Cathy Cassinos-Carr

In a grim news year like 2020, wouldn’t it have been nice if comedy clubs were deemed “essential” and allowed to stay open? Imagine how therapeutic it might have been for those who’d been...

He desperately misses performing live. But Todd Morgan has found an upside to sheltering-in-place: He’s building his repertoire. “Since I’m not busy gigging, I have time to learn new songs,” says Morgan, whose slicked-back hair and penchant for early rock ’n’...

No. 1 lesson learned from the pandemic?“Don’t be a singer or a horn player; you can’t wear a mask,” jokes vocalist Beth Duncan. “We naturally spew!”Duncan’s rich, velvety voice has been a Sacramento staple since the ’80s. Whether you’ve caught her...

As manager and drummer for the uber-busy local band Island of Black and White, Nawal Alwareeth is a planner and scheduler of the first order. So when COVID destroyed all the finely tuned plans she had put in place for the band for...

While COVID captivity has wreaked havoc for every working musician, the timing was especially tough for blues/gospel singer Marcel Smith. He had just nabbed a coveted spot as lead singer with The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra when the world came to a...

For blues singer/musician Katie Knipp, the pandemic brought a reminder to choose your mindset carefully.“It reminded me that we’re really in charge of our own destinies,” says Knipp. “It’s easy to slip into a negative...

Canceled, rescheduled, postponed—these three words have haunted us all in 2020. But musicians who live to perform were among the hardest hit, especially when the lockdowns continued into summer, the peak season for festivals, concerts and...

Singer-songwriter Justin Farren has a strong voice, a fluid guitar style and a likable persona. But it’s his songs—rich, relatable stories imbued with clever wordplay—that are his true calling card, earning him a bevy...

When she had her “aha” moment, singer/songwriter Jessica Malone was still in high school. Her job waiting tables was a great way to bring in a little cash—until the time she couldn’t get the...

“Possessed” is the word that comes to mind whenever I see bluesman Jimmy Pailer play—which I do as often as possible, because he grabs me every time. With his captivating charisma and mastery of...