"Road 88" is announce the Best local band in Sacramento and is sponsored by Cowboy Up and Dean Guitars!! Tell the readers, who are the members of “Road 88”? What instruments do you play? Answer: Rachel Steele is the lead singer, Scott Prentice plays rhythm guitar and lead vocals , David Phelps is the lead guitarist and also sings lead vocals, Sherry Eidhammer is the background vocalist, Joe Anderson plays the drums and Joe Irwin plays the bass. When did you start your band and where was your first show? Answer: Rachel, Dave and Scott put the band together in the spring and summer of 2009. We had our first show at Tex Wasabi’s in January 2010. I saw you play at the Laguna Town Hall an

A few more changes are in the works for the Second Saturday Art Walk in an effort to reduce problems and increase the focus on art, city and business leaders said Wednesday. The changes will take effect in April, when the event's crowds are expected to grow as warm weather returns to Sacramento. The city's Second Saturday safety team has come up with some modifications in the wake of a fatal shooting in September 2010. The biggest change is a requirement that vendors, musicians with amplified sound and other street performers who are set up on public property – primarily sidewalks or closed streets – operate from 4 - 8 p.m. Live music is part of a growing music scene that has emerged on

Local musician Bryan Nichols, of the reggae band ZuhG, opened an independent music store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza on Nov. 13. The store only stocks local musicians’ albums, the work of other local artists and apparel. Apparel includes styles by 215Grass, Calibis Clothes, Hippy Tree, Dome Apparel and independent craftspeople on consignment. In The back of the store, which is named ZuhG Life after the band, serves as a space for music lessons. “It just kind of happened” Nichols said. He had been booking live music for the mall when management offered him a space to open a music store. “We’re Sacramento’s local music shop” said Aaron Hoberman, a roadie who also operates the store

The duo behind Bows & Arrows is reinventing the business in a new space devoted to nurturing local artists. In spring, artists Olivia Coelho and Trisha Rhomberg plan to open a new concept rooted in the vintage clothing store they've operated in Midtown for three years.  Coelho and Rhomberg, who are both clothing designers, will continue to sell vintage and repurposed clothing at the new space at 1815 19th St. But Bows & Arrows' new location will also be a place for the creative class to eat, drink, sell art and be exposed to other talent.  "We're the poorest philanthropists you'll ever meet," Coelho said.  Coelho's parents bought the building in June. Coelho and Rhomberg will lease it

April 16 marked the arrival of TEDx in Sacramento, bringing a “TED-like experience” to our area. What is TED? TED stands for “Technology, Education, Design.” It is a small nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Started in 1984, its purpose has spread to include an annual U.S. conference in Long Beach as well as a TEDGlobal conference in the United Kingdom, a TEDTalks online video site, an annual TED Prize, a nationwide local program called TEDx and more. Per TEDx Sacramento, “The TEDx Conference provided a license and general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.” Brandon Weber, TEDx Sacramento curator, said the local team want

Jazz enthusiasts should be aware of a new talent in town. If you haven't had the opportunity to catch the very beautiful and very talented Casey Lipka perform, opportunities abound this spring. When did you get into music? Music has always been a focal part of my life. As a kid, I would belt out pop songs, often along with my younger sister, in the car as we drove to school. My dad is a huge Beatles fan and plays guitar, so I was fortunate to grow up with live music in the house. My elementary school in Santa Monica, Calif., had a strong music and performing arts program, and it put on school-wide musicals each year. I was also exposed to Haitian music as one of the parents was from Ha

Ok, we have been updating you all along with the success of the "Sacramento Has Talent" Competition being held at the "New" Tommy T's Comedy Cluib; well, the Second Round is about to start this Tuesday Aug. 11th at 7:30. All good acts, but only half make it on to the Finals. The audience is always the best judge, and that's why with this competition it's the audience who decide which acts have what it takes to represent our area. Come join us and help pick the Best, because we got rid of the Rest!  Starting with this next round of shows, all the acts win because TV cameras will be taking it all in and soon these talented people will be seen on your local TV screen. Come out and be a part

Local artist Ryan McCarroll was scheduled to play a show tonight at Vintage Cafe, but as this story was being written, the show was postponed to Saturday night. Elation and Divasonic will also be playing sets March 7 at Vintage beginning at 7:30 p.m. McCarroll, who is playing the middle set in the show has played three shows at Vintage before, and local art and music promoter Kevin Santos-Coy says, "His style is really intriguing in that it gives you kind of a Dave Matthews feel." However, McCarroll himself says he draws from diverse influences such as local artist Kate Gaffney and the late Notorious B.I.G. He will also be playing next month's Second Saturday in the Sacramento Alley Arts

With our state budget facing in such a dire crunch, music programs in our high schools struggle greatly. Many people overlook the talent of high school musicians, however, the Jammies, "A Celebration of Youth in Music & Arts", gives the community an opportunity to experience the talent of young performers, and support high school musicians. The Jammies is a two-day concert series showcasing the best high school musicians in the Sacramento area starting Friday and ending Saturday. At a price of $17-20 per ticket, Friday's concert will be held at the Mondavi Center at UC Davis at 7:30 p.m., and will showcase Classic music, which not only includes classical music, but also more modern jazz.

 I recently wrote a piece on the "Death of the Record Store." I was very impressed by the amount of feedback that the article received, be it in the Sacramento Press, via email or in person. Inevitably the conversation led to fond memories about fun times and good music. I was reminded particularly of the live music experiences I've had. Along with the demise of too many record stores, I contend there is a serious lacking in the quality and quantity of live music available today, especially in the smaller to mid-size venues, and towns. While the experience of a big Grateful Dead show in Oakland was always a fun time, the smaller, more intimate performances of a Jerry Garcia Band show at

Those who know me know that one way or another I love to share music. As such, for Christmas and other occasions I try to give the gift of music, these days typically in the form of a CD. Thus the other day I went in search of an album by the famous Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, (he’s the big guy who does the great version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"). Alas, my favorite local "record" store "Off the Record" here in Auburn, is no longer, having recently succumbed to the economic pressures independent retailers face these days. Not to fear, the new Best Buy must have a CD of this popular artist, but no, I glanced over to the local K-Mart, possibly they would have it, nope. What to do? My last h