Featured – Showbams

FKJ is a one-man, groove-making machine who’s full of surprises as he demonstrates at Shrine Expo Hall

August 8, 2019 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

FKJ with (((O))) //
Shrine Expo Hall – Los Angeles
August 5th, 2019 //

I’ll be completely honest: I had no idea who FKJ was before this year. In fact, I had no clue who he was six months ago.

I found out about Vincent Fenton, better known by most fans as French Kiwi Juice, while watching Coachella’s Weekend 1 webcast on my couch back in April. It was there on that Saturday afternoon where I came to see how talented the French musician actually is.

Originally from the city of Tours, the multi-instrumentalist and singer is considered to be a pioneer of the New French House movement, having garnered a strong following in a short amount of time thanks to his live show that sees him incorporate live loopings through the software sequencing program Ableton while holding his own on a number of instruments, including synthesizer, piano, guitar, bass, saxophone and digital percussion.

But with 2017’s self-titled LP serving as FKJ’s only studio album to date, we weren’t sure how long Fenton would be able to entertain the sizable crowd in LA that showed up on a Monday night and braved the sauna-like conditions inside the Shrine Expo Hall. The set times, from what we were given, indicated that he was scheduled to play for 90 minutes, yet the 28-year-old must have had other ideas either before or once he took the stage.

It’s rare to see an artist these days blow past their scheduled out time, especially on a Monday evening. In the City of Angels though, you never know what you’re going to get at a concert on any given night of the week. That’s what makes it one of the best cities in the U.S. to catch live music (we see you Austin, Nashville and New Orleans, too).

And just like we didn’t know that FKJ would go more than 20 minutes long, his snippet of “Xxplosive” from Dr. Dre’s legendary album 2001 around the performance’s midway point also came as a pleasant surprise. Sure, it would have been extra sweet to see the one-man, groove-making machine drop a few bars of “California Love” on us as well, but those who were there showed plenty of enthusiasm when Venton’s wife June Marieezy, who performs under the moniker (((O))) and served as the show’s opening act, came out to sing on their “Vibin’ Out” collaboration.

Covers and guest appearances aside, what’s almost as impressive about FKJ as his mastery of so many instruments are his improvisation skills onstage. Fenton, who went to film school as a way to study sound engineering for free, doesn’t stick strictly to a script like most electronic musicians, even those who play instruments instead of just pushing buttons. That’s probably why the show extended past 11 p.m. with FKJ performing almost two hours of material, much of which bordered at times on nu jazz, alt-R&B and naturally, French house.

2019 has already been a banner year for Venton in several ways. Besides making his debut at Coachella less than four months ago, he partnered with livestream media company Cercle to release this jaw-dropping live video that sees him performing on the world’s largest salt flat. Plus, he married Marieezy in March after previously working with the Filipino songstress. So with Marieezy by his side and fan bases in both Europe and North America now solidified, it appears that FKJ is ready to share his one-of-a-kind live show with the rest of the world.

Because for those who still haven’t heard of him yet, they certainly will soon.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: (((O))), Coachella, Coachella 2019, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2019, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2019, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2019, Dr. Dre, FKJ, French Kiwi Juice, June Marieezy, Shrine Expo Hall

The Raconteurs show all at the Santa Barbara Bowl why we need them after 11 years between albums

August 1, 2019 by Josh Herwitt 2 Comments

Photos courtesy of The Raconteurs & David James Swanson // Written by Josh Herwitt //

The Raconteurs with Melvins //
Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
July 27th, 2019 //

“Rock is dead.”

It’s one of those overused catch phrases we have clung to at a time when clickbait headlines, Twitter beefs and heartbreaking stories now dominate our news feeds and timelines.

Vice’s music channel Noisey made the case only a year ago in fact, explaining that “the genre has been eclipsed in all measures of popularity and profitability by pop, hip-hop, and EDM.”

But whatever the metrics say, this isn’t the first time that argument has been advanced before.

In Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film “Almost Famous” for those who remember it, renowned music journalist and rock critic Lester Bangs tells a 15-year-old William Miller, “It’s just a shame you missed out on rock and roll.” That didn’t stop Miller from chasing his dream, though. After all, his character is based off of Crowe’s real-life experience covering rock bands like Led Zeppelin as a teenager in the early 70’s, and if anything, Miller proves over the course of the movie that the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well, that it hadn’t died by the end of the 60’s like a lot of the counterculture had after Altamont.

Much like then, there are plenty of examples today that make us question the current zeitgeist surrounding rock music and The Raconteurs have the distinct honor of being some of the best in the business right now to dispel this notion after landing at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

With the release of its third studio effort Help Us Stranger in late June after more than 11 years between albums, the four-piece consisting of Jack White (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Brendan Benson (vocals, guitar), Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums) is finally back in the spotlight where it belongs — and for good reason.

While there are still a few months to go, we can say with confidence at this point that Help Us Stranger will most likely be one of our five favorite LPs from 2019 (see our 2018 picks here). At 41 minutes, it’s another gem from The Raconteurs and especially for White, who continues to put out music at a prolific rate — he just dropped his third solo LP Boarding House Reach last year on his own Third Man Records — that rarely seems to fall flat or short.

Led by “Sunday Driver” and “Now That You’re Gone” as its first two singles, Help Us Stranger is one of those albums you can pop on and listen to from start to finish. Its most abrasive cut “Don’t Bother Me” struggles at the onset but recovers midway through thanks in large part to White’s virtuosic guitar work. There are plenty of other standouts, though, including “Bored and Razed”, “Help Me Stranger”, “Somedays (I Don’t Feel Like Trying)” and “What’s Yours Is Mine” across the record, and it’s impressive how tight The Racs sound despite the long layoff.

On a Saturday night at the picturesque Santa Barbara Bowl — which we’ll argue is the best music venue in Southern California and where we caught White’s first-ever show there last year — The Raconteurs brought those songs to life as they stormed onstage and unleashed total sonic bliss on our ears with a 90-minute performance highlighted by Consolers of the Lonely tracks “You Don’t Understand Me” and “Carolina Drama”, the latter of which came during an extended encore that was capped off by the quartet’s biggest hit “Steady, as She Goes” and what ultimately inspired White and Benson to form the group back in 2005 as a couple of longtime friends from Detroit. All of this, of course, without having access to our mobile phones after locking them in a Yondr pouch and Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather) assisting on keyboards and guitar as a touring member.

So hey, maybe this will be the year rock rebounds. For this music writer, it’s starting to feel that way with the return of new Raconteurs material after more than a decade and another one of our favorite rock bands releasing its first album in 13 years later this month (we’ll let you take a guess). Plus, we didn’t even mention that garage-rock duo The Black Keys issued their first record in five years this summer.

Yet, even if rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t attain the same commercial success it once had, those of us who are still giving it our time and ears at least have The Raconteurs (or “The Saboteurs” if you live Down Under). And that, my friends, should be a blessing in and of itself.

Setlist:
Bored and Razed
Level
You Don’t Understand Me
Old Enough
Broken Boy Soldier
Only Child
Together
Now That You’re Gone
Live a Lie
Don’t Bother Me
Sunday Driver

Encore:
Consoler of the Lonely
Help Me Stranger
Somedays (I Don’t Feel Like Trying)
Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) (Donovan cover)
Carolina Drama
Steady, as She Goes

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Almost Famous, Altamont Speedway Free Festival, Jack White, Led Zeppelin, Melvins, Queens of the Stone Age, Santa Barbara Bowl, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs

Outside Lands 2019: Here’s what to see, eat & drink

July 31, 2019 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Photo by Norm de Veyra // Written by Kevin Quandt //

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2019 //

As a thick layer of fog begins to make its daily descent upon the western edge of SF, Golden Gate Park to be precise, local residents know that Outside Lands can’t be too far off. Though in all seriousness, it hasn’t been a terribly overcast summer in the Avenues, especially come afternoon. Celebrating its 12th year as the Bay Area’s go-to festival for modern music, many have come to love their annual romp in the Outerlands and Golden Gate Park to an eclectic soundtrack of genres and eras.

Outside Lands’ 2019 edition is no exception with a truly varied trio of top-billed acts spread across three days. Attendees will get to see Twenty One Pilots in a headlining slot on Friday after their OSL debut in 2013. On Saturday, Donald Glover makes his own grand entrance as Childish Gambino while completing his recent victory lap. Paul Simon, meanwhile, has the honor of closing down the event on Sunday as he recently returns to the stage after retiring from intensive touring.

Now, let us assist with a few curated choices for this year’s event as you plan out your best layered-jacket look. But seriously, pray for sunshine and create your own schedule here.

Music

Artist: Boyfriend
Set date/time: Friday, 1:20-2 p.m. & 6:50-7:20 p.m.
Location: Panhandle & Gastromagic

Ever seen a rap-cabaret show? Do you want to see one? Well, you’ll have two opportunities on Day 1 to catch New Orleans’ own Boyfriend put on one of the most entertaining performances you’ll witness in a long time. Best known for her wildly creative live show where anything can happen, the singer-songwriter, rapper and producer spits some hyper-intelligent commentary on the current state of gender and identity. Collaborations with Big Freedia, Galactic and Run the Jewels DJ/producer Little Shalimar most recently have proven that she’s a versatile emcee who’s in high-demand. She’ll be presenting her act alongside Chris Cosentino, who will likely be dropping some serious Italian cuisine knowledge and techniques on the assembled crowd at the Gastromagic Stage after her afternoon set over at the Panhandle Stage.

Artist: Altın Gün
Set date/time: Saturday, 3-3:40 p.m.
Location: Panhandle

Though OSL and other large-scale music festivals have shifted the bulk of their lineups away from rock acts, Another Planet Entertainment has always been keen on tapping a handful of important up-and-coming bands that fit somewhere in the lexicon of rock ‘n’ roll. This year, attendees will have the chance to catch the SF debut of Turkish psychedelic folk-rock group Altın Gün as they finish up their first U.S. tour at OSL. The outfit’s supreme combination of traditional Turkish folk and psychedelic rock got the attention of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard in 2018 and was signed to ATO Records soon thereafter. This Amsterdam-based six-piece has their finger on something both thrilling and experimental, so make sure to catch their afternoon set at the Panhandle Stage.

Artist: Paul Simon
Set date/time: Sunday, 7:35-9:35 p.m.
Location: Land’s End

It was only September 22nd when Paul Simon concluded “Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour” much to the disappointment of his fans. The prolific singer-songwriter was still sharp onstage and was playing to packed houses when he stated it was time to close up shop. Fast forward six months later to March, and OSL would reveal its 2019 lineup that sees Simon top the Day 3 bill. But this booking also comes with a little twist. For this show and several of his subsequent Hawaiian dates, Simon will donate all of the proceeds to the San Francisco Parks Alliance and Friends of the Urban Forest in SF. So, don’t sleep on this set if you’ve never seen Simon before, as this could very well be one of the last times to hear hits such as “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and “Late in the Evening”.

Food & Drink

Cassava: This Outer Richmond establishment has been drawing crowds to the Balboa Village area for years now and will be serving up buttermilk popcorn chicken rice bowls with harissa aioli and house furikake, as well as popcorn shrimp rice bowls with gribiche. Only a few short blocks from the Main Gate entrance, Cassava has become a popular destination for enjoying a pre-festival brunch. Just make sure to get there early, as a wait should be expected. Also, make sure to visit the Hockey Haven a block down Balboa St. for a quick libation before you head to the event.

Mozzeria: Famous for its mobile pizza ovens, Mozzeria returns to Golden Gate Park this year and will be whipping out its insanely delicious, and fresh, Neapolitan-style pies. The Mission District-based pizzeria will be serving up both personal Margherita and Salumi pizzas from its instantly recognizable truck that’s complete with an authentic brick oven. Expect a small wait as these pies are made to order, but just know that it’ll be worth your patience.

Woods Beer Co.: While Outside Lands brings in food and drink partners from around the Bay Area each year, this Outerlands-based writer felt compelled to focus on some local businesses located near the event. You might have visited one of the other Woods locations in Oakland or on Treasure Island, but the Woods Outbound outpost is only a few blocks from the polo fields. Despite the breweries at Beer Lands having not released their offerings yet, one should expect Woods to bring their flagship MateVeza IPA, their unfiltered Retro Pilsner or their Local Honey herbal ale to the park. Swing by Judah St. and try something a bit different than the rest.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Alina Baraz, Altın Gün, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Bebe Rexha, Better Oblivion Community Center, Big Wild, Blink-182, Bob Moses, Childish Gambino, Counting Crows, Denzel Curry, Ella Mai, Flume, Flying Lotus (3D), Hozier, Judah & the Lion, Kacey Musgraves, Kygo, Lauren Daigle, Leon Bridges, Lil Wayne, Mavis Staples, Outside Lands, Outside Lands 2019, Outside Lands Music Festival 2019, Paul Simon, RL Grime, San Holo, Santigold, Sheck Wes, The Lumineers, The Neighbourhood, Toro Y Moi, Twenty One Pilots

In times when we need it most, COMMON continues to spread worldwide love at Apogee Studio

July 30, 2019 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

Photos by Brian Lowe // Written by Josh Herwitt //

COMMON //
Apogee Studio – Santa Monica, CA
July 25th, 2019 //

There’s something about the way Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka Rashid Lynn looks at the world that can give even the biggest cynic a slight glimmer of hope. It’s not just the sense of wonder, but a tranquility in his eyes that makes you contemplate what he’s thinking about amid all of the chaos and daily distractions we have created for ourselves.

Most people know Lynn as COMMON, the Grammy-winning rapper who got his start back in the early 90’s and has since collaborated with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Kanye West, but he’s simply much more than that. An Oscar and Golden Globe winner, the Chicago native is also an actor, writer, filmmaker, model, activist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. First and foremost though, he’s a lover at heart.

For COMMON fans or those who have at least seen him perform live before, this is probably nothing new. Yet, it couldn’t have been more evident than during his private show in Santa Monica last Thursday for KCRW’s Apogee Sessions while currently on tour in support of his 12th studio album Let Love, which drops August 30th. So much so, that at one point during the performance, he rather spontaneously invited a female audience member onstage and serenaded her with a couple of songs. And while it made for a few awkward moments, you could tell that COMMON had the best intentions. Sure, Cynthia felt more than a little out of place up there with embarrassment written all over her face, but she’ll certainly remember those 15 minutes for the rest of her life now while others can see and hear it for themselves when the session premieres Friday, August 23rd on KCRW.

COMMON & KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez (right)

That’s what COMMON does — he spreads love to each and every person his music reaches. As KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez pointed out during his sit-down interview with the emcee midway through the evening, COMMON has lots of songs about love, and you could quickly find more than enough evidence to assert that fact by looking at the setlist alone. Of the seven tracks he showcased off Let Love, five had the word “love” in its title, starting with “Show Me That You Love” that opened his set. The album, which is inspired by COMMON’s new memoir “Let Love Have the Last Word”, remains a departure from the political deliberations that dominated his 2016 LP Black America Again and spawned out of our most recent U.S. presidential election. I don’t think we need to revisit that moment in history right now, so let me stick to the script.

When he returned to the stage with his full backing band, COMMON made sure to turn things up another notch with a cover of West’s “Get Em High” that had most in the small, yet vibrant crowd rapping and grooving along to the beat. After almost three decades in the game, the 47-year-old still knows how to command a room’s attention whether he’s debuting new material or falling back on some old favorites like “Go!” from 2005’s Be and “The Light” on 2000’s Like Water for Chocolate.

But on this night inside the 180-person Apogee Studio, COMMON’s overarching message to us stood clear: let love rule today and every day. And to that we say, “Amen, Lonnie … amen.”

Setlist:
Show Me That You Love
South Side
The Corner
The Food
Memories of Home
I Used to Love Her
Take It EZ
Her Love
Love of My Life
Come Close
The Day the Women Took Over
Fancy Free Future Love
Get Em High
Hercules
Go!
Good Morning Love
God Is Love
The Light

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Apogee Sessions, Apogee Studio, COMMON, KCRW

CALICO 2019: The perfect weekend getaway in Point Reyes with Allah-Las & friends

July 29, 2019 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Written by Kevin Quandt //

CALICO //
Love Field – Point Reyes Station, CA
August 3rd, 2019 //

As the Bay Area squeaks into the month of August and eventually into something that might resemble summertime, the outdoor event calendar gets dusted off as we hope to get that late-season tan with some of our favorite artists and friends. One growing event that will turn the heat up on this summer is held in Point Reyes and goes by the name CALICO. (((folkYEAH!))) and Reverberation Radio will be co-presenting this all-day festival, which is highlighted by a banner headlining set from Allah-Las.

Love Field in Point Reyes Station comes alive for these performances, in large part due to the stunning setup that’s featured on this outdoor site. Performances are held on a stage crafted of reclaimed wood under the cool shade of a lunar parachute in a coastal meadow. It doesn’t get much more Cali than that if you ask us. Add a slew of local vendors who will be slinging tacos and grilling up oysters, followed by an after-party later that evening at the Old Western Saloon just down the road, and you got all the makings for a prime weekend getaway. While we’re on the subject of weekend getaways, we should also mention that there’s a pretty nice selection of campgrounds nearby, including Olema Campground (other options listed here).

We can certainly expect to hear a handful of new Allah-Las tracks before the band releases its fourth album LAHS on Mexican Summer this October. One among them will most likely be the Los Angeles quartet’s bakery-fresh single “In the Air”, which just fell like manna from heaven. CALICO will also boast sets from Allah-associated acts such as PAINT and Tim Hill, along with Sachiko Kanenobu, The Tyde, Sugar Candy Mountain and Host Family, as well as an extended DJ set from Reverberation Radio in between each act. Farmer Dave & The Wizards of the West, meanwhile, will play the after-party at Old Western Saloon.

CALICO begins on Saturday, August 3rd at 1 p.m., with music running from 2-10 p.m., and is suitable for all ages. Tickets can still be purchased here for $44 (before fees).

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: (((folkYeah!))), Allah-Las, CALICO, CALICO 2019, Farmer Dave & the Wizards of the West, Farmer Dave Scher, Host Family, Love Field, Old Western Saloon, PAINT, Reverberation Radio, Sachiko Kanenobu, Sugar Candy Mountain, The Tyde, Tim Hill

Outside Lands delivers its 2019 schedule

July 25, 2019 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2019 //

The 12th edition of Outside Lands is only two weeks away, and the three-day music festival has dropped what many fans often clamor for in late July … that’s right, set times!

Ready to start planning your weekend at Golden Gate Park? Make sure to check out the 2019 schedule here.

But much like every year, there are some noteworthy scheduling conflicts. Friday will see Lil Wayne and Masego performing 15 minutes apart, blink-182 overlapping with Counting Crows, and Flying Lotus (3D), The Lumineers and headliner Twenty One Pilots all closing down their respective stages on Day 1.

Saturday, though, is where things really start to get hairy with Santigold pitted against Tierra Whack, Alina Baraz playing at the same time as Phosphorescent, Better Oblivion Community Center starting 10 minutes before Flume, and headliner Childish Gambino vs. RL Grime — of course, that’s without mentioning Ella Mai and Hozier also have their own evening slots.

The Day 3 slate, meanwhile, offers some more challenges, beginning with Mavis Staples vs. Cherry Glazerr in the early afternoon. Catching both DJ Koze and Kacey Musgraves could be tough with their sets only separated by 30 minutes, as well as Leon Bridges and Toro y Moi. Sunday’s biggest conflict, however, could be choosing between Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals (7:30 p.m.) and legendary headliner Paul Simon (7:35 p.m.). Plus, there’s Kygo on the Twin Peaks stage less than an hour later at 8:20 p.m. For those of you going to OSL, just remember: whoever you decide to see, it’s sure to be a good time! Download the mobile app here, and oh, wear some comfortable shoes, too (nobody likes blisters anyway).

If you can’t wait for Outside Lands now, look back at our coverage from 2018 here.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Alina Baraz, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Bebe Rexha, Better Oblivion Community Center, Big Wild, Blink-182, Bob Moses, Childish Gambino, Counting Crows, Denzel Curry, Ella Mai, Flume, Flying Lotus (3D), Hozier, Judah & the Lion, Kacey Musgraves, Kygo, Lauren Daigle, Leon Bridges, Lil Wayne, Mavis Staples, Outside Lands, Outside Lands 2019, Outside Lands Music Festival 2019, Paul Simon, RL Grime, San Holo, Santigold, Sheck Wes, The Lumineers, The Neighbourhood, Toro Y Moi, Twenty One Pilots

Jim James, The Claypool Lennon Delirium take us on a psych-rock roller coaster at The Wiltern

July 8, 2019 by Josh Herwitt 1 Comment

Jim James

By Josh Herwitt //

Jim James & The Claypool Lennon Delirium with Uni //
The Wiltern – Los Angeles
July 3rd, 2019 //

Ever since he launched his solo career more than five years ago, Jim James has been trying to bring people closer together.

The frontman and primary songwriter of My Morning Jacket frequently preaches peace, love and equality on and off the stage, but at a time when technology continues to dominate our way of life and our political divides grow bigger by the day, unity has become a challenging proposition to achieve no matter how famous or popular you are — unless you’re Oprah.

It’s not for a lack of effort from James (born James Edward Olliges Jr.), though.

Claypool Lennon Delirium

The Louisville native remains steadfast in his commitment to doing and saying the right things, whether it’s helping to get out the vote or raising awareness and funds around a number of important environmental, climate and humanitarian issues.

Because when James sings “No use waiting and wondering why / Better get together while we still got time” on his third solo album Uniform Distortion that dropped last year, it’s a message that many of us could learn from. After all, actions speak louder than words, and a songwriter with as much talent, insight and creativity as James certainly knows that.

Embarking on a 33-date North American tour that included festival stops at Shaky Knees and Bonnaroo in support of the 11-track LP, the 41-year-old multi-hyphenate was back in LA — the city he now calls home since moving there in 2016 — on the eve of Independence Day for only one night at the always-beautiful Wiltern. The last time we caught James in the City of Angels, he was headlining another historic SoCal venue just a few miles down Olympic Blvd. after the release of his second solo effort Eternally Even. And boy, was that a lot of fun at the Orpheum Theatre as celebrity fanboys like Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka “McLovin” from the 2007 film “Superbad”) showed their appreciation for one of rock’s last remaining guitar heroes.

Jim James

But things were a little different for this occasion, in large part because James would be billed as a co-headliner alongside his psychedelic counterparts in The Claypool Lennon Delirium for much of the tour. Even so, with Primus bassist and lead singer Les Claypool being a legend in his own right and guitarist/vocalist Sean Lennon conceived by a couple himself, we had quite the pairing for a Wednesday affair. Heck, the duo even covered Pink Floyd, King Crimson and The Beatles among cuts off 2016’s Monolith of Phobos and its stellar follow-up South of Reality that arrived in February. So if you like psych rock with an extra dose of weird, then these guys are probably for you.

That said, one could argue fairly easily that James’ songs are a bit more accessible than The CLD’s, and with that in mind, it wasn’t hard at all to understand why the man who has also put out music under the pseudonym Yim Yames assumed the closing duties for this tour. It became even more evident once James took the stage, shredding his way through tracks on Uniform Distortion like “Over and Over” and “You Get to Rome” before going to an acoustic guitar for “A New Life” from 2013’s Regions of Light and Sound of God. James would end up performing almost all of Uniform Distortion, but the real standouts of the show were in fact slightly altered versions of the Marvin Gaye-inspired “Here in Spirit” and the ever-haunting “Same Old Lie” to close what felt like a roller-coaster set full of peaks and valleys — and of course, plenty of screeches and squeals emanating from his Gibson ES-335, too.

James didn’t break for long before beginning a three-song encore with one from My Morning Jacket’s catalog in “I’m Amazed” and then dueting with Amo Amo’s Lovell Femme on “Of the Mother Again”. While it may have been somewhat predictable for him to offer us “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)” as a parting gift, it wasn’t as if it came unwanted. If anything, it was a strong reminder of how powerful music can be as a unifying force and a gateway to a more positive and promising future, especially with someone like James serving as a guiding light.

JIM JAMES

Setlist:
Over and Over
You Get to Rome
A New Life
Out of Time
Just a Fool
Throwback
No Secrets
Here in Spirit
No Use Waiting
All in Your Head
The World’s Smiling Now
Yes to Everything
Same Old Lie

Encore:
I’m Amazed (My Morning Jacket song)
Of the Mother Again (with Amo Amo lead singer Lovell Femme)
State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)

THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM

Setlist:
Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd cover)
Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons / Movement II, Too the Moon
Little Fishes
Cricket and the Genie (Movement I, The Delirium)
Cricket and the Genie (Movement II, Oratorio Di Cricket)
South of Reality
The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson cover)
Easily Charmed by Fools
Boomerang Baby
Breath of a Salesman
Cricket Chronicles Revisited: Part 1, Ask Your Doctor – Part 2, Psyde Effects
Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles cover)
Third Rock From the Sun

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Amo Amo, Jim James, King Crimson, Les Claypool, My Morning Jacket, Pink Floyd, Primus, Sean Lennon, The Beatles, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, The Wiltern, The Wiltern Theatre, Uni

Empire of the Sun are walking on more than just a dream after selling out three straight shows in SF

July 1, 2019 by Karina Kristensen 1 Comment

By Karina Kristensen //

Empire of the Sun //
The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco
June 25th, 2019 //

As they continue to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album Walking on a Dream, Australian synthpop outfit Empire of the Sun hit the West Coast hard during the latter half of June with three-night stands in three different cities, including a trio of sold-out shows in SF at The Regency Ballroom.

We showed up for the second of three Bay Area performances only to find the crowd anxiously awaiting the group’s arrival onstage. When lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Steele finally emerged through all the smoke donning his usual headdress and face paint however, it quickly came to life. Complemented by a pair of backup dancers and plenty of eye-catching on-screen visuals, Empire of the Sun kicked things off appropriately with “Standing on the Shore” and between multiple costume changes and instrument swaps, completely blew us away before uncorking the LP’s title track to close their headlining set.

With fans screaming for more music during a short break, Steele and his cohorts returned to the stage for a two-song encore. Of course, how could they call it a night without performing “Alive” from 2013’s Ice on the Dune?

Naturally, Empire of the Sun couldn’t so they delivered one last taste of Walking on a Dream with “Tiger by My Side” and then sent us home feeling totally “Alive” after only 90 minutes, further proving that they have been walking on more than just a dream for the past decade.

Setlist:
Intro (video segment)
Standing on the Shore
Old Flavours
Half Mast
Breakdown
We Are the People
Way to Go
The World
Chrysalis
High and Low
Delta Bay
(Unknown) (instrumental)
Between Me and You (Brandon Flowers cover)
This Land Is Your Land
Swordfish Hotkiss Night
Without You
Walking on a Dream

Encore:
Tiger by My Side
Alive

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Photos Tagged With: Empire of the Sun, The Regency Ballroom

A sold-out crowd at Hollywood Palladium propels Local Natives to new heights in their hometown

June 28, 2019 by Zach Bourque Leave a Comment

Zach Bourque //

Local Natives with Middle Kids //
Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles
June 22nd, 2019 //

Hometown indie heroes Local Natives packed the Hollywood Palladium to its capacity while on tour in support of their fourth studio album Violet Street. Selling out the venue is a pretty rare achievement that’s often reserved for more popular acts such as LCD Soundsystem and Nine Inch Nails, but low and behold, the local boys made it happen with Middle Kids on the bill as the evening’s opener.

A brand-name indie show on a weekend night normally draws a big crowd in LA, but this one proved to be even grander. By the time Local Natives took the stage around 10 p.m., there was nary a space to stand unless you were camping out through Middle Kids’ exceptional opening set. The Aussie rockers have been making a name for themselves on the festival circuit of late, and they did a fine job filling up the Palladium’s expansive floor. With Hannah Joy cementing the power trio’s sound on guitar and vocals, it was a performance that seemed to catch many spectators off guard. Middle Kids’ songs possess the perfect amount of 90’s nostalgia to keep things catchy while remaining unpretentious and accessible, so expect big things from them in the future.

Middle Kids

Local Natives, subsequently, began with “Vogue” off Violet Street before cranking up the heat during fan favorite “Sun Hands” from their 2009 debut LP Gorilla Manor. Midway through the tune, Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar) launched himself into a sea of arms in what appeared to be a joyful exercise, which apparently didn’t bother the ecstatic crowd that was pressed up against the barricade. The harmonies didn’t stop with the quintet’s vocals either, as fans experienced a 21-song set that ebbed and flowed between old hits and new sounds with relative ease. Even more, material from all four Local Natives records coalesced into one fluid live experience that put the exceptional musicianship of Rice, Kelcey Ayer (vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar), Ryan Hahn (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Matt Frazier (drums) and Nik Ewing (bass, keyboards, vocals) on full display.

The band’s subdued lighting setup let the music do the talking and echoed its simple formula for success. Sometimes three amazing vocalists singing in harmony is all that you need to sell out a 5,000-person theater. While Local Natives haven’t taken a whole lot of risks over the last decade, including on the 10-track Violet Street, they still know how to hit you right in the feels every time. Nonetheless, time will tell which room they can sell out next. Here goes nothing …

Setlist:
Vogue
Sun Hands
You & I (extended intro)
Shy
Ceilings
I Saw You Close Your Eyes
Coins
Megaton Mile
Someday Now
Heavy Feet
Past Lives
Fountain of Youth
Café Amarillo
Airplanes
Wide Eyes
Garden of Elysian
Dark Days
When Am I Gonna Lose You

Encore:
Gulf Shores
Tap Dancer
Who Knows, Who Cares

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Hollywood Palladium, LCD Soundsystem, Local Natives, Middle Kids, Nine Inch Nails

From T-Pain to Usher, Smokin Grooves Fest turns up the heat in 2019 with a slew of top-notch talent

June 19, 2019 by Rochelle Shipman 2 Comments

Usher

By Rochelle Shipman //

Smokin Grooves Fest //
The Queen Mary – Long Beach, CA
June 15th, 2019 //

Much more than a supremely awkward sunburn, this year’s Soulection-helmed Smokin Grooves Fest went off without a hitch. The day began just like all of the best R&B songs — dark and moody, with the empty threat of rain and no sign of reprieve. After a few hours though, the sun broke through the drear, bathing the stylish, half-dressed attendees in a golden light fitting to almost every act playing the one-day festival at the Queen Mary.

The obvious draw in 2019 was the headliners — Usher making a rare, triumphant appearance and our queen, Erykah Badu, returning to continue her reign after last year’s installment. But if that wasn’t enough reason to attend, the young blood made sure no performance time went wasted on Saturday.

Rising star Choker kicked things off on the Groovin’ Stage, amassing an impressive crowd-in-wait for, as he called it, “a matinee show.” Armed with little more than some great earrings, a serious head of hair and his usual falsetto, Choker managed to deliver an intimate set despite the space between the stage and crowd. Fans in attendance could be heard soft-screaming to every word, clearly elated to finally see Choker in action.

The sun finally came out for none other than T-Pain. Bouncing onstage like Tigger, T-Pain made a case for deserving a later set time (and was probably indirectly responsible for the wave of people passing out around 6 p.m.). The man is a party in a human body, and he’s aging like a fine wine — his music, his dance moves, all of it. It’s clear he belongs on that stage, whether it’s 2:15 or 10:15 p.m.

T-Pain

If T-Pain brought the sun out, Raveena made it shine. The stunning songstress seemed to sparkle onstage, fresh off the release of her debut album Lucid. Her warm, dreamy vocals floated through the pristine afternoon, effectively hypnotizing a grateful crowd that didn’t seem to have an end. Even her smile was infectious. After another ethereal song, someone shouted out, “We love your energy!”

Bringing a different flavor of energy, though precisely what the crowd needed after Raveena’s mellow sound, was Leven Kali. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter has spent the last few years collaborating with some of R&B’s and hip hop’s most talented artists, but he just released his own first major project Low Tide. Kali’s performance at Smokin Grooves proved that we were right to wait for him to take his time. Fans of Anderson .Paak will recognize the same level of adrenaline, with Kali’s band delivering the psych-dance groove to form their own impressive foundation for the future.

Afternoon turned to evening with nothing but queens and Daniel Caesar, who, let’s be honest, sings like a goddamn queen himself. Chicago’s Ravyn Lenae brought her angelic voice back to Long Beach for another go-around as she stunted across the Smokin’ Stage in her high-heeled Converse boots. Kali Uchis, on the other hand, blessed us with the mere vision of her, running through the motions of her stellar Isolation tracks like she couldn’t be bothered while looking like a million bucks.

2018’s top dawg Ella Mai shook the crowd up, delivering a polished, poppy set to a group of spectators who couldn’t have been more in love. Dreamville’s first female signee Ari Lennox also returned for a second year, although this time, hot off the drop of her dazzling debut LP Shea Butter Baby, she was back with 10 times the amount of fans — and very deservedly so. The edge in her voice complemented the raw smile plastered on her face. Lennox knew she had earned her spot toward the top of the 2019 lineup, and that only made her fans scream that much louder.

Kali Uchis

As the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, the crowd swelled in front of the festival’s main stage, waiting for our lord and savior Erykah Badu. We waited. And we waited. Finally, 30 minutes later, Ms. Badu walked out and surveyed the scene before all was forgiven. Her shortened set was still probably more than the sun-dried fans could handle, with her vocals perfect and her vibe far-reaching and unmatched. As she threw her body left and right, jutting her limbs into the air and even jumping down to clasp a few lucky hands, you could feel a collective healing washing over the grounds. Before she left, she even thanked us for waiting for her, as though we had done her a favor. Psh.

How do you follow Erykah Badu? I didn’t think it could be done until about five seconds into Usher’s performance. He came out swinging, energy and choreography at 110 percent, so fast and fierce that I yelped, “Holy shit!” I grew up listening to Usher and respect him for days, but I didn’t expect him to put on one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve witnessed in 2019 so far. To say “he’s still got it” wouldn’t nearly be enough. So, just trust me when I say “you’ve gotta get yourself to an Usher show.”

Proving to be a supremely enjoyable day of music at its heart, Smokin Grooves showcased some strong, young talent and reminded us how lucky we are to have some of the OGs still willing to dance with us. With R&B’s new crop of talent continuing to innovate and inspire, here’s hoping that the festival will keep coming back year after year.

That’s right … I’m lookin’ at you, Joe Kay.

Smokin Grooves Fest 2019 - Daniel Caesar

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Ari Lennox, Choker, Daniel Caesar, Ella Mai, Erykah Badu, Joe Kay, Kali Uchis, Leven Kali, Raveena, Ravyn Lenae, Smokin Grooves, Smokin Grooves 2019, Smokin Grooves Fest, Smokin Grooves Fest 2019, Soulection, T-Pain, Usher

The Chemical Brothers give fans at Shrine Expo Hall the electronic show they desperately need in 2019

May 20, 2019 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

The Chemical Brothers //
Shrine Expo Hall – Los Angeles
May 15th, 2019 //

When former childhood classmates Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons burst onto the scene in the mid-to-late 90’s as The Chemical Brothers, electronic music for most was still a relatively new phenomenon — even in their home country of England.

Sure, some of the UK duo’s counterparts such as The Prodigy and Fatboy Slim were attracting more mainstream appeal around the same time, but that commercial success at the height of the big beat movement doesn’t hold a candle to what many of the biggest EDM stars today are amassing in the social media age. Just look at what Calvin Harris, Diplo, Skrillex, Zedd or The Chainsmokers are bringing home if you don’t believe me (hint: it’s well over eight figures). Of course, those Las Vegas hotel residencies sure do help their cash flow.

The Chemical Brothers, nevertheless, have managed to maintain a loyal following for three decades now and that was evident by the sold-out crowd that welcomed them to the Shrine Expo Hall last Wednesday for the first of two dates in LA. It’s not often that an artist or band books two different venues in the same city while on tour, but that’s exactly what Rowlands and Simons did with their other LA show taking place up the road at the Greek Theatre only one day later. That said, the Shrine Expo Hall’s open floor plan proved to be perfectly suited for the pair’s dance-ready tracks.

Leading off with “Go” from their 2015 LP Born in the Echoes, The Chemical Brothers delivered a 24-song set that covered all nine studio albums, including their newest effort No Geography that dropped in April. They seamlessly transitioned from one banger to the next, keeping our spirits high and leaving us not a minute to rest our feet. The onstage production, meanwhile, was next level. With an arsenal full of lights and lasers as well as a massive projection screen mounted behind them, Rowlands and Simons created a scintillating audio-visual experience to remember and one of the best we’ve witnessed in a while.

At a time when electronic music has become relatively predictable and almost formulaic, The Chemical Brothers are still experimenting with new sounds and breathing some fresh air into their live sets. Case in point on this night was a cover of New Order’s 1982 single “Temptation” and a rendition of Come with Us cut “Star Guitar” that wrapped up with a snippet of “Gravity Drops” from No Geography. But the Brothers saved what we all had been anticipating for last, uncorking “Block Rockin’ Beats” off 1997’s Dig Your Own Hole before their encore break.

When they returned, Rowlands and Simons gave us a few more before waving goodbye — not that we needed anymore to feel satisfied. Because if this was what an electronic show in 2019 is supposed to feel like, then we can safely say … mission accomplished, boys.

Setlist:
Go
Free Yourself
Chemical Beats (with vocal sample from “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted”)
MAH
EML Ritual
Swoon
Temptation (New Order cover)
Star Guitar (with “Gravity Drops” outro)
Got to Keep On
Hey Boy Hey Girl
Eve of Destruction
Saturate
Elektrobank
No Geography
Escape Velocity
Hoops / Get Up on It Like This
Under the Influence / Dig Your Own Hole
Wide Open
Galvanize
Leave Home / C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L / Song to the Siren
Block Rockin’ Beats

Encore:
Got Glint?
Catch Me I’m Falling (with “Hold Tight London” intro)
The Private Psychedelic Reel

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Calvin Harris, Diplo, Fatboy Slim, New Order, Shrine Expo Hall, Skrillex, The Chainsmokers, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Zedd

The Lil Smokies take on SF & burn down the house

April 25, 2019 by BenJamin Wallen Leave a Comment

By Benjamin Wallen //

The Lil Smokies with Michigan Rattlers //
Slim’s – San Francisco
April 19th, 2019 //

With spring in the air, Montana progressive-bluegrass outfit The Lil Smokies rolled into Slim’s on a Friday night and graced the Bay Area with some of their sweet sounds.

The intimate venue allowed for a more personal experience as the crowd fed off the energy of the LA-based Michigan Rattlers, who opened the show with their meticulous playing and sent the audience into a frenzy with their heavy-hearted folk rock.

The Lil Smokies, meanwhile, gave us quite a treat to close their headlining set, performing a cover of The Beatles’ 1966 single “Paperback Writer”, the last new song to be featured on the legendary band’s final tour. Nevertheless, the five-piece crushed as it always does and we’re sure glad we were there to witness it. If you weren’t unfortunately, don’t miss either of these acts the next time they visit your town!

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Michigan Rattlers, Slims, The Lil Smokies

Modeselektor return to U.S. soil & pound our ears with their new material at a sold-out Echoplex

April 11, 2019 by Josh Herwitt 1 Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

Modeselektor //
Echoplex – Los Angeles
April 4th, 2019 //

As electronic music continues to evolve in 2019, it appears as if the EDM craze that once was has started to fade. Sure, dance-centric festivals such as Ultra, EDC and Electric Zoo continue to thrive, but the amount has slowly tapered off over the last few years with hip-hop and R&B grabbing more of the mainstream spotlight lately.

So, where does a veteran electronic act like Modeselektor fit into the equation these days?

We’re not quite sure to be honest, but after making music together for more than two decades, Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary are still selling out clubs with their dark, pulsating beats and brash, in-your-face sounds.

The Berlin IDM (short for “Intelligent Dance Music”) duo is a favorite of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke’s believe it or not and yet, has only released four studio albums to go along with a handful of EPs since forming in 1996. Although to be completely fair, their side project with fellow German electronic musician Apparat (born Sascha Ring) under the name Moderat has also been quite the success in recent years as we have witnessed on more than one occasion, including the 2016 edition of Lightning in a Bottle (read our festival review here) and a stellar performance at the Mayan (read our show review here) in 2017 after playing Coachella’s first weekend (read our review here).

One of those four LPs is Who Else, the eight-track release after a nearly eight-year layoff that dropped in February on Modeselektor’s own Monkeytown Records as the follow-up to 2011’s Monkeytown, which earned them a closing set in the Mojave Tent at Coachella a few months later where Yorke surprisingly joined them onstage for “Shipwreck” during Weekend 2.

At LA’s Echoplex last Thursday, we didn’t have the fortune of getting another surprise cameo from Yorke, but it was intriguing to see a sold-out crowd welcome Bronsert and Szary back to the City of Angels under the Modeselektor moniker for the first time in a long time (and on a school night no less). And considering they were only stopping through two U.S. cities — LA and NYC the night before at Elsewhere in Brooklyn — on this tour, the show felt a little extra special for those of us in attendance due to the circumstances.

Bronsert and Szary made mention of the jet lag that they were experiencing more than once, and with both now being of a certain age, it’s not quite as easy as it once was for them to get onstage night after night and do their thing. They certainly overcame it, as Szary jumped on top of their DJ booth several times while performing to engage an audience that conveyed its appreciation for his efforts (he even took a cigarette break onstage later on, too).

Who Else runs only 34 minutes long, with “Wealth”, “I Am Your God” and “Who” serving as its three singles, which meant that Modeselektor had time to sprinkle in some of their older material throughout a 17-song gig lasting roughly 90 minutes. One of those tracks was “The Black Block” off their 2007 sophomore full length Happy Birthday!, while even two remixed covers — Shed’s “Dark Planet” and Headhunter’s “Prototype” — were on the setlist. But the finale is what stuck out most, as Modeselektor showed Yorke some more love with an Atoms for Peace cover of “Default” on the supergroup’s lone record Amok that came out more than six years ago. It was a fitting choice given the connection Yorke has had with the outfit, and one that proved Bronsert and Szary, nevertheless, have what it takes to keep us right on our toes after all these years.

Setlist:
Grillwalker
Dark Planet (Modeselektor remix) (Shed cover)
WMF Love Song
Kalif Storch
German Clap
The Black Block
I Am Your God
(Unknown)
Prügelknabe
Wealth
Prototype (Modeselektor’s Broken Handbrake Remix) (Headhunter cover)
One United Power
Who
Wake Me Up When It’s Over
Berlin

Encore:
Blue Clouds
Default (Atoms for Peace cover)

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Apparat, Atoms for Peace, Coachella, Coachella 2012, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2012, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2012, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2012, Echoplex, Mayan Theater, Moderat, Modeselektor, Radiohead, The Mayan, Thom Yorke

Coachella reveals 2019 set times

April 10, 2019 by Josh Herwitt 2 Comments

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival //
Empire Polo Club – Indio, CA
April 12th-14th & April 19th-21st, 2019 //

It’s officially Coachella week, and we all know what that means: scheduling conflicts galore.

The three-day, two-weekend music and arts festival has revealed the set times for its 20th edition just after 11 a.m. PT (11:04 a.m. to be exact), about 16 hours later than it did in 2018.

Coachellans often have some tough decisions to make as to which artists they should see, and 2019 is no different in that respect. But if you’re headed to the desert this month, take a look at the set times below so you can survive all three days at the Empire Polo Club.

Tell us, though … what’s your biggest conflict this year and which performance are you most excited for?

WEEKEND 1 SET TIMES

WEEKEND 2 SET TIMES

There are a few minor schedule tweaks for Weekend 2, as Big Game takes Friday’s opening slot on the Outdoor Theatre at 3 p.m. for Jimbo Jenkins, who has been moved to the Sahara Tent on Saturday at 12:25 p.m. More Saturday changes include More Fire Mondays replacing Gabe Real on the Coachella Stage at 1:50 p.m., CPTN KIRK taking Fundido’s spot in the Gobi Tent at 12:45 p.m. and Lealani kicking things off in the Mojave Tent rather than Yeti Out at 12 p.m. bright and early (and hot, most likely).

On Sunday, Ugly Primo will now be the first act — instead of Alf Alpha — to take the Coachella Stage at 2:15 p.m. while Subsuelo gets things started in the Mojave Tent at 1:40 p.m., replacing Ericalandia, and Cre-8 has been moved in place of R3LL in the Sahara Tent at 1:50 p.m.

UPDATE (April 18th): Christine and the Queens has canceled her Weekend 2 performance at the Outdoor Theatre, sadly due to her mother’s death. Héloïse Letissier announced the news on Twitter in her native tongue of French (see below).

Je n’arrive qu’à écrire des phrases très simples. J’ai perdu ma mère dans la nuit de mardi. Je suis rentrée pour traverser cette épreuve avec mes proches – je ne pourrai pas chanter ce samedi. Je vous embrasse.

— Chris (@QueensChristine) April 18, 2019

MAP

A little more than four hours after releasing its Weekend 1 set times, Coachella unveiled this year’s map and it looks fairly similar to what we saw in 2018.

One of most notable differences is the relocation of the Gobi and Sonora Tents, which have traded places with the Indio Central Market and the Antarctica dome, the latter being one of the cooler (no pun intended) experiences that the festival has introduced in the past three years. The Heineken House, meanwhile, has also moved (next to Antarctica) and sits more tucked away from Coachella’s eight other stages than it ever used to be.

The Mojave Tent will continue to remain in its same location, with a few new additions to the area, including the Calvin Klein, Pantene and Peet’s Cold Brew tents. Believe it or not, there’s even a designated place where you can pick up your Postmates order. Ah, corporate sponsors … because what would America’s most Instagrammed music festival be without them now?

Happy Coachella!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 070 Shake, 88Glam, A R I Z O N A, Adriatique, Agoria, Alice Merton, Amelie Lens, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Anna Lunoe, Aphex Twin, Ariana Grande, Âme, Bad Bunny, Bakar, Bassnectar, Bazzi, Beach Fossils, Billie Eilish, BLACKPINK, Blond:ish, Blood Orange, Bob Moses, boy pablo, Burna Boy, Calypso Rose, CamelPhat, Charlotte de Witte, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Childish Gambino, CHON, Chris Lake, Christine and the Queens, Chvrches, Cirez D, Clairo, CloZee, Coachella, Coachella 2019, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2019, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2019, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2019, Cola Boyy, Dave P., Deep Dish, Dennis Lloyd, Dermot Kennedy, Dillon Francis, Diplo, DJ Snake, Dusky, DVSN, Easy Life, Ella Mai, Emily King, Fisher, FKJ, Four Tet, Gesaffelstein, Gorgon City, Gryffin, Gucci Gang, Guy Gerber, H.E.R., Heidi Lawden, Hop Along, Hot Since 82, Hurray for the Riff Raff, HYUKOH, Iceage, Idris Elba, J Balvin, Jaden Smith, Jain, Jambinai, Jan Blomqvist, Janelle Monáe, JAUZ, Javiera Mena, Jon Hopkins, JPEGMAFIA, Juice WRLD, Kacey Musgraves, Kanye West, Kaytranada, Kayzo, Kölsch, Kero Kero Bonito, Khalid, Khruangbin, Kid Cudi, King Princess, Las Robertas, Lauren Lane, Lee Burridge, Let's Eat Grandma, Little Simz, Lizzo, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Mac Demarco, Maggie Rogers, Mansionair, Men I Trust, Mon Laferte, Mr Eazi, Murda Beatz, NGHTMRE, Nic Fanciulli, Nicole Moudaber, Nina Kraviz, Nocturnal Sunshine, Nora En Pure, Ocho Ojos, Ookay, Parcels, Patrice Bäumel, Perfume, Playboi Carti, Polo & Pan, Pusha T, RAT BOY, Razorbumps, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Rico Nasty, Rosalía, Ross From Friends, Sabrina Claudio, SALES, serpentwithfeet, SG Lewis, shallou, Shame, Sheck Wes, SiR, Smino, SOB x RBE, Soccer Mommy, Social House, Sofi Tukker, Solange, Sophie, Soulection, Steady Holiday, Stephan Bodzin, Still Woozy, Superorganism, Tale of Us, Tame Impala, Tara Brooks, The 1975, The Frights, The Garden, The Interrupters, The Messthetics, The Red Pears, Tierra Whack, Tomasa del Real, Turnover, Turnstile, Ty Segall & White Fence, U.S. Girls, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Virgil Abloh, Walker & Royce, Wallows, Weezer, Wiz Khalifa, Yellow Days, YG, Yotto, Yves Tumor, Zedd

Paul Simon, Childish Gambino & Twenty One Pilots to headline Outside Lands 2019

March 26, 2019 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
August 9th-11th, 2019 //

Outside Lands is back for another go-around in Golden Gate Park this August.

The three-day music festival, which a year ago saw The Weeknd, Florence + the Machine and Janet Jackson lead the way, has landed Paul Simon, Childish Gambino and Twenty One Pilots to anchor its 2019 installment.

Beyond the three headliners for the event’s 12th edition, this year’s roster will also welcome The Lumineers, Flume, Blink-182, Kygo, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Leon Bridges, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Wayne, Hozier, RL Grime, Ella Mai, Counting Crows, Flying Lotus (3D), Alina Baraz, Mavis Staples, Bebe Rexha, Sheck Wes, The Neighbourhood, Santigold, Better Oblivion Community Center, Toro y Moi, Denzel Curry, Lauren Daigle, San Holo, Judah & the Lion, Big Wild, Bob Moses, Wallows, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Yaeji and many more. See the poster above for the rest of the lineup.

UPDATE (May 14th): Outside Lands has delivered its daily lineups for 2019, with Twenty One Pilots headlining Friday, Childish Gambino performing Saturday and Paul Simon closing the festival Sunday. Take a look at the daily schedules below before single-day tickets go on sale for $155 (GA), $355 (VIP) and $695 (Golden Gate) this Thursday, May 16th at 10 a.m. PT here.

If you’re already pumped for Outside Lands, don’t wait to get your tickets when they go on sale here this Thursday, March 28th at 10 a.m. PT and make sure to check out our coverage from 2018 here.

You Me at Six know how to make their fans go wild as they exhibited at Great American Music Hall

March 13, 2019 by Karina Kristensen Leave a Comment

By Karina Kristensen //

You Me at Six with DREAMERS, machineheart //
Great American Music Hall – San Francisco
March 7th, 2019 //

English rockers You Me at Six paid a visit to SF’s Great American Music Hall last Thursday in support of their sixth studio album VI, which they released back in October.

Kicking things off with a five-song set were machineheart, the Los Angeles-based indie-pop group, and another LA act in DREAMERS as they opened with their 2018 single “Screws” all while lead singer Nick Wold warmed up the crowd with other hits like “Painkiller” and their newest song “Die Happy” to get us ready for You Me at Six.

“On three, everybody jumps!” he yelled.

The whole room started to jump and cause the floor to shake. DREAMERS would eventually close, of course, with their biggest hit “Sweet Disaster” on 2016’s This Album Does Not Exist.

DREAMERS

“This is a song about drinking with people you love,” Wold explained right before we started singing along to the song’s lyrics.

Just as You Me at Six were getting ready to hit the stage, you could tell that the audience was ready to erupt. They began with “Fast Forward” and would perform “Take on the World” off their 2017 LP Night People more than halfway through the show. At one point, frontman Josh Franceshi asked everyone to turn on their phone’s flashlight feature, creating a wave of light throughout the crowd. And before their encore break, “Bite My Tongue” from You Me at Six’s 2011 LP Sinners Never Sleep got even more spectators jumping with their hands in the air.

“You Me at Six!” the crowd constantly screamed, eager for Franceshi and company to return.

The UK five-piece finished with four more songs and left everyone’s ears ringing as we made our way out of the venue — a true sign of a great night for many live music fans.

YOU ME AT SIX

Setlist:
Fast Forward
Lived A Lie
Reckless
Loverboy
Back Again
Night People
Fresh Start Fever
Cold Night
Predictable
Give
3AM
Take on the World
IOU
Bite My Tongue

Encore:
Room to Breathe
No One Does It Better
Straight to My Head
Underdog

DREAMERS

Setlist:
Screws
Fake It Til You Make It
All Washed Out
Die Happy
Wolves
Painkiller
Sweet Disaster

MACHINEHEART

Setlist:
Intro
Overgrown
Do You Love
Chained
Peace of Mind
Who Said
Altar

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: DREAMERS, Great American Music Hall, machineheart, You Me at Six

Noise Pop 2019: Celebrating Bay Area indie culture with great music & a whole lot more

March 8, 2019 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

Caroline Rose

Photos by Mike Rosati, Norm de Veyra & Marc Fong // Written by Kevin Quandt & Ryan Bright //

Noise Pop //
Bay Area venues – San Francisco & Oakland
February 25th-March 3rd, 2019 //

Another epic edition of Noise Pop is now in the history books, and we were there to witness much of the action. Here are a few of our favorite moments, plus a ton of photos, from 2019.

Coke

With a name like Coke, you’d hope this SF band would be loud and wild enough, even with a 7 p.m. hit time, and they were. Playing their second-to-last show before losing a key member to the East Coast, they proved rock is not dead and that it generally sounds best in medium-sized bars full of your friends. – KQ

In the Valley Below

It has been a hot minute since the duo of Jeffrey Jacob and Angela Gail released their widely acclaimed debut album and supported it with multiple late-night appearances that saw them play their breakthrough hit “Peaches”. Their slow return to the stage hasn’t stopped this pair from performing some powerful indie pop that set the stage perfectly for Albert Hammond Jr. on a Wednesday night at The Independent. The live-expanded twosome also delivered select cuts from their forthcoming sophomore release The Pink Chateau, which will also feature an accompanying “motion picture companion.” Certainly appearing to be a comeback year for the Michigan-based group and a packed room at the Independent would likely agree. – KQ

Albert Hammond Jr.

Hammond Jr. is an explosive performer, and his Noise Pop show at The Independent was no exception. Relying heavily on his 2018 release Francis Trouble, his live effort showcased his frontman stature and musical abilities apart from his cohorts in The Strokes. Interestingly enough, the album explores the stillborn death of his twin brother and a recent reckoning that part of Francis’ fingernail was actually born alongside him. Despite the LP’s macabre topic, songs like “Far Away Truths” really conveyed Hammond’s raw energy as he jumped right into the crowd, mic in hand, for a cathartic mosh pit. – RB

Bob Mould Band

Bob Mould Band

Bob Mould has had a lengthy, fruitful relationship with Noise Pop and the packed Fillmore demonstrated that in spades after recently releasing his rather well-received, and 13th, solo album Sunshine Rock since disbanding Hüsker Dü and intersplicing Sugar releases. Mould is nearing the age of 60, but you’d be hard-pressed to think that when he frantically paces back and forth onstage while firing off his characteristic take of punk-leaning alternative rock. “In a Free Land” and “Something I Learned Today” were Hüsker Dü highlights, while “If I Can’t Change Your Mind” and “Hoover Dam” represented a handful of Sugar cuts that the balding frontman belted out. Mould recently moved to Berlin from SF, but any longtime Bay Area fan can sleep well knowing he’ll always return to give us a dose of his infectious punk rock. – KQ

Film School

While it has been almost 20 years since Gerg Bertens initially formed Film School, the band has continued to keep a strong relationship with Noise Pop. Many consider the five-piece’s 2016 Noise Pop shows at Bottom of the Hill to be its grand return after hanging it up in 2011, and this year’s well-attended opening set showed that they can still whip up some polished alternative shoegaze. “Two in Sun” shined bright, and many of us hope this California outfit sticks around and rides the wave of the current shoegaze revival. – KQ

Beirut

After taking several years off, Zach Condon’s project Beirut returned this year with a new album titled Gallipoli and an international tour that included a stop at the Fox Theater in Oakland for Noise Pop. While Beirut’s career-spanning set might have been a nostalgia trip for some, the musicianship and multi-instrumentation were the real highlights of the night. They managed to make their unique brand of “world” music, which features Balkan, polka, mariachi and francophone influences, feel inviting, warm and triumphant thanks to subtle textures of the accordion, ukulele, trumpet, Moog synthesizer, piano and Condon’s unique satiny vocal stylings. For me, new songs like “Landslide” and “We Never Lived Here” stood out just as strongly as fan favorites “Elephant Gun” and “Nantes” — and the entire crowd’s response indicated that as well. – RB

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: Bender's Bar & Grill, Bob Mould, Bob Mould Band, Coke, Film School, In The Valley Below, Noise Pop, Noise Pop 2019, The Fillmore, The Independent

Max Frost brings ‘The Gold Rush Tour’ to Slim’s for a fun-filled night with Mikey Mike

March 7, 2019 by Karina Kristensen Leave a Comment

Max Frost

By Karina Kristensen //

Max Frost with Mikey Mike //
Slim’s – San Francisco
March 2nd, 2019 //

After turning heads with such hits as “White Lies” and “Adderall” in 2016, Max Frost stopped through SF to showcase a new bag of songs from his 2018 debut album Gold Rush.

Mikey Mike warmed up the crowd at Slim’s, and I mean he really warmed us up. The alt-pop musician performed songs like “Cooler”, “Strange Times” and “Doin’ Me”, all of which have powerful lyrics. But he also had a wheel onstage and brought a few audience members up to spin it. One landed on a dare and had to drink whiskey out of his boot. Another had to drink whiskey out of his belly button. But after another spin, we all got to see Mikey Mike light his chest hair on fire. What could be a better way to get things going on a Saturday night?

Mikey Mike

Frost followed and quickly got his fans singing along. The lights onstage were incredible and full of colors — from green to pink to blue. The talented singer-songwriter is a one-man band and moved between keyboards, guitar and drums as he ran sounds and riffs on loop.

One fan of Frost’s near the front of the stage donned a baseball cap with a GoPro attached to it. Frost didn’t hesitate to take it off his hat, put it on and have the camera face the audience. At one point during his set, he brought his acoustic guitar out to play a few songs, including “Die Young”, which sounded absolutely amazing. He thanked us for a fun night and told us what a great start to “The Gold Rush Tour” it had been before his next West Coast show.

Setlist:
New Confessional
$Dreams
Paranoia
Sometimes
Nice and Slow
Eleven Days
Anxious
A$$hole (No Apologies)
Die Young
Stranger to Me Now
Slow Jamz
Put It on Me
Withdrawal
Money Problems
Adderall
White Lies

Encore:
Let Me Down Easy
Irreplacable (Beyoncé cover)
Good Morning

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Beyonce, Max Frost, Mikey Mike, Slims, The Gold Rush Tour

These acts are ready to make a big splash in 2019

March 1, 2019 by Wes Severson Leave a Comment

Written by Wes Severson //

They’ve got talent, great songs and are just now starting to be heard. These five acts seem to be flying under the radar, and they really shouldn’t be. They are all putting out new material on a consistent basis, and in most cases, each new song they release seems to outdo the one that came before it.

Let’s face it — finding good new music takes time, which some of you might not have much of these days (that’s why we’re here). Hopefully these five groups can breathe some new life into your outdated playlists. They are all making music that’s on the cutting edge of freshness. So, go listen to these five bands and enjoy!

BLOXX

This London quartet is really something special. Not only are BLOXX’s songs well-written and superbly produced, but the vocals that come from lead singer Ophelia Booth also maintain an amazing tone and texture to them. The songs feature both catchy choruses and verses due, in part, to some top-notch guitar work. Although their songwriting is somewhat predictable, the finished product is so clearly polished and tastefully produced that it keeps you wanting more and more.

BLOXX have issued eight singles so far, with the latest “Sea Blue” slated to be the title track on their debut LP. Their first official song “Boyfriend” was thrust into the mainstream at the start of 2017, and since then, the pop-punk outfit has dropped a new single every 2-3 months on average. So far, they have only played shows in the UK, but it’s clear that their fan base is starting to stretch wide. Keep your eyes peeled for some kind of U.S. tour or at the very least, some North American dates this year.

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify. Instagram.

Eighty Ninety

These guys got some love from Taylor Swift when the pop star included an Eighty Ninety track (“Your Favorite Song”) in her Spotify playlist “Songs Taylor Loves” less than a month ago. The sultry, minimalist vibes that their songs deliver have a soothing, almost mesmerizing effect on the listener. The duo made up by brothers Abner and Harper James has an incredible ability to make simple vocal lines sound very addictive. Every Eighty Ninety melody grabs you, and the verses and choruses are all well-crafted to hook you. In general, the production on all of their material is top-notch and often features flavorful guitar licks that come out of nowhere.

As far as their lyrics go, Eighty Ninety are all about heartbreak. They’re good at grabbing you with stories that often feel very real ever since they unveiled their three-song EP Elizabeth in 2016. With each new song that they give us, there has been more speculation about a longer release coming soon. For now though, you’ll have to enjoy the band’s seven singles, and we can hope they come back to California at some point this year (we’re pretty sure they will).

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify. Instagram.

IDER

Megan Markwick and Lily Somerville are quickly turning heads back home, but the UK indie-electronic duo making music under the name IDER has yet to break out in the U.S. They soon will, though … trust me. They’ve already started 2019 on a strong note a new pop masterpiece called “Brown Sugar”, and describing it as “infectious” would be putting it lightly. IDER really bring emotion to their catchy, quickly worded melodies. Some have a rap component to them, which definitely prevents any listener boredom. Lyrically, they excel at conveying complicated feelings and situations into simple, uniquely timed musical phrases.

Last year, the group released “Mirror”, which was one of my favorite songs from 2018. But the electronic production that IDER’s latest material employs makes them a force to be reckoned with. Simple, yet groove-able beats and synths keep the focus on the words, which can strike emotional chords in the hearts of anyone who has been in love. IDER have yet to release their debut LP, but when they do, which we assume will be this year, fans best be prepared.

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify. Instagram.

Simple Creatures

Simple Creatures may not even be classified as indie, but I promise you, you will be hearing a lot about them over 2019. That’s because the group consists of two guys who should probably be considered alt-rock Hall of Famers (if there was such a thing). Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus has joined forces with All Time Low frontman Alex Gaskarth, and his signature vocal tone is quite apparent and tends to blend very nicely over their synthpop-tinged tunes.

So far we’ve only gotten a taste of Simple Creatures’ potential, but they’re already proving to be addictive. Hoppus and Gaskarth have been called the two of the juiciest brains in alt-rock, and their creativity shines through on their first two singles “Drug” and “Strange Love”. Plus, there’s a good chance that we’ll get another single or two from Simple Creatures over the next few weeks as they gear up to release their first EP at the end of March.

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify. Instagram.

vverevvolf

They have a cool name and they spell it the cool way, but that is not why I like vverevvolf (yes, it’s spelled with no caps), the two-piece from Berkeley. It’s actually because of their creativity and their approach to a type of pop music that doesn’t have to be perfect. Their songs are both dynamic and unpredictable but also are full of hooky lines, interesting lyrics and niche chord progressions as well as beats. They make you feel comfortable. Sometimes playful, sometimes emotional, sometimes distant and sometimes vulnerable, vvwerevvolf’s music packs a punch that’s worth absorbing. They just released their second EP last month that includes the single “Sugar and Spice”, which also has a very funny music video (watch below).

The upbeat, driving pulse on “Sugar and Spice” stands in contrast to vverevvolf’s first single “Cruel Games”, which has more of soothing feel and brings much more artistry and emotion to the table. Kelsey LaRae and Dylan Gallagher have voices that mesh well together, and the stylistic production choices will surely catapult them to the forefront of a returning wave of pop. More new music from vverevvolf is likely in the works, but what they have unveiled so far is a lot to enjoy.

Follow: Facebook. Soundcloud. Twitter. Spotify. Instagram.

Which act are you most excited about in 2019? Let us know in the comments section below!

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, New Music Tagged With: 8090, All Time Low, Blink-182, Bloxx, Eighty Ninety, Ider, New Music, Simple Creatures, vverevvolf

10 new songs that you should know about & hear

February 26, 2019 by Wes Severson Leave a Comment

Written by Wes Severson //

I’ve combed through the list of recent songs that have been released by record labels big and small. These 10 fresh, new efforts certainly made a mark on me, and I’m pretty sure they will strike some kind of emotion in you.

10. Peter Bjorn and John – “Bones”

“Bones” is the first offering from Peter Bjorn and John’s new three-track EPBJ EP. It’s a super soft and mellow song, but the chorus delivers and also makes you think.

9. MØ – “Theme Song (I’m Far Away)”

The Danish singer-songwriter continues to use her amazing voice to dazzle our ears. But this time, MØ’s latest release goes beyond that and serves as the theme song for “Moominvalley,” a Finnish cartoon that she was fond of as a child.

8. John Mayer – “I Guess I Just Feel Like”

No surprise here … John Mayer goes soft and sentimental but also adds some country-western flare to his new tune “I Guess I Just Feel Like” he just released. The sad lyrical content is what we have come to know and love from Mayer. It’s definitely a solid release from the pop veteran who seems to never quit.

7. Weezer – “High as a Kite”

I haven’t been a huge fan of anything Weezer has put out in the last four years until this song dropped. But the new Weezer, which often includes meaningless lyrical content, has taken a back seat to the old Weezer, which was centered mostly around sensitive material. “High as a Kite” reminded me of what we heard on their debut album almost 25 years ago.

6. DREAMERS – “Die Happy”

This is the same tried-and-true script for the pop-rock trio as they’ve followed in the past. “Die Happy” is packed full of fun, and the groove is very accessible. It’s sure to make fans who will be attending DREAMERS’ upcoming shows, which includes four dates in California, excited.

5. Hozier – “Dinner & Diatribes”

Andrew Hozier-Byrne is known for having an incredible vocal range, and this third single on the Irish musician’s new sophomore LP Wasteland, Baby! conveys that to the absolute fullest. In classic Hozier fashion, the complicated lyrical matter comes in a tight, catchy package, yet it makes us want to know what was going through his head as he wrote it.

4. FOALS – “On the Luna”

FOALS haven’t been in the mainstream scene for too long, but this diverse track surely shows why they deserve major recognition. “On The Luna” explores new ground with its retro vibe and interesting quirks, making it an easy one to dance to as we await Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 next month.

3. Circa Waves – “Times Won’t Change Me”

Get ready to stomp your feet because this song’s groove is great and makes for a spooky, cool vibe. One of the melodies in it reminds me of Fleetwood Mac, and the rhythm’s driving nature as well as the constant repetition of the lyrics will have you singing along with it in no time.

2. Dennis Lloyd – “Never Go Back”

Israeli musician Dennis Lloyd made a huge splash with his 2016 single “Nevermind”, and his newest hit has the potential to take him to even greater heights. To me, “Never Go Back” is an even better effort more than three years later.

1. Bad Suns – “One Magic Moment”

“One Magic Moment” is the third single from Bad Suns’ new album Mystic Truth, which drops in March and explores a sea of uncharted water for the LA alt-rock quartet. There are so many new sounds to enjoy from these guys. They finish their tour this May with three straight dates in California, including one at The Fillmore in SF and a tour finale at The Wiltern in LA.

Which of these new songs do you like most? Tell us in the comments section below!