More stellar music headed your way this Wednesday, February 9 at Great American Music Hall with a benefit concert presented by The Bay Bridged supporting The Coalition on Homelessness. Talk about a SF garage rock powerhouse line up. Geez. The only thing missing is Nobunny. Where’s he? Ah, well he’s also playing that night but at a different show at The Knockout. February 9 must be an auspicious date for garage rock bands. A great night for music on all fronts. Get tickets for the benefit here.
Sonic Youth and San Francisco’s Sic Alps at the historic Fillmore this Sunday, January 10. Does the awesomeness of this show even need explanation? I think not. See you there.
the OCMD Mixtape: Best Garage Rock 2009
Good food, good wine, good friends, good music. Do you need anything more than that? You can get all that and then some this Thursday, October 8, at the hottest restaurant in San Francisco right now – the Mission district’s Flour + Water – where the OCMD will be curating an evening of strictly local music.
This unassuming neighborhood gem has earned the praise of The New York Times, WSJ, and our very own Michael Bauer. Even though the entire town is busting down the doors of this place, the owners remain decidedly laid-back and committed to preserving the hip, low-key neighborhood vibe. Fitting with that theme, I’m excited to share the local love by featuring some of the best up and coming bands San Francisco has to offer. To celebrate the occasion, the restaurant has set aside several coveted tables to bestow on a few lucky readers for this Thursday. First four readers to email me at theocmd@gmail.com wins!
Here’s a taste of what’s to come. Enjoy the mix!
1. Papercuts, “Future Primitive”
2. Ty Segall, “Lovely One”
3. Sic Alps, “L Mansion”
4. Thee Oh Sees, “Can You See”
5. Leopold & His Fiction, “Tiger Lily”
6. The Ferocious Few, “Crazy Love”
7. The Dodos, “Fables”
8. Girls, “Lust for Life”
9. The Mantles, “Burden”
10. Garrett Pierce, “Your Feet In Wet Cement”
11. John Vanderslice, “Tremble and Tear”
12. LoveLikeFire, “William”
13. Stripmall Architecture, “Version”
14. Lilofee, “Lock and Key”
Man, San Francisco’s lo-fi garage rock scene is on fuego. And it doesn’t get any hotter than Sic Alps. These guys are so good it’s stupid. So good they toured with Sonic Youth. So prolific that every time I turn around they’re coming out with more music that gets better and better.
Comprised primarily of Matt Hartman and Mike Donovan, the single-happy duo has been churning out music together – and a lot of it – since 2004. Steeped in lo-fi scuzz, their sound combines elements of grungy garage rock and 60s psychedelia . It’s both timeless and fresh and I never get tired of listening to them.
“L Mansion” is a track of their new 7″, out now on Slumberland.
I’ve been long overdue for a mixtape. This is one I’ve been collecting for a while – pulling tracks here and there from the greater garage rock movement that’s exploding right now in San Francisco. This playlist is a subset of that sound that I’m really digging right now….lo-fi, fuzzed out rock with a distinct punk edge and surf riff. Or Surf Punk for short. Yeah, I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of flack for that label but what the hell. There’s a nice south swell in town, and if I’m packing up my long board and wetsuit to go surfing, you can bet this is the mix I’ll be listening to.
Enjoy a taste of San Francisco.
the OCMD Mixtape: SF Surf Punk
the OCMD 