Author Archives: the OCMD

Starfucker Changes Name to Pyramid

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Pyramid (formally known as Starfucker): “Medicine”

Fans of Starfucker take note; the band has formally changed their name to Pyramid. Big bummer, I know. I had a hard time with this one too.  But the name change came about for some good reasons.  (See the interview excerpt below with the Portland Mercury). A fan contest was created to select the new name.  While general consensus has been disappointment, the deed is done. Go have yourself a cry over the loss of a great name and let’s move on to acceptance and more hot dance moves from Ryan!

Q: Why are you changing your name, and why are you doing so at this particular juncture?

A: We’re changing our name because it just doesn’t make sense anymore. We never thought starfucker would make it as far as it has, and never had any expectations of success. At this point we need to be able to either put more into music, or just stop doing it so we can get 9-5 jobs to pay our rent.  Right now we’re in this bardo where we don’t quite make a living off music but we put so much energy into it that we can’t put any time into a real job either.  We just need to get serious about one or the other.  The name has been a problem for us in a lot of ways.  We’ve missed out on opening slots with bands we really like, and we hope to tour europe soon where there is already a Starfucker.  Someone booked us once thinking we were the European Starfucker. The list goes on and on…

Q: Is this just a name change, or is it meant to reflect some stylistic or structural change in the group or its music?

A: It’s definitely just a name change. We will still be the same band with the same philosophy. The music of course, like anything else, will always be evolving.

Q: Are you at all concerned that you might alienate or confuse people who are already fans of your music?

A: Of course that is an issue we’re concerned with, but hopefully the music can transcend the controversy surrounding the name change. That is also why had the contest with our fans, so as not to alienate anyone, and let them be part of the process. We do realize we’ll have to be the band formally know as Starfucker for awhile, which is fine.

Album of the Week: Flaming Lips – “Embryonic”

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Flaming Lips – “The Ego’s Last Stand”

“Worm Mountain (feat MGMT)“

Got my hands on the new Flaming Lips double LP, Embryonic, today and …eeeeoooowww…I’m so excited to see them at the Treasure Island Music Fest this Sunday I can hardly contain myself. I spontaneously squeal every time I think about it. For this album, the band of fearless freaks have ditched their pop tendencies and headed squarely down the path of lo-fi, ethereal psychedelia – while remaining fabulously weird.

In true Flaming Lips fashion, there are plenty of kooky delights to be found on the album, like the track, “I Can Be a Frog” that features Karen O making an array of animal sounds. There’s also a number featuring MGMT, “Worm Mountain“, that has me dreaming…anticipating…a joint performance with the two bands this weekend at Treasure Island.  They’re playing the same festival after all. It’s gonna happen. It’s gotta happen. I know it. All hail Wayne Coyne!

Stuck in My Head: Lilofee – “Lock and Key”

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Lilofee – “Lock and Key”

A little bit electro pop, a little bit 80’s synth rock,  meet Lilofee.  San Francisco’s answer to Ladytron, MIA and Santogold. This track, featured on my Flour + Water Mixtape, has been literally stuck in my head for weeks now. Infectious. “Hey mister, hey mister, I kissed your kid sister. Whatcha gonna do?”

The band is scheduled to play around town from now through the end of the year, including The Hemlock, El Rio and Red Devil Lounge.  Check their MySpace page for specific dates.

Electric Tickle Machine – “Blew it Again” [Free MP3s]

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Electric Tickle Machine – “Part of Me”

“Blew it Again”

“Gimme Money”

Part of me is absolutely smitten with this band from New York and their self-released debut, Blew it Again.  They just look like trouble, don’t they? They sure know how to pick cover album art too. The band is touring the hell out of the US for the next two months and will hit San Francisco’s beloved Thee Parkside on November 11.  Their album will soon be available on InSound, but until then you can grab these free MP3s or nab one of their limited 500 vinyl albums. Check their MySpace page for more tour dates.

Cover Me: Taken By Trees – “My Boys” + “Sweet Child ‘O Mine”

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Taken by Trees covering “Sweet Child O’ Mine”

Taken by Trees, “My Boys” (covering Animal Collective’s “My Girls”)

Swedens’ Victoria Bergsman of Taken by Trees, former frontwoman of The Concretes, is an amazing interpreter of song. The band’s ethereal, ethnic infused music is something to be explored for sure, but Victoria’s interpretation of cover songs is something to be cherished. These two tracks are some of my favorite covers…ever.  Taken by Trees’ latest album, East of Eden, is out now.

Flour + Water = Mixtape

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Flour + Water Mix

Good food, good wine, good friends, good music.  Do you need anything more than that?  You can get all that and then some this Thursday, October 8, at the hottest restaurant in San Francisco right now – the Mission district’s Flour + Water – where the OCMD will be curating an evening of strictly local music.

This unassuming neighborhood gem has earned the praise of The New York Times, WSJ, and our very own Michael Bauer. Even though the entire town is busting down the doors of this place, the owners remain decidedly laid-back and committed to preserving the hip, low-key neighborhood vibe. Fitting with that theme, I’m excited to share the local love by featuring some of the best up and coming bands San Francisco has to offer. To celebrate the occasion, the restaurant has set aside several coveted tables to bestow on a few lucky readers for this Thursday.  First four readers to email me at theocmd@gmail.com wins!

Here’s a taste of what’s to come. Enjoy the mix!

1. Papercuts, “Future Primitive”
2. Ty Segall, “Lovely One”
3. Sic Alps, “L Mansion”
4. Thee Oh Sees, “Can You See”
5. Leopold & His Fiction, “Tiger Lily”
6. The Ferocious Few, “Crazy Love”
7. The Dodos, “Fables”
8. Girls, “Lust for Life”
9. The Mantles, “Burden”
10. Garrett Pierce, “Your Feet In Wet Cement”
11. John Vanderslice, “Tremble and Tear”
12. LoveLikeFire, “William”
13. Stripmall Architecture, “Version”
14. Lilofee, “Lock and Key”

Trendspotting: Solo, Side Projects and Collaborations – Part 2

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Continuing the exploration of artists embarking on new solo efforts, side projects and collaborations – welcome to part 2.  Click here for Part 1.

DRUMMERCOVER

Artist: Drummer
Album: Feel Good Together
Type: Side Project
Who’s Involved: Patrick Carney of The Black Keys
Featured Track: “Feel Good Together”

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Artist: Rain Machine
Album: Rain Machine
Type: Solo Project
Who’s Involved: Kyp Malone of TV on The Radio
Featured Track: “Give Blood”

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Artist: Midnight Masses
Album: Rapture Ready, I Gaze At The Body
Type: Collaboration
Who’s Involved: Features members from Here We Go Magic, Trail of Dead, TV on the Radio
Featured Track: “Heaven”

“Preacher’s Son”

Rocktober in San Francisco

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Get ready for Rocktober in San Francisco. Not only does October bring a flurry of new releases and new tours, it also plays host to some of the best festivals San Francisco has to offer. Just in time of summer – San Francisco’s summer that is. Let the music begin!

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What: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Who: Neko Case, Gillian Welch, Okkervil River, Emmylou Harris, Robyn Hitchcock, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Dr. Dog, Marianne Faithfull and more!
When: October 2-4, 2009
Where: Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park
How Much: FREE!!!!

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What: Treasure Island Music Festival
Who: MGMT, The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Girl Talk, Beruit, Grizzly Bear, Yo La Tengo, Bob Mould, The Walkmen, Passion Pit…whoa, my heads going to explode and the list goes on.
When: October 17-18, 2009
Where: Treasure Island
How Much: $65 single day tix, $115 two day tix
Listen: Yo La Tengo, “Here to Fall”

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What: Budget Rock 8 – The West Coast’s premiere garage rock festival
Who: Gris Gris, Thee Oh Sees, Nobunny, Fresh and Onlys and more!
When: October 22- 25, 2009
Where: Eagle Tavern, Thee Parkside, Bottom of the Hill
How Much: $5-$10, check venues for prices
Listen: Thee Oh Sees “Can You See”