Video: Dominant Legs sits on the big ugly yellow couch
November 11, 2010
Clawing Out at the Walls by Dominant Legs from Big Ugly Yellow Couch on Vimeo.
Of the many regularly occurring “live session” videos sprouting up around the internet, I’ve grown to enjoy the Big Ugly Yellow Couch sessions — my favorites include the episodes with Twin Sister, Dawes and Maps & Atlases. The Brooklyn-based series’ latest comes from one of our own, Dominant Legs.
Something about the crowded shots required from filming in this living space give a similar feeling to an impromptu jam sesh circa college, but in a most endearing way. We all find this situation far too familiar: you’re at a house party, someone finds the acoustic guitar in a corner of the living room, and before you know it, you’re part of a crowded audience fighting for a spot on the carpet with a good view, which is also close to the maracas if you feel like you may need them.
Get away from your cubicle or kitchen table and find a good seat on the carpet for an up-close-and-personal view of Ryan Lynch on the yellow couch.
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Melted Toys – “Lost Connection”
November 11, 2010
Melted Toys – “Lost Connection”
Melted Toys are a newer SF band, with a debut EP out next year on Underwater Peoples. Dig the worn cassette vibe of this dark synth-pop track and then see them tonight at the latest Epicsauce show at Milk, with Woodsman, Craft Spells and Skeletal System (filling in for the previously-scheduled Gauntlet Hair, who canceled their West Coast tour).
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Backseat Beat, Episode 5: Still Flyin’
November 11, 2010
Backseat Beat is a video series highlighting indie musicians and the city by the Bay. Armed with Flip cameras, we interview bands in the back seat of our ‘83 Volvo as we spirit them away to unexpected, forgotten corners of San Francisco, where they plug in outdoors to play a few tunes. Each band’s performance transforms these urban spots from their anonymous day to day existence into surreal, magical backdrops.
It was supposed to be a joke—a fake reggae band backed by a stage full of nonmusicians drinking beer on couches. But somehow, along the way, the joke band became a living breathing organism, which itself became an unholy cross between a party band supergroup and an international exchange program.
Still Flyin’ may be the only band in the world for which a) you’ll never see the same line up twice, and b) it doesn’t matter because regardless of how many people are playing which instruments, you’ll be dancing your butt off. In most bands, if someone splits, it’s a crisis. But when your band resembles a Cecil B. DeMille epic, with a cast of thousands and a core lineup that overlaps with more stellar bands than we have space to name check here, you’re guaranteed to bust a block every time.
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Sunday: There’s an indie pop band playing Hotel Utah? (yes, it’s Tennis)
November 10, 2010
We know the Hotel Utah is a confined space — two-tiered with a cozy lower-stage below a micro version of the opera overhang. In turn, the venue appropriately books mellower performances, such as an open mic night or a variety of folk/Americana/singer-songwriter performers. Getting out of their expected casting, the Utah has lined up jubilant Denver surf pop band, Tennis for Sunday (9pm, $8). Might as well throw those loveless, impersonal large concert experiences out the door, and expect just enough space to bounce off the person next to you during the group’s steadfast surf-rock medleys. Tennis has a 7″ on Underwater Peoples, and the debut full-length comes out in January on Fat Possum (The Walkmen, Wavves, Smith Westerns).
My first tasting of Tennis was encouraged by visuals: this enchanting photoset from a show they played with SF heart-breakers Magic Bullets and Family Portrait at the Glasslands Gallery in NYC (via Brooklyn Vegan). Judging by the photo/video survey, the show appeared considerably full of people and excitement onstage. The real wonder is how a little sardine can like the Hotel Utah will handle this peppery band and the turnout it should seemingly muster. It may be just the night to dance like a canned little fish.
Here’s a segment of Magic Bullets’ set from that Glasslands show — they are not playing the Hotel Utah on Sunday, but this song should push you through your Wednesday:
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Thursday: “Kim-O-Benefit” — help a local sound engineer fight breast cancer
November 10, 2010
Over the past decade-plus, SF sound engineer Kim Greiss has worked behind the boards at venues like Bottom of the Hill, Slim’s, and Great American Music Hall. Greiss was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, and her friends in the local music community are rallying together to help support her as she embarks on treatment to defeat it.
That support comes in three forms, beginning with a benefit show on Thursday, November 11th, at Bottom of the Hill (9pm, $10 and up sliding scale, All Ages). The show features locals Taxes, Fake Your Own Death, Kill Moi and DJ BAGeL Ted.
Second and third, a raffle and a silent auction will be held during the show, although you don’t need to be present to participate in either. The items offered for both are pretty great. The raffle includes, among other prizes, photos and prints from some of the Bay’s best concert photographers, a guitar, and over a dozen new CDs from Sub Pop. On the auction front, how does a one year free admission pass to every show at Bottom of the Hill sound? Or perhaps a weekend van rental? Find out more details about the items and how to participate at these Raffle and Auction pages. If all of this sounds too difficult, you can also donate some money to help Kim via PayPal.
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Ticket Giveaway Wednesday: Candy Claws, Over the Rhine, Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s
November 10, 2010
Thursday, November 11 – Candy Claws, Chain Gang of 1974, Blackbird Blackbird @ Rickshaw Stop
Candy Claws – Hidden Lands from twosyllable records on Vimeo.
To enter send an email to contest@thebaybridged.com with the phrase “I want to see Candy Claws!” in the subject line and your full name in the body. The SECOND person to enter will win a pair of tickets to the show!
Th show starts at 8pm, $10 adv/$12 door, 21+. Purchase advance tickets here.
Saturday, November 13th – Over the Rhine, Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Great American Music Hall
To enter send an email to contest@thebaybridged.com with the phrase “I want to see Over the Rhine!” in the subject line and your full name in the body. The FOURTH person to enter will win a pair of tickets to the show!
The show starts at 9pm, $25, 6+. Purchase advance tickets here.
Tuesday, November 16th – Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s, Jookabox, Burnt Ones @ Great American Music Hall
Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos – As Tall As Cliffs – Live
Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s | Myspace Music Videos
To enter send an email to contest@thebaybridged.com with the phrase “I want to see Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s!” in the subject line and your full name in the body. The FIFTH person to enter will win a pair of tickets to the show!
The show starts at 8pm, $16, 6+. Puchase advance tickets here.
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Video: Hank IV in a trash pile for “Garbage Star”
November 9, 2010
Puppet limbs, animation, trash robots, and more accompany the fellows of Hank IV in their new video for “Garbage Star,” off III, which is out today on Siltbreeze. The video was done by Clean White Lines, who continue their winning streak with this one.
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Video: Bird By Snow play mystical folk in the woods of Big Sur
November 9, 2010
Bird By Snow recently spent some time hiking in Big Sur, where they crafted an instrument out of fallen branches and delivered some stripped down performances of a couple of songs from the excellent Common Wealth, out now on Gnome Life Records. See more videos from these Ascension Sessions at ifc.com.
Bird By Snow – “There Is A Marriage”
Bird By Snow – “Friends In The City”
