MUSIC
Last Night in Town, Bears Doing Human Things, A Legion of Thieves, The Shotgun Effect
Today, 7 p.m., $10
Club Retro in Orangevale
Curious to see what sort of music a band called Bears Doing Human Things could procure, I did the necessary research. The results? A hardcore thrash band from Sacramento with a penchant for searing guitar riffs and aggressively abrasive vocals. Question answered.
The Animations, The Solid Fellaz, Scarred First Class, Stick History, Hooker Fight
Today, 8 p.m., $10
The Boardwalk
Straight out of the suburbs is band Scarred First Class. And although they cite My Chemical Romance as one of their musical influences, these boys deserve some credit: They’re only babies! Fourteen years of age and freshmen in high school, to be exact. Now if only I were a pre-teen girl…
Another Damn Disappointment
Today, 9 p.m., $8, 21
Onyx Club in Roseville
Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Amid all the cynicism is this Sacramento punk band who take a page from Epitaph acts like Bad Religion, Pennywise and NOFX.
Alex Levin, Low Red Land, Drunken Prayer
Today, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
Expect a vibe of living room intimacy from Low Red Land. After these guys played their first house show, they recorded their EP in their apartment. Fans of Iron and Wine or Elvis Perkins, this is for you. Changing it up will be Drunken Prayer, whose sound is more New Orleans-turned-country than their Portland origins would suggest.
Phantom Planet, Bright Light Fever
Friday, 8 p.m., $15 in advance
The Boardwalk
I’ll refrain from the obvious “California” and “The O.C.” references – even without the weekly help of Seth Cohen and the gang, this Los Angeles foursome is still making catchy pop-rock diddies worthy of any television soundtrack looking for some shred of trendy “indie” credibility. One thing must be said, however: I miss former drummer Jason Schwartzman. I mean, the man’s a triple-threat – actor, singer and all-around babe.
Last of the Blacksmiths, Prairie Dog
Friday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
For those looking to unwind with their beverages, a solution is near: San Francisco folk-rock trio Last of the Blacksmiths have that quiet, soothing sound down pat. The night will also feature another threesome from the City – make sure to listen for “Run Around Town” by Prairie Dog.
Canja Rave
Friday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
The G Street Pub
Bringing a taste of Brazil to Davis is Canja Rave. They have that boy-girl dynamic working for them (Paula Nozzari on drums, Chris Kochenborger on guitar) as well as the whole exotic foreigner schtick – the duo sings in their native Portuguese.
Damage Over Time, Sexciety, Graven Image, Counterstep, Redone
Saturday, 8 p.m., $10 in advance
The Boardwalk
Describing their sound as “a brutal mixture of pain and pleasure,” Sacramento band Damage Over Time promises a lineup of heavy music set for the Boardwalk on Saturday night.
Baby Grand, The Poplollys, Ricky Berger
Saturday, 9 p.m., 21
Old Ironsides in Sacramento
According to the band’s Myspace profile, “poplolly” is a term of endearment that can translate to “lil darlin'”. With songs like “Surefire Kisses,” their upbeat Americana tunes are as cutesy as their band name would imply.
Emily Jane White, Garrett Pierce
Saturday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
San Franciscan Emily Jane White evokes the dark folk sensibility of artists like Devendra Jackson and Joanna Newsom with the vocal stylings of Cat Power.
Eat Skull, English Singles, Ganglians
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Delta of Venus
Providing an interesting combination of garage punk and new wave synth is Portland band Eat Skull. Their latest release, the 7″ Dead Families, features a fuzzy static reminiscent of the retro, slightly off-kilter pop of the sixties. Meanwhile, Ganglians will give listeners a sample of their jangly alt-country tunes with songs like “Radically Inept Candy Girl.”
OneRepublic, Carolina Liar
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., $25 in advance
Empire Events Center
I haven’t heard much from OneRepublic since last year’s overplayed and annoyingly catchy single “Apologize.” Frankly, I’d like to keep it that way. And despite the misleading name, opening act Carolina Liar isn’t a female Americana solo act – in fact, they are an all male, six-piece Americana act.
AT THE MOVIES
Mongol
Playing now at Varsity Theatre on Second Street
Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov undertakes the story of a young Genghis Khan, who grew up in a life of starvation and slavery to become the legendary founder and ruler of the Mongol Empire.
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Opens Friday at the Regal Davis Stadium 5 on G Street
After George of the Jungle and that game of gay chicken on “Scrubs,” I find it difficult to take Brendan Fraser seriously. Based on the science fiction novel by Jules Verne, this adaptation features Fraser as a volcanologist who goes on an adventure to (surprise, surprise) the center of the earth.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Opens Friday at the Regal Davis Stadium 5 on G Street
The demon superhero is back in this second installment based on the Hellboy comic book series. Killer special effects, costumes and make-up are a sure to be a given.
ART / POETRY
Flatlanders 2
Opens today at the Nelson Gallery
Following 2006’s well-received exhibition is Flatlanders 2, which features local artists from the Davis, Woodland and Sacramento area.
Ted Vasin
Friday, 7 p.m. at the Davis Art Center
San Francisco-based artist Ted Vasin is no stranger to the arts: His father was also an artist and his grandfather was a circus stage and costume designer. He’ll be presenting a live sound installation Friday.
Rebecca Morrison, Garland Thompson
Wednesday, 9 p.m. at Bistro 33
UC Davis alumna and faculty member Rebecca Morrison will read her works at Poetry Night, which occurs every first and third Wednesday of the month.
RACHEL FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com.
Editor’s picks:
Emily Jane White, Garrett Pierce
Saturday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
Eat Skull, English Singles, Gonglians
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Delta of Venus
