Deftones – Showbams

The Bam Team’s 5 Favorite Shows, Albums & Songs of 2025

December 30, 2025 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Well, here we are again with another year in the books. Music, for one, certainly had its ups and downs throughout 2025. There was Kendrick Lamar’s iconic Super Bowl halftime show, the long-awaited return of Britpop legends Oasis and of course the death of Ozzy Osbourne two weeks after performing for the final time that sent shockwaves across the world. Along with those moments, we witnessed quite a few of our own. Whether it was taking in the closest thing to a Rage Against the Machine show you can see these days, The Prodigy tearing down the house for their first North American headline date since 2017, an evening with Primus that was chock full of surprises, My Morning Jacket’s epic return to Red Rocks, one of the summer’s best co-headline tours with The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse both sharing the stage and Lord Huron’s ascent to newly minted arena act, there was plenty to celebrate and remember over the last 12 months.

But with another year down and 2026 right around the corner, it’s time for us to reveal our annual “Best of” lists as we have done since this blog started more than a decade ago (see our 2024 picks here). As we always say, we will be the first to confess we didn’t attend every show or spin every album that was issued in 2025, but reflecting on the year that was remains just as fun and challenging as when we first started doing this yearly exercise.

So, without further ado, Showbams presents The Bam Team’s five favorite shows, albums and songs from 2025.

Listen to The Bam Team’s favorite songs of 2025:

Josh Herwitt // Los Angeles

Top 5 Shows of 2025
1. Nine Inch Nails at Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA – September 18th-19th
When these Hall of Famers announced their “Peel It Back Tour” almost a year ago, we had a pretty good feeling that new music would be on the way. What we didn’t know is that it would for the new “Tron” movie that arrived in the fall. And while permanent members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross showcased only the soundtrack’s lone single on this run, it was the production featuring a two-stage setup and reimagining of older songs — particularly on the “B Stage” with Boys Noize as Nine Inch Noize — in addition to the unexpected return of former touring drummer Josh Freese that had me thinking about these final two shows of the tour for weeks. That’s what live music can do when an unforgettable performance sticks with you, which was even more remarkable considering Reznor entered his seventh decade just earlier this year.

2. My Morning Jacket at Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO – August 15th-16th
3. Queens of the Stone Age at Arlington Theatre – Santa Barbara, CA – November 8th
4. Jack White at Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA – May 12th-13th
5. Primus at Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – August 6th

Honorable Mention: The Prodigy at The Warfield – San Francisco, CA – April 13th

Top 5 Albums of 2025
1. Geese – Getting Killed
Let me just say first and foremost that this was not my favorite year for albums. That said, there were several that stuck out and the fourth full length from these NYC indie rockers stood squarely at the top. From the sonic chaos that greets us during “Trinidad” and the groovy, Sly Stoned-flavored “100 Horses” (which is apropos given his death in June) to lead single “Taxes” that’s one of its best and the frenetic finale “Long Island City Here I Come”, the variety of sounds being explored on Getting Killed is almost unparalleled. Geese shouldn’t be considered new kids on the block at this point, but there’s a legitimate reason why they were one of the year’s hottest bands and I am still kicking myself for missing their sold-out show at The Fonda Theatre in late October (resale tickets were going for as much as $800 and that was while the Dodgers were in the World Series no less). Well, fingers crossed for my first one in 2026.

2. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
3. The Mars Volta – Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio
4. Lord Huron – The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
5. Ty Segall – Possession

Honorable Mention: Lady Gaga – Mayhem

Top 5 Songs of 2025
1. Nine Inch Nails – “As Alive as You Need Me to Be”
I have no problem admitting that I am a sucker for any new NIN music. As one of my favorite bands all time, the industrial rockers had not released a proper album in more than a decade and we’re not sure if the “Tron: Ares” soundtrack technically counts in our book either. But we love it when Reznor leans into the electronic side of the project, and “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” with additional production from Boys Noize scratches that itch for us. While numbers don’t always tell the full story, the fact that it was our top played song on Spotify does mean something when you look back on all of the music we got to consume in 2025. Better yet, Trent and Atticus still making music of this caliber speaks volumes to their craft and talent as true professionals.

2. Clipse – “Chains & Whips” feat. Kendrick Lamar
3. My Morning Jacket – “Beginning from the Ending”
4. DARKSIDE – “One Last Nothing”
5. Lord Huron – “Bag of Bones”

Favorite Soundtrack of 2025: Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares

Andrew Pohl // San Francisco

Top 5 Shows of 2025
1. Home Front at Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA – November 21st
Having caught Home Front last year in SF at Bottom of the Hill I know going into this concert that Home Front was going to absolutely crush it, but man oh man did they completely outdo themselves. Opening act False Flowers warmed up the crowd in spectacular fashion, and The Government did an excellent job as main support. The overly packed room was VERY ready to receive what Home Front was about to give them, and the band destroyed the place inside and out. Sonically crisp and very tight, the band has built a reputation of being a superb live act and it fully lived up to that at this show, playing much of the material from their new album Watch It Die along with material from their previous efforts and a Cock Sparrer cover to end the set.

2. Pile at Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA – September 10th
3. Pixies with Blonde Redhead, Spoon at Greek Theatre Berkeley – Berkeley, CA – August 28th
4. Deep Sea Diver with Byland at The Independent – San Francisco, CA – April 8th
5. Dance Hall Crashers at Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA – June 7th

Top 5 Albums of 2025
1. Deftones – private music
For a band that has produced as much quality output as Deftones has over the years, it’s nice to see them outdo themselves like they did on this album. I wouldn’t qualify it as a “return to form” since it has much of the sonic familiarity throughout the rest of their catalog, but the songs themselves are just really strong and stick to your bones more than most of their other recent material. They sound like a unit that came into recording this with confidence and intention. The material also feels like it would translate well live, and based on how footage of their concerts this year looked, I stand correct. This is the album that I kept coming back to over and over again in 2025, which didn’t surprise me given my love for these guys.

2. Momma – Welcome to My Blue Sky
3. Home Front – Watch It Die
4. Deep Sea Diver – Billboard Heart
5. Viagra Boys – Viagr Aboys

Top 5 Songs of 2025
1. Viagra Boys – “Man Made of Meat”
This is such a perfect way to open Viagra Boys’ new album. Right off the bat you get that level of sass and weirdness that we have come accustomed to from the Swedish post-punk band. From the perfectly timed belch in the opening verse to the breakdown where frontman Sebastian Murphy brings up the idea of subscribing “to your mom’s Only Fans,” the song is a buffet of ridiculousness. The chorus is catchy as all get out, and the song as a whole is that perfect mix of accessible and clever. What a fun way for them to get things started.

2. Deftones – “Locked Club”
3. Preoccupations – “Ill at Ease”
4. Home Front – “Light Sleeper”
5. Momma – “New Friend”

Rochelle Shipman // Los Angeles

Top 5 Shows of 2025
1. Kendrick Lamar and SZA at SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, CA – May 24th
It’s hard to imagine anything other than a killer Kendrick show after the run he’s had this past year, but the Grand National Tour went above and beyond and around again. It was one set with songs from both artists’ catalogs being seamlessly interwoven before they came back onstage to perform a few of their hits together. Kendrick was riding his deserved high, while SZA was angelic (literally suspended above the crowd wearing wings) and somehow made it feel like we were watching two Beyoncés. The power and craft on that stage was something so special to witness.

2. Little Simz at Fox Theatre Oakland – Oakland, CA – November 17th
3. Clipse at The Novo – Los Angeles, CA – August 23rd
4. Bright Eyes at The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA – February 7th
5. Doechii at Gallagher Square (Petco Park) – San Diego, CA – November 5th

Honorable Mention: NxWorries at Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA – October 19th

Top 5 Albums of 2025
1. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
After a false start with Def Jam that resulted in a seven-figure buyout, Clipse finally found a home at Roc Nation for their newest album in 15 years over the summer — and now it’s hard to imagine it happening any other way. The brothers Thornton reunited to educate the kids on what a proper album rollout used to entail, the whole time sharing their experiences and emotions surrounding their parents’ deaths to a degree most men would never dream of doing. The beats and bars hit so hard all the way through they even make some of Pharrell’s cringeworthy moments sound catchy. There’s no question Mom and Dad are proud of them after laying down this masterpiece.

2. Little Simz – Lotus
3. Backxwash – Only Dust Remains
4. Landlady – Make Up / Lost Time
5. Panda Bear – Sinister Grift

Top 5 Songs of 2025
1. Little Simz – “Thief”
Opening her sixth studio album with an intro track that’s as intense as it is eloquent, the London rapper continues to prove she’s not the one to fuck with. Marking the first of a few songs on Lotus that artfully skewers her former musical counterpart Inflo of Sault, “Thief” leaves Simz’s broken heart totally bare against a compelling musical backdrop. It’s never fun to watch close friends have a falling out, but we would be damned if Little Simz didn’t make it sound so good.

2. Clipse – “The Birds Don’t Sing”
3. AJ Tracey feat. Jorja Smith – “Crush”
4. Casey Dienel (fka White Hinterland) – “Your Girl’s Upstairs”
5. Doechii – “Nosebleeds”

Michael Silver // Orange County

Top 5 Shows of 2025
1. Jack White at The Grove of Anaheim – Anaheim, CA – January 25th
The millennial guitar GOAT went on a generational run in 2025. A master of gorilla marketing and last-minute ticket announcements, White commenced his “No Name” tour with an intimate OC performance. The Internet gods were kind to me as I scored front-row access to see the Detroit native blitzed through a 21-song set spanning White Stripes cult favorites (“The Hardest Button to Button”) to The Raconteurs’ gems (“Broken Boy Soldier”) all while mixing in new joints (“Old Scratch Blues” followed by “That’s How I’m Feeling”). Between playing music halls and theaters as well as NFL stadiums with Eminem in front of a national TV audience on Thanksgiving, the virtuoso and ambassador for all things vinyl was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The White Stripes this year and has carved out his own lane in rock history.

2. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist at The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA – October 27th
3. The Eagles at Sphere – Las Vegas, NV – October 10th
4. Wu-Tang Clan at Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA – June 22nd
5. The Used at House of Blues Anaheim – Anaheim, CA – October 11th

Top 5 Albums of 2025
1. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo 2
Following up on 2020’s Grammy-nominated collaboration, the Indiana rapper and California producer created a soulful, translucent vibe of hip-hop bravado. The opening guitar licks on “1995” showcase a new era of creativity by The Alchemist, while Gibbs provides a hypnotic and downright maniacal flow. “Mar-a-Lago” and “Lemon Pepper Steppers” define these sophisticated raps, with the emcee in total control painting a visual storyboard.

2. Deftones – private music
3. Turnstile – Never Enough
4. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
5. Joey Bada$$ – Lonely at the Top

Top 5 Songs of 2025
1. Turnstile – “Birds”
Has there ever been a more fitting rock anthem to take over the airwaves? Soaring in at 2:27 long, the Baltimore collective blasted into our collective conscience. With high-profile fans like Billie Eilish, Elton John and Hayley Williams singing their praise, it wasn’t long before mainstream radio added them into their rotations. To wrap up a wild press campaign, lead singer Brendan Yates performed the first-ever stage dive at NPR’s Tiny Desk series with “Birds” as his soundtrack.

2. Deftones – “Milk of the Madonna”
3. Diplo – “Flashlight” feat. Project Pat & Juicy J
4. GELO – “Tweaker”
5. Sublime – “Ensenada”

Favorite Soundtrack of 2025: Nine Inch Nails – Tron: Ares

Filed Under: Best of, Best of 2025, Editor's Picks, Featured Tagged With: AJ Tracey, Arlington Theatre, Backxwash, Blonde Redhead, Boys Noize, Bright Eyes, Byland, Casey Dienel, Clipse, Cock Sparrer, Crypto.com Arena, Dance Hall Crashers, Darkside, Deep Sea Diver, Deftones, Diplo, Doechii, Eminem, False Flowers, Fox Theater Oakland, Freddie Gibbs, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Gallagher Square, Gallagher Square at Petco Park, GEESE, GELO, Great American Music Hall, Greek Theatre, Greek Theatre Berkeley, Grove of Anaheim, Hollywood Palladium, Home Front, House of Blues Anaheim, Inflo, Jack White, Joey Bada$$, Jorja Smith, Juicy J, Kendrick Lamar, Kia Forum, Lady Gaga, Landlady, Little Simz, Lord Huron, Modest Mouse, Momma, My Morning Jacket, Nine Inch Nails, Nine Inch Noize, NxWorries, Oasis, Ozzy Osbourne, Panda Bear, Petco Park, Pile, Pixies, Preoccupations, Primus, Project Pat, Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against the Machine, Red Rocks, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Rickshaw Stop, Sault, Sly Stone, SoFi Stadium, Sphere, Spoon, Sublime, SZA, The Alchemist, The Arlington, The Arlington Theatre, The Eagles, The Flaming Lips, The Fonda Theatre, The Government, The Independent, The Mars Volta, The Novo, The Novo DTLA, The Observatory, The Prodigy, The Used, The Warfield, The White Stripes, The Wiltern, The Wiltern Theatre, Thee Parkside, Tom Morello, Turnstile, Ty Segall, Viagra Boys, Wu Tang Clan

The Mars Volta reaffirm at Pasadena Civic Auditorium that they aren’t resting on their laurels these days & we love them just as much for it

December 3, 2025 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

By Josh Herwitt //

The Mars Volta with Kianí Medina, FELIZ Y DADA //
Pasadena Civic Auditorium – Pasadena, CA
November 26th, 2025 //

I will never forget where I was the first time I heard The Mars Volta.

The calendar read June 2003 and I had just completed my freshman year of college thousands of miles away from home. And as my hobbies transitioned from skateboarding to drumming in high school, I had become obsessed with everything that sounded like progressive rock during my formative years. Rush, Pink Floyd and Tool were prog-rock bands I studied closely with great admiration and still do now, with each inspiring me to fall deeper in love with my instrument thanks largely to their authenticity, creativity and virtuosity as musicians.

It was there in the parking lot of our local outdoor mall that my childhood friend from elementary school put on De-Loused in the Comatorium in his car, and within minutes I found myself transfixed. The music was angsty and raw, and even though I have never been a big fan of punk rock, the tone of lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s voice and vivid, yet surreal imagery that his English and Spanish lyrics painted in a Salvador Dalí sort of way — channeling the agony of losing a bandmate and friend as we would later learn — amid a chaotic frenzy of guitars, keyboards, drums and Latin percussion enticed us right away.

At this point I was not familiar with At the Drive-In or Sparta, so when people find out that TMV are one of my favorite bands all time and quickly suggest that I should listen to the latter, it’s hard to not chuckle inside my head at the suggestion. From our perspective, the difference between them has always been rather stark considering Volta were unlike anything else I had come across in my life. That was, after all, what ultimately compelled me to go out and purchase my own copy of De-Loused the next day.

To state that Bixler-Zavala has a knack for telling stories would be underselling his unique talent to paint pictures and entire scenes through his words, but what made Volta so intriguing throughout those early years and to this day is the unpredictability of it all. Beyond merely Omar Rodríguez-López’s genius and prolificity as a songwriter and guitarist, much of that started to manifest at their concerts with extended renditions of “Drunkship of Lanterns” as well as “Cicatriz ESP” most notably that stretched past the 20-minute mark and fostered a kind of experimentation I had not been exposed to before.

That is, until I drove nearly six hours on a weeknight to catch my first TMV show, which felt like one long jam. And in some ways it really was as I lost myself in the music, with a “Drunkship” opener lasting more than a half hour and marking my official introduction to their live experience. Standing in that hot, sweaty and crowded room, I could see how powerful live music can be. Not just from Bixler-Zavala’s prolonged screams, Rodríguez-López’s ethereal riffs and former drummer Jon Theodore’s thunderous chops that gave off serious vibes of Led Zeppelin, but the chemistry, musicianship and spontaneity of a legendary band all coming together onstage in front of me.

The concept album has long been a format prog-rock bands have taken a liking to, and TMV have not been shy about using it to their benefit beginning with their first two full lengths. While they didn’t totally stick to that script by the time Amputechture arrived in 2006, Rodríguez-López (guitar, direction, backing vocals synthesizers, keyboards) and Bixler-Zavala (lead vocals) have maintained following that strategy since secretly reuniting in 2019 and straying away from the usual prog-rock conventions we had become accustomed to. In fact, the result on 2022’s self-titled was like nothing we had previously heard from the group, with the intention of making a pop-influenced album — to the duo’s standards at least — defying any prior tendencies it had employed when writing and recording. Plus, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear Bixler-Zavala define pop music in an emotional interview with Zane Lowe as “anything that takes the air out of a room and makes you feel like you’re in the trailer of your own movie.” Because for as cinematic as Volta sound, it’s not uncommon for images to form in my own head upon listening to their music. “It always goes back to cinema with this band,” he adds. “I want my music to sound the way movies look.”

For that reason alone, no one should be shocked to learn that TMV’s ninth and latest studio effort Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio, which translates to Filthy Lucre; The Eyes of the Void in English, checks the box as another concept album. Its rollout, however, was unlike anything the outfit had done in the past. Officially dropping in April after being leaked online two months earlier, it wasn’t until Volta debuted the unannounced album in its entirety while opening for Deftones on their 2025 North American headlining tour that we knew for certain there would be new music from them. After a tumultuous breakup that left Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López no longer on speaking terms and an ensuing five-year hiatus, our expectations have been tempered and our hearts filled with the utmost gratitude for anything they are willing to offer us — and the transitions on Lucro Sucio make it easy to get immersed in the magic all happening at once as if an auditory spell has been cast on you.

Yet, what makes TMV so special and had me shedding tears during Lowe’s interview a few years ago with Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala is the brotherhood that they share dating back to their days in El Paso, Texas, before ATDI broke ground as pioneers of the post-hardcore movement. The friendship and partnership they have built was well-documented in the 2023 film titled “Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird” featuring Rodríguez-López’s home-video footage and addressing how Bixler-Zavala almost broke that bond after two decades with his self-help venture into Scientology, eventually leading to allegations actor and now-convicted rapist Danny Masterson had sexually assaulted his wife. It was then and there that Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala went their separate ways to work on their own projects, as Rodríguez-López teamed up with Le Butcherettes lead singer/guitarist Teri Gender Bender to form Bosnian Rainbows and Bixler-Zavala focused on launching his solo career. But after 12 months the two were talking to each other again and subsequently working together in a new supergroup they called Antemasque, leaving open the prospect for a Volta reunion down the road.

With a lot of pain in their lives has come not only an immense amount of healing for TMV, but also a renewed sense of autonomy to explore creatively and honestly without any pressure from the outside. The material on Lucro Sucio and 25-date tour surrounding it has demonstrated such quite clearly given that the septet consisting of Rodríguez-López, Bixler-Zavala, Eva Gardner (bass, double bass), Marcel Rodríguez-López (percussion, synthesizers, keyboards), Leo Genovese (keyboards, piano, saxophone), Linda-Philomène Tsoungui (drums) and Gender Bender (backing vocals) as a touring member did not showcase anything except the 18-track LP. Of course, that’s not to say these performances lacked the improvisation that we crave whenever this band takes the stage.

At the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Thanksgiving Eve, that aforementioned feeling of being totally consumed by the music — this time with more jazz and electronic flourishes — returned as Volta veered off the beaten path on several occasions. I was well aware that we wouldn’t be hearing the older tunes, but knowing the run time on Lucro Sucio is less than one hour, it seemed very likely these songs would not be strictly played note for note (that was what we were hoping for at least). And despite letting the album grow on me over a number of listens this year, it couldn’t prepare those of us in the building for the myriad of twists and turns the Grammy winners would uncork over the course of 90 minutes.

When we truly give artists the space to create, it can open the doors to new ideas and allow humans the opportunity to unlock another dimension of curiosity. There’s no question Bixler-Zavala recognizes how instrumental Rodriguez-Lopez has been for his artistic and personal growth as a lifelong friend: “I can’t stress how valuable my friendship is with Omar because he can write something that I can go, ‘That’s exactly the vehicle I need right now to express what it is I see happening around me,'” he explains near the end of Nicolas Jack Davies’ two-hour documentary. The soft-spoken Rodríguez-López, meanwhile, had a simple, yet poignant explanation for their sonic connection: “The music has always healed us.”

It has always been the glue that has kept them together through so many ups and downs filled with both love and loss, making them an inseparable force and one of the finest singer-songwriter combinations in rock ‘n’ roll history. No, we didn’t get to witness an epic “Cassandra Gemini” off 2005’s Frances the Mute that remains at the top of TMV’s catalog, but the journey they took us on this evening nevertheless was spiritual and transcendent.

We understand that Volta aren’t and won’t be for everyone. For us, they will be remembered as one of the most inspiring acts to ever do it and the fact that they are releasing any music in 2025 is a blessing after everything they have endured over their careers. Whether it’s a small miracle or simply kismet, we think Bixler-Zavala might have put it best in “Omar and Cedric” when he said, “I’m glad that God put us in the same place at the same time.” When you hear that and reflect on how easily none of it could have happened, you realize how lucky we are to have had them at all.

Setlist:
Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio
Fin
Reina tormenta
Enlazan las tinieblas
Mictlán
The Iron Rose
Cue the Sun
Alba del orate
Voice in My Knives
Poseedora de mi sombra
Celaje
Vociferó
Mito de los trece cielos
Un disparo al vacío
Detrás de la puerta dorada
Maullidos
Morgana
Cue the Sun (Reprise)
Lucro sucio

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Antemasque, At the Drive-In, Bosnian Rainbows, Deftones, FELIZ Y DADA, Kianí Medina, Le Butcherettes, Led Zeppelin, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Rush, Sparta, The Mars Volta, Tool

Coachella releases 2024 set times & continues recent tradition of surprise guests as Vampire Weekend, Kid Cudi revealed as latest

April 9, 2024 by Josh Herwitt 3 Comments

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival //
Empire Polo Club – Indio, CA
April 12th-14th & April 19th-21st, 2024 //

With sunshine once again showering the Golden State this week, it’s hard to believe that we are only days away from Coachella’s 23rd installment.

Yep, it’s already that time of the year again, and with ticket sales for the famed California music festival not quite the same as in previous years (Weekend 2 hasn’t sold out yet), we find ourselves pondering if Goldenvoice curated a lineup that leaves something to be desired.

One thing we can’t say is it’s low on star power, though. Of course there’s Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat making their headlining debuts as well as No Doubt reuniting for the first time since 2015, but after surprising us with guest appearances by Arcade Fire in 2022 and blink-182 in 2023, Paul Tollett and his team have pulled another rabbit out of their collective hat while unlike last year, remaining right on schedule.

Vampire Weekend 1 pic.twitter.com/UMOEMKTQLf

— Coachella (@coachella) April 9, 2024

Now the latest trick up Tollett’s sleeve is another surprise guest appearing on this year’s set times, and if you just happen to be a fan of Vampire Weekend, then you are in luck. The indie-rock group made up of Ezra Koenig (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Chris Baio (bass, backing vocals, occasional piano) and Chris Tomson (drums, percussion, occasional guitar, backing vocals) put out their fifth studio album Only God Was Above Us last week and played their first show since 2022 last night under a total eclipse at a sold-out Moody Amphitheatre in Austin, Texas. With their next one not coming until the end of this month at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, why not make a stop in the desert first before heading down to the bayou? For those of you here in California, they will be back not long after in June for headline dates at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, the iconic Hollywood Bowl and Greek Theatre Berkeley (two nights) as part of a 2024 tour extending through December with more than 50 gigs already booked in North America, Europe and the UK.

While their tour schedule could allow for it, we will have to wait and see if Vampire Weekend will be joining the festivities for Weekend 2 (stay tuned here to find out next week). But if you want to catch them during Weekend 1, make sure to arrive at the Outdoor Theatre before 5 p.m. on Saturday when Koenig and company have been scheduled to perform. And for those of you who won’t be making the trek out to Indio, let’s hope their 45-minute set as well as No Doubt’s that evening at 9:25 p.m. on the Coachella Stage will be available to watch on the fest’s livestream. As we know from years past, that’s not always the case unfortunately. After all, who could forget what happened with Frank Ocean only a year ago.

Heading out to the Empire Polo Club? If so, don’t forget your sunscreen and water bottle … we also want to hear it straight from you: what’s your biggest conflict, and who are you most excited for?

WEEKEND 1 SET TIMES

WEEKEND 2 SET TIMES

The schedule for Weekend 2 has been released, and Goldenvoice has one more surprise in store for Coachella’s 2024 edition. It won’t be Vampire Weekend rocking the Outdoor Theatre again, but more hip-hop is heading to the Sahara Stage instead as two-time Grammy winner Kid Cudi joins the party Sunday at 5:10 p.m. We are also wondering what happened to AP Dhillon, the Indo-Canadian singer and rapper who had the same slot during Weekend 1 but is nowhere to be found when you check out the set times for Weekend 2 above. There are also some differences early in the day on Saturday and Sunday, but nothing earth-shattering,

MAP

This year’s map is out, and there aren’t a whole lot of changes in the past 12 months. The direct path from the Sahara Tent to the Sonora, Gobi and Mojave Tents is still there as you stroll by the Do LaB’s stage and food area, but with the Yuma Tent well-established now as Coachella’s quasi nightclub (pro tip: there’s some terrific air conditioning inside when you get hot out there), the debut of Quasar has to be one of the most intriguing additions to the polo fields.

The festival’s new electronic music-focused stage, as previously reported, will boast extended three-hour sets from several high-profile artists, including a trio of All-Star DJs as Jamie xx, Floating Points and Caribou leader Dan Snaith’s side project Daphni garner the spotlight during Weekend 1. RÜFÜS DU SOL, meanwhile, will have the honor of performing their own DJ set at Weekend 2 on Friday plus collaborations by Eric Prydz and Anyma as well as Diplo and Mau P over the final two days.

If you are still thinking about going, you can hop on the waitlist for Weekend 1 here or purchase tickets for Weekend 2 (GA and VIP) here along with whatever parking and shuttle passes are left.

Happy Coachella!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 88RISING FUTURES, Adam Ten, Adam Ten x Mita Gami, Adriatique, ANOTR, Anti-Up, Anyma, AP Dhillon, Arcade Fire, ARTBAT, ATARASHII GAKKO!, ATEEZ, Âme, Âme x Marcel Dettmann, bar italia, Barry Can't Swim, Bb trickz, Bebe Rexha, Ben Sterling, Benga, Bicep, Bizarrap, Black Country New Road, Bleachers, Blink-182, Blond:ish, Blur, Blxst, Boy Harsher, Brittany Howard, Brutalismus 3000, Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, Calvin Harris, Caribou, Carin León, Carlita, Chappell Roan, Charlotte de Witte, Chlöe, Cimafunk, Cloonee, Clown Core, Coachella, Coachella 2024, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2024, Coi Leray, Deftones, Depresión Sonora, Destroy Lonely, Diplo, DJ Seinfeld, DJ Snake, Do LaB, Dom Dolla, Eartheater, Eddie Zuko, Eli & Fur, Eric Prydz, Erika de Casier, Everything Always, Faye Webster, feeble little horse, Flight Facilities, FLO, Floating Points, Folamour, Frank Ocean, Gesaffelstein, Girl Ultra, Gorgon City, Greek Theatre Berkeley, Grimes, Gwen Stefani, Hatsune Miku, Hollywood Bowl, Ice Spice, Innellea, ISOxo, ISOxo & Knock2, J Balvin, Jamie xx, Jhené Aiko, JJUUJJUU, Jockstrap, John Summit, Jon Batiste, JOPLYN, Jungle, Justice, Kölsch Kokoroko, Ken Carson, Kenya Grace, Kevin Abstract, Kevin de Vries, Kevin de Vries x Kölsch, Kevin Kaarl, Keyspan, Khruangbin, Kid Cudi, Kimonos, Knock2, L'Impératrice, Lana Del Rey, late night drive home, LE SSERAFIM, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Lovejoy, LUDMILLA, Mahmut Orhan, Mall Grab, Mandy Indiana, Marcel Dettmann, Mau P, Maz, Mdou Moctar, Militarie Gun, Miss Monique, Mita Gami, Narrow Head, NAV, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2024, No Doubt, Olivia Dean • LATIN MAFIA • Two Shell • Hermanos Gutiérrez, Oneohtrix Point Never, Orbital, Palace, Patrick Mason, Peggy Gou, Peso Pluma, Purple Disco Machine, RAYE, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Reboke, Reinier Zonneveld, Reneé Rapp, Sabrina Carpenter, Saint Levant, Santa Fe Klan, Sid Sriram, Skepta, Skin On Skin, Skream, Skream & Benga, Son Rompe Pera, SPINALL, Steve Angello, Sublime, Suki Waterhouse, Swedish House Mafia, Taking Back Sunday, Taylor Swift, Tems, the Adicts, The Aquabats, the Beths - NEIL FRANCES, The Blessed Madonna, The Drums, the Japanese House, the Last Dinner Party, The Red Pears, the Rose, thuy, Tinashe, Tita Lau, Tyla, Tyla Tyla, Tyler the Creator, Upchuck, VG Marley, Victoria Monét, WILL CLARKE, Yoasobi, Young Fathers, Young Miko

Coachella finally unveils 2024 lineup after an unusual delay as Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator & Doja Cat make their headlining debuts

January 16, 2024 by Josh Herwitt 6 Comments

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival //
Empire Polo Club – Indio, CA
April 12th-14th & April 19th-21st, 2024 //

So much for Coachella sticking to the script.

The famed California music festival organized by Goldenvoice has targeted the second week of January to release its lineup each year, but when the news didn’t come last week on Tuesday or Wednesday, we knew something was amiss.

It’s not exactly clear what the holdup was, but this is the first time we are more than halfway through the first month of the year and just finding out who will be playing in the desert this April. And though it would have been fitting for Paul Tollett and his team to land Taylor Swift after the kind of 2023 the pop star had — that could have been at least one possibility for the delay — as “The Eras Tour” rolls on through most of this year, it won’t be in the cards for the three-day event’s 23rd edition.

Instead, Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat will make their headlining debuts at Coachella, which expanded to two weekends in 2012, following a chaotic 2023 that saw Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK and Frank Ocean listed atop the bill before Ocean had a disastrous performance to close Weekend 1, canceled his Weekend 2 set and was replaced by surprise Weekend 1 guest blink-182.

D.A.N.C.E

Register now for access to passes at https://t.co/qujCsdlTip. Presale begins Friday, 1/19 at 11am PT. pic.twitter.com/DlApQGXnBb

— Coachella (@coachella) January 17, 2024

But after the top line, there are some highlights spread across the 2024 roster from Friday to Sunday. Here’s who stands out to us: Peso Pluma, Blur, J Balvin, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice, Jhené Aiko, Justice, Gesaffelstein, Khruangbin, Sublime, Deftones, Jungle, Peggy Gou, Grimes, Jon Batiste, Gorgon City, Skream & Banga, Orbital, L’Impératrice, Brittany Howard, Young Fathers, Hermanos Gutiérrez, NEIL FRANCES and The Blessed Madonna. Peep the poster above to see who else has been booked to perform at the Empire Polo Club.

And much like the previous two years in Indio with Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris, there will be a fourth act worthy of headliner status as third-wave ska band No Doubt get ready to reunite for the first time since 2015 — and you can be sure plenty of folks will be excited to find out when and where on the polo fields Gwen Stefani and company will take the stage (more on that in April once the set times have arrived in our inboxes and news feeds).

So, who’s ready to go? Goldenvoice recommends that fans try purchasing tickets for Weekend 2 if you are interested in attending Coachella this year, but you can always jump on the wait list for Weekend 1 here after three-day GA and VIP passes go on sale here during a presale this Friday, January 19th that starts at 11 a.m. PT. Official hotel packages are also available here through Valley Music Travel.

Best of luck, Coachellans!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 88RISING FUTURES, Adam Ten, Adam Ten x Mita Gami, Adriatique, ANOTR, Anti-Up, Anyma, AP Dhillon, ARTBAT, ATARASHII GAKKO!, ATEEZ, Âme, Âme x Marcel Dettmann, bar italia, Barry Can't Swim, Bb trickz, Bebe Rexha, Ben Sterling, Benga, Bicep, Bizarrap, Black Country New Road, Bleachers, Blond:ish, Blur, Blxst, Boy Harsher, Brittany Howard, Brutalismus 3000, Calvin Harris, Carin León, Carlita, Chappell Roan, Charlotte de Witte, Chlöe, Cimafunk, Cloonee, Clown Core, Coachella, Coachella 2024, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2024, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2024, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024, Coi Leray, Deftones, Depresión Sonora, Destroy Lonely, DJ Seinfeld, DJ Snake, Dom Dolla, Eartheater, Eddie Zuko, Eli & Fur, Erika de Casier, Everything Always, Faye Webster, feeble little horse, Flight Facilities, FLO, Folamour, Gesaffelstein, Girl Ultra, Gorgon City, Grimes, Gwen Stefani, Hatsune Miku, Ice Spice, Innellea, ISOxo, ISOxo & Knock2, J Balvin, Jhené Aiko, JJUUJJUU, Jockstrap, John Summit, Jon Batiste, JOPLYN, Jungle, Justice, Kölsch Kokoroko, Ken Carson, Kenya Grace, Kevin Abstract, Kevin de Vries, Kevin de Vries x Kölsch, Kevin Kaarl, Keyspan, Khruangbin, Kimonos, Knock2, L'Impératrice, Lana Del Rey, late night drive home, LE SSERAFIM, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, Lovejoy, LUDMILLA, Mahmut Orhan, Mall Grab, Mandy Indiana, Marcel Dettmann, Maz, Mdou Moctar, Militarie Gun, Miss Monique, Mita Gami, Narrow Head, NAV, No Doubt, Olivia Dean • LATIN MAFIA • Two Shell • Hermanos Gutiérrez, Oneohtrix Point Never, Orbital, Palace, Patrick Mason, Peggy Gou, Peso Pluma, Purple Disco Machine, RAYE, Reboke, Reinier Zonneveld, Reneé Rapp, Sabrina Carpenter, Saint Levant, Santa Fe Klan, Sid Sriram, Skepta, Skin On Skin, Skream, Skream & Benga, Son Rompe Pera, SPINALL, Steve Angello, Sublime, Suki Waterhouse, Swedish House Mafia, Taking Back Sunday, Taylor Swift, Tems, the Adicts, The Aquabats, the Beths - NEIL FRANCES, The Blessed Madonna, The Drums, the Japanese House, the Last Dinner Party, The Red Pears, the Rose, thuy, Tinashe, Tita Lau, Tyla, Tyla Tyla, Tyler the Creator, Upchuck, VG Marley, Victoria Monét, WILL CLARKE, Yoasobi, Young Fathers, Young Miko

The Bam Team’s 5 Favorite Albums & Songs of 2020

December 29, 2020 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

Wow, 2020 … what can we say? This year will certainly be remembered for a lot of things, but none more so than the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged both the U.S. and world over the last 10 months and forced the live music industry to mostly shutter as musicians pivoted to livestreams and drive-in concerts to keep the show going as best they could and however possible. Yet along the way, we lost musical legends who spanned multiple generations from Neil Peart to Bill Withers to John Prine to Little Richard to Eddie Van Halen to MF DOOM — some due to COVID-19 unfortunately — making these past 12 months even more painful to endure than they already were. Ready to officially flush 2020 down the toilet and start anew? Don’t worry … you’re not alone!

In retrospect though, it has been a very quiet year for The Bam Team. You’ll notice there haven’t been a lot of updates in this space, and that’s partly due to the lack of live music on Planet Earth right now. But it’s also been a hectic time for all of us as we try to navigate our way out of these dark days and into some brighter ones, and like any good remedy nowadays, new music has definitely played its part in helping us physically and emotionally cope with the chaos.

It’s why after several months of inactivity here, we decided to dust the cobwebs off Showbams and deliver a modified version of our annual “Best of” lists like we have done since this blog first started (see our 2019 picks here). While that doesn’t mean we had time to hear and dissect every new album or song in the last 365 days — we are still in a pandemic after all — sharing our own individual picks offers a fun and stimulating opportunity for us to reflect on the year that was in music.

So, without further ado, Showbams presents The Bam Team’s five favorite albums and songs from 2020.

Listen to The Bam Team’s favorite songs of 2020:

Josh Herwitt // Los Angeles

Top 5 Albums of 2020
1. Run the Jewels – RTJ4
One might think that after three critically acclaimed albums with some of the most socially and politically charged material since Rage Against the Machine burst onto the scene, it would only seem natural for Run the Jewels’ act to turn a little stale by their fourth time around. But despite the three-year wait for RTJ4, the longest that the hip-hop duo has gone between releases, the final product — like a fine wine — has only gotten better with time. Anchored by stellar production (a RTJ trademark) and provocative rhymes, the 11-track offering sees the two emcees sounding off on everything from corporate greed to police brutality just days after the tragic death of George Floyd. It also boasts a guest list loaded with star power, with DJ Premier, 2 Chainz, Pharrell Williams, Zack de la Rocha, Mavis Staples and Josh Homme each lending a hand while El-P and Killer Mike inject truth serum into our ears with one verbal haymaker after another. In what proved to be a shitstorm of a year, this was the soundtrack a lot of us needed to survive 2020.

2. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall II
3. Fleet Foxes – Shore
4. Tame Impala – The Slow Rush
5. Caribou – Suddenly

Favorite live album: Sylvan Esso – WITH

Top 5 Songs of 2020
1. Royal Blood – “Trouble’s Coming”
The British rock duo composed of lead singer/bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher are gearing up to drop their third LP in 2021 and wisely chose to wet our palette with an absolute banger for its lead single. “Trouble’s Coming” has all the makings of a Royal Blood song — catchy bass riffs that sound like they’re coming out of a guitar, heavy-metal drums and Kerr’s falsetto vocals — while charting a slightly different path for the band, one that conjures up some serious 70’s disco vibes. Just watch this scene from Charlie’s Angels to see what we mean, and if you have a pair of fingerless leather gloves handy, you might as well put those on too. We think Sam Rockwell would approve.

2. My Morning Jacket – “Wasted”
3. Run the Jewels – “JU$T” feat. Pharrell Williams & Zack de la Rocha
4. Pearl Jam – “Dance of the Clairvoyants”
5. Sylvan Esso – “Ferris Wheel”

Favorite remix: Bonobo – “Final Days” (Michael Kiwanuka)

Andrew Pohl // San Francisco

Top 5 Albums of 2020
1. Hum – Inlet
This four-piece’s fifth studio effort came as a complete surprise when it dropped in June, and it was honestly THE album I needed. Being knee-deep into the COVID-19 pandemic, I wasn’t sure what the rest of the year would look like musically, and it was exactly the type of record that hits all the marks for me. It’s sonically huge, it showcases Hum’s trademark ultra-layered, dense instrumentation and it ebbs and flows between energetic and emotive. Inlet was easily my most-listened-to album in 2020.

2. Coriky – Coriky
3. PEARS – PEARS
4. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
5. Run the Jewels – RTJ4

Favorite live album: NOFX – The Decline (Live at Red Rocks)

Top 5 Songs of 2020
1. Run the Jewels – “Walking in the Snow”
Oh man, this track was just the thing I needed during what may have been one of the most tense times in modern history. And like all of RTJ4, it absolutely crushes as El-P and Killer Mike bring their signature styles to full effect on this dramatic, yet bouncy tune. The middle section, which sees Mike taking the lead, is not only effective, prophetic and timely, but it also serves as a reminder that the time for action is now and that history has a tendency to repeat itself if we’re not careful. Check out the song’s brand-new music video here, too.

2. Hum – “Desert Rambler”
3. IDLES – “War”
4. Middle-Aged Queers – “Gary’s Making Biscuits”
5. PEARS – “Zero Wheels”

Favorite remix: Squarepusher – “Pink Maggit” (Deftones)

Rochelle Shipman // Los Angeles

Top 5 Albums of 2020
1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
I almost feel cheated that my two No. 1 picks went to the same artist, but this year belonged to Fiona as much as it did to Dr. Fauci. FTBC busted us out of our mental prisons and allowed us to imagine our lives were more exciting than they actually were in 2020. It reminded us that we are strong enough to survive anything, to use our voices to speak even louder for what we believe in and that we can work on our own healing even if we can’t quite get outside. Ms. Apple set women free together.

2. Fleet Foxes – Shore
3. Mura Masa – R.Y.C.
4. Kari Faux – Lowkey Superstar
5. Liv.e – Couldn’t Wait to Tell You…

Favorite live album: Dolores Diaz & The Standby Club – Live at O’Leaver’s

Top 5 Songs of 2020
1. Fiona Apple – “Shameika”
This is a badass, “can-do” tune that was inspired by a passing comment made decades ago, one Fiona surely never thought twice about until now. And as she pounds the piano with the strength of RBG, it’s clear that this is the song 2020 needed — not to mention that it came full circle, inspiring Shameika herself all these years later. Sweet.

2. Noname – “Song 33”
3. Open Mike Eagle feat. Kari Faux – “Bucciarati”
4. Liv.e – “Lessons From My Mistakes…but I Lost Your Number”
5. Quakers feat. Sampa the Great – “Approach with Caution”

Favorite remix: Thundercat feat. Smino & Guapdad 4000 – “Dragonball Durag”

Filed Under: Best of, Best of 2020, Editor's Picks, Featured Tagged With: 2 Chainz, Best of 2020, Bill Withers, Bonobo, Caribou, Coriky, Deftones, DJ Premier, Dolores Diaz & The Standby Club, Eddie Van Halen, Fiona Apple, Fleet Foxes, Greg Nice, Guapdad 4000, Hum, IDLES, John Prine, Josh Homme, Kari Faux, Little Richard, Liv.e, Mavis Staples, MF DOOM, Michael Kiwanuka, Middle-Aged Queers, Mura Masa, My Morning Jacket, Neil Peart, NOFX, Noname, Open Mike Eagle, Pearl Jam, Pears, Pharrell Williams, Quakers, Rage Against the Machine, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Royal Blood, RTJ4, Run The Jewels, Rush, Sampa the Great, Smino, Squarepusher, Thundercat, Van Halen, Zack de la Rocha

The 25 best live music acts of 2016

December 30, 2016 by The Bam Team 2 Comments

As we officially place 2016 in the history books, it’s time to look back at all the live music we experienced this year. Last year we shared our 25 favorite live performers of 2015, so this year we thought we would do it again while excluding any artists we named in 2015. After all, who really wants to see the same acts listed two years in a row? That said, now that we’re two years removed, our 25 favorite live performers of 2014 were once again fair game.

After covering many excellent bands, musicians and DJs over the past 12 months, trimming our list down to 25 wasn’t easy and as usual, some difficult decisions had to be made. Those who didn’t make the cut but still deserve to be mentioned here include the following artists, DJs and bands (in alphabetical order) whom we either covered at their own show and/or at a music festival this year:

Adrian Younge, Air, Alessia Cara, Alina Baraz, AlunaGeorge, Alvvays, The Arcs, A$AP Ferg, Atlas Genius, Aubrie Sellers, The Avett Brothers, Bag Raiders, Baio, Banks & Steelz, Bas, Battles, Beats Antique, Beach House, Best Coast, Big Freedia, Big Gigantic, Big Grams, Big Wild, Bloc Party, Bob Mould, The Boxer Rebellion, Brand New, Brett Dennen, The California Honeydrops, Capital Cities, Cate Le Bon, Chairlift, Chelsea Wolfe, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Chuck Mosley, Chromeo, Claude VonStroke, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Cold War Kids, The Crux, Dan Deacon, Danny Brown, Deftones, The Devil Makes Three, Dirtwire, Disclosure, DMA’s, DMX, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Duran Duran, Every Time I Die, Emancipator Ensemble, Ezra Furman, Faith No More, The Faint, Fantastic Negrito, Femi Kuti, Florence + the Machine, Flume, Fruition, The Gaslamp Killer, Geographer, Glass Animals, Gorgon City, Grimes, Halsey, The Head and the Heart, Heartwatch, The Heavy, Highly Suspect, Hippie Sabotage, Holy Fuck, How to Dress Well, Hudson Mohawke, Hundred Waters, IAMX, Ibeyi, Ice Cube, Iggy Pop, The Infamous Stringdusters, Jack Beats, Jack Garratt, Jack Ü, James Bay, Jamie xx, J. Cole, Jimmie Vaughn, Jhené Aiko, The Joy Formidable, Joywave, Julia Holter, Julien Baker, Kaki King, Kamaiyah, Kamasi Washington, Kehlani, K.Flay, The Kills, Kurt Vile, Lafa Taylor, Lana Del Rey, Låpsley, Les Sins, Lettuce, Lionel Richie, Lord Huron, Little Scream, Lucius, M83, Major Lazer, Marian Hill, Mayer Hawthorne, MC YOGI, Methyl Ethel, Metric, Miami Horror, Mick Jenkins, Midi Matilda, Miguel Migs, Modest Mouse, Moon Taxi, M. Ward, Nahko & Medicine for the People, The Naked and Famous, Nas, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Neon Indian, Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker), Nite Jewel, Panic! at the Disco, Parliament-Funkadelic, Peaches, Petite Noir, The Pharcyde, The Polish Ambassador, Porches, Prince Rama, Purity Ring, Pusha T, Radiohead, Ra Ra Riot, The Regrettes, The Revivalists, RJD2, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rogue Wave, Rubblebucket, Run the Jewels, The Russ Liquid Test, Ryan Adams, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Saosin, Sarah Neufeld, The Seshen, Shabazz Palaces, Shlohmo, Silversun Pickups, Snakehips, Solange, Son Little, St. Lucia, Stormzy, The Struts, STS9, Sturgill Simpson, Sufjan Stevens, Summer Cannibals, Sunflower Bean, Sigur Rós, St. Germain, Sylvan Esso, Tacocat, Taking Back Sunday, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, This Will Destroy You, Thomas Jack, Thundercat, Toro y Moi, Tortoise, Tory Lanez, Tourist, The Trims, Troye Sivan, Umphrey’s McGee, Viceroy, Vince Staples, Vokab Company, Walk the Moon, Warpaint, Wavves, Weezer, Wheeler Walker Jr., White Denim, Wild Belle, Wild Nothing, Years & Years, Yeasayer, YG, Young Fathers, Yuck, ZHU, Ziggy Marley.

Now, it’s time for The Bam Team to present our 25 favorite live performers of 2016.

The Bam Team’s 5 Favorite Shows, Albums & Songs of 2016

Listen to The Bam Team’s favorite songs of 2016:

25. Tycho

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

24. Isaiah Rashad

And when it did, Rashad torpedoed onto stage and turned the restlessness in the room on its head with “Smile”, the apropos homecoming banger he released after years of uncertainty that followed his 2014 EP Cilvia Demo. It was fitting because prior to his reemergence, which was sparked by the song, Rashad admitted to being addicted to Xanax and alcohol, and it almost led to him being dropped from his West Coast record label on several occasions. From his issues with substance abuse to the tears he shed while listening to Kid Cudi’s music and his open-book thoughts on the humanizing of mental-health issues, Rashad’s journey from being the contemplative unknown in superstar Kendrick Lamar’s crew to a complete artist deserving of your attention has been steeped in honesty. -Joseph Gray, photo by Joseph Gray

23. Bob Moses

Needless to say, worn-out axioms failed to apply in this scenario. Bob Moses silenced anyone attempting to pass them off as yet another contrived electropop outfit aiming to please the masses. At Mezzanine, both Howie and Vallance proved their prowess as EDM innovators, bringing more to the stage than a couple of laptops and a pretty light show. Surprising those unfamiliar with their work or expecting to be underwhelmed, Bob Moses have elevated the live electronic game for their respective contemporaries and succeeded in defining a new chapter for the genre — an innovative sound standard that’s all their own. -Molly Kish, photo by Lisette Worster

22. Floating Points

The band continued building on its rhythms and melodies, creating a hypnotic feeling that was filled with textured synthesizers, guitar pedals and consummate percussion, as laser patterns reflected each rise and fall during its lengthy jam sessions. As Sheppard and his sidekicks progressed through each track, the complexity of the laser projections grew into optical illusions that, almost like another musical instrument onstage, intertwined with the style and progression of the band’s production perfectly. With each song reaching a climax and eventual denouement, the artwork remained untouched for a few minutes so that fans could observe each piece before their very own eyes. -Brett Ruffenach, photo by Alister Mori

21. Ty Segall

But Segall is no doubt a showman himself, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who expends as much energy onstage as he does in merely 90 minutes. His passion simply rubs off on his fans, who wasted little time climbing onstage and taking the plunge into a sea of hands for a couple of minutes. Segall, of course, also got in on the action at one point, as his shows are often known to feature crowd surfing from both band and audience members, and he made sure to take the mic stand with him while he horizontally slithered across the room. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Josh Herwitt

20. Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem

One of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind coming into Outside Lands was, “Who were Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem?” For those who knew, it was, “How in the hell were the Muppets going to fill a Sunday slot on the main stage?” Because the band had never played a show of such magnitude or outside the context of a TV/film studio, no one had any clue what to expect during this early-afternoon slot. Though some festivalgoers (mistakenly) decided to forego the experience altogether, those present will not forget the incredible feat that Another Planet Entertainment and Jim Henson Enterprises were able to pull off for what was one of the most emotionally nostalgic, blissfully complex and once-in-a-lifetime festival performances maybe ever. The Muppet house band both effortlessly managed to pluck the heartstrings of multiple generations of fans while delivering the most conceptually beautiful “love letter” to the city of SF, blanketing the grounds in a sea of love and collective euphoria for a brief, yet unforgettable moment. -Molly Kish, photo by Rochelle Shipman

19. RÜFÜS DU SOL

By the time RÜFÜS made their entrance, the excitement in the room was at a fever pitch. The crowd was ready to dance from the very first beat (thanks to the excellent warm-up from Kllo and Yuma X), and they did just that. Lead singer Tyrone Lindqvist took center stage with great energy and proceeded to do the customary water bottle toss shortly after. Lindqvist set the tone right from the get-go for a high-energy, high-audience-participation set. The crowd responded in kind by getting down much harder than expected for a Wednesday night. Notably, there were surprisingly very few phones out as most attendees put away their cameras to make the most of every song. The intimate setting of The Fillmore could almost have been mistaken for the polo fields of Coachella, given how many girls-on-shoulders could be seen around the venue. -Geoff Hong, photo by Josh Herwitt

18. Rudimental

Through Rudimental tracks like “Not Giving In”, “Free” and “Waiting All Night”, the most unique element of the group’s live production was their charisma. Simply put, they look like they’re having fun. These aren’t tortured artists or cathartic performers — Rudimental are a band that loves the music they make. Even the band’s drummer, Beanie, easily one of the hardest working rhythmists on tour right now, managed to keep a smile on his face, racing through Rudimental’s repertoire of songs that were anywhere from 145 to 160 BPMs. The septet’s de-facto leader, DJ Locksmith, was surprisingly more in the background than you would expect from a typical DnB hype man. As Rudimental wrapped up their set with their chart-topping hit “Feel the Love”, the crowd joined in as the song ended, creating a shared moment at The Fox that perfectly reflected the intention of Rudimental — to spread the love. -Brett Ruffenach, photo by Marc Fong

17. BØRNS

On this night, that proverbial phrase seemingly rang true. It wasn’t just that BØRNS most likely amassed the largest attendance in the history of the Twilight Concert Series, but also the fact that it was easily one of the best shows I’ve ever witnessed at the Santa Monica Pier. One could certainly point to the opening of the Expo Line extension as a reason for the larger crowds so far this summer, which wasn’t all that noticeable during the series’ opening night with Mayer Hawthorne just the week prior, but that would simply be underestimating the exponential rise of Garrett Borns’ eponymous project. Since he relocated to Los Angeles in 2013 and signed with Interscope Records, the Michigan native has gone from supporting modest indie bands like MisterWives to selling out shows as a headliner in a matter of a year. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Josh Herwitt

16. Flying Lotus

Brainfeeder founder, producer and unapologetic cultural mouthpiece Flying Lotus (born Steven Ellison) ended the night with a mildly controversial headlining set. Walking onstage and making what any FlyLo fan would recognize as an off-colored comment on the current presidential race may have proven too brazen for those not used to his brand. He let Captain Murphy out of the box a little early and road the wave of confusion into a heady, bass-driven assault on the conflicted crowd, providing the distinct audio punctuation point for the night’s bill of artists. Playing several tracks off of his 2014 LP You’re Dead! as well as various hits from high-profile hip-hop emcees like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar that he has produced over the years, Ellison stunned us all with his double-screen, audio-visual stage setup and plenty of bone-rattling bass drops. -Molly Kish, photo by Marc Fong

15. The Last Shadow Puppets

TLSP brought a strings section to their show, an added element that helped keep things fresh and new. The show began with the beautiful sounds of violins and cellos, but the moment TLSP got onstage, the whole floor at The Fillmore lit up in billows of smoke. I’m sure the band was stoned by the end of the show if it hadn’t been already, appearing beyond excited to be playing on a Sunday night in SF. Turner and Kane must have yelled out something about SF every few minutes and incorporated SF into some of their songs. They were so incredibly tight, and I felt their set in some ways was a bit better than what I had witnessed years ago — the mix and order of the songs felt more succinct at The Fillmore. -Rachel Goodman, photo by Diana Cordero

14. Miike Snow

Sunday’s roster at Coachella last year was significantly weaker in comparison to Friday’s and Saturday’s. This year was much of the same, though Calvin Harris somehow proved to be an even worse headliner than Drake (we didn’t know that was possible). But one of the bright spots on Day 3 was no doubt Miike Snow’s 9:45 p.m. slot in the Mojave Tent, the same place where I discovered the Swedish trio back in 2010 during my first Coachella. Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg have come a long way since then, and with three studio albums in their catalog, including their latest effort iii, they have more than enough material to fill out a 50-minute set and leave you wanting to hear more. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Norm de Veyra

13. Young Thug

Fresh off releasing the latest — and final — installment of his Slime Season mixtape trilogy, Young Thug took his place on the stage. Arriving in a white blouse, multicolored sequined jacket, dark shades, a polka-dot head scarf and remarkably slim, golden pants, he aligned such a rangy and vibrant uniform with his performance. There wouldn’t be any towering LED lights, stunts or stage diving. However, Young Thug, who for the majority of his roughly hour-long set played the lone wolf, delighted the crowd with his animated and bright delivery while running through thundering Slime Season 3 favorites like “With Them”, “Digits” and “Slime Shit”. The audience, ranging from high school seniors to seasoned workers likely with mortgages, strikingly recited every uncanny, controversial lyric and Ric Flair-esque “Woo!” like they had been analyzing them for years. -Joseph Gray, photo by Joseph Gray

12. Pretty Lights

Touring with a live band for the first time in 2013 — something that few other EDM artists have done to this day — he quickly changed the way electronic music can be experienced live. Fast forward to last Thursday, and we were once again treated to an electrifying Pretty Lights show that was more than just Smith behind a pair of Macbook Pros and two Akai MPD32s. Making his debut at the majestic Santa Barbara Bowl, he once again showed why he isn’t your typical EDM act. With Chris Karns and Big Wild providing support, Smith hit the stage at 8 p.m. with his bandmates — Karns, Borham Lee, Brandon Butler and Alvin Ford, Jr. — and put on a show that dazzled both sonically and visually. What was most impressive, though, was seeing how much of the performance was improvised, as the band transitioned from one jam to another while dropping in a number of remixes here and there. And as I looked on from my seat in the stands, I couldn’t help but think about how much the show reminded me of all the times I’ve seen STS9 perform live. It only seemed fitting considering that the livetronia band helped give Smith his start back in the day, and with the “EDM bubble” about to burst (that is, if it hasn’t already), it’s hopefully an approach more electronic artists will gravitate toward in the future. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Josh Herwitt

11. Mac DeMarco

The 26-year-old king of slacker rock, who over the past few years has become a fan favorite of many Bay Area audiophiles, never seems to hold back when he comes to town. His first night in SF last week saw him jump from The Indy’s balcony into an awaiting crowd (a feat that was later imitated by a female audience member at The Warfield the next night), run around half naked while playing new songs and perform a 25-minute cover of Eric Clapton’s 1971 hit single “Layla” with fart solos sprinkled throughout. -James Pawlish, photo by James Pawlish

10. Moderat

Easily the most anticipated set of the weekend from this spectator’s vantage point, Moderat hadn’t toured since dropping a pair of EPs in 2014. But with the release of its third full-length album, aptly titled III, the Berlin-based supergroup comprised of Apparat’s Sascha Ring and Modeselektor members Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary were primed to make their mark on the final day of LIB — and that they did. Beginning with “Ghostmother” off their latest LP, Moderat ran through a good chunk of new material, but nothing ignited the crowd more than their new single “Reminder”, which remains one of our favorite songs of the year so far. As we witnessed a few days earlier at The Fonda Theatre in LA, the group’s dark, minimalist stage setup with psychedelic flourishes paired nicely with Ring’s ethereal vocals. Of all the other performances throughout the weekend, Moderat’s 90-minute set undoubtedly stood as one of the brightest moments of LIB 2016. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Josh Herwitt

9. Foals

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

8. Tame Impala

As they opened with the dream-inducing interlude “Nangs” from their latest studio album Currents, Tame Impala gave the crowd an ample minute and a half to commit to the spatial surroundings before jumping full throttle into an explosive rendition of lead single “Let It Happen,” playing the tracks in reverse order than they are on the LP. By the third song (as promised), the sky, having just turned black, was filled with a stadium’s worth of rainbow confetti as the band played the opening chords of 2012’s psuedo love ballad “Mind Mischief”. Followed by a rare performance — only the second time in three years — of “Music to Walk Home By” from 2012’s Lonerism, Tame Impala played a wide range of emotive classics while scrambling the brains of more than 8,500 audience members with their intense onslaught of sensory-overloading imagery and hypnotic light show. -Molly Kish, photo by James Pawlish

7. Jim James

James is in rare company these days, amid a dying breed of guitar-rock gods like Jack White and Josh Homme who are not only capable of playing anything on six strings, but also on a myriad of instruments. And while Eternally Even feels in some ways like an opportunity for him to finally experiment more with keyboards, James made sure to remind his fans at the 90-year-old Orpheum Theatre last Friday that shredding is still a priority. Performing in his new hometown after officially moving to LA this year, he assumed the role of lead singer for much of the show as he and his bandmates from Twin Limb (also opening for James on this tour) played all of Eternally Even and half of Regions. But propped up by a stand onstage the whole time was James’ black Gibson axe, and you knew at some point during a two-hour set that he was going to unload some sick riffs like we have become accustomed to seeing from him at Jacket shows. -Josh Herwitt, photo by Josh Herwitt

6. The National

The real headline from The National’s performance was hands down the new material that was debuted, pretty much across their entire set, encore included. A rather standard opening of “Don’t Swallow the Cap” and “I Should Live in Salt” led into our first taste of the band’s upcoming LP in the form of “Checking Out”. Though many locals likely recognized this track from last year’s Treasure Island Music Festival (read our review here), it has tightened up over the past year and even begins to sound familiar as the Brooklyn-based five-piece begins to weave in more electronic, synth-like elements. -Kevin Quandt, photo by Steve Carlson

5. Guns N’ Roses

There may have been no more talked-about act in Coachella’s 17-year history than Saturday’s headliner — and for good reason. Going back to 1993, it had been 23 years since Axl Rose and Slash last performed on the same stage together, and though some of that allure had worn off by the time they reached Indio thanks to a surprise show in LA and back-to-back nights in Las Vegas in prior weeks, Guns N’ Roses were still the talk of the town leading up to Coachella. In fact, all you had to do was look around on Saturday and see just how many GNR T-shirts were traversing the polo fields before their 10:30 p.m. set. When it came time to deliver, the original trio of Axl, Slash and bassist Duff McKagan most certainly did, while rhythm guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer proved to be more than suitable fill-ins for Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler/Matt Sorum. Meanwhile, the surprise appearance by Angus Young couldn’t have come at a much better time after the announcement was made minutes before GNR’s set that Rose will be filling in for Brian Johnson on AC/DC’s remaining tour dates this year. GNR have always been one of my biggest bucket-list bands, and even if a broken leg prevented Axl from strutting and slithering across the stage like he once did as a brash, slender 21-year-old rock star, seeing one of my favorite childhood bands perform for two and a half hours felt all too surreal as I left the Empire Polo Club that night. -Josh Herwitt, photo courtesy of Coachella

4. Sia

From the very beginning, Sia set herself apart from every other artist who took the Coachella Stage this year. With the Australian artist standing in the back of the stage, her set was more performance art than it was pop music. While her face was hidden thanks to her trademark wig, Sia’s voice stood front and center as she belted out every note to hits like “Diamonds”, “Bird Set Free” and “Titanium”. Throughout it all, different dancers and actors would come on stage, abstractly embodying the themes her songwriting often conveys: fear, anticipation, stress, anger, joy, love and most of all, doubt. As Kristen Wiig and Paul Dano contributed to the overall performance, the height of Sia’s conceptual masterpiece reached its peak with a breathtaking rendition of “Breathe Me”, bringing some of the audience to tears. It was the true headliner of Sunday night and among the top performances of the entire weekend. -Brett Ruffenach, photo courtesy of Coachella

3. Chance the Rapper

In one of the few transcendent moments of the weekend, a set that had everyone throughout the fairgrounds hyped into an anticipatory frenzy, Chance the Rapper performed at the Lands End stage on Sunday afternoon for easily the largest crowd of the entire weekend. Even those who stood their ground through Third Eye Blind’s preceding set felt the drastic change in both crowd size and personal space as the polo fields flooded and temperatures rose. Even though Chance could have used this to his advantage and conducted an explosive show, igniting the tightly configured crowd into a combustive state, he instead took his fans “to church” with a spiritually centered gospel set, making sure everyone was attentive and of course, that “his part” resonated among the masses. -Molly Kish, photo by Norm de Veyra

2. LCD Soundsystem

Over the last couple of years, it’s hard to think of a band I have wanted to see more than LCD Soundsystem. Deeply tied to my formative years in college, the Brooklyn outfit’s return after a five-year hiatus was nothing short of stunning. Opening with the undeniably groovy “Us vs. Them” and covering a good chunk of their catalog over almost two hours, LCD certainly met the expectations of an eager crowd. James Murphy kept the banter between songs fairly short, and these indie heavyweights demonstrated a true dedication to their craft, starting fast with songs like “Movements” and “Yeah” before moving to more deep, tightly wound rhythms on “Someone Great” and “Home”. Though “Losing My Edge” was written more than 10 years ago, Murphy’s part-improvised, part-proclamation, part-perfectly-delivered rendition of the track seemed to really capture the attention of more casual LCD fans. Nearing the end of its set, the band covered “Heroes” by late collaborator David Bowie. I have seen many concerts as well as attended many festivals in my life, but this was truly among the most beautiful moments in live music I have ever experienced. Wrapping up their headlining performance with “All My Friends”, LCD Soundsystem proved to be among the top artists to ever grace the festival’s main stage. -Brett Ruffenach, photo by Norm de Veyra

1. Anderson .Paak

I’m going to be completely honest: I went to SXSW this year to see .Paak because I knew once he played it, tickets to his shows would be impossible to get. Six months later, $30 tickets to his show in San Francisco at The Fillmore resold for upwards of $400. If you didn’t have another way to get into that show or rent to pay, it was worth it. The energy that comes out of .Paak while he’s performing is charming, infectious and unmatched. He splits his time roaming every inch of the stage and behind his drum set, often singing and rapping without missing a beat. At .Paak’s December show at the Hollywood Palladium in LA, Stevie Wonder came out not to sing, but to tell the crowd what a big fan he is. So basically, Stevie Wonder dropped by. OK, Anderson … we see you. -Rochelle Shipman, photo by Norm de Veyra

Filed Under: Best of, Best of 2016, Editor's Picks, Featured Tagged With: A$AP Ferg, Adrian Younge, Air, Alessia Cara, Alina Baraz, AlunaGeorge, Alvvays, Anderson .Paak, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Atlas Genius, Aubrie Sellers, Bag Raiders, Baio, Banks & Steelz, Bas, Battles, BØRNS, Beach House, Beats Antique, Bernhoft and The Shudderbugs, Best Coast, Best of 2016, Big Freedia, Big Gigantic, Big Grams, Big Wild, Black Milk & Nat Turner, Bloc Party, Bob Moses, Bob Mould, Brand New, Brett Dennen, Capital Cities, Cate le Bon, Chairlift, Chance The Rapper, Chelsea Wolfe, CHK CHK CHK, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Chromeo, Chuck Mosley, Claude VonStroke, Coachella, Coachella 2016, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2016, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2016, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2016, Cold War Kids, Dan Deacon, Danny Brown, Deftones, Dirtwire, Disclosure, DMA's, DMX, Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Duran Duran, Early November, Emancipator Ensemble, Every Time I Die, Eyes on the Shore, Ezra Furman, Faith No More, Fantastic Negrito, Fell Runner, Femi Kuti, Floating Points, Florence & the Machine, Flume, Flying Lotus, FOALS, Fruition, Geographer, Glass Animals, Gorgon City, Grimes, Guns N' Roses, Halsey, Heartwatch, Highly Suspect, Hippie Sabotage, Holy Fuck, How to Dress Well, Hudson Mohawke, Hundred Waters, Iamsu!, IAMX, Ibeyi, Ice Cube, Iggy Pop, Isaiah Rashad, J. Cole, Jack Ü, Jack Beats, Jack Garratt, James Bay, Jamie xx, Jhené Aiko, Jidenna, Jim James, Jimmie Vaughn, Joywave, Julia Holter, Julien Baker, k.flay, Kaki King, Kamaiyah, Kamasi Washington, Kehlani, Kurt Vile, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Lafa Taylor, Lana Del Rey, Lapsley, LCD Soundsystem, Les Sins, Lettuce, Lionel Richie, Little Scream, Lord Huron, Lucius, M. Ward, M83, Mac Demarco, Major Lazer, Marian Hill, Mayer Hawthorne, MC YOGI, Methyl Ethel, Metric, Miami Horror, Mick Jenkins, Midi Matilda, Miguel Migs, Miike Snow, Moderat, Modest Mouse, Moon Taxi, My Morning Jacket, Nahko & Medicine for the People, Nas, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Neon Indian, Nick Murphy (fka Chet Faker), Nite Jewel, Oh Pep!, Oh Wonder, Panic! At The Disco, Parliament-Funkadelic, Peaches, Petite Noir, Porches, Pretty Lights, Prince Rama, Purity Ring, Pusha T, Ra Ra Riot, Radiohead, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Rin Tin Tiger, RJD2, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rogue Wave, Rubblebucket, Rudimental, Run The Jewels, Ryan Adams, Saosin, Sarah Neufeld, Shabazz Palaces, Shlohmo, Sia, Sigur Ros, Silversun Pickups, snakehips, Solange, Son Little, St. Germain, St. Lucia, Stormzy, STS9, Sturgill Simpson, Sufjan Stevens, Summer Cannibals, Sunflower Bean, Sylvan Esso, Tacocat, Taking Back Sunday, Tame Impala, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, The Arcs, The Avett Brothers, The Boxer Rebellion, The California Honeydrops, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, The Crux, The Devil Makes Three, The Faint, The Gaslamp Killer, The Head and The Heart, The Heavy, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Joy Formidable, The Kills, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Lone Bellow, The Naked and Famous, The National, The Pharcyde, The Polish Ambassador, The Regrettes, The Revivalists, The Rubens, The Russ Liquid Test, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, The Seshen, The Struts, The Trims, This Will Destroy You, Thomas Jack, Thundercat, Toro Y Moi, Tortoise, Tory Lanez, Tourist, Troye Sivan, Ty Segall, Tycho, Umphrey's McGee, Viceroy, Vince Staples, Vokab Company, Walk the Moon, Warpaint, Wavves, Weezer, Wheeler Walker Jr., White Denim, Wild Belle, Wild Nothing, Years & Years, Yeasayer, YG, Young Fathers, Yuck, zhu, Ziggy Marley

Deftones make their case in Berkeley that they’re still a force to be reckoned with

August 31, 2016 by Andrew Pohl 1 Comment

Photos by Mike Rosati // Written by Andrew Pohl //

Deftones with YelaWolf, Sister Crayon //
Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
August 26th, 2016 //

Toward the middle of their headlining set at the Greek Theatre Berkeley last Friday, Deftones frontman Chino Moreno took a moment to thank the audience for attending, pointing out that early on in their career, they would often venture south from their home base of “Sacto” (or Sacramento for the normies) to play at the tiny, gone-but-not-forgotten club Berkeley Square (as evidenced here).

Soaking in the crowd like a solid pull off of a bottle of bourbon, the band continued their full-frontal assault, giving it their all and sparing no one. This is just one of the things that makes a band like Deftones a continual hit with the masses. Between their ever-evolving brand of metal and their never-a-dull-moment live show, the icing on the cake has always been their willingness to include the audience, clearly jiving off of its energy in synergistic fashion. Historically, Deftones have always acknowledged the importance of the relationship between the band and the audience, and this night was no different.

I’ve seen Deftones several times over the years, in a variety of venues. I caught them in an outdoor setting when they played at the Warped Tour many moons ago, but this was a much better space to catch the band. Warming up the audience were Sacramento electronic duo Sister Crayon, followed by Alabama hip-hop artist YelaWolf.

A two-piece act from Sacramento, Sister Crayon performed a 30-minute set of electronic-inspired trip-hop, showcasing singer Terra Lopez’s soulful tone that was accompanied by programmer Dani Fernandez’s skilled song-smithing. YelaWolf was up next, offering up his aggressive hip-hop stylings that were peppered with rock and industrial (but certainly not nü-metal) elements. He managed to get the crowd engaged several times with an a cappella rendition of the Garth Brooks classic “Friends in Low Places” and by encouraging audience members to raise their lighters/cell phones in unison to honor the victims of war, racism and police violence.

Deftones came out to a wanting audience; the anticipation was palpable. Going directly into their barn-burner of a song “Rocket Skates”, the pit was whipped into a frenzy and nary an audience member wasn’t screaming along to the chorus chant “GUNS! RAZORS!! KNIVES!!!” Keeping the energy level up, the group jumped right into “Geometric Headdress” followed by what was surely a crowd favorite, the classic and beautiful “Be Quite and Drive (Far Away)” from their sophomore album Around the Fur.

The band was tight, punchy and engaging. Guitarist Stephan Carpenter held down his side of the stage, and if I can use a Who reference, playing John Entwistle to Moreno’s Roger Daltrey and Abe Cunningham’s Keith Moon. Speaking of Cunningham, the criminally underrated drummer was in peak form, laying down bombastic beats with precision. Bassist Sergio Vega’s low end was a bit subdued in the mix, but given the outdoor setting, that was to be expected. In contrast, this was one of the few times I have been able to really catch the additions that keyboardist/turntablist/beat-maker Frank Delgado was contributing.

As they moved around their two-decade-old catalog, Deftones kept a solid balance of their more energetic and brutal tunes (“Rickets”, “Swerve City”, “Diamond Eyes”, “Gore”) with their more delicate but still heavy songs (“Digital Bath”, “Rosemary”, “(L)MIRL”). Switching between playing guitar and strictly vocals, Moreno would often venture out onto a catwalk closer to the pit to join the audience as he is known to do. At one point, he crowd-walked into the pit for a scream-along with a gang of arms reaching out to get as close as possible.

Appropriately, Deftones dedicated their song “Prince” to the recently, tragically fallen musical legend, in which the stage was drowned in a wash of purple lighting. The set ended in a trio of sing-along favorites from my favorite album White Pony: “Knife Prty”, “Change (In the House of Flies)” and “Passenger”, with nearly every audience member gladly assuming Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan’s vocal part on the latter.

For an encore, the band whipped through four early-catalog tunes: “My Own Summer (Shove It)”, “Headup”, “Bored”, and “Engine No. 9”. This was a treat for anyone who has been along for the ride with the band since its early days. I was pleased with the collection of songs that Deftones offered up this evening, pulling from seven of their eight albums, the only one left out being their self-titled LP.

I overheard a few folks who weren’t that stoked, saying they felt the band lacked energy, but I respectfully disagree. Deftones are one of those rare beasts that have managed to make music on their own terms throughout their entire career, developing their signature sound that often has been imitated but never replicated. Given how much of a workhorse they have been as a band and also how much the individual members are, plus how vast their catalog is, I feel that they did a great job keeping the show engaging and providing something for everyone.

Setlist:
Rocket Skates
Geometric Headdress
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Rickets
Diamond Eyes
Rosemary
Swerve City
Gore
Kimdracula
Digital Bath
Prince
(L)MIRL
Knife Party
Change (In the House of Flies)
Passenger

Encore:
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Headup
Bored

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Deftones, Greek Theatre Berkeley, Sister Crayon, Yelawolf

Albums you’ll want to hear in 2016

January 6, 2016 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

Written by Josh Herwitt //

Now that we’ve said our goodbyes to 2015, it’s time to start looking ahead to 2016 and what lies ahead when it comes to new music. Although it’s still rather early and new albums are sure to be announced after this writing, there’s plenty of ear candy that’s already set to be released in 2016.

Here are 10 upcoming albums (in chronological order by release date) that you’ll want to hear and could very well end up being on some “Best of 2016” lists in another 12 months.

David Bowie – ★ (Blackstar)

Release date: January 8th
Record label: RCA/Columbia

The 20th studio album from Ziggy Stardust will be one of the first to hit stands in 2016, and although the 68-year-old legend has said that his touring days are over, Bowie is still capable of making an intriguing record, much like he did in 2013 with The Next Day. From what we’ve heard on ★, be it the 10-minute title track or in recent weeks “Lazarus” (the song that Bowie is also using in his off-Broadway musical by the same name), we’re eager to hear the rest.

Tortoise – The Catastrophist

Release date: January 22nd
Record label: Thrill Jockey

It’s been more than six years since Tortoise last released an album, but the Chicago post-rock outfit will unveil The Catastrophist, led by first single “Gesceap”, later this month. Featuring vocal contributions from Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley and Todd Rittmann of Chicago bands U.S. Maple and Dead Rider, the new LP was inspired by music closely tied to Chicago’s jazz and improvised music scenes that the city commissioned the band to write back in 2010.

Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger

Release date: January 22nd
Record label: Drag City

Segall announced his eighth studio album by mailing a VHS tape to Pitchfork less than two months ago, and if that wasn’t eccentric enough, the prolific garage rocker followed it up with a dedicated website for the LP, which includes a hotline number to call and two videos — one that shows him and the band wearing baby masks and another that sees him playing a doctor while explaining what “emotional mugging” is. Despite Emotional Mugger not extending quite as long as Segall’s previous solo effort Manipulator did, many of the track names are worth a chuckle, from “Breakfast Eggs” to “Baby Big Man (I Want a Mommy)”.

Bloc Party – Hymns

Release date: January 29th
Record label: BMG

Long known for pioneering a sound that bridged the gap between indie rock and electronic music, Bloc Party return in early 2016 with their fifth studio album and their first with new members Justin Harris (bass, keyboards) and Louise Bartle (drums). Debuting material from Hymns, including newest single “The Good News” at FYF Fest (read our festival review here) in August, the British quartet will also offer a deluxe edition of the LP with four bonus tracks.

St. Lucia – Matter

Release date: January 29th
Record label: Columbia

Jean-Philip Grobler released the debut LP for his Brooklyn-based, synthpop project St. Lucia toward the end of 2013, and late this month, the South African native will unveil his follow-up to When the Night. If you were curious as to how Matter will sound in comparison to his first full length, Grobler has a geographical analogy to describe both: “If the last album sounded like the tropics, this album is the desert.”

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Release date: N/A
Record label: N/A

Thomas Fec has become well-regarded in indie-electronic circles for his work as Tobacco over the last several years, but for more than a decade, he has also served as the frontman of Black Moth Super Rainbow, the Pittsburgh psych-rock group that’s preparing to drop its sixth studio album later this year. As BMSR fans await the LP’s official release, the band surprised many in mid-November by streaming its new mini-album Seefu Lilac, which features “neon flavored outtakes from a 6th album that doesn’t yet exist.”

Animal Collective – Painting With

Release date: February 19th
Record label: Domino

After streaming new material on loop at Baltimore’s BWI Airport the day before Thanksgiving, Animal Collective are now just a few weeks away from the release of their 10th studio album. Taking some much-needed time off after its latest tour so that David Portner and Noah Lennox could focus on their own side projects, the band refined its songwriting approach for Painting With, removing the long, ambient passages that were often synonymous with their previous LPs and also collaborating with Welsh musician John Cale and multireedist Colin Stetson.

Wild Nothing – Life of Pause

Release date: February 19th
Record label: Captured Tracks

Jack Tatum remains the brains behind his indie-rock/dream-pop project Wild Nothing, having been its founder and lone songwriter since 2009. Feeding off the success of 2012’s Nocturne, Tatum consciously wanted to reinvent himself as a musician while recording Life of Pause in Los Angeles and Stockholm with producer Thom Monahan, and if his double-sided single “To Know You”/”TV Queen” is any indication, we’re starting to see what he means.

Poliça – United Crushers

Release date: March 4th
Record label: Mom + Pop

Poliça lead vocalist Channy Leaneagh may have been pregnant last year, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way this Minneapolis synthpop group has continued to work in the studio. In following up its successful sophomore effort Shulamith from 2013, the five-piece takes a more political approach on its third full-length album United Crushers, which boasts first single “Lime Habit”.

Charles Bradley – Changes

Release date: April 1st
Record label: Daptone Records

You have to wonder if Charles Bradley was a Black Sabbath fan growing up as a kid, because his new album Changes draws plenty of inspiration from the legendary heavy metal group’s Vol. 4. While his cover of the famous Sabbath hit serves as the LP’s title track, the “Screaming Eagle of Soul” continues to win us over with his rags-to-riches story (Bradley was at one time homeless before becoming a cook and working various odd jobs) and his undying charisma.

The following artists and bands are expected to release new albums in 2016 but have yet to confirm an official release date and/or an album title:

AlunaGeorge
ANTEMASQUE
Band of Horses
Beck
Blink-182
Chairlift – Moth
Chromatics – Dear Tommy
Crystal Castles
Death Grips – Bottomless Pit
Deftones
Diddy – No Way Out 2
DJ Premier – Last Session @ 320
Drake – Views From the 6
Frank Ocean
Gary Numan
Gorillaz
GZA – Dark Matter
Haim
James Blake – Radio Silence
Kanye West – SWISH
Kings of Leon
LCD Soundsystem
Lupe Fiasco – Drogas
M.I.A. – Matahdatah
M83
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Major Lazer – Music Is the Weapon
Mark Kozelek
Metallica
Metronomy
Modest Mouse
My Morning Jacket
No Doubt
Pete Yorn – Arranging Time
Radiohead
Rihanna – Anti
Spiritualized
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Killers
The Strokes
Zeds Dead

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, New Music Tagged With: AlunaGeorge, Animal Collective, Antemasque, Band of Horses, Beck, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Blink-182, Bloc Party, Chairlift, Charles Bradley, Chromatics, Crystal Castles, David Bowie, Deftones, Diddy, DJ Premier, Drake, Frank Ocean, Gary Numan, Gorillaz, GZA, Haim, Kanye West, Kings of Leon, LCD Soundsystem, Lupe Fiasco, M.I.A., M83, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Major Lazer, Mark Kozelek, Metallica, Metronomy, Modest Mouse, My Morning Jacket, New Music, No Doubt, Pete Yorn, Poliça, Radiohead, Rihanna, Spiritualized, St. Lucia, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Killers, The Strokes, Tortoise, Ty Segall, Wild Nothing, Zeds Dead

New Music Tuesday: Green Day • Deftones • Soundgarden • Crystal Castles • Fake Blood

November 13, 2012 by Mike Frash Leave a Comment

Every Tuesday, we focus on new music releases by naming our top tracks and supplying the latest videos for select albums.

Green Day – ¡Dos!

Top Track: “Stray Heart”

Deftones – Koi No Yokan

Top Track: “Tempest”

Soundgarden – King Animal

Top Track: “Non-State Actor”

Crystal Castles – III

Top Track: “Plague”

Fake Blood – Cells

Top Track: “End of Days”

Filed Under: New Music Tagged With: Crystal Castles, Deftones, Fake Blood, Green Day, New Music, Soundgarden

The Bam Team’s 5 Favorite Shows, Albums & Songs of 2025

The Mars Volta reaffirm at Pasadena Civic Auditorium that they aren’t resting on their laurels these days & we love them just as much for it

Coachella releases 2024 set times & continues recent tradition of surprise guests as Vampire Weekend, Kid Cudi revealed as latest

Coachella finally unveils 2024 lineup after an unusual delay as Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator & Doja Cat make their headlining debuts

The Bam Team’s 5 Favorite Albums & Songs of 2020

The 25 best live music acts of 2016

Deftones make their case in Berkeley that they’re still a force to be reckoned with

Albums you’ll want to hear in 2016

New Music Tuesday: Green Day • Deftones • Soundgarden • Crystal Castles • Fake Blood

FESTIVALS

Goldenvoice takes on Ohana Fest with inaugural Ocean Way Festival parading The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White, Khruangbin & Sublime

Portola Music Festival runs it back in 2026 with Robyn, Dog Blood, Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto, Zara Larsson & Four Tet for fifth year

Ohana Festival will celebrate 10th anniversary with Eddie Vedder & Friends, Tyler Childers & Pearl Jam booked to headline 2026 lineup

SHOW REVIEWS

Two years after their BeachLife Festival headlining slot was canceled, My Morning Jacket return in 2026 to deliver some sweet redemption

What the world needs now is more Fcukers & their sold-out show at The Observatory only served as further proof

Silversun Pickups come out swinging with power & precision to kick off their ‘Tenterhooks Tour’ for a sold-out crowd at The Observatory

On their first major headlining tour, Say She She make no secret at The Belasco why the ‘discodelic soul’ group’s music is for everyone

The Mars Volta reaffirm at Pasadena Civic Auditorium that they aren’t resting on their laurels these days & we love them just as much for it

PHOTOS

Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel showcase their beautiful collaboration ‘Celestun’ at Lodge Room just a few weeks after the album’s release

STS9 take over The Bellwether in LA for two nights to celebrate 20 years of ‘Artifact’ & the release of their new album ‘Human Dream’

Grammy winners Portugal. The Man deliver their love letter to Alaska at The Wiltern with Electric Guest, Hanni El Khatib as special guests

THE LATEST

BAMMING

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