Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "empire"

Show goes on at Ace of Spades

2011-03-19T00:49:30Z

Ace of Spades music club recently got its liquor license under limited hours following area residents' concerns about possible problems.

On March 3, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) transferred a liquor license to the club, which opened in early February at 1417 R St. The license was transferred from Empire Events, a nightclub operated there by the building's owner, Randy Paragary, and partners from 2004 until February 2010.

Ace of Spades' owners, Eric Rushing and Brett Bair, had hoped to serve alcohol at the club until 2 a.m. every night.

Under the conditions of the liquor license, the music club must stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and at 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. ABC initially planned to allow alcohol to be served only until 11 p.m. or midnight on weekends, but the owners appealed, said the club's General Manager, Mike Soliven.

Residents told ABC they were concerned the 1,000-person-capacity club wouldn't host much live music, operating primarily as a bar and leading to a lot of late-night noise, litter and other problems experienced with Empire and its successor, Venue, which closed in August.

"They don't understand – the owners don't want a nightclub," Soliven said. "Seemed like the owners were being punished for problems in the past. These guys are brand new to the business."

Ace of Spades held its first live show with Rob Zombie February 10. Live music is scheduled for most nights during the rest of March and April.

Two or three earlier shows featuring rapper Andre Nickatina, Badfish and another act had to be canceled because the club didn't have its liquor license yet. Alcohol is "a must" for some shows’ audiences, but bigger shows went on as scheduled, he said.

ABC must weigh input from Sacramento Police, city officials and the neighborhood when making decisions on liquor licenses.

The license transfer took four months – now the norm for the central city, where residents and others often raise concerns over the licenses, said Jeff Gregson, supervising investigator for ABC's Sacramento District.

Ace of Spades opened before the license was activated, which raised questions in the community. But they didn't sell alcohol, Gregson said.

Alcohol distributors check the status of a license on ABC's online license query system when business owners place an order and won't sell unless the license is active, he added.

"It's a pretty steep penalty for a wholesaler or distributor to make a sale to a non-licensed individual," Gregson said.

An entertainment permit from Sacramento Police requires shows to end by 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

The ABC license, known as a type 47, allows the club to sell beer, wine and distilled liquor as long as a restaurant is also operated there. The establishment must have a kitchen.

"If a place has a microwave and sink and wants a type 47, that doesn't cut it," Gregson said.

Ace of Spades serves chicken wings, tacos, burgers, salads and other fare from 3 – 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 3 – 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon – 9 p.m. on Sundays. Prices range from $3.25 for a mixed green salad to $8.75 for grilled chicken pizza.

The club sits near the center of a trendy block in a former industrial warehouse district that is being gradually redeveloped. Most of the interior was kept from the Venue makeover. New crimson wallpaper and vintage-looking light fixtures dress up the main bar.

The liquor license will be up for renewal in a year. The owners can ask for later hours, but Soliven said he’s rarely seen that happen.

With three full bars, a juice bar for all-ages shows and six or seven bartenders working, Ace of Spades' owners could make an additional $10,000 to $15,000 in alcohol sales on weekday show nights if they were open until 2 a.m. like the smaller venues on the block. That's millions of dollars in sales a year, he said.

"Most people on that block don't start going out until 10 p.m.," Soliven said. "Shady Lady and R15 are busy at 11 (on weekdays) and we're kicking people out."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

Venue shuts down

2010-08-13T23:14:30Z

Venue, located at 1417 R St., officially closed its doors today after being sold last week.

That’s according to Bob Simpson, one of the establishment’s partners.

“I can’t disclose the terms of the sale because it’s confidential,” Simpson said. “The business is sold. We’re excited about it. We got a good offer, and at this point, we decided to go for it.”

Simpson said he couldn’t disclose what the concept is for the business that will be taking it over.

Any performances scheduled to take place in the 1,000-capacity club have been canceled, according to Simpson.

“We were only doing occasional performances,” he said.

Venue opened in February in the building that formerly housed Empire.

Simpson said he was glad to find a buyer, as the market is flooded with businesses for sale right now.

“It was perfect timing for us,” he said.

Photo by Jonathan Mendick

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

A Venue for all occasions

2010-02-13T03:31:31Z

Randy Paragary, Bob Simpson, and Rick and Earl Lobley opened Empire Event Center in 2004. It was almost alone on the R Street Corridor for four years, before being joined by, among others, Shady Lady Saloon, Magpie Catering, Burgers and Brew, Space 07 Salon and Top This Yogurt.

With all of these businesses opening in the past year, it was time for the space to undergo a facelift - to the tune of $2 million.

Well, not just a facelift - a complete change.

Today, all that remains of Empire are memories of past performers, including The Roots, Muse and David Garibaldi, Sacramento's own performance painter. According to its managers, from now on there will be no more 18-and-over club nights, meaning no more college Wednesdays and no more student discounts.

Over the last several weeks, Empire's former address, 1417 R Street, has undergone a quiet and speedy renovation. It reopened Thursday night as Sacramento's newest entertainment destination - Venue.

"R Street, this whole section (of Sacramento) is ready to explode," said Venue general manager Elvis Lindsey. "We wanted a little more classy of a nightclub."

He and assistant general manager Ben Benoit, Lobley's cousin, said they've been remodeling the place around the clock, for ten days. Workers were putting finishing touches on the interior of the 1,000-capacity club Thursday evening.

Among other new features are 1,000-plus feet of crown molding, freshly painted red walls, four colorful bars, chandeliers, a state-of-the-art light and sound system, three VIP areas with bottle service, a DJ booth and stage, and art that former Sacramento-based painter Jacob Patterson described as "punk rock meets Victoria's Secret."

Most of the staff is new, managers said, and Mosaic Salon has added a twist of glamor by styling female employees' hair.

Benoit drove 3,000 miles, from Miami, for Venue's opening.

"The green room is more conducive for a band to come and enjoy; (it's) just a nicer environment," he said, adding, "(Venue will) bring high quality bands to Sacramento that usually bypass the area."

Venue looks to hold 120 shows per year, said Benoit, starting Friday with Lake Tahoe-based, '90's cover band The Alternates. Though Venue's nights are all 21-and-over, during some musical performances, the venue will be open to all ages.

"Personally, as a music fan, I'm excited," said Barry Prickett, former SN&R music critic and Venue's publicist. "Why wait for a good thing?"

Benoit called Venue's speaker system, a Meyers Pro, one of the best in the industry.

Managers said the club usually will be open Thursdays through Sundays, with a different theme every night. Thursday will be a mash-up night featuring a DJ paired with a live drummer. Friday nights will feature a live band with a DJ, while Saturday nights will be a top-40 night with a "stylish, provocative" dress code enforced.

Sunday nights might be "hospitality night," said Prickett, adding that many facets of Venue are to be determined.

Aside from concerts and dance club nights, Venue's management hopes to open the space to "other performances," and special and corporate events.

Cover charge will start at $10, and bottle-service packages for 10 people will cost $300.

A. B. Quintanilla and Kumbia All-Starz to perform in Sacramento this weekend

2009-07-24T00:27:10Z

It's a good year, so far, for Abraham Quintanilla III, known to many as "A.B." Quintanilla. This 45-year-old entertainer was heavily embroiled in a nasty court battle that dragged on for years until finally winning back the Kumbia Kings this year. This victory came after the loss of a long-time friendship with Cruz Martinez, much negative media buzz, and a hefty legal price tag. At last, he can put it all behind him and concentrate on his current band, Kumbia All‑Starz.

Many know Quintanilla first as the brother of legendary Queen of Tex-Mex, Selena Quintanilla, who was murdered in 1995. After her untimely death, Quintanilla took a four-year hiatus from his career.

When he emerged in 1999, with newly formed band Kumbia Kings, it was clear that he was going to push the bar to a new level. Kumbia Kings erupted into the scene with a trademark style of fusing cumbia with rap. It was a hit. Was it any surprise? It was Quintanilla who was writing, co-writing and producing the music of Selena, an artist whose life story gave J.Lo her big break in the world of acting. (Jennifer Lopez portrayed her in the biographic movie Selena.) It was Quintanilla who had dedicated his life's work to creating hit songs.

When Quintanilla left Kumbia Kings in 2007 due to rumors of money mishandling and disagreements with bandmate Cruz Martinez, his fans were in shock. Martinez, who had been Quintanilla's righthand man since the group's inception, retained rights to the group name. This scandal caused great tension for Quintanilla and was the start of the legal battles to recover the Kumbia Kings. Those who followed Quintanilla's career were certain this was the beginning of something new. Others feared Quintanilla would walk away from it all. He didn't.

That same year, Quintanilla re-emerged as leader of his newly formed group, Kumbia All-Starz. Chris Perez, husband of the late Selena, joined the band. His fan base quickly followed suit. All these years, Quintanilla has consistently given his fans what they wanted to hear – a hit song. And although Quintanilla has recently won back the Kumbia Kings name, he's already proven that he doesn't need it.

What made the hit songs then is the same ingredient that makes the hit songs now: A.B. Quintanilla.

Kumbia All-Starz continues the theme of fusing cumbia and rap and then some. Quintanilla knows there is no limit to pushing that bar and shows us this when he performs alongside his group. With well-known hits like "Chiquilla" and their latest hit "Por Ti Baby" (featuring Flex), its no wonder that Quintanilla will be riding proudly into Sacramento.

Kumbia All-Starz will be performing this Sunday, July 26, in concert at the Empire Events Center, 1417 R St., Sacramento. It is the band's first appearance in Sacramento. Show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $40. Normal dress code requirements are not enforced on concert nights, so come dressed comfortably and prepare to dance, dance, dance. The energy and sound that radiates when this group of ten are in a room will lift you to your feet before you can say "cu-cu[uuu]."

Photos courtesy of Quintanilla's MySpace page.

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

Tonight: Musica Romantica

2009-05-22T00:16:35Z

Bailemos, Sacramentita.

Mexico's Trio Los Panchos will bring romantic bolero music to Sacramento when they hit the stage at Empire Event Center tonight on 1417 R Street.

La Raza Galeria Posada is bringing the internationally acclaimed band up north as part of its Sabor! Music series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $30 at the door.

The fundraiser concert is being held to raise money for La Raza and its cultural programs.

Nearly seven decades after forming, Los Panchos is considered one of Latin America's top trios. They recently played at the Hollywood Bowl for Mariachi USA.

The original band members have been replaced by younger musicians. Gabriel Vargas Aguilar, the son of co-founder Alfredo Gil, is now the band's musical director.

Their music has its roots in central Mexico's traditional trio music. Los Panchos is credited with reviving the genre by mixing harmony and classical guitar into sensual ballads.

The band also created a new style of Mexican trio music when Gil invented a small guitar called the requinto, now a standard instrument used by all trios.

For event information, call 916-446-5133.

Pepper at Empire 1-22-09

2009-01-24T01:22:58Z

Thursday, Jan. 22, the band Pepper played a show at Empire. Pepper is originally from Hawaii now based out of LA, they have a sound and feel similar to Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The show was a 16 and over concert venue. The first thing I noticed walking up to Empire was all the high schoolers hiding in the shadows downing coke bottles full of alcohol.

I arrived about 2 hours after the show actually started and the line was short and moved quickly after a brief frisking by the staff.

Passafire was playing as I entered and I quickly made a bee-line for the bar on the first floor with a good view of the stage. I ordered a vodka-cranberry. It cost $6 and was very weak. To ensure myself a drink containing alcohol I opted for an $8 beer the next round.

Passafire, an East Coast based ska-punk band, sounded amazing. They had great energy that really got the crowd going. Their mix of traditional guitars and drums along with their other instruments sounded fantastic.

When their set ended, we had to wait a few minutes for Pepper, during which time I made my way out onto the floor in front of the stage along with every other person in Empire. After shoving my way to the front of the stage and passing through too many plumes of smoke to count, Pepper finally appeared and sent the mob of people into a frenzy.

Shirtless, they jumped right into their set. Those who swayed slightly to the other bands were dancing and shoving each other around in the mosh-pit. The entire place was going crazy. If I thought Passafire had a great energy then Pepper was absolutely electric.

They got the crowd involved by demanding us to scream out profanities and sing along.

They also were sure to compliment good old Sac Town. They said we were crazier and wilder than those in New York, but slipped up once by thinking they were in San Francisco. I hope they were kidding.

Pepper's songs were a good mix of reggae and rock and sounded fantastic live. They played until 10:30 p.m., and not a single person was standing still by the end. They left the stage to chants of encore, and returned shortly to an ecstatic crowd who transformed Empire into one huge mosh-pit.

Several songs later they exited the stage for the final time and the house lights came on. As a sea of people flowed toward the exit, the fire alarm sounded. Apparently someone pulled it which was not a surprise, considering the 16 and over crowd, prompting 4 fire engines to arrive within minutes.

I made my way through the groups of young people away from the screeching alarm to R15 for some affordable post-concert drinks. Overall I had an excellent time although I would have preferred it to be 18 and over. Pepper played a great show and I highly recommend them to everyone, especially live.