Sippin’ drank, throwin’ metal

Ludacris doin’ work:
I admire Ludacris. Most rich people are lazy and spoiled, but Ludacris came to Sacramento this past Monday and clocked in overtime hours.

His day began early at the Costco in north Sacramento on Expo Parkway, where he autographed bottles of his signature brand of cognac, Conjure, and posed for photos with fans who shelled out $20.99. Sure, big deal. But it was the little things Luda did that caught my eye. For instance, when the liquor display ran low of his naked-lady-silhouette-festooned cognac bottles, he retrieved more himself from nearby cardboard cases and neatly arranged them on a table. And it’s that kind effort and attention to detail that separates the go-getters from prima donnas. Somebody get Luda a Costco job app.

Afterward, Luda spent time at Westfield’s Downtown Plaza, where he posted on Twitter: “I’ll B performing 2nite at Tropicana, The show has bn moved from Venue.” Wow, Luda, what a sport: Tropicana, a Latin nightclub off of Arden Way out in the cuts, is by no means the House of Blues-type venue the rap star must be accustomed to. Yet instead of whining on Twitter, like maybe Kanye West would, he went on with the gig. And he wasn’t finished: Luda ended his day with a deejay set at Gold Club Centerfolds.

Dang—when Luda sings that he has hoes in different area codes, he’s evidently not kidding: That guy covers ground. (Nick Miller)

New Deftones songs better than the old?:
It was sad that Deftones could barely half fill Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium last Sunday, though I don’t blame the band’s predominately young fan base for not shelling out $30 bucks—plus beer, parking, merch T-shirt money—for the show. Shouldn’t a hometown band lower the price for its locals? (On the flip side, I suppose 30 bones is cheap these days.)

Anyway, those who made it to the show weren’t disappointed. The stage—flanked by spotlights, flashing strobes and pulsing multicolored lights—dazzled, as did songs off the band’s new album, Diamond Eyes.

Specifically, the set took a huge turn for the better when the lights dimmed to soft blue tones and guitarist Stephen Carpenter unleashed the distorted, staccato chops from the track “You’ve Seen the Butcher,” a slower, even jazzy—at least as zippy and saucy as Deftones get—number that had the mosh-pit participants sauntering instead of the usual shirtless, Neanderthal beatdown. Though I doubt the meatheads pounding the crap out of each other during the rest of the Deftones’ 22-song set would ever admit to enjoying free-form, mellowed-out styling.

Still, there’s an obvious disconnect between heavy Deftones songs, even those on the otherwise mellow White Pony album, and the band’s “new sound,” which aside from bruisers such as “Rocket Skates” or “Royal” skews not only a lot more melodic and shoegazey, but also speaks to more thoughtful, mature songwriting.

Deftones aren’t about to sell out the Radisson or co-headline with Dave Koz just yet, but it’s definitely a welcome shape of metal to come. (N.M.)

Random advice:
It’s been a couple months, but I finally got into San Francisco-based garage-noise four-piece Thee Oh Sees’ latest, Warm Slime, which was produced by Sacramentan Chris Woodhouse and features a 14-minute opening title track that’s a great lo-fi primer. Think crunchy guitars, retro backbeats, popping bass, and reverby woo-hoo vocals. If you can’t get into this sound, time to give up, retire and order a Lady Antebellum CD.

Or convert to hip-hop. I recommend The Bridge, by DLRN, who truly know how to put on a record release, as per last Friday’s drop at Beatnik Studios. Tequila, sushi, beer—they ran out of all the good stuff by the time I arrived at 10:30 p.m., but I take that as more a sign of a good thing than a faux pas.

Lastly, don’t forget local post-punk four-piece G. Green’s new 7-inch, which is remarkable, just like their live set—which guitarist Dylan Craver barely showed up in time for at the band’s West Coast tour-launch gig last week. Look for the album soon on www.maltduckrecords.com. (N.M.)

Super last minute:
Did you know that Mike Diamond will open for deejay Steve Aoki this Thursday, August 12? Well, I just found out. Here’s the specs: Aoki, Social Nightclub, 1000 K Street; 9 p.m.; $15. (N.M.)