About a year an a half ago when I moved back to California and was jobless, homeless, and “sleeping in a car” (crazy coincidence that their newest EP has this title) – the Stave’s album, ‘If I Was,’ was one of the only things keeping me afloat in a sea of frustration, anxiety, and despair. It was so freaking surreal to FINALLY see them live (after nearly 4 years of waiting) and watch them loop and layer their angelic vocals into a musical masterpiece – one that makes you STOP DEAD IN YOUR TRACKS. Steady, Damn It All, Sleeping in a Car, Sadness Don’t Own Me, No Me No Yo No More, and Let Me Down nearly had me shedding some tears. It’s no wonder the musical GOD that is Justin Vernon has invited them in his studio to test the limits of their innate talent and indescribable vocals. Once their harmonies hit, you are done. Just DONE. Warning: STAVES THAT SLAY.
❤
And, although I first discovered the Staves back in 2010, it wasn’t until watching them in the ‘Austin to Boston‘ music documentary (filmed alongside Bear’s Dean, Ben Howard, Nathanial Rateliff, and Gil Landry of Old Crow MedicineShow during their pre-SXSW tour from Austin to Boston) that I really fell hard for these sister sirens. I do love to to see that their fondness for touring in America and recording with Justin Vernon in Iowa (Ex Claire) has convinced them to move here and plant some temporary roots in Minneapolis. These “tired as fuck” “outlaws” know how to “make it holy” anytime, anywhere, and their singing about Mexico has us wanting “to see the colors of another sky.” It’s no wonder then that the Communion Music is trying to temp them back to London with a headlining slot for London’s Bushstock festival this summer. I sure hope to catch as much of them as I can while they’re still here. No staving off when it comes to the Staves!
❤
I also wanna give mad props to Dave Powers, the man responsible for keeping The Staves “STEADY STEADY STEADY” with this proficient percussion and damn-good drumming. It’s actually pretty surreal that I first discovered him at the same venue a year back when drumming for Aero Flynn. Crazy how things come full circle!
So lucky to have caught Luke Sital-Singh after his beautiful, non-“depressing” set opening for Angus and Julia Stone at The Fillmore last night. I remember first discovering him at Communion Music events back in 2013. Was a pleasure I was to hear his lovely tracks (especially ‘21st century heartbeat‘!) and to chat with him about touring with one of my other favorite London artists, The Staves. So glad that learn about his music journey since then and recent tour of the states. What a nice guy!
“I’ve got a 21st century heartbeat It’s a dying voice, it still haunts me 21st century heartbeat holding on”
Luke said this song as being inspired but all of the “f*cked up things happening in the world.” Such a beaut. Probably my favorite of his set. ❤
I have seen a least a thousand shows and NEVER BEFORE have seen this unique, over-the-shoulder piano duet that hugs your heart just as much as it drops your jaw. Cheers to this talented orchestral pop piano-violin duo (Gracie and Rachel) who were born and bred in Berkeley but have since moved to Brooklyn to spread love (it’s the Brooklyn way) with their beautiful baroque-pop music. Very impressed by their headliner show with Henry Jamison at Cafe Du Nord. The song ‘(un)comfortable‘ was one of the my favorites, and the lyrics certainly resonated with me.
So lucky to have caught Kelcey Ayer (nicest guy!) after the debut show of his new solo project, Jaws of Love. As one of the primary songwriters of Local Natives for roughly a decade, Kelcey has decided to step out on his own to produce a slew of brooding piano ballads laced with a fierce falsetto. “I have dark piano music in my heart and soul, and Jaws of Love is me at my truest self,” Kelcey said in a recent interview. He also said tonight that he never fit the SoCal lifestyle of wanting to be surfing outside in the sun, but instead would rather “be inside playing piano in a dark room watching a dark movie like Black Swan and shit, not very Orange County.” He said that’s why he then felt really at home and at peace when he moved to SF for a year for school. Welp, we are sure glad he brought that dark room and peaceful vibe to Cafe Du Nord , for it was easy to be swallowed by his “Jaws of Love,” one of the standout tracks on his debut album, Tash Sits Close to the Piano. We hope him and Tash (his cute husky dog) continue to sit close to the piano. 🙂
I couldn’t believe when Nick Mulvey said “I’ve seen you before!” after his Swedish American Hallshow on Nov 17. He musta remembered the puppet face! I was hooked ever since that first night at Barfly and just kept showing up everywhere he played, from Green Man Festival to Shepards Bush empire (opening for Laura Marling) to O2 Brixton Academy (opening for London Grammar) to XOYO (where he played with the talented Fiona Bevan). His song ‘Fever to the Form‘ was legitimately my LIFE ANTHEM for most of 2013-2014, and that first verse “So whether music or madness, We live by one of the two… So Go on an fill your heart with gladness, not a moment too soon” will forever be my GUIDING LIGHT. It is a TIMELESS TRACK that I know will still bring me the same peace of mind and clarity (“cause the very thing you’re afraid, afraid of, It keeps you clean but unclear”) 20 years from now as it did back in 2013. ‘Fever to the Form’ was released alongside other tops tracks (First Mind, I Don’t Want to Go Home, Meet Me There, Juramidam, Cucurucu) on his debut album, First Mind, which was nominated for a Mercury Prize (well deserved!) in 2014. Nick has become a dad since the release of that album, and he considers this step to have had a positive influence on his music writing: “Putting music as a secondary priority to that (the challenge of making new music) was a really healthy thing for me.” Well, we are glad to reap the benefits of that positive influence, for his newest (sophomore) album, Wake Up Now, is freaking AWESOME. Standout tracks for me are: Mountain to Move, Remembering, In Your Hands, Transform Your Game, and Unconditional. In fact, Nick has a really cool story to go along with ‘Mountain to Move’ and I hope he continues to share it during his live performances. Cheers to the super talented British musician who studied music in Cuba and who continues to weave styles from all over the world into his musical quilt. ❤
This talented New England troubadour (Henry Jamison) wears his heart out on his sleeve with this “ode to delirium” about a girl he was after but who still had feeling for someone else (gets real good at 1:50 in!). He is quite the visual lyricist, and his witty, melancholy style reminds me of a hybrid between Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Scott Hutchinson (of Frightened Rabbit). I was mad impressed to find out that he writes, records, and arranges everything himself, including all of the album’s gorgeous string arrangements (which Rachel of Gracie and Rachel performed with him in SF). I have a feeling he will blow up within the next year.
“God-God-God damn that girl was fine and I was glad to call her mine She weren’t mine and I weren’t hers I lost her at the five and dime She was talking to a six-five-x marine He was living out his truck She said he was very fragile I said I don’t give a fuck.” YAAAAAAAS.
Henry Jamison dedicated this song to a fan in the audience (Andrea) whose husband came up to him beforehand with this request. Very cute. Cheers to some charmers that are still out there. Icelandic buddy Ari Hlynur Guðmundsson Yates first introduced me to Henry’s music back in June and I was immediately captivated by ‘Real Peach’ and the vivid lyrics on the woman he is pining for. I am so glad I got to see this performed live from the talented troubadour himself.
“Well if all is fair in love and war then I don’t know what we are fighting for So if we don’t care to fight no more let’s go upstairs and let’s shut the door … Cuz my baby she’s a real peach.. .. yeah GOD DAMN.” ❤
SUCH A TREAT to have discovered the sweet, sassy, SUPER-TALENTED Southern singer/songwriter from NC (Emily Scott Robinson) who now lives on the road with her husband in their RV, writing and performing across the country and touring with bluegrass/grassroots powerhouses like Ben Sollee and the Kentucky Natives (Swedish American Hall). Equipped with an angelic voice and natural knack for storytelling, Emily gives us a glimpse into her wanderlust window, exposing us to the “traveling mercies” of life on the road and missing community and a home base. One of my favorite tracks from her set was ‘Better with Time,’ inspired by “the first place you live with someone you love” (which for her was a tiny one bedroom house in Colorado with a beautiful view). Another track that had my was a brand new one (finished only a few days ago) called ‘Ghost in Every Town.’ It was inspired by the monotony, desperation, and loneliness that she witnessed living for a short while in a small RV park in Oregon. The lyrics SLAY, and I could not help but get chills when she sang “The kinda desperate that forces you to kneel… The kinda howling you can only do alone.” WOW. But overall, it had to be ‘Overalls’ (her inaugural Patreon song) that stole the show. Written about her dear friend’s father who served in WWII and passed away this year, ‘Overalls‘ will touch your ❤️ and leave you in a puddle of tears/joy. It’s just so refreshing to hear stories veterans who were so grateful to be alive when they returned from war and who measured their wealth by their experiences and family/community (“I know I don’t have much to show, but I’m the richest man that I know”). I can’t help but smile to imagine this grateful fella who grasped every day as a gift and now looks back on his good long life with pride and appreciation: “So raise a glass to my good long life, don’t dress in black, don’t let me see you cry, I’m not afraid, I’m just headed home. It’s time to let me go.” Having released her debut album, “Magnolia Queen” just last year, Emily has started a Patreon page and will be releasing songs periodically while on the road. I sure hope her RV makes a very long pit stop in NorCal so I can see her again soon!
Meet Allan Rayman , a multi-talented MYSTERIOUS MUSE (recently dubbed “the most mysterious man in music”) who DOES it all (writer/producer/singer/after/filmmaker) without needing to ADVERTISE it all. An R&B soul singer with raspy, soul-spearing vocals that singer child down the spine, Allan proves that you don’t need marketing or active social media accounts reel in fans. Without interviews or videos online, he has already rallied 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. For fans of Alex Vargas, Jack Garratt , SOHN , RY X , Caught A Ghost , Chet Faker, let this RAYman shine his ray down on you. The emotionally-charged, elusive storyteller that is Mr. Roadhouse himself was extra animated at The Rickshaw Stop last night. A much more uninhibited, intimate experience on the tiny stage of the Rickshaw Stop compared to his earlier appearance at The UC Theater when opening forJames Vincent McMorrow. I will definitely be keeping Allan on my radar.
A bit numb standing next to one of the most INCREDIBLE CELLISTS and singer/songwriters (his vocals have the warmth of James Taylor and Paul Simoncombined) that I’ve EVER SEEN. Even though Ben Sollee is classically trained, he plays the cello in a very eccentric, electrifying way that carves a niche of his own. He ambitiously strings together elements of Celtic, folk, Americana, gypsy jazz, and African percussion to create a grassroots medley that is nothing but generic. This most recent reflection of this has been in his badass “bluegrass without borders” (what I like to call it) project with 4 friends on banjo, violin, bass, and drums that he calls “Ben Sollee and the Kentucky Natives.” Last night at the Swedish American Hall Ben and his buddies broke all boundaries of what is possible and had everyone’s jaws on the floor for most of the set. The coy call-and-response banter back and forth between the different strings had me laughing and howling all at once. You could get a sense of everyone’s personality just by watching them play, and it was obvious that this quintet is bound by more than just strings. I am just so amazed to watch friends doing watch they love and making the world a happier, more patient, more conscientious place because of it. The epic encore of Ben and the Kentucky Natives singing ‘Traveling Mercies‘ with Emily Scott Robinsonsure did leave me wanting more. Ben will cease to amaze me with his continued efforts to use music as a weapon against hate and injustice. It’s therefore not a surprise that he’s written songs called “It’s not impossible” and “A change is gonna come.” To Ben, anything can be done, even a tour across the states with a cello strapped to the back of a bicycle (yes, he did that back in 2012). You do not want to miss the chance to see him next time he rolls through town!
It’s too hard to truly convey how much love and admiration I have for Merrill Garbus, creator and curator of tune-yards. Her live performances evoke a visceral vortex of mixed emotions (aggression, desire, laughter, pain) that words can simply not describe. I still recall how feverishly my body was overcome with curiosity and vitality the first time I saw her perform at Outside Lands Music Festival in 2011. Since then, I had seen her a total of 5 or 6 more times (SASQUATCH! Music Festival, The Regency Ballroom, Fox Theater – Oakland, Electric Brixton, Live for Contemporary Colors), and I am STILL electrified by her power, a “powa” that “gives me thrills I can’t describe.” Yes, ‘Powa‘ (in addition to favorites like ‘Bizness,’ ‘Water Fountain,’ and ‘Gangsta‘), were some of the old gems that Merrill, Nate (bassist), and her new badass drummer (forgot his name!) treated us to last night at Mystic Theatre in Petaluma. I of course got a bit OUT OF CONTROL for ‘Bizness‘ and nearly lost my voice trying to shout along. That song gave the world a serious taste of such MUSICAL MASTERPIECES that can manifest from creative, clever experimentation with loops pedals, saxophones, and an untamed vocal chords (the way Merrill distorts her vocals to create a variety of sounds is simply something else). Merrill is simply MESMERIZING to watch, and last night was no exception. We were all glad to watch her perform new songs from her highly anticipated new album, ‘I can feel you creep into my private life‘ (thank gosh she has), scheduled to be released on Jan 19. Standout tracks for me were ‘Heart Attack,’ ‘Honesty,’ and ‘Colonizer,’ (although all were pretty freaking awesome), and most of these showcased Merrill on synths and drum kit, in addition to her notable ukulele. Merrill is a FEMALE FE-LION, and and I cannot be more inspired/empowered by the femininity, strength, and intolerance that she radiates out to her fans. I’m grateful for artists like her that are not afraid to share their passion with the world and believe they deserve a chance of changing it. She could not be more SPOT ONT when describing the vision of her music: “altering the way the music industry functions to positively and responsibly impact our communities and our people, to act not only as soothing pacifiers with music but also activators, inspiring innovators, and revolutionary booty-shakers.” I have so much love for this woman and cannot WAIT to see her again at Noise Pop in February.
Videos of entire set on my YouTube page (see below):
My heart begins to race as I recall the night that Tash Sultana put San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore under a spell. This gorgeous, gifted goddess — standing just 5 feet tall (my size!) — had everyone’s jaw on the floor as she flawlessly looped her hauntingly beautiful vocals with a menagerie of instruments (guitar, mandolin, keys, percussion, trumpet, pan flute, etc.) with swift execution. I caught myself grabbing my head several times (hoping it wouldn’t explode), asking myself, “HOW IN THE HELL?…” Tash first wrapped her hands around a guitar at the age of 3 years old, and I can only imagine that she clung to it for safety as others would their blankie. It’s apparent from her live performances that she plays music not just out of love, but out of necessity. She grips her guitar like she is gripping for dear life, and watching her slay her inner demons (she mentioned struggling with mental illness) one instrument at a time (I counted at least 10) was one of the most touching, euphoric musical experiences… Pure joy for one of the most pure, self taught music makers of our generation. She’s a comet of positivity that’s set on a trajectory to change the world for the better. 😀
I first stumbled upon Tash on my Facebook feed about a year ago, only to find out later she used busk on Bourke Street in Melbourne around the same time(Winter/Spring 2015) that I lived there. In fact, my friend Megan said that she was lured out of H&M by Tash’s spine-tingling vocals, and was in a deadlock watching her magic manifest on the streets. The song that reeled her in was ‘Harvest Love,’ a track that Tash described as one “for anyone who’s having a hard time at the moment… keep on rolling.” It was therefore pretty heart-wrenching to learn later, when Megan and I saw Tash together at the Swedish American Hall back in February, that it was written about a good friend who she had recently lost: “We came to the states a while back, but I had to turn around and come back home because we lost someone very important to us a couple days later, and it kind just taught me this thing about impermanence, and how everything in your life is actually impermanent; and it’s kinda like, you know, there are two things in your like that are inevitable: you are born, and then you die… In between that gap of life and death, wherever it’s gonna take you, it’s gonna take you, and at the end of the day at some point, there is a space that you get to fill with the best vibes that you possibly can feel… We come in peace. We just ask everybody to love the FUCK out of everybody… This song goes out to anyone that has lost anyone recently. It’s called Harvest Love.” Megan and I looked at each other with tears welling up in our eyes, and we knew this one would never leave our hearts. You could tell that the intense reach of this song comes from a place of intense pain, and Tash does not hold back as she wails the first verse:
“Harvest your love, harvest your love, for me I’ll lay it down, I’ll lay it down, slowly Put your love in the sand As it makes no demands I believe But you keep on rolling Like a rolling stone And you fight until the finish line Carries you home”
(I want to purchase ‘Harvest Love‘ but can’t find it anywhere online!)
What impresses me most is Tash’s ability to turn pain into beauty, and I was shocked to learn that both chart-topping hits ‘Jungle‘ and ‘Notion‘ were a “product of heartbreak.” ‘Jungle‘ is the song that moved her bedroom recordings into SOLD OUT VENUES ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE – a true masterpiece from start to finish. It’s as if Tash uses music as a shield again negative thoughts (depression) and negative influences (drug addiction), and is excited for others to embrace this same musical armour. In fact, she gave a nod to her US audiences who are used to “growing up in such an awesome music culture that you go because you LOVE IT, whereas back at home in Australia, everyone just wants to get fucked up all the time.” I was really touched to learn that Tash has became a mental health ambassador for Australia’s BeyondBlue, an organization that provides information and support on mental health.
I still recall being lathered in chills when I read this post on her wall back in January: “Social reminder to anyone who is feeling the heat or wants to give up. DON’T. Every time you take a step up within yourself, you take a step up within the world. In the music world or any creative path is a sensitive path to tread. Some people are going to fall in love with what you do, some people aren’t going to get it and other people are just going to be literally complete ASSHOLES. So when you come across those assholes, which you will there is a new emoji that you can use which is thisand just remind yourself that you were in a perfectly happy mood before you knew they existed, so forget they do because they’re just a bunch of cunts. Put your head on your shoulders and kick some absolute fucking ass. Tune it up to 11, shove it in their face and down their throats And DO NOT stop creating. Oh and also don’t forget to tell them to get fucked. Keep on going. The ones the matter are the ones who show love.” That last line hit me like a brick wall, and it’s simple but profound message will remain with me forever.
Tash kicked off her set at the Fillmore with some serious smoke (‘Big Smoke‘) and has some house rules to lay down before SETTING US ALL ABLAZE:
“This is to be followed or you can please GET THE F*CK OUT OF HERE…< span style=”color: #3366ff”>1) If you are racist, get the fuck out 2) If you are homophobic, get the fuck out3) If you are transphobic, GET THE FUCK OUT. < span style=”color: #3366ff”>Cause the world can be a bit of a harsh place but I’m trying to leave it in a nice scenario… Sweeet, just don’t be a dickhead and we’re all in sweet.” ❤
HELL YES. I’m glad there were no dickheads that night. I wish more musicians were as outspoken as she is.
After ‘Big Smoke‘ came ‘Gemini‘ (sick percussion), ‘Notion‘ (SLAYED), ‘Murder to the Mind‘ (during which she whips out the trumpet and tantalizes us with tender toots!), ‘Synergy‘ (after she jams out furiously on mandolin and BEAT-BOXES A PAN FLUTE), a song (untitled video below) with a hauntingly beautiful keyboard intro that sounds like a symphony of strings (really wish I knew the name of it!), and ‘Jungle‘ (MASSIVE DANCE PARTY – duh!). THEN, as if Tash could not freaking BLOW MINDS EVEN MORE, she TAKES A SEAT for an experience that I simply cannot put into words. It just won’t do justice. Tash first graces the strings with one hand, getting us in the groove with melodic medleys that remind me of a cross between flamenco and post-rock. But just as we start getting in the groove, Tash switches it up and starts attacking the strings with the ferocity of a lion, smiling as she does so. It’s as if she enjoys the thrill of getting us going one way and then redirecting us to see if we are still on our toes (like what I used enjoy doing with my opponents in soccer, haha). She’s got extraordinary ease with her audience that can be attributed to years of hailing crowds on a busy streets and winning the hearts of strangers. This wicked 14 min guitar solo (titled ‘Blackbird‘) exemplifies the extensive breadth of her musical abilities and the eclectic influences that shape her unique, one-in-a-million kind of sound. Tash Sultana is not only a make of music, she is a maker of magic. I don’t know anyone who is not put under her spell. I’m just so glad the world has recognized this too; Not only has she racked up SOLD OUT TOURS in US, Europe, and Australian (and soon South America), but she has recieved multiple music nominations, including Triple J’s hottest artist of the year and ARIA’s (1) Best Independent Release (Notion), (2) Breakthrough Artist, (3) Best Blues & Roots Album (Notion), and (4) Best Australian Live Act. I’ve “GOT THIS NOTION” that Tash Sultana is going to change the world with her music. Well, let’s face it – she pretty much already has. ❤
*Check out my review for her opener, The Pierce Brothers. Glad to have discovered them!
(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)
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On + Off- Maggie Rogers
Truth Is Heavy- Benjamin Booker
Surrender- Walk the Moon
Gimmie- She Keeps Bees
Up All Night- The War On Drugs
Main Girl- Charlotte Cardin
The Wild Kind- Silversun Pickups
Keep In Mind- Pierce Brothers
Protest Song- Broken Social Scene
Continental Breakfast- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
High On Humans- Oh Wonder
Believe- Benjamin Booker
Friendly Fires- Silversun Pickups
Spirit- The Belle Game
Murder to the Mind- Tash Sultana
Untogether- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
Split Stones- Maggie Rogers
Invisible- Minus The Bear
Breezy- She Keeps Bees
Latchkey Kids- Silversun Pickups
Up Again- The Belle Game
The Slow Drag Under- Benjamin Booker
Towers And Masons- Broken Social Scene
Fear Is Like A Forest- Courtney Barnett And Kurt Vile
Such a treat to have Minus the Bear and SilverSun Pickups share the same stage last Saturday at the Fox Theater Oakland. Two INCREDIBLE BANDS with two very different sound/style, and I’m glad to have been following them both since 2009. I love that Minus the bear played all of my favorites (especially the first!): Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse, My Time, Into the Mirror, and Last Kiss. Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES! It’s a perfect anthem for the wondrous wanderlust, and it always makes my heart flutter as it jogs my memories of past adventures. Dave Knudson (lead guitar) was sitting in a chair for most of the set because he recently broke his leg, and Alex Rose (keys, backing vocals) laughed and said they — Jake Snider (vocals, guitar), Cory Murchy (bass guitar), and Joshua Sparks (drums) — prefer it this way because it it reminds them of a casual jam session in someone’s living room. A short but tasty set by these highly seasoned musicians!
Silversun Pickups PICKED ALL OF US UP at the Fox Theater Oakland last weekend! They made us laugh, weep, rage (the trifecta of emotions) will killer tracks like Royal We, Latchkey Kids, Friendly Fire, Wild Kind, and Lazy Eye (of course!). Not only is Brian Aubert is not only a phenomenal musician, pushing the limits with different soundscapes and emotion, but he is FREAKING HILARIOUS and super animated (always has his hands up in the air when telling stories). He also pays so much close attention to his fans through the entire show (more than most musicians I’ve seen), and will often point out people in the audience that he knows. Towards the end, he even bentr over the stage to fist pump my music buddy Nori Nakayama (#1 fan) who has been following Silversun Pickups since 2007 and has seen them >25 times. I have so much respect for Brian coming out to say hi (despite having probably been exhausted) and taking time to chat about tour life and music in general. I was laughing so hard when he and I were finishing each others sentences while geeking out on bands that we both love: The War On Drugs, Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, Future Islands, Arcade Fire, and The National . He has a particular appreciation for Arcade Fire and their ability to consistently recreate themselves in new albums that bring forth new elements/ingenuity not present in their older material. I nearly DIED when we both cried out that ‘Creature Comfort‘ is by far the best song on their new album and proceeded to sing “God, make me famous, if you can’t, just make it painless” in unison. He also was excited to hear that Courtney and Kurt just played at the Fox a week prior and he told me stories of how he first met them both. He even had a CRAZY COOL story about how Courtney made his wife’s water break (a story she won’t let him live down, haha); Turns out Brian and his very pregnant wife saw Courtney for the first time 2 1/2 years ago and then his wife went into labor that same night. NUTS! He also said how Osheaga was his favorite North American festival and that he would love to keep going back there. We ended up on that topics cause I mentioned having seen them both at Sasquatch (2012) and BottleRock Napa (2017). WHAT A NIGHT picking the brain of this SILVERSUN PICKUP! I will always look back on this with such a big goofy smile. 😀
It had been 3 years since I last saw HAIM live, and Indy night they left more in awe than ever before. I nearly died when they kicked off their set with ‘I Want You Back,’ my favorite tracks from their new album (Something to Tell You), and was super impressed by the other new ones that they executed flawlessly: Little of your love, Something to tell you, Found it in Silence. We also couldn’t contain ourselves when they surprised us with a cover of Shania Twain‘s ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much,’ that exudes their female powerhouse feel-good vibes pretty perfectly. Etse (bass, vocals) even substituted the lyrics with (“ok, so you own a Tesla”) to reiterate that money/status “do not impress” the much. Haha. She def knows a thing or two about the Bay Area. Not too long after this cover, both Etse and Alan dive into the crowd for a legit crowd surf, while Danielle (sick with laryngitis) ran along the front railing to give hugs to those in the front tie (super cute!). Even with their patents in the audience (which they announced in the beginning), they weren’t going to censor themselves from being the outspoken, goofy, and sometimes salacious sister trifecta that we all know them to be. But the highlight of the night was definitely the pic encore for which ALL THREE of them BEAT THE SHIT out of the drums, each at their own unique rhythm. Luckily I’ve got video footage to revisit this whenever I need to feel empowered: “Don’t stop, no, I’ll never give up, And I’ll never look back, just hold your head up… And if it gets rough, it’s time to get rough.” HELL YEAH. I be HAIM-ing this one to myself all the time. 😀
The last time I saw PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTINGwas at a 2,00 capacity venue in London about 3 years ago, and so it was pretty surreal to watch them perform only a foot in front of me in an intimate venue like Swedish American Hall AND to meet them afterwards (very nice guys!). I had a friend joining me for the shows and struggled in trying to describe their sound, as they really are in a category of their own. PBS’s J. Willgoose Esq. (guitar, banjo, samples), Wrigglesworth (drums, piano), and J F Abraham (flugelhorn, bass guitar, drums) together play live instruments in combination with samples from old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material that attempt to “teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future.” With a passion to “inform, education, and entertain” (listed to their song called ‘Theme from PSB’), PSB have consistently put out albums that do just that, and their recent albums (released July 2017) depicts the history of the mining industry in Wales. J Willgoose, Esq., described the album’s premise as an allegory for today’s “abandoned and neglected communities across the western world”, which have led to a “malignant, cynical and calculating brand of politics.” They also included a track (‘They Gave Me a Lamp’) to raise political awareness of a generation where women “seemed to realize, suddenly, the power and the potential that they had… It’s a song of gender barriers being broken down, of a group of people finding their voice, of the power of protest and its importance in a democratic society. Given what we’ve seen on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to be making such a strong case in defense of those ideas.” HELL YES. The last verse with collaborative vocals by the super-talented UK female trio, Haiku Salut(who coincidentally I discovered the same year as PSB at Green Man Festival), gives me chills every time: “I’ve been in front, I have never give in, I have never sat back, and I have never refused anybody, and I am very proud of it, and I’ll be proud to look back on it.” Cheers to a band pushing the envelope on both creativity and awareness. My favorite PBS tracks are: Spitefire, ROYGBIV, Theme from PBS, The Pit, They Gave me a Lamp, If War Should Come, and New Dimensions in Sound (exactly what they are creating!) ❤
Jessica of She Keeps Bees is SO FREAKING AWESOME. I am SO GLAD I got to catch her opening for Benjamin Booker earlier this week at The Independent. First off, she is HILARIOUS (a legit comedian), making us roar with laughter the entire set as she made fun of herself on stage (“I never wear heels so if I trip on stage, please send it in to funniest home videos and win some money”) and belted out whatever the hell was on her mind (I freaking LOVE THAT). Secondly, she SLAYS INJUSTICE (politics, healthcare, discrimination, etc.) with powerful messages that she wails ferociously on stage. With vocals that remind me a bit of Florence and the Machine and a style that reminds me of Sharon Van Etten (who I found out later she is good friends with and used to jam with in Brooklyn), she certainly captured everyone’s full attention. Highlights included tracks like ‘Our Bodies’ and ‘Head of Steak’ that reflect her frustrations with the government and civil rights. She dedicated ‘Our Bodies’ to “healthy vaginas,” shedding light on issues with the US healthcare system and plans to cut funding for Planned Parenthood (for which all proceeds of this song are donated to). She said she wrote this song “as I watched my mother’s fight become my own” and she hopes it will instigate people fight for their rights of basic healthcare. When chatting with Jessica after the set (she’s just as vibrant off stage as she is on), she was excited to hear that I was working on developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders because her uncle (who she was close with) suffered with motor and cognitive dysfunction. Sooner or later we got to talking about music and memory. The nerd in me can only stay hostage for so long! Can’t wait to see her again! ❤
STILL AMPED UP after the INSANELY AWESOME, INCREDIBLY INFECTIOUS performance by The Pierce Brothers opening for Tash Sultana at The Fillmore. These awesome Aussie twins (Jack and Pat) have been kicking up dust all over the world, wowing people with their high octane energy and pure joy for their craft. I was mad impressed by their unique DIY setup and their ingenious blend of dugeridoo, percussion (bongos/cans), tambourine, harmonica, and guitar, and at one point Jack even started tapping the stage equipment (light scaffolds) right in front of me to create new sounds. I couldn’t believe he was playing tambourine with his foot while banging on percussion and blowing into his dugeridoo. That’s some crazy coordination! But what impressed me the most was ability for Jack and Pat to deliver a boot-stomping, heart-throbbing, head-bopping performance despite their equipment breaking on stage. Their “one shot is all I got” attitude was greatly appreciated by everyone watching. I also really appreciated the message that Jack delivered before playing the song ‘Genevieve‘ that they wrote for their sister suffering from cancer: “There’s always love and support if you reach out, and that’s what we’re going to do right now.” I will DEFINITELY be seeing them again when they return to SF, and when they do, I will have to bring sturdier boots! My heal actually broke off during their set! ❤
I find it SO FREAKING EERIE that I immediately compared Courtney Barnett to Kurt Vilenearly 4 years ago when I first saw her at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and NOW, they are TOURING TOGETHER after the recent release of their collaborative album, Lotta Sea Lice. Kurt Vile was someone that I had been following since his ‘Smoke Ring for My Halo’ days thanks you his brother Paul Vile who directed me to his set at Sasquatch 2012 (arguably the best lineup of any US festival I’ve been to yet). Courtney and Kurt reminded me of one another in so many ways – stitching songs together with threads of rock, grunge, and folk, and doing so with a carefree, nonchalant charisma that plagues all who listen. I am in awe of their ability to whip up to witty narratives about obscure observations of the mundane. Their collaborative albums is a testament to the beauty of a creative, comfortable companionship between two eclectic music makers that complement each other’s chords finished each other’s sentences (literally). Their charming ‘Continental Breakfast‘ track has Courtney and Kurt singing back and forth about the frustration of maintaining their long-distance friendship (“I cherish my intercontinental friendships; We talk it over continental breakfast”) and the monotony of life on the road (“In a hotel in East Bumble-wherever; Somewhere on the sphere, around here.”) I also really loved their song, ‘Fear is Like a Forest’ (“Fear is like a forest, The dark of the unknown; Love is like a promise, That you’ll never be alone”), which was actually written by Courtney’s wife, Jen Cloher (talented musician who opened the show). I also enjoyed the manifestation of Courtney and Kurt covering each other’s songs, with Courtney’s version of Kurt’s ‘Peepin Tomboy’ (‘Peepin’ Tom’ on this album) paralyzing me with the arresting apathy of her delivery. I also really enjoyed Kurt’s take on Courtney’s ‘Out of the Woodwork.’ But, the MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF THE NIGHT were when Courtney and Kurt covered Belly’s ‘Untogether’ (“You can’t save the unsavably untogether”) and Gillian Welch’s ‘Elvis Presley Blues’ (“I was thinking that night about Elvis, Day that he died, day that he died”). Courtney’s vocals absolutely SHINE on this on, and the bread and range of the vocals are more apparent than ever. My heart was gushing a bit with the beautiful harmonies between her and Kurt. I’m sure Mr. ELVIS PRESLEY himself would have definitely approve. It was so refreshing to watch the playful banter between such seasoned musicians and I kept smiling when I saw Kurt’s classic yelps (“Whoop!”) making Courtney laugh throughout the set. He then had the entire audience laugh when he said that “Lotta Sea Lice” is the “only sea lice you want to have.” A powerhouse performance by a powerhouse pair of proper pals.:D ❤
The War On Drugscertainly gave me A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO I AM at the Hearst Greek Theater in Berkeley last Friday. They mentioned being super excited to headline the Greek (it being the place where they first saw one of their greatest idols, Neil Young), and we certainly felt that energy. Having listening to their new album (‘A Deeper Understanding‘) non-stop for the past month, I was SLAYED when seeing it COME ALIVE last night with standout performances of Up All Night (LOVE THE KEYBOARD INTRO), Pain, Holding On, Nothing to Find, and Thinking of a Place(among many other hits). One of my favorite lyrics from the album is “I resist what I cannot change, and I wanna find what can’t be found,” and could not help but BELT IT OUT when the time came. I was in a serous tizzy the entire 2-hr set (continuous, no breaks), just STUNNED by Adam’s insane guitar work and the ethereal sounds emerging from his extended jam sessions with the bassist, keyboardist, drummer, and saxophone player (especially cool). His signature yelps (“Whoop!”) heightened all of our senses and kept us smiling (and yelping back!) the whole way through. MAD PROPS to The War on Drugs for keeping me UP ALL NIGHT, LOST IN A DREAM, THINKING OF A PLACE, DISAPPEARING with RED EYES (TO THE WIND), and HOLDING ON to zero PAIN with NOTHING TO FIND AN OCEAN BETWEEN THE WAVES. ❤ They certainly didn’t leave “Tangled Up In Blue” (it was one of BEST SHOWS I’ve been to ALL YEA), but this epic Bob Dylan cover did. It so happens to be my favorite Dylan’s track, and I made it known in my serous sing-a-long. It fills me with pride to think that the musical genius that is Adam Granduciel is also Philly born and Bred. Him and Kurt VilePHEED PHILLY the PHINEST music PHEVER. He said that he was happy to be back in ❤
FRESH NEW PLAYLIST (56 songs) inspired by recent shows/sets (Sylvan Esso, Flock of Dimes, Wild Cub, Future Feats, Maggie Rogers, Plini, Haim, Milky Chance, Manchester Orchestra, Tigers Jaw, Foxing, Henry Jamison, Gracie and Rachel, The Decemberists, Asgeir, Public Service Broadcasting). There was additional influence from recent track/album releases by The National and War on Drugs (Both are SO FREAKING GOOD), as well as Trevor Hall, Frightened Rabbit, The Head and the Heart, Fatherson, LCD Soundsystem, Good Old War, and my friend Alexa-J! I also included tracks by new discoveries: Future Feats (opened for Wild Cub), Sinkane, Vista Kicks (opened for Milky Chance), Foxing (opened for Manchester Orchestra), Tusks (opened for Asgeir), and Frenship (whose CAPSIZED TRACK I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF and who I can’t wait to see next month in SF).
(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)
It had been 3 years since I last saw Asgeir, the incredibly talented artist who was my initial hook into the Icelandic music scene. Amped by the recent release of Asgeir’s beautiful album (‘Afterglow’) and his slay-worthy covers of Adele, Abba, Nirvana, The National, and others as part of his unique #asgeirstraigttovinyl project (taking requests from all over the world and recording them straight to vinyl for 24 hr straight), I could hardly contain myself for their show at The Fillmorelast night. They delivered a flawless performance from start to finish (75 min) without any interruption, making it easier for the crowd to be whisked away to another world (including the security guard who told me his mind wandered to a far away place). I think we all sported an Asgeir “afterglow” after hearing ‘I Know You Know’ (“Oh, how I long for light.. A light that won’t leave me… Never to go away”) and ‘Torrent’ (my favorites across both albums) come alive right in front of our eyes. Torrent was the first song in Asgeir‘s collection that had me hooked, and the fact that he saved it for the encore was super special. The drums and keys in that one are so freaking awesome! I am so happy that they came to San Francisco to serenade us with their “stardust,” and I look forward to more of it at Iceland Airwaves Music festival in November! Check out my previous review of Asgeir from 2014 and my recent playlist inspired my his track ‘I Know You Know.” 😀
The amazing Sylvan Esso making sure that we PLAY IT RIGHT before leaving the Fox Theater – Oakland after their stacked set, including hits from their new album, ‘What Now‘: Die Young, Radio, Glow, Kick Jump Twist, Just Dancing, and Signal. Their epic encore triggered a massive dance party after the closing of the show. First time I’ve ever witnessed such a phenomenon at that venue (and I go there ALOT). Amelia and her fluid, infectious moves had us all wishing we could “just dance,” for not many people can GLIDE ON STAGE the way that she does (not even close!). It was cool to also meet two videographers beforehand that were filming footage for a Sylvan Esso documentary. What an awesome idea! It was also cool to learn that Amelia’s family was originally from the SF Bay Area. Towards the end of the set, she mentioned that the Fox Theater was “her grandfather’s favorite,” and that many of her cousins (he had 11 grandchildren!) were in the audience that night. The unique lighting design on stage (<< >>) is tattoo that Amelia, Nick, and Jen (of Flock of Dimes and Wye Oak) all have. Speaking of Jen, it was such a treat to have her on tour with them. In fact, I first discovered Sylvan Esso when they opened her her as Wye Oak in March 2014 at the Lexington (tiny venue!) in London. I guess things really do come full circle!
PERFECT SUMMERTIME PLAYLIST inspired by San Francisco’s very own Outside Lands music festival (Mondo Cozmo, RAC, Bleachers, K. Flay, Jacob Banks, Porches, James Vincent McMorrow, Joseph, Grace Mitchel, Vance Joy, Young the Giant) last week and by recent shows I rocked out to within the last month or so: Portugal. The man, Local Natives, Benjamin Booker, Alvarez Kings, The Trims, Run River North, Saint Mesa). There was additional influence from recent track/album releases by Arcade Fire (LOVE THEIR NEW ALBUM), Geographer, Wild Cub, Allen Stone, Overcoats, Haim, Foster the People, Amber Run, Daughter, Mogwai, and Zach Winters. I was also happy to include tracks by new discoveries: Betty Who (touring with Geographer), Charlie Cunningham (playing with Low Roar in October), Jeremy Loops, and Jaws of Love (gorgeous solo project of Local Natives’s Kelcey Ayer).
“Saying God, make me famous If you can’t just make it painless Just make it painless”
(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)
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Live In The Moment- Portugal. The Man
Creature Comfort- Arcade Fire
Human Touch- Betty Who
Witness- Benjamin Booker
I Fall Over- Wild Cub
Where You’re At- Allen Stone
No Answers- Amber Run
Everything Now- Arcade Fire
The Beautiful Game (feat. St. Lucia)- RAC
Easy Tiger- Portugal. The Man
Thunder- Mondo Cozmo
I Saw You Close Your Eyes- Local Natives
Everybody Lost Somebody- Bleachers
Tell-Tale Heart- Alvarez Kings
High Enough- K.Flay
Read My Mind- Geographer
Feel It Still- Portugal. The Man
Hollywood (Feat. Penguin Prison)- RAC
Peter Pan- Arcade Fire
Chainsmoking- Jacob Banks
Hold Me Close- Overcoats
Rich Friends- Portugal. The Man
Plastic Soul- Mondo Cozmo
Heartbreak Summer (feat. K.Flay)- RAC
Cold Conscience- Alvarez Kings
Tidal Wave- Portugal. The Man
Imagination- Saint Mesa
Mother Emanuel- Local Natives
Higher Stakes- Jeremy Loops
The Future- San Holo & James Vincent McMorrow
Infinite Content- Arcade Fire
Don’t Take The Money- Bleachers
Burn It Down- Daughter
Run Or Hide- Run River North
Jellyfish- Local Natives
Nighttime Hunger- Overcoats
Party in the Dark- Mogwai
Nothing’s Wrong- Haim
So Young- Portugal. The Man
I Wish I Could Say- The Trims
Motivation- Benjamin Booker
White Flag- Joseph
Sit Next To Me- Foster The People
Lights Off- Charlie Cunningham
Jaws of Love.- Tasha Sits Close to the Piano
Run River Run- Run River North
Truth Is Heavy- Benjamin Booker
No Resolve- Alvarez Kings
Coolverine- Mogwai
An Opening- Charlie Cunningham
Hate That You Know Me- Bleachers
Nolo- Grace Mitchell
Hold On To Me- Mondo Cozmo
10 To Have You Around- Zach Winters
Monster (Feat. Avelino)- Jacob Banks
Lay It On Me- Vance Joy
Blood In The Cut- K.Flay
Silvertongue- Young The Giant
Faithful (Bonus Track)- Allen Stone
Car- Porches
Stoked to have FINALLY caught Local Natives on local land after last seeing them in Edinburgh (Electric Circus), Wales (Green Man Festival), and London (Brixton Academy) back in 2013. That year spoiled me silly, and the memories I have from those shows almost (almost) make up for the 3 ½ year hiatus. Seeing them in that tiny 250, venue in Edinburgh had me on cloud nine for WEEKS, and the fact that I bumped into Taylor (lead vocals/guitar), Ryan (guitar/vocals), and Nik (bass, keys, vocals) that same night for a “wee chat” was also pretty freaking amazing. Then they were announced to play Green Man, a super casual festival where it’s not too uncommon to spot bands hanging out in the crowd watching other bands (and yes, I was indeed lucky enough to find myself dancing next to them during one of the sets). A few months later was their London show at Brixton Academy, and although it was not nearly as intimate as the Edinburgh one, I was happy to have met Kelcey after the show with my best friend Amanda (who was visiting from Philly). Pics below.
Fast forward to last Friday (7/28) at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, and I am grinning ear-to-ear as I wait to bask myself in the beauty of their Sunlit Youth (2016 album). I nearly DIED when they opened with ‘Past Lives,’ a song that slayed me from the start with it’s opening line, “Save me from the prime of my life” (which I am considering as a text tattoo). I love the capricious cadence to this song and the piercing percussion after the chorus of “Then you wake up.” YAAAAAS. 😀
Taylor had us smiling wide when he dedicated the next song (‘Villiany’) to his 1 ½ year old niece Emma, it being her first ever show – he said this one was her favorite! He even posted a clip of her shaking her booty to it in the crowd on Instagram the day after.
Kelcey then asks the audience if anyone is from SF state, and then laughs as he admits wanting to go to Berkeley but only getting into SF state. He then introduced their next song, ‘Airplanes,’ as one he wrote after leaving SF state and heading back to Los Angeles. He followed up with a special version of the hauntingly beautiful, somber tune, ‘Columbia’ (“Am I loving enough?”), that he said the SF Bay Area has never heard before. Tears def welled up in my eyes.
They then surprised us with a new song called ‘I Saw You Close Your Eyes,’ which is KILLER and one I connected with right away. Their new song, ‘The New Heirs’ is also pretty siiiiick too. Next came ‘Jellyfish’, ‘Heavy Feet’, ‘Dark Days’ (with Ryan filling in for the female vocal part and turning heads with his perfect pitch) and ‘Who Knows, Who Cares,’ a song that references “going down to Colorado” — pretty eerie considering that the band recently visited the Colorado river in Arizona to advocate water conservation in Episode 103 of the nature series, Earthworks. This was a project they felt very strongly about, considering that the Colorado river is the main sources of water for California, a state near in dear to their heart and one that is in the 6th year of the worst, most epic drought in modern history (compounded further by climate change and population increases). Aside from showing activism on the water conservation and green energy front, Local Natives have made it a point to show activism on the political front. In fact, Taylor was involved in a panel called the “Politicon” at the Pasadena Convention (July 28/29). That night, Taylor reminds us (during his intro to ‘Fountain of Youth’) that the power is in the hands of the future generation:
“This next song has the idea that it’s the new generation every single time that gets to decide where the world is going to go. It’s the new generation that can see it for what it is an i think pushes it where we want it to be and for us, we just wanted to say, especially being here where, that idea idea was birthed a lot for America, that we have a choice to choose unity and to choose love and respect and respect for everybody. And we would just like to push that forward, no matter what you can do, your influence on the world, we would just like to push for that. “
“We can do whatever we want… We can say whatever we mean…
And if we don’t change, Then who’ll change?
We’ve been dreaming of you, Drinking from fountains of youth.”
(Hell YES. Power to the people)
Cheers to a band that uses the stage to motivate change for the greater good. I have so much respect and adoration for these local natives Cali pride). Stay humble, stay hungry. Stay thirsty for that “Fountain of Youth.” Taylor, quenched by this fountain of youth, dives into the crowd for a bit of surf and then lies on his back, projecting peace and love to all like a prophet.
In true Local Natives fashion, they end the night leaving us in good hands – ‘Sun Hands.’ The energy and aura of this epic encore never fails to disappoint.
All Local Natives fans must check out Kelcey’s new solo project called Jaws of Love. His debut album, Tasha Sits Close To The Piano, named by his wife after their dog Tasha, is coming in the fall, and earlier this month. The lead single, ‘Jaws Of Love,’ is simply stunning — Kelcey’s falsetto vocals elevating over deep, brooding piano ballads. “The whole project is me trying to embrace my nuances and indulge in it,” Ayer explains. “It was such an awesome release making these songs, and that let me embrace who I feel like I am. It was wonderful to not have to explain myself to anyone. I have dark piano music in my heart and soul, and Jaws Of Love. is me at my truest self.” We certainly approve. ❤
NEW PLAYLIST inspired by my recent visit to Iceland, a country that, like Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, stole my heart the first time around. I could not agree more with his speech at Secret Solstice Festival last month:
“We’ve never played here, let’s go here (Iceland). And our first day that we spent here, and I’m not kidding, you can ask an of my friends or my family, that this country became my f*cking favorite place on earth. And you might think it’s stupid and kind of silly, but that time, 2003, whenever it was, I bought this f*cking necklace, and I’ve never taken it off… for 14 years. Because, I think that your country is a perfect example for the rest of the world. I really do. I think that you’re strong, and you’re independent, and you’re smart, and you take care of each other, and you respect nature, and you respect each other. So, someday, if I ever wanna move somewhere else, I hope that you’ll have me and my family here in Iceland. I love it so much.” ❤
It was Asgeir‘s 2013 debut album, Dýrð í dauðaþögn (the biggest selling debut album in Icelandic history), that was my initial hook into Icelandic music and culture, and I listened to non-stop during my first ever trip to Iceland back in March 2014 (and so it forever holds a special place in my heart). I was so moved by his live performances at Bush Hall in London and Iceland Airwaves Music Festivalthat I decided to write a pretty detailed review: https://beatsthatsetmypulse.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/asgeir-i-lift-my-mind-to-the-sky-and-i-let-it-take-flight-the-wind-carries-to-my-ears-precious-sounds-of-life/. We all were anxiously awaiting his next album, and when Afterglow was released May of this year (with ‘I Know You Know‘ being one of my favorite tracks), you better believe there were plenty of smiles beaming around the world. AND, as if releasing a new album and touring around Europe & Australia didn’t tire him out enough, Asgeir decided keep the world smiling with his fascinating feat of playing requests (including covers of Milky Chance, Adele, Abba, Nirvana, etc) for 24hr non-stop and recording them straight to vinyl. SUCH a freaking cool, creative way to engage fans on a personal level and cultivate a more interactive music community. I am amazed by his generosity and unique vision, and I can’t wait to see him again atIceland Airwaves in Nov. Another Icelandic artist that I look forward to seeing at Airwaves is Rythmatik, a super talented indie-rock band that I was lucky enough to discover (and meet!) at Secret Solstice this year. They recently won the The Icelandic Music Experiments (Músikltilraunir) “Battle of the Bands” and moved to Reykjavik from Suðureyri & Akureyri in order to hone their craft and play more live shows. Oh and, they are super fun and awesome to hang out with (always a plus!) 😀
This playlist was also inspired by performances at Secret Solstice (Kiriyama Family, Amabadama, Rhye), Bottlerock Napa (Day Wave, Dreamers, Parade of Lights, City of the Sun, Run River North, Bad Suns), the San Francisco Oyster Fest (Sir Sly, Passion Pit, Kongos, Panic is Perfect, The Soft Whites Sixties). There was additional influence from recent track/album releases by The National (BEEN WAITING WITH BAITED BREATH and SO STOKED to be seeing them Oct 14!), London Grammar (“My only hope is to let life stretch out before me and break me on this lonely road”– so good),Haim (seeing them Sept 7!), Manchester Orchestra (Sept 16!), Broken Social Scene (seeing them Oct 26!), Lucy Rose (accompanied by a short documentary of her fan-led trip to Latin America last year), Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Zach Winters, Jade Bird, Nothing But Thieves, Public Service Broadcasting, Lanterns on the Lake, and Ben Sollee. Finally, I was happy to include tracks by some new discoveries: OUTLYA, Overcoats (LOVE!), Isaac Gracie, Henry Jamison, Klangstof, and Ella Vos.
(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)
Created by Erica Andreozzi
FRESH NEW PLAYLIST to make you FEEL ELECTRIC! Songs inspired by recent recent SF shows (Vancouver Sleep Clinic, San Fermin, Doncat, Magic Giant), recent track/album releases (Sylvan Esso, Asgeir, Wild Cub, Alt-J, James Vincent McMorrow, Nick Mulvey), and AWESOME ARTISTS I saw at Bottlerock Napa (Day Wave, WILD, Lewis Del Mar, St. Lucia, Parade of lights, Bad Suns, Dreamers, Judah & the Lion, ARIZONA, City of the Sun, Hippo Campus, Saint Mesa, Baskery, and the Staves). Check out my fb music page (https://www.facebook.com/Beatsthatsetmypulse/) and YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/eandreoz) for more pics and videos! Reviews for San Fermin and Vancouver Sleep Clinic here:
(In order to access the playlist, you have to press the 3 vertical dots in the upper right hand corner and select download. You can then cancel the download immediately and still have access to the playlist. If you are still having uses, let me know and I can send you a link to download the tracks!)
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Vancouver Sleep Clinic‘s first show in SF at the Rickshaw Stop back in December had us begging for their return, especially with the release of their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Revival.’ A revival is surely what they spurred on last night at Bottom of the Hill. I could not help but watch everyone on the audience be lifted up by Tim’s angelic vocals and haunting howls as they stared up at him with eager eyes. Star struck by his fine, fierce falsetto, there was a sense of disbelief shared by the entire room. It’s hard to believe that he wrote his first song (‘Vapour‘) when he was only 17 yrs old, a song about realizing how short life is and how “you must find light and joy in the situations we’re put in.” Well we certainly find light and joy in the musical medicine he revives us with, one “rebirth” at a time. Tracks that had every hair raised on my body were Flaws, Lung, Living Water, Killing me to love you, and Someone to Stay, which was written about homelessness and homesickness when temporarily living in LA:
“You were alone, left out in the cold Clinging to the ruin of your broken home Too lost and hurting to carry your load We all need someone to hold” (SLAYED).
By the time the epic encore of Empire came around, I was completely lathered in chills. Empire stood alone with definitive power and command, keeping us on our toes as the capricious crescendos amplified our attention and wet our appetites. I’m already hungry for more and can’t wait until they return for summer festivals (best way to avoid winter in OZ!) All I know is that Vancouver Sleep Clinic won’t be frequenting small stages much longer. Recently on tour with the delightful Daughter, they are making a global footprint and hailing new fans far and wide. In fact, the kid standing next to me had flown all of the way from Phoenix just for the show! It won’t be long before this Aussie quintet will be headlining the legendary Fillmore. SF wants you back!
So happy to have met Tim Bettinson of Vancouver Sleep Clinic this week at the Rickshaw Stop. After wrapping up tour with Daughter the night before in Vancouver (yes, he says it’s everything he’s dreamed it to be), these Aussies (Brisbane) decided to sneak a two extra shows in SF and LA before heading out (and boy are we thankful for!). I remember first seeing Vancouver Sleep Clinic at Green Man music festival (Wales, UK) in 2014 and being completely taken back by their beauty and talent. For those lovers of Bon Iver, Volcano Choir, James Vincent McMorrow (who he’s a I’ve fan of and whom he saw for the first time in LA 3 years ago), RYX, Matt Corby, Sohn, Youth Lagoon, Alex Vargas, and Jack Garratt, Tim is your man!
Nothing better to lift dem spirits than rocking out to your favorite SF band (Geographer) on a random Tuesday night (especially after a long, long day). Glad to have shared this experience with other diehards (new friend named Janette) who also knew the words to every song and had no shame shouting them out loud with you. Turns out we were both at the same Geographer show back in Jan too! What a treat it was for Mike to be extra active on our side of the stage (e.g sticking his guitar out in front of our face!) and even letting Janette push the button on his synthesizer to start ‘Original Sin‘! I also really enjoyed Mike and Duncan’s dueling guitar action at the end of ‘I’m ready’ (I’m ready for a replay!) The woodblocks in ‘Verona‘ and saxophone in ‘Walk on the Moon‘ are always consistent crowd-pleasers, and in case the crowd wasn’t pleased enough, Mike jumped right into his sea of fans to show them his love up close and personal. Getting to hear their 2 new, unreleased tracks (‘Read My Mind‘ and ‘Something’s Missing‘) def has us anxiously awaiting the new album (scheduled to be out in the Fall). CAN’T WAIT! 🤗 I’m also stoked to check out Duncan’s other band (DONCAT) this Saturday (5/20) at Amnesia in SF. Thank gosh for musical medicine!<3<
“I want to write music that is so good, it reaches as many human beings as possible, which is quite a feat when you think about how different people are. There’s a magic in that and I want to create that. I selfishly want to be the harbinger of that magic.” – Mike Deni of Geographer Luckily, I have felt that magic. 🙂
Having recently returned from a trip to Asia and India, Mike Deni told the crowd the was was “so happy to be back” and playing music for us (first show of 2017). He said that POPSCENEnight at the Rickshaw Stop was one of the first ever places he played – fast forward 10 years and he is now back where it all began. Mike gave a special shout-out to Aaron Axelson for curating Popscene (the “coolest place to be on a Friday night) and giving him a platform to bring his music out into the world. My 8th time seeing Geographer and I can confidently say that they are STILL my favorite SF band. We were SO LUCKY to hear them test drive their FIRST NEW TRACK of 2017 (‘Read my mind‘) and new, recently released track called ‘I Want It All.’ SO FREAKING GOOD! Mike said he’s been working hard on the new album but has been slow to release tracks because he wants them to be really good. CAN’T WAIT! In honor of ‘Animal Shapes‘ finally becoming available on vinyl after high demand, Geographer treated us to a full live performance of this epic EP, start to finish (the last and first songs being my favorites). And EVEN MORE OF A TREAT was when Mike decided to get down and dirty with the crowd, dancing alongside us (especially during ‘I’m Ready‘). I was basically DEAD when he swing his guitar right up in my face. THESE ARE THE MOMENTS WILL LIVE FOR!!
ALSO, as if I couldn’t be more of Geographer fan, I find out that Mike decided to cover Sia‘s ‘Chandelier‘ in honor of International Women’s Day. “Here’s to a time where we no longer need a special day in the year to remember how important more than half the population of the planet is.” –Mike Deni ❤
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Taylor, quenched by this fountain of youth, dives into the crowd for a bit of surf and then lies on his back, projecting peace and love to all like a prophet.
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