Artist: King Tuff Album: King Tuff Hails From: Vermont Release Date: May 29, 2012 Featured Track: “Bad Thing”
All hail the King! The mysterious and elusive man has left us hanging since his brilliant 2008 debut, Was Dead, leaving many to think that maybe he was! Well he’s not. I just saw him live and in the flesh at the Burger Boogaloo at Thee Parkside a couple weeks ago. And how he’s set to release his eponymous sophomore effort on May 29 through Sub Pop. Straight up garage rock goodness. So listen up because he might just “save your life and your ears.” All hail the King.
Reason # 129 why I love SF. My favorite Easter Day tradition, the 2012 Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race completed another successful event on San Francisco’s real – and most hidden – crookedest street, Vermont Street in Potrero Hill. And once again, BYOBW delighted the crowds. It’s as much fun to see hundreds of people smiling and belly laughing as it is to see race goers hurtle themselves down the hill in ridiculous costumes and toy big wheels. A great way to spend the day and a very SF twist on a classic pagan holiday. Keep it up SF!
Artist: Heavy Cream Album: Super Treatment Hails From: Nashville Release Date: May 8, 2012 Featured Track: “John Johnny”
In a Ramones-meets-the-Runaways incarnation, this mostly all girl (and a dude) band from Nashville is set to release their Ty Segall produced effort, “Super Treatment”, on Infinity Cat Records May 8. Yes, that would be the same label created by my other true love, Jeff the Brotherhood. And to round out the name dropping, Heavy Cream is currently touring with Hunx and His Punx. Sold yet? I am.
Artist: The Zoltars Album: Should I Try Once More? Hails From: Austin, TX Release Date: April 10, 2012 Featured Track: “Make It Go Away”
The Zoltars are a three piece from Austin on the verge of releasing their debut LP, “Should I Try Once More?” A concept album that tells the story of someone falling in love again. Or so it seems from the album’s title and song track listing, questioning whether they should fall in love again. Every song on the album acts as a scene in the story. And each, ‘scene’ comes complete with a video created by Jared Leibowich. Dark and simple in it’s structure, their sound is still charming. Ah, love. It really is the affliction and the cure, isn’t it? It truly does make for the best music. And to answer your question, Jared: yes, you should try once more.
Artist: A Place To Bury Strangers Album: Worship Release Date: June 26, 2012 Featured Track: “You Are The One”
Whoa. Sounds like I may need a place to bury my eardrums after listening to this latest track from the New York based noise rock outfit. Worship is their latest sonic assault set to release via Dead Oceans on June 26. “Dark, visceral, and explosive” indeed.
Artist: Stephen Paul Smoker Album: “Ripe Fruit” Homeland: Chicago Release Date: March 20, 2012 Featured Track: “Green City”
Well hello, Chicago. It’s been a while since you’ve caught my ear. Where have you been for so long? Stephen Paul Smoker is a track I stumbled upon from a Chicago-based, six-piece psych-rock outfit who’ve just released their debut LP, Ripe Fruit. And just to make me all nostalgic for my long lost Chicago days, they’ll be playing a record release show April 27 at the Empty Bottle. (sniff)
You may not know Dutch artist and designer Parra by name, but likely you’ve seen some of his iconic illustrations around. Brands everywhere have been slapping his distinctive drawings on everything from sneakers, to t-shirts to skateboards and even iPhone cases. Now he’s taking to the walls of SF MOMA in his first US museum exhibition, Weirded Out, officially opening to the public on March 31. To celebrate, SF MOMA is hosting a party along with his band, LeLe, and a bunch of local DJ acts for a grand ‘ol shindig tomorrow night, March 29, at Mighty starting at 9PM. Live from Amsterdam! The event is free. But you gotta RSVP. Free drinks from 9-10, so get there early. And be sure to check out the exhibit.
Everyone knows that Ashton Kutcher is active on the tech investment scene here (as mocked in Shit Silicon Valley Says) with stakes in notable ventures such as FourSquare, Airbnb, SoundCloud, Skype, Flipboard, Path and more. Now comedian Andy Samberg is in the game with his new tech venture, CanaryHop, the latest in a new crop of geo-social marketplace services a la LocalMind and Zaarly. And he’s just the latest addition in a growing list of celebrity tech investors such as Lady GaGa, Kanye West (Turntable.fm), Leonardi diCaprio, Lance Armstrong (Mobli), and Kim Kardashian (Shoedazzle)…to name a few.
There will be more celebrity investors to come too, I’m sure. Because tech is where it’s at. It’s hot, it’s cool, it’s lucrative and everyone wants a piece of it – the innovation, the disruption, the fame, the fortune. Whatever the cause, whatever the passion…there’s an app for that. Or one to be funded and built. The world is your oyster, the options limitless and the pockets deep. Don’t have a revenue model? Who cares! It’s users that count. But hey, with all of these user-driven models getting funded, the celebrity affiliation could be just the kick needed to drive consumer adoption, awareness and success. Would I have clicked on CanaryHop if it weren’t for this clever Andy Samberg video? Probably not. So two points to them for overcoming the first obstacle: getting noticed.
The tech scene is on fuego. Anyone living in the Bay Area right now knows this, feels it and is experiencing it first hand. We’re working and living like it’s 1999 out here (well, almost) and making a lot of people rich in the process (most definitely). It’s crazy. It’s fun. It’s….Revenge of the Nerds.
Canyons – “When I See You Again (Nick Zinner Remix)”
I hit repeat on this track three consecutive times while driving across the Golden Gate Bridge today. It felt that good. Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs remixed this version of Canyons’ – “When I See You Again”- from their 2011 Keep Your Dreams release. The track, released today, is part of a remix bundle featuring reworks by DJ Kaos, Duke Dumont, Morgan Geist, and Nick Zinner, is out today worldwide.
Couldn’t make it to Austin this year? Not to worry. Burger Records is bringing the party right to our own back yard from March 23-25 with an astounding line up in one of the best dive bars in town, Thee Parkside. And the best part? The three day, all day music extravaganza will only set you back $35. A mere sample of what’s in store…
the OCMD 