The American River Current

Coming soon: Sacramento’s Whiskey Dawn turns California country

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • February 4, 2012

Country music is alive and stomping in Sacramento and The Current's Mark Lewis sat down recently with Sacramento-based country music band Whiskey Dawn to discuss their inventive form of "California Country"...

The Fray talks to arcurrent.com in advance of Feb. 20 tour stop

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • February 4, 2012

After being honored as the 84th most influential band of the last decade by Billboard magazine, Denver, Colo.’s The Fray is set to release their third studio album – the first of this decade -- on...

Trapt’s rock not enough to set you free

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • January 30, 2012

Trapt, the veteran hard-rock band from Los Gatos, returned to The Boardwalk (Orangevale’s sole intimate venue for live music enthusiasts) to deliver a pulse pounding 80-minute set to a capacity crowd...

Light-rail collision claims lives of two ARC students

Mark Lewis and Trevor Horn • January 30, 2012

The three adults who were in the sports utility vehicle that collided with a light-rail train in south Sacramento on Jan. 28 were all American River College students. Two adults in the SUV were killed,...

Rockstar and Corporate Sponsorship Overshadow All Expect M. Shadows

Mark Lewis and Phillip Frields • December 4, 2011

There couldn’t be a more properly named multi-band nine-hour-long concert tour than “The Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival” which invaded Wheatland’s Sleep Train Amphitheatre on Oct. 13, 2011,...

Pro Vs. Con: Guns on Campus

Mark Lewis, Chuck Livingston, Mark Lewis, and Chuck Livingston • November 30, 2011

The Issue: In light of campus shootings, some colleges and universities in the US are allowing students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus. Is this a clear cut second amendment issue, or...

We Bought a Zoo

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • November 30, 2011

Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo” is an inspired film with earnest emotion that’s not schmaltzy, visually striking production values and superb acting throughout a triumphant story of courage and...

Cosby’s memoir falls flat

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • November 14, 2011

Every single time I mention the name “Bill Cosby” to an acquaintance or close friend – I get these ridiculously bad impressions of them channeling Cosby saying “J-E-L-L-O” or “JELLO pudding...

New policies create new obstacles for ESL students

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • November 9, 2011

American River College students requiring course work in English as a Second Language now have less federal student aid to help them reach their educational goals. It used to be that students could...

Bill Cosby hasn’t lost his infamous charm

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • November 9, 2011

One of the greatest comedians of the last half-century, Dr. Bill Cosby, treated me and 4,904 other Sacramentans to what may be one of his final local comedy routines on Oct. 29. The 74-year-old Cosby...

Matt Nathanson uses charm and wit to please Sacramento audience

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • November 3, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIhZn69rrsk Sacramento’s Ace of Spades club was enlivened on Oct. 28 by a singer-songwriter probably best known for his cover of James’ “Laid” that was featured...

Sugarland show leaves a lot to be desired

Mark Lewis and Mark Lewis • October 29, 2011

In the midst of their “The Incredible Machine” cross-country mega-tour, the normally vivacious country mega-stars Sugarland shuffled onto Sacramento’s Raley Field on Aug. 25, 2011. The Grammy-winning...