Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "electronica"

BLVD, Face Melters Incorporated.

2010-05-08T06:24:44Z

Last summer, I went on a road trip of epic proportions. I traveled 22,000 miles over the course of 139 days, hitting 36 states along the way. During my trip, I went to a variety of music festivals, including some of the monsters, such as All Points West, Lollapalooza, Gathering of the Vibes and Phish 8.

My favorite of them all, though, was probably a smaller one called Camp Bisco, in Mariaville, N.Y. Camp Bisco is put on by The Disco Biscuits, and though I really enjoyed the headliners, what set the festival apart was the smaller acts playing throughout the day and late into the night.

That weekend was my first exposure to many acts that I now love: Dr. Dog, Brother's Past, K'naan, Chromeo, Bonobo, Pnuma Trio, Pretty Lights.

One of my favorite "discoveries" at Camp Bisco, BLVD, played at Harlows on Wednesday night.

BLVD's music is tough to categorize. Their Myspace page describes the music as electro/electronica/breakbeat. I've heard the group alternately described as "urban," "livetronica," "electronic rockers" and "electro dance rock." If I had to put a label on it, I'd probably just go with "freaking awesome" and call it a day.

I arrived at Harlow's at 9 p.m. Wednesday, and immediately was struck by the crowd, which appeared to be mostly tatted-up, Affliction-wearing cage fighters and scantily clad ring-card girls. This wasn't what I'd imagined BLVD's fan base would look like, but, then again, you never know. Maybe this was one of those unlikely fan phenomena, like Morrissey's popularity with teenage Latinos. As I got settled, however, I realized that a good portion of the crowd were Cinco de Mayo revelers, who had, unbeknownst to them, stumbled into the best show in town.

I sat down at a table close to the stage and watched as the chairs around me began to fill up with people who were here specifically for the show. By the time that opening act Vokab Kompany took the stage, the tables were full and the crowd was ready.

Vokab Kompany is another act that refuses to be pigeonholed. Two MCs might lead you to believe that it's hip hop, but that doesn't begin to tell the story. The seven-piece band from San Diego played for more than an hour, a set that was at times funky, jazzy, heavy, bouncy, even bluegrassy. At one point, it eased comfortably in and out of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." A moment later, during a long electric fiddle solo, a young lady joined the fiddler on the floor and did her best "Lord of the Dance." And it all made sense. Through it all, the crowd was treated to microphonic gymnastics of the dueling MCs, Rob Hurt and Burkey. The group is legit; see them.

Vokab Kompany set 'em up, BLVD knocked 'em down.

BLVD came out a bit before 11 and wasted no time getting the crowd, properly fluffed by the openers, into a tizzy. The driving beats and pulsing bass laid down by Dylan Mcintosh and Tripp Bains demand your respect. Curtis Sloane's guitar stylings make ... look, the point is they'll melt your face off. And put a party in your pants.

In the past, BLVD also played with an MC, but they recently parted ways amicably. While not having a singer may make its music a bit less accessible, it had very little effect on the quality of the band's performance.

All of the musicians in BLVD are very talented, but they have become festival staples because of their ability to work a crowd into a frenzy. Their music builds into a crescendo until you think they can't go any longer, at which point they just keep right on going. For an hour and a half at Harlows, to the delight of their fans and a lucky few who happened to be in the right place at the right time, BLVD just kept building those crescendos, taking the crowd to the brink and beyond, into the throes of musical ecstasy. It happened over and over, until those of us who spent the whole set dancing were ready to collapse. It was 1 a.m. I exchanged sweaty high fives with some of my fellow dance-floor warriors, and basked briefly in the afterglow of the evening's festivities.

It had been a fantastic evening with two great groups that want you to get up off your butt and tear the dance floor a new one. Really, the only thing missing from Wednesday night's show was you. You like to dance, don't you? Sure you do. Next time you see Vokab or BLVD is coming to town, throw on your favorite pair of dance pants -- mine happen to be silver -- and get to that show. You can thank me later.

If you know what's good for you, you'll head up to The High Sierra Music Festival for the Fourth of July weekend. BLVD is playing the 1:30 to 4:00 AM Thursday set, otherwise known as the gamechanger. Do it, it'll blow your mind.

The New Humans Rock at Sacramento State

2010-02-04T03:28:47Z

From its first note to its last song, The New Humans rocked the Sacramento State campus earlier today.

The New Humans, a Sacramento-based four-piece band that describes its sound as "electro piano rock," played a 40-minute set in the University Union for approximately 150 students.

It was part of Sacramento State's weekly "Wednesday Nooner" free concert series, presented by UNIQUE.

The band opened with an intro that quickly set the tone for the show: Drums, synth and loops swelled until the band launched into its first song, a dance-worthy tune that featured heavy drums and piano hooks.

The rest of the set was filled with energetic songs that showcased The New Humans' ability to mix soaring vocals, funky bass lines, piano riffs and intelligent drumming to impress even the most jaded music critic.

Their sound could be compared to The Killers, but with a little more dance and a little more intensity. The comparison is welcomed by keyboardist Cole Cuchna.

"We love The Killers. They are one of our major influences," he said. Cuchna also credited British musicians Keane with showing his band that you don't need a guitar to rock.

The New Humans, like Keane, don't have an electric guitar, but use a keyboard, synth, bass guitar and drums to write good songs and get the crowd dancing. It was more than enough to entertain the audience, who gave a loud ovation at the set's close.

"It was very good," said student Mike Archibald, a DJ with Sacramento State's student-run radio station KSSU. "I enjoyed their musicianship."

"My mind is blown," student Will Floyd said.

The New Humans loved the opportunity to play at Sac State.

"We were stoked to play," lead singer and synth man Scott Simpson said. "It was great to play for people who normally wouldn't hear us."

There will be more opportunities to view The New Humans, as they are enjoying a busy year. They recently performed at the Sacramento Electronic Music Festival, and are looking forward to more performances, including a show in San Francisco Thursday and a Haiti relief show at Luigi's Fungarden on Feb. 19.

They are also expecting to release an eight-song EP later this year, although you can get their song "Fever" now on the iTunes Music Store and Amazon's MP3 store.

The New Humans are definitely worth checking out. Just remember to bring your dancing shoes and prepare to be impressed.

Sacramento Electronica Music Festival A Great Success

2010-02-02T05:20:29Z

Beats, beards and booze filled the Townhouse Lounge Saturday as the Sacramento Electronica Music Festival wrapped up its third and final night.

The Sacramento Electronica Music Festival ran Thursday, Jan. 28 to Saturday, Jan. 30 offering a chance to check out Sacramento's vibrant electronica scene as well as experience something unique.

Adam Saake, the event's organizer, said the event was born out of a desire to bring Sacramento's electronica musicians together. Saake knew many of the electronica artists in the area, but none of them ever played together.

"The dots weren't connected, and there was never any electronica bill," Saake said. "We could do a really dope electronica festival."

Saake said the show started as a night concert, but as interest grew, so did the plans.

"It snowballed into this amazing thing," he said. Eventually, 17 electronica artists and seven DJs were lined up to deliver the first Sacramento Electronica Music Festival.

The event took place at the Townhouse Lounge, a two-story venue on 21st Street with DJs and a dance floor on the first floor and a live music room on the second floor. It was a fun night and a great introduction to the Sacramento electronic music scene.

Many people were on the dance floor downstairs, dancing to the beats created by various local DJs, including DJs Muppetblast, Crush Delight and I@N. Droning rhythms, throbbing bass and drum loops echoed through the room while pulsating strobe lights matched the beats and seemed to wrap around the whole area. It was very much like a club experience, and many on the dance floor were dancing, holding drinks and enjoying themselves.

Most of the people at the Townhouse Lounge were upstairs watching the live musicians. The majority of the audience consisted of 20-somethings who looked like they just walked out of a Midtown coffee shop, complete with tight jeans, big scarves, wool caps and bushy beards on the men. More than half were holding drinks, and although many gatherers were young, there were a few older couples enjoying themselves.

The packed crowd responded to the music in varying ways. Some people just stood and bobbed their heads, while some were sitting down with their eyes closed. One guy even spent the first hour or so painting on a canvas on the wall, ultimately creating a striking image of a woman's head moving to the side, her hair floating behind her.

Both the music and lights upstairs were usually less intense and created a comparatively more relaxed experience, one which focused almost solely on the live music.

The live music itself was unique and varied, showcasing the various takes on electronica Sacramento has to offer. Seventeen musicians, including CityState, MochiPet, The New Humans, Night Night, Sister Crayon, Tycho and Dusty Brown all contributed to the event with different styles.

Some of the live acts consisted of one guy and a computer, while others had full bands with added electronic elements. The music ranged from peaceful and atmospheric to droning and loud, as well as everything in between.

Homo Erectus, for example, played music that was all about heavy beats and growling vocals. The two musicians wore unicorn masks and pranced around on stage, which made for a very strange performance. Night Night took the stage next and used his laptop computer to add video game samples to a calm rhythm, which made for a more relaxing experience. It was a very different setting from a typical rock concert, which was highlighted when Dana Gumbiner, the man behind Night Night, encouraged the audience to sit on the ground, look up at the ceiling, or do whatever they wanted.

"Don't feel like you have to look at the guy on stage. Besides, I'm just checking e-mail," said Gumbiner while he was on stage.

After his set, Gumbiner said that his live performances combine sequenced beats with live improv sections. "It's kind of like controlled chaos," Gumbiner said.

Gumbiner also said he was impressed with the whole event, the artists and their performances. "It seems pretty clear from tonight that there's a lot of talent here in Sacramento," he said.

The event was a hit with the city as well.

Saake said that more than 1,000 people showed up throughout the whole weekend, including more than 500 on Saturday night alone.

"It was a gigantic success," Saake said. "I'm overjoyed and thrilled, but mostly I'm really, really impressed with Sacramento for coming out and supporting the local electronica scene."

Donald Bell, a writer for consumer technology website Cnet.com, used to play with former Sacramento electronica band Command Collective as Chachi Jones around five years ago. Bell traveled from the Bay Area to see Saturday's show and said he was impressed with the turnout.

"Five years ago, the turnout for this kind of show was maybe a third of this," Bell said. "Maybe we were ahead of our time."

Saake said he was very encouraged by the turnout and said that many people asked if there was going to be another electronica music festival next year.

"Definitely next year, we're going to do another one," he said, filled with excitement. "Sacramento was finally ready for this."

That 1 Guy at Beatnik Studios

2010-01-23T07:15:15Z

"Rhythmically dazzling," says Melody Bowman, an attendee of That 1 Guy's Thursday night concert at Beatnik Studios. "You think you have the Magic Pipe figured out then That 1 Guy pulls out the Magic Saw and the Magic Boot."

That 1 Guy, the one-man band of Berkley, California, performed for his second time at Beatnik Studio this Thursday. This was the second stop on this year's tour promoting his new album "That 1 Guy and the Magic Pipe Packs a Wallop!"

Alvi McLeary of Cosmic Family Lighting provided an amazing laser light show and sound that truly brought the show together.

The show was opened by Pops the Beat Wizard, a local act specializing in electronica. Pops set the stage for one of the most unique and musically creative shows to ever hit Sacramento.

The crowd contained people of every race, age and gender group showing the transcendental abilities of That 1 Guy's music.

The show, which ran late into the evening, was a one of a kind experience. That 1 Guy played hits from several of his albums with the help of his own inventions, or in his words, "The rest of the band," the Magic Pipe, the Magic Saw, and the Magic Boot.

The Magic Pipe, a seven-foot-tall instrument consisting of pipes, strings, and triggers connected to a drum machine plays notes all over the sonic map. The way he handles the instrument, however, is what makes it special. One minute, it is played with a bow like a cello. The next with fingers like a stand-up jazz bass. The next with a drumstick as a percussion instrument. All the while hitting triggers with his hands and feet to simulate an entire band.

With a singing voice that could stand alone, That 1 Guy's musical talent and understanding is always present.

The Beatnik Studio offered an unusually intimate performance. The crowd actively spoke with That 1 Guy while on stage and was allowed to sit on the floor feet from the performance.

"That 1 Guy and the Magic Pipe Packs a Wallop!" hit stores Wednesday and is available online at www.that1guy.com

Visit www.Beatnik-Studios.com for their schedule of concerts and events.

Tuesday: The Crystal Method rocking Harlow's

2009-06-16T04:41:48Z

Why should you see The Crystal Method on a week night at Harlow's?

Band member Scott Kirkland gives a modest reply: "I know the economy's bad, and it's on a Tuesday night, but it's a real big show."

What speaks more than an intimate show at Harlow's is the band's longevity. According to Kirkland, "longevity," is still the band's greatest achievement. Over the last 15 years, the band has cut four albums, three remix albums and scored two No. 1 records. A platinum record and a Grammy nomination have also been bestowed on the band.

Now on tour to support its latest album Divided By Night, the electronic music duo got an unexpected start in a grocery store.

Ken Jordan and Kirkland met in the break room while employees of a Las Vegas grocery store. Kirkland was messing with a drum machine, Jordan walked in and the two coworkers started to talk about music.

The next thing they knew, the two young musicians were making music together. Nine months later, they had both moved to Los Angeles and in 1994, they dropped their first single "Now is the Time."

Both Jordan and Kirkland grew up listening to metal, rock and roll and pop. Their first three albums incorporated the riffs and beats from these genres, while the duo added vocal samples and distortion.

That was until their latest album. In Divided by Night, guests like Matisyahu and Emily Haines of Broken Social Scene bring hip hop and indie elements into the mix.

"We're trying to create something different from the last album," Kirkland said. "With the vocalists, we kind of look at them as another layer. We're creating something new to continue to expand ourselves."

At the show, the musicians will be playing their old hits like "Keep Hope Alive" and "Busy Child," along with new material. (links open up music videos). Inspired by their Las Vegas roots, a light show will add to an entertaining stage production.

"[The current tour has had] the best responses for a live show in probably 10 years" Kirkland added. "I think everyone's going to be really happy with the show. It's [going to be] a fun night."

The 21-and-over show will be at Harlow's, located at 2708 J St. Opening band L.A. Riot is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at harlows.com or at the door. Tickets that were purchased for the Empire show will be honored at Harlow's.

*Photograph credit Maura Lanahan