Modest Mouse/Grandaddy vet plays du Nord tomorrow with Odawas
September 15, 2009
Odawas hopped onto a pretty fantastic show at du Nord tomorrow (8:30pm, $10), opening for a fellow who just happens to dabble in historical indie rock bands (Modest Mouse, Grandaddy). Jim Fairchild grew up in Fresno (where he met Jason Lytle of Grandaddy) and recently aided Modest Mouse with some tourdates. But he primarily plays with a reputable group of Sleater-Kinney, Black Heart Procession and Menomena members, All Smiles (Portland).
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All Smiles – “Moth in a Cloud of Smoke”
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Odawas – “Harmless Lovers Discourse”
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The Dodos (Podcast #181)
September 15, 2009
Stream the episode:
This week, our podcast features The Dodos, a San Francisco band who need little introduction if you’ve been following indie rock over the past few years. The group’s third album, Time to Die, comes out today, after an advance digital release spurred by an early album leak. 2008′s Visiter fulfilled the anticipation built by years of relentless touring, receiving universally strong reviews that catapulted the band into the international spotlight. This being The Dodos, the release was followed by another year of relentless touring, and then, a break. For a band so used to a frenzy, the time off must have been a little startling, begging the question: what comes next?
The answer is another great record, one that finds Meric Long and Logan Kroeber growing considerably as a band while continuing to craft great songs. With the addition of vibraphone player Keaton Snyder, they’ve added another hypertalented musician whose playing is simultaneous melodic and rhythmic. Perhaps attributable to recording the album with Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Fleet Foxes), the new album reigns in some of Visiter‘s bombast; whether you think that’s a good thing or not, it means that small flourishes and big melodies get to shine equally brightly. Recent shows confirm that they’re still one of the best live bands around, and we expect (and hope for) continued success for the group in the future.
We sat down with Meric and Logan at The Bay Bridged Studio in June to discuss the new album, working with Phil Ek and more. We’ve also included four songs from Time to Die and Visiter in the episode.
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Girls pre-party for new record at Amoeba today
September 15, 2009
The record doesn’t officially come out until next Tuesday (9/22), but Girls just can’t hold back from their supporters at home. Today at 6pm they perform at Amoeba SF with copies of their Matador/True Panther debut for sale a week early. If you can’t grab a copy at Amoeba, get your pre-release fix by streaming the whole album.
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Girls – “Lust For Life”
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The On Land Festival is this weekend
September 14, 2009
Please note: the flyer above is slightly incorrect, as the early show is on Saturday, not Sunday.
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Tarentel – “Everybody Fucks With Somebody” (from Ghetto Beats On The Surface Of The Sun)
The On Land Festival takes place at Cafe Du Nord and the Swedish American Hall this weekend with three shows of psych, ambient, experimental and drone music. Curated by Root Strata, over twenty bands will be performing, including local highlights Tarentel, Barn Owl and Darwinsbitch and a performance by Portland’s Grouper, whose Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill (Type 2008) was simply terrific.
Grouper – “Heavy Water/I’d Rather Be Sleeping” (Live at the Knitting Factory)
The On Land web site has all of the details, as well as profiles of and music by all the bands.
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Wednesday: Pete Bernhard, Leopold & His Fiction, Erin Brazill @ Rickshaw
September 14, 2009
This Wednesday, Pete Bernhard, Leopold & His Fiction, Erin Brazill play the Rickshaw Stop (8pm, $8). Bernhard is finding time for solo shows in between what seems like a never-ending tour Devil Makes Three started in the spring.
Preview a track from Erin Brazill, a self-described singer-songwriter of “vintage bedroom folk,” in our Monthly Mix.
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Pete Bernhard – “Pray For Rain”
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Leopold & His Fiction – “Come Back”
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Voting commences for ’09 SF Weekly Music Awards
September 14, 2009
The nominations are up for SF Weekly’s music awards – vote now!
Among the nominees include many of our fondly covered artists: Two Sheds, Themselves and Emily Jane White, to name a few. But one category that might present a struggle to our readers would be “indie/rock/pop,” mandating a choice between Girls, Morning Benders, Sleepy Sun and Downer Party all competing.
Voting closes a month from today (Oct 14 , 3pm), with the winners being announced the following day at the music awards party at Ruby Skye.
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Wavves/Ganglians stir the punk rock ethic at Rickshaw on Sunday
September 11, 2009
To be honest, this might be old news by now, but it appears as if we’ve got a little Wavves drama to compete with Pitchfork’s. No photos to prove it, sadly, just my word — and the word of any other kiddo at the Rickshaw this past Sunday night for Wavves and Ganglians.
The summer of lo-fi pop was in full force. It’s early on a warm Sunday evening and the Nathan Williams fan club begins to populate the interior, waiting patiently and without buying many drinks, for the two-band bill (Best Coast canceled, didn’t feel like driving up from LA, I guess?). Sacramento’s eloquent Ganglians commence with an intuitive sense of loud experimental pop, slyly moving into charismatic, jangly folk numbers for an impressive set.
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Chris Garneau coming to Cafe Du Nord
September 11, 2009
Chris Garneau – “We Don’t Try” (La Blogotheque session)
For a guy whose music has been featured in a bunch of TV shows, I’m a little shocked that Chris Garneau isn’t closer to a household name, but it’s probably because his chamber pop is as emotionally intense as it is compelling. This is an artist who was recommended to Absolutely Kosher Records by Xiu Xiu, after all, even though the Brooklyn-based performer never approaches that band’s level of histrionics. In any event, Garneau’s not at the Sufjan level of familiarity yet, which means you can and should see him headline at Cafe Du Nord next Tuesday, September 15th.
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Chris Garneau – “No More Pirates”
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Chris Garneau – “Not Nice”
The always-enchanting Emily Jane White kicks off the show. White’s been working on a new record this year, and is a magnetic live performer. New York singer-songwriter Christina Courtin also performs. 8:30pm, $12, 21+.
