Music

Cole Fonseca is an Old Soul In March 2007, Visalia-based bluesman Cole Fonseca entered the studio to record his latest album, Old Soul. That in and of itself is nothing spectacular; musicians record albums. It’s just the sort of thing they do. The long road that took Fonseca up to…

Music Breathing With Life A good friend warned me about using the word unique, because as he said, few things actually are, but Butterscotch’s music warrants such a bold claim. Meshing her classical piano training and angelic voice with a more unconventional method of making music with her mouth, Butterscotch…

Two Sheds 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…

American Metal Maestros Prepare for Mayhem With countless tours and five releases already under their belt including their 2006 major label debut, Blood Mountain, Atlanta’s progressive metal outfit Mastodon are gearing up for a busy next couple months. They recently started recording a brand new album with producer Brendan O’Brien,…

A Musical Melting Pot Northern California’s very own hip-hop/reggae fusion group, SouLifted are turning heads with the release of their new full-length album Higher. The group seamlessly blends classic hip-hop sounds with reggae, jazz and soul embellishments. The result is a unique sound that all walks of life can enjoy….

Bona Fide Icon For more than 20 years Slick Rick has rightfully donned the title The Ruler. He is the original rap Liberace, who epitomized flash and style with a gaudy elegance; the storyteller who influenced an entire culture with his elaborate and witty narratives, and has maintained his exalted…

I support taco trucks, hot dog vendors (especially those dudes who mix in the bacon, onions and peppers), ice cream trucks (and handcarts) and basically almost any mobile food service. I admire their entrepreneurship, and most importantly, their food. They work hard, so I have no problem breaking bread with…

Enjoy It While It Lasts “Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost.” -Inferno, “Canto I” Dante Alighieri published the first book of his Italian-language epic The Divine Comedy, called Inferno, in 1314, but his words still…

A Single Second Celebrate Their New EP In their almost six-year history, Sacramento’s A Single Second has retained only one of its original members, vocalist/guitarist (he plays trumpet, too) Shawn Peter. While for some bands, this sort of turnover may have been the result of tempestuous relationships, but this doesn’t…

Caitlin Gutenberger talks Two Sheds Since 2006, Sacramento act Two Sheds has garnered much success with their debut album, Strange Ammunition (UnderAcloud Records). The S.F. Weekly has dubbed them “dreamy and captivating,” while other critics have compared them to the likes of Hope Sandoval, Lucinda Williams and Beck. Their folk-rock…