Harlow’s Sacramento
Monday, Oct. 6, 2008

Upon entering the dimly lit Harlow’s Restaurant and Night Club last Monday, I was delighted to see that Two Sheds had been booked as the last minute opener for Mates of State. I immediately noticed that it was not only Caitlin and Johnny Gutenberger (who make up Two Sheds) occupying the stage; there was another women sitting in-between the two assisting with vocal harmonies and light percussions, including the tambourine. I later came to find out that it was none other than Amber Padgett of the local duo Spider Silk Dress. Her addition was a great one and Two Sheds entire set was fantastic, but it seemed like the majority of the crowd didn’t care because almost everyone was talking—so loud in fact that it was nearly impossible for me to really focus on the music. Maybe I chose a bad spot to stand (I do that sometimes), maybe they weren’t there for the opening band, but come on people, show the band some respect and shut the fuck up for a few minutes. My guess is that the lack of bass and drums during Two Shed’s set made it easy for the audience’s short attention spans to become even shorter. What a shame.

As soon as Mates of State took the stage my theory was proven correct: all it takes is loud drums to get people to shut their yappers (probably because they can’t hear each other talking) and actually focus on the music. As if they were trained to do so, the entire crowd stood up and rushed toward the stage to get a closer look at Kori Gardner (keyboard/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals). The two are married and have been making records and touring together since 1997, so they are solid as can be. The chemistry between the two on stage was something I have never before witnessed; you could sense them communicating while playing. They would cue each other with tiny glances or facial expressions to change parts or bring a song to an end.

Their timing and harmonies were flawless, further proving another theory of mine that every married couple should just make music together instead of making babies. When the two would simultaneously sing complementary vocal melodies it was so layered and sounded so huge that it was hard to believe only two people were on stage. At a couple different points during their set, two other musicians joined them: one played cello, adding a very symphonic, cinematic feel and the other played electric guitar (which wasn’t even really noticeable in the mix) and messed around on a laptop playing loops and samples here and there.

Crowd favorites of the night seemed to me to be “Fraud in the ‘80s,” and “Like U Crazy,” both off their ‘06 release Bring It Back, and “The Re-Arranger” which is on their newest album Re-Arrange Us and on this particular night brought their set to an end (before the obligatory encore of course).

As the show came to an end we quickly guzzled what remained of our beers and stumbled out the door, satisfied with the performances of both artists.

By Jonathan Carabba
Photos by Melissa Welliver

Post from: Submerge Magazine

Crest Theatre, Sacramento
Sept. 20, 2008

Arriving 30 minutes before the show started, I was surprised to see almost every seat in the Crest Theatre taken. I love Musiq Soulchild, but almost every time I dropped his name to someone, they’d never heard of the R&B singing soul man. So, you can imagine me entering the splendor of color and contour of the mid-sized Crest and seeing so many people.

Hometown guy MarKnoxx kicked, or rather danced (like Usher), things off at 8:30 p.m. Mr. Knoxx seemed to have a fan base who were not dissatisfied with the amount of clothes he lost as his set went on. His songs were heartfelt and backed up by two singers, guitar, bass, pianos, trumpet and a bangin’ drummer that a local fan told me was only 16 years old.

The folks at Conscious Vibes Productions made sure to raise anticipation of Musiq’s performance with an intermission that felt like 45 minutes. But in that time, I got to learn why everyone at this concert was eating popcorn (I’ve never before seen anyone eat popcorn at an enclosed concert) when my boyfriend returned holding a large cup of popcorn saying, “This popcorn was only a dollar!” Of course.

Then, the lights dimmed and on came the back-up singers, drummer and guitarists to start it all off. But when Musiq himself, standing all of about 5-foot-6 and looking urban-immaculate in pants, vest, tie, button-up shirt, aviators and well-groomed fro-hawk, fans (myself included) rushed down toward the stage. Musiq Soulchild played all the of fan favorites including “Buddy,” “Just Friends,” “Teach Me,” “Betterman” and “Time” while bouncing from side to side onstage. During a wardrobe change, two talented back-up singers enthralled the audience. Specifically, a lovely lady and true songbird named James Madison caught my attention with her chirping-ly elegant and soulful voice. When the Musiq man returned he sang his new hip-hop single “Radio” for the Sacramentan crowd.

The show was overall entertaining, but the sound quality was disappointing. For whatever reason, the back-up singers and instruments drowned Musiq’s vocals. To add to all that, there was some scraggly sweaty girl with a bad weave in a pink top who insisted on singing along to every song; which wouldn’t be so bad except she sang so loudly and at so high a pitch that if you were in the front, you couldn’t hear Musiq Soulchild. It was so bad that the back-up singers even noticed and kept shooting the scraggly girl warning looks. I really wanted to throw something at her, or at least tell her that I paid $40 to hear the guy on the stage sing and not her.

But, Musiq Soulchild still had that R&B je ne sais quoi and musical mystique up until he abruptly ended his set and bid Sacramento fans farewell.

By Josselin Basaldu

Post from: Submerge Magazine

Friday Mile

Two Sheds, Friday Mile & James Finch Jr.
Java Lounge, Sacramento
June 13, 2008

Coffee shops have always been some of my favorite places to enjoy a few quiet moments with a book and some headphones, or to catch up with an old friend, or even to catch up with myself every now and again. However, they’re not always the greatest of places for a band’s musical performance; seldom have I seen a band pull off their sound in such an environment. Fortunately, this Friday night would be an exception due to the fact that I was seeing Two Sheds perform in their own neighborhood coffee shop, Java Lounge, in downtown Sacramento, along with Friday Mile (Seattle), and James Finch Jr. (San Francisco).

To begin, James Finch Jr. took to the tiny stage with an acoustic in hand and a friend by his side to play a couple licks here and there. James’ sound was a familiar one: an indie folk and blues acoustic sound. A reverberate hollow body electric guitar added a fantastic layer to his songs. Near the end of his performance, the songs began to get somewhat monotonous and obvious, but his set was very fitting for the coffee shop vibe and was overall pleasing to the ears.

After grabbing a cup of coffee, Friday Mile, who had just begun their west coast tour with Two Sheds, surprised me with their catchy melodies and meticulous instrumentation. The rhythm section, composed of Chad Clibborn on drums, and Jake Rohr on bass, laid a solid foundation for each song, continuously moving them through each section and keeping it all very interesting. Clibborn had a smooth, low dynamic feel, playing more upbeat tempos, while Rohr followed, grooving up and down the fret board. Jace Krause and Hannah Williams combined their vocals to create an awesome atmosphere of harmonies and hooks that caught my ears left and right. Krause’s guitars were nearly as catchy as his vocals and Williams provided a striking ambience on keys, using the classic Rhodes tone, an organ and your standard piano. During the set, Williams informed the crowd that the band was working on an album and that some of the songs they played were still in the works. I look forward to hearing more from this band and highly recommend giving them a listen.

Out of the 30 people sitting on the floors, standing in a semi-circle and crammed on the couch, I’d say about 20 of them were the friends and family of Two Sheds. Everyone was chit-chatting and having a great time the entire evening. I found it awesome that they decided to have an intimate show for their CD release. I’ve been listening to Two Sheds and have been curious about their live show. I can safely say that watching them play is indeed even better than listening to their recordings, which are also great. The band usually has an array of instrumentalists, however, for this performance, they remained a four-piece to cater to the intimate setting, playing a more mellow set. Vocalist and guitarist, Caitlin Gutenberger was spot on, singing with much conviction while tediously working her dreamy guitars. Her voice created the tone for each and every song’s story, painting clear pictures with her unique imagery. James Finch Jr. reappeared on electric guitar and keys this time providing atmospheres with sparse notes and rhythmic movements. Rusty Miller supplied the simple, but fitting beats that assisted songs in their progression, while the bassist known as Johnny followed along, bringing up the low end very tastefully. The band’s chemistry was vibrant and added much to the environment of the tiny room. It was a privilege to see this band in their humble beginnings, although I expect to see them making a huge mark with the release of their new EP, as well as their plans for touring this year.

Words by Jeff LaTour
Photos by Brian Kellogg

Post from: Submerge Magazine

Very few things in life put me in a better mood than cheap beer and quality live rock’n‘roll. Monday night at Club Pow! (inside The Press Club) provided a plethora of both with Bright Light Fever, Red Host, and Love Like Fire set to rock the surprisingly large and lively crowd.

After a couple very tall PBRs I was delighted to see that the local rock quartet Bright Light Fever was up first. I have been fortunate enough to catch these guys a couple times in the past, but this was their most superior performance (that I have seen at least) to date. Those in attendance were surprised and excited to witness Bright Light Fever debut a couple tracks off their new record entitled Red Hands in Holy Water. Lead singer Evan Ferro proclaimed to the audience that they are entering the studio next week but he did not hint at any sort of time frame for the release of the record. My personal favorites were “Food for the Rats,” a groovy little number that got people shakin’ their stuff, and “Locust,” which rounded off their set very well indeed. These guys are talented musicians who have developed a sound that is their own and they deserve more attention. Keep an eye out for the new record; it surely will gain them some well-deserved praise.

After a swift set change Red Host was ready to perform. This local trio, consisting of Chelsea Wolfe, Ian Bone, and Jess Gowrie has an immense sound. The best way I can describe it is this: If PJ Harvey got knocked up by Joshua Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, and PJ left Josh to raise the child with Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters, that child would most definitely be Red Host. They are extremely solid and all very good-looking. If that doesn’t make you want to go see them, then I don’t know what will. Red Host will be heading out on tour in the very near future, so check out their dates and tell everyone you know in those towns that they are no longer your friends if they do not attend.

Clear drum kits seriously kick ass. I don’t know what it is about them, but every time I see a drummer playing a see-thru set, I just want to dance. Dave Farrell, drummer of San Francisco’s Love Like Fire plays one of these sets, and he definitely did his part in getting people moving around. Love Like Fire’s infectious sound sits somewhere between Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but has enough originality to keep it from getting old. They filled the room with incredible vibes and suddenly everyone had a huge smile on their face. I for one could not help but shake my ass and bob my head every time they dove into a new song. Lead singer Ann Yu’s voice is both emotive and enchanting. It has the tendency to make you forget your everyday worries and become lost in a sea of beautiful sounds. Love Like Fire stole the show, plain and simple. Their energy permeated throughout the crowd and left us wanting more.

You should get off your butt next Monday and go to a show at Club Pow! I promise you’ll have a blast. Bring your earplugs though; it’s fucking loud in that room.

Words by Jonathan Carabba
Photos by Melissa Welliver

Post from: Submerge Magazine