Fri, Dec 18, Brian Hanover

Sacramento’s own Hanover Saints are like a bottle over the head. The working-class-punk heroes helped establish a unified scene in California’s capital while churning out hard-as-fuck punk-rock numbers that make Al Barr sound like Donny Osmond. Band frontman Brian Hanover’s solo material is a bit toned down on the aggression side (every angry punk rocker has to calm down sometimes; we can’t all be Bad Religion) but holds no less significance than anything else he’s put out. With layers of acoustic guitars and occasional keyboard flourishing under his weathered voice, Hanover’s songs have never sounded more honest. Come out if you’re not working a third shift. 1111 H Street, www.myspace.com/brianhanover.