There was anticipation, expectation, waiting, attention, hope and excitement. Four years, five movies, seven stars and a $220 million budget. Unfortunately, Marvel’s “The Avengers” is not as good of a film as you think it is.

It’s better.

Under Joss Whedon’s more than capable direction, “The Avengers” finishes what “Iron Man” started in 2008 with the greatest of flourishes. Its central plot pits the titular heroes (Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, for the uninitiated) against the vengeful Norse god with tyrannical aspirations for Earth, Norse god Loki.

Perhaps Whedon’s greatest triumph is that “The [read more...]

I spent the first weekend of May as an AmBASSador on tour with Bassnectar (Lorin Ashton), a dubstep artist who fuses elements of other genres (rock, hip hop and ambient) into his music. His albums and shows sell out across the country.

So, what is an AmBASSador? According to Ashton, it’s an opportunity for “enthusiastic fans to give back to the people around them, to volunteer their time and their passion to contribute creatively to the atmosphere of each event.”

It doesn’t mean we just get to hang around backstage in a big-headed clique being introverted. It is the complete [read more...]

On a wooden stage at Java Lounge, Justin Farren sits and takes a sip of his hot tea, then takes off his shoes and sets them beside him on stage. He wiggles his toes inside his white cotton socks, puts down the tea cup, tunes his guitar and dedicates his first song to his dog.

Farren classifies his music as folk-pop storytime, which is exactly what he delivers.

Every one of his songs is filled with stories about simple everyday life, sung in a laid-back style that floats from groovy jams to calm and sentimental songs.

“My music has evolved [read more...]

Electronic music has been gaining ground over the years, emerging from 808 beats to new sonic heights. The Third Annual Sacramento Electronic Music Festival is growing with nearly 50 artists included on the bill.

The event features local and Bay Area artists, as well as worldwide talent showcasing the genre- bending music.

“We are bringing out some of the biggest and most essential artists and producers from the most respected beat scenes and labels in the world,” says Clay Nutting of SEMF.

These acts include Mux Mool, Shlohmo, DJ Nobody, Salva, Lorn, Jonwayne, Dibiase, Eames, Light Year and Jantsen (www.soundcloud.com/jantsenmusic). [read more...]

Aisles of records lined the store and red brick walls bordered linoleum floors, where boxes of rolled up posters lay scattered. Crates of vinyl records and a small, yellow-framed drawing of Spider Man added charm to the path leading to the 78s on shelves in the corner. Records.

Such was the look of Records on Broadway when it hosted a venue April 21 for local DJs to spin their favorite vinyl, in honor of Record Store Day.

James Lamaspas of Records on Broadway said, after local artist/jazz turntablist Michael Young contacted him, arrangements for the event fell into place. Young [read more...]

It is fitting that during Earth Week, and a week before the Whole Earth Festival, the city of Davis will host the region’s largest professional art function that embraces earth —literally. That is earth of the ceramic variety.

The John Natsoulas Art Gallery is hosting the 23rd annual California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art (CCACA) in downtown Davis April 27-29.

Pronounced “caca,” like the natural fertilizer that animals drop to the earth, the CCACA’s festivities will showcase ceramic art from three Los Rios District colleges, CSU Sacramento, UC Davis and more than 40 West Coast colleges, universities and [read more...]

The time is over when video games are looked at as just a mindless waste of time. The video game industry has grown over the years into a billion dollar industry and has drawn an enormous fan base. Though the industry has been generally accepted, most people believe that games are just for teenage, hormone-driven boys.

The 16 members of City College’s Games Club say they want that common misconception to be dropped. The members had been promoting the club a month into the spring semester.  It just became official before spring break.

Nujtxeng Vang, 26, doubles as the club [read more...]

After the conclusion of Beer Week and Bikefest last week, Sacramento needs a break…correct? Wrong. With Second Saturday only a couple days away, it’s a good time to figure out how to celebrate it. So, we’ve taken the task of laying it out for you.

Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale Spanglish Art Gallery and Boutique 905 23rd St. Noon – 6 p.m.

Spanglish is holding their biannual sidewalk sale on Saturday and all of their sidewalk merchandise will be 20-60 percent off. Other vendors will be present to sell their handmade crafts. If you are interested in vending, contact spanglisharte1@gmail.com.

Check [read more...]

In the music industry today, there are a lot of music genres that have come full circle over their incarnations of the past. Country music was once a niche genre but today it is featured on pop radio stations right alongside every other popular song. Other genres like dance and even newer music types like dub step are making their way into the popular music realm.

Despite this trend, one genre of music has never really made it out of the underground even though its influence can be felt in just about every song on the radio. The blues is [read more...]

In Oct. 2011, The Kelps released their first album, “Head Like a Mouse,” and it’s definitely going to have some heads turning with some very intriguing lyrics and a style that’s far from mainstream. Listening to them is like riding a roller-coaster of blues, funk and rock’n’roll, with a story in every song. Cory Barringer’s vocals flow in tune with his guitar and Cameron Betts is positively rhythmic on bass, and its all complemented by Tony Reyes, who never misses a beat on the drums. The first track “After the Show,” is a prequel to track eight “After the Motorcar,” [read more...]