The Soft White Sixties, Mahgeetah & Coo Coo Birds rock ‘Showbams Presents’ showcase at Brick & Mortar

February 3, 2015 by 3 Comments

The Soft White Sixties


The Soft White Sixties

Photos by Tom Dellinger, Benjamin Wallen & Mike Rosati // Written by Molly Kish //

“Showbams Presents” The Soft White Sixties with Mahgeetah, Coo Coo Birds //
Brick & Mortar Music Hall – San Francisco
January 28th, 2015 //

Capping off a successful month-long residency at Brick & Mortar Music Hall last week, SF’s The Soft White Sixties were joined by opening acts Mahgeetah and Coo Coo Birds in a grand finale of epic proportions, presented by Showbams. Filling the intimate venue to maximum capacity, the sold-out crowd turned the event into a Wednesday night rager.

In combining some equally-enthusiastic fan bases into one room, the show offered a strong portrayal of the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene with three local bands on top of their games at the moment. Showbams couldn’t have been happier to present a night filled with such an impressively-curated lineup of artists — each representing their own unique musical styles — that continue to breach the creative barriers of the indie status quo across the board.

Coo Coo Birds


Coo Coo Birds

The three-piece Coo Coo Birds stunned the early-evening crowd, opening the show with their sludgy, psychedelic garage rock. Whether or not it was familiar with the band’s work upon entering Brick & Mortar, the audience quickly filled out the dance floor, drawn in by the trio’s hypnotic set.

Mahgeetah


Mahgeetah

A highly-anticipated performance from local indie/Americana outfit Mahgeetah marked the halfway point of the evening. By then, Brick & Mortar had already reached full throttle, packed with fans thirsty for their long-awaited live show before breaking out into a lively dance party while Mahgeetah ran through a string of their hits. The performance reached its peak when the band played its raucous cover of “The Seeker” by The Who, prompting a singalong that hit screaming octaves and one that neighborhood residents could easily hear within a few blocks of the venue.

The Soft White Sixties


The Soft White Sixties

Lastly, the evening’s headliner and the spotlight artist for their month-long residency, The Soft White Sixties took the stage. Equipped with their own lighting rig and set design, they took full control of the room, making sure that this last performance as the reigning kings of Brick & Mortar was one for the books. Performing for a packed house of friends and family, the band, which started playing together in 2010, brought an intensity and showmanship to the stage that echoed ones of veteran performers.

Coming in hot off the end of a year-long touring schedule in support of their most recent album Get Right, the band seemed as fresh as it was during its kickoff performance last February when it was one of the spotlight acts at Noise Pop 2014.

The Soft White Sixties


The Soft White Sixties lead singer Octavio Genera

It’s been a successful year on the road for the TSWS in addition to their many other accomplishments as a band, but this performance was even more special due to the fact that the show was also serving as an unofficial birthday party for lead singer Octavio Genera.

The “Showbams Presents” residency date truly was an amazing night for this website, Brick & Mortar Music Hall and all three bands that we were honored to have perform. It was definitely nothing short of a successful evening and ultimately one huge, epic party to end an amazing month of shows in SF.

The Soft White Sixties
The Soft White Sixties
The Soft White Sixties
Mahgeetah
Coo Coo Birds
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Showbams Presents: The Soft White Sixties, Mahgeetah & Coo Coo Birds at Brick & Mortar 1/28 (WED)

January 26, 2015 by 1 Comment

TSWS

Showbams Presents: The Soft White Sixties, Mahgeetah, Coo Coo Birds //
Brick & Mortar Music Hall – San Francisco
January 28th, 2015 //

We’re presenting our first show this Wednesday at Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco, and we want you to join us. Some of our favorite local SF acts will be blowing the venue doors right off their hinges, so enter below for your chance to GO4FREE.

BUY TICKETS if you know you want to go.

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The Soft White Sixties have hit the bricks hard the past couple of years promoting their debut LP Get Right. while introducing “Working Class Soul” to live music fans across the US. Covering the group’s album release show, we wrote, “Octavio Genera commands a crowd like a champion – His enthusiasm is evident, and this bolsters the sound created by his talented band.” In reviewing the group’s Noise Pop show last year, we proclaimed, “This band excels at hard-driving rock, which they delivered in a big way many times throughout the night with well-placed lighter songs to bring things back to earth once in a while. In essence, The Soft White Sixties curate a well-paced show.”

If you’re a fan of music from The Black Keys, Pickwick or Delta Spirit, then head toward the Mission this Wednesday evening for the last show on The Soft White Sixties’ concert calendar.

mahgeetah-5

One of our favorite indie acts from the Bay Area, Mahgeetah, will be teeing up TSWS’ final night of their residency, which has us pretty excited. Take a peep at what we said about Mahgeetah’s live show last summer: “All hail Mahgeetah as they continue to be an important piece in the local music scene. “Creature of Habit” was passionately belted out by guitarist JJ Mellon, a standout on the their LP that has become a treat on stage. Longtime favorite tune, “Long Shot”, was another highlight as the slow build from Fisher and band burst with energy and groove comparable to White Denim. The rhythm section, featuring Tim Tyson on bass and Alex Swain on percussion, has always been a strong suit for this San Francisco act, and tonight showed no exception.”

Coo-Coo-Birds-Orange

Grimy psych-rock with a savage, spiritual narrative will be getting our asses into Brick & Mortar plenty early this Wednesday to see Coo Coo Birds. Let’s let the guys from Coo Coo Birds set the stage themselves: “Noted for causing spiritual awakening in the members of their congregation; the band’s live performances are considered by many- even by those outside of the occult- to be a religious experience. Abandoning modern conveniences for a more corporal connection with the Divine, the group is rumored to have recorded their prayers using ancient methods; including magnetic tapes, and primitive amplification.” Sounds good. We’re in.

Win-2-Tickets

Join us this Wednesday for free (if you’re lucky) by entering your name and email below. Contest ends Tuesday at 2 p.m. We’ll notify you by mid-day Wednesday if you are going for free.

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

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Mahgeetah and Incan Abraham make a trek to far off places

June 5, 2014 by 1 Comment

Mahgeetah_1

Photos by Pedro Paredes // Written by Kevin Quandt //

Incan Abraham, Mahgeetah with Jordan Klassen //
Neck of the Woods — San Francisco
June 3rd, 2014 //

“I never come to the Richmond,” Mahgeetah’s enigmatic frontman Ryan Fisher jokingly quipped to the crowd. A fair observation, but the comment shined a brighter light onto those who made the pilgrimage to the ‘nether regions’ of San Francisco. Along with Canadian folk-rockers, Jordan Klassen, and LA popsters, Incan Abraham, it was Mahgeetah who left the biggest impression on a decent sized, midweek crowd at the still new-to-many venue that goes by Neck of the Woods.

Klassen and cohorts delivered an energetic set of high-country indie-pop, with a male/female vocal delivery that felt both genuine and original. It was Mahgeetah who took the stage next, the stage’s King-of-Limbs backdrop created a unique setting for this quartet to re-take the stage after a few months in the studio. Expect an impressive EP to drop this year – a follow-up to 2012’s full-length release, Heavy Baby.

Mahgeetah

On this night, the dedicated crowd was treated to a smattering of old and new. “Creature of Habit” was passionately belted out by guitarist JJ Mellon, a standout on the their LP that has become a treat on stage. Longtime favorite tune, “Long Shot”, was another highlight as the slow build from Fisher and band burst with energy and groove comparable to White Denim. The rhythm section, featuring Tim Tyson on bass and Alex Swain on percussion, has always been a strong suit for this San Francisco act, and tonight showed no exception. All hail Mahgeetah as they continue to be an important piece in the local music scene.

Incan-Abraham

Incan Abraham closed out an increasingly fogged-in Clement Street evening Tuesday night. Having played a show with Mahgeetah down in their home turf, it was time for Incan to bring their patented LA-tinged pop to the City. One characteristic that stood out quickly was the melodic harmonizing taking place between the respective singing. Also, an added element of rhythm lended a more-dance oriented feel to their set compared to the previous acts.

Incan do represent a solid piece in the ever increasing Los Angeles/Silver Lake indie sound – in the vein of acts like Local Natives and Voxhaul Broadcast. All in all, they got the dwindling crowd moving on a tricky night, in a place that might as well been across a bridge or a tunnel.

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

WIN TICKETS: Incan Abraham, Mahgeetah at Neck of the Woods 6/3 (TUE)

June 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

incan-abraham_post

Enter to win a pair of free tickets to this show below.

Incan Abraham, Mahgeetah with Jordan Klassen //
Neck of the Woods — San Francisco
Tuesday, June 3rd //

Hey, no plans on Tuesday night? Well, Showbams has a recommendation(and tickets) to see a double bill of exciting California indie-rock bands, holding court in the Richmond District at Neck of the Woods. San Francisco’s own Mahgeetah are playing alongside Los Angeles upstarts, Incan Abraham; a reunion for this pairing, but in the Bay Area instead of down south.

Mahgeetah have been diligently working on a fresh batch of tunes, many which are likely to be debuted on this evening. Tracks off of their stellar 2012 release, Heavy Baby, are sure to be represented, as well. Their take on modernized, 21st Century blues-rock is both powerful and engaging as Ryan Fisher’s strong vocals cut through to the core. Incan Abraham are hitting the road in support of their latest release, Tolerance, a slice of soaring tunes borrowing influence from a smattering of today’s great acts, while not compromising their artistic integrity.

Jordan Klassen rounds out the bill for the evening; one which is sure to break you from your mid-week drudgery, so make the pilgrimage to the Neck of the Woods. -Kevin Quandt

Buy tickets if you know you want to go!

Win-2-Tickets

Enter to win if you can attend this show Tuesday, June 3rd at Neck of the Woods in SF.

Submit your full name and email address below.
Contest ends Tuesday, June 3rd at Noon. Winners will be picked at random & notified by email. Your email will be kept private – we will share your email with no one. 21+ Only 

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

CONTEST CLOSED

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Noise Pop Wednesday: Ramona Falls, Social Studies, Harriet, Mahgeetah

February 28, 2013 by 86 Comments

Social-Studies
View our Noise Pop preview.

Noise Pop offered excellent mid-week options Wednesday, and while Rickshaw stop welcomed a post-hardcore bill headlined by Ceremony and Bottom of the Hill hosted local faves The Fresh & Onlys, the place to be Wednesday was at Brick & Mortar Music Hall, where the capacity crowd dug into indie rock with a tinge of electronica.

The Wednesday night Noise-Pop show glimmered with hopes and high expectations, as Ramona Falls & Social Studies showed off their road-perfected sets, Harriet got back in the live music game, and Mahgeetah showed that it’s bit foolish to arrive late during Noise Pop week.

Ramona-Falls

Ramona Falls have a smiley stage presence and friendly vibe in a live setting that doesn’t prepare you for their hyper-charged, synth-serious sound aesthetic. Portland based Brent Knopf is the leading creative force behind Ramona Falls, and he expanded the project for his 2012 LP Prophet to include a full band in the recording process. Knopf’s warm voice and lyrical delivery is pleasantly reminiscent of Ben Gibbard (The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie) and John Darnielle (Mountain Goats).

And it’s a live treat that Ramona Falls is touring with violinist Lauren Jacobson. Her strings added an extra emotional layer that isn’t present on Prophet. Much of the school night crowd thinned out early, and they missed a stellar set.


Social-Studies

Social Studies is a local SF group led by Natalia Rogovin, and her sultry vocals combined with her stunning, classic beauty will surely continue to elevate the group. They sound like slightly faster Beach house with an electronic jolt. Rogovin exhibits in-the-moment stage presence similar to Ruth Radelet from Chroamatics, and she is adept enough to guide auditory pleasure seekers into a hypnotic trance. Unfortunately, the drunk chick toward the front who continued to loudly proclaim “you’re killing it” and “keep going” at quiet moments did not allow herself to drift away with the chill waves.

The penultimate performers this night have been touring with Ramona Falls, and Rogovin made sure it was clear that they were happy to be home for Noise Pop. And since Social Studies are hometown heroes, it makes sense that they drew a denser audience than the headliners. Holler & swaller!


Harriot

Contrasting Ramona Falls & Social Study’s endless touring, Harriet came to Noise Pop from LA with a fistful of new material never performed to a live audience. Based on this performance, Harriet is a band to keep both eyes on. Alex Casnoff’s stage banter is delightfully devious; he introduced a song by saying it is “about strippers you feel connected to after a lap dance.”

Casnoff promised an album to be released later this year, and it should be a good one.

Local SF group Mahgeetah were on fire when I walked in, but it was their last song of the night. They were thrashing away at a raging jam, finishing with a fuzzy wall of sound that was impressive. Instantly upon walking into Brick and Mortar I regretted leaving the house a bit late.

And to a certain degree, the opening acts are what Noise Pop week is all about. Most Noise Pop shows have two or three openers, and the supporting acts are almost exclusively from the best coast. If you can swing it, get to the venue early and discover an up-and-coming act.

•!!! (Chk Chk Chk) tickest are somehow still available for Thursday night. Get ’em while you can. Don’t count on walking up to Great American Music Hall to buy tickets at the door.

•Free Energy will be performing Thursday at Brick and Mortar Music Hall. Wednesday night’s B&M show sold out, so buy tickets while you can.

Noise-Pop-2013

Filed Under: Live Music Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,