Former Cake Man Hits Jackpot Today

I wouldn't swear to it in court, but Sacramento's Jackpot may subscribe to the "Three B's" school of rock -- namely, Beatles, Byrds, and Beck.

Not that Jackpot sounds exactly like any of those acts so specifically, but this fab four shares the propensities for alternating genial tunefulness and loopy, irreverent creativity. (Maybe that talent stems from the fact that singer/guitarist Rusty Miller was once a member of those Cake wiseacres).

On its ´04 opus F+, Jackpot's twisted twang came on like the Dandy Warhols playing Gram Parsons. The group’s latest, Moonbreath, shows Jackpot’s smart songcraft and hazy melodies just might fill the void left by the dearly departed Grandaddy. A Jackpot, indeed. Jackpot performs on Saturday, July 28, at Café du Nord at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10; call 861-5016 or visit www.cafedunord.com for more info. -- Mark Keresman