All of these businesses are able to operate as all ages venues because they serve food, as required by the ABC. Recently, however, the agency has decreed that at least half of the clubs’ revenue must come from food sales. The problem is that most of their income comes from alcohol and ticket sales. While the code makes no mention of a minimum sales requirement, some clubs are having conditions set on their license by the ABC contingent upon these new requirements – such as food sales exceeding alcohol sales.
Luckily the jurisdiction of the ABC is being questioned by elected officials, including San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and state Sen. Mark Leno. Still, it can’t hurt for the community to get involved in the fight to preserve our best music venues – and a right of passage.
Artist: Dan Auerbach Album: Keep It Hid File Under: Vintage Blues Rock Recommended if You Like: The Black Keys, Heartless Bastards, The Raconteurs Featured Tracks: “The Prowl”
If Clapton is God, then Dan Auerbach is Jesus Christ. That’s what all the comments on my YouTube video say anyway, about a posting I made of a recent live performance of him covering The Animals “Inside Looking Out”. “Dan Auerbach is the Jesus Christ of all musicians….the man is THE KING……JESUS CHRIST, WHAT A VOICE!”
And the comments just keep coming. I’ve been a longtime fan of The Black Keys so word of Dan’s new solo effort had me hot and bothered for months. But you never know how these solo gigs are going to go. I had to see it, touch it, feel it to believe it. Fortunately I had the chance to do so, right after his debut album (Keep It Hid) released, at Bimbos in San Francisco. Without a doubt it was one of the best live shows of the year. One that has fueled my first, full-fledged musical obsession for 2009. So much so that I have officially baptized myself to the Church of Dan.
Is Jesus Christ going too far? I don’t know, but it is Easter Sunday and he’s certainly a legend in the making. And quite frankly with the impressive body of work he’s generated recently, it’s hard to argue. In early 2008 he gave us the acclaimed album Attack & Release with The Black Keys, later that year they released a DVD Live at The Crystal Ballroom, then just months later his solo album Keep It Hid was unveiled – followed by an extensive tour that rolls right into another Black Keys tour. Whew! Call him whatever you want, but Dan is most definitely the man right now.
The Black Keys perform at the new Fox Theater in Oakland, Saturday April 18.
The official videos for Yeasayer’s“Tight Rope”, Dirty Projectors – “Knotty Pine” and The National – “So Far Around The Bend”, off of the Dark Was the Night, a charity compilation for AIDS released by 4AD Records and Red Hot. The Red Hot Organization is the leading international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.
The San Francisco Bay Area festival season is gearing up! Treasure Island Festival (my personal favorite) announced dates for their annual hootenanny, which will be October 17 & 18, 2009. Almost a month later than previous years. And Outside Lands, scheduled for August 28-30, 2009, will be announcing their line up on Monday, April 13! More to come!
Fun for the both the aging hipster and hipster-in-training alike, the star studded line up of the hit pre-school TV show, Yo Gabba Gabba, never ceases to amuse me. Last week Jack Black made an appearance and got his dancey-dance on with the disco roll. His freestyle moves were ‘legendary’ as expected but I still think Elijah Woods might have him beat.
white lies 1). n : an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite) 2). proper noun. London-based buzz band whose early 80s inspired rock has drawn comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Editors and Interpol
White Lies. I tell them everyday. It’s a necessity when you’re a parent. I used to feel guilty about it but then I read a book recently called “Outwitting Toddlers“ that cited ‘white lies’ as a bona fide parenting tactic and have been absolved from all feelings of guilt and remorse ever since. Case in point, my little man resisted brushing his teeth relentlessly until I told him they would turn green and fall out like a pirate if he didn’t. Now I don’t even have to remind him to brush anymore.
While I’m not sure if the name for this London-based buzz band was born out of such literal inspiration, it all seems so fittingly British and…well-mannered. All stereotypes aside, these guys are making some noise with their early 80s-inspired moody debut, To Lose My Life. They are the first British band to chart a number one album in the U.K. in 2009 and have now diligently set their sites on America. The band hit the ground running at SXSW, playing to packed crowds at every turn and delivering live performances that had tongues wagging – ‘big time’.
See for yourself what all the fuss is about April 11 at Slims in San Francisco.
“Harmless Lovers Discourse” by local group Odawas from their Jagjaguwar release The Blue Depths. They’re playing Amoeba and Great American Music Hall in a couple weeks!
I had the pleasure to see one of my favorite bands, White Denim, at Bottom of the Hill last week. And as usual, they did not disappoint. They are a great live band and rocked the entire show relentlessly. Throughout the performance my friends kept yelling anecdotes in my ear like “Led Zepplin 1971!” or “baby Led Zepplin!”. Yes, it’s true! When they launched into a rendition of “All You Really Have to Do/Mess Up Your Hair/Shake Shake Shake”, I thought my head was going to explode. While I can’t recreate that masterpiece for your here, you can get a taste of it from this smoking set recorded on From the Basement in the UK. Check it out.
the OCMD 