The following is the Sept. 10 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
The celebratory vibes are in full effect this week. We’re heading into the first anniversary of Abridged by PBS KVIE on Sept. 16 (9/16) and couldn’t be more thankful for your support.
This past weekend, I celebrated my own birthday with another Sacramento institution, DJ Larry Rodriguez. His long-running Sunday night dance party, “Church,” packed The Shady Lady Saloon with good vibes and a joyful mix of soul, disco and global grooves. It’s definitely the spot for funky birthday festivities, especially on a three-day weekend.
This sense of celebration continues with the local screening of a documentary that honors a pivotal crew of rare record collectors. You’ll also find a fair and new festival in Auburn, along with a battle of the bands that commemorates the local brewing community.
Grab a 45 RPM adapter and let’s go!
Jakhari Smith wants to bare his heart in his music. He began journaling in 2020 after losing his grandfather and turned to journaling to deal with his grief. As he expressed himself more with the pen, he found his way into poetry and then hip-hop. His music still carries a journal-like quality where he candidly works out personal experiences, neurosis and social issues. Smith and “the Squadd” brought his emotive and honest music to “The Stacks,” a YouTube concert series from Abridged by PBS KVIE and Amatoria Fine Art Books.
Searchin’ for the soul of record collecting
The details:
- California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., Sacramento
- 6 p.m., Sept. 12 (Saturday)
- $17.85
Many of us collect vinyl records to preserve our formative musical memories. For the subjects of the documentary “Soul Searchin’,” it’s a lifestyle of digging through dusty crates and rummaging at estate sales, praying for a “eureka!” moment that vinyl gold was struck.
If you can relate to such record collecting pursuits, or you just love oldies and music documentaries, head to the California Automobile Museum on Saturday for “Film & Vinyl Night.” The program includes two short documentaries in addition to “Soul Searchin’” that’ll make you want to cruise Broadway afterwards: “Roll Modelz: A Lowrider Documentary” and “Why I Love You: Meet The Ultimates.”
“Soul Searchin’” focuses on Southern Soul Spinners, a Los Angeles-based crew who are considered the ultimate preservationists of rare soul vinyl. Most of the subjects in “Soul Searchin’” don’t consider themselves DJs. Rather, they’re hardcore collectors of Chicano lowrider oldies who share their unearthed gems as an act of cultural preservation.
On a side note, Sacramento’s record crate digging culture has reached the silver screen before. A key scene from the 2001 documentary “Scratch” captured former Davis resident DJ Shadow waxing nostalgic while searching through piles of used records. The footage was shot in the basement of Records, a long gone shop on 7th and K streets.
In terms of rare soul, Sacramento and the Bay Area are also regarded for their contributions to this vinyl community. Local DJs with enviable rare soul collections will spin at the event as well.
“Sacramento has an awesome scene with groups like Soul N’ Steady and Sad Fooz,” ‘Soul Searchin’’ director Jesus Cruz wrote in an email. “They’ve put together events like the Sacramento Soul Weekender, an all(-)weekend soul event that featured vinyl collectors from all over … Northern California has always had heavy collectors of rare soul.”
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Shop, skate and get inked up in Auburn
The details:
- 1050 High St., Auburn
- 4-10 p.m., Sept. 12 (Saturday)
- Free
In terms of art, this Saturday is not for the status quo in Gold Country. Auburn Alt Fest makes its debut with six hours of live music, skateboarding, circus arts, a vinyl fair and more local goodness that you’re just not going to find at the mall.
If you’re feeling itchy for a new tattoo, you can get one done at this festival as well. Note that Auburn Alt Fest is free and appropriate for all ages, with family activities and face painting.
Fair games in Gold Country
The details:
- Gold County Fairgrounds & Event Center, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn
- 4-10 p.m., Sept. 10 (Thursday); noon to 11 p.m., Sept. 11 (Friday); 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sept. 12 (Saturday); 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sept. 13 (Sunday)
- $14; $8 for children ages 6-13; $10 for seniors 60 and older; children 5 and under are free. $40 for four-day admission
Also in Auburn, the Gold Country Fair awaits with carnival rides, corn dogs and a full slate of live music. It’s a four-day affair that runs at the Gold County Fairgrounds & Event Center from Thursday through Sunday.
Highlights include exhibits of local art, the Auburn Trading Card show and a Sunday night demolition derby that’ll bring flashbacks to “Happy Days” and the infamous “Malachi Crunch.”
Which local brewery rocks hardest?
The details:
- Touchstone Brewing, 116 N. 16th St., Suite 100, Sacramento
- 1-8 p.m., Sept. 12 (Saturday)
- Free, $30 for VIP
Live music and beer are a time-honored combo. But how about when the beermakers are also creating the tunes? That’s the challenge behind “Battle of the Brewery Bands,” which goes down Saturday at Touchstone Brewing north of Downtown Sacramento.
Each of the eight bands competing for bragging rights contain at least one employee of a local brewery, including Oak Park Brewing, King Cong Brewing and Touchstone Brewing with the home court advantage. Which bands fizzle and which bring the heat like a Triple IPA? Pull up with a pint and find out.
More events you won’t want to miss
- Get your boogie on with Earth, Wind & Fire at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland on Sept. 15-16 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
- Take a watercolor on rice paper class at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center on Sept. 11 (Friday)
- Catch “Pigs is Pigs” and other Ellis Parker Butler Stories at the Winters Opera House from Sept. 11-13 (Friday-Sunday)
- Chill with classical guitar from David Chapman at the Crocker Art Museum in Downtown Sacramento on Sept. 13 (Sunday)
- Channel your inner Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir at Ain’t Necessarily Dead Fest in Auburn’s Regional Park on Sept. 12 (Saturday).
Before I go,
The Sacramento area is stepping up to support local arts. Demand was so high for last weekend’s Behind the Barre dance and arts festival in Midtown that organizers released standing room only tickets. And here’s a fist bump to Sacramento filmmakers Christy Savage and Darin Wood, who sold out the Esquire IMAX Theatre for Saturday’s debut screening of “Grunk the Smasher.” Here’s hoping for a second screening soon.
Thanks again for supporting an amazing first year at Abridged by PBS KVIE. Stay in touch and keep sending those tips to christo916@gmail.com.
See you next week!
