Black Joe Lewis is one of those booty shaking bands you just have to see live. He’s Austin’s answer to James Brown and after seeing them at SXSW, I can confidently say these guys know how to get down and have a funky good time. So don’t judge them too much by this video. They look way too composed here. The band is touring in support of his new album, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is, and will be at Slims in San Francisco on May 16. Check Black Joe’s MySpace page for full tour details. The first leg they will be supporting Gomez. A good bill!
Category Archives: Spanking New Music
I’m A Starf**ker
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more about “Starfucker German Love“, posted with vodpod
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“:
For the Record: Simon Says No!
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!
Sleepy Sun – “Sleepy Son”
Listen to Sleepy Sun, “Sleepy Son”.
Listening to another SXSW discovery this week, San Francisco psych rock group Sleepy Sun and their track “Sleepy Son”, I couldn’t help but muse what I would give to have one some mornings. Every day I’m startled awake by a little 3 year old drill sergeant who comes barreling into the room announcing “It’s morning time, Mommy! Get up, get up, GET UP! LET’S PLAY!”
At what age do we lose our enthusiasm for getting up in the morning? I’ve given this due thought and can honestly say I can’t recall, but I don’t ever remember having the kind of energy and enthusiasm to greet the day like Judah does. I should feel lucky really because he sleeps until 7:00AM (very humane in the kid world). Yet I am pained every morning by this process and find myself constantly devising strategies to extend my sleep.
Set breakfast out the night before? 10 minutes. Let him use me as a race track for his cars? 20 minutes. Allow him to do something semi-destructive like launch hot wheels with his car shooter into the wall? 30 minutes. But the mother of all sleep aids? TV. Movies are a regular early morning weekend routine. We’re talking 90 solid minutes of quiet, blissful, uninterrupted sleep. A few weeks ago, I found my ace in the hole, Mary Poppins. 2 hours and 23 minutes of sleep heaven!
Foreign Born Live SXSW 2009
Foreign Born started in San Francisco in 2003 after singer Matt Popieluch and guitarist Lewis Pesacov graduated San Francisco State University. After playing a few shows, the pair went down to LA to clean up their rough demos. The results were promising enough for Lewis and Matt to quit their menial jobs and move down to LA where the current line-up of Foreign Born was, yes, born.
Their first LP, On The Wing Now, was released in 2007 and their latest effort, Person to Person, is due out in June. I’m in love with the first single from the album, “Vacationing People.” Judging by the number of recognizable faces in the audience at this show, I’m not the only one. Chris from The Morning Benders was as equally excited as I was to be there. And Grizzly Bear guitarist Ed Droste called Foreign Born his “favorite new band” recently.
Listen to “Vacationing People”
Video: Richard Swift “Lady Luck”
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more about “Video: Richard Swift “Lady Luck”“, posted with vodpod
I adore the vintage sounds of Richard Swift’s EP Ground Trouble Jaw and look forward to his upcoming full length album The Atlantic Ocean next week (April 7th)! His tour kicks off on the same date in Santa Cruz, California and will be playing San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall on April 8. I seem destined to miss him both at SXSW and here! Soon.
Richard Swift, “Lady Luck”
Video: Great Lake Swimmers “Pulling On A Line”
The new video from Great Lake Swimmers for the track “Pulling On A Line” off their forthcoming album Lost Channels available March 31. Great Lake Swimmers perform at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco April 3.
Video: Camera Obscura – “French Navy”
The new video for “French Navy“, a track from Camera Obscura‘s new album, My Maudlin Career, due out April 20th. They’ll be at San Francisco’s The Fillmore on June 8. Check their MySpace site for other tour dates.
I Live Here: SF
A quick break from our regularly scheduled program for a public service announcement plugging a cool project from local photographer and blogger, Julie of Tangobaby. She’s launched a new blog called I Live Here: SF that features portraits and stories of the people that call San Francisco home. It was amazing to meet her, hear her story, share our goals and ambitions and be a part of her dream. Such an interesting interlude to a random Friday.
Since we connected through the blogosphere, music was a big part of our conversation. As was fashion and my current obsession with my new peacock feather necklace. (Isn’t it pretty?) I was asked recently what we were listening to when this shot was taken. I can’t recall exactly, but if I had to choose one song to reflect my mood it would be Iran’s “Buddy“. I’m in love with this song. (More on this band later.)
Listen to “Buddy“:
Video: Bat for Lashes – “Daniel”
The new video for “Daniel” off of Bat for Lashes forthcoming album Two Suns due out April 6.
the OCMD 