The details:

Fri. Feb 10 CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN 10pm

Harlow’s, 2708 J Street, Sacramento, CA

916-441-4693  - $20

In other related news, CVB’s frontman David Lowery recently posted his own amusing take about online music theft on his 300 Songs music blog, entitled “No more bullsh*t. The top 10 lamest excuses for stealing artists music.” You can read this enlightening post here.

Camper Van Beethoven web site

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Concrete Blonde at Ace of Spades “True”

The second video is after the “read more”. See you on the other side…

Concrete Blonde at Ace of Spades “When I Was A Fool” – apologies for the sound quality in the second half of the song. Better than nothing, right?

What do you think? Where you there? Feel free to leave us a comment below.

Shop: Concrete Blonde | Johnette Napolitano

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Note: for photos from the show and the full set list, click on the “read more”…

Veteran rockers Concrete Blonde were at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades last night and brought down the house with an energetic and spirited show that had the audience cheering and yelling for more.

Singer-songwriter Jim Bianco opened up the show with an entertaining set of originals. One audience member called him “a young Tom Waits”, but that’s not exactly true. He does have an offbeat style in both performance and lyrics but is at least a little closer to the mainstream. And was that a nylon string classical guitar that he was playing the crazy heck out of?

Time for the headliners: Concrete Blonde have been together since the late 80s and have broken up and retired more than a couple times. But they are back again and haven’t lost a beat. The show had only a couple numbers that were not immediately recognizable (Rosalie, The Damage I’ve Done). Very early on they played a blazing cover of Beds Are Burning (the Midnight Oil protest song) which was a definite highlight. But most of the show was classic song after classic song. Joey, True, Mexican Moon (acoustic), Someday, Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man, Tomorrow Wendy, God is a Bullet, Caroline, 100 Games of Solitare, Everybody Knows (acoustic), and more. And of course, for the encore, Bloodletting (The Vampire Song).

Lead singer Johnette Napolitano (buy her solo album too) mentioned she was a little under the weather but it didn’t stop her from delivering a great show. Her expressive and powerful voice is still there after all this time and the band has their stuff down. The crowd was wanting more but after a close-to two hour set that was that. I hope you went to the show! If not (or if so) there are some pictures, click on the “read more”. The first two are Jim Bianco (Johnette joined him for his last number) and the rest are Concrete Blonde. Sure they are cell phone photos, but a lot better than nothing, right?

Shop: Concrete Blonde | Johnette Napolitano

The set list:

Rosalie
Beds Are Burning (Midnight Oil cover)
Joey
I Don’t Need a Hero
Days and Days
Lullabye
Scene of a Perfect Crime
God Is a Bullet
Damage I Have Done (formerly with The Heads)
Caroline
When I Was a Fool
100 Games of Solitaire
Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man
Someday
Take Me Home
Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen cover)
True
Mexican Moon
Tomorrow, Wendy
Encore:
Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)

Were you there? What did YOU think?

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Here’s what SPIN had to say about them:

“Why they matter: Ravenna Woods provides a crucial reminder to Seattle’s current scene: Just because it’s folky and acoustic doesn’t mean it must be pastoral and warm. The three-man band plays haunting urban folk, full of eerie vocal harmonies, spiraling fingerpicked guitar, minimalist percussion, and the occasional toy piano.” - SPIN.com

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Anton Barbeau web site

Adrian Bourgeois web site

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Country Joe McDonald’s Woody Guthrie tribute 1/7

David Lindley 1/14

Bill Champlin 1/21

Hot Club of Cowtown 1/29

For more info and tickets, visit the Swell Productions web site.

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From their press release:

We have been playing together for the past 8 years, and have a live show that is very energetic with long section of jazz-inspired improvising that maintains a dancing crowd. Our recordings range from intense instrumental pieces, to rock songs, to string quartets, to collaborations with rappers and other musicians. If you like bands such as: Gentle Giant, the Velvet Underground, Mr Bungle, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Ornette Coleman, the Mars Volta, or Tom Waits, then you might enjoy our music as well.

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About the bands:

Howlin Woods is a 4-piece band based out of Santa Barbara, CA. that combines folky soulful vocals, melodic lead guitar, and a driving rhythym section, HW has been performing steadily throughout California since 2009.

All members have been playing music together since 2002, jamming in various forms with friends and fellow musicians.

In early 2009, brothers Jordan and Griffin Chetakian introduced songs they had written to drummer, Matthew Farrington and bassist, Brian Chandler. They instantly knew that they had found a sound and vibration that felt just right.

HW has crafted a sound all their own, collectively composing over 30 songs in just over a year and are continuously creating original sound through their love of music each time they enter their studio.

While the HW live experience consists mostly of originals compositions melded with improvisation, they are not ashamed to pay tribute to some of their greatest influences with cover songs ranging from Nick Drake to DJ Shadow, Grateful Dead to Talking Heads, Nina Simone to Pink Floyd, Otis Redding to Black Sabbath, etc.

HW has had the pleasure to the share the stage with acclaimed acts such as The Devil Makes Three, Alberta Cross, Fitz & The Tantrums, and Dengue Fever.

Relic 45 is a new and upcoming group of young energetic blues based rockers. Their blues electric core mixed with acoustic interludes will reel you in and make you want to rock all night long. Lead by headman Jeremy Briggs unique and powerful voice, Relic 45 has just started to hit the rock scene in Sacramento. The background vocals and heavy bass of Ryan Tillema, lead guitar of Tyler Canaday and percussions of Travis Simas make this group an unstoppable juggernaut. With a mix of covers and originals, Relic 45 will have you singing along and asking when their first album will be cut. Come out October 7th to hear the new sound of Sacramento and enjoy Relic 45′s blues bash

Pinning Relic 45 to a specific genre is no easy task. This brand new Sacramento band is keeping everyone guessing. With a solid foundation in heavy blues and rock, Relic 45 keeps the heads bobbin’ and feet tappin’ until the last song ends. Truly a band that must be experienced live to appreciate all there is to offer. Spending an evening with Relic 45 is never a disappointment!

Bring your hats and party favors, step into the funk-o-sphere, and transport yourselves to funkier times with the face-slapping sounds of Seamoose. This wily, rag-tagged bunch of Funk-0-Nauts are professional “move & groove” specialists that have travelled the Pacific Coast showing their captivated audience how to unleash that funky bea…st inside all of them. Currently being researched by NASA as an alternative, renewable energy source, Seamoose and its band of loyal funkateers have been known for their riotous celebrations, uproarious vocalizations, and frenzied disco-ball parties. So get ready. Stay hydrated, limber up, and strap yourselves in and feel the G’s; Seamoose is bringing that outerspace funk.

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