Mikey LP and I stumbled into each other sitting on the grass at First Festival, waiting to watch The Moans kick off their set. A stocky, well-spoken man, we get to chit chatting about the awesome day we both have had so far and music in general, Out of the blue, he whips out a copy of his new album, Under the Overpass and hands it to me. Recorded at Red Light Recording in Salt Lake City, as Mikey put it, whenever he had the time to do it, it features Mikey doing a most of the musicianship on this venture. He is backed up on select tracks by Kris Frankon on drums, Owen Smith on saxophone, Jeremiah Jacobs on piano, Chris Jansen on bass, and Dino Vidovich on additional lead guitars.
The front cover is very true to its name, featuring one of the many concrete overpasses that adorn the landscape of Sacramento. It gives you a familiar feeling just looking at it, but also draws you in with its simplicity. Soon enough, The Moans kicked their set off and we were both transfixed as the sun set on that awesome night.
Later on, as I climbed in my car on the following dreary Monday morning to go to work, I popped the album in to give it a good listen. Because, lets face it, where else do you get to really listen to music, other than your car?
Well, sleep still weighing heavy on my eyes, the album bloomed into my ears slowly, in the sense that my brain had its cobwebs shaken loose. The alternative rock feel was chipping away at my semi-consciousness. By the time I got to the 3rd track, "Can We Dispense with the Pleasantries?", I was really hearing what was going on musically. This upbeat song gave off a very Hootie and the Blowfish and Dave Matthews vibe, which lent itself great to Mikey's higher range. It was delicate, but catchy. It was followed up by "Gone Too Far", which featured some solid acoustic playing by Mikey and very good back-up vocals that gave this track a very Peter Gabriel feel to it, with its airy acoustic melodies. Right after this came "Cradle This Guitar". This is the track where Mikey's voice really takes off. Backed up by the full list of musicians I mentioned, it gives off a solid, alt-rock building action that got me hooked from the first note. It was like you turned all of Dave Matthew's Band up to 10, threw in an organ, and made Chris Cornell sing lead. The whole track just oozed soul and you can't help but feel Mikey's love for his music on this one.
The album continues to keep you interested by weaving its way through all sorts of alternative rock influences, bringing the rock back to the forefront with "Slip Away (Sunet)", which brings some good, old-fashioned crunch to the mix, but still keeps a driving, catchy melody that makes you want to sing along and tap your steering wheel. The album leads on to "Passing Time", which really brings out Owen's sax playing, along with Mikey's acoustic. It really shows off the Peter Gabriel and Hootie and the Blowfish vibe again, but doesn't hold back from before.
The final track, "High in the Desert of a Thousand Suns", brings everyone involved on this album together for a thunderous goodbye that rounds the album out perfectly,
This album did more for me that morning than any cup of coffee could have. I was humming along to it all day, and I have already added it to my car rotation of CD's. I would heartily recommend you do the same.
Also, Mikey LP has put together a 10-piece version of The Krooks for the last night of Sacramento's Concert in the Park series on July 21st, so be sure to check them out at this awesome free event at Cesar Chavez Park.
More importantly, this album is an obvious labor of love for Mikey, and it shows in its musical quality. Seeing this stuff played live will not be a show to miss, that's for sure.
Also be sure to check out his Souncloud here, for plenty of extra music, too!
A place for me to write words and talk about anything exciting in the Sacramento area.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
First Festival: Weekend Warrior Challenge
Weekends are
often treasured leisure time for some of us. Time for us to catch up on the
things we missed, forgot, or flat out neglected. Time for us to collect
ourselves just enough to take on another Monday through Friday slog. Well, the
attendees, volunteers, vendors, and musicians who all took part in this past weekend’s
3rd annual First Festival all had a different plan. Their plan was
to put on and support the premier inaugural festival in Sacramento for the summertime
music festival season and make it an experience to remember.
Well, this
writer got the on the ground experience of both days of First Festival. Many others
did as well, earning their red Weekend Warrior wristbands and wearing them with
pride. Upon arriving at Riverfront Park on May 6th, I immediately determined
I should try and earn my own Weekend Warrior title. Whatever that may mean. I’m
still trying to figure it out.
More
importantly, I had been checking out the various mix CDs, videos, and line-ups
in the days leading up this, so I was already super excited to just be there.
From the first moment I stepped foot into that park, I was transfixed by the
sheer variety of what was available. A huge variety of food and craft vendors
were splayed out all over the expansive park. I took one look again at the
line-up for the next 2 days, and was blown away.
Was it
always this big? What in the name of God am I supposed to do to see them all?
Lacking
hypersonic flight or a time machine, I was forced to make the realization I
should have made in the first place.
Roll with it.
Like a
mantra in the back of my mind, this was my core operating function as I dove
headfirst into First Festival, chronicling everything I saw. What follows is
said chronicle, presented in the highest quality list format:
Saturday,
May 6th
12:05 pm:
Arrival with Christian Winger, of Humble Wolf, expedited by coffee and
radically convenient parking.
12:07 pm:
Race To The Bottom hit The Docks stage, the first act of the day. This didn’t
deter them from bringing their hard rocking energy to all who were there to see
them. Lead vocalist, Art Barrera blasts you back with his soaring vocals, while
effects-driven guitar wizard Joe Whitworth throws rich musical layers of rock
across his vibrant and crisp guitar sound. Backed up more by bassist Jim Peoples
and drummer Sean O’Leary, they bring the thunder in a very Audioslave and
Queens of the Stone Age style that is uniquely their own. Their original “Destiny”
mimics this sound very well, and their cover of “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus
shows their musical ability in a very headbanging, crowd pleasing way.
1:02 pm:
Beer. Specifically, the Race To The Bottom IPA, provided by Oak Park Brewery in
conjunction with the band themselves. Very hoppy. Not too heavy. Yes, please.
1:10 pm:
Venture over to The Porch stage, near the legendary Ziggurat building. A smaller
stage nestled in its own nook, there is ample table seating, and even a dance
floor set up. As I walk up the stairs, local emcee KaiLord is laying it down.
His beats are richly layered and super chill, but his flow is sharp and his lyrics
drip with a story drawn from real life. The Ziggurat looms large in the sky as
I bob my head, beer in hand. Off to the left stands the Tower Bridge, glowing
bright in the emerging sunlight.
1:30 pm:
Make my way down through the various food, beer, craft vendors to the other end
of the park where The Factory stage is nestled. Meeting up with Jayson Angove,
himself a First Festival performer today, we watch three piece band, CaliforniaRiot Act as they rock the house with their high energy hard rock. It sounds
like punk rock at first, but then it changes in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Fronted by guitarist and singer, Ben Herte, I am getting a weird hybrid of
Soundgarden and Dead Kennedys as their source of their sound. Backed by Travis
Houston on bass, and Nate Fadelli on drums, California Riot Act brought the
power with their hard edge, fast rock. The rusty, graffiti smeared I Street
bridge in the background really helped cement the aesthetic for their set,
complete with poorly timed horns from passing trains. They roll with it,
though, and finish out their set with a hard-edged cover of “Have a Cigar”, by
Pink Floyd, that hit me and Jayson right in the chest. Awesome set.
2:21 pm: Got
a Tri-Tip Sandwich from Cowabunga BBQ and sat on the grass with Christian. I
inhale it. Delicious.
2:23 pm:
Continue to sit on the grass, possible food coma setting in. In my oncoming
lethargy, though, I note the scenery around me for the first time. The vendors
and infrastructure are all super well organized. People of all ages are
wandering around, having a great time. The looming downtown skyline off in the
distance, with the Delta King and Old Sac in the foreground, provides an
excellent backdrop for the day’s festivities.
2:25 pm:
Rise from grass. Secure another delicious Race To The Bottom IPA. Just as good as I
remembered it.
3:05 pm: I
am back at The Porch, ready to check out Jayson Angove play his solo acoustic
set. Playing songs off his latest album, “Queen of the Beginning and the
Magnificent End”, he brought his own brand of minimalism to the stage that was
different than what I had seen so far today. It was just him, his guitar, and
an array of awesome effects. To fill out his songs, he used a looper, and built
the beats and melody of each song himself. He also utilized a brand of
distortion that, as he put it, turned his acoustic into the angriest acoustic
guitar you’ve ever seen. Very mellow, and very well put together set of his own
original stuff, plus a melodica-driven version of the delightful “Cantina Theme”
from Star Wars. It was just the departure from the day the crowd and I were
looking for.
3:50 pm:
Stop by the Burly Beverages soda bar and get the best Orange Soda I have had in
recent memory. Perfect on a warming afternoon like this one.
4:00 pm:
Wander down the walkway, glancing at the trees and taking in the changing
scenery a the un begins to set. The CALTSTRS building towers over us, like an evil
supervillain’s headquarters. I point this out to Christian. He seems
unsurprised. Must investigate further.
4:05 pm:
Look out across the river, checking out the buildings of Old Sac. Make awkward
eye contact with a guy fishing on the other side. We both wave, and all seems
right with the world.
4:25 pm: I
find my way back to The Porch as OneLegChuck and The Hustlers take the stage.
With chuck seated right up front on guitar, he is backed by a solid grip of
musicians as they take you through a whole array of original material.
Everything from reggae, to rock, to country, and even a little bit of the blues
is covered. Definitely a sight to see, and quite the gathering of people did a
The Porch was full, yet again. Everyone had a smile on their face, as they took
you through their set, and they didn’t let down.
5:05 pm: Load up with a witbier from the beer
garden near The Docks stage. Crisp and refreshing, as it should be. Yay, verily.
5:10 pm:
Drop Dead Red, First Festival veterans, take the main stage. Fronted by Carly
DuHain on vocals and guitar, they launch into a raucous set that screams of power
form a bygone era. With Stephen Hendry and Gabriel Aiello on guitar, Joe Castro
on bass, and Coday Anthony on drums, they drilled the audience with hard-edged,
old-fashioned rock that complimented Carly’s powerful vocals very well. It was
like Janis Joplin was fronting Led Zeppelin. At one point, during a break
between songs, Carly simply exclaims, “It’s way too hot up here!”. Then whips
off the wig she was wearing like it was nothing. The crowd went ballistic with
well-deserved cheers as Carly outlined her baldness as a side effect of lupus
from a young age. This didn’t stop the band though, as they kicked it back into
overdrive from there on out. I mean, I was literally getting blown back from
the sheer force of their sound. As they exited the stage at the end of their
set, Carly got all sorts of love from the crowd as she gathered her things. It
was truly an incredible sight and spoke volumes about the crowd and their love
for this band.
6:05 pm: I
make my way down to the Factory Stage, yet again, but I notice that splayed out
under a tree are a bunch of individual painters, just painting away. All sorts
of stuff getting made, and all sorts of fun vibes permeating the air around me.
6:15 pm: I
have made it to the stage right as Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers take the
stage. Hobo Johnson’s stage presence is the first thing I notice as he launches
into “Romeo and Juliet”, and original that speaks of lost and past loves. He
has a toothy, awkward grin on as he flows relentlessly through his set. It
draws you in as his heartfelt storytelling lend itself to the perfect
combination of interest and endearment. If that makes sense. Either way, I was
grooving right along with the rest of the expansive crowd. Soon enough, he took
a seat behind the piano and was joined by his eponymous backing band. With the
whole picture now complete, his set finished in a full bash that helped amplify
the energy he was already bringing on his own. Very creative, very well put
together.
7:00 pm: I
wander over to the sound of heavy duty guitar emanating from the main stage. I
am catching the latter half of ONOFF’s set. A three-piece rock outfit, they are
giving off a sound that sounds like the combined fury of The Offspring,
Metallica, and Volbeat. With Paulie on vocals and guitar, their heavy hitting
brand of rock is punctuated by his soaring vocal prowess. With David Hurrell on
bass and Stevie 10 Bears on drums, these guys preside over a roiling crowd,
complete with mosh pit, even! Very thunderous and very well put together.
7:25 pm: One
more witbier. Because why not.
7:45 pm:
Some Fear None emerge on The Docks stage, bathed in multicolor light as the sun
has now disappeared. This slamming four-piece dominate the stage with their heavy
duty hard-rock/metal sound that can’t help but just get you pumped. With Randy Highsmith on vocals, Gina Salatino
on bass, Chuck Carrasco on guitar, and Jason Weisker on drums, they set out to
bring as much energy out with them as their music will allow. Gina is jumping
around like a fiend. Chuck is blasting away on 7 and 8 string guitars
throughout the set. Randy is screaming like he’s soaring on a cloud. And Jason’s
kit is giving me heart palpitations. It’s all gravy. Their original song “Monster”
also serves to show the variety they can pick through as a band, delivering a song
that sounds like the perfect fusion of Black Sabbath and modern metal. As their
set ends, a more heartwarming image emerges. Gina hangs out on stage and gives
out autographs, many of which go to energetic little girls and other young
women in the audience. Inspiration is a hell of a thing, and a rare right to
see. I am thankful.
8:49 pm:
Darkness has fully set in. The lights on the Delta King are set against the
inky sky, while the far off downtown buildings glow under their own individual
lighting array. The Tower Bridge glows bright, while I St Bridge does not. Oddly
fitting, but still cool.
9:00 pm: The
headliners. Oleander. The big time. This hard rock outfit is a staple act among
rock bands who had their start in Mid-90s and into the early 2000s. Oleander
was a radio mainstay when I was a young and growing musician/music fan. Fronted
by Thomas Flowers on vocals, they kick into their set with the same kind of
punch they have had from the outset. With Doug Eldridge on bass, Ric Ivanisevich on guitar, Steve Brown on drums, and Art Padilla (of Hero's Last Mission fame)
filling in on guitar for Rich Mouser, Oleander meandered through their set full
of heavy hitting, richly layered rock tunes. Soon enough, the staff of First
Festival introduced some inflatable emoji balls into the crowd, the king among
them a giant winking emoji. Needless to say, they wound up rolling across all
parts of the energetic crowd tuning in and rocking out to Oleander’s fury.
Rolling through their hits “Are You There?”, “Why I’m Here”, and “I Walk Alone”,
I’m thrown back to the times I would hear them come cross the radio in my dad’s
truck or in the garage. It’s a wonderful time warp, really. As if by divine
providence, fireworks erupt from behind the Ziggurat building, glowing in the
night. It was really all I could do to not stand there, mouth agape at this amazing
turn of events. But I did anyway. With the same beauty and fury they began
with, Oleander put the end cap on a fabulous night of music in the most perfect
way possible.
11:30pm: Arrive back at home. Collapse into my bed. My ears still ringing, like some badge of glory.
11:30pm: Arrive back at home. Collapse into my bed. My ears still ringing, like some badge of glory.
Sunday,
May 7th
12:05 pm:
Arrive. Make a bee line for the beer tent, in true festival fashion. Get a
Lagunitas IPA. All seems right with the world.
12:15 pm:
Make my way down the sunny sidewalk to The Factory stage where URD-OM is
blasting into their set to start the day off here. An eager crowd has gathered
to watch this band of youngsters wail on their instruments. For the record: I use
the term youngsters in a non-demeaning way. The level of musicianship
demonstrated by these kids is out of control. Alterntive/punk/rock/grunge/metal is what their Facebook page says, but these guys are metal as all get out, in this
writer’s opinion. Most importantly, URD-OM brings stage presence and energy
that is often lacking in bands with younger members. Be it stage fright, or
whatever. Not in this case. They are a hair flailing, growling, thumping
whirlwind that is a ton of fun to watch.
1:00 pm:
Order some Tot’Chos from Drewski’s. Tater-Tot Nachos. A whole pile of them. We
got tots, nacho cheese, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, jalapenos, something
called an ‘aioli’, and cilantro. One bite and the next thing I know they are
all gone. I can’t explain.
1:10 pm: At Both Ends hops up on The Docks stage and I am immediately interested. They are
all in suits, and there is a trumpet player. I am so in. They immediately kick
into a brand of Ska that is very reminiscent of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and
Reel Big Fish, with the guitars having a bit more of the musical forefront than
everything else. They are all over the place, and it’s quite the sight to
behold. The trumpet player is pin-wheeling his tie. The lead singer/guitarist
is practically flying around the stage, while the bass player also plays
trombone, somehow. It was dynamite, and I couldn’t help but laugh and cheer at
the same time.
2:00 pm:
Grab myself a Cream Ale from the beer stand and wander over to the River’s
edge, near The Factory Stage. Boats are ambling by, bumping their own tunes. I
sit in the dirt and enjoy my beer, the slight breeze playing with my now
sunburnt neck. It’s oddly refreshing. The I Street Bridge rotates out of the
way as a tourist laden boat comes on by, tooting its horn. I raise my glass out
of instinct. Nobody saw. Oh well.
2:40 pm: I
am back at The Factory stage as I Am Strikes takes the stage I am struck by the
dynamic I see. Kelly Rosenthal is a girl with tightly cropped, blonde hair,
backed by a drummer, who is just finishing smashing the crap out of his
cymbals. The song echoes and lingers, as she switches from guitar, to bass,
then back again. Molding her ambient, post-rock, alternative rock sound with
looper pedals and effects that I didn’t even know existed. I stand, oddly
transfixed by this full sounding band that only has 2 people in it. Eventually,
she hops on the keys and still delivers that full sound that she started with.
Color me impressed.
3:11 pm: Beer,
here and now. Hop Canyon this time. Super smooth, yet hoppy.
3:25 pm: I amble
up to The Porch, where Erica Ambrin & The Eclectic Soul Project are jamming
out on stage. Erica’s voice lends itself to an interesting blend of singer
songwriter delicateness, but has a soulful edge to it that is hard to pin down.
Backed up by Christopher Crimson on bass, Joshua Dale Krage on guitar, and
Keywan Ryland on drums, they jam out with a unique blend of reggae, soul, and
rock that is just infectious on its own. The dancing crowd was also a good
sign, and it was very clear they dug their vibe though the whole set. Perfect “kick
back in the sun” kind of music.
3:45 pm-4:25
pm: I lounge out on the grass, an ice cold water bottle in one hand, and a
blood orange soda blend from Burly Beverage in the other. I drink both of these
in the shade of CALSTRS as I count the boats go by. I only get to three, before
I am off again, rehydrated and ready to go.
4:30 pm: I
return to The Porch. I sense a theme here. Oh well. The real reason I’m here is
because of Skyler’s Pool. Not the one from Breaking Bad, but an actual band. I
post up on the fence in the shade and check them out. The first thing I get
from lead singer Kitty O’Neal is a Blondie-type vibe, which draws me in
immediately. With Kurt Spataro on guitar, Rob LoRusso on bass, Ben B. Harvey on
Drums, and Lori Sacco-Nelson on keys/synth, they give off a Fleetwood Mac/John
Mayer combo, and it makes for very pretty music. All the band members are also
backing vocals, which makes for a very harmonic, tight experience of their own
unique rock sound.
5:15 pm: As
I descend the stairs of The Porch, I hear some heavy-gauge shrieking coming
from the main stage and stumble into the middle of Standoff’s set. I’ll be
upfront and say it. Lead singer Charli Lockheart was what caught my attention
off the bat. Decked out in all black, with flipped over hair that was
reminiscent of The Cure, this guy was wailing away in a very Jack
White/Wolfmother way. Like he was trying to out-do all other singer like him.
And he was succeeding. Backed by Mitch Avery on keys, Julius Ceasar on lead
guitar, Dallas Winfield on bass, and Grey Janowski on drums, these dude threw
down their own blend of Black Keys and Black Sabbath-ish blues rock that was a sight
for sore eyes.
6:10 pm: I
have chugged another couple bottles of water as I plop down on the top of the
grass near The Factory stage, eagerly waiting for The Moans to take the stage.
With Matt Crap on lead vocals/bass, Danny Secretion on guitar/vocals, and Jeff
Reset on drums/vocals, they set out to melt your face and terrorize you with
horror-themed punk rock, that is nothing but a great time. To begin with, they
have a high energy blend of NOFX, Dead Kennedys, and The Ramones in their music
as a whole, which already has my attention as just good, solid, punk rock. Then
they launch into songs like “Graverobbers From Outer Space”, which serve to
underscore the horror aesthetic. Then, from out of nowhere, a man emerges
dressed as Mike Myers, complete with over-sized kitchen knife and starts “killing”
various members of the band. Then the audience. Its horrifying! Then, as the
set is trucking along, it’s a guy with a hockey mask doing the killing! GASP.
He soon disappears and a pizza delivery guy emerges, with a box of CD’s for
everyone who survived. This man? Ryan Reliable. Easily the most fun I had
watching a band. Holy smokes.
7:39 pm: Get
a Caesar Chicken Wrap from Drewski’s. Just as good as it sounds. 11/10 would
stuff in my face again.
7:45: DLRN
(pronounced like DeLorean) takes the main stage as the sun has set, at last. A
duo spearheaded by Sean Lamarr and Jon Reyes, they teamed up for this set with
PRVLGS (pronounced like Privileges) which is Zack Hake on keys, Melissa Garcia
on bass, and Omar Gonzalez-Barajas on drums. What unfolded in the flashing
green, red, and purple light was the most dynamic and effortless hip-hop shows
I have ever seen. The members of PRVLGS held it down while Sean and Jon
unfolded their whole repertoire of thumpin’ good time music. Hands were waving
all through the crowd and people were really enjoying themselves. They were also
joined by fellow rapper, Soosh*e, who helped them bring the house down as I just
sat back bobbing my head. I’m pretty sure I had a goofy grin on my face, but when
the bass makes your ribs tickle, you can’t help but smile some.
8:35 pm:
Make my way back to the car, cool night wind on my back, as if I am being
whisked back home in preparation for the return to everyday life. My ears still
ring as I cruise home. Worth it.
First
Festival this year was an experience I won’t soon forget. It was so well put together
and the entertainment was so top notch it was rather hard to leave. It was a
truly remarkable experience and I hope Sacramento has taken notes from them. Danielle
Vincent did a dynamite job organizing everything, and all the volunteers I
interacted with were super nice and helpful, too. It was amazing to see out
whole community come together and experience everything local for a whole
weekend like this. Weekend Warrior or not, at this point I just know I’m going
to do it again next year.
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