2014 July – Showbams

WIN TICKETS: Viceroy at The Independent 8/2 (SAT)

July 31, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this sold-out show below.

Viceroy with Autograf and Slaptop //
The Independent — San Francisco
August 2nd, 2014 (Saturday) //

Viceroy is definitely a name to get familiar with in dance music right now. Whether it be old-school Ginuwine and Montell Jordan remixes or collaborations with the likes of Penguin Prison, Chela and French Horn Rebellion, everything Viceroy touches turns to summertime gold. So get ready for a sun-drenched night full of summer jams at The Independent, courtesy of one of the most exciting producers to watch in 2014. This show is sold out! -Krystal Beez

Enter to win if you can attend this sold-out show Saturday, August 2nd at The Independent in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Saturday, August 2nd at Noon. 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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CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: The Independent, Viceroy

WIN TICKETS: The Budos Band at The Independent 7/30 (WED)

July 29, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

The Budos Band //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 30th, 2014 (Wednesday) //

Bay Area fans of funk music are rejoicing as the region is receiving a second dose of The Budos Band in the month of July. The New York City funk-punk collective returns to Northern California after two massive sets at High Sierra Music Festival (read our recap here) just a few weeks ago and is ready to bring that heat down the mountain and into the City. If you’re not familiar, this act churns up some seriously driving, instrumental funk that burrows deep into your bones. Fans can expect a variety of tunes — old and new — as the band announced the release of its fourth full-length album Burnt Offering, due out October 21st on Daptones Records. The 10-piece act is set to hold court for “An Evening With” at The Independent this Wednesday, and we have passes for a few lucky readers. -Kevin Quandt

Buy tickets if you know you want to go!

Enter to win if you can attend this show Wednesday, July 30th at The Independent in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Wednesday, July 30th at Noon. 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.

Like Showbams on Facebook and follow Showbams on Twitter to be eligible to win.

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: The Budos Band, The Independent

WIN TICKETS: Shabazz Palaces at The New Parish 7/29 (TUE)

July 28, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

Shabazz Palaces with Ghost & The City and Gamera //
The New Parish – Oakland
July 29th, 2014 //

Shabazz Palaces will be coming through The New Parish early this week for two headlining dates with support from Ghost & The City and Gamera. Formed by members Ishmael Butler (otherwise known as “Palaceer Lazaro” and formally “Butterfly” of Digable Planets) and Tendal “Baba” Maraire, the experimental hip-hop collective from Seattle is one of the very few hip-hop acts to have ever signed to Sub Pop Records. Anonymously releasing two EPs Eagles Soar, Oil Flows and The Seven New in 2009, the group caught the attention of the iconic Pacific Northwest label before releasing its debut full-length as part of Sub Pop’s roster in 2011. Black Up garnered critical acclaim both locally and nationally, and the duo has been on tour promoting it ever since. Now, on the eve of the release of their second full-length album Lese Majesty, Shabazz Palaces will host an unofficial record release party this Tuesday in Oakland. -Molly Kish

Buy tickets if you know you want to go!

Enter to win if you can attend this show Tuesday, July 29th at The New Parish in Oakland.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Tuesday, July 29th at Noon. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private — we will share your email with no one. 18+ only.

Like Showbams on Facebook and follow Showbams on Twitter to be eligible to win.

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Gamera, Ghost & the City, Shabazz Palaces, The New Parish

WIN TICKETS: Andrew Jackson Jihad at Slim’s 7/28 (MON)

July 26, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

Andrew Jackson Jihad with Hard Girls and Dogbreth //
Slim’s – San Francisco
July 28th, 2014 (Monday) //

Releasing its fifth full-length album Christmas Island on Side One Dummy Records in May, Andrew Jackson Jihad makes a stop in SF on Monday night for a headlining show at Slim’s as its 36-date North American tour this summer winds down. After breaking out in 2006 thanks to some high-profile festival appearances, the Phoenix-based folk-punk outfit has been going strong for almost a decade now after singer/guitarist Sean Bonnette spent much of last year touring solo with Ian Graham of Cheap Girls. Opening things up will be Phoenix four-piece Dogbreth and San Jose punk rockers Hard Girls, whose latest album A Thousand Surfaces on Asian Man Records dropped June 24th. -Josh Herwitt

Buy tickets if you know you want to go!

Enter to win if you can attend this show Monday, July 28th at Slim’s in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Monday, July 28th at Noon. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private — we will share your email with no one.

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CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Andrew Jackson Jihad, Dogbreth, Hard Girls, Slims

PHOTOS: Eliot Lipp at The Mint 7/23

July 25, 2014 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

Eliot Lipp //
The Mint – Los Angeles
July 23rd, 2014 //

The Mint in LA’s Carthay Square neighborhood has long been a home for underground blues, jazz, funk and jam bands, but it’s also becoming a space for up-and-coming electronic artists, particularly those signed to Pretty Lights Music, of late.

Back in March, Brooklyn-based electro/hip-hop/bass duo Break Science wrapped up its Seven Bridges tour at the diminutive club (read our show review here), pleasing the small, but vibrant crowd that came ready to dance.

Then, on Wednesday night, another PLM act by way of New York stopped by The Mint, as Eliot Lipp stepped onstage and laid down a number of grooves spanning from hip-hop to techno to jazz fusion.

We were there to capture Lipp’s 90-minute set, highlighted by a couple of tracks off his 2012 album Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Eliot Lipp, The Mint

WIN TICKETS: Hundred Waters at The Independent 7/29 (TUE)

July 25, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

Hundred Waters with Pure Bathing Culture //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 29th, 2014 (Tuesday) //

Hailing from Gainesville, Fla., Hundred Waters is creating etherial, electronic dream pop. Their latest album The Moon Rang Like a Bell has garnered wide acclaim, and their live show features a full, lush-sounding four-piece band. Their popularity will almost definitely continue to rise after signing with Skrillex’s label OWSLA, so catch this act in an intimate setting while you still can. -Steven Wandrey

Buy tickets if you know you want to go!

Win 2 Free Tickets!
Enter to win if you can attend this show Tuesday, July 29th at The Independent in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Tuesday, July 29th at Noon. 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.

Like Showbams on Facebook and follow Showbams on Twitter to be eligible to win.

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Hundred Waters, Pure Bathing Culture, The Independent

Jimmy Cliff delivers positive vibes to sold-out Fillmore

July 25, 2014 by Molly Kish 2 Comments

Photos by Pedro Paredes // Written by Molly Kish

Jimmy Cliff //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
July 19th, 2014 //

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff took the stage at The Fillmore this past weekend as vibrant as ever. Filling the sold-out auditorium with an ocean of positivity, he treated the eclectic crowd to a first-person account of roots-rock history and a career-spanning setlist from his 50-plus years as a musical icon.

Joyfully skipping out onto the stage to start his set, Cliff exuded the youthful enthusiasm of a performer more than half his age. The 66-year-old performer’s energy was infectiously transmitted as the crowd welcomed him with uproarious cheers and applause. Positioning himself in the center of the stage and straddling a larger-than-life bongo while being surrounded by his entourage of band members and backup vocalists, Cliff broke out directly into an acoustic medley of “Bongo Man/Rivers of Babylon”. Instigating almost an immediate venue-wide singalong, he quickly set the tone for the crowd’s participatory expectations the rest of the evening.

High off the euphoric stage presence of Cliff with a thickening haze floating through the legendary theater, the crowd wholeheartedly jumped right into the spirit of the evening’s comprehensive setlist. Taking things up a notch, Cliff decided after his acoustic opener to delve straight into back-to-back hits “King of Kings” and “Miss Jamaica” from his early days as a ska pioneer. Abandoning diffidence and collective lack thereof rhythm, the packed auditorium put forth its best effort to “skank” along with the reggae legend as he and his animated backup singers demonstrated various moves from the Jamaican dancehall era step by step. Sloppy attempts gave way to slippery floors, which were used to slide around in unison as attendees recoiled back into simply belting out lyrics at the top of their lungs during an ecstatic rendition of “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and Cliff’s well-known cover of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World”.

The most notable moments of the performance happened when Cliff lent some personal history to the material he chose to play that evening. About halfway through the set, he started taking extra time before each song to fill the audience in on the composition’s relevance — not only his career as a musician, producer and political figure, but also to give background on the time and place it was written, the social commentary it provided and its relevance to pop culture. Performing an updated version of his 1968 protest song “Vietnam”, Cliff delivered a powerful rendition aptly titled “Afghanistan”, replacing the original lyrics with commentary relevant to the modern-day state of affairs in the Middle East.

Cliff also took some time to offer a little insight on his experience outside of his personal recording efforts, stating that he had quite the legacy “breaking in new artists”. It was during this time that Cliff segued into a portion of the evening’s performance where he literally shifted the concert into a mini “storytellers” set, playing snippets of hits from Desmond Decker, Bob Marley, Johnny Nash and Sam Cooke that he either had a part in producing, writing or promoting. Aware of his latest artistic courtship with Bay Area native and Rancid singer/guitarist Tim Armstrong, I couldn’t help but hold my breath for a possible dream collaboration live on stage to cap off this section of the show. Instead though, Cliff brought it on home with staples like “The Harder They Come” and “I Can See Clearly Now”, followed by a crowd singalong to “One More” off of Rebirth, his 2011 full-length collaboration with Armstrong.

In true superstar fashion, Cliff remained side stage, post set reveling in the crowd’s unrelenting chanting. After merely a few minutes of down time, he returned to perform not one, but two separate encores on this night. With exit music softly cooing through the speakers and the house lights at a dim, the crowd only partially dispersed with over half of the venue still hoping that Cliff would have more after nearly playing for 2 1/2 hours — and he didn’t let them down. Taking the stage for the final time, Cliff ended the evening with a rousing rendition of “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”, introducing his band one by one before saying his final goodbye to us.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Jimmy Cliff, The Fillmore

PHOTOS: Slightly Stoopid, NOFX and Stephen Marley at the Greek 7/18

July 24, 2014 by Marc Fong 1 Comment

By Marc Fong //

Slightly Stoopid with NOFX and Stephen Marley //
Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
July 18th, 2014 //

San Diego’s very own Slightly Stoopid continued their 21-date “Summer Sessions Tour 2014” at the Greek Theatre, as the seven-piece band melded funk, hip-hop, reggae and rock into one electrifying set. Punk pioneers NOFX and five-time Grammy winner Stephen Marley were also on hand, as Marc Fong was there to catch all the action from the photo pit.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Greek Theatre Berkeley, NOFX, Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley

WIN TICKETS: Twin Shadow (DJ set) at DNA Lounge 7/25 (FRI)

July 24, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

Twin Shadow (DJ set) with The Limousines (DJ set) and Option4 //
DNA Lounge – San Francisco
July 25th, 2014 (Friday) //

George Lewis Jr., otherwise known as Twin Shadow, will be bringing his unique background in new wave, R&B and synthpop to the decks this Friday at DNA Lounge. Taking a break from his current “Eclipse Tour” and getting ready to embark on the European festival circuit, Lewis is making his only Bay Area stop this summer before returning to headline The Regency Ballroom in October. With a live vocal DJ set from Bay Area electropop duo The Limousines and support from Denver deep house DJ Option4, this party will be a great way to start off your weekend. -Molly Kish

Buy tickets if you know you want to go, and you will be entered to win a TBD Fest pass!

Win 2 Free Tickets!
Enter to win if you can attend this show Friday, July 25th at DNA Lounge in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Friday, July 25th at Noon. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private — we will share your email with no one.

Like Showbams on Facebook and follow Showbams on Twitter to be eligible to win.

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: DNA Lounge, Option4, The Limousines, Twin Shadow

Outside Lands 2014 night shows: Keep it going ’til the AM

July 22, 2014 by Molly Kish 3 Comments

Written by Molly Kish //

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 8th-10th, 2014 //

We’re only a few weeks away from one of the most anticipated summer festivals of the 2014 season. Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival has announced their official schedule for this year’s five consecutive evenings of night shows. In case you missed this past weekend’s announcement or weren’t privy to the ticket holder password, fret not — we’ve got you covered with our rundown of after-parties and links for you to win or purchase your tickets. The party does not have to stop on the polo fields!

View the 2014 schedule and create your custom grid to share with friends!
View our 2014 beer/artist pairings!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6TH

Phosphorescent @ The Independent // SOLD OUT: Win tickets via Do 415

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Matthew Houck, aka Phosphorescent, kicks off this year’s lineup of OL night shows with a sold out performance Wednesday night at The Independent. A follow up to last year’s show at the Indy with his five piece band, the Alabama native returns to the venue, bringing his mix of “western ballads and swelling jams” to the intimate venue. On tour promoting his most recent record Muchacho, one can expect to hear standout tracks from this critically acclaimed 2013 release. A perfect Wednesday night warm up for Houck’s Friday set, hardcore fans will be starting their weekend early, and we recommend you do the same!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH

Typhoon @ CA Academy of Sciences // Buy Tickets

Comprised of twelve singers, songwriters and multi-talented instrumentalists, this small army of a band will be bringing their impressive live show to the CA Academy of Sciences on Thursday night. A band whose sound is characterized by their complicated arrangements and articulate orchestration, Typhoon’s catalogue of work ranges from “sea shanties, to country western and Eastern European inspired songs.” Across the board they cover various styles, meld multiple genres and produce thematically dense work, focusing heavily on lead singer-songwriter Kyle Morton’s struggles with mortality and finding strength through personal relationships. A beautiful setting to catch an equally stunning set, grab your tickets here to take part in this OL edition of Nightlife.

Discover our Outside Lands beer pairing for Typhoon.

Glen Hansard @ The Fox Theater // Buy Tickets

Irish songwriter, actor, vocalist and guitarist Glen Hansard will headline the Fox Theater Oakland with opener Sean Hayes on Thursday night as well. Founding member of The Frames and half of the critically acclaimed duo, The Swell Season, Hansard has been creating seminal folk rock internationally for well over a decade. Gaining attention in the states initially for his role in the 1991 film The Commitments, Hansard recorded his first solo album in 2006 with help from Czech singer and mutli-instrumentalist Marketa Irglova, whom he would go on to co-star with in the 2006 Sundance Festival World Cinema Audience Award winning film Once and form the band The Swell Season within the same year. Hansard has since recorded and produced various songs on film scores and compilations, leant opening support for Eddie Vedder’s solo American tour, guest starred on American primetime sitcoms and released his solo debut Rhythm and Repose in 2012. NOT PERFORMING AT THE FESTIVAL, this performance is an exclusive night show only date! Grab tickets to this limited OL affair right here.

Those Darlins and Diarrhea Planet @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall // Buy Tickets

It’s going to be a dual-headliner, Nashville rock throw down Thursday night at Brick and Mortar Music Hall. With Those Darlins founding members meeting at the Southern Girl’s Rock & Roll Camp in Tennessee, country roots run deep in the musical history of this band. Formed in 2006, releasing their alt-country debut in 2009, the band fluctuates between traditional southern instrumentation, rockabilly and garage rock. Partners on the bill, fellow Nashville natives and six piece rock band Diarrhea Planet complement the foursome perfectly with their explosive guitar shredding, pop-laden “drunken sing-along” spectacle of a performance. Fresh off of touring their volatile live show to this past year’s South By Southwest, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball and various other festival stages (we reviewed their inspiring show at The Indy in 2013), the band brings their energetic ensemble to Brick and Mortar Music Hall for another exclusive night show only performance. Be sure to grab your tix here.

Mikal Cronin and Bear Hands @ The Independent // Buy Tickets

Two separate OL acts for the price of one! Mikal Cronin and Bear Hands, both performing day one of the festival, will be headlining The Independent in a one-off warm up session on Thursday night. Cronin, having released his self-titled debut in 2011, has had a busy few years questioning long term relationships, moving to San Francisco, touring and recording with musical counterpart Ty Segall, forming his own band and releasing his sophomore album MCII as a Merge Records artist. A multi-instrumentalist, Cronin’s gritty garage rock sound blends perfectly with co-headliner Bear Hands’ post-punk influenced indie rock. Fresh off the release of their second studio album, Distraction, Bear Hands’ “New York buzz band” reputation precedes them, gaining the group national attention on several music blogs and entertainment websites. Be sure to grab your tix here.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH

The Soul Rebels @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall // Buy Tickets

Bringing the NOLA funk to Friday’s Outside Lands festival lineup, The Soul Rebels plan to keep the party going well into the evening at Brick & Mortar Music Hall that evening. Fate brought together original members Derrick Moss and Lumar LeBlanc when they met as percussionists in Dejean’s Young Olympia Brass Band. Although trained in New Orleans jazz fundamentals, the two opted to take the traditional brass band sound they were raised on to the next level, incorporating their love for contemporary R&B, funk and hip hop. Branching off in a new direction, the duo left to form their own group, quickly winning over local audiences and officially being christened the “Soul Rebels” backstage before their opening slot for the Neville Brothers, by Cyril Neville himself. Since then the band has released several full lengths albums, set up a residency at Uptown NOLA club Le Bon Temps, have become a staple act at festivals throughout the globe and most recently released a mixtape Power=Power, premiered by Noisey, including brass band renditions of Jay-Z, Drake, Kanye West, Daft Punk and more. Easily the most funky of post festival Friday night festivities, this show will be the dance party of the weekend. Be sure to grab your tickets here.

Death Cab for Cutie @ The Independent // SOLD OUT: Win tickets via Do415

Heavy hitters on Saturday’s OL bill, Death Cab for Cutie bring their iconic indie rock to The Independent for an extraordinarily intimate one night only performance. For 17+ years, DCFC have been impacting the modern shape of indie rock, becoming one of the most prominent mainstream alternative bands during this time. Recording a discography comprised of seven studio albums, five EPs, a demo and numerous side projects/solo efforts, DCFC has carved out a significant place in music history and remain a staple within the contemporary scene both through their continual contributions to music, film and live entertainment. Announcing via social media that they’re in the process of working on their eighth studio album, the group just celebrated the 10 year anniversary of their seminal 2003 album Transatlanticism and released a live album of material from their 2012 tour dates with Magik Magik Orchestra. This show will be one for the books and quite possibly the only time you’ll be able to catch this caliber of a band in a club-sized venue ever again. Register to win a pair of tix here.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH

The Killers @ The Independent // SOLD OUT: Win tickets via Do 415

Headlining what is undoubtedly the biggest night annually in the SF music scene, The Killers will be playing to a sold-out crowd at The Independent on Saturday night, preceding their Sunday night closing set at Outside Lands. The Las Vegas foursome formed in 2001 and has become one of the largest names in alternative rock over the past decade with four hit studio albums. Selling over 25 million albums worldwide, the band has garnered mainstream success worldwide after performing in over 50 countries and headlining arenas on six continents. On the 10-year anniversary of their first show ever, The Killers released their greatest hits compilation Direct Hits last September and have been touring the festival circuit and selling out dates around the globe since then. This year’s OSL appearance will be their first at the festival and first show back in the Bay Area since playing the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium last April. Tickets to their pre-festival, late-night show sold out minutes after their release, but there’s still a chance to win a pair of tickets to what easily will be one of the most coveted shows of this year’s summer concert calendar. Register to win a pair of tix here.

Gold Panda @ Mezzanine // Buy Tickets

Multi-faceted producer Gold Panda returns to Mezzanine on Friday night with his genre-bending take on electronic music. With the rise of producers such as Flying Lotus and Flume, many other similar artists are breaking out to larger crowds and stages as forward-leaning electronica garners a new level of popularity and appreciation. Gold Panda represents a vast amalgam of electronic music, borrowing influences from all over the world to weave an upbeat, futuristic tapestry. His latest release Half of Where You Live has been critically hailed as his third stab at a comprehensive full-length album. Tracks like “Brazil” demonstrate his use of South American rhythms in a contemporary manner while consistently maintaining a dance beat. There are no ‘drops’ or huge frills to his dance ethic, but rather a rapturing, constant beat that listeners can lose themselves in rather easily. Ghostly International only signs the finest in contemporary dance music, so it’s no surprise that Gold Panda reps the prolific label. Teamed with local opener Doseone, this after party will keep the positive energy flowing from Saturday night straight into Gold Panda’s festival set that closes out the weekend on Sunday. Purchase tickets for the only electronic night show announced for Saturday.

Woods @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall // Buy Tickets

BK-based Americana neo-psychadelia outfit Woods will be headlining Saturday night at Brick and Mortar Music Hall ahead of their festival set on the final day of OL. The trio have released eight albums since their formation in 2005, which have garnered them both critical acclaim across the board. Dubbed “pop shamanism”, the band is currently on tour celebrating the release of their new album, With Light and with Love, exploring “expanded sonic palettes” heavy with percussion, altered vocals and experimental guitar riffs. Their latest release on their self-run record label, Woodsist, is described as distinctly different from their previous work, “showcasing a more sophisticated brand of contemporary drug music,” relatable to the Beatles iconic Magical Mystery Tour, catering to a “new age of searchers, of Don Juan and Animal Chin alike.” Easily the biggest head trip of the OL night show options — if you’re looking to get weird Saturday night you’re going to want to buy tix here.

Discover our Outside Lands beer pairing for Woods.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10TH

Deer Tick @ The Rickshaw Stop // Buy Tickets

The ever-rambunctious, consistently capricious, gut punching Americana enigma that is Deer Tick will be closing out the weekend after parties at Rickshaw Stop with help from fellow Saturday OL performers, The Districts. After years of touring with a rotation of band members and various name changes, Deer Tick officially formed and released their debut album War Elephant in 2007. Signing to Partisan Records in 2008, re-releasing their debut along with second and third albums to critical acclaim, the band took off running. On their fifth album Negativity in 2013, the band has aimed to “capture the raw and spontaneous kerosene blaze” of their live shows in their studio recordings. Exploring personal tragedies suffered throughout the recording process such as his father’s tax evasion prison sentence, the death of his uncle, a broken engagement, drug and alcohol abuse, etc., lead singer John McCauley brings brutal honesty to the stage that is an all-encompassing, sometimes tragic, explosive performance. Truly an incomparable performance, this show will be the one that punctuates the weekend with one, final, lasting impression.

Kool and the Gang SuperJam @ The Independent // Buy Tickets

Last but not least, the Kool and the Gang SuperJam will be taking over The Independent Sunday night for a one-time only collaborative concert event, closing out the festival in proper fashion. Featuring members of the legendary funk outfit along with Eric Krasno, Adam Dietch, Nigel Hall, The Shady Horns and top secret special guests, this diverse group of musical luminaries will be on stage reimagining a variety of classic songs from Kool and the Gang. The Grammy Award-winning group have influenced three generations of musicians worldwide, selling over 70 million albums which earned collectively 2 Grammy’s, 7 AMA’s, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, 9 Top Ten Pop hits, 31 gold and platinum albums and the title of the longest running R&B group in the history of the genre. If there is one show where artists from Outside Lands would randomly decide to sit in on a performance, this would be the one. Can’t see yourself wanting to call it an evening on Sunday night? This show might be the best option for you. Be sure to buy your tix here.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Bear Hands, Brick & Mortar Music Hall, Death Cab For Cutie, Deer Tick, Diarrhea Planet, Glen Hansard, Gold Panda, Kool and the Gang SuperJam, Mezzanine, Mikal Cronin, Phosphorescent, The Fox Theater, The Independent, The Soul Rebels, Those Darlins, Typhoon, Woods

New Music: The Black Angels – Clear Lake Forest

July 22, 2014 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

The Black Angels – Clear Lake Forest //

Top Tracks:
“Tired Eyes”
“Diamond Eyes”
“The Flop”

Album Highlights: Clear Lake Forest is a super solid album from start to finish. One gets the impression that they purposefully set up the track listing to mirror a good acid trip. The album takes you through highs and lows — both sonically and lyrically. Opening track “Sunday Evening” quickly draws you in with its poppy verses and snappy chorus. Songs like “Tired Eyes”, “Diamond Eyes” and “The Flop” bring with them a darker quality but remain infectious. As the album moves on, we come upon the drone-pop ditty “The Occurance at 4507 South Third Street”, which sets the listener up perfectly for the remainder of the album. Coming back down, we come to “The Executioner”, which advises the listener that “If it feels good, do it again!” Finally, we close the album with “Linda’s Gone”, which appropriately brings you back down to Earth gently but without completely taking you out of your haze.

Album Lowlight: Where The Black Angels excel in creating a dreamy, psychedelic wall of sound, I do believe that they tend to borrow a bit too much from their influences. As with many of the neo-psych rock bands, there is a tendency to reproduce the sonic quality of a vintage 60’s LP. Considering the strength of the songs themselves, that is all well and good, but sometimes it’s best to leave the past in the past.

Takeaway: Those familiar with The Black Angels’ body of work will be pleasantly surprised by their latest offering. It’s a quick seven-track album, with each track leaving you in acid-laced reverie. There is very little in the way of “dead air” on this album, and even with borrowing much from their forefathers, the production quality is top notch. The album starts off very strong, carries you along for a sweet ride and ends on a mellow note … just like a good bourbon.

~Andrew Pohl

Filed Under: Featured, New Music, New Music Tuesday Tagged With: Clear Lake Forest, New Music, The Black Angels

Outside Lands 2014 beer/artist pairings

July 21, 2014 by Steven Wandrey Leave a Comment

By Steven Wandrey and Corey Jay //

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 8th-10th, 2014 //

When strolling through the polo fields at Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, sometimes you need a refreshing beverage. Most of the beers listed here are so good that you’ll have a sip and be forced to stop walking to take in the overwhelming flavors, but don’t lose your friends. Located conveniently at the back of the main stage, Beer Lands has been getting better and stronger with (mostly) local craft beer selections. Here is a carefully curated list of beer/artist pairings that will even further accentuate each other at the festival.

The wind rips through the park at night with a chill from the ocean, which is why there is a focus on darker more robust beers here. While all of these beers may not be the exact selections offered on the days of the festival, there are sure to be plenty of tasty options from these tip-top breweries.

View the 2014 schedule and create your custom grid to share with friends!
View our Outside Lands night show breakdown!

Bitter American by 21st Amendment Brewery for Kanye West

Here’s Kanye on a review for College Dropout: “A horrible album with just Jesus Walks on it is a four! C’mon dog, the demo version was a five! You need to rate it again, but you’ll have to create a new rating system.” Bitter, Kanye? While he may not actually be the most bitter person around, I think we can all agree that he is always full of … confidence. In spite of Kanye’s overflowing self-love and general obnoxious behavior, we’re all plenty stoked to go see the production Yeezus puts on. Bitter American is a hoppy American pale ale with relatively low ABV that’ll be perfect for the polo fields during the rap king’s headlining set. Just remember not to be too bitter while he’s ranting about how incredible he is (in the third person), and have fun. -SW

Wookey Jack American Black Ale by Firestone Walker Brewing for The Flaming Lips

When subjecting yourself to the intense sensory onslaught of the Flaming Lips’ live show, you may need a hefty beer to anchor yourself down. That’s where the Wookey Jack comes in. This 8.3-percent beer will give your taste buds a grip with a balance of syrupy but crisp, roast-y, hoppy goodness. The Flaming Lips may decide to play a set deeply mired in psychedelia or a poppy one heavy with Yoshimi, and you’ll be dually covered with the Wookey Jack. -SW

Inception by Triple Voodoo Brewing for Typhoon

Only four years since their debut release, Typhoon is experiencing a breakthrough in exposure and popularity. Their anthemic indie rock is cathartic and widely appealing. Triple Voodoo is also close to its debut release, and the SF-based brewery has been making big strides as well. Inception is a Belgian-style Triple with a dry finish that neatly disguises its burly alcohol percentage of 8 percent. Hopefully both Typhoon and Triple Voodoo continue to grow in popularity, because both are well deserved of their acclaim thus far. -SW

Campfire Stout by High Water Brewing for Woods

High Water Brewing out of San Leandro, Calif., has been making some fine brews for a while now, and one of the best is their Campfire Stout. Made for the outdoors, roasty malts, vanilla, caramel and marshmallows will swirl around your palate as Woods’ psychedelic-folk swirls in the air around you. This beer is as close to eating a s’more in liquid form as you can get. Touring in support of their new album With Light and With Love, Woods has a hefty slate of shows on the docket, including a night show at Brick & Mortar the night before their Outside Lands performance. -SW

Kalifornia Kolch by Magnolia Pub & Brewery for Nikki Bluhm and the Gramblers

Nikki Bluhm is a local favorite in SF because of her powerfully soulful singing and classic feel-good rock. What better way to enjoy the show than with a beer most likely brewed within five miles from her? Magnolia is making fantastic beer with storefronts in the Dogpatch and the Upper Haight. Assuming this is a day time show, their Kalifornia Kolch will blend perfectly with some sun and dancing. Clearly a group of heady guys, whatever Magnolia decided to bring will be solid. Other favorites are their Proving Grounds Double IPA and the Weakapaug Gruit. -SW

Bigfoot Barleywine Ale by Sierra Nevada Brewing for Duck Sauce

Right as the true depths of the intensely flavored Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada surface, the non stop rhythm and beastly sounds of the “Big Bad Wolf” by Duck Sauce should be allowing your true inhibitions to surface. The pairing will create a plethora of robust favors, explicit undertones, and sensual excitement if given the chance to groove side by side. When you see “Barbara Streisand” on the dance floor, just make sure to thank the local Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada. -CJ

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 21st Amendment Brewery, Bigfoot Barleywine Ale, Bitter American, Campfire Stout, Duck Sauce, Firestone Walker Brewing, High Water Brewing, Inception, Kalifornia Kolch, Kanye West, Magnolia Pub & Brewery, Nikki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Outside Lands, Outside Lands 2014, Sierra Nevada Brewing, The Flaming Lips, Triple Voodoo Brewing, Typhoon, Woods, Wookey Jack American Black Ale

Craft Spells fill the Chapel with their magic

July 21, 2014 by Pedro Paredes Leave a Comment

Photos by Pedro Paredes // Written by Kevin Quandt //

Craft Spells with The Bilinda Butchers //
The Chapel – San Francisco
July 17th, 2014 //

A sold-out crowd greeted the return of once-local band Craft Spells to the heart of the Mission for a stellar evening of post-new wave tunes – new and old. Leader of the pack, Justin Paul Vallesteros, came out swinging with quick jabs, playing with a rabid enthusiasm on his meticulously crafted songs from most recent release, Nausea (Captured Tracks), as well as old favorites peppered in. It was evident that the majority of the room were familiar with these cuts, and showed their adoration to this rising star.

A recent move to Seattle was a shock to fans, but on this night, it was as if Vallesteros was the current local rock hero, never missing a beat. His sound was infectious to those who were new to Craft Spells as he wove the classic sound of Robert Smith and the Cure with more contemporary acts such as DIIV and Beach Fossils. Expect to hear more from Craft Spells as they settle back into a regular routine of touring.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Craft Spells, The Bilinda Butchers, The Chapel

WIN TICKETS: Eliot Lipp at The Mint 7/23 (WED)

July 21, 2014 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

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Eliot Lipp with The Dead Men and Kaw //
The Mint – Los Angeles
July 23rd, 2014 (Wednesday) //

Brooklyn-based producer Eliot Lipp has been hypnotizing dance floors across the globe for more than 10 years with his unique brand of electro funk, combining elements of hip-hop, jazz and techno all into one larger-than-life sound. Hailing originally from Tacoma, Wash., Lipp isn’t afraid to take risks when it comes to crafting never-been-heard-before beats and breaks — and it’s certainly paid big dividends for him. Last year, he was named one of Vibe magazine’s “Top 10 Fast-Rising DJs of Summer 2013” while earning praise from a host of other major music outlets. The analogue synthesizer enthusiast has released seven full-length albums to date, including 2012’s Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake on Pretty Lights Music. Playing his first LA show in more than two years, Lipp makes his debut at The Mint with support from The Dead Men and Kaw. -Josh Herwitt

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Eliot Lipp, The Mint

WIN TICKETS: Jimmy Cliff at The Fillmore 7/19

July 18, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

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Jimmy Cliff //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
July 19th, 2014 (Saturday) //

The multi-talented reggae legend, political activist, singer-songwriter, actor and OM recipient, Jimmy Cliff will be gracing The Fillmore’s stage this Saturday night. A Grammy winner and 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Cliff’s impact on music and pop culture spans influentially throughout the globe. Penning his first hit at the age of 14, Cliff’s career sprouted into a legacy that has indefinitely shaped the modern state of music, art and pop culture — even to this day. With an ever-growing body of work consisting of over 30 full-length albums and equal the amount of compilations, live albums and limitless singles and remixes, Cliff’s work has directly influenced top names within the industry for 50-plus years. Collaborations throughout his tenure as an archetypal figure in reggae music include his work with Alex Spyropolous, Patrick Cambell-Lyons, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox, Sting and most recently Tim Armstrong on the 2011 Grammy-nominated Rebirth. Kicking off his summer tour with a live-streamed NPR Music session on LA radio station KCRW, Cliff brings his incredible live show to the Bay Area for one night only this Saturday at The Fillmore. -Molly Kish

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Filed Under: Contests

First Times: Experiencing Seattle’s music scene

July 18, 2014 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

Photos by Josh Herwitt & Melissa Herwitt // Written by Josh Herwitt //

Growing up in the 90’s, Seattle always had a special place in my heart.

From my days of listening to Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains albums in my bedroom, grunge music had already produced a profound impact on my musical taste by the time I entered my teens. Unlike so many of my peers, I never became a crazed Nirvana fan, but the rock music I did like — whether I knew it or not at the time — was being born in the Pacific Northwest.

As time passed and my music palette grew, grunge wasn’t the only genre coming out of the region that tickled my ears. In fact, Seattle’s musical history stretches further than it just being the birthplace of grunge. In more recent years, Seattle’s hip-hop scene, for one, has exploded in part due to Grammy winners Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, but even experimental acts like Shabazz Palaces and Blue Sky Black Death have helped build the local scene. And let’s not forget that we’re talking about the city that bred the one and only Sir Mix-a-Lot, of course.

Knowing this, my expectations of Seattle’s music scene have always been quite high. Since the late 60’s when Seattle native Jimi Hendrix took London by storm with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, there has been a musical fabric that has run through the Emerald City. It’s a city, after all, that has a nonprofit museum dedicated largely to pop culture and music, with informative, in-depth exhibits on the history of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Nirvana that include authentic artifacts, hand-written lyrics, used instruments and original photographs of both groups. You never know — maybe someday Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Foo Fighters memorabilia will also find its way behind the EMP Museum’s glass doors.

Meanwhile, Sub Pop, Seattle’s famed independent record label, has found continued success outside of its home base long after popularizing the grunge movement, with indie contemporaries like The Shins, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Foals, The Postal Service and Wolf Parade all signed to its current roster. And even more than 25 years after its inception, the label Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman created hasn’t lost its charm in a city where the Seahawks carry as much weight as any local band on the brink of national prominence these days.

With that said, while history can’t be erased, it certainly doesn’t mean it will be repeated. The Crocodile, formerly known as The Crocodile Café, has long been a fixture in Seattle’s music scene; the relatively small, intimate club on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Blanchard Street in the neighborhood of Belltown was the place where bands like Nirvana and Death Cab for Cutie first got their start. Even though the 525-person venue closed its doors in 2007, it reopened them a couple years later and has remained instrumental in maintaining Seattle’s reputation as one of America’s best music cities.

But whether it was the Fourth of July holiday or just the band that was booked for the night — in this case, San Francisco’s Geographer, who I have seen a handful of times at this point — I was surprised to see a room only half full of spectators when I walked inside. Maybe Geographer just doesn’t draw in Seattle what it does in SF or LA — or maybe I’m just spoiled. Since graduating college, I have had the privilege of living in New York and Los Angeles while getting to experience both cities’ music scenes for an extended period of time. My concert-going experiences haven’t been restricted to just LA and NYC, though. Over the years, I have made numerous trips to Denver — a city smaller than Seattle, yet one that undeniably eats, breathes and lives for live music — to attend shows at Red Rocks and beyond.

At The Crocodile, something felt missing unfortunately. Sure, it was just one show, but there wasn’t the same kind of buzz I found in any of those aforementioned cities. For whatever reason, my native LA often gets vilified by outsiders and transplants for our crowds’ lack of enthusiasm; words like “rude” and “unengaged” are regularly thrown around when it comes to LA’s music scene. But the energy at The Crocodile on that Friday night wasn’t anything better than what I experience on a regular basis in Southern California. If anything, it was considerably worse.

As disappointed and uninspired as I was after the show, my respect for Seattle’s music scene hasn’t wavered. With so much of my youth influenced by the musicians who have called this majestic seaport city home, it will always remain an important place for this music lover. Yet, what it’s made me realize is just how lucky I am to have lived where I’ve lived and been where I’ve been.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, First Times, Show Experience Tagged With: Alice in Chains, Beach House, Blue Sky Black Death, Death Cab For Cutie, Fleet Foxes, FOALS, Foo Fighters, Geographer, Jimi Hendrix, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Seattle, Shabazz Palaces, Soundgarden, The Crocodile, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Postal Service, The Shins, Wolf Parade

The Infamous Stringdusters let loose at Terrapin Crossroads

July 17, 2014 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

By Kory Thibeault //

The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Phil Lesh, Nicki Bluhm and The Terrapin Family Band //
Terrapin Crossroads – San Rafael, CA
July 12th-13th, 2014 //

There truly is something special going on at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael. This is not the first time I have spoken of it, nor will it be the last. Of course, being under the ownership of music legend Phil Lesh, it comes as no surprise their calendar of events is pretty rock solid. The artists who roll through Terrapin certainly attract a niche audience, extremely fitting for the intimate 250-person capacity the venue holds.

This past weekend was definitely intimate. The Grammy-nominated Infamous Stringdusters proved their worth in selling out a two-night run, with Friday billed as a “ramble” featuring Phil Lesh in the flesh. In the spirit of Levon Helm’s famous rambles, the Stringdusters took the stage for a high-energy show, first only to accompany Lesh and later The Terrapin Family Band for an All-Star, Grateful Dead-oriented closing set. “He’s Gone,” was an expected highlight, as the Stringdusters often cover the track, but this bustout was only the beginning. The quick picking intensified throughout the set, breathing new life into Dead classics. Particularly special on Friday was an extended jam of “The Wheel” > “Turn on Your Lovelight” > “Cumberland Blues”, which was a serious treat for everyone involved, especially the Terrapin community who frequents evenings such as these.

Saturday’s show featured two sets from the Stringdusters, a perfect opportunity to debut material off their new album Let It Go. While the LP lends itself more to the poppy side of this bluegrass outfit’s repertoire, the extended jams they performed proved this recent endeavor is far from a pop album. Trickled throughout the set were dark space jams, which brought great depth to the otherwise cut-and-dry tracks and moments that proved just as enjoyable for the band as it did for the audience. As an added treat, the Stringdusters invited Nicki Bluhm onto the stage to grace us with her exceptionally gorgeous voice. If this kind of exuberance and experimentation continues, they will undoubtedly have a fruitful career ahead of them.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Infamous Stringdusters, Nicki Bluhm, phil lesh, Terrapin Crossroads, The Terrapin Family Band

Peter Matthew Bauer breaks out at Bottom of the Hill

July 16, 2014 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Photos by Matt Barrick and Nikki de Martini // Written by Kevin Quandt //

Peter Matthew Bauer //
Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco
July 9th, 2014 //

Though The Walkmen have proclaimed that they are on a “pretty extreme hiatus”, it doesn’t mean they have slowed their creative output as the majority of members have released solo albums within a few months of their demise. Hamilton Leithauser channels Sinatra and other old school crooners on his lush sounding release, Black Hours. On the other hand, Walter Martin wrote a batch of songs for his young family to enjoy — singing joyful songs about animals and The Beatles on “We’re All Young Together”. Yet, it’s Peter Matthew Bauer’s debut solo album Liberation! that took the spotlight on a mid-week evening down at the base of Potrero Hill alongside Skyler Skjelset and new-to-the-City band, Tabernacle.

Liberation! is Bauer’s first romp into being the lead man, the songwriter and even full-blown guitarist, as Bauer manned the bass and organ in The Walkmen for a decade. The album is a worldly collective of musings focusing primarily on the emotions that inevitably arose from when his mainstay hung it up. It touches on a lack of previous restraint that comes from band life, as well as the fear of the unknown, as he begins his own endeavor. For his first tour, Bauer didn’t go with a streamlined band, but rather, he brought out a merry bunch of his friends from Philly, including Skyler Skjelset of Fleet Foxes and Bauer’s wife to sing backup vocals.

As the seven-piece band strutted on stage dressed to the nines, it was evident that even with the light turnout, this burgeoning project was here to play its heart out to its early supporters. “I Was Born in an Ashram” was the biographical opening track, on both the album and at the show, and set an energetic performance pace from the pompadoured frontman. He channeled Orbison, Harrison and other legendary impresarios early on as he battled religion and the choices one makes in this life — pretty deep stuff for a guy who is new to this role on stage. This opening number, and even the album as a whole, kind of feels like Sun Studios went on vacation and eventually opened shop in Bangladesh, drawing influence from both the Eastern and Western worlds to create a kaleidoscopic effect.

The album’s title track, “Liberation!”, picked up the rhythm a bit and transported the crowd to a far-off place as the dual backup singers did their best Lijadu Sisters impression to toss some African influence into the melting pot. Between songs, Bauer drew the crowd in with both praise of support and a few stories relating to the current tracks — “Scientology Airplane Conversations” being a prime example. Matt Oliver (guitar), Mickey Walker (bass) and Jess Mcintosh (drums) demonstrated they were the right friends to bring on the road as the core band shined brightly on the newly-penned ensemble tracks, such as “Miracle Mile”. Bauer’s vocal range was impressive, a surprise to this writer who saw him in the background of countless Walkmen shows. Even though it was a fresh sound from what Bauer had been focusing on for the past decade, the influence from his former project was evident while also being refreshing to longtime fans — a well thought-out balance that seemed to flow quickly from Bauer. As the set wrapped up with the mantra-esque album closer, “You Are the Chapel”, the band casually walked off, knowing it had wrecked house.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Previews Tagged With: Bottom of the Hill, Peter Matthew Bauer

WIN TICKETS: Natural Child with Cool Ghouls at Brick & Mortar Music Hall 7/18 (FRI)

July 16, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

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Natural Child with Cool Ghouls, The Abigails, Midnight Sons, DJ Al Lover //
Brick & Mortar Music Hall — San Francisco
July 18th, 2014 (Friday) //

Fiery rockers Natural Child roll through Brick & Mortar on Friday — and you should be there. Now fleshed out to a five-piece, their sound is thicker with Southern rock charm than ever, as shown by their latest work Dancin’ With Wolves. These guys lay down massive grooves to keep the crowd boogieing, so it’s sure to be a solid way to spend your Friday night.

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Contest ends Wednesday, July 16th at 2 p.m. PT. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private — we will share your email with no one.

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Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Brick & Mortar Music Hall, Cool Ghouls, Natural Child

Five female-fronted, emerging UK acts you need to hear

July 15, 2014 by Krystal Beez 2 Comments

Written by Krystal Beez //

With the Fourth of July in the rearview mirror and the taste of independence fresh in my mouth, I thought it would only be fitting for us to get familiar with five emerging artists from the United Kingdom. While listening to the artists below might make you a quasi-traitor, at least you’ll be a renegade with some good music.

1. ELLA EYRE

Who: Ella McMahon

Origin: West London, Britain

What she’s about: You may recognize her name if you listened to Rudimental’s amazing album Home. She was the sexy and husky voice belting out proudly on their No. 1 single “Waiting All Night“. She also collaborated with Wiz Khalifa and Naughty Boy on the track “Think About It“. But now, Ella Eyre is out on her own with a debut EP entitled Deeper. Ella attended the famous BRIT school for performing arts and was runner-up for the Brit Critics’ Choice Award, losing to Sam Smith. At 21 years old, Ella is just getting started. Her debut single, “Deeper“, really emphasizes her sultry voice and her R&B/soul influences. Sadly, there’s no release date for her debut album yet, but no need to panic. You can catch Ella’s San Francisco debut at Popscene on Friday, July 25th. Samsaya and local artist Anya & the Get Down support. You do not want to miss this! Tickets available here.

File next to: Zella Day, Sam Smith, Kiesza

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify.

2. CAMDEN COX

Who: Camden Cox

Origin: London, Britain

What she’s about: Camden Cox is signed to Little Boots’ label On Repeat, and her debut single, “Kinda Like”, is future pop coming to fruition. She recently released an EP with only one drawback — it needs more new songs by Camden Cox.

File next to: AlunaGeorge, Sky Ferreira, Tove Lo

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify.

3. ELLI INGRAM

Who: Elli Ingram

Origin: Brighton, Britain

What she’s about: Elli Ingram is a name that’s been buzzing around the UK music scene after she released the beautiful track “When It Was Dark“. Since then, Ingram has collaborated and toured with electronic duo Chase and Status, and she released two EPs. The UK songstress’ soulful vocals and R&B/hip-hop style have her drawing comparisons to the likes of Adele and, more accurately, Amy Winehouse. Both of Ingram’s EPs — Sober and the more recent release The Doghouse — demonstrate her powerful, soulful vocals as well as highlight the skill of her production team, Felix Joseph and Aston Rudi. Start with “High Love” and “All Caught Up“, and soon you’ll be addicted to the music of this talented young lady. And if you enjoy a good cover song, watch Elli’s jazzy cover of Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice“.

File next to: Sampha, Laura Welsh, Amy Winehouse

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter.

4. IYES

Who: Josh Christopher and Melis Soyaslanová

Origin: Brighton, Britain

What they’re about: IYES (pronounced “eyes”) are another girl/boy duo breaking out this year. The duo met at a party while in school and started making music together. They put a track on Soundcloud called “Lighthouse” and took over the blogosphere within a week. Since then, they’ve done a number of remixes as well as released their debut single “Til Infinity“, a lovely track of minimal electropop. More recently is the song “Toys“, which is labeled as a demo but actually feels like a polished and full track, and sees Christopher taking on more of a vocal role as the duo sing back and forth in almost an XX type of way. Again, if you enjoy a good cover song, check this one out.

File next to: MS MR, ASTR, Sohn

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify.

5. CLEAN BANDIT

Who: Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson, Grace Chatto and Milan Neil Amin-Smith

Origin: Cambridge, Britain

What they’re about: Now let’s combine elements of classical music along with dance music, house and UK funky, and you get the brilliance that is Clean Bandit. Their debut album, New Eyes, was released last month, and it features their No. 1 single “Rather Be“, starring the exquisite guest vocals of Jess Glynne, another emerging UK artist to keep your eye on. Clean Bandit are signed to the Black Butter Records label, home to the likes of Rudimental, Gorgon City and Kidnap Kid. Clean Bandit are going to be doing big things, so remember the name. Be sure to see them perform live at The Fillmore for their SF debut on Saturday, September 27th! More info on tickets here.

File next to: Gorgon City, Route 94, Le Youth