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!
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.
Listen to “Death“:
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.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I’ve gone stark raving mad for Starfucker. I saw them again this weekend at The Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco, to an overly packed crowd I might add. They are so much fun live. And the lead singer Ryan has some hot dance moves that can rival Beck. They’re on tour right now promoting their forthcoming album, Jupiter, due out May 5. Catch them at a venue near you.
Here’s a the new video for “German Love” and a new track from their upcoming album that premiered on MOKB, “Medicine“:
Chad VanGaalen and Women (a Flemish Eye Records double bill) played last night at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill. It was my second time seeing Women and I really like their album but find their discordant, atonal sound gets a little lost in translation performed live. For me, at least. Their sound is definitely for the musically evolved.
Members of Women supported headliner, Chad VanGaalen and he did not disappoint. With three great albums to mine, the only complaint I have is that he didn’t play long enough. For someone who squirrels himself away in a basement for months on end writing songs about death and destruction, he was much more jovial and charismatic than I had ever anticipated. I don’t know what I expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t the comedian that he was. A pleasant surprise to say the least.
Here’s some live footage of the show last night….
Listen to Simon Says No!, “Sleeping Heart”:
Over the weekend I caught up with Reuben of Simon Says No!, an up and coming Norwegian shoegaze group whose debut EP Ahoi de Angst has been making making waves. Pegged as a band to watch in 2009 by many, the group is in San Francisco tonight at Harlot sharing the bill with my favorite hometown band, Leopold and His Fiction. Don’t miss it! The event, sponsored by The Owl Mag, Future Sounds, Stranded in Stereo and SonicLiving, is free if you RSVP here and sure to rock your socks off!
the OCMD: I heard you’re in LA recording? Are you working on the follow up to your EP “Ahoi de Angst”?
SSN!: We’re recording one song right now with producer Michael Patterson (Beck, She Wants Revenge, Ladytron) at the Glory Hole studios. We’ve been here two days and this is the last day. We’re trying out where we are going to record our next album and might use this song on the new album.
the OCMD: Is your new album slated to be released soon?
SSN!: When we get home we’re planning to focus on our new songs and put together our ideas. The plan is to do some pre-production in the summer then start recording in August. That way the album should be ready for release next year.
the OCMD: Is this your first time in the US?
SSN!: No, this our second time. We were here last October for CMJ.and played a couple of shows in NY.
the OCMD: Right, you got a lot of good buzz from that CMJ show.
SSN: Yes, it was amazing and one of our best concerts we can think of. We got a lot of great feedback and in a way it really startled us because we had never done anything in the US before. It’s been really exciting time for us.
the OCMD: So the first time I heard your music, I couldn’t help think of Serena Maneesh – the only other Norwegian band I know. Were they an influence for you at all?
SSN!: Yeah, we live in the same town (Bergen, Norway) and the entire music scene there has been a big inspiration for us.
the OCMD:What is the music scene like in Norway? I know so little about it compared to your Swedish neighbors.
SSN!: In Oslo the indie rock scene is pretty huge. But in the second largest town where we live, which is Bergen, there’s a pretty big metal scene. Three of us in the band are from Bergen, so we definitely grew up and were influenced by the hardcore metal scene there. And we’ve definitely brought that kind of energy into the shoegaze sound we have.
the OCMD: I can definitely hear the metal influence in your music. It sounds good… and really loud! Should I bring my earplugs to your San Francisco show on April 1?
SNN!: Yes, we like to play loud. You might want to bring your earplugs!
Looks like my annual summer trip to NY has been set! The line up for All Points West Festival in NY has been announced. Tickets go on sale Friday.
The day started out in a haze trying to find who I thought was Gentleman Reg, only to find out halfway through the set that I ended up at Gentleman Jesse and His Men, which was okay by me. It was a nice outdoor venue with shade and seating, which I really needed at that moment.
Listen to Gentleman Jesse and His Men, “I Don’t Wanna Know“:
Luckily, the same venue was hosting another band I was dead set on seeing, Dead Confederate. No pun intended. Thankfully my Gentleman Reg blunder got me to the venue in enough time so that we weren’t shut out from seeing them. The venue was small and there was a loooong line at the door. Waiting for the band to start, I was interrogated by a man named Walker as to whether or not a fair maiden like myself was in the right place and if I indeed liked the Dead Confederate. After assuring him that I was and did, he replied “cool” then walked up to the stage and started playing guitar.
Listen to Dead Confederate, “The Rat”:
The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band
After a quick pit stop at Starf**ker (I couldn’t resist), we headed South of Congress to chill out at Home Slice Pizza and catch up with The Phenomenal Handclap Band – again.
Listen to Starf**ker, “Florida”
Listen to The Phenomenal Handclap Band, “You’ll Disappear”:
Iran Frontman Aaron Aites
After refueling, it was off to Club Deville to catch Iran – Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio’s) side project with friend and filmmaker Aaron Aites. I’m really liking their new album, Dissolver, right now.
Listen to Iran, “Buddy“:
Harlem
Then it was off to The Beauty Bar to catch a little Jana Hunter, Harlem and – finally – Gentleman Reg. Harlem was a hoot and I was completely to surprised to learn they were local. They were all one big hot mess and looked like they’ve been living out of a van for months.
Listen to Jana Hunter, “Babies“:
Listen to Harlem, “South of France”:
Listen to Gentleman Reg, “How We Exit”:
Black Joe Lewis
Wrapping up the evening was Halifax Nova Scotia favorites, Wintersleep, followed by Austin’s answer to Little Richard, Black Joe Lewis.
Listen to Wintersleep, “Drunk on Aluminum”
Listen to Black Joe Lewis, “Bitch, I Love You”
One of my favorite up and coming bands, Wintersleep, is playing San Francisco’s Hotel Utah tonight. I just saw them this weekend at SXSW and can confidently vouch for their live performance. They rock. The Halifax-based band is on tour supporting their latest album Welcome to the Night Sky. One of my favorites for 2008. If I wasn’t so sick I’d be out there to see them again tonight. You should be there though. That way when they make it big you can say “Yeah, I saw them at Hotel Utah once.”
Listen to “Drunk on Aluminum”:
Rock and roll hoochie coo! Man, my musical stars were aligned last week. There’ve been so many good shows and so many more to come with SXSW merely days away, I think my head’s going to explode. Dan Auerbach‘s show at San Francisco’s Bimbos last Friday was just another display of rock-n-roll awesomeness.
Better known as half of The Black Keys, Auerbach’s solo endeavor is more of the same swampy, blues-tinged rock but, dare I say, even bigger and more dynamic. Whereas The Black Keys have that stripped down two-man band vibe, Dan has a 5 piece band supporting him (mostly comprised of musicians from the project he produced, Hacienda): two drummers, keyboardist/organist, rhythm guitar and bass player. Wow! I lost my socks somewhere at Bimbos.
If you’re going to SXSW and don’t have Dan Auerbach on your agenda, you’re a bona fide fool. Pencil it in and make sure you pick up his new album, Keep it Hid.
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SXSW – The Parish | Austin, Texas | ||
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SXSW – Bill’s Place | Austin, Texas | ||
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SXSW – The Mean Eyed Cat | Austin, Texas |
Listen to “I Want Some More”:
the OCMD 