Submerge Magazine: Issue 307 (Decmeber 18, 2019 - January 1, 2020)

DIVE INTO SACRAMENTO & ITS SURROUNDING AREAS

DECEMBER 18, 2019 – JANUARY 1, 2020

#307

MUSIC + ART + LIFESTYLE

INSTAGON

PLANETARY ALIGNMENT

SG LEWIS

ELECTRIC EUPHORIA

NIKI J CRAWFORD WITH GRATITUDE

FICKS HARD SELTZER

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Serving Flakos Takos!

1630 J Street SACRAMENTO (916) 476-5076 Thursday December 19 7:30pm | $10 | all ages

Saturday January 18 | 7:30pm | $10 | all ages

The Bergamot

Hellbound Glory plus special guests

Taco

Tuesdays!

$1 TACOS + $1 OFF ALL BEERS ALL DAY LONG

The Nickel Slots

Tuesday December 31 9pm | 21+

Wednesday January 22 7:30pm | $13 | all ages

Party Favors &

Struggle Jennings

New YEar’s eve dance party

FREE Midnight Toast!

Monday January 6 | 7:30pm | $10 | all ages

guest The Picturebooks plus Dustin Burke

Thursday January 9 7:30pm | $26 | all ages

Justin Townes Earle

Saturday January 11 7:30pm | $16 | all ages

Merkules plus special guests

2HK

Friday January 17 7:30pm | $15 | all ages

Josh Ward

turday, ember 22

Darling mentines

que &Variety

Saturday January 25 | 7:30pm | free | all ages

American Mile

Black Uhuru plus special guest

Etana

Saturday February Thursday February 6 8 | 7pm | $25adv | all ages PLUS Dean Fraser 7:30pm | $26.50 | all ages and

Tarrus Riley

Black Uhuru

COMING SOON:

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Monday, Feb 10 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Feb 11 Feb 12 Feb 13 World / Inferno Melvins Horror- Jerrod Friendship Society, Hepa. Titus, Niemann pops The Bridge City Sinners Cunts

Blak Soil Band

plus special guest

Etana

Sunday February 9 | 7:30pm | $16adv | all ages

Logan Mize

plus special guest

Friday, Wednesday, Sunday, Feb 14 Feb 26 May 10 Marty Delta Jim O’Reilly & the Bombers Lauderdale Reckless Ones

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

Imogen Clark

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Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

307 20192020

DIVE IN

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

DECEMBER 18 – JANUARY 1

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COFOUNDER/ EDITOR IN CHIEF/ ART DIRECTOR

Melissa Welliver melissa@ submergemag.com COFOUNDER/ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Jonathan Carabba jonathan@ submergemag.com SENIOR EDITOR

James Barone ASSISTANT EDITOR

Ryan Prado

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amber Amey, Ellen Baker, Robin Bacior, Robert Berry, Syrah Caparas, Michael Cella, Bocephus Chigger, Ronnie Cline, Justin Cox, Alia Cruz, Miranda Culp, Brittney Delgado, Josh Fernandez, Lovelle Harris, Mollie Hawkins, Tyler Horst, Ryan Kaika, Niki Kangas, Nur Kausar, Grant Miner, Olivia Monahan, John Phillips, Paul Piazza, Claudia Rivas, Daniel Romandia, Andrew Russell, Maxwell Shukuya, Jacob Sprecher, Richard St. Ofle

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wesley Davis, Evan Duran, Dillon Flowers, Julia E. Heath, Jon Hermison, Paul Piazza, Tyrel Tesch

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P.O. Box 160282 Sacramento, California 95816

916.441.3803 info@ submergemag.com

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DIVE IN

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OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST

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THE STREAM

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NIKI J CRAWFORD

10

SUBMERGE YOUR SENSES

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CALENDAR

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LIVE<<REWIND

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THE SHALLOW END

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ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS INSTAGON

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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 P.O. Box 160282, Sacramento, California 95816.

Or you can email us at info@submergemag.com.

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FRONT COVER PHOTO OF INSTAGON BY DILLON FLOWERS BACK COVER PHOTO OF NIKI J CRAWFORD COURTESY OF NJC COUNTRY GIRL ENTERTAINMENT

A family, bicycle, and dog-friendly cider company Open

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days a week

2019 WAS ALRIGHT!

Tue-Fri 4-9p Sat 2-9p Sun 12-7p

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MELISSA WELLIVER melissa@submergemag.com It’s the end of the year, and you know what that means, right? End of year lists!

I have a love/hate relationship with “Best Of” lists. Part of me thinks who the fuck cares about claiming one piece of art is the best? But then part of me enjoys them, because every so often I discover something new or take into consideration an album, movie, etc., that I normally wouldn’t have.

I figure, what the hell. I’m going to take part in making my “Best of 2019” list and I’m going to include multiples in each category.

Best albums of the year: • DIIV — Deceiver • Drab Majesty — Modern Mirror • JPEGMAFIA — All My Heroes Are Cornballs Best local album of the year: • !!! (Chk Chk Chk) — Wallop • Poor Majesty — Dreamer • Shotgun Sawyer — Bury the Hatchet Best concerts: • Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams) at a benefit show for Sacramento Shelter Pets Alive at The Hideaway — Feb. 16 • Sol Blume Fest at Cesar Chavez Plaza w/ J.I.D, Tierra Whack, Masego and others — April 27 • Torchfest 2019 at The Torch Club w/ The Highway Poets, Merle Jagger, Ice Age Jazztet and more — May 24–26

ciders on tap Founded in Sacramento in 1996

UPCOMING EVENT CALENDAR

Dec TRIVIA NIGHT 19 + BAMBI VEGAN TACOS

THURSDAY

Dec JEEROZ 22 FOOD TRUCK SUNDAY

TUESDAY

Dec CLOSED MERRY 25 CHRISTMAS!

WEDNESDAY

Dec TRIVIA NIGHT 26 + BAMBI VEGAN TACOS

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

• Chrome Rose Best movie: • Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood • Captain Marvel • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part Best TV shows: • Euphoria — HBO • Russian Doll — Netflix • The Righteous Gemstones — HBO • The Unicorn — CBS Best book: I just realized I haven’t read anything from 2019. So email me and tell me what I should have read? But the best that I did read this year was the Beastie Boys Book, though it came out in 2018.

After all this, I realize there were so many shows I wish I could have gone to, so many movies I still need to see and so many new bands that I’ve yet to hear.

Can’t wait to see what 2020 brings!

Read. Learn. Do more rad things in 2020.

Melissa Welliver

SEAN LEHE and

Dec TOMMY T 27 SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SHOW 6:30-8:30PM

SUNDAY

Dec 29

GRATEFUL SUNDAY GRATEFUL DEAD MUSIC, GREAT MUSICIANS, TASTY CIDER

SAINTS OF CIRCUMSTANCE 5-8PM

Best new local bands: • Trip Weaver • Gamma People

(full disclosure: my husband is one of the five members, but I promise that’s not why they made my list)

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Dec SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS 24 NOON-7PM

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Dec 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY WITH

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Jan CLOSED HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1

MONDAY

Jan TRIVIA NIGHT 2 + BAMBI VEGAN TACOS

THURSDAY

TWO RIVERS GIFT CERTIFICATES, GROWLERS AND CLOTHING MAKE THE PERFECT GIFT!

4311 Attawa Ave, Sacramento 916-228-4757 • TWORIVERSCIDER.COM

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

7

THE OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST

Now AcceptiNg AppoiNtmeNts!

CHRISTMAS: AN ORIGIN STORY

Book oNliNe At sAcrAmeNtoBArBershop.com 2408 21st st • Sac • (916) 457-1120 Tues-Fri 9am-6pm • saT 10am-4pm

ACCORDING TO BAZOOKA

CELEBRATING THEIR LATEST ALBUM

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS

AccordingToBazooka.com

Saturday January 18

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Sunday February 9

Blue Note Brewing Co.

Monday February 10

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More guests TBA

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MAY 5 21 & OVER • 9:00PM

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MAY 30

21 & OVER • 8:00PM

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SATURDAY

TUESDAY

JUNE 9

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ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: ABSTRACTPRESENTS.COM & EVENTBRITE.COM

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

In the immortal words of the Peanuts, “Christmas time is here!” The holiday has officially disrupted our lives once again with its bright blinking lights and crowded shopping malls filled with crazed parents. Despite the problems it brings, I am still a sucker for Christmas and love seeing the traditions of this holiday on display.

While getting into the holiday spirit this year, I realized that I hadn’t thought much about where these traditions came from or why we continue to celebrate them today, so I decided to look into a few. What I discovered was both amazing and insightful, and I don’t think I’ll ever look at Christmas in the same light again. Perhaps you will feel the same after you hear where some of your favorite Christmas traditions come from.

You know it’s Christmas when strings of lights start appearing from the eaves of your neighbors’ homes, but do you know why we bother to hang lights in the first place? Like De Beers’ connection to diamonds and engagement rings, in the early days of the national electric grid, power companies invented electric Christmas lights and sold them at a low cost to their existing customers as a new and exciting way to celebrate the holiday. These same power companies colluded to keep prices low until the trend caught on and that’s when they nailed us.

Those lights aren’t twinkling as brightly anymore are they?

The origin of one of our weirdest traditions— hanging stockings—isn’t quite as sinister; it’s actually more of a big misunderstanding.

In one of our earliest moments of cultural appropriation. When mass groups of Europeans were immigrating to this country, the rich people that were already here took it upon themselves to see what kinds of traditions and food they could steal from the poor to make their own.

Not understanding how poor people of the time actually lived, the rich folks assumed that the socks hanging over the fire during the Christmas season were meant to be filled with gifts instead of just being there to dry. The poor folks thought it was weird that the rich people kept putting things inside their wet socks, but they thought it might have just been a rich-people thing.

Neither side corrected the other and that’s how we got here.

A lot of you are going to be upset with this next one, but we really missed the mark with presents. We’ve been filling laboriously wrapped

BOCEPHUS CHIGGER bocephus@submergemag.com boxes with beautiful objects to give to loved ones, friends and coworkers and calling it the spirit of the season, but if you knew the truth, you might not be so excited about this whole presents thing.

In one of the lost and forgotten books of the Bible, the Gospel of Larry, we learn that when Jesus was 8 years old, he was given a beautifully wrapped box as a birthday present. The contents of the box were said to be worth untold fortunes and would have made Jesus and his family one of the wealthiest in Jerusalem.

But Jesus wasn’t interested in the contents of the box. He took the box filled with riches to the Mediterranean Sea and cast the contents of the box into the water where it has been lost ever since. After disposing of the riches, Jesus used the box to make a sweet sandcastle on the beach.

After that, he took it home and turned it into a fort where no girls were allowed. Later it was a time machine, and after that a secret hideout.

“It’s his favorite toy!” Mary would say nervously when friends visited, but it was true. The kid loved that goddamn box. Other adults didn’t, so we started putting stuff back into them again.

This last one really blew my mind. One of our greatest Christmas traditions of all time is leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. When I was a child, I used to wonder how Santa could possibly eat all of those cookies and drink all of that milk.

Being a little older now and a longtime fan of cookies, I could see how Santa might be able to eat a lot of cookies, but as a lactose intolerant person and a follower of science, I know he couldn’t possibly drink all of that milk. If you drink more than a gallon of milk in an hour, you are going to throw up. Google it!

The problem is we’ve never found evidence of Santa throwing up milk all over town after Christmas. There is also no way he would be able to squeeze down all of those chimneys with a belly full of milk and cookies either. The more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became that this was an inside job. How could one person eat cookies and milk at every house he stopped at when there are millions of homes to visit in one night? It just doesn’t seem possible. That’s when I came to a realization that my parents have been eating the cookies and milk this whole time. They lied and called it a tradition, but really, my parents just liked cookies and milk. Now what kind of bullshit is that?

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

THE STREAM

20 FOR 20: WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE?

JONATHAN CARABBA

Send regional news tips to info@submergemag.com

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1 Lose your voice singing along to all your favorite hits from the ‘80s and ‘90s at H A R L O W ’ S (2708 J St.) when Bay Area dance-rock band Pop Rocks brings the house down. Doors open at 9 p.m. Early bird tickets start at just $25 at Harlows.com. 21-plus.

2 If bands like Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco and My Chemical Romance get your blood pumping, you’re not going to want to miss The Emo Night Tour RAWR-ing ‘20s New Year’s Eve Party at HOLY DIVER (1517 21st St.). Expect DJs, a special guest live band, giveaways and more. Tickets are $25 in advance, 21-plus, doors open at 9 p.m.

3 Looking for an early option or to stack up multiple events on NYE? Check out T W O R I V E R S C I D E R CO. (4311 Attawa Ave.) from noon–7 p.m. when they’ll have a party with live music starting at 4 p.m. by surf rock band Phrogg. Free admission, all ages welcome.

4 The ultimate ‘80s goth dance party is taking over AC E O F S PA D E S (1417 R St.) with four tribute bands: Strangelove (Depeche Mode), Temptation (New Order), Just Like Heaven (The Cure) and Electric Duke (David Bowie).

DJ Bryan Hawk will also be in the house.

Doors at 6:30 p.m., all ages welcome, tickets start at $25 through Aceofspadessac.com.

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Keeping with the theme, Club

Necromancy’s New Year’s Eve Goth Dance Party will take place at M I D T O W N B A R F LY (1119 21st St.) with DJ Keyz and DJ David V. Cover is $15 at the door, 21-plus,

9 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

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6 If one measly bar or venue isn’t enough for you party animals, consider Old Sacramento’s

Second Street Bars NYE 2020 Bar Crawl, where for one $30 ticket (pre-sale only

through Eventbrite.com) you’ll get VIP admission to five bars in Old Sac: F I N N EG A N ’ S P U B ,

RIVER CIT Y SALOON, THE OTHER O F F I C E , O ’ M A L LY ’ S I R I S H P U B and FA N N Y A N N ’ S S A L O O N .

7 Local DJs and expert party throwers Shaun Slaughter and Roger Carpio of Lipstick! fame are welcoming local indie band Contra to the stage at O L D I R O N S I D E S (1901 10th St.). Easily one of the best NYE options if you’re on a budget, as tickets are only $8 in advance, available in person at ShopCuffs Boutique (2523 J St.). Doors open at 9 p.m., 21-plus.

8 If loud music and standing on your feet for hours sounds like a bad night out, get tickets to Sacramento’s Last Laughs at the popular comedy club P U N C H L I N E (2100 Arden Way).

Comics like Wendy Lewis (pictured) , Chazz Hawkins, Nick Aragon, Kris Tinkle and others will perform two shows, one at 7:30 p.m. and one at 10 p.m. Ages 18-and-over, for tickets. hit up Punchlinesac.com or call (916) 925-8500.

Pro tip: Grab a drink before or after (or both?) at Punch Line’s newly opened C A L L B AC K B A R right next door (you can’t miss it).

9 Sticking with the comedy theme, Old Sacramento club L AU G H S U N L I M I T E D (1207 Front St.) is also hosting two shows (7 and 10 p.m.) for their Laughin’ in the New Year party with Lance Woods, Tony Le and Benton Harshaw. Tickets are $30 and 17-and-over are allowed in.

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Featured in this very issue, Niki J Crawford will bring the funk, soul and rock to T O R C H C L U B (904 15th St.) with openers Miggy and Friends getting things going. Admission is $30 and includes free champagne at midnight! 21plus and starts at 9 p.m..

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One family friendly daytime option is

C R O C K E R A R T M U S EU M ’s (216 O St.)

annual Noon Year’s Eve party from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. This free event will feature a DJ, live music, dance performances, a magician, storytelling, artmaking and other fun surprises.

12 Local club T H E B OA R D WA L K (9426 Greenback Lane, Orangevale) will host

Bandhoppers New Year’s Rock N Metal Eve with music from Toy Called God, The Ellusive Furs, Cardboard Ringo and others. Advance tickets are $15

or $25 for a pair through Boardwalkrocks.com.

Doors at 7:30 p.m., 21-plus.

13 You can’t go wrong with Sacramento’s own Jackie Greene Band at the historic C R E S T T H E AT R E (1013 K St.) Tickets are $55 in advance, all ages, doors at 8 p.m. A bonus is there’s entertainment and dining options galore up and down K Street for before or after the show.

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15 Midtown hotspot L O W B R AU (1050 20th St.) is hosting a globally recognized DJ, The Whooligan, with local support from Soosh*e!, MosJef, LejonBrames and E-Mon. Tickets start at $30 through Eventbrite.com. 21-plus, doors at 9 p.m.

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Another bang-for-your-buck option is T H E P R E S S C L U B (2030 P St.) where for just $5 you can get down to DJs Hunter Chollet and Marcus Leonardo. 9 p.m., 21-plus.

17 For a laid-back, casual vibe, hit up T H E B A N K (629 J St.) for their New Year’s and Chill party where there will be two levels open to hang out with a taproom and full bar plus five different kitchens serving up food. No cover! 21-plus. The Bank also has a $40 cover Masquerade on the Mezzanine party with DJ, exclusive champagne lounge and more.

18 If you’re looking to avoid downtown, hit up T H E above CO U N T R Y C L U B L A N E S (2600 Watt Ave.) for a country rock party with The Fryed Brothers Band and Second Sight.

Doors open at 8 p.m., $20 cover, 21-plus. Balloon drop, free desserts and a full bar.

SK Y ROOM

19 Another no cover charge option is at P U N C H B O W L S O C I A L (500 J St., Ste. 100) for their New Year’s Eve Outer Space Bash starting at 9 p.m. They’ll have a featured punch, balloon wall, live DJ, glow sticks, bowling, pool, bocce ball, arcade games and more.

Glide into 2020 in style on roller skates at R O L L E R K I N G (889 Riverside Ave., Roseville) for their New Year’s Eve Bust out those wigs and leather jackets for ‘80s hair Blackout Skate ! Two balloon drops, 10 p.m. band tribute Skid Roses out at P O W E R H O U S E and midnight. All ages welcome. Bring a canned P U B (614 Sutter St., Folsom) starting at 10 p.m. food donation to save some bucks on entry!

Party starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets start at $25, 21-plus.

For even more New Year's Eve options, check out our calendar section in print or online at Submergemag.com/calendar.

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Photo by Walter Petrule

Your Senses

WORDS BRITTNEY DELGADO

HEAR

Irish Christmas in America Has Two Shows in the Region This Weekend Dec. 20 & Dec. 21

In its 15th season, Irish Christmas in America, a holiday show featuring Irish music, dances and stories, is making two stops in the Sacramento region. You can catch their first show on Friday, Dec. 20 at the Amaral Center in Grass Valley’s Nevada County Fairgrounds (11228 McCourtney Road) at 1 p.m. Snag those tickets before it is too late for the Friday show at the prices of $35 for members, $45 general admission and for $15 for youth (12 and under). More information for this show can be found at Thecenterforthearts.org. The second showing will take place at The B Street Theatre (2700 Capitol Ave.) on Dec. 21 at 8:30 p.m. Both shows will feature singing by guest artist Niamh Farrell, an acclaimed singer from Sligo, Ireland, and will be accompanied by Ireland’s Traditional Singer of the Year, Séamus Begley, a musician from West County Kerry. The show, produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of award-winning lrish group Téada, is also bringing The McKeever School of Irish Dance to perform during sets at their Dec. 21 show. Tickets for the Saturday show at The Sofia can be purchased for $40. For more details visit Bstreettheatre.org.

TASTE

Nosh on Some “Plant Based Junk Food” When So-Cal’s Vuture Food Comes to Sac for One Night Only!

Dec. 27

The Los Angeles pop-up and food truck Vuture Food (a nod to a vegan future) is making a trek around the nation and is making a one-time stop at the Midtown taproom and beer garden located at the At Ease Brewing Company (1825 I St.) on Friday, Dec. 27. Formerly known as Evolution Burger, the eatery has evolved from simple looks-like-chicken sandwiches into having chunkier, “meatier” bites. You can get your hands on some loaded fries topped with sauce and lettuce or choose from a variety of vegan Chik’n sandwiches that are stuffed with lettuce, cole slaw or pickles and dripping in finger-licking sauce.

Have a night out with friends or leave the kids with a sitter to grab a bite or two of plant-based junk food. The pop-up will start at 4 p.m. and will go through 8 p.m., so make sure to catch them because they’ll be gone before you know it. With the taproom in service, you can make the perfect selection of cold IPAs, pale ales or foamy stouts to go with your meal. No admission fee is required, but come ready to splurge on food and drinks. For more details on the Sacramento event visit Facebook.com/VutureFood.

TOUCH

Let Fleet Feet’s Team of Coaches Help You Get Fit for the Shamrock’n 10K or Half Marathon Jan. 4–March 11

Less than 100 days until the Shamrock’n races hit the streets of Sacramento on the weekend of March 14 and 15. In collaboration with Blue Diamond Almonds, the Triumph Cancer Foundation gears up to bring you a half marathon, 5k, 10k and the Leprechaun Dash in support of cancer survivors. Beat the exhaustion and come prepared by teaming up with one of the coaches at Fleet Feet ahead of time to get proper running and conditioning training with their 10-week program months before the race. With the purchase of a packet, you will have scheduled speed workouts, long runs on the weekends and they will keep you in full recovery mode by supplying nutrition and hydration samples during group training runs. Not only does this package grant you access to training, but on the day of the event at Sutter Health Park (400 Ballpark Dr.) it will include access to beer, food and a massage. The package price starts at $139, but don’t wait because after Jan. 3 the price will increase to $144. The sooner the purchase, the better the deal. For more information, visit Fleetfeet.com/sacramento. Registration for the race is sold separately and varies in price by race.

SEE

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour • Jan. 21 Sit back, relax and let the nostalgia take you on a wild, funny and entertaining trip back to the ‘90s when you catch the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live at the Harris Center (10 College Parkway) in Folsom on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Join the creator and original host Joel Hodgson (Joel Robinson) and your favorite four robots Tom Servo, Crow, Cambot and Gypsy in watching some of what they consider to be the cheesiest movies ever made. With a side of sass and comedic commentary, you are guaranteed to have a good time. The show first hit the air in 1988, ran for 11 seasons and reignited the fandom with a 14-episode season on Netflix in 2017 after Hodgson started a crowdfunding campaign to bring the segment back to TV. Now, on their third national tour, they bring you more comedic commentary, side segments and musical numbers to match the films they are showing. With tickets starting at $38, secure a seat for you and the family ahead of time for this exclusive show that has limited spots available. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. and will run for two hours. For more details, visit Harriscenter.net.

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

LIVE<< REWIND

The 1975

ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS SIZZLES THE 1975, THE HEAD AND THE HEART, CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN, LOCAL NATIVES Golden 1 Center • Friday, Dec. 6 WORDS TYLER HORST | PHOTOS PHILL MAMULA Christmas came early at the Golden 1 Center on Friday, Dec. 6. for this year’s edition of Alt 94.7’s Electric Christmas. The annual yuletide throwdown brought big names and loads of energy to Sacramento. Not even an early winter downpour could keep fans away from the show.

First up was Local Natives. The comparatively mellow crooning of the band was a lovely introduction to the night. The two and sometimes three-part harmonies were on point, especially during their hit, “When Am I Gonna Lose You,” ringing out loud and clear through the arena.

In between sets, fans were free to roam the Golden 1 Center as usual, and even treat themselves to a few additional vendors that had set up just inside the main entrance, including a massage chair or a visit with Hipster Santa.

Kicking things up a notch, Catfish and the Bottlemen took the stage next. From the opening chords of “Longshot,” the band started bringing some of the people sitting in the stands to their feet.

The English quartet captivated the crowd with their poppy rock anthems, from “Kathleen” to “Cocoon.”

Next up was The Head and the Heart. The indie-folk stars had the Golden 1 Center singing along with favorites like “All We Ever Knew” and “Missed Connection.” Like all the bands on the bill, The Head and the Heart were in top form, and the stellar sound in the Golden 1 Center brought each of the six band members’ parts out in perfect balance. The group clearly reveled in the large and enthusiastic crowd, at one point successfully encouraging the audience to create its own light display, igniting the flashlights on their phones and filling the stadium with hundreds of small points of light.

Though the night was already filled with more than enough amazing bands to keep concertgoers happy all the way until next Thanksgiving, it was The 1975 that folks really came to see. The ranks of the Golden 1 stadium seats had been steadily filling up as the time got closer to the headlining act.

The 1975 started off demanding the audience to “Wake up, wake up, wake up,” with “People,” their rip-roaring late summer single, but the crowd was already up and ready. Vocalist Matt Healy cut a stylish figure in a floral skirt, commanding the stage with great energy.

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The band was supported throughout their set by a pair of talented back-up dancers.

The 1975 followed up with another high-energy track, “Give Yourself a Try,” and then rested a bit with the mellower “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME,” before switching up the mood again with the gospel-infused “Sincerity Is Scary.”

A highlight of the set came toward its middle, during a powerful rendition of “I Like America and America Likes Me,” when Healy walked over to the lucky fans who had won stageside seats in a Christmas sleigh and climbed in with them, to big cheers from the crowd. After the energetic performance, a stagehand walked out with an already lit cigarette and placed it in Healy’s outstretched hand, all without missing a beat of Healy’s introduction to the next song, “Somebody Else.”

It was a strong set all around, chock full of favorites. The night ended on a high note, with the infectious and danceable hit, “The Sound.”

Fans left with smiles on their faces, already looking forward to next year’s Electric Christmas.

Catfish and the Bottlemen

The Head and the Heart

More photos at Submergemag.com

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

friend once told me that Sacramento was a little like Canada, in that if any musician, artist or actor is from there, a Sacramentan will be the first to tell you. But for how much we brag about our hometown, one of the critically undermentioned aspects of it is how fantastic our noise scene is, from the NorCal Noisefest, the nation’s longest-running noise festival, to the noiseinfluenced sounds of local acts that have made it big, like !!!, Death Grips and even Trash Talk. And at the very center of that scene (or at least very near to the center of it) is a man named Lob. When Lob entered Shine Cafe, he was immediately greeted by name by a few members of staff, and helped himself to a beer before sitting down with me. As it turns out, he’s in charge of booking there a couple nights a week, just one of many jobs he has around town, including distribution assistant for SN & R, and organizing Noisefest with William Burg, festival co-founder. Despite only living in Sacramento since 2004, the 54-year-old Southern California native has deep roots in the River City’s musical community. Besides an endless enthusiasm for his fellow local artists, this is due mostly to Instagon, Lob’s 27-year-old noise outfit/jam band that, according to him, never performs with the same lineup twice in a row.

“I’ve been booking in town for 10 years, so I know lots and lots of musicians, and because of [Noisefest] I also have a lot of freak friends,” Lob says. “Doing strange stuff is easy, but finding new musicians is a little tougher. It’s just about going to shows, watching people and asking them to play.”

This means that Lob’s constantly on the search for new musicians to play with, and that his musical output—which are almost exclusively live recordings of improvisations—are as varied as his lineup. Lob himself plays the bass, allowing his impromptu group of various personnel to swirl around him and express their individual styles, while keeping control over the direction of his band.

“When you put a group on stage in front of people, they bring their A-game,” Lob says. “But when you bring people that don’t regularly play together, they have to bring their A-plus game, and I never have a band wrong. Sometimes it’s brilliant, sometimes it crashes, but it’s always fun.”

His website’s landing page (Tif.org/instagon) reads, “this portal leads to thee cyber cave ov thee audio deamon,” an apt description, since exploring a cave is pretty much what it feels like going through Lob’s massive, 194-release discography. He puts together his releases without regard to any particular chronology, meaning that what you’re listening to could be from different performances and by a cast of completely different band members. Since the point of the project is not necessarily an individual album, but rather the evolution and repetition of the “ritual” of Instagon itself, it’s rewarding to pick a release at random and see how Lob decided to craft that particular snapshot of the band.

In the ground I was able to cover, Instagon’s style mostly falls into freewheeling funk and rock, with the occasional dip into instrumental noise. Like any musician, Lob has his favorite riffs and licks that he mixes and matches to find new grooves, but the real magic of the project is listening to the improvisational habits that other musicians bring to the table.

“Instagon’s 27, and it’s much nicer to talk to now,” Lob says. “And then when it was 3, it was a screaming little brat, and it was loud and crazy and would empty venues in minutes. And now it’s much more contained and aware of itself, as any being gets to as they grow to 27.”

To understand the odd personification of the band, as well as the direction of the project as a whole, you need to understand “chaos magic,” and Instagon’s nature as a “servitor.” To put it simply, chaos magic is DIY paganism, or “resultsbased” magic. Whereas things like Wicca, occult hermeticism and the like combine symbols and Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Photo taken at Hacker Lab Sacramento / Mural by Jose Di Gregorio

rituals with assumptions and beliefs in certain forces, chaos magic strips all that away and asks each practitioner to do what works best for them.

The “magic” you do is harnessing belief in rituals to change something in the world. Lob’s particular system of magic just happens to be forming a band, and bringing in different people is one aspect of casting his spell.

A servitor is a “psychic complex” that operates independently of the maker to a specific end.

According to Lob, “Instagon is a servitor that was created by me and four others in the ‘90s, that’s invoked by multiple participants, whether they’re aware of it or not. I conjure it and I use everybody’s energy to swirl it up and let it loose.”

Lob was a long-time member of Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth’s North American branch, a chaos magic fellowship founded by British experimental band Psychic TV, and later boasted such famous U.K. music groups as Coil and Current 39. While it has since shut down due to various SubmergeMag.com

legal battles with founding members, the ideology of chaos magic is still very much present in the art that Instagon puts out.

“It’s one of those things where, if you know what the Temple is, then it adds a whole new dimension of the concept,” Lob says. “If you know, then it opens up into ‘Woah … now this is something really different.’ We were even originally supposed to be the American counterpart to Psychic TV.” Instagon’s latest project, Planets, is a great way to get acquainted with the band’s work. Over the past year, Lob has been releasing various EPs named after each of the planets (yes, including Pluto), which have an eponymous title track and various cuts from throughout Instagon’s history that relate to the sphere’s characteristics. For instance, Venus, naturally, features songs about love, which range from the space-y, driving jam of “Sonic Chaos Love Groove,” to the noisey and decidedly unbluesy “Space Girl Blues.”

Each EP features cover art by local artists—my personal favorite is the classical metal-style, corpse pile cover for the Mars EP—and is available both individually, and in one large made-to-order box set ($50). The price may be steep, but you do get a bonus album, THEE SUN, and with six hours of music spanning all the way back to 1997, it may be the last Instagon album you’ll ever need to own.

With so many fresh players figuring each other out each time, Instagon’s stuff might feel like variations on a theme at sometimes, but that’s almost besides the point. Lob has either played with or booked almost every great musician to come out of Sacramento since he got here, and his run-ins with big-name musicians (a record label he worked with in SoCal published the first records from The Stitches and U.S. Bombs, as well as Sublime’s first seven-inch) could fill an entire other profile. Instagon has succeeded in its role as a servitor in that it truly does seem to have a life of its own. Its rotating mass of members is a slice

of Sacramento’s musical talent, and perhaps even more than that, a living testament to Lob’s place in the center of its artistic landscape.

Despite the fact that his reputation seems to precede him where he goes, Lob is cool keeping Instagon’s profile where it is.

“Instagon wasn’t made to be commercially successful,” Lob says. “I don’t push it into the mainstream because the mainstream can’t handle it, and it’s cool being low-key and punk rock. I just want to play, man.”

Looking for the perfect last-minute gift for your favorite Chaos Mage? Instagon’s Planets box set is available for purchase via the band’s website (Tif.org/instagon). The band’s homepage is also a great place to stay abreast on where and when the band is playing next or to immerse yourself in the arcane wizardry that is the music of Instagon.

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

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ALIVE AT NIGHT

THE IRRESISTIBLE AURA OF SG LEWIS

WORDS RYAN KAIKA • PHOTO JACK BRIDGLAND

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

“I

’m a little bit tipsy but it’ll make for an interesting interview,” SG Lewis admits to me over the phone, eight hours east of the Pacific Time zone I just woke up in. That phrase, and the naturally engaging tone that accompanies it, isn’t entirely necessary in capturing my attention given the talent of the interviewee on the other end of the line, but it doesn’t hurt.

Fresh off of a night of spinning records at a club in Paris, the English singer-songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and producer begins telling me how happy he is to be back in the City of Light— the same place that propelled his career forward— as he walked through a lively French evening.

Lewis, a 25-year-old electronic musician, has been a busy man over the last few years, not by fielding interviews on the fly, but by producing commercially successful solo and collaborative projects since signing with PMR Records in 2014.

Not long after signing his first professional deal, the young Englishman was invited by his new labelmates and lauded electronic duo Disclosure to perform at the Dalt Vila UNESCO World Heritage site on the coast of Ibiza.

“I was playing the evening set and the sun was setting over this 3,000-year-old castle, and I was playing this really slow, chugging, melodic house and techno, and I remember that was a real ‘pinch yourself’ moment,” he says.

“One day I’d love to throw a party there myself,” the inviting producer adds.

If you’re familiar with Lewis’ collection of music, you’ve probably heard his recent trio of EPs that coalesce to form a singular concept album—Dusk, Dark and Dawn. Familiarity aside, it’s crucial to understand what led to this genredefining story in song form.

Before signing with PMR Records, Lewis played guitar in several rock bands throughout his teenage years, eventually finding his soul in music you’d typically hear in European nightclubs. That moment came when Lewis found his way into a residency at the famous Liverpool club, Chibuku.

“I remember having a distinct moment of enlightenment in terms of electronic music where I walked in and Ben Clock was playing in the theater,” Lewis recalls. “I remember hearing that for the first time and being like, ‘Holy shit.’”

Apparently that’s all it took to hook the humble, wide-eyed Lewis into a scene that would transform his life forever.

After gaining credibility spinning tracks and finding his sound, he released his debut EP Shivers in 2015. A year later, he honed his style further with the EP Yours, highlighted by “Holding Back,” a club-y song cross-pollinated with an R&B feel courtesy of the captivating vocals of the Maryland-born singer, Gallant. This song is the epitome of the “SG Lewis sound,” one that fellow English musician and friend James Vickery says makes Lewis the “king of electronically influenced R&B.” He may not be true English royalty, but among the music community, he’s been handed the crown. His humble mentality however defines him as a man of the people.

“Music is an emotional thing and if people aren’t having genuine emotions, then it’s hard to come up with something that moves people,” the self-aware musician says.

Connecting with people has always been crucial to the arts, whether we recognize it or not.

It’s this innate sense of belonging that allows us to let loose and enjoy music for its beauty, which was a key reason that Lewis began writing the EPs Dusk, Dark and Dawn in 2018.

“In experiencing electronic and live music, the moments of overwhelming genuine happiness, the connection you feel in those environments—I can’t think of another instance in my life where

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I can equate happiness and euphoria with one thing,” he says of the theme behind the EP trilogy.

The naming of each EP is quite literal, detailing the different stages of the evening as we experience our own euphoria in Lewis’ dream world—beginning with the plummeting of the sun toward the horizon in Dusk as we are pulled deep into the Dark depths of night where we find our footing and unleash pure ecstasy before slowly calming into the Dawn that brings new life.

Dusk, the first scene of his audio-screenplay, starts with the slowly building, ethereal “Sunsets (Part 1)” leading into a cathartic “Part 2” of this harmonic fade of daylight. The third track is one that Lewis said is “one of my favorites to this day” and one he feels is “underrated” compared to his more commercially successful tracks.

That song—“Aura”—was created in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro while he spent a week off from touring in the bustling Brazilian city.

“I was feeling so inspired,” he says about his time in South America. “I was just trying to find some drums that gave me the feeling of all the music I was hearing in Rio.” Perhaps the sunshine helped, too, for an artist used to the overcast English skies, admitting that he suffers from seasonal affective disorder. But for someone who finds solace in the sunlight, he seems pretty adept at controlling his mood at nighttime.

A little under a year after Dusk, the five-track record Dark was added to Lewis’ quickly building discography. The EP kicks off with “Again,” a classic trance track that transports the listener into a Berlin basement where you can almost hear the sound reverberating off of concrete walls.

The vibe transitions with the next track, “A.A.T.,” featuring California rapper Drew Love, who adds his braggadocious West Coast lyricism to Lewis’ bouncy snares. The standout song of the album, though, is without a doubt “Hurting” featuring Aluna Francis from the famed London duo AlunaGeorge—showcasing that vintage European house vibe that Lewis learned in Liverpool.

And just like his formative DJ residency, it was time for Lewis to complete this chapter before moving on to his next big show. That conclusion came in the form of Dawn, an album that forced Lewis to channel his singing voice. His vocals pull us into this record on the intro track “Blue.” Like so many of his other songs, you’ll notice his signature ‘sparkle’ echoing throughout, he says, “Once I stumbled across that [sound], it just became something that felt good on so many productions that in a weird way became my ‘producer tag.’

“I think one of my favorite things is to take samples that belong in a different genre and put them in electronic music,” he continues.

The hip-hop drums that you may have heard on ‘90s classics like Common’s “The Light” gel nicely with Lewis’ affinity for sparkly sounding keys, exemplified on the third EP of the Dusk, Dark, Dawn trio.

It’s apparent that Lewis has a mind made for musical production.

“If I was stuck to one thing and tried to perfect that, I think my attention span would be too short, I would grow bored with it,” Lewis says.

“Production has so many different elements, you can never stop learning.”

He continues on in an introspective and honest manner, saying, “The thing about music: As much as I have imposter syndrome every day of my life—if I were doing things that I felt comfortable about every day then I’d grow tired and bored of it. The things that push me outside of my comfort zone are the things that excite me the most.”

It’s a little startling that someone so successful in the music industry still has doubts SubmergeMag.com

about himself, but that’s the nature of a creative industry, especially in an age dominated by the pressures that social media forces upon those we deem to have made it.

But what exactly does making it look like to Lewis?

“This sounds kind of dramatic,” he warns.

“From the first day that I started playing music I remember fairly early on a friend of mine made me sit down and write what [I] want from this.

What are your measures of success? Because if you don’t do this then you’ll always be wondering ‘what’s the next thing?’ O2 Academy Brixton was that thing.”

For the uninitiated, O2 Academy Brixton is one of London’s oldest and most historic music venues. It’s essentially a cathedral for music worshippers, more so in the European community, but globally, the reputation is rather strong.

Lewis was scheduled to play there on Feb. 1, 2020 but had to postpone the show to prioritize the completion of his next project: Beyond Dawn.

“When I play that show, I want it to be something that I’m excited about where I feel like I’m presenting people with something brand new,” he says. “It was a hard decision to make [to postpone the show], but I’m really glad that I did make [that decision] because I want there to be a genuine emotion between me and the audience when I get there.

“Once you’ve done a Brixton you can tell your grandkids, ‘I did it!’” Lewis enthuses. “The really exciting thing about that is that anything beyond Brixton is a bonus.”

We as an audience, have yet to unlock that bonus, which is probably a good thing considering Lewis expects to release Beyond Dawn within the next year.

“I wanted to leave that as a musical era and vision and whatever comes next is its own iteration,” he says about his projects.

Some things just can’t be left in the past though. Just listen to Lewis' newest produced single “Pressure,” sung by James Vickery.

“We met for breakfast and he’d been telling me about this situation he was in and I was like, ‘Dude, the song’s already there.’ When you have something going on in your life that you just have to say then it’s just a case of articulating it,” Lewis says.

As a result, that electronic-R&B sound is quite possibly at its highest barometer on the SG Lewis grooviness index during this track.

There’s no specific date yet for the release of his newest album, but if we can expect anything, it’s that he’ll continue dropping little nuggets like that track with Vickery leading up to his next album’s release. On a more practical note—at least for the Northern California fans—Lewis will be spinning his classics on the final day of Lake Tahoe’s Snow Globe Festival alongside fellow titans of the electronic music world. He’s never been to Tahoe and it definitely won’t resemble the O2 Academy Brixton, but I think he deserves the energy that he’d receive in his home country, which probably won’t be too difficult as he dazzles with his captivating light shows, soulful sounds and liberated vocals.

“In experiencing electronic and live music, the moments of overwhelming genuine happiness, the connection you feel in those environments— I can’t think of another instance in my life where I can equate happiness and euphoria with one thing.”

– SG Lewis

Close out 2019 in pure euphoria at this year’s Snow Globe Festival at the Lake Tahoe Community Playfield in South Lake Tahoe from Sunday, Dec. 29–Tuesday, Dec. 31. SG Lewis will play on New Year’s Eve, which will feature Skrillex as headliner. Other acts performing the three-day festival include E-40, Vince Staples, Fisher, Gigantic Nghtmre, Griz and others. For a full lineup and to order tickets, go to Tahoesouth.com.

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

17

FARM TO FIZZ

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL ALUM RON ALVARADO EXPLAINS HOW FICKS IS CHANGING THE WORLD OF HARD SELTZER WORDS CLAUDIA RIVAS

18

C

onsumers are ditching the sweetness of sodas and sugar-dense cocktails. They want a healthier alternative and are more conscious about what they put in their bodies.

With that in mind, masses are reaching for flavored seltzers because they’re low in sugar and have little to no calories. With sparkling waters skyrocketing in popularity, it’s practically a no-brainer that beverage companies would soon start to add alcohol to that hip fizzy bubble water. Enter Ficks Hard Seltzer.

In Summer 2019, it was almost impossible to head to a bar or party without seeing someone with hard seltzers like White Claw or Truly in hand. Though these tipsy beverages with “Natural Flavors” seem like a healthier alcoholic option, typical hard seltzers create fruity taste with a cane sugar and syrup mixture or malted

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

barley blended with chemicals, like those found in classic soft drinks.

This isn’t the first time alcohol and sparkling seltzer attempted to form a delicious coupling.

Zima, a hard seltzer of the ‘90s, was ahead of its time, but the world wasn’t ready for this low calorie change just yet. Almost 20 or so years later and the one time “fad” of hard seltzers is now poised to stay.

With people looking for this type of sparkling delight with easily recognizable ingredients, what can they drink instead of the big conglomerates? That’s where Ron Alvarado comes in with Ficks Hard Seltzer. Submerge got the chance to chat with Alvarado, the CEO of Ficks, about the process of creating hard seltzers and how Ficks is a better way to drink alcohol.

Alvarado says, “We [he and Ficks COO

Mike Williamson] both really liked cooking and mixing cocktails but,” like many college students so close to a diploma and trying to live a metropolitan lifestyle, “starting a company so close to graduation just wasn’t a reality with rent in the Bay Area.”

Since their senior year in college, Alvarado and Williamson were trying to create a product the world of food and beverages needed.

But with the pressures of making money immediately after college, the two, in turn, went into finance.

Alvarado was working in private equity while Williamson worked in investment banking.

Though it was work, work, work during the day, they began making what would be Ficks in their spare time. Pencil pushing in Silicon Valley wasn’t a bad way to make a living, but the two young entrepreneurs wanted to make a splash— or rather a fizzle—with their alcoholic bevies.

At first they were interested in exploring the possibilities with wine. They found a local home brew shop in San Francisco and put large fermentation tanks in their kitchen. It became something like a laboratory, and the two future “seltzer scientists” found success in making cocktail mixers out of pure fruit juice.

Alvarado recounts, “We originally [became] a non-alcoholic cocktail mixer company. We didn’t like how cocktails had so much sugar. The mixers led us to trying to continue our mission of finding a drink with low sugar, low calories, but with alcohol that also represented Northern California.”

Currently, Target and BevMo are the largest clients of Ficks cocktail mixers.

In 2016, Alvarado and Williamson decided to head into a new direction. They liked the hard seltzer space, but there were already big key players; White Claw and Truly began to emerge as stiff competition. The two young entrepreneurs were interested in the product but didn’t like all the long-worded, hard-tounderstand ingredients found in competitor drinks. So with little sugar and fresh coldpressed juice, Ficks has made a hard seltzer with less complicated ingredients so consumers have better knowledge of what they’re drinking.

Alvarado details that at first Ficks wanted to ferment each individual fruit into a wine to blend and flavor the hard seltzer (for example, fermenting a blackberry alcoholic base for a blackberry hard seltzer). But this was not a good idea.

“Grapefruit wine was the grossest,” the Ficks CEO recalls, “Oranges tasted smooth and fermented very quickly to the perfect [alcohol] base. So in the end of every mixture you can’t even taste the orange sparkling wine at the center of it all. The orange sparkling base tastes like a very dry white wine while the fruit’s natural sweetness mixes with sugar for yeast to eat, to increase the ABV [alcohol by volume].”

With their new hard seltzer, in October 2018, Alvarado tried to sell their product to bars and restaurants in San Francisco and Sacramento.

“Then [2018], most food retailers had the big brands of alcoholic seltzers but no craft cans available in stock,” Alvarado says. “Stores were worried that the type of product would be like the hard soda fad that spiked in sales a few years back but fizzled out in popularity. So when I tried to sell to bars and restaurants, they sort of looked at me like I was from another planet and didn’t want anything to do with the product.”

Unlike the fleeting alcoholic soft drink moment (i.e. Not Your Father’s Root Beer), hard seltzers have become a hit across all demographics of legal drinking age. In 2019, hard seltzers were the libation of choice.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Ron Alvarado (R) and Mike Williamson (L)

From influencers on Instagram, frats at parties, hipsters at Dolores Park or real housewives— everyone was riding the hard seltzer carbonated bubble bus.

While taking a tour of the Ficks canning facility in the small North Bay town of Sebastopol, Alvarado taught us a little about the machinery in the building and the process of making hard seltzers. First, the liquid for each can is created and mixed with actual fruit in large fermentation tanks. It takes two to three weeks for fermentation and Fick’s ferments its product until completely dry when no sugar is left. At the end, the liquid in the tanks ferments to 15 percent ABV, and at some point during activity, the dark concoction turns clear and is ready for canning. A third of each can is alcohol, which means 5 percent per can.

Alvarado explains that, “The alcohol process in making traditional hard seltzers is seriously similar to wine making. Both [Ficks and competitor products] use the fermentation process but differ in how flavors are added.”

In layman’s terms, Ficks uses fresh coldpressed juice in their fermentation, while competitors like to use a mixture of a malt beverage or sugar ferment while masking their artificial tendencies with the term “natural flavors.”

“Natural flavors” sits on a spectrum, Alvarado explains. What happens with natural flavors is almost like distilling down the actual product to a very concentrated form, and usually mixes that result with an alcohol base like industrial alcohol.

In October 2018, Ficks launched Lime as their first hard seltzer. The pure fruit juice of real limes adds a less intense bite than other hard seltzers, giving the beverage a smoother finish.

In Alvarado’s words, “Ficks is on a mission to use the purest of ingredients for [our] hard seltzers. So we procure fruit from the best locations to flavor our drinks. Instead of farm to fork, we consider what we’re doing ‘farm to fizz.’”

The berries come from Washington and Oregon, grapefruits are from Texas and Southern SubmergeMag.com

California, while the limes are from Mexico.

As far as the name Ficks, “It was more a playful way of looking at it,” Alvarado explains, “Ficks tried to ‘fix’ the hard seltzer flavor so you can fix your lifestyle. So instead of F-I-X we played with letters and words to make a similar look and sound. We want to be transparent with consumers and let them know what’s really in their drinks.”

Alvarado told us that some people with the last name Ficks contact the company about twice a month asking if they’re related to the creator. But the name happens to not be a last name at all, despite the title’s looks.

Right now, their newest endeavor is their e-commerce just in time for Christmas. In the United States, people aren’t legally allowed to ship beer unless shipped through big stores with licenses. Since Ficks' base is a sparkling orange wine, they are able to ship to most states, in addition to selling at brick and mortar partners like Costco and Whole Foods.

Ficks plans to expand to other parts of the United States and to other countries. So far there are distributors in California, Washington and Oregon, and they’re looking to add more states in 2020. Ficks has also made leaps in the sales market by recently launching the hard seltzers in select Raley’s (with some of those stores being around Sac).

On seeing his product on shelves in the 916, Alvarado says, “It’s really cool to have my products in stores like Raley’s. I used to go to that store to all the time growing up.”

Ficks is bringing a fresh taste to the hard seltzer market. Their product stems from health conscious recipes, and their flavors (Lime, Grapefruit, Cranberry and Blackberry) are crafted to refresh and relax.

For more information on Ficks and where you can buy some packs for yourself visit Ficksdrink.com.

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

19

GENUINE PRESENCE

CLOSE OUT THE DECADE AT THE TORCH CLUB WITH THE STIRRING STYLINGS OF NIKI J CRAWFORD WORDS ANDREW C. RUSSELL

N

iki J Crawford fills any room she performs in, and not only with the powerful voice that made her the star of her hometown church choir in Springhill, Louisiana. She rises to meet the space she stands in, however large or intimate, raising the emotional temperature to reach every individual, even in a crowded venue, with her heartfelt warmth. It may be her natural born talent to connect with people this way; nothing about her is calculated—she sings, and her heart is in every note—but it’s her journey, catching stage-work tips from Tyler Perry, singing backup vocals for Mary J. Blige, sharing screen time with Chaka Khan, performing with Carlos Santana and gracing the stage of nearly every major late-night talk show that has molded her into the multitalented, wellrounded artist she is now.

In a twist on the traditional strike-outwestward story that has drawn so many hopefuls into Hollywood’s orbit, it was Crawford’s mother that first moved to L.A. to work as a nurse before she herself made the jump from the comforts of her small town.

Singing and performing had been the center of her life from the age of 6. It wasn’t long before she joined the throngs of extras for casting calls around the city. Landing a role in a local production of Rent gained her further work in visual media, leading to appearances in numerous TV series and indie films. Her branch-out into acting has continued to amplify the stage presence she’s incorporated into her music over the years. Most recently, she appeared alongside Michelle Williams, Chaka Khan and Harry Lennix in Revival, a unique retelling of the Gospel of John interpreted through the black religious experience in America.

Prior to her 2015 debut EP, The Genesis Block, Crawford recorded and toured extensively as lead vocalist with the West Coast funk/fusion band Orgone. Her EP, along with last year’s full-length, The Second Truth, retain the loose, vibrantly positive feel of that group while centering her strengths as a solo performer. Smooth, bouncy numbers like “El Ay” and “Countosh” blend with the southern funkrock of “What If” and “Alright,” which ride a tasteful line between the raw and the sweet.

Underneath everything runs a strong spiritual current and a down-to-earth delivery that reveal her southern roots. But while the records provide a snapshot of her versatility, the best mode for experiencing Niki J Crawford remains live and in the flesh, present among the energy she conducts anew between herself and the audience with each performance.

On New Year’s Eve, she returns to The Torch Club to help ring in the new decade with hot soul grooves and an icy champagne toast. Her music is an invitation to recharge in an atmosphere of true celebration. After a tumultuous 10 years, nothing could be more welcoming than ditching the blare and the glare of the club scene and instead reconnecting with something grounded and uplifting—two qualities in which Crawford has become a career specialist.

20

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

How long have you been with your current band?

We’ve been together, I want to say four years.

Since my first EP, The Genesis Block, and the LP, The Second Truth, this is the team. Most of the time, it’s six of us, and sometimes we’ll add more singers or horns, but that’s us. Soul, funk, rock, R&B sounds; we have a good time.

What is it like striking out for Hollywood with full family support?

It’s huge to me. I think one big thing was that I had somebody there telling me I was enough.

My grandmother, who has been the center of all of our joy, who has actually passed away—and that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, it’s painful every minute of every day, and it will be for the rest of my life. But she, my mama, my aunt and my brother always told me I was enough. “You go do it, I got you, if you fall, we’re gonna pick you up and keep it going.” It’s huge, because you get such a confidence. I’m gonna try it because they say that I can do it. And you know, we were raised in the South, Southern black folk, and it ain’t that easy. But they said, “Forget all that. You can do it.” It gives you the boost to go do things, even if you fall.

When you first came out to the West Coast, was acting or musicals always a part of the plan?

I just knew I wanted to sing at first. When I first got out here, I was reading the magazines Music Connection and Backstage, which was great for people that were new and didn’t have an agent. I would go out and stand in these long lines just to see if they would take me as an extra. And one of the things that came from that was getting to be Joanne in a production of Rent. I’d get into Music Connection, look for “singers needed,” some would pay $100, and I would’ve done it for free; I just wanted to get in there. So, after doing that for awhile, there was a little word of mouth, things started happening and the next thing you know, I was doing more and more and more.

When you come and go between the worlds of acting and singing on stage, do you start to transfer your skills from one of them to use for the other?

Sure. Rent was a little bit of everything. You’re on stage, it’s live, you have to sing and you’ve got to be able to move. It was tough for me to learn all of that right away. I did a lot of Chitlin’ Circuit plays before that, black theater and gospel stuff, which was huge for me when I got Rent. But it definitely translates, because when I’m on stage now, it helps me to be present, to appreciate the fact that people are standing there when they could be somewhere else. There’s also stuff I learned from Tyler Perry. “Stand in your light.” He used to say that to me. “You’re chocolate, Niki, you gotta stand in your light.” All that knowledge of knowing where to be on stage, recognizing where your body is, all that stuff translates to my music performance, big time.

Do you have a personal ritual for getting into the all-around performance mindset before hitting the stage?

The first thing I always do now is say, “Thank you, Lord; thank you, grandma.” I really do give thanks.

Because I don’t have to be here; I don’t have to be able to stand in this spot, I don’t necessarily have to have the voice I have. So I don’t take it for granted. You stop, give thanks, pray your voice is gonna be there for you, then you go from your insides and give out, and help the folks out there feel the love that you have. And that clicks for me.

I’m thankful, now let’s go give it to them!

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

How did you get involved with Harry Lennix’s project, Revival?

That was my third time working with Harry, actually. He and Danny Greene, the director, they were kind’ve like, “Look, when we’re doing something, we’ve got to call Niki.” So I have to tell you that a lot of it is that they’re friends of mine. They’ve always looked out for me. And they know that my background is the church.

I was raised in the church, went there pretty much seven days a week. And since my friend was the director, he knew how I would move, he understood my voice, he was able to give me the leeway to try things out. It was a good situation to begin with and then to turn around and see— oh Lord—Chaka Khan, Michelle Williams, Kenny Lattimore, Mali Music, really? It was just too much for me. It was surreal.

Who are some of the artists you’ve met or worked with who have most affected you?

A lot have in many different ways. For instance, Tyler Perry was—that was the first time for me that I did a production that was written, produced and directed by a black man, and it was the calibre of Rent, it was the calibre of these Broadway plays. It was the first time I’d ever seen anything like that. And this was the Tyler before the Tyler that people know now; he was very hands on and taught me about everything. My lights, my blocking, my strengths.

Carlos [Santana], he was just so spiritual, and such a sweet man. I remember one time, August the 8th, my birthday—I’ll never forget it. He pulled me onstage, there must have been at least 100,000 people. And he told all these people that “this girl has a voice to bring people closer to God.” I’ll never forget how special that was.

And Macy Gray, I learned so much from her, the real ins and outs of what I’m doing now. Tour buses, tour managers, the promoters, the booking agents, the hotels, all of that kind of stuff.

I’ve just learned a lot from so many people, and studio stuff, from singing with Mary J. Blige or recording when it was just me and Kelly Price. It’s been unbelievable. And I’ll tell you, sometimes when I think, you know, you’ve done so much and know so many people, you get that wish you were a little further along. But that’s OK; I’m right where I’m supposed to be. It’s coming.

What has been the most important lesson learned in this past decade for you? And what are your plans for 2020?

One thing I can say immediately is the don’t-stop that I have. I just won’t quit; it’s what I really think I’m here to do. I think my purpose is to sing and act and do all that for people. To give them my inside, my true self, to say to all of them, “You are enough.” And my songs and my acting, I hope you get that from me, because that’s the point, that’s my purpose. Not just to have houses and cars. I really believe that’s the point.

So the don’t-stop is the main thing I’ve learned.

Just keep going, this is why you are here, be present. You’re going to get nos, you’re going to get yeses. This decade has taught me to just keep going.

For 2020, my prayer and my hope is to do more of what we’ve been doing, just keep going on that same trajectory. I’d perform a show every night if I could. I would want to do more shows, I want to have this record come out, I want to write these songs and finish another album that people can love. And of course, more film. I just booked this independent movie that I’m excited about. I’d want to end up with my music being played all over the world, and then being able to perform all over the world.

Gospel has made kind of a resurgence in the center of pop culture recently, with artists like Chance the Rapper and Kanye doing more explicitly religious projects. Is there a need and desire for more spirituality today that makes the mainstream more appreciative?

One thousand percent. That’s what’s gotten me through; it’s been the thing throughout my life since I was born. Absolutely we need it. I think it starts with the fact that you need to believe in something bigger than you. Something out there is bigger than you. And to me, that idea immediately should put you in a state of thankfulness. Appreciativeness, you know what I mean? It’s not just you here. It should make you want to work your butt off so that when you do come in front of somebody, that’s what they see: that you believe we’re all here together and you want to give back the best possible part of yourself. Gospel to me, it just puts you right there fast, because you’re in reverence, humility and praise. I think it’s huge.

Ring in the new year with Niki J Crawford, Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Torch Club (914 15 St.)! Show starts at 9 p.m. and is for those 21 and over. For ticket information and more details, visit Nikijcrawford.com. th

SubmergeMag.com

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916.440.0401 kuproscrafthouse.com @kuprossacto TUESDAYS • 7PM • OPEN MIC

EVERY SUNDAY 7:30PM

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Thurs, Dec 19

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5pm

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7pm

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Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

21

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

Red Hawk Casino Rockology, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Front the Band, 8 p.m.

904 15 Street 443.2797 th

Between I & J • Downtown Sacramento

TORCHCLUB.NET

MUSIC, COMEDY & MISC. CALENDAR

THUR

DEC 19 - JAN 2 MIND X 5:30PM

19

JELLYBREAD, CALLISTO

fri

THE BREAKERS 5:30PM

9PM

20 sat

21

ELVIS CANTÚ 9PM

LOOSE ENGINES 5:30PM

STACIE EAKES

& THE SUPERFREAKS

9PM

SUN

22 TUE

BLUES JAM 4PM

FRONT THE BAND 8PM WED

24 25

CLOSED MERRY CHRISTMAS

MIND X 5:30PM

THUR

26

CITY OF TREES BRASS BAND

HOLIDAY HANGOVER PARTY

FRI

9PM JIMMY PAILER & CO. 5:30PM

sat

DOS HOMBRES FUNK 5:30PM

SUN

BLUES JAM 4PM

27 TROPICALI FLAMES 9PM

28 DANIEL CASTRO 9PM 29

FRONT THE BAND 8PM

TUES

NIKI J. CRAWFORD,

31

NEW YEAR’S PARTY

MIGGY AND FRIENDS 9PM WED

1

THUR

2

22

NEW YEAR’S DAY HANGOVER HAPPY HOUR

THE O’MALLY SISTERS

BLOODY MARYS + MIMOSAS 3-7PM MIND X 5:30PM

LAUREN NAPIER, VIC RUGGIERO 9PM

DEC. 18 – JAN. 1

SUBMERGEMAG.COM/CALENDAR

12.18 WEDNESDAY

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

Crest Theatre Blind Boys of Alabama, 6:30 p.m.

Holy Diver Local Showcase: Tombs of Minerva, Mr Fritz, Winter Reign, Objects of Venus, Full Metal Hippies, 6:30 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Live Blues Jam Session, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Malcontent, Never 4 Naught, Nova Sutro, 8 p.m.

The Press Club Emo Night Sac, 8 p.m.

Revival at The Sawyer The Albertson Duo, 6 p.m.

Shady Lady Shady Jam Session, 9 p.m.

The Starlet Room Blues & Bourbon: Quique Gomez w/ Charlie Baty, Kind Andersen & Alex Pettersen, 5:30 p.m.

Torch Club JonEmery & the Unconventionals, 9 p.m.

12.19 THURSDAY

Ace of Spades Bleachers, Claud, 7 p.m. (Sold Out) The Amaral Center Center for the Arts Presents: Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice, 6:30 p.m.

B Street at The Sofia Soul 4 The Season: Lydia Pense, Fred Ross, Dana Moret, Paula Harris, 6 p.m.

The Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Audio Muse w/ Münechild, Basi Vibe, Flight Mongoose, Loose Engines, David Perez Band, 6 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Jessica Malone, 7 p.m.

First United Methodist Church A Master Singers Christmas, 7 p.m.

Fox & Goose Patrick Reilly Band, 8 p.m.

Goldfield Hellbound Glory, The Nickel Slots, 7:30 p.m.

Harlow’s ONOFF, Occupy the Trees, Chrome Rose, 7 p.m.

Holy Diver Cattle Decapitation, Atheist, Primitive Man, Author & Punisher, Vitriol, Purification by Fire, 6 p.m.

Palms Playhouse Christmas Jug Band Holiday Show, 6:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Michael Beck, 9:30 p.m.

The Press Club Ani Maul, Cassette Idols, Clevers, 8 p.m.

Shady Lady Harley White Jr. Orchestra, 9 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

The Starlet Room Hollywood Ball: A Planned Parenthood Benefit feat.

Whiskerman, Sam Eliot’s Spirit Disco, Drifts, ATM Machine, Sara and the Devil, 6:30 p.m.

Torch Club Mind X, 5:30 p.m.; JellyBread, Callisto, 9 p.m.

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

12.20 FRIDAY

Ace of Spades Azucar, La Sonora Dinamita, 7 p.m.

The Amaral Center Center for the Arts Presents: Irish Christmas in America, 12 p.m.

Armadillo Music Sweetgum, 8 p.m.

Auburn State Theatre Christmas Jug Band, 8 p.m.

B Street at The Sofia Ramana Vieira, 6 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Matt Rainey, 5 p.m.

The Boardwalk A Heavy Holiday Showcase: Without Hope, Down Hollow, Aspen Way, Nothing But Losers, Full Metal Hippies, Alta Luna, 6:30 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Spacewalker, Pregnant, Wsabi Fox, Bernie & the Wolf, 7 p.m.

Capitol Garage Capitol Friday’s Reggae Night w/ DJ Veyn, 10 p.m.

Crest Theatre Ozomatli, La Misa Negra, 6:30 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Mugshotz, 9 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Unlicensed Therapy, 9:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose Working Man Blues Band, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ CrookOne and Guests, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Kindred the Family Soul, 6 p.m.; Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Fendi P, 9:30 p.m.

Holy Diver Shortie, Long Drive Home, 7th Standard, Implant, 6:30 p.m. (Sold Out) Louie’s Cocktail Lounge William Mylar’s Hippie Hour, 5:30 p.m.; Sugar Shack, 9 p.m.

Mix Ugly Xmas Sweater Party w/ DJ Homicide, 9:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides The Goat Family, Kentucky Trust Fund, 8 p.m.

Opera House Saloon Katie Knipp Band, 9:30 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Placerville Public House Plaid City, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Lady Perry (Lady Gaga & Katy Perry Tribute), 10 p.m.

The Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

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

Shady Lady Turquoise, 9 p.m.

Shine Dusty Miller, Special Moves, Yeehaw Junction, 7:30 p.m.

The Starlet Room Wax, Ubi, Lance Skiiiwalker, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Michelle Berting Brett (Carpenters Christmas Tribute), 7:30 p.m.

Torch Club The Breakers, 5:30 p.m.; Elvis Cantu, 9 p.m.

12.21 SATURDAY

Ace of Spades Eric Bellinger, Ye Ali, Sy Ari Da Kid, Garren, 7 p.m.

Armadillo Music Jamm, 8 p.m.

B Street at The Sofia Irish Christmas in America, 7:30 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Sean Lehe and Friends, 3 p.m.

The Boardwalk Roland Tonies, Landline, Cherrie Lake, 7:30 p.m.

12. 23 MONDAY

The Colony Nam the Giver, Chud, Urns & Argyles, Tabloid Tea, 8 p.m.

Crooked Lane Brewing Co. Lowbrow, 7 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Neon Playboys, 9 p.m.

First United Methodist Church A Master Singers Christmas, 7 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Lucky Seven, 9:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose Rock for Tots: Adrian Bourgeois, Hans Eberbach, Christopher Fairman and More, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Joel the Band (Billy Joel Tribute), 6 p.m.; The Sugar High Band, 9:30 p.m.

Holy Diver Quitter, Bright Light Fever, Eightfourseven, Dusty Brown, Life In 24 Frames, 7 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Catalyst, 3:30 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Taylor Andrews & the Midnight Soul, Inception Jazz Quintet, 7 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Ukulele SingAlong, 11:30 a.m.; Free Ukulele Class, 1 p.m.

Old Ironsides Lipstick w/ DJs Shaun Slaughter & Roger Carpio, 9 p.m.

Opera House Saloon Moonshine Crazy, 9:30 p.m.

Palms Playhouse DonGato Latin Band, 6:30 p.m.

Placerville Public House Dog Park Justice, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Aqua Nett, 10 p.m.

The Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino The Spazmatics, 10 p.m.

Red Museum A Very Red Xmas II: J. Irvin Dally, LaTour, Weirdoze, Chopstick and More, 8 p.m.

Shady Lady Kings St. Giants, 9 p.m.

Shine Sugarbeast, The Delta Mystics, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Loose Engines, 5:30 p.m.; Stacie Eakes & The Superfreaks, 9 p.m.

Woodstock’s Pizza Davis Danger Force 5, The Truckaderos, 10 p.m.

12.22 SUNDAY

Auburn State Theatre Auburn Winds Winter Concert, 3 p.m.

Benvenuti Performing Arts Center Corima: Fiesta Folklor, 7:30 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Misner and Smith, 3 p.m.

Blue Note Brewing Co. SideWheeler String Band, 3 p.m.

First United Methodist Church A Master Singers Christmas, 3 p.m.

The Flamingo House Freqish feat.

Sicaria Sound, Kozee, LB, 3 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Austin Payne, 3 p.m.

Harlow’s The Rat Pack Christmas Show, 4 & 7:30 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Four Barrel, 3 p.m.

LowBrau Throwback Jams w/ DJ Epik & Special Guests, 9:30 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Factor IX w/ DJ Hawk, DJ CarnieRobber and Guests, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Shift, DJ Gabe Xavier, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Curtis Salgado, 3 p.m.; Another Damn Disapointment, Flip The Switch, Lesser Sons, 8 p.m.

Armadillo Music Supernaut, 7 p.m.

Harlow’s Ghostface Killah, Bru Lei, Unlearn the World, 8 p.m.

Holy Diver X-Mess Raps: Rocko Raps, Bimes Ill, Tteddy Hill, DJ Kashaun and More, 7 p.m.

LowBrau Motown on Monday’s w/ DJ Epik, 9 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Nebraska Mondays: An Evening of Trios Drawn From A Hat, 7 p.m.

Old Ironsides Heath Williamson & Friends, 5:30 p.m.

The Press Club Julian Never, Eugene, Buk Buk Bigups, 8:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Frankie and the Defenders, 8 p.m.

12.24 TUESDAY

Luna’s Cafe Christmas Eve Orphan Show feat. Kevin & Allyson Seconds, Kepi, David Houston, Jonah Matranga, 8 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Gotcha Covered, 8 p.m.

12.25 WEDNESDAY

Red Hawk Casino Bobby Zoppi & the Corduroys, 8 p.m.

12.26 THURSDAY

The Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Gene Barnett, 7 p.m.

Fox & Goose Justis & McLane, 8 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe The Working Man Blues Band, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Megan T. Smith, 9:30 p.m.

The Press Club Throwback Thursday w/ Sweet Boy, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino California Country, 8 p.m.

Shady Lady Shadia, 9 p.m.

Shine Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Mind X, 5:30 p.m.; City of Trees Brass Band, 9 p.m.

12.27 FRIDAY

Ace of Spades Vista Kicks, Beck Pete, The Jacks, 7 p.m.

Bar 101 Todd Morgan, 9:30 p.m.

The Boardwalk Volrahven, Nail the Casket, Tomb of Minerva, Abeyance, 7:30 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Fake It, Sad Girlz Club, Oh Lonesome Ana, Patrick Hills, 8 p.m.

Capitol Garage Capitol Friday’s Reggae Night w/ DJ Veyn, 10 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Superbad, 9 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Rolling Heads, 9:30 p.m.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Fox & Goose Be Brave Bold Robot, Güero, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ CrookOne and Guests, 10 p.m.

Harlow’s Mother Hips, 8 p.m.

Holy Diver Arden Park Roots, The Stoneberries, 7 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge William Mylar’s Hippie Hour, 5:30 p.m.; Sactown’s Joy Ride, 9 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Rainier Rose & Don Rico, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides The Mindful, Refract, 9 p.m.

Opera House Saloon Unlicensed Therapy, 9:30 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Schoeny, 9:30 p.m.

Placerville Public House Gene Barnett, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Thunder Cover, 10 p.m.

The Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino 8 Track Massacre, 9:30 p.m.

Shady Lady Nagual, 9 p.m.

Shine Juliet Company, Streetlight Fire, Vinnie Guidera & The Dead Birds, 8 p.m.

The Starlet Room Th’ Losin Streaks, Midnite Snaxx, The Cavemen, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Tower of Power, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Jimmy Pailer & Co., 5:30 p.m.; Tropicali Flames, 9 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Globs, Sarchasm, Danger Inc., Get Married, 7 p.m.

Faces NightClub Dusk w/ Freddy Silva, Hydrolyphics, Zehbra, 3 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Jason Weeks, 3 p.m.

Harlow’s Con Brio, Ideateam, 7 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Sugar Shack, 5 p.m.

LowBrau Throwback Jams w/ DJ Epik & Special Guests, 9:30 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Factor IX w/ DJ Hawk, DJ CarnieRobber and Guests, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Scooter, DJ Gabe Xavier, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Jeremy Norris, 3 p.m.

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

Red Hawk Casino Buck Ford, 8 p.m.

Shady Lady Year End Review, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Blues Jam, 4 p.m.; Front the Band, 8 p.m.

12.30 MONDAY

Luna’s Cafe Alex Jenkins Quartet, 7 p.m.

Old Ironsides Heath Williamson & Friends, 5:30 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Jessie Leigh, 8 p.m.

12.28 12.31 SATURDAY

Ace of Spades Too Short, Webster the Kat, Mahtie Bush, Aye Tee, Radio Club, Class, Ultra Violet, Jay Silo, 7 p.m.

The Boardwalk The Austin Mo Experience, Footube, Doris, 7:30 p.m.

Cafe Colonial JC Meyers, Killer Couture, Corroded Master, 8 p.m.

Crooked Lane Brewing Co. The Double Shots, 7 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Box Band, 9 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Mach 5, 9:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose Smokey Red, Ally & Kally O’Mally, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Mother Hips, 8 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Ukulele SingAlong, 11:30 a.m.; Free Ukulele Class, 1 p.m.

Old Ironsides The O’Mulligans, Rebel Punk, The Brodys, 8:30 p.m.

Opera House Saloon Rock With You: The Michael Jackson Tribute, 9 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Peeti V, 9:30 p.m.

PJ’s Roadhouse Eric McFadden, Kate Vargas & Guests, 8 p.m.

Placerville Public House Drytown Smugglers, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Spazmatics, 10 p.m.

The Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Superbad, 10 p.m.

Shady Lady Kyle Rowland, 9 p.m.

Shine Patrick Nehoda, Acharya, 8 p.m.

Stone Vintage Music Boutique Micah Schnabel, Hank & Lulu, Brian Hanover, Vanessa Jean Speckman, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Tower of Power, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Dos Hombres Funk, 5:30 p.m.; Daniel Castro, 9 p.m.

12.29 SUNDAY

Blue Note Brewing Co. Holiday Sock Hop w/ Rockabilly Love Cats, 3 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

TUESDAY

Ace of Spades Strangelove (Depeche Mode Tribute), Temptation (New Order Tribute), Just Like Heaven (The Cure Tribute), Electric Duke (David Bowie Tribute), DJ Bryan Hawk, School of Rock Allstars, 7 p.m.

The Boardwalk Toy Called God, The Ellusive Fur’s, Cardboard Ringo, Third Eye Spiral, MethodOne, 7:30 p.m.

Crest Theatre Jackie Greene Band, 8 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Noon Years Eve Party, 12 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Press Play, 9 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon The Sock Monkey, 9:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Pop Rocks, 9 p.m.

Holy Diver Emo Night Sac: New Years F#*%ing Eve, 7 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Tim Noxon Rockin’ New Years Eve, 9 p.m.

LowBrau The Whooligan, Soosh*e!, MosJef, LejonBrames, E-Mon, 9 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Club Necromancy: DJ Keyz, DJ David V, 9 p.m.

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, 8:30 p.m.

Old Ironsides Lipstick! w/ Contra, DJ Shaun Slaughter, DJ Roger Carpio, 9 p.m.

Opera House Saloon Ariel Jean Band, 9:30 p.m.

Palms Playhouse The Gold Souls, Ten foot Tiger, 8:30 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Peeti V, 8 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Skid Roses, 10 p.m.

Punch Bowl Social New Year’s Eve Outer Space Bash, 9 p.m.

The Press Club DJs Hunter Chollet & Marcus Leonardo, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Patton Leatha, 5 p.m.; Fresh, 10 p.m.

The Sky Room (Country Club Lanes) The Fryed Brothers Band, Second Sight, 8 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Boyz II Men, 8 & 10:30 p.m.

Torch Club Niki J. Crawford, Miggy and Friends, 9 p.m.

Two Rivers Cider Co. Phrogg, 4 p.m.

1.01 WEDNESDAY

The Atrium First Day 2020 New Years Day Party w/ DJ Kaushun, DJ Kittie Lynne, Darby, Vedda, Mike Bledsoe, Todd Hurley, Pumatron and More, 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Live Blues Jam Session, 8 p.m.

Torch Club The O’Mally Sisters, 3 p.m.

Comedy Crooked Lane Brewing Co. Billy Anderson, Mike Masilotti, Wendy Lewis, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.

Folsom Hotel Saloon Standup Saloon Hosted by Jason Anderson, Mondays, 8 p.m.

JB’s Lounge & Grill Wild’N Out Wednesday Night Open Mic Comedy, Wednesdays, 9 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Say It Loud Comedy w/ Michael Calvin Jr. & Guests, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.

Carlos Rodriguez, Jack Galvin, Liz Stone, Dec. 20 - 22, Fri. & Sat, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Jingle Ball Comedy Jam w/ Carlos Rodriguez & Jack Assadourian Jr., Dec. 24, 7 p.m.

Smile Out Loud w/ Steph Sanders, Nick Larson, Curtis Newingham, Dec. 26, 8 p.m.

Lance Woods & Guests, Dec. 27 29, Fri. & Sat, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

Laughin’ In the New Year w/ Lance Woods, Tony Le, Benton Harshaw, Dec. 31, 7 & 10 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe Open Mic Comedy w/ Hosts Jaime Fernandez and Michael Cella, Tuesdays, 8 p.m.

On the Y Open Mic Comedy w/ Guest Hosts, Thursdays, 8:30 p.m.

Punch Line Sacramento Comedy Showcase, Dec. 18, 8 p.m.

Jesus Trejo, Torio Van Grol, Rudy Ortiz, Dec. 19 - 21, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m.

Joke Me Off Presents: Home For The Holidays w/ Mike Betancourt, Diego Curiel, Nick Larson, Saul Trujillo & More, Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Kevin Camia & Louis Katz, Dec. 26 - 28, Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m.

There Goes the Neighborhood Comedy, Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m.

Callback Comedy Open Mic, Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m.

Sacramento’s Last Laughs NYE Show w/ Wendy Lewis, Chazz Hawkins, Nick Aragon, Kris Tinkle & More, Dec. 31, 7:30 & 10 p.m.

Sacramento Comedy Spot Open Mic, Sunday’s and Mondays, 8 p.m.

Improv Taste Test and Harold Night, Wednesdays, 7 - 10 p.m.

Cage Match and Improv Jam, Thursdays, 8 - 10 p.m.

Anti-Cooperation League, Saturdays, 9 p.m.

STAB! Comedy Theater Comedy Open Mic, Thursdays, 9 p.m.

STAB! Podcast Panel Show, Fridays, 10 p.m.

Late Week Leftovers Open Mic, Sundays, 8 p.m.

Misc.

1409 Del Paso Blvd. Uptown Market on the Boulevard, Saturdays, 12 - 5 p.m.

8th and W Streets Certified Farmers Market, Sundays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

20th Street (Between J and L) Midtown Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

B Street at The Sofia Wizard of Oz, Through Dec. 26 On An Open Fire, Through Dec. 29

Blue Cue Trivia Night, Wednesdays, 9 p.m.

The Boxing Donkey Trivia Night, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Capitol Garage Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz, Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.

Dinner and a Drag Show, Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Country Club Plaza Certified Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.

- 12 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Arte Extraordinario: Recent Acquisitions, Through Jan. 5, 2020 Pueblo Dynasties Master Potters from Matriarchs to Contemporaries, Through Jan. 5, 2020 When I Remember I See Red: American Indian Art and Activism in California, Through Jan. 26, 2020 Cool Clay: Recent Acquisitions of Contemporary Ceramics, Through July 19, 2020 Crooked Lane Brewing Co. Trivia Night, Wednesdays, 6 p.m.

Downtown Woodland Historic District 4th Annual Ugly Sweater Party, Dec. 21, 6 p.m.

Florin Road & 65th Street Certified Farmers Market, Thursdays, 8 a.m.

- 12 p.m.

Fox & Goose Pub Quiz, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Guild Theater 7th Annual La Pastorela de Sacramento, Dec. 18 - 22 Harris Center for the Arts Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet Theatre Presents: The Nutcracker, Dec. 19 - 22 El Dorado Musical Theatre’s Holiday Celebration, Dec. 23, 7 p.m.

Highwater The Trivia Factory, Mondays, 7 p.m.

Hiram Johnson High School The Nutcracker in Oak Park, Dec. 20 - 24 Historic Old Folsom Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Triviology, Sundays, 7:30 p.m.

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

Sac Unified Poetry Slam, Dec. 20, 8 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium Sacramento Ballet: The Nutcracker, Through Dec. 22 McClatchy Park Oak Park Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Midtown BarFly Salsa Lessons, Wednesdays, 8 p.m.

Oblivion Comics & Coffee Drink & Draw, Saturdays, 3 p.m.

Old Sacramento Bars New Years Eve 2nd Street Bar Crawl, Dec. 31 Old Sacramento Waterfront New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular, Dec. 31, 6 p.m.

Strikes Unlimited (Rocklin) Let’s Get Quzzical: Trivia Game Show Experience, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Sunrise Light Rail Station Certified Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.

- 12 p.m.

Tower Brewing Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz, Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Two Rivers Cider Co. Cribbage Night, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

Trivia Night, Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

Yolo Brewing Co. Trivia Night, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

The

Boardwalk FRI, DEC 20

9426 GREENBACK ORANGEVALE (916) 358-9116 BOARDWALKROCKS.COM

ALL AGES • 6PM

A HEAVY HOLIDAY SHOWCASE WITHOUT HOPE

DOWN HOLLOW / FULL METAL HIPPIES / ALT LUNA ASPEN WAY / NOTHING BUT LOOSERS SAT, DEC 21

ALL AGES • 7:30PM

ROLAND TONIES

LANDLINE CHERRIE LAKE

FRI, DEC 27

ALL AGES • 7:30PM

VOLRAHVEN

NAIL THE CASKET / TOMB OF MINERVA ABEYANCE SAT, DEC 28

ALL AGES • 7:30PM

THE AUSTIN MO XPERIENCE FOOTUBE DORIS (FEATURING JONNIE LOVE) WED, DEC 31

21+ • 7:30PM

BANDHOPPERS NEW YEARS ROCK N METAL EVE TOY CALLED GOD

VOLRAHVEN / DOWNCYPHER / FAILURE BY PROXY FRI, JAN 10

ALL AGES • 7:30PM

THE PAT TRAVERS BAND

ARMINIUS TWO WORLDS “PLUGGED IN” SAT, JAN 11

ALL AGES • 7:30PM

NIVIANE

POTENTIAL THREAT / SONIC PROPHECY FROM THE RUINS

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

23

1517 21 st Street Sacramento

Holydiversac.com

THRIVE

SAT DECEMBER 21 • 7PM

All Ages & Bar Music Venue

CHUCK MULLEN

FRI DECEMBER 27 • 7PM

TUE DECEMBER 31 • 7PM• 21+

FRI JANUARY 3 • 7PM

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

CHELSEA JADE

BLUE FICTION STNRKREW • CALI BEAR GANG • K FLOH

SAT JANUARY 4 • 7PM

SUN JANUARY 5 • 7PM

WED JANUARY 8 • 7PM

THU JANUARY 9 • 7PM

FRI JANUARY 1O • 6:3OPM

SAT JANUARY 11 • 7PM

THU JANUARY 16 • 6:3OPM

FRI JANUARY 17 • 7PM

LIFE OF THE AFTERPARTY

SAT JANUARY 18 • 7PM 24

SUN JANUARY 19 • 7PM

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

MON JANUARY 2O • 6PM

THU JANUARY 23 • 6PM Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

1517 21 st Street Sacramento Holydiversac.com

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

OPEN DAILY AT 4PM

ng Servi

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STRATA

FRI JANUARY 24 • 7PM

SAT JANUARY 25 • 6:3OPM

SUN JANUARY 26 • 6PM

SAT FEBRUARY 1 • 7PM

coming soon

WED FEBRUARY 5 • 6:3OPM

MON FEBRUARY 1O • 6PM

TUE FEBRUARY 11 • 7PM

WED FEBRUARY 12 • 6:3OPM

THU FEBRUARY 13 • 6PM

FRI FEBRUARY 14 • 7PM

SUN FEBRUARY 16 • 7PM

WED FEBRUARY 26 • 7PM

THU FEBRUARY 27 • 7PM

SubmergeMag.com

DECEMBER 2O: sold out SHORTIE / LONG DRIVE HOME DECEMBER 23: X-MESS RAPS DECEMBER 28: FONTY JANUARY 12: LOUMUZIK LIVE FEBRUARY 18: sold out IANN DIOR FEBRUARY 28: SOCIAL CLUB MISFIT MARCH 6: THE HOLDUP, GRIEVES MARCH 11: LOUIS XIV MARCH 12: CITY MORGUE MARCH 13: WHILE SHE SLEEPS

MARCH 14: KNUCKLE PUCK MARCH 27: BAD OMENS MARCH 29: GORILLABISCUITS APRIL 5: TINY MOVING PARTS APRIL 9: PRO-PAIN APRIL 17 & 18: LYNCH MOB APRIL 22: POWERGOVE MAY 16: SWALLOW THE SUN MAY 27: ANTI-FLAG MAY 31: FLOTSAM & JETSAM SEPT 14: AMARANTHE

LIGHT, 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020 Issue 307SO MUCH • December CATBAMBOO AND ROMAN PILOT

25

THE SHALLOW END Ah, 2019, what a year! What a decade! 2019 was a weird, up and down year. Can I get an “Amen”? I had a lot of “new” this year. New job (what up, Placer County Library?), new dog, a few new places I’d never been to in the great state of California. I also learned how to properly switch the inputs on my TV. I went a whole year without breaking the screen of any of my devices. Yeah, it’s been a big year.

In trying to think of how to “wrap up” 2019, I’m a little ashamed to say I think of the year in TV shows and movies. The news was atrocious, as usual (though I’m hoping we all get a nice big slice of impeachment pie for the New Year), and I don’t want to bring y’all down with all the bad stuff going on. Instead, let’s talk about Chernobyl.

Kidding.

Actually, 2019 saw an amazing assortment of new shows and movies. One of my favorites was the HBO limited series, Chernobyl, a sortafictitious-but-mostly-true account of the events that occurred during the nuclear disaster in 1986 Ukraine. HBO was kind of on a roll this year, with new seasons of Big Little Lies, Barry

2019: THERE WERE A LOT OF MARVEL MOVIES…

and the final season of Game of Thrones, which had the entire world basically watching to see who would take the throne. I’m curious to see what HBO has in store for us in 2020—especially with the influx of new streaming channels. I’d better get season two of Euphoria.

And let’s not forget the Fourth of July celebration we all had, toasting with our Eggo’s in hand as we binge-watched season three of Stranger Things. Seriously. We do not deserve two things: dogs and Stranger Things. But I am so glad we have both.

Is it just me, or are TV shows getting … smarter? Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime seem to be pulling out all the stops when it comes to writing clever dialogue and intricate storylines. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel knocked my socks off at the end of 2019 with its third season. America seems to want more, more, more! of witty, smart comedy.

Apple TV+ started off strong with its powerful star-studded drama, The Morning Show.

And Disney+ sorta dropped out of nowhere, fulfilling my wildest dreams of rewatching the weird-ass movies I watched as a kid—like Return

to Oz and Babes in Toyland. And, you know, literally anything that has ever been on the Disney Channel or in the vault. Brink!, anyone?

And, ah, the movies. Maybe it was something in the air, but I went to a lot of movies this year. Aside from the usual Marvel films dominating the box office, I have to say I was pleased with some of the more oddball cinema this year. If you saw Taika Waititi’s black humor take on Hitler youth, Jojo Rabbit, you probably loved it as much as I did. Also, Tarantino’s latest masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which throws major love to old Hollywood and some major shade to the Manson family. Another film that tried something new was Yesterday, which depicted what would happen if The Beatles were erased from the world’s memory—except for one guy.

And sequels, sequels, sequels. So many sequels this year. I anticipate more of the same in 2020. Maybe we’ll all be dazzled.

I suppose it’s not a year-end/yearbeginning rant and rave unless we talk about the dreaded topic: resolutions. What do you guys think? I’m not a fan of them, personally. If

S WKIN IE HA L L O M JAMES BARONE jb@submergemag.com I want to change a bad behavior or start a good one, I try to just fuckin’ do it. Why wait?

But, I get it. Change is hard, sometimes you have to really rev yourself up for it or wait for the local gyms to have their obligatory “New Year: New You” membership sales. Whatever floats your boat. I do know that I can time it like clockwork: My local gym will be jampacked with do-gooders for the first half of January, and then dip down to less-intense patron levels in February. Don’t be those people. You can do it!

All the more reason to not bother with resolutions, I say. Pick something you actually want to do. Like, decide to take at least 12 hikes in 12 months. Or vow to not eat at Del Taco after 9 p.m. Or plan to take a vacation outside the state. Start eating more vegetables.

Stop eating so many bagels. I don’t know; the world is your oyster. Let’s do this, 2020!

As for me, I think my resolution is to do a few of the things above. Except the bagels. I’m not giving those up.

Ring in the NEW YEAR with something fabulous!

26

LITTLE &BOUTIQUE RELICS GALLERIA LITTLE Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

1111 24th St. #103

Midtown Sacramento 95816

916.346.4615 www.littlerelics.com Open 7 days a week

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

2708 J Street SACRAMENTO 916.441.4693 HARLOWS.COM * ALL Thursday

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Friday

TIMES ARE DOOR TIMES*

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DEC 28

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Saturday

DEC 20 6PM $37 all ages

KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL

LOW! TIX

Friday

DEC 29

7PM $17adv 21+

Saturday

JAN 11 5:30PM $15 all ages

9:30PM $26adv 21+

CURREN$Y

LOW! TIX

DEC 31

9PM $25adv 21+

SMOKE DZA, FENDI P

DEC 21

JOEL THE BAND

6PM $10adv all ages

Saturday

JAN 4

5:30PM $20 all ages

7PM $15adv 21+

MOTHER HIPS

PACIFIC RANGE *DEC 27 ONLY THE COFFIS BROTHERS *DEC 28 ONLY

CON BRIO IDEATEAM

NEW YEARS EVE WITH

POP ROCKS

ACHILLES WHEEL

Saturday

DEC 21

THE SUGAR HIGH BAND

9:30PM $12adv 21+

THE RAT PACK CHRISTMAS LOW! X I T SHOW

Sunday

DEC 22

4 PM, all ages & 7:30PM, 21+ $23adv Monday

DEC 23

LOW! TIX

8PM $27.50adv 21+

GHOSTFACE KILLAH

BRU LEI, UNLEARN THE WORLD

thu DEC 19 6:30PM | 21+

JAN 4

9:30PM $25adv 21+ Friday

JAN 10

5:30PM $12adv all ages

BLACKALICIOUS

NIA 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

STARGAZING: A BOWIE TRIBUTE

THE ROA BROTHERS BAND, SPACEWALKER, THE HEY-NOWS!, THE TIPSY ORCHESTRINA

Friday

JAN 10

9:30PM $12adv 21+

Friday

JAN 17

JOY & MADNESS

LIQUID LIGHTS BY MAD ALCHEMY

TAINTED LOVE

9PM $18adv 21+ BEST OF THE ‘80S LIVE!

Saturday

JAN 18

MIDGE URE

6PM $20adv all ages

SONGS, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS TOUR

Saturday

THEO KATZMAN

JAN 18

9:30PM $22.50adv 21+

RETT MADISON

COMING SOON 1.19 Leif Vollebekk 1.21 Morgan Heritage 1.23 YBN Cordae (sold out) 1.24 Scarface w/ Live Band 1.25 Wyclef Jean (low tix!)

1.30 The Fred Eaglesmith Show 2.01 The Purple Ones (Prince tribute) 2.02 Radical Face 2.05 Grateful Shred 2.10 Pinegrove 2.15 Tacocat 2.16 Lund + guccihighwaters 2.18 Magic City Hippies 2.21+2.22 The Jimmy Dore Show Live 2.22 Andy Shauf (late) 2.23 Badfish (Sublime Tribute) 2.26 Combo Chimbita & Y La Bamba 2.27 Dustbowl Revival 2.28 Las Cafeteras 2.29 Lower Dens 3.01 Eric Gales 3.08 R.LUM.R 3.16 Dan Deacon 3.17 Summer Salt 4.03 Of Montreal 4.09 Mod Sun 4.19 The James Hunter Six 4.20 Poliça 5.05 Mudhoney 6.12 Nikka Costa

fri DEC 27 8PM | 21+

wed JAN 8 5:30PM | ALL AGES

TH’ LOSIN STREAKS

ANDY SANTANA & THE

PLUM ANDERSON

SAM ELIOT’S SPIRIT DISCO, SARA & THE DEVIL

UBI (OF CES CRU), LANCE SKIIIWALKER

fri JAN 10 8PM | 21+

sat JAN 11 6PM | ALL AGES

sun JAN 12 6:30PM | 21+

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mon JAN 20 6PM | ALL AGES

wed JAN 22 5:30PM | ALL AGES

THE NICKEL SLOTS

DIAMOND, ZARIA, AARON LE

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HOLLYWOOD BALL: A PLANNED PARENTHOOD BENEFIT

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fri DEC 20 8PM | 21+

WAND

JAN 16

Saturday

Saturday

WHISKEY & STITCHES, ONE-EYED REILLY, THE PIKEYS, STEPPING STONE, THE MCKEEVER SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCE & SPECIAL GUEST BOB EASTWALL

Thursday

Tuesday

DEC 20

IRISHPALOOZA 2020

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thu JAN 9 6PM | ALL AGES

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fri FEB 7 8PM | 21+ NIVIANE

HOSTED BY WENDY WILLIAMS

BLUES & BOURBON

DANA MORET

HOMEBOY SANDMAN, QUELLE CHRIS

FOXES IN FICTION

“THE RUTHLESS DIVINE” LISTENING PARTY

BLUES & BOURBON

sun FEB 16 6PM | ALL AGES PART TIME, GARY WILSON BRYSON CONE

Issue 307 • December 18, 2019 – January 1, 2020

27

DIVE INTO SACRAMENTO & ITS SURROUNDING AREAS

DECEMBER 18, 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JANUARY 1, 2020

#307

NIKI J CRAWFORD SG LEWIS

ELECTRIC EUPHORIA

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