2016 October – Showbams

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Tiga (Live) at The Midway 10/28 (FRI)

October 28, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Tiga (Live), Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Martin Buttrich b2b Guti, Edu Imbernon //
The Midway – San Francisco
October 28th, 2016 //

French DJ, producer and world-renowned remix artist Tiga brings his legendary mix of house, electro and UK garage to The Midway, headlining an incredible roster of electronic talent to kick off the Halloween weekend.

Joined by British future house sensation Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, LA-based DJ/percussionist Martin Buttrich playing B2B with latin-jazz/electronic artist Guti, Spain’s own remix master Edu Imbernon and Modular label head Pedro Arbulu rounding out the main room, this party is absolutely stacked.

With a separate lineup gracing the patio that features Margot Lox, Rachel Toro, Elvi and Jill, this night plans to bump into the early morning, delivering up some of the best house sets in the Bay Area this Halloween weekend. Tickets are available for $35-40, or you could win a pair of tickets by submitting your full name and email below.

Contest ends today at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Girrafage & XXYYXX: October 31st (MON) @ Mezzanine
• King Khan: October 31st (MON) @ Slims
• The Masquerade Ball: October 31st (MON) @ The Chapel

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

Like Showbams on Facebook, follow Showbams on Twitter and follow Showbams on Instagram. Subscribe to our social channels for a better chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Edu Imbernon, Girrafage, Guti, King Khan, Martin Buttrich, Mezzanine, Slims, The Midway SF, Tiga, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Xxyyxx

The Faint highlight their history for one night in SF

October 27, 2016 by Norm de Veyra Leave a Comment

By Norm de Veyra //

The Faint with Gang of Four, Pictureplane //
The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco
October 23rd, 2016 //

Those seeking an all-out dance party last Sunday were in luck when The Faint dropped by The Regency Ballroom.

With a career spanning nearly two decades, the Nebraska-born dance rockers showcased tracks from their recently released retrospective album CAPSULE:1999-2016.

Post-punk predecessors Gang of Four and electronic artist Pictureplane opened the show.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Gang of Four, Pictureplane, The Faint, The Regency Ballroom

The Boxer Rebellion kick off their North American tour at The Independent

October 26, 2016 by Laura Tsu Leave a Comment

By Laura Tsu //

The Boxer Rebellion with Hey Anna, Ry Cox //
The Independent – San Francisco
October 19th, 2016 //

London indie-rock outfit The Boxer Rebellion kicked off their North American tour at The Independent last Wednesday. Despite visiting the U.S. earlier in the year for a couple of performances, the quartet aimed to embark on a more comprehensive tour this time by booking a total of 22 shows.

Their fifth studio album Ocean by Ocean was just released in April, marking their most recent material since 2013’s Promises. Their performance in SF mostly consisted of songs from Ocean by Ocean and Promises, with one song, “Always”, performed intimately in the middle of the crowd with an acoustic guitar and no microphone.

Supporting The Boxer Rebellion were Hey Anna, a five-piece band fronted by three sisters, and singer-songwriter Ry Cox.

Setlist:
Let It Go
Big Ideas
Step Out of the Car
We Have This Place Surrounded
Semi-Automatic
New York
Caught By the Light
Locked in the Basement
Always (Acoustic)
Weapon
Diamonds
Let’s Disappear
Flashing Red Light Means Go
Pull Yourself Together
Flight

Encore:
No Harm
Promises
The Gospel of Goro Adachi

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Hey Anna, Ry Cox, The Boxer Rebellion, The Independent

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016: The Good, The Bad & The Muddy

October 25, 2016 by Molly Kish 2 Comments

Photos by Josh Herwitt & Lisette Worster // Written by Molly Kish //

Treasure Island Music Festival //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
October 15th-16th, 2016 //

Treasure Island Music Festival “raged the island” one last year and went out in a weekend of epic highs and tempestuous lows. Experiencing 2016’s most chaotic storm so far, festivalgoers and organizers were faced with some of the harshest conditions the boutique festival has ever faced. Beyond the obstacles Another Planet Entertainment and Noise Pop had going into the weekend with a new location, “no parking” restrictions and a few lineup changes, the added surprise element that Mother Nature tossed into the mix made for an experience to remember.

Here are the best, worst and most muddied (good ideas that ultimately went wrong) moments of TIMF 2016.

THE GOOD

Ice Cube

The Headliners

Battling against the unfavorable conditions, both of the weekend’s headliners reclaimed the festival in the eye of the storm each night by delivering unforgettable performances for their dedicated fans. Accompanied by original members of NWA on Saturday night, Cube gave a career-spanning set that gave the most weather-weary attendees the energy to participate in his aggressive call-and-response classics. Bay Area hip-hop fans danced through what was some light drizzle, screaming “Fuck Ice Cube” while getting down with family, friends and fellow hardcore rap enthusiasts. Generations of Cube fans could be witnessed sharing in a truly memorable moment, where despite the ridiculousness of the entire day leading up to that set, all inconveniences were briefly forgotten while the crowd’s collective love for the Westside reigned supreme. Icelandic post rockers Sigur Rós, meanwhile, closed things out Sunday night in epic fashion with a rare SF performance, wrapping up two wet and muddy days on the island.

Accessible Ride-Share Options

While parking on the island was a no-go this year — festivalgoers were given the looming “you’ll be ticketed/towed” warning — TIMF was sure to ramp up their shuttle services and even have a ride-share loading zone available for commuter’s utmost convenience. In past years, tracking down Uber, Lyft or a taxi on the island was a real nightmare. With little to no signage, mystery addresses and a street grid, even local residents find the island confusing. However, in the midst of the Bay Area’s largest storm so far this year, TIMF made sure that what used to be the most aggravating part was a breeze.

The Crowd

Throughout the years, TIMF has cultivated a fan base whose attitude, interests and diversity truly elevates the festival experience. Becoming more of a congregation of friends over the past decade, the intimate setting and impeccably curated lineup has solidified an audience that returns to the island equally as excited for each and every installment. Even with rough weather conditions, a new location and a number of other things to gripe or complain about, the crowd remained hilariously positive. Groups bonded, friendships were formed and the relationships between artists and fans reached new levels of understanding due to their love for the festival and the absurdity of the circumstances.

Kamaiyah

Artists Stepping Up

Rain delays were rampant, and to the dismay of many, quite a few artists weren’t even able to perform. Weather issues beyond the festival’s control caused stages to flood and equipment to malfunction, but amidst the torrential downpour, a few notable MVPs came through big time.

On Saturday, during what will forever be remembered as the “Young Thugg Rain Delay,” Bay Area emcee Kamaiyah Johnson, who goes by her first name when performing, went head to head with Mother Nature for one of the most electrifying sets of the weekend. Spitting bars in between 40 mile-per-hour winds and drenched head to toe in a neon-green poncho, her flow was flawless even as she was being pelted in the face by heavy rain. Doing the Bay proud, she definitely earned some street cred in keeping the rain-soaked crowd happy and hyphy during the delay.

Tycho

Bailing out Another Planet twice, Bay Area superstar/TIMF lifesaver Tycho lessened one of the weekend’s harshest blows when he filled in for James Blak after Blake’s set was abruptly canceled on Sunday evening. Coming off a surprise show at The Independent the night before the fest officially kicked off, which in turn, was making up for Pantha du Prince’s last-minute cancellation, Scott Hansen was called upon again after his band’s live set on Sunday — this time to DJ during another set-debilitating downpour. The defeated crowd, even more upset by the unfortunate news that Blake would not be performing, looked as though it had suffered one final blow and could be overheard discussing whether or not to stick around for Sigur Rós’ headlining performance.

It looked like a gloomy surrender until out of nowhere, TIMF started sending out alerts via its social media channels that a surprise DJ set from Tycho would promptly start in Blake’s place. Probably the only artist who could alleviate the crushing blow of hearing that Blake’s set was canceled took the stage and quickly reinvigorated the crowd, motivating spectators to weather the storm with his ethereal beats.

James Blake’s “Redemption” Show

Monday morning hit like a ton of bricks, especially for anyone returning to work after the emotional rollercoaster that was TIMF. Still feeling the effects of the festival, many started off their week with a serious case of post-festival stress disorder. But just when we finally were ready to turn off any push notifications from the TIMF app, an alert delivered what easily was the best news of the entire weekend.

As a consolation for Blake’s canceled set, festival organizers announced he would be playing a makeup concert free to ticket holders that night at The Fox Theater Oakland. Sending social media into a flurry, Another Planet confirmed the news and even made tickets available for purchase to those who didn’t attend TIMF. Although many were skeptical about whether or not they’d be able to get in, those who made the effort were treated to a magical performance with a comfortably sized crowd.

Playing every song you would have hoped to hear at TIMF while being able to explain and subsequently show the crowd why his amazing new stage show would not have been able to survive the storm, Blake gave the crowd a performance to remember and extinguished any sedimentary frustrations left over from the mishaps that took place. The 28-year-old British singer-songwriter cleansed the crowd with a set full of beautiful, serene love songs as well as deep-house/1-800-Dinosaur cuts, making the show feel near-sacrosanct and giving us some serious festival redemption. He spoke candidly about the previous weekend’s circumstances, wooed the crowd with humorous antecdotes and even stopped the show at one point to make sure even the rowdiest audience members didn’t ruin the occasion.

THE BAD

• The unrelenting mayhem of Mother Nature’s first official storm of 2016

• The inability to bring an umbrella to comfortably handle the weather

• Artists being unable to perform (and their social media meltdowns that followed)

• Gripes and backlash from ticket buyers that spawned the hashtag #refundTIMF10

• A shortage of water at the festival’s refill stations

• The lack of cellphone reception and timely communication from TIMF organizers during Saturday’s storm

THE MUDDY

• Laying down a beautiful lawn that turned into a mud field by the end of the weekend

• The beautiful location of the pier for the Silent Disco and various vendors, yet due to high winds, was not accessible on Saturday and only available on Sunday

• The awesome bar and tent available for VIP ticket holders, which turned out to be the only cover from the storm throughout the festival grounds

• Selling disposable ponchos at the festival’s merchandise tent, only for them to sell out almost immediately

• The promise of a “rain or shine” festival without anticipating that the island would get consumed by a white squall

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Neon Indian

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Purity Ring

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Sylvan Esso

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - How to Dress Well

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Ice Cube

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - ZHU

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Sigur Rós

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016 - Glass Animals

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Glass Animals, How to Dress Well, Ice Cube, Kamaiyah, Neon Indian, Purity Ring, Sigur Ros, Sylvan Esso, TIMF, TIMF 2016, Treasure Island Music Festival, Treasure Island Music Festival 2016, Tycho, zhu

On a night full of metalcore, Every Time I Die upstage Beartooth at The Regent Theater

October 21, 2016 by Zach Bourque Leave a Comment

Every Time I Die

By Zach Bourque //

Beartooth with Every Time I Die, Fit for a King, Old Wounds //
The Regent Theater – Los Angeles
October 12th, 2016 //

Metalcore veterans Every Time I Die dropped by The Regent Theater in support of their new album Low Teens, which they released in September. Despite their extensive résumé and massive fan base, ETID was actually not the headliner. Instead, marquee duties were left to Columbus metalcore outfit Beartooth, whose disparate appeal was reflected dramatically throughout the course of the night. Opening sets came from Old Wounds and Fit for a King.

If you randomly showed up at The Regent without any knowledge of who was performing, there was a good chance you would have assumed that Every Time I Die was the headliner. My own completely unscientific survey showed at least one in three attendees were donning ETID shirts, an overwhelming number that was highlighted in the massive pit that formed in front of the stage.

With the exception of ETID’s recent appearance on the Warped Tour, it’s been years since the Buffalo band last played in LA. And the excitement in the room was tangible as Keith Buckley (vocals), Jordan Buckley (guitar), Andy Williams (guitar), Stephen Micciche (bass) and Daniel Davison (drums) hit the stage around 8:30 p.m.

With nearly 20 years of material to dig through, the rambunctious five-piece wasted no time running through the hits during their 45-minute set. Classics like “Ebolarama” and “The New Black” were coupled with Lower Teens tracks like “The Coin Has a Say” and “It Remembers”, the latter of which featuring Panic! at the Disco vocalist Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco.

Beartooth

It was a loud, fast and intense set that made fantastic use of The Regent’s lack of a barricade between the crowd and the stage. Fans stage dived non-stop throughout their performance in what made for an interesting night for those close enough to experience the wrath of it.

While ETID’s set was nothing short of phenomenal, no moment defined the night quite like the second they left the stage, which seemingly saw two-thirds of the entire crowd dissipate the floor and walk out the venue’s doors.

Needless to say, it was a different story for Beartooth. The collective age of the crowd was reduced at least 10 years, with many looking like they just came from band practice in high school. Beartooth’s set was polished, produced and worthy of being included in a Hot Topic playlist. Fans appeared to dig it, though vocalist Caleb Shomo noticed a distinct drop-off in energy compared to ETID’s explosive show.

Given their huge following, it’s a head-scratcher why ETID decided to be on this tour. At any rate, we’re thrilled they’re still with us and amazed that their music continues to improve at an almost alarming rate. Let’s just hope for a headlining set next time.

EVERY TIME I DIE

Setlist:
Glitches
We’rewolf
Ebolarama
Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space
Thirst
Decayin’ With the Boys
Petal
Bored Stiff
C++ (Love Will Get You Killed)
The New Black
Floater
It Remembers (with Brendon Urie)
The Coin Has a Say
No Son of Mine
Map Change

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Beartooth, Every Time I Die, Fit for a King, Old Wounds, Panic! At The Disco, The Regent Theater, Warped Tour

At The Regency Ballroom, Danny Brown sets himself apart from all the other rappers in the game

October 20, 2016 by Brett Ruffenach 1 Comment

Photos by James Pawlish // Written by Brett Ruffenach //

Danny Brown //
The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco
October 11th, 2016 //

Daniel Swell, better known as Danny Brown, came to The Regency Ballroom last Tuesday in support of his critically acclaimed album Atrocity Exhibition.

As an emcee with a cartoonish, high-pitched voice as well as a humorous lyrical style, it can sometimes be hard to take Brown seriously. This is the deceptive genius of the Detroit-based rapper — in between the lewd sexual acts and illicit drug use described in his music, there’s a deeper look into addiction, poverty and mental illness. As he opened the show with “Die Like a Rockstar” from his second LP XXX, The Regency’s bouncing floor started moving and didn’t stop for the next hour.

Diving into earlier tracks and moving forward chronologically from there, Brown managed to cover a large breadth of his catalog, even for a set as short as his was on this night. Dropping bangers like “Blunt After Blunt”, “Dip” and “25 Bucks”, perhaps the most impressive aspect about Brown’s performance is the cadence he’s able to keep up, song after song after song. And no matter what the track is, the speed and flow he is able to maintain is something few rappers can keep up with (I’m looking at you, ScHoolboy Q).

Although he only performed a couple of tracks from his new album, tragically skipping over “Ain’t It Funny”, Brown still managed to prove that he is a rapper in his own lane. No one can be compared to Danny Brown because well, there’s no one like Danny Brown.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Danny Brown, The Regency Ballroom

Despite a disappointing crowd, Warpaint still take their SF fans on an introspective sonic journey

October 19, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

By Diana Cordero //

Warpaint //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
October 12th, 2016 //

It’s always nice to see a band do well and have success. I have seen Warpaint perform since they opened for The XX back in 2011, long before they could sell out shows like the one they played in SF at The Fillmore last Wednesday.

Like everything in life, change is undeniable — both for the performers, but also the audience, which, sadly, was a huge letdown. It is the downside of a band reaching commercial success, though.

Even though the Los Angeles four-piece took us on an introspective sonic journey, not many people in the audience joined in. In fact, most of the attendees seemed to be there because it was the cool thing to do that night, which of course affected the atmosphere of the show. And while intimacy was craved, it kept being overshadowed by the “normie” population that kept drunkenly speaking out loud or scrolling their Facebook feed. Needless to say, what a way to disrespect those who wanted to actually be there.

Granted, Warpaint’s music is slow and introspective, especially their latest album Heads Up, which depicts the downfall of a love relationship between two people (quite possibly one of the women in the band, although no comments have been made publicly in that regard). All the more reason to wish for a quiet, respectful audience.

Keeping the aforementioned in mind, it does make sense that the women of Warpaint have gone through some difficulties, which is reflected in the songs they write. But it also shows the proximity that they have with each other — and that’s what completely sets them apart from any other outfit that wishes to sound like them. They work in unison, which is hard to achieve in a band and what ultimately makes them powerful and relevant.

Warpaint do seem more focused and less playful (I do miss the jokes bassist Jenny Lee and drummer Stella Mozgawa tell in between songs), but they are all still quite charming and engaging — well, at least to those of us who care anyway. Together, they are a super-tight band that has grown not only in terms of commercial success, but also musically.

Setlist:
Bees
Heads Up
Composure
Hi
Intro
Keep It Healthy
No Way Out
The Stall
CC
Whiteout
Beetles
Elephants
Love Is to Die
New Song
Disco//Very

Encore:
So Good
Biggy
Krimson

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

Chris Corner turns an ordinary Monday night in SF into an electric one with his IAMX project

October 18, 2016 by Laura Tsu Leave a Comment

By Laura Tsu //

IAMX //
Great American Music Hall – San Francisco
October 10th, 2016 //

Chris Corner, formerly of the UK band Sneaker Pimps, developed IAMX as a solo music and visual art venture featuring dark melodies and intense theatrical production. Since 2004, the project has released eight albums, with the most recent being Everything Is Burning early last month. IAMX put the finishing touches on his North American tour with the penultimate date at the Great American Music Hall on a Monday night.

In an aura of fog and red smolder, Corner walked on the stage, joined by Janine Gezang and Sammi Doll on keyboards and backup vocals as well as Jon Siren on drums. Throughout the evening, Corner held two microphones in hand and either switched off from one or the other or sang into both. His voice fluctuated and highlighted the vocal diversity in musicianship; sometimes Corner screamed into his microphone, and other times he crooned in falsetto.

There were also portions of songs that more or less resembled spoken word, such as during “North Star”. Gezang and Doll significantly contributed vocals, whether they were harmonies in “Everything Is Burning” or more dynamic roles like in “You Stick It in Me”. Together, they synthesized dark, moody rhythms with a danceable complex.

Along with music composition, Corner clearly identified both performance energy and visual illustration as key components of the IAMX live show. Throughout the 80-minute set, Corner and the supporting musicians were constantly in motion throughout the performance — and none of them shied away from audience energy. Corner, Gezang and Doll constantly pointed their microphones to the crowd and invited them to directly engage in the show. Their visual showcase, tactically planned and moody, featured monotone hues amassed within fog amid strobe lights flashing as songs reached their apex.

Hovering above the band were four smaller rectangular screens with black-and-white or sepia videos of hellish imagery. Corner’s bandmates even went as far to incorporate body paint and some skintight attire into their outfits to further enhance the presentation.

At the end of the set, the crowd was hesitant to see IAMX depart. Band members embraced the audience and passed out printouts of the evening’s setlist. The breadth of content, from the beginning of the project in 2004 to more recent material, still merged to form a cohesive set. And altogether, the combination of IAMX’s music, energy, lighting, video and costumes created a primal undercurrent of shadow and pulse.

Setlist:
No Maker Made Me
Happiness
Nightlife
The Unified Field
Everything Is Burning
Screams
You Stick It in Me
Spit It Out
Insomnia
North Star
Aphrodisiac
Kiss + Swallow

Encore:
I Come With Knives
The Alternative
Oh Cruel Darkness Embrace Me

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Chris Corner, Great American Music Hall, IAMX

As their frontman battles drug addiction, The Head and the Heart press on at LA’s Greek Theatre

October 14, 2016 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

The Head and the Heart //
Greek Theatre – Los Angeles
October 7th, 2016 //

It’s amazing how far The Head and the Heart have come in just a little more than seven years. Formed through a series of open mic nights in the northwest Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, the sextet ditched world-renowned indie label Sub Pop this year and signed with Warner Bros. Records for its third full-length album Signs of Light, which dropped early last month.

But attaining major-label status hasn’t been the only change for The Head and the Heart over the past 12 months. Back in March, the band announced that frontman Josiah Johnson would be taking an indefinite leave to enter rehab and recover from drug addiction, leaving Jonathan Russell in charge of handling lead-vocal duties all on his own.

Though there’s no doubt the indie-folk outfit misses Johnson’s presence onstage, it seems to be doing just fine without him for the time being. For instance, take last Friday’s show at the Greek Theatre, which welcomed a solid turnout from the group’s LA contingent as countless couples and fans anywhere from the ages of 25-50 occupied the historic outdoor venue by the time The Head and the Heart took the stage shortly after 9 p.m.

Opening with their newest single “All We Ever Knew”, The Head and the Heart spent the next hour and a half showcasing some of their biggest hits, from “Lost in My Mind” and “Down in the Valley” off their self-titled debut LP to “Shake” and “Another Story” that are on their 2013 follow-up Let’s Be Still. It’s still unclear when Johnson is expected to return, but Russell and his four sidekicks — Charity Rose Thielen, Chris Zasche, Kenny Hensley and Tyler Williams — should be able to find comfort in the fact that their latest record is setting its own record after reaching as high as No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling 40,000 units in its first week. If that, in addition to their new label status now, doesn’t immediately convince you that The Head and the Heart are on the up and up, seeing them perform live at a place like the Greek just might.

Setlist:
All We Ever Knew
Coeur d’Alene
City of Angels
Ghosts
Rhythm & Blues
Shake
Another Story
Let’s Be Still
Turn It Around
Lost in My Mind
Colors
Library Magic
Oh My Dear
I Don’t Mind
Winter Song
Sounds Like Hallelujah
Down in the Valley

Encore:
(Unknown) (“Some folks may say, I’m a hermit in my ways”)
Your Mother’s Eyes
Rivers and Roads

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Greek Theatre, Josiah Johnson, The Head and The Heart

Treasure Island Music Festival 2016: 10 pro tips for ‘raging the Bay’ one last time

October 13, 2016 by Molly Kish Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Treasure Island Music Festival //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
October 15th-16th, 2016 //

Setting its inaugural sail way back in 2006, Treasure Island Music Festival has earned its spot as one of the top boutique music festivals in the country. The two-day festival that takes place in the middle of the bay has assembled some impressive lineups over the years that has made it a gale force to be reckoned with.

With this weekend marking the fest’s 10-year anniversary, it faces some aesthetic changes, looming weather forecasts and lineup reconfiguration. Though some may view these factors as an unfavorable hindrance, festivalgoers shouldn’t fret.

Taking it all into consideration, including our previous years of experience covering what easily can be touted as one of our favorite events of the year, we have compiled a list of “pro tips” for you to navigate one final celebratory storm that marks TIMF’s final anchor on the island.

10. Complimentary Festival Transportation

Whether you’re commuting from east or west of the Bay Bridge, FREE shuttles will be picking and dropping off at convenient locations on both sides of the Bay.

There is absolutely NO PARKING options on the island, so avoid paying huge ride-share fares with massive surcharge rates and hop on one of these shuttles:

San Francisco: Located on Fulton St. between Larkin St. and Polk St., one block from Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Oakland: Located next to the West Oakland Bart station on 5th St., between Chester St. and Mandela Parkway.

There will also be a bike valet service at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for anyone wanting to store their chariot safely while visiting the island. For those coming from out of town, TIMF has partnered with Breez to make carpooling to the aforementioned shuttle stops hassle-free. If you’re looking for the VIP treatment, round-trip water taxi service from SF is also available via Tideline Marine Group with single-day passes starting at $45 per person and weekend rates at $85 here.

9. Embrace the Eastside

While it seems like most of the Bay Area “indie” culture has been relocating east, it was only a matter of time before our favorite boutique festival made the natural transition. Getting edged out by the massive construction efforts simultaneously happening on the “Great Lawn,” TIMF has a new location on the Oakland/East Bay side of the island, which also happens to be 20 percent larger than the festival’s previous site.

Though the iconic views of SF will certainly be missed, festivalgoers will be pleasantly surprised by the beautiful, sweeping views of the Port of Oakland, Berkeley Hills and the majestically illuminated eastern expansion of the Bay Bridge.

For those still longing for their “mandatory SF skyline” photo, views to the west will still be accessible from the Century Ferris Wheel, which will be located alongside the Silent Disco on the pier (one of the festival’s new layout additions).

8. Organize Your Schedule/Stay Connected

One of the best parts about TIMF is that it truly is a festival that puts the emphasis on music. Curated by Noise Pop and produced by Another Planet Entertainment, it truly is a FUBU (“For us, by us”) festival experience for the unabashed audiophiles of the world.

TIMF remains one of the only festivals recognized on a national circuit that refuses to have overlapping set times. Even in its new location, the fairgrounds remain intimate enough to allow you ample time between sets to shift your location back and forth between both stages without missing a beat.

Still, with the insane lineup of talent this year, we encourage you to create your custom lineup and sync it with your friends’ schedule on social media here.

Be sure to let everyone know you’re attending here. Lastly, download the FREE DoStuff app to find out about everything in real time.

7. Bundle Up in Weatherproof Gear

Any local resident and TIMF veteran knows that Mother Nature has a flare for the eccentric when dealing with the weather patterns on the island. While the eastern side usually does boast higher temperatures and sun-soaked shores, the forecast for this upcoming weekend has hinted otherwise and everyone should be prepared for inclement weather.

Be conscious of the regional microclimates, anticipate some moisture and take a moment to realize the fact that you ARE in the middle of the Bay. Once that and the impending forecast sinks in, add layer upon layer upon layer.

Just think of this as a debut weekend for all your fun new autumn wear and allow yourself to succumb to the fact that this year’s lineup may actually be that much more enjoyable with a few storm clouds heightening the experience.

6. Deprivate Your Senses

If you need a break from the continuous back and forth between stages or have some open time slots in your schedule, be sure to stop by the Silent Disco at its new location on the pier.

A favorite feature among TIMF attendees, the incredibly entertaining Silent Disco has become a mainstay at festivals across the globe. Growing into somewhat of a mini stage within itself, this year’s lineup serves up talent across the TIMF’s 10-year legacy and showcases some of the best local and nationally recognized electronic artists on the bill. See the lineup here.

5. Store That “Booty”

Preparing for a weekend-long festival on an island is no easy feat. And especially when you consider all of the changes that TIMF is going through this year, you’re going to want to be prepared. But this can become a cumbersome task and even more so when extra layers of clothing, accessories and footwear may be part of the equation.

Fear not, TIMF has got you covered! For those who act fast, the festival is renting overnight lockers that even come equipped with a universal cellphone charger. Stay warm, happy and connected with you crew all weekend long. Exponentially heighten your overall experience with the convenience of a clean, dry, safe and fully charged phone by reserving a locker here.

4. Do Your Research

Whether you’re going to TIMF to catch your favorite band or are excited to jump right into discovering “the next big thing,” the 2016 lineup really has something for everyone. Known for its groundbreaking performances over the last decade, the festival has become a circuit staple for exposing talent on a local and national level.

While opinions vary on how much immersive preparation one should engage in, we always suggest perusing some festival previews (besides this one you’re reading right now, of course) and listening to the most current material from the artists listed on the lineup.

Following suit, here’s a TIMF 2016 playlist that samples the best of the fest and will get you hyped for the big weekend ahead.

3. Navigate the Fairgrounds

TIMF calls itself a “boutique” music festival not just because of its picturesque setting (which is hard to beat), smaller crowd capacity and meticulously curated bill, but also due to the fact that aside from the music, the festival highlights vendors, artists and independent craftsmen who are still on the up and up.

Between sets, you can visit the 60-foot Century Ferris Wheel or get down at the Silent Disco. Plus, this year includes a brand-new, iron installation called “Fire Triangle” and a 10-year retrospective “Memory Gallery” that will be on display.

From teriyaki and tamales to paella and raw/vegan food, the cultural influence of the Bay Area will be represented throughout the festival. With full bars and plenty of food trucks, there will be no lack of culinary delights to satiate even the most finicky foodie.

2. Go to a Night Show

If you can’t make it out for the full weekend of festivities or are among the dedicated few who want to continue dancing into the early-morning hours after the festival wraps up, the party doesn’t have to stop once the flood lights turn on!

For those who may be feeling a little deterred by the weather, TIMF has an amazing lineup for their “Night Show” series and you can win free tickets on us here.

1. Have Fun!

Most important, just remember: YOU’RE AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL! There can be far worse places and much less exciting things you could be doing than creating memories and taking in some incredible live music at TIMF’s 10th edition.

Music festivals are really all about what you make of them, and if you follow our 10 pro tips to maximize your experience, we guarantee you will have an unforgettable time participating in TIMF’s final docking on the island!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: TIMF, TIMF 2016, Treasure Island Music Festival, Treasure Island Music Festival 2016

With a new album out, Tycho scratch a strong itch to surprise in front of a capacity crowd at The Fonda

October 12, 2016 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

Tycho //
The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles
October 6th, 2016 //

It’s always inspiring when you see someone incorporate the skills they have developed over the years and apply them in new and different ways. For Scott Hansen, Tycho has been more than just a path to sonic exploration. While music remains at the forefront of Hansen’s vision, the project has served as a vehicle for his overall creative expression.

Before he became better known by his astronomical stage name, Hansen spent more than a decade working as a graphic designer, and his affinity for photography is no secret. For his photographic and design work, he operates under the moniker ISO50, and sometimes he’ll even include notes with his Instagram photos detailing the exact camera settings that were used (like in this one). The results — as you can see here, here and here, for instance — are incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring for any young photographer. And in many ways, the music Hansen writes is just as pretty.

But it’s also worth mentioning that Hansen designs all of the art (including the album covers) for Tycho, often using geometric shapes like circles to represent such natural wonders as the sun that in turn serve as metaphors for life and the connection to the human experience. The live show similarly plays off these reoccurring themes, with a large video screen set up behind Hansen and his bandmates to reveal footage of nature, surfing and other subject matter that’s pleasing to the eye. In fact, as Hansen recently explained in his ISO50 blog, “the imagery tells a story that the music can’t fully articulate, and vice versa.”

It’s rare to find a musician who’s talented enough to create all of the music and artwork on his own, let alone one who can get the two to perfectly coincide with each other. Hansen, though, has managed to do this better than most, and he continues along that path with Tycho’s fifth studio album Epoch, which he unexpectedly dropped less than two weeks ago with no formal announcement. The 11-track LP and third Tycho album originally released on Michigan/New York record label Ghostly International picks up right where 2014’s Awake left off, combining the group’s signature ambient-techno sound with more post-rock flourishes than we’ve heard previously. It hasn’t peaked quite as high on the Billboard 200 chart yet, but there’s still plenty of time for Epoch to make up more ground in the weeks and months ahead.

For as much as Epoch was a surprise, so were Tycho’s two most recent shows in LA last week. It was the first time Hansen and company had played The Fonda Theatre since the Awake tour back in 2014 (read our review here), and Thursday’s sellout, which was announced less than a week before the show, along with the subsequent need to add a second date the next night, made it clear that more than ever, Angelenos have a strong appetite for what Hansen is doing on both a musical and visual level. It helps, too, that KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, who opened the shows at The Fonda with a DJ set, has helped expose Tycho to a broader audience, whether through the “Morning Becomes Eclectic” theme song or live, in-studio performances by the band. Even nowadays with an abundance of streaming sites, you can’t underestimate the power of radio in a city with a driving culture as large as LA’s. And truth be told, Tycho is some of the best music to drive to, especially when you’re surrounded by nature.

When it came time to take the stage, the four-piece comprised of Hansen (synthesizers, guitar, bass, visuals, programming), Zac Brown (bass, guitar), Rory O’Connor (drums) and Billy Kim (bass, keyboards, synthesizers) didn’t waste any time diving into some material from Epoch, opening a 75-minute set with the album’s lead single “Division”. However, what might have been just as surprising as the album and show announcements themselves was the fact that of the 15 songs they played last Thursday, only one-third came from the new LP — and none were performed during the encore. With three critically acclaimed full lengths to draw from, Hansen has continued to evolve the live show, pulling equally from Dive and Awake and still including a couple tracks from 2006’s Past Is Prologue in crafting a setlist that covers all the bases. I suppose I should lay off the baseball analogies when describing one of Tycho’s latest performances, but we are in the month of October and Hansen, after years of hard work and dedication, has been playing in the big leagues for long enough now.

Setlist:
Division
Dive
PBS
Source
Past Is Prologue
Montana
Receiver
Epoch
Spectre
Horizon
A Walk

Encore:
Daydream
Hours
Awake

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: ISO50, Scott Hansen, The Fonda Theatre, Tycho

SF Shows of the Week // GO4FREE to Treasure Island Music Festival night shows

October 11, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Josh Herwitt & Molly Kish //

Treasure Island Music Festival //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
October 15th-16th, 2016 //

This weekend, Treasure Island Music Festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary with some of the biggest names in rock, hip-hop, electronic and experimental music all performing on the island, including headliners Ice Cube and Sigur Rós.

The two-day event has become known for its groundbreaking lineups, picturesque location, ideal layout/production and incredible after-hours entertainment during the nights leading up to the festival as well as after each day of TIMF.

Win a pair of free tickets to a TIMF night show by entering your name and email below.

Dan Deacon: October 13th (THUR) @ California Academy of Sciences // BUY TICKETS

Avant-garde trailblazer and digital mastermind/composer Dan Deacon brings his interactive show (read what some had to say about his show in SF earlier this year here) to the California Academy of Sciences on Thursday night before the festival officially kicks off a little less than two days later.

Contest ends this Thursday at 3 p.m.

BUKU: October 15th (SAT) @ The Independent // BUY TICKETS

Pittsburgh native and Music Technology graduate BUKU (born Robert Balotsky) brings his expertise in sound design and music theory to The Independent after the first day of TIMF with support from Stylust Beats and BOGL.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Deerhunter: October 15th (SAT) @ Mezzanine // BUY TICKETS

Fronted by the compellingly weird Bradford Cox, Atlanta four-piece Deerhunter performed at TIMF last year (read our review here), so while the experimental noise rockers won’t be hitting the island this year, you can be sure to catch them upon your return to the City on Saturday.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Stwo: October 15th (SAT) @ Secret Downtown SF Location (TBA) // BUY TICKETS

After amassing 10 million streams online with his debut single “Lovin U”, 24-year-old French producer Stwo will occupy a secret warehouse (address and information will be emailed only to ticket buyers 24 hours before the event) for this late-night affair.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Kero Kero Bonito: October 16th (SUN) @ Swedish American Hall // BUY TICKETS

Wrap up your TIMF weekend on Sunday night with Kero Kero Bonito at the Swedish American Hall as the British casio-electro trio are sure to perform songs from their forthcoming debut LP Bonito Generation before its release next week.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• She Wants Revenge: October 13th (WED) at Mezzanine
• Malaa & REZZ: October 13th (THUR) at The UC Theatre
• Polyrhythmics: October 14th (FRI) at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
• Temples: October 15th (SAT) at Great American Music Hall
• Andre Nickatina: October 15th (SAT) at Slim’s
• The Sonics: October 15th (SAT) at The New Parish

Pick the show you would like to attend from the dropdown, then enter your name (First and Last) along with your email. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above). 21+

Like Showbams on Facebook, follow Showbams on Twitter and follow Showbams on Instagram. Subscribe to our social channels for a better chance to win!

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Andre Nickatina, BUKU, Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, Great American Music Hall, HOUSE OF MEZZANINE, Kero Kero Bonito, Malaa, Malaa & REZZ, Polyrhythmics, REZZ, She Wants Revenge, Slims, Temples, The New Parish, The Sonics, TIMF, TIMF 2016, Treasure Island Music Festival, Treasure Island Music Festival 2016

Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins pours his heart and soul out during his latest stop through LA

October 10, 2016 by Joseph Gray Leave a Comment

By Joseph Gray //

Mick Jenkins with Smino //
Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles
October 4th, 2016 //

Mick Jenkins does not have all the answers, nor does he pretend to. However, in the midst of America’s political revitalization that grows more and more volatile in a presidential election year surrounded by several recent instances of police brutality, the Chicago rapper does offer some healing — an elixir comprised of reflection, faith-based actions and a soundtrack that puts an emphasis on love. And the pot boils over into something not to be ignored.

Even if it’s only for the time and that moment, the good vibes are undeniable. The 25-year-old Jenkins showed this liberation off at LA’s Bootleg Theater last Tuesday while on his “A Quest for Love” tour, which is doubling as a victory lap for his well-constructed, critically acclaimed album The Healing Component, during the latest installment of Red Bull’s Sound Select series. While the intimate settings of the series that’s curated by the popular energy drink are often accompanied with baking temperatures, last Monday provided a different but suitable cool.

Jenkins followed St. Louis native Smino, the neighboring rapper in Chicago’s Zero Fatigue crew. Smino mixed melodic harmonies, clever wordplay and playful fun, the latter of which culminated in an entertaining moment where he danced to classic records in an ode to his city’s artists like Grammy winner Nelly. With more than enough reason to dive into Smino’s catalog after the show, Jenkins was ready to get to the meat and potatoes of his crusade.

Sneaking onstage without a grand introduction but with a live band intact, Jenkins charmed by using his signature deep-and-stern voice to power the crowd through his waters of truth and purpose. Yet, this was not an hour-long set where everything relied simply on prophetic words. The diverse and sold-out crowd came unhinged several times to big sounds, notably during “Jazz”, a standout from Jenkins’ 2014 mixtape The Water(s) — a precursor then and last week to his latest LP that highlights the positives of humanity over the blues we often learn about from local news coverage.

While he suggested that we “drink more water” during his performance, Jenkins continually refreshed the audience with a jug of feel-good material from THC. From the warm “Spread Love” to the darker, more hypnotic “Daniels Bloom”, Jenkins used his lyrical sword to cut through faith, violence and race toward a light, which at the very least, was different.

“Don’t let the struggle make your heart harder,” Jenkins rapped. “Sip the truth, spit the truth. That’s the smart water.”

With all the love, passion and consciousness in the room, Jenkins was still down for a riotous goodbye — this coming in the form of “Social Network (Gang)” by Chicago hip-hop collective Hurt Everybody that he’s featured on — where he motivated one last frenzy before a surprise stage dive.

After these small moves toward promoting love, Jenkins asked us at the end of the night to let him know if a difference was truly felt. Amid smiles, a room full of energy and avid chants for an encore taking place, it appeared he got his answer.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Bootleg Theater, Mick Jenkins, Red Bull Sound Select, Smino

From club gigs to the Hollywood Bowl, Bloc Party close their U.S. tour with their largest show ever

October 10, 2016 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

Bloc Party with Bob Mould, Ezra Furman //
Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles
September 25th, 2016 //

For those of us who attended college in the early 2000’s, Bloc Party were one of those bands that epitomized our most formative years. Back then, there weren’t many making music quite like the English quartet was, pioneering a sound rooted in indie rock, yet partially influenced by the surrounding UK electronic scene.

Now more than a decade after the release of their seminal debut LP Silent Alarm, Bloc Party are still going strong with Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack at the helm. The two Londoners have known each other for close to 20 years, and while each have their own projects outside of Bloc Party, what they’ve built together over five studio albums isn’t something to sneer at.

At the same time, it’s fair to say that the band’s last three records — 2008’s Intimacy, 2012’s Four and this year’s Hymns, which came out in January — haven’t struck a chord quite like Silent Alarm and A Weekend in the City both did. And with the departure of original band members Matt Tong and Gordon Moakes, it’s been on Okereke and Lissack to carry things forward while writing the group’s next chapter.

But even after all the commercial success they’ve had, what’s cool about Bloc Party is that they’re still playing big and small venues. This was no more evident than at the end of their latest U.S. tour, which saw them go from playing 1,000-person clubs like Mezzanine in San Francisco (see our photos from the show here) to headlining the one and only Hollywood Bowl with support from former Hüsker Dü leader Bob Mould and 30-year-old indie singer-songwriter Ezra Furman, who crossdressed to impress with a bright red one-piece, black stalkings and a pearl-like necklace.

It was the second time in two months that we were invited to cover a show at the legendary amphitheater (read about our first time here), and while Sufjan Stevens, Kurt Vile and The Violators, and Ibeyi provided a more compelling billing with quite a few more theatrics (at least on Stevens’ part), this one had its own unique storyline that made it special to witness. After all, it only seemed fitting that after playing small clubs and theaters amid a myriad of festival dates over the summer, Bloc Party were wrapping up a months-long tour with their largest crowd ever on hand. Don’t ask me what the attendance number was, but I think it’s fair to say the venue was no more than half full. Of course, thanks to LA’s new music festival Music Tastes Good taking place in downtown Long Beach over the same weekend, it wasn’t surprising to see the top two sections of the Bowl completely empty for the latest edition of KCRW’s second World Festival series. But that’s really just how big the Bowl is in size — and how big of an artist/band it takes to sell the place out on a Sunday night in late September.

Feeding off the raw energy of Mould’s punk-fueled set, Okereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, sampler), Lissack (lead guitar, keyboards), Justin Harris (bass guitar, keyboards, saxophones, backing vocals) and Louise Bartle (drums, percussion) dove immediately into their newest material, following a setlist that closely resembled, yet didn’t match past ones from the tour. For as high as Hymns has charted all across Europe and Australia though, the strength of Bloc Party’s live show remains firmly grounded in their first two LPs. If anything, their Hollywood Bowl debut, highlighted by A Weekend in the City fan favorites “Song for Clay (Disappear Here)” and “Hunting for Witches” in addition to Silent Alarm classics “Helicopter” and “This Modern Love” during a five-song encore, brought back memories of what it felt like to hear those songs for the first time. I know they say you shouldn’t live in the past, but for a little more than an hour in the Hollywood Hills, Bloc Party made it feel OK to do just that.

Setlist:
Only He Can Heal Me
So Real
She’s Hearing Voices
Mercury
Song for Clay (Disappear Here)
Banquet
Two More Years
Different Drugs
Octopus
Hunting for Witches
Virtue
Positive Tension
The Love Within

Encore:
Stunt Queen
Flux
Helicopter
Ratchet
This Modern Love

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Bloc Party, Bob Mould, Ezra Furman, Hollywood Bowl, Ibeyi, KCRW, KCRW's World Festival, Kurt Vile, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Music Tastes Good, Sufjan Stevens

FOALS unite all walks of life at Hollywood Palladium

October 6, 2016 by Zach Bourque 3 Comments

Zach Bourque //

FOALS with Bear Hands, Kiev //
Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles
September 27th, 2016 //

Of all the seven days in a week, Tuesday might be the least exciting. We go to work, grab a bite to eat and go to bed.

But when UK rockers FOALS come into town, things change. Bros get stoked, beers get drunk and fans get pumped. This exact course of events went down last Tuesday at the Hollywood Palladium for the band’s return to Los Angeles after a raucous performance in Oakland the night before (see our photos from the show here).

Few bands bring out such an eclectic cross section of a city like FOALS. While the majority in attendance seemed to be irresponsible USC students, old-timers, high schoolers, hipsters and average Joe’s all made an appearance despite the fall heat. The variety was no fluke. FOALS are a band that transcend expectations — a commercial indie-rock band whose appeal is equal parts KROQ and KCRW.

Opening duties came from Orange County’s Kiev, who were missed due to traffic, followed by Brooklyn’s Bear Hands. Instead of telling you what genre Bear Hands’ music fits under, it’s probably more efficient to tell you what they’re not. They’re not metal, they’re not country and they’re definitely not gospel.

Bear Hands

Needless to say, Bear Hands were all over the map on this night. Rap vocals? Check. Catchy keyboards? Check. Each song sounded different than the next, which proved to be equally refreshing and infuriating. It was like they set out to chronicle the musical progression of today’s culture starting with Limp Bizkit and ending with Imagine Dragons.

This “throw everything at the wall and see what fits” worked to a certain degree for Bear Hands. Their music remained genuinely interesting to hear throughout their set, and the foursome definitely had the chops to handle a venue the size of the Palladium. Ultimately though, Bear Hands never coalesced into something extraordinary.

If the line outside the venue after Bear Hands was any indication, many skipped the opening acts entirely in anticipation of the main course. Around 9:50 p.m., FOALS took the stage and quickly got everyone’s feet moving with an instrumental prelude and the hard-rocking track “Snake Oil” off their latest release What Went Down. The band’s range was exhausted in full effect throughout their set as they transitioned into catchy, dance-friendly tracks such as “My Number” and slower tracks like “Give It All”.

FOALS closed out their rambunctious set with a killer take on the title track “What Went Down” that brought lead singer/guitarist Yannis Philippakis diving into the crowd, giving fans one hell of a selfie and proving their rock credentials for good. After all, any band that can unite 20-something bros with 50-something grandparents gets a gold star in our book. Rock brings people together, and those who made it out to see this unicorn of a band won’t live to regret it.

Setlist:
Prelude
Snake Oil
Olympic Airways
My Number
Providence
Give It All
Mountain at My Gates
Spanish Sahara
Red Socks Pugie
Late Night
A Knife in the Ocean
Inhaler

Encore:
What Went Down
Two Steps, Twice

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Bear Hands, FOALS, Hollywood Palladium, Kiev

Highly Suspect get highly spirited at their SF show

October 5, 2016 by Laura Tsu Leave a Comment

By Laura Tsu //

Highly Suspect with Fairy Bones, Annie Girl and The Flight //
The Independent – San Francisco
September 30th, 2016 //

Johnny Stevens, Rich Meyer and Ryan Meyer of Highly Suspect left Cape Cod, Mass., in 2011 for opportunity and bustle in Brooklyn. Since their relocation, Highly Suspect have recorded two EPs and one full-length album, Mister Asylum, which they acknowledge as their heaviest-sounding release yet.

Mister Asylum propelled the group to this year’s Grammy Awards, where they were nominated for “Best Rock Album” and “Best Rock Song.” Currently, they are on tour until mid-November building anticipation for their new LP The Boy Who Died Wolf, which is scheduled for release November 18th. After performing at Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas in addition to dates in Los Angeles and San Diego, they stopped in SF for a show at The Independent last Friday.

A late addition to the bill, SF natives Annie Girl and The Flight kicked off the show with some garage-rock/folk-rock tunes. Shortly after beginning though, Josh Pollock’s guitar strap broke abruptly and he had to balance his guitar on his leg. Nevertheless, the set continued and the band delivered song after song with influences ranging from psychedelic rock to punk. In the meantime, frontwoman Annie Lipetz’s vocals — soft, raspy (at times) and ineffably endearing — also amplified their live set, and she mentioned that a new album would be out soon.

Fairy Bones

Fairy Bones, performing after Annie Girl and The Flight, stepped up for the third performance of their tour supporting Highly Suspect. After making a bold impression opening for the trio in September, the quartet from Phoenix were offered the assignment once again for the West Coast leg of Highly Suspect’s national tour. Fairy Bones’ intrepid vocals, rapid guitar riffs and cadent drumming created catchy, uptempo songs that some might label as “alternative rock.” Toward the end of their set, they also performed a cover of “Nightshift” by The Commodores.

By 11 p.m., the crowd at The Independent was thick with anticipation for Highly Suspect. Once the lights dimmed and “Pick Up the Phone” by Young Thug and Travis Scott began to play over the PA system, the three-piece finally stepped onstage. Stevens carried a bottle of tequila with him and took a swig right as he settled down in front of the mic. Then, Highly Suspect’s aggressive drumming and angsty vocals shook from the speakers. With plenty of pace and powerful chord progressions, crowd movement came naturally and didn’t cease. Highly Suspect appealed to the crowd’s appetite to dance, hear heavy riffs and ultimately witness one hell of a live performance.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Annie Girl and The Flight, Fairy Bones, Highly Suspect, The Independent

FOALS ignite a sold-out Fox Theater Oakland in their triumphant return to the Bay Area

October 4, 2016 by Molly Kish 1 Comment

Photos by Steve Carlson // Written by Molly Kish //

FOALS with Bear Hands, Kiev //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
September 26th, 2016 //

English indie-rock giants FOALS kicked off the California leg of their 2016 tour with a sold-out show at the Fox Theater Oakland last Monday night. As the first of only two tour stops in The Golden State with support from Brooklyn’s Bear Hands and Orange County’s Kiev, the Oxford five-piece electrified the audience by running through a hard-hitting set of material from each of its four studio albums.

Highly anticipated, the show marked the first time FOALS have returned to the Bay Area since their powerhouse performance at Outside Lands (read our review here) back in August. One of the most notable sets over the festival’s three days, Bay Area fans welcomed the extremely talented outfit back with open arms and exuded the energy typically of a capacity crowd on a weekend night at The Fox.

Lead singer/guitarist Yannis Philippakis relished in excitement as he performed his signature stage dives that resulted in crowd surfing as well as vocal gymnastics. The band held nothing back, feeding off the crowd’s emotion with some inspired playing.

Following their Bay Area stop, FOALS headed down south for the second of their two California dates, playing the Hollywood Palladium with plenty of gusto (read our review here). We can’t wait for their return as they continue to climb even higher with each new album they release.

Setlist:
Prelude
Snake Oil
Olympic Airways
My Number
Providence
Give It All
Mountain at My Gates
Spanish Sahara
Red Socks Pugie
Late Night
A Knife in the Ocean
Inhaler

Encore:
What Went Down
Two Steps, Twice

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Photos Tagged With: Bear Hands, FOALS, Fox Theater Oakland, Kiev

Flume makes his case as one of EDM’s fastest-rising stars over a three-night run in SF

October 3, 2016 by Brett Ruffenach Leave a Comment

Photos by Lisette Worster // Written by Brett Ruffenach //

Flume with Shlohmo //
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco
September 23rd, 2016 //

Among the many electronic musicians to break through into the mainstream over the past year, there aren’t many who have crafted their rise in fame as carefully as Harley Edward Straiten, better known as Flume. After releasing his critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album in 2012, the Australian producer quickly gained popularity thanks to his instant-earworm hits like “Sleepless” and “Insane”.

Leading up to his most recent LP Skin that he dropped in May, Flume began to enter the EDM mainstream after releasing several blistering remixes of artists like Disclosure and Hermitude. Since the release of Skin, Flume has spent much of this year headlining festivals and selling out some of the largest indoor venues around the world, including SF’s very own Bill Graham Auditorium. On a Friday night, I joined 5,000 of Flume’s fans for the second of his three-night run in the City.

Flume, or whoever manages his bookings, deserves some praise for the openers he brought out for this tour. Thursday and Friday featured Shlohmo, the goth-cousin (sonically speaking) of Flume, and on Saturday night, concertgoers were lucky enough to see Vince Staples, one of the hottest new rappers around, warm up the crowd. Though I was particularly excited to see Shlohmo (born Henry Laufer), a musician and producer/DJ worthy of his own separate review (see our photos from his live show in Los Angeles last year), the crowd did not feel similarly. As Laufer, the LA native who is a founding member and the defacto leader of the electronic music record label/collective WeDidIt with fellow producers RL Grime and Ryan Hemsworth, seamlessly ran through a mix of distorted, chopped-up hip-hop and trap beats, it seemed near impossible that the audience would give him any attention, with many using the flashlight on their iPhones as markers to help their friends find them.

Shlohmo

Simply put: Shlohmo is an underrated DJ. Watching him run from one track to another, I was continually surprised by the directions he chose to go. Tracks like “Apathy”, a part-shoegaze, part-trap wall of noise, become a completely different experience on a massive sound system compared to my causal listening on a pair of cheap headphones. Though most of the crowd hardly noticed his set, I thought Shlohmo was an excellent opener. Great work, Henry.

The auditorium quickly filled in leading up to Flume’s performance. As the bros, ravers and scantily clad women packed into the floor area, I chose to take a seat on the upper concourse. The house lights dimmed, and Flume slyly emerged onstage to a roaring applause, backed by a visual setup consisting of neon cubes and a massive LED screen, which seems obligatory for any up-and-coming electronic music producer these days.

Jumping quickly into his older material, Flume instantly set the crowd off playing “Holding On”, “Sleepless” and “On Top” one after another. Though Flume is touring in support of his sophomore effort Skin, it was a smart choice to kick off the show with some older tracks. The contrast in how robust Flume’s production skills are from his self-titled debut to his more recent studio effort were entirely apparent, especially leading into his booming remix of Disclosure’s hit “Magnets” featuring Lorde.

Flume

Perhaps the most impressive part of Flume’s live production is the choreographed lighting to accompany his music. On tracks like “Smoke and Retribution” (a personal favorite), a wall of strobe lights would flash with every stomping bass kick, blinding the crowd only momentarily before bringing them back to the kaleidoscope color scheme and accompanying visuals. It’s great that Flume has honed in the visual art direction of his album artwork and incorporated it into his performance — something about those surrealist floral designs just seemed to fit so perfectly with what Flume is all about.

Moving into fan favorites like “Say It” and perhaps his best track, a remix of the Disclosure track “You and Me”, the show ended as quickly as it started, but perhaps that’s because the setlist was perfectly woven together. Moving the energy levels up and down combining that with his charming Aussie voice from time to time, it’s clear that Flume knows how to work a crowd. As the crowd cheered and hollered for an encore, he reemerged to play one more song, his collaboration with Beck entitled “Tiny Cities”. After 90 minutes of booming beats as well as dancing, this track was the perfect cooldown for what was an incredible show.

Flume knows that you don’t need to be standing on top of a giant-sized Macintosh to put on an impressive show. His art direction, live production and setlist tie together the appeal of his music with enough lights and colors to serve as an accoutrement rather than a centerpiece. In the increasingly unimaginative world of live mainstream electronic music, artists like Flume are the beacon.