Sunflower Bean treat SF to a solid Halloween show

November 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Sunflower BeanBy Norm de Veyra //

Sunflower Bean with The Lemon Twigs, Ganglians //
Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco
October 31st, 2016 //

New York City trio Sunflower Bean gave a strong performance for a costumed crowd at Rickshaw Stop on Halloween. The upstart indie-rock outfit proved to be engaging and confident as they performed songs from their 2016 debut LP Human Ceremony.

Led by vocalist and bassist Julia Cumming, the group delivered a strongly self-assured show that nicely balanced their quieter, hypnotic tunes like “I Want You to Give Me Enough Time” and “Easier Said” with their full-on rock jams like “Wall Watcher” and “Come On”.

The Lemon Twigs


The Lemon Twigs

Joining Sunflower Bean were The Lemon Twigs, who both surprised and delighted with their eclectic sound and boundless energy. It’s no surprise why the Long Island quartet has been gaining attention for its recently released debut album Do Hollywood, featuring a catalog of songs that sonically mine the sounds of past decades and elicits comforting familiarity, yet never feels tired or worn. Credit, of course, should be given to the D’Addario brothers (Brian and Michael), who split lead vocal duties for the band and whose charm and humor buoyed their set.

Sacramento four-piece Ganglians, who blend noise rock, psychedelic pop and folk all into one sound, opened up the evening.

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The Faint highlight their history for one night in SF

October 27, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The FaintBy 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.

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Nite Jewel turns a cool night into a summer simmer

August 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Nite JewelBy Norm de Veyra //

Nite Jewel with Introflirt //
Brick & Mortar Music Hall – San Francisco
July 30th, 2016 //

Los Angeles songstress Ramona Gonzalez, aka Nite Jewel, turned a cool night in SF into a summer simmer at Brick & Mortar Music Hall last Saturday.

Performing a mix of slow-burning, synth-heavy R&B and uptempo dance tracks from her latest LP Liquid Cool, Gonzalez commanded the attention of the crowd and quickly set the mood for the chilly evening.

Oakland-based sythnpop act Introflirt joined Nite Jewel for the night and proved to be a great pairing. Ben Benjamin’s moody vocals, draped over his bandmate Vafa’s pulsing, dark synth grooves, was an impressive combination for the duo.

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Oh Pep! charm their SF fans with intimate, assured performance at Rickshaw Stop

July 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Oh Pep!By Norm de Veyra //

Oh Pep! with DonCat, Ghost Town Jenny //
Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco
July 27th, 2016 //

Australian folk/pop group Oh Pep! impressed the intimately gathered crowd at Rickshaw Stop with a delicate, yet assured performance this past Wednesday.

The Melbourne-based duo of Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs split lead vocal duties and quickly charmed the audience with a set of songs off their debut LP Stadium Cake.

Joining the Australians on a low-key weeknight were a couple of local outfits in SF’s DonCat and Oakland’s Ghost Town Jenny.

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Tacocat, The Regrettes let it all hang out in SF

July 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Tacocat


Tacocat

By Norm de Veyra //

Tacocat with The Regrettes, Burnt Palms
Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco
July 15th, 2016 //

Seattle female quartet Tacocat were joined by Los Angeles four-piece The Regrettes and Seaside, Calif., outfit Burnt Palms for a propulsive show at Bottom of the Hill last Friday.

Led by their charismatic lead singer/guitarist Lydia Night, who dropped to the floor and played her guitar while lying down at one point during the evening, The Regrettes blazed through an infectious set of garage pop that energized the small, tightly packed club. But don’t be fooled by the group’s appearance. For such a relatively young band, The Regrettes commanded the stage, exuding both a presence and confidence that many older performers could only wish to possess.

Tacocat followed and capped off the night with a frenzied set of “riot grrl” pop punk that lit up the crowd and had many audience members bouncing off the walls — and each other.

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Little Scream shows off her versatile songwriting at the Swedish American Hall

July 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Little ScreamBy Norm de Veyra //

Little Scream with Gracie and Rachel, Vanwave //
Swedish American Hall – San Francisco
July 12th, 2016 //

Montreal-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Laurel Sprengelmeyer, who performs under the moniker Little Scream, stepped inside the Swedish American Hall last Tuesday night for an intimate show highlighting new songs from her sophomore studio effort Cult Following.

Sprengelmeyer’s talent was on full display as she navigated an eclectic sound that ranged from hand-clapping indie pop to ethereal, ambient soundscapes. Such variety could have resulted in a mixed experience for fans, but her clear and confident singing still provided a common thread for the audience to follow.

Along with SF “witch rock” four-piece Vanwave, joining Little Scream for the evening was New York City orchestral-pop duo Gracie and Rachel, who, in particular, impressed with a minimal, yet engaging and emotional performance, capped off by a beautiful (though quite tongue-in-check) rendition of Bay Area rapper Kreayshawn’s novelty hit song “Gucci Gucci”.

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Bay Area talent shines at Phono del Sol in 2016

July 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment

2016 Phono del Sol Music Festival - Born Ruffians


Born Ruffians

By Norm de Veyra //

Phono del Sol Music Festival //
Potrero del Sol Park – San Francisco
July 9th, 2016 //

It was all chill vibes and good tunes last Saturday as The Bay Bridged held their sixth annual Phono del Sol Music Festival in SF.

Brooklyn synthpop duo Chairlift headlined the event with an energetic, golden-hour set that produced a synchronized-swaying dance party from the crowd. Equally as impressive were Canadian indie rockers Alvvays, who may have provided far fewer dance moves with their tunes but still delivered an engaging show.

Yet, the real notables from the fest were the more homegrown acts like Dick Stusso, Adam Vida, Hot Flash Heat Wave, The Seshen and The She’s. Highlighting up-and-coming local talent has always been part of the Phono del Sol mission statement from the start, and last weekend proved yet again you don’t have to venture far to find great music in the Bay Area.

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A hometown crowd fuels Midi Matilda’s high-energy performance at The Independent

July 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Midi MathildaBy Norm de Veyra //

Midi Matilda with Panic Is Perfect, The Tambo Rays //
The Independent – San Francisco
July 8th, 2016 //

Midi Matilda, the Oakland-based indie-dance duo comprised of Skyler Kilborn and Logan Grimé, came back strong with new material and delivered a stellar show last Friday at The Independent.

With a couple of other Bay Area bands in SF’s Panic Is Perfect and Oakland’s The Tambo Rays on the bill, the evening proved to be a great showcase of local talent. Feeding off the energy of a hometown crowd, both bands built on the momentum of the previous group’s performance, creating a great buzz and energy in the room that peaked by the time Kilborn and Grimé took the stage for their late-night set.

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The Struts bring retro rock and a swagger to Napa

June 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The StrutsBy Norm de Veyra //

The Struts //
Napa Valley Opera House – Napa, CA
May 28th, 2016 //

UK four-piece The Struts seem prime for an explosive 2016 if their rousing performances last weekend surrounding BottleRock Napa Valley were any indication.

Led by their dynamic and charismatic frontman Luke Spiller, the band took the stage at the Napa Valley Opera House this past Saturday for a sold-out, late-night show and laid down an hour-long set of retro-cool, over-the-top rock ‘n’ roll that delighted the enthusiastic crowd.

The Struts

As The Struts blazed through several of their massive singalongs from their debut album Everybody Wants, the audience couldn’t help but feed off the high energy and attitude from Spiller. His style and swagger most definitely hearken back to a different time and space in popular music — and that’s a positive.

For many inside the venue, it was their second viewing of the band that day as the late-night show capped off a buzz-worthy BottleRock debut at the three-day music festival hours earlier. After experiencing their live show for the first time, it’s tough to imagine a group with such a sheer amount of swagger, energy and fun NOT becoming your next favorite band. It’s word of mouth that just may endanger The Struts’ “under-the-radar” status now.

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Bernhoft and The Shudderbugs get their groove on at The Chapel

May 24, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Bernhoft and The ShudderbugsBy Norm de Veyra //

Bernhoft and The Shudderbugs with Jonny P //
The Chapel – San Francisco
May 20th, 2016 //

Bernhoft and The Shudderbugs got a near-capacity crowd at The Chapel moving to frontman Jarle Bernhoft’s repertoire of disco-tinged neo-soul last Friday.

The Norwegian singer-songwriter and his band started off their set in blazing fashion with performances of “Stop, Shut Up” and “Writings on the Wall”, two up-tempo tracks from the group’s latest EP Stop/Shut Up/Shout It Out that signaled a full-on dance party was about to take place.

It was a party that continued into the weekend as Bernhoft revisited his older songs “Come Around”, “Everything Will Be Alright” and “One Way Track” to the audience’s delight.

Bernhoft and The Shudderbugs

Yet, the night’s best moments came toward the end of the show as Bernhoft slowed things down for “Space in my Heart” and “Falter”, two ballads that brilliantly showed off the Oslo resident’s emotive and textured croon.

Of course, the show couldn’t end on such melancholy terms. Instead, Bernhoft and his four bandmates closed out the night by busting out a rocking rendition of “C’mon Talk”, which brought back the same funky groove that kicked off the evening.

Shout out, as well, to Nashville-based artist Jonny P, who opened up the show with his lovely and soulful tunes.

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Summer Cannibals deliver a fiery, ferocious set

May 23, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Summer CannibalsBy Norm de Veyra //

Summer Cannibals //
The Chapel – San Francisco
May 17th, 2016 //

Summer Cannibals lit up The Chapel last Tuesday with a fiery set that showcased songs from their upcoming album Full of It, which drops this Friday.

The Portland rockers, who were supporting another Rose City outfit in The Thermals, didn’t hold back, delivering an energetic evening of catchy, anthemic jams that ignited the sizable crowd in SF.

Led by lead vocalist/guitarist Jessica Boudreaux, Summer Cannibals no doubt opened many eyes — and piqued many ears — with their loud, fast-paced and ferocious performance.

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A brash, confident homecoming for Thao & the Get Down Stay Down

May 6, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Thao & the Get Down Stay DownBy Norm de Veyra //

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
April 30th, 2016 //

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down kicked off their Fillmore show last Saturday by blasting English hip-hop artist M.I.A.’s anthem “Bad Girls” while Thao Nguyen and her bandmates sauntered onto a dark stage.

As the chorus (“Live fast, die young. Bad girls do it well.”) reverberated through the venue and then slowly faded, the stage lights went up and the SF-based band swung right into the opening groove of “This Evening”. It was a killer intro that set the mood right for a night of brash, funky alternative folk.

Touring since their fourth studio album A Man Alive dropped in early March, Nguyen and company were well at ease, loose and visibly excited to play for their home city. Especially during tracks like “Nobody Dies” and “Astonished Man”, Nguyen performed with such a swagger and attitude that elevated the atmosphere inside The Fillmore to new heights.

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs


Thao & the Get Down Stay Down with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs

The vibe seemingly hit its apex when Nguyen invited A Man Alive producer Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs fame onstage to perform “Meticulous Bird”. The hometown fans didn’t hold back their appreciation, doling out several prolonged applause breaks that appeared to genuinely catch the charismatic Nguyen by surprise.

Kudos, as well, to the Seratones, who led by vocalist AJ Haynes, dropped a dizzyingly bold opening set of Louisiana punk-tinged soul and funk, laying the groundwork for Thao & the Get Down Stay Down’s headlining set.

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Aubrie Sellers gives us a lesson in ‘garage country’

May 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Aubrie SellersBy Norm de Veyra //

Aubrie Sellers //
The Independent – San Francisco
April 28th, 2016 //

Last Thursday, Aubrie Sellers rolled through The Independent with headliner Jamestown Revival and delivered a blazingly raucous set that showcased tracks off her debut studio album New City Blues, which came out in January.

The Nashville native treated the sold-out crowd to a rollicking evening of “garage country,” a term she has used to describe her dirty, messy rock/soul/country-inspired jams.

All of those influences were evident on this night, as Sellers and her bandmates performed a high-energy stretch of tunes that turned the show into a thumping dance party, highlighted by the rousing “Paper Doll” and “Sit Here and Cry”.

Aubrie Sellers

But it was during the quieter moments of the performance that offered the most intriguing and revealing glimpses into the mindset of the young singer-songwriter. Particularly as she dove into the song “Losing Ground”, Sellers sang with a sly, matter-of-fact tone in her voice that enhanced the honesty and vulnerability laid bare within the lyrics of the song about her struggles with mental health.

When a performer can deliver that kind of subtlety, you take notice because it differentiates her from the rest of the pack. That’s not to say Sellers can’t belt out a tune and rock out hard. She and her crew most definitely did so in SF, but beneath her heavier country-rock stylings, she proved capable of wooing fans with merely her voice and her words.

To that end, it is no wonder why Sellers has quickly been recognized as a rising star within the country music scene. She displayed none of the nervousness or awkwardness one might expect from a relatively new artist with just one album under her belt. With great ease and command, she simply got down to business and delivered a solid show. Aubrie Sellers will continue to tour through much of 2016, returning to SF in late June for a gig at Slim’s.

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