Vacaville’s Missing Scene
Part One: What It Was…
By Danny Bernardini & Charlie Hanks Being an alternative music magazine printed in Vacaville, it’s only fair that Fringe cover the Vacaville music scene. In this task came a daunting realization; the Vacaville scene is seriously lacking and not half of what it used to be. So, as the first music magazine out of Vacaville, we figured it was our duty to find out what happened to the scene and what we need to do to get it back. For those who weren’t here during the days that the Three Oaks Community Center in Vacaville was a packed house, it may be hard to believe there was a thriving music scene in Vacaville. Starting with smaller shows headlined by local legends Papa Roach, the venue was soon turned into a showcase for bands from all over the west coast attracting such acts as Incubus, Deftones and Alien Ant Farm. Supplementing the shows at Three Oaks were intimate gatherings in the rehearsal room at Live Music Center, then located on Alamo Dr. just across from the community center. Also mixed in were outdoor, all-day festival type shows at Pena Adobe Park between Vacaville and Fairfield. Combined with a couple small venues in Fairfield and backyard parties, Vacaville bands had ample all-age venues that were hosting monthly, if not weekly concerts. To fully grasp the feel of what it was like then, Fringe sat down with Malcontent to talk about the scene then, and what became of it. Logging more than 10 years playing in and out of their home town of Vacaville, the members of Malcontent all played in bands that shared the stage during that period. Playing in bands like EMB and Execution Style, the guys saw the scene from another perspective. “When there was the scene, you couldn’t go to a show in Sac or SF that was as good as here,” said Brice Mosher, former EMB front-man. “That was the pinnacle. That’s when all the local kids opened their eyes.” Having Papa Roach around created an anchor for local shows and an attraction for bands outside the area to come to Vacaville. Mosher said bands had a guaranteed 300- 500 people in the building, which also meant more merchandise sales. Drummer Matty Goss, who saw the scene at its highest while playing with Execution Style, said it started going downhill around 1998 and 1999 when Papa Roach was signed and left the area to record and tour. “I think it was when Papa Roach left,” Goss said. “The bands weren’t sticking together as much. Papa Roach was holding all the fans together. Everybody went to shows and everyone got along.” Guitarist Anthony Ferrentino also said there was a void left after P-Roach’s departure. “When P-Roach got signed, every band kind of turned for themselves,” he said. The tight knit Vacaville music scene family became every band for themselves. Goss said his band attracted the straight-edge and hardcore fans which didn’t exactly mesh with fans of EMB who were writing songs about “smoking weed and doing hallucinogenics.” The mixture of the two crowds soon led to some fights during community center shows and at times, Ferrentino said, were being policed by teenagers hired as security. “If you went to a show there in the past, there was always security,” he said. “However, when you have kids working security, you are asking for trouble.” The venues worked through the kinks and continued to do shows, but with a local promoter bouncing back and forth to Los Angeles and less commitment by the city, shows started to dwindle. Ferrentino recalled one instance in 2004 where a child was hurt and feels that was responsible for the cancellation of all-ages shows at the community center. “There was a mosh pit and this kid had been taking pills. He hurt his back and was laying on the floor,” he said. “Next thing you know we’re being waved off. The ambulance came and the show was over.” “And Three Oaks was over,” added Mosher. Shows were scarce after that. Continued Next Month: “What it currently is and What it could be…”
Die Trying
Back To Reclaim Their Hometown
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The lifespan of a band can be compared to the lifespan of a desert creature, say, a lizard for example. They are born into a familiar environment and grow and learn very quickly, if attacked, they have to fight off predators but if necessary, as a defense can lose their tail and grow it back within time. They can live for a few months to a few years, and large lizards can live past 10 years. Like most bands, Die Trying started as a tiny baby lizard. They hardly had to deal with the struggles of gaining notoriety. Through shows and network of fans and friends, it rapidly became one of the most popular bands in Sacramento. They were selling out local venues at only a few months old and before the band or anyone even realized it, were signed to Island Records, with a major record release, professional music video (featuring members of Hoobastank) and national tours. During the tours, rock and roll crammed what seemed like 20 years of experience into the band members in less than a year. It took its toll on the band and like a lizard losing it’s tail, they went their separate ways. Die Trying’s life-span seemed short and sweet, but was quickly rejuvenated.
After countless outside projects by the former band members, Die Trying have finally rekindled their fire and come together to take back what they claimed years ago. I could go on about it, but I’ll let Jack explainÉ
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Fringe: In the Sacramento scene it seems like everyone and their mother knows about the drama behind Die Trying - but can you sum it up for me in your own words?
Jack: For how fast we got into it, it overwhelmed us at first and it took time to get used to each others personalities, but now we all understand each other and Q and Joey give a better balance to the egos than the original group.
Fringe: When putting the band back together your old bass player Steve Avery decided to stick with his current project and not re-join Die Trying. You went through a few bass players, how did you find your current bass player, Q?
Jack: He worked at guitar center and everyone knows him as one of the best bass players in town.
Fringe: I was at your first show back at the boardwalk, the place was packed and everyone was really getting into the show as if you had never taken a break. How did it feel to get up there and have that kind of response from the crowd that you did?
Jack: It was refreshing. The band members have tried different projects that weren’t Die Trying and we missed that feeling because we couldn’t get that from any of the other projects that we tried.
Fringe: The band has gone through a lot, how is the band’s attitude now compared to the old Die Trying?
Jack: Much more understanding and productive.
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Fringe: You’re writing new songs I hear, so what’s the plan? Should I expect a new CD or EP soon?
Jack: We are taking applications for labels and management. At this current point of rock and roll limboÉ
Fringe: So will you be putting anything out?
Jack: No we won’t be releasing anything right now. We are looking for managementÉ
Fringe: On your myspace it says Die Trying (Sin City Angels), what is the Sin City Angels thing about?
Jack: It’s the new band name we will eventually start using with the new record.
Fringe: What are you looking forward to the most with Die Trying right now?
Jack: Playing out and getting our 2nd record recorded.
Fringe: Sacramento has loved you and hated you. What would you like to say to the Sacramento scene?
Jack: For all that love us, we love you too. For all that hate us, f– you too.
Find Die Trying online at myspace.com/dietryingsincityangels
Facing New York
 Photo: Lisa Huey |
The Bay Area’s Facing New York, is the kind of band that eclectic music lovers have been waiting for. Their sound is multi-layered yet concealed with a large array of instruments, Brandon Canchola on Bass and Vocals, Omar Cuellar on Drums, Matthew Fazi on Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards, and drums, Eric Frederic on Vocals, Guitars, and Keyboards. You can’t make this wonderful noise in a hit factory no matter how much money or top producers the wizards of the ‘industry’ throw at the project. Great bands like Facing New York don’t happen because someone paid to make it so.
Fringe: Your first two albums are two of the best records I’ve heard in the last ten years, (2005’s self titled LP and 2004’s Swimming Not Treading EP) what can we expect from your newest record set to drop on October 16th?
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Matt: Wow, thank you very much for the kind words.
For the new record I would say that you can expect a more groove oriented Facing New York. That’s been pretty much number one priority when working on new music this time around, the pulse. We are trying to write stuff that’s bridging the gap better between progressive time-signature type stuff and great songs. We are really going for extremely strong, listenable and immediate. Also, trying to put drums more at the forefront with smart drumming decisions.
With the last album, we made it difficult to invite people into the music because it really took a few good listens and a commitment to allow the songs to grow on you. Looking back we feel like we weren’t making the strongest decisions. We just wanted to get every last thing onto the record at the expense of the listener. It was a good learning experience because we figured out what we did well and didn’t do well as a band.
This time around, we are really trying to play to the strengths of the band and cut the fat in the songs, make every single note important and tasteful and only use the strongest possible ideas. We’ve been using a lot of polyrhythms to trick people too, haha. Something to the effect of establishing a drum pulse in 6 while the guitar is in 5 so that they meet every 30 bars but people naturally follow the drum groove and don’t notice the weird-o guitar on top.
Getting sneaky. We’ve got a way different mindset, where with something like the full length we were trying to do prog epics like Yes, this time we are trying to have a Quincy Jones on “Thriller” approach but in a rock band format. Every melody and part must be the strongest. Or a perfect example of restrained but super tasty parts: “Come Together” by The Beatles. Thinking in that kind of tasteful brain instead of full throttle, everyone playing everything at once.
Fringe: How would you describe Facing New York’s sound?
Matt: I suppose it would be some amalgamation of Zeppelin, Dismemberment Plan, and the Neptunes maybe? Forward-thinking-rock music. I can’t help but to think of the Bay Area whenever I hear the bands music, much in the same way a band like Red Chili Peppers is associated with L.A. or the way the band Cake makes me think of Sacramento. Do you think being tied to a landscape is a good or bad thing for a band?
 Photo: Joshua Uziel (www.uzishots.com) |
Matt: Funny that you should mention that you associate FNY with our area because we were talking about that recently. We think its great to have that kind of association. Lots of bands have sounds very specific to their areas ie: Dismemberment Plan or Fugazi (DC dissonant type bands) or Seattle grunge, some San Diego bands have a sound very specific to San Diego so we are definitely cool with that kind of tie to the bay area. And it seems natural to be influenced by the environment the band was created in. With things like hyphy music and Anticon or bands like Deerhoof pushing the boundaries it feels natural to take some flavor from them.
Fringe: Facing New York played the South By Southwest festival this year. What was that like?
Matt: SXSW was pretty cool. We were fortunate enough to play a great showcase with our label Five One Inc and another label from LA called Eenie Meenie and those bands were really great. We also played one of our best shows at a little dive that we filled with people who have never heard the band before and they were all super-pumped. So all in all it was a very awesome experience. The only bad thing about SXSW or things like that are the egos walking around. Too many haircuts, too much tight pants and not enough good music. That really kills my jive at those types of industry events but it comes with it and you just have to deal.
Fringe: With facing new york receiving so much praise and accolades, do you feel obligated to out do yourselves with each new recording project?
Matt: I think its a bit of a stretch to say we’ve received a lot of praise or accolades in our time as a band. It’s always been an uphill battle to turn new people onto the band or even industry folks.
The only pressure we really feel is to keep pushing ourselves forward and to make stronger music, keep it interesting for ourselves and not repeat anything we’ve already done. It’s a constant quest to strengthen and hone our songwriting abilities and always try to make it our own.
Iguanadon: Of Music, Art and Flesh Eating
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A tale of greatness and unrivaled awesomeness… all minstrels sing their praises most divine!” I stole that from the inside of Iguanadon’s latest CD, We Ryde Tonyte. After spending a couple of hours with Iguanadon and listening to the CD, that quote makes a lot more sense to me.
Iguanadon is made up of three very unique people: Skinner Davis (Warrior) on guitar and vocals, Dan Herrera (Elf) on bass and vocals, and Kristie Harris (Valkyrie) pounding the drums. These musicians love life like no other person I’ve known, and it shows in their personalities and in their music.
I don’t normally like to ask all the usual music interview questions, because I want to get to know the individuals that create it. They told me that they all love comic books and monsters.
Hmmmm, okay, so I asked each of them what their favorite scary movie is. Dan mentioned the original Night of the Living Dead and Freaks. Kristie was next, mentioning the Exorcist, a timelessly scary flick. Skinner brought up Communion. This one freaks him out because it is about something that could actually happen for real. I was also treated to a fun little tale about Skinner and Kristie riding their bikes back home after seeing The Grudge 2. It turns out that it was quite a freaky bicycle ride. We talked about zombies a bit. Skinner instructed me to go out and purchase a comic book called The Walking Dead. If I don’t love it, he won’t be my friend. Now I have to go find a copy of that book!
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Okay, so we did talk a bit about music. Being in a band myself, I like to learn about other musicians’ favorite places to perform, and discuss the scene in general. Iguana likes to perform in places that normally aren’t music venues. They like Java Lounge. I can’t really picture the mighty Iguanadon playing in a coffee shop, but I must say I would love to experience that!
We discussed the fact that bands don’t like playing late in the evening. Iguanadon doesn’t care. They just want to rock the crap out of anybody that happens to be in the club. Skinner’s feeling on headlining - “Tell the kids that fun is coming back!” “And how is that, exactly?” I ask. “Because we rock so hard, and we create magical moments,” he explained, with enormous amounts of enthusiasm. I had to ask a more serious question next. Knowing now that these folks are full of fun, there was something I had to know. I read on Skinner’s MySpace page that he loves his friends, but if it were the end of the world he would eat them all in a heartbeat. “Here’s the scenario,” I start. “You’re at a big party, and somebody offers you a piece of human flesh to eat. Would you be tempted to try it?” Kristie was the first to answer. “Well, being that I’m vegan, I’d have to decline.”
Bummer. I totally wasn’t expecting that one. Dan said, “I’d ask who it was first. If it was somebody less than noble, I’d have a little taste.” Now that’s better! Actually, Dan doesn’t really eat meat either. Skinner added, “If it were Kevin’s bacon…”
And guess what! Yeah, Skinner’s vegan too, which started a whole new conversation. I was lead to the refrigerator, where Skinner showed me things like Tofurkey, Fakin’ Bacon, and veggie hotdogs and hamburgers.
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I told them I just couldn’t live without my pancakes, waffles, and pepperoni pizza. At this moment Skinner reached into the freezer with a grin and produced a box of veggie waffles. As for pizza, he promised he and Kristie could make me a vegan pepperoni pizza and I wouldn’t know the difference. Tempting, but I’m nervous. It’s a feeling kind of like riding your bike home late at night after watching The Grudge 2.
If you haven’t guessed by now, these three unique individuals truly love life, and are living it to the fullest. They’ve got an incredible bond with one another, and they just have fun with everything they do. If you would like some of that to rub off on you, just go catch them live so they can melt your face off with their sheer savagery and mayhem. They’re loud, crazy, and they sometimes wear costumes, and they’re going to rock you into next week.
Yeah, kids, fun is definitely back.
Sentinel Beast Returns
Metal over the years has taken many forms, but usually stays true to the fact that it is and always will be heavy and aggressive.
One band that is determined to stand the test of time is Sentinel Beast, a band that originated in the hay day of Bay Area Thrash Metal in 1984.
 Photo: Ashley Johnson |
Formed by vocalist Debbie Gunn, at the time the Bay Area was inundated with male vocalists. Debbie rose above and brought her brand of Thrash to the community opening for bands such as Slayer, Megadeth, and Exodus. The first (and only) album released by the band was “Depths of Death” in 1986 which could have was ground breaking due to Debbie’s vocals. She stood out as one of the first females in metal. Shortly after, the band broke up leaving Debbie holding the gun-quite literally.
Now, after a two decade hiatus Debbie’s Beast has returned with a new (very young looking) cast surrounding her.
After hearing they were back, I was urged to go out and watch them along with Vicious Rumors at the Kennel Club in Citrus Heights, CA.
The Beast was able to go out and rip up some classics of theirs such as ‘Depths of Death,’ and the band’s namesake ‘Sentinel Beast’ to an ever small crowd on a hot steamy Sunday night, but anyone that wasn’t able to make it missed out on a fantastic show.
Seeing as Thrash is making a huge comeback right now-with every album that Megadeth puts out making the top 25 Billboard, and Exodus’ new stuff doing extremely well, Sentinel Beast couldn’t have picked a better time to make a comeback, With Debbie sounding just as good as ever, I felt it necessary to get some words down with her and get some answers on the state of her and the (new) band:
Fringe: Why after Sentinel Beast being out of the scene for so long, did you decide that it was time to resurrect it?
Debbie: With the new generation of metal heads, it’s a good time to bring back Sentinel Beast. I think that we have a chance to go farther this time.
Fringe: Back in the 80’s you were one of the first women in metal, how does it make you feel to see bands like Arch Enemy and In This Moment with female vocalists doing so well?
 Photo: Ashley Johnson |
Debbie: I worked very hard to be taken seriously and be accepted into, what was then, a male dominated scene. There were only a handful of women in metal. One of them was Dawn Crosby (R.I.P.) of Detente. She started around the same time as me, 1984, and was also signed to Metal Blade Records. I feel very proud and honored to have paved the way for other female vocalists. It’s great to see more of them today.
Fringe: The thrash scene pretty much dwindled down, but recently bands like Megadeth and Testament are gaining new-found recognition in the scene along with newer bands that are trying to bring that old school Thrash sound back. Why do you think the older bands are being so successful, along with the newer bands compared to the alternative rock? Do you think the times are changing again in music, and Metal is on the rise again?
Debbie: Even though the thrash scene disappeared, a few bands like Megadeth and Metallica were able to stick around and bring the underground to commercial rock stations. They were able to change the scene to what it is today. More or less, some of the underground became mainstream. I think the new generation embraces old school metal because each band has their own identity. It doesn’t all sound the same. Guitar solos are coming back along with the double bass drum kits. It’s a great sight to see. A lot of the older bands see an opportunity to bring their band back to tour and record, as we have. I think old school/ thrash metal stands a better chance of making it this time around. I know it’s huge in Europe.
Fringe: The new kids you picked up for the band are pretty young, and pretty vicious live. Where did you find them, and why did you choose to go with such youngins rather than an older group?
Debbie: My new line-up hails from the Bay Area. I decided to go with a younger band because of their energy and drive during rehearsals and performances. I couldn’t find anybody like that in Sac. I tried. Sac seems to be more death metal, where as , the Bay Area has more old school/ thrash.
Fringe: I know the first album was re-released under the new label, but are there plans for a new album, and possibly plans to push it to a larger label?
Debbie: Our first album, Depths Of Death, was released on Metal Blade Records in 1986, with the help of Kenny Powell (Omen) and Kerry King (Slayer). It was later released as a bootleg on Old Metal Records. I’m currently negotiating with Metal Blade for the rights to the album for a future re-issue on Shadow Kingdom Records. We’re also working on our second album, due out the end of this year or early next year to coincide with our European tour in April. It will be released on Kenny Powells label with worldwide distribution.
Fringe: Is there a full tour in the works? If so, with who?
Debbie: We’ll be touring Europe with Omen in April 2008. We’ll play Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, and Belgium. This will be Sentinel Beast’s first Euro tour. I’ve toured Europe in the past with an all-girl Swedish thrash band called Ice Age.
Fringe: What have you been up to all these years out of the scene?
Debbie: The last band I played for was Brutal Groove. After that I turned toward acting. The thrash scene was dying and I didn’t want to sing grunge. It wasn’t for me. So I did community theatre and worked in film and TV shows as an extra on the set. One of the shows was Nash Bridges. It was fun.
Fringe: Looking back, do you regret not keeping the Beast going with other members? And along with that, what was it that caused the demise of the band?
Debbie: In some ways, I do regret the breakup of Sentinel Beast. That was my band along with other founding members, bassist, Michael Spencer, and drummer, Scott Awes. After Michael left the band to join Flotsam And Jetsam, it was very apparent that the band was falling apart. Michael and I were the driving force and wrote everything. The new guitarists just didn’t work out. They couldn’t write.
Fringe: I myself had a great moment in a bar with Dimebag once, and I noticed that you have a picture of you two together on your myspace, do you have a favorite moment you’d like to share with Dimebag seeing as his b-day just passed?
Debbie: I’ve hung out with Dimebag (R.I.P.) a couple of times but this one time really stands out for me. Pantera opened for Skid Row here in Sac at The Community Center downtown. I was on both guest lists so I brought a few friends with me. After the show we all hung out drinking and acting silly. It was fun. The photo of Dimebag and myself was taken at that show with Dave from Skid Row behind us. Dimebag was a sweetheart.
Sentinel Beast have a show on Sept. 15th in Chico at Lost On Main as well as a few more shows scheduled in S.F. at Mabuhay Gardens.
Check them out on MySpace: myspace.com/sentinelbeastofficialsite
The Band Curriculum
Being in a band in the Sacramento scene for the past seven years has been like attending college. The Sacramento Junior College of Rock/Metal. I think I earned my Bachelors a couple years ago, and have no idea when I’ll reach my Masters.
The first two years of being in this Junior college was all fun and parties. Playing every weekend in crappy bars, getting so drunk we (the band) could hardly stand up straight on stage, having random after parties at our downtown apartment, barely getting paid $40 a show and sometimes even getting paid with alcohol. At the beginning we practiced in a storage unit. It was stiffling hot in the summer and freezing in the winter, but it was the only affordable option with none of us having garages and not wanting to deal with the neighbors complaining to the cops. Kind of like dorms.
Then we moved up to a professional practice studio that was less affordable. We started to learn what clubs to play and not play, what marketing tools really worked and how valuable a well produced demo and merchandise really was. We chose our major and cracked down on doing our homework.
This scene has changed since 2000, however, some standards remain the same for every band and now, as I’m reaching my eighth year in this scene I have some advice to hand down to the freshmen who are willing to learn.
1. PROMOTE YOUR SHOWS. Don’t complain that no one showed up to your gig when all you did was send an event invite over Myspace. Flyers are more valuable that you realize. Personally handing out flyers is the best way to personally introduce yourself and your music to someone who might otherwise never hear of you. Get your shows on every show calendar possible, there are three music magazines counting Fringe out of Sacramento, radio stations and even more internet show calendars you should be sending every one of your dates to.
2. PLAY LESS SHOWS IN YOUR HOMETOWN. If you have two or three shows within two weeks of each-other in the same town/area, you’re playing too much. Nobody these days can afford to see your band two or three times in one weekend, and nobody probably wants too, with exception of your mom, or your girlfriend. It’s called Supply & Demand. If you’re supplying your fans with too many options in a short time frame, there’s not a strong demand for your music.
3. BE DIFFERENT. There are hundreds if not thousands of bands from the greater Sacrament/Solano areas and they’re all aiming for the same fanbase, venues, and radio stations. If you sound and look like every other band out there, you’ll be bottom of the totem pole. What makes your band different? What do you offer the scene that every other band doesn’t? I’m not saying have a gimmick, I’m saying step up your game!
4. MARKETING. Bands that don’t have t-shirts, stickers, buttons, hats, etc. aren’t marketing their band correctly. With so many online printing companys there’s no excuse not to have these things. Not only do they pay for themselves after you sell a few but the money can sometimes make-up for the non paying gigs. Also, how cool is it to see Jane Doe rocking your band’s tee when you’re randomly mall shopping?
So these are the first key points in my lesson. If you have any questions email me personally, I may be able to bestow upon you my vast wisdom, or whatever. E-mail: charlie@fringemag.com
10 Things I Hate About The Bar Scene
On a Friday night not much is better than drowning the week’s work stress in a few alcoholic beverages at the local pub. However, the task isn’t as easy as it seems. I recently went out on the town with a girlfriend and found some really annoying things about the “bar scene.”
1. The Bathrooms - I understand how hard it is to use the rest room when you’re intoxicated, but getting urine on my brand new pumps, while trying to hold my breath, while lifting myself off the seat since there are no toilet covers, is not easy while intoxicated either. I always feel like I should have anti-biotics included with my drinks since I’ll probably catch something from the bathroom.
The lines can get pretty bad too, but when you just can’t wait and have to use the men’s rest room, sometimes it’s much cleaner and smells a little better than the women’s. Come on girls, if you’re going to do your business in a public rest room, carry some perfume/air freshener in your purse.
2. Covers - Paying $20 to get into a bar, just to sit there, and drink for $8 a pop is ridiculous. I have no issue paying a cover to see entertainment.
But paying a cover to give a bar business? Sure running a bar is expensive, but that’s double dipping.
3. Rude Bartenders - I’m a female, but I tip bartenders the same no matter what gender, size, race, or whatever. Some female bartenders just get flat rude with female patrons. One instance with two very catty female bar tenders, I had to wait twenty minutes for service while the guys around me were already getting served their second drink. I tipped a dollar but made sure they knew I wasn’t satisfied. I ordered a pitcher to save myself the wasted time and additional attitude.
4. Sticky Floors - Just like not wanting the urine on my new pumps, I also don’t want sticky alcohol staining them. Most bars won’t take the time to mop up at close, so week old beer and Jack cover the filthy bar floors making my get-a-way from mr.flirty-slurring- his-words not so fast.
5. Touchy Feely - It’s not anybody’s fault drunk people get flirty. Wandering eyes and hands occasionally fly around in bars for some girls/guys. You don’t know who the welcoming girls/guys are, they don’t wear name tags. Unless you’re invited, keep your hands to yourselves. My personal reaction to an unwelcome butt grab is a face punch, and I’m surely not the only girl with that reflex.
6. Small Drinks with BIG prices - Like the $20 cover, a $9 Cosmo that is the size of thimble is bad for the patron’s wallet and the bar’s reputation. Especially when you can walk down the street and get a milk jug sized Cosmo for $4.
7. Charging for Water/Soda - We all need designated drivers when we’re drinking. One poor sober soul should have the job of driving their drunk friends home. But that poor sober soul shouldn’t go poor from buying water or soda all night. The bar’s making enough green off the expensive drinks they’re pouring to support the soda/water drinker saints of the bar world.
8. Bad Service - Walking into a bar and waiting fifteen minutes for the bartender to finish their conversation with their buddy before they take my order makes me leave that bar. Dirty glasses and filthy bars or tables should also come with anti-biotics. I may be destroying my liver with alcohol but I don’t want to carry my own handi-wipes just to get a clean drink. Dusty decor and chipping paint make an unhealthy environment.
9. The Cliques - Most bars have themes and a crowd of regulars. But not all patrons are regulars. Some girls/guys just like to hop in for a drink, check the joint out and head off to the next one. These “hoppers” may not fit in with the bar’s crowds, but don’t give them flack. I may have more fun at a designated gay bar than a straight bar, or a country bar rather than a sushi bar. Bars are like food, I can like whatever flavors I want to like and no one should be mad dogging me because of it.
10. Non-Bar Worthy Conversation - When I’m drinking I don’t want to be dragged into a heated discussion on religion or politics. I especially don’t want to be dragged into such a discussion with strangers. Leave your politics and religion at home or in the car before you step into the pub, you never know who’s passionate about what and who’s carrying pepper spray.
The Toyroom’s Pie In The Sky
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The Toyroom’s show “Pie in the Sky” gives the impression of an intelligent metaphor.
A figure of speech possibly used to symbolize the constant temptations of everyday life. Or it could just be a title inspired by a featured artist who, literally, digs pie.
“Joseph Fielder is a pie fanatic,” said Toyroom co-owner Craig Maclaine. “He just had to try the pie everywhere we went!” The show had already been curated long before it was given a name. This odd pie obsession seemed to fit the artwork by Bettsy Kluga, whose dangling artwork is the focus of the show. It is quirky, fun, and definitely made you ask questions.
The Toyroom, located at 907 K street in Sacramento, is an art gallery which often features hotrods, monsters, tattoo art, vintage pop art, and nowÉ sculptures, completely created from recycled materials, and suspended from the ceiling. “The incorporation of others’ discards always leads to interesting possibilities,” said Kluga in an artist statement.
“I found a lumpy rubber and brass railroad car bumper. The bumper became the base for a pregnant woman.
“My work reflects bits and pieces of our endlessly recycled dramas that are universal to us all,” Kluga said. Her pieces are created by materials such as: magazines, bones, metal, wood, forks, pencils… and much more.
This small Sacramento gallery is now raining cats and dogs… and pregnant woman, a young girl jumping rope, a rabbit, and a galloping horse. Kluga’s sculptures hang in the center of the gallery surrounded by paintings and drawings by Joseph Fielder, Amanda Wachob and John Fortes.
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Co-owner John Soldano said there is not an actual theme to the Pie in the Sky show. “It is more of a show that just works together,” said Soldano. “All the pieces just compliment each other in some way.”
The show was curated by Soldano and first time curator, Nicki Rousseva, an employee of Toyroom.
The low turnout by the public on opening weekend was nothing new to Toyroom, and many other Sacramento area galleries. People here always make excuses and never get out to see what Sacramento has to offer, Soldano said. We’d like the people to pick up the art thing in this town. We’ve been trying for a long time.
“You have to have a public that will support art or the galleries will struggle and eventually shut,” Maclaine said, referring to the low turnout to most of the Toyroom shows. Most of the support comes from out of town.
Toyroom has not always struggled with show turnouts. In 2001, Toyroom had its first show. Toyroom then was a garage/barn in the back of John Soldano’s Curtis Park home. With both Soldano and Maclaine being disabled, they were just looking for something to do. “Our show in 2001 was going to be a one time thing,” Soldano said. The first show was of artwork by Robert Gordon.
A piece titled “Toyroom” was inspiration for the name of the gallery. They needed a name for themselves if they planned on advertising the show. Slowly, the one time thing turned into a three night a month thing as artists started expressing interest in showing at their make-shift gallery. They begun selling books, figures, and prints. The upstairs was the gallery, the downstairs was the store. “It was pretty funny looking,” Soldano said.
“We weren’t thinking about anything, we were just doing a project as something just to do,” Soldano said. “We eventually got more serious and wanted to be more legit.” In 2004 they moved into their downtown location.
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Despite the lack of interest on opening weekend, Pie in the Sky was curated for success. “It is tough to curate a show and have it look good,” said Soldano. Each collection displayed is eccentric and unique, in their own right. However, there is a undefined flow in the gallery as each piece compliments the other, as does each collection. Pie in the Sky ends on September 8, Second Saturday. The opening for One Man Army, a collection by Shepard Fairey, opens on September 14.
“We bring in stuff that we like… it is probably the wrong way to bring in money, but we have to be true,” Maclaine said.
Skinner: Of Art And Music
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What do you do if you have a seemingly endless stream of creativity pouring out of you at all times? If you happen to be a local artist by the name of Skinner, you would use that creativity to build houses and art studios, perhaps create a bunch of paintings, design t-shirts, teach art lessons to folks with learning disabilities, design toys, and oh yeah… play in a band. Can’t forget that!
When I first heard of this guy, I knew he was an artist that also played in Iguanadon, a local heavy band from Sacramento. I had no idea he was involved in so much. I had an opportunity to go to his house, that he built himself, and hang out with him for a while. I was in for a treat. When I arrived to the mighty home of Skinner and his lovely girlfriend, Kristie, the first thing I noticed was art. Lots of art. Seriously. There was even art on the toilet seat in the bathroom.
Behind the house was a detached art studio, which doubles as Iguanadon’s practice pad, Skinner’s silk-screen t-shirt equipment. In it, of course, was lots of art. Art on the walls, art on the amplifier, the drums, pretty much everywhere. There was no bathroom in the studio. Not that I saw, anyway. If there were, I’m sure there would be some cool art on the toilet seat. Skinner’s art may be a little on the dark side.
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One particular piece that grabbed my attention was that of a pair of legs with faces on the knees. I asked Skinner if there was any particular theme to his art. He told me that a lot of his art has themes of imperialism and colonialism.
What I find truly remarkable about this guy is the fact that he truly wants to give back to his community. He is an Art Facilitator for a program that teaches art to those with developmental disabilities, which is something he has done for seven years now. How many of you would love to call your mom and tell her that your teacher has a mohawk and tattoos? To me, teaching others various means of expressing themselves is very rewarding.
If that wasn’t enough, he recently landed a deal with a toy company in San Francisco to design some cool toys. And if that’s not enough to keep himself busy, he also has a deal for his tshirt designs. Oh, and if that’s still not enough, he’s got a pretty busy schedule ahead of him. I asked him about it.
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“I have a show that is up right now at the Super 7 store in San Francisco. In November, I’m doing a show at Grass Hut in Portland, and I am curating a show called American Gladiators in San Francisco that same month at the RX Gallery. I’m also holding an open studio at my house so that people in Sacramento can still buy some art if they want.” Get it now, folks, while you still can, before he goes on an endless world tour with Iguanadon!
One last thing I can say about Skinner is that he is a welcome burst of positive energy. He treated me, a complete stranger to him, like a best friend the whole time I was there. Many days after talking to him I came across another person that knew him. I got the same reaction: a fun, friendly person doing good things for the community. Why can’t more people be like that?
His positive energy is truly infectious. When I returned to my own home, the first thing I noticed was how boring my toilet seats are. Perhaps I’ll do something about that. I feel inspired.
The Newbies: Five Second Rule
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Every day I hear of a new band in Sacramento. It’s hard to keep up! I like to think that I know of a lot of the Sacto bands. However, I am occasionally thrown a band from left field and find myself impressed. This is what happened with Five Second Rule. I can’t remember now how I came across them but I thought from first listen, they were good. So I went to a show or two and they just kept getting better. I recently saw them play at The Underground with Forever The Sickest Kids and managed to track down their singer Myle and bass player Chris.
Fringe: You guys are a pretty new band to Sacramento, but seem to have gotten yourselves off the ground fairly well. Where do you see the band progressing in the next few years?
Myles: Well, within the next few years we hope to have a growing fan base, lots of songs that capture the attention of our audiences, and hopefully have the backing of a record label.
Chris: I don’t think it’s crazy to have the idea of being on a major label. We are always striving to be better musicians. We are staying really focused and working harder then ever. I think a lot of bands go wrong by not worrying about being entertainers. If you have ever been around our band you know we are entertaining with or without an instrument.
Fringe: I was doing a search online for you guys and found a bunch of scientific studies about the “5 Second Rule”…and apparently, it isn’t safe to eat something if it’s only been on the ground less than 5 seconds. Do you agree?
Myles: No, way! Have you ever eaten at McDonalds? That place would kill you way before dirt would.
Chris: I guess its all in how hungry you are. I’m sure it’s not sanitary to eat something off the ground, but unless it’s dropped in rat poison I’m sure it’s not going to kill you. I personally think the statement 5 second rule is about the question of ‘is it worth it to stop, or should you just walk away.’
Fringe: You guys don’t have a ton of songs yet, but of the songs you have written, which one is your favorite and why? Is that song different from your favorite song to play live?
Myles: Well, as of right now the new song we are working on is my favorite. The reason being is because it is fun to play and keeps your head moving. The one which is my favorite to play live would have to be Outlaws.
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Chris: Every band has a ton of songs. They just don’t feel the songs are good enough to show off. We all have different songs that we like the best. I think that’s why I love writing with these guys so much. We wont stop until we are all completely satisfied with a song. We take a lot longer to write songs then most bands because we wont play it unless its good enough for us first, And we beat ourselves up a lot to make songs the best we can. I would have to say live though Outlaws is an amazing song to play. It really gets the crowd pumped.
Fringe: Picture this… a beautiful private island off the west coast, and you’re stuck. Forever. What would the band absolutely need to survive?
Myles: Burritos! That’s it.
Chris: Family. Most of our band doesn’t have a lot of family but the family we do have is absolutely amazing. I think you’re talking about inanimate objects though, so I would have to say a radio. Playing music is awesome but if we didn’t have any music in our lives I don’t think we could get through the day.
Fringe: Say anything else you want people to know about 5 Second Rule.
We would like everyone to know that our fans are amazing. It’s as much of our music as it is yours. If you weren’t around we would have anyone to play for. That would make our music empty. You can contact us at myspace.com/5secondrulerocks
