Adrian over at IPickMyNose is hosting a nice line up of music tomorrow night at the Bottom of the Hill featuring the lovely Rural Alberta Advantage (a veritable tongue twister of a name, I tell ya.), and the Bay Area’s Okay and Half-Handed Cloud.
I had the opportunity to see Rural Alberta Advantage for the first time at SXSW this year opening for Grizzly Bear. It was an unexpected and surprising performance that definitely got people talking. Go see for yourself!
I can’t say I’m much of a Silversun Pickups fan. The Smashing Pumpkin similarities are just too much for me. But I do love this song – one of the best riffs of ’09. And they do a friggin’ fantastic job with this MTV unplugged version of if. For the entire MTV unplugged performance, click here.
It’s been a while since a band has wowed me and the Chicago-based group calling themselves Shadows on a River has done just that. I haven’t stopped listening to their debut since it arrived in my mailbox (thanks Undertow!). This is the best unsigned band I’ve heard so far this year.
Dark, brooding and experimental, their sound easily draws comparisons to the electronic rock genius of early Radiohead. Especially on tracks like “In Business” and “Ships Sailing Home”. Singer/songwriter David Hensen’s ethereal and haunting melodies and intricate arrangements complete the effect.
But let me be clear, because making a Radiohead comparison may be sacrilege for some. I’m not saying they imitate them, but inspire a similar feeling you get from listening to them. It’s “honest and transporting.” The kind of album you want to put on to get lost in. One that opens up and evolves with each and every listen.
So I say, bravo boys! If this is what you can create from an apartment in Chicago, I can’t wait to hear what you can do in a studio.
Be sure to download Shadows On A River from iTunes. Only $7.99 and you wont regret it.
I stumbled upon The Phenomenal Handclap Band at SXSW, fell head over heels in love and haven’t looked back since. Combining elements of soul, disco and psychedelic rock, their funky, booty shaking grooves are so infectious you can’t help but smile and bust a move. Thankfully, the band’s self-titled debut has just been released on Friendly Fire with enough new material to keep me jammin’ all summer long. Whoo hoo!
The Phenomenal Handclap Band is the vision of founding members Daniel Collás and Sean Marquand, two underground New York DJ’s who combined their encyclopedic knowledge of esoteric music with their vast network of friends in the indie rock and underground soul scene to create a supergroup of eclectic and original sound.
The Bay Area’s own Bart Davenport appears on a couple tracks, as does Jaleel Bunton (TV on the Radio), Aurelio Valle’s (Calla), Carol C (Sí Se) along with many other carefully chosen artists. When touring the band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse that is a sight to behold! They’re so fun, and the perfect band for summer. So get your dancing shoes on and tear it up!
The opposition to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control‘s attempt to shut down some of San Francisco’s finest all ages music venues takes a public face with the launch of the official website and rebranded PR campaign dubbed, Stop the War on Fun!
The fight has become the central issue in a recent crackdown on all things fun in the City caused by the State’s increased harassment of live music and entertainment venues for, what many call, inane technicalities. For example, Bottom of the Hill has been cited by the ABC for not serving enough Mexican food.
Stop the War on Fun is the official battleground for this fight and includes important resources and information on how to get involved. They’ve made it easy to get started with an automated email form you can send to Mayor Newsom, Senator Leno, Assemblyman Ammiano, the SF Board of Supervisors, and SF Police Chief Gascon.
The good folks at Stranger Dance are hosting another stellar line up of music tonight at The Rickshaw Stop, featuring Bay Area locals Harbours and Sarah Bethe Nelson (also known as Prairie Dog), along with Seattle’s Moondoggies. Be sure to check it out if you’re in town!
I just couldn’t resist heading over to The Stud last night – one of San Francisco’s oldest and most legendary queer establishments – to see our hometown heros Girls play. It was a rare opportunity for me to a) have an excuse to patronage the joint and b) see one of my favorite bands play a most unconventional venue and c) enjoy a little tranny action between sets. Only in San Francisco! With the added bonus of 2 for 1 drinks at the bar, we all wondered why we weren’t frequenting the place more often.
The band’s full length debut album, entitled Album, will be released on Matador Records September 22. Album’s seven-minute opus, “Hellhole Ratrace,” rated by Pitchfork as “one of the 100 best songs of the year,” will be available prior to the album’s release date on a limited-edition 10″ vinyl single.
San Francisco, if you didn’t catch them at The Stud, they will be playing July 21 at The Rickshaw Stop with Pains of Being Pure At Heart. In the meantime, enjoy their latest video for “Hellhole Ratrace”.
I’m obsessed with this track from LA-based Frankel, the brain child of Michael Orendy – singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Given the celebrity centered lifestyle of that city, it’s not hard to imagine how an album and song with such a title could come to exist.
Anonymity is the New Fame, is Frankel’s sophmore release out now on Autum Tone Records. I’ve enjoyed everything he has put out so far and this is no exception. His sound is decidedly low key and easy-going, like a sunnier, happier version of Elliott Smith.
I found this latest video from The Dead Weather to be mesmerizing. It documents the vinyl pressing process of their album and it’s fascinating to watch. It’s all so….analog. The band is running a contest too. Find one of 5 photo strips in the new The Dead Weather Horehound CD and you’ll win a guided tour through Nashville’s Third Man Records.
The Bakersfield-based husband and wife duo calling themselves The Grizzly Owls are offering their latest EP “I Am A Shootist” for free download from their website. Their sound is distinctly Western noir – desolate, lonely yet beautiful at the same time (think Calexico, but with a female lead). And after reading their bio it completely made sense. The pair were inspired by their grandparent’s journey from Oklahoma to Bakersfield, California during the great Dust Bowl migration, 1960s spaghetti westerns, and David Lynch soundtracks.
the OCMD 