Author Archives: Karl Smarkel

About Karl Smarkel

Sacramento raised, SF polished. Let's get stoked on Sacramento!

Punk Rock Propaganda – The Shell Corporation

“Sacramento is lucky to have such a thriving punk scene with so many good bands and we’re honored to have been invited to be a part of it.” This is a real quote from an email sent by Jan Drees, … Continue reading

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Country Punkin’- Drag the River’s John Snodgrass

While it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, it can never be too cheap. Drag the River posted a “name your own price” promotion to download their catalogue at whatever price you desire.  “Those records were in … Continue reading

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Indie Rock Lives in Der Spazm

A true band of the new school, Der Spazm’s Leticia Garcia and Dillon Christensen met on MySpace. I apologize if that makes anyone feel old. After this genesis and laying down the experimental groundwork, they found bassist Ashley. “They found … Continue reading

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Be Brave Bold Robot: A Service to the Community

At the time of this article’s publication, Be Brave Bold Robot frontman Dean Haakenson will have finished the juice cleanse he was midway through when we spoke in Capitol Park one crisp afternoon. Not a New Year’s resolution, per se, … Continue reading

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Broken Bottles and Broken Hearts: Carly DuHain Sings it All

She’s a name you’ve likely heard, if not read about in alt papers like The Sacramento News & Review. If you’ve seen her in person, she is unmistakable. Imagine you walk into a show and see a tall, curvy woman … Continue reading

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Kepi Ghoulie: Road Dog of the Year

Old punks don’t die, they just keep doing the same shows forever, or start making country music. Kepi Ghoulie, a 20-odd year veteran and mainstay of the Sacramento scene, has taken a rather different path. “The Ghoulies broke up in … Continue reading

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Last Call at the Distillery

You know that feeling when you see a new burger joint in town, and you’re skeptical, then some of your friends tell you it’s awesome and others say it’s “just okay“, only for it to close before you ever went? … Continue reading

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Red Fang Plowing Into Blue Lamp Thursday

Editor’s Note: This is the first in what I hope will be a new series of articles about local musical acts and artists who are coming to perform in the Sacramento region. The author, Karl Smarkel, is a Sacramento-native who … Continue reading

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