Habibi Hookah Lounge off Fair Oaks Boulevard brought live music and entertainment to Sacramento Thursday. Although smaller in size, the lounge offers customers a more intimate feel for entertainment as well as a great hookah selection. Though it opened five years ago, Habibi has recently taken to hosting "College Thursdays," presented by P-Crew Events. P-Crew Entertainment, a local events group who also works with nightclub The Park, were responsible for booking Starting Six. Coming out of the East Bay, these six guys write music based on what they love doing: partying and having fun. With a sound similar to The Cataracs and Tyga, their music gets everyone of out of their seats and dan

Rock 'n' roll filled the stage Sunday at Ace of Spades thanks to Eve 6, The Audition, Hero’s Last Mission and Taking Not Stealing. Chicago-based band The Audition performed right before headlining Eve 6 and came out with a large amount of energy. Lead vocalist Danny Stevens brought passion and artistry to the stage. Alongside Stevens was drummer Ryan O'Connor, guitarists Jimmy Lopez and Timmy Klepek and bassist Joe Lussa. Performing an eight-song set, The Audition gave the audience a mixture of their four albums paired with some of their material from their newest EP, “Chapter II.“ From the beginning, Stevens rocked the stage with strong vocals, opening with the lyrically fierce song "

Appearing behind a sheer shadow box a top the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts stage on Wednesday night, Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, launched into her lilting “Only if For One Night,” the starting track off her 2011 record release “Ceremonials.” The crowd, captivated by Welch’s charisma and gold-studded cloak, cheered as the singer reverently raised her arms like a black bird and crooned the chorus line: “But you came over me like some holy rite, and although I was burning, you're the only light! Only if for a night!” Her graceful, yet guttural vocals permeated the theatre full with Florence aficionados. Behind her, a tapestry of stained glass cathedral windows and ce

With the aroma of coffee in the air and couches to lounge upon, Shine, located on 14th and E, offers the community great coffee and a great venue for musicians. Coffee shops aren't the norm when it comes to live music, but Shine gives a great alternative to the traditional music venue. There is plenty of space, so enjoy a cup of coffee and listen to music and what it is Shine aims to do. Bringing touring bands into the shop at least once a week, Shine welcomed indie band Is It Is and rock 'n' roll band Sioux City Kid this past Friday. Opening the night was San Francisco based seven-piece band, Sioux City Kid. The band is composed of lead vocalist Jared Griffin, Dave Odell (guitar), Adam

Indie music ruled the night at the California State University, Sacramento Union Ballroom this past Monday. Both the opening and feature band gave the audience great performances and showed their eclectic sound. Opening the show was New Zealand group, Avalanche City, originally started as a solo project by Dave Baxter. The multi-instrumental band now includes musicians Ben Duncan, Strahan Cole, Romelei Rodriguez, Ben Tolich and Johnny Brock. From violin and accordion to banjo and ukulele, Avalanche City is anything but an ordinary band. Released in 2011, Avalanche City's debut album, “Our New Life Above The Ground,” had great success in both New Zealand and Australia. Avalanche City has

Expect horns blowing and savory sauces simmering at the Spaghetti Feed fundraiser for the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band (CHCMB) this Saturday. Band members are hoping for a full house at their main fundraising event for the year. The Spaghetti Feed will be held on March 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Community Center. Entertainment will be provided by the CHCMB and by the Golden State Accordion Club. The event will also include a silent raffle with over 70 items donated by local businesses and community members. Epitomizing community spirit, the band embraces players of all playing levels and ages and performs at public events throughout the Sacramento region. In 201

“Take your time to shine!” encouraged the band evaluator. The shy saxophone player nodded and jumped back into her jazz solo. Constructive feedback and encouragement were the focus of Saturday’s Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival held at California State University, Sacramento. The event brought elementary school through college level jazz players together for a day of performances, evaluation by professional musicians and educators, clinics and opportunities to jam with the pros. Approximately 200 youth musicians in 30 bands filled the music building with the lively sounds of traditional jazz. Band names were as improvisational and free as the jazz form they play. “Stinky Cheese Hobo

Armed with 20 vocalists, six band members and four crew members impersonating the legends of Motown, RPM Crown Productions brought their Hitsville USA Legends of Motown Tribute Show to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday. There was a sold-out crowd of diehard Motown fans there to enjoy some of the greatest hits from the Motown era. It was perplexing that more people weren’t up on their feet during some of the performances. However, after each performer finished their set they were met with more than a few people giving them a standing ovation. The all-star lineup included acts such as The Four Tops, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and even a brief break from Motown for a little bit of

Sixty-two-year-old veteran rocker Eddie Money brought his Jingle Bell Rock tour to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Thursday. Scheduled to appear was former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm and former Jefferson Starship lead singer Mickey Thomas. The day before their performance at Thunder Valley, it was announced that Gramm would not be performing for the remaining tour due to acute laryngitis, so Gramm was not in attendance. As the concert kicked off with Money and Thomas taking the stage, the audience immediately started chanting, “Lou! Lou! Lou!” Money responded by explaining the situation and said they had added a couple of songs to their setlist to make up for the missing Gramm. This wa

Wow. What the hell happened out at Thunder Valley Casino Resort Friday night? It seems soft rock group Air Supply, playing to a packed house of lovesick fans, actually came out and rocked the house. I know. I still don’t believe it, but it’s all true! It was bedlam, I tell you. “Here I Am” thinking “Sweet Dreams.” What are the “Chances” I would find myself in a “Sanctuary” where “Me Like You” can feel “The Power of Love” “Everywhere,” only to have a real rock concert break out. Seriously! Air Supply started out innocently enough with “Even the Nights are Better,” and then segueing into “Every Woman in the World.” OK so far, but as veteran performers Russell Hitchcock (lead singer) and

Public Broadcasting’s KVIE studios in Sacramento was transformed into a concert venue Saturday night as Blame Sally took the stage for a fundraiser. This was not your run of the mill fundraiser either. KVIE recorded the performance and will be using the footage to produce a PBS Special, which will ultimately be used in pledge drives across the country and made available in DVD format. So why choose Blame Sally for such an event? KVIE is using Blame Sally to show women of all ages, middle age in particular, that you can accomplish so much more. In their 30’s and 40’s they put their individual careers on hold to start Blame Sally. As a role model, Blame Sally proves that women in their 30’

Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone played to a full house of old diehard Herman’s Hermits fans at Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s Pano Hall Sunday night. That’s not to say everyone in the audience was old, just older than most. The Noonatics, those who carry around vinyl albums and old Herman’s Hermits 8-tracks, may have known what they were in for, but I sure as bloody hell wasn’t. The 64 year old rocker joined the British band as the lead singer (Herman) at the young age of 15. You do the math. I went to see Herman’s Hermits to relax and enjoy some oldies but goodies, so when Noone took the stage and started singing, “I’m Into Something Good,” I was thinking, “Ahhhh, this is perfect.”

The Cirque Shanghai’s Bai Xi put on a breathtaking show Thursday and Friday night at Thunder Valley Casino Resort, playing to a standing room-only crowd both nights. Bai Xi translates to “100 amazing acts.” However, I only counted 16, but they were 16 amazing displays of physical strength and grace. The show was full of spectacular colors, talented young men, women and a number of young girls. It was a magical night with some mind-boggling performances and a variety of visually stunning costumes. As the show opened, the performers started in the back of Pano Hall dressed in spectacularly colorful costumes. Working their way through the audience with a winking parade-style dragon and wavi

The Rock Allegiance Tour pulled out all the stops for the last night of their summer tour. Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion hosted an unforgettable evening of loud riffs and primordial deafening screams. Seven bands were schedule to perform. Drive A, Crossfade, Red, P.O.D. and Puddle of Mud were scheduled to perform, as well as co-headliners Buckcherry and Papa Roach. Puddle of Mud was unable to attend due to an illness. Me be thinking hangover, but what do I know? This concert was off the charts with people jumping over barriers to get to the bands and the bands jumping over barriers to get to fans. I didn’t know whether I should be watching the bands or the crowd. Both were entertai

Lynyrd Skynyrd arrived with both barrels blazing promoting their latest album, “God and Guns,” in their Florida’s Finest tour at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Thursday night. The band entertained and delighted a full house of die-hard Skynyrd fans – a.k.a. the Skynyrd Nation. It was obvious that their music is enjoyed by a number of generations, as I watched young and old stand up and cheer. Crowds of non-ticket holders gathered in the parking lot area and on the sidewalks outside the amphitheater. When they took the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers, with the band kicking it off with “Working for MCA.” As they were leading into “I Ain’t the One,” lead singer Johnny Van Zant said h

The “King of the Accordion” and four-time Grammy winner Ramon Ayala played to norteño and tejano fans from both sides of the border, with most fans singing along to every song. A mostly older crowd jammed into Thunder Valley Casino and Resort to watch their old favorite perform. There were a few younger fans peppered throughout, enjoying the music just as much as their elders. Ayala arrived on stage with his trademark green, white and red accordion. The crowd erupted in cheers and several individuals made their way up to the stage to pay tribute to the man. Ayala was joined on stage by his band, known as Bravos del Norte. Band members were Mario Marichalar (bajo sexton and vocals), Fiden

The Human League teamed up with Men Without Hats at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort Wednesday night, playing to a less than packed house. Both groups are synthpop bands who got their start in the early ’80s. The Human League has had a number of hit songs since and in March of this year released their 10th album, “Credo,” 30 years after their first album. Men Without Hats kicked off the evening playing a number of their hit songs, including "Moonbeam," "Pop Goes the World" and "The Safety Dance." The only original band member, Ivan Doroschuk, came out donning a cowboy hat. He was bathed in red or blue light almost the entire time on stage. Doroschuk was very energetic, dancing back and

Friday night was quite the ride down memory lane for everyone who listened to the radio back in the ’80s. The Fixx, Wang Chung and Naked Eyes all played to a packed Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. You could say this was a British invasion of sorts, since all three bands hail from England. They were a smashing success in the ’80s, all with No. 1 hits. It was quite an impressive lineup, with only one concern: What time will I get home? There’s a whole lotta hits to be played from each band. Naked Eyes, best known for their first single, “Always Something There to Remind Me," kicked off the evening with “Voices in My Head.” The band’s original members were Pete Byrne on vocals an

Years ago when our kids were young, my wife would set their alarm to play Toad the Wet Sprocket’s CD “Fear.” Every morning I was treated to the song “Walk on the Ocean.” Some mornings I would hear just the beginning chorus, and other mornings I’d hear the entire CD. Those were the bad days – not to say the music was bad, but the kids just wouldn’t get their butts out of bed. Well, the kids are all grown up now and in their 20s. Don’t ask me for their exact age. I’m not wired that way. So it was quite a delight to take a couple of them over to Harlow’s in Sacramento to see Toad the Wet Sprocket on Thursday. Seeing the two of them watching the band that started their day, every day as kids,

Huey Lewis & The News rocked Thunder Valley Casino and Resort on Friday, playing to a sold-out crowd of over 3,500 cheering fans. It was quite impressive watching as no fewer than 10 people (The News) stormed the stage while a booming heartbeat played in the background. As the crowd cheered, Lewis arrived onstage singing “The Heart of Rock & Roll” with the crowd joining in. The next seven songs were off their new CD, “Soulsville,” which are soul cover songs from the Stax Records catalog. This earned a polite applause from the crowd with some shouts of “Hip to Be Square” and “Heart and Soul.” Starting with “Jacob’s Ladder,” Lewis got a bigger reaction out of the crowd. It was apparent the