– Showbams

2013 Outside Lands schedule announced!

July 25, 2013 by Mike Frash 2 Comments

Photos by Mark Fong // Written by Mike Frash //

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2013 //

The schedule has been released for the completely sold-out 2013 Outside Lands Music Festival, meaning the schedule conflict stress has already begun. Some folks have the misplaced assumption that they can see half, or even most of the artists on the OSL bill. They are wrong. With four stages and long walks from Lands End/Sutro to Twin Peaks/Panhandle (and back), you won’t see more than 1/4 of the performers on any given day.

So, now it’s time to start dealing with this first-world festival problem by making some tough choices. But remember, you don’t have to commit! Sometimes it’s best to choose shows while at the fest based on your mood.

Here are the biggest conflicts we see on the schedule — along with the sets we are most likely to attend in bold.

FRIDAY SCHEDULE // AUGUST 9th

• Paul McCartney vs. Yeasayer, Chromatics & Pretty Lights
*Macca has a two-hour, 45-minute set!

• The National vs. Rhye vs. Zedd vs. Stanton Warriors
• Band of Horses vs. Jessie Ware vs. Twenty One Pilots vs.
• Surfer Blood vs. Wild Belle vs. Jeffrey Ross
• Smith Westerns vs. Midi Matilda

SATURDAY SCHEDULE // AUGUST 10th

• Nine Inch Nails vs. Phoenix

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs. The Head & the Heart vs. Grizzly Bear
• Jurassic 5 vs. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down vs. Baauer
• Young the Giant vs. Youth Lagoon
• Gary Glark Jr. vs. Milo Greene vs. Atlas Genius

SUNDAY SCHEDULE // AUGUST 11th

• Red Hot Chilli Peppers vs. Dillon Francis, Kaskade

• Vampire Weekend vs. Willie Nelson & Family vs. Matt & Kim vs. MS MR
• Dawes vs. A-Trak
• Hall & Oates vs. Trombone Shorty vs. King Tuff
*4:20 Hall & Oats set. Just sayin’
• FOALS vs. Kurt Vile and The Violators vs. Deap Vally
*Winner of worst conflict: FOALS vs. Kurt Vile

Check out our previous Outside Lands articles:
• Outside Lands 2013 Beer/Artist Pairings
• Outside Lands 2013: Ten sets not to miss
• Outside Lands Music Festival Lineup 2013: Rumors vs. Reality

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals, Outside Lands Tagged With: A-Trak, Atlas Genius, Baauer, Band of Horses, Chromatics, Dawes, Deap Vally, Dillon Francis, FOALS, Gary Glark Jr., Grizzly Bear, Hall & Oates, Jessie Ware, Jurassic 5, Kaskade, King Tuff, Kurt Vile, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Matt & Kim, Midi Matilda, Milo Greene, MS MR, Nine Inch Nails, Outside Lands, Outside Lands Music Festival, Paul McCartney, Phoenix, Pretty Lights, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Rhye, Smith Westerns, Stanton Warriors, Surfer Blood, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, The Head & The Heart, The National, Trombone Shorty, Twenty One Pilots, Vampire Weekend, Wild Belle, Willie Nelson & Family, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Yeasayer, Young The Giant, Youth Lagoon, Zedd

Futurebirds & Diarrhea Planet present SF with layered southern psych-rock

July 24, 2013 by Mike Frash Leave a Comment

Futurebirds

By Mike Frash

Futurebirds with Diarrhea Planet //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 18th, 2013 //

Futurebirds are one of the best bands to emerge out of the Athens, Ga., music scene in a while, and anyone present The Independent can attest to this notion. Guitar instrumentation was the theme of the night as featured act and conversation starter Diarrhea Planet perfectly mirrored the night’s headliners through layered Southern psych-rock.

With a name that dares you to say it out loud in front of other people, Diarrhea Planet put forth a killer set. Balancing between heavy metal and punk, yet centering around accessible hooks, the Planet would rage hard then let intricate instrumentation create a floaty atmosphere.

The Nashville-based group was there to party and make a scene, something Diarrhea Planet achieved by reinforcing their music with four guitarists and a variety of stage antics. Emmett Miller on guitar led the way with the shenanigans, climbing speaker banks to jump from and by performing on the floor of the general admission area to end the set. They had fun and left a good impression in line with the Diarrhea Planet motto: “Shred till you’re dead, or go to hell.”

Diarrhea Planet

As the stage was being prepared for Futurebirds, tunes from Kurt Vile and Tame Impala rang through the venue. This choice of pre-game music was highly appropriate — psychedelic guitar layering proved to be the hallmark sound of Futurebirds. The group features two electric guitarists, one acoustic and the all-important steel petal guitarist.

The stoic steel pedal guitarist added haunting accents to songs, even though he was the only performer onstage who seemed kind of bored. Futurebird’s music is rooted in alternative country, but every song transformed halfway through, morphing with a pleasant sound-shift into psychedelic-rock territory. For instance, “Death Awaits” is a wavy, country ballad until layered, electric guitar stomps into the third part of the song, adding Syd Barrett-like wails. The steel pedal ended up bringing the song together for the guitar-harmonized, blended outro.

Touring on their 2013 LP Baba Yaga, Futurebirds transformed almost every offering into a Neil Young-like slow burning jam, picking up the pace through layered Southern aural goodness.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Diarrhea Planet, Futurebirds, Kurt Vile, Neil Young, Tame Impala, The Independent

New Music: Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus

July 24, 2013 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus

Top Tracks:
“Brainfreeze”
“The Red Wing”
“Stalker”

Album Highlights: After a lengthy 4 year wait for the third album from the Bristol duo Fuck Buttons, Slow Focus has arrived with all it’s droning brilliance. Right out of the gates, it’s not terribly tough to see that Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power have been busy collecting more circuit-bent gadgets and rare synths to create a whirling dervish of art-wave post-rock. Though trying to place this act in any genre is a bit of disservice, kind of like some of their influences like Aphex Twin and Mogwai. Alas, this sonic venture is full of exploration, easily demonstrated on the long-play opening track, “Brainfreeze”. Fans of My Bloody Valentine may eat up this thick, wall-of-sound style approach that is served up on this release, and the explorative tracks top ten minutes in some cases à la Kevin Shields, as well.

Comparisons aside, Fuck Buttons truly bring something original to the table, and the crossover nature of this release is one of the more dynamic aspects to dwell on while listening. Tracks like “Stalker” lurch close to a dance beat, but won’t allow for overt shoegazing as the song bends and limps towards a rising focal point. It’s uplifting in ways, while leaving the listener to decide if it’s the sound of apocalypse or a new beginning.

Album Lowlight: Much like their influences, Fuck Buttons won’t fit neatly into any category, therefore fans of the avant-garde will eat it up, while others may not appreciate the pioneering aspect of these two experimental Brits. Closing track “Hidden Xs” is formatted very similarly to the prior song in song structure, length of track and overall feel. “Hidden Xs” does have a more distinct “rock” feel with it’s relatively clear guitar tones, almost reminiscent of jamtronica purveyors such as The Egg. It remains to be seen whether this album has a ton of replay value, but the depth of the songs tend to make one think it will.

Takeaway: If not familiar with this act, Slow Focus is a perfectly acceptable jumping off point before burrowing into their back catalog. It’s likely that their recently announced Fall tour will garner buzz and sell out in many key demographics, so don’t sleep on Fuck Buttons in the later summer.

Hung and Power are masters of their craft, and truly sculpt aural landscapes with the best of them. One standout track, “The Red Wing”, could be a stand-in for a more ruckus take on Boards of Canada, an act that shares the same envelope-pushing ethos. All in all, these rising stars bring something truly unique to the table, a table that is increasingly overflowing with new takes on the state of electronic music, even if hidden under the moniker of post-rock.

Filed Under: New Music Tagged With: Fuck Buttons, New Music, Slow Focus

FREE SHOWS: Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson • Hockey • Tiny Television

July 23, 2013 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Ready to witness live music at it’s best this weekend in the Bay Area?

WIN FREE TICKETS to these kick-ass shows:

Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson @ Slims – Friday 7/26
Tiny Television @ Great American Music Hall – Friday 7/26
Hockey @ The Independent – Saturday 7/27

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay in the loop for more contests. Check out our show previews below.

CONTEST COMPLETE

Enter to win tickets to these shows by submitting your full name, email address & by choosing the show you would like to attend in the drop down. All contests end Thursday, July 25 at 5pm. Winners will be notified via email Thursday or Friday. Enter as many contests as you would like (Click “Go Back” and try for a different show after you enter once).

Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson as “The Uncluded”
Slims ~ Friday, 7/26

Aesop Rock and longtime collaborator Kimya Dawson have joined forces to create The Uncluded. They combine forces to overlay back and forth rhymes over easy-listening acoustic guitar and xylophone melodies. Check out this one-off tour while you can.

For fans of: Feist, MF Doom, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, El-P

Hockey
The Independent ~ Saturday, 7/27

Portland indie-dance outfit Hockey are returning to the road in support of their new LP Wyeth Is, and the group didn’t become cult favorites in UK for nothing. Do you like electro-pop influenced indie rock? Yeah? Then make your way to the Indy Saturday evening.

For fans of: The Strokes, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, LCD Soundsystem

Tiny Television
Great American Music Hall ~ 7/26

San Francisco’s very own Tiny Television are taking a big step Friday by headlining at Great Amercian Music Hall with support from The Dustbowl Revival & The Goldenhearts. Friday night promises to be a fun night of Americana, bluegrass pickin’ and alt-country swooning at Great American.

For fans of: Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson, Hockey, The Uncluded, Tiny Television

Tea Leaf Green leave The New Parish in its wake

July 23, 2013 by Kevin Raos Leave a Comment

By Kevin Raos //

Tea Leaf Green //
The New Parish – Oakland
July 20th, 2013 //

Jam veterans Tea Leaf Green returned to The New Parish last Saturday, delighting the hometown crowd with a heavy dose of new material. As Bay Area natives, Tea Leaf Green have been making a name for themselves in and around San Francisco since the late 90’s, and despite a long career and a loyal fan base, they proved that they aren’t afraid to play on their own terms.

Formed in 1996, Tea Leaf Green have been a staple on the jam scene for ages. Their face-melting guitar and hypnotic keyboards have been a cornerstone to their sound, but it was the addition of bassist Reed Mathis in 2007 that has propelled the act to new heights.

The new direction of Tea Leaf Green was on full display as they ripped through tunes primarily selected from their previous three albums, including their most recent offering, In the Wake. It was no surprise the band showcased tracks from In The Wake, playing nearly the entire new album. However, it was surprising that the band broke into almost no older material for the hometown crowd. Only two songs performed were not from a Reed Mathis album, “Baseball Jam” and “Flowers and the Devil”.

Fans expecting to hear classic Tea Leaf Green songs such as “The Garden” and “Pansperdemic De-Evolution” may have been a tad disappointed with the song selections. However, take one listen to this band and any of those thoughts will be quickly thrown out the window. It is clear Tea Leaf Green is creating some of the best music of their career and they are not afraid to put it on display with ferocity. New tracks such as “Space Hero”, “Penny Saved” and “We Aren’t Done” have become instant crowd pleasers, and they demonstrate that they don’t need to reach for deep cuts to satisfy their fans. If the dancing of the crowd was any indication, the new tracks were incredibly well-received.

If there was anything to learn from this show or the general state of Tea Leaf Green, I think it is safe to say that the impact of Reed Mathis on Tea Leaf Green is creating waves, leaving the old Tea Leaf Green in their wake (see what I did there?). Yes, Josh Clark is a beast on guitar, and Trevor Garrod will always be the main voice of the band, but it is Reed Mathis’s presence on bass that takes Tea Leaf Green’s dynamic to the next level. At any moment, Reed is apt to go on a musical interlude, leading the band through an improvisational tangent. This is something Tea Leaf Green never did prior to Mathis joining. Founding bassist Ben “Milky” Chambers left the band in late 2007 to “pursue some of life’s other passions.” Chambers will always be an integral part of the group’s history, but Chambers’ departure transformed the band from a stoner jam band into a respectable improvisational rock band. Not only is a Reed a master on the bass, but he also brings a jazz element to the table and is likely to take just as many solos as Josh Clark on any given evening.

Another point of note, Tea Leaf Green did not play the traditional 2 set show that they, and many similar bands, have a tendency to do. Instead they performed one, longer set. It could have been a venue/curfew thing, but it’s noteworthy never the less.

In closing, Tea Leaf Green still has it. They’re as musically interesting as ever and still bring the heat, even when flexing their new album. They aren’t afraid to take risks and they clearly do what they love — it shows on stage.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Tea Leaf Green, The New Parish

David Byrne & St. Vincent burn down the house in Oakland

July 22, 2013 by Dara Shulman 3 Comments

With the house lights still up at the beautiful Fox Theatre in Oakland July 21, a youthful-sounding David Byrne got on the mic backstage to greet the audience. He jovially and politely asked the audience to put their “gadgets” away; “we’ve worked really hard on this show and we’re really proud of it…you don’t need a gadget to enjoy it.” The packed house enthusiastically applauded in agreement.

The audience was regaled with booming sounds from the sousaphone, trumpets, trombones, French horn, and sax. Byrne’s voice, as strong and sharp as it was in his Talking Heads days harmonized handsomely with Annie Clark, the lead creative force behind St. Vincent. The group opened with “Who”, the opening track on David Byrne and St. Vincent’s 2012 album Love This Giant.

The show was so beautifully epic. The eight-piece marching horn section, Annie Clark’s crystal clear voice, and Byrne’s notorious quirkiness were in sync all evening — the show was more of a theatrical production than a concert. The choreography, the musicianship, the talent, the lighting; the entire production was so seamless and so much fun to watch. During the Talking Heads cover “Wild, Wild Life”, the talented horn section marched in a circle while each member gave a quick line into the mic. “I wrestle with your conscious, you wrestle with your partner.”

Byrne, clad in all white, bopped along while the band led many of the numbers. While the upbeat songs were great to dance to, it was the more mellow songs such as “Outside Space and Time” that brought the warmth and power out of the horns. One had to wonder where the sound of strings was coming from? The French horn perhaps? Each song portrayed it’s own story: the tone, choreography, and sound adapted delightfully for each number. It kept you wondering, where are we going next?

The crowd rallied and cheered during the Talking Heads songs of the evening. Byrne projected joy during a lovely rendition of “Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place)”. The real crowd-pleaser turned out to be during the encore, when Byrne’s “Burning Down the House” literally brought the entire packed Fox to their feet to bust out some moves. They exited the stage after their second encore, a New Orleans second line-style “Road to Nowhere.”

Another striking moment happened when Clark thanked her “bitchin’ crew” for their dedication during their full year tour, as this show marked the conclusion of the US tour. Not only did she thank the road crew and band members, but gave a lovely homage to Byrne himself. She first discovered Byrne’s music after viewing Revenge of the Nerds in her youth (“Burning Down the House” was featured in a scene). She went on to explain the impact of his music and how honored she was to be on stage performing with him. To paraphrase, “Thank you David for bringing your music into the world, you have made it a better place.”

A brief personal anecdote:
I was first introduced to David Byrne and The Talking Heads in high school when I was told to listen to the Stop Making Sense album: that was a life-changer. As an avid Talking Heads fan, this was really a dream come true for me. It only got better when he played “Naïve Melody”, the song I hold so dear to my heart and walked down the aisle to at my wedding. I try to make Byrne’s lyrics my motto, “Feet on the ground, Head in the Sky.”

My husband and I had seats literally in the last row of the balcony, BB. They turned out to be the best seats in the house! Not only are the acoustics amazing from anywhere in the gorgeous Fox Theatre, but some of the numbers are almost meant to be watched as if watching a play; thus seats were nice to have. Being in the back row also allowed us to pop up and dance when the mood struck us, which was often. The show was truly a beautiful work of art — It was an honor to see David Byrne, weird and as awesome as ever.

Filed Under: Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Annie Clark, David Byrne, Fox Theater Oakland, St. Vincent

SF locals Cool Ghouls add horn section at Phono del Sol

July 19, 2013 by Nikki de Martini Leave a Comment

By Nikki DeMartini //

Phono del Sol Music Festival //
Potrero del Sol Park – San Francisco
July 13th, 2013 //

This past Saturday was a picture-perfect day to catch some rays, see local bands and grub on fare from food trucks at the third annual Phono del Sol Music and Food Festival. The festivities started at noon, and by the time Bay Area natives Cool Ghouls hit The Potrero Stage at 12:50 p.m. a small, yet-good sized crowd had gathered to catch their act. Though most people who went to watch Cool Ghouls enjoyed the set from afar atop one of the grassy knolls in Phono del Sol Park, a handful of fans got right up front where the sound quality was way better.

Coll Ghouls’ usual four-piece ensemble had an additional three-piece horn section, and after all the guys got situated, bassist Pat Thomas, lead guitarist Ryan Wong and Pat McDonald each said hello to the crowd before opening with the track most likely to be found on a summertime playlist, “Natural Life”.

The guys of Cool Ghouls are young and they look it, which is sort of surprising since their sound in is undeniably retro with a modern surf-rock twist. Within the first three songs of their set, Thomas, McDonald and Wong each took over lead vocals while their sweet harmonies highlighted every song.

Cool Ghouls filled the afternoon air with seven cool tracks off their self-titled debut EP, including “Grace” and “Queen Sophie”, in their own youthful retro fashion. Their performance paired perfectly with the unseasonably warm SF weather while their laid-back, inviting vibe created that sought-after feel festivalgoers appreciate at the beginning of a long day of music. Well played, Cool Ghouls.

Nikki de Martini spoke with Pat Thomas, bassist and singer for Cool Ghouls before their Phono del Sol set.

Showbams: I understand that the name Cool Ghouls is derived from George Clinton’s funky banter. Can you elaborate on why you chose the name Cool Ghouls and what the name means to you collectively as a band?

Thomas: Well, Pat McDonald came up with the idea. I dunno. We thought it had a nice ring to it. It rhymes. It’s ghastly. I like ghosts. I wrote a song called “Ghost Song”.

Showbams: Do you consider yourselves ghouls? Do you consider yourselves cool?

Thomas: Yes and yes.

Showbams: Are you fans of George Clinton? His music? Fashion sense? What he stands for?

Thomas: I don’t have a lot of George Clinton knowledge really. I like the whole far-out vibe that Parliament had/has. Maggot Brain is a killer album. On every road trip “Can You Get to That” gets bumped at least once.

Showbams: Congratulations on releasing your self-titled debut EP this past April. Some reviews that I’ve come across consider your sound as rather retro circa a 60’s psychedelic sound. I personally picked up on a throwback to old-school surf-rock with a modern twist. How would you say you perceive the sound of Cool Ghouls and why?

Thomas: Well, it’s pretty much impossible to imagine what other people’s ears are gonna hear when your music hits them. We just play the kind of music we’ve always played. When I’m writing or playing a Cool Ghouls song, I’m not thinking within a framework like “garage” or “60’s.” I’m just trying to channel the sounds and vibes in my brain. Certainly 60’s-type shit finds its way into what I do because all that shit is somewhere in there, in my brain. Especially with bass, Motown subconsciously finds its way into my fingers.

Showbams: I dig the cover artwork on the LP — it looks part hand-drawn/painted with a some photography up in there…who’s the artist who did the work?

Thomas: Thanks! I did the cover art myself! Yeah, it’s a canvas that I painted with watercolors. Then I taped all the other images on top. They’re all found pieces, except the rooster, which I painted. Oh, and the picture of us up in the clouds was taken by my friend Matt at one of our shows.

Showbams: Did all three of you grow up in San Francisco? If so what area of SF, and how did you meet each other?

Thomas: Well, there are four of us. None of us grew up in SF. Both Pats and Ryan grew up in Benicia, which is in the East Bay, about 40 minutes outside the city. Alex is from Sacramento. We met Alex through SF State. The other Pat, Ryan and Alex all went to SF State.

Showbams: Were your parents hippies?

Thomas: Definitely not! My parents were born about 15 years too late to be a part of the proper baby-boomer hippy generation. They went to college in the 80’s and were into Reagan. Suburban family folk. I don’t think any of our parents were what you’d call hippies. Pat McDonald’s dad probably comes the closest. He fought in Vietnam. But I don’t think he was a long-hair or anything. He had and has a passion for rock ‘n’ roll, though.

Showbams: Do you consider yourself hippies?

Thomas: I don’t think so. Although I could imagine someone might look at us and call us hippies. I like the Grateful Dead. But no, I wouldn’t call myself a hippie. I don’t really use the word “hippie” at all actually.

Showbams: What is your favorite album of 2013 so far?

Thomas: Finding the Meaning in Deference by The Mallard!

Showbams: How stoked, on a scale from 1 -10, are you guys to be on a bill with the likes of YACHT, Thee Oh Sees, K-Flay and a bunch of other independent local acts at the 3rd Annual Phono del Sol Music Festival this Saturday? Is this the first music festival Cool Ghouls has played?

Thomas: 10! Just to play a festival of this caliber … is definitely a first for us. Totally stoked. We will have a lot of family and friends there.

Showbams: If you could play with one band/artist who would it be?

Thomas: Can I choose four? Wyatt Blair, Meat Market, Corners and Froth. And if I could play with them at Brick & Mortar Music Hall, it would be a dream come true!

Filed Under: Festivals, Interviews, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Cool Ghouls, Phono Del Sol, Phono del Sol 2013, Phono del Sol Music Festival, Phono del Sol Music Festival 2013, Potrero del Sol Park

New Music: David Lynch – The Big Dream

July 19, 2013 by Molly Kish Leave a Comment

David Lynch – The Big Dream

Top Tracks:
“Star Dream Girl”
“Last Call”
“Say It”

Album Highlights:Naturally one to push creative boundaries, renaissance man David Lynch gets surprisingly lo-fi on his new 2013 album, The Big Dream. Notwithstanding his flair for the experimental, he pairs many contrasting elements that would have had the compatibility of oil and water if the album had not been a David Lynch production. On his eighth studio album — a stark contrast from his electro pop 2011 release Crazy Clown Time — Lynch takes a turn for the opiate, churning his signature synthesized vocal narratives into molasses paced rhythm and blues sections. Possessing the quality of a ketamine induced honky tonk, Lynch plays with elements of doo wop, country and blues while incorporating drum machines and ear drum rattling bass, because well…he can.

Vocals remain at the forefront of the each track and speak more as monologues rather than lyrics. Similar to that of Lou Reed, Les Claypool or Gibby Haines of Butthole Surfer fame, Lynch talk-sings through the entire record in his vaguely auto-tuned staccato-paced drone. Ranging from provocative on standout tracks like “Say It” and “Star Dream Girl” to nearly incomprehensible on the bluesy freak out jam “Sun Can’t Be Seen No More”, Lynch keeps the journey interesting, yet cohesive. Considering the inclusion of curve ball tracks like the bass heavy “Last Call” that almost have a trap vibe to it, the unified nature of this album is impressive. It Proves yet again that the artistic stamp of David Lynch is something that’s poignant enough to genre-bend with incomparable ease.

Album Lowlight: Although The Big Dream does accomplish a great feat in finding an audio space to combine such abstract musical elements, it also conversely detracts from the listening experience a bit. The album transitions effortlessly from one track to the next, however at points becomes convoluted due to Lynch’s staple vocal style. The Big Dream has a charming garage rock appeal and is unique in its production quality, but at times can be boring due to how consistent it remains throughout. The title track does little to pull in the listener and sets an indifferent pace for the rest of the record. This album has great moments that invoke a sense of nostalgia for fans of Lynch’s early work and rock purists alike, however it won’t be blowing the minds of music critics anticipating a characteristically ostentatious David Lynch.

Takeaway: At this point in his eclectic career, Lynch knows he can do just about whatever he wants successfully, a trait that allows him to take such creative risks with reckless abandon. It’s also a key element in how cohesively this album actually comes together despite its abstract musical content. In The Big Dream, we see a rather reserved effort by David Lynch, bringing his Midas Touch to the world of rhythm and blues. Incorporating contemporary bass lines and drum machines, Lynch makes a conscious effort to remain relevant enough for airplay but without compromising his integrity as a master of kitsch. Bringing old school fans back to awkward scenes in the Twin Peaks roadhouse, Lynch keeps things entertainingly cryptic in a way that only he can do.

Filed Under: New Music Tagged With: David Lynch, New Music, The Big Dream

Phono del Sol gets rowdy with Thee Oh Sees & YACHT

July 18, 2013 by Mike Frash 1 Comment

Photos by Nikki de Martini & Mike Frash // Written by Mike Frash //

Phono del Sol Music Festival //
Potrero del Sol Park – San Francisco
July 13th, 2013 //

Phono del Sol Music and Food Festival got a bit rowdy this year, but it’s not a huge surprise with local juggernauts Thee Oh Sees topping the music bill for the fest’s third incarnation. The first two years of Phono del Sol, which also took place at Potrero del Sol Park in the Mission District of SF, offered decisively mellow indie fare.

But this year, Phono del Sol curators The Bay Bridged and John Vanderslice’s Tiny Telephone took things up another notch, adding a second stage and party-starting acts YACHT, Bleached, K. Flay, Marnie Stern and Painted Palms. For the first time at Phono del Sol, people raged.

The main stage’s built-in band shell was packed tightly by the time Thee Oh Sees were ready to begin. As K. Flay continued on with her set at the Mission Stage, Dwyer grew impatient once Thee Oh Sees were ready to go. The powerless stage manager did his best to hold Dwyer off from initiating the performance, but after one false start, Dwyer said, “Fuck it” and launched the first song. Indie moshing, crowd surfing and stage diving would frame the headliners for the entire show, just as frontman John Dwyer always inspires.

Dwyer is one of the most interesting characters in music today, and his manic stage presence and antics are just as entertaining as Thee Oh Sees’ excellent post-punk sound. Dwyer spits, pounds beers, sticks his tongue out and plays his guitar near his neck, which has quickly become his iconic go-to move. And it’s obvious how he’s a local hero, drawing scores of dedicated fans that mimic Dwyer’s moves at every show The Oh Sees play.

Most of the tunes performed Saturday were from Thee Oh Sees’ relentless 2013 LP Floating Coffin, but the most entertaining highlight of the late-afternoon performance happened when Dwyer invited everyone on stage for the final two songs.

The energy transferred to the final act of the festival, YACHT. Props to the festival organizers for placing YACHT last after the headliners — there’s no better way to end a day of music then to dance your ass off. Jona Bechtolt and Claire Evans have honed their electopop jams into a tight show. Songs segued seamlessly, feigning a DJ set, as Evens commands you to pay attention and shake your booty at the same time. The set ended with “Le Goudron” and “Second Summer”, a super-fun way to bring Phono Del Sol to a close.

Filed Under: Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Phono Del Sol, Phono del Sol 2013, Phono del Sol Music Festival, Phono del Sol Music Festival 2013, The Bay Bridged, Thee Oh Sees, YACHT

Expectation game alters vibe at SORNE’s SF show

July 18, 2013 by Molly Kish 1 Comment

Photos by Edlon Christenson // Written by Molly Kish //

SORNE //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 11th, 2013 //

Echo Park’s own Morgan Sorne, aka SORNE, hit the stage The Independent last week. A sparse crowd danced loosely amidst the open dance floor half-filled with a seated section leading up to the bar. Adorned with face paint, flowing garbs and a fine sprinkling of festival residue, the scene felt more like a Burning Man decompression than a typical bill at The Independent, leading one to naturally want to abandon all expectations of what exactly was going to take place that evening.

Known for SORNE’s elaborate stage show and creative set designs, the anticipation escalated quickly waiting for him to approach the stage. Marketed as an audio/visual performance, detailing the “archetypes of the human condition,” the crowd eagerly awaited the spectacle to commence. SORNE took the stage, which remained bare, with his bandmates Kevin Naquin and Dean Cote, who accompanied on percussion and back-up vocals. Absent of any frills or stylistic grandeur, the jean-and-tank-top-clad frontman immediately broke into material off of his debut album. Those present instantaneously responded, and to my surprise could care less about whether or not the act lived up to its theatrical promise. SORNE’s energetic stage presence would be the “spectacle” of the night amidst the barren backdrop of the band’s equipment and mic stands.

The band’s talent took precedent upon acceptance that SORNE’s “epic saga” was going to be more of a straight-forward performance. Morgan Sorne’s vocals were amazing, the percussion was on point and his energy throughout the entire show was relentless. Many songs were reminiscent of Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals, as each song had its own charismatic charm with undertones of tribal beats and desert trance paired with electronic pop-rock.

Although great for a simple and to-the-point rock concert, it was hard to break from the anticipation of expecting something more. The concert didn’t resonate properly due to expectations based on the SORNE marketing campaign. Although SORNE is a band made up of great musicians with a refreshingly energetic stage presence, the unfulfilled feeling still remains and unfortunately will be what was remembered most about the show that evening.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: SORNE, The Independent

Usher in the Indie-an Summer with Noise Pop’s 20th Street Block Party!

July 18, 2013 by Molly Kish Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

20th Street Block Party //
Mission District – San Francisco
August 24th, 2017 //

August is a hot month for music in the Bay Area! It’s a time that caters to the concertgoer, when competing venues stack their calendars with talent harvested from festival bills circulating throughout Northern CA. Late August will fill your pockets full of ticket stubs and your complexion with some Vitamin D, marking the unofficial start to our Indian summer.

Local indie powerhouses Noise Pop and friends (Do 415, Ne Tiemas, Nomic and The Bon Vivants) are teaming up to throw one hell of a FREE food and music celebration next month. The 20th Street Block Party will highlighting the local spirit, culture, diversity and artistic collectives of the outer Mission and Dogpatch neighborhoods.

The 2013 lineup highlights some of the most creative and successful innovators in hospitality and entertainment the Bay Area has to offer. Admission is FREE and all ages are welcomed. If interested in libations, bring a valid ID or Driver’s License and the event is entirely smoke-free.

MUSIC!
A wide array of musical talent will be on display at the 20th Street Block Party. Offering a taste of talent both native and nationally recognized, this year’s bill has a little something to tickle the eardrums of just about everyone in attendance.

Two Gallants

Mac DeMarco

Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Review

FOOD & DRINK!
Local businesses will be providing some incredible Food & Drinks!

• The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
• Asiento
• Atlas Cafe
• Blowfish
• Central Kitchen
• Coffee Bar
• flour + water
• Rhea’s Deli
• Salumeria
• Sightglass
• Trick Dog
• Benders Bar & Grill
• Jay’n Bee Club

Along with deals, discounts and delectable treats, Ne Timeas Restaurant Group will also be sponsoring a Food Workshop Tent with DIY demonstrations on food preparation, pasta making, pizza tossing and creative cooking tips throughout the day.

CRAFT VENDORS!
A variety of local craft vendors will be on site engaging with the community, demonstrating their trades, sampling their products and hosting a ton of interactive activities for all ages.

• Alite
• Artspan
• The Bay Bridged
• Crossroads Trading Co.
• Insymmetry Massage
• J.Fein Designs
• Last Gasp Books
• Mission Cliffs
• Mission Creek Merchants Association
• Moxie Yoga
• Mutiny Radio
• Pretty Parlor a GOGO
• Radio Silence
• Side Stage Photo
• Southern Exposure
• TopShelf Boutique
• Z Space

AFTER PARTY!
Continuing the party into the evening hours, Mission Dispatch and NWBLK Events will be hosting an after party from 6-10 p.m. featuring continued festivities, food, drinks and music for those not ready to call it quits after the block party.

An all ages affair, with a $5 suggested donation price, one can easily saunter over to the 1975 Bryant St. location from the 20th Street Block Party for a nightcap and final bite with this current roster of participants.

• Derby Cocktail
• Fuki Truck
• Phat Thai
• Burr-Eatery
• Garden Creamery
• Grandma Jean’s Whoopie Pie

DETAILS!
The 20th Street Block Party takes place on August 24th from Noon-6 p.m. The after party goes from 6-10 p.m.

The 20th Street Block Party will be located between 19th and 20th St. in the Mission District, San Francisco, taking over the areas enclosed between Bryant and Harrison streets as well as the alleyway of Florida St.

Bike parking will be located at the main entrance of the Block Party on 20th and Harrison, with absolutely no vehicle access to the event area. Public transit is highly encouraged and available via the 27 and 12 bus lines.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 20th Street Block Party, 20th Street Block Party 2013, Mac Demarco, Noise Pop, Quinn Deveaux, Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Review, Two Gallants

MIDTERM REPORT: Best Albums of 2013

July 17, 2013 by The Bam Team 3 Comments

Photos by Marc Fong and Mike Frash

Is 2013 the year digital dance music makes the big leap, fully taking over the Top 40 but also ingraining itself into the hearts of critics? Daft Punk made all the noise as the year was young, but young EDM-upstarts Disclosure, Flume & Jagwar Ma have all made an impact on the Bam Team.

That stated, the musical output in 2013 so far is pretty damn strong overall. And just think, we will be hearing new LPs from Arcade Fire, Earl Sweatshirt, Washed Out, Ty Segall, Franz Ferdinand, Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys, Holy Ghost!, Chvrches, and many more still. Take a gander at our favorite albums of the year as of July 17, 2013 – What are we missing?

*Any album released in the US in the year 2013 is eligible for Best Albums of 2013.
**Check out all of our music reviews from 2013.

Mike Frash
1. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
2. Disclosure – Settle
3. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
4. James Blake – Overgrown
5. FOALS – Holy Fire
6. Flume – Flume
7. Foxygen – We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
8. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
9. Jagwar Ma – Howlin
10. Baths – Obsidian

Molly Kish
1. Atoms For Peace – AMOK
2. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
3. Disclosure – Settle
4. Toro Y Moi – Anything In Return
5. Phoenix – Bankrupt!
6. STRFKR – Miracle Mile
7. Devandra Banhart – Mala
8. Major Lazer – Free the Universe
9. Cold War Kids – Dear Miss Lonelyhearts
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito

Kevin Quandt
1. my bloody valentine – m b v
2. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
3. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
4. Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Daze
5. Thee oh Sees – Floating Coffin
6. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
7. Disclosure – Settle
8. Rhye – Woman
9. Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
10. A$AP Rocky – Long Live A$AP

Pete Mauch
1. Sigur Ros – Kveikur
2. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
3. Superhuman Happiness – Hands
4. FOALS – Holy Fire
5. Boards of Canada – Tomorrows Harvest
6. Deerhunter – Monomania
7. Youth Lagoon – Wondrous Bughouse
8. Bonobo – The North Borders
9. Kurt Vile and The Violators – Walkin’ On A Pretty Daze
10. Disclosure – Settle

Kevin Raos
1. Toro Y Moi – Anything In Return
2. Rhye – Woman
3. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
4. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
5. Sigur Ros – Kveikur
6. FOALS – Holy Fire
7. Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
8. Camera Obscura – Camera Obscura
9. Atoms for Peace – AMOK
10. Portugal. The Man – Evil Friends

Sean Little
1. Flume – Flume
2. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
3. Classixx – Hanging Gardens
4. Jessie Ware – Devotion
5. Hanni El Kattib – Head In The Dirt
6. Disclosure – Settle
7. Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
8. Empire of the Sun – Ice on the Dune
9. Portugal. The Man – Evil Friends
10. DJ Koze – Amygdala

Eric Shaden
1. Jagwar Ma – Howlin
2. James Blake – Overgrown
3. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
4. Starfucker – Miracle Mile
5. Disclosure – Settle
6. Phoenix – Bankrupt!
7. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
8. Autre Ne Veut – Anxiety
9. Major Lazer – Free the Universe
10. Thundercat – Apocalypse

Nikki De Martini
1. MS MR – Secondhand Rapture
2. Deap Vally – Sistrionix
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Mosquito
4: CSS – Planta
5: Little Boots – Nocturnes
6. Portugal The Man – Evil Friends
7. Cold War Kids – Dear Miss Lonelyhearts
8. Kanye West – Yeezus
9. Great Gatsby Soundtrack
10. Sigur Ros – Kveikur

Filed Under: Best of, Best of 2013, Featured Tagged With: Atoms for Peace, Boards of Canada, Cold War Kids, Daft Punk, Deerhunter, Disclosure, Flume, FOALS, Foxygen, Jagwar Ma, James Blake, Kurt Vile, Major Lazer, My Bloody Valentine, Phoenix, Portugal. The Man, Rhye, Sigur Ros, STRFKR, The Natinoal, Thee Oh Sees, Toro Y Moi, Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Youth Lagoon

PHOTOS: Langhorne Slim at The Indy

July 16, 2013 by Marc Fong Leave a Comment

Alternative folk-blues troubadour Langhorne Slim stopped by The Independent Monday evening for an energetic, foot stompin’ good time.

The night’s headliner proved to be an energetic and fun performer – just check out the photos below for evidence. Slim (née Sean Scolnick) danced and jumped around the stage and the crowd ate it up. A group from Oregon even made trek to SF just to catch the show.

Langhorne Slim and his band “The Law” brought the folky-fun to the bay, and he even played a couple dance numbers. Marc Fong was on the scene to capture the moments.

Filed Under: Photos Tagged With: Langhorne Slim, The Independent

New Music: Thundercat – Apocalypse

July 16, 2013 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Thundercat – Apocalypse

Top Tracks:
“Tenfold”
“Oh Sheit It’s X”
“Lotus and the Jondy”

Album Highlights: The intergalactic, funk spaceship piloted by the virtuous Stephen Bruner, aka Thundercat, continues to plunge the depths of the galaxy with his latest release Apocalypse. Ever wonder what a more contemporary version of Jamiroquai with vocals by Pharrell Williams would sound like? It would sound a good amount like Apocalypse. Alright, now that you have a general idea of what this Los Angeles native sounds like, let’s delve into what makes this album such a blast to listen to while being a sonic success.

One aspect of this release that lends to it’s greatness is the co-production of one Stephen Ellison, popularly known as Flying Lotus. Both artist have been longtime members of the Brainfeeder label and cross pollinate regularly, as Thundercat lent his skills to Until the Quiet Comes in a big way. The sublime combination of sultry space-funk and off-kilter beats creates something familiar but uniquely fresh and dynamic. Furthermore, this album isn’t trying to be a Billboard top-seller or something more than the sum of it’s parts. It’s avant-garde, futuristic, and left-leaning while projecting a massively wide range of appeal to a varied audience.

Songs like “Oh Sheit It’s X” combine funkified disco grooves that would light any dance floor in the 70’s on fire with it’s bubbly, complex bass lines and flying synths. Some could dismiss it as campy, but the track’s strength in arrangement and production would disprove any naysayer in seconds. “A Message for Austin” closes the album on a rather sad note, as Bruner pens a song to the recently deceased Brainfeeder artist and longtime member of Thundercat, Austin Peralta. It’s a truly touching track dedicated to a talented young musician taken all too soon.

Album Lowlight: Thundercat’s previous release, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, showcased Bruner’s bass playing mastery a bit more. This is minor, especially as the song-writing skills of Bruner have grown considerably stronger over the past few years. But, overall, there are few flaws with Apocalypse, in fact it’s ultimately refreshing to see a creation that isn’t trying to be anything more than Thundercat’s true vision.

Takeaway: In an era when virtuosic instrumentation doesn’t mean as much as one’s ability to twist knobs and hit buttons, it’s refreshing to hear albums like Apocalypse. Thundercat is an artist who dances to beat of his own drum, er, I mean bass. His dynamic live show has been winning accolades for years, as his set at Coachella 2012 drew this writer in, hook, line and sinker. Whether leading his stellar band in mind-blowing instrumental grooves or belting out one of his soul-funk tunes to the ladies in the front row, Thundercat is a competent musician all around who deserves more attention.

Filed Under: New Music Tagged With: Apocalypse, New Music, Thundercat

FREE SHOWS: Futurebirds • Tea Leaf Green • Big Black Delta • Kelly McFarling

July 16, 2013 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Ready to witness live music at it’s best this weekend in the Bay Area?

WIN FREE TICKETS to these kick-ass shows:

Futurebirds @ The Independent – Thursday 7/18
Big Black Delta @ The Independent – Friday 7/19
Kelly McFarling @ Brick & Mortar – Friday 7/19
Tea Leaf Green @ The New Parish – Saturday 7/20

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay in the loop for more contests. Check out our show previews below.

CONTEST CLOSED

Enter to win tickets to these shows by submitting your full name, email address & by choosing the show you would like to attend in the drop down. All contests end Thursday, July 18 at Noon. Winners will be notified via email on Thursday. Enter as many contests as you would like (Click “Go Back” and try for a different show after you enter once).

Futurebirds
The Independent ~ Thursday 7/18

Futurebirds are back in the Bay Area this Thursday following an excellent evening set at High Sierra Music Festival July 7. Born from the innovative musical hotbed that is Athens, Georgia, Futurebirds unleashed their second long player Baba Yaga April 16. Country-alt rock twisted with Southern sensibilities might be the first thing that’s noticeable when listening to their studio recordings. But upon further listens, and certainly during their live show, subtle psychedelic sounds become more obvious, adding a tasty texture layer to their already palatable brew. -Mike Frash

For fans of: Jim James, Band of Horses, The Woods Brothers, The Whigs

Tea Leaf Green
The New Parish ~ Saturday 7/20

This Saturday, Bay Area natives Tea Leaf Green return to the New Parish in Oakland for an evening of face melting guitar solos, sweet melodies and improvisational rock. These monsters of rock have been in the game for over 20 years, however it was the 2007 addition of virtuosic bassist Reed Mathis that marked a turning point for the band. Since then they have been recording and touring at an unprecedented rate. Off the heels of their latest album In the Wake, the fourth album since Reed joined the band, Tea Leaf Green is easily making the best music of their careers. -Kevin Raos

For fans of: Railroad Earth, Anders Osborne, Phish

Big Black Delta
The Independent ~ Friday 7/19

Far from the cookie cutter hipster pretense associated with Echo Park, CA, Jonathan Bates brings his experimental electronic outfit Big Black Delta to the Bay Area this week. Bates’ musical background includes a stint as a lo-fi indie rock front man in Mellowdrone and bandmate of one of the most successful breakthrough acts of 2012, M83. Jonathan took to the road this past year in support of his debut self-titled album. The record dropped this past April, he is currently in the home stretch of his North American tour, rounding out the year with dates in the UK. Headlining the Independent this Friday, Bates brings his unique brand of darkly synthesized pop rock with support from San Francisco’s own, Breakdown Valentine. -Molly Kish

For fans of: STRFKR, Twin Shadow, Matthew Dear, The Cars.

Kelly McFarling
Brick & Mortar ~ Friday 7/19

In a city she claims as her second home, soulful songstress Kelly McFarling will be celebrating the release of her second full length album, Ridgeline, this Friday at Brick and Mortar. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia where she developed her vocal stylings in church choirs and baseball stadiums, McFarling has since traveled the world playing for sold out audiences on both local and international stages. She honed her skills as a singer, songwriter and self-taught banjo player during time spent in Bay Area recording studios and collaborating with fellow local artists. McFarling developed her sound as part of the San Francisco music community, and she was encouraged to perform on stage for the first time ever during an open mic at local venue Hotel Utah. Five years later, she’s become a staple within the folk rock scene of San Francisco and has gained the attention of national media outlets, various record labels and legions of adoring fans. -Molly Kish

For fans of: Aimee Mann, St. Vincent, Neko Case

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Big Black Delta and Kelly McFarling, Futurebird, Tea Leaf Green

High Sierra Music Festival 2013: Top Sets

July 15, 2013 by The Bam Team 15 Comments

Photos by Sam Heller // Written by Kevin Quandt, Mike Frash & Pete Mauch //

High Sierra Music Festival //
Quincy, CA
July 4th-7th, 2013 //

Lennon-McCartney said it best when they stated, “Got to admit it’s getting better, getting better all the time.” High Sierra Music Festival, held every Fourth of July weekend for the past 23 years in lovely Quincy, Calif., somehow keeps getting better each year. The success of this event isn’t anything too surprising, as the producers truly know how to run a seamless event while drawing in such a rich diversity of musical talent from across the globe, year after year. The Plumas County Fairgrounds are amazingly transformed into a wonderland for both adults and kids, alike, becoming a community environment that allows people to lose themselves in the festivities.

Young and old are ever-present at HSMF — while the little ones enjoy family yoga and children’s sets by the one Vince Herman from Leftover Salmon, the older attendee may likely enjoy wine tasting by sponsors or fresh sushi in the morning or fresh oysters in the afternoon. From the wide variety of cuisine available from Gerard’s Paella to crab-smothered artichoke to the array of music play shops to explore the deeper, inner workings of music. It’s qualities such as these that lend to one overall thrilling experience, which keeps so many returning every year and most newcomers pledging the same.

High Sierra caters to everyone, and if you are unable to have an amazing time, you may want to check your pulse. But let’s be honest, the masses primarily flock to the Sierra Mountains to enjoy the varied selection of musical acts. Without further ado, here are our top sets from the long weekend.

Artist: Allen Stone
Set date/time: Thursday, 7:15 p.m.
Location: Big Meadow

Young soul powerhouse Allen Stone and his electrifying band held down a two-hour (!) set at the Big Meadow on Thursday — not bad for a performer who self-released his two full-length albums and toured hard and strong enough to catch fire over the past year. He stretched his set out for the last 20 minutes by announcing a dance-off and asking the crowd to create an aisle down the middle toward the soundboard. Either it was too early in the fest on a hot day, the two-hour set was too long or people were too high because no one obliged. Stone had to collect himself before trying again, and after some chastising by the neo-soulster, a dance-off was ignited. -MF

Artist: White Denim
Set date/time: Thursday & Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Location: Grandstand & Big Meadow

Fast-rising indie-psych rockers White Denim delivered a couple excellent sunset shows on Thursday and Friday. The foursome is tightly synced, precisely nailing oft-changing time signatures in a set that rarely paused. The songs segued seamlessly, blending with the help of swirling electric guitar layering and looping. The Thursday show on the Grandstand came as a relief as the ridiculously hot sun dipped behind the trees while many sat down waiting for Thursday’s legendary headliner. White Denim’s show on Friday at the Big Meadow ended spectacularly — a tighter crowd gave way to more heady psychedelic fare, including a sneaky and effective light show once full darkness arrived for the set-ending song “Drugs”. -MF

Artist: Robert Plant presents The Sensational Space Shifters
Set date/time: Thursday, 9:30 p.m.
Location: Grandstand

Robert Plant is a legend — we all know this — so to have this mammoth performer be featured as the first major headliner of the event led to seriously large crowds, especially on Thursday. His banner set did not disappoint with his mix of rockin’ Zeppelin classics, blues-laden solo material and a rich representation of various world music styles. Plant’s band was a very impressive conglomeration of modern musicians featuring players from Massive Attack and other highly regarded acts, which lent well to the characteristic howl of the Zeppelin legend on a clear, cool first evening. Highlights were a show-opening “Baby I’m Gonna Leave You”, Zep classic “Black Dog” and a version of Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful”. The response was unanimous that Plant and his latest touring act were a rousing success as one would expect from this caliber performer. -KQ

Artist: Tumbleweed Wanderers
Set date/time: Friday, 1:15 p.m.
Location: Vaudeville

Tumbleweed Wanderers out of Oakland benefited from being placed in the shady Vaudeville tent Friday afternoon, and the folky, soulful group took full advantage of the dense crowd seeking solar protection. Frontman Zak Mandel-Romann fearlessly ripped into tracks from their 2012 debut LP So Long as he would jump off the stage to engage with the audience. The crowd reciprocated, and upon the end of the set the rousing applause was so widespread and forceful that the band members tried to hide their unbridled joy, an indication they were experiencing the best response of their careers. It was a goose bump-inducing moment, and after the continuous applause interrupted the stage emcee, the Tumbleweed Wanderers were called back for a rare encore. -MF

Artist: Nataly Dawn
Set date/time: Friday, 3:45 p.m.
Location: Big Meadow

Nataly Dawn was yet another newcomer to the festival, and she represented the singer-songwriter sect in splendid form. Her songbook may not be extensive but is incredibly strong with playful elements of both comedy and heartfelt songs of real life and love. Dawn’s delivery was flawless as she was simply accompanied by an electric guitar player, augmenting her vocals ever so slightly. Some may know this Sacramento rising star as one half of the act Pomplamoose, but with a recent release entitled How I Knew Her making waves, she is sure to be a name to look out for. High Sierra is generous with the amount of time a performer gets onstage, and in Dawn’s case, too much time for her limited song selection. However, with the crowd gaining size, she went through a few selections twice, including “Caroline”. Hey, exposure is exposure. -KQ

Artist: Houndmouth
Set date/time: Friday, 5:45 p.m.
Location: Big Meadow

Indiana-based Houndmouth showcased their Americana folklore to the High Sierra masses on Friday, and they did so with amazing harmonies, precise musicianship and all-around great whiskey-drenched songwriting. Their songs speak of troubled travelers, coked-up drug dealers and any vigilante vagabond looking to make amends with oneself. The set focused on their debut album From the Hills Below the City, with “Come On, Illinois”, “Houston Train” and “Penitentiary” rounding out the show highlights. One aspect that makes High Sierra so wonderful is its intimacy. After Houndmouth’s set, I let them know everything sounded excellent. They were extremely grateful and thanked me as I walked away to my next adventure. -PM

Artist: Primus
Set date/time: Friday, 5:45 p.m.
Location: Grandstand

Primus are weird in all the right ways. Legendary bassist Les Claypool’s primary vehicle headlined Friday, proving to be an über-suitable headliner that fits High Sierra’s full embrace of individuality. An intense, trippy “Southbound Pachyderm” gave way to more energetic favorites like “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” and “Jilly’s on Smack”. Plus, Skerik appeared to add yet another twisted layer of sax to “Groundhog’s Day”. Two consistent factors relate to Claypool — his bass is the driving force, and his uniquely weird songwriting and vocal delivery make it work every time. Claypool hid in the shadows all night, letting his jazz-paced diction, offbeat baseline and leadership boggle the minds of the packed main stage. -MF

Artist: The John Scofield Uberjam Band
Set date/time: Friday, 11:30 p.m.
Location: Vaudeville

The return of John Scofield’s electric band was a bit of a surprise to longtime fans of this freaked-out, electric jazz-fusion act. Jazz legend Scofield brought old friends and new to blaze through some selections from his past catalogue (Up All Night, Uberjam) and most recent (Uberjam Deux) to a healthily packed free, late night show. His mix of funky-fusion, hip-hop and electronic drum beats generally adds up to sonic grooves that are easy to dance to, but complex in their melody and solos arranged onstage. Some highlights were “Polo Towers”, “I Brake for Monster Booty”, and “Everynight is Ladies Night.” Try to catch this act on tour, as it could be the last time Scofield brings this band on the road for awhile before he likely returns to more straight-ahead jazz projects. -KQ

Artist: Skerik’s Lab
Set date/time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Music Hall

High Sierra vagabond-and-artist-at-large Skerik once again showcased his teaching abilities, along with his oddly-interesting poetic musings. The best woodwind and brass musicians, some in official acts and others just at High Sierra to camp and have fun, line up on stage at the Music Hall. With Mike Dillon supporting on drums, each player on stage gets a turn to take the lead, and everyone else joins in until a ferocious jam builds to a peak. Skerik then introduces the next performer, and often will ask the audience for the next musical key. Once again Carley Meyers from Mike Dillon Band stole the show. -MF

Artist: The Barr Brothers
Set date/time: Saturday, 7:55 p.m.
Location: Big Meadow

Brad and Andrew Barr are two longtime performers who have graced the many stages at High Sierra for well over a decade. Generally, they represent their early project the Slip, sometimes with their Marco Benevento and Nathan Moore collaborative project, Surprise Me Mr. Davis. This year, they towed along a giant harp for the Barr Brothers, a rising indie-leaning project garnering impressive underground success. Songs like “Give The Devil Back His Heart” demonstrate Andrew’s complex rhythmic arrangements and Brad’s ability to write dynamic songs under any moniker. This set saw the band joined by Mike Dillon on vibraphone and the Rubblebucket horns for a bombastic set closer. -KQ

Artist: Thievery Corporation
Set date/time: Saturday, 9:30 p.m.
Location: Grandstand

Thievery Corporation brought a much-needed dance party to the main stage on Saturday, also delivering on the promise of being an ideal headliner for HSMF. With rotating live singers seriously augmenting the beats laid down by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, the upbeat set never got too stuck in downtempo territory. After getting “Lebanese Blonde” out of the way early, hip-hop and dance influences took center stage. So much more than a DJ show, the DC-based duo have curated a revolving door spectacle supported by Rob Myers, Frank ‘Booty Lock’ Mitchell, Jeff Franca and Ashish Vyas and live instrumentation. Put it all together, and it was an awe-inspiring production that hit the High Sierra sweet-spot. -MF

Artist: Lee Fields and the Expressions
Set date/time: Sunday, 12:15 a.m.
Location: Vaudeville

The final Vaudeville late night featured soulful R&B brought by the charismatic Lee Fields and his young, competent band, The Expressions. A possible new name to many in attendance, few could deny the soul-drenched revue delivered in true professional form by a 40-plus year veteran. Hands in the air in rejoice were plentiful while the dapper-dressed frontman channeled the obvious comparison, James Brown. Come Sunday, the High Sierra faithful were murmuring about their new favorite act for the time being and how friends had to catch Fields’ set on the big stage for their final Sunday performance in Quincy. -KQ

Artist: moe.
Set date/time: Sunday, 1:30 a.m.
Location: Music Hall Late Night Show

Sunday night jam headliners moe. played a sold-out, late-night show early Sunday morning, and as usual it raged. Rob, Al, Chuck and and the rest of the gang were pretty subdued as a physical presence onstage, but they sounded as good as always. Classic opening one-two punch “Not Coming Down” and “Wormwood” kicked things off nicely, and “McBain”, “Moth” and “Timmy Tucker” were set highlights. “Seat of My Pants” ended the epic third day on a high note. -MF

Artist: Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Set date/time: Sunday, 12:45 p.m.
Location: Grandstand

Lukas Nelson & POTR made their High Sierra debut this year and put on quite an impressive set that caught the eye of many a festivalgoer, including that night’s headliner moe.(Nelson guested on “Opium” during moe.’s set). Nelson started things off with his single “Forever is a Four Letter Word”, which was well received by the growing crowd. Nelson is the son of the legendary Willie Nelson, and he truly shines on his own, clearly not leaning on his namesake to achieve success (I’m looking at you Jakob Dylan). Nelson delivers high energy sets full of excellent originals, many of which are about “Weed”, so the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. The band also ran through great cover songs including an amazing take on The Grateful Dead’s “Althea”, Pink Floyd’s “Money” and set closer “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Stones. Lukas Nelson should just be getting started –plan on seeing him grow exponentially from here. -PM

Artist: Guitarmaggeddon
Set date/time: Sunday, 4 p.m.
Location: Music Hall

The 10th annual Guitarmaggeddon face-melt was a special treat. Each year, Tea Leaf Green’s Josh Clark leads a group of electric guitar thrashers on a set of covers that revolve around a theme, and the songs always give way to epic guitar wailing and thrashing. It seemed like last year’s Talking Heads set would be tough to beat, but the “Stadium Rock!” theme was plenty epic. From the steady opening of “Slow Ride” to “Satisfaction” (with a younger Mic Jagger in tow) to “Layla”, the show just killed it as expected. Lukas Nelson and Al Schnier from moe. guested for multiple songs, and fest-goers who still had a couple ounces of energy left benefited from a jamtastic, raging two hours of fun. -MF

Artist: Steel Pulse
Set date/time: Sunday, 7:15 p.m.
Location: Grandstand

Roots-reggae legends Steel Pulse would also make their debut appearance at the event this year, and they filled the Sunday “worldly afternoon” slot in proper form. The legendary English act out of Birmingham has some of the most proficient performers in the business, likely due to nearly 40 years of pumping out revolutionary songs and touring the globe. “Roller Skates” and “Chant a Psalm” were just a few of the hits played to a nicely sized late-festival crowd as the sun dropped behind the main stage one final time this year. A new, tribute song to Trayvon Martin called “Put Your Hoodies On [4 Trayvon]” may have been too borderline serious for the crowd, but the masses embraced the message of equality for all. -KQ

Artist: Rubblebucket
Set date/time: Sunday, 10 p.m.
Location: Big Meadow

Representing Brooklyn, Rubblebucket have really come into their own as an entrancing mix of pop, rock and world music that thrives on crowd energy and is helmed by one helluva frontwoman, Kalmia Traver. This would be their first evening set after gracing the fairgrounds for a few years now, and they brought their already stellar show to the next level on the final evening. Highlights from the set included “Overstaurated”, “Rescue Ranger” and “L’Homme”. Kalmia invited attendees up onstage to join in the revelry, and the throngs rewarded this act by crowd surfing her across the stage during “Came Out a Lady”. -KQ

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Allen Stone, Guitarmaggeddon, Houndmouth, Lee Fields and the Expressions, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, moe., Nataly Dawn, Primus, Robert Plant, Rubblebucket, Skerik's Lab, Steel Pulse, The Barr Brothers, The John Scofield Uberjam Band, Thievery Corporation, Tumbleweed Wanderers, White Denim

Rogue Wave’s emotional homecoming at The Independent

July 15, 2013 by Mike Frash 2 Comments

Photos by Marc Fong // Written by Mike Frash //

Rogue Wave //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 12th-13th, 2013 //

A chatty Friday crowd greeted indie rock veterans and Bay Area locals Rogue Wave for a family and friends homecoming show, the first of a double-banger at The Independent in SF. After three-plus-years abstaining from regular touring, Zach Rogue & the rest of Rogue Wave exhibited remarkable crowd control abilities throughout the evening by radiating positive energy, connecting with fans through engaging stage banter and by presenting live music that was better than their studio recordings.

Halfway through the warm, cinematic favorite “Eyes” three-songs in, some of the crowd couldn’t settle down, as a persistent buzzy layer of sound from the fourth wall intermingled with the song’s aural simplicity. Zach Rogue didn’t seem bothered, as he was clearly living in the moment and taking it all in. But during the next song, a blistering “Publish My Love”, the combination of band and house lighting drew everyone’s full attention for the remainder of the night. The Rogue Wave frontman and driving creative force projected a “living in the moment” mantra — his eyes searched the room looking for familiar faces, and he said ‘we only live for tonight’ more than once.

Zach’s “be where you are” mentality led to some very memorable moments, including one during the intro to “Chicago x 12”. Zach put on his serious face, and said “Life is full of surprises. In 2006 we were here for a benefit for Pat”, as Zach pointed at his drummer and song-crafting collaborator.

Seven years ago, Pat Spurgeon was in desperate need of a second kidney transplant, as he was only born with one kidney that failed when he was a teenager. The group put on a benefit show at The Independent to help pay for medical costs and bring awareness to Pat’s life-or-death search for a donor match. By 2007, Pat had received a kidney and underwent successful transplant surgery January 12. The quick mention most likely drew a couple tears from the close friends and family in the room.

It’s hard to believe a band so musically talented, with a plump catalogue now after releasing their very good fifth LP Nightingale Floors in June, isn’t more popular. Have many of the faithful fans from the mid-aughts moved on to a suburbain home life with 2.5 kids and the white picket fence?

Before “California”, the final song of the night, Zach announced he and his partner were expecting a child. Mr. Rogue had shown flashes of emotion in his face while waxing philosophically earlier in the show — “You never know who’s going to walk through that door” and “Change is inevitable” were stated with conviction and grace. As Zach launched into their flagship song, Zach said “Here’s to new beginnings.”

The tone of Rogue Wave’s music and the content of their songwriting adds up to a life affirming live music experience, but Friday felt extra special with Zach’s charming leadership and candor with the close-nit crowd combined with sophisticated musicianship.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

The set started with new songs ended with ecstatic classics — The new material from Nightingale Floors translated wonderfully live. Rogue Wave are at their best when they build up songs to an emotional wall of sound apex.

“Figured It Out”, one of the best tracks from Nightingale, was delivered with sincerity, but they didn’t simply put the song to bed as they did in the studio recording. The song developed with sonically swirling layers, finishing with a strong crescendo.

This epic, anthemic outro technique was used throughout the night. But it’s this live expansion of their studio material that is the distinguishing difference-maker that musically made this show so memorable. Also, the psychedelic outros contrasted nicely with the clarity of Zach Rogue’s slightly modulated vocals.

Set-ender “Harmonium” was stretched out with massive, thrashing circular reverberation — something The Independent specializes in providing. Go to any corner of the venue during sustained instrumentation layering and the sound balance is more than stellar.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Rogue Wave, The Independent

WKEND MIXTAPE: Radio Soulwax Essential Mix

July 12, 2013 by 3ricshaden Leave a Comment

Our mix this week is a bit of a throwback, but this mix holds up to the test of time. This mix originally aired on BBC 1’s Essential Mix at the beginning of 2005. Soulwax curated an impressive collection of originals, remixes, and their own covers of dance tracks as a full band. At their core, Soulwax are two brothers from Belgium who perform as a live band and dj under the 2manydjs guise. Look for tracks from the likes of David Bowie, Hot Chip, Beastie Boys, Bob Seger, Ladytron, !!!, LCD Soundsystem, Queens of the Stoneage, ZZ Top, Simian Mobile Disco, and many more.

Soulwax also have a website and app (osx, android) that allows you to stream 24 one-hour mixes with accompanying visuals. Totally free and worth checking out. Enjoy!

Tracklist
1. David Bowie – Rebel Rebel [Soulwax Edit] (White)
2. Soulwax – E-Talking [Soulwax Nite Version Feat.Nancy Whang] (PIAS)
3. Unknown – Martini Bros (White)
4. Tiga Vs Human League – Unknown (White)
5. Thomas Anderson – Unknown (Bpitch)
6. P.Diddy (With Felix Da Housecat) – Jack U (White)
7. Bob Seger – Ramblin (White)
8. Unknown – Gamblin Man (Capitol)
9. Whitey – Y.U.H.2.B.M. (1-2-3-4 Records)
10. Ladytron – Sugar (Island)
11. Fisherspooner – Just Let Go [Thin White Duke Remix] (EMI)
12. Sweet Light – Abusator (Freak n Chic) [Soulwax Edit] (White)
13. Vitalic – Valletta Fanfares (PIAS)
14. Miss Kitten – Requiem For Hit [Soulwax Edit] (White)
15. Simian Mobile Disco – The Count (Kitsune)
16. Who Made Who – Satisfaction (Gomma)
17. Jackos One – Bats Danse (Toxic Wreckords)
18. Zongamin – Bongos Song (White)
19. Midnight Mike – Hot In The Kitchen (Gomma)
20. Hot Chip – Over And Over (White)
21. Beastie Boys – Stand Together [Soulwax Edit] (Capitol)
22. Annie – Chewing Gum [Acapella] (679 Records)
23. Nocturnal Emissions – Unknown (Sterile Records)
24. Queens Of The Stoneage – First It Giveth (Interscope)
25. ODB – Got Your Money [Acapella] (Elektra)
26. Fatal Error – Fatal Error (R&S)
27. Adriano Celentano – Alright (Prisencolinensinainciusol)
28. The Girls – Zebra Jeans (Wall Of Sound)
29. Kling Klang – Heavydale (Rock Action Records)
30. LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing In My House [Soulwax ShibuyaMix] (Emi/DFA)
31. Franz And Shape – Countach (Relish)
32. Yellow House – Jack My Body (Dance Mania Records)
33. Jersey Devil Social Club – Homage At 121bpm (Environ Records)
34. Tiga – Louder Than A Bomb (PIAS)
35. !!! – Louden Up [Rubn Tug Mix] (Warp)
36. Whitey – Leave Them All Behind [Soulwax Mix] (Regal)
37. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Unknown [DFA Remix] (Mute)
38. Johanman – Move My Body (Turbo)
39. Linus Loves – Night Music (Breastfed)
40. Lopazz – Blood [Tiefschwarz Remix] (Output)
41. Static – Dream It [US Rave Mix] (Strictly Rhythm)
42. Human Resource – Dominator Vs 808 (White)
43. State – Cubik [Soulwax Renominator Mix] (White)
44. Audion – Kisses (Spectral/Ghostly International)
45. MU – Paris Hilton (Output)
46. Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat (F Com)
47. The Ark – Mr Oizo Remix (White)
48. Soulwax – Teachers (PIAS)
49. Gary Numan – Steel And You (Beggars Banquet)
50. Jimi Hendrix – Little Miss Lover (Polydor)
51. MIA – Galang (679)
52. ZZ Top – Cheap Sunglasses (Warner Bros)
53. Jay-Z – 99 Problems (Roc-A-Fella)
54. Meat Beat Manifesto – Pressure (Waxtrax)
55. Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like Its Hot (Doggystyle)
56. Public Enemy – Channel Zero (Def Jam)
57. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Supernatural Thing (PVC)
58. Kraftwerk – Man Machine (EMI)
59. Dutch Breaks – Unknown (Demon Fuzz Records)
60. Ronnie James Dio – Unknown (White)
61. DJ Shadow – Number Song (Universal)
62. The Animals – A Girl Named Sandals (IRS)
63. Chemical Brothers – Galvanize (Virgin)
64. Dizzee Rascal – Fix Up
65. Look Sharp (679)

Filed Under: Mixtapes Tagged With: Soulwax

Free Shows: Rogue Wave • Sonny and the Sunsets • Chico Mann

July 11, 2013 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

Ready to witness live music at it’s best this weekend in the Bay Area?

WIN FREE TICKETS to these kick-ass shows:

Rogue Wave @ The Independent – Friday 7/12 & Saturday 7/13
Sonny and the Sunsets @ The New Parish – Friday 7/12
Chico Mann @ Brick & Mortar – Sunday 7/14

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay in the loop for more contests. Check out our previews for these can’t miss shows below.

CONTEST OVER

Enter to win tickets to these shows by submitting your full name, email address & by choosing the show you would like to attend in the drop down. All contests end Friday, July 11 at Noon. Winners will be notified via email on Thursday. Enter as many contests as you would like (Click “Go Back” and try for a different show after you enter once).

Rogue Wave
The Independent ~ Friday 7/12 & Saturday 7/13

Local indie rock veterans Rogue Wave are back in the Bay Area for a two night stint at the Independent. Headlining both July 12th and 13th with support from Caveman and Hey, Marseilles, the Oakland outfit is currently on tour promoting their excellent new album Nightingale Floors. Gaining rave reviews from both Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound (and Showbams), expect to hear plenty of tracks from their fifth studio album mixed in with familiar favorites for their native fan base. There’s no better way to celebrate an album release than a double header with friends and family. For your chance to get in on the home-front festivities, register above to win a pair of tickets.

For fans of: Ra Ra Riot, Mates of State, Spoon, Stars

Sonny and the Sunsets
The New Parish ~ Friday 7/12

Polyvinyl prodigies Sonny and the Sunsets bring their vintage flare to the New Parish Friday. Touring throughout the West Coast this summer promoting the release of their 4th studio album Antenna to the Afterworld, the group has been treating crowds to critically acclaimed new material since the album dropped on June 11th. Garnering attention from NPR Music, Stereogum and international audiences alike, the crew brings their infectious energy back stateside as they prepare to embark upon a tour of the Western US with Kurt Vile and friends. Be sure to catch them at the New Parish this weekend before they kick off their summer road trip with the “king of slacker rock” himself. To hear new cuts from Antenna to the Afterworld and catch the last glimpse of Mr. Smith and his Sunsets before the fall, register above for your chance to win tix.

For fans of: Deerhunter, Mikal Cronin, The Fresh & Onlys, Kurt Vile

Chico Mann
Brick and Mortar ~ Sunday 7/14

Chico Mann will bringing the Latin heat all the way from New Jersey Sunday, performing live at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall with special guest, DJ El Kool Kyle. Riding off of the buzzworthy success of his recently released Magical Thinking LP, this self-proclaimed “time traveling multi-instrumentalist-producer” will be taking over the mission district venue for a Sunday Funday set that’s guaranteed to prolong the weekend partying well into the evening. To get down with the Antibalas alumni and rest of this funky bill!

For fans of: Antibalas, Rubblebucket, Dragonette

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Brick and Mortar, Chico Mann, Rogue Wave, Sonny and the Sunsets, The Independent, The New Parish

WIN TICKETS: SORNE at The Independent 7/11

July 10, 2013 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

This Thursday, experimental ingénue SORNE perpetuates his epic House of Stone saga at the Independent in SF. A fully immersive audio visual experience, SORNE’s concerts are surrealist odysseys layered with ancient trance, mystic dialogue and spellbinding performance art. Morgan Sorne’s unique formula that combines abstract psychedelic pop and stage theatrics has earned him shared billings with TV on the Radio, Beats Antique, Little Dragon and more. Depicting “the archetypes of the human condition”, Sorne brings his esoterically mesmerizing “Breakthrough” tour to the Bay Area for a one night only performance.

To get a quick idea of what SORNE is like live, watch the top video below. This show looks amazing. The next embed is the music video for SORNE’s new song “Ego Altar”. For a chance to catch this mind-expanding, truly inimitable show, register below for a pair of tickets courtesy of Showbams.

Win 2 Free Tickets! Enter to win if you can attend this show Thursday, July 11th at The Independent in San Francisco.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Thursday July 11 at Noon. The winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private – we will share your email with no one. 21+ only.

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