SOLOS’ Spencer Seim on His and Aaron Ross’ Excellent New Project

The seeds of SOLOS were sewn around 2007. That was the year Nevada City freak-folk troubadour Aaron Ross rounded out an unlikely five-man partnership for Hella’s fourth full-length, There’s No 666 in Outer Space, providing vocals to a band internationally known for its aversion to much beyond breakneck time-signature gymnastics, sizzlingly technical guitar-and-drum patterns and explosive live shows. And while Hella’s been on a hiatus of sorts after its last LP, Tripper, was released in 2011–much of that having to do with drummer Zach Hill’s quiver of spectrum-spanning projects, such as the hugely popular Death Grips–guitarist Spencer Seim sought a crisp creative direction to aspire toward. There was only one person he considered to fill the half of that whole he was looking for.

“There’s just something about what Aaron does that I’m really into,” says Seim. “I’ve seen him play around town for years and there’s never been a single time I’ve seen him where he’s up there playing at a coffee shop or a local venue that I haven’t gotten goose bumps many times. I don’t know many other musicians that I get that with that consistently.”

So began the process of sussing out SOLOS, a new collaboration between Ross and Seim that’s already yielded probably the best, most imaginative and most sonically ballsy album of 2012 in their debut, Beast of Both Worlds (set to be released Sept. 11, 2012 via Joyful Noise Recordings). As hyperbolic as it felt to type that, it’s a rare occasion to verbalize a reaction to an album with repeated, “Holy fucking shit”s while kneeling in front of a Netbook for the entirety of the record. But Beast… is really that good. It’s brimming with enormous power-psych hooks, thick drums and the kind of sonic alchemy that seems totally unfair to other bands trying to make noise with instruments. Albums that sound this great, of course, take a lot of time to put together.

“It’s the way things work in the music world unless you fully plan everything and know exactly when things are happening,” says Seim of the year-and-a-half-long process to release the record. “But this was by the seat of our pants–kind of a more punk way of doing it. We just did everything on a budget and had a lot of people helping us and loaning us gear.”

Seim and Ross began writing together about two years ago, hoping to forge a unique hybrid wherein Seim’s progressive drumming would complement Ross’ seismic melodies, powerful guitar and witty, weird lyricisms. They performed around Nevada City and Sacramento under the working title Amaranth to demo songs in a live setting and dial them in a bit.

“The songs just needed a little boost I guess,” explains Seim. “Sometimes you write stuff and it comes out kicking ass in exactly the way you want it, but sometimes all the ideas are there and it needs some more working through. Playing it live in front of an audience, in my experience, changes songs quite a bit. Usually for the better.”

As Amaranth, Ross and Seim composed the songs that would reside on Beast… in about a month-and-a-half, and after playing out for a few months, they began the arduous task of talking with labels. But the duo didn’t get many responses to their work. Frustrated, Seim showed local producer Josh Henry their demos, who then passed them on to sought-after Abbey Road Studios engineer Guy Massey (Radiohead, Spiritualized, Depeche Mode) in England. Massey was immediately impressed by the group, who were now going by SOLOS, and invited them to travel overseas to make the record.

Seim was initially hesitant to work with a big-time engineer or producer, especially since without label support the duo were financing the record entirely themselves. On the strength of the demos, though, SOLOS seemed to already have their first number-one fan in Massey.

“Josh and Guy weren’t just hired to do this and try to make it sound as good as possible; they both did it for no money, just for the fun of the project,” says Seim. “They both had amazing ideas that we both really respected and enjoyed. There was no ego or anything involved, it was just all of us trying to make the best record we could in 21 days. It was different than I had expected, but way better because it wasn’t this big time producer telling us what to do. [Guy] was this super level-headed dude with rad ideas, sitting Indian style on the floor surrounded by guitar effects dialing stuff while [Aaron] played, blasting stuff through amps and basically trying to get weird sounds that none of us had ever heard before.”

Considering Seim’s instrumental pedigree with Hella–as well as with Nintendo-core crew The Advantage–getting weird sounds he hadn’t heard before would seem a pretty daunting task. But after hearing Ross’ mystical guitar progressions, and the overall haunted funhouse vibe of opener “Jung at Heart,” the Zeppelin-ish follow-up “All My Tribulations” and the excellent closing cover of Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us,” you begin to understand just how far down the rabbit hole SOLOS was willing to travel.

For Seim, it was about channeling his musical sensibilities outside of the chaotic math-noise of his other projects, and allowing room for Ross’ songwriting talents to hold equal footing on Beast… After all, for Seim, two heads have always been better than one. Or three, or four or five for the most part.

“I’ve really enjoyed working on projects with just one other person in the past,” says Seim, “just because it’s two minds, and the way they fit together can make something really cool, especially if they’re very different. Even though Zach and I were making a very specific type of music in Hella, we’re both very different and have very different ideas about music. It was much more of a rhythmic connection we had there. With Aaron, we have more of a melodic connection.”

Seim and Ross were also careful to strike a true balance between their seemingly disparate styles for SOLOS.

“We had both just come from a band [Hella] that was very technical and was really trying to innovate in time signature and the way songs are arranged,” explains Seim. “With this project, we’re really just trying to do something new, something we haven’t heard before. But obviously, we don’t want to overplay in areas that aren’t necessary. We just want the beats or guitar parts to be interesting on their own and not have to be interesting because they’re fast or they’re in a strange time signature.

“We want it to be one entity and want you to be able to hear both of us in it, but not sound like us playing separately together, if that makes any sense.”

SOLOS began work on an even newer album six months ago, adding fellow Nevada City denizen Jeff Schmidt into the fold, officially making the band a trio. The timing of this addition is fortunate for the band, considering the instrumentation they included on Beast of Both Worlds and its impossibility to transfer live with just two people. Schmidt is taking on a kind of bass/keys hybrid with baritone guitar in helping compose the band’s new tracks, as well as during live performances.

SOLOS is only just now dusting off the soot of all that recording. They’re booking local shows in and around Sacramento, San Francisco and Nevada City for now, and are mulling over fall and spring touring options, though nothing has still been announced. But with another record 90 percent finished, perhaps the best is still to come.

“We’re just starting to get back into live band mode,” says Seim. “We’ve been in record mode for basically a year now. This is our first album, and we really plan to get out there and make a lot more.”

Beast of Both Worlds will was released Sept. 11, 2012. For more information and for touring and live performance updates about SOLOS, visit http://www.facebook.com/solosband, or http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/artists/solos.

Against Me!, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Joyce Manor

Ace of Spaces, Sacramento
Monday, Sept. 3, 2012

As the hot Labor Day sun set in Sacramento, a young and riled up crowd gathered in a long line up and down R Street surrounding Ace of Spades. Many of these teens were eagerly anticipating the inspiring angst-driven tunes of Naples, Fla.’s Against Me! before returning to school after a memorable Labor Day.

Opening the festivities was Torrance, Calif.’s Joyce Manor. The band wasted no time belting out loud pop-punk tunes that commanded the increasing crowd’s attention. Guitarist and vocalist Barry Johnson aggressively strummed power and octave chords and singing discernible vocals that were stylistically akin to ‘90s cult icon Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy fame, or at times similar to Trevor Keith of Face to Face. Most of the songs were short and sweet, and they had to be since their set lasted only 20 minutes. However, songs such as “Constant Nothing” and “Midnight Service at the Mutter Museum” had lasting power beyond the two-minute tunes they were playing; pop-y bass lines were being delivered from Matt’s Fender Jazz, while the mid-tempo drumming was precise. For a band seemingly unknown, several members of the crowd were singing along to their catchy songs and had Johnson stating in between songs, “We’re so fucking pumped to be here.” It was certainly refreshing to get a little dose of some fun filled, throwback to my teenage years tunes.

The middle slot featured Phoenix, Ariz.’s Andrew Jackson Jihad. Having no previous knowledge of what this band was about, it was assumed that a group of hardcore political punks with plenty of swagger and stern messages would grace the stage. However, a slightly different cast of characters appeared. Two men came out from backstage individually carrying an upright bass and an acoustic guitar. An enthusiastic crowd cheered on before the duo played their first note. Guitarist and vocalist Sean Bonnette expressed much gratitude for being a part of the show and quickly began a set filled with punk-y/folk-y songs like “The Michael Jordan of Drunk Driving,” which included silly lyrics, “The Michael Jordan of drunk driving played his final game tonight / Burdened by his loneliness he wanted to feel alive / His laziness built the pyramids / And his solitude was a knife / The Michael Jordan of drunk driving played his final game tonight.” Other songs played were essentially mocking taking yourself too seriously with lyrics like, “Growing up fucking sucks / Got too much stuff / I’m afraid the older you get the more you forget things.” A sarcastic version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” featured the altered lyrics “Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson / No one will care if you live or die.” Although Andrew Jackson Jihad was amusing, its shtick got old quickly.

After a brief set change, Against Me! stormed the stage in unison and quickly filled the room with anthem driven punk rock tunes. “White Crosses,” which featured Laura Jane Grace’s commanding vocal hooks shouted in the chorus: “White crosses on the church lawn / I want to smash them all / I want to smash them all,” was accompanied by catchy lead guitar melodies and steady drumming by Jay Weinberg (son of legendary Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band drummer, Max). The group creatively transitioned into the popular 2011 hit “I Was a Teenage Anarchist,” which featured the infectious chorus hook “Do you remember when you were young and you wanted to set the world on fire?” Guitarist James Bowman and bassist Andrew Seward added nice touches with spot-on vocal harmonies and precise playing. Many in the crowd were dancing or moshing with their fists in the air singing along and fully appreciating the moment. “New Wave” conveyed a sense of optimism and hope providing head bobbing rhythms and Grace’s lyrics, “Come on and wash these shores away / I am looking for the crest / I am looking for the crest of a new wave,” had current believers enthralled and newcomers buying in.

At the eighth annual Peruvian Food Festival on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 at the Ben Ali Shriners Center (3262 Marysville Boulevard), you can taste all sorts of famous dishes from Peru like lomo saltado (strips of steak sautéd with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, chilies, onions and tomatoes served over a bed of rice with a large helping of French fries) and picarones (thin, donut like type of pumpkin fritters that are normally served with syrup on top) and plenty of other options. There will be music and entertainment for the whole family including a Peruvian horse show, “Caballos de Paso.” Admission is just $3 per person, and children 10-and-under are free. Parking is $2. For more information, visit http://clubperudesacramento.com/.

Northern California charity group the Atomic Angels are throwing a Mad Men-themed pool party extravaganza on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 at the Greens Hotel (1700 Del Paso Boulevard) to benefit Wind Youth Services of Sacramento. For just $8 you can check out a multitude of themed contests (vintage swimsuit competition, Jell-O mold contest and a limbo contest), swim in the pool, hit up participating food trucks and vendors, sip on beer and wine, enjoy music from DJ 7evin and check out some classic mid-century cars. The event gets underway at 2 p.m. and if you plan on having a bit to drink (it goes with the theme), you can snag a room at Greens that night for under $100! For more information on this and other great charity events, visit the Atomic Angels online at http://www.facebook.com/TheAtomicAngels.

Sacramento Comedian Mike E. Winfield gets ready for the premiere of his new comedy/music mashup on FUSE TV

Words by Andru Bell

The first thing you notice about comedian Mike E. Winfield before he ever tells a joke is his smile. He has the kind of contagious, ear-to-ear grin that you can hear over the phone.

These days that smile might have a lot to do with the fact Winfield is counting down to the premiere of his new TV show, Off Beat, on the FUSE network Sept. 14, 2012, a dream he has been working toward his entire career. Winfield will host the weekly viral video music/comedy mash up with sidekick Mal Hall dissecting and analyzing the most outrageous music themed videos and viewer submitted clips (think “Chocolate Rain” and “Hot Cheetos and Takis”).

Off Beat features a heavy hitting production team including the legendary Vin Di Bona as one of the executive producers as well as creative consultant Mike Gibbons who worked on Tosh.0. “It’s viral videos that have a connection to music,” describes Winfield. “There could be someone at church dancing and they fall out the cathedral window. That could make the show.”

With the first season wrapped, and Hollywood notoriety around the corner, Winfield is still incredibly humble when speaking about his comedic roots and the path to his current success.

“In school I was hilarious to about three people only,” Winfield says when asked if he was the class clown. “I feel that everyone else knew me as Michael, the dude chillin’, trying to make the team.”

At points, growing up in East Baltimore, Md., was anything but comedic for Winfield. “I didn’t know how bad areas were where I lived until I got older,” he reflects back. “By eighth grade I was able to recognize that people were selling drugs on the block where I lived. I knew where not to get shot. I even knew how to spot an undercover vehicle.”

It wasn’t until moving to Sacramento after high school that Winfield would even step on stage for the first time to try his hand at stand-up comedy. His sophomore year at American River College, a small audience caught the first glimmer of greatness. Or something like that.

“I get on stage at this open mic believing I have the skills to freestyle a five minute set,” Winfield recalls. “I can barely freestyle a five minute set now, so it goes awry. I’m not booed, but it’s silence and stares–very awkward and uncomfortable. I figure that live comedy is not for me…and I focus on finishing college.”

Three years later, after graduating from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in English he is faced with the decision to enter the teaching profession or attempt stand-up comedy again.

“I built the courage to return to the beast,” Winfield says. “But this time, I actually write material, which is the difference.”

The rest is Sacramento comedy history.

“I just started going to open mics and hitting them every week until more shows and doors started opening.” This was 2004.

It feels lightweight cliché to draw a comedic style comparison between Mike E. Winfield and Chris Rock, but the same charisma, originality and ability to relate to a crowd that made the latter a household name has propelled Winfield to where he is today. There is a definitive everyday feel to Winfield’s stand-up that he has maintained throughout all of his mainstream successes.

Since dedicating his life to the art of making a crowd laugh Winfield has been featured on BET’s Comic View, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Showtime’s Comics Without Borders, Comics Unleashed, The Late Show with David Letterman and NBC’s The Office before being selected for his latest role as host of Off Beat.

The audition process for Off Beat started last year in Los Angeles when Mike E. Winfield and thousands of other comedians and on-air personalities of all kinds auditioned for the gig. It wasn’t until this past February that Winfield got word that he had beat out the competition and was Hollywood bound.

“It’s funny because I said, ‘I want my own TV show,’ but something like Off Beat I would’ve never planned,” Winfield says. “It’s weird because I don’t know what else I would be more fit for.”

Though he is the figurehead for a team of writers now, Winfield promises the same personal connection with the audience that has fueled his stand-up success.

“With Off Beat it feels so much like it is mine and people will really get to know me. They see so much of me just being myself so it’s more fitting than anything else I could even imagine.”

Now living back and forth between Los Angeles and Sacramento, Winfield is touring to promote Off Beat’s upcoming premiere. A comedian’s comedian, Winfield isn’t spending all of his time talking to morning news shows though. In fact, he is known for making impromptu appearances at local open mics from Sacramento to New York City. He explains, “Whatever town I find myself in, I’m trying to hit the stage.”

If you don’t Google him, you might spend an entire night hanging out with Mike before you realize that he’s sort of famous.

A few weeks ago, while back home visiting, Winfield dropped by a showcase at Luna’s Cafe, hosted by comedian Johnny Taylor, to do a set completely unannounced. “Mike E. is on the verge,” described Taylor, “but he’s different, because you know he’s one of those guys that really wants to bring the city with him.”

When asked how he plans to deal with the fame monster, Winfield jokingly responds that he has already scouted out a place to buy afro wigs to outfit his army of imposter drones in true pop star fashion.

“Britney Spears has to leave her house through some hidden chamber in the basement and has imposters that look like her,” he explains. “I have this place where I go get afros, throw them on people, and then have them leave before me.”

In reality, the gradual climb up the ladder of success has readied Winfield for the upcoming wave of (much deserved) recognition. “I feel like there was a set up for this,” he explains, “It’s a slow, gradual… BOOM.”

When asked his advice to aspiring comedians, there is no hesitation. His answer is immediate and fires off like a mantra. “Everything is about the work you put in,” he says, “I believe when you work hard at anything you see results even if it comes back to you another way. So it’s not talking about it. It’s doing the actual work. I’ll perform anywhere. I’ve performed at poetry shows, open mics and cafes. I’ve performed in the back of a vegan restaurant. If there is a microphone, I’ve been on it.”

It would be remiss to credit Winfield’s relentless work ethic and fail to mention his secret weapon, wife Kisha, who has stood by the comic’s side every step of the way and played the most important role behind the scenes. “September we’ve been married 10 years,” says Winfield. “The thing is we’re stronger than ever. She’s the one behind the scenes getting stuff done.”

Though his marriage is not off limits as fodder for his stand-up, it is clear that she is another reason for that famous smile. You have to respect and admire a wife that can truly support a struggling comic with showbiz dreams. And clearly Winfield does.

Mike E. Winfield will be back in Sacramento headlining at The Punchline on Oct. 4, 2012 as well as multiple shows over Thanksgiving weekend, also at Punchline. …And you never know where he’ll show up between now and then.

Keep up with Mike E. Winfield as Off Beat hits the airwaves and set your DVRs for the premiere Sept. 14th at 7 p.m. on the FUSE network. You can also follow his misadventures in viral video via his Twitter, @MikeEWinfield, and his website http://mikewinfield.com/. You can see Winfield live at the Punchline in Sacramento on Oct. 4. For tickets and more info, go to http://punchlinesac.com/

Sacramento ex-patriates By Sunlight make a home in Seattle

“What is true by lamplight is not always true by sunlight.” — Joseph Joubert, French moralist/essayist

Though starting with a quote is a bit cliché, especially by anyone like Joubert, who doesn’t exactly get remembered for much other than cute little quips. Still, there is much truth that can be found in an over-simplified message. For the members of the band By Sunlight, maybe the quote would be more along the lines of, “What is true in Sacramento is not always true anywhere else.”

The gentlemen that occupy the moniker By Sunlight (originally known as Bridges) decided a few years back that a new perspective would suit them nicely, and packed their bags and took off to the city synonymous with mediocre sports franchises (at least those remaining), Starbucks, its weather and its iconic music scenes. By Sunlight’s Mike Sparks laughs over the phone during a recent interview when asked if Seattle’s dismal meteorology caused any changes in his music.

“It’s funny that every time I do an interview I get asked that. I guess so?” Sparks remarks, in a sort-of vocal shrugging, “I woke up this morning and it was overcast and I almost had a tear of joy. I mean, it’s beautiful now, but I really like that weather… It’s temperate for me, you know? Living in Sacramento was heinous. I couldn’t stand it at all.”

But, hey, not all of us living here love the heat. Still, moving to Seattle was behind a large part of how he both developed as a musician, and as a person. Sparks continues, “We were ready to get the fuck out of there. Hey man, sometimes when it’s 4:30 p.m., and the sun’s down, and I’ve got three beers in my body, yes, I might feel a bit of darkness in the spirit. There are tons of metal bands up here, tons of punk bands up here, and there is a lot of reflection of that environmental aesthetic in how people behave here, but I wouldn’t describe it as a sullen city either. Yeah, biometrics is a huge fucking change in my life, but going from everything I know to where I don’t know anything, that I would say was a more profound affect rather than the climate.”

After residing in the city for a handful of years and constantly touring, By Sunlight finally decided to settle down, and take a year off from the road. They took to inviting another Sacramento musician, Evan Ferro of Bright Light Fever/Roman Funerals, to make the journey up to the Pacific Northwest, and have Sparks, producer and band member Robert Cheek and Ferro move in together in order to record their latest album.

“We would go home after work or what-not, and we would go straight to working on the record,” Ferro recalls. “Whether it was writing or fine-tuning, it was non-stop. It was a lot of thought, a lot of annoying ourselves with how much we were thinking about it. But, ultimately it became what we wanted it to be.”

Sparks considers the decision to bring Ferro into the picture to be just what the band needed. “It’s kind of what saved our band,” says Sparks. “After the aesthetic exhaustion, fatigue and demoralization that you can sometimes get from working so hard at a band, and not really getting anything. You sort of question your art all the time; it’s that sort of weird, entropic little head thing you can get, and it really pulled us out of all that.”

Robert Cheek, who even now is instrumental as a producer and sound engineer locally–working on albums for Doom Bird, Life in 24 Frames and others–despite not being on full-time duties for this By Sunlight album, is an extremely valuable asset as both a musician and technical mind, and the other members in the band are very aware of it. Particularly since By Sunlight is a very technically minded project, employing many elements that build on and flow through each other, with a sound that is both intricate and intensely mellow, it takes a lot of abstract thought to orchestrate and balance so many elements peacefully.

“I think I’m just so blessed to be in a band with people like [Cheek]–where music is really the only thing of interest to him. For that ethos alone is enough to get a boner for a dude in your band,” Sparks says through a chuckle, “I mean, not literally. It’s like if you have someone you work with intimately all the time that share the same enthusiasm as you, and also you’ve got these huge technical talent.”

“Yeah, he’s valuable. He’s done all our records prior to this one, and even with this one he helped definitely, and did some work also. Yeah, it’s a huge one-up, and we all couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities that affords us.”

Ferro agrees, taking it a step further: “[Cheek] is a genius. There is not a better word for it, really. He puts so much work into what he is doing, whether it’s a band he is working with or a band he is in. Bob plays in Roman Funerals as well, so I have the experience of not one but two bands with Bob. To have him in a band is a musician’s dream come true. If you’re having second thoughts on a song you are writing, go to Bob and Bob will give you the answer. Actually, it’s somewhat ridiculous.”

With Cheek, Ferro, Sparks, bass player Jack Clemens, and drummer John O’Connell–the only member not from Sacramento (he’s from Virginia)–the band is chock-full of veteran talent. Finished with their latest album, titled Penumbra, they now face the arduous and sometimes daunting task of getting it out there. Starting off with a quick West Coast tour, the guys are looking forward to finally seeing the road again.

“With all the bands I’ve toured with, By Sunlight is the easiest,” says Sparks, “just because, we’ve all done it, you know, too much, and so the emotional thing that is so often an issue on tour, is sort of an old hat for us; it’s not hard at all.

“Not to sound over-confident about it, but we’re all best friends,” Sparks continues, “It’s not like we don’t get into fights sometimes, like when John wants to listen to baseball on the radio, and I just want to sit there and feel sorry for myself. It’s not like those things aren’t going to happen, but there is no fear that the bottom is going to drop out.”

By Sunlight will return to Sacramento on Sept. 8, 2012 when they play Harlow’s with Doom Bird. The 21-and-over show starts at 9 p.m., and tickets can be purchased through http://harlows.com/. For more on By Sunlight, check out their website http://www.bysunlight.com/.

Bartender Andrew Calisterio on why Sacramento should be proud to be a “cow town”

Words by Anthony Giannotti

Sacramento has been labeled by many in larger metropolitan areas in California as a “cow town.” While this may or may not be true on many levels, the fact that we are surrounded by some of the best and richest farmland in the country is undeniable. Andrew Calisterio, bartender at Grange Restaurant and Bar, thinks we should embrace this “cow town” label.

“I grew up in rural Elk Grove before the whole tract home thing,” he says. “We had cows in my back yard. My family always had a garden and fresh food. Farm to table has always been a part of my life.” Growing up with a garden has definitely helped him know exactly what to do with the amazing produce we have around here. Calisterio continues, “We have tons of fresh ingredients. Look at all the citrus here. Don’t just put it on the side of the glass to make it look pretty, put booze in it and shake it up!”

Not only has Calisterio devoted his life to Sacramento and the fine local produce, but he is a big advocate of knowing what to do with it. He is one of the founding members of the Sacramento chapter of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild–a national organization “of beverage service professionals dedicated to the continued refinement of [their] craft,” according to a mission statement on the USBG website. Calisterio makes no illusions of how important he thinks keeping up and furthering industry people’s knowledge is, “The education is what helps create and expand our creativity.”

It’s not just cocktails and shakers for Calisterio. He is also one of the key members in the resurrection of the Sacramento brewery Ruhstaller. “Ruhstaller was a brewery in Sacramento 130 years ago, started by Captain Frank Ruhstaller. I get to sell a really good beer to people in the industry, my friends.”

I got to catch up with the local advocate over a glass of whiskey, which of course he blended, to talk more about Sacramento and cocktails.

How did you start bartending?
I started this whole thing with coffee. I really enjoyed making things. I was 16 working at Starbucks. I liked making the things they had set for us, but I always wanted to make something different, something special. The guests wanted the same thing every single day, and to me that was just insane. I would try to work something in that was around what they liked, but pulling them toward something new or different. Eventually I got picked up by Java City, worked my way up the ladder there and came to a point where I could do anything I wanted with coffee. I really wanted to get into spirits. I’ve always been a fan of nice food and cocktails and experiencing flavors. I pride myself on having a good palate.

How did you start at Grange?
I went in applying for a bartending position, and they looked at me like I was crazy because I had no experience. So I asked what was available and they let me be a bus boy. There was no bar-back program there, so I would go behind the bar every chance I could to help, polish glassware, anything I could do to get in. I’d ask way too many questions and bother Ryan Seng, interrupt his conversations with guests to find out what he was doing and how he made that drink. I basically declared myself a bar-back position. One day a bartender didn’t show up. Since I knew how to make all the drinks–I even had two of my own drinks on the menu, and I was familiar with our wine list–I finally got to start bartending.

Grange is known for its affiliation with the slow food movement. Do you try to incorporate any of those principles into your cocktails?
Absolutely. I grew up in rural Elk Grove on four acres. I was in FFA [Future Farmers of America] as a kid, which ended up being beneficial for me when applying at Grange because I had this agricultural background. I knew the farmers that the food at Grange was coming from. When it came to building my cocktails, I wanted to represent the local Sacramento area.

You recently won a couple of cocktail contests. Can you tell us about that?
The big one was put on by Hangar One Vodka. It was a California-wide cocktail competition. I was already familiar with the brand because it is a farm to bottle spirit–right up my alley. A rep came in to ask me to join the competition but said they weren’t stopping in Sacramento. They were going to be in different major cities around California–Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose. I was a little offended that they weren’t going to be representing the capital city of California, where so much of California’s produce and agriculture comes from. So I came up with my cocktail and started networking, using social media to let my friends and peers know what I was working on and trying to represent Sacramento.

You are one of the co-founders of the Sacramento Bartenders’ Guild. What is that and what do you guys do?
As bartenders, we go visit other bars or bartenders that we respect and like to see what they are doing and learn from them. It started as this kind of informal gathering and eventually some of us decided to get together and make it formal and official. We wanted the education of bartending to be brought forward. It’s $100 a year, and if you go to just a couple meetings, you’ve already gotten your money back in products and education. We have tastings and training with brands that share their products but also teach us about spirits and what the differences are and help us learn how to use them to our best ability. We are using our connections to gather and share brands and ideas with our coworkers in town. Bar owners and workers get a chance to meet, so whether someone is looking for a job or needs a bartender, it’s just a great way to communicate. All of us are career bartenders, not just some guy who pours shots. We are trying to raise the bar around Sacramento. We have a great cocktail scene here; we just want to always see more out of it and let it shine.

So you think it’s important for bartenders to have extra education, to be able to do more than just give a shot or a beer?
Well even with that, there is a proper shot and a beer pairing, it has value. Sometimes you don’t want a cocktail. Sometimes you just want a shot or a beer. Dickel is a whiskey brand that has become really popular as a shot. Someone decided that that was a good shot to pair with a beer. And the beers aren’t Budweiser anymore. North Coast Company Blue Star is the inexpensive beer on tap now. So the bar is being raised even for just a shot and a beer. Having a vast knowledge of spirits and cocktail ingredients helps you to attract more guests and give them that experience they are looking for when they go out to eat or have a drink. I love when someone comes in and says “Make me something.” My next question is what do you usually like? And I will try to avoid that.

You’re not just a cocktail guy. You are also involved with Ruhstaller Beer…
I was brought on early with this company. I am honored to be able to help with the resurrection of the old Sacramento brand… They asked me to help build the brand because they know I am a social guy. I lug around kegs and talk to people and help with sales. I’m doing the same thing I do every day, but on the other side of the bar. I’m getting the bartenders to try this beer, telling them how good it is and then they buy it for their bars. The company has grown a lot and I help when I can, mostly with social networking or helping pour at events.

Do you ever try to combine your knowledge of beer and cocktails to make a beer cocktail?
For beer week, we had a beer pairing dinner at Grange with some big names from Sacramento. I put together a cocktail that was in the fashion of a shot and a beer, with a twist. I took [Ruhstaller] 1881 and made syrup out of it and made an Old Fashioned using Woodford Reserve. I even used local Sacramento oranges in it. I served it with a shot of beer on the side to help represent the beer. Darell Corti [gourmand and co-owner of Corti Brothers] said it was the best aperitif he’d had in Sacramento. I was so happy, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was a great boost.

What’s involved in a great cocktail?
Balance, first and foremost. I try to balance where the flavors hit on your palate. I generally start with a great spirit or an end result flavor. Or I try to pick out flavors that will work well in the cocktail and pair with the food. Sometimes it’s hard when I really like a certain spirit that has so much great flavor on its own because I’d rather just drink it neat.

Midtown Cocktail Week is coming up. What sort of blowout is Grange doing this year?
Blowout is a good word. Last year was such a success that it was too busy to accommodate everyone in the hall. So this year we will be using the dining room. Grange’s dinner service will come to a screeching halt and be replaced with amazing cocktails and appetizers. The band The Silent Comedy will play. The theme this year is Sacramento, so a little politically driven. At Grange, we are doing the anti-prohibition act. We want people to come out and vote for the cocktails. We are also going to have hometown hero Jayson Wilde come back and guest bartend the event.

Is there anything you’d like to see out of the Sacramento food and cocktail scene?
Sacramento has had a lot of successful people start here and make names for themselves, but they always end up leaving. It’s great when they come back around and visit, but Sacramento needs some talent to stick around. If Sacramento is going to grow or be more successful, we need these people to stay and be a part of this city. I would like to see some of the people from Sacramento that have been successful elsewhere be successful in Sacramento. I enjoy other cities and traveling, but this is my home. I have a lot of friends and inspiration here. We are the capital city in the largest state.

Midtown Cocktail Week will take place at various venues from Aug. 19 through 26, 2012. See what Andrew Calisterio comes up with at the “Repeal Prohibition – High Styled 1920’s Political Rally” event at Grange on Aug. 24, 2012. The event will run from 5 p.m. to midnight. To keep track of other Cocktail Week happenings, go to http://midtowncocktailweek.org/.

Submerge has never been so excited to hang out on Del Paso Boulevard. In the past two weeks we’ve experienced some of the best new recurring events our city has to offer on a street often shunned by Sacramentans. First was the REEL Bike-In Theater kick-off at The Greens Hotel (1700 Del Paso Boulevard) on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 where the classic film Raiders of the Lost Ark played on a giant outdoor screen to what Submerge estimates was 75 to 100 fun-loving attendees sprawled out on blankets and lawn chairs. There were pop-up shops from rad local vendors like Toro Quality Goods, food trucks like Wicked Wich and Heavenly Dog slangin’ grub, tunes played by 7evin, a beer garden serving Ruhstaller, cute dogs running around and the occasional “Woo!” or “Fuck yeah!” yelled after Indiana Jones cleverly defeated another enemy. This is, after all, a 21-and-over event. No screaming children! Just drunk screaming adults! It was glorious. “I think I saw about 20 people actually ride their bikes too,” said Matt Chong, one of the organizers of REEL. Full disclosure, Submerge drove (hey, it was hot that day) but next time we’ll be pedaling our butts over there. There are five more installments of REEL planned through October: Aug. 16 is Dogtown & Z-Boys; Sept. 6 catch Best in Show; Sept. 20 watch Waste Land; Oct. 4 Snatch will be airing; and the final REEL is on Oct. 18 when Exit Through the Gift Shop will play. Chong said he likes Del Paso Boulevard as a location for events like this, stating he thinks they “can make a nice little ecosystem here and let things grow organically.” Learn more about REEL at http://www.facebook.com/REELbikeintheater.

Just days after our REEL experience on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 we made it to our first GOOD: Street Food + Design Market after hearing everyone rave about it for weeks. GOOD has been going on every first Sunday for a couple months now, so they’ve really got things dialed in at their warehouse space located at 1409 Del Paso Boulevard. Put on by Unseen Heroes and Del Paso Boulevard Partnership, GOOD features innovative and artisan food and goods from local farms, vendors, jewelry makers, artists, etc. The guys from Phono Select were spinning some jams, Gypsy Mobile Boutique had pulled their truck into the warehouse, food trucks were out back in the lot, wine and beer was flowing everywhere; we instantly felt right at home. By the time we left we had in our hands fresh fettuccine made that morning from Pasta Dave, a basket of organic heirloom tomatoes and a grip of fresh basil from Feeding Crane Farms, a cute wooden buckle bracelet from JUST and a small container of pickled veggies from Edible Sacramento’s self-pickling station! It was seriously a blast and we cannot wait to have another GOOD Sunday on Sept. 2, 2012. GOOD is scheduled for every first Sunday through November, so mark your calendars and bring your family and friends along. It’s just $3 for adults, kids 17 and under are free. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/GOODstreetfooddesignmarket

Sacramento’s Top Bartenders Talk Brews and Booze

Words by Submerge Staff

We probably don’t have to tell you that Sacramento has many talented bartenders. If you’ve ever sipped on a concoction from the masterminds at places like Shady Lady Saloon, The Red Rabbit, Grange or a number of other joints around town, you know what we’re talking about. Much like the musicians and artists we regularly feature in the pages of Submerge, Sacramento’s best bartenders have an extraordinary amount of passion for their craft and a ton of talent. With the fifth annual Midtown Cocktail Week happening from Aug. 19 through 26, 2012, Submerge decided to catch up with some of our region’s finest mixologists so that you, our valued readers, can learn a little bit about the folks that mix, muddle, shake, stir, garnish and serve your drinks.

Midtown Cocktail Week’s theme this year is “A Spirited Debate” (get it, it’s an election year!), so all of the host venues have come up with “political party” names like the Free Thinkers (Ink Eats and Drinks), Forza Italia (Hot Italian), the Kennedy Conspiracy (Blackbird Kitchen and Bar) and the American Bourbon Drinkers Union (Golden Bear). On Tuesday, Aug. 21 2012 catch these bartenders, as well as a number of others not featured here, represent their respective political parties at the “Super Tuesday” Bartenders Cocktail Competition at Shady Lady. Or, just stop in and say hello to them on any given night and see them in their zone, we’re sure they’d be happy to make you a drink. And hey, at least now you’ll know what they prefer after a long shift so you can buy them a round!

Christopher Sinclair

Representing The Red Rabbit {AKA RR Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
In October, I will have been behind the stick for a decade.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
I work behind the bar at The Red Rabbit Thursday through Monday nights and co-own Coley’s Flask and Co., a cocktail company specializing in private events and cocktail and bar consulting.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
I’ve got to be honest, I love a crappy beer and a shot of whiskey, or tequila. Honestly Oly [Olympia], PBR or preferably Miller Low-Life makes me feel so much better. I’ve read a ton of responses to bartenders all over the country who have admitted to liking crappy beer like I do that have been super negative and degrading–this sucks. Honestly at the end of a long shift, nine times out of 10, I’m too tired to want to think about the flavor of anything I’m drinking. Of course I geek out and love complex and fascinating wine, beer or other. All I’m saying is at that time I just want cold, refreshing booze.

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
It really depends. I have been to a great many bars I have loved and honestly never wanted to leave (despite the bartenders ushering movements). Ranstead Room in Philadelphia is unbelievably cool. It is so sexy and chill in there that just thinking about it now kind of makes me tingle. If you come to my bar on any given night and tell me to surprise you, you will most likely find me giving you the drink that they served up to me. Rickhouse in San Francisco has got to be the bar I’ve been to the most to celebrate anything, for any reason. I have such a great time there every time. Not to mention a ton of Sacramento bartenders have worked behind that bar. The thing that really makes a good bar, though, are the bartenders, not the bar itself. The bar is just a frame, the bartender and the service they provide are the painting. I have been to bars with peanuts on the floor and bars where a well drink costs damn near as much as a car payment, but the only thing that really mattered was the fun time I had. It is because of this that my all time favorite bar has to be The Rabbit. I know, I know. Shameless self promotion and all, but really, the bar staff there not only is super knowledgeable and can whip up a drink made with anything from Sriracha to twinkies or gin. But we all love what we do. We love coming to work and love making people smile.

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
The Daiquiri, classically speaking. It’s a super simple drink, really easy to make with only three ingredients (rum, lime, sugar. No, not whipped cream), and it’s so incredibly tasty. There are so many ways it has been maligned over the years, but the original Cuban drink has to be one of my all time favorites. Its foundation is present in many other popular drinks like the Mojito, Caipirinha, Old Cuban and so many more. It’s such a versatile drink and is so solid at its core that it can play well with almost anything you throw at it. My hope is that my skills are fundamentally sound, while still playful with variables, like this drink.

Photo by Nicholas Wray

Patrick O’Neil

Representing Blackbird {AKA The Kennedy Conspiracy Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
I started tending bar full-time back in 2008. I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 15 years old. I started off as a busser at a brewery In Southern California where I’m from. Then worked my way to the bar as a bar back by the time I was 18. Something about being behind the bar was exciting to me. I would always try and pour beers and make cocktails even though I was not of age, so I just had to be sly about it. If you got a drink from me back then it was probably an eight count as opposed to the standard four.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
I currently reside at Blackbird Kitchen and Bar. We opened at the beginning of April. I had met Carina Lampkin (chef/owner) a couple times in the months before. I knew that I wanted to come work for her. The name alone sucked me in. So I bugged her for a while and she finally gave me the job. The Blackbird flock is quite a mixed bag of talent. It’s awesome to be able to come to work every day and just get inspired by what Kevin [O’Connor, Chef de Cuisine] and Carina are doing in the kitchen with our food, and it fires me up to create cocktails that are up to the standards of our food, which is very fuckin’ high.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
I’ll usually walk down the street to Henry’s and order a Bud Light and a shot of Fernet. Which usually leads to more and more of that. The Fernet shots Matt pours over there are huge man. But it’s the perfect cure for busting your ass all night, and if you know you put everything you had into service that night, it’s damn rewarding. After that it’s home to play with the dog.

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
My favorite bar has to be The Continental Room in Fullerton, Calif., my hometown. It’s the oldest bar in that city. It’s dark as hell, smells like an old stogie that was lit up probably 40 years ago is still lingering. The booths have the old school button you push that lights up a bulb above your booth to let your server know you’re ready for another. I know I’ve probably pissed a few of them off after a night with my good friend Jameson. Every Wednesday they have an Elvis impersonator who does like three sets a night. And of course the drinks are awesome. They don’t do much as far as modern cocktails, which is what makes it even that much more special. I love when people just do what they want and believe in and if you don’t like it, that’s your problem dude. That “we ain’t changin’ for no one” attitude is what it’s all about. It’s like when you write music. You write what you want to hear, or at least I do. You have to believe in what you do. It might not be for everyone but it will mean everything to some. So many great bars here in Sac also. I’m grateful for all the spots I’ve tended and a huge shout to the guys over at Shady, Jason [Boggs], Alex [Origoni] and Garret [Van Vleck], those guys have been my boys for a long time and working there was what lit the fire for me to want to step up my game.

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
A cocktail I made recently called the “William Tell.” Maker’s Mark, Antica Carpano, Cherry Heerings, Luxardo and orange juice. I was taking light rail to work on a Monday, we are closed on Mondays, so I like to come in and workshop some drinks and see what happens. But I was listening to the Brand New song “You Won’t Know,” and there are some references to William Tell in that song. Got to work and started playing around and all of the sudden I had this cocktail. I was happy with everything in it. Then I threw a slice of green apple over a rock cube and threw a cherry on top of it and there it was in front of me. And the name sealed it. I love when you can take something so simple as a song and use that inspiration to make a cocktail. There is nothing better than a drink that has a story behind it. Guests love to hear that stuff and I love to tell it. Pun intended. William Tell has his legend and I am glad I can pay it my respect.

Jocelyn McGregor

Representing Ink Eats & Drinks {AKA Free Thinkers Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
I’ve been bartending a little over three years.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
I’m pouring, shaking and stirring at Ink Eats and Drinks in Midtown, but if you adventurous, I also run the Lamplighter Bar out at Burning Man.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
It’s usually a shot of Jameson and a PBR. But if it’s a particularly long and trying day, it just may require a double Jameson and ginger or quite possibly multiple shots of Fireball. Since Ink is open until 4 a.m., there’s always a chance that you may just catch me (and the sturdier members of my late night crew) for first call and Irish Coffee at Zebra Club!

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
Although I do enjoy a fancy cocktail, something infused and topped with an exotic foam, my favorite bar is a dive bar. If you ever have a chance, I suggest you stop in at Buckshot in San Francisco. Each wall is an eclectic mix of Bob Ross paintings, skateboards, Kiss dolls and various taxidermied critters. You can get beer in a can, play an assortment of bar games and don’t forget to try their “Chicken Fried Bacon” with maple syrup on the side. Once again, if you’re ever out at Burning Man, I do suggest finding the 7 Sins Bar or the Party Naked bar. No details, you’ll have to experience those first hand.

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
At a base level, I’m a total nerd. I love science and I love to cook, bake and get creative with it. Any time I can combine that with cocktails I’m a happy camper. I’m constantly trying to create new cocktails with homemade syrups, preserves, purees and anything else I can get my hands on. Bacon? Tea? Yep, I’ll put that in a cocktail! I never know quite how they’ll work out, but I never have a lack of people willing to try them. Cocktails are one big, involved science project for me. Sometimes they’re a first place winner, sometimes they totally suck. But I like to play “I win” so I’m always back at the drawing board.

Brad Peters

Representing Centro {AKA Mezcalistas Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
Six years.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
Centro Cocina Mexicana, Shady Lady Saloon and Pour House.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
Honestly, a pillow. If I am going to have a drink it’ll most likely be a beer.

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
Great question, I would have to give a top 5 in no particular order: Clyde Common (Portland, Ore.), Rob Roy (Seattle), Noble Experiment (San Diego), 15 Romolo (San Francisco), The Patterson House (Nashville, Tenn.).

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
Manhattan. Simple, classic, straightforward.

Ryan Seng

Representing Grange Restaurant & Bar {AKA Barrel Dandy Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
I started tending bar full-time about seven years ago. Before that I was serving, bussing, line cooking and dishwashing.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
Just at Grange, on top of my art career. I did the painting at Shady Lady, and being a father of three, one job is enough. I opened Shady, but too many gigs is not fun.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
After work drink is what is in the cabinet above my refrigerator. I just finished off a Glenfiddich 18 that I was mixing with Galliano’s vintage recipe and Angostura. Those were good. Wine and gin and tonics are also grand!

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
Bourbon & Branch, Rickhouse, Comstock Saloon, Shady Lady, but the place that really started it for me was the Flatiron Lounge in New York, back in 2003 or so.

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
Currently I guess the “No Pimm’s Pimm’s Cup” or the “London Style California Gin Flight,” both on our Olympic happy hour. I like drinks that are color smart, playful, thoughtful.

Amy Battaglia

Representing Golden Bear {AKA American Bourbon Drinkers Union Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
Well, I’ve tended bar on and off for a few years, but never at a place that had embraced the classic cocktail until The Golden Bear. I’ve learned so much in the last year from working with people like Chris Tucker and Tyler Williams that, in a way, I can say I’ve been bartending for years.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
The Golden Bear!

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
A long shift definitely ends with a shot of Jameson. After that, it all depends on my mood.

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
That’s a tough question! I really like Heaven’s Dog in San Francisco. They’ve got a great cocktail program and walls adorned with rad paintings of pit bulls.

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
The Bond Girl. Dewar’s White label, Campari, Peychaud’s bitters, vanilla bean simple syrup and grapefruit juice. While not everyone wants to get down with a peat monster served neat, I hate hearing the phrase, “I don’t like scotch.” Scotches can be so complex, and thus rewarding to mix with, and the vanilla/citrus combo in the Bond Girl mellows the smokiness into something everyone can dig.

Ian Beightler

Representing Hot Italian {AKA Forza Italia Party}

How long have you been tending bar?
I’ve been bartending for roughly five years and I love it! I’m always learning new things and meeting interesting people. I’ve spent some time in Tahoe as well as Sacramento learning the trade and always like the change of scenery to introduce you to new spirits, pun intended.

Where can people currently find you serving up drinks?
I currently make magic behind the bar at Hot Italian. We have an elite team of personalities and wonderful people. They are definitely my second family.

After a long shift…shot, beer, cocktail? All of the above?
After a long shift I like to settle into a pint of my current obsession. However, depending on the company and atmosphere shots and cocktails are not far from my thoughts. If I’m taking shots it’s usually whiskey and if I’m drinking cocktails I’ll let the bar menu decide. I’m up for trying new things; however, when I’m out I also stick to what I know and drink the classics.

Favorite bar you’ve ever been to?
Asking me what my favorite bar is would be like asking me to choose my favorite movie, impossible to pick just one. I like to enjoy different environments whether it be a classy joint or a run down dive bar, I’ve seen it all. I’m really enjoying what Sacramento has to offer as far as creative cocktails, compelling atmosphere and style. When I think favorite bars I’m immediately drawn to alluring cocktails. But scenery in and out play a big part, I like to feel relaxed and as though I’m on vacation at my “favorite bar.”

What drink do you make that best describes your style?
I created a custom cocktail that infuses cucumbers and jalapeños in a refreshing yet spicy cocktail. I call it “Between the Sheets,” because it’s hot. It’s an off menu cocktail. I bring classic ingredients together with wild card spirits to form a perfect combination and taste that you would otherwise disregard.

Submerge Facebook friends chime in on their favorite cocktails

We have a ton of input on cocktails and booze from Sacramento bartenders in this issue, so we figured we should ask our friends on Facebook what their favorite cocktails in town were and where they get them. You have a voice too, after all, and apparently a lot of you love Shady Lady. Here are some of your responses!

Adrienne Cheng says, “Hibiscus margarita from Tres Hermanas, just be careful, Jared has heavy hands.”

Breanna Giannotti says her fave is “the basil gimlet at Shady Lady.”

Jimmy Bell agrees with Giannotti on locale: “The Missy Bell at the Shady. Our favorite breakfast drink.”

Noel Matthew DeWitt says, “Vodka soda and Jameson shot, Press Club! I love that place.”

Phil McNeill says, “Ball and a Bat at Clark’s Corner, it’s a 24oz Pabst and a shot of well whiskey for six bucks, can’t go wrong!”

He later chimed in again with, “For a frou-frou drink, go get the Sex Kitten at Hideaway, I’m not into them kinda drinks, but that one sets the standard.”

Jennafer Phillips says she is all about the “Zombie Brains shooter from Powerhouse Pub on a Wednesday night!”

Anne Laccopucci and Chris and Marita Hambek all agree on “the Bloody Mary at 33rd Street Bistro.”

Joseph Davancens thinks “If specialty is the real question, Horses Neck at Shady. The tenders know how to respectfully pour whiskey.”

Apparently Anthony Lee Pellerin is on the same page as Davencens because his response was simply, “Old Fashioned at Shady Lady!”

And last but not least, Jarrod Affonso digs the “Blackberry Crush from Dive Bar.”

Major props to local punk-rock promoter and Bastards of Young bassist Sean Hills for putting together Punch and Pie Fest. With zero sponsor dollars the dude booked a week straight of amazing punk-rock shows from Aug. 15 through 20, 2012 (with the pre-party happening on Aug. 14). Catch touring bands like the Hot Water Music-esque Red City Radio from Oklahoma City or Continental from Granite City, Mass., which features Rick Barton from Dropkick Murphys. Also of course there will be tons of local faves like the aforementioned Bastards of Young, Kill the Precedent, The Secretions, City of Vain and others. There are more than two-dozen bands in all, and the shows go down at either Press Club or Luigi’s. Get out and support your local punk scene! To view the entire schedule, visit http://www.facebook.com/PunchAndPieProductions.