MUSIC
Italia Conte, California Medication, Athena, Infamous They, The Cosmonauts, Tiffany Smith, Vanity Shall Reap, Second to Last
Today, 6:30 p.m., $10
Club Retro in Orangevale
From the land of Roman gods they are not. Then again, neither am I and that hasn’t hurt me any. Other than Frank Sinatra, Italia Conte (“Italy Count”) has some decidedly non-Italian musical influences -Bjork, Bob Marley and U2 are included on their list.
Father of the Flood, Night Nurse, Audioemetic, Chopstick
Today, 7:30 p.m., $5
VOX Gallery in Sacramento
Chopstick provides Artsweek with yet another misleading cultural reference. What the band does give us, however, is an experimental composition of noise, blips and circuit effects. Father of the Flood also takes this same route with their minimal patterns of live electronics.
Afrofunk Music Festival
Today through Saturday, 9 p.m., $18, 21
The Independent in San Francisco
This diverse line-up of Afrobeat, Brazilian and Latin music is also a benefit concert for Uganda’s House of Hope. See page __ for more information!
Justin Farren, Trainwreck Revival, Be Brave Bold Robot
Today, 9 p.m., $3, 21
Old Ironsides in Sacramento
It’s a night of local talent. Like Damien Rice, Jack Johnson or that kid with the guitar that lived down the hall from you in the dorms, Sacramento’s Justin Farren has that whole romantic acoustic sound working for him as he plucks at his guitar strings.
The Two Man Gentleman Band, Ricky Berger
Today, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
The Two Man Gentleman Band has a certain jauntiness that makes the duo so hard to resist. Maybe it’s the awkwardly formal getups, the top hats or the fact that they give out free kazoos to the audience. The selling point for me was their shout-out to the 27th president with the song “William Howard Taft.”
Der Spazm, The Common Men, Mr. Loveless
Friday, 8 p.m., $5
Javalounge in Sacramento
With all the different stories behind the origins of band names, I can’t help but be curious as to how Sacramento band Der Spazm got theirs – the result of a random selection from a German dictionary, perhaps? Either way, the four-piece band has touches of Sonic Youth and Joy Division in their sound, and that’s something I can’t argue with.
Sean Hayashi, Neal Morgan, Casual Fog
Friday, 9 p.m., $6
Luna’s Café in Sacramento
After being charged an overdraft by my bank, getting cut in line at Starbucks and having an old lady steal my drink (isn’t there a reason they write your name on those cups?!), I found myself uncommonly bitter at the world. Luckily, the soothing sounds of Sacramento singer Sean Hayashi came to my rescue, putting me in a slightly better mood. The alliteration from this blurb also helped.
The Mad Tea Party, The Loose Acoustic Trio
Friday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
As much as I love roller coasters, the spinning cup ride at Disneyland was never my cup of – oh, never mind. Bad wordplay aside, North Carolina duo Mad Tea Party will serve up a set of good ol’ fashioned rockabilly music. Meanwhile, The Loose Acoustic Trio shouldn’t disappoint as they promise “good time music for good people like you.”
Lucabrazzi, The Stalking Distance, We Prick You
Saturday, 9 p.m., 21
The 300 Room in Sacramento
Luca Brasi was the fiercely loyal and equally deadly “personal enforcer” of the Corleone family in “The Godfather.” Let’s see if San Francisco industrial band Lucabrazzi has the muscle to match its namesake.
Jeff & Vida, Pokey LaFarge
Saturday, 10 p.m., $3-5, 21
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
Soft southern drawls, Nashville roots – I’m thinking that Jeff & Vida have all the makings of a fine bluegrass band. With songs like “Do You Like Honky Tonkin” and “Rockabilly Baby,” my suspicions are confirmed. Pokey LaFarge pays homage to old-timey mountain music with his fast fingerpicking of the guitar.
Cute Is What We Aim For, Ace Enders, Danger Radio, Powerspace
Sunday, 7:30 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show
The Boardwalk in Orangevale
Like my love for Fall Out Boy and hip-hop of the Top 40 persuasion, Cute Is What We Aim For is one of those things that I like but am too ashamed to admit in public. The band’s sharp scenester insight (think Panic at the Disco and The Academy Is…) simply proves to be too irresistible. Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag.
All My Pretty Ones, The Beat Nun, Ellie Fortune
Sunday, 8 p.m., $3-5
Primary Concepts at 219 E St.
A strong presentation of sweet folk is to be expected from the man behind “Cool as Folk” on KDVS 90.3 FM. With instruments like the oboe, mandolin and glockenspiel, East Bay ensemble All My Pretty Ones have an unexpected touch to their folk stylings. The Beat Nun’s Maddy Shernock has drawn comparisons to Cat Power, and she brings a unique vintage quality to their sound.
Del Castillo
Monday, 7:30 p.m., free
The Quad
Take advantage of this free show, which is part of the Mondavi Center’s SummerMusic 2008 lineup. Blending Latin, blues and rock is Austin group Del Castillo. Their music was included in the soundtrack to Kill Bill Vol. 2, and Sin City director Robert Rodriguez counts himself as a fan.
Finch, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Foxy Shazam, Tickle Me Pink
Monday, 7:30 p.m., $18 in advance, $20 day of show
The Boardwalk in Orangevale
After a two-year hiatus, Finch is back. Post-hardcore, indie rock – whatever you may label it, I remember the days in high school when listening to Finch automatically categorized you as emo. The jet black hair dye job, long bangs and Hot Topic clothes probably didn’t help my case, either.
AT THE MOVIES
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Opens Friday at Varsity Theatre on Second Street
As a child, I was never too fond of the American Girl book series and accompanying dolls, but perhaps this film will change my mind. It stars Abigail Breslin as Kit Kittredge, who deals with life during the Great Depression.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Opens Friday at Regal Davis Stadium 5 on G Street
Scully and Mulder are back in the second big-screen take on the classic sci-fi television series. I don’t doubt that supernatural forces are afoot, but my main question: What is rapper Xzibit doing in this film?
Step Brothers
Opens Friday at Regal Davis Holiday 6 on F Street
After a number of flops, I had lost all hope for Will Ferrell. But I have high expectations for this film, which stars Ferrell and John C. Reilly as rival stepbrothers turned best friends. Don’t disappoint, Ferrell.
COMEDY
Curtain Call at City Hall Comedy Show
Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., $5
Bistro 33 at 226 F St.
Taking the stage is comedian Mike Pace (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” National Lampoon’s Funny Money), the Aspen Comedy Arts Festival and Dave Bothun of the Sac Punch Line.
RACHEL FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@californiaaggie.com.
Editor’s picks:
All My Pretty Ones, The Beat Nun, Ellie Fortune
Sunday, 8 p.m., $3-5
Primary Concepts at 219 E St.
Del Castillo
Monday, 7:30 p.m., free
The Quad
