The Chapel – Showbams

Noise Pop 2016: Relive the festival frame by frame

March 10, 2016 by Molly Kish Leave a Comment

Heartwatch

Photos by Mike Rosati & Benjamin Wallen // Written by Molly Kish //

Noise Pop //
Bay Area venues – San Francisco & Oakland
February 19th-28th, 2016 //

With the impending storm of summer festival traffic washing away the last remnants of Noise Pop, it’s time to look back at the best highlights from this year’s lineup. Serving up a bill that celebrates the diversity of contemporary independent culture, 2016’s roster was as eclectic as ever, ranging from pop stars to cowpunks (aka country punks), free-form jazz prodigies and indie-rock veterans. Bay Area venues were at capacity on a nightly basis, with crowds braving brisk weather conditions in order to experience the one-of-a-kind performances Noise Pop has spent nearly 25 years curating.

Navigating through more than 100 acts during this year’s festival, we dove right into the thick of it, capturing shots from some of our favorite Noise Pop shows. Check out our photo gallery below as well as more coverage from our friends over at DoTheBay.

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festivals, Photos Tagged With: Alexander Spits, American Football, Antwon, Bender's Bar & Grill, Birth Defects, Carly Rae Jepsen, Dirty Denim, DoTheBay, Growwler, Her Space Holiday, Joywave, Kamasi Washington, Kneedelus, Metric, Neto & So What, Noise Pop, Noise Pop 2016, Noise Pop Festival, One Line Drawing, Parquet Courts, Ringo Deathstarr, SFJAZZ Center, Swedish American Hall, The Chapel, The Masonic, The New Parish, The Regency Ballroom, The World, Unlikely Heroes

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors take a victory lap at The Chapel

February 29, 2016 by Steve Carlson Leave a Comment

By Steve Carlson //

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors with Sean McConnell //
The Chapel – San Francisco
February 25th, 2016 //

The last year has been pretty good to singer-songwriter Drew Holcomb. Since releasing the critically lauded LP Medicine in early 2015, which debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200, he has toured extensively with his band The Neighbors in support of the record (including a visit to The Masonic in SF last summer to open for NEEDTOBREATHE), launched his own vinyl record club called Magnolia Record Club and continued to host the successful Moon River Music Festival in Memphis, which he founded two years ago. By this point, late in the album cycle for Medicine, you could expect that it might feel like a bit of a victory lap for Holcomb and his band when they came to town last Thursday night to perform at The Chapel — and it certainly felt that way for the capacity crowd by the end of the night.

Starting things off was folk/country artist Sean McConnell, who has had his share of success as a songwriter for such country superstars as Tim McGraw and Martina McBride. Now based in Nashville, McConnell quickly won over the audience with his sentimental, soulful ballads, including the show-stopping “Shotgun”, which he noted was recently recorded with Buddy Miller and Christina Aguilera for the ABC television series “Nashville”. But the highlight of McConnell’s set came with the rollicking “Save Our Soul”, a good old-fashioned, take-you-to-church country song that repeats the refrain “we all need a good second coming/a rebirth of rock ‘n’ roll/I can hear the guitars humming/someone save our soul”. It’s hard to imagine a better song to play at The Chapel, and the crowd happily responded with foot stomping and hollering aplenty. McConnell mentioned that he hasn’t toured much on the West Coast but hopes to more in the future.

After a short break, it was Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors’ turn to lead the faithful, and it’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint. The crowd was clearly well-acquainted with Holcomb’s music and showed the band plenty of love early and often. As one would expect, the setlist leaned heavily on material from Medicine, but also featured a number of cuts off 2013’s Good Light, including the album’s title track and a beautiful solo rendition of “What Would I Do Without You” during the encore. Holcomb also dug deeper into his catalog to unearth “Hallelujah”, which he paired nicely with a few bars of Counting Crows staple “Mr. Jones”. A few songs later, he gathered with his bandmates around a ribbon mic for hushed renditions of “Ain’t Nobody Got It Easy” and “Fire and Dynamite”, which were highlights of the night.

Late in the set, Holcomb opened the floor up to requests, which led to two more tracks off of Good Light: “Tennessee” and “Another Man’s Shoes”. The latter showed off Holcomb’s good nature as he struggled through the song (which he admitted to not having played in awhile), mixing up verses and forgetting lyrics, but he did it with both laughter and self-deprecation throughout. As the night came to a close and Holcomb launched into his final number, the lighthearted, call-and-response tune entitled “Here We Go”, he warned the audience with a grin that “the next three-and-a-half minutes are going to be fun!” Judging by the singing and dancing that took place over those three and a half minutes in addition to the thunderous and sustained applause as the band took their bows, he was undoubtedly right.

Setlist:
American Beauty
Tightrope
Good Light
Nothing But Trouble
Avalanche
Hallelujah > Mr. Jones (Counting Crows cover)
You’ll Always Be My Girl
When It’s All Said and Done
I Like to Be With Me When I’m With You
Live Forever
Ain’t Nobody Got It Easy
Fire and Dynamite
Tennessee
Another Man’s Shoes
Shine Like Lightning

Encore:
What Would I Do Without You
Here We Go

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Drew Holcomb, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Sean McConnell, The Chapel

Noise Pop 2016: Daily picks & flavors of the week

February 22, 2016 by Molly Kish Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Noise Pop //
Bay Area venues – San Francisco & Oakland
February 19th-28th, 2016 //

Noise Pop 2016 is here! To get you ready for all the Noise Pop festivities throughout the Bay Area, we present our daily picks and flavors of the week.

Plus, make sure to brush up on this year’s bill with our Noise Pop playlist and don’t miss your opportunity to take part in the festivities.

GO4FREE: Win tickets to Noise Pop 2016 shows all week here!

Monday, February 22nd

Ziggy Stardust Tribute Party with Everyone Is Bowie: February 22nd (MON) @ The Independent, 8 p.m., 21+ (SOLD OUT)

Paying respect to the Star Man himself, film and concert enthusiasts alike can trip out to “The Spiders from Mars” at The Independent for David Bowie tribute night. The venue will be participating in the Noise Pop film series by showing a digitally remastered version of “Ziggy Stardust and “The Spiders from Mars”. After the screening, make sure to stick around for a live performance from Oakland’s own conceptual tribute band Everyone Is Bowie, including visuals by local film production company White Light Prism. There’s even a pre-party at San Franpsycho (505 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117) with live screen printing, face painting, a Bowie costume contest and free beer (yes, you read that right) from Mavericks Brewing Company.

Tuesday, February 23rd

Metric

Metric with Joywave: February 23rd (TUE) @ The Masonic, 8 p.m., All Ages // WIN TICKETS

No strangers to the the Bay Area music scene and Noise Pop’s illustrious history, 15-year-old indie-rock veterans Metric headline The Masonic on Tuesday with support from New York dance-pop quartet Joywave. Serving as one of the main headliners at this year’s festival, Metric is one band you’ll want to catch early in the week — and we have a pair of tickets just for you.

“Fucked Up But Beautiful” (Noise Pop art reception): February 23rd (TUE) @ Bender’s Bar & Grill, 5 p.m., 21+

Celebrating the flawed and accentuating the negative, “Fucked Up But Beautiful” showcases some of the work of the Bay Area’s most prominent independent artists that was never meant to be seen. Marred by sundry, footprints, bent corners and beer spills, Bender’s Bar & Grill will be hosting a full gallery of glossy disasters, which in turn have taken on a new appreciation of their own. Stop by Bender’s to reflect on mistakes and check out the labors of unrequited love from Amy Jo, Boss Construction, Bureau of Print Research and Design, Crosshair, The Decoder Ring, Drug Factory Press, Alan Forbes, Furturtle Prints, Kollective Fusion, Lil Tuffy, Methane Industries, PinkBikeRalph, Powerslide Design, Tooth and more.

Wednesday, February 24th

Andrew Jackson Jihad

Wild Ones, Palehound with Two Sheds, False Priest: February 24th (WED) @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 7 p.m., 21+ // WIN TICKETS

Spanning the spectrum of everything Noise Pop, this lineup includes Wild One’s heavy synth and ethereal R&B, singer-songwriter Ellie Kemper’s solo project Palehound and local modern rock outfit False Priest. If you’re looking to shake things up on Wednesday and truly get a full taste of the Noise Pop 2016 lineup, stop by the intimately accommodating Brick & Mortar Music Hall and check out this exceptional lineup.

Andrew Jackson Jihad with BATTLEHOOCH, Owl Paws: February 24th (WED) @ The Chapel, 7 p.m., 21+

Maybe you’re looking to let loose mid-work week? If being an adult has got you down, come through The Chapel on Wednesday night and get weird with the prominent wild card’s of Noise Pop 2016. Are you into the collective craze of Andrew Jackson Jihad’s folk-punk antics or daydreaming of being swaddled in the illustrious locks of Grant Goodrich, the bass player of SF’s own BATTLEHOOCH? Regardless of your motivation, we recommend you get there early for Owl Paws’ set and go pile-driving into the second half of your work week.

Thursday, February 24th

Kamasi Washington

“Gin N Jazz” feat. Kamasi Washington in conversation with David Katznelson: February 25th (THUR) @ Swedish American Hall, 4 p.m., 21+ (RSVP required)

As part of Noise Pop 2016’s “HQ Culture Hour” series, Bay Area music veteran and Birdman Recording Group founder David Katznelson will be chatting with saxophonist Kamasi Washington about all things jazz over gin libations sponsored by UK independent spirit purveyor Sipsmith. Signed as an accomplished protégé and part of the label’s early roster while playing as a teenager in The Young Jazz Giants, Washington has a storied history with plenty to discuss about the origins and ever-growing complexities of jazz in mainstream art and culture. Touching upon Washington’s roots, recording process and musical journey, this conversation will be a great opportunity to get an in-depth look at the band leader outside of his sold-out show later that evening.

Antwon with Alexander Spit, Unlikely Heroes: February 25th (THUR) @ The New Parish, 8 p.m., 21+ // WIN TICKETS

This lineup depicts a hometown love letter to Bay Area hip-hop. Throwing down this Thursday is a full lineup of performers looking to turn up The New Parish in Oakland. Bay Area native and world-renowned lyrcist Antwon headlines the night with his cross-over brand of indie hip-hop and will be supported by locally raised rapper and producer Alexander Spit. Kicking off the party will be SF Battle of the Band’s winner Unlikely Heroes, the hip-hop/punk outfit that promises to get the crowd pumped up.

Friday, February 26th

Parquet Courts

Parquet Courts with Chris Cohen, The World: February 26th (FRI) @ The New Parish, 8 p.m., 21+ // WIN TICKETS

Want to go to the heaviest lineup Noise Pop has to offer? Are you into sludgy, low-fi garage rock and sweaty, eardrum-rattling rock shows? No? GTFOH! But seriously, if you’re looking to do something Friday night that will leave you invigorated (more than likely wet and quite possibly with a couple of mystery bruises), look no further. The New Parish is hosting the dream lineup of prog rock and punk with Parquet Courts headlining a sold-out show with openers Chris Cohen and Emotional. If you slept on the opportunity to tear it up this Friday, you’ll still have a chance to go for free on us. Stay tuned!

Beacon with Natasha Kmeto, Running in the Fog, Frugal Father: February 26th (FRI) @ Bottom of the Hill, 8 p.m., 21+

Besides getting the chance to see some of the most promising up-and-coming artists right on the cusp of a major breakthrough, one of the perks of going to Noise Pop is that all the show are being hosted in venues that are known and loved throughout SF’s music scene. This Friday, darkwave electronic duo Beacon will take over the shoulder-grazing space of Bottom of the Hill for a truly special, one-off performance. With Beacon debuting material off of their brand-new EP, this guaranteed dance party with support from Natasha Kmeto, Running in the Fog and Frugal Father will be bursting at the seams inside this favorite venue among punk and hard-rock locals.

Saturday, February 27th

Escort

Escort with MOBLEY, COLLAJ, Push the Feelings DJs: February 26th (FRI) @ Rickshaw Stop, 8:30 p.m., 18+

Pulling influences from the legendary discos in New York, Chicago and Detroit while claiming the headlining spot on Noise Pop’s Saturday night roster at Rickshaw Stop is Brooklyn’s very own Escort. Hailed as a type of “disco orchestra” with a live show comprised of anywhere between a 5-11-piece roster, the East Coast “funktronica” outfit will be debuting new music from there yet-to-be-released sophomore album. Supported by Austin trip-hop artist MOBLEY, SF’s COLLAJ (formerly 8th Grader) and Push the Feelings DJs, this will be one of the fiercest dance parties of the entire weekend.

Song Exploder podcast with Carly Rae Jepsen: February 26th (FRI) @ Swedish American Hall, 2:30 p.m., All Ages (RSVP required)

Continuing its second year as a part of Noise Pop, Hrishikesh Hirway hosts his live storytelling “Song Exploder” podcast from the confines of the Swedish American Hall this Saturday with Carly Rae Jepsen. Dissecting her latest album Emotion and the creative thought process behind composing lead single “I Needed You”, Jepsen will sit down for a candid interview with Hirway that will lead into her performance that evening at The Warfield.

Sunday, February 28th

DIIV

DIIV with Dirty Ghosts, Creative Adult, Fine Points @ The Independent, 7:30 p.m., 21+ (SOLD OUT) // WIN TICKETS

Closing out the festival this year with a final punctuation of raw indie-rock talent, Sunday night’s bill at The Independent highlights some of the biggest names on this year’s lineup. Headlining the showcase will be DIIV, a side project from the former members of Beach Fossils and Smith Westerns, celebrating the release of their critically acclaimed new album Is the Is Are. Paired with local female-fronted rock powerhouse Dirty Ghosts and North Bay punks Creative Adult, this show will be having you question the validity of your Sunday and whether or not a lineup of this magnitude holds much relevance when accessing your upcoming work week.

See the full list of Noise Pop 2016 events here, and you can still purchase festival passes here. Keep it here at Showbams and on our Twitter account here throughout the week for a chance to win tickets to this year’s shows.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Alexander Spit, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Antwon, Battlehooch, Beacon, Bender's Bar & Grill, Bottom of the Hill, Carly Rae Jepsen, Chris Cohen, Creative Adult, DIIV, Dirty Ghosts, Escort, False Priest, Fine Points, Fucked Up But Beautiful, Joywave, Kamasi Washington, Metric, MOBLEY, Noise Pop, Noise Pop 2016, Owl Paws, Palehound, Parquet Courts, Rickshaw Stop, Song Exploder, Swedish American Hall, The Chapel, The Independent, The Masonic, The New Parish, The Warfield, The World, Two Sheds, Unlikely Heroes, Wild Ones

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Penguin Prison at Mezzanine 2/10 (WED)

February 9, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Penguin Prison with Manics //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
February 10th, 2016 //

Growing up in New York City’s Upper East Side, Chris Glover (aka Penguin Prison) embarked on his musical journey early in life. From joining his school’s gospel choir at the age of 10 to fronting a punk band in high school and forming a boy band in college, Glover has never been shy of the spotlight. In 2009, he made a name for himself under the moniker Penguin Prison with his Animal Animal/A Funny Thing EP.

Released in 2015, Penguin Prison’s latest album Lost in New York refers to “a journey that someone is going on who’s trying to find his way, trying to just grow up, become an adult,” and borrows the title from the 1992 comedy film “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”. The last time Penguin Prison came to SF, the one-man pop machine was accompanied by a full band and took a sold-out Independent by storm, proving why he deserves to be in the spotlight.

This Wednesday, Penguin Prison returns to SF to headline Mezzanine after Bay Area nu-disco act Manic opens the show. Tickets are available for $20, or you could win a pair of tickets by submitting your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Built to Spill: Feb 9th (TUE) at Slim’s
• Jukebox the Ghost: Feb 10th (WED) at Great American Music Hall
• Kiefer Sutherland: Feb 11th (THUR) at Great American Music Hall
• Waters: Feb 12th (FRI) at Slim’s
• Con Brio: Feb 12th (FRI) at The Independent
• The Donkeys: Feb 12th (FRI) at The Chapel
• Hepcat: Feb 13th (SAT) at Slim’s
• Sophie B. Hawkins: Feb 14th (SUN) at The Chapel

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Built To Spill, Con Brio, Great American Music Hall, hepcat, Jukebox the Ghost, kiefer sutherland, Mezzanine, Penguin Prison, Slims, sophie b. hawkins, The Chapel, The Donkeys, The Independent, Waters

Julia Holter digs into her latest album at The Chapel

February 3, 2016 by Pedro Paredes 1 Comment

By Pedro Paredes //

Julia Holter with Circuit des Yeux //
The Chapel – San Francisco
January 31st, 2016 //

A sold-out crowd descended upon The Chapel on the final night of January for Julia Holter, the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who has collaborated with other musicians such as Nite Jewel, Linda Perhacs, and Michael Pisaro in the past.

It’s always nice when The Chapel sells out. It’s a small and cozy venue, and when the place is at capacity, you can really feel the room’s energy.

Circuit des Yeux

Opening the show was Circuit des Yeux, Chicago native Haley Fohr’s solo project. When the venue’s lights went out and Fohr quietly stepped on the stage with her 12-string guitar, there wasn’t much of a reaction from the crowd. Fohr appeared rather shy and didn’t interact with her spectators a whole lot, but she let her hypnotic music do the talking — and consequently, the audience was blown away by the end of her set. Fohr has a very unique voice with a deep baritone, and at times, she created distorted sounds by increasing the intensity of her vocals and using other noises/shouts to bring her sound to another level, turning the volume up and then down like the tide rolling in and out.

Holter arrived onstage next with a few sidekicks, including a double bass player, drummer and violist, the latter of which also contributed some impressive backup vocals throughout her performance. Much to the audience’s delight, the ensemble played a majority of material from Holter’s latest LP Have You in My Wilderness, which received favorable reviews and was one of my favorite albums in 2015, along with some songs from her previous records. Holter’s songs are multi-layered, well-produced and full of arrangements, and with her band in sync, her SF performance was one that definitely delivered.

Setlist:
Horns Surrounding Me
Silhouette
Marienbad
In the Green Wild
Feel You
Betsy on the Roof
Everytime Boots
Don’t Make Me Over (Dionne Warwick cover)
Night Song
So Lillies
City Appearing

Encore:
Vasquez
Sea Calls Me Home

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Circuit des Yeux, Julia Holter, The Chapel

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Dan Deacon at The Fillmore 1/29 (FRI)

January 27, 2016 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Dan Deacon with Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
January 29th, 2016 //

While Dan Deacon released his first two solo albums in 2003, his musical journey began back in high school as a member of the local ska band Channel 59. Studying music composition in graduate school, Deacon has mastered the self-contained computer composition with classic orchestral epics to deliver a truly unique sound to his audience. More of an iconoclast than his recorded music might suggest, the Baltimore electronic musician brings the energy and engagement of ska music to his live performance.

Deacon often performs at ground level with his fans — much like we have witnessed before — leading the crowd through an interactive dancing experience. He even created both an iPhone and Android app to sync up with his live performances and combat the cultural annoyance of people staring at their phones during a show.

Deacon, who grew up playing in a number of alternative rock and punk/metal bands as a kid, followed up his 2012 LP America last February with Gliss Riffer, which boasted single “Feel the Lightning” and received favorable reviews from most major music outlets. This past summer, he proved to be one of our biggest highlights at Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, reeling in a sizable crowd with his peer pressure and oddball antics.

This Friday, Deacon’s overstuffed, vegetable oil-fueled school bus makes a stop off in SF at The Fillmore with Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith providing support. Tickets are available for $20, or you could win a pair of tickets by submitting your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Jenny Lee: January 28th (THUR) at The Chapel
• Soft Moon: January 29th (FRI) at The New Parish
• The Soul Rebels: January 29th (FRI) & 30th (SAT) at The Independent
• Battlehooch: January 30th (SAT) at Slim’s

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Battlehooch, Dan Deacon, Jenny Lee, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Slims, Soft Moon, Soul Rebels, The Chapel, The Fillmore, The Independent, The New Parish

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Baauer at Mezzanine 12/18 (FRI)

December 15, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Baauer with Djemba Djemba and DJ Dials //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
December 18th, 2015 //

Best known for his hit song “Harlem Shake”, Harry Bauer Rodrigues (aka Baauer) bounced around the world during his adolescent years before his family settled in Connecticut and he began producing dance music at the age of 13. Baauer started making a name for himself in 2012 while remixing well-known artists, from Nero and Flosstradamus to No Doubt and First Aid Kit. After signing with LuckyMe records, he received critical acclaim for “Harlem Shake”, winning “Dance Song of the Year” and “EDM Song of the Year” at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

This Friday, Djemba Djemba and DJ Dials will warm up the crowd at Mezzanine before Baauer unleashes his booty-poppin’ builds and drops that we have come to know and love over the past few years. Tickets are available for $20, or you could win a pair of tickets by submitting your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Friday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Fritz Montana: December 16th (WED) at Slim’s
• Ghostface Killah: December 18th (FRI) at The New Parish
• Death Angel: December 18th (FRI) at Slim’s
• Crocodiles, Wymond Miles & Paul Bergmann: December 20th (SUN) at The Chapel

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Baauer, Crocodiles, Death Angel, DJ Dials, Djemba Djemba, Fritz Montana, Ghostface Killah, Mezzanine, Paul Bergmann, Slims, The Chapel, The New Parish, Wymond Miles

With The Sam Chase & The Untraditional leading the way, The Chapel celebrates Halloween in style

November 4, 2015 by tom dellinger Leave a Comment

The Candy Butchers Bash - The Sham Chase & The Untraditional

The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

By Tom Dellinger //

The Candy Butchers Bash featuring The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Royal Jelly Jive, The Crux and special guests Mission Delirium //
The Chapel – San Francisco
October 31st, 2015 //

Halloween just came and went this past Saturday night. The weather was perfect as the streets of SF filled early with trick-or-treating kids as well as those out to celebrate the night with some big-kid entertainment. All across the Bay Area, there were many parties and shows to get that itch scratched. One of the best was The Candy Butchers Bash, a sold-out show at The Chapel that featured The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, Royal Jelly Jive and The Crux, along with special guests Mission Delirium and a number of talented aerialists to give it that something extra that made it one of the more unique shows in Northern California.

Decked out for that All Hallows’ Eve vibe, the venue’s stage was decorated with pumpkins and strands of light bulbs over it gave the room a carnival-like feel. Royal Jelly Jive vocalist Lauren Bjelde and The Crux vocalist Josh Windmiller pulled that off together and did a fine job of decorating The Chapel properly. By the time The Crux hit the stage first, most of the crowd was on hand, dressed in costumes and ready to have a good time.

The Crux

Opening the show was the Santa Rosa-based band consisting of Josh Windmiller (vocals, guitar), Joshua Jackson (bass), Kalei Yamanoha (trumpet, accordion) and Taylor Cuffie (drums). With a style they refer to as “folk punk”, The Crux have a stripped-down, rough sound that felt like a mix of Tom Waits and Kurt Weill with a vaudevillian vibe. Windmiller is no doubt an engaging performer, as his persona and rough vocals easily connected with the Halloween audience. After a few tunes into the band’s set, he was joined by aerialist Sierra Faulkner, who performed using silk fabric as she effortlessly twisted and turned her way up the strands above the crowd to perform numerous maneuvers. Graceful, stylistic and with a bit of danger, she added fuel to the fire as the evening continued to warm up.

During the ensuing set break, brass band Mission Delirium came out into the crowd, lined up at the front of the stage and proceeded to keep the energy high as they playfully ripped through some funky tunes with blasting trombones, tuba and drums. The crowd loved it as many audience members laughed and danced with the band, signaling that the festive party and carnival vibe was in full swing at this point.

Royal Jelly Jive

Keeping the momentum going, Royal Jelly Jive hit with another one of their explosive sets. Foot stomping and swinging, they lit up the place as Bjelde tore into the band’s catalog with a fervor. With irresistibly rich grooves from the rhythm section of Felix Macnee (drums) and Tyden Binsted (bass), Bjelde and the band touched upon many of their best tunes, including “Indian George” and “Pterygophora”, both of which continued to elevate the crowd’s energy. Rich songs and compositions are the norm for this dynamic up-and-coming band, which also offers enchanting vocals from Bjelde, wide-ranging keyboard styles and sounds from Jesse Lemme Adams and an enviable, articulate horn section comprised of Robbie Elfman, Luke Zavala and Danny Cao. Also joining the band was aerialist Caroline Dignes, who performed on a hoop high above the crowd. Elegant and visually riveting, she continued to add to the carnival theme of the night.

After more shenanigans from Mission Delirium, headliner The Sam Chase & The Untraditional hit the stage with style. Introducing the band beforehand was a pair of twins with a creep factor reminiscent of those in “The Shining”, as they invited the house to enjoy The Sam Chase forever and ever … and ever. With drummer Ted Desmarais dressed as Igor from the 1974 comedy film “Young Frankenstein”, he entered the stage bent over with a massive hump (“what hump?”), and one by one, he physically moved, pushed and cajoled each member of the band to their place on the stage. The band members appeared to be in a zombie-like state as Desmarais positioned them and patiently placed instruments in their hands. It was a fine little piece of theater before the band would explode with the final entrée of the night.

The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

Though The Sam Chase & The Untraditional describe their music as “kick-ass folk” on their Facebook page, they are that and more. Many of Chase’s songs are rowdy and delivered with a weather-beaten, whiskey-colored vocal style as he and the band rolled through their catalog. It’s not surprising they’ve become a favorite among SF bands. Their songs are well-crafted — much like an artisan cocktail — and delivered with a precision that stands in contrast to Chase’s seemingly reckless, almost drunken delivery style.

For The Sam Chase & The Untraditional’s set on Saturday night, we were treated to a ride that was at times bombastic and exhilarating but also included the occasional easygoing folk tune. Chase has a tight band behind him between the aforementioned Desmarais, Dave Rapa (bass), Joshua James Jackson (trumpet), Debbie Neigher (keyboards), Devon McClive (cello) and Nikko Rios (guitar), and they all lit into the music with an infectious energy that they sustained to the very end. During the performance, we saw the return of Dignes and Faulkner to perform on the hoop together. In costume as zombies, these two aerialists were dramatic as they went through their routine, adding both elegance and a sense of danger by pushing the envelope of possibilities, all while the crowd roared with delight.

Reminiscent of the Great American Spirit Ball headlined by Royal Jelly Jive back in July (read our review of the show here), The Candy Butchers Bash has the potential to become another highly sought-after, recurring show in SF. Unique in presentation, both events delivered some of the most memorable performances I have experienced in some time. And for those who found themselves at The Chapel on Saturday night, we all know we experienced some of the very best that the Bay Area music scene has to offer right now.

The Candy Butchers Bash - The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

The Candy Butchers Bash - Mission Delirium

The Candy Butchers Bash - Caroline Dignes

The Candy Butchers Bash - Sierra Faulkner

The Candy Butchers Bash - Sierra Faulkner and Caroline Dignes

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Great American Spirit Ball, Mission Delirium, Royal Jelly Jive, The Candy Butchers Bash, The Chapel, The Crux, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Rudimental at Mezzanine 10/8 (THUR)

October 6, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Rudimental with Samo Sound Boy //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
October 8th, 2015 //

Releasing their second album We the Generation last Friday, British drum-and-bass band Rudimental kicked off their North American tour this month and will make their way to Mezzanine in SF this week. After the group’s first album Home debuted at No. 1 on the UK Album Charts and was nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2013, much is to be expected from this platinum-selling quartet.

From humble beginnings surrounding their debut single “Deep in the Valley” to collaborating with English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran on “Bloodstream” this past March, Rudimental continue to prove their validity through the many accolades they’ve garnered over the last four years. Beyond their studio sound, Rudimental’s energetic live show leads the audience through a journey of jubilant drum-and-bass tones. The nature of their sound lends them the opportunity to exploit an exaggerated stage presence and fully engage their fans throughout.

Rudimental will fill Mezzanine with the exultant energy many have come to know and love this Thursday with support from Samo Sound Boy (aka Sam Griesemer). You can buy tickets for $25, or you could win a pair of tickets by submitting your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Thursday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Hiatus Kaiyote: October 6th (TUE) at The Fillmore
• Alcest: October 6th (TUE) at Slim’s
• The Mynabirds: October 8th (THUR) at Swedish American Hall
• Mirel Wagner: October 8th (THUR) at The Chapel
• The Human Condition: October 8th (THUR) at Great American Music Hall
• Kopecky: October 9th (FRI) at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
• Lyrics Born: October 9th (FRI) at The New Parish
• Jr. Jr.: October 9th (FRI) at Great American Music Hall

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Alcest, Brick & Mortar Music Hall, GAMH, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jr. Jr., Kopecky, Lyrics Born, Mezzanine, Mirel Wagner, Rudimental, Slims, Swedish American Hall, The Chapel, The Fillmore, The Human Condition, The Mynabirds, The New Parish

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Tobias Jesso Jr. at The Fillmore 9/29 (TUE)

September 28, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Tobias Jesso Jr. with Wet //
The Fillmore – San Francisco
September 29th, 2015 //

Releasing his debut album Goon in March, Tobias Jesso Jr. has been compared to singer-songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s. After playing bass for The Sessions in Los Angeles, the Vancouver native moved back home after his mother was diagnosed with cancer. In the abruptness of his move, he left all his instruments in LA and subsequently taught himself how to play the piano, the main instrument used in most of his solo work.

Pulling from his experiences in LA that included a painful breakup, Goon received universal acclaim from contemporary music critics, including some praise from Rolling Stone for his “12 beautifully lean ballads sung in a vulnerable tenor.” With the help of Chet “JR” White from Girls, Patrick Carney from The Black Keys, Jonathan Rado from Foxygen, John Collins from The New Pornographers and Grammy-winning record producer and sound engineer Ariel Rechstaid, Jesso followed through with his vision and maintained the timeless honesty of his emotional songs on Goon.

This Tuesday, Jesso is bringing his heart to The Fillmore with support from Brooklyn-based synthpop trio Wet. You can buy tickets for $25, or you could win a pair of tickets by registering your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats: September 29th (TUE) at Slim’s
• The Blank Tapes: September 30th (WED) at Leo’s Music Club
• Night Terrors of 1927: September 30th (WED) at The Chapel
• Algiers: September 30th (WED) at The Independent

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: algiers, Leo's Music Club, night terrors of 1927, Slims, the blank tapes, The Chapel, The Fillmore, The Independent, Tobias Jesso Jr., Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Wet

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Against Me! at Slim’s 9/24 (THUR)

September 23, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Against Me! with Annie Girl and The Flight, Cayetana //
Slim’s – San Francisco
September 24th, 2015 //

Originally a solo project by Laura Jane Grace, Against Me! came out of Gainsville, Fla., in 1997. Performing any live show that would take her, Grace eventually filled her act with lead guitarist James Bowman, drummer Warren Oakes and bassist Andrew Seward. Combining punk, folk and country, the vagabond group added to their perpetual tour of live shows with their flagship full-length album Reinventing Axl Rose in 2002 and received 4.5 out of 5 stars by AllMusic for it.

Since their debut album, Against Me! has released five albums and improved their Billboard 200 placement with each subsequent release. In 2012, Grace dropped her birth name (Thomas James Gabel) and publicly came out as transgender, laying the foundation for their 2014 LP Transgender Dysphoria Blues, which reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200.

This Thursday, Grace and the Against Me! crew will take Slim’s on a journey through nearly 20 years of socially conscious punk, folk and country. Tickets are already sold out, but one lucky person can win a pair of tickets by registering their full name and email below.

Contest ends this Thursday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Say Lou Lou: September 23rd (WED) at The Independent
• Unearth: September 23th (WED) at Slim’s
• Mimiking Birds: September 24th (THUR) at Swedish American Music Hall
• Kermit Ruffins: September 24th (THUR) at New Parish
• A1: September 25th (FRI) at The Chapel
• Guttermouth: September 25th (FRI) at Leo’s
• The Dear Hunter: September 26th (SAT) at Slim’s

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: A1, Against Me!, guttermouth, Kermit Ruffins, Leo's Music Club, Mezzanine, miniking birds, Say Lou Lou, Slims, Swedish American Music Hall, The Chapel, The Dear Hunter, The Indepedent, The New Parish, unearth

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Washed Out (DJ set) at Mezzanine 9/17 (THUR)

September 15, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

TBD Fest Kick-Off Party: Washed Out with Touch Sensitive, Prince Fox //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
September 17th, 2015 //

Born into rural America in the early 80’s, Ernest Greene (aka Washed Out) initially pursued a life of books and research with a Masters of Library and Information Science. Unable to land a job after graduation, Greene moved back in with his parents in Perry, Ga., and began making music in his bedroom. While developing his nostalgic sound, which he later packaged under the moniker Washed Out, Greene also worked on dance-pop songs with a group from South Carolina appropriately named Bedroom.

Introducing his sound as Washed Out in 2009 with the release of his first EP Life of Leisure, Greene received solid feedback from the music community that brought him to perform at Pitchfork Music Festival in 2010. Described as “nostalgic, hypnotic bedroom electro-disco pop”, Washed Out’s unique sound landed him with Sub Pop Records, and his single “Feel It All Around” was picked in 2011 as the theme song for the satirical sketch comedy television series “Portlandia” on IFC.

As a one-man, hypno-pop home-studio producer, Greene plays keyboards, a guitar and a piano before mixing it together on a computer. Without the help of a touring band, Washed Out live performances resemble a DJ set with Greene singing over the top of the music while re-arranging it with live keyboards to keep the tempo up and “make it as fun as possible.”

This Thursday, Greene will bring his chillwave/hipster sound to Mezzanine for TBD Fest Kick-Off Party presented by Beautiful Buzzz with Touch Sensitive and Prince Fox providing support. You can buy tickets for $25, or you could win a pair of tickets by registering your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Thursday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Donavon Frankenreiter: September 16th (WED) at The Independent
• Circa Waves: September 17th (THUR) at The Chapel
• Lindstrom: September 18th (FRI) at Mezzanine
• Natural Child: September 18th (FRI) at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
• Radkey: September 18th (FRI) at Leo’s
• Destroyer: September 19th (SAT) at The Fillmore
• Sonny Knight: September 20th (SUN) at The Independent

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Brick & Mortar Music Hall, circa waves, Destroyer, donavon frankenreiter, Leo's Music Club, lindstrom, Mezzanine, Natural Child, radkey, sonny knight, The Chapel, The Fillmore, The Indepedent

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to MSTRKRFT at Mezzanine 8/26 (WED)

August 25, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Brett Ruffenach //

MSTRKRFT //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
August 26th, 2015 //

Born out of the raw, fist-clenching dance-punk coming from Toronto duo Death from Above 1979, MSTRKRFT (pronounced “Master-craft”) are a gritty, electronic side project composed of DFA 1979 bassist/keyboardist Jesse F. Keeler and producer Al-P (Alex Puodziukas). Formed in 2005, MSTRKFT bring the grit of DFA 1979 as well as the uplifting rhythms and synth melodies of artists like Daft Punk and Ratatat to the stage.

After gaining prominence in 2009 from the release of their sophomore album Fist of God, MSTRKRFT are headed back to SF and are bringing their thumping beats to Mezzanine this Wednesday. With their massive sonic range and the venue’s booming Funktion-One sound system, this surely is not a show you want to miss.

You can buy tickets for $25, or you could win a pair of tickets by registering your full name and email below.

Contest ends this Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Jenny Hval: August 25th (TUE) at The Chapel
• The Brothers Comatose: August 28th (FRI) at Slim’s
• Booka Shade: August 28th (FRI) at Mezzanine
• Failure: August 31st (MON) at Great American Music Hall

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Booka Shade, Failure, Great American Music Hall, Jenny Hval, Mezzanine, MSTRKRFT, Slims, The Brothers Comatose, The Chapel

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Boys Noize at Mezzanine 7/24 (FRI)

July 20, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Boys Noize with SALVA, Spank Rock, SCNTST, Cities Aviv, PILO, Escor Krist //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
July 24th, 2015 //

German producer Alex Rhida, aka Boys Noize, has made a name for himself as one of the most illustrious DJs today. Merging various styles of electronic music, Rhida’s innovative sound has earned him acclaimed awards, such as “Top 10 DJs Who Rule the Earth” by Rolling Stone and “Best Electronic Artist” by Beatport.

In 2005, Rhida launched his independent record label Boysnoize Records (BNR) to bring his own music to the world without forfeiting creative control.

“I don’t compromise when it comes to music,” the 32-year-old Rhida says. “I do what I think is cool and what I like and not what the market wants or people may expect. Maintaining artistic freedom has always been the most important thing to me — for my own music and for anyone on my label!”

A decade later, BNR remains independent and celebrates 10 years of supporting more than a dozen artists across 100 releases.

On Friday, Boysnoize Records continues the #BNR10YR celebration in SF at Mezzanine with SALVA, Spank Rock, SCNTST, Cities Aviv, PILO and Escor Krist all hitting the decks before Rhida takes the stage.

You can buy tickets for $25, or you could win a pair of tickets by registering your full name and email below.

Contest ends Friday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Bomba Estéreo: Monday, July 20 at The New Parish
• Federico Aubele: Thursday, July 23 at Leo’s Music Club
• Summer Soul Roller Disco feat. Sake1: Thursday, July 23 at Mezzanine
• Heems: Friday, July 24 at The New Parish
• J Stalin: Friday, July 24 at Slim’s
• Social Studies: Friday, July 24 at Great American Music Hall
• The Motels: Friday, July 24 at The Chapel

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Bomba Estéreo, Boys Noize, Boysnoize Records, Cities Aviv, Escor Krist, Federico Aubele, Great American Music Hall, Heems, J Stalin, Leo's Music Club, Mezzanine, PILO, Sake1, SALVA, SCNTST, Slims, Social Studies, Spank Rock, Summer Soul Roller Disco, The Chapel, The Motels, The New Parish

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Le Youth at Mezzanine 7/10 (FRI)

July 8, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Nik Crossman //

Le Youth with Satin Jackets, Karl Kling (RAC) and Split //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
July 10th, 2015 //

Ohio-native-turned-Los Angeles DJ Wes James (aka Le Youth), combines R&B with 90’s electronic to deliver uniquely nostalgic, dance-y sounds. His first hit single “Cool” put him on the map when it racked up over 200,000 listens on Soundcloud in 2013. Following the crowd, Ultra Records quickly picked up Le Youth, releasing his first EP, which BBC Radio 1 dubbed “Record of the Week”, in July of 2013.

Le Youth continues to produce get-up-and-move sounds with the release of “Dance With Me” and “Feel Your Love” in 2014 as well as “Real” and “Touch” already this year.

The energy at Mezzanine this Friday will surely be worth dishing out $25 for a ticket, but one lucky person can save their money and win two free tickets below.

Contest ends Friday at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas: Wednesday, July 8th at Slim’s
• Trans Am: Thursday, July 9th at The Chapel
• Veruca Salt: Friday, July 10th at Slim’s
• French Cassettes: Friday, July 10th at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
• Waterstrider: Friday, July 10th at Great American Music Hall
• Dopapod: Saturday, July 11th at The Independent
• TV Girl: Saturday, July 11th at Leo’s Music Club

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Brick & Mortar Music Hall, Dopapod, French Casettas, Great American Music Hall, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, Karl Kling, Le Youth, Leo's Music Club, Mezzanine, RAC, Satin Jackets, Slims, Split, The Chapel, The Independent, Trans Am, TV Girl, Veruca Salt, Waterstrider

Allen Stone, Brynn Elliott preach tech-free positivity at The Chapel

June 29, 2015 by Molly Kish 1 Comment

Allen Stone

Photos by Tom Dellinger // Written by Molly Kish //

Allen Stone with Brynn Elliott //
The Chapel – San Francisco
June 23rd, 2015 //

Outwardly spoken about his disdain for modern culture and social media, soul/R&B singer-songwriter Allen Stone stopped by The Chapel this past Tuesday aiming to make a positive impact on an innately tech-driven audience. Enlisting help from his tourmate, up-and-coming folk songstress Brynn Elliot, the two managed to win over a sold-out crowd with their irrefutable charm and engaging performances.

Fans arrived early to check out Elliot, a novice singer-songwriter touring with Stone this summer before starting her sophomore year at Harvard in the fall. Resembling someone who could easily be mistaken for Stone’s little sister, the flaxen hair beauty earned the crowd’s attention with her dainty folk melodies and contagious excitement. She performed center stage, guitar in hand, and was backed by a band.

Brynn Elliott

Impressively belting out nearly all of her 2014 album Notions of Love, Elliot played a 45-minute set with some endearing banter between songs. She beamed with gratitude for the opportunity Stone had given her, but she also almost looked amazed by the moment.

Stone took the stage shortly thereafter to a resounding ovation from a room full of his fired-up fans, who both physically and emotionally ignited The Chapel with cheers and applause. Known for his crowd participation and “call to arms” banter, Stone started off the evening preaching his mission to establish a collective energy amongst those there to see his set. He asked the crowd to put away cellphones and to “drop your egos and tap into the music.” By that point, his disdain for modern technology was made immediately clear.

Allen Stone

In many ways, Stone’s ideological stance on technology shapes not only his set as a performer but also his fan base. Watching an Allen Stone show, one can feel certain that all pretenses will be left at the door and those surrounding you will be committing their full attention to the music.

Midway through Stone’s set, the venue was completely under his charismatic spell. The audience actively followed the Seattle-born frontman’s lead as he prompted a group participation “2-step” and rolled through crowd favorites from his self-titled LP and latest album Radius.

Allen Stone

Reinstating his anti-social media mantra throughout the entire performance, Stone, in one of the more memorable moments of the evening, jumped from the stage into the crowd to physically embrace some fans. The heartfelt moment re-emphasized the importance Stone continues to put behind such organic connections and authentic moments that he hopes his music can bring to light and will encourage people to give in to the unifying power that both art and the appreciation for it can have.

Setlist:
Freezer Burn
Fake Future
Say So
Celebrate Tonight
Symmetrical
Upside
Love
Million
I Know That I Wasn’t Right
American Privilege
Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye cover)
Contact High
“Whoa”
What I’ve Seen
Sleep
Freedom
Voodoo

Encore:
Get Down on It (Kool & the Gang cover)
JB Groove
Satisfaction

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Allen Stone, Brynn Elliott, The Chapel

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Mystikal at Mezzanine 6/19 (FRI)

June 16, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Mystikal with DJ Apollo, DJ Supreme, DJ Pos Red //
Mezzanine – San Francisco
June 19th, 2015 //

New Orleans-bred, fiya-spitting rapper/actor and Gulf War veteran Michael Lawrence Tyler, better known in the hip-hop community as Mystikal, brings his spicy Cajun rap game to Mezzanine this Friday with support from DJ Apollo, DJ Supreme and DJ Pos Red. Making his debut in 1994 on local Louisiana label Big Boy Records, he became instant competition for rival crew Cash Money Records members Lil’ Wayne and BG. Mystikal gained the attention of Jive record label reps and subsequently his mentor Master P through two of his hottest tracks, which both diss the Cash Money label, before signing on to be a No Limit solider in the mid-90’s and releasing his third and fourth albums through the label.

After breaking off on his own in 1999, Mystikal hit the peak of his commercial success with his 2000 album Let’s Get Ready, which features the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 single “Danger (Been So Long)” and The Neptunes-produced hit “Shake Ya Ass”. 2001’s Tarantula brought about the radio hit single “Bouncin’ Back”, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album and Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003 as well as an acting role in the film “13 Dead Men”.

Eventually squashing his beef with Lil’ Wayne and dealing with legal issues, Mystikal signed on to Cash Money Records in 2011 and has been seen on BET’s “The Cypher” amongst several festival stages throughout the 2010’s. Most recently appearing on Mark Ronson’s fourth studio album Uptown Special, Mystikal lends his vocal stylings to hit single “Feel Right” and is currently on a nationwide tour spreading his lyrical heat and charisma throughout the states. Register below to catch him this Friday in SF.

Contest ends Friday, June 19th at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Jedi Mind Tricks: Tuesday, June 16th at The Independent
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Wednesday, June 17th at The New Parish
• Grieves: Wednesday, June 17th at Slim’s
• Rhett Miller: Thursday, June 18th at The Chapel
• Vetiver: Friday, June 19th at The Chapel
• Luniz: Friday, June 19th at The New Parish
• Amtrac: Saturday, June 20th at Mezzanine
• Dead Meadow: Saturday, June 20th at Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Amtrac, Brick & Mortar Music Hall, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Dead Meadow, DJ Apollo, DJ Pos Red, DJ Supreme, Grieves, Jedi Mind Tricks, Luniz, Mezzanine, Mystikal, Rhett Miller, Slims, The Chapel, The Independent, The New Parish, Vetiver

Patrick Watson is the incarnation of a musical genius

June 11, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

By Diana Cordero //

Patrick Watson with Villagers //
The Chapel – San Francisco
June 2nd, 2015 //

California-born and Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson is the incarnation of a musical genius, eccentric and a bit of a mad man. His melodic arrangements as well as his instrumentation are remarkable. Music has always been a part of his life, and it becomes very obvious when one attends his show, as his SF fans did last Tuesday at The Chapel.

Watson doesn’t treat his performance as just another gig, but rather another opportunity to play music he loves making. He just exudes it, and it is awesome to witness that legitimacy. This musical journey is enhanced not only by the dynamic amongst the band members, but also by the minimalistic lighting setup that accompanies this tour, which is based off the artwork for his fifth and newest studio album Love Songs for Robots.

Often times, the stage setup seemed like it was designed to give primary focus to the music since the band appears only as a silhouette but is revealed when the music rises and explodes into melodic fireworks. Before the encore started and what already felt like the beginning of the end, Watson jumped off stage and joined the crowd to play two acoustic songs with two of his bandmates. The attendees clapped along to this intimate delivery, which took the concert to yet another level of greatness.

Opening the show was Irish indie-folk band Villagers, which supported Watson during his California dates and were a nice surprise to hear.

Filed Under: Featured, Photos Tagged With: Patrick Watson, The Chapel, Villagers

SF Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Surfer Blood at The Chapel 6/8 (MON)

June 8, 2015 by The Bam Team 1 Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Surfer Blood //
The Chapel – San Francisco
June 8th, 2015 //

2015 has been an intense year for Surfer Blood. With a rigorous touring schedule in support of their brand-new album 1000 Palms, a new record deal with UK label Joyful Noise and guitarist Thomas Fekete’s ongoing battle against a very rare cancerous sarcoma, the last six months have provided their share of ups and downs for the Florida garage rock outfit.

Amidst the difficulties it has faced though, the band has continued to come out on top by stunning festival crowds with its live show and new material as well as having singles from the album premiere on BBC Radio 1 and Netflix original series “Daredevil”. Furthermore, Surfer Blood has also brought attention to and inspired a crowd-funding campaign for cancer research and treatment via their GoFundMe campaign.

One person particularly inspired by the band’s advocacy, Bay Area photographer Maggie Corwin, even decided to team up with The Chapel to soft launch her own non-profit entertainment company called Alternative Cure and further promote funding for rare cancer research. After losing her father in December 2014 to the exact same type of sarcoma that Fekete is currently battling, Corwin recognized the importance of living every day in the moment and has taken it upon herself to establish an organization to help others in similar situations.

“Alternative Cure hopes to create lasting memories through the gift of music and relieve stress that is associated with the fight against cancer,” Corwin says.

By providing free concert tickets and VIP experiences for cancer patients and their families through affiliated venues and production crews, Alternative Cure aims to offer cancer patients the opportunity to create lasting memories with loved ones through the gift of music.

Enter below for your chance to partake in the soft opening of Alternative Care at The Chapel with a live performance by Surfer Blood. All donations received will be transferred directly to Fekete for continued treatment and medical expenses.

Contest ends Monday, June 8th at 3 p.m.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Hamilton Leithauser: Wednesday, June 10th at The Independent
• Avid Dancer: Wednesday, June 10th at Brick & Mortar Music Hall
• Gateway Drugs: Wednesday, June 10th at Leo’s Music Club
• Midnight Magic (Summer Soul Roller Disco): Saturday, June 13th at Mezzanine
• Delta Spirit: Sunday, June 14th at The Independent
• Pure Bathing Culture: Sunday, June 14th at The Chapel

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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

CONTEST CLOSED.

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Avid Dancer, Brick & Mortar Music Hall, Delta Spirit, Gateway Drugs, Hamilton Leithauser, Leo's Music Club, Mezzanine, Midnight Magic, Pure Bathing Culture, Surfer Blood, The Chapel, The Independent, Thomas Fekete

Show of the Week // GO4FREE to Tedeschi Trucks Band and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings 6/6 (SAT)

June 3, 2015 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Written by Molly Kish //

Tedeschi Trucks Band with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Doyle Bramhall II //
Greek Theatre – U.C. Berkeley
June 6th, 2015 //

A supergroup lineup of epic proportions graces the gorgeous stage of the Greek Theater at U.C. Berkeley this Saturday for one night only. Embarking on the second night of their 35-city “Wheels of Soul Summer Tour 2015,” Tedeschi Trucks Band partners with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II to perform over four and a half hours of original, collaborative and improvised music. A seamlessly crafted bill of talent covering a musical range of Memphis soul, R&B, electric blues and classic funk, all three acts revive these deeply rooted genres with contemporary flare in a stunningly cohesive manner. With this tour charging full steam ahead, this show is bound to deliver what undoubtedly will be the most “shimmy worthy” lineup in the Greek Theater’s summer concert series. For your chance at a pair of tickets, share this post via Facebook or Twitter and enter below.

Contest ends Friday, June 5th at Noon.

Follow Showbams on Twitter for more contest giveaways throughout the week. Be the first to respond to our contest tweets to GO4FREE to these shows:

• Christopher Owens: Wednesday, June 3rd at The Chapel
• Trails and Ways: Friday, June 5th at The Independent
• Nneka: Friday, June 5th at The New Parish
• Tea Leaf Green: Saturday, June 6th at Leo’s Music Club
• Anuhea: Saturday, June 6th at Mezzanine

Enter your name (First and Last) along with your email below. If you win a contest, you’ll be notified on the day the contest ends (details above).

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.