Hey SF: Just learned from The Bay Bridged that Deerhunter will be playing the Noise Pop Festival opening night after party on February 24 at The Mezzanine for FREE! RSVP here.
Whoo hoo!
Category Archives: Shows
Radiohead to Play Grammys
Set your DVRs! The line up of artists performing at this year’s Grammys is actually worth watching. Radiohead is confirmed to play at the 51st annual Grammy Awards on February 8 in Los Angeles. It’s the band’s first live US television performance since 2000. Radiohead has five Grammy nods: Album Of The Year and Best Alternative Album for In Rainbows, and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, Best Rock Song and Best Short Form Music Video for “House Of Cards.” Whew. Sweep it Radiohead!
Paul McCartney is also on the bill and will be backed by Foo Fighter Dave Grohl on the drums. The rest of the line up I don’t really care about. The broadcast starts at 5PM PST/ 8PM EST.
Department of Eagles at Cafe du Nord
What a perfect night of music last night at Cafe du Nord. Both the Cave Singers and Department of Eagles were fantastic. It’s impossible to get a good photograph in the dimly lit Cafe du Nord with my pitiful little point and shoot. But I had such a good spot I tried my hand at videotaping one of my favorite Department of Eagles song, ‘Phantom Other’. The sound certainly isn’t soundboard quality but it’s not bad. It gets a bit blown out when Chris Bear starts wailing on the drums, but you’ll get the gist. It was a good show!
Oh, and be sure to watch the video in high quality (HQ). The little button that appears when you mouse over the up arrow icon. Makes a big difference.
Let the Shows Begin
Me with Victoria Legrand of Beach House at The Fillmore - 01.21.09
Probably the most common question I am asked about my music addiction is exactly how many concerts I see every year. There’s an interesting fascination around that number. And it’s always a guy who’s asking the question. Apparently it’s a very important statistic to track in the male dominated world of music. That or it’s some sort of test.
Admittedly, I do see a lot of shows. But I’ve never tracked the exact number. I would probably scare myself if I did. However, if forced to give one for 2008 I would guess around 50+ easily, NOT including festivals or SXSW. I’m assuming those don’t count because they are not really full shows, more like showcases. But I could be wrong. Are there written rules to this? I don’t know.
Regardless to say, I’ve been asked enough times to start putting some conscious effort into this. For 2009, I have resolved to have a concrete answer to this plaguing question. Plus, it seems to fit well with my OCMD state of mind. To fulfill this promise I have launched a new page on this site – Shows. There you will find every show that I’ve been to this year and each one that I’m planning to attend. It will be a living, breathing entity. Feel free to ping me with your recommendations as well!
Oh, and I’ll make sure to share my crappy concert photos with you along with way. Like this one from The Walkmen and Beach House this week at The Fillmore.
Onward.
Animal Collective Pre-Sale Starts…NOW
Good morning, San Francisco. In case you’re living under a rock and didn’t get the SonicLiving APB, the pre-sale for Animal Collective‘s May 26th show at The Fox Theater in Oakland starts at 10AM today. Pre-sale password is ‘feels’.
Listen to ‘My Girls’:
The Soundtrack of Our Lives @ The Independent
Yes…yes…YES! My favorite Swedish psyche rockers, The Soundtrack of Our Lives (T.S.O.O.L), are coming to the US and are scheduled to play The Independent March 15. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 10AM. Led by singer Ebbot Lundberg, they are a combination of sixties rock giants like The Who and The Kinks, and psychedelic bands like Pink Floyd.
They are touring in support of their new double album, Communion, released last week. Clocking in at 24 songs, I’m still wading through it all. But don’t miss this opportunity to see Sweden’s most prolific rock band, worshiped by rock legend Robert Plant himself.
Listen to ‘Babel On‘:
New Bay Area Music Venue: The Fox Theater Oakland
After closing its doors forty-three years ago, the Fox Theater in Oakland is scheduled to reopen in February 2009. $75 mm was poured into the renovation project which features a multi-use, state-of-the-art theater with flexible capacity from 1,500 to 2,800. (About double the capacity of The Fillmore.) The roof, quite sturdy have been looked over by an orlando roofer. The multiple seating configurations include general admission, cabaret style seating, and reserved seating.
The theater itself will serve as the flagship live music venue for Another Planet Entertainment, well known for bringing outstanding live entertainment to the Greek Theatre, The Independent, Paramount Theatre, Oracle Arena and other popular Bay Area venues. Another Planet Entertainment also produces both the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival and Treasure Island Music Festival.
A line up of artists have already been booked, most notably The Black Keys on April 18. A special ‘grand opening’ pre-sale for all confirmed acts will begin tomorrow morning at 10AM. Go get those Black Key tickets while they last!
Glasvegas Christmas EP
Artist: Glasvegas
Album: A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss)
File Under: Brit Rock
Recommended if You Like: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Phil Spector, Oasis, U2
Featured Track: ‘Fuck You, It’s Over’
If you haven’t already heard of Glasvegas, you probably soon will. They are one of the most buzzed about bands in the UK right now, receiving accolades from “best Scottish band in 20 years” to “The Greatest New Rock and Roll Band in the World” (NME). Wow, no pressure or anything.
Their hugely anticipated self-titled EP went straight to number 2 on the UK charts this fall. Their sound has hit such a nerve with fans that they’ve caused a sensation. Taking musical influences from Phil Spector and The Jesus and Mary Chain, their droning reverb-drenched music is tempered by the poetic, pop-like melodies of lead singer James Allen.
In fact, Phil Spector’s 1963 Christmas album made such a big impression on the band that they have recorded their own Christmas mini-album, A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss). The 6–song holiday offering was recorded in Transylvania and features 5 new songs and a cover of the Christmas classic, “Silent Night“. You can buy a bundle of their debut album, Glasvegas, and the Christmas EP, A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss), on iTunes for $10.99.
EP Track List:
Please Come Back Home
Cruel Moon
Careful What You Wish For
Fuck You, It’s Over
A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)
Silent Night / Noapte de vis
In the meantime, enjoy this new track off their holiday EP, ‘Fuck You, It’s Over‘. Just in time for Christmas and soon to be a holiday classic, I’m sure. And if you’re in San Francisco, Glasvegas is playing Popscene January 8, 2009 at 330 Ritch. Tickets are sold out, however.
Vampire Weekend, Cold War Kids @ The Mezzanine
It was an Indie Pop extravaganza at The Mezzanine in San Francisco this Wednesday. The night began with local band Audrye Sessions putting out a very impressive performance. I posted a cover they did recently of Elliott Smith’s Waltz #2. One of the more beautiful covers I’ve heard lately. While their sound doesn’t quite gel with my overall music taste, their live presence gave me motivation to revisit that initial judgement. Big, orchestral sound and beautiful arrangements. Very talented and sure to go far.
Next up was Chairlift, who’s performance paled in comparison. I know many people are big fans of this Brooklyn-based trio and they received oodles of publicity for the song ‘Bruises’ that was featured on an iPod commercial. (Which I’ve come to realize that if I don’t already hate the band being featured on an Apple commercial, I soon will. The Ting Tings are a perfect example.) But this band does absolutely nothing for me – recorded or live. I mean really, who puts a chorus of ‘stop, drop and roll’, into a song? Their lyrics are just idiotic. Here’s another one: “The most evident utensil/Is none other than a pencil/Not a multi-colored stencil.” What? My 3 year old could write more compelling lyrics. It’s like bad 80s music all over again. The equivalent of Nena’s ‘99 Luftballons’.
Thankfully Cold War Kids turned the vibe around with an energetic performance, albeit short. Their rousing rendition of Saint John was great. Vampire Weekend played their usual set (this was the third time serendipity brought me to one of their shows this year) and they did not disappoint. Love ’em or hate ’em, they do deliver. It will be interesting to see how they follow up all the hype from this year.
Listen to Audrye Sessions‘ cover of Elliott Smith’s Waltz #2
Listen to Chairlift, Evident Utensil (if you dare)
Listen to Cold War Kids, Saint John
Listen to Vampire Weekend, A Punk
School of Rock: Cold War Kids
The story of a boy and his toilet paper holder continues. Judah’s at it again. This week it’s Cold War Kids, ‘Hang Me Out to Dry’. While technically not his best work, he gets lots of style points for his Elvis-like footwork. Lead singer Nathan Willett can learn a thing or two from these moves, no?
Cold War Kids and Vampire Weekend top the line up for the Pre-Not So Silent Night Party at Mezzanine in San Francisco this Wednesday, December 10. (Thanks, Joerg for the ticket!)
Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo
the OCMD 