Submerge Magazine: Issue 214 (May 23 - June 6, 2016)

Dive into Sacramento & its Surrounding Areas

MAY 23 – June 6, 2016 • #214

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Coast to Coast

Veg

Eat Clean

Sister Crayon

Sign Major Label Deal

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Heats Up the Sacramento River

Few & Far graffiti crew Going the Extra Mile

Merdog

In the Groove

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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dive in

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

214 2016

come hell or highwater

may 23 – june 6

Melissa welliver melissa@submergemag.com cofounder/ Editor in Chief/Art Director

Melissa Welliver melissa@ submergemag.com cofounder/ Advertising Director

20

11

28

Jonathan Carabba jonathan@ submergemag.com senior editor

James Barone Assistant Editor

Daniel Taylor

Contributing Writers

Amber Amey, Ellen Baker, Brian Brophy, Bocephus Chigger, Ronnie Cline, Justin Cox, Alia Cruz, Josh Fernandez, Catherine Foss, Andy Garcia, Fabian Garcia, Blake Gillespie, Lovelle Harris, Mollie Hawkins, Eddie Jorgensen, Niki Kangas, Nur Kausar, John Phillips, Ryan Prado, Andrew C. Russell, Estefany Salas, Amy Serna, Jacob Sprecher Contributing photographers Wesley Davis, Evan E. Duran, Kevin Fiscus, Phill Mamula, Jason Sinn, Nicholas Wray

Submerge

1009 22nd Street, Suite 3 Sacramento, California 95816

916.441.3803 info@ submergemag.com

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Dive in

20

06

The Stream

22 calendar

07

The Optimistic Pessimist

26

merdog

trippin' 11 road to utah!

28

few and far

12

Submerge your senses

30

the shallow end

18

veg

outside the 9-to-5

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the growlers

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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 1009 22nd Street, Suite 3 Sacramento, California 95816.

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

Front Cover photo of the growlers by Taylor Bonin back Cover Photo of merdog

by Kevin Cortopassi

I breathe sigh of relief when I send all my files off to our printer. Things all came together and worked out well to compile yet again, another quality issue, despite of life's challenges.

A house flooding, a wedding out of town, an editor moving into a new house with his rad girlfriend, a story that took four weeks to set up as well as another story getting turned in and edited just hours before our deadline ... everything worked out and this issue hits streets on schedule, as it always does.

We got some great stuff in this issue, for instance we interviewed Brooks Nielsen of The Growlers, who grace our front cover. Last year when they played TBD Fest, I got six emails from writers requesting to interview them. SIX! I've never had that many requests from our writers to interview one band. However, then we didn't have any extra room for a feature then, so low-in-behold we had to pass. Luckily they are back in town to play Ace of Spades on June 10 and the first person to email me was Andrew Russell, again. This interview took quite a while to set up, but it happened and Nielsen's answers about music and making art were worth the two new grey hairs. You can read up starting on page 20.

As you may have notice this year we (deliberately) took a break on our annual self-guided bike mural feature.

This year we wanted to feature one particular graffiti crew that has quite a few murals around town called Few and Far. This will be their fifth annual Block Party and it will be held at 24th and S streets in Sacramento on June 4. You can read about artist that keeps all the Meme and her crew starting on page 28. We also have a sidebar of mural and locations around town-thus it is still May, you can clock some of those bike miles riding around town checking out the list of murals we have listed.

Please check out our other features on local band Merdog who have a release show coming up at Fox and Goose on June 11, see page 26. As well as on page 18, our feature on the local eatery Veg who opened their doors quietly in January, in the space above Thai Basil, which was formerly Level Up lounge.

Enjoy issue #214!

Melissa

Submergemag.com Follow us on Twitter & Instagram! @SubmergeMag printed on recycled paper

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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The stream Jonathan Carabba

Send regional news tips to info@submergemag.com

Photo by Phill Mamula

“It Feels Like A Dream …”

Local Act Sister Crayon Inks Deal With Warner Bros. Records Last week the popular Sacramento electronic duo Sister Crayon announced they’ve signed a deal with one of the most influential major labels of our time, Warner Bros.

Records. The signing sees Sister Crayon join a stacked WBR roster including fellow Sacramentans Deftones, as well as Built to Spill, Blur, Death From Above 1979, Foals, Gary Clark Jr., Green Day, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tegan and Sara, The Flaming Lips and many other global acts. In the wake of the big news, Submerge caught up with Sister Crayon singer Terra Lopez just days after the ink dried.

Now that it’s been a few days since you guys officially announced the signing, how are you feeling? Are things still feeling sort of surreal, or has it really settled in that you guys are now on a major label?

It’s been a surreal week for sure. It feels like a dream most times but it also is now starting to settle in now that we have announced it. The city’s support and response has been completely overwhelming. We knew Sacramento has always supported us but we had no idea the city supported us this much. I truly feel like the whole city is with us on this journey and this signing is for us all here, you know? It feels that way … I went into the Warner Bros. offices last week and finalized everything and met with some of the team there and it suddenly clicked that we were really doing this.

I cried as soon as I got home and called my mom right away.

The team at Warner is fucking incredible. A dream, really. Our A&R rep, Samantha Maloney, is incredible and it’s such an honor to work with not only such an amazing artist herself

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

but also she’s just such a good person. We really got lucky with that. The rest of the team at Warner has been so supportive, so incredible.

We’re just so grateful. I can’t keep saying it.

When can we expect Sister Crayon’s Warner Bros. debut?

And will it be a re-release of Devoted or will we be getting all new material? Can you hint at what fans can expect?

I can’t disclose much information right now but it will be a mixture of material previously released as well as brand new stuff never heard before. Fans should expect it in the fall! It will be a fulllength on WBR. Anything else you want to say or get off your chest? Whether about the band, all your hard work and paid dues, the hometown love for Sac, etc.

Dani [Fernandez, Sister Crayon beat-maker] and I just want to thank Sacramento for supporting us for over eight years. Sacramento was selling out shows of ours back in ‘09.

I mean, it’s just insane that this city has stuck with us

and championed us for all these years. We love this city and cannot wait to represent Sacramento in everything we do. I guess, this just shows that you really can achieve anything you want to if you just stick with it. It sounds so cliche but we are living proof of that. We still have so much to do, we haven’t even scratched the surface of what we would like to do but we kept going. There were so many times it seemed impossible, barely making rent, living in walk-in closets just to be able to keep rent low so we could afford to tour, etc. And getting here certainly had its fair share of sacrifices and it has not been easy. It won’t be easy but if you love something and think about something every day you wake up, you have to do it no matter how hard it is. We are proof that it will work if you keep hustling.

Keep up with Sister Crayon by following them on social media at Facebook.com/sistercrayon and/or Twitter.com/sistercrayon.

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

The Optimistic Pessimist The media has been in a tizzy over revelations that presidential candidate and world class blowhard Donald Trump pretended to be his own spokesman during phone interviews with them in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Members of the press have accused him of using names like John Miller, John Barron and Donald Baron in conversations with them in an attempt to bolster his rep and stroke his own ego.

The Washington Post even released audio from an interview between a People magazine reporter and a Trump spokesman named John Miller as proof of the scheme. While I’ll admit that the voice on the tape sounds eerily similar to the Donald in both speech patterns and voice, there may still be one big problem with this theory: I actually met a man claiming to be John Miller, spokesman for Donald J. Trump!

John Miller is a tall man. His pale skin is weathered and wrinkled, and his spotty, bald head is ringed with a faint whisper of blondish-red hair.

He wears large-framed, lightly shaded glasses that partially cover his always-judging blue eyes.

The lower half of his face is dominated by a thick red mustache that almost distracts you from his protruding belly. His fingers are short and stubby, but well-manicured and unburdened by jewelry.

Flashy in appearance he is not. The suit he wore to the interview was nice, but not too nice and otherwise unremarkable; almost like he was trying

hard not to stand out. Yet, despite his attempts to blend in, Miller undeniably shares some things with his boss; John speaks matter-of-factly (even when he doesn’t seem to know what he is talking about) and, of course, he has nothing but praise for Donald Trump.

John Miller told me he grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the 1940s. His father, Baeron (pronounced Baron) was a master carpenter and worked on many of the casinos in the area. John’s mother, Anne Marie was an Irish immigrant and had met John’s father on a trip to America when she was a teenager. They married soon after and John was born nine months later.

John described his father almost as if he were a god. “[My father] could have whatever he wanted.

If he wanted something, he took it and nobody said nothing! He was a tremendous … man.” On his mother, Miller didn’t seem as enthusiastic, but did say that she kept the house clean and he and his father well fed, “so I guess she was alright, for an immigrant.”

Miller said he grew up in a blue collar community and went to public school. I asked him which schools he attended and when, and after much thought he answered that they had all been torn down and he couldn’t remember. He did, however, vividly recall his own feats of athleticism during the time and that all of the ladies wanted

Speaking for The Donald? him because he was a great lover. “Second only to the man, Donald J. Trump, himself!” he told me with a grin that stretched across his burdensome mustache.

When asked how and when he came to know Trump, Miller explained that his father had met Trump during the construction of the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City. “Trump was impressed with my father’s craftsmanship and asked him to come out to MarA-Lago to celebrate after construction of the casino completed. My father was allowed one guest and he chose me over my mother because I had an incredible career as a spokesman. He thought Trump might be more stunned by my amazing skills with the words that I speak than by my Irish mom. I think he made the right choice.”

Miller claimed that Trump was so impressed with his resume and his gift for gab that he hired him on the spot. “Trump said I reminded him of himself. I told him that was the greatest most incredible compliment I have and will ever receive. We have been close friends ever since.”

“That’s why I think it’s great that Trump is running for President!” Miller gushed. “[Trump] is a great man … some say the greatest. The guy kills it on all the business deals. He is also smart, probably a genius, and knows more about things than anyone else. Just look at what he’s been saying about Mexico; they are killing us! Them and China! And Trump is the only one calling them on their crap. The guy is amazing!”

Bocephus Chigger bocephus@submergemag.com “That’s why Donald Trump has all the money and things that anyone could want and has slept with the hottest, most luxurious broads on the planet.” Miller continued, “Even his daughter, Ivanka, is a 10. She is truly one of the great beauties of the world. I mean, I wouldn’t even get mad if Trump slept with her. The guy makes incest feel almost presidential!”

After wiping the vomit from my shoes, I mentioned to Miller that his story mirrors Trump’s in many ways and asked him if he’d like to comment. His only reply was that he didn’t see the similarities and that he was tired of attacks from the liberal media. I apologized and told him that it didn’t help that he looked a lot like Trump, but without the crazy hair and orange skin. He got so mad that his mustache appeared to come loose. He ended the interview and walked out. He has since stopped returning my calls.

So who, exactly, is John Miller? Submerge’s team of investigative journalists were unable to answer that question despite their exhaustive research. Much of Miller’s story seems reasonably believable, but things fall apart in the details. For example, Trump didn’t build the Taj Mahal and we were unable to find anyone other than Trump who had worked with or even knew Miller. I find it hard to believe that anyone could love Donald Trump as much as John Miller, but the truth is, we may never know. It’s probably just Donald Trump pretending to be someone else though.

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Outside the 9-to-5

Roadtrippin’ on a Whim words & photos Ellen Baker My bedroom door opened at the crack of dawn and my roommate pounced on me with glee in her eyes. “I have a week off! Let’s go on an adventure!” she squealed. Moments like these make me melt a little bit inside—anyone stoked on exploring a new place on a whim is my kind of human. “Where should we go?”

We wanted to leave California; we had a whole week and needed to make the most of our time. This meant being in a car for an absurd amount of hours. We both love road trips. I could be in a car staring out the window for days on end and be content as long as I have some good music, good company and scenic rest stops that involve jumping jacks and dancing to stay awake. Eventually we decided on Utah, a rock climbing mecca and all around beautiful state, where our good friend recently became a father.

We planned to drive through the state, from the south to the north, stopping at various climbing havens, national parks, hot springs and to meet our friend’s newborn. We lacked a detailed itinerary but had faith in our “go with the flow” mindset.

If I were to write a book about roadtrippin’, it would be filled with frustrating moments, uplifting stories, quotes made in delirium, “dos and don’ts” of the road, wins, losses and other goodies from our week-long road trip through the state of Utah. Here I present to you a few chapters from my hypothetical book.

Chapter 4: I Think We Should …

Going into this trip we had very little pre-planned. I don’t regret this decision—it’s actually my favorite way to travel. BUT, when doing this you must be open to change. We planned to go to Zion National Park first and head north from there. The closer we got, the thicker the clouds got and the lower our psyche got. Rain was on the horizon for the upcoming days in Zion so we bailed on the first “kinda” plan we had and took a sharp left to head up north. Five hours later we made it to the north point of Utah at the Bonneville Salt Flats and woke up to sunny skies and warm weather.

Don’t always stick to the plan.

Chapter 7: Wanna Play a Game?

Approximately every seven or so hours I would hear the question, “Wanna play a game?” Sometimes I would be psyched, other times I would be weary, but every time it ended up being filled with gutwrenching hilarity.

Be creative. Be silly. Make up games.

Play games even when all you want to do is pull over and set up camp.

Games are good for the soul.

Chapter 12: This Sucks.

We got to Joe’s Valley, a worldrenowned wonderland of boulders to climb on, and the weather sucked.

We climbed for a day as the snow beat down on us and eventually it started raining. We were unhappy, we couldn’t climb in the rain and camping in this weather seemed miserable. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” “I agree. Where to?”

Chapter 14: Hey, Grab The Floss.

Things to do to stay awake: Floss. Try to say the alphabet backwards. Pronounce words backwards and have the person guess what the word is. Sing without taking a breath. I spy with my little eye. Ghost ride the whip.

Beatboxing. Rapping. Philosophical conversations. Sweet and Sour (remember that game? You wave to someone to see if they wave back. We made a lot of people’s day playing this game).

Chapter 17: Breathe.

As we headed down a windy highway road, the sun had set, a moonless sky billowed above us, no street lamps gleamed and Priya’s headlights (my hearty Toyota Prius) were all but luminous. Suddenly little Bambi entered the middle of the road, my adventure partner slowed and avoided the sweet little creature. Just as relief set in, Mama Bambi dove right in front of Priya with no regard for the laws of the road and gently tumbled over the hood of the car. Luckily, both of the four-legged fauna bounced away, seemingly unhurt. My animal-loving road trip partner was in shock, on the verge of tears and I had to remind her to pull to the side of the road and breathe.

Whether you accidentally smashed into an innocent animal, totaled your car, spilled cereal on yourself while driving, were overcome with road rage or just hangry, remember to breathe.

The best part about adventures is that you have complete control over what happens next. Weather sucks?

Move on to somewhere more enjoyable.

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

11

Your Senses Words Jonathan Carabba and Eddie Jorgensen

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Get Your Hands on New Glory’s Key Lime Gose While You Can!

Photo by Brian Walker

One of the greatest things about the rise in popularity of craft beer is that brewers have the freedom to get creative, if even a little weird. During a recent trip to Capitol Beer and Tap Room, I tried a stout that was brewed with Peeps, the little yellow marshmellow chickens (Peep Show Chocolate Marshmallow Stout by Transplants); an IPA that was brewed with actual Lucky Charms (Altamont Beer Works’ Magically Hoplicious Double IPA); and my personal favorite of the night, New Glory’s Key Lime Gose, a sour wheat ale brewed with coriander, sea salt and fresh squeezed key limes. It’s lip-puckering tart, but satisfyingly refreshing; perfect as the summer heats up! We suggest you get your hands on some of their limited release pint-size cans while they’re available. Pick up a four-pack today at Corti Bros, Save Mart at Loehmann’s Plaza, Davis Food Co-Op, La Riviera Market and Spirits, Final Gravity, the aforementioned Cap Tap, and many other local bottle shops. Hit up their Instagram (@newglorybrewery) for a full list of spots carrying the Key Lime Gose. We suggest calling the stores ahead of time to make sure it's still in stock. As of press time, the beer is also still pouring at New Glory’s taproom, located at 8251 Alpine Avenue in Sacramento. We’ll end with this quote, pulled directly from the side of our can: “We live in a time where craft beer should be creative, exciting and delicious. Enter the Curiosité Series: An exploration of beautiful ingredients and flavors that pair with the season. Indulge in this one-of-a-kind farm-to-glass creation.” Learn more about the brewery at Newglorybeer.com. -JC

Touch

Time to Break Out That Dusty Ol’ Bike for Tahoe Games Bike Nights • Starting May 27 This fiesta of sorts will be held at the lovely Lake Tahoe Golf Course starting on Friday, May 27 and will continue through September on the last Friday of the month. For the uninitiated, this event caters to riders of all ages and has special heat races for the tiny tots to the older set. Everyone pays a paltry $20 to enter, and this cross country race features a rad, illuminated, three-mile track that takes you over simple, rough and tricky terrain. You didn’t think this would be easy, did you? Even though this is a competitive event, and grand prizes will be awarded at the finale, the aim is to have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. Check out Tahoegames.com for more info, and don’t forget your helmet! - EJ

See

Come See Chris Tucker, Whose Mama Raised Him Right June 4

Many of you already know Chris Tucker as Detective James Carter from the hilarious Rush Hour films.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and that’s totally cool with us here at Submerge if that is your thing), you’d be hard-pressed to have missed his face. The quick-witted actor is also a formidable comedian whose stand-up bit is equally compelling and convivial. For one night only, he’ll grace the stage of the Sacramento Convention Center Memorial Auditorium for a night of side-splitting comedic fare. If you’ve been looking for a mirthful night out, get out to this frolicsome event with serious speed and expect a capacity crowd. Admission starts at $45.50 and goes up to $55.50 for floor and dress circle seats (the best in the house). “My mom raised me to never have anything control me,” said Tucker years ago. She sure did, Chris, she sure did. For more info, go to Christucker.com or Sacramentomemorialauditorium.com. -EJ

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Froth The She's

Cool Ghouls Screature

HEAR

Burger Records Band Froth Join Over a Dozen Other Killer Acts for Operation Restore Maximum Freedom XVI • May 28 UC Davis’ student-run independent radio station KDVS is throwing their annual music festival Operation Restore Maximum Freedom on Saturday, May 28 at Sudwerk Brew Co. (2001 2nd Street, Davis) and once again, the lineup is amazing and the ticket price is low. The all-day show will feature 18 total bands including headliners Froth, an excellent psychedelic/garage rock band from Los Angeles whose 2015 Burger Records album Bleak should definitely be on your playlist. Also on the bill are a handful of great Bay Area bands like Cool Ghouls, The She’s and Mall Walk. Wave Action and Ladywolf are making the trek all the way from Portland, and you can of course expect a bunch of rad locals sprinkled in like Screature, Kaz Mirblouk, Kalm Dog, Chimera and more. Online presale tickets are just $17; at the door it goes up to $21. The event is all ages and starts at 1 p.m. Learn more at Kdvs.org or Facebook.com/kdvsfm. -JC Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

#artmix @crockerart fti

PRIDE / THURS, JUNE 9 / 5 – 9 PM 21+

SACRAMENTO GAY MEN’S CHORUS

UNMATA + DJ JAY-R + DRAG EXPOSÉ

ART INSTALLATIONS + FILMS + THEATER + LGBTQ COMMUNITY RESOURCES HAPPY HOUR 5 – 6 PM / $5 DRINK SPECIALS / $3 PBR / FREE BIKE VALET BY SABA

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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2708 J Street Sacramento 916.441.4693 HarlowS.com ginuWine kARlos FARRAR

WeDnesDAY

MonoPHonics sHook tWins

tHuRsDAY

7PM $30adv

5.25

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6:30PM $20adv all ages

tHuRsDAY

5:30PM $20adv

5.24 5.26 FRiDAY

8PM $15adv

sAtuRDAY

5:30PM $15adv

sAtuRDAY

9PM $8adv

WeDnesDAY

7PM $15

5.27 5.28 5.28 6.01

tHuRsDAY

6.02 FRiDAY

6.03 sAtuRDAY

6.04

WeDnesDAY

6.08

zePPARellA stARs tuRn Me on

sAtuRDAY

7PM $15

6.25

8PM $18adv

Father AntsY McclAin AnD tHe tRoubs eDgAR cRuz

Mike Love etHAn tuckeR coMeDY HYPnotist

Justin JAMes

WorLd’s Finest MAssive Delicious islAnDs

Honus Honus

(oF MAn MAn/MisteR HeAvenlY)

orgone

7PM $15adv

big stickY Mess

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AnD His ten Piece bAnD

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*all

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Del tHA FunkY HoMosAPien

RicHie cunning | PuRe PoWeR

times are d o or times*

COMING SOON 6.10 6.11 6.11 6.12 6.16 6.17 6.19 6.22

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Prince birthday tribute Mania: beatles experience the gatlin {late} cherry glazerr Pete Rock & cl smooth Wonderbread 5 chris Webster / nina gerber curren$y

6.26 6.29 7.01 7.15 7.16 7.18 7.19

Royce Da 5’9 electric six Jacquees vienna teng slaid cleaves culture shock World / inferno Friendship society Avery sunshine

7.22 7.27 7.30 7.31 8.05 9.18 10.13 10.17

the Joy Formidable the James Hunter six Albert lee black Milk blitzen trapper ottmar liebert catherine Russell the Proclaimers

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Photo by Jason Sinn

Your Senses

Taste th

The 15 Annual Save Mart Grape Escape Returns: Let’s Get Sideways • June 4

Many of the finest events in Sacramento and its surrounding areas are hosted by none other than the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Folks looking to swig and spit gobs of red and white wine incessantly, while swallowing much more, are hereby summoned to this outdoor shindig, held at Cesar Chavez Park.

Expect great drinks and eats from countless wineries, restaurants, breweries and much more. Additionally, there will be some wonderful live music and, hopefully, a delightful breeze to accompany a possibly perfect Saturday night. The event only lasts three hours to avoid any liability and, more importantly, to keep you from dancing drunk on the stage naked with the live bands (I did it two years ago). If you were wondering why the event didn’t happen for a year, let’s just say myriad changes in state and local alcohol laws were addressed and let’s move on. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur donning an ascot or a simple weekend drinker, this ticket has something for everyone. Well, not everyone … 21 and over only. Sorry, kids.

Tickets start at $45 online at Farmtofork.com/savemartgrapeescape. Let’s do this!

-EJ

Hear

Joe Kye Teams Up With CORE Contemporary Dance for #SeedtoSprout Benefit Show at Beatnik Studios June 10

Another Sacramento great is leaving the area and headed to Portland. On June 10, violinist Joe Kye will play what has been dubbed as his last show before he heads to a much wetter climate. “I am a full-time musician, and have been since 2013. Before that, I was a high school English teacher in Seattle,” said Joe Kye. “ My wife is very supportive! She’s finishing up her residency at UC Davis Medical Center, which is why we moved down here in the first place. A partnership is about jointly discussing and agreeing to a division of responsibilities. I like to think we do a pretty good job of always searching for balance.” This show is also special because it's a benefit for the Mustard Seed School, a free private school that helps “meet the needs of homeless children.” Tickets for the show can be purchased at Joekye.com/tour. And while Kye doesn’t actually move to Portland until July, he will be back in late July at California WorldFest in Grass Valley and again in late October as part of a tour. -EJ

TOUCH

Second Annual “Paddle 4 DART” Raises Money for All-Volunteer Nonprofit Organization Drowning Accident Rescue Team • June 11 The Sacramento area is surrounded by beautiful rivers, lakes and waterways. As serene and inviting as they are, the cold hard truth is that these waterways are very dangerous, as evidenced by the spike in the number of drownings in the Sacramento area in 2015. Enter the brave souls from the Sacramento Drowning Accident Rescue Team (or DART for short), an allvolunteer nonprofit organization that saves lives and educates the public on the dangers of our waterways. Because DART runs entirely on donations and grants, the importance of fundraiser events like the upcoming “Paddle 4 DART” stand-up paddleboard race and relay cannot be understated. Taking place June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Sacramento River, Paddle 4 DART will be centered on two exciting stand up paddleboard events, a solo race and a team relay. It’s open to novice and expert paddlers, so if you’d like to sign up to compete in the event, visit Paddle4dart.com. The cost is $30 per participant for the solo race (you’ll need to provide your own board) or $140 per team of four (one board will be provided for each team and there will be different heats depending on experience levels). If nothing else, simply show up to watch the exciting races and to give a big high-five to the organizers—Riverbank Marina, Crawdads on the River, and FLOW Stand Up Paddle—who hope to raise $20,000 for DART! Learn more about the organization at Dartsac.com. -JC

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

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Belly DEJ Loaf f R i DAy

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June 28

1417 R ST SAcRAmeNTo

maDeintyo

With Special GueSt

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SKippeR With Special GueSt

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love la femme cantante Del GRoupo Zoe

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July 1

f R i DAy

ShoW BanGa

caveman

may 27 T h u R S DAy

June 9

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June 19

Buckethead July 3

S u N DAy

Berner With Special GueSt element of Soul

SAT u R DAy

Jonathan Richman

DollaR$hoRt

featuRinG

tommy laRKinS

may 28

on the DRumS

f R i DAy

June 10

Kool John

anonymouS that DuDe

W e D N e S DAy

June 22

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July 16

Morgan Heritage

the SKintS

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may 31

SquaRefielD maSSive tWo peace

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

June 11

With Special GueSt

laWRence tayloR

SAT u R DAy

June 25

f R i DAy

July 22

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SAT u R DAy

July 23

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August 16

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July 26

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october 9

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october 24

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RoGue Wave

August 20

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September 14 m o N DAy

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atlaS GeniuS

maDneSS

August 6

SubmergeMag.com

m o N DAy

August 22

SAT u R DAy

December 16

All Shows All Ages

& orleAns Avenue With Special GueStS Joy &

SAT u R DAy

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SyD aRthuR

AAron WAtson With Special GueSt

WeDNeSDAy September

September 17

TickeTS AvAilAble @ Dimple RecoRDS, ARmADillo, AceofSpadesSac.com by phone: 916.443.9202

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

17

DOSHA WISH

Veg Serves Up Brunch, Lunch and Good Health WORDS Niki Kangas photos Evan E. Duran

P

leasant surprises are always welcome. I entered Veg to get a routine food review in and eat some brunch. I exited, inspired with a real story.

Suleka Sun-Lindley quietly opened Veg at 2431 J Street (above Thai Basil) this January following the November closure of Level Up. To Sun-Lindley, this endeavor is so much more than a new restaurant concept to try on for size. It is the culmination of a lifetime of experience in the restaurant business, the realization of her true self and a humble expression of her intrinsic and learned values.

Veg is (duh) a vegetarian restaurant, and its entire menu stems from ayurvedic diet principles. That’s pretty cool; Sacramento could use more good dining options for vegans and the health-conscious epicure. The ingredients at Veg are sourced locally and the dishes change with the seasons—an initiative shared by a growing number of farm-to-fork restaurants that understand the environmental, economic, community-building, health and flavor-enhancing benefits thereof. But it’s Sun-Lindley’s conscientious decision to integrate her beliefs about an ideal food system as a whole, and her joy in witnessing the health and happiness the experience brings to her customers, that makes Veg unique in our cluttered culinary landscape.

Sun-Lindley’s family began the Thai Basil family of businesses in Suleka’s youth.

Her own Thai Basil was opened in 2002 to rave reviews, and its flag is planted firmly in Sacramento soil as a mainstay— an institution even. Yet she had available space upstairs that was being underutilized, and she also had a hard-tocome-by liquor license to cash in on. Well-meaning friends, family and patrons advised her to open a bar, and she obediently opened the doors to

18

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

her second business, a modern cocktail lounge and dance club that served Thai and American inspired bar eats—and so Level Up was born.

However, owning a bar just wasn’t something that resonated with Sun-Lindley.

Night after night, she closed down the bar, eventually retiring at 3 or 4 a.m. She never got used to the vampiric schedule or the challenges of owning a nightclub … and Level Up never really leveled up. She tried hiring DJs to get people in, and the bar did become somewhat of a dancing destination, but the business wasn’t making her happy. So she closed the doors and took a trip to Thailand to regroup and rethink her next upstairs undertaking.

Already regularly practicing yoga and ayurvedic fundamentals in her personal life, Sun-Lindley’s observations while in Thailand led to an epiphany that informed the creation of Veg. She noticed that in Thailand, people paid attention to their food and ate with intention, rather than here where we so often eat when we’re not even hungry. And people took care regarding what they put into their bodies—eating as preventative medicine as opposed to thoughtlessly hoovering “comfort” foods that later required antacids or other pharmaceutical fixes.

And she paid attention to how people seemed to be so positively affected mentally, physically and spiritually by their dining differences. The entire experience of eating was like night and day to the western approach.

Upon her return, SunLindley resolved to open Veg, and share wellness and wisdom with her patrons.

While the atmosphere at Veg is clean, comfortable, well-lit and inviting, the focus is meant to be on the food rather than moody and thematic decor. Mindful eating and sharing conversation with your dining companions comes naturally in this no-frills, distraction-free environment.

However, rotating art displays give the space interest and a platform for local artists to engage a captive audience. The sunroom, lined with windows and casual seating, overlooks J Street’s old-growth oaks and offers a relaxing bird’s eye view for people watching.

Veg serves up weekend brunch, weekday lunch, and is open for dinner Thursday through Saturday nights (they’re closed on Mondays for now). Sweet and savory menu options are available at SubmergeMag.com

every meal. Spices known for their healing properties like ginger, coriander, cardamom and turmeric are incorporated whenever possible. The food is priced affordably—expect to spend about $10 a plate.

Prior to knowing we were about to have a rad interaction with the owner and get schooled about ayurveda, we ordered a few brunch items to get a feel for the fare. The spiced, earthy Potato Hash included peppers, onions, tomatoes and green chutneys, and our super nice server upsold me avocado on top. The Savory Breakfast Crepe (yes, the crepes are vegan!) enveloped mixed vegetables in a panang curry sauce within a turmeric coconut crepe. The Sweet Crepe was tart, tropical and fresh, filled with a seasonal fruit salad, a spiced fruit puree and toasted coconut.

Everything was delicious with skillfully balanced flavor profiles and satisfying without leaving you with a stuffedto-the-gills, impending food coma sensation.

vegans have to be so extreme— activists—to spread the message. They are the voice of the animals. We respect that, but for us the vegan and vegetarian menu is more about the health benefits.”

Sun-Lindley is careful about who she hires and has curated a staff that shares her values. Last month, she hired Gabriel Crocker, an experienced vegetarian chef, to continue to improve upon the existing menu, oversee seasonal updates and bring even more good energy to the restaurant. “The person who prepares the food is the one that gives their energy to the food, the person that you are connecting with. You feel the aliveness of the food that you eat, and that’s how food can heal. I believe that food can heal, restore, nourish—and you don’t need medicine.”

The highest compliment for Sun-Lindley is when people come to the restaurant from outside of the Midtown area as a deliberate pilgrimage.

They’ve heard about the ayurvedic menu and share with

“You can’t be everything to everybody.

I had to become myself rather than try to cater to everyone. Being in the hospitality industry, you’re made to respond to what other people want.

My mom owned a restaurant, so I learned this. But now, I want to be who I am, and this is my offer to you.

I do my best to accommodate you within that—who I am.”

– Suleka Sun-Lindley, owner of Veg Although beer, wine and a craft cocktail list are served, attention was also paid to the non-alcoholic beverage menu. We washed down brunch with Blue Butterfly Tea, a chrysanthemuminfused cold tea with a hint of lavender bitters; and a Green Tea Lemonade which was sweet, herbal and citrusy with lemongrass notes. OK, and a coffee and IPA, too. They arguably have health benefits, too, right?

The restaurant’s menu is mostly vegan with options for vegetarians, but it’s not all about politics. Explains Sun-Lindley, “For me, it’s more about health. You have to take care of yourself first, and then you can take care of others.

Animal byproducts like ghee and eggs can be used from the animal without killing them.

What we need to do is less commercial raising of animals and mass production. But

her their appreciation for a dining option that incorporates ayurvedic principles and ingredients that help keep their doshas in balance. With the realization of Veg, she has found happiness.

She proudly shares, “You can’t be everything to everybody. I had to become myself rather than try to cater to everyone. Being in the hospitality industry, you’re made to respond to what other people want. My mom owned a restaurant, so I learned this.

But now, I want to be who I am, and this is my offer to you.

I do my best to accommodate you within that—who I am.”

Veg is located at 2431 J Street in Sacramento.

For more info, go to Vegmidtown.com.

june 2-29

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2nd Saturday Reception june 11 4-7pm

The amazing

PeTeR Wedel

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

19

The Growlers Take Goth to the Beach Words Andrew C. Russell • Photo Taylor Bonin

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aturday, Sept. 19, 2015: It’s likely breaking a hundred degrees this fall evening when The Growlers take the main stage at TBD Fest. Lead vocalist Brooks Nielsen looks out at the audience, then down to his wireless microphone, then out toward the riverbank, longingly.

“I think I’m just going to take this mic and sing down by the river,” he says, half-joking. “Do people swim in there?” A few moments later, the band begins to play their opening number, “Big Toe,” and when I close my eyes, I could almost swear we’ve been teleported into the cool murk of the river’s ebb. Nielsen surveys the swaying crowd, gesticulating with a crooked elegance, like a lounge act in the devil’s parlor. Nearly everyone in attendance is transfixed, uncertain whether the act before them is their new favorite band, or an actual manifestation of the longdead monarchs of a California that never was, here to herald the golden land’s slow collapse into the sea.

The Growlers are a rare band that routinely creates magic both in the studio and on the stage. The band have been an entity in some form or another for 10 years, but started creating serious buzz with their first official full-length, Hung at Heart, in 2013. Their sound has been labeled surf rock revival, and they’ve been known to describe themselves as “Beach Goth,” but any category wrapped around them is bound to get loose. If you listen to them for a while, you might understand how it feels to visit a carnival at the bottom of the ocean, or ride a zombie stagecoach through the ruins of punk-ravaged SoCal suburb. They traverse a geography of their own making, but one that closely resembles a fever dream version of the West Coast.

Following the release of 2014’s Chinese Fountain, the band embarked on an extended regimen of touring, updating their sound for the next record. Last October, the fourth annual edition of their music festival, Beach Goth, grew to extreme proportions, hosting everyone from Die Antwoord to Parliament-Funkadelic under one freak flag. On Friday, June 10, the band will be returning to Sacramento as part of their current “Wet Dreams” tour at Ace of Spades, along with alternative legend Jonathan Richman of The Modern Lovers. We caught up with Brooks Nielsen to speak about the next leg of The Growlers’ journey, the art of life on the road and not being picky when it comes to music.

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

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1007 6th Street (6th & J) Sacramento 95814 • (916) 319-5440 sacramento@scientology.net • www.scientology-sacramento.org

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Book: $22.00 DVD: $25.00

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Can you tell us anything about the next record?

Not really sure ... The way we work is all extremely last-minute, so we don’t have a name yet. Not until the baby is born. I think it’s going be a good change, though. Chinese Fountain kind of paved the way for us to go a little bit more funky, a little bit different. It was definitely a jumping-off point for the new record.

Funky? So we can expect more sexy dancing out in the crowds on your next tour?

Yep—all those arms in the air like swan necks.

2016 marks 10 years for The Growlers as a band. Do you approach it as a milestone, or a year like any other?

It’s just another year for us, really. We never set ourselves up with a specific goal, and just making art in general, it’s hard to have a specific goal other than to just keep creating. I’ve always gotten questions like “Will playing this festival make you feel like you’ve made it?” or “Do you feel you’ve made it now that you’re making actual records?” There’s no specific goal—I’m just glad that we get to keep doing it. To me, making records is a supreme art—all the arts are included. Even the art of acting a bit, so we get to take that out on stage.

There is that theater aspect to some of your work. Do you usually pack up the tour bus full of costumes and props?

It’s never been too contrived. It used to be so loose, because it was just us driving our own school buses that we built out, barely making it to the show, and everyone going “Stop here!” to collect garbage along the way. But now, we have a little more help, we’re getting there on time. We have a little more room in there, bringing a bigger bus. I’m going to be bringing a lot of props for this tour, some cartoon drawings, paintings and matte I did for this “Wet Dreams” idea. Might even be trying to make a video to premiere at some of these places, I’m not sure. I’m on the clock to get all this shit done, plus finishing the new album and rehearsing the old material.

You’ve said that getting into music was a way of getting out of your hometown and the area you grew up in. Now that you’ve traveled around the world, has your perspective on Orange County changed a bit?

I always knew that it was a tiny little bubble. So I really handpicked all the weirdos that I could find, and we always had these houses we were living in that was a safe haven for everyone to come and be fun and illegal, and creative. Going around the world helped in so many ways. First, just doing the U.S. for so long was a really beautiful thing—to know your own country. A lot of people are quick to judge and talk shit before they’ve even crossed one state border.

I don’t know, I still feel like when you’re making art, you’re alone, no matter where you are. Looking in retrospect at different scenes in the past, maybe they were tighter. I don’t really see that now, everyone can hang out a little bit, but when it comes down to it, they gotta get into the room and make their art.

Maybe that’s our excuse for not being really tight-knit with other bands and scenes, or maybe that’s just the way that I work. I wish it was a big rock ‘n’ roll circus that we all hung out at, but to me, it’s got to be a little bit separate. We do our work, then we get off and party, then we get our shit together and go on the road. It’s controlled chaos.

How important is it for you to have a connection with your audience?

We go in and out of that, seems like. An easy gig would be to go up there with attitude and not have to try and please anyone, you know, tell audience members to get the fuck off stage. But we can’t help it, because we’re just too fuckin’ nice. It was getting us into trouble for a long time, because we were like, “Yeah! Anyone can come on the bus and the green room!” But it gets dangerous, because people really love you and they have no control. But on the stage you can’t help it, cause it's a form of gratitude. They’re supporting us, and they’re sharing with us. I mean, I’m not on social media at all, everything just gets relayed to me—but we’re really having an effect on people, and they’re expressing it. We’re grateful, feeling the love up there, and we don’t want to hide from it.

How were acts like Grimes and Riff Raff chosen to play your festival?

Much of it was curated for us. If we picked every band it wouldn’t be as interesting, because it would all be fringe bands. It’s more fun at Beach Goth if you go over and see a washed-up comedian, a really metal act, some old-school hip-hop along with some new-school stuff. Everything, not just the Burger Records scene or anything like that.

What’s your idea of the perfect crowd?

I begin to get pretty biased, because I really love the West Coast crowds, they really seem to give us special love. I don’t want a crowd to be polite, I tend to like a more rowdy audience, I don’t care what they’re on. Young or old, we just like excitement.

How did The Growlers come to have a country influence?

Like most young kids on the West Coast, I grew up thinking “Yuck!

Country?” and then as I got deeper into music I realized a lot of the rock ‘n’ roll acts I listened to were obsessed with country music, so I related more to the content. Now, as our fans are getting younger and younger, I’m starting to feel like an emo old man, but the songs I relate to are these emotional old men in old country music. There’s just room for storytelling and portraying emotion in the genre, which I love. It’s funny, cause a lot of Growlers fans will react badly when someone tells them the Growlers are like country, or even reggae. But if we do have a unique style, that’s the reason it’s there, because we take from everything.

Catch The Growlers live with opener Jonathan Richman on Friday, June 10 at Ace of Spades, located at 1417 R Street in Sacramento. This all-ages show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance ($25 at the door) and available online at Aceofspadessac.com.

“I don’t want a crowd to be polite, I tend to like a more rowdy audience, I don’t care what they’re on. Young or old, we just like excitement.”

– The Growlers’ Brooks Nielsen on his love for West Coast audiences.

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

21

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5.25

may 23 – JUne 6 submergemag.com/calendar

ThIS IS SPINaL TaP

sUNday,

m u s i c , com e d y & m i s c . C a l e nd a r

5.23 Monday

Blue Lamp Red City Radio, Russian Girlfriends, Bastards of Young, 8 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Ghost Fields, R.Y.A.N., Cloudspotter, 9 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Harlow’s Caskey, 6:30 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

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

UC Davis: Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Empyrean Ensemble: Young & Restless (Part 2), 7 p.m.

5.24 Tuesday

Blue Lamp Greener Grounds, Stone Soul, 9 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s Father, 6:30 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Open Mic Night, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Rock On! Live Band Karaoke, 8:30 p.m.

Torch Club Chris Twomey, 5:30 p.m.; Patient Zeros, Michael Ray, The Trip, 8 p.m.

Wednesday

B-Side Sound Dust w/ Roger Carpio, 9 p.m.

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

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

Davis Odd Fellows Hall Titus Andronicus, La Sera, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Open Mic, 8 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose All Vinyl Wednesdays w/ DJ AAKnuff, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Ginuwine, Karlos Farrar, 7 p.m.

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

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Acoustic Open Mic, 6 p.m.

Oak Park Brewing Co. The Twilight Drifters, 7 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub 98 Rock’s Local Licks Free Music Series, 8 p.m.

Press Club Battlehooch, Mondo Deco, The Royal Jelly, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Singer-Songwriter Showcase In the Round, 5:30 p.m.; Island of Black & White, 9 p.m.

5.26 thursday

B-Side Step In the Marina w/ CrookOne & Ben Johnson, 9 p.m.

Bar 101 Karaoke, 7:30 p.m.

Blue Lamp The Draft, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Inna Vision, The Steppas, Eli Mac, One Sharp Mind, Onelegchuck, 6:30 p.m.

Cafe Colonial Creepy Little Legs, The Polyorchids, Lost in Society, Rollin Blackouts, 8 p.m.

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

Center for the Arts Tarrus Riley, 8 p.m.

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

District 30 Borgeous, 10 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Chicken & Dumpling, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Antsy McClain and the Troubs, Edgar Cruz, 5:30 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Owl Club Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Adam Donald, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Sac’s Coolest Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

Sophia’s Thai Kitchen Tumbleweed Wanderers, Ohioan, 9 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Flight of Ryan, Lila Rose, Like Wine Like Water, 8 p.m.

Torch Club X Trio, 5 p.m.; Soul of Mind, 9 p.m.

5.27 friday

Ace of Spades Frightened Rabbit, Caveman, 7 p.m.

B-Side Vibrations w/ Shaun Slaughter & Adam Jay, 9 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Misner and Smith, 5 p.m.

Blue Lamp Willie Joe, Quincy Black, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk The Mowgli’s, Pom Poms, The Greeting Committee, 7 p.m.

Cafe Colonial The Moans, The Enlows, Strange Party, TV.Static, Dead Dads, Crappys, 8 p.m.

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

Cesar Chavez Plaza Concerts In the Park: Chuck Ragan, Darius Koski, Humble Wolf, The Ghost Town Rebellion, DJ Benji The Hunter, 5 p.m.

The Colony Jordan Nelson, Grudge, Eternal Projections, Insanosphere, Alcholic Sex Detonation, Slutzville, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

District 30 DJ Amen, 10 p.m.

Fox & Goose Benefit for Harm Reduction Services w/ The Storytellers and Infinite Vastness, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Gold Country Lanes (Sutter Creek) C.T. Locke: DJ, Sing & Dance, 6:30 p.m.

Harlow’s Mike Love, Ethan Tucker, 8 p.m.

The Hideaway The Ancient Sons, Hatchet Job, Globs, Cross Class, 9 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Economics, 9:30 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe MRQ, 7 p.m.

Mix DJ Slick D, 9 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Open Mic Night w/ Featured Artist James Cottriall, 6 p.m.

Old Ironsides Can’t Get Right, Leota, 9 p.m.

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

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Carolyn Wonderland, 8:30 p.m.; Love Fool, 10:30 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Records on Broadway LLW, Bino Prassa, DJ Valleyghoul, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Colleen Heauser, 4 p.m.; The Spazmatics, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Dollar$hort, The Culprits, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge La Cerca, Plum, Grave Lake, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Gwen In Doubt (Gwen Stefani and No Doubt Tribute), 6 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Idea Team, 9:30 p.m.

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

Yolo Brewing Co. KTalon Band, 6 p.m.

The Polyorchids Creepy Little Legs, Lost in Society, Rollin Blackouts Cafe Colonial 8 p.m.

5.26

5.27

Gwen In Doubt (Gwen Stefani & No Doubt Tribute) Swabbies on the River 6 p.m.

22

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

5.28 Saturday

Ace of Spades Katchafire, Mystic Roots, Element of Soul, Dollar$hort, 7 p.m.

B-Side Loose Change: Live 45’s Jukebox w/ Daniel O & Mike C, 9 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Tell River, 3 p.m.

Blue Lamp Beeda Weeda, No Mutiny Ent, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk Kenny Holland feat. Luxe, The Color Wild, 6:30 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ai-Ai delas Alas, Jake Cuenca, Arci Muñoz, 8 p.m.

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

Crest Theatre The Northern California Entertainers Music Awards Show, 5:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Fox & Goose Ish, Pants Da Buzzard, 9 p.m.

Harlow’s World’s Finest, Massive Delicious, 9 p.m.

Harris Center for the Arts: Stage 1 Mariachi Sol de Mexico, 8 p.m.

KBAR Z Rokk, 9 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Harley White Jr. Trio, 9:30 p.m.

Luna’s Cafe David Houston & String Theory, Ruebi Freya, 8 p.m.

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

SubmergeMag.com

MontBleu Resort Casino Thompson Square, 7 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Free Ukulele Class, 1 p.m.; Songwriter Showcase w/ Billy Buckman, 2:30 p.m.; Anderson Gram, 7 p.m.

Old Ironsides Scratch Outs, Urban Fire, DJ Kris Ward, 9 p.m.

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

Phono Select Records Blister Brats, Rancho Shampoo, Mother Blood, Rodo, 7 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Grooveland, 10:30 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Thunder Cover, 10 p.m.

Red Museum Oke Jr, Dibiase, Franc Friday, 7 p.m.

RumRok Massive Delicious, 10 p.m.

Shine Vinnie Guidera & The Dead Birds, Noah Byrd, Amber Delarosa, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Sumac, Alaric, Jaye Jayle, Aequorea, 8 p.m.

Sudwerk Brewing Co. (Davis) Operation Restore Maximum Freedom XVI: Froth, Cool Ghouls, The She’s, Meat Market, Mall Walk, Ladywolf, Screature, Wander, Charles Albright, Kaz Mirblouk, Chimera, Kalm Dog and More, 1 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Tragically White, 9:30 p.m.

Torch Club Pomegranate, 5:30 p.m.; Victor Wainwright, 9 p.m.

Yolo Brewing Co. Blue Situation, 6 p.m.

5.29 5.30 sunday

Bar 101 Sandra Dolores, 2 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Nagual, 3 p.m.

Blue Lamp San Quinn, 8 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ai-Ai delas Alas, Jake Cuenca, Arci Muñoz, 8 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Mix DJ Jay-J, Stylus, Patrick White, 8 p.m.

The Park Ultra Lounge DJ Spider, 10:30 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Wayne Baker Brooks, 3 p.m.

Press Club San Kazakgascar, Open Marriage, Exploding Couch, 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Night Soul Party w/ DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Red Hawk Casino Westbound 50, 1 p.m.

Swabbies on the River Ryder Green, 1:30 p.m.; Bump City Reunion, 5 p.m.

Torch Club 5th Annual Torch Fest: Felice LaZae, Tracorum, Big Earl & the Cryin’ Shame, Afrofunk Experience, The Nibblers, City of Trees Brass Band and More, 4 p.m.

monday

Ace of Spades Insane Clown Posse, Young Wicked, No Genre, 6 p.m.

Blue Lamp Unleash the Archers, Graveshadow, Dire Peril, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

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

Press Club Green Rivers, Plots, Goodmonger, MC Ham, 9 p.m.

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

5.28

Sumac Alaric, Jaye Jayle, Aequorea Starlite Lounge 8 p.m.

5.31 Tuesday

Ace of Spades Stephen “Ragga” Marley, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Old Ironsides Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pine Cove Open Mic Night, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Rock On! Live Band Karaoke, 8:30 p.m. continued on page 24

>>

5.31

Stephen “Ragga” Marley Ace of Spades 7 p.m.

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

23

6.01 6.04 Islands Honus Honus Harlow’s 7 p.m.

Torch Club Chris Twomey, 5:30 p.m.; Michael Ray, 8 p.m.

6.01 wednesday

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

The Boardwalk Prong, Glug, Blessed Curse, Dream in Red, From Hell, 6:30 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Open Mic, 8 p.m.

El Dorado Saloon Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m.

Fox & Goose All Vinyl Wednesdays w/ DJ AAKnuff, 8 p.m.

Harlow’s Islands, Honus Honus, 7 p.m.

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

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Acoustic Open Mic, 6 p.m.

Old Ironsides Open Mic, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub 98 Rock’s Local Licks Free Music Series, 8 p.m.

Press Club The Kelps, Sunday School, Blue Oaks and more, 9 p.m.

Torch Club Singer-Songwriter Showcase In the Round, 5:30 p.m.; Caleb Caudle, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Early Music Ensemble, 7 p.m.

6.02 Thursday

Bar 101 Karaoke, 7:30 p.m.

Blue Lamp Bad Cymphony, Dreams Era, X the Emcee, 7:30 p.m.

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

Club Car Songwriters Showcase, 8 p.m.

The Colony Across The Atlantic, Surviving the Era, Nosedive, Greenside, Fourth and Long, The Cutbacks, On Higher Tides, 7 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Dueling Pianos, 9 p.m.

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

Harlow’s Orgone, Big Sticky Mess, 7 p.m.

24

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Owl Club Open Mic, 8 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub 2 Steps Down, 9:30 p.m.

Shine Sac’s Coolest Jazz Jam, 8 p.m.

Torch Club X Trio, 5:30 p.m.; Andrew Kahrs, Jake Nielsen and the Triple Threat, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall Hindustani Vocal Ensemble w/ Rita Sahai, 12 p.m.

Yolo Brewing Co. The Pikeys, 6 p.m.

6.03 FRIDAY

24th Street Theatre Country Joe McDonald’s Tribute to Woody Guthrie w/ Jacob Golden, Richard March, Sasha Prawalsky, 7:30 p.m.

Ace of Spades Josh Thompson, Mark MacKay, 6 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Muddy Waders, 5 p.m.

Blue Lamp Shady Nate, Holliewood King, Bobby Hooper, Quincy Black, 9 p.m.

The Boardwalk The Hush Sound, Like Vines, Sunnie Williams, 6:30 p.m.

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

Center for the Arts David Nelson Band, 8 p.m.

Cesar Chavez Plaza Concerts In the Park: Hail The Sun, Kill The Precedent, NMBRSTTN, Peace Killers, Trash Rock DJ’s, 5 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Dive Bar Mr Little Jeans, 9 p.m.

Golden Bear DJ Crook, 10 p.m.

Gold Country Lanes (Sutter Creek) C.T. Locke: DJ, Sing & Dance, 6:30 p.m.

Harlow’s Tim Heidecker and His Ten Piece Band, JP Inc., 8 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Kamikaze Music Ensemble, 9:30 p.m.

Mix DJ Slick D, 9 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Open Mic Night, 6 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Atomic Punks, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Rue, 9 p.m.

Blame Betty Dollyrots, Go Betty Go, Pets The Blue Lamp 8 p.m.

Shine Sacramento Classic Jazz Messengers, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Soccer Babes, No More Parachutes, Sun Valley Gun Club, 8 p.m.

Torch Club Pailer & Fratis, 5:30 p.m.; John Clifton Blues Band, 9 p.m.

UC Davis: Jackson Hall University Chorus, 7 p.m.

6.04 Saturday

Bar 101 Legal Addiction, 9:30 p.m.

Berryessa Brewing Co. Bottom Dwellers, 3 p.m.

Blue Lamp Dollyrots, Go Betty Go, Blame Betty, Pets, 8 p.m.

The Boardwalk I Declare War, Aenimus, Message To The Masses, Exiled From Grace, Cladestine Revelation, 6:30 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ky Duyen, Thien Kiem, Tran Thai Hoa, Manh Quynh, Ngoc Huyen, Doan Phi, Anh Minh, Viet Huong, Hoai Tam, 7 & 10 p.m.

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

Center for the Arts Blackalicious, Fuze the MC, 8 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Harris Center for the Arts: Stage 1 The Folsom Lake Symphony: Hollywood Hits, 7:30 p.m.

KBAR Z Rokk, 9 p.m.

Kupros Craft House Tigertail Rooster, 9:30 p.m.

Mix DJ Eddie Edul, 9 p.m.

Nicholson’s MusiCafe Free Ukulele Class, 1 p.m.; Bad Connection Band, 6 p.m.

Pine Cove Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Powerhouse Pub Honey Spot & Sam Chase, 10 p.m.

Press Club DJ Larry Rodriguez, 9 p.m.

Shine Xochitl, Samantha Sharp, Lauren Crosby, 8 p.m.

Starlite Lounge Chiefs, Them Evils, Anglerfish, 8 p.m.

Swabbies on the River 10th Annual Shannapalooza Music Festival: Soul of John Black, The J Band, Bellygunner, Prairie City, Lights & Sirens, The Heartbreak Time Machine, O400, 2 p.m.

Thunder Valley Casino: Outdoor Amphitheater Tesla, Y&T, 6:30 p.m.

Torch Club The Stuff, 4 p.m.; Black Star Safari, 4 Piece Puzzle, 9 p.m.

6.05 Sunday

Blue Lamp Afton Presents, 7:30 p.m.

Cache Creek Casino Ernesto Sosa Naranjo Y Su Grupo, 5 p.m.

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

Distillery Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Harris Center for the Arts: Stage 1 The Folsom Lake Symphony: Hollywood Hits, 2 p.m.

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

Powerhouse Pub Tom Rigney, 3 p.m.

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

Swabbies on the River Spazmatics, 3:30 p.m.

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

6.06 Monday

The Boardwalk Grow Wild Tour: Dylan Holland, Will Jay Music, Bad Bad Feelings, Round2Crew, Zach Matari, Ben Hazlewood, Rivers Monroe, The House On Cliff, James Barre, 5:30 p.m.

Distillery Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

Harlow’s Domo Genesis, 6:30 p.m.

Louie’s Cocktail Lounge Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

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

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

Comedy Crest Theatre Marlon Wayans: Scandal-less Tour, June 3, 7:30 p.m.

Harlow’s Comedy Hypnotist Justin James, May 28, 7 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited Black Greek Comedy Weekend feat. Kente Scott, Brent Taylor, Erik Clark and Memphis Will, May 29, 8:30 p.m.

Vince Morris feat. Murray Valeriano, June 3 - 5, Fri. & Sat., 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

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

Comix Hosted by Jamie Fernandez & Mike Cella, May 25, 8 p.m.

STAB! Live Comedy Podcast, June 1, 8 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium Chris Tucker, June 4, 8 p.m.

Ooley Theater Comedy Night at the Ooley, every Thursday, 8 p.m.

Punchline Comedy Club Full Throttle Comedy Tour, May 25, 8 p.m.

The Not Comedy Roast of Mike E. Winfield, May 26, 8 p.m.

Kabir Singh feat. Chris Storin, Hosted by Tyler Hinz, May 27 28, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Lance Woods & Friends, May 29, 7 p.m.

Tiffany Haddish, June 2 - 5 Thurs., 8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.

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

Improv Lab, Harold Night & Gordon Teams, Wednesday’s, 7 - 10 p.m.

Cage Match & Improv Jam, Thursday’s, 8 - 10 p.m.

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

Tommy T’s Cocoa Brown, May 27 - 29 Adele Givens, June 3 - 5

Misc.

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

24th and S Streets Few and Far’s 5th Annual Block Party feat.

Live Mural Painting, DJs, Local Vendors and More, June 4 - 5 B Street Theatre Mainstage Series: Mud Blue Sky by Marisa Wegrzyn, Through June 5 B3 Series: Not Medea, Through June 12 Blue Cue Bar Bingo, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Blue Line Arts Gallery Light Play, June 6 - July 9 The Impression: A Print Exhibition, June 6 - July 9 The Boxing Donkey Trivia Night, every Tuesday, 8 p.m.

California Stage Theatre Fenix Drum and Dance Company: Africa Reborn, May 27 - 29 Capital Stage Disgraced, Through June 5 Capitol Garage Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, Wednesday’s, 9 p.m.

Capitol Mall Greens Sacramento Pride Parade and Festival, June 4, 11 a.m.

CLARA (E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts) Sacramento Ballet: Latin Nights, May 25, 6 p.m.

Crest Theatre Big Trouble In Little China, May 27, 7:30 p.m.

The Northern California Entertainers Music Awards Show, May 28, 7 p.m.

This Is Spinal Tap, May 29, 7 p.m.

Noir Nights Film Festival: The Maltese Falcon, June 2, 7:30 p.m.

Aliens, June 4, 7:30 p.m.

Crocker Art Museum Andy Warhol: Portraits, Through June 19 Familypalooza, May 29, 11 a.m.

Film Series: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, June 2, 7 p.m.

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

Guild Theater Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival 2016, May 27 - 28 The Historic Center of Oak Park 3rd Annual Sacramento Black Book Fair, June 3 - 5 Historic Old Folsom Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.

Jill Solberg Performing Arts Theatre Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre: Sign of Life, June 3 - 4 Kupros Craft House Trivia with Triviology 101, Sundays, 7:30 p.m.

Laughs Unlimited The Sisterhood Event: Live Music, Poetry, Motivational Speakers, Comedy and More, June 2, 8 p.m.

Little Relics Boutique & Galleria Art Exhibit: Wheels Keep On Turning - An Ode to Dads feat.

Peter Wedel, Chad Lenzi, Char Hall, June 2 - 29 Luna’s Cafe Poetry Unplugged, every Thursday, 8 p.m.

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

Old Town Elk Grove Elk Grove Brewfest, May 27, 5 p.m.

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

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

Sacramento Poetry Center Retrograde Collective Art Salon: A Curated Evening of Literature, Art & Performance, June 4, 7 p.m.

St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church Greek Food and Wine Festival, May 27 - 29 St. Stephen Orthodox Church 4th Annual Mediterranean Jerusalem Food Festival, May 28 - 29, 11 a.m.

Tommy T’s The Darling Clementines: Hot in the Kitchen, May 26, 8 p.m.

Fifty Shades of Men, June 2, 7 p.m.

Track 7 Brewing Co. Inaugural Memorial Day Block Party: Live Music, Food Trucks, Beer Release and More, May 28, 3 p.m.

Verge Center for the Arts Art Exhibit: Having Happened feat.

Sarah Chan, Julian Tan, Kristin Hough, Zach Clark and More, June 3 - 19 WAL Public Market Art Exhibit: Peaceful Protest feat. Chelsea Greninger & the Natomas Charter School’s Feminist Art Club, June 3 - 29

5.27

Big Trouble In Little China Crest Theatre 7:30 p.m.

Art Exhibit: Wheels Keep On Turning: An Ode to Dads feat. Peter Wedel, Chad Lenzi, Char Hall Little Relics Boutique & Galleria

June 2-29

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

25

Musical Chimera 26

How Merdog’s Disparate Paths Brought the Band Together Words Alia Cruz • photo Kevin Cortopassi

I

sat down to interview three of the four members of indie/ alt-rock group, Merdog in preparation for the release of their new EP, The Lucky Ones.

Over fancy iced lattes and morning beer, we talked about the ever-evolving music of the group and how important it is to grow into your own.

Half of the members of Merdog (Aaron Aparicio and Cynthia Elmore) grew up together just down the river in Clarksburg, where they were able to grasp one another’s talents early on.

Through the years, they went to school together, attended church together and maintained a stable friendship. As they got older, each of them were growing musically in very different ways.

Guitarist Aparicio’s musical background is a bit of a wildcard. He has gone from playing with heavy metal-type bands, to grooving pop-tinged alt tunes with Merdog. Bassist Stephen Washburn comes from classical music roots and is a well-seasoned violinist. Vocalist Elmore has evolved from a girl modestly singing in the church choir to leading an indie rock band. These three, along with drummer Nick Giovanetti, came together to produce something that they wanted to be fun and expressive. Now, after a little more than two years together, the band is finding their newfound comfort zone both on the stage and in the studio.

“Cynthia was always in the back of my mind when thinking of someone to lead vocals,” said guitarist Aparicio, “I noted them from years before, and knew she would be great at it, so I reached out to her.”

“I would often play guitar and sing little folk songs I would write,” said Elmore. “Mostly in college, I became a little more comfortable with my voice and the idea of performing.”

Elmore is an awesome mix of “refined rocker.” She is very soft-spoken, and every word

seems to come out with a well pronounced ring, almost like each one plays out as its own song. This characteristic gives her voice its unique angelic-rocker tinge, reminiscent of alt-rock girls like Karen O and Hope Sandouval from Mazzy Star.

Now, the band has found common ground through Merdog.

It's become an outlet where they can showcase instrumentals and songwriting into a whole new being.

Merdog initially had some trouble coming up with a band name that would stick. “Who knew that so many orange-juice related band names were already taken,” said Elmore. One day, she sent the other band members a picture of a sketch she drew of her beloved dog as a mermaid hybrid. The band loved it, and “Merdog” became official.

“Most of what we do, we don’t want to be taken too seriously.

We want things to be fun and memorable. This dog sketch embodies that,” said Elmore.

When the band first started performing live together, they tried to find their comfort level with the common idea that live performances should mirror recordings. They didn’t want live performances to be a simple mimic of studio recordings, they wanted to find a niche that would make live-performances more memorable and organic.

“We

would get on stage and just let things come out naturally. We would just let that moment of performing in front of people take hold of us. We worked really hard to establish a live sound that was fun and unique in itself.”

– Merdog’s Stephen Washburn

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

“We would get on stage and just let things come out naturally. We would just let that moment of performing in front of people take hold of us. We worked really hard to establish a live sound that was fun and unique in itself,” said Washburn.

“We don’t have to perform to try to mimic what we recorded.

We have worked hard to become the live performers we are happy with being,” he continued.

It can also be added that the overall positive energy of the group exudes from them in a way that makes it nearly impossible to not root for their success.

The band has performed a slew of live shows, last year’s First Festival being one they note as a super memorable one. The band even released the live recording of their First Festival performance as a free download on Bandcamp (Merdog.bandcamp.com).

“Sacramento creates a great environment for their artists,” said Aparicio, “Venues are supportive. We are always so grateful for the audience, and things are evolving in a way that makes me excited.”

Last year, they also performed at Blackbird, “Which is an insanely awesome venue,” said Washburn. “The theme and vibes there are always so much fun, and it just feels like a party when you perform there.”

“We all just get on stage and have fun. We groove together and we love what we are doing,” Washburn continued. “We hope that it is reflective in our performances.”

On June 11 at Fox and Goose, Merdog will release their EP, The Lucky Ones. The EP took hours and hours of jamming, recording, writing and mixing until it was just right. Most songs were written mainly by Elmore, and sounds were intricately woven together by all of the members. The EP took months and months to make, and the band grew with each step of its development.

“We took our time with this,” said Aparicio. “It’s not something we just cranked out in a few weeks. It played out like a chapter in our lives.”

“It’s almost like by the time it was complete, you are ready to move on to a new chapter.

We put everything we had into it during its development and I am so proud of it. It has kind of given us that nudge to keep going. I am already writing so much different stuff now and ready to record another album.

It’s made us blossom,” Elmore adds.

The execution of The Lucky Ones seems so organic, with each tune an ode to the sweet yet rockin’ style that made alt-rock/pop appealing in the first place. The diverse musical background that each member brings to the table is stitched together like the seams of your finest Levi's, with mixing/ recording/editing from band friend, Mika Whitfield. You get a little bit of Aparicio’s heavier metal-influenced roots, offering up sweet climatic moments. Washburn's bass is a continuous heartbeat that drives the rhythm of the whole EP. Washburn's voice is uniquely balanced with elegance and rock, making me glad she took that leap from singing folk songs in her room, to grabbing that microphone onstage and letting it all come out.

As performers, the band is ever-evolving and becoming more comfortable with the idea of having complete artistic freedom. “I want us to start coming on stage and dressing up a little. I want to start wearing some funky stuff, nothing insane, but I am starting to feel grateful that I have the platform to express myself,” said Elmore.

The group hopes to release a full album in the near future and perform more shows.

“We eventually want to tour. We would love to travel and play our music,” added Aparicio. “That’s always a huge goal.” On the same day as the release show, June 11, the EP will also be available on iTunes and Bandcamp.

See Merdog live on June 11 at Fox and Goose in Sacramento and help them celebrate the release of The Lucky Ones EP. Also performing are Rich Corporation and Blue Oaks.

There will be a $5 cover for this 21-and-over show, which starts at 9 p.m. Go to Facebook.com/ merdogmusic for more info.

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Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

11AM-10PM 7 DAYS A WEEK

27

Zen and the Art of Graffiti

Few & Far celebrate five years together with an epic block party Words Mollie Hawkins

I

’ve lived in Sacramento long enough to appreciate the cues of an impending summer: fewer clouds, a lessening need for a hoodie while running out the door and sighing at my car when I see that it’s covered, yet again, in a layer of yellow dust—but smiling when I realize that so is everyone else’s (pollen: the great equalizer) —and of course, there’s the sheer joy of living in a city that’s just fun to walk around. We have no shortage of great coffee shops, bars, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries to color our adventures around this fine town, but perhaps my favorite part of this season and its agreeable weather is that I get to stop and appreciate the … graffiti.

That’s right. Whether you noticed or not (we’re pretty sure you did), we’ve got some impressive art on these streets, beautifying what would otherwise be gray buildings and drab alleyways. If you’re like me, you might’ve

28

wondered where these pieces came from, who dreamt them up and why? Who were the voices behind these pieces of art that give Sacramento its charm? Well, a few of those voices go by the name Few and Far, a crew of all female graffiti artists, and they’re led by one fearless tornado of a woman, who goes simply by “Meme.”

I caught up with Meme to chat with her about Few and Far’s upcoming Fifth Anniversary Block Party, where she and more than 20 of her fellow women crewmembers will repaint their mural on 24th and S streets. We met up at my favorite local coffee shop, and I was immediately drawn to Meme’s genuine smile, energy, and the fact that she ordered the same drink that I always order.

She was also willing to immediately give me a hug—I knew I was in good company. We sat down, caffeinated ourselves and talked about how she and a few of her friends spearheaded one of the only all-female muralist crews in the world.

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

After being raised by a mom who had a full-time job, cooked, cleaned and installed all the tiling and sheet rock in their house, Meme learned from a young age that women were not limited by their gender roles in the least bit. Her mom even gave her her first skateboard, which eventually led Meme to discovering the world of street art. At age 17, she dropped out of school, moved out on her own, got a job and decided to embrace the art of tagging.

“I just said, screw it, I’m going to skate and tag stuff,” she admitted.

She said that she enjoyed writing her childhood nickname, “Meme” over and over, with her lettering and painting skills improving over time. She wasn’t a great reader and could barely write her actual, full name. That did not stop her.

“I don’t want to say I’m not a good artist … but I feel there’s so many great ones out there

and I’m more of a letter artist,” she says. “I guess my play in all this is I’m the organizer. I’m the fire.”

The flame was ignited back in 2011 when Meme organized a mural in industrial Oakland, all with the simple goal of celebrating graffiti and street art made by women. Along with her friend, they coined that wall Few and Far, because it turns out there just aren’t that many all-female graffiti crews out there; they are “few and far between.” In fact, there are two: the Stick Up Girlz in New Zealand (now defunct) and Girls on Top in the United Kingdom. Few and Far makes three.

The “crew” is made up of more than a dozen women that Meme has met on the road, at art shows, and even Instagram—all from varying backgrounds and countries. From Sacramento to Miami to Nepal, over the past several years Meme has recognized the importance of offering these women a place to express their art through mural painting, and that there’s power in numbers.

“If they group together, they feel stronger,” she says. “That was the main idea. It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female, I just want to see people do well; I want people to see what I see in them.”

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

One of the regular Few and Far gals, DELVS, said it was exactly that energy that magnetized her to join the crew. “My art always showcases women in every aspect. I was born and raised in Miami, and being I am Hispanic, my art reflects Hispanic women and their point of view,” she says. “My characters are voluptuous, outspoken and confident. Few and Far is always looking to empower all women, of all cultures. We want to help create awareness. That was always my focus as well.”

Ursula Xanthe Young, another crewmember, says she’s been with Few and Far since 2011.

She’s painted murals in Miami, Richmond, Oakland, and San Francisco, to name a few.

“I didn’t know any of the women before I started painting—we all come from different backgrounds and places, which makes getting together with them and creating large-scale projects together all the more exciting … It’s always a fun time, and inspiring to be a part of these massive all-girl productions.”

Every year, over a dozen Few and Far crewmembers get together to live-paint a large mural in communities across the globe. On June 4, they will reunite to add on to their existing mural on 24th and S streets in Midtown, near Racks Clothing Boutique, The Round Corner SubmergeMag.com

and Big Bang, among other supporting local businesses. And if you’re like me and you were wondering how the businesses really feel about these murals? They love them, and chances are, they were the ones that asked the artists to create them in the first place. Perhaps business owners have come to appreciate the way a great piece of art can not only make an ugly gray wall more aesthetically pleasing, but can also make people feel nostalgic and remind them what it’s like to be a kid, mesmerized by art fueled by imagination and creativity.

“People to this day still ask me, ‘when are you going to grow up?’ and I’m like, I’m not going to have children, I’m going to be a skater until I’m 60-something, and I’m going to paint murals until I’m an old lady—that’s just who I am,” Meme says.

This is the philosophy she brings to her crew; she believes that everyone should have an outlet to express themselves and be appreciated without negative influences.

“You don’t even have to be that good of an artist,” she continues. “If you get permission to do a wall, go paint it! You never know what you can do … the self-confidence that comes out from that—no one else can feed you that. Being able to do things in an expression—whether it be a biker, or runner, or skateboarder, or making coffee—that gives you confidence into being the best type of person that you can be.”

So what does Meme do when she’s not painting? She’s running the organization, creating content for their social media accounts, fundraising for supplies (their expenses are all

out-of-pocket), and she also has a side project in conjunction with F&F called the Sisters of Shred, which is a way to bring women skaters of all levels together for skate jam sessions. They’re having an event June 11 at the Power Inn Skate Park. She also teaches kids how to skate and works a day job. I ask her how she has time to fit it all in. “I work very hard. It’s a challenge. But my heart is in it, I’m never bored with it … I have an endless amount of energy to do it.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go brush the dust off my World Industries skateboard.

Meme swears that it’s never too late to learn, even for a 30-year-old with a gravity problem.

“You can do anything!” She says to me, genuinely, and I believe her.

Check out the Few and Far murals around Sacramento: 24th and S streets alley 5th and T / U streets alley 23rd and O streets alley

18th and I streets (Maverique salon) 16th and E streets (Scooter City)

14th and H streets (inside CrossFit Valiance); Meme x Rule mural

Check out Few and Far’s Fifth Annual Block Party on June 4 from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. at 24th and S in Sacramento. There will be a DJ, local vendors and the event is free to the community. Check out their website (and donate!) at Fewandfarwomen.com, @fewandfarwomen on Instagram and Twitter or Facebook.com/few.and.far.women.

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

29

friday

the shallow end

may 27 specIal guests

caveman

ace of spades • 1417 R stReet • sacRamento • all ages • 7:00pm

Islands Honus Honus (from man man) orgone

june 1 thursday

BIg stIcky mess

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

& HIs 10-pIece Band tIm HeIdecker (from tIm & erIc awesome sHow) Jp Inc.

june 2 friday

june 3

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

peter case (tHe plImsouls) / dan Bern monopHonIcs/ sHook twIns standUp! records presents JoHnny taylor

saturday

june 4

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 6 : 3 0 p m

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

lIve comedy specIal recordIng

keItH lowell Jensen

thursday

june 9 saturday

june 18

H a r l o w ’ s • 2 7 0 8 J s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 18 & o v e r • 7 : 0 0 p m

Zepparella

saturday

june 25

stars turn me on

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

•

togetHer pangea 2708

J

street

•

sacr amento

•

all

electrIc sIx

ages

tuesday

•

7: 0 0 p m

In tHe wHale

june 28 wednesday

june 29

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

culture sHock

James Barone jb@submergemag.com

wednesday

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

Harlow’s

You Guys, It’s Really Not That Bad

(memBers of suBHumans and cItIZen fIsH)

monday

world/Inferno frIendsHIp socIety july 18

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

tHe Joy formIdaBle dIck stusso BlItZen trapper

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

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

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

mIke watt & tHe secondmen sIcfus

friday

july 22 sunday

july 24 friday

aug 5 friday

aug 26

o l d I r o n s I d e s • 19 0 1 10 t H s t r e e t • s a c r a m e n t o • 21 & o v e r • 9 : 0 0 p m

el ten eleven BlInd pIlot

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

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

friday

sept 28 tuesday

oct 25

I’m going to try to be delicate here. I know people are easily offended nowadays … Hey, I can get that way too, much to my chagrin. So, in an effort to be discrete, I’m going to try to not mention any names, mostly because I think this one Big Name in question is getting way too much press lately (you may have seen it earlier in this issue). But there’s this phrase going around. Maybe you’ve heard it on TV or seen it on the Internet or most likely affixed to the bumper sticker of the moron … ahem … driver firmly planted in traffic in front of you. It’s goes something like “Resurrect the Awesomeness of the United States … again.” It’s a great slogan because here in America, we love a good comeback story, and what better comeback story could there be than our own? There’s a big problem with it, though. And I’m sorry, but this is where I’m going to have to be blunt: America never stopped being great. Do you have to sit down? It’s OK. I understand.

This slogan presumes that America, at some point, went through a really tough patch. Sure, we’ve had our ups and downs, like any country would, but on the whole, none of these things have toppled the United States from its as-ofnow uncontested position as top of the country food chain.

Here’s an exercise: Stop reading and look up. Do you see it? Maybe you’ve been here your whole life and have taken it for granted, but America has a lot going on. Look at all those buildings! Or that wacky yellow bridge that goes over to West Sacramento! Or the State Capitol … You know, in like 200,000 years or whatever when future generations uncover the rubble of the State Capitol they’re probably going to marvel over it like we do the Mayan pyramids and say shit like, “Aliens must have built it, because there’s NO WAY such a primitive society could have pulled that shit off.” It’s true.

Look at all the cars. Everyone seems to have their own, right? Even that dude who just zipped by you who looks like he hasn’t showered in a few weeks. He’s driving a new Fiat, probably.

(I kind of want one of those.) And what about iPhones and Wi-Fi and HDTV? All those things are pretty much everywhere. These things are

accessible to a lot of people, too. You’ve probably got the same phone in your purse that Kim Kardashian does. Weird, right?

You might say, well, these are just things, and they’re not exclusively American (heck, none of them are even made here). Lots of countries have these things. You’re right on both counts.

But being a great country isn’t an exclusively American thing either. I’ve never been to Spain, let’s say, but I’m sure Spain is pretty great too.

They invented the Spanish language, right? So that seems like a pretty big accomplishment. I bet it’s a great place in different ways than America is, but that’s OK. The United States has two military bases in Spain: Morón Air Base and Naval Station Rota.

Spain doesn’t have any military bases in the United States. These are just two of the military installations we have across the globe. We lead the world in foreign military bases and, as one 2015 article on Thenation.com supposes, we probaby have more “than any other people, nation or empire in history.”

I’m not a warhawk sort of guy. I don’t think having an enormous military necessarily makes your country a great place to live. But if you’re looking at the word “great” through the lens of its definition as something that’s considerable, substantial and significant, the United States certainly wields great power. Perhaps greater power than any group of people who have ever walked the Earth. So, like, not even a certain High-Ranking Government Official Who Some People Erroneously Believe (A Certain Big Name Included) Was Born in Kenya winning two terms in office has put a dent into that, in case you were concerned.

But let’s look beyond the material stuff.

There are a lot of things that make America great.

There are cool people making great art. There are huge stars like Taylor Swift making silly videos on treadmills. There are open roads and great scenery and people who are more or less accepting of whoever or whatever. You know, if there’s anything that threatens to make America un-great, it’s people who represent this dying voice of intolerance … the last death rattle of the dark ages. But I’m not naming Any Names.

all tickets available at: abstRactpResents.com & ticketfly.com

30

tIckets for Harlow’s sHows also avaIlaBle at Harlows.com tickets foR ace of spades also available at aceofspadessac.com & 916.443.9202

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

Dive Into Sacramento & Its Surrounding Areas

SubmergeMag.com

Issue 214 • May 23 – June 6, 2016

31

Dive into Sacramento & its Surrounding Areas

MAY 23 – June 6, 2016 • #214

free

merdog Veg

Sister Crayon

Eat Clean

Sign Major Label Deal

Paddle 4 DART

Heats Up the Sacramento River

Few & Far graffiti crew Going the Extra Mile

In the Groove

the growlers coast to coast

New Glory’s Key Lime Gose Get It While You Can!

On the Road in Utah