Meet Midtown Second Saturday’s Headlining Performers in October

Can you share a bit about how LabRats formed?

“LabRats was formed in 2022, around the tail end of the pandemic. Each member of the band specializes in both popular music as well as forward leaning creative music and share a common goal to unite all corners of the Sacramento music scene.”

How would you describe your musical style and what sets your work apart from other artists?

“We have a very wide range of influences ranging from swing to swing, to Hip Hop, and to metal artists, which we actively try and incorporate into our music. Our sets are always very sonically diverse, yet there’s always a common element that ties everything together because of that. I feel that a quality that we exude which may set us apart from other bands is our ability to function both as an instrumental band, and as a vehicle for other artists to use for their music. We have spent a lot of time exploring how we approach our music for the countless different settings we have performed at, whether it’s at a warehouse rave, or the Crocker Art Museum. We like to meet our audience where they’re at and make the music what they need for the moment.”

How has living or working in Sacramento influenced your music?

“Sacramento has one of, if not, the best kept secret art scenes in the world. One of the core reasons why we are a band is to be involved with Sacramento with emphasis on giving local artists a platform. All too often we see the artists of this town be praised for their work, yet disregarded by the city, or to have their work stolen from them only to be used for different intentions. Our efforts with Sunday Sessions and some of the educational work we do tries to reverse this.”

What are some of your aspirations or goals as a group, both in terms of your growth together and the impact you hope to make through your music?

“We would like to continue our Sunday Sessions for the city. We see ourselves spreading out and collaborating with other artists from different cities as well as continuing to collaborate with Sacramento artists. We want to ultimately show the world that Sacramento has got what it takes to be in similar conversations with other big music cities.”

What’s the most memorable performance you’ve had so far, and why does it stand out to you?

“For us I think our most memorable performance was when we opened for the legendary Tower of Power. Tower has been an absolute staple in West Coast music. Them hailing from the bay, and us hailing from Sacramento, it felt amazing to be in the same room with them and to represent the city in that way.”

How does participating in events like Second Saturday allow you to connect with your audience or community in ways that are unique compared to other platforms or venues?

“Second Saturdays have been a popular cultural institution for Sacramento for years and years. We have never played a Second Saturday event, but we all have attended them over in the past. It really is an honor to provide music this month as well as having the opportunity to meet new fans and potential collaborators.”