Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "tesla"

Tesla - New CD Released

2011-07-14T02:35:58Z

Fans started gathering at the Dimple Records on Arden Way around 5:00 p.m. in anticipation of Tesla’s latest CD, “Twisted Wires & the acoustic sessions.”

Upon entrance to the store, I heard the latest addition to the family singing - or should I say wailing - away as if he were onstage. Four month old Joe Bob Jeffrey Keith, son of lead singer Jeff Keith, was rockin’ the house just prior to Tesla taking center stage. That boy has a set of lungs to rival his dad’s. It took some time but Joe Bob finally calmed down and let Dad take center stage.

Lori Townsend, a longtime fan, was standing in line with couple Alfred and Shawna Lyon. They were excited to be there and were buying CD’s so each of the band members could sign the covers.

The Band was introduced by Pat Martin from 98 Rock. After a few questions, Tesla performed acoustic versions of “Signs,” “Love Song” and their brand new song “2nd Street.” It was fascinating to see the various cameras and camera phones popping up during the performance.

Their carefree and neighborly demeanor is one reason the band is one of the most loved bands of the 80’s. All the band members were gracious to their fans, shaking hands and talking to them as if they were old friends. In fact, Keith was being rushed over to the signing table, but stopped to take time to have his picture taken with a few fans along the way.

Both young and old were in line. Rick Paige stood in line for about 45 minutes to have his electric guitar signed by the band. Not to be outdone, his daughter Paige followed him with a CD cover.

The new album has a total of 12 songs with six original tracks that were recorded in 2005 at Brian Wheat’s recording studio, J Street Recorders. These recordings were the last with original member Tommy Skeoch who later left the band.

The remaining six tracks were recorded at guitarist Frank Hannon’s studio, including one new song, “Second Street,” and a newly recorded song dating back to their Geffen Record days, “Better Off Without You.” Last year on a nationally televised program, guitarist Frank Hannon stated that the song was a demo for Geffen and that Guns N’ Roses song, “Patience,” was their song note for note.

This CD reinforces the fact that Tesla started the “unplugged” craze back in the 90’s. Their acoustic renditions of lesser known songs such as "Shine Away" and "Caught In A Dream," are refreshing to listen to and have excellent guitar and harmonies. Keith’s vocals have definitely improved with age and remind me more and more of Steven Tyler. However, Keith continues to have a sound all his own, especially when backed by the likes of bassist Brian Wheat, guitarist Frank Hannon, drummer Troy Luccketta and newest member, guitarist Dave Rude.

While some people will be disappointed that there isn’t a lot of “new” material on the CD, the fact that they went out on a limb and recorded lesser known tracks speaks volumes about the band’s confidence and creative ability. Some people might argue that it’s not very creative to do a different version of an old song, but most bands are not willing to go out on a limb and put out songs that didn’t do well in the first place. For that reason alone I say hats off to the band and wish them luck on their upcoming tour and CD sales.

Fans will be pleasantly surprised.

Tesla Resonates at Thunder Valley

2011-07-11T02:39:25Z

In the late 1800s, a guy by the name of Nikola Tesla was busy inventing a new kind of transformer, not realizing the level of energy his name would carry into the future.

I’m not going to go into a lot of history since Tesla is a Sacramento band and most readers know who the hell these guys are. They started in the ’80s and, for the most part, were labeled a hair, metal, or glam band. As history has proven, those labels didn’t come close to describing their mix of soulful blues and metal.

While many “hair” bands of the ’80s are balding, gray and pretty much forgotten, Tesla remains one of the few ’80s bands still producing great music, both collectively and as solo artists. Yes, they’ve aged as we all have (thanks to radio personality Don Geronimo for pointing this out, but more on that later), but they’ve never sounded better, and Saturday night at Thunder Valley Casino and Resort was no exception.

Just before the show, the audience was treated to an appearance of the latest member of the Tesla family, Joe Bob Jeffrey Keith. It was kind of a family-album moment, and you could tell lead singer and father Jeff Keith was in his dad element. When he introduced the newest member his daughter Courtney handed off Joe Bob to their father.

The band kicked off the concert with “Forever More,” followed by “Hang Tough.” These guys are high energy and were constantly on the move. Band members were flinging picks throughout the show. I was afraid I was going to lose an eye.

Just prior to “Breakin’ Free,” the band pretty much challenged Don Geronimo. It appears there’s a bit of a tiff between Tesla and Geronimo. It all started when Tesla was asked to play at the Here We Rally at Cesar Chavez Park in support of the Kings. Just before the rally, Geronimo went on a rant about the band members. Bass player Brian Wheat took exception to his comments and posted his response on Tesla’s site.

I guess we’ll see if Geronimo responds. I can see it now. Thunder Valley Casino and Resort presents the “Ultimate Mud Wrestling Championship: Tesla vs. Don Geronimo.” I’ve never heard Geronimo’s show before, but I did listen to the show in question, and I’ve determined Geronimo gets off by demeaning people in general, so I wouldn’t take it too personally. However, what he did say, according to Wheat’s post, is pretty personal. This from a guy who, when he was just starting out, was fired for forging an FCC broadcasting license.

Back to the concert. Like I was saying, these guys are high energy. They were a blur of action until their acoustic set. I thought the audience would start to lose interest going to a mellower sound, but the crowd remained engaged, clapping as guitarists Frank Hannon and Dave Rude flawlessly performed “Love Song” with Wheat joining in.

For their last song, “Signs”, a lucky 98 Rock contest winner was invited to join the band onstage to sing the intro. Jody Snider was thrilled to learn that she had won the opportunity and was joined by a friend. They also had the opportunity to go backstage and have their picture taken with the band. The whole time they were bubbling with excitement.

Like the original Tesla coil, Tesla the band has just gotten bigger and better over time. Both the coil and the band now operate at extremely high-peak power levels with the ability to reach mucho megawatts (just ask the sound guy). They proved that Saturday night with a high-energy show. And to prove they still have it, Tesla will be at Dimple Records on Tuesday signing autographs and performing an acoustic set for the release of their new album, “Twisted Wires & The Acoustic Sessions.” They will be at 2433 Arden Way Sacramento, CA 95825-2411. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

The CD has six original tracks that were recorded in 2005 at Wheat’s recording studio, J Street Recorders. These were the last recordings with original member Tommy Skeoch. Wheat’s studio burned down last year and, lucky for Tesla fans, not all their recordings were destroyed in the fire. Wheat is rebuilding, and rumor has it the new studio will be named The Trax.

Join the band out at Dimple Records and show them some Sacramento love!

As for Don Gerinomo. Donnie, I've never listen to you before today and I don't plan on listening to you again, but I've been listening to Tesla for over 20 years and will be listening for another 20.

Rock & Roll Tour and Pub Crawl

2011-05-09T09:54:54Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) conducts several walking Tours in the downtown area. The walking tours introduce visitors to people, places and events that have created California history. DSP’s mission is to establish downtown Sacramento as a vibrant business, cultural and entertainment destination in Sacramento via private and public partnerships consisting of residents, visitors and investors. This Friday they conducted a Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

The tour began at the corner of 9th and J Streets at one of the entrances to the Concerts in the Park held at Cesar Chavez Plaza. The walk began at 6 in the evening. By this time, Wahnder Lust had begun their set at the first Concerts in the Park event. This year marks the 20th year anniversity of Concerts in the Park and Jerry Perry has been promoting the event for the past 15 years.

The series of walks around downtown Sacramento being offered includes one especially for kids, a Speakeasy tour, a Sacramento architecture and art tour as well as the Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl. It's a walk that explores the history of Sacramento’s music scene. This tour is still being developed but it will run every Friday until the end of May. The day of the tour may or may not change after that depending on how it develops.

The tour guide for the walk is Shawn Peter who’s been with DSP since 2000. John, who also works for DSP, was on hand for the tour as well. Shawn has been part of the Downtown Walking Tour Program since its inception. Besides his vast knowledge of Sacramento’s Gold Rush-era and historical architecture styles, Shawn is well versed in music and is a member of a band named Single Second. His music knowledge of Sacramento and bands who have played here allow him to discuss many genres and time periods of music. During the tour, performers such as Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Tesla, and many others are discussed and how they fit in the Sacramento music scene.

As we started the walking tour Shawn began by saying, “A lot of people seem to think Sacramento is a really boring town where nothing really happens. You know what? It’s quite the opposite really.” Shawn’s personal knowledge of the Sacramento music scene is immense and through the walk it was apparent that this would be an educational and fun walk as we departed from the corner of 9th and J streets.

Shawn talked about the two radio stations that started the music scene in Sacramento. One of the stations was KBFK who Shawn said had a house band that ended up playing for many of the touring acts that came through town including Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny and others. Shawn was very enthusiastic while relating this and other stories.

As we walked down J Street away from 9th we could still hear Wahnder Lust as they continued their set. Shawn related that the other local station that helped the Sacramento music scene was KROY. KFBK and KROY were basically the only two stations, both AM stations, that played popular music. Shaw continued and passed on information spanning the 1920’s to the 50’s and the places where the bands played.

The tour becomes alive with Shawn’s storytelling as he relates stories that helped create the history of rock music in Sacramento and everywhere else. His stories were so intriguing that I feel like I should relay them to the reader in this article but the best part of the tour is the exchange of questions and stories. You kind of have to experience the tour yourself to get the most from it.

As Shawn talked about rock artists we were able to exchange stories about the artists who came from Sacramento as well as those who visited our town. These exchanges during the walk become meaningful as everyone was able to relate to the subject. We talked about the bands that visited Sacramento and the bands that could attribute their success to Sacramento.

The Memorial Auditorium has been one of the primary venues for bands coming through town and if you have a friend that loves music you’ve probably heard of a story about a band that played at the Memorial. How about you, do you have a memory of attending a musical event at the Memorial that left a lasting impression? One of my first recollections of the Memorial was taking a couple of my kids to go see Offspring and Cypress Hill at a show and seeing Scott Pollard while he was the Sacramento Kings at the concert. I’m sure many readers have a memory of their first concert in Sacramento or one that’s memorable.

KZAP, as Shawn tells it, was one of the first Sacramento FM stations and their original station was located within the Elks Tower on 11th and J. At the time KZAP had a free form format where they played everything from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa.

As the walk continued on J Street we turned left on 15th. The Memorial Auditorium was on one side of the street and since this is called a Rock and Roll Tour and Pub Crawl, Shawn talked a little about the Torch Club as we entered the first pub of the evening to enjoy a drink.

Shawn talked about Tesla, the Deftones, Cake and other Sacramento area bands. After the Torch Club, we passed by other venues that have moved to their current site from another part of town. Some of these clubs were the Capitol Garage, the Torch Club and others,

Other venues that have hosted music events were the Cattle Club, Lush, Cal Expo, ARCO, the Convention Center, Tower Records, the Crest Theatre and St. Paul's Church among others. Many of the clubs have a rich music venue history that continues to this day. We also discussed the new clubs that have recently opened and host music venues.

A couple of more pubs were visited and many other rock and roll stories were told. As we winded down the tour we talked about how the walk could be improved as well as what can be left out of the tour. The music scene from the 20’s to present came to light as we talked about Sacramento and music during the tour.

It turns out that there's a lot of history in the few blocks that we walked. Shawn Peter was a great guide and is very knowledgeable about the local music scene. He has over 25 years playing music and says that he does about 100 shows a year with his band.

As we came back to Cesar Chavez Park it was apparent how much fun these type of tour/walks can be. It's also a great way of meeting people and getting to know the downtown area as well as some of its pubs.

This tour takes place each Friday evening during the Friday Night Concerts in the Park season and it's scheduled to run from May 6 thru August 12, 2011. Guests must pre-purchase tickets via Event Brite to secure their place in the tour. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and participants must be 21 years of age or older. Ticket prices does not include the cost of drinks.

Once back at Concerts in the Park there was still time to enjoy more live music. The tour was scheduled to end in time for the headline act and that was the case. Aaron King & The Imperials had already performed and a young lady by the name of Gabriela was playing when we returned to Cesar Chavez Plaza. Gabriela wasn’t on the schedule and after she finished her set the Tattoo Love Dogs came on stage to end the first day of Concerts in the Park for 2011.

Log on to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership website to view other tours and walks being offered as well as to purchase tickets for the Rock and Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

3rd Annual Clean and Sober Toy Run

2010-12-21T00:32:14Z

Christmas is only a few days away and the time of giving, especially to those that have been hardest hit by the downfall in our economy, is coming to an end. On a rainy Saturday morning Nor Cal Clean and Sober held its 3rd Annual Clean and Sober Toy Run.

(3rd Annual Clean and Sober Toy Run leaving Harley Davidson of Folsom)

Riders from various organizations caught up with each other socializing in front of the Folsom Harley Davidson. A depository was set up inside the store for toys brought in. Other riders also took the opportunity to do some shopping.

John O’Mara and his group representing the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA) dropped off toys and show their support for this run. John is the Sierra Mountain Region Area CMA Representative and indicated they were going to be setting up for a Toys for Tots event in Placerville. “We’re going to be setting up tables that will have toys suited for the various age groups,” John said. “We’ll have toys and other items for infants up to older children. This afternoon parents will come in with their kids and be able to pick up toys and things that are separated by age appropriate materials.” John noted that since this will take place in Placerville he would not be participating in the motorcycle run but would be with the riders in spirit.

The weather, for safety reasons more than anything else, prevented many riders from making the run on their motorcycles. The run did actually take place however, despite the weather, and it began at the Folsom Harley Davidson on Woodmere Road.

Many Nor Cal Clean and Sober volunteers, as always, were on hand during registration. Ryan Fleenor was on hand to coordinate this event with his many helpers. Jeff Keith from the band Tesla was on hand and participated in the motorcycle run.

The Toy Run started at around 11 in the morning. The loud roar of the bikes made its way out of Harley Davidson and onto the streets of Folsom. The riders made their way to their destination at American Motorcycle Parts on Auburn Boulevard. At the destination site various vendor booths were set up. The parking lot was already full of people other volunteers.

(Members of the Sacramento Kings Dance Team)

Several of the Sacramento Kings Dance Team were on site to pose for pictures and greet the riders and guests. The dancers also helped by selling many tickets for the raffle that was going to take place. Various items were going to be raffled off with the last raffle prize being a guitar signed by the members of Tesla.

Jeff Keith, Tesla’s singer, was on hand and participated in the motorcycle run. He participated lending a hand wherever he could. Besides riding his bike he was there posing for pictures and signing autographs. He sat in Santa’s chair and posed with kids who had face painting signs reading “Tesla”. He also sang a couple of Christmas songs with Janice Sanders.

(Janice Sanders and Jeff Keith entertaining the crowd)

The Toy Run this year was set up to benefit the Sayonara Community Center, WEAVE, and Under Privileged Children. Toy barrels were set up at the American Motorcycle Parts parking lot and were manned by a couple of U.S. Servicemen. Throughout the gathering several people representing various motorcycle groups came by with toy contributions.

Many donated prizes were raffled off during the event. Janice Sanders braved the rain and cold weather and entertained the audience with several songs. She also teamed up with Jeff Keith for a couple of Christmas songs.

As the rain started to come down a bit more forcefully it was time to raffle off the Tesla signed guitar. I crossed my fingers and hoped to win the guitar. The lucky winner however was Tami Davenport. Jeff also personalized a signed Tesla photo for Tami to go along with the guitar..

(Jeff Keith presenting Tami Davenport with the raffle grand prize; a signed guitar by his group Tesla)

Judging by the number of toys donated and the tickets sold it looked like this was a successful event. Thanks to all the volunteers, vendors, guests, performers and coordinators children in need will be able to enjoy this holiday. This event was a great example of giving back to the community.

'Drive,' she said: Hands-on with Tesla's electric roadster

2010-11-16T03:05:16Z

As a fan of 1960s muscle cars, getting me excited about electric vehicles isn’t easy. But on Friday, I was handed the keys to something that makes my ’66 Mustang feel lethargic and a Prius look like a gas guzzler. And at $138,000, it should.

Miki Sofer of Tesla Motors brought one of the company’s Roadster 2.5 models to the Sacramento area, and I was one of the lucky ones to take it for a spin.

With an advertised 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds, I was all but drooling over the electric car that can travel 244 miles on a single charge that, according to Sofer, costs as little as $5 to replenish.

“There are more and more charging stations in the Sacramento area,” Sofer said, “so we’re really looking to expand more into this market.”

She explained that the vehicles can be charged at any outlet, but specialized ones currently being installed make the process faster.

The more than 1,300 Tesla Roadsters delivered since 2008 have driven almost 7 million miles – saving more than 350,000 gallons of gas, according to Tesla spokeswoman KC Simon.

After giving me the rundown on the vehicle and answering my questions, Sofer told me to get behind the wheel.

The roadster’s cockpit was surprisingly accommodating of me, even at 6 feet 2 inches. Sofer stuck the key in the ignition, and I was a little embarrassed at having to ask her if the car was actually turned on.

The watermelon-sized motor didn’t shake the car when it powered up, as I’d expected, and I realized that driving an electric car was going to be a unique experience.

Where a gearshift would normally be were merely four buttons – for park, drive, neutral and reverse.

The Tesla Roadster has only one gear, Sofer said, and as I let off the brakes, the vehicle crept forward noiselessly, giving no indication of the power waiting to be unleashed.

Fortunately for Tesla, fairly heavy traffic gave me some time to get used to the vehicle’s manual steering and the throttle before I had open road on which to unleash the car’s equivalent of 500 horsepower.

As I let off the throttle approaching a red light, I felt the car immediately drag, and Sofer told me it generates electricity off the spinning axles when the driver releases the “gas” pedal.

I tightened my grip on the wheel, the light turned green, and I stomped on the throttle.

It felt like taking off in a fighter jet. I was slammed into the seat, and the roadster shot forward like a rocket. But the individually adjusting suspension and the low profile translated to an incredibly smooth ride.

Traditional gasoline engines need to gain RPMs before the torque peaks and gives them full power, but electric engines peak immediately, allowing Tesla’s roadsters to beat their competition – Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis – off the line.

And the best part? The motor’s muted whine doesn’t alert every cop in town that you might be breaking a few speed laws.

As cool as the Roadster is, it comes with a base price of $109,000, and a fully-loaded one will top $160,000 – making it unattainable for most drivers.

Sofer pointed out that for a hand-built, carbon fiber car, that’s not a bad deal, and several Sacramentans have taken the plunge.

The technology in the supercar, however, will be brought to a sedan in 2012.

Designed to compete with upper-end luxury sedans, the vehicle will be priced at less than $60,000 and is intended to bring Tesla’s proven electric design to a wider population.

As the infrastructure to support electric vehicles continues to be built, Sofer said she sees gasoline-powered vehicles going by the wayside.

“The future is here,” she said. “This car is the future.”

To purchase one of the vehicles, visit the company website.

Photo one by Miki Sofer. Other photos courtesy of Tesla Motors.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Saturday Night Lights

2010-09-27T04:59:06Z

Are you ready for some football?

Saturday night, professional football made its triumphant return to Sacramento. The 20,000 fans who packed into Hornet Stadium were treated to a barnburner, as the hometown Mountain Lions battled back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit for a dramatic victory over the visiting Florida Tuskers.

For many fans, the evening was a win long before Daunte Culpepper found Rod Windsor deep down the sideline for the game-winning 33-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining.

Two hours before kickoff, the parking lots surrounding Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State were packed with joyous revelers, basking in the opportunity to cheer for professional football right here in the City of Trees.

"Sacramento is hungry for sports" Bob Rowe of Sacramento said. "This is just what we needed."

Rowe, who looked like a one-time offensive lineman and cut an imposing figure in his 1970s-era Jack Youngblood L.A. Rams jersey, had been there with his wife Annie since 4:15 p.m. They were at the head of a group of perhaps 200 revelers who had turned a swatch of grass between Lot 7 and the frontage road into a tailgating Shangri-La. It was akin to a big-time college atmosphere, and for a split second I was reminded of a pilgrimage I made to "The Grove" at Ole Miss for the Alabama game last year. The moment was fleeting, but that the thought passed through my mind at all is a testament to the festive mood.

"We've been chomping at the bit ever since we found out that Sacramento was getting a team," Rowe said. "This is what we've been waiting for."

Annie Rowe looked out over her fellow party-goers. "We don't even know any of these people," she said, a huge smile on her face. "Look at all the jerseys! It doesn't matter what NFL team you root for, everyone’s rooting for Sacramento!"

As I walked to the stadium, I was struck by the diversity of the crowd. It is hard to imagine a more heterogeneous group than the 20,000 who showed up to cheer on their Mountain Lions. Football, The Real Great Uniter.

The game was televised nationally on Versus, and it was certainly the place to be on Saturday night. Local celebrities abound. The national anthem was sung by Tesla lead singer and Sacramentan Jeff Keith. The mayor, KJ, was in attendance. Local MMA star Urijah Faber took part in an on field football skills competition with Kings star Tyreke Evans. The hoop star took it to the scrapper, kicking two field goals, each of which cleared the hospitality tent in the south endzone. They probably would have been good from 45 yards out. So he's got that going for him if the basketball thing doesn't work out.

The biggest star in attendance wasn't there in any official capacity. Roaming the Mountain Lions sidelines, a proud father cheering on his son, was Denzel Washington. John-David Washington is a back-up running back for Sacramento.

For a long while it seemed that the game itself would be overshadowed by the hullabaloo surrounding it. The first quarter ended with the Mountain Lions trailing 3-0, marred by four Mountain Lion penalties for 35 yards and a Culpepper interception.

The second quarter featured a bit of history. With 8:56 remaining, Culpepper hit Rod Windsor for a touchdown in the flat, giving the Mountain Lions their first-ever lead. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Tuskers answered with a TD of their own, a 14-yard strike from Brooks Bollinger to Cortez Hankton with 1:22 remaining.

Culpepper gave the crowd a thrill when he completed a 54-yard bomb up the sideline to Taye Biddle with 18 seconds left in the half, but they were unable to turn it into points when Culpepper was called for an illegal forward pass on the next play.

The second half started much as the first had ended, with a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Aaron Woods took the kickoff 98 yards for what appeared to be a touchdown, but much to the dismay of the raucous crowd, the play was called back due to a clipping penalty.

The two teams exchanged punts until the Tuskers broke through with seven-play, 77-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard Dominic Rhodes touchdown run. The score gave Florida a 10-point lead with eight minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The 10-point deficit, in combination with the cessation of alcohol sales at the start of the third quarter, triggered a fairly sizable fan exodus that continued through the end of the third. The heartier souls who stayed until the end were handsomely rewarded for their steadfastness.

Still trailing by 10, the Molos opened the fourth quarter with a 54-yard field goal attempt that split the uprights, cutting the lead to seven.

The Mountain Lions forced the Tuskers to punt on their next possession and got the ball back on their own 20. They proceeded to mount a 10-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard TD to Derek Strong. On the drive, Culpepper completed passes to five different receivers and willed his team to pay dirt. It was the kind of performance the Mountain Lions hoped would be commonplace when they signed the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

The Tuskers weren't going away that easily, however. Brooks Bollinger showed the skill and grit that won him last season’s UFL MVP award while leading his team on a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive of their own.

With just over four minutes remaining, the Tuskers had a first and goal at the Sacramento two-yard line, but the Molo defense, led by LB Zeke Moreno, would not yield any further. They held the Tuskers to a field goal, and the Mountain Lions had one more chance, trailing by three with four minutes left in the game.

One chance was all they needed.

Aaron Woods returned the Tusker kickoff 19 yards to the Sacramento 30, then Daunte took over. The QB picked up where he left off on the last scoring drive, spreading the ball around and methodically leading his team up the field.

With 37 seconds left, he had gotten them all the way down to the Florida 33-yard line, well within their kicker’s range. As the media relations director passed out the overtime rules in the press box, Daunte rendered them moot by throwing that perfect strike down the left sideline to Rod Windsor. TD, Mountain Lions.

Another bit of history in the books, the first victory for your Sacramento Mountain Lions.

If they can continue to play as they did in the fourth quarter Saturday night, it'll be the first of many.

Photos courtesy of the inimitable Steven Chea. That's Steven, with a "v".

"Bring American Idol to Sacramento" rally at the Capitol

2010-05-25T23:42:11Z

Greg Saunders of FOX40 News, several radio stations, Jeff Keith - lead singer of Tesla, an American hard rock band formed in Sacramento, Sac Metro Chamber and passers-by, rallied enthusiastically at the west steps of the Capitol today, sending a message to American Idol: Bring auditions to Sacramento!

Here's some scenes:

Jeff Keith, Tesla, spoke and sang (below).

School-kids wholeheartedly supported the cause.

Representatives from The Wolf radio station (above) and Metro Chamber (below) lent their support for American Idol to bring auditions to Sacramento.

According to the Bring American Idol to Sacramento Facebook page, "American Idol has held auditions in 37 different cities. Sacramento is ONE OF ONLY TWO CITIES in the 20 largest television markets that has not hosted the auditions! 18 cities that are SMALLER THAN US have had Simon and friends." www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-American-Idol-to-Sacramento/108835239159386

Stay tuned, Sacramento!

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Another one bites the dust: Hard Rock Café and its memorabilia

2010-03-19T23:57:31Z

There are very few known details about the closing of the Hard Rock Café downtown. Manager Kim Templeton deferred answering questions to a public relations firm. That firm would not answer phone calls.

According to a Sacramento Bee article, it will close March 27, but is that before or after the private event listed the same day on the Hard Rock website as "Morgan's Bat Mitzvah?"

One thing is for sure. With the Hard Rock closing, Sacramento is losing several important things: a restaurant, a music venue, a 36-foot guitar with neon highlights and a small museum chock full of Rock 'n' Roll memorabilia. Not to mention an employer.

The following is a photo essay depicting some of Hard Rock's historical artifacts.

The first four photos are part of a small collection from local band Tesla. Pictured: Troy Luccketta's kick drum.

Caption: BRIAN WHEAT, TESLA. At a time when Rock & Roll consisted of makeup, strange hairdos, and elaborate costumes, Tesla were always about being comfortable. Simple blue-jeans, t-shirts and pure rock. With over 14 million albums sold, Tesla is Sacramento's finest. This bass was custom built for Tesla bass player Brian Wheat. It's known as the Shredded Wheat Bass. That was Brian's nickname in the early '90s. This bass was used on the Tesla 1991/1992 tour.

Caption: FRANK HANNON, TESLA. "This guitar has been used throughout my career in Tesla and specifically to record the hit single 'What You Give.' This guitar is featured in the video for 'What You Give' and has been in many live performances including 'Hanging with MTV' and the 'Psychotic Supper' tour of 1992. This guitar is also featured in the video solo of 'Love Song' from the 'Times Makin' Changes' DVD." - Frank Hannon.

Caption: TOMMY SKEOCH, TESLA. "Hey, what's up? Tommy Skeoch from Tesla Here. I put this guitar together when I was about 20 years old. It's a Kramer Voyager body with a Kramer Berreta neck. I used it a lot on our first record and many other recordings! I've also used this guitar at countless rock shows! I did the artwork on it too. ...Hard Rock forever!" - Tommy Skeoch.

Caption: BILL HALEY. 1959 swamp brown Guild guitar was used and signed by Bill Haley. Given to a former employee of Haley's "Essex" record company in Chester, Pa., Bill Haley signed the guitar just seven months prior to Bill Haley's death.

Caption: ELVIS PRESLEY. Orange "TCB" bodyguard's jacket with "TCB" patch on lapel worn by bodyguard Sonny West. West became a member of the Memphis Mafia (Elvis' bodyguards) when he was introduced to the King by his cousin Robert "Red" West - also a Presley bodyguard.

Caption: JANIS JOPLIN. Janis had a major part in defining the role of women in rock. Her wailing voice and amazing stage presence was truly a blessing in the late '60s. This is her silk shaw that she owned and loved in the '60s.

Caption: TONY IOMMI, BLACK SABBATH. Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page are debatably the only two guitarists that can take full credit for pioneering the sound of heavy metal. This guitar was used by Tony in performances and recordings.

Caption: PETE TOWNSHEND, THE WHO. Heavily influenced by the Beach Boys and Motown, The Who was one of the key groups in the British Invasion. Pete was known to be a very active guitarist from his wild windmills to his demolishing of guitars. This guitar is one of the famous numbered series of guitars used by Pete.

Caption: NIKKI SIXX, MOTLEY CRUE. 1986 custom Harley Davidson Softail. This motorcycle appeared on the cover of their 1987 album "Girls Girls Girls," but has since been repainted.

Caption: FREDDY MERCURY, QUEEN. Never really taken seriously by critics, Queen was taken seriously by fans being one of the most popular groups, especially in England. These red vinyl pants with black tie belt were worn by Freddie during Queen's 1980 European tour. They were featured on the cover of the program for that tour and signed on the back of the left leg by Freddie.

This vintage Fender Jaguar was owned by Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Weather will determine if ‘Concerts in the Park’ series at Cesar Chavez Plaza begins today

2009-05-01T09:00:58Z

The first scheduled concert of Sacramento's 'Concerts in the Park' series may or may not occur tonight depending on the rain, according to concert organizer Jerry Perry.

The bands Sol Peligro, Retrograde Revolution and La Noche Oskura are scheduled tonight to play the first of 15 series lined up for this summer's concerts, held every Friday evening at Cesar Chavez Plaza. If it rains, Perry said the series will begin next Friday, and an extra concert will be scheduled Friday, August 14, to make up for tomorrow’s cancellation.

This is the 18th year that the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has hosted the concerts, which are free and open to all ages.

The plaza is located at 10th and J Streets and lined with food and jewelry vendors during the performances. There is also a beer garden adjacent to the stage. Perry said that depending on the musicians' set times, the concerts typically begin at 5:30 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m.

Perry, who has been booking local acts ranging in genre from folk, rock, reggae, blues, acoustic, to punk at the concerts for the past 13 years, said he feels really good about the performances scheduled for this year.

“My thing is always trying to introduce new bands…I love all the new bands that are out there,” Perry said. Perry has 29 first-time acts booked to play the concerts for this summer.

Notable returning performers will include the Brodys, Bucho, Mumbo Gumbo and Agent Ribbons, according to Perry.

Also scheduled to play this year is renowned Sacramento rock band Tesla, whose performance was cancelled last year.*

The partnership's Director of Marketing, Lisa Martinez, said that in addition to a variety of new venues participating in the concert pub crawl after the performances, there will also be a number of new vendors selling food during the concerts.

It's a great event because it's free, and you can usually get food and a drink for under $10," said Martinez.

According to Martinez, 4,000 people attend the summer concerts on a weekly basis, and a total of 67,000 attend the concerts annually.

The concert series will continue for 15 consecutive Fridays at the park until August 7 or August 14, depending on whether or not tonight’s show is cancelled.

For a full list of this year's performing bands, visit http://downtownsac.org/concerts.

* Editor's Note:Tesla is not scheduled to play this year, nor did they play last year, but have played previously.

Tesla in town twice this week: In person and in concert

2009-01-27T01:03:16Z

When Tesla the band launched nationally in 1987 on powerhouse label Geffen Records, few thought that Sacramento’s most successful rock export would still be rocking more than 20 years later.

That was even more true when the band broke up in 1995, victims of their own rock star egos and chemical dependencies.

Even after reuniting in 2000, some wags dismissed the band’s return as the mere desire to cash in on a well-known name from the classic rock era, which said naysayers considered completely played out. What a joke, they said.

But Brian Wheat has had the last laugh. Bassist and manager of the band he co-founded with guitarist Frank Hannon in 1982, Wheat has worked for this decade to rebuild the band’s career and restore its good name. Along the way, he’s learned how to manage a band, build a record label, build and manage a recording studio and do it all in a way that not only makes money, but also allows his band mates to live the lives they want.

And they still rock, as will be apparent to anyone who sees them return home for a concert Friday, Jan. 30, at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.

“This is a great band, and it doesn’t get enough credit,” he says during a break in recording at his studio on J Street in midtown Sacramento. “We have to keep proving ourselves. But that’s good - it keeps us honest.”

Tesla, named for the Yugoslavian inventor of alternating current who was eclipsed by his contemporary, the American Thomas Edison, has always been about honest, straight-forward rock with a hard edge. With the twin lead guitarists, Hannon and Tommy Skeoch (replaced in the new incarnation by Dave Rude), Tesla has had a handful of national hits (“Signs,” “Love Song”) but is best-known for its blazing live shows.

And like their namesake, the band seems to get energy from seeing itself as underdogs. Wheat in particular has a bit of a chip on his shoulder about how the band is perceived locally. They never played Old Ironsides or the True Love Coffeehouse. But he’s very proud of how well his crew has survived shifts in the commercial and aesthetic winds that have destroyed more than a few - if not most - of their late ‘80s contemporaries. He’s still a fan himself.

“I was talking to the bass player in Frank’s band the other day,” says Wheat, “And the guy is going on and on about what a great guitarist Frank is. To me, he’s just my brother, but I also know what a great player he is. I don’t think we take each other for granted.”

Wheat’s work in Tesla goes far beyond playing bass and sharing songwriting credits. A savvy businessman with humble South Sac roots who respects the value of a dollar, Wheat has worked hard to bring the band’s entire operation in house - literally, his own house, a lovingly-restored Victorian just down the street from Harlow’s.

“My company has everything under one roof, and we do partnerships for things we need done,” he says. “We get a much better deal than the major labels are offering. Aside from our distribution with Rykodisc, the rest of it is all on us. We’re in charge of everything, from videos to retail campaigns to radio promotion.

“It’s a whole new world from when we started,” he explains. “Record sales are down tremendously, you need to think outside the box. When we started, there wasn’t the internet, laptop computers, not so many forms of entertainment. Back then, it was TV, radio, records. Now there’s tons of entertainment, you’re competing against a lot more than you used to.”

The band even records in Wheat’s studio (full disclosure: I have myself recorded at Wheat’s studio), which means that they are able to take their time, and not have to travel. Travel, after all, is one of the rock band’s biggest pitfalls; most bands find it exhausting and expensive, even as they romanticize it for their fans.

“We’re older now, and touring takes a physical toll,” says Wheat, who is in his mid-40s. “So at our ripe old ages, we go a month on, a month off. We tour the U.S. September through May (they leave for a southwest tour after their Memorial Auditorium concert), and do summers in Europe and Asia.”

Touring in that manner, the group manages to see the world, play for fans all over (a substantial 120 shows a year) and still get a good deal of time off.

Taking breaks means that the band can stay healthy, stay home (the members live all over Northern California, Wheat and lead singer Jeff Keith being the only two in the Sacramento metro area) and stay friends.

Wheat admits that they are able to do that by budgeting carefully - “We don’t blow $400 a night for rooms at the Ritz-Carlton anymore,” he says - but they also do it by keeping a steady stream of product out there for fans.

“We try to have a piece of product out there every year,” he says, and it’s true: Last year, they released a live DVD, “Comin’ Atcha Live,” and an album of new material, “Forever More.” Before that, they released a pair of albums of cover songs, and before that, their first post-reunion album of original material, Into the Now.

Tomorrow night, Jan. 27th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the band will appear at R5 Records at 16th and Broadway. They’ll be signing copies of their latest album, Forever More, which is just now being released on vinyl (it came out on CD last fall). The band is billing the release as Tesla’s first vinyl in two decades.

And then it’s off on the road, but only until the end of February. At that point, Wheat will start work on another album with his side project Soul Motor, and somewhere in there, he’ll continue working on recording the still-unnamed band he’s formed with local rock star guitarist Mike Farrell, singer Lee Boots and his own brother, Mike, on drums.

“I’ve got no idea how that’s going to work out, I’ve never played with these guys, even my brother,” he says. “But it’s fun, and that’s what matters, right?”

Happy Xmas Sacramento. A story about music, war, and the best of friends.

2008-12-24T19:13:54Z

It was 9:00 am when I got the call.

“Sonny, it’s Abe. Hey, you want to play guitar for a session with Brian Wheat and me? The session is around noon today. We’re doing a Lennon song and it would be great if you could do it. I’d really appreciate it.”
Hmmm, let me think for a second. Play guitar at a fancy recording studio with multi-platinum Grammy-winning rock star Gods or sit in front of a computer at work. Hmmmmm, tough choice.
“I’d be honored,” I told Abe.
That was how I came to be a part of creating this rendition of John Lennon’s classic reaction to the Vietnam war, Happy Xmas (War Is Over).

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

Originally recorded in fall of 1971, it’s striking how John Lennon’s lyrics, sentiment and timely relevance stand up today. At that time, Richard Nixon was President, the slip was showing on the war in Vietnam, and technology was developed in many ways, infantile in many more. Sound familiar? There are many holiday songs that could be covered. The fact that they chose this one was no accident.

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

I’ve been playing guitar for about as long as Ben Ilfeld has been alive. I fancy myself a shoe-in when it comes to covering a song, but I thought it smart to run through this radio staple once before heading to the studio. (Insert metaphoric slap in the face sound and reddening skin.) This chord progression is much tougher than I thought. (Download tablature, call off all meetings, cancel all appointments, cram like there’s no tomorrow.) I can’t go in there looking like a hack. While the song sounds simple, the chords and finger movements are anything but. “Oh yeah,“ I thought. “John Lennon was in the Beatles. He's pretty good.”

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

The session is at the Pus Cavern, a Sacramento iconic studio run by owners Joe & Lesa Johnston. We kick off with Abe Cunningham on drums, Tesla’s Brian Wheat on bass, and me on guitar. Instantly, the vibe is great. Rather than drilling the song, Wheat kicks into loops of classic riffs like Queen’s Dragon Attack. This light-hearted jamming literally and figuratively loosens us up, gets us all in the groove. Ex-Papa Roach drummer Dave Buckner is producing this song, and he’s a natural leader. Things are coming along well, so well that we plan on laying down two or three songs, all of which will be sold with all of the proceeds going toward much-needed scholorships for the The Sacramento Children’s Choir.

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

But rock and roll is never predictable. As we’re about to press ‘record’, Tesla’s lead guitar hero Frank Hannon arrives, a surprise to us all. In tow, mad genius and Tesla singer Jeff Keith appears like a genie that was finally let out of his lamp. His energy and storytelling had the entire studio captivated and entranced, and the session stops. Then the phone rings. Michael Grant, singer/guitarist for LA’s EndeverafteR made a flight north and is in Sacramento on his way to the studio. Add in entourage and the surprise visit of a Tesla tribute band who got wind they guys were at the studio and you can see that what started as a 3-man basic track jam has turned into a rock stallion stew…with pizza and beer.

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

The session went smoother than anyone could have imagined. Laughing, talking, celebrating, these are things rarely done in a recording studio, especially among guys who have never played together. It was a special day and I am proud to be a part of it. Best of all, the tracks from that day came together nicely and a host of great musicians added their sprinkles of talent to the cake. Jonah Matranga from Far, The Snobs’ Jason Boggs on saxophone, Larisa Bryski, and special to me, my wifey, Lynn sang some vocals. (see the entire list of credits here)
So in this déjà vu of turmoil and transition for our great nation, community activists and we musicians came together to celebrate each other, Lennon’s great music, and help some kids find their voice. Bless you all this holiday 2008, and I wish you the very best in 2009. Cheers.

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

LINKS and CREDITS:
Photos by Nicolas Walsh and Lesa Johnston

Lyrics from Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the The Plastic Ono Band

View a video of the session here

Buy the song on Amazon or iTunes (search "Pus Cavern All Stars")