From 916 to the 512

Sac, by way of Austin: Life is not fair sometimes. If it were fair, for example, I’d be hurriedly writing this to meet deadline before hopping on a plane to attend South by Southwest. The music/film/interactive festival held annually in my former hometown runs through March 17. (For the record, SN&R writer Deena Drewis will be changing time zones for the event, so expect a full report in this space next week). This year, a handful of bands are heading to the 512 to represent the 916. Sactowners to check out include folk singer Brianna Lea Pruett, the rock band Middle Class Rut and indie four-piece K Sera. Of course, those lucky enough to be heading down to the Lone Star State would be remiss to not catch Sac expats (and current Austin residents) Agent Ribbons. San Francisco-based Sacto faves Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers are also set to make an appearance.

A dark hue: Speaking of erstwhile Sac bands, Sister Crayon (now of Oakland) just posted a link to a new song on its SoundCloud page (https://soundcloud.com/sistercrayon/floating-heads). “Floating Heads” is pretty and ethereal, and singer Terra Lopez’s voice is pure sweetness at times, but her flair for the Kate Bush-esque operatics and the track’s staccato beats give the song a decidedly gloomy and barbed edge. Gorgeous. Expect the full EP Cynic on April 16. Follow the band on Twitter (https://twitter.com/SisterCrayon) to get an early heads up on remixes, tour dates, etc.

Two from the vaults: I tend not to wallow too much in nostalgia—the good old days were plenty bad at times, you know? That said, news of not one but two particular shows is making me feel a little sentimental for days past. On Saturday, March 30, the Troublemakers will commemorate their 20th anniversary with a set at Old Ironsides (1901 10th Street). The bill includes the Four Eyes—who, incidentally, are also hitting the 20-year mark—and Shark, featuring Charles Albright, Kevin Hinely, Matt K. Shrugg and Scott Soriano. The show starts at 9 p.m. and costs $8 at the door. Then, a few months down the road, members of the Knockoffs are getting the band back together to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Way to make me feel old, guys. That show is scheduled for Saturday, August 24—venue and complete lineup are still TBA.

Every day is not like Sunday: Sundays are usually boring for me. Like, really boring. But sometimes, Sundays in Sacramento have live music, like Mariachi El Bronx and Kill the Precedent at Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub. As a result, this past weekend, my regular “boring” Sunday turned into something grand. Kill the Precedent is a local hardcore staple—or it should be. The guys do a set that includes a random slideshow on a projection screen, plus, they do a kick-ass cover of the Smith’s “Death of a Disco Dancer.” KTP blend electronic drums that pound against eardrums with grizzly vocals and the guitars keep the band’s pulse strong. For those in the dark about Mariachi El Bronx, I’ll light the way: It’s a six-piece band from Southern California that perform mariachi-style jams in English. Oh, and it has an alter ego: the Bronx, a hardcore-punk band with several albums to its name and a reputation for high-energy shows. Getting the chance to hear trumpets, violins and a soft voice over all those Latin beats really resonated with my Mexican heritage and even with the patrons of Harlow’s, who danced with beers in hand and sang along to the lyrics. All this, and the band sports authentic mariachi attire. For a band that’s mostly made up of gringos, it nailed it all to a T, from the wails of the trumpets to the weeps of the violins.