It’s no secret that the local music scene can be draining. Playing half-empty bars and coffee shops is a big part of a Sacramento musician’s life, and local artist Christian Kiefer has been through it all.

“You play lots of nights to a handful of people, or you’ll play for people who are more interested in getting drunk and laid then in listening to your music.” said Kiefer. “Occasionally, though, you’ll play to150 people who love you.”

Kiefer has been a part of the local scene for years now, an experience he describes as being sometimes tiresome. “I guess it’s multi-faceted.” Said Kiefer. “There’s lots of bands, and most of them are mediocre, some of them are better than mediocre and a very, very small amount of them are really, really good.”

The 31-year-old husband and father has been writing for the Sacramento News & Review for the last few years, and has had a chance to see a lot of the local acts. “I think Las Pesadillas is the best band in the area,” said Kiefer. “And the St. Simon Trio are the best songwriters. There are other bands, like Deathray and Cake, that I really enjoy. I always like Anton Barbeau…brilliant resident wacko.”

More an artist than a critic, Kiefer has released several CDs. His latest LP, The Medicine Show, is about to be released. “It’s a novel of sorts,” said Kiefer. “It’s divided into four chapters of three songs each, and there’s little chapter dividers, spoken word tracks, between them.”

The Medicine Show has several special guests, including local percussionist and long-time friend Jason Long from the Blue Man Group.

Describing Kiefer’s music is a challenge. “I tend to call myself gothic-acoustic Americana,” said Kiefer. “Which I think kinda covers all the possibilities. But when I’m playing with my band, I think it’s best described as Doc Watson or Sonic Youth.”Kiefer’s musical influences are anything but ordinary. His sites old-time Appalachian folk music and “classical minimalism” as having the biggest effect on his songwriting.

“Classical minimalism would be like Phillip Glass,” said Kiefer. “The basic idea is musical phrases repeated and slowly changing over a period of time.”

Originally a film major at the University of Southern California, Kiefer switched majors to creative writing, and wound up getting his master’s degree at Sac State. “I learned more at Sac State in one year than 4 years at USC.” Said Kiefer. “There are some great English professors here. I think (professor) Jack Jameson is one of the unsung heroes of our time.”

Christian now teaches Literature at UC Davis. “I guess at heart the great thing about teaching is that they’re paying me for what I know.” Said Kiefer. “My students are brilliant, young, motivated people and the future is right there for them to go and grasp.”

Kiefer plays this Saturday at 9 p.m. at the True Love Coffeehouse, where he will release The Medicine Show, though he has yet to receive copies from his record company. “If I don’t have them, I’ll buy everyone popsicles,” said Kiefer. “That’s just a rumor, though.” For more info visit his Web site www.christiankiefer.com.