In 2009, the Sacramento News & Review's Sammies belonged to Middle Class Rut. The two-piece band took home three awards, it was announced at today's music festival in Cesar Chavez park.

The members of MC Rut, who weren't actually present at the festival, took honors for Outstanding Rock, Outstanding Release/Album and Outstanding Sacramento Band.

Full list of winners after the jump:

Outstanding Emcee: Random Abiladeze

Outstanding Rock: MC Rut

Outstanding Punk/Hardcore: Final Summation

Outstanding Hard Rock/Metal: Man Automatic and Prieta (tie)

Outstanding Hip-hop/Rap: Righteous Movement

Outstanding Turntablist: DJ Epik

Outstanding Jazz/Blues/Latin: Ross Hammond

Outstanding Indie: The New Humans

Outstanding Country/Americana/Folk: Light Rail

Outstanding Experimental: Mom

Outstanding Singer-Songwriter: Be Brave Bold Robot

Outstanding Teen Band: Red Wire Army

Outstanding Reggae/Ska/Funk/Jam: Arden Park Roots

Outstanding Pop: Agent Ribbons

Outstanding Electronica: Tha Fruitbat

Outstanding Dance DJ: DJ Whores
(this was an open category where SN&R did not provide any nominees)

Outstanding Hip-hop Producer: Jae Synth

Outstanding Release/Album: MC Rut, MC Rut

Outstanding Sacramento Band: MC Rut

Continue reading...

Every once and a while, somebody interesting stops by Sacramento (No, the Yin Yang Twins don't count). Just because it's an artist you might not have heard of before doesn't mean it's not worth checking out.

Here are a couple out-of-towners stopping by on Friday:


The Hard to Get - The Hard to Get take turns between feathery rhythms and bright vocal harmonies. The lighter side of their repertoire shines - so it's probably appropriate they'll be in a low-key venue like Fox and Goose.

Guitarist / vocalist Melissa A. Kaplan describes the band's sound as an "indie rock duo in the spirit of The Pixies, Mates of State and Sleater-Kinney." They'll also be playing R5 Records on July 5 on their way back south to their native L.A.

Fox and Goose (21+)
9 p.m., $5
(with David Fletcher of Davis)

After the jump, someone a little more upbeat in a little more of an upbeat venue (and a free download):

Cursive - Cursive's music comes in waves, sometimes surging forward and sometimes lurching in all directions. The Omaha, Neb. natives will be at the Boardwalk for a $15 show. Their recent full-length, "Mama, I'm Swolen," earned three out of five stars from Rolling Stone.

The Boardwalk
8 p.m., $15 advance
(with Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band and Box Elders)

The Hard to Get - Looking Good [MediaFire]

Continue reading...

Touring isn't easy for any band, but Middle Class (MC) Rut probably has it a little easier than most – the band is a duo, so there can't be too much equipment to load. That being said, the pair of guitarist Zack Lopez and drummer Sean Stockham are way louder and more energetic than any two-piece should be.

Middle Class Rut – Let it Go



After the jump, see what happened when the band asked the crowd at Cesar Chavez Park what it thought of the new 106.5 The Buzz.


Bonus: Here's one more song from the band's set:

Continue reading...

Defiantly politically incorrect metal band White Minorities is hoping to do some good tomorrow with a free benefit concert for Derek's Wish, an organization dedicated to helping families with children who are battling terminal cancer. Derek's Wish was founded by Cyndie French, whose heart-wrenching story was covered extensively in the Sacramento Bee in 2006.

The 21+ concert, which starts at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow at Callison's Bar and Grill, is free, but the band is asking for donations for Derek's Wish.

Bassist and band manager Troy "T-Bone" Jones, who said he's close friends with French, said this is White Minorities' first benefit concert. It comes at a poignant time for Jones, whose mother was recently diagnosed with cancer of the uterus.

"I recently found out about it, so this show is somewhat bittersweet," he said in an e-mail. Still, he's positive about the show.

"We would love to do nothing but benefit shows if we could," he said. "Not only do we have a good time like always, (but) we raise money for a good cause as well."

And in case you're as curious about the band's name as I first was, the explicit explanation (and a live video of the band) is after the jump.

From the band's MySpace bio:

We are White Minorities...if you are offended by the name GOOD, fuk being politically correct! It means nothing prejudice. We are a symbol of just how incorrect political correctness is. We are down with anyone who likes GOOD FUKIN' Music no matter what color u are..

White Minorities – Muzzle

Continue reading...

Tonight, former KWOD'ers Andy Hawk and DJ David X will again bring a free concert to the Powerhouse Pub in Folsom.

Here's a quick rundown of the lineup:

Plasma Cannon – Plasma Cannon seems to do two things very well: haunting, pipe-organ-fueled shanties and upbeat, melodic punk anthems. That may seem like an odd mix, but somehow the styles seem to fit well.

Radio Orangevale – Radio Orangevale plays off uneven rhythms and creates an unpredictable freight train of sound that seems to stumble forward in unexpected bursts.

Further reading:

SN&R Bio: Radio Orangevale

The Stash – The Stash is a seductive, light-hearted mix of pop and R&B with smooth melodies that float above dance-friendly backing beats. They're definitely a little more "club-friendly" than the other bands on the lineup, but that's not always a bad thing.

Continue reading...

Local rock duo Middle Class Rut just returned from Germany's largest music festival, the three-day Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Their impression of the whirlwind festival is posted on the band's MySpace, but here's an excerpt:

on the days that we played, none other then limp bizkit headlined the whole festival. felt like the 90s all over again... but in a bad way. the shittiest part of the 90s. crazy that that dude has to just throw on a red hat, play really bad rap rock and 80k people will lose their minds. i made a note to bring my red hat next year.

Video from the band after the jump.

Middle Class Rut will be performing at this Friday's Concert in the Park in Cesar Chavez Park. The concert is free and starts at 5 p.m.

Continue reading...

Well, this is it. The end of the line. Tonight is your last chance to evaluate a few Sammies candidates at the same show before voting ends on Sunday.

Thursday:

9 p.m., $6

Old Ironsides(21+)

The Impotent Ninja (nominated for Outstanding Pop): At first listen, it's hard to guess how many members are in this band. When you realize it's a duo, it makes the soothing melodies, rhythmic guitar and danceable drum-loop foundations all the more impressive.

Jeepster (nominated for Outstanding Pop): Part endearing pop-rock melodies and part swirling haunted house theme music, Jeepster is hard to define, even for the paper that might give them an award. "Honestly, I’ve been sitting here over an hour and I still have yet to find a band they sound like," the Sacramento News & Review wrote. "That must mean something, right?"

ZuhG. (nominated for Outstanding Reggae/Ska/Funk/Jam): If there were more bands like ZuhG. around, the world would probably be a much more easygoing place. The band's guitars chop along with a steady rhythm while Bryan Nichols' vocals swirl back and forth with the sensual saxophone lines of "Bot."


Kate Gaffney (nominated for Outstanding Country/Americana/Folk): A Philadelphia native with strong pipes and a penchant for country staples like slide guitar and rich organ tones, Kate Gaffney brings some Nashville flavor to the table. Luckily, her songs lean more toward triumphant anthems rather than forlorn cries about pickups and lost love.


The Impotent Ninja – Corvus (four-song EP) [MediaFire]

Jeepster – Don't Go Too Far [MediaFire]

The final awards show and music festival will be June 27 (more on this later; stay tuned):

Continue reading...