Weekend Mix: 11/19-23
November 19, 2009
Thursday: Neon Indian, The Love X Nowhere, Nite Jewel @ The Ricksaw Stop (8pm, $12)
The_Diz.mp3
The Love X Nowhere – “The Diz”
Friday: Eternal Tapestry, Barn Owl, Moon Duo, Real Estate @ The Hemlock (9pm, $8)
Voice-of-the-Other-Barn-Owl.mp3
Barn Owl – “Voice of the Other”
Saturday: Girls, Tamaryn, Dominant Legs @ Bottom of the Hill (8pm, $12)
girls_lustforlife.mp3
Girls – “Lust For Life”
Sunday: Lake, Karl Blau, Half-Handed Cloud @ The Hemlock (9pm, $8)
half-handed_cloud_-_halos_-_Feed_Your_Sheep.mp3
Half-Handed Cloud – “Feed Your Sheep”
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Tuned In at the SF Conservatory of Music – A Minifest with Mad Skills
November 19, 2009
With the first steps into their building, I was immediately blown away by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The new campus on Oak Street is gorgeous, and I was lucky enough to attend their first annual Tuned In fundraiser. All groups performing during the evening had to have either a current conservatory student or an alumni in their membership. With those kind of credentials, I knew the caliber of talent was going to be high. Perhaps I’d encounter Yngwie Malmsteen’s and Victor Wooten’s imaginary love child?
Kicking off the evening was the Pacific Guitar Ensemble in a very intimate performance space with people seated along the walls. They had mad skills. Yes, mad skills. It can be quite a battle to sync up five guitarists playing incredibly complex runs, but the ensemble did it with style and grace. Their attention to detail was absolutely impeccable and I got chills while watching from above. They had a video of some classic footage displaying in the background and it got me thinking – the footage being displayed was classic black and white, only decades old. The music, on the other hand, was considered classic as well, but was hundreds of years old. Film will never be able to achieve the maturity of music; it’s that simple.
I dipped out towards the end of their set for a minute to recharge my beverage (thank you Anchor Steam for supplying the beer – I love you guys), before going to catch Edmund Welles, a bass clarinet quartet. I really had no idea what to expect from them, but they were hands down the dark horse winner of the evening. They play heavy chamber music with an avant garde flavor, and their clarinets’ powerful belt sounded like a pipe organ a mere ten feet in front of me. When speaking with Gabriel Sakakeeny of the Conservatory, I described them as “gnarly” and he said that was the only word appropriate for it. Do yourself a favor and check these guys out. Abso-freakin’-lutely amazing.
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That Ghost: EP out now, Ghost Town show Saturday
November 19, 2009
that-ghost-the-red-bow.mp3
That Ghost – “The Red Bow” (from the Get It and Get Out EP)
This week, Twosyllable Records digitally released Get It and Get Out, the latest EP from Santa Rosa’s Ryan Schmale, also known as That Ghost. Previously a sold-out, tour-only CDR, you can stream the whole EP this week over at Virb.
Earlier this month, That Ghost released a new 7″ on Transparent. Check out the b-side below:
That-Ghost-Your-Backs.mp3
That Ghost – “Your Backs” (off the Never Have Fun 7″)
Saturday night, you can see the band at Oakland’s Ghost Town Gallery with Austin’s The Strange Boys. Before the show, get to know Ryan via this great interview from ‘Sup Magazine.
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New, Improved, LIVE studio session: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
November 18, 2009
TheBayBridged.com and New, Improved Recording are proud to present the fifth installment of New, Improved, LIVE, our ongoing series of live studio sessions with top indie bands, recorded at the New, Improved Recording studio in Oakland, California. This month’s session features Thao with The Get Down Stay Down delivering exclusive live-in-the-studio renditions of songs from all three of Thao’s albums, including the band’s latest release, Know Better Learn Faster, out now on Kill Rock Stars.
It’d be easy to tag the band as “critical darlings,” given the universally strong appraisals that Know Better and its predecessor We Brave Bee Stings and All have received, but such an assessment would overlook the band’s devoted fans, who are justly rewarded during the trio’s electrifying live shows. This session captures that electricity while also showcasing Thao Nguyen’s heartfelt melodic songwriting, which lies at the core of the group’s appeal. We hope you’ll enjoy these renditions as much as we do.
For even more, check out videos and photos from the session and an interview with Thao at our New, Improved, LIVE page!
New, Improved, LIVE, featuring: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
1. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)” (originally from We Brave Bee Stings and All)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
2. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “Body” (originally from Know Better Learn Faster)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Body
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
3. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “The Give” (originally from Know Better Learn Faster)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - The Give
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
4. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “What About” (originally from Like the Linen)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - What About
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
We’d like to thank Thao, Willis Thompson, and Adam Thompson for the excellent session. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down will be performing at The Independent on Saturday, November 21st, with The Portland Cello Project and David Shultz.
We’ve got plenty of great performances scheduled to come in future months, and all of our past episodes, featuring Port O’Brien, Yoni Wolf (of Why?), Citay, and Deerhoof, can be found at thebaybridged.com/new-improved-live/. Acclaimed performers and a top notch studio means great free music that redefines the studio experience: New, Improved, LIVE.
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November 2009: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
November 18, 2009
TheBayBridged.com and New, Improved Recording are proud to present the fifth installment of New, Improved, LIVE, our ongoing series of live studio sessions with top indie bands, recorded at the New, Improved Recording studio in Oakland, California. This month’s session features Thao with The Get Down Stay Down delivering exclusive live-in-the-studio renditions of songs from all three of Thao’s albums, including the band’s latest release, Know Better Learn Faster, out now on Kill Rock Stars.
It’d be easy to tag the band as “critical darlings,” given the universally strong appraisals that Know Better and its predecessor We Brave Bee Stings and All have received, but such an assessment would overlook the band’s devoted fans, who are justly rewarded during the trio’s electrifying live shows. This session captures that electricity while also showcasing Thao Nguyen’s heartfelt melodic songwriting, which lies at the core of the group’s appeal. We hope you’ll enjoy these renditions as much as we do.
New, Improved, LIVE, featuring: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
1. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)” (originally from We Brave Bee Stings and All)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (Health
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
2. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “Body” (originally from Know Better Learn Faster)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Body
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
3. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “The Give” (originally from Know Better Learn Faster)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - The Give
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
4. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “What About” (originally from Like the Linen)
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - What About
Download: 160kbps mp3 / 320kbps mp3
Videos
New, Improved, LIVE: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “Beat”.
New, Improved, LIVE: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “What About”.
Interview with Thao Nguyen
The Bay Bridged: Thanks for playing a New, Improved, Live session. How did you pick the songs to play during the session?
Thao Nguyen: Thanks for having us! To be honest, we picked the ones we could play the best, as it is a new record and we don’t live in the same city and we were low on rehearsal time.Â
TBB: Compared to the last record, did you approach recording Know Better Learn Faster differently or similarly?
TN: I wanted this record to better convey the energy and emotion we have in our live show – elements that were not as clearly defined when we recorded our last record, because we as a band were barely formed.Â
TBB: How do you successfully capture your band’s energy in a recording studio?
TN: You track a lot of clapping and stomping and shouting and you dance around in the control room to keep up morale.Â
TBB: Could you talk about one of the performers who made a guest contribution on the new album, perhaps one that surprised or inspired you?
TN: Our dear friend Merrill Garbus (she lives in Oakland!) is an incredible musician and performs as Tune-Yard. She plays ukelele and sings on the record and it was so important to me to have her on there because: 1) she is incredible and 2) we have come to find that being a woman and a touring musician is a pretty specific situation and it is imperative to have each other as support systems.Â
TBB: Is it more challenging to draw from personal experiences in writing songs, or does that come naturally? Has that always been the case for you?
TN: It is most natural for me to draw from personal experience. The tougher part is when people listen with that knowledge in mind; my writing has always been very autobiographical. Every time I try a more narrative approach the result sucks a little bit more than is comfortable for me.
TBB: Since you and your band live in different cities, what’s it like when you all reconnect before a tour?
TN: We are excited and hug each other very sincerely and communicate using only inside jokes and alternate voices.Â
TBB: What’s been the best live show the band has had so far? Where was it and why was it so good?
TN: This tour the Bowery Ballroom in NYC was been filled with such warmth and enthusiasm. We are carried and propelled by the fantastic crowd. They are what you’d expect in New York City, in the most fufilling way. But please keep in mind we haven’t played the Independent yet, and I do love to come home.Â
Studio Session Photos with Thao and The Get Down Stay Down
Credits
Audio: Eli Crews, John Finkbeiner
Photos: Christian Cunningham
Video: Nathan Fritz, John Smart, Brent Harnisch
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Actionslacks celebrate fifteen years @ Bottom tonight
November 18, 2009
Actionslacks-Kids-With-Guitars.mp3
Actionslacks – “Kids With Guitars”
Seasoned SF indie band Actionslacks are still rocking after fifteen years, and tomorrow night celebrate their decade-and-a-half anniversary at Bottom of the Hill (9pm, $8, online tickets). Supporting acts include Love is Chemicals and Ex-Boyfriends.
The show’s also the band’s only live performance of 2009, and they’ll be playing songs from their entire discography. The quartet’s latest EP, Kids With Guitars, came out earlier this year, and they’re currently working on another EP for release in early 2010.
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Ticket Giveaway Wednesday: The Fiery Furnaces, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Fanfarlo
November 18, 2009
Friday, November 20th – Fiery Furnaces, Cryptacize, Dent May @ Slim’s
The Fiery Furnaces – Charmaine Champagne from Thrill Jockey Records.
To enter send an E-mail to contest@thebaybridged.com with your full name and the phrase “I want to see The Fiery Furnaces” in the subject. The FIFTH and EIGHTH entries will each win a pair of tickets to the show.
The show starts at 9pm is $16 and 6+. Tickets can be purchased here.
Saturday, November 21st – Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, The Portland Cello Project, David Schultz @ The Independent
KnowBetter.mp3
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down – “Know Better Learn Faster”
To enter send an E-mail to contest@thebaybridged.com with your full name and the phrase “I want to see Thao Nguyen” in the subject. The SIXTH entry will win a pair of tickets to the show.
The show starts at 9pm is $17 and 21+. Tickets can be purchased here.
Sunday, November 22nd – Fanfarlo, Freelance Whales, The Mumlers @ Rickshaw Stop
Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot
Fanfarlo – “I’m a Pilot”
To enter send an E-mail to contest@thebaybridged.com with your full name and the phrase “I want to see Fanfarlo” in the subject. The THIRD entry will win a pair of tickets to the show.
The show is at 8pm, $13, 18+ and will also feature DJs Miles (Live105/popscene) and Bagel Ted (Bagel Radio). Tickets can be purchased here.
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‘Eclectic Live’ tomorrow at Harlot with The Frail, LLeggs
November 17, 2009
Harlot is opening its doors one night a month to a new showcase sponsored by Tricycle Records and Future Universal to feature local independent bands. Though the kickoff event lends to the local electro-pop talent, “Eclectic Live” welcomes all genres of indie music.
Tomorrow night (9pm, $5), check out Tricycle Records’ The Frail and LLeggs (members of Hottub), as well as guest DJ Mario Muse and the in-house spinner, Jacob Fury.
the-lights-toxic-avenger-remix.mp3
The Frail – “The Lights (Toxic Avenger Remix)”
