The Lava Pups are going back-to-back in December. Opening for The Pyronauts’ “Christmas Party” on a Saturday evening and returning to the Downtown Plaza the next afternoon. Maybe this should be billed as -- tongue firmly in cheek -- “The Lava Pups Greater Sacramento Area Mini Tour.” Of course, a "mini tour" poster with two dates would look really weird, and some viewers would miss the humor.
Last Saturday, Becky and I had the opportunity to reflect on what is happening in “Pups Land.” We had visited two galleries on Second Saturday. Folks here in Sacramento may remember that Second Saturday began as an art crawl. In its early phases, the focus was on art. Each Second Saturday brought openings. Many galleries were within walking distance of each other in Midtown or on Del Paso Boulevard. Sacramento’s art community was reaching a wider audience. Second Saturday was hip.
Over time, the Economy, AIDs, and the fleeting nature of what’s hip took their toll on the galleries. The great hope to gentrify Del Paso Boulevard fell by the wayside. The center of Second Saturday landed in Midtown.
The focus shifted from attending art openings and viewing the works of area artists to having a street party. Music. People. Alcohol. Crowds. As evenings turned into night, the audience turned from people giving lip service to the arts to alcohol-fueled revelers. Culture clash between art-loving hipsters and fun-loving drunks and gangsters. Fights and some gay bashing. Greater police presence. Finally, a murder. Even greater police presence. Hand-wringing by local politicos and merchants.
Ultimately, we found that the galleries which we enjoy were outside of the Midtown Second Saturday vortex. But they no longer were within walking distance of each other. Second Saturday for us no longer was an art crawl. Rather, it was a drive to a selected gallery or two and avoiding Midtown and the attendant crowds, revelers, and congestion.
After attending an exhibition which included some of my sister’s work, Becky and I pondered where to eat at 7:30 in the evening. “What about [fill in a name]?” “Closes at 8:00.” “What about [fill in a name]?” “Nope, it’s in Midtown. I don’t want to put up with all of the crap.”
“What’s not in Midtown and reasonably priced?” “How about [fill in a name]?” “Too loud.” As I drove, our conversation continued until we agreed on the Fox & Goose, which is not in our usual rota. “Hey, they have burgers and salads. Robert [a friend of ours] is playing there tonight a 9:00. Maybe, we can eat and listen to him for a bit.”
Off we went to the Fox & Goose. The Fox & Goose Public House. The venerable Fox & Goose. This was much different from our last visit -- opening for Electropoetic Coffee. We were going to have dinner and drinks. No anxiety. No worries. No equipment to haul. No concerns about fannies in the seats.
We ordered. No Red Tail Ale. Becky, however, stayed with Mendocino County and ordered Boont Amber from the Anderson Valley. While we waited for our food and enjoyed our drinks, we looked around the sparsely-filled dining room. That was quite a contrast to the night the Pups played.
We began to talk about the Lava Pups, venues, and my continuing rock ‘n roll fantasy. That was all quite natural given our last visit to the Fox & Goose.
The conversation started with Becky’s observation, “This place was filled when you guys were here.” That was uplifting. She continued, “And you were way too loud. Why do you have to play so loud? It must be a guy thing!” Becky giveth, and she taketh away.
Oh, oh, was my fantasy about to be ripped?
Last Saturday, Becky and I had the opportunity to reflect on what is happening in “Pups Land.” We had visited two galleries on Second Saturday. Folks here in Sacramento may remember that Second Saturday began as an art crawl. In its early phases, the focus was on art. Each Second Saturday brought openings. Many galleries were within walking distance of each other in Midtown or on Del Paso Boulevard. Sacramento’s art community was reaching a wider audience. Second Saturday was hip.
Over time, the Economy, AIDs, and the fleeting nature of what’s hip took their toll on the galleries. The great hope to gentrify Del Paso Boulevard fell by the wayside. The center of Second Saturday landed in Midtown.
The focus shifted from attending art openings and viewing the works of area artists to having a street party. Music. People. Alcohol. Crowds. As evenings turned into night, the audience turned from people giving lip service to the arts to alcohol-fueled revelers. Culture clash between art-loving hipsters and fun-loving drunks and gangsters. Fights and some gay bashing. Greater police presence. Finally, a murder. Even greater police presence. Hand-wringing by local politicos and merchants.
Ultimately, we found that the galleries which we enjoy were outside of the Midtown Second Saturday vortex. But they no longer were within walking distance of each other. Second Saturday for us no longer was an art crawl. Rather, it was a drive to a selected gallery or two and avoiding Midtown and the attendant crowds, revelers, and congestion.
After attending an exhibition which included some of my sister’s work, Becky and I pondered where to eat at 7:30 in the evening. “What about [fill in a name]?” “Closes at 8:00.” “What about [fill in a name]?” “Nope, it’s in Midtown. I don’t want to put up with all of the crap.”
“What’s not in Midtown and reasonably priced?” “How about [fill in a name]?” “Too loud.” As I drove, our conversation continued until we agreed on the Fox & Goose, which is not in our usual rota. “Hey, they have burgers and salads. Robert [a friend of ours] is playing there tonight a 9:00. Maybe, we can eat and listen to him for a bit.”
Off we went to the Fox & Goose. The Fox & Goose Public House. The venerable Fox & Goose. This was much different from our last visit -- opening for Electropoetic Coffee. We were going to have dinner and drinks. No anxiety. No worries. No equipment to haul. No concerns about fannies in the seats.
We ordered. No Red Tail Ale. Becky, however, stayed with Mendocino County and ordered Boont Amber from the Anderson Valley. While we waited for our food and enjoyed our drinks, we looked around the sparsely-filled dining room. That was quite a contrast to the night the Pups played.
We began to talk about the Lava Pups, venues, and my continuing rock ‘n roll fantasy. That was all quite natural given our last visit to the Fox & Goose.
The conversation started with Becky’s observation, “This place was filled when you guys were here.” That was uplifting. She continued, “And you were way too loud. Why do you have to play so loud? It must be a guy thing!” Becky giveth, and she taketh away.
Oh, oh, was my fantasy about to be ripped?
