Whether you’re stuck in Sacramento because there’s nowhere elseto go or because you’re making up some lost units at SacramentoState, you’ll probably be itching to get out of the house as muchas possible this summer. So, if it’s more than just clubbingyou’re looking for, consider this local music guide more of a guideon how to have a good time.

MUSIC VENUES

Chances are you probably know about the Arco Arena in NorthSacramento or the Sleep Train Amphitheater in Marysville, but thereare plenty more concert venues to check out.

If you’re seeking a mid-sized place, somewhere that holds around3,000 people, your best bet is the Memorial Auditorium. Located inthe heart of downtown on J and 15th streets, the MemorialAuditorium is notorious for putting on GREAT shows like UnlimitedSunshine (featuring Cake and The Flaming Lips) and Papa Roach(their CD release show was held there).

A smaller place like the Capitol Garage is where to catch thehottest independent acts. The part-time concert venue, part-timecoffee shop is located on 15th and L streets downtown and holdsnearly 100 people. Lou Barlow, The Lawrence Arms and even Cake havebeen known to play there.

There are tons of places like the Capitol Garage, which featureboth touring acts and local bands. The best places to go for thelocal scene tend to be scattered around the midtown area. The TrueLove Caf65533;, located on 24th and J streets, has regular localconcerts. Popular Sacramento acts like onelinedrawing, Popgun andDavid Houston can often be found playing there on a Friday orSaturday night.

There are plenty more small venues where you can catch a greatlocal act almost any night of the week. In midtown, there’s theCoffee Bean, the Fox and Goose, Old Ironsides, Blue Lamp, Luna’sCaf65533; and several bars in Old Sacramento.

For those looking for music on the outskirts of Sacramento, theBoardwalk in Orangevale is a good selection. They hold shows 4-5times a week, half the time featuring a touring act like Ice T or alocal bill with bands like the Mallrats and the Knockouts.

WHO’S COMING TO TOWN

For those of you leaning towards the lighter side of the musicalrealm, there’s lots of mainstream music coming into the Sacramentoarea. On June 9th Matchbox Twenty will be at the Arco Arena withSugar Ray. On June 12th Toad the Wet Sprocket lead singer GlenPhillips will bring his acoustic music to the Boardwalk.

On June 22nd 100.5 The Zone presents A Day In the Zone, a cheapevent in Discovery Park featuring Hootie & The Blowfish, MacyGray, Sixpence None the Richer and Uncle Kracker.

Later on in the summer, July 9th to be exact, Fleetwood Maccomes to the Arco Arena. Then on Thursday, July 17th MichelleBranch and the Dixie Chicks will play Arco as well.

For hard rock fans, there’s plenty of touring acts to see in thenext few months. On June 11th The Foo Fighters, along with PeteYorn, will hit the Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento.

Topping all else, on August 28th American Idol 2 will come tothe Arco Arena. That means the whole gang will be there, includingClay Aiken, Kimberly Locke, Kimberly Caldwell, Rickey Smith andwinner Rueben Studdard. Now, how do you beat that?

LOCAL MUSIC

Of course any town can host an American Idol 2 tour, but what makesSacramento music really special is the local scene. There areliterally hundreds of local bands playing around the greaterSacramento area.

For punk and hard rock fans, any night at the Boardwalk inOrangevale or the Capitol Garage in midtown will whet yourappetite. The Low Flying Owls, Call Me Insmael and The Mallrats aresome of the more popular aggressive rockers in the area, but youcan find great loud music from the mouths of Life is Bonkers, ABetter Half or Estereo when they play, which is often.

Then there is the “coffee house scene.” Hanging around the TrueLove or Luna’s on a Friday or Saturday night will guarantee yougreat local mellow music.

David Houston, whose Public Nuisance song was recently coveredby the White Stripes, plays regularly in the midtown area. So doesfamous local hero Anton Barbeau, who’s cult following has reachedthe east coast.

Up-and-coming acts like Richard March, Jackie Green, Squish theBad Man, Radio Cure and Madison solidify the “coffee house scene”with their unlimited potential, while veterans like Barbeau andonelinedrawing keep the crowds coming.