Music

Wavves gets back on track with new album Wavves’ frontman Nathan Williams may very well be the poster child for what it means to be famous in the blog generation. In 2009, Williams came out of nowhere to become the blogosphere’s newest wunderkind. His second album in two years, Wavvves,…

Slayer’s Dave Lombardo talks thrash Words by Bobby S. Gulshan – Photo by Mark Seliger I was 13 when Slayer released Seasons in the Abyss. At the time of its release, the United States was engaged in a war with Iraq. Around this time, I toyed around with the idea…

The Nibblers Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 – The Torch Club – Sacramento “Thank you for showing up early. It’s going to be a long night, and we can’t think of anything better than spending it with you,” announced Hans Eberbach, The Nibblers’ frontman. A good 75 people were in the…

The New Humans’ Avalanche Drops, Finally Words by Vincent Girimonte | Photo by Raoul Ortega Don’t broach the time before The New Humans with The New Humans; it’s akin to rehashing a saga and you’ve missed the first couple of installments where some real heavy shit went down. Sitting in…

Ganglians, G.Green, Fungi Girls Wednesday, July 28, 2010 – Undisclosed Location – Sacramento Venues so discrete we have to refer to them as “undisclosed locations” are where the raddest shows go down. These hole-in-the-wall, permit-be-damned DIY dives are incubators for garage bands ready to put their art on parade for…

Andrew W.K. puts a tumultuous five years behind him Hardships can be blessings in disguise. At least, that’s how Andrew W.K. sees it–maybe because he has little other choice. In 2001, W.K., born Andrew Wilkes-Krier in Stanford, Calif., burst on the scene and relased the best thing to happen to…

Far At Night We Live (Vagrant) “Don’t call it a comeback…” Oft-quoted, L.L. Cool J’s assertion that he’s “been here for years” is perfect for occasions such as this. In the mid- to late ‘90s, Far blurred the line between backwards-cap, Addidas-clad nü metal and heart-on-sleeve emo rock, and managed…

Deftones are back at the top of their game Sacramento’s own marquis band, Deftones, have come quite a way since their inception in the late ‘80s. From gigs at backyard barbecues to sold-out shows at the Cattle Club, to landing a record deal and headlining huge tours all around the…

Goapele Has the Voice of an Angel, the Spirit of Oakland Much like her music, Goapele is not a one-dimensional individual. Born in Oakland to a South African father and Jewish American mother, her lineage and upbringing provided a fountain of culture for her to draw upon. From activism to…

Janelle Monáe channels her inner robot on her full-length debut Janelle Monáe is nothing if not polite. Is it her time spent in Atlanta, Ga., immersed in Southern hospitality, or excellent coaching on behalf of her publicity machine? In the end it doesn’t matter. She says all the right things…