Concert Picks ‘O The Week: The Vaselines; Black Joe Lewis

enter-the-vaselines

Listen to “Son of A Gun”

The Vaselines have long been celebrated by musicians and music enthusiasts across genres and across the globe, including super-fan Kurt Cobain. Sub Pop’s May 5th release of Enter The Vaselines is an opportunity for those already familiar with the Scottish band’s brief career to delve deeper into their body of work, while those new to their music can experience firsthand why so many hold them in such high regard. This new collection is effectively a deluxe-edition reissue of the 1992 Sub Pop release The Way of The Vaselines with a new title and new cover art, both from the band, and a whole lot of new material (the entirety of the 17-song second CD/third LP has been added). Originally mastered from a cassette tape, The Way of The Vaselines compiled the band’s two EPs (Son of a Gun and Dying for It) and their sole LP release (Dum-Dum). Enter The Vaselines is the definitive triple LP/double CD Vaselines collection. It includes new mixes and re-mastered versions of everything by The Vaselines, plus never-before-heard demos, and live recordings from 1986 in Bristol and 1988 in London.

Catch The Vaselines at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco on Monday, May 11.

black-joe-lewis-the-honeybears-tell-em-what-your-name-is-cover

Listen to “Bitch, I Love You”:

Anatomy texts might not show it, but the greatest soul and blues music leaves no doubt that the hip bone is directly connected to the heart — a fact that’s driven home in every note laid down by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. As they prove on their Lost Highway debut, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is, the Austin-based combo has the kind of gritty attitude and deliciously greasy groove-consciousness that’d pass muster in the toughest juke joint.

One of this year’s break out artists, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears put on a live performance to impress. With tracks like “Humpin‘” and “Big Booty Woman” how can you not have a good time? So grab your friends and saunter on over to San Francisco’s Slims this Saturday May 16 for some serious booty shakin’…guaranteed!

Thursdays In May with Loquat at Cafe du Nord

l_f8af9575a31ebb8f67b399dd62b96ee1

LOQUAT RESIDENCY
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 14, 21 & 28  | CAFE DU NORD
8 p.m. doors  

San Francisco’s answer to Swedish pop, Loquat is getting ready for their May residency at Cafe du Nord, performing every Thursday in May. Loquat handpicked out-of-town and local bands—Head Like a Kite (Seattle), Juliette Commagère (L.A.), Greycoats (Minneapolis), Foxtail Somersault (SF), Malbec (L.A.), The Union Trade (SF), Jen & Abby (L.A.), and AimLowKid (SF)—to join them for the four shows. Each night will be different: reworked old songs, new songs, surprise covers, visuals, and between-band DJ sets from Zion-I’s AmpLive and SomaFM’s DJ Elise—not your regular Loquat show.  

Listen to “Harder Hit” from Loquat’s latest album, Secrets of the Sea (Talking House):

Wilco Tickets for Mountain Winery Show On Sale Friday

1087172314_l

Hey Bay Area, Wilco announced another show date for this summer in our neck of the woods.  June 26 at The Mountain Winery.  Tickets go on sale Friday at 10AM, through TicketMaster.  It’s kind of interesting to see Wilco on the line up with a whole host of legendary rock bands past their prime – Pat Benatar, Heart, Steve Miller Band, Duran Duran, Yes.  Does that mean Wilco is on a similar trajectory?

Concert Pick ‘O The Week: Nobunny

Nobunny - Oakland's very own

The Bay Area's Very Own - Nobunny

Nobunny, “Boneyard“:

Saturday, May 2nd, grants two chances to see local hero Nobunny before he hops off to Europe.   Former Okmoniks drummer, Nobunny also earned the honor to MC last year’s fabulous Budget Rock VII Fest at Oakland’s (supreme shrine to Barbie) Stork Club.  Donning a rabbit mask and perhaps some briefs, Nobunny aims to please even if he bleeds a little.  The band is a crack snap garage lover’s dream.  Be ready to sweat.  All a part of the just announced Total Trash Festival, the Bay Area’s punk rock extravaganza, you can catch him at Oakland’s newly remodeled 1-2-3-4 Go! Records store sometime between 6 and 9, and catch him again at Oakland’s The Ghost Town Gallery later that evening. Support local musicians, and do not anger the bunny!

Other bands on the Total Trash line up include Seattle’s The Spits headlining, Portland’s The Pitty Fucks, Budget Rock faves Hunx & His Punk and The Pets! Be sure to check the bands’ MySpace pages for details for both SF and Oakland performance locations.  Or you can try to decipher this festival poster.

l_64b8f0b0c1894de8816e1b24c4b025e5

[Guest Post by Mike]

 

 

Concert Pick ‘O The Week: Vivian Girls + Abe Vigoda

dsc09604

Vivian Girls at SXSW

Vivian Girls “Wild Eyes”:

Abe Vigoda, “Dead City/Waste Wilderness“:

The next two weekends present yet more evidence that The Ramones are shining down from rock and roll heaven, starting with Brooklyn-based Vivian Girls tonight with Abe Vigoda at The Independent in San Francisco. These three vixens are on a serious mission, playing no less than 17 shows at this year’s SXSW music fest in 5 days!  We are not aware of any other group in the fest’s history to accomplish this amazing feat, and they are still at it.  Their MySpace page has 43 shows listed in the next 51 days.

Their first record tackles 10 songs in about 22 minutes, and a new recording is on the way.   Sweet harmonies drenched in reverb with simple, catchy drum, bass and guitar revealing spooky tales of relationships disguised in just enough fuzz.  Don’t get me started on the milkshake tattoos!  Guys will fall in love, gals may express jealousy but are sure to rush out and form a band.  Be there!

Next week’s Ramones fix:  Nobunny

[Guest post by Mike]

 

SF Music: Geographer, Michael Zapruder, Harbours

geo_poster

Friends over at Stranger Dance are hosting a great line up of local San Francisco music this Thursday at Cafe du Nord, featuring Geographer, Michael Zapruder and Harbours.  Be sure to check it out!

Geographer, “Can’t You Wait

Michael Zapruder, “Ads for Feelings”:

Harbours, “Situation“:

Video: King Khan & The Shrines – “Land of the Freak”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “King Kahn & The Shrines“, posted with vodpod

One of the most insane live performances I’ve ever witnessed, King Khan and The Shrines are a sight to behold. Originally from Germany, King Khan – also known as Black Snake – is like a Hindu version of Little Richard and James Brown. His band of freaks rolls eight deep and lays down a crazy concoction of psychedelic R&B with a full horn section and Go Go Queen of the Underworld, Bamboorella.

This is the new video for “Land of the Freaks” off their latest album The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines. The band is on tour now and will hit San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall May 28.  Be there!  The freak show awaits.

Harmonic Convergence: Fleet Foxes @ The Fillmore

ffbt

Blitzen Trapper joins Fleet Foxes on stage for the final encore.

It was a lovely evening of music this Tuesday at The Fillmore with Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes. Truth be told, Robin Pecknold’s new haircut threw me a bit and I spent much of the night coming to terms with it.  (Grow it back, I say!) The band pulled out some new songs throughout the night, showcasing Robin’s amazing pipes.  Musically, it was a bit ‘more of the same’ though.  And I couldn’t help question, with so much talent in that band, why some of the other members aren’t showcased? Drummer J. Tillman is an amazing artist and a force in his own right. I know the Fleet Foxes have ‘a sound’, which is incredible, but it is a lot of the same tempos and rhythms. So I couldn’t help wondering, are they missing an opportunity by not letting other band members come to the forefont?  It would certainly mix things up a bit and make for a more dynamic band – perhaps helping their longevity and fan engagement in the long run. What do you think?

Listen to “Sun It Rises”

Airport Surroundings

jz

An empty Chicago O'Hare airport around midnight, waiting for luggage.

Listen to Loney, Dear, “Airport Surroundings”:  

The Swedish indie pop group is on tour supporting their new album, Dear John, and will be performing at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill on May 15.

Outside Lands Initial Line Up Announced

osl_lineup_550

Here it is.  The initial line up for Outside Lands.  And all I can say is WTF? Pearl Jam, Black Eyed Peas and The Dave Matthews Band for christ sakes? We’ve gone from Radiohead to Fergie. That’s definitely going to draw the wrong crowd.  Too bad because the ‘opening’ bands look great – Band of Horses, Silversun Pickups, The Dead Weather (definitely interested in Jack White’s latest venture), The National, Deerhunter, The Duke Spirit. 

Ah well, it’s up to you Treasure Island Music Fest.  You haven’t let me down yet.