Smooth Criminal Alien Ant Farm

Sactown Rundown - June 9-15

Fear not, Rundown Nation…we’re back!

Rundown Headquarters had to be shut down for a little while, while yours truly was tending to a three week gig as a substitute molder of young minds – and it is wrong that I got a little misty-eyed when five or six of them gave me the “oh Captain, my Captain” send-off, “Dead Poets Society” style on the last day of class?

If it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right!

But now that summer is in full swing, let’s get rolling…

School’s Out for Summer Fest with Alien Ant Farm – Any way you slice it, there are eight youngs bands out there who will always be able to say that they opened for Alien Ant Farm – not a bag nugget for the ol’ rock and roll resume when you’re trying to get things rolling. Bands such as the Infamous Swanks and the Dry County Drinkers (plus six more) will be dueling it out for a $3000 prize before headliner AAF takes the stage. Alien Ant Farm – well, you’d have to say that they firmly support the musical rule of thumb that you never want to get famous with a cover song (read: Limp Bizkit, UB40). Still, their take on Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” was an anthem in it’s own right in the early ‘00s, and a couple of hits like “Movies” made them one of the poster children of pop punk during that time. And they’re holding court outdoors in Downtown Sacramento on a Saturday evening? Yes, please! Noon – 10 p.m. Saturday. Southside Park, 2115 6th St. $15 (or two for $20); 12 and under free. All ages. www.schoolsoutforsummerfest.com .