One Man Band

Drove past this van that had a neon sign and circled the block.  Felt like it was some sort of magical entry into another world.  Walked up the stairs through a curtain and there was a man behind a piano.  We sit and had great conversation, paid our low fee of $15 and the fun began.  Spent the evening with songs of mythical creatures, storytelling and predictions around the worlds insanity.  More people joined in the five seat theater.  People popped their heads in asking what is this...we were getting such a unique experience.  A great time had by all and your ticket is good all night! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

He performs music and jokes.  No need to go to a comedy club or any other place for music!

Reviewed on Yelp

This is a super fun time. We sat in for thirty minutes and loved the man's talent and silly sense of humor. He's a real entertainer and (from all appearances) can play upwards of forty instruments.

Reviewed on Yelp

Amazing.  After a fun-filled night of drinking and eating, on our way back to our car we came across the most curious of sights.  A mysterious van that magically wasn't there moments ago between the time we parked our car and went on our fantastic journey into the midtown bar scene.To be honest, at first sight the Acoustic Sanctuary is intimidating... something straight out of a Disney film, Wizard of Oz, or Dr. Who.  But once you walk through the curtain, you're greeted by an amazing sight of wall to wall instruments, and purple.It's a great place with friends, going alone may be awkward, and it's an amazing way to end a date in midtown, or in our case (completely sobering up before driving home). The host is friendly, he's extremely talented and has a way of keeping the mood light and has a way of leaving a smile on your face.I would totally recommend. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My favorite way to cap off a girls night out!  The one man band is Sacramento flare at its best.  If you are a fan of music and enjoy singalongs, you should stop by for some let-your-hair-down, better-than-karaoke fun!  There is one rule:  The topic of choice cannot be something you see in the room or a musical instrument.  Every other category is up for grabs.  If you stump the OMB, then the next song is played with your instrument of choice. Harp?  Oboe?  Steel Drum? It's up to you!  Best $5 bucks I have spent to date! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Songs!? Comedy!? Small seating around a piano in the back of a bus with a man who can play multiple instruments and connect songs to your liking on a whim! ? Yes please!! I was really surprised by how much fun this experience was. For only 5 bucks (and of course extra tip money should you feel) you can sit in theoretically as long as you want and listen to and participate. Once you are in the last person who stepped in must pick a random topic, the entertainer then will create a song related to your topic! He then goes around the table asking for more random topics. He makes awesome use of his space and talent as he crams tons of instruments plus people into a small venue. A visit to him is an excellent way to end a night out. Step in and have a great time! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

A totally unique experience!Finished a night out on the town at the Acoustic Sanctuary. $5 entry for each guest and he states you can stay as long as you like. There's alot to take in as you pull back that velvet entry curtain: purple walls encompass a purple baby grand piano surrounded by small stools, an assortment of musical instruments crowding the back wall. The confining space might have felt more oppressive without the mirror on the piano and on the ceiling; they aided in augmenting the experience as you can see the musician's fingers play the keys or watch him from different angles in the piano reflection. The musician (also dressed in purple) requested any topic not related to music or anything seen in the room. Topic "Calming rivers" elicited "Moon River" to which we tried to sing along. Topic "Russia" provided "Back in the USSR" although he had to look up the music for it. In toto, he played the piano, guitar, violin, and steel drum during our 25 minute session. He played the piano the most. We had a great time here! The concept is odd but fun and the musician is definitely kooky. A perfect ending to our night. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

A truly fantastic experience that is unique to Sacramento!  Going into the trailer might be a little freaky but it is totally worth overcoming that fear!

Reviewed on Yelp

Love this guy!!  It's really entertaining to watch him play and he gets the crowd involved which is really fun too.  My favorite thing is to bring people who are not from Sac to this place.  They are always really sketch about entering this tiny truck where there may or may not be a serial killer waiting for them, but are usually surprised by how fun it is.A must-do experience for every Sacramentian. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Throw in a little extra on that first date....such spontaneity!  He/She will love you for a some unique entertainment.youtube.com/watch?v=sZhs…

Reviewed on Yelp

after a not so great experience at a resteraunt/bar near by a group of 4 of us decided to stop in and see what this one man band was all about. ...best decision we made all night. Man has amazing talent to be able to preform and freestyle at the same time loved every minute of it and well worth the $5 More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This is a must see experience!!  You've got to appreciate the talent of this guy!!  He's got over 30 instruments and plays about 4-5 at a time. .It's a random little mobile purple spot that we stumbled upon at the end of our evening.  It's costs $5/person to enter and the guy asks for a topic and improvs a song right then and there.  Now understand, it might not be the most cohesive song and sound JUST like the original but the guy is playing 5 instruments at a time and generally making up the words to a song as you go, based on the topic you give.  You have to have the right kind of mind to be able to appreciate his talents.  It was the best $$ we spent all night! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Fantastic entertainment for 5 dollars!!  Wish we could have stayed longer, but we will definitely be back again.  Finding this hidden gem was the highlight of my week.  Keep up the great work!!

Reviewed on Yelp

I agree this is one of the treasures of Sac's midtown, or in fact of Sacramento in general. If left to my own devices, I probably wouldn't want to walk into a weird purple van with neon lights. But luckily I knew all about Winko when we finally came down here. My spouse played with Winko for a while in a tango band, and so one night, when we were showing a friend around town, we popped in for a few songs.We were all enchanted, including our hard-to-please out-of-towner. When she was in town again, we actually planned to go back inside, but it was too crowded so maybe another time. For all those who are somewhat worried: Winko is a funny, talented guy who lives up to the one-man band concept. As you might be able to tell, he kinda likes purple. And he definitely gave me one of my most memorable nights out on the town. He riffs off topics -- I asked him about the meaning of life or some such nonsense and he launched into a spiel and song about Star Trek. This nerd was happy. Stop by. Stay a while if you'd like. You will laugh. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I think this is the best kept secret in all of Sacramento! Winko is delightful and super entertaining! He feels the crowd out and eventually tests the limits of comedy, music and your mind! I have taken tons of people to this- girls night out, drunken friends night and even lonely singles night all have a great time! He will bring up your mood and enlighten your spirit! Plus with the purple foam piano-turned-tabletop, your store bought drinks will never slide off the side! Beware, if you plan to be there for a while, bring a pillow! The seats are small and seating for about 8 average adults is squeezed. Just stop by and poke your head in, he won't bite!  Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This was good fun. Winko Ljizz's one man band show (I so hope that's his real name) is a Sacramento institution. My gf and I have been talking about going for years, but usually ended up just making jokes about how you get roofied and dropped through a trap door to become a sex slave if you go inside his purple carriage. Last night we attended a going-away party for a friend and he insisted that we all go to the show as he'd also wanted to for years. We were initially put-off by the suggested $5-per-head fee but it was completely worth it. We piled 13 people into the tiny trailer, plus Winko and his dozens of instruments. He is a virtuoso on the freedom horn BTW.  If you don't have a good time in there it's your fault, AND, we didn't get roofied. Do it. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We first drove by this parked trailer while looking for parking before dinner. "What the hell is that?!" I exclaim to my friend (a Sac local) as we pass by the trailer (which looks like a converted taco truck) parked on the random street corner, neon signs ablazing "OPEN" "COME ON IN". The purple vehicle is really random- and my friend tried to explain to me what it was and how it "wasn't that bad"- trying to dissuade my decision that it was just plain creepy. I mean, it was a purple trailer with beckoning signs- it had a dark curtain for an entrance, behind which my friend said awaited a man that would sing you songs for tips.... nothing about that registered as "comfortable" or "safe". After an excellent dinner at Tapa the World, we were stuffed and not in the mood for more eating or drinking. Not being able to think of any other activity, wouldn't you know it- we ended up at the stupid purple cart. No one was in it when my party of 5 entered, and the musician jumped to his place behind the piano and had us start requesting topics. The piano takes up most of the room in the trailer, and around it is about 5 circular stools for guests to sit on. The top of the piano is mirrored, which helps in easing the claustrophobia, and also allows you to see the musician's hands and feet as they go crazy hitting the piano keys, strumming the guitar, and pumping the pedals for the top hat and piano. From the ceiling hung various other instruments- a sax, ukulele, accordion, etc. You give him your topic, and he replies with a song that is [loosely] related, both singing and playing all of the instruments. Most of them are memorized, and audience participation is encouraged, I asked him to sing about Facebook, and he did his rendition of "My Computer's Got Hooters" (a song I had heard on Youtube or something once). We had about 4 other people join us in the trailer over the next half hour, and the randomness of it all definitely made it more fun. What would make it even MORE fun, is if you packed the trailer with a ton (probably holds 12) of your friends, and if you were all slightly (or fully) inebriated. The only creepy thing that happened was when a random dude popped in to offer us cocaine. We were pretty confused, and he must have sensed that we were not the snorting-coke-off-the-mirrored-piano types, and he quickly exited the "Sanctuary". This little purple cart is definitely an experience- and is worth the $5. Be sure to get some drinking in first to make it more memorable. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This man is amazing. The jist of it - he improvises lots, sings some good songs based on feedback he gets from his customers. Sit and talk to the guy, he might blow you away. Oh, and get him to do some star wars or star trek. Super cool cat.One time I passed out in his piano bar. He'll never forget me.. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Completely delightful !  Fun !  Not to be missed !  Genius!   An incredible, unique creation & music by a wonderfully talented and amusing man.    You'll love it, wonder how he did it [or why he did it ], and you will never forget it.  Step right in & be refreshed by something old that he's made brand new.   The man is an artist in the best sense of the word.  Tip generously,  because you'll never see anything like this again !   Th., Fri., Sat.,  on  J St. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

What can you say about the Acoustic Sanctuary?  I'm not even going to try to describe it - many have already done so quite well here. But, really, it defies description, and just HAS to be experienced.All I'll say is, "Do not be afraid!  Go on inside!"Highly recommended! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Catch Winko Ljizz Thurs-Saturday nights at the corner of 22nd and J Streets in midtown Sacramento.  His style, personality, and character are that of purely a gentleman.  I've been here many a time when folks from all over come stumbling in after a night of food and libations. They're usually curious about what goes on inside this large purple van and they find out right quick, if you're the last one in you've got to pick a topic - not related to anything you see inside or music.  For instance, one day I picked "sustainability" for a topic and Winko spent a good 15 minutes stalling until someone else came in because I had thrown him a curve ball.  It's okay, he offered me a beer and played the newcomer's request quite well (happiness was the topic).  Anyways, if you're ever in the area and the least bit curious - pop on in and say hi. You won't regret it! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I'm convinced that with James Brown's passing, Winko Ljizz is the hardest working man in show business, at least when he's performing in his acoustic sanctuary Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from about 10 until as late as 3. This is the best place to stop if you're out on the town. Best music venue in midtown. Remember to tip well and bring your own beverages (with one for Winko!). More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I dared not step foot inside this strange-looking vehicle until a friend phoned me to come join him for some one-man band entertainment.  His girlfriend was visiting from points South and this was a unique Midtown Sacramento experience they had to explore.  I walked into the veiled entrance to find myself amongst eight other patrons, all wedged in together like so many sardines.  I only had to endure a cramped standup posture for one song before a woman and her young daughter exited, freeing up a valuable seat.  I took in the musical stylings of our bearded, turtlenecked host, trying to figure out what the rest of the night would bring."Well now that there are no children here, we can revert to our R-rating" our emcee chirped.  As the most recent arrival, I was urged to volunteer a topic, any topic--and he would find a song that matched that topic.  "Undescended testicles?" I offered, meekly.  The pregnant pause that followed was awkward... and felt endless.  But I was redeemed when our mystical tour guide launched into "Great Balls of Fire".  We hung out for another half hour or so, enjoying some quality entertainment from this musical jack-of-all-trades, marvelling in his ability to play several instruments simultaneously and competently, switching between them without hesitation.  This guy is talented!It was a good night of fun wedged inside the party bus!  If you do check this guy out, tip generously, 'cause he works hard for the money.  (Do I feel a Donna Summer song coming on?) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It's a quirky little piano bar, inside a van- the corner of 22nd and J is its location on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Proprietor "Winko Ljizz" is a one-man band, accompanying himself on the baby grand piano or even playing multiple instruments simultaneously .  There's no cover, he just plays for tips (be generous!) - it's basically the most elaborate street music act you'll ever see. More...

Reviewed on Yelp