done for us. He’s quite possibly the seventh member of our band. He sees something in us that we often don’t even get, but he’s willing to go out there and book all these tours; he’s forged these relationships overseas with these bands. It’s honestly the best vacation you could ever spend going out with somebody from another country who is just as intrigued in your culture as you would be going over there.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Explain your experience in touring with this band.

What are some of the more challenging aspects of touring?

SR: 11 people in a van.

ND: Who is going to stay sober to drive.

MQ: Sitting between two huge guys, being wedged between Drew and Mike Bolado in the heat of the summer with a barely functioning A/C in Arizona.

But it’s my high school dream to be in a band like this, to be able to tour and make good music and be with five other guys who are just as passionate as me. Honestly, the hardest thing about tour is jobs. Every time I would come back to a new job in a new place.

What’s something you think our local music scene has over other scenes you’ve experienced through touring?

ND: Passion. Heart.

SR: When we go out, we let it be known that Sacramento is where we’re from. We may malign our city sometimes, but we’re definitely proud to be from here. There’s an inherent amount of respect we get from people in other cities because of some of the bands that have come out of here.

What’s something you think needs to improve with the local music scene?

ND: Venue accessibility and more all-ages venues.

When some of these bigger bands come through, I think some of these local venues need to step up to the plate and say, “We want to do this show, but we need to put some locals on.” Sacramento has its own amazing music scene that needs to be exposed to these bigger bands.

SR: You look at a promoter like Sean Hills [Punch and Pie Productions], who really has his ear to the ground experiencing what this city has to offer. He brings touring bands in and makes it a point to put them with quality bands from Sacramento. It boosts the Sacramento bands’ reputations and gives them an opportunity to roll out the red carpet for the touring bands, and in return have those bands reciprocate when our bands come through their towns.

Let’s talk about the new music. Your past music has been heavy on melody, positivity and accessibility without losing any musical aggression.

What can people expect from new City of Vain?

MQ: More of the same…it’s just better. We put in more time and a greater effort. I think Steve’s songwriting is even better than before.

How did the musicianship of your band members inspire your songwriting for this album?

SR: This record was written after the decision to bring in Minh full-time. I’m extremely privileged to be in a band where everyone has the ability to contribute to make the songs better. As a songwriter, I can listen to other styles of music and hear something that intrigues me and then incorporate that into our songs because we have the keyboard, the two different guitar styles and that backbone of a strong rhythm section. It doesn’t take long for a song to take shape when everyone is open to collaborate.

How did the songwriting for the new album influence your musicianship?

MQ: Keyboards aren’t traditionally in punk rock. I had to do my research to figure out what’s right to play in the music. It’s definitely influenced the way I play a lot.

ND: It’s pushed me to play better because I enjoy it more. I’m able to “let go” and “have fun.” With Steve’s songwriting, we have a solid foundation from the get-go. I believe in this music like it’s my first band.

SubmergeMag.com

What style of music inspired this album?

SR: We all have our staples that we go to. The Clash is obviously a huge influence for me. The Specials were my favorite band from junior high to this day.

That goes back to having keyboards in this band which links us to having the ability to do things like that in this band.

Tell me about two of the new songs, “Lessons in Social Class” and “Backs Against the Wall.”

SR: It’s all stuff that’s important to me that I wouldn’t hesitate to have a conversation with someone about. The goal is to provoke thought, not to propagate or profess any sort of stance or make people choose. There’s two sides to every story and if you’re intelligent enough to question something and make an educated decision, that’s what this country is supposed to be about. It’s not about hating or dismissing someone because they don’t agree with you, but really celebrating that fact. Also, telling both extremes to fuck off. You guys are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but you’ve gone so far one way or the other that you’ve forgotten the rest of us right here.

If this new music doesn’t get over with your fan base, what will keep you positive?

SR: We love doing what we do. There’s always going to be the critics, but I won’t lose any sleep over it.

If this new music takes off and sends this band to the next level, what will keep you grounded?

ND: Each other. We feed off each other as a group.

SR: We built this band on honesty and being genuine. To do an about-face would just be suicide.

None of us would let the other person do that. This is about the six of us and the people who really enjoy this music.

It’s a safe assessment to say that 50 percent of the audience of any local punk show consists of your colleagues; many of them younger musicians in their first bands. What I’m trying to say is…Do you have any words of advice for the kids?

ND: Keep going! If you love it and you’re passionate, keep going.

MQ: Keep doing what you love.

ND: That’s the biggest paycheck right there.

SR: Learn from every experience you have. If you’re not having fun, you need to take a step back and not be afraid of having that open line of communication.

What about words of advice for musicians in their twenties, thirties, forties or beyond who are struggling with finding the joy that you have in playing music?

MQ: If they’re in their fifties and playing Eagles cover songs, they can go fuck off [much laughter].

OK, favorite song on the new album?

ND: “Backs Against the Wall.”

MQ: My favorite song on the record is “Lessons In Social Class,” but my favorite song to play live is “Stuck Here With You.” SR: It’s tough for me because I’m critical of them all. I think lyrically I base it on that. I’m most proud of the lyrics on “Stuck Here With You” and “Backs Against the Wall.”

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City of Vain’s release show for Shaking Hands With Yourself is on Thursday, June 13 at The Press Club. Crashed Out will also perform. For more information on City of Vain, look them up on Reverbnation or on Facebook.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

15

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Peace and Relaxation, Polynesian Style The Root of Happiness Kava Bar 1949 Zinfandel Drive • Rancho Cordova Words Steph Rodriguez • photos lovelle harris

O

ften thick like mud, or even thinned with water, a bowl of kava packs a robust, earthy flavor that transfixes the mouth with slight numbness. The tan, cloudy liquid popular in Polynesian cultures from Tonga to the Hawaiian Islands, has been ceremonially enjoyed as a relaxant and social enhancer for more than 3,000 years. Kava, also known as the “intoxicating pepper,” gained popularity during the ’90s in Europe and the United States, but excitement fizzled and in some European countries, the drink is not only banned but has been linked to skin irritations, liver toxicity and even death.

Still, proponents for kava argue the validity of all negative cases and say the beverage in its traditional form (strained roots, water) is harmless, whereas acetones and even ethanol were commonly used in the manufacturing process of kava in Western countries.

“Kava has been used traditionally by the Polynesian people for thousands of years without significant increases in liver disease,” says Joey Miller, a registered dietitian with more than 15 years of experience working in the natural product industry. “We’re using herbs to have a holistic approach to healing. High quality kava should use the whole herb, kept it in its traditional form with no industrial solvents to isolate chemicals.”

Miller goes on to say the key to good, quality kava is 4- to 8-year-old roots and rhizomes, which is the stem of the plant found underground, no aerial parts of the kava plant should be used. Miller, an advocate for kava, first found the plant’s relaxing qualities when she was 15 years old and continued to use it for stress and anxiety

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

relief into her mid-20s.

“With kava, I am relaxed almost instantaneously… It stimulates blood circulation in your brain and is a mild muscle relaxant,” says Miller. “It’s a wonderful herb when used appropriately.”

Since its peak during the ’90s, kava is once again making a comeback and best enjoyed when it’s served up in its traditional form. At the Root of Happiness Kava Bar in Rancho Cordova, owner Tyler Blythe says pouring good, quality kava and sharing its cultural traditions with the public is his personal duty.

“It’s my job to let people know, ‘Hey, this exists,’” says Blythe. “Let’s celebrate the culture behind it. Let’s celebrate the 3,000-year history of use behind this. Natives come here all the time.

I get native Fijians. I get Tongans and Samoans.

Everybody is always really happy with the quality of kava. It’s always really strong.”

Traveling to Hawaii twice a year, Blythe personally harvests all the Hawaiian kavas featured behind the bar, but also features 13 varieties of kava from Vanuatu, Tonga and more.

Their Hawaiian kava is of a lighter, more watery consistency recommended for first-time kava consumers. The taste is unapologetically pungent, and all of Blythe’s kava drinks are served in small bowls or shells about the size of a miso soup serving at the average sushi restaurant.

“Kava is not going to win any taste contests.

I’ll tell you that. It’s bitter,” admits Blythe. “Your whole mouth goes numb and then a pleasant relaxation ensues shortly thereafter.”

Relaxation is right.

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The dim, warm lighting, the tiki statues, comfy booths and leather sofas and granite counter top bar are all packaged with calming background music, setting the ultimate ambience for relaxation. Blythe recommends the Sledgehammer shell; a thicker, muddier-looking kava that he says shouldn’t be sipped, but “just down it.” Instantly mouth numbing, but not like a trip to the dentist-numbing, it’s more mild. For $9 a shell, Sledgehammer’s peppery finish is one to try in order to experience the effects of the kava fairly prominently.

The crowd trickling in and out of the kava bar is diverse. A couple of young twenty-something males enjoy a few shells and conversation before heading out. Another couple in their mid-50s sat at the big, leather sofa and got into an even bigger-sized game of Jenga. Yes, there is a huge Jenga tower; its thunderous rumble against a dark-stained table often interrupting the chill vibes set by Blythe and his staff of “bartendresses” (as he calls them), yet, everyone is all smiles.

Besides a tea, coffee house or hookah bar, Blythe says Sacramento lacks alcohol-free social alternatives, and he aims to offer an environment for all to enjoy.

“There is an adult social gathering place that doesn’t revolve around alcohol and high-intensity dance music,” says Blythe of his kava bar. “This is somewhere you can go to relax. You can bring your girlfriend and not have to worry about belligerent men hitting on her. You can bring your mother, your father [and] you can bring your family and it’s not going to feel weird like a dive bar.”

SubmergeMag.com

Now, Blythe enforces an 18-and-older policy, but if you are 15 or 16 years old and you’re with your parent, that’s A-OK with him and the staff.

“I love kava. I love the culture. This is just a part of the Polynesian culture that needed to be shared with people because no one’s aware of it,” says Blythe. “It’s important because I think there is a lot of people who are looking for something that kava does. They want relaxation, they want relief from stress, but they don’t want the psychoactive effects, they don’t want the hangovers, they don’t want the D.U.I.s and they don’t want the legal liability of marijuana or prescription pills.”

Kava leaves the consumer clear-headed after a couple of shells, but Blythe says one can get into their vehicle and get home safe with no worries. Knowing his customers are responsible and safe are just two reasons for bringing kava to Sacramentans, he also enjoys witnessing the timid finally relax, or the metal head hold conversations with doctors and lawyers. Diversity for him is key.

“People become pleasantly sedated and stress-free, and happy. It’s always fascinating to watch people who are suffering from something like generalized anxiety disorder or who have some social phobia,” says Blythe. “I get a lot of people that come in that are very timid. It’s nice to see them sit down and have a cup of kava with other people who are timid and after about 30 minutes, everybody’s talking and laughing and everybody’s very comfortable.”

{ JD McPherson } With an unaffected take on vital American music and a voice that channels the spirit of Little Richard and James Brown, JD McPherson combines traditional rhythm and blues and rock ‘n’ roll with fresh, exciting songwriting.

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By Phone: 1.877.Gnd.CtrL Or 916.443.9202 Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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916.706.2275 • TheRedRabbit.net Facebook.com/SacRabbit

20

Swirl of Energy !!!, all about the groove since 1996 Words Jonathan Carabba • photo Piper Ferguson

L

ong-distance relationships are rarely successful. Dance-punk band !!! (Chk Chk Chk), whose six members are spread out between Sacramento; Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Pittsburgh, Penn., have somehow figured it out. When you share a passion for something as strongly as these gentlemen do, you make it work. That passion?

The love of a groove. “The focus for the band has always been about a feel and a groove,” guitarist Mario Andreoni tells Submerge while sipping coffee on a park bench in Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Sacramento.

“Usually everything is started from a bassline and/or a beat. That’s what brought us together and that’s what has always sort of stoked the fire.” !!!’s fifth album, boldly titled Thr!!!er, was released on Warp Records in late April. And while it shows a great progression in the band’s sound, which is in no small part due to working with Spoon’s drummer/ producer Jim Eno, Thr!!!er still has !!!’s rump-shaking, dance-floor-burning, signature groove. It is much tighter and more focused overall than their 2010 release, Strange Weather, Isn’t It? There are more catchy, singalong moments on this record, too, namely in the album’s opener “Even When the Water’s Cold” and on closer

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

“Station (Meet Me At The).” Whereas with !!! albums before, it might have been more about the groove, vocalist Nic Offer really stepped up his game on this one, offering listeners vocal lines and melodies to really latch onto. The Guardian couldn’t have said it any better than they did in a recent article on the band, stating, “The thing is, Thr!!!er kind of is !!!’s Thriller, inasmuch as it’s their best album.”

When Submerge met up with Andreoni, he was only in town for a couple days, just back from gigging in the United Kingdom and on the verge of meeting up with the rest of the band on the east coast before embarking on a U.S. tour. That tour will bring them back to Sacramento on Friday, May 31, to headline Concerts in the Park, a gig the guys are looking forward to very much. “Even with playing New York, Los Angeles, all these places, this gig is one of the ones I’m most excited about,” Andreoni said, just as a homeless guy barged in on our conversation, choosing our bench to sit on even though the park had plenty of empty seats. We laughed, walked to our cars and said our goodbyes.

Read on to learn more about !!!’s best album to date, how they make the long distance thing work and why they value space in music.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Who knows, we could have broken up a long time ago. I wouldn’t start a new band in this configuration right now, but it’s been what I’ve associated with this band forever. Once we all get together, it only takes like 10, 15 minutes. We’ve been able to keep in pretty constant contact. I really don’t go more than maybe a couple weeks without talking to anybody. We’ve been friends for a long time.

One thing I notice and appreciate about !!! is all the open space in the music. Not everyone is doing everything all the time. As a guitar player, is it ever hard to hold back from writing even more riffs to go over all that groovy stuff?

I think any effective dance music has a big sense of space. I’m always conscious of that. I’ve never really been a guitar player that’s wanted to sort of like get choppy, it’s just never really been my style. I really want to benefit the song and the groove as much as possible. I value the sense of space. Even as a guitar player, there are certain things where you can really kind of pick your spots and be heard even a little better versus people just going all out all the time. It suits my personality and this band to sort of contribute more to the overall aesthetic. Just as someone that listens to a lot of groove and dance music, having the bass and drums be the primary focus is what I love. The people that I sort of emulate were people that really knew how to sit in the background and knew how to work rhythmically with the band.

How was it working with Jim Eno on the new record?

It was really gratifying. Jim was very seasoned.

He’s made tons of records. We just hit it off and he pushed us in new ways that we’ve never been pushed before and challenged things. Where we might take a groove and say we’re going to do this over the course of seven minutes, he would always be asking, “Why are we doing this?” I’m sort of paraphrasing him obviously, but he forced us to look at things differently.

You guys have made the long distance thing work for so long, is it even something that you think about anymore?

No, I haven’t felt that it’s been a problem, per se, for a good eight or nine years. I think that maybe after the guys first moved over there, we were kind of thinking this is a hassle. We had just started working on the single that sort of put us over to more of a national audience, the “Guiliani” single. We had started working on that here and then everybody left and we were kind of like, “Well, what are we going to do with this? We have to finish it.” I kind of flew out there on a lark and for some reason the momentum just seemed to carry.

We played a lot of shows…some really great shows out there. We just thought we’ll see how long this works. Touring has been a big part of it, since they live there and I live here, we can rehearse on either side. Everybody always has just made an effort to do whatever we can to maintain this connection.

It seems like it keeps things fresh. As a band, you’re never really stagnant or in one place for too long, right?

When we all lived together here when we started the band and we had various bands that we were working with, there was always a tendency for practice to get cancelled because so-and-so has to do this-or-that. There’s no question the band would be different if we were rehearsing three or four times a week in the same city.

SubmergeMag.com

Are there certain songs on the record that have more of Eno’s touch than others?

I think all the songs he did, which are the majority of the tunes on the record. The one thing we loved about Spoon was that it was a rock band that really had a sense of space, like we were talking about earlier. So we kind of trusted him with that.

I think the whole allowing and enjoying more space in music thing might come with getting older and being more mature. Younger musicians tend to want to play louder and want their parts to be heard more, you know?

Right. It’s ultimately about the song. Jim got us to focus on the song.

That was something that was at the forefront every day when we were working together. Coming in with our demos and things like that, we had to really distil things down to, “What makes this the best song?”

Tell me how you guys settled on the name Thr!!!er.

Constantly we’re tossing around ideas. We do a lot of riffing. A lot of the stuff we come up with is kind of funny, or at least we think it’s funny. It was one of those things where we knew we were going to have to come up with a title, so we were always just rifling off.

Nic had written it down; literally it was one of those things where writing an idea down on a napkin made me go, “Well that looks fucking cool.” The whole other part of it, the sort of folklore behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller... We’re all fanatics of music. We know the cultural significance of his record. But at the end of the day I thought it looked really fucking cool. I thought it was a good idea then and I still really love the title. Aside from it maybe seeming like we’re taking a piss, which there’s some of that to it, as a statement I do think that this is sort of our most varied record. Michael Jackson’s Thriller is a varied record. We talked a lot in the studio, like, “What’s the folk-rock Thriller? If Thriller was the pop/R&B Thriller, the actual Thriller [laughs], how can you apply that sort of significance across other genres?” It really just kind of all fit together.

As a longtime fan of the band, I’ve often found myself asking, “Why haven’t they blown up? Why don’t more people know about them?”

But then I’m like, “I’m glad they aren’t huge, I can keep them to myself!” Have you encountered that a lot?

Yeah, and coming up as music fans, we’ve shared that. Discovering Sonic Youth and Nirvana when you’re a kid or whatever and thinking, “This is a cool thing,” and you want to keep it as a cool thing. How people perceive our band, whether or not they do it that way, it’s fine with me. I guess I’ll be somebody’s cool thing. I think that we’ve strived to sort of push it across to as many people as possible. While that’s not necessarily our goal, it’s certainly not lost on me that a big segment of our audience is that way. I know people that share that sentiment, like, “They should be bigger,” or this or that. Because we love doing this so much, as long as we can keep playing to more people, it’s something that we still really have a lot of fun doing. I try not to get too locked into our popularity-buzz-ratio-output thing.

There are other people that can worry about that.

I think the keyword there is fun. I can tell you guys still have fun and your music is fun to listen to and to dance to. I can’t imagine, for example, that you went into this record thinking, “This is our make it or break it album,” you know what I mean?

I haven’t felt that way. As a musician, anytime you put something out you want to show it to people and say, “Hey check this out, listen to this, this is what I did, this is my band.” You’re always wrestling in a band with multiple people weighing in on things.

You want to be proud of it. Every time you start a new record, you want to come away with something that you’re proud of. I feel very proud of this record and what we’ve done. The goal from the start of the band has always been to create this swirl of energy. When we’re playing there’s this very visceral thing that happens. It’s important for it not to come across as being forced. It’s not forced.

In some respect we’re not careerists like that. It’s still ultimately about creating that swirl of energy. Some days it doesn’t happen, but fortunately more often than not it happens and it’s really, really gratifying.

“The goal from the start of the band has always been to create this swirl of energy.

When we’re playing there’s this very visceral thing that happens.” – Mario Andreoni, !!!

Catch !!! live for free on May 31 at Concerts In the Park, held every Friday during the summer at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

Their new album Thr!!!er is available now online and at record stores worldwide.

For more information, visit Chkchkchk.net.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

21

The Bounce Back Kid

Chris D’Elia’s stage is set for a hallmark 2013 Words James Barone

C

hris D’Elia’s manic stage presence and energetic delivery make him perfectly suited for life as a standup comic, but when he was trying to break into comedy he first took a different route. D’Elia tried his hand at being an actor first, then a writer, but when that wasn’t working out, he decided to take the plunge into the do-or-die world of standup. As it turns out, it was the best thing the young comedian could have done.

“With standup, I started out of frustration,” D’Elia says, speaking with Submerge over the phone before a gig in Denver, Colo. “I was a writer and an actor and I wasn’t getting any work."

Becoming a standup comic was always his ultimate goal, D’Elia says, but originally he didn’t take the stage out of a desire to follow his dream. More so, he felt he had no other option to get his career off the ground.

“I just got on stage at a loss,” he says. “I was like, you know what? I’m not doing anything. I was 25, and when I got on stage I finally felt like this is what I’m going to do. This is me. This is great. And it became what I do. It’s how I get work in acting and everything. Anything I’m a part of it’s because they know me from standup and it’s great.”

His work as a comic eventually got him his break in acting. D’Elia starred as Alex Smith, Whitney Cummings’ live-in boyfriend on the NBC sitcom Whitney. The show ran for two years, but was just canceled in March 2013.

“I loved Whitney,” he says. “I loved the cast and crew. I woke up every day and got to do what I wanted to do. Not a lot of people can say that.”

While D’Elia was sad to see Whitney go, it won’t be the last you’ll see of him on network television. In the fall, his own show Undateable will premiere in the fall, also for NBC. The half-hour, multi-camera sit-com has Scrubs’ executive producer Bill Lawrence at the helm and is written by Due Date’s Adam Sztykiel. In it, D’Elia serves as the main lead, Danny Beeman. Brent Morin, who opens for D’Elia’s standup act, will also star in the show.

In June, D’Elia will also begin filming a movie.

“It’s called Flock of Dudes,” he says. “It’s about a group of guys who are too close of friends, and it’s ruining their lives, so they decide to break up and not hang out with each other for six months, but they all work together so they’re trying to avoid each other. It’s pretty funny.”

Standup was the springboard for his career, but D’Elia is as focused as ever on his stagecraft. In the following interview, he talks about his popularity on video sharing app Vine, his standup career, conquering his fear of the stage and what life is like as a “black comic.”

22

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

You’re in Denver tonight right?

Yeah, I am. It’s really nice up here.

I’ve been through Denver once. It’s a fun city, but it’s got a weird vibe. I don’t know if it’s the mountain air or what. People seem a little wilder up there.

Yeah, I think it might be because at certain times of the year they don’t have much to do so they go nuts.

Does the altitude affect you in any way since you talk on stage for an hour?

The last time I was here, it did. It definitely takes its toll on me. I get anxious. A few days in, I get short of breath. But I live.

I was checking out some of your standup clips on YouTube the past few days leading up to the interview. How do you feel about clips of your live show being up online for free?

If it was already on TV, I don’t care. If it was already on TV, then it’s good to have it up online too so people can access it, so I like that. When it’s just from the club, or a fan or audience member did it, I always message them to take it down, and they’re usually pretty cool about it.

If it’s like The Laugh Factory shooting it—they’ll shoot a lot of their shows and they’ll ask you if they can put up stuff—I always tell them no with the material and OK if I’m just messing around with the audience, because that’s just going to be a one-time thing. It’s not something I’m working on.

Yeah, I noticed a lot of The Laugh Factory clips, which is why I asked. I noticed a lot of them were you interacting with your audience…

Yeah, that’s why they’re up there. Sometimes because of that, people think that’s what I do at shows, that I mess with the audience, and that’s

not the case. I don’t like that. I don’t enjoy it. I’d rather do my act than have somebody heckle me, because that’s annoying.

So audience participation isn’t something you particularly enjoy?

No. I’ll do it, because I like to put people in their place for being rude.

I saw a couple of clips where you were ragging on Drake…

Yeah, I don’t know. I’ll be driving to the clubs, and there’ll be hip-hop on, and then I’ll be like, “I’m going to talk about this on stage.”

Those two bits, those were like the only times I did those, and Laugh Factory got them on camera. If it’s a really current topic I’m talking about, I don’t mind if they use it, because it’s not like I’m going to be talking about it for a few years. If the song’s hot, maybe it’ll catch on. And they did.

Have you gotten any backlash from Drake fans?

No not really. I don’t know if Drake saw them or anything. I say in the clip that I like his music, so it’s not a hateful thing.

You told us about trying to become an actor and writer before trying standup. Was acting or writing your first focus?

I always wanted to do comedy first and foremost, but I wanted to be an actor. I wasn’t getting work as an actor, so I started writing. I thought maybe I could write a good script and maybe do that, create my own opportunity. That didn’t work out. I was like, forget it, I’m going to get on stage because I need people to immediately see what I’m doing. I need some people to recognize what I do. Even if they’re going to boo me, at least people are seeing my work.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

“I was like, forget it, I’m going to get on stage because I need people to immediately see what I’m doing. I need some people to recognize what I do. Even if they’re going to boo me, at least people are seeing my work.” – Chris D’Elia on becoming a standup comedian Does being on a sit-com or working on a TV show cut into your standup routine at all?

Not too much. I did 430 shows before I got on Whitney, and when I got on Whitney, I was able to do 300 and something. So, it’s a little bit. It kind of makes me obsess about it less, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s all for the standup, dude. All the TV and all the other stuff, whatever helps get people in the seats and have me do shows is the best. I shot my special about a month and half ago in New Orleans, so it doesn’t slow me down too much…

Standup is what I always wanted to do, but I was afraid to do it. It took getting beat up in the business for me to actually be like, alright, I’m going to get on stage. Standup was the first thing I ever wanted to do though.

Was it just the business being rough that got you over that fear or was there another catalyst?

It’s like this, dude. If you’re getting beat up in an alley by three guys and another dude comes along like, “I’m going to beat that guy up too,” you’re like, OK, bring it on. It’s like, what’s one more dude? That’s what I was like when I was like I’ll do standup.

I was looking at your Twitter feed today and I saw that you’ve been posting a lot of videos on Vine, which is really starting to pick up steam, even though it’s not at Instagram level yet.

No, it’s not at Instagram level yet, but it’s a force to be reckoned with. It’s pretty much the only thing I get recognized for now. If I’m walking down the street, people are like, “Oh my God, you’re the guy on Vine!”

The stuff you’re doing on Vine almost seems like guerilla comedy. You find things that happen on the street or wherever and you comment on them.

SubmergeMag.com

Have you been attracting a lot of followers?

I've got one of the most followers on Vine, I think.

But I think it’s cool because it’s just purely me. It’s nothing else but what I would do with six seconds.

Some people are buying wigs and shit on Vine and trying to make funny videos. I’m just trying to comment and be funny.

Has anyone you’ve commented on ever caught you and taken exception to it?

No one has caught me in the act, but a few people have commented on it later and said, “Hey, that’s me!”

So they’re more honored than anything else?

Yeah, they’re honored. I was Vineing at the mall in Dallas, and the kid left school and came to the mall.

This kid came and said, “I saw you Vineing, so I left school and came to the mall,” so I did a Vine with him. It was really funny.

6/6 SHAUN SLAUGHTER 6/13 EDDIE EDUL 6/20 BILLY LANE 6/27 RATED R

7/11 PARTY MCFLY 7/18 ADAM J 7/25 CROOKONE 8/1 EL INDIO

8/8 JAHEEZY 8/15 EPIK 8/22 7EVIN

The other thing I’d noticed on your Twitter feed is that your headline reads, “White male. Black comic.” Were black standup comedians your biggest influences in comedy?

I always liked that style, but also it was an inside joke. This other comedian, Erik Griffin, he’s black and he would always say about my act—because I’m all animated and shit—that, “you’re blacker than I am on stage.” It was a joke, but I would say, “Yeah, I’m a white dude, but a black comic.” I put it up as my Twitter headline as a joke and then people started to talk about it on my Twitter Chris D’Elia will perform three nights at Punch feed. I think that’s what Line in Sacramento from I’m going to name my June 6–8. To buy tickets, comedy special, White go to Chrisdelia.com and click “Tour.” Follow him Male, Black Comic. on Twitter @chrisdelia.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

23

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Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

May 27 – june 10

submergemag.com/calendar use a qr scanner on your smart phone to view calendar online

5.27 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.

Laughs Unlimited Old West Trio, Le Jazz Hot, Big Mama Sue Quartet with Bob Draga, Beth Duncan Quintet, 10 a.m.

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

Old Ironsides Heath Williamson & Friends, 5 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Four Barrel, 3 p.m.

Townhouse Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Brian Rinehart & Mr Erik James, 9 p.m.

5.28 Tuesday

Bows and Arrows Tele Novella (Natalie from Agent Ribbons), Olla, Mount Whateverest, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Chuck Fenda, 8 p.m.

LowBrau Sacramento Electronic Music Fest & Le Twist Present: Tobias Wilner (of Blue Foundation & Bichi), Sam I Jam, Adam J, Taylor Cho, Roger Carpio, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Free Classic Rock Music Series, 7:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Open Mic Night, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub College Night w/ DJ Rigatony, DJ Alazzawi, 10:30 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam w/ Jason Galbraith & Guests, 8 p.m.

T2 Nightclub & Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Bill Mylar, 5:30 p.m.; Island of Black & White, 9 p.m.

5.29 Wednesday

Beatnik Studios Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk For The Fallen Dreams, Hundredth, Upon This Dawning, Sworn In, Citadel, 6 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

District 30 Naughty J, Pat Allen, DJ Thrawn, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Northern Soul, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, 6 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Stitched Up Heart, 8 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, DJ Peeti-V, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Parlare Shine w/ DJ Epik, DJ Oasis, DJ Lahn, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Restrayned, Prylosis, Vanishing Affair, 8 p.m.

Press Club The Dad, Charles Albright, G. Green, 9 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill The International Swingers, 8 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Tom Drinnon, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Wingnut Adams Band, 9 p.m.

5.30 thursday

Assembly Sacramento Electronic Music Fest: Pictureplane, Antwon, Jerome LOL, Paper Pistols, Tel Cairo, Religious Girls, Survival Guide, DJ Whores, RMPSHKRS, 9 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Skratchpad Sacramento, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk IANC, I-80 Players, Young Jae, Tizzy B, O.C. Ent, Kali Streetz, Yakramento, Cali Vendetta, Chuck Deezle, 7 p.m.

Broderick Roadhouse Live DJ’s, 9:30 p.m.

Center for the Arts James Cotton, 8 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

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

District 30 Torro Torro, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Irish Session w/ Stepping Stone, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Young Dubliners, 5:30 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Joey Molinaro, Raw Data, Dead Western, Ross Hammond, 8 p.m.

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

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, DJ Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Jenn Rogar, 5 p.m.; Dog Party, Ghost Play, Mind Flowers, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub 2 Steps Down, 9 p.m.

Press Club Musical Charis, Cindy Cunningham, The Marble Faun, 8 p.m.

Shine Quinn Hedges, Morgan Manifacier, Mandy Zebosky, 8 p.m.

Torch Club X Trio, 5 p.m.; Tess Marie & Her Poor Man Band, 9 p.m.

5.31

Friday Ace of Spades Capital Cities, Gold Fields, DWNTWN, 7 p.m.

Assembly Sacramento Electronic Music Fest: RAC (Remix Artist Collective), ADULT., Sister Crayon, D.A.M.B., Glenn Jackson, Shortcircles, Little Foxes, Sub Liquid, DAIMS & CHRISUPREME, 9 p.m.

Beatnik Studios Final Friday: Project 4 Trees, Güero, 8 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Bianca Chanel, Destructikonz, Izreal, DJ Kool Kutz, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Caligator, The Blues Vandals, 7 p.m.

Bows and Arrows Awkward Lemon (CD Release), Adrian Bellue, TJ McNulty, 8 p.m.

The Boxing Donkey Ryan Hernandez, 9 p.m.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Broderick Roadhouse Live DJ’s, 9:30 p.m.

Capitol Garage Dub Culture, 10 p.m.

Cesar Chavez Park Concerts in the Park: !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Exqusite Corps, Paper Pistols, Sam I Jam, 5 p.m.

Clark’s Corner Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Club Car Mischief, 9 p.m.

The Colony Point of View, Communist Kayte, Mad Judy, The Devils Train, Rachel Hanna, 8 p.m.

Colusa Casino DJ One, 9 p.m.

District 30 DJ JB, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Gene Smith Lives, Jenn Rogar, The Followers of Sunshine, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Mad House, 9 p.m.

Haven Underground Opposition, Dog Party, Uncle Junior, Aaron Ross, Miles Baker, 7 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Hot Pants w/ DJ Rock Bottom, 9 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden The Kelps, Would Be Trainrobbers, Tyson Graf Trio, Mike Johnson, 8 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe The Soulshine Band, Red Sky Sun Rise, Jason Weeks, 8:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s Steff Koeppen and the Articles, Taylor Jane, Parie Wood, 9 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

Midtown BarFly Get Down to the Champion Sound w/ DJ Esef and guests, 10 p.m.

Mix DJ Mike Moss, 9 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino Gretchen Wilson, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides William Mylar, 5 p.m.; Nickel Slots, Bright Faces, 9 p.m.

On The Y Sacrament Ov Impurity, Wurmflesh, Lyceum, Internal, 8 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge Mr. Best, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Pointdexter, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Mother Mayhem, 10 p.m.

Rio Ramaza Marina City of Trees Reggae Music Festival: Long Beach Rehab feat. Bad Brains, PYRX, Skadaddyz, Ancestree, Ease Up, Irie Sun and more, 1 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill RockSkool, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Adrian Bourgeois & Ricky Berger, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen And And And, Sun Angle, 9 p.m.

Swabbies on the River 7th Annual Shannapalooza Music Festival, 5 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5 p.m.; Walking Spanish, 9 p.m.

6.01 Saturday

Ace of Spades Finch, The Original, One Dying Secret, 7 p.m.

Arden Fair Mall 13th Annual Zumiez Couch Tour feat. Pigeon John, Dose of Adolescence, 12:30 p.m.

Assembly Number Station (EP Release), Goodbye Black Sky, Saint Solitaire, March Into Paris, 9 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Black Mackerel, Murderlicious, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk The Reign of the Guillotine, Animism, Life Uh’Duh Party, 7 p.m.

The Boxing Donkey BlackEyed Dempseys, 9 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino The Temptations, 8 p.m.

Center for the Arts Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Nell Robinson, Jim Nunally, 8 p.m.

Club Car Dennis Johnson & the Ramblers, 9 p.m.

The Colony Julie the Bruce, The Hollow Point Stumblers, Former Animals, Musical Charis, 6 p.m.

Colusa Casino ESP, 9 p.m.

East Portal Park Pops in the Park: Tom Rigney and Flambeau, 6 p.m.

Fox & Goose Fox & Woman, Alice Wallace, Sunmonks, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Bilal, 9 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 7:30 p.m.

Haven Underground Spends Quality, J. Kendell (album release party), Scott Nice, Jay Sea Rain, 9 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Guest DJs, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Egg, The Bennys, Ricky Berger, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Mike Moss, DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides The Lipstick Weekender w/ Shaun Slaughter & Roger Carpio, 9:30 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Left of Centre, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Mother Mayhem, 10 p.m.

Rio Ramaza Marina City of Trees Reggae Music Festival: Don Carlos, Tribal Theory, Rising Son, J*Ras & Soulifted, Uprooted, Dread Daze and more, 12:30 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill Daze On the Green, 9:30 p.m. continued on page 26

>>

5.31 ADULT.

Sacramento Electronic Music Fest

RAC (Remix Artist Collective), Sister Crayon, D.A.M.B. and more

Assembly 9 p.m.

6.01

Don Carlos

City of Trees Reggae Music Festival

Tribal Theory, Rising Son, J*Ras & Soulifted, Uprooted, Dread Daze and more

Rio Ramaza Marina 12:30 p.m.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

25

Let us take you home tonight.

Shine Pine Street Ramblers, Robert Scott, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen The Americans, Tyler Lyle, 9 p.m.

Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery Lava Pups, ZuhG, Massive Delicious, 2 p.m.

Swabbies on the River 7th Annual Shannapalooza Music Festival, 2 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Johnny Guitar Knox, 5 p.m.; Mercy Me!, 9 p.m.

Townhouse Pop Freq w/ DJ X-GVNR, 9 p.m.

ZuhG Life Store Gwen, 1 p.m.

6.02 Sunday

444-2222

26

Ace of Spades Fear Factory, Hate Eternal, Kobra & The Lotus, Kill The Precedent, Dead In Seconds, 6:30 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Job & Joy, 6 p.m.

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

The Colony Machine City, Common Cause, The Aberzombies, Rebel Radio, The Scowndrolls, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Downtown Plaza Sick / Sea, 1 p.m.

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Harlow’s Moksha, 7 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, 8:30 p.m. a Pine Cove Norris & Goslow, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, 3 p.m.; Open Blues Jam, 7 p.m.

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

Rio Ramaza Marina City of Trees Reggae Music Festival: Pato Banton, Ras Rebel & the Bluntest, Reggae Motion, Rising Buffalo Tribe, Cornerstone and more, 12 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Roots Music Fest w/ Red Meat, Cash Prophets, The Hazy Valley Boys, Mike Blanchard and the Californios, The Dry County Drinkers, KB & The Slingtones, Bleedin Hearts, 12 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; The Pine Needles, 8 p.m.

6.03 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 hosted by Ross Hammond, 7:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Heath Williamson & Friends, 5 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Press Club The Three Way, Hopeless Jack & the Handsome Devll, The Celestions, Andy Garcia, Matt Mora, 8 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays, 8 p.m.

Townhouse Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Brian Rinehart & Mr Erik James, 9 p.m.

6.04

Tuesday Ace of Spades Logic, 6:30 p.m.

Bows and Arrows OK Vancouver OK, Katie & the Lichen, Peggy Benks, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

LowBrau Le Twist feat.

Lemonade, Young Aundee, Sam I Jam, Adam J, Taylor Cho, Roger Carpio, 9 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Mondo Deco, Linear Downfall, DriveThru Mystics, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Free Classic Rock Music Series, 7:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Battle of the Musicians & Open Mic Night, 9:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub College Night w/ DJ Rigatony, DJ Alazzawi, 10:30 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam w/ Jason Galbraith & Guests, 8 p.m.

T2 Nightclub & Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Lew Fratis, 9 p.m.

6.05

wednesday Ace of Spades Juicy J, A$AP Ferg, 7 p.m.

Assembly Larry Graham and Graham Central Station, 7:30 p.m.

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

The Colony No Beatings, FearEction, Victims of Society, J Wayne, 7:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

District 30 Tel Cairo, 7 p.m.

Fox & Goose Northern Soul, 8 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, DJ Peeti-V, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Parlare Shine w/ DJ Epik, DJ Oasis, DJ Lahn, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Left Hand, Yankee Brutal, Strange Party, 8 p.m.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

6.07

The Grand St. Stompers Confucius Hall 9 p.m.

Press Club Dance Your Tits Off w/ GreenMachine, Nicky StarDust, 9 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, 9 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Open Mic, 8 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Tom Drinnon, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Howell Devine, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Jason Michael Carroll, Sandy Nuyts, 7 p.m.; Chris Gardner Band, 10 p.m.

Press Club Race to the Bottom, Lift, BrokeNote UnderTone, 8 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Joshua Paige, 9 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Torch Club X Trio, 5 p.m.; Dippin Sauce, 9 p.m.

6.06 6.07

Thursday The Boardwalk The Jet Stole Home, Dead By Nightfall, Truly Terrifying, A Plague Upon Her, Beneath the Moon, 7 p.m.

Bows and Arrows Beisbol, Doe Eye, Debbie Neigher, 8 p.m.

Broderick Roadhouse Live DJ’s, 9:30 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

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

The Colony Mental Defective League, Mom and Dad, Patty Hearst, 8 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Downtown Plaza Ken Koenig, 6 p.m.

Fox & Goose Marty Cohen & the Sidekicks, 8 p.m.

Fremont Park Hot Lunch Concert Series Beats Edition feat. Shaun Slaughter, 12 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Luigi’s Fungarden Kepi Ghoulie, Dog Party, PETS, 8 p.m.

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

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, DJ Peeti V, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides Jenn Rogar, 5 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center United Front, A Week Away, Trailview, GUTS, 6 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

FRIDAY Assembly Panorama Presents: Plastic Plates, Lane 8, Shaun Slaughter, Adam J, 9 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Mark Growden Trio, Justin Farren, Adrian Bellue, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Gary Busey Amber Alert, Ellipsis, Nekrocyst, Dire Peril, Moment of Clarity, Salythia, Dead in Seconds, 7 p.m.

Bows and Arrows By Sunlight, The Speed of Sound in Seawater, 8:30 p.m.

Broderick Roadhouse Live DJ’s, 9:30 p.m.

Capitol Garage Dub Culture, 10 p.m.

Center for the Arts Boca do Rio, 8 p.m.

Cesar Chavez Park Concerts in the Park: Mumbo Gumbo, The Quinn Hedges Band, Tel Cairo, 5 p.m.

Clark’s Corner Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Club Car Dream and the Dreamer, 8 p.m.

Club Retro Lord Christian, Tommy Norton’s Traveling Band, Ricky Pannell, The Old Screen Door, 6:30 p.m.

Colusa Casino Kymmi & The Diamond Backs, 9 p.m.

Confucius Hall Midtown Stomp Presents: The Grand St. Stompers, 9 p.m.

Crest Theatre The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus (tribute to ABBA), 8 p.m.

District 30 DJ Billy Lane, 9 p.m.

6.08

Salvador Santana Fiesta En La Calle

Ruckatan, Blanca Sandoval

Cesar Chavez Park 5 p.m.

Fox & Goose Hans & the Hot Mess, Midway Marvels, Sacto Soul Rebels, Brandon Balley, 8:30 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Hot Pants w/ DJ Rock Bottom, 9 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Get Down to the Champion Sound w/ DJ Esef and guests, 10 p.m.

Mix DJ Mike Moss, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides William Mylar, 5 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Tainted Love, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Nightfever, 10 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill Take Out, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Instagon, Mikey “LP Sessions” LaPlante, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Desert Noises, The Parson Red Heads, Said the Whale, 9 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Joe Getty and the Dead Flowers, 6:30 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, 7 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5 p.m.; The StereoFidelics, 9 p.m.

6.08 Saturday

Ace of Spades Bret Michaels, Force Of Habit, Maxxx, 7 p.m.

Assembly Moonshiner (CD Release), Autumn Sky, Contra, 9 p.m.

The Blue Lamp White Minorities, A Single Second, Losing All Pride, 30 Pack O’Stones, LP Sessions, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk S.W.I.M., Vague Intentions, Hazel Rage, Incomplete Denial, 7 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ms. Suzan G. & Mr. Hsieh Lei, 2 & 5 p.m.

Center for the Arts Led Kaapana, Mike Kaawa, 8 p.m.

Cesar Chavez Park Fiesta En La Calle: Salvador Santana, Ruckatan, Blanca Sandoval, 5 p.m.

Club Car Jenn Rogar, 8 p.m.

The Colony Babs Johnson Gang, Grill Cloth, So Stressed, 8 p.m.

Colusa Casino Kymmi & The Diamond Backs, 9 p.m.

Crest Theatre The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus (tribute to ABBA), 8 p.m.

District 30 DJ Smilez, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose The Secret Lives of Squirrels (CD Release), Nice Monster, 9 p.m.

G Street WunderBar Total Recall, 9 p.m.

Glenn Hall Park Pops in the Park: Mercy Me, 6 p.m.

Harlow’s Juliet Company, Swahili Passion, VVomen, 5:30 p.m.; DJ Anthony Vincent, 10 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Eric Burdon & the Animals, 7:30 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Guest DJs, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s In the Silence, Zeroclient, Once An Empire, 8 p.m.

Mix DJ Mike Moss, DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino The Virgins, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides FASCINATION! ‘80s New Wave Dance Club, 9:30 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Politik, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Plea for Peace Center Snow White’s Poison Bite, 7 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Take Out, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Nightfever, 10 p.m.

Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar and Grill Tempest, 9:30 p.m.

Shine The Wheels, SRO, 6 p.m.; North Bound Train, 8 p.m. continued on page 28

>>

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

27

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Tom Brousseau and Sean Watkins, 9 p.m.

Swabbies on the River The Chill, 4:30 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Cameo, The Original Lakeside, Rose Royce, Evelyn Champagne King, 7 p.m.

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

Townhouse Pop Freq w/ DJ X-GVNR, 9 p.m.

ZuhG Life Store Miss Maddy’s F Street Stompers, Demolition Dance Krew, 1 p.m.

Harlow’s Ryan Bingham, Wild Feathers, 7 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, 8:30 p.m.

Pine Cove Andrew Castro, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Ricky V Band, 3 p.m.; Open Blues Jam, 7 p.m.

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

Swabbies on the River Life in the Fastlane (Eagles tribute), 4 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Colonel Jimmy & the Blackfish, 8 p.m.

6.09 6.10 Sunday

Ace of Spades The Maine, A Rocket To The Moon, This Century, Brighten, 6 p.m.

Assembly Robert Earl Keen, 7 p.m.

The Boardwalk Authority Zero, Ballyhoo, Versus The World, Yankee Brutal, 6:30 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Los Fiero, 5 p.m.

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

The Colony Cura Cochino, Bedrucken, Kontrasekt, Rat Damage, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Downtown Plaza There Is No Mountain, 1 p.m.

Monday

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

Davis Bike Collective Parquet Courts, Fine Steps, G. Green, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

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

Powerhouse Pub Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Press Club The O’Mulligans, Creepy Little Legs, The Bogarts, 8 p.m.

Sol Collective Microphone Mondays, 8 p.m.

Townhouse Open Jam/Open Mic hosted by Brian Rinehart & Mr Erik James, 9 p.m.

Comedy Assembly B Street: Live! Sketch and Improv Comedy Show, Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s, 7 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Donald Lacy, Heath Harmison, May 31 - June 2, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.

Open Mic Showcase hosted

by Shane Murphy, June 4, 8 p.m.

Steph Sanders, Danny Cruzz, June 7 - 9, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.

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

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

Punchline Comedy Club Comedy Kill feat. Ngaio Bealum, Johnny Taylor, Daniel Humbarger, Katie Maranda, Momma C, hosted by Ben Rice, May 30, 8 p.m.

Ben Bailey, May 31 - June 2, Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

New Faces Showcase, June

5, 8 p.m.

Chris D’Elia, June 6 - 8, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Mike E. Winfield, June 9, 7 p.m.

Sacramento Comedy Spot Open Mic Scramble, Sunday’s and Monday’s, 7:30 p.m.

Harold Night, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Improv Lab, Wednesday’s, 7 p.m.

Comedy Kong, Thursday’s, 9 p.m.

Top 10 List Podcast Live!, Saturday’s, 7:30 p.m.

Anti-Cooperation League, Saturday’s, 9 p.m.

Hella Gay Comedy Show w/ Ariel Smith, Carrie Avritt, Nick Leonard, Jennifer Dronsky, Karinda Dobbins, Jessica Sele, hosted by Charlie Ballard, May 31, 9 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Nutty Monday’s Comedy Showcase and Open Mic, Monday’s, 9 p.m.

Tommy T’s Open Mic Night, May 29, 7:30 p.m.

Rodney Perry, May 31 - June 2, Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Finesse Mitchell, June 6 - 9, Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Misc.

1409 Del Paso Blvd. GOOD Street Food + Design Market, June 2, 1 p.m.

6th and G Streets (Davis, Calif.) Street Food Rodeo, June 7, 4 p.m.

2020 J Street Midtown Farmers Market, every Saturday, 8 a.m.

Arden Fair Mall 13th Annual Zumiez Couch Tour feat. pro skateboard demo from Plan B’s team, June 1, 12:30 p.m.

Beatnik Studios Final Friday Opening: New paintings by Jeff Mayry and Jon Mess, May 31, 6 p.m.

Blue Cue Trivia Night, every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Bows & Arrows Meet & Greet w/ Actress Becca Battoe, June 1, 5 p.m.

Pararelativistic Omnipotence: Paintings by Omar Thor Arason, June 7 - July 3 The Boxing Donkey Trivia Night, every Tuesday, 8 p.m.

Davis Senior Center Armadillo Music & KDVS 90.3 FM Present: Vinyl & Music Fair, June 2, 9 a.m.

Elliott Fouts Gallery Work

by Donald Satterlee, Second Saturday reception June 8, 6 p.m.

Fox & Goose Pub Quiz, Tuesday’s, 7 p.m.

Guild Theatre The Big Show feat. Music/Art/Dance/ Fashion/Comedy, June 8, 6:30 p.m.

Hot Italian Tower Records Project Exhibit, through June 2 Little Relics Boutique & Galleria Metalphoria feat.

Jessie Brooks and Kristen Hoard, June 4 - 29 Luigi’s A Slice of Trivia w/ the Bruce Twins, Monday’s, 8 p.m.

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

Midtown BarFly Salsa Lessons, every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Pine Cove Trivia Night, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Press Club Flex Your Head Trivia, Tuesday’s, 8 p.m.

Raley Field 7th Annual Raley Field Brewfest, June 7, 7 p.m.

Shine Artist Reception: Group Show w/ Laurie Hicklin, Robert Mince, Sam Cruz, June 8, 6 p.m.

Sleep Train Arena Geico Endurocross, June 8, 7:30 p.m.

Sol Collective Art Reception for Another App Store feat. work by James Cordas, Gregory Ito, Robby Moncrieff, June 1, 7 p.m.

Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery Davis BeerFest, June 1, 2 p.m.

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28

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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yoUr information iS 100% private anD confiDential SubmergeMag.com

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

29

l l a sm b clurance

a e p p a

with special guests

Force oF habit and Maxxx

SATuRDAy

June 8, 2013

1417 R STREET SACRAMENTO Doors Open at 7:00pm All Ages

Tickets Available @ Dimple Records, Getta Clue, The Beat, Armadillo (Davis) Online: AceOfSpadesSac.com By Phone: 1.877.GND.CTRL OR 916.443.9202

30

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

sunday

june 2nd

The grindhouse

8pm No Cover!

live musiC!

Hair of the Dog The Hangover Part III Rated R

Words James Barone If it only seems like it was just yesterday we were introduced to The Wolfpack (Alan, Stu, Phil and Doug), it’s because it almost was yesterday.

The Hangover only just came out in 2009, it’s sequel soon followed two years later and now in 2013, like clockwork, we have the final installment of “The Wolfpack Trilogy,” because nowadays everything is a trilogy. The Hangover Part III features all the characters you know and love (for lack of a better term) and even brings back those you’ve probably forgotten about, but the culmination of this little comedic saga is something far less familiar.

We open in a Thai prison where series trickster, the mischievous Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) has just escaped. The scene is like something out of a cheesy ‘90s action film.

We then quickly cut to Alan (Zach Galifianakis) drinking a beer as he speeds down the freeway. Attached to his car is a trailer, which is transporting a giraffe (well, a computer generated giraffe). A low overpass beheads the giraffe causing a massive mult-car pileup in its wake. Alan seems miffed, but otherwise unaffected.

The rest of The Hangover Part III follows suit, juxtaposing weirdly dark comedy with elements of action, but it’s not a clean mesh of genres.

Alan’s erratic behavior and refusal to take his medication leads his friends and family to call an intervention. The outcome of which is that Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) must make a two-day drive across the desert to transport Alan to a facility where he can receive the help he needs. But trouble follows The Wolfpack wherever they go, and along the way they’re abducted by Marshall (John Goodman), who’s involved in all kinds of nebulous criminal activity and is after Mr. Chow for stealing $21 million in gold that Marshall stole from a foreign royal. Marshall believes The Wolfpack is his only hope in finding Mr. Chow, so he holds Doug hostage and forces Stu, Phil and Alan to find the Chinese sociopath. The trail SubmergeMag.com

tuesday

leads The Wolfpack to where else but Las Vegas.

Along the way, there is a good deal of action, but the laughs are strangely absent.

The Hangover trilogy doesn’t stick to formula, which usually dictates that the second film in the series is the darkest. The Hangover Part III is quite dark. Though much like the previous two installments, our three heroes must band together to help a colleague, the consequences here are a bit more severe. Doug’s life is on the line whereas in the other films the guys might not have made it to a wedding in time. Marshall is not a man to be trifled with. There’ll be hell to pay if he doesn’t get his hands on Mr. Chow.

Even Mr. Chow seems extra dangerous here.

He’s not just a goofy villain, but a calculating, malicious force of chaos. At one point, Marshall goes as far as to equate Mr. Chow to madness itself.

There are laughs, sure. Galifianakis has a great moment in a Las Vegas pawn store with the brilliant Melissa McCarthy, but this is one of the few light scenes in the film. This is a caper with more in common with True Romance than the past two Hangover movies. In one scene, Phil and Alan infiltrate Mr. Chow’s penthouse suite at Caesar’s Palace. Strobe lights flash as the two try to work their way through the room after room of debauchery as Black Sabbath plays ominously behind them (side note: the soundtrack for this movie is definitely worth a listen). It’s a trippy, dizzying and very exciting scene for the senses, but, like, where’s all that lowbrow humor, bro?

That’s the thing that bothers me the most about The Hangover Part III. I’ve seen each film in the series, but until this one, I didn’t realize I was supposed to actually care about these characters. Sure they’re lovable, but they’re all kind of jerks, right? That’s what makes them funny. Toward the film’s climax, Phil says to the rest of the trio, “This all ends tonight,” with such gravitas I couldn’t tell if it was meant to be ironic or not. Weren’t we all hanging out with Mike Tyson, getting face tattoos and taking incriminating photos while we were way too fucked up over the past four years? Suddenly it’s Frodo’s journey into Mordor or something.

Dudes, this is way too intense for me. We’ll always be bros and all, but I’m kind of glad it’s time to say goodbye.

Norris & goslow sigN up for PinE covE viP club & reCeive perks aNd speCial d isCouNts text the word “piNeCove” to 55678

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th &E St sac (916) 446-3624 29 Facebook.com/PinecoveTavern • TwiTTer - @PinecoveTavern

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

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Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas Audio Express — Sacramento Submerge — 5/27/2013

Live<< rewind

A New Discourse Tyler, the Creator w/ Earl Sweatshirt

Ace of Spades, Sacramento • Friday, May 17, 2013 Words Josh Fernandez • Photos melissa welliver

I know I’m supposed to be writing about the Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt show at Ace of Spades, but I really just want to talk about race and gender relations in America, so fuck it. Rap shows are all the same, anyway. They’re pretty much just talking, but with rhymes. But race relations in America are in our direct line of vision. Black people are everywhere. And, while we’re at it, so are Mexicans and homosexuals.

The color-blindness of yesteryear is a myth. And guess what, Billy Bob? We can’t unsee people of color! And as much as we plug our ears, gay people are even louder. So let’s just talk like humans for a second. After all, the next step in homo-sapiens-ism togetherness is being as open as we can about race and sex—until all of us are squirming in our chairs and vomiting all over the linoleum floor.

Anyway, most youth—and I mean real youth, like the hormonally-challenged 16-year-old virgins with acne grease dripping from their chins—are a million steps ahead of old folks when it comes to social justice. And if there’s anything young

people love more than masturbating in the shower, it’s talking openly about race, so much so that it’s actually kind of creepy. For example, today in line at the liquor store, a girl who couldn’t have been more than 15, described me as “super white for a Mexican,” and then she started laughing maniacally. It was awesome.

Even more amazing is that this new form of say-anything racial discourse is intertwined with popular culture. However, kids don’t sit down over coffee and trade quotes from Judith Butler and Gloria Anzaldua essays; they listen to Earl Sweatshirt say things like, “Hey, you’re a faggot!”

Harsh, I know. But, c’mon: youth!

Do you remember that Tyler, the Creatorproduced Mountain Dew commercial that never aired? Something about a battered woman, a bunch of black dudes in a police lineup and a goat? Newscasters reported, “THE MOST RACIST COMMERCIAL EVER” and scolded young Tyler for his display of unschooled ignorance. But what they don’t understand is that the discourse has changed.

Popular culture has changed. Rap has changed. We’re in a new phase of race relations that might look a lot like racism to old people, because the new discourse doesn’t rely on manners. Young people don’t pussyfoot around issues. The new discourse relies on uncomfortable bluntness and awkward humor.

Which brings us (finally) to the sold-out Tyler, the Creator/Earl Sweatshirt show at Ace of Spades. First, the place was packed with kids.

And you couldn’t tell who was gay and who was straight because everybody dressed like freakish clowns—clashing colors, big, tie-dyed shirts, huge lensless glasses. Under all that weirdass clothing, even ethnicity was blurred. In fact, the only identifying mark of this Odd Future show was a shitload of cat-related T-shirts.

So when Tyler rhymed, “I’m not a rapper nor a rapist nor a racist/I fuck bitches with no permission and tend to hate shit,” it meant, “Fuck you if you don’t understand me.” Get it? Of course not. Much like racism, the new discourse makes no sense at all.

It’s hard. It’s weird. It’s contradictory. For instance, when Taco jumped into the crowd to attack a fan, nobody flinched. It wasn’t an attack. Taco’s fists meeting that kid’s face was the aggressive signification of a new America.

That’s not to say the performance was entirely cryptic in message. Part of the show was about the music. Songs like the upbeat “Orange Juice”

showed Earl Sweatshirt’s superior lyricism, while favorites like Tyler’s strangely paced “Yonkers” reminded the world why Tyler, the Creator isn’t just a hype machine, that he’s a kid with a worldview unlike anybody else’s. If the dude isn’t a genius, he’s pretty damn close.

And, of course, the show was not without its tender moments. In between the “Swag, swag, punch a bitch” chant and the gladiatorial portion of the evening where the crowd was to divide into two sides and then instructed to bash each other to death, Tyler took a moment to address the audience. “Enjoy this as humans,” he said.

“Put your fucking phones away and enjoy this as humans.”

It was an epiphany of sorts. It seems that sometimes we’re so concerned with being compassionate humans that we’ve become afraid of each other—frightened of offending another race or sex. We’re so bent on being sensitive and politically correct that we forget to enjoy each other as the gross, disgusting humans that we are.

Well, fear not. We have sailed through this choppy storm of social injustice into a new era of race relations, with our fearless leader, Tyler, the Creator at the helm.

Just think about that for a minute.

A truly Artful shAve At Anthony’s BArBershop

2408 21st st • Sac • sacramentobarbershop.com (916) 457-1120 • Tues-Fri 9am-6pm • saT 10am-4pm SubmergeMag.com

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

33

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34

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means, unofficially, it’s summer. I love these long, carefree days—not that they’ve been truly carefree for quite some time. Not since I was in grade school or whatever, and summer meant I had two and a half months to fuck off. Still, summer feels carefree. Even if it really isn’t.

I still get really excited about Memorial Day weekend, though. It’s like that first weekend you can really let loose and go wild. Growing up on the East Coast, it was like the first time you could safely ditch your jacket and go out in short sleeves. It was probably the first time you could fire up the barbecue—unlike California where you can pretty much do that shit all year round (no matter what you guys seem to think).

Of course, we have this three-day weekend thanks to the service of our brave men and women in the military. Like many of you, I’ve had friends and family members who’ve made the sacrifice and served this country—through peacetime and war—and it’s wonderful that we dedicate a day to thank them. Sure, I usually spend Memorial Day weekend bombed out of my mind and eating a terminal amount of grilled meat products, but I guess that’s just how I show my gratitude.

I smiled as I saw my Facebook feed light up with people excited about where they were going to go or what they were going to do this past weekend, even though it was a working one here at Submerge. Maybe you made the trip up to the Sasquatch Music Festival, or piled in a car and drove down to somewhere on the coast.

Maybe you just stayed home alone and ate your body weight in burgers. No matter what you did, I hope you enjoyed yourself. I know everyone has things they need to do, but they often forget that enjoying themselves is just as important—if not more so.

Still, if someone’s having a good time, there are people out there who want you to be miserable. That’s just the way it is. Maybe it’s because they’re assholes, or maybe they think they’re just being helpful, but they just love to be a bunch of fucking killjoys.

In addition to the wealth of holiday plans I saw dash across my Facebook feed, there were also plenty of posts admonishing those having

a good time for supposedly not remembering what Memorial Day is all about, namely those who gave their lives in service of our country.

One meme that crossed my path was a photo of a woman lying facedown on the grave of a fallen soldier. Her face was in her palms.

Clearly, the person who’d died was someone she held very dear. It’s definitely a photo that just the sight of will tug at many people’s heartstrings. It tugged at mine, but I’m a fucking sap.

The image speaks for itself, but someone thought it necessary to add a caption.

“Memorial Day,” it said in big letters, followed by “In case you thought it was National BBQ Day,” as if it was the punch line of a joke.

I wish to God or Whoever that there was a National Barbecue Day, but I’m sure people would feel the need to pontificate about why we should feel guilty about enjoying that too, somehow. Like how people get pissy about Thanksgiving, because some link it to the stealing of America from American Indians, or how others get their panties in a bunch because we get a day off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, because they’re fucking idiot racists.

Whatever, dude. It’s a holiday, let’s just enjoy it. I know why we have Memorial Day. I know there are people out there who have made sacrifices that I could never dream of making. They gave their youth, and maybe even their lives, maybe not for me personally, but for an idea that they wanted to keep our country safe. That’s a really noble thing. It’s so noble that it’s difficult for me to fathom it.

I do give thanks to those who have served in the armed forces. I know that when I’m drinking beers or eating hotdogs that there are people out there who have died so I can do it, but if it’s true that they died protecting our freedom (and I think it is), then I guess people are free to party like they just don’t care on Memorial Day weekend. They’re free to hook up with people they’ll never speak to again in shore towns and lakeside cities all over the country. They’re also free to post things on Facebook that make me feel so guilty, I feel the need to write a column about it.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 137 • May 27 – June 10, 2013

35

Dive into Sacramento & its Surrounding Areas

May 27 – June 10, 2013

#137 Danny Secretion Takes on

City of

Vain

Jenn Rogar

Chris D'Elia

Comedy on the Vine

Tyler, the Creator A sign of the times

Mount Shasta Memoirs

The Root of

Happiness

Kava Bar Polynesian

Peace of Mind Ean Clevenger’s

Number Station

releases new EP

free

chk chk chk Spills, Chills and Thr!!!s