Neo Crocker | A Modern Culture Party (Recap)

The view of the Neo Crocker Modern Culture Party

Okay so I got lucky . . .

I got a free ticket to the first major event at the new Crocker Art Museum since the grand opening. It was a hefty ticket price [$75 presale/$95 at the door] and it wasn't until I arrived that I understood the high cost.

When you walked in, in front of you short films were projected on one of the sides of the museum. DJ Shaun Slaughter was spinning records as fire dancers performed on the main stage.


There was laser show, a huge bar, waiters walking around with delicious hors d'oeuvres, and this is just what was going on as you arrived! Guests were dressed up and I'm not only talking about looking fancy - some folks were wearing extremely eccentric and artistic outfits - one man wore a jacket covered with watches.

A few separate events were going on inside the museum itself as well. On the ground floor early on there was a fashion show and music.

RJD2 (picture left) opened his show at 11 PM with the Mad Men theme "A Beautiful Mine" and continued for the rest of the night performing his other popular tracks and doing some classic DJing as well as the rest of us danced our butts off!

As awesome as all of this was (and oh, it was!), I was most impressed and moved by ElectroPoetic Coffee's performance on the third floor - which happened to also be in my favorite room in the new museum.

This extremely creative duo is made up of jazz musician/guitarist and host of improvisational music series Nebraska Mondays at Luna's Cafe Ross Hammond and poet/spoken word artist and neo folk singer NSAA (pronounced "en-sah-ah").

The combination of moody electric guitar and smart, insightful poetry in the art museum setting created a memorable experience that was extraordinary and memorable. One of the audience members was actually moved to tears by ElectroPoetic Coffee's music and words. I highly recommend checking out this duo as well as their separate work.

See them soon at:

Phono Select Records
Tuesday | Oct. 19th | 7 PM

24th Street Theater (LA)
Friday | Oct. 22nd | 7:30 PM

Sol Collective
Saturday | Oct. 30th | 9 PM


All together the event was exciting and vibrant. Keep an eye out at Crocker's website to see when new events and shows are happening!


>> Check out the rest of our Neo Crocker photos on Facebook <<

Neo-Crocker 2010 | Modern Culture Party

Last Sunday, I (along with most of Sacramento) attended the opening of new Crocker Art Museum. I have to say I was completely blown away by the clean, white modern structure. Inside there was wonderful natural lighting from the multitude of glass windows, and what I liked best was the bridge they built connecting the historic Crocker with the new structure.

Not only that but entrance was free for the entire day!

The whole affair was certainly geared toward two specific age ranges: the very young, and the very . . . not so young. At the O Street Stage, the Shadechasers (that's right) performed songs from the American songbook (a.k.a. "Old McDonald Had a Farm") to the youngsters sitting on their fishy rugs. And at the Main Stage traditional Greek dancers wowed the audience.

Nothing really for anyone in their late teens to mid-30s, well except the art of course.

What some of you might not know, is that the new Crocker has a staffer who is booking indie acts (especially local ones) to perform there. For anywhere between $10-15, you can catch some of your favorite bands performing in a pretty cool, unexpected venue.

If you can't wait until December 16th when Chelsea Wolfe will be taking the stage, this Saturday from 8 PM - 2 AM the Crocker is hosting the Neo-Crocker 2010: A Modern Culture Party.

RJD2 will be the headliner of the evening, with supporting performances by local favorites like DJ Shaun Slaughter, NSAA & Ross Hammond, and Exquisite Corps to name a few.

Plus there will be fire-dancing, a free form fashion show, a Social Sculpture by Danny Scheible, video mashups and short films by Movies on a Big Screen, and more!

Aye, but's here's the rub - like many things with "neo" in front of it, this is a pretty pricey event: $75 presale, and $95 at the door. Here's the deal, if you have the money, come out and support a great event and this beautiful new museum. If not, save up and come out to one of the many less expensive shows the Crocker has scheduled starting December 16th.

>> More pictures from the Crocker Museum Opening <<

Exclusive Interview & GIVEAWAY with The New Humans!

TNHZ = Scott Simpson (Vocals, Keyboards), Mike
Steez (Drums), Cole Cuchna (Piano), and
Robert La Casse (Bass)

After winning a Sammie back in 2008, Sacramento’s indie electro pop outfit, The New Humans are finally releasing their very first EP called Avalanche.

Many have speculated when this talented quartet was going to put out a record. Amazingly they have been able to pack venues, gather a strong local fan base, and release a music video for their single “Fever” without one. 

And quite frankly, no one is more excited than The New Humans to finally have a finished and polished product that they were able to produce on their own terms. 

In an age of digital downloads and advanced technologies that make home recording simpler for musicians, it is certainly easier to create an album without the help of a label. However, an absence of financial backing does present some pretty obvious bumps in the road for any emerging artist seeking creative freedom: The New Humans are no exception.

Scott: We couldn’t go on a West Coast tour right now because I work a part time job, [Mike] teaches drums, [Cole] is going to school, and Robbie is the only one with a full time job. Sometimes it does seem a little out of reach without financial help. We do want someone to put the EP out after we release it, even if it’s a small independent label just to get it out there more, give us the ability to tour.

Left to Right: Cole Cuchna & Robert La Casse

Unsigned they have been able to release their first single "Fever" on iTunes and become a fixture of the local music community. 

Their infectiously catchy and powerful sound (an infusion of blues, swing, and electro pop) draws huge crowds to all of their shows. They have even created a cohesive sense of on-stage style. So what's the hardest part of the music biz for them right now: finding the time to promote.


Cole: That’s the most important thing about labels now. Anyone can make a record and put it on iTunes. I think promotion is the biggest appeal for artists right now. Not like “oh they can put me on the radio” or “they can put my CD in stores” - that’s pretty easy to do now. So, from our standpoint we’d just love to have our music promoted to extremes we could never do on our own.

Robbie: Have them book a tour for us, or put us on the festival circuit, or put us in all the top blogs or ads in the indie press.

Until now, The New Humans haven't had the tangible product needed to send to labels - an EP that took two years to finish. Apparently, the completion of Avalanche took so long after their win at the Sammie Awards in 2008 that a Sac Bee reporter wrote an article called "The New Humans: Where Art Thou?" in 2009 wondering when or if TNHZ would ever release an album. 

What the writer wasn't aware of were the creative differences they experienced with their original producer. Eventually, TNHZ turned to local producer and owner of J Street Recorders and Alley Avenue Recording Studio, Ira Skinner to help finish off what they call "Avalanche V2.0". This proved to be a bold but smart move for the young musicians who say working with Skinner was a different yet immensely better scenario.

Left to Right: Scott Simpson & Mike Steez

Scott: [Our original producer] was more commercialized – [he liked to make] everything sound perfect – very formulaic. I’ve known him for a long time too, and he offered us a deal we couldn’t refuse, which was an honest offer on his part. Ira is actually the exact opposite. He’s kind of the hand on the board and he’ll give us his two cents…

Cole: If we ask for it.

Scott: Our first producer was super detail-oriented and [Ira’s] like super relaxed. Ira is a great musician with a great ear and definitely has helped us do some cool stuff to the songs. But as far as being there, he’s more like “I’m your friend, I like your band” – he’s more opening up his studio for us to use.

Robbie: It’s a lot more inviting an atmosphere; a lot more comfortable. 

Cole: He knows our sound really well [Ira’s played drums and extra percussion for TNHZ in the past]. He knows what we’re going for. And he doesn’t try to control it at all. 

Sounds like an ideal recording situation and if their track "All the Kids" is any indication Avalanche is definitely going to be an upbeat, electric, and fun listen - proof that all their hard work has finally paid off.

>>Download "All the Kids" for FREE at iLike<<

>>Vote for The New Humans | SacShows Local Music Awards<<

To celebrate Concerts 4 Charity and SEMF are presenting the Avalanche Release Party with Little Foxes, Favors and DJ Shaun Slaughter at the Townhouse Lounge.

August 21st from 9 PM -1:00 AM | $5

First 50 Pre-Sale tickets are only $7 and include a FREE copy of Avalanche EP! >>Buy Now<<
Or how about we do a GIVEAWAY!!!

We have 3 copies of Avalanche PLUS 5 tickets to the Release Party for you to win and here's how:

Copy and Paste this Text into your Facebook Status:
"Read an interview with electro-pop band @The New Humans at @Paduta's blog and enter to win their new "Avalanche" EP or a ticket to their CD Release Party Aug. 21st! http://paduta.blogspot.com"


Make Sure:

1. Both "New Humans" and "Paduta" are tagged in the status by "Liking" both pages and putting "@" in front of both.

2. That the link is present and visible.

That's it!

Contestants will have until Monday at NOON [12 pm | PST] to copy and paste our blurb into their status. 8 Winners will be randomly chosen and notified by Tuesday 12pm [PST].

Good Luck