Around mid-May, members of beer-themed fraternity Tapakegaday will stand outside the Sacramento Convention Center holding signs in protest of an authoritarian events coordinator. But that’s just an act – and May 7, Sacramentans will get the chance to play those roles and others at a casting call for the pilot episode of a new comedy show, “Better than Unemployed?” Sacramento resident Michele Smith, 36, wrote “Better than Unemployed?” and said it is designed to appeal to anyone who has worked in a corporate setting, had a terrible boss or attended trade shows. “Basically, what it’s about is a woman named Sam, and every episode is a different trade show,” Smith said, explaining that Sam t

From across the pond by popular demand, Oxford University's all-male a cappella group is back in town for a free show with The Spokes at Luigi's Pizza in Downtown Davis this Saturday, March 24th, at 8PM. The Spokes, local all-female a cappella talent from UC Davis, co-hosted a show with Out of the Blue back in 2010 at Davis' own Delta of Venus Cafe. Back in the states for their 2012 U.S. West Coast Tour, Out of the Blue is very excited to perform in Davis once again. Out of the Blue was recently featured as a semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent, and with the release of their newest CD, "Rush", the men of Out of the Blue are just hitting their musical prime. See their amazing semi-final

The Cave is a new music and multi-use venue coming to Stockton Boulevard, moving in next door to the Colonial Theatre. Formerly a shoe store, The Cave is currently used to hold wrestling events put on by Total Wrestling Federation, and starting Feb. 24, it will be opened to live music, standup comedy, art exhibits and other uses, said Mike Flanagan, who books the venue. “We want this to be a public space where people can come and see a show, hear some comedy or see an art exhibition,” he said. “We have no intention of getting a liquor license, because we want this to be an all-ages place.” Flanagan, who owns Bad Current Records and has been involved with the local music scene, said he w

The audience booed the villains and cheered the good guys, cued by the piano keys played by Musical Director John Cocuzzi Saturday during Sacra-Melo's production of "It's A Wonderful Life" aboard the Delta King. Sacra-Melo, a combination of the words “Sacramento” and “melodrama,” is a musical parody playhouse, co-founder Gary Winterholler, 46, said. He and his wife, 46-year-old Cammie Pavesic, started it in January. "I have done some work for another theater in town, and I loved it. I went and auditioned for the next show, but they did not cast me, and I said, ‘Let's start our company,’ " Winterholler said. The first musical parody Sacra-Melo performed was the "Phantom of the Opera," wh

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra mesmerized the audience Saturday afternoon at Power Balance Pavilion in the first of two Christmas shows. For those of you who may not be familiar with TSO, they are a progressive rock band that incorporates classical, orchestral, symphonic and progressive elements into hard rock and heavy metal. They are famous for their series of rock operas and storytelling. This was a high-energy show with a combination of lasers, lights, pyrotechnics and video screens all synchronized to TSO’s music. Dressed in black, the orchestra made their way on stage while chimes were playing. As they were assembling onstage, there were clips of Martin Luther King Jr. from the famo

After an original Oct. 20 show date that had to be rescheduled, alt-rock powerhouse Foo Fighters performed at Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday night for about 10,000 fans. Opening the show was fantastic L.A. punk band The Bronx, playing as their alter-ego Mariachi El Bronx, which is less a gimmick than you might think. What started as a lark for the punk band has grown into a love that has seen the band release two mariachi albums and gain a following, and, yes, they stay true to the authentic mariachi style of music as well as wear black charro suits. The band performs in a variety of ways, sometimes incorporating mariachi into their punk set, sometimes performing as a punk band and m

If a Disney princess decided to become a country pop superstar, then that superstar would be Taylor Swift. She was so perfect, it seemed abnormal. Everything about the Grammy Award-winning musician Saturday night was whimsically on-cue as she performed to a sold-out show at the Power Balance Pavilion, promoting her third album, “Speak Now.” “This is the first time we’re headlining a big arena concert in Sacramento,” Swift said. “I can’t believe 13,000 of you decided to be here than anywhere else on a Saturday night.” Swift’s movements on stage, while performing and speaking to the crowd, were that of the White Queen’s from Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” completely ethereal, while

The Hair Garage salon in Folsom hosted a fashion show to showcase Nini’s Boutique summer collection. The Hair Garage is located at 990 Riley Street in Folsom and it opened in 2008. In addition to the fashion show on Friday night, two live bands entertained guests. A barbecue and drinks were provided free of charge. Designer tops, jeans and handbags were available for purchase and many of Nini’s Boutique items were available for special prices. The salon was packed as many came to see the fashion show and stayed to listen to Rise From Within and Silence of the Grimm. Both are local bands and both were quite entertaining. Christina Mercadel, advance stylist, provided me with information

Gallery 2110 will host a fashion show paying tribute to Designer Mary Quant at 7 p.m. July 23, on the first floor of the art complex on 2110 K St. The show is organized by photographer Alister Oliver, a tenant of the art complex for the last two and half years. Quant popularized miniskirts during the Mod era that took England’s youth by storm in the late 1950s and early 1960s. For that subculture, the miniskirt became a symbol of rebellion. “Coming up in the 50s, (Mary Quant) thought clothing (of the era) was a little bit stodgy,” Oliver said. “It was not about how a woman wanted to dress.” Inspired by the music and fashion of Mod subculture, Oliver has chosen the miniskirt as a theme f

As I walked into Harlow's, I tried to push aside preconceived notions about the kind of band that does an all-ages show at a nightclub (strike one), has a Facebook page that insists they're not a band but rather "a movement” (strike two and three) and inserts a period into the middle of their name. Portugal. The Man was good, though. And so was their opening musician, Telekinesis. Telekinesis is the alter ego of singer, drummer, songwriter (etc.) Michael Benjamin Lerner, who is accompanied by Cody Votolato and Jason Narducy while on tour. Lerner has worked extensively with Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, and the influence was easy to recognize in Telekinesis’ song “Rust.” Tho

After their Cinco de Mayo performance at Harlow’s, the members of Portugal. The Man were wandering just outside the club, signing posters, hugging people, hanging out. After reading through a lot of PR crap in researching the band, I was convinced they would be unapproachable. Or perhaps, more like, I was convinced I didn’t want to approach them. Luckily fellow Sac Press contributor Lindol French and I ran into Zach Carothers, Wasilla, Alaska, native and PTM bassist. With a Pabst Blue Ribbon shoved into his shirt’s front pocket, Carothers happily offered us cigarettes and some interesting info, especially concerning former Wasilla mayor Sarah Palin and her involvement/non-involvement in t

The atmosphere was good. Harlow’s was dim, but not dark, and the stage lighting cast a tint of green throughout the club. The Harley White Jr. Orchestra was on the floor, playing an upbeat jazz number to signal the beginning of the show (and though there ended up being a 15-minute delay, no one seemed to notice). Sizzling Sirens were running around everywhere, attractive women dotting the crowd in rhinestone and fringe, lingerie-inspired getups. “I Love You Mary Jane! Cannabis Cabaret” was performed by the Sizzling Sirens Burlesque Experience late last Friday night. The show was described on the Sirens’ website as “a one-of-a-kind tribute themed to expose a variety of Mary Jane’s manifest

WHAT is it? V-Day Sacramento 2011 refers to the 2011 Sacramento community production of The Vagina Monologues that will be held in April 2011. It is a project of Northern California Association for Women Take Back the Night based in Sacramento (Sacramento WTBN). In addition to bringing the local and international plight of women and girls to the forefront, the goals of V-Day Sacramento 2011 are to raise money to benefit local anti-violence organizations and to channel awareness into action. In 2011, the proceeds from the V-Day Sacramento 2011 production of “The Vagina Monologues” will benefit WEAVE, Sacramento Women Take Back the Night, and My Sister’s House. Learn more about V-Day, V-

 From the versatile dances to the colorful scenery, Shen Yun is a unique traveling show that presents its audience with an understanding and a visual of the traditional Chinese culture. Shen Yun will be coming to Sacramento on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both showings will begin at 8 p.m. at Sacramento’s Community Center Theater at 1301 L St. across from Capitol Park. “Every year, Shen Yun has brand-new performances,” said Sherry Zhang, who works for the Asian Arts Foundation as a local presenter for Shen Yun. “The 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture have so many stories and legends. Dancers in Shen Yun bring to life many of these legends and stories,” Zhang said. Every year, Shen Y

While planning your route this 2nd Saturday, be sure to stop by Elliott Fouts Gallery (4749 J Street, Sacramento) for the reception for Go Figure!, a group exhibition of figural paintings, from 6pm-9pm. Among the artists showing in the exhibition is Sacramento-based painter Jeff Felker. His paintings included in the show address revisiting abandoned places and moments in time, marked by emotional significance to the figure. Each painting captures fragments, as once forgotten and neglected as the scenery, with a desire to find new meanings and relevance within the same space. The show also features work by Candice Bohannon, Derek Gores, James Crandall, Kenney Mencher, Peter Wedel, Sara Zi

No discussion on alternative rock circa 2000 would be complete without mention of Papa Roach and their radio-ready hit single “Last Resort,” especially if you were in high school or college during that time. The Vacaville band (also known for singles “Scars,” “Forever” and “Lifeline”) broke out of Sacramento and went on to sell more than 10 million albums worldwide. They return this weekend for a two-night stand at the recently opened venue Ace of Spades, touring behind their seventh album, "Time for Annihilation." More alternative rock than nu-metal now, the band can probably still be counted on to deliver a high-energy rock show filled with heavy guitars, sharp hooks and “guy liner.”

No, Murder by Death is not a screamo or metalcore band. But the band does explore some dark themes, like revenge, the devil and drinking away your troubles with whiskey. Taking their name from the 1976 Robert Moore/Neil Simon film of the same name, the four-piece rock band from Bloomington, Ind., takes their listeners on a ride through a "country gothic" soundscape, led by the powerful Johnny Cash-meets-Nick Cave baritone of frontman Adam Turla. Armed with galloping punk-country, somber themes and interesting concepts — their 2003 "Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?" is an album about the devil being shot in a small, Western town and the aftermath that follows — this show ha

Attention hipsters and indie dance music fans! Head on over to Blue Lamp this Saturday to catch indie dance duo Sugar & Gold with special guest Yip Deceiver. Shaking off comparisons to MGMT and Hot Chip, the San Francisco-based S&G weave together elements of funky disco, melodic electro and smooth R&B to create dance-heavy pop grooves with their unique signature. Rated "Best Local Dance Band" in 2007 by SF Magazine and "Best Party Band 2008" by SF Weekly, S&G are known for their energetic, outrageous live shows that will have you sweating in your skinny jeans. Davey Pierce (Of Montreal) side-project Yip Deceiver opens. Sugar & Gold and Yip Deceiver perform at Blue Lamp this Saturday at

San Francisco art-pop band Deerhoof kicks off a new tour at Harlow's Thursday in support of the hot-off-the-presses LP release "Deerhoof vs. Evil." The quartet is recognized by many as pioneers of improv-style experimental pop, with its distinctive sound influencing many others: Sleigh Bells, Of Montreal, Xiu Xiu and more. Count on a striking sonic mix of poppy melodies, waves of noise, and chaotic fun from these former Radiohead tourmates. Potentially challenging, but sure to be fresh and different. Deerhoof performs at Harlow's at 9 p.m. Thursday, and tickets are $12. Nervous Cop opens.

Saturday’s animated concert at Harlow’s served as one of many sold-out shows in California for Ra Ra Riot, Givers and Pepper Rabbit. The dark, intimate venue came alive with colorful lights and a clambering crowd of orchestral pop rock fans. At the first beat of sound, the room was flavored with music that could most simply be described as “fun.” Joining Givers and Ra Ra Riot for the first time on this tour, Los Angeles-based rock duo Pepper Rabbit opened the show with layered organ notes, looping effects and experimental use of unusual rock instruments: clarinet, bells and ukulele. Center stage, the lights glowed atop drummer Luc Laurent’s curls as his percussion pounded in our chests. V