6.23.2025-6.29.2025
Reminiscing on The Sopranos, 3-piece acts galore, Sacramento staples, indie-rock in many forms, entering The Chamber for the last time and more...
Hello all! I am currently on vacation so I won’t be mucking around too long on this intro paragraph. I’m at the beach 😎
Suffice to say that while I am gone from Sacramento, the music doesn’t stop and this week is just as packed with great shows as every other week is. Please get out there and see some!
Monday, June 23rd: Zopa ft. Michael Imperioli at Harlow’s - Are you in your Tony Soprano summer era? Unbuttoned shirt over white ribbed tank-top, gold jewelry on, eating prosciutto and admiring ducks? Then you need to get to Harlow’s and see Zopa, featuring the incomparable Michael Imperioli, known, perhaps best, for his role as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos, though he has been praised for his performance as Dominic di Grasso in The White Lotus, season 2 just as fervently. However, Michael is an incredibly talented singer and guitarist, and he has his head on right in every correct way politically, which is more than I can say for a lot of celebrities. Imperioli pushes that New York 70’s punk-rock sound around for all that it’s worth and it will be a pleasure for you to see him and his band, whether you love The Sopranos or not.
Tuesday, June 24th: No Citrus at Musiclandria - No Citrus hails from Stockton and performs “Queer Grunge” which feels like it might sort of have some kinship with bands like Hole, and perhaps have some riot grrrl aspects thrown in. But ultimately, as Beyoncé and I have declared, genres are dead and don’t mean much. No Citrus will jam out and the bass lines will wobble your brain around and you’ll be glad you came.
Wednesday, June 25th: Problem Plays at Torch Club - Come check out the 3-piece band called Problem Plays. They make surf/emo/indie rock sound pretty dang good. They have a powerful drummer who makes the room seem smaller, and great flows with high energy. Having had the pleasure of seeing them not so long ago, it’s fun to keep checking up on them and seeing how they progress. They’ve been getting some attention from local radio stations and with their new single recently out, it’ll be a great show.
$10 at door, show begins at 8 PM
Thursday, June 26th: Youthanasia at Press Club or LabRats at The Sofia ft. Jacam Manricks or Wu-Tang Clan at Golden 1 Arena - Ok all, our Thursday evening has big plans so buckle up!
Our first option, Youthanasia at Press Club. Another 3-piece band but this one, a bit kookier. Strong guitar riffs and obscured vocals create a fuzzy and welcoming sound that sounds like you’re listening to your friends band (and maybe you are?) but either way expect high energy and youthful exuberance.
Second, LabRats at The Sofia! Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of LabRats. Sacramento’s own jazz/rap fusion quartet that has been about town, and involved in many projects, for years. They host a Sunday session at Torch Club every week, they’ve partnered with Rituals of Mine (another sick-ass local band) for their new music, they’ve worked with Kamasi Washington for goodness sake! Don’t make me convince you, this show with Jacam Manricks will be one for the ages. The amount of talent and musical knowledge in that room will be off the charts. Check it out.
And our third and final option, and it’s a biggie. Check out Wu-Tang Clan at Golden 1 Arena for their supposedly “final tour”—I only put it in quotes because I have been fooled before and won’t be fooled again—and see why they are true living legends. The lore alone they have crafted for their backstories and their egos and their names make it worth it to see them, but they are a large and important part of musical history, especially in the rap area. And apparently, they’re performing songs that have never seen the light of day. So, if you want to close the book on something important, check them out.
Friday, June 27th: Hotplug at Old Ironsides - Imagine catchy, guitar-forward melodies and a bunch of dudes doing their thing, DIY-style. That’s Hotplug. With Old Ironsides intimate stage, this show will be all about celebrating another amazing local band. Check em out!
Saturday, June 28th: Rainbow City Park with Aphids as Lovers at The Red Museum - In what is surely the hot show of the week, Rainbow City Park and Aphids as Lovers will descend on The Red Museum and will rock the hell out, dream-pop, art-rock, noise-pop, alt-rock style. Again, genres mean nothing but the music is good y’all! This is the show you’ll see like 4 or more people you know at and it’ll be a real community vibe. Check it out.
Sunday, June 29th: The Dollyrots at The Starlet Room - Let’s end the week on a high note. Check out the punk band that’s been doing this for 25 years and have stayed remarkably true to themselves. They’ve played alongside The Breeders, Paramore, The Queers, Soul Asylum and more. Joan Jett has taken a personal liking to them. They have creative lyrics and electric sound. It’ll be a great show with powerful energy to take into the end of the week for you. You’ll be ready to give ‘em hell on Monday.
Well y’all that brings me to the close. I hope you’ve all had a great week and that summer is treating you right. Remember to care for one another. Times are crazy and tough and we all need community more now than ever. Love ya.