Bay Area Christmas music round-up 2010
December 17, 2010
We’ve heard these songs a thousand times before, but that’s just part of their charm. Almost any band can contribute something new to these classics, and will perhaps create your new favorite version along the way.
The Shants, Westwood & Willow, Ash Reiter, BLAMMOS, and A B & the Sea (featuring the SHE’s) have done their part this Christmas season, covering the likes of “Please Come Home for Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and more (the BLAMMOS tune is an original, however).
The Shants also have a video version of their cover on their website, while Westwood & Willow have an entire EP of Christmas songs (including some original songs) available for purchase. And let’s not forget Sea of Bees’ recent cover of “Feliz Navidad.”
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas:
The Shants – “Please Come Home for Christmas”
Westwood & Willow – “Frosty the Snowman”
BLAMMOS – “It’s Christmas Everywhere (except in my heart)”
A B & The Sea ft. The She’s – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
(via All Shook Down)
And for good measure, here are some recent Christmas covers as performed by non-locals: [More...]
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Zoo – “Constant Sigh” (new Andy Tisdall project)
December 17, 2010
After many creative efforts with Little Teeth and a variety of solo work, Andy Tisdall has emerged again as ZOO, along with fellow musician Ammo Eisu. ZOO’s EP, Hiro-Koue, is out now, featuring the bold and experimental “Constant Sigh.”
More ZOO tunes can be heard on the band’s website. ZOO will be playing at the Stud on January 27th, along with Moira Scar and Prizehog (9:00 pm, $3, 21+).
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Lia Rose announces debut solo album, “When You Need Me Most”
December 16, 2010
Lia Rose (of Built for the Sea, now also a member of Or, the Whale) has announced the release of her first solo album, When You Need Me Most, out January 13th. Recorded at The Hangar in Sacramento, the album features contributions from a number of well-known Bay Area folks. “Sister,” for example, includes Anton Patzner (Judgement Day/Devotionals) on violin and Eric Kuhn (Silian Rail) on drums.
Rose’s album release show will take place at the Roxie Theater on Thursday, January 13th, and it doubles as a benefit for Free the Hikers. Lia’s got a personal connection to the effort to free the American hikers detained in Iran:
Having gone to school with Josh Fattal who is still being held in Iran, Rose chose to make her release show a benefit to help free Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. Bauer’s fiancée Sarah Shourd was released on September 14, 2010, on humanitarian grounds and since that time, Rose has been working together with Shourd and the Free the Hikers movement to “free all three.”
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Video: Cowboy and Indian – “Hurt My Pride” (new band featuring Daniel James of Leopold and His Fiction)
December 16, 2010
As if being the frontman for Leopold and His Fiction weren’t enough, Daniel James has formed another project, Cowboy and Indian, with musicians Jazz Mills (T Bird and the Breaks) and Jesse Plemons (who you might recognize as Landry Clarke on Friday Night Lights). The first offering from the trio is this fun video shot in Chicago and northwest Indiana. The band expects to release its full length debut in the spring.
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Winter’s Fall sign to Velvet Blue Music for new record, ‘At All Angles’
December 16, 2010
After releasing a few free teaser tracks back in early October, Winter’s Fall have announced the official release date for At All Angles, the band’s third album to date. And as a bonus? The album will be released via Velvet Blue Music, starting February 15th:
There is the thematic linking in the three instrumental songs (beginning, middle, and end) which I’m told imagine a futuristic “surveyor†who discovers and charts new landscapes. Though the real story is not in narratives or lyrics but in the tones and textures that come from the electronics, steel guitar, and math rock-esque time signatures that weave themselves through the album. All this set underneath Stanley’s intimate literary prose and unique vocal delivery. The Berkeley, CA band’s 2007 (Muddy & White), and 2008 (Self-titled) releases brought them critical attention, but it’s the new record you’ll fall in love with. Everyone can do the math and see this record was 3 years in the making, and we are exceptionally proud to be releasing it this Feb.!
Hear two of the songs from At All Angles now by checking out the Winter’s Fall page on the Velvet Blue Music website, plus additional album info and early 2011 local tour dates.
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Photo: Hadestown ‘folk opera’ with Thao Nguyen, Sean Hayes + more
December 15, 2010
The more photos that come to us by email, the more reasonable it sounds to require a photo documentation of the shows our readers win tickets to.
Here’s another photo submitted by ticket giveaway winner Jennifer K., who went to Hadestown, the folk opera conducted by Anais Mitchell and featuring San Francisco musicians like Thao Nguyen and Sean Hayes. The album was conceptualized and executed with Ani DiFranco, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and more; Mitchell is taking the performance across America, having already visited Long Beach and LA, and then New York and East Coast dates in the new year.
As a reminder, the photo tipline is always open at thebaybridged@gmail.com.
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Repost: Meric Long of The Dodos confesses new album to be the most exciting in Pitchfork interview
December 15, 2010
It’s hard to conceal the excitement when hearing it straight from The Dodos that their new fourth album is their most exciting yet. Going back to the producer of their first two records (John Askew) as well as the two-man lineup, Long explained that the Dodos’ March 8, 2011 release on Frenchkiss combines all the last ones, and additionally:
It doesn’t sound quite as raw as Visiter, but it has the energy of that record. One of the things that we intended to do was to really just to make a record that was exciting, almost to the point where it might be unlistenable. We just wanted the energy to come across. I think we succeeded in that regard.
As we know, the Dodos had been testing out new material while on tour with The New Pornographers and at their ‘Coffee Shop Series’ show at the Victorian Theater in May.
Read the full interview via Pitchfork.
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Ticket Giveaway Wednesday: The Frail, Music for Animals, The Mother Hips, High on Fire
December 15, 2010
To enter any contest submit an email to contest[at]thebaybridged.com with your full name in the body and the concert you’re entering the contest for in the subject line. You may only submit your name to one contest. Winners for each show will be decided using the guidelines listed below.
Thursday, December 16th
The Frail, Music For Animals, Fans of Jimmy Century, Return to Mono @ Slims
To win a pair of tickets to the show be the SECOND person to enter!
The show starts at 8pm, $13, 6+. Purchase advance tickets here.
Friday December 17th
The Mother Hips, The Blank Tapes, Neal Casal of the Cardinals @ Great American Music Hall
To win a pair of tickets to the show be the THIRD person to enter!
The show starts at 9pm, $20, 6+. Purchase advance tickets here.
Saturday, December 18th
The Mother Hips, Or, the Whale, Conspiracy of Venus @ Great American Music Hall
To win a pair of tickets to the show be the THIRD person to enter!
The show starts at 8pm, $20, 6+. Purchase advance tickets here.
Thursday, December 30th
Folk Yeah Presents: High on Fire with Special Guests @ Brookdale Lodge
To win a pair of tickets to the show be the FIRST person to enter!
Show starts at 8pm, $20, all ages. Purchase advance tickets here.
Saturday, January 1st
Folk Yeah Presents: High on Fire with Special Guests @ The New Parish
To win a pair of tickets to the show be the SECOND person to enter!
The show starts at 9pm, $20, 18+. Purchase advance tickets here.
The Frail – The Lights (Toxic Avenger Remix)
Music For Animals – “Red Cells”
The Mother Hips – “White Falcon Fuzz”
High on Fire – “Speaking in Tongues”
