Music

The King of Pop will make his return to the stage for the first time since 2001. Michael Jackson announced an open-ended run of performances commencing at London’s O2 Arena on July 9. Jackson will begin with 10 scheduled performances and continue as long as demand dictates. This unique statement…

No Guns, No Problem With their complex instrumentals and emotion-packed lyrics, Sacramento band Find Me Fighting Them has every right to be excited about the upcoming release of their EP, It’s a Big Bad World and I’ve No Guns to Fight With. As the poignant notes unfold, you’ll discover shades…

All That They Can See Don’t mistake San Francisco (by way of Davis) trio Sholi for a wholly identifiable musical collective. Their creative influences weave through minimalist shoegaze, Qawwali and the drone-y spiral of standing on a precipice, not knowing whether or not it’s time to leap. Their self-titled debut…

Travis Barker and DJ AM The Park Ultra Lounge, Sacramento Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009 Thursday night at The Park Ultra Lounge saw not one but two rare appearances. The first was the electrifying, genre-amalgamating duo that is comprised of Travis Barker from the late and arguably great Blink 182 on…

A Writer Doing the Right Thing The power of words can make you laugh or cry, act reckless or ignite thought and awake the mind. A writer for more than half of his life, Sacramento’s Tais has never taken his talents for granted. From prose to poetry, spoken word to…

As expected, M.I.A. delivered her baby just hours after her Grammy appearance. In a message on her Myspace blog, she said she got home from the Grammys ready to party, but instead went into labor at 2 a.m. What a buzz kill! She notes the baby is healthy, despite enduring…

At a time when my patience and interest in the current generation of MCs was fading quickly, Wale stepped up to the plate. Without a gimmick or marketing scheme, the Washington, D.C. native always came correct. His persona was genuine, self-assured and humble, with clever wordplay and unlikely references of…

Natalie Gordon of Agent Ribbons Valentine’s Day: Love it or hate it? I love Valentine’s Day because my grandparents send me funny little cards with cartoons on them, and there’s always five bucks inside! I’m glad that some things never change. What motivates you more to write music: love or…

Church Underwater The ocean is home to the world’s largest creatures. One of the most fascinating of these mammoth beasts is the giant squid. Rarely photographed, its elusiveness belies its ponderous size. As a result, the mysterious creature has inspired folklore, myth and art worldwide. It is fitting that such…

Since the 51st Grammy Awards have already happened and you’ve witnessed MIA perform at nine months pregnant. You may have seen MIA’s OB/GYN anxiously standing side-stage, as the baby was also due that day. You may or may not have also seen the gentlemen of Coldplay in attendance, who were…