Review: High Places, Mi Ami, Protect Me @ Rickshaw 3/24
March 31, 2010
Photos by: Rachel Keenan
Weeknights can be tough on the concertgoer, and pushing the time limit you’ll allow yourself to stay out often requires absorbing enough energy from the band onstage just to stay awake. It was no surprise, though, that the middle act last Wednesday at the Rickshaw had my interest piqued: the noisy trio Mi Ami, based out of the uncharted jungles of San Francisco.
In an increasingly stratified music scene, where new niche genres come in fast and strong and leave little space for others, quality post-punk almost feels like a lost art. Mi Ami ably reclaims a lot of that forgotten territory, reeling in worldwide fandom and at the Rickshaw, a very ecstatic front-and-center male dancer in particular. The band’s live getup is a sight to see just as much as it is to hear. They succeed in melding three distinct styles — gutting tribal dance beats, sludgy bass grooves and shrill, reverb spasms on guitar — but I think a purer isolation of each element would sound just as good.
This weekend, Mi Ami will be playing a house show with LA’s Pocahaunted (who once counted Bethany of Best Coast as a member) at BayArea51 (8:30pm, $5, more details on MySpace). Mi Ami’s second release on Thrill Jockey, the Steal Your Face LP, comes out next Tuesday. To read more about Mi Ami, visit the trustworthy Dusted Magazine.
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Show reminder: Laura Gibson, Emily Jane White, Garrett Pierce tonight @ The Rickshaw
March 31, 2010
Tonight, Laura Gibson returns to San Francisco just after her performance at Noise Pop 2010 to promote a collaborative album with Portland recording artist Ethan Rose (Rickshaw 8pm, $10). Bridge Carols is a phenomenal piece of work, laying Gibson’s delicate pick-and-whisper over Rose’s warm electronic hums. It should find popularity amongst those interested in artists that crossover between folk and ambient, such as Volcano Choir or even Azure Ray.
Two hearty folk/Americana local openers accompany Gibson on this bill: Emily Jane White and Garrett Pierce. EJW’s “Liza” was recently featured on the Forkcast; it’s off Victorian America (Milian Records), due out at the end of the month.
07-And-The-Ghosts-Boarded-Trains.mp3
Garrett Pierce – “And the Ghosts Boarded Trains”
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Ticket Giveaway Wednesday: Adam Green @ Cafe du Nord
March 31, 2010
Wednsday April 6th & Thursday April 7th – Adam Green, The Dead Trees @ Cafe du Nord
Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad
Adam Green – “What Makes Him Act So Bad”
The Dead Trees - Rayna
The Dead Trees – “Rayna”
To enter send an email to contest@thebaybridged.com with your full name and the phrase “I want to see Adam Green on ____________!” (Insert Wednesday or Thursday). The FOURTH person to respond for each day will win a pair of tickets to the show!
The shows are Wednesday & Thursday, April 6th (all ages @ 8pm) & 7th (21+ @ 9:30pm) $15.
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March 2010 Monthly Mix (Podcast #207)
March 31, 2010
Stream the episode:
Our latest Monthly Mix episode of the weekly podcast includes music from nine Bay Area bands, mostly from submissions we’ve received here at The Bay Bridged.
About this week’s bands:
Kelley Stoltz (“Pinecone”) is one of the many fine artists on the In A Cloud: New Sounds From San Francisco compilation LP that came out earlier this month. Catch him at the Make-Out Room on April 11th with the Western Family Orchestra and Sarah Bethe Nelson (of prariedog).
SF sextet Todayokay (“We Go Under”) release their album All This Weaponry this month. The record release show is at Cafe Du Nord on April 14th, with Beatbeat Whisper and Vandella.
We’ve been hearing good word-of-mouth about Jhameel‘s (“New Some City”) live performances. He has a number of upcoming shows, including one at Dolores Park Cafe on April 9th.
Shaw (“Lion In A Cage”) has recorded a number of bands, but Pretending We’re Not Animals is his debut EP, out now on Swordfish Records.
The Splinters‘ (“Electricity”) full-length Kick is out now on Double Negative Records. The band has a bunch of Bay Area shows this month, including tomorrow, April 1st, at The Eagle.
On April 27th, Antenna Farm Records releases Sugar & Gold‘s (“Feels Like Fire”) latest full length of electro-disco-pop, titled Get Wet!. Catch them at Bottom of the Hill, with Nite Jewel and Baron Von Luxxury on April 29th.
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Fake Your Own Death, JETSKIIS @ Milk Bar Wednesday
March 30, 2010
The recently-overhauled Milk Bar is slowly transforming into a go-to live music space in San Francisco. The venue has found a niche playing host to a variety of locally-themed indie rock shows over in the Haight, and with any luck, will continue on this same path.
Case in point: this Wednesday, March 31st (8:30 pm, $7), Milk will host two local bands and one welcome out-of-town guest. Fake Your Own Death will headline, a fairly new band comprised of members from Elephone. JETSKIIS will open, another group formed from other bands (New Centuries and Send for Help), along with the Young Republic (from Tennessee).
Bodymore.mp3
JETSKIIS – “Bodymore”
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Mark David Ashworth: Free show Saturday
March 30, 2010
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Mark David Ashworth – “Clean Slate”
In January, we blogged about San Francisco-by-way-of-Austin musician Mark David Ashworth, whose recently released second album, Bright is the Ring of Words, is full of richly orchestrated yet intimate songs. Ashworth’s CD release party is a free show happening this Saturday, April 3rd (8:30pm, free) at Kaleidoscope (24th St. and Folsom), with Mira Cook and The Beehavers .
In addition to the previously blogged “Clean Slate,” you can stream the whole album via Bandcamp:
Saturday’s show is part of the latest Mission Arts & Performance Project (MAPP) event. For the unaware:
The Mission Arts & Performance Project is a bi-monthly collaboration between visual artists, musicians, poets and performers. The MAPP puts art and performance on the street level by using alternative spaces such as private garages, basements, and studios. It’s a block party of the arts for inspiring in ourselves, and others, the desire for a creative existence, an ever widening experience of life.
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The Blank Tapes offer album for free, play shows this week
March 29, 2010
The Blank Tapes (also known as prolific local musician Matt Adams) have a new album out entitled Home Away From Home, the latest effort since previous albums Daydreams and Landfair. The new album is currently available as a free download via Play White Noise, but for a limited amount of time (so act fast!). After this temporary free release, the album will be available as both compact disc and vinyl LP.
Additionally, the Blank Tapes will be performing in a series of shows this week/weekend to showcase the new music: [More...]
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The Western Family Orchestra launches live radio series
March 29, 2010
The Western Family Orchestra, a collection of local musicians whose core members include Lee Bob Watson (Aficionado/Happy Mayfield), Gabe Nelson (Cake), Tom Heyman (Court and Spark, Chuck Prophet) and more, have been holding regular performances at the Make-Out Room for some time now, inviting guest musicians to join their group renditions of each others’ songs and covers. The WFO recently announced that they will be producing a monthly series of live radio programs at the Make-Out for KVMR (Nevada City), featuring “a variety of regional and national acts in [the WFO's] casual West Coast Opry format.”
Kelley-Stoltz-Pinecone.mp3
Kelley Stoltz – “Pinecone”
The first broadcast will be recorded at the Make-Out Room on Sunday, April 11th (8pm, $7), with guest performers Kelley Stoltz and Sarah Bethe Nelson (of prariedog).
