Featured – Showbams

Tame Impala unveil new jams in LA despite faulty PA system

November 17, 2014 by Josh Herwitt 1 Comment

Tame Impala //
Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles
November 12th, 2014 //

When neo-psychedelic rockers Tame Impala announced in mid-August that they would be hitting the road this fall for a select number of U.S. dates, there was hope among fans that the Western Australia outfit would be using its nine-date run to test out some new material for a third full-length album.

After all, the Perth-based band led by 28-year-old mastermind Kevin Parker had already toured extensively over the past two years in support of its sophomore LP Lonerism, so surely there had to be a good reason why it was returning to the U.S. this month for only four shows, including three on the West Coast.

But while the motive behind Tame Impala’s mini-tour remained unclear, LA welcomed back Parker and his four sidekicks with open arms at the Shrine Auditorium, as they walked out onto the stage to a pre-recorded remix of Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” and quickly saluted the more-than-appreciative crowd.

And by the second song of the night, they were doing exactly what their fans had hoped they would do, introducing a new tune, one that they debuted four months ago during a performance in the UK at Manchester Albert Hall. What followed weren’t new, fully conceptualized cuts per say, but the quintet kept the room on its toes, offering extended versions of “Sestri Levante” and “Endors Toi” before later uncorking an even newer jam toward the end of the band’s 14-song set.

Yet, for as important a moment as this was for Tame Impala — Parker said at one point that the gig was the largest the band had ever played as a headliner thanks to the Shrine’s 6,300-person capacity — technical issues during “Alter Ego” stemming from a faulty PA system unfortunately put a damper on everything that had come before it.

With the brief delay between songs serving unconventionally as the band’s encore break, Parker and company shook off some nerves and finished strong, saving some of their best for last, including the dreamy, Pink Floyd-esque “Apocalypse Dreams” and hit single “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” which drew quite a bit of scrutiny from the music journalism world earlier this year.

Taking a page out of 60’s psychedelia, Tame Impala closed things out with the heavily experimental, far from succinctly-titled “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control,” waving goodbye to Angelenos afterward for most likely the last time before they return to the studio.

Setlist:
Be Above It, New Song, Solitude Is Bliss, Sestri Levante, Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?, It’s Not Meant to Be, Why Won’t They Talk to Me?, Elephant, Endors Toi/Jam, Oscilly, Mind Mischief, Half Full Glass of Wine, Newer Jam, Alter Ego

Encore:
Apocalypse Dreams, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall, Tame Impala

The unexpected cult of Run the Jewels

November 17, 2014 by Mike Frash Leave a Comment

Photos by Alfonso Solis // Written by Mike Frash //

Run the Jewels with Ratking, Despot //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
November 14th, 2014 //

“A lot’s happened in the last week, but we are gonna give you a blockbuster night.” -El-P at Mezzanine

Populist leaders and destroyers of fuck boys, purveyors of high fives, hugs and grit-grime aggression that’s cartoonishly giddy, delivering dead-serious messages while inviting you the listener to join them — Run the Jewels operate in a self-imposed world of duality.

And since releasing Run the Jewels 2 on October 28th, the duo of Michael Render and Jaime Meline has exploded. Shortly after rave reviews started rolling out, their show at San Francisco’s Mezzanine sold out, and suddenly tickets were going for $150 into the thousands. Were the tickets being sold in the $800-$1,200 range on StubHub from fans extending RTJ’s penchant for absurdity? Or perhaps the exceptional amount of hype and well-deserved praise being showered on El-P and Killer Mike meant some engineer from Google or Facebook would actually pay 30 times face value. Either way, it shows how popular Run the Jewels have become.

Run the Jewels created this atmosphere by engaging with their audience online, enabling their biggest fans to feel like part of the RTJ inner circle, sharing the cultural torch that’s currently lighting the way to bigger and better things for El-P and Killer Mike. They’ve wisely relied on their audience, which is growing in volume at an exponential rate thanks to their open relationship both new and established media, but more importantly, by creating direct lanes with their fans.

The Emergence of a Cult Following

Certainly it helps when your new record will widely be considered one of the best albums of the year, but El-P and Killer Mike’s non-stop promotional blitz has been rooted in engaging their supporters, with the half-joking deluxe album options that turned into the forthcoming Meow The Jewels remix record, giving RTJ2 away for free via social media and with Tag The Jewels, a truly worldwide street art project that has sea legs of its own. Run the Jewels have grown into a progressive, cultish movement, one that is completely inclusive, as long as you are on the right side of history.

The Tag The Jewels project looks to take the Run the Jewels hand sign from both RTJ album covers and turn it into an iconic mainstay. Outside of Mezzanine on Jesse Street this past Friday, the brand-new Run the Jewels tour bus hovered over the venue’s entrance with the RTJ2 album cover adorning its side. Unsurprisingly, fans took this opportunity to stand between the two mummy-fist-talons, turning their right hand into a two-fingered gun and the left into a fist holding a real or invisible 36” chain.

During their SF show, El-P and Killer Mike used the hand sign as a calling card much more than on their first tour, throwing up the signal as many as five times — and all the way to the back of the rectangular club space, show-goers mimicked El and Mike, even throwing the RTJ hand sign up on impulse to show love back to the artists.

“It’s all love and respect.” -Killer Mike at Mezzanine

Much like a Phish or Die Antwoord audience, most everyone in the room at Mezzanine was there in “full buy-in” mode, not worried about what someone might think of you by getting a bit too into the moment. Which, when you think about it, is pretty elusive for a rap act that is beloved by the indie blogosphere and its readers. Yet, there is a collective acceptance, a mentality that has bubbled up from impromptu social media memes, gifs and videos, including El-P auditioning cats for Meow The Jewels by playing them “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”.

In Run the Jewels’ return to SF, the guys seemed thoroughly blunted when they arrived on stage. They could barely open their eyes for the first few songs, but this didn’t thwart the lyrical precision we’ve come to expect. Relying on audience participation more than the last tour, something that is likely organic since people know RTJ’s material better now, the crowd committed to reinforcing each song with key words and phrasing, creating a sense that we’re all in this thing together. During the show, El-P candidly mentioned that everyone in the room are family, and “we are family now because you paid me.” The crowd was alive and engaged more than a large majority of most concert experiences, to which El-P tweeted post show as “the livest show I’ve ever had in San Fran in 15 years. fuck.”

Invigorating, Giddy Aggression

Run the Jewels’ lyrical violence is intended as a form of fantasy. Killer Mike made sure it was clear to FOX News watchers that his name refers to “killing the mic” when he went to discuss protests in Ferguson, Mo. And during El-P and Killer Mike’s recent hour-long interview with Microphone Check on NPR Music (a must-listen for fans of Run the Jewels), they spoke to this point:

El-P: “You’re listening to our record and you’re gonna grin. You’re in on the fun. This is not us threatening the listener … We’re not going on records and just being like ‘We’re gonna kill you!’ We’re having fun, and we’re also completely comfortable in our ridiculousness.”

Killer Mike: “And we understand you do want to kill people. But you can’t do that. So, let this be a way for you to kill people and then go back to work and don’t kill anyone.”

Mike is alluding to Run the Jewels as an outlet for invigorating, giddy aggression — to get that aggression out in a way that is cathartic, that doesn’t hurt other people, that is punk rock in its nature.

For example, in “Lie, Cheat, Steal”, Killer Mike states, “A revolutionary banging’ on my adversaries / And I love Dr. King but violence might be necessary / Cause when you live on MLK and it gets very scary / You might have to pull you AK, send one to the cemetery.” While Mike may seem like a civil rights leader more in the vein of the Black Panthers than Martin Luther King Jr., this example is about righteous self-defense.

Bottom line, it’s refreshing to see prominent rappers who are standing up for the good of the people, all people excluding fuck boys. You won’t see Run the Jewels putting down gay people, but most notably, Run the Jewels love women.

On Charges of Misogyny

Before launching into the most controversial song off RTJ2, El-P said “This city [San Francisco] has taught me that there is a place for filth in your life.”

Rap music has always had a reputation for being somewhat connected to misogyny. But when I first heard “Love Again (Akinyele Back)” through the second minute of the record, I thought that it was a bit of a departure since El-P and Killer Mike have a clear history of celebrating women.

For example, they satirize date rape’s place in contemporary club culture with “Twin Hype Back” character Chest Rockwell, who says ridiculous things in a cheesy way that contrasts RTJ’s machine gun fire smoothness. In speaking to political power, El-P rhymes “There’s truth where the filth is / There’s lies in the law / You want a whore with a white dress / I want a wife in a thong” in “Angel Dust”. And in “Get It”, El says all he wants is “a castle / and to move like a man with a minimum of harassment / the company of women with opinions and fat asses”. You won’t find any obvious denigration of women in RTJ1 or in Mike or Producto’s solo work, so it sounded a bit odd hearing them get hyper-aggressive in a sexual manner on “Love Again”.

But that was until the third verse of the song, where they hand it off to female rapper Gangsta Boo to flip the script and give a raunchy, sexually empowering section that holds up to nasty nasty of Run the Jewels.

In their NPR interview last week, El-P said, “Girls listen to raunchy, funny stuff too.” Killer Mike discussed that his wife has heard “Love Again” and immediately compared it to “Just Put It in My Mouth” by Akinyele. The guys then referenced 2 Live Crew and Too $hort as inspirations for the song as well.

El-P and Killer Mike also addressed the inevitable presumption of misogyny some people have with “Love Again”:

Killer Mike: “So, my thing is, I trust that women are intelligent. And I get offended — I have five sisters … Women are human. I think that when we start saying equal and human, that’s across the board, you know? Women enjoy sex … I’m just happy that our audience gets it …

El-P: “… Our intention is clear. We know our intention. Listen, real story: We made that record, and it didn’t have Boo on it. And we went and got Boo because we knew what we needed for that record … We have good intentions. I know that we are not being misogynist because we are not, a) being completely serious and, b) we’re talking about fucking here. I’m sorry if you’re offending by my language … but you’re not gonna tell me that being raw or being filthy is misogyny. I know the difference.

By definition, misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. And when you let that definition sink in and listen to “Love Again” on RTJ2, labeling Run the Jewels with hating women is absolutely ridiculous. Sure, Run the Jewels often treat women as sexual objects, but they project and treat women as intellectual equals.

During the performance of “Love Again” at Mezzanine, Mike relied on the crowd to take on the “Dick in your mouth all day” refrain, making it more of a collective, fun thing. But they performed only two-thirds of the song — the all-important Gansta Boo verse was not played disembodied or with a replacement performer. This takes away from RTJ’s spirit of equality and opens the door to critics — especially since El-P admitted in the NPR interview that Gangsta Boo’s verse was a last-minute addition to rectify the song. El and Mike should find a creative way to fix this, or not play the song live, if they want to shut the door on charges of misogyny.

This was one of the most action-packed hours of live music I’ve ever seen. Ending with the final songs off of their two albums, “A Christmas Fucking Miracle” and “Angel Duster”, the cult of Run the Jewels was mostly spent as the clock approached 1 a.m. That said, most people would have been happy to hear more. Forget the last week though, El and Mike have had a non-stop couple of years and have already gone a long way to solidifying their legacy.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: El-P, Killer Mike, Mezzanine, Run The Jewels

The 15 best stage banter spewing musicians in live music today

November 13, 2014 by The Bam Team 10 Comments

Photo by Sam Heller // Written by Mike Frash & Kevin Quandt //

For better or worse, these 15 artists entertain, control and impact the collective mindset of a capacity crowd with between-song bantering as much as their music. Here’s a hint: we like our banter dry.

What did we miss? Drop us a comment to to continue the flow.

15. Dan Deacon
Dan Deacon’s stage banter serves the purpose of helping to curate a mad, collective experience. If you’ve never taken the Dan Deacon plunge, do it. And come with an open heart and mind. -MF

14. Samuel Herring (Future Islands)
Samuel Herring’s motivational banter nicely segues into Future Islands’ songs, combining over-the-top crowd engagement, fully-committed dance moves and passion that boarders on possession. For example, when introducing “Lighthouse” (watch above at 4:24), Herring says “this is a song about those dark moments in our lives, and the friends and the family that bring us back.” Here the introduction makes you ponder about the song’s lyrical meaning, magnifying its importance. -MF

13. Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
Billie Joe Armstrong has already had a long, epic career on stage and has seen it all and has done it all. After one logs as much time as Green Day on stage, some epic moments in banter/antic history are bound to happen. In the early days, they egged on the crowd to pelt them with clumps of mud, while more recently Billie Joe has decided to take his anger out on the teleprompter crew and likely be extension, Clear Channel. -KQ

12. Tom Waits
Tom Waits is no doubt one of a kind, and the man surely isn’t a road warrior these days on the live circuit. But he did perform at Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit last year to steal the show with his banter as much as his iconic, raspy voice. -MF

11. Dave Matthews
If the whole music thing doesn’t work out for Dave Matthews, he can likely take up a career in being an aspiring stand-up comedian as he has entertained crowds between songs for decades. The stream-of-conscience delivery that Matthews regularly launches into has become a fond pastime for longtime fans, even going as far to create an endearing term for it known as “davespeak”. -KQ

10. Jack White
White can talk up a storm during his gratifying live performances — no doubt he’s in the running for best live musical act of 2014. The biggest rock star in the world made headlines earlier this year at Fenway Park when he trashed Rolling Stone while also dumping on the Foo Fighters. But White’s banter can also be fun, lighthearted and engaging, something most everyone can appreciate. -MF

9. Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)
Ya don’t fuck with Josh Homme when he is onstage. Period. However, if this happens, you should be prepared to be entertained, as he will fully launch into a tirade of epic proportions upon his deserved target. I weep for those who have been on the receiving end of these legendary diatribes. -KQ

8. Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams’s passion flows from him like an angst-filled teenager, often spastic and random. But at his headlining show at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this year, Adams transitioned his banter into an impromptu gem revolving around a someone holding balloons in the back of the park in SF. If you haven’t yet, listen to his new album — it’s wholly deserving of being his self titled record. Also, watch this montage of banter highlights from the aughts. -MF

7. Les Claypool
Les Claypool is weird in all the right ways. And he’s willing to stop mid-show and comment on circumstances that surround him, whether he gets spit on from the pit, gets hit with an empty water bottle by some spunion or if he witnesses two chicks brawling front and center. -MF

6. Jeff Tweedy
Tweedy has interpreted Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” as historical spoken word poetry. There’s the time the Wilco frontman told the story of ending up two doors down from former bandmate Jay Farrar in Mexico. No matter the show, his banter contains the all important element of surprise, even that time he said “I’m trying to balance fun with crushing depression. Always a challenge.” Dry wit and wisdom define the man, yes indeed. -MF

5. Run the Jewels (Killer Mike and El-P)
El-P and Killer Mike are two of the most creative minds in music, plain and simple. You hear it in their rhymes and in El-P’s production, but also in how they grasp control of the crowd between songs. A perfect example: El Producto’s recent story about meeting Mark Kozelek before they took to their competing sets at Fun Fun Fun Fest. El got his crowd to yell “Suck My Dick Sun Kil Moon”, injecting Run the Jewels into Kozelek’s war on The War on Drugs. And the duo’s banter about finding your own 36″ Chain is an empowering lesson of personal pride and swagger over materialism. On top of that, count on Killer Mike and El-P to crush every moment with excitement and ownership. Just never forget, Run the Jewels is not for your children. -MF

4. Mac Demarco
Mac Demarco holds a mellow, irreverent spirit that is contagious. He can also stage dive like a boss, too. Then there was that time he performed naked and semi-attempted to stick the mic up his bum. He’ll never live it down. He often introduces his songs with a healthy dose of charm, and you gotta love his propensity for spontaneity. The key ingredient: Demarco ain’t afraid to engage with his audience and among the band, creating a spoken word moment out of nothing. -MF

3. Kanye West
Stage banter usually means an epic rant or four when it comes to Yeezus live, and some of the soliloquies this year have lasted longer than a Type II Phish jam. At London Wireless Festival, Kanye gave a 20 minute-plus speech, he addressed the “Fuck Kanye” mantra, attacked the media and proclaimed he’s the No. 1 fucking rock star on the planet in his return to Bonnaroo. And at Outside Lands this year, West commanded that we “make some circles … and push whoever is next to you and shit.” In most all cases, Kanye’s stage banter collects both awes and boos, while at the same time, signifying his narcissistic tendencies better than any South Park joke or comedic parody. -MF

2. Father John Misty
I know it’s early, but J. Tillman is on a legendary path. Sure, he’s a captivating storyteller, but he also has the uncanny ability to add improvised, add-on words and phrases at the end of each line at a whim (particularly with his acoustic performances). You get the sense that Tillman looks to keep things interesting for himself above all else, a quality that churns out memorable performances night after night. Most impressively, Father John Misty has created a performance space that consistently questions our collective reality, hoisting his freak flag high and daring you to come along for the adventure. What’s ultimately so captivating is how he doesn’t let you in on the joke, if there even is one to begin with. -MF

1. Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon)
Kozelek has had a career-defining year that has spanned beyond the brilliant Benji. His stage banter included telling one festival audience “all you rednecks, shut the fuck up”, and in the musical feud of the year, Koz fought a one-sided battle against The War on Drugs, going on a relentless campaign against the band when their overlapping festival sets sent the WOD speaker sound across the field to invade Sun Kil Moon’s set.

To commemorate the beef, Kozelek wrote a song, “War on Drugs: Suck My Cock”, which describes how the whole thing began — with stage banter, bringing the whole thing full circle by creating a song that he promised on the stage that day. Talk about manifesting reality. By the way, Mark, I was at The War on Drugs show at The Fillmore that night, and I didn’t take no bridge or tunnel.

It’s improvised stage banter on a genius level while also often abrasive, cruel and surly. But holy shit does it suck you in like a controlling bully on the schoolyard, forcing you to stand still so you aren’t the next target. And if you’re doubting Kozelek’s banter at all, just listen to these wise words. -MF

Filed Under: BAM of the Week, Featured Tagged With: Beck, Dan Deacon, Father John Misty, Haim, Jack White, Jeff Tweedy, Kanye West, Les Claypool (Primus), Mac Demarco, Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon), Phish, Run The Jewels (Killer Mike & El-P), Ryan Adams, Samuel Herring (Future Islands), Tom Waits

Mariachi El Bronx enjoy each moment in SF

November 12, 2014 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

By Marc Fong //

Mariachi El Bronx with Tijuana Panthers, Pounded By The Surf //
The Independent – San Francisco
November 8th, 2014 //

The world needs more mariachi bands. Matt Caughthran and crew know how to throw a party, which they proved at the sold-out Indy on Saturday. Classic mariachi tinged with an LA punk feel that’s easy on the ears. Horns, violin, accordion = fun. They’re an amiable band that’s grateful to be where they are, showing graciousness to the SF crowd even though they are still proud Dodgers fans.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Mariachi El Bronx, The Independent

GWAR’s bloodbath marks a bittersweet return to the Bay

November 12, 2014 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

By Scott Martin //

GWAR with Decapitated and American Sharks //
The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco
November 5th, 2014 //

The Regency Ballroom hosted the triumphant return of the mighty GWAR. This show was the first the band has done in the Bay Area since the death of their longtime leader and vocalist Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus).

The crowd was ready for a BLOODY good time, and that’s what they got.

Setlist:
Fly Now
Madness at the Core of Time
The Years Without Light
Hail, Genocide!
The Private Pain of Sawborg Destructo
Tormentor
I, Bonesnapper
Black and Huge
Hate Love Songs
Saddam a Go-Go
Bloodbath
Horror of Yig
Metal Metal Land
Let Us Slay
Mr. Perfect

Encore:
The Road Behind
West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys cover)

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Decapitated and American Sharks, GWAR, The Regency Ballroom

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz toil in the shadows of SF

November 11, 2014 by Marc Fong 2 Comments

By Marc Fong //

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz with Connan Mockasin //
The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco
November 9th, 2014 //

Julian Casablancas+The Voidz stormed The Regency Ballroom on Sunday with an 80’s look and a refreshingly sweaty, fun sound. Casablancas, best known as the frontman for The Strokes, stayed mostly hidden in the shadows, but that didn’t keep him from putting on a great show. He slithered around in the dark and bathed in the shade as he sang tracks off the recently released Tyranny.

While Casablancas’ distinctive voice is present like it is for The Strokes, it didn’t dominate the project’s overall sound. You knew you weren’t listening to The Strokes, but there was definitely a hint of them in there somewhere. There’s no question Casablancas exudes a more experimental, noise-rock sound for his solo performances that’s rowdy and all over the spectrum, yet still remains a damn good break from the polished alt-rock vibes of The Strokes.

The band — which you would certainly call the cops on if they were hanging out at your kids’ park — were brassy and grimy, invoking a sweltering New York summer afternoon that was not only authentic and dirty, but also well-executed. And even if they looked a little creepy, The Voidz were fun and paired well with Casablancas.

If you’re expecting to hear The Strokes, I don’t recommend a Julian Casablancas+The Voidz show. But if you want something with more punch and dirt, you will find it here with Mr. Casablancas and the gang.

Just make sure to leave your kids at home.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Julian Casablancas, Julian Casablancas+The Voidz, The Regency

Digitalism take visuals next level in return to The Independent

November 11, 2014 by James Nagel Leave a Comment

By James Nagel //

Digitalism (Live) with Big Wild, MPHD //
The Independent – San Francisco
Friday November 7th, 2014 //

Digitalism returned to The Independent with a much bigger production compared to a year and a half ago. Projected lights lit up a semitransparent curtain, creating a wall of images at times, while other times the DJs were lit up to show through. “Pogo” was a big hit with the crowd as always to end the night, with everyone singing along in the confines of the sold out room.

Opener Big Wild barely coaxed a head bob from the crowd that anxiously awaited Digitalism’s live set.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Digitalism, The Independent

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to The Presets at The Warfield 11/13 (THUR)

November 11, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Mike Frash //

The Presets with Antwon, Chela, Franki Chan, Marco De La Vega & Chauncey //
The Warfield – San Francisco
Thursday, November 13th 2014 //

Win a pair of free tickets to one of our SF Shows of the Week by entering your name and email below. Contest ends Wednesday, November 12th at Noon.

The Presets last full length, Pacifica, was one of our top 10 albums of 2012, and lucky for us the captivating Aussie duo return to SF this Thursday at The Warfield.

We were there for their return to touring at The Independent, when they blew minds sub-headlining at Treasure Island Music Festival, along with their appearance last year at Fox Theater Oakland, so we can promise one thing: you will dance.

And if you don’t find yourself dancing while taking in The Presets, perhaps it’s time to check yourself.

This couldn’t be more true than right now as The Presets wrap up the Check Yo Ponytail tour, where the party-starting electro-house outfit have joined forces with a dynamic group of dance and rap upstarts that includes Le1f, Antwon, Chela and Frankie Chan.

The Presets are busy at work on their fourth LP, but that didn’t stop Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes from releasing two excellent singles this year.

First came “Goodbye Future”, a tech-house blaster that slightly signals a return to a song structure reminiscent of “This Boy’s in Love”.

“No Fun” balances a wonky breakbeat with a four-on-the-floor chugger, until it blasts off into a refrain that crescendos into the euphoric stratosphere.

The Presets are one of our favorite dance acts that incorporate live instrumentation and singing, and you can win big by seeing them for free courtesy of Showbams. Enter your name below.

Buy tickets if you know you want to go.

Recommended Shows in SF this week:
*We’ll be giving away free tickets to all shows marked in italics below. Follow us on Twitter to be the first in line to win tickets to these events.

Mac DeMarco on Tuesday, 11/11 at The Fillmore
Hiss Golden Messenger on Tuesday, 11/11 at The Independent
Slayer on Tuesday & Wednesday, 11/11 & 11/12 at Fox Theater Oakland
Shakey Graves on Wednesday, 11/12 at The Independent
First Aid Kit on Thursday, 11/13 at Fox Theater Oakland
Les Sins (Toro y Moi) on Thursday, 11/13 at 1015 Folsom
Generationals on Thursday, 11/13 at The Chapel
Run The Jewels on Friday, 11/14 at Mezzanine
*Jacques Greene on Friday, 11/14 at Rickshaw Stop
*The Sam Chase on Friday, 11/14 at The Chapel
Greensky Bluegrass on Friday & Saturday, 11/14 & 11/15 at The Fillmore
Tame Impala with Delicate Steve on Saturday & Sunday, 11/15 & 11/16 at Fox Theater Oakland
SOHN on Saturday, 11/15 at Mezzanine
The Stone Foxes on Saturday, 11/15 at The Chapel
RAC on Saturday, 11/15 at The Warfield
*Los Straitjackets on Sunday, 11/16 at The Chapel
Field Report on Sunday, 11/16 at Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Contest ends Wednesday, November 12th at Noon. Enter your name (first and last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on Wednesday afternoon.

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests, Featured Tagged With: SF Shows of the Week, The Presets, The Warfield

PHOTOS: Foster The People, Sylvan Esso at Fox Oakland 11/8

November 10, 2014 by James Nagel Leave a Comment

By James Nagel //

Foster the People with Sylvan Esso, Soko //
Fox Theater – Oakland, CA
November 8th, 2014 //

It was a night of slick pop, both established and emerging, in Oakland on Saturday.

Tight production, awesome lighting, dynamic and colorful. These descriptions dutifully describe Foster the People 2.0. Mark Foster has come a long way from writing commercial jingles. And now he sports blond hair à la Bart Simpson as he leads the People in continued support of the group’s second effort, Supermodel. Foster The People are as glossy as it gets in 2014, and the photos below help to inform this opinion.

2014 breakout act Sylvan Esso opened for FTP for the first time on Saturday at The Fox, and just as when they opened for tUnE-yArDs and headlined at The Independent, show goers responded without hesitation throughout, as Amelia Meath’s dancing inspires replication. Producer and passionate nob-turner Nick Sanborn flipped off the crowd in the middle of the song for no apparent reason — perhaps to elicit some kind emotive response.

Openers Soko were a bit awkward between songs, and the crowd of late teens seemed hesitant to embrace the unfamiliar early on in the night.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Foster the People, Fox Theater Oakland, Soko, Sylvan Esso

Jack Antonoff doubles down his place in pop with Bleachers

November 10, 2014 by Steve Carlson 1 Comment

By Steve Carlson //

Bleachers with Wild Cub //
The Independent – San Francisco
November 6th, 2014 //

Jack Antonoff, most well-known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Grammy-winning band fun., brought his acclaimed side project Bleachers and its rollicking, energetic live show to The Independent last Thursday, and the sold-out crowd was in the palm of his hand from the first notes. Antonoff deftly led his band through nearly every track off the debut album Strange Desire (only the Yoko Ono collaboration “I’m Ready To Move On” was thankfully omitted), and he even threw in a couple of covers to pad the setlist, including Tom Petty’s “Don’t Come Around Here No More” and an acoustic rendition of Steel Train’s excellent song “Bullet” from their 2010 self-titled release.

Other highlights included an extended, Springsteen-esque jam of “You’re Still a Mystery”, featuring a saxophone solo that would’ve made the late Clarence Clemons proud, and an abundance of manically entertaining stage banter between songs. There was no mention of fun. this night, and judging by the crowd’s tendency to sing along with every song, nobody minded that at all. Antonoff suggested that Bleachers will announce a return to the Bay Area sometime in 2015, undoubtedly to an even larger audience.

Opening the show was Nashville’s own Wild Cub, who surprised a few in the audience with an energetic, tight performance. Seven songs and one marriage proposal later (the band was kind enough to pause and bring the house lights up for the lucky couple before launching into their hit single “Thunder Clatter”), Wild Cub made it clear to the packed house why they’re a band worth keeping an eye on. They return to the SF Masonic on December 15th as part of the KFOG Concert for Kids, in what will be their third Bay Area appearance since August.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Bleachers, The Independent, Wild Cub

Aussie psych rockers Pond deliver perfection at The Indy

November 5, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

By Patrick Kelly //

Pond //
The Independent – San Francisco
October 30th, 2014

I have little idea how, but last week, Pond snuck into SF with limited fanfare. Months ago, when the show was announced, I had assumed it would be one of the buzziest shows of the year. With these Aussies rolling off the success of their sister group Tame Impala (the bands share a couple of members) and the psychedelic rock scene making a little comeback, I figured The Independent would be a scene within itself, resplendent with those calling out for a Tame Impala cover while trying to talk over the extended shredding.

What I got, thankfully, was the exact opposite: It was entirely about the music. I’ve known bands to be tighter at the end of their tour, but calling Pond’s performance “tight” would be an understatement. They nailed the licks and the jams; they had the confidence that everyone in the room knew how tight they were playing. And most importantly, they played it looooouuuud from the start. The fans, and they were true fans, ate up every minute of the hour-plus show –- the unheard tunes off the upcoming Man, It Feels Like Space Again, the complicated and catchy favorites off of Beard, Wives, Denim as well as Hobo Rocket and of course, the extended jams.

I had measured expectations coming in: Pond’s albums are forceful, interesting and catchy. But until you see the heart behind the tunes in person, it’s hard to predict if the force of their studio digs will show through live. With all of the heart they put forward last Thursday, it’s easy not only to say that they wildly exceeded my expectations, but also that they’ll almost surely be among my Top 10 shows of the year.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Pond, Tame Impala, The Independent

Milky Chance packs Rickshaw Stop for SF debut

October 30, 2014 by Justin Yee Leave a Comment

By Justin Yee //

Milky Chance //
Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco
October 23rd, 2014

Milky Chance made their SF debut this past Thursday to a sold-out crowd at the Rickshaw Stop. Though the German duo was booked as an opener to Chris Malinchak for POPSCENE’s weekly club night, it seemed apparent that the majority of people in attendance were not there for the headliner. In fact, as soon as Milky Chance hit the stage, they were welcomed with such a loud roar and applause that one would be convinced they were the main event.

Vocalist/guitarist Clemens Rehbein and DJ/drummer Philipp Dausch make up the band. Playing their mix of folk-, reggae- and electronica-influenced pop music, or “folktronica” as I’ve heard some people call it, they had the crowd bouncing to their beats and singing along to tracks from their recently released debut album Sadnecessary. In between songs, the two did not say much, as it seems like they are still learning English. However, based on their expressions and body language, the two looked surprised by how many fans were there and knew their songs.

They closed with hit single “Stolen Dance”, which had the crowd going nuts — so much so, that they came out for an encore, something I’ve never seen an opening band do before. They finished off a top-notch set with “Down By the River” and walked around the stage giving high fives as they soaked in the cheers from the crowd.

The duo will be returning to SF on April 14th-15th to play The Regency Ballroom on their own headlining tour. So, if you missed them this time around, get your tickets now because those are sure to sell out.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Chris Malinchak, Milky Chance, Popscene, Rickshaw Stop

Run The Jewels – Run the Jewels 2 // Community Review

October 28, 2014 by The Bam Team 2 Comments

Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 2 //

It’s thrilling to see Run The Jewels become more than a one-off project. El-P & Killer Mike clearly recognize they are stronger together, as they’ve now released their second record in two years — and once again, Run the Jewels 2 has been given away for free. Between this and inspiring a crowd-funded all-cat remix record of Run the Jewels 2 (we can’t wait), it’s safe to say El Producto & Michael Render get the internet and the king-making power they will continue to have by embracing and entertaining fans online.

What do you think of RTJ2? Leave a comment or quick review below to win free tickets to shows in SF.

BAM TEAM RATING:

So often sequels don’t deliver, but ascending hip hop stars Killer Mike & El-P have simply progressed their brilliance as Run The Jewels one year removed from their first collaboration. So what’s the difference this time? From the top, Michael Render manages to set a higher bar for pumped up aggression, there’s more social activism laced throughout, more special guests (that don’t ever distract) and a handful stand-alone gems. Like a championship baseball team, the songs in the two hole through cleanup hitter serve the biggest impact, wreaking instant classics with masterful experimental production from El-P that emits new surprises with subsequent listens. RTJ have peaked awareness with the best PR campaign of 2014, using crowdsourcing and social media as a weapon while capturing our love of cats to a point of absurdity — something that ideally signifies these future headliners’ brand of fun, weird rap. -Mike Frash
4.5 BAMS // Top Song: “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”

Hip-Hop duo EL-P and Killer Mike drop an aggressive release with their sophomore effort, Run the Jewels 2. It’s unapologetically in your face with dark, grimy beats and fervent lyrics that will raise the hairs on your middle fingers. They immediately set the tone on the second track, “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry” as EL-P boasts “Fuck the law, they can eat my dick” and don’t look back, following with collaborations from Zach De La Rocha, Travis Barker, Isaiah “Ikey” Owens (RIP) and Gangsta Boo. While there’s an angst on this record that will inspire the meanest of mean mugs and an underlining “fuck you” anthem that gives it elements of rock n’ roll and punk rock, it’s smoothed out by genuinely thoughtful compositions. These dudes aren’t just careless pissed off amateurs; they’re pissed off veterans that demand respect. If they don’t get some recognition after this record, then real hip-hop, as we know it, is doomed. -Anthony Presti
4 BAMS // Top Song: “Lie, Cheat, Steal”

One of the best hip hop albums of the last few years sees its follow up with Run The Jewels 2, starring nearly 40-year-old men Killer Mike and El-P. As unlikely as it sounds, these two are making some of the most progressive rap around. While not quite hitting the mark of their debut release, RTJ2 is a solid effort and the bass heavy production is sure to get heads nodding and trunks rattling unnecessarily loudly. -Steven Wandrey
3.5 BAMS // “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”

Show me two rappers having a better time than El-P and Killer Mike. I dare you. They return along with producer Little Shalimar in tow for their second full length as Run The Jewels and up the ante on all that was awesome from their free-to-download debut. RTJ2 drips with brash aggression and trunk banging beats but equalizes with tones of seriousness that keeps the record diverse. El-P and Killer Mike are beyond skilled on the mic and when they get in a flow like this, just sit back and enjoy the show. Definition of a damn fun record. -Dale Johnson
4 BAMS // Top Song: “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”

What do you think of RTJ2? Leave a comment or quick review below to win free tickets to shows in SF.

Filed Under: Community Review, Featured, New Music Tagged With: Community Review, Run The Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

Caribou – Our Love // Community Review

October 25, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Caribou – Our Love //

The newest album from Dan Snaith as Caribou, Our Love (Merge), debuted on October 7th, and three members of the BAM team weigh in below with quick reviews.

What’s your take on Caribou’s latest? Leave your own Quick Review or comment below — if we like it, we’ll give you your choice of show ticket giveaways this week in SF.

BAM TEAM RATING:

Ah, welcome back to the fold Mr. Snaith, we have missed you. Caribou has returned after about a half-decade absence with the stellar release entitled Our Love. Dan Snaith has traded in some of psych-rock chops (as heard on Andorra) for a more electric-leaning album that is sure to please most palettes. We hear some influence from forward-thinking beat producers smattered in for good taste and are taken to lush landscapes that swell with beauty. The manner in which Snaith traverses styles is simply refreshing and leaves you wanting more née you finish the 10 tracks. -Kevin Quandt
4 BAMS // Top Track: “Silver”

Though this kind of music is not really my cup of tea, I really enjoyed listening to the latest offering by Caribou (aka Dan Snaith). It comes on strong and carries you along for a smooth ride. There were a few lulls in the momentum, and like a lot of electronic/house albums it can be a bit repetitive, but overall I think it album makes for great driving music. -Andrew Pohl
3 BAMS // Top Track: “Can’t Do Without You”

What we have here is one of the most addictive albums of 2014. Our Love keeps deep house in its front pocket with steady beats per minute and an introspective mantra-centric lyrical conceit, but it’s also exploratory in nature, finding success in consistantly building toward intense, euphoric plateaus. A steady flow of pleasant sounds ascend into impacting transcendence with “Can’t Do Without You”, “Silver”, and “Your Love Will Set You Free”, and you must give Snaith extra credit for the masterful pacing and song sequencing — there is never a ‘skip ahead’ moment. Like most classic albums, it opens up and becomes more pleasurable with subsequent listens, even though this collection of songs is mostly presented in poetic simplicity. -Mike Frash
4.5 BAMS // Top Song: “Our Love”

Filed Under: Community Review, Featured, New Music Tagged With: Caribou, Community Review, Our Love

SBTRKT, BBNG, Rock The Boat highlight TIMF 2014 nightlife

October 25, 2014 by Molly Kish 1 Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Outside of the killer two day festival that took place on Treasure Island last Saturday and Sunday, TIMF 2014 extended the good times with an onslaught of night shows and after parties throughout the week. Getting several venues, a museum and even a luxury yacht involved in the action, Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment made sure that the 8th annual Treasure Island Music Festival maximized its party potential.

View the 21 best and worst things we saw at Treasure Island Music Festival 2014.

Photos by Mike Rosati //

BADBADNOTGOOD with Saint Pepsi //
San Francisco – CA Academy of Sciences
October 16th, 2014

Photos by Justin Yee //

SBTRKT with Goldlink at the Fox Theater
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
October 17th, 2014

Photos by Marc Fong //

The Bold Italic and Shanti Project present Rock The Boat party boat aboard the San Francisco Spirit with DJ sets by Matt Haze, Dj Rapid Fire, King Most and MPHD.

Rock the Boat was without contention, the absolute best way to get to and from the island this year. Beyond saving you from skyrocketed rideshare fares, bumper to bumper exiting traffic and shuttle lines from hell, the RTB yacht kept the party going in hassle free luxury. Three separate levels of fully stocked bars, complimentary buffets and ample booth seating for festival weary travelers, accommodating those not inhabiting the bottom deck’s ballroom dance floor with rotating DJs. Sailing its passengers to and from downtown San Francisco, offering sweeping views of the city skyline and both the old and new undercarriages of the Bay Bridge, Rock the Boat was a scenic, glamorous and incredibly carefree alternative transportation for TIMF attendees pre and post festival.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: BADBADNOTGOOD, Rock The Boat, Sbtrkt, Treasure Island Music Festival

Culture Collide Festival invades SF, LA with talent far and wide

October 23, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

By Marc Fong and Josh Herwitt //

Culture Collide Festival //
Various venues in San Francisco and Los Angeles
October 14th-15th in SF; October 16th-18th in LA //

Culture Collide Festival stopped off in SF for the first time ever before making its way down to LA last weekend, bringing bands from around the globe to celebrate music, food and well, culture, of course. With U.S. headliners Cloud Nothings and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah leading the way, the festival also boasted plenty of international talent, from Israel’s SKYROADS to Colombia’s Quantic. Marc Fong hit up the festival in SF and Josh Herwitt was in LA to give their own takes on a dozen different acts.

Rock N Roll Radio

Rock N Roll Radio (Korea): Though the vocals were a bit muffled and its English was rough, this Korean band communicated fun in the most basic of ways — through catchy, poppy riffs.

Go Back to the Zoo (Netherlands): The lyrics were a little repetitive, but their melodies were strong and soulful. Think early Kings of Leon.

Kamp! (Poland): Kamp!’s synth-heavy songs were fun, yet mellow, making for a slow ride into the night at the Elbo Room.

SKYROADS (Israel): Of Monsters and Men meet Freelance Whales. A little rough around the edges, this band has a strong radio sound, plus an amazing performance. Don’t be surprised to see and hear more from SKYROADS in the near future.

Everyone Is Dirty (USA): Gritty tunes from a gritty band by way of Oakland. They sound like garage rockers but with a lot of flare, great vocals and most notably, some kick-ass violin playing.

Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings (USA): Cleveland pop-punk outfit Cloud Nothings brought a grisly sound to The Chapel with catchy hooks and fun, crunchy riffs. If you haven’t checked out their latest album Here and Nowhere Else (read our review here) yet, you should.

Nervous Nellie (Sweden): This four-piece out of Stockholm brought some fun indie-rock tunes from its Scandinavian homeland.

Beat Connection (USA): Reminiscent of early M83, these four guys from Seattle offered a fun way to fade into the night and close out the SF edition of the fest.

De Lux (USA): Fans of this burgeoning LA act got their weekend started early in Echo Park, moving and grooving to a funky set chock full of post-disco, dance-punk cuts that have drawn comparisons (and rightfully so) to Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip. After releasing their debut LP Voyage in April to much fanfare, Glendale natives Sean Guerin and Isaac Franco appear to have a promising career ahead of them.

MØ (Denmark): Dropping their debut album No Mythologies to Follow in March, Karen Marie Ørsted and her sidekicks electrified the Echoplex with one electropop hook after another during their nearly hour-long show. It should be only a matter of time before the 26-year-old singer-songwriter is selling out venues all across the country. Her growing popularity, in fact, could very well skyrocket following her performance with Iggy Azalea on Saturday Night Live this month.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (USA): After revolutionizing independent music in the mid-2000s thanks to the interwebs, the Philly-based group has endured quite a few changes. Frontman Alec Ounsworth remains the only original member still in the band, and for all intents and purposes, it is clearly his band at this point. But the recent release of their fourth full-length album — and a relatively lackluster one — Only Run has CYHSY living off many of their earlier hits that once earned the attention of legends like David Bowie and David Byrne back in 2005.

Quantic (Colombia): Multi-instrumentalist, DJ and record producer Will Holland may be one of music’s biggest hidden talents. As one of Holland’s most prolific projects, Quantic pulls from a variety of styles, including cumbia, salsa, bossa nova, soul, funk and jazz, while the UK native works his way from one instrument to the next (his current arsenal includes guitar, bass, double bass, saxophone, accordion, piano, organ and various percussion instruments). Inside the diminutive and sweaty Echo Park United Methodist Church, Holland and his ensemble got some eager fans out of their seats just seconds after taking the stage. Though Holland said it would be Quantic’s last show for some time, they won over at least a few new fans that night, too.

Rock N Roll Radio

Go Back to the Zoo

Kamp!

SKYROADS

Everyone Is Dirty

Cloud Nothings

Nervous Nellie

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Beat Connection

MØ

MØ

MØ

MØ

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Quantic

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Alec Ounsworth, Beat Connection, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cloud Nothings, Culture Collide Festival, De Lux, Echo Park United Methodist Church, Echoplex, Everyone Is Dirty, Freelance Whales, Go Back to the Zoo, Hot Chip, Kamp!, Karen Marie Ørsted, LCD Soundsystem, M83, MO, Nervous Nellie, Of Monsters and Men, Quantic, Rock N Roll Radio, SKYROADS, Talking Heads, The Chapel, Will Holland

The best of Treasure Island Music Festival 2014

October 21, 2014 by Mike Frash 2 Comments

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

Treasure Island Music Festival //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
October 18th-19th, 2014 //

Treasure Island Music Festival 2014 will be remembered for its triumphant headliners along with its embrace of minimalist, finger-snapping electro-pop. Some of the performing acts that have blown up over the past year or so — including Jungle, Zedd, BANKS and Chet Faker — offered relatively tame performances, struggling to elevate their live music experiences. But many other acts gave inspired, breathtaking or insanely fun sets.

Here’s our best (and worst) of TIMF 2014.

Show of the Weekend: Massive Attack

With perhaps the most appropriate name for musical act on the planet, Massive Attack capped Treasure Island Music Festival 2014 in stunning fashion. With a balancing act of bass-infused downtempo brilliance highlighted by Martina Topley-Bird’s singing and industrialized synth-stabbing electronic pieces, a range of emotion is achieved for the listener. With contrasting tempos and a duality of tranquility then intensity, a cause-and-effect narrative starts to take shape — especially when paying attention to the video elements of the intense songs. “United Snakes” left nothing to the imagination with its barrage of corporate logos and national flags. It appeared the expanded duo slipped in one frame of a Ferris wheel, reminding us that yes, us consumers at TIMF, the only U.S. festival Massive Attack played on this tour, are part of the system. “Future Proof” visuals stripped out rows of zeroes and ones, using the simplicity of computer code to inspire multiple paths of thought, especially while absorbing this show in the Bay Area. And Tunde Adebimpe from TV On The Radio joined in for “Pray For Rain” for the grand finale.

Biggest Bay Area Party of the Year: OutKast

It’s almost the end of the biggest reunion tour in decades, and TIMF patrons were lucky enough to witness one of OutKast’s last shows. The Bridge Stage was more packed in than any show in memory, and festivalgoers outwardly had more fun compared to performances from past years. The set was perfectly paced, with André 3000 seemingly having a fun time — an important part of the equation compared to Big Boi’s rock-steady appearances throughout 2014. The guys gave shout-outs to Casual and The Misfits in the “local love” part of the show, and “Roses” (including a half-hearted apology for the “crazy bitch” outro) once again was one of the highlights. The set ended at least 20 minutes before the scheduled end of the day, emptying a large percentage of patrons into the shuttle line at the same time — there were some reports of people not making it back to SF until 2 a.m.

Most Likely to Headline Festivals Very Soon: alt-J

alt-J is no longer a band on the rise, but one of the biggest bands in the world with this just-launched tour in support of the group’s second LP. This hour-long set at TIMF seemed like a coronation of sorts as it was the first festival set the now-quartet has played with new material. The highlights from An Awesome Wave still act as the backbone of the set while the best cuts from This Is All Yours were cherry-picked and sprinkled in perfectly to enhance their already-inspiring live show. “Hunger of the Pine” got things going while “Left Hand Free” worked well, getting away from the heady elements for a bit. “Dissolve Me” into “Matilda” is still so incredibly beautiful and emotive — alt-J should never break these two songs up. “Every Other Freckle” is the one song where I wish the guys would have considered new lyrics, but it’s a small complaint for a concert experience that had a huge crowd rapturously involved. When music implores a festival audience to be fully invested as alt-J pulled off on Sunday, with no one talking during the quiet intimate parts, it becomes clear you are ingesting something special. Even though their rise in popularity has happened remarkably fast, that trend should continue to move upward through festival season next year.

Most TIMF Set of the Weekend: Classixx

On paper, Classixx is the ideal act for Treasure Island Music Festival 2014, and the duo delivered on this promise in the all-important sunset time slot. Restrained but upbeat enough, pop-oriented yet progressive in its sound, the LA-based remixers-turned-original producers brought Saturday together based on what we expect from past TIMF years. Their on-stage centerpiece, a modern take on a 1980’s-era television, visualizes Nancy Whang for “All You’re Waiting For” and YACHT’s Claire L. Evans for a remix of “Psychic City”. The television set offers a surreal scene juxtaposed with the backgrounded City skyline, functionally helping to break down the walls of disembodied vocals.

Best New Material: TV On The Radio

TVOTR gave one of the best sets of the weekend with their wonderful mix of slow burners, dance-punk blasts of energy along with three new songs: “Happy Idiot”, “Careful You” and “Could You”. The latter two were particularly impressive and fit perfectly into the band’s catalog. A couple other notes on the show: producer and multi-instrumentalist David Sitek now looks like Bono, Kyp Malone is still professionally chill and Tunde Adebimpe continues to be offended when listeners don’t give him full attention. After completing “Wolf Like Me”, wherein the TI faithful went nuts, the lead singer said that he couldn’t believe he saw someone leave during the song. Agreed Tunde, and we’re looking forward to the forthcoming record.

Best Recovery: Janelle Monáe

What’s exactly the point of sound checking a microphone if you’re not going to do it completely? The guy setting up the mic put it on the stand after unsuccessfully getting it to work, and Monáe sang the first song completely unaware her voice wasn’t projecting through the speakers. After some crowd chanting, a new microphone, and three different people near me saying “Why doesn’t she use the backup singer’s mic?” order was finally restored. Also, when we got “Tightrope”, all hope of seeing Monáe join mentor Big Boi during OutKast was shot. Still, there’s no doubt the Electric Lady is just beginning a long and illustrious career. And as she proved with “Cold War”, it’s damn near impossible to take your eyes or ears off her when it’s her time to shine.

Best Pop-Culture Friend-Finder: Bill Murray

Bill Murray is clearly the most important American pop culture icon, and this group knows it. They also had a high-flying Bill Murray flag to triangulate positions.

Best Festival Outlier: Ana Tijoux

French-Chilean MC and singer-songwriter Ana Tijoux brought the best change of pace on Saturday, something apparent from the beginning of “Vengo”. Upbeat and passionate fire-spitting about social injustice with electronic elements and a horn section? Yes please — this was perhaps the only set on the dance-oriented first day without finger snapping or words in English.

Most TIMF Set of the Weekend Part 2: Washed Out

It’s impressive how Ernest Greene has evolved Washed Out from bedroom project to leader of the chill-wave movement to a live performer that can mimic the energy of a dance show through instrumentation. Like Classixx, this one just felt right for TIMF.

Most Immersive Set: Poliça

Sultry. Intensely Moody. World music-infused. These are the words I wrote down before being completely drawn into this set. Once awakening after completing locking in to a couple songs, I opted to get to alt-J early for a good spot. It was a tough call since Poliça were thoroughly captivating — I’ll be looking to see them again soon.

Best Unintentional Festival Blending: MØ

MØ emerged on stage sporting a black eye-patch, seemingly joining in on the pirate theme that has defined TIMF over the years. But after a song, Karen Marie Ørsted needlessly admitted to an eye infection, even though the optical accessory worked well with her braid and masculine power stances. MØ stood above the other new minimalist-glitch offerings on display at TIMF 2014 with her authentic energy, ownership of the stage and video support. Mixing oddly-appealing archival footage on loop, including a small animal’s still-beating heart in the palm of a hand, with imagery of herself working background vocals, made this electropop highlight even more memorable.

Band that Deserves More Listeners: White Denim

It’s a shame White Denim couldn’t be featured later in the day for more festivalgoers on Sunday. The seemingly spastic song structures and prog-rock mentality make White Denim a group to add to that list of bands you try to see perform live when they come to town.

Set that Thinned Out the Most: The New Pornographers

Along with the TIMF headliners, The New Pornographers have the most seniority out of all TIMF acts. Cuts from their underestimated 2014 record Brill Bruisers created the backbone of the set with fan favorites laced in throughout. Songs led by Destroyer’s Dan Bejar, with their skewered and self-inflicting lyrics, resonated strongest. This show thinned out as the set went on while most younger festivalgoers were queuing up for Chet Faker, signifying the current state of indie music popularity. Sadly, the eight members of the group walked off stage to nary an audible clap.

Best Constant Dance Party: Silent Disco

With no overlapping sets, Silent Disco is always an option if you want house music instead of the provided musicians on stage.

Best Pop-Culture Friend-Finder 2: Kim Kardashian with Laser Beam Eyes at BANKS

BANKS kind of sums up the direction indie-turned-pop music has gone in 2014. Sleek bare-bones production, glitch elements and moody synth lay the ground work for whispery vocals. This aural cocktail has captured the collective zeitgeist (along with much of the TIMF curation) this year. Jillian Banks has an immaculate voice and is mega popular worldwide, but her set felt like more of the same. BANKS banned media photography for her TIMF set, so here’s a photo of one of the best location markers of the weekend: Kim Kardashian with laser beams coming out of her eyes.

Most Entertaining Hype Man: The Growlers

Weirdo garage rock! The Growlers almost didn’t make their set according to the introduction given by the group’s eccentric hype-man named DMTina. But the psych-goth surf rock was pleasant enough, with “Chinese Fountain” giving a fun tone to the afternoon, but the dude in the robe pretty much stole the show.

Most Shiny Electro-Pop of the Weekend: St. Lucia

I have to be honest, St. Lucia is a bit too shiny and synth-heavy for me, but damn do they give it their all. If you’re into the nu-disco pop revival, St. Lucia is for you. OutKast was a priority, though.

Most Surface-Level Fun: Jungle

Churning soul-disco mystery collective Jungle is a more well-known entity now, and the skyrocketing, UK-based outfit adeptly loops morsels of pleasurable phrasing as a house DJ would. But it all sounds the same. And given their debut record, I expected many similarities from song to song but still hoped for something more out of their live interpretations. Jungle is generic to the point of being an emotional blank slate, tofu without any other tastes involved. But there’s no better time than now to get involved in some Giants pandering — the “Let’s Go Giants” chant sparked by Josh Lloyd-Watson’s jersey and reference to SF’s World Series-bound team was one of the biggest crowd responses of the set.

Best Mobile Dance Party: Robot Dance Party

Robot Dance Party can’t stop, won’t stop.

Most Unlikely Show with People on Shoulders: Chet Faker

Chet Faker had the crew bring out a huge bass speaker to put directly behind him after his first song to give his music more oomph. And when he dipped into his career-making collaborations with Flume, “Left Alone” and “Drop the Game”, the Tunnel stage instantly began moving like the rhythm of the ocean. But otherwise, the set was downtempo to the point of boredom. And it’s not a good idea to take one of your best songs, “Talk is Cheap”, and strip it down even more. Some ladies still felt compelled to rock their friend’s shoulders as if it was a dance show, something that I’m still trying to figure out.

Biggest Spectacle Over Substance: Zedd

More than any other set at TIMF 2014, Zedd felt out of place. By this point on Saturday, the fest needed a jump of adrenaline, but the Top 40 producer wasn’t the solution. Where acts like Knife Party or Bassnectar would have fallen more in line with the traditional ethos of TIMF, Zedd brought his world of contemporary pop to the island. There was no layering or transitions, his drops didn’t stand out from the EDM pack, and the show lacked any memorable surprises.

What were your favorite sets of Treasure Island Music Festival 2014?

OutKast at TIMF // Photo by Marc Fong

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Alt-J, Ana Tijoux, Banks, Bill Murray, Chet Faker, Classixx, Janelle Monáe, Jungle, Kim Kardashian, Massive Attack, MO, OutKast, Poliça, Robot Dance Party, Silent Disco, St. Lucia, The Growlers, The New Pornographers, Treasure Island Music Festival 2014, TV on the Radio, Washed Out, White Denim, Zedd

Rubblebucket’s Survival Sounds lifting indie act to the next level

October 21, 2014 by Kevin J Quandt Leave a Comment

Photos by Kory Thibeault // Written by Kevin Quandt //

Rubblebucket with Royal Canoe //
The Independent – San Francisco
October 15th, 2014 //

It’s been one helluva year for the Brooklyn-based indie-dance outfit known as Rubblebucket. There’s been some tough times that started back in July of 2013 when front-woman Kalmia Traver was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, yet luckily the electric leader is in remission. They also proceeded to pump out a new album, appropriately titled, Survival Sounds. On this sold-out Wednesday evening, both Kalmia and the new record were the clear shining stars of the night as each complimented each other in ecstatic manners.

Before we go any further, it should be stated that Kalmia Traver is one of the best frontwoman in the business. She truly is the full package as she sings with a rigorous passion, dances joyously, plays baritone sax and wins the adoration of nearly every member of the audience. Her dedication is refreshing and infectious. The group’s sound has evolved to a more varied palette as comparisons to Arcade Fire could begin to fester in one’s mind. In fact, they really could be an ideal candidate for tour-mates in the future.

“Sounds of Erasing” was a highlight early in the show as the Independent was transformed to an island getaway as the breezy vibes were expertly delivered. It was evident that Rubblebucket are madly in love with their latest efforts as the first half of the show played heavy on it. Choreographed dance moves by the two-man horn section accompanied most songs. The projections and lighting were sublimely seamed into each track and augmented the show further. Another spotlight new track, “Hey Everybody”, had the vibe of Bjork singing over a TV on the Radio song. This night peaked with a revelrous rendition of “Came Out of a Lady” that featured a local friend (John of Brass Magic) blasting beefy notes on his sousaphone. At the end of it all, the crowd left fully satiated from one of indie music’s rising stars, completely deserving of the love and adoration that many have, and some discovered, for this band.

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

Treasure Island Music Festival 2014 Mix: Matt Haze

October 16, 2014 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Co-founder at MoreSF and Slayers Club DJ/promoter/event producer Matt Haze will be manning the decks on this weekend’s Rock The Boat party courtesy of The Bold Italic, shuttling Treasure Island Music Festival attendees across the Bay in style.

Check out his latest mix below, where in just over an hour, he features 29 of the festival’s top acts, perfectly designed to get you through the rest of the work week and into a "Rage the Bay" mindset.

Matt Haze — TIMF Artist Mix

TRACK LISTING:

Classixx – A Stranger Love (Salva Remix)
Alt-J – Fitzpleasure (The Internet of Odd Future Remix)
Zedd – Stay the Night (Yung Wall Street Flip)
Ryan Hemsworth with UV boi – Gods
Massive Attack – Teardrop (Sanxion & Vinyl Junkie Remix)
Moby and Damien Jurado – Almost Home (Washed Out Remix)
Chet Faker – I’m Into You (# Remix)
MØ ft. Diplo – XXX88 (Joe Hertz Remix)
Tobacco – Side 8 (Big Gums Version)
Cathedrals – OOO AAA
XXYYXX – Alexis
Bit Funk – Beside
Quantic y Anita Tijoux – Doo Wop (That Thing)
Jungle – Platoon
Luxxury – The Sound of Garfunkel
TV on the Radio – Will Do (Mylo Remix)
Janelle Monae – Dance Apocalyptic
Ásgeir – King and Cross
St. Lucia – Elevate
Poliça – Dark Star
Painted Palms – Hypnotic
Talking Heads – City of Dreams (MoPo’s 2011 ReBoot)
Outkast – Wheels of Steel (The Polish Ambassador Remix)
MPHD – Brooklyn
Ratking (feat. Wavy Spice) – Puerto Rican Judo
Tom Thump – I Got Cash
Bleached – For the Feel
White Denim – Anvil Everything
The Growlers – Someday

Also, be sure to register here for your chance at a pair of weekend passes to get down with Matt Haze and the rest of the party boat crew, courtesy of The Bold Italic and Showbams!

Fill out your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Thursday at 4 p.m. The winner will be picked at random and notified by email on Thursday. Your email will be kept private –- we will share your email with no one.

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

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Filed Under: Featured, Mixtapes Tagged With: Matt Haze, Treasure Island Music Festival

17 reasons to rage in the bay at Treasure Island Fest 2014

October 14, 2014 by The Bam Team 2 Comments

Photos by Marc Fong // Written by Mike Frash, Molly Kish, Kevin Quandt and Marc Fong //

Treasure Island Music Festival //
Treasure Island – San Francisco
October 18th-19th, 2014 //

The Festival in the Bay returns this weekend with its progressive mix of indie rock, electronic/dance, hip-hop and (now) soul. Treasure Island Music Festival is always adept at curating under-card acts that are in the process of emerging into collective consciousness while crowning the bill with well-known musical entities that most independent-minded music fans will enjoy.

View the full schedule. Tickets are still available (for now), and you can buy them here.

Here are 17 reasons why you should rage in the Bay at TIMF this weekend.

BONUS CONTEST: Enter below to rock The Bold Italic’s party boat to & from TIMF for FREE!

17. Not familiar with every act on the bill? Well, that’s half the fun at these contemporary music festivals, as your next favorite band is just waiting to be discovered.

16. Discover why Janelle Monáe is a headliner of the (very near) future. She’ll likely join OutKast as well, more specifically Big Boi, for their collaboration “Tightrope”. This treat was only viewed by a handful of crowds on the reunion tour, including during Coachella Weekend 1 and at OutKast’s hometown spectacular in Atlanta last month.

15. Jean-Philip Grobler and company put on breathtaking performances as St. Lucia. The Brooklyn-based band has a familiar electro sound, but simultaneously has a playfulness that will wonderfully fit with the TIMF crowd.

14. Stumbling across the Silent Disco, tucked away in the eastern corner of the festival ground, can be a surreal experience. Filled with festival crowds of anywhere between 20-200 people, this TIMF staple allows DJs to perform through Wi-Fi-enabled headphones that are passed out to festivalgoers as they enter the designated dance space.

13. Poliça is must-see music at TIMF. Their dark synth will fit ideally with the setting of the music-infused October sun. Channy Leaneagh’s haunting vocals are fantastic live and are not to be missed. Get close for this one.

12. Carl Newman’s outfit The New Pornographers can easily be classified as a supergroup — Destroyer’s Dan Bejar and the lovely Neko Case heavily contributed to their wonderful 2014 album Brill Bruisers — and you can watch them all perform in the flesh at TIMF.

11. TIMF is one of the most unique festival locations around, and it gives way to even more creative ways to get on and off the island. TIMF offers an extremely convenient and free shuttle service between the island and a main point of transit at the City’s Civic Center. Or you could book a party bus or ride The Bold Italic’s party boat! (Enter below to win free tickets to Rock The Boat)

10. One of our favorites, White Denim, will take to the Bridge Stage early on Sunday for their mind-melting prog rock. Along with Cathedrals, Bleached and Ásgeir, there are lots of musical reasons to get to the island early on Day 2.

9. We finally get the return of the UK-based, modern funk collective that goes by the wild name of Jungle. Bursting from the seams a few months ago, these guys have taken the festival circuit by storm, igniting stages and crowds with an incendiary stage presence coupled with devastatingly catchy tracks off their debut LP. Dancing shoes? CHECK!

8. Ana Tijoux isn’t super popular yet in Northern California, and her lyrics are in Spanish, but none of that matters. Her MC skills are impacting, and her production straddles multiple genres, including hip-hop and soul. Expect this to be a standout performance on Saturday.

7. Convenience is key when it comes to keeping festival crowds satisfied, and TIMF spares no expense in that matter. Easy navigation between stages, ample access to bathrooms, food/beverage vendors and helpful on-site staff members work together to elevate the flow of the festival experience.

6. It’s been a while since the Bay Area has seen TV On The Radio, and hopefully these gritty indie rock geniuses will play some tracks off their upcoming album Seeds. TVOTR has no better place than TIMF to give us a taste of things to come.

5. This will be alt-J‘s first performance in the area in support of their second album, and we’re sure to hear all the exciting new songs off of This Is All Yours (Read our community review here). Ready to sing some Miley samples?

4. Landing Massive Attack to headline Sunday is a mondo feat for Noise Pop and APE Entertainment — 3D and Daddy G will playing their only 2014 U.S. festival at TIMF (and only two other shows in the U.S. this year). The electronic duo might normally be a Saturday headliner, but we get to finalize an action-packed Sunday with these influential trip-hop legends.

3. No set conflicts means no stress, no making tough festival decisions and no missing out on an act you love. You get to see everything.

2. The “Summer of OutKast” is coming to a close as Bay Area fans will bear witness to what is expected to be their third-to-last performance ever. Did ya hear us on that one? Big Boi and Dre have pretty clearly stated that this is it, so there’s little reason for any fan to miss this banner, headlining performance.

1. It’s on an island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. ‘Nuff said.

ROCK THE BOAT TICKET CONTEST

For the 2014 installment of Rock the Boat, our friends at The Bold Italic have teamed up with Hornblower Cruises & Events to rent out the San Francisco Spirit luxury yacht, equipped with a full bar and live entertainment provided by premiere Bay Area DJs to get you to and from TIMF like a boss. For a full lineup and more details on the trip, click here and enter below for your chance to win a weekend pass aboard the party boat courtesy of Showbams.

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

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