The Fog Belt Cultural

Learn to appreciate Heartland by Owen Pallett

2010-01-26T04:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Heartland leaked a while ago, but it wasn't actually officially released until January 11th fo this year and since then the music blogs and sites have critiqued Mr. Pallett's (who recently dropped his Final Fantasy stage name) as being slightly uninspired and not all that interesting to listen to. Reviews have been mediocre all around. Well here's why I intend to fully appreciate and listen to the newest release from the Arcade Fire violinist and former member of the amazing indie group Les Mouches.

I have always seen Pallett as a composer. This word is often not attributed enough to indie bands and artists of today; in fact it seems to be reserved almost exclusively for classical composers and movie soundtrack creators. However there are many people in the music genres outside of symphonic orchestras and classic composition that deserve the label just enough. In fact, within reason, anyone who writes their own music for any number of instruments, whether it be for one guitar or ten obscure xylophones and vibraphones (we get it, Sufjan) could be considered a composer.

But let's not get carried away. Not everyone has the ability to churn out tasteful and interesting melodies and rhythms like some artists of today. I fully include Owen Pallett in this category of "composers". If you really want to get picky, he did in fact grow up with classical training and was composing by the age of 13 for the violin, his main instrument of choice. On top of brilliant melodies from his first two albums, "He Poos Clouds" and "Has A Good Home", the lyrical thought behind Pallett's work is something to be reckoned with.

"Heartland" is, in my opinion, completely on par with Pallett's previous work. While others definitely do not agree with me, I find it to be a natural and smooth progression of his work and talent. It is normal to watch an artist grow and change their style; some do it in leaps and bounds that make no sense. Others have gradual arabesque like transitions into new, more experimental and more interesting work. Pallett is the latter. "Heartland" is different to be sure; it has more in it, more strings and more noises to wrap your head around. But this is the beauty of the complicated compositions Owen has presented us with. It is clear that Pallett has steered himself towards a more experimental path; on "Heartland" he is trying out a lot of new things. And for someone who is exploring new territory, he does it with a beautiful ease, and with sounds pleasing to the ear.

Everyone critiques a musician in the first stages of their experimentalism; Stravinsky was harpooned by critics on the first showings of his "Rite of Spring" and later in his career was even more critiqued for his explorations in "Les Noces". He was even arrested for redoing the Star Spangled Banner (which is apparently illegal). I'm not comparing Stravinsky and Pallett's music, rest assured. What I am saying is: give the man a chance.

Pallett is taking new strides with "Heartland" and personally I am excited and ready to see where he takes them. I saw Owen live a couple nights ago at La Maroquinerie in Paris, France. He was quiet, reserved, but ever receptive and grateful for the audience. He let us select the encores and came back twice. The music live was impressive, grand, large, and Owen's stage presence is strong despite the fact it is only him and one other person with a couple instruments.

"Heartland" is something to listen to more than once. It's different, it's new, it's kind of weird, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. And I think you will too.

For your listening pleasure,
"Keep The Dog Quiet" track 2 from "Heartland"
"Flare Gun" track 9 from "Heartland"

Pallett at La Maroquinerie in Paris on January 24th. Photo by me.

Wanderlust Music Festival

2009-07-28T10:43:00.001-07:00

A brand new festival that just finished it's first year on Sunday, the Wanderlust Music Festival took place in Squaw Valley in Tahoe over the course of three days, Friday to Sunday. I had the pleasure of attending Sunday, during which I saw The Honey Brothers, Amanda Palmer, Mates of State, Broken Social Scene, Andrew Bird, and Spoon.

The festival is a brand new idea arranged by three friends who wanted to create a new kind of festival. Indeed Wanderlust is very unique in many ways. Perhaps the main way that it differs from other festivals is the fact that it aims to combine music, yoga, nature, and enviromentalism; during the entire festival, there is music and yoga at the same time. You can go to the music stage and dance or head to the yoga stage and do some Sun Salutations. In addition to this harmonic mixture of activities, the festival takes place at the very top of a gorgeous mountain in California's Tahoe State Park. In fact you have to take a gondola to get up to where the music is, just as if you were skiing. The stage is positioned on a ski slope (the ski lifts in the summer make for an interesting atmosphere), and because of this, the back drop for all the artists playing is a gorgeous and vast veranda of mountainous valleys.

As Amanda Palmer said when she walked onstage: "What the fuck. We're on a mountain."

Probably the only festival to be located at 7000 feet, Wanderlust did an amazing job in it's first year. While the crowds were reasonably small, it was a strong turn out, and those who did come were dedicated to the cause Wanderlust presents. The bands seemed skeptical at first, but by the middle of their sets, all of them gave into the fabulous atmosphere of the crowd.

And really this crowd was fantastic. Ranging from teenagers, to college students, to old hippies, new hippies, young moms, and yuppie yoga fans, the crowd was receptive of each and every music act that came onstage, even if they didn't recognize them at all. I of course knew them all and had come for the sole purpose of hearing some fantastic music; but whether they were there for yoga or music or just the insanely beautiful scenery, all the people danced and cheered and yelled for the band onstage.

And I have to say, this was the most solid festival I have ever been to. The bands all palyed great sets. Amanda Palmer was witty and wry and even did an emotional cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", rendering it ballad style. Mates of State played a dancey and catchy set that got everyone into a good mood despite the 85 degree weather and high altitude. The entire crowd was jumping up and down for all their tunes, including "Get Better" and "Now", off of their new record.

Broken Social Scene might have been the best of the day. I heard from a source that they had been the most skeptical of playing the festival, and who can blame them? It sounds like a nutty idea. But once they were onstage, hitting songs like "Fire Eye'd Boy" and "KC Accidental", they were all into it (all eight of them that were present). They smiled when people cheered and really got into it. They even came back for an encore, exclaiming "I'm loving the vibe here."

Andrew Bird, solo onstage with nothing but a guitar, keyboard, loop pad, and violin, played a gorgeous set, despite the fact that most of his equipment had not arrived and he was borrowing from other bands that played the festival. He covered a few songs, played some of his old favorites, and generally had such a strong presence on stage that the crowd stayed silent and transfixed for the whole hour until between songs when they would scream as loudly as they could for the solo troubadour. Near the middle, Bird looked happily into the crowd of people on top of the mountain and said "This may be one of the best festivals I have ever played."

Lastly, Spoon brought the house down with a set of all their biggest hits and a Paul Simon cover thrown in. The entire crowd was moving the whole time they were playing: I was shocked at how responsive and into it the crowd was. No one was shy to show off their moves or throw their hands in the air with joy. Britt Daniel was really on top of his game as he syncopated some of the lyrics, jumped around, and joked with other band members. All seemed in the highest spirits possible. When they clapped, the whole crowd clapped. When the jumped, everyone jumped. I have never seen a better crowd in my life at a festival. Spoon played two encore songs, thanking everyone profusively and cracking a couple subtle jokes about the yoga part of the festival: "A lot of healthy people out there today!" Britt exclaimed with a great smile. "I'm thinking of changing my lifestyle."

Overall, Wanderlust was a great success. The presenters came out to talk to the crowd just before Spoon and promised to continue doing it if people were supportive. "This festival has no fences around it!" Jeff Krasno, the main presenter, exclaimed. "You can listen to music, do yoga, go hiking, go swimming..." Indeed, looking around from the stage, the landscape continued for miles and miles without any fence. The possibilities felt endless. What an amazing sensation, to be witnessing some of my favorite music in this atmosphere and scenery. Next year, I am totally swimming in the giant pond by the main stage, gazing at the sloping Tahoe mountains, while some up and coming indie band plays in the background.

Where else can you do that?

Other bands that appeared that I did not get the chance to see: Common, Kaki King, Rogue Wave, Girl Talk, Jenny Lewis, Gillian Welch, William Fitzsimmons, Rachel Godrich, Wendy Darling, Big Light, and a plethora of DJs for night sets.

Note: Michael Franti was set to headaline Saturday night, but his appendix exploded (jeez!) the day before and Common replaced him last minute.

Clues debut!

2009-04-26T13:38:00.001-07:00

So exactly what has Alden Penner been doing since The Unicorns dramatically disbanded? Working with his new band Clues, of course (and actually playing at my college last November to a group of about 25.)

It's no surprise no one has quite heard of Clues yet: they have barely played any shows or toured at all and the record label they are signed to has just about the most cryptic and difficult website to navigate ever (perhaps this is on purpose, to keep up the mystery and whatnot). They also did not released any kind of EP before this full length, only sending their songs through the blogosphere and internet. Still, after having seen them live last term I was waiting and waiting for this full length to come out, not only because what I did hear sounded amazing, but also because I wanted to see what else they would do.

Now that the album has leaked, I am pleased to say I am thoroughly enjoying it. It's a great album, solid and strong with at least four leading tracks that are really amazing. And shocker: you can barely hear The Unicorns in it! Thank goodness someone has moved on. Obviously the people he is playing with in the band know what they are doing and are skilled in the many ways of music. They sound great.

Favorite tracks:
"Approach The Throne" - incredible danceable, head bangable medley of horns and sticks being smashed into things. Easy "la la la" lyric segment to sing along to! Woo!
"Perfect Fit" - funky and weird, just how we like Alden
"Cave Mouth" - intense and sick guitar riff.

Bonus info! Count how many times Alden sings "Who here wants to sleep in the dragon's mouth?" Recurring theme maybe?

Download here
(thank you, Flaming Milk)

Thanks for this album, Alden & co. This makes up for Mr. Penner being kind of a dick to me after the show. Oh well. Nice work.

Go go go

2009-03-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Bear
the Fillmore
June 21st

Cannot wait.

Bat for Lashes
great american music hall
June 13th

You know it's going to be so good.

Warped Tour
piers 30/32
June 27th

Just go because. Cheap fun stupid.

SF cafes you should know about

2009-02-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

So, growing up in San Francisco, I have become quite accustomed to the cafe life. It seems to be a universal feeling in the Bay Area to reject chains as much as we can and find that little independent cafe we will dedicate our patronage to. Cafes in San Francisco are usually full and busy, and it is totally normal for someone to sit in one for one or two hours working or reading. It is also normal for friends to meet at one and then actually hang out there for a while. This is so different from other major cities I have visited in the US. San Francisco's cafe life is more akin to the small restaurants on corners in Paris or the coffee houses of Italy.

Whether you have experienced this accept of San Francisco or not, I am about to make it even better through the offering of ten delicious and wonderful cafes in easy to locate areas. I have even sorted them out by neighborhood and included MUNI directions, just to make things even easier for you.

1) Cafe La Vie
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Address: 514 Octavia St
I really love this cafe for a lot of reasons. One is the vibe - it's in an old garage so it opens completely up on the street in front. The ceilings are high, the music is good (last time I was in, they played The Dodos), and the chairs are comfy. Another reason to really love it are the low prices - it has remained cheap in this economic crisis, where even Mels had to raise their stakes. But not here. I can get a hot chocolate and a bagel with cream cheese for $3.25. On top of it all, the people who work there are super nice and the service is quick. If you stake out there with a laptop, they will be more than happy to keep the coffee coming. Bonus: delicious iced tea with a different flavor every day. I recommend the pomegranate.
Muni: 21 Hayes to Octavia and Hayes, or any underground to Van Ness station

2) Coffee To The People
Neighborhood: The Haight
Address: 1206 Masonic Ave
This is located right as you're getting to the end of the main stretch of Haight st. It is an awesome place; they are based around a theme of organic and fair trade products, always appreciated in today's world. It's a cool and busy atmosphere, and the staff is non-judgmental (which is not quite an abundant personality in the Haight). It's perfect for coffee and free wifi or to grab something with a friend. In addition to the name being extremely catchy and witty, the cafe actually does live up to it quite nicely with a very alternative anti-industry feel to the whole place. A popular cafe for many hip youngins' in SF.
Muni: 71 Haight to Haight st, or N Judah to Carl & Cole, or 43 to Masonic and Haight

3) Tart To Tart
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
Address: 641 Irving Street
Okay so it doesn't have the cutest decor or homiest atmosphere, but their cookies and pastries are amazing, as are the coffee drinks they can mix up for you. The cakes they sell are also delicious. And of course, the tarts are a favorite. Tart To Tart also boasts a large selection of San Francisco native Double Rainbow Ice Cream, which seems to be getting used less and less (damn shame, it's delicious). It is reasonably priced too, and in a good location: there's a lot to do around there, from the de Young museum to the Botanical Gardens. I choose Tart To Tart over the Starbucks on block down any day.
Muni: N Judah to 9th and Irving

4) Cafe Cole
Neighborhood: The Haight
Address: 609 Cole Street
I adore the location of this cafe, and love their vibe and set up. The people who work there are really cool, and they still make the best mochas I have tasted to date. Cookies could be better, but the specialty apple cider (amazing) and bagels totally make up for it. Plus they always seem to a really good selection of pastries. When you're in there, look at the paintings of scenes from Wind of the Willows on the wall. They're very old and were there even before Cafe Cole was; however, no one seems to know where they came from or what they were there for.
Muni: 71 Haight to Haight, or 37 Corbett to Cole, or N Judah to Carl and Cole

5) Tartine Bakery
Neighborhood: Mission
Address: 600 Guerrero St
Okay, so it's more a bakery. Whatever. You can still sit and have coffee and something to eat. This place is incredible. The food is delicious and the location is perfect. The only downside I can find to it is that everyone loves it so much that it's always crowded. However, if you do grab a bite and a delicious coffee, then manage to get a spot, it is perfect. On a sunny day, outside spots can be tough but it's possible. Nothing like people watching with a yummy croissant. This place is also a real neighborhood cafe, big for gatherings of people or meeting up. The busy aspect is kinda cool.
Muni: 49 to Mission and 18th, or 31 to Guerrero

6) Java Beach
Neighborhood: Outer Sunset
Address: 1396 La Playa St
It's a long trek via the N all the way to Ocean Beach and The Great Highway, but once you're there and the ocean is gorgeous and Java Beach makes you feel like you live on a tiny island...you'll love it. Good food and drinks, outdoor seating, and a unique set up inside. The ceiling is low and arches ornament different parts of the cafe. Very intimate feeling. Even if it's raining, there's something about Java Beach that makes it seem so cozy. You really want the indie cafe vibe, go here. And ocean beach is literally 20, maybe 30, steps away, just across the Great Highway.
Muni: N Judah all the way to the end

7) Cafe Corbas
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Address: 364 Hayes St
I've been going here since I was born practically. My mom is a regular there, like so many Symphony employees (the symphony is just a block away), and has been popping in there for many years. I remember many a hot chocolate. I still like to go here now. It's a tad expensive, yes...but the coffee drinks are delicious (amazing latte, voted best in SF) and Nadi, the owner, uses really good products. If you become a regular here, or even just pop in once a week or so, the staff and Nadi are great to you and super welcoming and kind. He also gets to know your preferences very fast. Every time I walk in, it's "English breakfast tea, two tea bags, with milk?" Word. Sidenote: great sandwiches made with care.
Muni: Any underground to Van Ness, or 21 Hayes to Hayes

8) Caffe Trieste
Neighborhood: North Beach
Address: 601 Vallejo Street
SF classic, famed through the Beat Poets. I just really love being in here, not only for the historical significance, but also because since it's in North Beach, it has that awesome Italian cafe feeling. It opens up onto the street really freely and is bustling and alive. Amazing coffee. Bring a book or a conversational friend and soak it all in.
Muni: 30 to Stockton and Columbus, or 9 to Columbus and Broadway, or 20 to Columbus and Broadway

9) Peet's Coffee
Neighborhood: all over
Address: word
Even if it is a chain, it's a local one, and their food/coffee/settings are still great. Plus support anything but Starbucks, right? Try and locate your favorite SF Peet's; they're all really different when you feel 'em. I love the one on Fillmore the most just for it's cozy seats and couches. I had my first mocha ever at a Peet's (8th grade) and thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted.
A little story on Peet's of Berkeley

10) Cole Valley Cafe
Neighborhood: Cole Valley
Address: 701 Cole Street
It's just a block up from Cafe Cole, but they are totally unique and different. Cole Valley Cafe feels more yuppie compared to Cafe Cole, but that is not a bad thing! It's warm inside, friendly and inviting, and I love their hot chocolate. Make sure to get whipped cream on it because the whipped cream is hand made right there on location. It is delicious. They have a very wide selection of sandwiches and bagels to choose from, plus free wifi and plenty of seats. The bagels I recommend strongly, especially cream cheese and lox. They don't skimp on the fixings like so many cafes do.
Muni: N Judah to Carl and Cole, or 37 to Cole, or 6 to Parnassus and Cole

Manipulator Alligator

2009-01-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

I just believe strongly that you should know about this guy:
Manipulator Alligator.
His album has been on repeat in my itunes many a past night now.

The simplicity of his melodies and the straight forwardness of the lyrics is pleasing to the ear and also makes the music totally accessible to anyone. The words stick out in his songs more than I have heard in a long time, and you feel more like you're listening to a story teller who uses a guitar instead of a picture book.

Wonderful work.

Official site with free downloads
Last.fm
Mypsace

Jackpot!
Full album "We Raised Them" for download

"I wish that everything were so simple."

Merriweather! Merry indeed

2008-12-29T01:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, just admit it. You have downloaded the Animal Collective leak of their new album "Merriweather Post Pavilion." It was a wonderful Christmas gift for the entire blog community. Hm. You haven't downloaded it you say? Well my friend, as much as I love to spread the good word of support the artists, this album cannot, and I mean absolutely cannot, wait till January 20th. It's just too good.

Upon first listen, I was already blown away. The sounds and melodies are blended together beautifully and there is already more to each song than ever before. They feel bigger and bolder and stronger; Panda Bear said this was the best album Animal Collective have recorded, and I have to agree with him. It rivals all their past ones (and mostly certainly out does the mess of "Strawberry Jam").

My personal favorite on the album? "Summertime Clothes" would have to be chosen, but "Lion in a Coma" ("lion vs lying?" come on, they're just messing with us) has to be extremely close behind because it is incredible in it's break out moments and just all around.

To be played in enormous stadiums, dance parties, small clubs, or even just a gathering of fine high times with your friends...it really does feel like a universal piece. Epic.

Congratulations Animal Collective. This is amazing. On top of it all, your album cover is an optical illusion. Oh god that is sweet. Let's get summer tour dates going here.

To my dear readers: seriously, go buy it when it comes out though. If you're city is hosting a listening party, head to it, because it's about to be amazing and awesome. Bay kids: San Francisco has one! 21+ plus we have one nonetheless.

Animal Collective website
San Francisco listening party

Eargasms here!
First track on album - In The Flowers
Last track on album - Brothersport

For the full album!
The amazing Flaming Milk blog has the album up
Click here

Clues!

2008-11-09T12:18:00.000-08:00

Bear with me folks; this show is not related to the San Francisco area, but as I have recently trucked it over to Vermont (planed would be more appropriate) so it has become difficult to keep writing about shows in the SF area (obviously). Hence, I am taking this oppurtunity to just start writing about bands in general, to get them out there I suppose.

Last night the band Clues played Bennington College, where I am currently going to school. If you have not heard of Clues yet, you may want to know that it is the new project of ex Unicorns member Alden Penner and ex Arcade Fire member Brendan Reed. Get yer ass on this man, it's hot. Unicorns and Acrade Fire? Damn. In any case, it would seem they contacted my school and asked if they could play a show on their way through. The show was small, subdued; barely anyone showed despite strong buzz around the campus and whispers of the words "The Unicorns!" and "extra indie cred points, alright!".

And yet even with the small crowd and rare turnout, the show was amazing. Those of us who did come smushed up against the stage into a pile of dancing, richocheting, jirating joy. We cheered and yelled and even got them to come out for encore (an encore for 15 people! Wow).

Clues put an extremely good show. They are energetic, different, and into what they are doing. The whole band functions perfectly together like gears turning in motion. The show was danceable, full of frenzy and fun and there was an all around feeling of bonding between the band, crowd, music, school...everyone present felt it. For the encore, one of the Clues members passed me a tambourine and I played it for the whole song.

Clues currently has no album out, but two songs have been leaked. They played both of those as well as about 7 or 8 other songs. All sound different and epic, and I cannot wait for the album.

Rumors say the album should be appearing in winter '09 and that is to be called "Rad Boo Horror & The Glory". Any other info on the band is extremely sparse right now; the only website for them is their record company page, there is no wikipedia article, and even Pitchfork Media only seems to have two pieces of news on them (Oh God!). Just bear with Clues. They are going to do great things.

Leaked for your love:
Clues - Perfect Fit
Clues - Rad Boo Horror & The Glory

More info:
http://www.last.fm/music/Clues
Pitchfork article on tour
Record label: Villa Villa Nola

Lee Miller at SFMOMA

2008-08-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

Once again, here I am, plugging away for SFMOMA. What can I say? It's my favorite museum in San Francisco and their exhibits are put together with style and class. Not to mention they always seem to snatch up exhibits by some of my favorite artists.

For these reasons, this post is to persuade you to visit SFMOMA some time in the next mont and check out their latest photo exhibit, which has come straight from the Victoria & Albert museum in London. Fancy stuff, I tell you.

This exhibit has but a couple more weeks left but there is still time to catch the photography of one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, not to mention a woman photographer. In a world where even the business of artistic photography seems to rely on what men can produce, Lee Miller's photos are different, interesting, and a long awaited view from a woman's prospective. While many of the photos remain dark or candid, others are simple and depictive of every day life.

Most often described as a surrealist photographer, she was heavily influenced by Man Ray after meeting him. Miller doesn't forget where she came from though either: she modeled for years before being a photographer.

I loved this exhibit because it doesn't just leave out what got her to photography: it's the span of her life. It really is a personal glimpse at her and her work.

The collection is extensive and vast and definitley a must see to comprehend where photography is going and from where it has come.

Like the surreal and candid? It's for you. Just like photography in general? It's definitley for you.
The Art of Lee Miller
Click here for more info
Exhibiton runs till September 14th, 2008
More than 150 photos
http://www.sfmoma.org/

I thought I would also take this moment to announce my moving to Vermont. Tonight, I am boarding a plane to head over there. While I will still be back in San Francisco for a good amount of the year, most of my blogging will be from over there and thus mostly reviewing of CDs or bands. Still, you can all count on Blaine and Anna to fill up all the happenings of the Bay, as both are still in residence here.

I will miss SF, but I will be back. Thank you for all the support so far!

Extremely Belated - Fleet Foxes @ BotH 6/26 and Matmos @ GAMH 7/12

2008-08-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

Part I: Fleet Foxes

The show got kicked off nicely with two openers: Mist & Mast, and the Dutchess (no typo) & the Duke.

Mist & Mast, a local band, have a widely varied sound in the sense that it's hard to tell what exactly their focus and future musical destinations are; their songs are strong compositionally, but so far there isn't a huge amount of continuity on the level of the overall body of work. From seemingly Nirvana-inspired croons to surf-rock-reminiscent riffs to walking-rhythm folk melodies, Mist & Mast's music is like a crazy agglomerate of everything rock-related that you've ever heard. The medley of genres doesn't quite show in their paltry selection of recordings on myspace, but it is beautifully organized - and it's up to the listener to decide whether they're trying to cover more bases than there are on the field, or whether they're doing a great job experimenting with the sounds that the past has laid out as influence on contemporary developments.

Seattle's the Dutchess & the Duke, on the other hand, are driven by one goal only: fast folk with few instruments and powerful harmony. With the duo on vocals and guitar and a third person on percussion (tambourine, maracas...), the D&D filled the space with rolling wanderer's ballad after rolling wanderer's ballad. The songs are full of contrast - big sound from few things, an up beat with lonely lyrics, the male-female harmony, and so on. While the tone of the music is more somber - the song 'Reservoir Park' sounds like 'House of the Rising Sun' played in double time - it did establish its folk origins, preparing the crowd for the main set by Fleet Foxes.

Fleet Foxes kicked off their set with 'Ragged Wood,' and the concert was filled with nearly every song from their eponymous album that was released earlier this year. Given the genre, it certainly wasn't a wild show, but the group gave their performance a very personal feel, responding even to oddly enthusiastic viewers' comments like "Nice capo!!" The stage was crowded with instruments and mics and people, which created a kind of living-room close ambiance that combined nicely with the cozy mountain feeling radiating from the music. From 'White Winter Hymnal' to 'He Doesn't Know Why,' the crowd was charmed by impeccable instrumental work and bassist Wargo's amazing harmonies. The show was peppered with anecdotes from the tour - people got sick in Europe; London reviewers made mocking remarks on their long hair and the youthful looks of the guy on ukulele (on the far right of the photo; couldn't find his name). All in all, the night transported everyone to a different world - simpler, more comfortable, and very down to earth and woodsy; it was a campfire world with the benefits of electricity, and well worth experiencing in any setting at all.

Part II: Matmos

The Matmos show opened with a performance by the Baltimore-based Wobbly (John Leidecker). Operating several machines and accompanied by another person doing live visual effects that were created by sliding and crumpling various textured items under some sort of projection apparatus, Leidecker shows off his 10+ years of experience with his instrumental techniques by sending out gigantic waves of powerful noise, spontaneous repeating rhythms that seem to vanish as quickly as they appear, and tiny ear-taunting samples. The visual effects enhanced the sound by reflecting what the ear was experiencing in realtime: a soar in the quantity of abrasive noise would be partnered with rough-looking materials being crumpled or shaken, and rotating gentle patterns would be performed (no other word quite fits) when Leidecker played smoother sounds. The projection screen was damned riveting, but if the eye happened to stray, it would be sure to fall upon Leidecker's feet, tapping the machines' pedals under the table and behind a curtain of cords, and his head, bobbing and swaying with new sounds just as he generated them. Somehow the whole arrangement made me conjure up a strange phrase to describe it: "post-apocalyptic show-and-tell;" it was like having a non-voice from the future describe in detail everything that would exist if the world was bombed to wreckage, and you couldn't help but listen.

Matmos' performance began with the group wandering through the audience with little lasers. At first there was silence; then bleeps and scratches emerged; the music began to build and mix. How was it happening? A light-receptive module in the apparatus onstage would emit sound every time a laser hit it, and as the members of Matmos approached and the frequency of laser hits increased, the abrupt sounds became more continuous and metamorphosed into the music. Like Wobbly, Matmos was accompanied by visuals, but these came in the form of previous recordings. Some told a story with the music, such as that of Steve (was that his name?) who goes out to his (?) small backyard pool one sunny afternoon to masturbate. The first video, shown at left, was of a girl speaking slowly with her eyes covered by what may be halves of ping-pong balls. Others were just beautiful, like a grid of swelling black dots on a white background or a field of dots in a circle changing colors, swirling, and turning into spirals. Some noises were new, and others sounded familiar from the group's latest album, "Supreme Balloon;" everything sounded amazing. If you have yet to hear the sounds of the ARP 2600, the musical creations of Matmos are most definitely one of the best ways to first experience it.
Standing right next to a speaker is not highly recommended as a general rule, particularly for extremely loud shows like this, but I defied my better judgment to feel the higher-pitched beams of Matmos' (generally) all-synthesized sound in addition to the low ones that boomed in the floor and made everyone's shirts shake. It was quite a mind-blowing (and ear-popping) experience: every sound seemed more powerful than the next, each demanding the listener's full attention in turn and holding everyone captive in a deep trance that was more akin to a series of smacks up the side of the head than a soft embrace. And yet somehow I felt lulled to sleep, a concept that even now I cannot fully grasp. There's just something so delightful about hearing (and feeling) a plane landing next to you - one of my favorite sounds of the night - that there's no way to describe the way it warms the heart, revs up the ears and mind, and makes you want to jump up and down like a kid, all at the same time.

Frida Kahlo at SFMOMA

2008-06-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

The above is by far one of my favorite Frida Kahlo paintings.

So I've been interning this summer at SFMOMA, and let me tell you, it has been great. To be surrounded by art 24/7 is fantastic and exactly what I hope to do for the rest of my life.

In any case, as I worked, the Frida Kahlo exhibit opened to the public. I knew this exhibit was going to be big: it contains not only an enormous selection of her paintings, but also photographs, very personal ones, of her life with her husband or family or friends. These photographs are rare and shed a light on Frida we have not seen before. It is a beautifully put together exhibit (it arrived at SFMOMA from MoMA in NYC) and definitley worth your time.

Heres the catch: you need a timed ticket. This exhibit is so big and so popular that it has drawn in the crowds like nothing I've seen before at SFMOMA (besides when Devendra Banhart played there). You buy a ticket, it says a time, and you arrive 10 minutes before (members get express entrance). You may think this is a big ol' load of baloney, but, my friend there have been lines every day stretching out of the galleries in which it's located. Dayum.

Being on staff, I walked through the exhibit on the day the museum was closed (hallelujah, Wednesdays!) and going through the empty rooms with only the paintings and me...I wish it is something you could all experience. Really amazing.

Still, it would seem most of you have to brave the Frida Fanatics. Some people seem to believe they have a special deep connection with Kahlo and have the urge to stand extremely near to the paintings or make sudden movements near priceless works of art.

Hey. I said it was unlike anything you'll have seen before.

For information on this exhibit, just click here

Frida Biography

http://www.fridakahlo.com/

http://www.sfmoma.org/

Enjoy the exhibit. It really is worth it.

HAS RATATAT GONE SOFT?

2008-06-24T22:53:00.000-07:00

Upon listening to Ratatat's latest LP, aptly titled “LP3”, I found the lull in energy, the addition of many natural sounds, the dull repetition of sweet melodies slowly passing me by. I liked the last track, “Black Heroes.” And then Itunes went on and played the first track to “Ratatat,” their first album, and the difference between the two cds was startling. Here was the electric guitar intensity I was looking for. Where was the complex layering of a track like “Breaking Away” on the new album? Where are my heavy electric guitars, damnit? I’m not feeling this new album just yet.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum, and Islands at Bimbo's 365

2008-06-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

Photos by me, the newbie!

Part I: The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Or the CJM, as I affectionately refer to it. The museum opened its doors on the 7th with much fanfare; DAWN 2008, the festival organized for its unveiling, was a huge success - according to local newspapers (after an hour of waiting in line in the freezing wind, it was announced that tickets weren't being sold at the door due to some unforeseen planning snafu... however, this is beside the point).

The current CJM exhibits bring a lot to the table. The William Steig exhibit showcases Steig's work through the years, and those of us brought up on his stories will relive fond memories of childhood as we see individual drawings from old favorites such as Shrek! and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. However, the artist's cartoons from his many years at 'The New Yorker' - he began illustrating for the magazine in 1930 and produced hundreds of drawings, as well as over 100 covers, for it - round out the show and demonstrate Steig's talent with social commentary and his depictions of his own reality. Also of interest are his 'Symbolic Drawings,' which illustrate various states of mind with witty captions; you can see 'Man in a Deep Depression' here for a bittersweet example: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/13/arts/1214-STEI_6.html

The John Zorn Aleph-Bet Sound Project is quite amazing, but its setup in the museum leaves a little to be desired. The music that the artists produced for the Project is quite the type that one would expect from them; each piece is a unique and thought-provoking interpretation of a letter from the Aleph-Bet and incorporates often industrial, always avant-garde jazz sounds. The space, however, is not ideal for this exhibit - presented in the 'Yud' gallery, located in the eye-catching metal-encased octahedron (I believe) section of the building, the incredible music is played at an underwhelming volume that leaves listeners fantasizing about a mass uprising involving the attack of the hidden schoolmarm holding the volume controller. I stuck around for the first 5 minutes of Erik Friedlander's 50 Gates of Understanding, based on the letter [Nun], then gave up on trying to hear the music over the deafeningly blank walls of the gallery space. Both the music and the room are awe-inspiring - just not in combination. I hope that a CD of this astounding collaboration gets published and is available for purchase later, making it possible to blast the music at high (or at least audible) volume!

The last highlight of the CJM is the presentation of various artists' interpretations of Genesis centering on the story of the Creation. The works range in style from Marc Chagall, to Auguste Rodin, to Tom Marioni, to Trenton Doyle Hancock, covering a wide range of takes on this fundamental passage of religious texts and showing how much we can gain, religious or not, from thinking about this - the artists themselves are creating a new, indirect way through which we can ponder Genesis and other aspects of religion. Each artist seems to bring new views and interpretations to visitors, and with over a dozen artists it certainly wouldn't do any of the work justice to try and describe it all here - it's something you've got to see along with the rest of the museum.

Part II: Islands at Bimbo's 365 with Crayonsmith and Despot

Crayonsmith, a group from Dublin, Ireland, stepped up first with a not-bad set. Initially, my mind turned to thoughts of "I think I like their bass guitarist's Built to Spill shirt more than their music..." but such ideas were proved wrong by their 3rd song, which got the crowd going with a more upbeat and wonderfully synthy sound. Although they have a number of audible influences - a concept justified by the plethora of bands listed under 'Influences' on their myspace page - they are bringing something of their own to their sound and have some definite potential and are worth a good listen. They're like a guitar-shot Notwist, or a higher-strung Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. The songs played were 'Anxious' and 'Scarytale' with 3 or 4 others, and the band closed with 'Lost in the Forest.'

This aside, the band also gets some mad props for having the lead, Ciaran Smith, abandon his guitar mid-song (apologies for not knowing which) for a yellow-plastic-encased fold-up glockenspiel, on which Smith then proceeded to tap out some awesome harmony. And if that wasn't mind-blowing enough, Smith also changed mid-set into a polar bear suit with a Roman helmet. I'm not sure if this is some kind of metaphor for a war on global warming (hehe I'm clever) but it seems to be open for interpretation, since it appears on the cover of their album 'White Wonder' as well. Any suggestions as to what it means are welcome!

Despot, from Brooklyn, came onto the stage shortly after and generally surprised us all with his insane rapping skills and clever lyrics and song titles. From 'Crap Artists' to 'Get Rich or Try Dyin' ' to 'Puppets on a String,' Despot's got booming, instrument-rich bass lines that carry a wide range of genre influences and lyrics that not only have messages different from the ubiquitous sex/drugs/alcohol/anger topics of so much hip-hop and rap, but also bring wit and thought to the music with words like "Look Ma, two hands!" and "Home is where the heart is/That's a coffee cup and a subway token for the heartless."

Despot also has some comedic talent, and didn't fail to omit it from his set - his DJ was/is (?) dubbed 'DJ Princess Harriet,' and about 3/4s of the way through the set a fake DJ (a disguised member of Islands) made his way onto the stage in sunglasses and a green sweatshirt with a "Hello My Name Is [DJ]" sticker on it to have a silent/funny-awk skit confrontation with Despot on the DJ Princess Harriet situation. Not to mention the most-necessary "This club [Bimbo's] was named after all your mothers" joke. And the mini audience-participation aerobics session. And Despot's lip-syncing to the backup vox. All in all, a great performance that definitely revved up the group for...

ISLANDS!! How to put this... The show started off dark, with the fake shrubs in the background of the previous photos glowing red as the only light onstage for the first song, 'In the Rushes.' Shortly into the 2nd song, 'Kids Don't Know Shit,' a huge wave of people shoved forward from the back of the crowd and the show exploded into full intensity - the entire club was jumping to the beat all the way through favorites from "Return to the Sea" and "Arm's Way" alike, like 'Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby,' 'Life in Jail,' and 'Pieces of You,' and the sounds of vocals, guitar, drums, violin, and synth (as well as some ingenious percussion, like dropping chains) all soared out powerfully (without any one overpowering another) over the audience like currents in a sea of dancing people.

The show only got better and better as the night went on despite the fact that I had no idea where my bag, which I had idiotically placed on the floor by my feet, had been kicked to after the mid-2nd-song surge. This aspect of the show - the missing bag part - was refreshed in my memory when, before my very eyes, the copy of The First Word (my latest read) that I'd been carrying with me was lifted into Nick Thorburn's hands during an instrumental! After he flipped through it and showed it off to the crowd (why? I don't know), he lowered it down to someone in the audience. My response was instinctive and effective: "Hey! THAT'S MY BOOK! MOTHERF***!!!" Oh, mysterious brown-jacketed boy who helped me yell for my book, and man with the glasses who got it to me, thank you. You guys rock.

But I digress. Islands was kicking some veritable technical ass with soaring sound that built up and showered us with joy and all-around incredible and overwhelming emotion. "Arm's Way" shows new developments in the band, but Islands isn't afraid to keep the old with the new, and that's part of the show's beauty - everything was there, even at the most literal level. Sounds. Lights. Movement. A group entrancing the crowd with it all, and the crowd entranced. It was everything that a true concert is and should be. Outstanding show.

(For those who may fret about the missing bag, all was good in the end and it was worth it to get my cell phone screen broken in exchange for a legendary story of the Book Held By Nick Thorburn.)

Sorry I don't know how to post up freebies yet... so I'm going to have to let ya down with that bit.

Los Campesinos at Bimbo's 365

2008-06-07T12:46:00.000-07:00

All photos by me. Thank you.

If you have listened to Los Campesinos, you'll know it is incredibly impossible to not at least tap your foot or bob your head to their music. This fact manifested itself entirely at the band's show at Bimbo's last night. The entire audience, whether there just for a night out or to see a band they absolutely adored, was a perpetual body of people bouncing to the beat. Even people sitting at the tables, enjoying a nice dinner or after dinner aperitif, couldn't help but move their head in time to the catchy poppy and bouncy music that is Los Campesinos.

The opening band of the night, Parenthetical Girls, is a group you might just have to check out. Intriguing the entire audience as the lead singer, Zac Pennington, descended from the stage and proceeded to sing the whole first song from the floor of the venue, illustrates exactly what the Parenthetical Girls seem to do best: intrigue. While most of the rest of the band stayed highly platonic during the set, Pennington was lively and awake. This sharp contrast added an element of creepiness but also, you guessed it, intrigue.

Instrumentations using glockenspiel and loud guitar chords with smashing drums evokes an almost death-march like tune, yet with so much energy and feeling you'd swear the person for which the march is for is springing back to life. Their songs are definitley full of emotion and you can feel it in the way they all play, but perhaps the most in the vocals of Pennington.

Their music is compared to the likes of Casiotone For The Painfully Alone and Xiu Xiu, but I would akin it more to something like a minimalist Animal Collective slowed down or Casiotone with tons of caffeine and helium. Depends on what song they are playing. While I spent most of the set debating whether I liked them or not, I decided at the end that I had thoroughly enjoyed their set. You may be confused as to what you think at first, but I believe Parenthetical Girls will capture you like they did me. Definitley give them a holla. Sidenote: Pennington asked us midway through if we have our name on Google Alerts...no one really responded, but I guessed this means he does, so hey man, I'm tagging your name, in case you read this.

Los Campesinos took the stage with stride. While Bimbo's was full, it was not crowded, and I learned the show had not sold out. So despite all the hype surrounding this little indie pop group, you'll be happy to know they remain easily acessible and down to earth.

Los Campesinos played all the favorites, from "You! Me! Dancing!" to "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives". If there was a song someone wanted to hear, they played it. It's impressive how fully LC can play their songs live. On the record, you might think at some points that one particular song is pratically inachievable live, but no. LC played them all and they sounded just as good, if not better, live. Their handling on their instruments and the domain they hold over their sound shows how rounded they are in their music, and how well they know themselves. LC also covered a Pavement song, rendering it their own but also paying hommage to the original in a wonderful way.

Their stage presence is nothing to be trifled with. With seven people commanding the band, they fill up the stage in a big way and are ever present in each and every instrument, from glockenspiel to guitar to violin to random noise makers. The singer Gareth's incredibly energetic stage presence of running around, throwing his arms and jumping is contrasted to the second singer Aleks' timidness and quiet demeanor; there is a contrast onstage that makes this band unique. Yet all members are obviously invested in their art.

LC haven't lost any personal touch either. They showed us they can make the "SF" symbol with their hand, and used to to apologize for the fact that they think "Frisco" sounds good (a sidenote: it definitley does not). Gareth also explained that they have been rating their audiences. "You're better than Sacramento!" he said. Unfortuanetly, we are only in second place behind Eugene, Oregon. "At least you beat LA!" Gareth exclaimed. True that.

After leaving the stage, LC came on for one more song and then they were gone, almost as quickly as they had taken the stage. I guess the only thing that would show their grown popularity would be that at their GAMH show in November last year, they came out right away after it was over, while at this show there was no sign of them. Their bus has also grown in size immenseley.

Still this is not a problem, as long as LC manages to keep true to their roots, and stay in touch with who loves them. As proven last night, they have.

Freebies!
Los Campesinos: Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks
Los Campesinos: Drop It Doe Eyes
Parenthetical Girls: The Weight She Fell Under

Haight Ashbury Street Fair this weekend!

2008-06-05T00:07:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, June 8th.
This is about to be awesome, so be there or just...suck it.

There are going to be over 50 different booths, chock full of contests, giveaways, free stuff, information, and lots of cool people who need your input, support, ideas...you name it.
Among some of the booths, please welcome:
Booksmith
Looking Glass Collage
5733 Clothing
Oaklandish
Catch23.com
Zip Car
Slainte Bags
Haight Ashbury Beat
The Green Cross
Cold Stell
Kai Wai Li
Haight Music Center

...and many many more. For a full list of booths, go here: http://www.haightashburystreetfair.org/drupal_hasf/hasf/vendor_directory

Not to mention the food at this festival is about to be delicious. Booths for food are provided by just some of our local favorites: Barrett's Lemonade, Escape From NY Pizza, Diva Dogs, Ti Couz Restaurant, and on and on.

There will be live performances by musical acts and street performers up and down Haight.

The fair stretches from where Stanyan and Haight cross to Masonic, about five blocks long. So from GG Park to Ashbury basically.

Expect many drugs, beatniks, hippies of all ages, and the new wave crowd of youngsters, hipsters, and more. I will be popping in and spending some time checking it all out, getting involved. You know, helping out my neighborhood.

It's gonna be a great day.

Sunday June 8th
11 AM to 5:30 PM
http://www.haightashburystreetfair.org

Flight of the Conchords at Davies Symphony Hall

2008-05-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah. It was business time last night at Davies Symphony Hall. And Flight of the Conchords were leading bringing it all. I had the beauty of sitting very near the front, dead center, and it was great. A wonderful view of the entire wonderful show.

You know a band has the audience eating out their palm when one of the members of the band laughs a little too loudly and this sends the audience on a two minute laughing spree. They didn't even have to speak. At some points, their deafening silences were enough for the audience to laugh and laugh. And that was the beauty of it.

Ranging from playing songs to merely talking onstage, the Flight of the Conchords two and only members, Bret and Jemaine, put on a wonderful show. The hilarious jokes they entwine so carefully and wonderfully into their songs fully encompasses the feeling of joy they bring to anyone fortunate enough to bear witness. Ranging from lyrics like "You're so beautiful...you could be a part time model!" to "There are angels in the clouds...DOING IT", the night barely missed a musical genre (except maybe metal). Conchords were hitting all the different kinds, from folksy to bedtime story to hip hop to plain rocking out.

The moment of punch lines and jokes came wonderfully too. In their comedic timing, Conchords are perfect. Their ability to improv and make things up as they go along onstage was also quite impressive. Some of these improv moments were almost even more wonderful than the songs themselves, since the improv was completely unseen before. One particular moment of a good laugh: Bret and Jemaine attempting to show us how a whale would have problems dialing 911.

This being a particularly rowdy (and lets say horny) audience was really the whipped cream on the milkshake. At moments it was dead quiet, and Jemaine and Bret would look around quite confused as to what to do and merely say "Maybe if we turned out the lights we could all have a good sleep."

Then there were moments when the cheering was overwhelming, especially in a 1700 seat concert hall. And of course, the inevitable "take off your shirt!" and "I love you!" resounded all around the walls and ceilings, although Bret and Jemaine seemed surprise at the excess of it this particularly evening, like they had never gotten quite as much heckling before. One girl even yelled "I want to touch you!" then preceded to go onstage and...touch them. Rub them actually. Fantastic evening.

The guys kept making jokes about how "intimate" the setting was. I am not sure if they realized it, but the way they behaved and spoke rendered the room actually more intimate than you might expect with two guys onstage and 1700 people watching. The little conversations between themselves and casual manner of handling the audience made it feel not so formal as it might have seemed. At one point, Jemaine turned to us and said "Talk amongst yourselves for a bit...I feel like you guys are just...looking at us."

The Conchords played favorites like "Jenny", "Business Time" (for the ladies), "If You're Into It" (you can imagine the yelling during this one with our special audience), "Albi the Racist Dragon" and "Mutha-Uckers". They also played some new ones, including one about all of Jemaines past loves, in which a new instrument posed quite some problems. They needed to fix it, and stopped twice during the song itself. "I'm sorry," Bret said. "Jemaines exhausted. We've been on the road for four days. It's intense."

After leaving the stage on a standing ovation (which my two friends and I started) they came back on for two encores and thanked the audience profusively, saying they "thought San Francisco was...pretty cool." "I like that you have stairs in your sidewalks," said Bret.

A night of jokes, improptus monologues, crazy panty-throwing (yes, seriously) audience members, music, and two guys with New Zealand accents singing onstage. Seriously? You want more?

PS A nod must be made the Conchord's warm up comic, Aziz Ansari. You may know him as the racist fruit vendor in the "Mutha Uckers" video, or Clell Tickle on YouTube. He is now holding a part on "Human Giant" on MTV. He was hilarious and had me in stitches. Upon stating that Cold Stone Creamery "molests" their ice cream, I was gone. Thank you Aziz.

Sidenote: I went backstage after the show and poked my head in the dressing room. There they were. Bret on a couch, Jemaine reading some papers and pacing. And then this huge security guard, just chilling. "Great show!" I said brightly. They turned, smiled cheerfully, and thanked me. And that was all I needed.

The Dodos at Amoeba

2008-05-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

That's right. It's The Dodos at Amoeba...FO FREE.
With waffle fries.
And it's Wednesday. So after work, school, illicit drug deals, whatever it is you do day to day, head on over.

Not only do these guys put on a great live show, their music is wonderful and they are, drumroll, San Francisco natives! Bonus! This is a great oppurtunity to check them out if you haven't yet (in which case you are insane). The show may get crowded fast though, so show up a bit before, do some shopping or browsing, then sit back and enjoy the smooth yet rough sounds of The Dodos.

You may see below a review of their show when they performed here at GAMH with Les Savy Fav, a superb show if I may say so.

Wednesday, May 14th
Show starts at 6PM
Should be about forty five minutes or less
At Amoeba in the Haight

Once again, The Dodos are a very good band.
Believe me.

Freebie:
The Dodos - Paint The Rust

Wolf Parade's "At Mount Zoomer"

2008-05-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

The album art. Yeah. I have no idea either. To quote how Stereogum put it so wonderfully: "A mountain of zoomers, indeed."

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is the long awaited sequel to "Apologies to the Queen Mary." I myself have been waiting in quiet agony and anticipation. I have been terrified; terrified because "Apologies" was so fucking good, this album was taking to fucking long, and, Spencer Krug was devoting the fruit of labor all to Sunset Rubdown and it's smash hit, hell-of-an-album 2007 release "Random Spirit Lover."

All those things drove me into a frenzy.
I downloaded At Mount Zoomer the day after it leaked and it sat in my iTunes for another day and then I was ready to listen.
My initial reaction was "What the hell did I just hear?"
After letting it sit in my head, like waiting for alcohol to hit, I was still baffled. What was that?

I listened again.
Nothing hitting me.
The first track intrigued me, as did the closing one, a long epic song sitting at 10:47.
After a bit, I grew to love three of the songs very much, but none of them thrilled me like "Apologies".

This is not to say it's not a good album. This is also not a "Ugh I'm such an elitist Wolf Parade fan, I know everything about them blah blah blah." No. This is an honest to God response to the album.

Because, really, it is a good album. Great in fact. The songs are different, interesting, originally structed; the lyrics are wonderful and there are parts that really draw you in. It is rich in spirit. I can see it being very popular in fact. It's just, it didn't kickstart me. It didn't make me go "Wolf Parade, you have done it again." The alcohol, so to say, just never hit me, even if the drink still tasted great.

I do recommend it, though. Usually I like to end these posts with "You may hate it." or "You may love it." but the truth is I don't know. I do not know anything for certain this time. What "At Mount Zoomer" has produced is new and intriguing, also at once confusing and stunning. All of this at once too, on one album. That has got to be something. Who knows? Maybe after a few more listens, I will fall in love.

And now, a short list of...
What "At Mount Zoomer" sounds like:
-truthful rocking out
-a slightly tired Wolf Parade
-your friends rolling around your room, high
-Spencer Krug forcing Sunset Rubdown in Wolf Parade's face
-the tragic tale of a knight in armor who never reaches his goal
-Wolf Parade experimenting. And thats good.

WOAH HEY GUYS LEAK LINK
On attempting to find a copy of this rich deep and different album for my friend, I found none. Well, either you're gonna like to so much you buy it or you wouldn't have bought it anyway, so, please enjoy:
WOLF PARADE - AT MOUNT ZOOMER:
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/9y958b LINK BROKEN
sorry guys...subpop is all over the blogosphere's asses. Subpop, just rest assured, we will buy it or we won't. God damn. Let us tailor it and decide. We are music connoisseurs.

Death Cab For Cutie's Narrow Stairs

2008-05-02T23:27:00.001-07:00

After listening to the single Death Cab For Cutie released to bump up the anticipation for their new album even more, I was excited. Very excited. "I Will Possess Your Heart" is a beautifully structured and executed piece of music. At 8:35, it is an epic choice as a single, ambitious and impressive. Whats even more impressive is how well it was received, and how much everyone seems to be enjoying it. The slow escalade to emotional vocals and break outs of music is like the build up to the breaking point in a novel.

Needless to say, we were all waiting to see what other miracles Ben Gibbard and the gang might pull out of their talents for the album. I prayed that Death Cab hadn't, shall we say, "jumped the shark." "I Will Possess Your Heart" gave me hope.

By now, probably mostly the entire blogging community will have downloaded "Narrow Stairs" from one of the many leak links across the blogosphere. I listened to it immediately, all the way through, and all I can say in response is a cheesey expected "Wow."

Combining the jumpy, almost punk-like beats and guitar chords of their older style like on "The Photo Album", then taking the melodic agony and beauty from "Transatlantacism", and finally pushing in some epic aspects of orchestrated like band choreography from "Plans" gives us what "Narrow Stairs" is: a combination of the phases Death Cab has been through as a band together. While this description of the album may make it sound more messy than beautiful, it comes off as more original sounding than ever before.

Already the opener pulls you in. "Bixby Canyon Bridge" is a beautiful song and I swear I have never heard Ben Gibbard sing more intensely before. Going from slow to intense to a little faster and back down to slow, the track is a roller coaster in a slow motion: practically magical.
Part of the appeal of this album is going to be the multiple different types of music Death Cab manages to serve up to us. Up beat tunes like "No Sunlight" are dance worthy, while a track like "Long Division" is faster than others but more in a jump around the room in beat way. Perfect for a live show. On the other side, Death Cab evokes feeling and sentiments (as usual) with more epic tracks of multiple instrument layering and loud strong vocals, like opener "Bixby Canyon Bridge" and "Pity and Fear".

The more "rock back and forth and move your head tunes", like "Cath", with echoey vocals and perfect drum beats, allow you to fall into the album gracefully and with ease. There's also the back to the basics easy going slow tunes of "Talking Bird" and album closer "The Ice Is Getting Thinner". Although I feel "Talking Bird" may be a weak track on the album, the closer is definitley a beautiful haunting tune that leaves you hanging.

The band sounds great; of course the album is very produced, in the fashion of "Plans", but while "Plans" was called "polished", "shiny", or even "waxed" by some, I would call "Narrow Stairs" more refined. Like aged wine, even if the album is brand new. The band hangs tight to its roots using feedback and steady beats, but squeezes in their new bright sounds as well. They are perfectly joined together in a harmony achieved over many years of playing as a band. Ben Gibbard also plays his part very well. His voice is as good as it has ever been, strong and true. Not too much has changed, but I believe this is what has given Death Cab it's indie appeal (no matter what label) over the years. Overall, I think Death Cab sounds wonderful. They've come far up the ladder.

At first listen, you may be slightly dissapointed. You may have expected more after the epic track that was "I Will Possess Your Heart". Theres no doubt that that track is the best on the album; but, this does not mean the rest are less. There are some real gems and moments on this album that will catch you and perhaps seize you for one moment of breathlessness. I have already found many such moments. Join me.

Link from Keeping Time wordpress blog
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs (2008)
http://www.zshare.net/download/114386436cff3dc6/

Colin Meloy at The Fillmore

2008-05-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

So, one guy, his guitar, sultry lighting, and an accoustic set should equal a passive, relaxed evening of music and ambient sounds, right?

Wrong.

So wrong with Colin Meloy.

Through an hour long set, then fifteen minutes of encores, Meloy had the audience practically eating out of the palm of his hands; hungry for more each time, Meloy pushed his music and talents to a limit that can only be reached in a live setting. His voice carried strong and true, ringing at all points of the large Fillmore auditorium. His guitar's twangy, folksy sounds filled the space. And the celtic and irish feel to his tunes made you want to move to the beat in any way possible, even if it was just by swaying back and forth.

Playing wise, Meloy uses every inch of the guitar and his vocal range, creating a plethora of different noises, sounds, and melodies. Some of the songs Meloy played use the most beautiful keys and chords I have ever heard. Combined with Meloy's smooth, strong voice, the outcome is a range of ear pleasing songs. His guitars are not instruments; only extensions of himself that he uses to create this sound from inside him. His quirky ways, like having to stand on his tippy toes to tune his guitar, bring out his different and yet extremely effective playing style.

Along with superb musicianship, Meloy creates a very personal and intimate relationship with the crowd. Talking directly to us as individuals, and yet addressing everyone at once, Meloy made jokes, responded to questions yelled out, and provided witty and amusing anecdotes to either go with songs or accompany a theme. Every time a certain person near the front yelled something at him, Meloy would respond "Inside voice, man. You could work in show biz."

It was wonderful to see Meloy able to make fun of himself, laugh at himself, and play around with his music. Seeing that he does not take himself too seriously was refreshing and made the night all the more memorable. Meloy had everyone in laughter as he sang "The Perfect Crime #2" and repeated "perfect" about ten more times than he usually does in the song, walking back and forth on the stage between mics humorously.

From singing electric guitar solos himself, getting the audience to do it, or merely saying mid-song "This is the guitar solo part", the overall style and feeling of the concert was unique, different, and wonderful. A powerful accoustic set, rendered intimate and personal, yet still large and maginificent in a musical way.

Meloy mixed it up with a few songs of his own, old and new, a cover of Sam Cooke, and songs from his band The Decemberists. At the end of the set, all of us were screaming and chanting for more, stomping our feet and clapping our hands, until Meloy came back on, finishing with the epic "Mariners Revenge Song". What a way to end. And who knew this song, usually performed with about 7 instruments, could sound so powerful on accoustic guitar?

Maybe it was the antics of frontman Colin Meloy. Maybe it was the audience filling in for other band members singing roles. Maybe it was the entire crowd stomping and clapping like real mariners on deck, in time with the music.

Whatever it was, Meloy brought it out of us in the best way.

Les Savy Fav at The Great American Music Hall

2008-04-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

While I was slightly fearing this show because

1) both friends I was supposed to go with bailed on me and

2) my brother had told me horror stories about Les Savy Sav shows
I remained optimistic and excited to get inside the GAMH and get into it.
I was going mostly for, I confess, The Dodos. They are a recent band who have captured my heart and I love them dearly. I was so excited to be going to see them. Les Savy Fav is a band that I have listened to on occasion, but who I definitley know. Not only have they been raised up to a sort of indie Gods status over the years, their live shows are quite frankly the talk of the town. I was greatly anticipating my little date with them.

The Dodos played about a 45 minute set of bliss. They performed extremely well and their songs sounded even more powerful live. The record gives off a sort of folksy, yet amped up and feeling-filled sound, and live these sentiments are still strong. Yet they come off stronger and hit you more directly by many different factors. Firstly, both members of The Dodos, Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, are energetic and obviously very much into what they are doing. It's hard not to watch them play and observe their tactics of either rushing back and forth between instruments, pedal pressing, or their smooth transitions between songs (just as smooth as the record. Extremely impressive).

Touring with an extra member who played xylophone, an extra drum, and toy piano, The Dodos filled the stage and entire room with their music and messages. The echoing vocals and twangy notes from the guitar paired with the intense smashing of cymbals and drums is beautiful and intense in a wonderful way.

That being said, if you haven't heard the album, I don't know whats wrong with you.

As soon as The Dodos left the stage, I found myself sort of wanting them to be headlining, yet extremely excited to see Les Savy Fav perform. I have to say that this was the aboslute shortest amount of time I have ever waited between bands when the headliner was about to go on. Really. It was at most twenty minutes.

My brother had told me to go on YouTube and watch videos so I knew what to expect. I didn't. I'm glad I didn't.

What is a Les Savy Fav performance?A way of life.

First off, the band is just plain great. They are awesome musicians with skill and precision despite the rantings and random vocalizing of leading man Tim Harrington. And Harrington there just are no words to describe. He is a mass of energy that fills the entire crowd...quite literally. Harrington came down off of the stage no less than four times to dance and mosh with everyone even while continung a song quite strongly. The entire show held together and the energy did not drop, not even for a moment. Their charisma is amazing.

From forcing people to kiss his toes, to pouring beer all over the crowd, Harrington made things far from boring for the spectators. Being directly in the front, I got to experience many of his antics first hand, including having beer spit all over me and water thrown down my back. All watched in a strange mixture of disgust and admiration as Harrington hacked a loogy into the air and caught it back in his mouth perfectly. Simply stunning.

The music live is something to behold. On CD, these guys are already pretty in your face and rough when it comes to yelling lyrics, smashing guitar riffs, and insane drummings. Live, this all comes off even more intensely, especially paired with Harrington's disgusting yet fascinating escapades of debauchery. The entire room shakes as everyone dances, pushes, shoves, and screams along with deep bass beats, fast guitar solos, loud drums, and the yells and shouts of vocals. I couldn't help but notice that all the instruments were amped up far above what is normally expected (as someone behind me observed before it began and they were sound testing, "Damn, this is gonna be loud").

Les Savy Fav had us yelling and dancing, all crouching on the ground then springing back up at the last moment together, and begging that we might just might get caught in another beer spray.

After an hour set, LSF returned for three encores which Harrington performed in a full body leotard, jiggling around the stage with ferocity. The end was a smash of noise, sweat, and yet pure love for LSF . At the end, as the rest of the band left the stage smiling and waving, I saw Harrington dash to the sound guy and embarassingly pass him a mic he had broken the top off of. "I'm really sorry..." he said sheepishly. This really finalized the evening. On top of it all, no matter how insane they were onstage, look how much they cared...

...for you, for me, for that microphone: they just want you to have a good time.

Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco is going to rock

2008-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

I swear, Outside Lands in San Francisco (yeah! hometown cred!) is the festival to be at this year. Coachella dissapointed many...well here is what is going to rescue us all from total festival deprivation (besides Sasquatch! north of us).

The Outside Lands festival announced more lineup bands today, way more past the top three who we have heard repeated over and over.

Now, joining Radiohead (oh heck yeah), Tom Petty, and Jack Johnson (it's okay, I can deal with Radiohead there) are the following incredible bands and artists:

Primus, Beck, Widespread Panic, Wilco, Manu Chao, Cafe Tacvba, Cold War Kids, Devendra Banhart, Regina Spektor, Broken Social Scene, Andrew Bird, M. Ward, Matt Nathanson, Two Gallants, Steve Winwood, Kaki King, Dredg, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Sean Hayes.

And yes, more are still waiting to be announced! Unebelievable. As Gregg Perloff of Another Planet Entertainment who are presenting the festival said "We can't believe our lineup." WELL US DOWN HERE CAN'T EITHER! Way to cinch Radiohead you sneaky awesome people.

Not only is the lineup fabulous, but the concert will take place in Golden Gate Park...isn't is about time some big happening went down there? Something enormous like this? Nationwide? GG Park, a symbol of San Francisco. Hippies, the 60s, now Outside Lands. It's wonderful.

From the SF Chronicle: "The stages will be spread across adjacent areas of the park - from the massive Polo Fields to the Lindley and Speedway Meadows, where the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is largely staged. The park will receive a portion of the proceeds."

On top of all of this...the logo art is looking good.

No I am serious. It's a great blend of retro and moderne (french accent)

The festival will take place August 22nd to 24th, 2008

This is the first year this festival is being done

Three day tickets: $225. On sale 10 a.m. Sunday. (415) 421-8497

Website: http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/

The art in San Francisco museums right now is superb

2008-03-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

Read the title of this blog.

It is true.

Right now, three of the major museums of San Francisco, the SFMOMA, the de Young, and The Legion of Honor, are running fantastic shows that require your immediate attention. Most of them have just opened and run until May so you have time; but who knows. You might want to go back a couple times. There is much to see.

SFMOMA's is currently showing an exhibit of Lee Friedlander photos. It is filled with nearly 400 photos from the 1950s to the present of this photographer's fine praised artwork. Friedlander is heralded as one of the major and perhaps one of the most significant contemporary artists of our time, gaining an extensive base here in the US and even across seas. His photos depict city scenes, life on the urban front, often including himself by means of reflection or shadow. This exhibit is not to be missed, as it shows some of present day photography's best and finest work. Side note: The Fraenkel Gallery at 49 Geary also is showcasing some wonderful Friedlander work at this moment, his project entitled "America by Car". And bonus, some are for sale! But yeah, who am I kidding. Can't afford that. Oh well. You can always just go see them for the sake of a Friedlander gallery showing: pricesless (for everything else, there's COPYRIGHTED.)

Show website: Click here

Runs Feb 23rd till May 18th

The de Young's current high praised, well rated, critic approved exhibit is that of the artists Gilbert & George. It's hard to put into words what G&G do. The de Young website aptly describes it as eliminating "the distinction between artist and art". This is very true. G&G appear in practically all their work. Some photos of live works they did, some live works before your eyes, and some...recreations of stained glass windows? All around, an enormous expansive and engaging exhibit that will completely capture you the moment you walk in. Even if you hate museums, this is nothing like paintings on a wall, rest assured. Lucky for you, art is changing rapidly. G&G are at the healm of it all.

Show website: Click here

Runs Feb 16th till May 18th

Lastly the Legion of Honor is currently housing an exhibit by the incredible Annie Leibowitz. Leibowitz has been a photographer of icons of pop culture for many many years. If you have not heard the name, definitley you have seen the naked John and Yoko photo, yes? Well it was taken by her. This exhibit presents us with 200 photos of her iconic shots as well as pictures of family and friends...more personal ones. The title of the exhibit, "A Photographer's Life 1990-2005" is a good one because we get to see into her life: her work (the celebrity photos) and her personal life (friends and family). Also thrown into the mix is an array of photos from her many trips across the world. A true perfect mix. Bonus! Her photo she took of George W. Bush in the White House is in this exhibit. And many others, who you will no doubt be more excited about, I'm sure. I am.

Show website: Click here

Runs March 1st till May 25th

5 essential shows for March 2008

2008-02-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

Yes, March is just bursting with concerts for the Bay Area this year. In fact, the entire spring is shaping up to be absolutely incredible. But I've decided to compile a list of the five essential shows for March. If you can, do make it to a concert every night, because there are many many out there you cannot miss.

In the mean time though, make sure to check out these wonderful performers and their stunning live shows, music, originality and all around noble greatness:

1. Why? at The Great American Music Hall on March 6th.

Why? Why? (Aaah I love that). Because we have watched him shoot up in the indie community and become a sort of living legend, something to be marveled at from afar. Except no more! You can see him up close on March 6th, if you are so lucky.

Tickets: $13
Doors @ 8, show @ 9

2. Atlas Sound at Bottom of the Hill on March 8th

The lead singer of Deerhunter's side project, Atlas Sound, could not be hotter right now, or more creatively and artisticly pleasing. The ears have not felt this kind of joy in a long time.

Tickets: $10
Doors @ 8:30, show @ 10

3. Beach House at Bottom of the Hill on March 15th
This dreamy, almost psychedelic duo of magical music makers are trance enducing, gorgeous sounding, and all around pleasing to the ears. At a chill hang out like BOTH, the music could not make a more ambient feeling. Atmospheric and eerie, expect to hear a lot from the new album as well as favorites from their self titled.

Tickets: $10 advance/$12 at the door
Doors @ 8:30, show @ 10

4. Jens Lekman at Bimbo's 365 Club on March 22nd
All I can say is, Lekman's jazzy, Frank Sinatra influenced classy ritzy music will not sound better in any other venue. Bimbo's is ideal in it's art deco furnishings. Not only that, I have heard only positive things about Mr. Lekman and his fantastic shows, how flamboyant they can become, how enganging. Try not to dance. I dare you.

BONUS! The Honeydrips, an incredible emmerging indie group, are opening.

Tickets: $18
Doors @ 8, show @ 9

5. Justice at The Concourse on March 27th
Okay so the venue blows; it cannot stop these guys from putting on an amazing show. Their album, "Cross", made it onto practically every best of 2007 list and there is a reason. And their live show only adds to the entire experience.

Tickets: $35
Doors @ 7, show @ 8

Other shows you should check out!
-The Pillows @ Slim's
-The Boredoms @ The Fillmore
-Born Ruffians @ Bottom of the Hill
-Say Hi @ Bottom of the Hill

And these...if you can get a ticket. They are in high demand.
-Explosions in the Sky @ Great American Music Hall
-Vampire Weekend @ Rickshaw Stop or The Independent

Urban Transformation Exhibit in Hayes Valley

2008-02-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

Painting entitled "Pastel Pause" by Mitchell Confer, mixed media, 22" x 28", on linen.

Last Friday, I made my way to the middle of Hayes Valley to see an exhibit at the Hayes Valley Market Gallery called "Ancient City". The exhibit is an extremely interesting one. All the artwork on display explores the art of urban transformation and how it effects us as people living in an urban setting. The tagline on the card for exhibit states "15 Bay Area artists explore time, texture, and construct."

Among the artists showing work there in the exhibit are Ken Berman, Mitchell Confer, Vera Fainshtein, Terri Garland, Yong Han, Barbara Holmes, Kay Kang, Alexandre Koulouris, Grayson Malone, Liz Mamorsky, Alan Mazzetti, Yvonne Mouser, Daniel Newman, Scott Reilly, Charles Trapolin. Quite a bundle, yes. All of the bring something completely unique, new, and intricate to the showcase. Out of all these artists, perhaps my two favorites were the work of Mitchell Confer and Liz Mamorsky. Confer explores the cramped piled up feel of our city while at the same time retaining a peaceful calm atmosphere. Mamorsky creates statues out of found industrial and man made objects. One statue resembles a giraffe, another a robot...they are very original and fun.

Mitchell Confer's cityscape art: http://conferart.typepad.com/photos/landscape/index.html
Liz Mamorsky's site: http://www.lizland.com/home.html

Do take a look at both these artists.

The exhibit runs till March 1st.

Offical exhibit website: http://ancientcitygallery.wordpress.com/

Location: 580 Hayes (@ Laguna)
Hours: 12 to 7pm

All artworks in this exhibit are on sale.

Across The Universe...literally

2008-02-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Today, NASA did something incredible.

To commemerate their 50th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of the song "Across The Universe" by The Beatles, NASA broadcasted the song all the way to the North Star of Polaris, literally sending it across the galaxy. Apparently, it will take the song 431 years to reach Polaris; Polaris is 2.5 quadrillion miles away. Meh. No biggy. It'll get there eventually.

I quote the article from my city paper: "NASA loaded an MP3 of the song, just under four minutes in its original version, and will transmit it digitally at 7 p.m. EST Monday [today] from its giant antenna in Madrid, Spain. But if you wanted to hear it on Polaris, you would need an antenna and a receiver to convert it back to music, the same way people receive satellite television."

Apparently Paul McCartney was quoted as saying "Give my regards to the aliens". Aaah he is so witty.

Personally, I find this to be incredible, amazing, and wonderful.
I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I feel like technology really can do wonderful things. Yes, so this isn't solving world hunger, curing AIDS, or creating world peace once and for all. But it's a kind gesture. And simple in form. While I'm sure it takes dollars and dollars of technology and planning, the idea of sending a beautiful song into space to travel among the stars is just so simply gorgeous to me. I like to imagine the song echoing throughout the galaxy, over and over, just those beautiful melodies and lyrics...

Nothings gonna change my world.

More info:
Official NASA article: Click here
SFGate article: Click here

Note: I would upload Across the Universe, but I think distributing Beatles songs is punishable by death.
Hm. I wonder if the life forms on Polaris are going to pay royalties.

End sarcasm. Begin your own nostalgic sighing.

Dan Deacon at Great American Music Hall

2008-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

(Photo taken by me)

Thursday night, Dan Deacon played at The Great American Music Hall with opening bands Kit and HEALTH. Directly before his solo set, the video project called "Ultimate Reality" that he collaborated on with Jimmy Joe Roche was shown, along with the accompanying soundtrack written for two drums.

Kit and HEALTH got the beat pumping to set the mood for the show, bringing upbeat quick tempos and ear splicing electronic and industrial noises. Successfully driving the crowd into a frenzy, ready for Dan Deacon, the two bands did what they had come for very efficiently. While I preferred HEALTH over Kit, I see a future for both, and strongly suggest you check out their music the next time you host a house party or huge DJ gathering.

The Ultimate Reality film was an experience you have to see up close to grasp and feel. While two drummers play fast insane rhythms (composed by Dan Deacon), a huge screen behind them projects psychedelic images of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies put together by Jimmy Joe Roche. To quote a more apt explanation on Wikipedia: "The footage was appropriated by Jimmy from Schwarzenegger classics such as Terminator 2 and Total Recall to accompany the composition for Ultimate Reality. Jimmy has transformed the violent struggles of these films into a mesmerizing sequence of fantastic images where popular science fiction icons seep in and out of mirrored layers of kaleidoscopic color."

The result of Jimmy's work is incredibly amazing. I couldn't take my eyes away and the beats were extremely easy to move to. Many people launched into dance, which pleased me immensely.

And finally, the Dan Deacon set. What way to describe it? Dan Deacon did his usual routine of playing just down off the stage while the crowd gathered around him and on the stage. I was either just next to or behind Dan for the whole show and the experience was incredible. Dan had us holding a dance off with a cat walk, all kneeling down on the floor while raising our hands, and even creating a huge bridge with our hands for the entire audience to snake through (in which he used me as a test subject). Strobe lights tripped you out, different colored lights flashed, and the green skull at the front of the audience shown us on into the dancing.

It was not just a concert. It was a lifestyle for an hour and a half.

Photo once again by me.

Overall the experience was incredible, sweaty, tiring, and literally breath taking.
Dan Deacon said he will be back in the spring.
New record anyone? Don't miss this next one.

Photos from the event on Flickr: Click here
More info on Dan Deacon: dandeacon.com

For your listening pleasure:
Dan Deacon - Snake Mistakes

Here Here

2008-01-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

I was listening to Live 105’s supposedly indie/local/sort-of-unknown new music show Soundcheck last month and was incredibly happy to discover the song “Poor Sailor” by Here Here flood through the speakers. Finally, some different-sounding music on that radio show. And I haven’t been able to stop visiting Here Here’s myspace page to listen repeatedly ever since. They sound like the Arcade Fire, melding piano and violin, as well as instruments like the banjo and an accordian. There's something about the violin that makes music sound epic, especially when accompanied by flowing vocals. The song subjects are interesting too. One seems to be about Canada, another entitled "All Hail Ye Fellow Sleepwalkers" contains one of the most fitting lyrics for someone with as many final papers to write as I have: a long, drawn out proclamation that "sleep seems so far away."

I’m having difficulty finding anything at all about them except for what’s on their myspace. They have 699 plays on Last.fm, and I think I heard that they played their first show ever last summer. They’re from San Francisco and recently released “Boy With an Orange EP”, available at Amoeba or through Itunes or Emusic.

You can listen to songs here:
http://www.myspace.com/hereheremusic

ZOOM IN: a close look at ten 2007 albums

2007-12-31T12:30:00.000-08:00

...that changed the way I think.

While I listened to a lot of music this year, I've decided to select ten albums that I feel I really got into and grew attached to. I listened to these albums probably more than is healthy this year, and so I have decided to make a post with a blurb about each, and a sample song for your listening pleasure.

Please enjoy.

1. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

I absolutely adored this album. The moment I heard it from the leaked version my brother slipped to me, I was in love. The energy, the sheer punch it posseses, is really original and different. Each song is erupting with creativity, and each song is extremely different from the next. Not only that, the songs flow into each other beautifully and perfectly without a bit of effort. Pitchfork didn't put this on the best albums of 2007 list, and I think this was a huge mistake on their part.

Track download: For The Pier (And Dead Shimmering)

This track is one of the gems of the album in my opinion. Shifting between a delicate melody and booming explosions of percussion instruments is a beautiful story. I can't get enough.

2. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

The first time I heard this, I thought it stank. I was shocked and taken aback by Condon's sudden change from gypsy ethnic to french bistro. I didn't give the album a second chance. Luckily though, shuffle brought me to the tracks "Nantes" and "Guyamas Sonora", and I had to give it another listen. While the middle of the album lags a little and the strong songs are definitley at the beginning and end, overall it's beautiful, and sounds just as elegant as Condon's previous work. It's delicate yet complicated; beautiful but filled with remorse and edges. Lovely work, Mr. Condon. Sorry I doubted you.

Track download: Nantes

I suppose this is the popular choice as "single" from the album, but I really can't help it. It is beautiful, haunting, and has definitley seized me.

3. The National - Boxer

When I saw the Paste had voted this the best album of the year, I was so happy. Ecstatic that The National's second full length had been recognized, and also that other people could appreciate it's genius. I have been hooked on The National for three months now, and this album is by far their best work yet. Some songs have a melancholic, forlorn feeling, while others burst with a thrashing of different feelings and sentiments. Also, the lead singer Matt Berninger couldn't have a more original sounding voice. I have never heard it before in todays music, and this just makes their sound all the more recognizable and fun to listen to. The fact that they can do so much with one album astounds me.

Track download: Squalor Victoria

Although it is the shortest track on the album, this song captured me from the moment it began. It's beautiful, intriguing, and yet so simple. It only uses a piano, vocals, drums, and some strings. Gorgeous work.

4. of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

I have more than 15 plays on each song on this album. Not only is it catchy as fuck (pardon my french), the lyrics are witty, the blend of instruments and electronics is (as always) perfectly melded into one golden sound. of Montreal keep proving to me that they can outperform and outdo themselves. I adore this album in all it's pop electro indie goodness. Just can't get enough, and keep on dancing along...

Track download: Faberge Falls For Shuggie

I chose this track because I feel it's the one we hear the least about from the album. It's a fabulous song, suave and cool but also screechy and insane. How can you do that in one song? Also, it's a perfect example of how of Montreal utilizes their electronic sound to it's full extent.

5. Caribou - Andorra

Caribou's newest release is one of his best in my opinion. Each song is haunting and has a sort eerie charm to it. I picture driving down a highway with the rain beating on the windshield; or running through a forest with beams of light coming through the trees; or sitting in the window of an old castle ruin...you get the picture. "Andorra" evokes whatever is most mysterious and exploration-worthy to you. It takes you there, I swear.

Track download: Sundialing

As I said before about the car...no but seriously, this song is that scene. It's that moment. It's beautiful and it's structure melody leave nothing to be desired.

6. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Thank you, Jack and Meg. Thank you for redeeming yourselves after the horror that was "Get Behind Me Satan". I was scared for The White Stripes, but then I heard "Icky Thump" and sighed in relief. A lot of this album sounds like good ol' thumping, banging White Stripes. A lot of is new ventures. A lot of picks it up where the band had previously left off. The amazing part of the album is the ability they have to bring all these different points in their music life together and make them a really great album. Cheers, to both of you. Please tour again.

Track download: Little Cream Soda

This song jumped off the album for me at first listen. It's hard, it's rough, it's in your face and I love it. It reminds me of the Stripes as they were way back when. Awesome stuff.

7. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

It's hard to put this album into words. Even now I struggle to type something in to fill the space. This album is subdued and quiet, and yet there's a loud quality to it that comes across in the complexity of the music and sounds you hear. The compositions of the songs are perfect; they are full and like breaths of fresh air. Each one is new and different as you go from song to song on the album. A beautiful album, structured with finesse and delicacy and yet filled with raw emotion.

Track download: House By The Sea

This is my favorite song on the album. The beginning catches you immediately and the melody follows you throughout the song and stays in your head even when it's long over. I also love the eclectic range of instruments used.

8. Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold

Okay, I'll admit it: I discovered Bat For Lashes in Teen Vogue. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the genius of their little band any less. "Fur & Gold" is beautiful and haunting. It's absolutely gorgeous, in fact. It's magical and mythical: each song tells a story like a fairy tale and the overall theme of the album is like a story book. It's extremely eerie at parts but that only adds to the perfect mystery. This is also an album that, when you listen to it all the way through, in order, sounds absolutely gripping; like one long song you never want to let go of.

Track download: Horse And I

This song opens the album, and although it wasn't the first song I heard, it is now the one that catches my attention the most. It is incredible and powerful in a quiet way. The beginning notes are especially amazing. Gorgeous. Really. I can't use any other word.

9. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

While many fans felt a deep dissapointment in The Arcade Fire's newest release, I was thoroughly pleased, and I'm not afraid to say it. I loved their outward turn from inside suffering to worldly suffering. While the lyrics still leave something to be desired (what else is new? deal with it) the music is even more grand and overcoming. I think their blend of instruments and intricate melodies are something to be marveled at, and on this album, I think The Arcade Fire have discovered to what limits they can achieve their own unique sound.

Track download: The Well and The Lighthouse

A great track that tells an interesting story by means of a plethora of different instruments and sounds. Need I say more?

10. Battles - Mirrored

Some may call this math rock, but I like to call it calculated chaos. It's amazing how Battles can make everything sound so sharp and precise and on the dot, and yet also create a sound that evokes total and complete madness. I love this album and it's original unique sound. I think Battles has really gotten onto something here; they are different, and people love that. This album demonstrated just how much they are capable of producing. Wonderfully crafted, original sounding, fun to stomp around to...what more do you want?

Track download: Leyendecker

Sounding almost like a hip hop track you may hear on the radio, Battles creates a catchy beat and interesting melody to which you can easily nod your head, tap your foot...oh just get into it already man.

A sound-off: the best albums of '07

2007-12-30T12:52:00.000-08:00

You’re probably wondering why you should even bother to read yet another “Best of 2007” list, and why an adolescent, urban girl’s list at that. Well, I really have no good concrete reason or life altering fact that will make you want to read this any more than you do now at this moment, but I can vouch for myself. I believe that it’s important to search for more opinions than the ones that are handed to us by the media and general pop culture scene. Obviously, being on blogger.com, you have already taken the initiative to search for an alternative music source than the big companies of bloggers or mp3 downloading corporations. So you’re a step in the right direction. And now you’re reading my list…so you’re even closer.

Alright, yes. You came here for the list, right? Not for my rants about capitalism and the rising influence of media on news and the population of the United States. So I’ll give you the list. Read on, enjoy. Sorry there is no little blurb for each album, but time is precious, my fingers are aching, and quite frankly, the music all speaks for itself.

Next post, look for a zoom in on the ten albums I know the best of 2007, with a free download from each and a closer review. I wish I had time to do that right now for all of these, but alas, the post could be very long and I'm out the door to do some CD shopping.

[These are in no particular order. Thank you]

1) Sunset Rubdown - “Random Spirit Lover”
2) Animal Collective - “Strawberry Jam”
3) Radiohead - “In Rainbows”
4) Beirut - “The Flying Club Cup”
5) M.I.A. - “Kala”
6) Deerhunter - “Cryptograms”
7) Panda Bear - “Person Pitch”
8) Kanye West - “Graduation”
9) The National - “Boxer”
10) Modest Mouse - “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank”
11) of Montreal - “Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?”
12) Spoon - “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”
13) Okkervil River - “The Stage Names”
14) The Arcade Fire - “Neon Bible”
15) Battles - “Mirrored”
16) LCD Soundsystem - “Sound of Silver”
17) Kevin Drew - “Spirit If…”
18) Menomena - “Friend and Foe”
19) The Klaxons - “Myths of the Near Future”
20) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - “Some Loud Thunder”
21) The Besnard Lakes - “The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse”
22) The White Stripes - “Icky Thump”
23) Feist - “The Reminder”
24) Caribou - “Andorra”
25) Band of Horses - “Cease to Begin”
26) Jens Lekman - “Night Falls Over Kortedala”
27) Les Savy Fav – “Let’s Stay Friends”
28) Blonde Redhead – “23”
28) Elliott Smith – “New Moon”
29) Bat For Lashes – “Fur and Gold”
30) Justice – “Cross"
31) Iron & Wine – “Shepherd’s Dog”
32) Grizzly Bear – “Friend EP”
33) Black Lips – “Good Bad Not Evil”
34) Dan Deacon – “Spiderman of the Rings”
35) Liars – “Liars”
36) Jay-Z – “American Gangster”

Disclaimer: Obviously, because I am writing this list, these selections are my personal opinion. They are what I listen to and what I think. If I left out your favorite bands new album or didn’t include enough (insert obscure genre here), I am deeply sorry and hope I can make it up to you. Don’t know how, but, we’ll work something out.

Also, I did the obscure number of 36 albums because I am tired of the typical 50. Break from normality people! (Yeah you want the real reason, but you’re not going to get it. Thanks for reading!)

Note: This post was also posted on my mog.com account. Yes, I am aware it's there. Thanks!

So I listened to some music this year...

2007-12-27T01:54:00.000-08:00

In no particular order, and I have yet to listen to a lot of stuff. There's no way anyone could effectively take into account every single thing released this year, so therefore this isn't a top ten list, but a collection of reactions to some of the music released this year that I came into contact with.

Explosions in the Sky – All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
I love the band name. And all the album artwork. And every single crescendo, slow paced, fast paced, melodic piece of music. I mean, the third song is thirteen and a half minutes long. If they can hold your attention through that, you know you’ve got something good. And they do it all with instruments. There are no words, which is helpful, as they’d only distract from the musical notes.

Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War
Alright, this took some listens, especially since I heard from various sources that it wasn’t a very good album. But I’ve come to like some of it. It’s not the best of Stars, not even close to the quality of “Set Yourself on Fire” in my opinion, yet still a solid effort.

The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
Releasing an album in January will land you on two end of the year music lists. Well, the more exposure the better I suppose. The Shins deserve it though. There are some amazing songs on this album, like “Spilt Needles” and album closer “A Comet Appears.” They’ve climbed into mainstream success over the past few years, cemented by the release of this cd.

Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover
This is the best album of the year, by far. In August it leaked and I jumped all over it. I sung its praises to everyone, just to make sure the genius wasn’t all in my head. If you listen to the lyrics, you pick up clues that point towards the album describing a play. The whole album is filled with delightful intricate plots, sometimes completely implausible by real world standards, but it’s a twisted alternate reality. With recurring characters. How cool is that? Only one song stands out as a little too weird, “Colt Stands Up and Grows Horns.” It just doesn’t sound good, but the rest is pure sound goodness.

The Most Serene Republic – Population
The Most Serene Republic is one of three bands on this list signed to Canadian record label Arts and Crafts, home also to Broken Social Scene. This band opened up for Los Campesinos! They kind of sound like Anathallo because of all the different instruments. They dressed all in black and delivered their music with an insane amount of energy. Trumpets, whistling, and violin in full swing. At times the music can sound similar, but this album holds some great songs like “President of Future End,” “The Men That Live Upstairs,” and aptly titled “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Los Campesinos! – Sticking Fingers Into Sockets
Quickly becoming my favorite little indie band ever. Short, dancey songs, with music-conscious titles like “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives,” and lyrics like “it’s sad that you think that we’re all just scenesters, and even if we were it’s not the scene you’re thinking of.” I love their English accents too.

The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
I was kind of disappointed in this album. Funeral was so full of raw emotional power. And then the Arcade Fire decided to get all preachy and channeled that energy into a neat little “message” about how everything is so commercialized and materialistic and run by religion. Yes. I get it. America sucks. Now, let’s get back to the philosophical raw energy that Funeral had.

The Go! Team – Proof of Youth
Not much to say about this cd. It’s the second release from The Go! Team, no immense change of direction for them, they’re still going with the cheerleading chants and pop-esque sound with hard to hear lyrics.

Flight of the Conchords – The Distant Future“The humans are dead. Binary solo! Zerozeroonezeroonezerooneeee.” I saw an ad for this on the Stephen Colbert website and thought hey, I’ll watch a free episode. And then they broke into song. It was hysterical. The TV show aside, FOTC released six of their songs on an EP. If they ever come to SF, I will go. The “fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo of New Zealand” is too funny to miss. I’m looking forward to the full album release in April next year.

Dan Deacon – Spiderman of the Rings
It’s so random! There’s a lot to do with animals from what I can gather. My favorite song is “Wham City”, all eleven minutes and forty five seconds of it, although there’s a small break in the middle, so it’s almost two songs. I’m not really sure how the music is made, but it definitely involves a laptop and lots of those little sound board knobs.

Battles – Mirrored
Battles makes me dizzy like my sister’s ADHD listening therapy CDs do. Which probably means it’s a little too math-rock-y for me. Nevertheless, they get points for being so different from the rest of the music I listen to, and everyone seems to love them right now, so go, take a listen, and hopefully you won’t get as queasy as I did.

Architecture in Helsinki – Places Like This
AiH have gotten progressively louder with each album. The songs on this one don’t really have a direction. Most are a hit-or-miss kind of deal. Hold Music is a tragedy of a song, and not worthy of the semi-mosh pit that erupted at their show. Same goes for “Same Old Innocence.” But the middle songs are okay.

Still Flyin’ – Za Cloud EJ EP
They’re from San Francisco, actually. I love the reggae feel of their songs. They have nearly twenty members, even one whose only job is to dance around on stage. He occasionally bangs on a few instruments. This EP contains five songs which all seem to be about Yosemite or magical golden birds. Either way, the upbeat sound doesn’t get old.

Why? – The Hollows EP
Why? can be pretty haunting, with their mix of lo-fi indie, folk hip hop, and rich lyrics. It’s some strange combinations, but they make it work beautifully. The EPs are ladden with musical material not found on the LP releases. The Hollows precedes a full length album out in March of next year. I’ve only heard the songs a few times because they released it as a twelve inch and my house lacks a working record player, but they took a turn on this EP, which includes renditions of “Yo Yo Bye Bye” by Xiu Xiu and Yo La Tengo as well as remixes of past and future songs.

Juno Soundtrack
This was a late minute addition. I just saw the movie last week, and left thinking it would be one of the best movie soundtracks ever made. The music fit so perfectly with the tone of the movie, kind of lighthearted but laced with biting, dry humor. Singer Kimya Dawson of The Moldy Peaches provides most of the songs. Thank you so much to some kind person who collected all the songs (even the version of “Anyone Else But You” sung by Michael Cera and Ellen Page) and put them in a torrent that you can find at mininova.org.
But forget the music for a moment, the movie was amazing in itself. It had the best opening credits sequence I have ever seen. I actually wanted to sit and watch the progression of Ellen Page walking down the street in drawn form, gallon of Sunny D in hand, over the song “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar. Plus, Michael Cera runs around in little yellow shorts. It’s cute.

Not So Silent Night 2007: unholy night.

2007-12-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

Lets dumb this down a bit. Lets bring this down a first grade level, and mask it in the form of a question your teacher might ask while pointing to a brightly colored groups of objects in the book you are using:
Which one of these do not belong?
Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, Angels & Airwaves, Spoon, and Paramore.

My friends, there are two correct answers, and I'm sure a good amount of you who feel the same way I do (and you do) know what I am talking about.

In my opinion, the lineup for Not So Silent Night has been getting progressively worse each year. And I have only attended three years of this concert. Each time I went, it was fun to be there in the atmosphere and hear all these bands together. They mixed well, and the crowd was a good medley of different types of people. But I began to notice that there was always one major let down every year. Who can forget The White Stripe's bomb performance? Or the, er, shall we call them "sound issues" for Modest Mouse? I began to believe that this was what happened at NSSN: every year something bad just had to happen.

But this year, I never expected it to occur before I could even buy a ticket.

Upon hearing this lineup from my friend, I was infuriated. I was even angrier when they announced the order the bands would be playing in. I mean, lets be real people. They put Spoon second. Second. That gives them, what? A forty-five minute set? Hello Live 105. That is Britt Daniel. You are giving Britt Daniel a forty-five minute set. Spoon co-headlined Treasure Island Music Festival with Modest Mouse. And now you're throwing them into second place.

On top of this, they have managed to enclose Isaac Brock and Tom Delonge into the same backstage area. Enter Tom Delonge: whiney voice, cute face, pop-punk ruler of the universe of the former maniac fan band blink 182, who sported lyrics as "'I said I was the cops, and your husband's in jail. This state looks down on sodomy!' And that's about the time that bitch hung up on me." Since these frantic post-post-post teen days have passed, Tom has sacrificed himself to his new project, Angels & Airwaves, growing bangs over his eyes and dying his hair black.

Now enter Isaac Brock: Modest Mouse front man, grew up all over the North West, and lived in a shack for a good part of his adolescence. He has been accused for DUI, drug abuse, and has served jail time. Songs like "Shit Luck" demonstrate his immediate need for a bit of stirring up in his world, and not the prank phone call kind, with the opening being him yelling "This plane is definitely crashing!".

Now place these two in a glass box together and what is going to happen? Conduct the experiement yourself. Or attend NSSN this Friday night and watch.

To make matters worse, this so-called evening of celebration of independent music and the holidays is none of the above. Okay, so I made up the holidays part. But there is obviously some sort of correlation, what with it being December and the name of the freakin' gig. But the independent, anti-mainstream music? This sentiment has dissapeared.

I lost hope in Live 105 a long time ago, but I thought maybe this once a year outreach to the music community might still be their chance to demonstrate their real desires. Alas, no. Once again, I ask you to study the lineup. Modest Mouse have strong connections to the independent music scene, as they worked their way up through it, and Brock used to be at Sub-Pop (he signed Wolf Parade). Spoon have always been considered to be an American indie band. But Jimmy Eat World have been signed to a major label since day one. As have Angels & Airwaves, since Tom coming over from probably one of the most commerically successful bands of the past ten years aided that. Paramore, although more unknown than the previous two aforementioned, still have strong ties with MTV (their videos are constantly played) and VH1. You name the "music" channel, they are there.

Look, NSSN: I don't wanna totally bring you down. Because I think this show is a great idea! The three years I went, I had a great time. I'm not going to pretend I didn't. I loved it, Meg's drunken escapades and all! Because I loved it, I care about it's future. And by caring I am giving my opinion. That is all.

This Friday night, expect to see me in a cafe with some friends, having our first non-NSSN ever. It hurts, Live 105. It really does.

For your listening pleasure:
Modest Mouse - Shit Luck
Modest Mouse - Gravity Rides Everything

Spoon - The Infinite Pet
Spoon - Back To The Life

Angels & Airwaves - The Adventure

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ BOTH

2007-12-01T11:06:00.000-08:00

I discovered Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (henceforth referred to as Casiotone in this entry, just for brevity's sake) fairly recently. It was one of the bands that I found by clicking through a lot of "similar artists" and neighbors on last.fm, until I finally ended up on Casiotone's page. I downloaded some songs, and immediately was taken by the simplicity and airy feeling his songs gave off. They are enchanting little pop/electronic ditties that create a small kingdom of their own.

The brains behind Casiotone, Owen Ashworth, started to make music on a small casio keyboard back in 1997. His first two albums, "Answering Machine Music" and "Pocket Symphonies for Lonely Subway Cars," were made using nothing but small, battery-operated keyboards and Ashworth's own voice (along with occasional accompaniment by guest musicians). These early albums are now available on one CD, appropriately titled "The First Two Albums by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone." After this, he has released numerous EPs and albums, all to the happiness of those who follow his steady beats and lyrical style.

Owen is coming to Bottom of the Hill this coming Wednesday. Definitley head down and check it out.
He will be playing with
Papercuts and DJ Matt Bonar

Info:
Wednesday, December 5th
9:00 PM (doors a t 8:30 PM)
$10
All-ages

And now, for your listening pleasure:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Young Shields
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - When You Were Mine

Los Campesinos! at the Great American Music Hall

2007-11-28T15:41:00.000-08:00

Los Campesinos! will be performing tonight at the Great American Music Hall. This is their first show in San Francisco, and their first set of three tour dates in the United States. The seven-piece band hails from Cardiff, England and only picked up instruments to form the band in early 2006.
Los Campesinos! (meaning "the peasants" in Spanish) sounds like a fresh mix of indie pop vocals and instrumentals. Don't write them off as just another pretentious twee band, even if members have taken Campesino! as their surname pseudonyms. No, this band's got wit and indie cred. The opening lyrics to "You! Me! Dancing!" (an abundant use of exclamation points is only fitting for them) go, "it's sad that you think that we're all just scenesters, even if we were it's not the scene you're thinking of." Many of their songs provide commentary on the music scene of the UK. "...And We Exhale and Roll Our Eyes In Unison" talks about the misogyny of music journalists when writing about female musicians.
My favorite lyric comes from the song "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives": It's your party, but I'll die if I want to.
They have released an EP, Sticking Fingers Into Sockets, via record label Arts and Crafts, and plan to release a full length album in February 2008.

Here is their song You! Me! Dancing!:
Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!

Music & Videos From the Dump at Herbst Theatre

2007-11-21T16:17:00.000-08:00

The first performance of "Junkestra" at the SF dump

Last Friday, the 16th of November, I attended a presentation at Herbst Theatre made by the Norcal Waste Systems. Surprising, no? A dump putting together a lovely little evening in the artistic district of San Francisco...the evening was one of amazingly wonderful paradoxes and interesting perspectives, artworks, and music.

Unknown to many people, the San Francisco dump has an artists in residence program that supports artists who wish to come to the dump and create art using whatever material they may find there. Fridays performance was an evening to showcase some of this art that has been created through the program. The theme of the evening: recycle, reuse, and do not waste!

The first half of the night, movies by different visual artists were shown. The films were relatively short and very interesting, at times funny, sometimes more there to show us something, to convey a fact, than anything else. Works were shown by Reddy Lieb, Banker White, Robin Lasser, Don Ross, Nomi Talisman, and Philip Bonner. All of these artists went through the artists in residence program at the dump, and all their films conveyed some aspect about the waste site. Each one touched on something different, which worked out nicely and effectively.

After intermission, the second half was devoted to a very interesting piece of music. Composer Nathaniel Stookey (funny story: his mother, Martha, taught me theater for two years of high school) decided to apply to be an artist in residence using music. He went to the dump, found a bunch of items, and contrsucted musical instruments. He then composed a 15 minute piece (in three movements) on these instruments made out of trash that he called "Junkestra". It was first performed at the SF Dump in May this year, and this one at Herbst Theatre Friday night was only the second performance. It is a piece performed by members of the San Francisco Youth Orchestra and conducted by Benjamin Schwartz.

The piece is, and I do not take this word lightly, brilliant. It sounds amazing and is fun to listen to and, most importantly, to observe. I was in awe at how many sounds he made with what he had. I was shocked when Nat Stookey told the audience that he had not cut or modified any piece of trash he picked up. He made these sounds with how he found the items originally.

The piece was an enormous success and the audience demanded it be played again, to which one witty audience member yelled "Recycle!"
An amazing piece that everyone should hear.

Which is lucky! You can listen to the piece at the main page for Nat Stookey's residence:
http://www.sfrecycling.com/AIR/stookey.htm

Enjoy!

SF Dump site: https://www.norcalwaste.com/
Artist in Residence program: http://www.sfrecycling.com/AIR/index.htm
Photos of the Junkestra: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artatthedump/sets/72157600047671773/

of Montreal at The Great American Music Hall

2007-11-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night, of Montreal wrapped up a successful three nights here in San Francisco. I heard nothing but good things about the other two nights, but I only went Wednesday; therefore I can only speak for what I saw. Although judging from what I saw, I can't see of Montreal could ever doing a bad job at entertaining an adoring crowd.

The two opening bands were fun, jumpy...a good warm up. They definitley got the crowd hyped up very nicely. MGMT have stolen a part of my heart. They're fun, talented, danceable...what more do you need these days? The second opening band, Grand Buffet, proved to have great showmanship. A two person group, they not only performed very well but also had the crowd laughing left and right. I sincerely hope they got their uppers.

The wait for of Montreal was hot, sweaty, sticky, and filled with anticipation, but when they did get onstage around 10:15, no one complained about it being a little on the late side.

The show was an incredible experience. While two members were elevated high up on pedastols that flashed different colored lights, the remaining three members stayed down on the stage and intimate with the audience. As always, flamboyant outfits, makeup and stage show were the norms. The whole crowd was erupted into one big dance party of sweaty goodness.

of Montreal played a good mixture of "older" songs, like "I Was Never Young", "So Begins Our Alabee", and "Rapture Rapes the Muses". There was also a very good amount off of their new (fabulous) album, like "She's a Rejector" and "Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider". (Thank you for playng She's a Rejector. Thank you)

They covered three Prince songs, opening with "I Would Die For You" and "Baby I'm A Star" and closing with "Purple Rain" right before coming back on to play three encores of their music: "Wraith Pinned to the Mist And Other Games", "The Party's Crashing Us" and "The Repudiated Mortals".

An amazing show and experience.
No one is lying or trying to sound experienced when they tell you "You have to see of Montreal before you die!" (several people told me this before I had seen them at Coachella). They really really mean it. So go people, go!

MGMT- The Youth
Grand Buffet - Dark Autumn
of Montreal - I Was Never Young
of Montreal - She's A Rejector

Enjoy.

The Decemberists cancel rest of tour

2007-11-02T22:58:00.001-07:00

Yep, you heard right. You read it on Pitchfork. You saw it on your lastfm events. Or maybe you got that depressing email notification. In any case, it's true. The Decemberists have decided to sit out the rest of their tour after only two dates into it.

A message for their fans from them:
"One of our band members has been ill for a while but we thought all would be well in time for these tour dates. After a couple shows, though, it has become clear that the illness is much worse than we had initially realized. We need to return home so our friend can mend.

It saddens us to disappoint our fans. We hope everybody understands it is only because of an extreme situation that we had to cancel a tour we've all been excited about doing since the idea was originally hatched.

Our deepest apologies but at this time no plans are being made to reschedule the dates. Ticket holders should seek refunds at poin of purchase."

No plans? Oh you're killing me.
Still, at this point, I'm hoping this sickness isn't serious and the member can make a full and satisfying recovery. Our thoughts go out to you, my friend.

So yes, Bay Area: the four scheduled dates at the Fillmore have been cancelled:

-Friday, 11/23/07 Long of it
-Saturday, 11/24/07 Short of it
-Sunday, 11/25/07 Long of it
-Monday, 11/26/07 Short of it

I planned on going Sunday. Argh.

Refunds anyone? Those tickets were not cheap.
Venue number to inquire for refunds: 415-346-6000
Venue location:
1805 Geary St, San Francisco Ca. 94115.

Here's hoping for a full recovery, perhaps another tour, and smooth refunds.

Jeff Wall exhibit at SFMOMA

2007-10-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of going to the donor preview of this exhibit on Wednesday night, and wow was I blown away. It's an incredible exhibit, well put together and wonderfully shown. Jeff Wall's work is different, and it's clear through his images what his intention and goal is.

I think the most interesting thing about these photos is how they are shown. They are huge: taking up practically entire walls. Also, they are shown by being mounted and lit from the back, like ads at bus stops or in the subway. Wall justifies these two choices of exhibition with two reasons. For the first, he believes in the preservation of traditional art, and so he exhibits his photos in large format as if they were enormous canvases; traditional art style. For the backlit, bus stop ad style, he is exploring the use of cinematography.

Jeff Wall also carefully poses his photos. While we seem to be catching glimpses of spontaneous moments, look carefully: everything is so sharp and clear and clean you can see the slight cinema aspect to it.

One thing I noticed through his photos is that, while his pictures depict enormous scenes, the title is usually a very small part of the photo. Example: one photo is called "Story Teller" and after a long examination, you see the story teller. She is in the bottom left hand corner, very small. I like his inclusion of everything and yet focus on one thing.

Go see this show. It's fabulous, interesting, and extremely nice to look at.

Runs till january 27th 2008
More info click here

I would have to say my personal favorite photos were:

-"The Flooded Grave": Life and death. Life growing in death. Go see it (google it if you are unable).

-"A ventriloquist at a birthday party in October 1947": So. Very. Creepy. And yet...we can't look away.

Aliens in America cast comes to the Bay Area

2007-10-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Okay I don't know if anyone else is as obsessed with this show as I am (so far I know, count 'em, two people who watch it), but I'm throwing it out there anyway. It is certainly, out of the new shows the CW slammed in our face this fall, one of the funniest and one that's doing very well in viewers and reviews. If you aren't watching it, maybe you should check it out.

In any case, whether you're a huge fan, an advocate for the cause of actual funny shows, or if you're just hungry for some fame, I am here to spread word about the CW Cup Youth tournament. This Sunday October 27th in Morgan Hill, the CW is going to be hosting a large festival, complete with games, contests, etc. While I strongly dislike this kind of fair meets too many sponsors event, light shines in this one: Dan Byrd and Adhir Kaylan, the actors who play the two main characters of Justin and Raja, will be there signing autographs.

This TV show is still pretty small and unknown. I remember the cast of Veroncia Mars came to the Bay Area before that show became popular and I missed meeting them. Big mistake.

If you can endure the cheesey festival atmosphere, go for it. Should be very cool to meet these two guys.

When: Sunday, October 27th
Where: Morgan Hill
More info: http://cwbayarea.com/cwcup
Watch "Aliens in America" online: http://www.cwtv.com/cw-video/aliens-in-america

Jenkins Johnson Gallery's current show

2007-10-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Cheap Trick, By Lynn Godsmith

The Jenkins Johnson gallery, famous for their exquisite collections and exhibits, have only two locations worldwide: New York and San Francisco. How very lucky for us. Past shows this year here in San Francisco have featured Don Williams, Ben Aronson, and Nancy Switzer. It's been a very good year to say the least, and yet this current exhibit seems to be the cream of the crop.

Jenkins Johnson is featuring the photography of Lynn Goldsmith, particularly two series: "Icons of Rock" and "Imagination". I can't say I know much about her "Imagination" series, but the "Icons of Rock" is one you must see. The series is a collection of potraits and portraitures of legendary "rock" musicians like Patti Smith, Sting, Frank Zappa, Courtney Love...and of course, Mr. Dylan. The list goes on.

Even if the whole classic rock scene isn't for you, you should go for the pure artistic quality of the photos. They are beautiful artworks, interesting and wonderfully composed. Example? My favorite of hers is the one above, featuring Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. I do not listen to Cheap Trick at all, and yet I can say I adore that photo.

Go for the historical significance. Go for the art. Go for the love of music. If anything, just go because it's here now and we are lucky.

Show runs till October 30th.
Exhibit Page
Gallery Site
Location: 464 Sutter St.

The Go! Team at Amoeba

2007-10-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

This Thursday October 18, 2007 at Amoeba Records in San Francisco, Brighton six-piece The Go! Team will perform for free. Intimate setting, free, and available to everyone? This almost makes up for the fact that their show this Friday at the Mezzanine is 21 and over. The Go! Team blends cheerleading-like chants with equally cheery samples, creating some of the most colorful music you'll ever hear. Really, the only thing I can compare it to is the mixing of paints on an artist's palette. Throw in some feverish dancing, and you've got yourself the raw sounds of The Go! Team. The vocals are somewhat inaudible, leaving the upbeat tempo of the music to take charge and lead you through some truly danceable melodies.

This band recently released their second full-length CD, Proof of Youth, on the Memphis Industries record label in the US and UK. It's a little different from their debut, Thunder Lightning Strike, which was originally recorded in the founding band member's kitchen, but the underlying musical concepts still hold true - lots of live band recordings and samples, and even special guests like Chuck D.

Here are a couple songs, to get you up on your feet and jumping around:

The Go! Team - Grip Like A Vice

The Go! Team - Huddle Formation

Man Man heads this way

2007-10-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Wow. Another good show provided by Slim's. It's going to be a good next week.

Man Man are well known for their elaborate live shows, doing things like not pausing between songs or wearing all white. I've also heard talk of them putting on war paint and dancing around. Definitley a band to see live by the sounds of it.

The Wikipedia entry for Man Man says they are " Viking-vaudeville punk-wop rock-and-soul collective". The fact that I cannot even begin to comprehend this genre is perfect, because really, Man Man have created a genre on their own, using multiple instruments in many different ways. They create sounds you never knew could be made.

This show is still relatively unknown, so definitley catch it. After opening for Modest Mouse on their tour, Man Man is getting bigger. The show is Thursday, October 25th.

Show @ 8 (doors at 7:30)

Tickets: $13/15

For more info, click on the title

And here, have a sample. It's my favorite song by them:

Man Man - Black Mission Goggles

Caribou is coming to Slim's

2007-10-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

You probably remember Dan Snaith's (who has a, get this, Ph. D in mathematics from the Imperial College London) old stage name Manitoba. The last time this name was used was 2004, when, upon being threatened under lawsuit, he changed it to the now present day Caribou. Caribou's music is often described as "eletronic" or "electronic with some other percussion intrsuments thrown in." I, however, find it much more intricate and eccentric than that.

Caribou released a new album just this past August entitled "Andorra". I came into this album a little late, but I'm very glad I did. The first listen I gave it, I was hooked. Blending equal balances of electronica and percussion with eerie melodies and catchy beats, Caribou keeps you listening in a sort of wonder.

And yes! Snaith will be performing under his Caribou stage name Saturday, October 27th at Slim's. This show is going to be a good one. Snaith performs with a live band, assuming the role of percussionist, and engages the use of video projections, images, and other, shall we say, fascinating technological methods. In a space like Slim's I can see this going very well. The show is popular, but tickets are still available, so snatch one up.

Show @ 9 (doors 8)

$13

For more info, click on the title

And to sample some Caribou (it sounds like I'm offering you some meat dish):
Caribou - Melody Day
Caribou - Irene

(both these songs are from their new album "Andorra")

SFOpera's premiere of "Appomattox", the new Philip Glass opera

2007-10-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, I don't attend opera regularly. In fact, the last opera I saw before this was "Dr. Atomic", the Peter Sellars opera that also premiered here about a year and a half ago. Funny, because both these operas deal with relatively modern happenings. Of course, the case of the atomic bomb was much more recent than the Civil War (the subject in "Appomattox"), but when they are placed next to classic operatic themes, I think we can call them modern.

But yes, it had been quite a long time since I attended the opera. I happened upon opening night tickets that did not set me back one penny and jumped on the chance (normally they sell for around $625. I find that insane).

"Appomattox" is, as stated, the new opera by Philip Glass, a three-time Academy Award-nominated American composer. He often associated with Kurt Weill and Leonard Burnstein as one of the great composers who has brought music and art to the general public. This particular opera treats the subject of the surrender of Lee and the signing of the treaty to mark the end of the Civil War. The treaty was signed in a courthouse in Appomattox. Hence, the title of the opera.

While "Appomattox" has very realistic ambitions and sets out to perform something very intriguing and interesting, it comes out slightly awkward. At curtain rise, we are presented with a large metal wall that holds just one small opening, where General Grant's wife is standing in era attire. The set is very impressionable from the get-go: the wall rises so high up that we can't see where it ends, and this huge metal slate shines and glints in front of us.

The first act took a fair amount of time to get started. I felt it trudging along quite steadily, like a pace that all the actors felt was comfortable for them...I also felt it when both my brothers fell asleep on either side of me. I remained awake, if only at this point because I was so very intrigued by how the signing was to be turned into an operatic performance and because I wanted the images of Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln singing opera to be in my mind forever.

The music was quite haunting. I would describe Philip Glass' music to be minimalistic, and that is exactly what gave it it's haunting qualities. While everything happening onstage was a bit slow in the beginning, the underbelly of eerie tunes added to the whole thing. I could almost feel myself in the situation of wanting the war to end so badly, but having it continue on regardless. The music was like the ticking of a clock, just wanting it all to be over. The melodies stuck in my mind.

The opera picked up when both Grant and Lee came into the picture. Both were played, in my opinion, very well. Their acting was strong and I felt like I could be watching real war generals conversing with their captains about plans and strategies, only they were singing all the plans very loudly. The scenes showing civilians in the midst of the war were particularly good as well. As the south leaves their cities behind, burning them to leave nothing for the north, lights flashed and bombs went off. Hanging from the ceiling were sculptures of realistic, dead (and life size) horses, strung up by rope, and dangling threatingly (at the sight of them, my mother leaned over and whispered "My friend made those! Don't they look great?" momentarily pulling me out of the opera.) I thought this scene was the most stunning visually, not only because of the dead horses hanging all over the place, but also because the sight of all of these people lined up and watching bombs go off in awe and shock was a strong one.

The first act ended on Lee finally deciding to sign a treaty that Grant will draw up.

The second act starts very strong. The exchange in Appomattox between Grant and Lee is very well done, even managing to throw in some humor. I liked the way they potrayed their conversation, talking about the treaty and the terms of surrender in that courthouse.

Unfortuanetly, the signing, which was what I thought to be the main focus of the play, became muddled and lost in a series of attempts to draw the Civil Rights movement into the play. As they were signing the treaty, they would sometimes freeze, and the audience would become witness to scenes from either the near future or far future, all scenes of Civil Rights movements and events.

While I can understand the importance of the Civil Rights movement in the US (believe me, there have been about twenty papers on it), I just have to say: slow down! Slow. Down. Yes, the civil war had a lasting impact on the US, but save all the events from post Civil War to 1950 for another opera! You'll have plenty of material, Mr. Glass. Because this opera was entitled "Appomattox", most were expecting something about, oh, the signing at Appomattox. Yes, it was present, but it was lost beneath all this intense Civil Rights/black empowerment imagery. The Civil Rights movement also felt diminished through this. Trying to show the progression through a half hour of play was not substantial, and it ended up coming out messy and random.

As the opera ended, they hoisted up the dead horses again, something I do not believe they should have done. The opera ends with many women all singing together, the horses awkwardly being raised (getting caught on thing on the way up) and as their voices are just fading, there is an abrupt blackout. I found this end to be a weak one for such an ambitious and intense opera. I was dubious as I began to applaud, wondering if we had been tricked. I didn't think it could end like that, but it did.

I suppose the thing that most drew me in and brought me to enjoy it despite it's flaws would be the set. I adored the set (and I think I might be the only one). Everything was metallic and modern looking, very angular with lots of lines and straight bars used. The backdrop at one point was a bright orange, taking us in entirely. The lighting was used very well, casting enormous shadows of the actors onto the back of the stage. This made for an impressionable view from the audience. The dead horses were, at least the first time around, visually stupefying and shocking. I often enjoy the set above anything else in plays; having spent so much time backstage, I appreciate these aspects very much (but not necessarily more than the play itself). For "Appomattox" the set definitley did a lot.

From the slow start, to the build up at the end of the first act and start of the second, then the slow decline back down into a messy muddle of information, I felt this opera could be described as: awkward. A sort of tumbling around history, set to beautiful eerie music and incredible, booming voices.
I would say the highlight of the play for me would either be those hanging dead horses, or Abe Lincoln belting out in his long coat and enormouse top hat. That's one to remember.