Looking to celebrate the New Year in style? The Sacramento Press has compiled a list of New Year's Eve events that will start 2012 off with a bang. Sacramento New Year’s Eve Dinner Gala Hornblower Yacht 1206 Front Street Boarding at 6:45 p.m. Cruise is from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. $128 per person. Discounts are available for seniors and children Get a private viewing of the fireworks on the river aboard the Hornblower Yacht. Hornblower Cruises and Events offers a three-hour cruise that includes a four-course seated dinner, a cocktail bar that includes dinner liqueurs and house champagne. There will be a DJ on board for guests who have their dancing shoes on. For more information, visit the web

I’ve missed you too, Sactown! All of the letters and emails encouraging and pleading for the return of the Rundown have all been very comforting – as has my own laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of that statement. Ego-tripping aside, it’s good to be back with the "redheaded cello" version of the Rundown (wait for it…). This is definitely the time of year when we start to lament the pending end of summer and the compression of the local concert calendar. We ain’t there yet… Toad the Wet Sprocket –Parents weren’t sure if the band name was inappropriate or just plain weird when their kids started going nuts over songs like “All I Want” in the early ‘90s. Twenty years later, they still

Here are some of the many music events happening in the Sacramento area this week. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com. Sacramento Area Concerts & Music Events Through Sunday, March 20th: 9 to 5 The Musical at The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 1301 L Street in Sacramento. Shows at 8PM, 2PM, and 7:30PM depending on date. Tickets are $18.00 - $70.00. A Grand Night For Singing at Cosmopolitan Cabaret on 1000 K Street in Sacramento. Continues WED-SUN. Show times are at 8PM or 7:30PM with some 2PM matinees. Tickets are $33.00 - $48.00. Friday, March 18th - Saturday, March 19th: Sacramento Ballet In-Studio Celtic Experience at 1631

Happy Green Beer Day, everyone! Yes, we all know how big the De Vere’s party in Cesar Chavez Park is going to be, and thanks to them for putting it on. But assuming the hangover from Thursday doesn’t drop you like “Two and a Half Men” for the rest of the week, don’t sleep on some fine shows on deck. Slainte! Art vs. Science – Fortunately for people that don’t like techno, the definitions of what actually constitutes “techno” are beginning to broaden - look no further than the fact that many techno acts are starting to employ live drums (read: Pretty Lights), which is one of the tasty elements of Sydney, Australia’s Art vs. Science. They’re generically self-billed as a rock band that hap

Whew! If there are any stories from anyone out there about one of our biggest concert weeks in recent memory here in Sactucky, feel free to share them in the comments section below. Seriously, we want to know who was out gettin’ funky and where (and maybe with who, but keep it clean). Lindol and I took care of you over the weekend reporting back on the Mother Hips gig at Marilyn’s – and we could have done the same about Truth & Salvage Co. last night at Harlow’s, but as he duly pointed out, when it comes to covering that band, our objectivity and impartiality as journalists is somewhere in the gutter next to discarded fliers for the next stage show at Faces, and possibly a used rubber or

Don’t worry, Sactown, this week’s Rundown has been crafted so that playoff viewing won’t be a conflict (hangovers notwithstanding). We’ve got some ferociously creative names on deck throughout the remainder of the week, and a ton more brewing over the next few, including a four-concert indoor series out in Davis from the same folks who handle the summer stock at Sophia’s, and a three-day festival at the ToHo. Stay tuned to Sac Press, it’s gonna be a winter party! If you are planning or promoting a concert in the Sacramento area, or just know of a show you’d like to see featured in the Rundown, shoot me an email Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights – Certainly fortuitous timing of today’

Drifters, turn back! We’re keeping it good and local (kinda) this week as we celebrate our last weekend of theoretical playtime before Christmas all but consumes our ability to gobble up live music. We’re flanked by two gigs over the course of five days from one of the darlings of our local music family that have since relocated, but are spending a little time at home for the Holidays. I’ll be taking next week off to dunk my head in a giant bowl of eggnog, but keep your eyes peeled the week after for a special New Year’s edition of the Rundown once we’re done singing “O, Tannenbaum” – because Lord knows we need something to counter all the usual NYE nonsense of paying $50 for a cover band

Before we get into it this week, Sacramentans, allow me to entice you with a couple of treats for your ears. First off, G. Love has offered up a free download of the title track from his forthcoming album, “Fixin’ to Die,” and it’s a beaut! Set for a February 22 release, the album was produced by Seth and Scott Avett, a.k.a. the Avett Brothers. Has there been a better combination since someone stuffed peanut butter into a chocolate bar? Hardly! Hey, speaking of drinking, check out today’s Daytrotter session from Canada’s the Sheepdogs; specifically, “I Don’t Know.” It will turn your cubicle into a saloon. If that doesn’t get your motor running for some live music, I’ll be happy to pay y

local.indie.music.photos combines photographer Amy Scott's love of both music and photography into a visual glimpse of the Sacramento music scene. As a regular in the Downtown/Midtown scene, throughout the past few years, she has shot hundreds of local Sacramento music shows and has uploaded literally thousands of photos to her Flickr page. Oftentimes you will find her near the stage at the latest show, camera in hand, ready to capture a band in all its glory.    On Friday, June 11, local.indie.music.photos, in collaboration with Luigi's Slice and Fungarden, present a showcase of around a hundred of Scott's local live band shots from the past year and a half. The show will feature live p

Every year, Davis radio station KDVS holds a record swap where local record labels, record collectors and record stores can trade thousands of records. It's likely that a few CDs, T-shirts and turntables will turn up as well. This year's event will be held Saturday in Luigi's Fun Garden, and music nerds, casual shoppers and passersby can get in for $3. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. people will be able to visit booths of more than a dozen vendors, including punk-rock labels Gearhead and Prank Records. KDVS, Midtown Monthly and the 'Zine Symposium held July 11 will also have tables, according to event co-coordinator Heather Klinger. Also a DJ at KDVS, she's been coordinating the event with Tim Mat