Friday Night Concert in the Park Review: Consider the Thief, Lite Brite, and MC Rut

June 23, 5:54 AMSacramento Rock Music ExaminerLaura Winn

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MC Rut at Cesar Chavez Park, Photo by Laura Winn

Friday Night Concerts in the Park always draw thousands of locals of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and music preferences, but last Friday Cesar Chavez Plaza was especially packed for the headliners, Middle Class Rut.  Before MC Rut’s heavily anticipated performance, three other talented Sacramento bands had their day on the big stage.

Early States opened the show, but unfortunately I missed their set. Listen to their tunes on Myspace and check them out on the Vans Warped Tour.

Consider the Thief entertained with a varied set of both harder and softer rock that always managed to be melodic.  

While their harder songs were in the vein of The Deftones, their softer songs took on an entirely different sound.

“Son of Hell” sounded more like something from U2’s repertoire than anything that could be described as “screamo/metal-core,” the sound the band was known for when they were called The Heartshed.

The band’s use of keys and programming (using electronic devices) added a Radiohead-like dimension to some songs. 

The band’s diverse sounds was impressive and well-received by the similarly diverse crowd.

The area in front of the stage grew more populated for Lite Brite, who brought an arena rock performance to the park with their classic rock meets 90s grunge sound. With rough, piercing vocals (think Kurt Cobain meets Jimmy Page) and shredding 70s rock god guitar sounds, this band inspires head-banging and air guitar playing.

Despite the occasional off-key and strained vocal, Lite Brite rocked on originals like “How the Sun Shines Your Name” and “Big City,” which has a Beastie Boys “Sabotage” feel.  Lite Brite’s sound is heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin, so it was only fitting for the band to cover Zeppelin’s “In the Light.” 

While they were great at the park, Lite Brite shines brightest in a small, dark nightclub. Check them out July 25 at Old Ironsides.

Before the duo of Zac Lopez (vocals, guitar) and Sean Stockham (drums, vocals) in Middle Class Rut could play their first note, the crowd was on its feet and fans of all ages were packed in with cameras ready to capture every moment of the band’s return to Sacramento after a European tour.

Whether or not you like MC Rut, you have to be impressed by the fierce energy of Lopez and Stockham, who create an intense, hard rock sound that seems much fuller than just two instruments. 

There's a clear Jane’s Addiction influence on MC Rut, but there’s also hints of Rage Against the Machine and Filter.

The crowd sang along to every last word of “New Low,” which received heavy airplay on KWOD 106.5 before the station traded in its soul for a catalog of waiting-room pop rock.

Some local bands get the slightest taste of success, and they forget that few people outside of Northern California have ever heard of them. Not Middle Class Rut. MC Rut thanked KWOD for its support of local music, joked about how awful it was playing with Limp Bizkit in Germany, and said how good it was to be back in Sacramento.

Middle Class Rut do Sacramento proud.
 
Friday Night Concerts in the Park take place now until August 14 at Cesar Chavez Plaza (10th & J Streets) every Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. They are always free and always all ages. The next concert features Mumbo Gumbo and The Nibblers.