The Abridged version:
- Mike Blanchard of the Californios sits down with Cultural Capital writer Chris Macias for a conversation after a performance in “The Stacks,” a new YouTube concert series from Abridged by PBS KVIE and Amatoria Fine Art Books.
- The band draws from a mix of literary references, especially Steinbeck whose influence can be heard on the Californios track “Salinas.”
- Outside of making music, Blanchard is an accomplished photographer, shooting for Thrasher Magazine in the 1980s.
Mike Blanchard and the Californios draw much of their songwriting inspiration from literary sources. With inspiration from Steinbeck to Greek mythology, their performance at Amatoria Fine Art Books for “The Stacks” came naturally.
A staple of the Sacramento regions live music scene, Mike Blanchard and the Californios brought their warm, country-Americana sound to the latest episode of “The Stacks,” a concert and conversation series presented by Abridged by PBS KVIE in partnership with Amatoria.
After the band’s performance, Cultural Capital newsletter writer and Abridged contributor Chris Macias sat down for a conversation with Blanchard to talk about inspiration, the valley and his history as a photographer and journalist himself. Blanchard was a photographer for Thrasher magazine in the 1980s and has continued making art since, including making music with the Californios.
Watch the Q&A below or click here.
Check out the full concert above or at this link.
Want to see the show in-person? Catch the next live taping of “The Stacks,” featuring rapper C Plus and LabRats on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. You can find tickets via Amatoria’s Eventbrite page.
Look for new episodes of “The Stacks” every other Thursday!
