Artist: Ty Segall
Album: Melted
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Track: “Ceasar”
Speaking of lo-fi love, Ty is getting ready to release a new album “Melted” on Nashville’s Goner Records next month. He’s been trying out his new tunes on the road and, no surprise, I like what I hear. Lucky for me (and you) he’ll be back in town at Bottom of the Hill 6/27 with Grass Widow and one of my new favs, The Baths. Feel the love.
Burnt Ones – “Gonna Listen to T-Rex All Night Long”
Yay! One of my favorite bloggers, Dodge of My Old Kentucky Blog, has a new label called Roaring Colonel and has released his first 7″ for a local Indianapolis band called Burnt Ones – whose fuzzed out, lo-fi sound is right up my alley. Lo-fi love. Check it out. And be sure to give Dodge some love too. He needs it after Google shut down his site last week. The tech company that once was the Silicon Valley ‘can do no wrong’ darling, is fast becoming the new evil empire. Larry Ellison, move over.
In case you haven’t figured out by now, I have a soft spot for Brit rock and have been keeping and eye on this UK duo called Little Fish for quite some time. I like their stripped down, bluesy rock vibe and the raw energy Juju brings to the vocals – like Heartless Bastards on Red Bull. They’re in the states for a limited US tour, supporting Hole for much of it. Lucky for us, they’ll be hitting Cafe du Nord this week for a headline appearance. Get it while it’s hot!
Little Fish US Tour Dates (* w/ HOLE)
April 20, 2010 Cafe du Nord, San Francisco
April 21, 2010 Viper Room, Los Angeles
*April 22, 2010 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles
*April 23, 2010 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles
*April 27, 2010 Terminal 5, New York City
*April 28, 2010 Terminal 5, New York City
First Yo Gabba Gabba, now Apples in Stereo. Elijah Wood is making quite a name for himself on the hipster video circuit. He did a whole series of videos with Apples in Stereo. Interesting career move.
For Record Store day this Saturday, April 17, Apples in Stereo will pre-release their covers album “Future Vintage”. For a list of participating retailers, click here.
Artist: Olney Clark
Album: Olney Clark
Release Date: April 13, 2010
For Fans Of: The Magnetic Fields, Rufus Wainwright, Nick Drake, Sondre Lerche
Featured Track: “Tea and Thunderstorms”
The past few months have been so rainy, grey and gloomy here in San Francisco. Much more so than any other year I can remember. So when the good folks at Goldest Egg sent me this lovely debut album by Olney Clark during the peak of it, I wrapped myself in it like a warm blanket. Their soothing, orchestral sounds were the perfect remedy for this weather that ailed me. Upon discovering the band was from Scotland it made perfect sense. After all, they should know what it feels like to be wrapped in a continual grey mist and how best to remedy it – like with “Tea and Thunderstorms”. Good medicine it is, this album.
Artist: Future Islands
Album: In Evening Air
Release Date: May 4, 2010
File Under: Post Wave
Featured Track: “As I Fall”
If you’re in need of a fresh sound, look no further. This Baltimore-based synthpop, new wave revival trio is really just…spectacular. It’s frontman Samuel T. Herring’s vocals that get me. At times growling like Tom Waits, at others crooning like Matt Johnson he forces you to sit up and listen. It takes a few spins to get acclimated to the album, the tempo, the sound, the voice. But once you do, it’s so damn compelling you won’t be able to stop.
Their debut LP “In Evening Air” will be released on Thrill Jockey May 4 and the band will play San Francisco’s El Rio on May 24.
Vodpod videos no longer available.Yeah, I know. This post is like a month overdue. But since Austin I’ve been in work hell, life hell and right-after-I-downloaded-all-my-SXSW-photos-to-my-Mac-the-hard-drive-fried hell. Thank God for Apple Care and Drobo. I’m back on line and slowly getting back on track. So, without further ado, here are my highlights from SXSW. Better late than never, right?
Best SXSW Anthem & Best Performer: Andy Clockwise, “Everybody’s in a Band”
Best Venue: Luster Pearl on Rainey St. hands down. Great vibe, great bands, great people. Kudos Filter Mag!
Best Celebrity Sightings – The Fader Fort VIP area with Adrian Grenier and Billy Idol to name a few.
Biggest Buzz Band: Broken Bells. Though their cool quotient has substantially dropped now that their debut album is being retailed at Starbucks. Ah well, can’t blame them really. Their album was probably one of the biggest leaks on record.
Cutest Couple: Al and Claire, who after The Broken Bells show at Lustre Pearl dropped on bended knee and proposed. (Sniff.) While that album will always be sentimental for that moment, I will personally always think of them when I hear The Temper Trap’s “Love Lost”. We had such a great time at that show and it’s one of the best, sappiest love albums ever. So this one’s for you, you saps. Congrats!
Best Surprises: Boxer Rebellion, Best Coast and Children Collide. Didn’t see ’em coming but thoroughly enjoyed every minute of their performances.
Boxer Rebellion – “Broken Glass”
Children Collide – “Frozen Armies”
Best Live Performances & Most Likely to Succeed – Local Natives, The Veils, The Temper Trap, Phantogram, Cymbals Eat Guitars
Cymbals Eat Guitars – “And the Hazy Sea”
Best Female Drummer – Stella Mozgawa from Andy Clockwise and Warpaint. Rad!
Best Discoveries: The Pharmacy, Thee Vicars, Lovvers, Love of Diagrams, Beaches
The Pharmacy – “Coldest Morning Light”
Love of Diagrams – “No Way Out”
Buzz Bands I Just Don’t Get Even After Seeing Them Live: Chew Lips, Neon Indian, Washed Out, Sleigh Bells. Sorry.
Best Band Working The Street: San Francisco’s very own The Ferocious Few and Phantom Kicks. Both working the street crowd hard and making me proud. The Ferocious Few with their signature street performances and Phantom Kicks pressing demo CDs into any willing hand. Including mine. Good job!
I don’t care what all you hipsters say, I love Jack White and can’t wait to see him with The Dead Weather this Thursday at The Fillmore. Yeah.
Veil Veil Vanish – “Anthem for A Doomed Youth”
Silver Swans – “Realize the Ghost”
Pepper Rabbit – “None Shall Sleep”
I’m liking this San Francisco venue tour de force The Rumble has going. This month we have Milk Bar in the Haight, which is handy if you want to tie in a little run to Amoeba, then maybe some food and nice brew at The Alembic. Okay, so far so good. Even better is the line up featuring local acts Veil Veil Vanish and Silver Swans and LA-based Pepper Rabbit. From shoegaze to electronica to Bossa Nova pop, it’s quite the eclectic line up…. and yet all so fitting for this crazy little town we call home.
Not necessarily music related but such a fun local tradition I felt compelled to share. This year my neighborhood played host to the 10th Annual Big Wheel Races held every Easter Sunday. Hundreds, thousands of people bust out their vintage Big Wheels, Green Machines, and custom rigs to race down San Francisco’s real crookedest street, Vermont Street in Potrero Hill. In costumes to boot! Good fun.
the OCMD 