Submerge Magazine: Issue 168 (August 11-25, 2014)

G r a n G e R e s ta u R a n t & C i t i z e n H o t e l P R e s e n t

Midtown CoCktail week 2014 wednesday, august 20

Jeffrey morGentHaler

authoR of The Bar Book: elemenTs of C o C k Ta i l T e C h n i q u e

Live Demonstrations

anD Book signing 5 to 6 pm

CoCKtail party

hosTed By Tanqueray 10

D o o r s o p e n at 6

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Friday, august 22

BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY DRESS UP GET DOWN H a p p y F a n G s / D J K at s / s at i n D o l l z C r a F t e D C o C K ta i l s / i n s p i r e D p l at e s V e u V e C l i C q u o t C H a m pa G n e l o u n G e anD transportiVe DesiGn

D o o r s o p e n at 6 p m / 2 1 a n D u p

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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SubmergeMag.com

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8 of the best local bartenders Kick off the 7th Annual Midtown Cocktail Week at Harlow’s 2708 J street saCramento VIsIt harloWs.coM for tIckets Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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168 10 2014 contents

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

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12

04 06 08 09 10 12 14 16 20 22 24 28 34

14 cofounder/ Editor in Chief/Art Director

Melissa Welliver melissa@submergemag.com cofounder/ Advertising Director

Jonathan Carabba jonathan@submergemag.com senior editor

James Barone Assistant Editor

Mandy Pearson

Contributing Writers

Zach Ahern, Amber Amey, Joe Atkins, Robin Bacior, Corey Bloom, Bocephus Chigger, Justin Cox, Alia Cruz, Brooke Dreyer, Josh Fernandez, Catherine Foss, Blake Gillespie, Fabian Garcia, Lovelle Harris, Niki Kangas, Nur Kausar, Ryan Prado, Steph Rodriguez, Andrew C. Russell, Amy Serna, Jacob Sprecher, Jenn Walker

Submerge

2308 J Street, Suite F Sacramento, Calif. 95816

916.441.3803 info@submergemag.com printed on recycled paper

Contributing photographers

David Adams, Wesley Davis, Brad Hooker, Phill Mamula, Liz Simpson, Nicholas Wray

Submergemag.com Follow us on Twitter! @SubmergeMag

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August 11 – 25

front Cover: g. green

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Dive in Submerge your senses The Stream The Optimistic Pessimist G. Green Crud studs Jeffrey Morgenthaler midtown cocktail week Brandon Semenuk Nisha Grayson album spotlight

mahtie bush calendar 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: Jeffery morgenthaler

dive in Balancing Act of 2014: Music, Cocktails and Film Melissa welliver melissa@submergemag.com Not too long ago, all I cared about was music, music, music. Over the last few years I’ve been striving to be a bit more, um...“balanced?”

Maybe it has to do with that whole getting older crap. Juggling everything from work, family and exercise to spending time in the great outdoors has led to an ever-so-slight decline in my former routine of going out to see a live music show three, four, even five times a week. Sure, I’d still like to go to that many shows, but let’s be honest, it’s hard.

One thing I’ve learned over the past few years is that I have just as much passion for food and drinks as I do music. I strive to learn more and taste the good stuff. I’m not quite there on the cooking spectrum, but with Sacramento’s level of cuisine, who needs to cook at home? Clearly, not me. This town continues to blow my mind every year, every season and every month with all the delicious things to gobble up and slurp down.

I’ve been so impressed with the craft cocktail movement in our town. Can I say I have a favorite night to go out to get a drink without sounding too much like a boozehound? Thanks to Red Rabbit, it’s hard to go a Monday night without swinging by to see what they’re creating with my favorite spirit this year (rum) on “Monday Rhumday.” I highly suggest you go check out their ever-changing special menu with creative rum drinks. Also, while I have your ever so booze-y attention, can I just say that Grange has the most phenomenal seasonal cocktails. Just the other week I tried three of the most amazing summer concoctions I’ve ever had; I savored every single sip, no joke. One of my favorites was called the Sea Urchin and if it’s still on the menu, so please give it a try!

Before I get too carried away with excitement and divulging all my favorite places and drinks, this rant all boils down to my favorite week that will take place, now for the seventh year in a row, Midtown Cocktail Week. This year it happens Aug. 19 through 24 (with one or two pre-parties happening on Aug. 18).

One of our fabulous editors, Mandy Pearson, interviewed bartender and author Jeffrey Morgenthaler, who recently wrote a book about bartending technique called The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique. He’ll be coming to the Citizen Hotel as part of Midtown Cocktail Week on Aug. 20 to do a signing, demonstration and serve up cocktails at a party afterwards. Flip to page 14 to see why he wrote the book, learn what national magazine he writes for and even read up on how to make a muddler on the cheap.

We also have a page dedicated to what we think you should know about this year’s Cocktail Week events. Get the 411 on Midtown Cocktail Week 2014 by flipping to page 16; it will no doubt help you plan ahead.

As for the music, with all the other things I’m juggling, I’ve still never lost sight of my love for it. One thing that I love the most is giving you, our readers, nuggets of spectacular writing about our lil’ local music scene, and our feature in this issue on G. Green by Blake Gillespie does just that. On page 10, learn how G. Green has transformed over the years, eventually turning into one of the best bands in the region. If this story doesn’t make you want to give bands you dissed at first a second chance, nothing will. Be sure to check out their brand new album Area Codes as well as their local release show at Witch Room on Aug. 30 Another music feature in this issue is on punk band Crude Studs.

Steph Rodriguez gets down to the basics with this local band to let you know how they formed and why they make the music they do. So get ready to buy their new 7-inch at their release show on Aug. 15 at The Colony or see them on Aug. 29 at the Blue Lamp.

Film has always been something I’ve been passionate about, but I’ve always found it hard to balance that aspect out in life. While I’d like to discover and watch a new movie every night, finding the time to even watch one a week can be difficult.

This particular issue actually has two stories on films that are premiering in Sacramento this August so I highly recommend taking the time to see one if not both of them. First, we have an interview with free-ride mountain biker Brandon Semenuk about his new film Rad Company starting on page 20. While I’m not one to really go mountain biking, I can’t help but appreciate any film backed by Red Bull Media House. Let’s just say that knowing the level of action sports films they’ve helped put out in the past, this film with the level of pro bikers, editing and music will be nothing short of epic! Be sure to catch Rad Company on Aug. 28 when it premiers in Sacramento at the Crest Theatre.

Last but not least, we have a feature on Nisha Grayson. Grayson, a Sacramento native, documents her journey to India in hopes of discovering her birth mother and father. But as the saying goes, it’s not just the destination that’s important, but the journey. Get a feel for the film, You Follow: A Search for One’s Past, on page 22. You can view it with Grayson herself on Aug. 22 at 24th Street Theater.

How ‘bout balancing your day with some reading?

Ahem, Submerge, of course! Enjoy issue 168, Melissa

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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Your Senses

taste

Sactown Wings Fest at Fremont Park Aug. 23

TOUCH

Guided Photo Walk at Cosumnes River Preserve’s Wetlands Walk Aug. 23

Perhaps your idea of enjoying wings is seeing them in flight, attached to living birds, and not deepfried and covered in hot sauce. Hey, it takes all kinds! A wide variety of birds—from wood ducks to turkey vultures, as well as myriad fish, mammals and reptiles—call the Cosumnes River Preserve home. On the third Saturday of each month through November, the preserve offers a free, guided photo tour around the mile-plus Wetlands Walk. Volunteer naturists will show you around and provide expert advice on how to get the perfect picture of the beauty that surrounds you. The next tour, Aug. 23, will get started at 7 a.m. and finish up around 10. For more info, call (916) 684-2816.

HEAR

Travis Larson Band live at Shine • Aug. 15 Progressive instrumental rock fans, take note! Here’s a show for you or anyone who likes rock music that balks at the tried-and-true verse-chorus-verse structure. Travis Larson Band, a trio that features Larson on guitar, Dale Moon on drums and Jennifer Young on bass, is based out of San Luis Obispo, California and has been honing their impressive chops together for about 15 years. In 2013, they released their sixth studio album, Shift, and this summer they’ve hit the road in support of it. On Aug. 15, you can catch them for their first-ever show at Shine (1400 E Street, Sacramento). The show will get underway at 8 p.m. and carry a $10 cover charge. For those of you who may think an instrumental rock fusion act such as Travis Larson Band is probably over your head, think again. Larson and company craft ridiculously catchy, concise songs that shred. For examples of this, check out the title track off Shift or their wicked live performance of “No Fate” on the band’s official YouTube page. Also performing Aug. 15 at Shine will be Grammy Award-winning producer/guitar virtuoso Larry Mitchell, which is sort of an embarrassment of riches. For more info on this and other upcoming shows, go to Shinesac.com.

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Don’t let all those TV commercials convince you that summer’s almost over, because it ain’t. You still got plenty of time to do whatever you want, eat whatever you want, stay out late on a school night and wash that all down with beer. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a food that pairs better with good times than chicken wings. They’re spicy, tasty and get your fingers all messy (kind of like me…sorry…did that go too far?). From 2 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23, the first-ever Sactown Wings Fest will turn Fremont Park into wings-lovers’ heaven. Picture it: cheap beer; hot wings from Chicago Fire, Blue Cue, Bar West, Field House American Sports Pub, Water’z Wing’z and Clark’s Corner; music from The Golden Cadillacs, Riotmaker and Crescent Katz; and giant Jenga and giant beer pong courtesy of Xoso Sport and Social League. A small charge of $10 gets you in the door (you’ll have to buy food and beer separately), $30 Wing Eater ticket will get you 10 free Chicago Fire wings and two free beers, but if you want to spring for the VIP ticket (just $40), you’ll get all the Wing Eater perks (plus two wings from each of the vendors) and can be one of the lucky few who will judge which wings will be crowned the best. For more info go to Sactownwings.com.

See

EN EM Art Spaces’ debut exhibit Reconnoiter by Gabriel Luis Perez Now through Sept. 6

Welcome EN EM Art Spaces to the local gallery scene! Located at 1714 Broadway in Sacramento, EN EM Art Space was founded by co-directors Vann Nguyen and Anna Motzer. According to EN EM’s website, Nguyen and Motzer hope their new art space will provide an environment that is “welcoming to younger collectors—a gathering place that connected passionate artists with those who are passionate about art” and is “committed to bringing exciting emerging and mid-career artists to the Sacramento Region.” Nguyen and Motzer are starting on the right foot with Reconnoiter, the latest solo exhibition of Los Angelean artist Gabriel Luis Perez, and his first showing in Sacramento. Perez’s mixed media art is a vibrant collage of paint and various found objects—sort of like an abstract scrapbook. “My work is a filtered reflection of the people and spaces I encounter through travel and a migratory lifestyle. I use materials gathered through a collecting process that borders hoarding, alongside traditional art supplies, to create objects reminiscent of shrines or curio cabinets,” the artist says in a statement on EN EM’s website.

For more info about this fledgling gallery, go to Enemspace.com, or to peruse some of Perez’s work, check out Gabrielluisperez.com.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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The stream Local Indie/Experimental Band Saint Solitaire To Release New EP Versus Resistance at “Summer Opus” on Aug. 16

Sacramento Punk Band Red Tape Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary of Their Album Radioactivist With Reunion Show Aug. 15 at Punch & Pie Fest

Jonathan Carabba

Send regional news tips to info@submergemag.com

1400 ALHAMBRA SAcRAMento BLUeLAMPSAcRAMento.coM 916-455-3400 thursDAY

August 14 • 9pm

Funktion w/ Dj’s step rock & b. VegA FriDAY

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mAxx FuDi, ghost town rebellion, peAce killers

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8

Sept 6 aaron cuadra, ancient astronaut, the restless sons, national lines

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•

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one eYeD rileY coming soon

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Sept 7 malfunkshun, hit-n-run

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DecrY mDso, s.w.i.m., cruDe stuDs Sept 16 Sept 18 mike Watt and il stiched up heart, soGno del marinaio, once an empire, lite (Japan) attik door, devils train,to pain the sky

oct 31 anniversary party W/ Ween tribute band

eVerY 1st& 3rD monDAY 8pm • no coVer

eVerY 2nD& 4th monDAY 8-10pm • no coVer

eVerY weDnesDAY 8-10pm • no coVer

kArAoke

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Local indie/experimental band Saint Solitaire is easily one of the hottest bands in the local scene right now. If you caught their stellar set at Concerts in the Park a few weeks back, you know what we mean. Their sound is fresh, blending clean, noodle-y guitar lines with danceable, groovy rhythms and electronic elements (synthesizers, samples, turntables, etc.), and they bring all this together live with an elevated level of energy that to be honest is missing from a lot of local bands’ sets these days. Bandleader Andrew Barnhart first got Saint Solitaire on our radar last year when they released their debut EP Full Artistic Control, which was produced and recorded entirely by Barnhart himself. Now the band (which includes members of other local acts like Ancient Astronaut and James Cavern’s band) is readying the release of their second EP, Versus Resistance, on Saturday, Aug. 16 at a backyard gathering they call “Summer Opus.” “We started the event last year and it was such a huge success that we decided to do it again,” Barnhart recently told Submerge in an email. “It’s an intimate backyard experience featuring six of Sacramento’s most talented artists, two comedians, a live painter, and we’ve got a keg of Sierra Nevada and other alcoholic beverages included in the price of admission.” Regarding the new material, Barnhart writes in the band’s bio that the new jams “take on a more edgy rock and dubstep vibe, two words I’m surprised to be validating the compatibility of by writing them in the same sentence together. I didn’t think they were, at least, not until now.” The Summer Opus party, happening at 3040 4th Ave. in the Curtis Park area, will kick off at 6 p.m., is 21-and-over and is $10 at the door ($5 ahead of time through Eventbrite). Other performing bands include The Denver J Band, Soul of Hans, Odamé, Ricky Berger and Adrian Bellue. Standup comedy sets will be provided by local comics Johnny Taylor and Daniel Humbarger, and the live painter on hand will be artist Michael Mikolon. For more information visit Saintsolitaire.com.

Arguably one of the best punk/hardcore bands to have ever come out of Sacramento, Red Tape is readying their live set for their first show in over four years at this week’s annual Punch & Pie Fest! Red Tape will perform on the second night of the four-day fest on Friday, Aug. 15 at Midtown BarFly. The group first formed in the late 1990s and after a couple demos, some touring and an EP or two, the band eventually linked with Amir Derakh (Orgy, System of A Down, Coal Chamber), and ultimately that helped get them signed to Roadrunner Records. In 2004, Roadrunner released their first full length, the fantastically heavy and well produced album Radioactivist. So, not only will Red Tape’s performance at P&P Fest be their first live show in nearly half a decade, it will also be a 10-year anniversary celebration of the release of Radioactivist. When asked if he thinks the album still holds up today, one of Red Tape’s founding members Jeff Jaworski responded with, “Fuck yeah it more than holds up, it still crushes!” He’s right. The album does still crush. And best of all, there might be another album’s worth of Red Tape material sitting in the bank. “We actually have a bunch of new-ish material, about 10 songs we wrote a few years back but never put out,” Jaworski revealed.

“We’ll get it together and record some stuff again.

Just waiting on that call back from Rick Rubin, you know?” The jokes continued to fly as we asked him if there are other Red Tape shows planned in the near future: “As soon as Iron Maiden calls us up, we’ll do some more shows.”

All kidding aside, this is great news for fans of heavy music. Red Tape is back, you guys, fuck yes! “Has it been four years? Damn,” Jaworski reminisces. “Feels great, feels the same, it’s like riding a bike. Can’t wait to rock and roll. We get together, slam a few beers and wing it once a week like old pros. Hella old, ha.” Learn more about Red Tape at Facebook.com/r3dtap3 and to purchase tickets ahead of time to their show (which will also feature City of Vain, Setting Sons and Suburban Threat), point your browser toward Punchandpie.queueapp.com.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

The Optimistic Pessimist Come Fly/Float Away With Me We are traveling wrong. We cram our clothes into overstuffed carry-on bags to avoid luggage fees so we can look like scrubs on our vacation. We sit through miserable flights in close quarters with our fellow travelers who have somehow all managed to get sick just prior to boarding the plane. These problems are only the tip of the iceberg with commercial air travel.

Maybe you like to take the family on a road trip instead, which sounds great until you’ve spent five hours confined in a fully packed car with your family, arguing over stupid things like the radio or who can drive better. Don’t even get me started on traveling by boat, horse, airship or train. Let’s just say, I hope you aren’t in a hurry. We are far too lazy as Americans to physically exert ourselves by walking or running somewhere. So, if not by land, air or sea, then what?

No one form of travel is best, so why not combine two forms to improve our chances of success. It would be tough to combine an airship with anything else, so let’s lose that one. Ditto for horses and trains. That leaves us with planes, cars and boats.

Flying cars have been promised to us for years, but so far no one has come forth with a usable model. Amphibious cars are pretty cool, but they don’t really improve on the speed issues of either form. That leaves us with a flying boat, which actually seems perfect. Here we’ve been trying to force all of our traveling needs into one box, when we should have put wings and pontoons on that box and made a goddamn seaplane!

It’s a plane and a boat and (sometimes) it can land at an airport. What more do you need to know? Do you want to get to your vacation destination when you want and without all the fuss of flying on a major airliner? Are you a drug trafficker who wants to avoid airport fees and/or customs inspections by landing unannounced in a nearby body of water? Why not do a little boating or fishing when you get there? All of this is possible with a seaplane.

SubmergeMag.com

Bocephus Chigger bocephus@submergemag.com I know what you are thinking: Baloo flew a seaplane in TaleSpin (Disney’s piss-poor attempt at adapting The Jungle Book into a weekly animated series) and that cartoon sucked! So, by association, seaplanes must suck as well. All I can say is, slow down, Aristotle, don’t let that fat gray bear ruin seaplanes for you.

I will be the first to admit that TaleSpin was no match for the rest of Disney’s afternoon cartoon lineup. DuckTales, Gummi Bears and Chip ‘N’ Dale Rescue Rangers were far superior and none of them brought shame to seaplanes. Baloo was just plain boring and his lack of worthwhile antics single-handedly managed to kill the burgeoning seaplane market. Shame on you, Baloo! Shame on you, Disney!

I can’t go back in time and fix what Baloo did, but I can tell you to wake the fuck up and stop letting cartoons dictate your life choices! Just because Baloo’s seaplane was crap, doesn’t mean your seaplane has to be. You are in control here, and you get to decide just how big or small you want to roll.

There are a lot of different options and setups for you to find a seaplane that fits your needs. Make sure you find something with ample cargo space to stow away your duty-free luggage and/or contraband. If you plan to bring any other passengers along, you are going to want a spacious area to seat everyone comfortably. Throw in some captain’s chairs for your passengers; people love to swivel. Of course, the most important aspect of your seaplane is that it be able to land on and take off from the water, otherwise you don’t have an actual seaplane.

If you’ve read this far, I think it’s safe to say you are interested in becoming the proud owner of a seaplane. The cost of purchasing and maintaining the seaplane is admittedly high and may be out of reach for some. One way to get around this conundrum is to invite other investors to share the cost with you. I’m willing to do it if you are. Do you know anyone with a pilot’s license?

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

9

A Long Time Coming

Could G. Green Become Sacramento’s Most Loved Band?

Words Blake Gillespie photos Ignat Printsev

G.

Green was once the most unpopular band in Sacramento. Originally Andrew Henderson’s bedroom recordings moniker, his solo shows in Sacramento garnered anathema of clandestine ridicule and indifference. There was a time I loathed seeing the name listed on every Hub show and house party, and I wasn’t alone. It was fun to smear G. Green in 2009 and it was excrutiating to see them on the verge of amateurish implosion in 2011. Most of you probably still assume G. Green is locked into a static identity as Midtown brats, drunk on youth, and too drunk to do much besides be obnoxiously loud. While we were laughing, when we stopped caring and stopped looking, G. Green quietly became a serviceable indie band, writing songs destined to shed the onus of snotnosed bush leaguers.

Before she became G. Green’s drummer, Liz Liles described the first G. Green show (a one-off lineup consisting of Henderson on guitar and promoter Rick Ele on drums) as horrible and a disservice to the former KDVS DJ’s sterling reputation.

“I thought ‘why is DJ Rick playing with this idiot,’” she said. “Me and whoever I was with, we watched one song and then went into the alley to smoke cigarettes.”

In the greenhorn years of the band, Henderson was the perpetual opener; the sort that would clear a venue, living room or DIY space except for his steadfast cheerleader, DJ Rick.

“I put him in front of audiences, and the awkwardness, the house slippers on his feet, and the most piercing moments of singing were initially a big turnoff to people,” Ele said. “But Andrew seemed totally impervious to disapproval.”

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***** They’re all laughing at you, aka the infamous Capital Bowl show Mt. St. Mtn. founder and former Mayyors member Mark Kaiser put out G. Green’s first record, Crap Culture, in 2012, but it took time for him to become a backer. In gathering stories of infamous G. Green failures, Kaiser and Liles invoked the West Sacramento Capital Bowl show in 2008 without hestitation. In those days, bands would rent out the events room to play, and according to Kaiser, “trash.” The bill was geared toward trashing the place with Mayyors and Eat Skull (a notoriously self-destructive Portland band), while the G. Green solo set was the black sheep. Liles said she and her friends openly ridiculed the G. Green set.

While Kaiser likened the clumsy solo performance as arriving “too late for that mid-’90s Olympia-wrought ‘any art is good art’ vibe.” Henderson was not going to be the next Calvin Johnson.

“Andrew was really young, and looked really drunk and really nervous,” Kaiser said. “He let loose, and I cringed. The show was fun, drunken chaos, all the bands on the bills were renowned for being a wasted mess, but this was excruciating.”

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

***** Laughing: from ‘at’ to ‘with’ Liles might have mocked Henderson at first, but one evening he showed up at her Midtown home, then known as the Funcastle, expecting a Thee Oh Sees show.

Liles had moved the show to another venue, but the encounter with Henderson sparked a quick friendship.

At the time Liles was a—quote, unquote—drummer for experimental groups Sucks and Fatty Acid. Untrained and illiterate to tempo, she began telling Henderson she was G. Green’s new drummer.

Henderson obliged after booking a house show with Kurt Vile, Eat Skull and Ganglians. He had two months to put together an opening band; Liles was the first piece.

The remaining guitar parts were filled out by Julian Elorduy (drummer for Mayyors in those days) and Dylan Craver. Two months proved enough and sustained the approval of scene-dad DJ Rick.

“I didn’t really know if the band would continue after that one show,” Henderson said. “Rick loved us and threw us on all these shows and put us on [Operation Restore Maximum Freedom]. Pretty much the reason Liz and I still play music together is because Rick threw us into the whirlwind of the Sacramento music scene at that time.”

Kaiser recalls being at the full lineup’s debut, despite purposely steering clear of solo sets since the bowling alley incident.

“The second time I saw Andrew play it was with this first incarnation of a live band and it was a world of difference,” he said. “It was sloppy and chaotic, but it was fun and there were lots of ‘whoa, if they keep doing that’ moments that had me intrigued.”

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

***** New lineup, new lease…

Henderson and Liles cherish the times with that early incarnation, but also knew it could never last.

Elorduy quit the band after Liles broke up with him for Hella drummer Zach Hill, and was replaced by Brittney Gray on bass. Henderson and Craver were the best of friends and also prone to volatile feuds. Every show and practice was a fun, drunken gathering that flirted with implosion.

“We were so close as friends that none of it mattered if people liked us,” Henderson said. “We were just getting drunk and having fun. Me and Dylan were good friends and then we’d hate each other. He probably quit the band infinity times.”

Before the final nail was put in the original lineup, G. Green enlisted Andy Morin, long before his stint in Death Grips, to record their debut, Crap Culture. A shambolic and lo-fi collection of mad-dash punk songs, Crap Culture captured G. Green at the time—unruly and unpolished, but beneath the catarwaul existed nuggets of pop punk gold. Kaiser compared the record to Superchunk’s No Pocky For Kitty, lauding G. Green for maintaining their live energy on record. “‘Pool Of Blood’ was the song that made me offer them a record,” he said. “That song was a sign they had something and were capable of growing past the kiddish fun-punk into something bigger.”

Crap Culture arrived late to the cultural trend of lowbudget to no-budget albums, home-recorded on junkable equipment. It was recorded in 2010, but did not see release until August 2012. By then contemporaries like Wavves had ditched the intelligible scuzz for pop-punk polished for MTV. Also, by the release of Crap Culture on Mt. St. Mtn., G. Green featured a lineup far superior to the rag-tag group that winged it through the debut.

With replacements Simi Sohota on bass and Mike Morales on guitar, G. Green returned to the studio, paying Robby Moncrieff to record a follow-up at the Hangar. Besides being a friend of the band, Moncrieff was a popular choice having recorded Dirty Projector’s critically praised Bitte Orca and fellow Sacramento band Ganglians’ Still Living. Unfortunately Henderson said the band made the mistake of requesting Moncrieff “make it sound like Woodhouse,” meaning Chris Woodhouse, the Hangar engineer responsible for seminal linchpins like all eight Thee Oh Sees records and the A Frames.

Henderson said, “We didn’t use Robby as he should be used as an engineer. He did the best he could, but it’s not the way Robby works. There was no unifying theme with it. It was just a smathering of shit and it didn’t sound very good.”

The record was scrapped, except for two songs which became the “Funny Insurance” b/w “Sounds Famous” 7-inch. Liles corroborated their poor performance, attributing it less to Moncrieff, and more to the band for it sucking. They entered the studio with songs written by all the members with no vision for the band’s identity.

Liles said, “we’ve had really bad luck recording full records… until now.”

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On June 10, 2013 I drove my then girlfriend’s Altima to Davis to see Parquet Courts, a burgeoning Brooklyn band, and Fine Steps, a new project by Julian Elorduy. G. Green was also on the bill, so I planned to arrive late, still pegging G. Green as the perpetual opener. To my surprise Fine Steps was on when I arrived at the Davis Bike Collective. I caught their last two songs. I grew despondent realizing a full G. Green set stood in the path to Parquet Courts. Who agreed to this bat shit order of operation?

With no beer to drink and no cigarettes to smoke outside, I remained inside conceding that despite my efforts I’d been hoodwinked into a G. Green set. Now, I don’t recall particular songs from the set in that blazing, claustrophobic bike shop, but I do know that’s the night I stopped laughing at G. Green. The additions of Sohota and Morales gave them chops previously lacking in the dynamic. Liles had become a force, and Henderson’s once pubescent screech had caked enough nicotine on his vocal cords for a second lease on his balls dropping. There’s plenty to love about a band bent on belligerence, but when that same band backs it up with the skills to earn that abandon, they stop being local brats and graduate into a menace worthy of unleashing on the country at large.

This year on the porch of Kupros I confess to the founding members the Parquet Courts show is when I started believing in G. Green. Henderson states it was his birthday that night, while Liles mentions that Parquet Courts opened for them when they played Brooklyn’s storied 285 Kent venue. Both are unphased that I once detested their band. I was never the only one and I wasn’t the only convert either.

Liles said, “A lot of people probably haven’t been taking the time to see us lately because they saw us so many times three years ago and have decided there’s no way we’ve actually progressed.”

Henderson added, “There’s an image that probably still exists in a lot of people’s minds of these weird shitty kids that are drunk all the time and looking for the next party. We’re convincing people who’ve seen it from the beginning that we’re a great band now.”

Liles and Henderson turned 25 this year. Neither member wanted to be pigeonholed to perceptions developed when they were still teenagers. The upcoming Area Codes album was honed on tour, the band delegating a set it would play nightly

until the songs were ingrained in their muscle memory. The decision to be professional and treat their live set with care translates to the album, which was recorded by Woodhouse, whose speciality is live tracking, room sound and mic placement. Even a late night of binging on spirits and karaoke at the Distillery couldn’t sandbag their comfort with the songs.

“We finally developed a sound that cut any bullshit,” Henderson said. “We didn’t really know how to make a band sound. In recording with Chris, he just documents what we’re doing.”

But is their scene-dad Rick Ele a proud papa?

“So many Chris Woodhouse productions have that unmistakable Woodhouse touch,” Ele said. “He becomes the fifth Beatle to so many bands, but in the case of Area Codes, I think he really just used his magic to maximize the G. Greenness of this record.”

Kaiser was equally impressed, keeping the band on his Mt. St. Mtn. roster for a second go-round, calling their current incarnation a “quick progression.”

“The new lineup came about and they tightened up both their live presence and song writing. I kept telling Andrew to just pony up the money and record with Woodhouse. He’s the wizard, he knows their sound and knows how to make them sound more like themselves. That’s what they did and this new recording is a huge step forward.”

The night at Kupros we drank enough short-n-talls of Coors Light and Jameson to carry the festivities to the former Funcastle, now also the home of Henderson. I apparently needed to try “tangler,” a moonshine-like infusion engineered

by Liz’s boyfriend. Once there it was filmed and failed beer shotguns for the tour promo video, messy blueberry pancakes, and Guided By Voices’ Alien Lanes on the record player. As both made more of a mess than a mouthful in shotgunning the PBRs, I wondered how they ever got the stigma of a party band. Earlier that night Liles insisted they were misunderstood.

“We’re not a party punk band, we’re a weird band,” she said.

“The record only mentions pizza once!”

“We’re a straight up indie rock band now,” she said.

Most importantly are these last words from Ele, their cheerleader since day one. Watching a solo project from an awkward kid from Folsom become a band after making friends with the girl who laughed at his sets.

“Andrew’s always the heart and soul of the band as voice and chief songwriter, but through these lineup issues, Liz really stepped up to become the band’s leading co-star. They could change lineups 100 more times, and from now on, I’ll always think of Andrew and Liz as G. Green.”

Celebrate the release of Area Codes Saturday, Aug. 30 at Witch Room (1815 19th St.) with G. Green, Rat Columns, Violent Change and more.

The 18-and-over show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are just $5. Check out Facebook.com/ggreenband for more info.

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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Punk as Therapy Raw and unfettered, Crude Studs gets it all out Words Steph Rodriguez Photo David Adams

S

ometimes, a story is just simple.

As far as Crude Studs are concerned, the four-piece punk band formed organically, inspired by a local music scene that thrives on a do-it-yourself mentality. They gravitate more toward basement or house shows that provide a subcultural safe haven stitched together by one common thread: music as therapy.

Guitarist Bobby Khan met vocalist Sophia Flores through this very happenstance. The two regularly attended similar musical events that danced along the lines of punk, thrash and fast-paced rock ‘n’ roll. Khan eventually introduced her to his band the Sex Killers, a two-piece group that also included drummer JB Thomas.

“I thought he was a creep when I first met him,” laughs Flores, as she recalls how Crude Studs first came together. “I thought here’s this guy with, ‘Hey, wanna be in my band?’ He and JB were an automatic, really comfortable fit for me and still are. We all get along really easily and have fun. It’s like family. We’ve only got mad at each other like once and it was, surprise-surprise, 110-degree weather in the attic we practice in.”

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The three started collaborating in early 2012 and by summer, Nich Lujan joined in on bass guitar and the band became Crude Studs. The group’s first performance was at Casa de Chaos, a volunteer-run word-ofmouth venue located in the Midtown area, and a place where all four members feel at home.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a band with a female vocalist. Most of the bands I like have female singers, like I have a Siouxsie Sioux tattoo,” says Khan as he points to his forearm. “I just thought it would be cool to have a different outlet. We weren’t necessarily looking for that, but I’m glad that it happened.”

Crude Studs’ music is twitchy, angry, quick-and-dirty punk rock. Sure, there’s thrash and other influences present, but to keep descriptions simple, Khan says he enjoys the hit-and-run aspect and raw honesty their lyrics provide audiences.

“It’s not macho. You don’t have to have specifically really good equipment to play it,” describes Khan. “You get together and write this raw music. It’s very quick. A lot of the early songs I was writing were basically about being broke, on drugs and an alcoholic. Honestly, that’s what it was about.

But, she got in the band and started writing things from her perspective.”

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Flores says her lyrics directly reflect her experiences in the workforce. Whether it was a heavy hand in construction, cleaning dirty houses or even the air-conditioned environment of an office, many of these situations inspired the words captured in the song, “Padded Walls,” featured on their self-titled 7-inch.

“It’s about feeling trapped inside of an office with florescent lights and feeling like you’re going to die there. A lot of my anxieties personally revolve around work and the value of labor and how it’s highly undervalued in our society,” says Flores. “In that song, I feel like I’m a caged animal inside of that type of office building and also, I feel like a traitor to my roots as a cleaning lady as a Mexican woman, [and] knowing there’s still plenty of people out there doing really hard jobs that don’t get paid nearly as much as somebody who just sits around and does lunch all fucking day.”

Crude Studs also draw influence from a variety of musicians that includes everyone from anarcho-punk Nick Blinko of Rudimentary Peni to Queen’s Freddie Mercury. The band also lists groups like Zero Boys, Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest as favorites, and even what Flores calls the more embarrassing, childhood memories of Sammy Hagar, which she credits to her mother.

“Nick Blinko is probably the biggest punk singer that really made me want to even help a band come out with that kind of catharsis and that kind of additional sound,” she says. “I don’t really think of it as being a front person. I think of it as another instrument that plays off of what everybody else is doing sound-wise. A lot of times the words don’t come through anyway in this type of music. So, I think it’s more important to have a distinctive style and cadence.”

Flores admittedly uses her time in Crude Studs to “exorcize some demons” and to express herself through song. She takes full advantage of her space, filling the room at live performances with her boisterous stage personality and bending and manipulating her vocals to fit the loud and sludgy moments provided by Khan, Thomas and Lujan.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

“I use it as cheap therapy. It’s really rare as adults that we get to scream our heads off whenever we want to, especially in public spaces and especially as a woman.

You’re expected to be quiet or you’re crazy.

That’s kind of the only options that you have if you do express yourself in a forceful way,” says Flores.

Crude Studs openly credit longtime bands in the Sacramento punk community like RAD and Rat Damage with helping them first gain access to shows. In a scene predominantly male-fronted, Flores says she truly enjoys when young women approach her after shows and express interest in Crude Studs’ music.

“It’s really cool to talk to young women, especially after playing and being able to

tell them that I’m not doing anything special.

You need to go start a band. Right now, go home, start writing stuff, get your friends together and just do it.”

Khan agrees.

I love punk rock, but I look at it as a style of doing things and like a D.I.Y-culture,” he says. “If punk is all those macho bands with the right tattoos, I have nothing in common with that. I don’t even know what that is. If that’s punk, then I don’t care about punk. But as far as the mentality of doing things yourself, that’s what I love about punk.”

See Crude Studs live at their 7-inch record release show on Friday, Aug. 15, at The Colony (3512 Stockton Boulevard) with Backseat Lovers, Walking Faces and Did is Dead from Oakland. 7 p.m., $5, all-ages. Crude Studs also rocks the Blue Lamp (1400 Alhambra Boulevard) on Friday, Aug. 29, with Decry, MDSO and S.W.I.M.; 8 p.m., $10, 21 and over.

Facebook.com/crudestuds.

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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He’s Got His Technique Down and Everything…

Jeffrey Morgenthaler delves into the craft behind cocktails in The Bar Book

Photo by Annabelle Garcia

Photo by David Reamer

words Mandy Pearson

P

ortland’s favorite bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler doesn’t want to tell you what to drink; he’s more concerned about the technique behind your blended strawberry margarita. The prolific blogger, Playboy contributor, barrel-aged cocktail pioneer and bar manager of Clyde Common in Portland’s Ace Hotel (and, more recently, Pepe Le Moko, Clyde’s quiet, subterranean counterpart) can add “author” to his repertoire after his book with Martha Holmberg, The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique, was released in June, filling a niche he says had yet to be filled before its debut.

“I just felt like there were a million books about recipes, and half a million books about ingredients, but nobody had done a book about technique,” he says.

In anticipation of Morgenthaler’s scheduled “extra credit” workshop and book signing at Sacramento’s Citizen Hotel during Midtown Cocktail Week, Submerge caught up with the enigmatic barkeep via speakerphone on, of all things, a beer run (“I screwed up on our beer order,” he joked) just two days after Clyde Common took the Best American Hotel Bar Spirited Award at the Tales of the Cocktail gathering in New Orleans.

I was bummed I didn’t get a chance to check out the book before we chatted. I’m sure you cover things like why all of my stuff gets stuck in my muddler when I make drinks at home?

I’m thinking I’m just using the wrong muddler…

Yeah, there are essentially two types of muddlers, one that’s used for things like herbs and one that’s used for things like whole fruit.

And we talk about both of those types and how to use them correctly. I mean, everyone thinks they know how to muddle but there really is a technique.

Photo by Annabelle Garcia

Photo by Heidi Bertman

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Photo by David Reamer

I also like how you embrace the blender. I work with a former bar manager, and I don’t think you can get him to touch a blender with a 10-foot pole.

I feel like a lot of bartenders who don’t like blenders have never actually had to work with a blender. I have worked the blender station.

I’ve put out literally hundreds of thousands of blended drinks in my life. I mean, who doesn’t like a blended drink, right? They’re delicious. And fun. But it raises a bigger issue. And one of the things I really wanted to do with the book was not pass judgment on any of these techniques. Because drink trends flip so quickly. It was just a few years ago that infusions were the cool thing. And a couple years later, making bitters was the cool thing. And now blenders are not cool, but blenders are gonna be cool again! I wanted the book to be timeless and not tell people what they should drink but how they should make whatever it is that they want. I mean, I don’t care, I have no dog in your fight; if you want to make a blended strawberry margarita, that’s fine with me, I’d just rather you know how to do it the right way. I think the people that are telling others what they should and shouldn’t be drinking are kind of…fuckin’ assholes, you know? [Laughs.] I don’t want to

be that guy. Yeah, you wanna make blueberry infused vodka? Fuck yeah, I’ll show you how!

It’s easy, you know?

Speaking of trends, you’ve been credited with leading the trend on barrel-aged cocktails, but I’m not totally clear what that is all about.

So, I had this idea to take a whole cocktail, like a large quantity. Not a martini, but three gallons of martini, and put them into a small barrel and let that sit and age in an oak barrel for however many weeks and months, then take it out of the barrel, and stir it and serve it. It was just this silly little idea I had, but it’s oddly enough grown into this worldwide trend.

There are bars literally all over the world…like, I had these people come into my bar and they own a bar in Singapore, and they brought me samples of their barrel-aged cocktails. It’s super surreal!

Who did you write the book for?

Really, everyone. I didn’t want to limit this thing to professional bartenders. I wanted to give all the secrets, whether you’re a beginning bartender or a bartender who’s been doing it for a while or somebody who just wants to make drinks at home, I wanted it to be accessible to everyone, but engaging and interesting enough to people on sort of both ends of the spectrum. You know what I mean?

I totally do. The only reason I’m asking is, sometimes your blog seems geared toward bar professionals, but mostly it seems applicable to anybody. You don’t go over anyone’s head…

Yeah, I try to keep my tone sort of…kind, because people might be reading it who don’t know. I think there are enough people who want to talk down to people. I try to keep it engaging to people that are very well versed at this stuff, but also without leaving anybody Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Photo by David Reamer

behind. And that’s what I wanted to do with the book. There are definitely some advanced techniques for bar professionals, but there’s basic stuff. Like, how do you use those clamshell hand juicers? That’s been one of the big ones.

When you started to write, was it, “these are the things I’ve learned and should be out there,” or was it more a response to the rise of the craft cocktail movement?

No, actually, it was sort of a way to help myself.

What I really wanted to do was I wanted to connect with other people so I could learn more.

I was in a really small town. When I started bartending, I was in Eugene, Oregon. So there’s nobody there who’s going to teach you how to do this stuff. Half the population is binge-drinking college students and the other half is blue collar farmers and stuff who just drink beer. So if you’re me and you’re interested in this type of stuff, you don’t have a lot of people who are going to teach you, especially not in the late-‘90s. I had to do a lot of stuff myself. I wanted to have an online presence so I could reach out and connect with people that would teach me, and also pay it back a little bit by teaching others. Which has always been really important to me, sharing what I’ve learned. Because I remember what it was like to be a kid in a bar in a college town that didn’t have access to information. It’s always been really important to me to share what I know with other people.

If you had to recommend something for someone at home, maybe the top five things they should have?

I really think—I get that a lot, what are the five bottles that people should have—it depends on what you like. There’s no point in telling you that you should get a bottle of scotch if you don’t like scotch. But I think if you’re only going to have five bottles, it’s important to have a range.

Unless the only thing you like is vodka, in which case, get five bottles of vodka. But if I were going to do only five bottles for myself, I’d probably have a bottle of vodka, a bottle of gin, a bottle of aged rum, a bottle of silver tequila and maybe a Cointreau or something, one of the more common liqueurs you would use. But again, it would depend on what kinds of drinks you like to drink at home.

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“I wanted the book to be timeless and not tell people what they should drink but how they should make whatever it is that they want. I mean, I don’t care, I have no dog in your fight; if you want to make a blended strawberry margarita, that’s fine with me, I’d just rather you know how to do it the right way. I think the people that are telling others what they should and shouldn’t be drinking are kind of… fuckin’ assholes, you know?”

– Bartender/author Jeffrey Morgenthaler

What about tools?

Well, that can get pretty crazy pretty quick.

That’s what I was thinking. Apparently I need two muddlers!

Well, one of those muddlers is going to be on the end of your spoon. So if you get the right spoon, you’ll have bought a muddler already.

And one Tagline thing you can do, for a really cheap muddler, get yourself a French rolling pin, and just cut it in half. And then just kind of sand down the edges a bit. And then you have two muddlers. What does a French rolling pin cost, 12 bucks? That’d be a really easy way to get two really great muddlers.

You could split it with a friend if you wanted to be budget conscious. The muddler I use, that I purchased, is essentially half a French rolling pin.

Uh… in fact, that should be my next blog post.

How to cut a French rolling pin in half. I’m going to do that.

Mon through Fri: 11am–2am | Sat & Sun: 10am–2am

1050 20th Street, Sacramento, CA facebook.com/lowbrausacramento

You are welcome.

[Laughs.] I’m learning stuff here!

But I did notice you haven’t blogged much recently. Has the book been the main focus?

The book has been keeping me really busy. I just haven’t had a lot of time to write. Which bums me out. I never want to give up on my website, but I certainly don’t have the time to write. I’m also writing for Playboy…

I did see that! How did that come about?

Honestly, I have the most charmed life. It’s so weird. You’re gonna hate me, but they just called me up and said, do you want to write for us. Which is how I got the book deal; I mean, everything just seems to sort of fall in my lap.

People just call up and say, hey do you want this awesome opportunity. Which I shouldn’t really repeat because I know it’s super obnoxious, but that’s what Don’t miss Morgenthaler’s live happened, they presentations and chat about just called me The Bar Book in the Metropolitan up and said, Terrace of the Citizen Hotel Wednesday, Aug. 20, as part do you want of the Education segment of to write for Midtown Cocktail Week. The Playboy, and I event is from 5 to 6 p.m. and is $10. For more information, said, yeah, who visit Midtowncocktailweek.org/ wouldn’t? education.

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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A Taste of What to Expect at Midtown Cocktail Week 2014 Raise your glasses! The seventh annual Midtown Cocktail Week is upon us, going down at various bars and restaurants all around town from Aug. 19 - 24, celebrating Sacramento’s artisan cocktail movement and innovative bar programs. Midtown Cocktail Week offers a little something for everyone: affordable hands-on educational classes, industry leading guest lecturers, exciting cocktail competitions, creative themed parties, tons of amazing drinks (obviously) and overall just more fun times than you can shake your swizzle stick at!

Here are some brief breakdowns of the official MCW parties, a few of the pop-up events throughout the week as well as some of the educational elements. For a full rundown of what to expect, visit Midtowncocktailweek. org or Facebook.com/midtowncocktailweek. Cheers!

Keeping it Official

MCW 2014’s Main Events Are Not To Be Missed Tuesday, Aug. 19 6 - 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6 - 9 p.m.

Just Chill, A Spirited Snow Cone Party

The Cocktail Competition Harlow’s (2708 J Street)

Centro (2730 J Street)

Eight of the best local bartenders battle for top honors at this year’s MCW Cocktail Competition! $15 offers you access to the live spectacle, including tastings of batched cocktails created by the competitors. Live entertainment by Apple Z to follow the comp.

Chill out on a hot summer evening as Centro Cocina Mexicana offers snow cones flavored with their trademark tequila infusions! Like something spicy? They’ve got an infusion for that. How about fruity and sweet? Yeah, they got that too. Admission is free.

Thursday, Aug. 21, 6 - 9 p.m.

Amaro Tomorrow Give ‘Em the Boot - An R Street Ambush Shady Lady (1409 R Street)

Unarguably one of Sacramento’s best spots to grab a cocktail, Shady Lady will host this evening of Amaro (Italian for “bitter”) cocktails, antipasti, and bad decisions! “Fernet about it!”

Admission is free.

Knowledge Is Power

MCW 2014’s Educational Classes Help You Elevate Your Bartending Skills

Trisha Carr

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Looking to up your hone bartending skills?

Maybe you’re already a “pro” and work at a local bar? Well, even you can still learn something from Midtown Cocktail Week’s many awesome educational classes! They’ve got everything from “Alabama Moonshine History with Lara Guerra,” to “History of Women in Cocktails with Trisha Carr,” to “POP! Bottled Cocktails with Andrew Calisterio,” to “BLOODY MARY! The Art of Preservation and Infusion” and so much more.

Attend, listen, watch, get hands on, be inspired, then pass on the knowledge. That’s the whole point. Classes are only $5 (plus Eventbrite fees), but they are limited to 50 spots each, so be sure to sign up ahead of time at Midtowncocktailweek. org/education, where you can also get dates and times of all the specific classes. All classes will be held at The Citizen Hotel’s Quorum Room with the exception of Portland, Oregon guest bartender/author Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s presentation, which will take place at the Metropolitan Terrace (also at the Citizen, $10).

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Friday, Aug. 22, 6 - 9 p.m.

Bright Lights, Big City, Dress Up, Get Down Grange (926 J Street)

This spirited celebration will boast craft cocktails, inspired plates, transportive décor, and many toastworthy occasions in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Lounge. Sip on fresh cocktails and dance to live tunes from Happy Fangs, DJ Katz and The Satin Dollz. Admission is free.

Saturday, Aug. 23, 6 - 9 p.m.

Midtown Cocktail Week’s Big Ole Round-Up Goldfield (1603 J Street)

Belly up to the bar at Midtown’s newest watering hole, Goldfield Trading Post, for their “Big Ole RoundUp.” Goldfield is partnering with Bulleit Bourbon to bring you “cowboy cocktails,” live honkytonk music and hearty homestyle bites. Admission is free.

Sunday, Aug. 24, 1 - 4 p.m.

Island Summer Nights Crawdads on the River (1375 Garden Highway)

Midtown Cocktail Week goes off the grid and onto the river for this year’s wind-down daytime party at Crawdads on the River. “Island Summer Nights” will be a tropicalthemed getaway from the fast-paced downtown lifestyle, featuring island-inspired libations (think tiki drinks, both traditional and with a twist), island-esque plates, music and more!

Poppin’ Bottles

MCW 2014 Offers A Variety of Fun Pop-Up Events

Want to avoid the crowds at the much-hyped “official” MCW events? Check out these (and many other) pop-up events throughout the week instead. There are multiple events each day; it’s like a choose-yourown-booze-adventure!

Monday, Aug. 18, 9 - 12 p.m.

Bartender Karaoke Shady Lady (1409 R Street) This MCW pre-party is sure to be absolutely hilarious and perhaps even slightly awkward. Witness as local bartenders sing karaoke WHILE making cocktails! Can you say, “multi-tasking?”

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 9 - 12 p.m.

It Takes Two to Tiki

Red Rabbit (2718 J Street) Red Rabbit will host this annual “enchanted luau” with a tiki drink competition presented by Lucas Bols, an exotic playlist from Shaun Slaughter, guest bartenders, tropical drink specials and all sorts of other surprises!

Thursday, Aug. 21, 9 - 12 p.m.

Under the Big Top

Capitol Garage (1500 K Street) This wild and wacky pop-up event will be inspired by all things circus! The bartenders will be the ringmasters and will feature circus-inspired food, cocktails and performances.

Sunday, Aug. 24

Comedy Cocktail Hour

Pour House (1910 Q Street) Wind down Midtown Cocktail Week with a good laugh as four local comics take to Pour House’s stage and center their acts around cocktails!

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

j A k e & S h Aw n ’ S b - d AY e X t r AvA G A n Z A

Schedule of events

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speci al the pe guests ace K illers

The Blue lamp

1 4 0 0 A l h A m b r A b lv d . • S A c r A m e n t o 8 p.m. • $6 • 21+

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friday

aug. 15 Th

Beer Garden | Food Vendors | Local Artists FREE BIKE VALET Hike or Bike! Please, NO DOGS

Located @ Lakeview Commons

South Lake Tahoe, CA Corner of Hwy 50 & Lakeview Ave. Additional Parking @ SLT Rec Center (Short Walk) 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

LIVEATLAKEVIEW.COM

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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1417 R STREET SACRAMENTO With speciaL guest

brodie steWart baNd

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Kryptic MeMories NothiNg Less • ZerocLieNt

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restrayNed • Force oF habit

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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presents

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deMuN JoNes

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November 2

All Shows All Ages

With speciaL guest

S u N DAy

Matt WertZ

September 28

SubmergeMag.com

SAT u R DAy

October 4

T u E S DAy

October 28

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By Phone: 1.877.GND.CTRL OR 916.443.9202

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

19

Photo by Scott Serfas/Red Bull Content Pool

Off the Road

Photo by Scott Serfas/Red Bull Content Pool

Free-ride Mountain Bike Sensation Brandon Semenuk and his Rad Company words Ryan J. Prado

A

Photo by Sterling Lorence/Red Bull Content Pool

t 23 years old, Brandon Semenuk has likely ridden, flown and fallen harder than most of you reading this. The champion mountain bike free-rider from Whistler, British Columbia, is staking out new parameters in the nebulous, fledgling world of the mountain bike free-ride, dazzling fans at events known (X Games Munich in 2013, where he placed second in Slopestyle) and not-as-known (Crankworx in Les Deux Alpes, France, where he took first in Slopestyle in 2013). Regardless of the arena, as Semenuk explains, it’s the terrain that counts, and he’s been blurring the lines and riding off-trail since age 7.

After a successful Web series, “Life Behind Bars,” made him and some of his contemporaries in the free-ride scene minor celebrities, Semenuk decided to capitalize on his newfound fame as the Face of the Sport, taking on creative cruise control with an ambitious cinematic journey through his unique world of extreme sport. The result, Rad Company, is a beautifully shot, cleverly edited slice of the free-ride world—in locations all over the world—also starring fellow riders like Yannick Granieri, Stevie Smith and a bunch of other rugged guys who don’t mind mixing it up with the elements. So long as they’re behind bars.

Semenuk took the time to chat with Submerge about Rad Company in anticipation of its Sacramento premiere at the Crest Theatre Aug. 28.

Making movies of more extreme outdoor sports is pretty ubiquitous at this point; did you grow up watching those videos wanting to take the reins and steer yourself toward something like Rad Company?

Yeah, it’s kind of what I looked up to when I was super young. That scene took a left turn with those kinds of movies and I didn’t really think there was much out there. My motivation was just to bring it back and give something to the mountain bike community that we all missed.

Photo by Scott Markewitz/Red Bull Content Pool

20

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Where did the concept for the film and how it’s tied together like a playlist with a vinyl DJ, etc. come from?

It was collaborative; we were trying to make a progressive mountain bike film. Progressive riding,

progressive film work. We weren’t really trying to create a story; it was more a core mountain bike style film. The whole mixtape thing came together naturally. We wanted to have progressive riding to music and create a really cool visual story rather than a narrative. It was a no-brainer to just soundboard the whole thing and make it seem like you just popped in a CD or an album.

After watching the film, you and the rest of the riders must have been so shocked to see how beautifully it was filmed, how the musical tempos changed on and off, and just how truly cinematic it ended up being. Can you go over your thoughts on the final product, and how it was working with the folks who made it happen?

Yeah, we tried to be really diverse with it. It’s Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

tough because you’re trying to find the right kind of music to go with the vibe of each session. But we had awesome music people helping us, and great editors and digital effects guys so we were able to find what we were looking for musicwise. We’d go from there and get more in-depth and soundboard to figure out which shots really worked. The editing part was pretty out of my hands; that’s not my skill. They wanted it to be almost sporadic, like you wouldn’t really know what to expect next.

Some of the courses are just as exciting to see as the riding being done on them. I’m thinking specifically of the course with the old diesel truck and the logs in the junkyard. What were some of the more challenging/exciting locales/courses you shot at?

There were some exotic locations, and then some locations where we really got to go all-out on building them. Each one has a bit of its own memory for me. The junkyard was pretty cool because we got to go big on the build and get really crazy. It was close to home so we could really monitor the build and make sure it was awesome. Fiji was a bit of a culture shock; that’s the first time anyone’s really ridden mountain bikes or built mountain bike trails out there, so to go and break ground and have the locals be cool with us building on one of the highest elevations in Fiji is pretty insane.

There’s the second terrain of the movie, which is this heavily wooded location, just after a very wide-open location with custom-made tracks, and night-time versus day-time courses. How difficult is the transition from one to the other?

It’s not so much the arena I’m in, it’s more the terrain I’m riding on. So the bikes change every segment. I ride almost a different bike in every segment. It’s really hard switching back and forth and getting comfortable. There was a night segment, so we’re riding at night, and there’s lights flashing where the cameramen needed them, but for us it was pretty hard. We’d do a jump and it was pitch black. You’re in the air and in the abyss for a second until you actually see the landing you’re coming into. There was snow during that, too, and we didn’t have goggles on so we had snow in our eyes. The fog was coming through and we were dealing with the mist, so there were a lot of factors. You’re trying to be progressive in your riding, but you also have some obstacles standing in your way. It creates that mood and even more dramatic shots.

“We have a pretty good idea of what we’re capable of. We want to find that edge and see where you go from there.

It’s a science, really.”

– Brandon Semenuk Lots of the places you and the athletes are riding don’t look like they’re on track—a few moments there were shots of someone riding across loose volcanic rocks and jumping over a fallen log at a steep angle and didn’t look like there was a track there. Do you enjoy courting danger?

Yeah, that’s why I ride. I’m trying to figure it out and just learn and progress. We have a pretty good idea of what we’re capable of. We want to find that edge and see where you go from there.

It’s a science, really.

There’s that whole sequence with the old yodeling folk song playing where everyone is eating it. What do you think about when you’re on terrain like that, in the air and you know you’re probably going down hard, especially on a film set? Does that ever get easy?

It depends on the situation. Most of the time it’s usually never that fun. When you do it a lot you get good at it. It’s as much a skill as it is being on your bike. A big part is staying healthy and doing new things with being able to crash.

There’s a method for crashing?

You can get out of a lot. Our bodies are quite resilient, but you definitely don’t want to crash in the same way every time, or landing on injured areas. Sometimes you feel pretty confident about landing out of it safely and sometimes there’s not much you can do but brace for a big impact.

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Have you endured many serious injuries for that?

I’ve had a couple of injuries; I’ve been pretty lucky, though. A couple broken bones, but nothing to cry home about.

How has mountain biking in the way you engage in it gained popularity since you’ve started in your eyes? Is that a goal of yours? To make the sport more accessible or popular for more people?

That’s the goal, yeah, to get people pumped to ride their bikes. We’ve had good feedback on the film and from our Web show. I’d like to say that I’ve contributed somewhere. It’s been my life so it’d be cool to share that with other people who have the same passion.

Is it an easy thing to prophesize where the future of free-ride biking is headed? Or are you more learning as you go?

It’s such a new sport that I don’t think anyone really knows. It’s progressing so fast and it’s taking off in a bunch of different directions. There are so many different events and terrains you can ride on with different bikes.

Red Bull presents the It could go any screening of Rad Company on which way.

Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Crest

Photo by John Gibson/Red Bull Content Pool SubmergeMag.com

Theatre (1013 K Street). Doors open at 7 p.m.; show starts at 8. Tickets are $5 and on sale now. For more info, check out Brandon Semenuk on Facebook and Twitter.

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

21

A Child’s Quest

Nisha Grayson documents the search for her birth mother in her film, You Follow: A Search for One’s Past Words Fabian Garcia

S

cenario: Imagine you’re strolling down a main street in Southern California—let’s say Overland Avenue in Culver City—and in the near distance you see a family of four walking in your direction, swinging their arms hand-in-hand.

You smile at this sweet scene of a happy family embracing each other so openly, but as they get closer their image becomes clearer, and all of a sudden you’re doing a double take.

You notice each person’s skin tone is of a remarkably different shade of color. It’s as if you were scanning a palette of makeup foundation at a MAC kiosk in the mall. And you bluntly ask yourself: “How did that happen?”

It’s actually a question my cousin and her husband get asked all the time, but maybe not in those words exactly. People politely wonder if Josh and Siena are their kids, to which they smile and enthusiastically reply, “Of course! Can’t you see the resemblance?”

Josh and Siena were adopted at birth as transracial adoptees. Josh is half Puerto Rican and half white, and Siena is African-American. Their father, Troy, is white, and their mother/my cousin, Deanna, is half Mexican and half Colombian. It’s no secret Josh and Siena are adopted. They’ve been raised to be aware of the situation and seem to understand it to the extent that any 5- or 8-yearold would be expected to.

Yet, even with their basic grasp on the circumstances, describing their birth parents has

22

always been tricky.

In the case of Josh, my cousin was fortunate enough to stay in touch with his birth mother and has even introduced them in person before. They say the two are not particularly close, but that if he ever wants to pursue a connection as he gets older, she’ll only be a phone call away.

Siena, on the other hand, will have to search for her birth parents like countless other adoptees before her. They left no contact information and didn’t appear interested in keeping tabs on their daughter.

Siena sounds intrigued whenever they’re brought up, though, asking what they look like and where they live. I’m betting she’ll go out and try to find them one day, too—she’s already stubborn as it is when she sets her mind to something.

Still, Siena is only 5 years old, and her thoughts on the next Disney princess dress she plans to wear almost certainly supersede any desire for such a search at the moment. She’s just not at that point in her life yet, but her time will come.

Now, fast-forward 26 years and drift away from movie studio central and up the California coast to Sacramento, where we meet 31-year-old Nisha Grayson at a Peet’s Coffee shop in the heart of Midtown.

Like Siena, Grayson is also a transracial adoptee who looks nothing like her adopted family and never knew her birth parents. Unlike Siena, however, she was born across international

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

waters, which automatically sent her dreams of ever finding a bloodline spiraling into damn-near impossible territory.

Here’s the fascinating part: She went abroad and looked for them anyway, and she filmed the whole thing in a cutting-edge documentary called You Follow: A Search for One’s Past.

“It’s always been a burning desire for me,” Grayson says. “But I’ve always kind of talked myself out of it because of what people have told me. I kind of adopted their narrative, and so I just never thought it was possible.”

Back in 2009, Grayson tossed that narrative out the window.

As she relentlessly paced the unfamiliar streets of Goa, India in search of her birth mother, Grayson found herself hungry for the truth. She had arrived at that point in her life where she needed to know, and she had come too far then to give up.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back to the beginning.

In the early part of 2009, Grayson and a group of four friends started to plan a trip to India together, where they intended on sightseeing and exploring as much of the country as they could. Three of her friends—who are also of Indian descent—had been there before, so Grayson was thrilled to finally have a chance to visit her homeland with them and discover her roots in the process.

Her friends took it one step further, though.

They suggested that Grayson seek out her birth mother—the only one listed on her adoption papers— while she was there and document the journey on camera. So that’s exactly what she did, and what began as a mere vacation quickly snowballed into a quest for family and identity in a country with more than a billion people to sift through.

Through six months of promoting and fundraising up and down California, word quickly spread among the local adoption community about Grayson’s cause. Momentum for the project gradually picked up as they went along, as did Grayson’s passion.

“Once we started telling people about it and kind of advertising it and saying, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do,’ that’s when I got really serious,” Grayson says.

Eventually, the You Follow… crew raised the necessary funds for their eight-week adventure, which altogether came out to roughly $20,000, according to Grayson. The first two weeks of the trip were dedicated to traveling through Northern India and was paid out of their own pockets, leaving the last six weeks and all of the fundraising money devoted to finding Grayson’s Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Grayson and her friends boarded their flight to India in September 2009. Her birth mother was a world apart and without a trace, but she truly believed she could find her.

In those last six weeks—and ultimately over the course of two years—Grayson and her friends scouted her birthplace of Goa far and wide in search of this woman.

Going off of the original adoption records and starting at the hospital in which she was born, Grayson and her crew followed the rest of the clues as they presented themselves, which oftentimes led them to dead ends.

While Grayson’s efforts were usually met with genuine interest from the locals, she says she couldn’t take full advantage of their potential insight because of the taboo surrounding adoption in Indian culture and the possible repercussions her search could have had on her birth mother.

“Her safety was my number one priority, right from the get-go,” Grayson says. “I didn’t tell anybody my last name; I didn’t tell anybody her first name; I didn’t tell anybody I was her daughter; that I was adopted; that I was searching for her. It was very vague… I didn’t want the information to get in the wrong hands.”

It wasn’t until Grayson was in her last couple weeks and at a complete dead-end that she finally opened up to a local food truck vendor down the hill from her apartment in Goa. His name was Tony, and he turned out to be a godsend for Grayson— the one missing piece she needed to bring her mission full circle.

“Yes, my search angel,” Grayson says, laughing.

“I was about to leave anyway, we had nothing at SubmergeMag.com

that point. So I just told him. And he was like, ‘Oh, well I can help you.’”

And what a help he turned out to be. Tony, being a local in Goa and familiar with the language and town gossip, hit the ground running in this reignited campaign.

Unfortunately, Grayson had to return to the States before any significant progress could be made. But she was astounded to hear from Tony a year later, telling her to come back after he had found something worth her while. So back to India she went, and the search continued.

You Follow… shows Grayson going through one of the most trying experiences of her life, yet at the same time, one of the most fulfilling ones as well.

She says in the long run, her trip to India was about way more than just finding this one individual.

“I know where I came from, I traveled there,” she says with a glimmer in her eye. “I know what the food’s like; I know what the language sounds like; I know what it smells like; I know how humid it is; I know the palm trees; I know the dirt roads; I know the beaches. You know? I know all that stuff…

For me, these trips have been more than enough in filling those questions, or that hole I guess [if] you wanna say.”

Grayson and her friends are hosting a screening of You Follow: A Search for One’s Past here at Sacramento’s 24th Street Theater on August 22, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $7 and are on sale now at Eventbrite.com (just search “You Follow”). Swing by and check it out, it’s one film you’re not going to want to miss this summer.

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

23

ZuhG Life presents

AUGUST 2014

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Child’s Play

Words Josh Fernandez

Sacramento MC Mahtie Bush’s fourth studio album Child’s Play is a solid, slightly inconsistent collection that’s risky, poetic and, at times, mildly frustrating.

Bush is something of a Sacramento legend. And rightfully so. Renowned for his incredible work ethic and dedication to hip-hop culture, Bush has hustled his ass off, paving the way for a whole new generation of Northern California MCs. So, of course, from this seasoned MC, we expect many highlights and real gems (both of which this album provides), but on top of that we expect an anthem, a track that blows every other local song out of the water. In 2010, Bush gave us the boisterous “Backpackramento.” On Child’s Play, he gives us “Let Go,” an example of Bush at his finest, where a simple beat, hand claps and multilayered punch lines are all that’s needed to create razor-sharp battle raps that go for the jugular with lines like, “Piss me off and get

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pissed on and flipped on and flipped off/Tell you and your GPS system to get lost, dog/I can’t lose/Shit on a Shih Tzu/Each line I write is trying to offend you.”

When Mahtie Bush is hyped up, he’s utterly unstoppable.

But Bush isn’t just a battle rapper. He’s also a conceptual thinker with the ability to construct songs that involve the listener on a more playful level, as he does on the track “On the House,” which allows him to stretch out, offering a quick, fun, lyrical glimpse into the distinctive Sacramento lifestyle over a quirky ‘70s-style beat. Almost midway through Child’s Play, the listener is treated to a wide array of styles from an MC who understands the diminished attention span of the average modern listener. But instead of dumbing down the verses, Bush simply varies the content, from battle raps to rugged flows to abstract works of art like “Blood Runs Cold,” where he slips into the mind of a poet, spitting cerebral bars like “Venom over chipped ice/This is what life tastes like/Snake bites from fake types/ Serpents never play nice” that stab at the listener’s senses until they’re raw, as he singlehandedly embodies the unwieldy spirit

of the entire Wu-Tang Clan in one track.

But Child’s Play isn’t without its flaws.

The album lags in spots where Bush falls out of the pocket during some of his more expository moments, often letting his message overshadow sonic impact when he tries awkwardly to fit syllables into bars where they don’t belong (at his worst, Bush sounds like he might be having a stroke). For example, on “I Ain’t Believing That,” Bush’s rhymes are so oddly placed that they mangle the life out of the immaculately utilized Suzanne Vega and Fugees samples that the exquisite production has to offer.

Also, and this might be nitpicking, but when Bush tries too hard to get a point across, he dangerously flirts with sentimentality. For instance, a song about his son’s birth is fine, but, as is true with any writing, avoiding sappiness is the key to communication. So lyrics like “These Braxton Hicks is not what I had in mind/I just want you healthy/I know things will be fine/Eating healthy so your mom’s blood pressure is fine” just aren’t cutting it. The song also goes in and out of second person, so what could have been an interesting letter to his newborn son turns into a lesson on sentimentality and inconsistency.

Despite a couple middle-of-the-road and slightly forgettable rap tracks like “Here We Go Again” and “Pile of Bones,” the 11-track album offers way more positives than negatives. Bush manages to take risks, spill his guts and capture the plight of a gracefully aging MC who gently balances love of his city and the poetry that it inspires with his newfound role as a father and husband. Bush proves elegantly once again with Child’s Play that he’s a serious, versatile MC who is all grown up with tons more to say—and he’s not putting down the microphone any time soon.

Mahtie Bush’s CD release party for Child’s Play will take place at Harlow’s on August 23 at 10 p.m. Nome Nomadd, RI, Jordan Beasley (aka Mic Jordan) and DJ Epik will also perform.

Tickets are $8 in advance.

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

25

1000 K Street • Sacramento (916) 341-0176 • assemblymusichall.com

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

27

music, comedy & misc. Calendar

august 11 – 25 submergemag.com/calendar

8.11 Monday

Assembly He Is Legend, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, Wilson, With Wolves, 6:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Acoustic/Spoken Open Mic, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Furyan, Disforia, Machines of Man, Salythia, Motorize, Heat of Damage, 6:30 p.m.

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

Capitol Garage Open Mic Night hosted by Musical Charis, 9 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.

Marilyn’s Diversecity, 8 p.m.

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

Rock Band University Intent, Demolition, Unified Right, Barge, Zoom, Modern Pain, Fury, Reunion, 7 p.m.

Shine Classical Revolution hosted

by Skye Bergen, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Open Mic, 8 p.m.

8.12 Tuesday

The Colony Gravecode Nebula, Barren Altar, Rotten Funeral, Valley of Thrones, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Ottmar Liebert, Luna Negra, 5:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s Whitey Morgan, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Open Mic Night, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Rock On! Live Band Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Press Club The Deep End, 9 p.m.

Shine Open Jazz Jam hosted by Jason Galbraith, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Bill Mylar, 5 p.m.; Debut Tuesdays w/ Brick Fields, Fontaine Classic, Harris, Lush Babies, 8 p.m.

8.13 Wednesday

Assembly Sir Sly, Mother, I Am Strikes, 6:30 p.m.

Bar 101 Open Mic, 7:30 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

28

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Dive Bar Ernie Fresh & Young Aundee, 10 p.m.

Fox & Goose Northern Soul!, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Panmixia, F Street Stompers, 7 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Irish/Celtic Night hosted by The Glens of SMOW, 7 p.m.

Marilyn’s Bump Day feat.

Rubbidy Buppidy, 8 p.m.

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

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub The Devils Train, The Infamous Swanks, The Good Samaritans, 8 p.m.

Press Club The Unlikely Hero, Amour, Roswell, 6 p.m.

Third Space Queercore Night w/ Valiant Steed, Siren, Violent Vickie, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Keri Carr Band, 9 p.m.

Witch Room Power Altar, Cloud Lite, Beast Nest, Felidae, 8 p.m.

8.14 thursday

Assembly Inspector, 7 p.m.

Bar 101 Karaoke, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Funktion w/ DJ’s Step Rock and B.Vega, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk Bangout, E Deuce, Creeper, Augustus, Drizza, GSB, Soundz Last Minute, Citrus C, Young Rookaloti, Rell/Jhay P, J Jonah, Mr. Thoughts, 7 p.m.

Capitol Garage Karaoke w/ Jeff Jenkins, 10 p.m.

Center for the Arts Dave Weckl Acoustic Band, 8 p.m.

Chateau on Capitol Avenue Jump, Jive and Jazz w/ Sister Swing, 4:30 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

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

The Colony Kohosh, Six Beers Deep, 7 p.m.

Crest Theatre Lila Downs, Luz Elena, Mendoza y Edna Vazquez, 6:30 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Steve McLane, 8 p.m.

Fremont Park Hot Lunch Concert Series w/ KB & the Slingtones, 11:30 a.m.

Harlow’s Built To Spill, Slam Dunk, The Warm Hair, 7 p.m.

Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Bruno Mars, Nico & Vinz, 7:30 p.m. (Sold Out) Level Up Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Anni Piper, Christian DeWild Band, The Other Brittany, 8 p.m.

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

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pour House Thursday Night Jam Sessions, 10 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Flat Busted, 10 p.m.

Press Club Punch & Pie Fest: Heartsounds, Civil War Rust, The Shell Corporation, D-Cent Jerks, 8 p.m.

Shine Daryl Black, The Leftovers, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Con Brio, 9 p.m.

The Stoney Inn The Terry Sheets Band, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Mind X Quartet, 5 p.m.; Groove Session, 9 p.m.

Witch Room Daniel the Lion, Brown Shoe, 6:30 p.m.

8.15 Friday

Ace of Spades Against Me!, Creepoid, 7 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Maxx, Fudi, Ghost Town Rebellion, Peace Killers, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk The District, DMC, Wes Vile, Drone, Shinto, TMB, Lost Generation, JRue, A. Wells, Jemezzy Ba’be, 7 p.m.

Capitol Garage Fyah Fridays w/ DJ Jaytwo, 10 p.m.

The Colony Crude Studs (Album Release), Backseat Lovers, Did is Dead, Walking Faces, 8 p.m.

8.13 sir sly Mother, I Am Strikes Assembly 6:30 p.m.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

8.15 simple creation Swabbies on the River 6 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Sweet Revenge, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Mighty Odd Gents, Tell River, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Goldfield Nick Sturms, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s You Front the Live Band Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Punch & Pie Fest: Red Tape, City of Vain, Setting Sons, Suburban Threat, 7 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, 9 p.m.

Old Ironsides William Mylar, 5 p.m.; Major Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony, Black Cat Grave, Jem & Scout, 9 p.m.

Old Soul at 40 Acres Would-Be Train Robbers, F Street Stompers, 7 p.m.

On The Y Stignob, Kryptic Memories, Losing Kind, Ballsitic Burnout, 8 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Take Out, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fresh, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Travis Larson Band, Larry Mitchell, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Betting On The Muse - A Tribute To Charles Bukowski, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River 3rd Friday Reggae w/ Simple Creation, 6 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5:30 p.m.; Beso Negro, 9 p.m.

Village Green Park Friday Night Concerts w/ Steel Breeze, 7 p.m.

Crest Theatre Frankie Moreno, 6:30 p.m.

District 30 DJ Elements, 10 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon DJ Ricky O’Neal, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Black Knight Satellite, The Cigarette Machine, Harlow’s The Purple Ones (Prince Tribute), 9:30 p.m.

Harveys Lake Tahoe Sammy Hagar and Friends, 6:30 p.m.

KBAR Z Rokk, 9 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Guest DJs, 9 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Billy Buckman & Friends, 7:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s Led Zeppelin Tribute, 9 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Punch & Pie Fest: 7Seconds, Bastards of Young, Great Apes, Cold Feelings, 7 p.m.

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Disco Revolution, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Fresh, 10 p.m.

Shine The Lava Pups, The VibroCounts, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Sometimes Warren, 9:30 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Aaron Watson, 9 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Chill, 5 p.m.

Torch Club Chris Twomey, 5:30 p.m.; Mind X, 9 p.m.

Witch Room Mondo Deco, Mount Whateverest, The Royal Jelly, 8 p.m.

8.16 8.17 Saturday

Sunday

Ace of Spades Puddle Of Mudd, Kryptic Memories, Nothing Less, Zeroclient, 6:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Mark Curry, Anarch Lace, 4 p.m.; JP Tha Hustler, Nekro G, Spek One & Twocees, Dr. Edrum, Justin Vayne, Slyzwicked, Killa Gabe, Yung Trim, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Taj He Spitz, Boss Biz, Team Active, Sky Scholars, Playah K, Reign, Noah, Tlillo/ Bachi, Rocc Steady, DV3, Norco, Sky Scholars, 7 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Eric Benét, 8 p.m.

Capitol Garage Feel Good Saturday’s w/ DJ Epik, 10 p.m.

Center for the Arts Wanda Jackson, 8 p.m.

The Colony Ion, 7 p.m.

Ace of Spades Becky G, Heffron Drive, 4 p.m.

The Blue Lamp One Eyed Riley, Ando Ehlers, SS Web, 6 p.m.

Broderick Roadhouse Karaoke w/ DJ Jazcat, 9 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ban Ban, Sum Sum, Wong He, 2 & 5 p.m.

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

Center for the Arts Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Eddie Otero, 7 p.m.

Harlow’s Close To You (Carpenters Tribute), 5:30 p.m.

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

Powerhouse Pub Original Wailers, 7 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

Press Club Punch & Pie Fest: Micah Schnabel, Brett Shady, Jason Welt, Joseph Kojima Gray, 5 p.m.; Sunday Night Soul Party w/ DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Raley Field Lincoln Brewster After Game Concert, Game 5:05 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Kenny Frye Band, 2 p.m.

Swabbies on the River 3rd Sunday Country w/ Rachel Steele & Road 88, Flat Busted, Terry Sheets, 2 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Down North, 8 p.m.

8.18 Monday

The Blue Lamp Karaoke, 8 p.m.

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

Capitol Garage Open Mic Night hosted by Musical Charis, 9 p.m.

The Colony Eukaryst, Cataclysmic Assault, Sight Over Creation, Anarchpeace, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Harlow’s Future Islands, 7 p.m.

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

Marilyn’s Joomanji, Arielle Deem Band, The Dirt Feelin, 8 p.m.

Press Club Work Your Soul, 9 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Witch Room The Helio Sequence, Liam Finn, 8 p.m.

8.19 Tuesday

Assembly Chimaira, The Plot In You, Upon This Dawning, Allegaeon, Silence The Messenger, 6 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Ancient Altar, (Waning), Muscle and Marrow, Battle Hag, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Man Man, Land Lady, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Cyclops & the Owl, The Funicellos, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Open Mic Night, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Rock On! Live Band Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Shine Open Jazz Jam hosted by Jason Galbraith, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Peekablue, 5 p.m.; Scott Pemberton, 9 p.m.

Witch Room Man Man, Land Lady, 8 p.m.

8.20

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Cafe Colonial Satan Wriders, Kismet Aura, 2014, 8 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

District 30 p’ART’y Block Party Night, 9 p.m.

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Fox & Goose Northern Soul!, 8 p.m. continued on page 31

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

8.23

hoods Tried & True, Yankee Brutal Blue Lamp 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Approaching Fiction, A Mile Till Dawn, 8 p.m.

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

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Dream In Red, Blood Party, Axiom, 8 p.m.

Press Club Bellwitch, Ephemeros, Cura Cochino, Church, 8 p.m.

Shine Midtown Out Loud Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Third Space Chemical Clock, Gentlemen Surfer, K.A.L.E., 8 p.m.

Torch Club Acoustic Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.; Peter Petty and the Double P Revue, 9 p.m.

8.21 Thursday

Bar 101 Karaoke, 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Sea Legs, Broken Voice Club, Wooden Ways, Direct Divide, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Local Band Showcase: Go Team, Erin Jarvis, Occupy the Trees, Dust in my Coffee, Thumpa & The Bunch, 7 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Caskitt, From Scars, Rebel Radio, Riot Radio, 8 p.m.

Capitol Garage Karaoke w/ Jeff Jenkins, 10 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

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

District 30 Minimal Night w/ Syncro, Bphree, Cue 22, 10 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose John Gruber, James Israel, 8 p.m.

Fremont Park Hot Lunch Concert Series w/ Broken Voice Club, 11:30 a.m.

Level Up Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Hard Rock Pop Cover, 8 p.m.

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

MontBleu Resort Casino Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, 8 p.m.

On The Y SPCA Benefit w/ Dead in Seconds, The Orange Scene, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pour House Thursday Night Jam Sessions, 10 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Steel Rose, 10 p.m.

Press Club Heckarap! w/ MC Ham, DJ Gourmet, 9 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Latin Night, 9 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Hang the Old Year, Competing, Solanum, Practice, 8 p.m.

The Stoney Inn Chris Gardner Band, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Mind X Quartet, 5 p.m.; Sam Pace, 9 p.m.

Witch Room Lakes, Brolly, The Pressure Lounge, 7:30 p.m.

8.22 FRIDAY

Ace of Spades Common Kings, Tenelle, Kayasun, 6:30 p.m.

Assembly Mic, Dj Eddie Z, Steven Jordan, Young Seco, Mr Game Official, Young Stunnah, 7 p.m.

The Boardwalk Broken, Maven Chronic Vitality, 7 p.m.

Capitol Garage Fyah Fridays w/ DJ Jaytwo, 10 p.m.

District 30 Endless Beach Party w/ DJ Louie Giovanni, 10 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Roharpo the Bluesman, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose La Fin Absolute du Monde, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s The Pressure Lounge, Joseph in the Well, Odame Sucks, 7 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Litany, Toxic Shock, Mason Hoffman, Step Jayne, 8 p.m.

Marilyn’s Remix, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Gabe Xavier, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Skid Roses, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Big Bad Boogie Rock, 9:30 p.m.

Red Lion Woodlake Hotel Sacramento Culture Fest w/ Valufa, Finn Da Groovah, Samu, YBM, Maeli, Luisa Lavulo, Supa Saa, Molia, DJ Casey Reef, 5 p.m.

Shine Red Sky Sunrise, Punch Out, Puppet Radio, 8 p.m.

Sleep Train Amphitheatre Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, Gloriana, 7:30 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Graveshadow, In the Silence, Valensorow, Dire Peril, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Apple Z, 6 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5:30 p.m.; Jackie Payne, 9 p.m.

Village Green Park Friday Night Concerts w/ Super Huey, 7 p.m.

Witch Room Run River North, 6:30 p.m.

8.23 Saturday

Ace of Spades Y&T, Restrayned, Force Of Habit, 6:30 p.m.

Assembly Slaves, Myka Relocate, Alive Like Me, Youth in Revolt, Wolf & Bear, I Wish We Were Robots, 6 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Hoods, Tried & True, Yankee Brutal, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk FallRise, Pushing the Sun, For All I’ve Done, Highway 12, 7 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Stephanie Mills, 8 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Dream Chaserz Benefit w/ Heat of Damage, Stignob, Chernobog, White Knuckle Riot, 8 p.m.

Capitol Garage Feel Good Saturday’s w/ DJ Epik, 10 p.m.

District 30 Endless Summer Saturday w/ Miles Medina, 10 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Aquanet, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Kally O’Malley, Blame the Bishop, Mary McWalsh, 9 p.m.

G Street WunderBar Skunk Funk, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Steelin’ Dan, 5:30 p.m.; Mahtie Bush (Album Release), Nome Nomadd, RI, Mic Jordan, DJ Epik, 10 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe The Zombies, 7:30 p.m.

KBAR Z Rokk, 9 p.m.

Level Up Lounge Guest DJs, 9 p.m.

Marilyn’s Drop Dead Red, Sea Legs, Simple Pigeon, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Superlicious, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino The Spazmatics, 10 p.m.

Shine Wiving, Tom Cox and Lucky Laskowski, Dick Larson, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Boca do Rio, 9:30 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Rogue, 5 p.m.

Torch Club Delta City Ramblers, 5:30 p.m.; Afro Funk Experience, 9 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Yes, 7 p.m.

8.24 Sunday

The Blue Lamp Drag the River, Celestions, 8 p.m.

Broderick Roadhouse Karaoke w/ DJ Jazcat, 9 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ting Noi, Jowh Ndiev, 6 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Island of Black and White, 1 p.m.

Harveys Lake Tahoe Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, 7:30 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Dropdead, Full of Hell, Noisem, Rad, Plague Widow, 4 p.m. continued on page 32

>>

R U O Y AD E R E H

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SubmergeMag.com

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

31

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

Powerhouse Pub Guitar Mac, 3 p.m.

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

Red Hawk Casino Buck Ford, 2 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Life In the Fast Lane (Eagles tribute), 2 p.m.

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

Witch Room Good Company Day Party w/ DJs Jon Reyes, Druskee, Epik, Mooselini the Soul Facist, Drewbacca the Hairless Wookie, 12 p.m.

8.25 Monday

The Blue Lamp Acoustic/Spoken Open Mic, 8 p.m.

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

Capitol Garage Open Mic Night hosted by Musical Charis, 9 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.

Marilyn’s JPNSGRLS, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Third Space Satan Wriders, Baus, Turner, 7 p.m.

Comedy Laughs Unlimited Alex Thomas, Ricco Da Great, hosted by E. Clark, Aug. 13, 8 p.m.

Laughs For Larimer feat. Kristen Frisk, Emma Haney, Mike Betancourt, Kimmie Kay and Cheryl “the Soccer Mom,” Aug. 14, 8 p.m.

Kirk McHenry, Nat Baimel, Aug. 15 - 17, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Carlos Rodriguez, G King, Aug. 22 - 24, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Open Mic Comedy, every Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

Marilyn’s Open Mic Comedy, every Sunday, 6 p.m.

Punchline Comedy Club RetroCRUSH Presents: Robert Berry & Stephen Ferris, Aug. 13, 8 p.m.

Aries Spears, Aug. 14 - 17, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Carlos Mencia, Aug. 20 - 22, Wed. & Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Joe Klocek, Aug. 23, 9:30 p.m.

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

Spot-On Trivia: The Comedy Pub Quiz, Tuesday’s, 8 p.m.

Harold Night Long Form Improv Comedy, Wednesday’s, 8 p.m.

Gordon Teams: Improv Performers, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Gag Order, Thursday’s, 8 p.m.

Improv Jam, Thursday’s, 9 p.m.

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

Test Kitchen, Saturday’s, 10:30 p.m.

Paul Doyle Album Recording: Killing the Sexy, Aug. 15, 10:30 p.m.

3-2-1- Sizzle: Burlesque and Comedy, Aug. 22, 9 p.m.

Misc.

20th Street (Between J and K) Midtown Farmers Market, every Saturday, 8 a.m.

3101 Power Inn Road The Art of the Dumpster, through Aug. 30 Ace of Spades RAW Artist Showcase: Communiqué, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Blue Cue Bar Bingo, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

The Blue Lamp Naughty Trivia!, every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Bonney Field Sacramento Republic FC vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m.

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

Broadway & 3rd Avenue GATHER: Oak Park, Aug. 14, 5 p.m.

Capitol Garage Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Centro Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: Just Chill, A Spirited Snow Cone Party, Aug. 20, 6 p.m.

Crawdads on the River Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: Island Summer Nights, Aug. 23, 6 p.m.

Crest Theatre Trash Film Orgy: Showgirls, Aug. 15, 10:30 p.m.

Sacramento Film and Music Festival, Aug. 22 - 24 Crocker Art Museum ArtMix: INK feat. Live Tattoo Demos, Zine-it Workshop and more, Aug. 14, 5 p.m.

“Workt by Hand”: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts, through Sept. 1

8.23

JOe Klocek Punchline Comedy Club 9:30 p.m.

African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond, through Sept. 21 Curtis Park 8th Annual Curtis Fest, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.

Elk Grove Regional Park 3rd Annual Multicultural Festival, Aug. 23, 10 a.m.

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

Fremont Park Movie in Fremont Park: Back to the Future, Aug. 22, 6 p.m.

Sactown Wings Fest, Aug. 23, 2 p.m.

Goldfield Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: Big Ol’ Round-Up, Aug. 23, 6 p.m.

Grange Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: Bright Lights, Big City, Dress Up, Get Down, Aug. 22, 6 p.m.

Great Escape Games Time Travelers Bazaar, Aug. 16, 12 p.m.

Haggin Oaks Golf Complex CORE Contemporary Dance Company’s Annual Gala and Fundraiser, Aug. 22, 7 p.m.

Harlow’s Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: The Cocktail Competition!, Aug. 19, 6 p.m.

Lake Natoma Inn Tap Folsom: Craft Brew Fest feat. Live Music, Food Trucks and More, Aug. 15, 6 p.m.

Little Relics Boutique & Galleria Eternally Ethereal by Cathy Rowe, through Aug. 29 Luna’s Cafe Poetry Unplugged, every Thursday, 8 p.m.

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

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Grand Finale Reception: August 29 6-9pm

LittLe ReLics Boutique & Galleria 32

908 21st Street (between I & J) Midtown, Sacramento 95811

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

916.716.2319 www.littlerelics.com

Open 7 days a week

Our Lady of the Rosary American Lebanese & Middle Eastern Music and Food Festival, Aug. 23 - 24, 11 a.m.

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

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

Sacramento Fine Arts Center Magnum Opus XXV, through Aug. 16 Scottish Rite Center Hair and Fashion Show Battle Expo hosted

by Richard Hallmarq, Aug. 23, 12 p.m.

Shady Lady Official Midtown Cocktail Week Event: Amaro Tomorrow, Give ‘Em the Boot, An R St. Ambush, Aug. 21, 6 p.m.

Shine Red Alice’s Poetry Emporium hosted by Bill Gainer, Aug. 13, 8 p.m.

Sleep Train Arena WWE Live!, Aug. 23, 6 p.m.

Sutter Lawn Tennis Club 5th Annual NeighborWorks Art, Wine & Food Classic, Aug. 23, 5 p.m.

Tsakopoulos Library Galleria Merge 2014, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.

Various Restaurants and Bars in Davis Davis Beer Week, Aug. 11 - 17 Verge Center for the Arts Champagne feat. Works by Brett Amory, Clorophilla, Yarrow Slaps, Michelle Guintu and More, through Aug. 24 Wake Island Watersports The Wake Island Mud Run, Aug. 23, 8 a.m.

William Land Park 16th Annual Race for the Arts, Aug. 23, 8:30 a.m.

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Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Sacramento’S neweSt country Bar - reStaurant - live muSic venue

mondayS

now open

Open Mic night

hosted by James Cavern tueSdayS

Free Line

friday auG 15 21+/ 9Pm /free

Saturday auG 23 21+/6Pm

MIDTOWN COCKTAIL WEEK 2014

Saturday Sept 26 21+ / 9Pm

Dancing LessOns hosted by

sarah stokes wedneSdayS

BIG OLE ROUND-UP

Beer pOng

tOurnaMents thurSdayS

Live cOuntry BanD

COwBOy COCktaILs! saddle up for some bourbon drinks,

KaraOKe

honkey-tonk tunes, and hearty home style bites.

1630 J Street (Corner of J & 17) SaCramento GoldfieldtradinGpoSt.com

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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friday

sept 19

the shallow end Sketch Artists

ace of SPaDeS • 1417 r ST. • SacTo • all ageS • 7:30Pm

Sir Sly

Mother • i AM StrikeS

wednesday

aug 13

a s s e m b ly • 10 0 0 K s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • a l l a g e s • 7: 3 0 p m

BUilt to SPill Slam Dunk • The Warm hair

thursday

allan holDSWorTh [feat. Jimmy Haslip & virgil Donati]

saturday

aug 14

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 8 : 0 0 p m

aug 30

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 9 : 0 0 p m

mike WaTT lite (froM JAPAn)

tuesday

sept 16

b l u e l a m p • 14 0 0 a l H a m b r a b lv D • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 8 : 0 0 p m

dAve Alvin And Phil Alvin witH tHe guilty ones

thursday

oct 2

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 8 : 0 0 p m

jimmy eaT WorlD 10 year anniversary tour - futures

friday

BlitZen trAPPer

wednesday

oct 3

a c e o f s p a D e s • 1417 r s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • a l l a g e s • 7: 3 0 p m

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 8 : 0 0 p m

dAvid BAZAn +

PASSenger String QUArtet [singer of peDro tHe lion]

oct 8

friday

oct 10

dAvid dondero

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 8 : 0 0 p m

PerfUMe geniUS MAtteAh BAiM

wednesday

oct 22

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 7: 0 0 p m

the feAtUreS

H a r lo w ’ s • 2708 J str ee t • s acr a mento • a ll ag es • 6:30 pm

aDrian BeleW PoWer Trio [guitarist/vocalist for King crimson, franK Zappa, talKing HeaDs, bowie]

sunday

nov 9 tuesday

nov 11

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 7: 0 0 p m

abstract entertainment ticketS AvAilABle At: ticketfly.coM

TickeTS for harloW’S ShoWS alSo availaBle aT harloWS.com ticketS for ASSeMBly MUSic hAll AvAilABle At ASSeMBlySAcrAMento.coM ticketS for Ace of SPAdeS AlSo AvAilABle At AceofSPAdeS.coM And 916.443.9202

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Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

James Barone jb@submergemag.com Gentrification has become all the rage in cities all across the country. I love words like “gentrification” because they’re so heavily coded, but we all know what they really mean without having to say it. Like, if I just threw out the term “urban streetwear,” you’d know what I meant… I mean, come on, you know, right?

We can probably all think of what neighborhoods used to be “bad,” whatever that means, but are now littered with cute shops and places to buy darling cupcakes and/or get an overpriced but just so delicious cup of coffee (and the “barista” is so hot!). However, I was always interested in the changeover. Like, who were those first few pioneering “young urban professionals” who bravely marched into a tract of city squalor and saw an unpolished gem—a diamond in the societal rough?

Let’s say, for example, you and your boo hopped on your bikes in search of a new apartment. Now that “everyone” has found out about your current neighborhood, your landlord wants to raise your rent, and you simply can’t afford it because your boutique vinyl- and cassette-only record label continues to return meager profits. You’re on the hunt for the next Hipsterburg, U.S.A., get lost near the freeway and happen upon a few blocks of “undiscovered” paradise. OK, so you’re not sure if you’d eat at those restaurants (do they even have “gluten-free” options?) and the apartments look like they could use a thorough fumigating, but the place has good bones. There’s only one problem: the current inhabitants look kind of stab-y. I mean, just because they’re…you know…poor…does that mean they’re dangerous? IF ONLY THERE WAS SOME WAY TO KNOW HOW SKETCHY THIS AREA IS BEFORE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS CHEAP RENTS AND PRICE THE CURRENT RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOMES. As the saying goes, there’s an app for that.

Welcome SketchFactor, a smartphone app that crowd-sources its users to determine which neighborhoods are “sketchy.”

Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but the founders of SketchFactor—New York City residents Allison McGuire and Daniel Herrington—have become used to being on the hit list in recent weeks. The duo—who are on the lighter shade of pale as far as their skin color goes—have come under fire for creating a racist app, whether or not that was their intention. The homepage of Sketchfactor.com features a letter addressing the controversy their fledgling app has raised, insisting they’ve created something that “is a tool for anyone, anywhere, at any time.”

“We’re disappointed that certain publications have taken a super silly picture and done so much to slam us without actually talking to us,” the letter goes on to say. “People are entitled to their opinions. That’s legit.

But slamming SketchFactor without having a conversation is unprofessional.”

The homepage also includes a link to a YouTube video dubbed “SketchFactor Teaser” that features creepy music and a “diverse” group of testers messing around with the app and trying to be funny (I think), though it doesn’t really show what it does or how it works or really anything of real value. The app’s logo, an inverted teardrop-shaped blog with shifty eyes, also kind of bugs me out.

“The whole premise of this app is we let everyone define sketchy on their own,” Herrington said in an interview with New York Daily News.

I guess that makes sense. I mean, what is “sketchy?” It’s another one of those coded terms, but what’s sketchy to one person may not be for another. A side of a building heavily tagged with graffiti could be artsy for one and an eyesore to another. If you’ve ever waded through a bunch of self-absorbed pissy Yelp reviews when trying to decide if you want to check out a new restaurant, you’re probably familiar with the old adage that opinions are like assholes and they all stink. (You probably also know that it’s likely not a coincidence that the name “Yelp” is strikingly similar to the sound a small, annoying dog makes.)

The app and the people who created it may or may not be racist, but critics of SketchFactor fear that it could be used as a tool for amateur racial profilers. As Emma Cueto pointed out in her article on Bustle.com, “Obviously, all people have a right to be, and to feel, safe wherever they are. But it’s also an inescapable truth that white people have a tendency to find people of color sketchy—after all, a sizable number (up to 46 percent in some instances) are willing to come out and blatantly say they support police using racial profiling.”

The “46 percent” statistic she’s referring to is from a 2004 Gallup poll on racial profiling, in which 46 percent of non-Hispanic whites admitted they believed the practice was justified at security checkpoints in airports (though it found less support among whites in other situations).

So do I think SketchFactor is racist? No. It’s an app. Apps aren’t racist. They’re software.

They don’t have feelings or opinions. People, on the other hand, are an entirely different matter.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SUMMER is

h e r e Cocktails, Local Beers and Seasonal Menu

WWW.GOLDENBEAR916.COM 2326 K STREET, MIDTOWN SACRAMENTO SubmergeMag.com

Issue 168 • August 11 – August 25, 2014

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