The Bay Area Girls Rock Camp 2nd Annual Art Auction 2/4/11, featuring Thao and Mirah
January 21, 2011
The Bay Area Girls Rock Camp has grown significantly since starting out with just one week-long camp in the summer of 2008. The Oakland-based independent organization now boasts several summer camps, an after-school program, and a Ladies Rock Camp. After adding a Board of Directors, an Executive Director, and expanding the volunteer pool, the organization continues to grow and develop their mission, which is to empower girls through music.
One way to support the efforts of the Bay Area Girls Rock Camp (besides donating and/or volunteering) is to attend the organization’s 2nd Annual Art Auction, which takes place on February 4th, 2011 at the Humanist Hall in Oakland (6:30 pm, $15).
The auction will feature signed memorabilia by artists such as Joan Jett, Ani DiFranco, R.E.M., Roseanne Cash, and more – and there will also be an intimate performance by Thao and Mirah. An extra-special night for an extra-special organization.
Previously:
- Girls Rock! screening at Actual Cafe Saturday, 7/24/10
- For those (females) about to rock: Ladies Rock Camp 2010
- Thao and Mirah – “How Dare You” on Yours Truly
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Beep release show Sunday at the Hemlock with Dinosaur Feathers
January 21, 2011
There was Beep Beep (Saddle Creek, debatable if still in action), and before that No Kill No Beep Beep (a classic, thanks Q and Not U), and now there’s just plain old Beep. Based in Oakland and collecting one or two of Tune-Yards’ personnel, Beep emerges from a curious array of electronic, drone and free-jazz foundations.
Beep’s LP City of the Future premiered last week via Third Culture Records, a locals-only label supporting the likes of James and Evander, Man/Miracle, Judgement Day and more. Beep celebrates the album release this Sunday at the Hemlock with Dinosaur Feathers (Brooklyn), and The Careerers (warning: that website is hard on the eyeballs). At $6, this show could be where you cash out the last of your weekend funds.
Stream the album below, and see Northwest tourdates after the jump.
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Discuss: Does indie music have a place on the radio?
January 21, 2011
This week’s Bay Area radio shakeup saw KUSF‘s 90.3fm signal sold to classical station KDFC in a shady deal that paid the University of San Francisco $3.75 million to pull the plug on SF’s legendary community-oriented radio station, which had been on the air since 1977. KUSF will apparently still survive online, but given USF President Stephen A. Privett’s remark that the station “was of minimal benefit to my students,” one suspects it won’t be the same if/when it returns.
Without KUSF, San Francisco has lost its only above-ground freeform music station, and a major supporter of local independent music. This is, without question, a significant loss for the city, but it also got me thinking: how frequently did I listen to 90.3fm? The reality is, I’ve been listening to KUSF more online in the past few years than on the radio. Heck, the only time I turned on my radio recently was to listen to the World Series.
The role of radio for indie music fans has undoubtedly changed in the 21st century. Growing up, KUSF and KALX meant the world to me, helping form initial preferences that grew as I figured out what I liked and found other sources with whom I closely identified. But that was before blogs, before internet radio, before Bandcamp and Soundcloud, before 3G made access to good music omnipresent if you could afford the necessary device and the data plan.
Radio may no longer be the only medium for aural discovery, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t compelling reasons why we shouldn’t fight for its continued vitality. For one, the technological and cost barriers to online music mean that radio remains the indispensable medium for universal access, even while markets continue to be bought up and controlled by a small handful of profit-hungry corporations. Moreover, all the on-demand content in the world won’t take away radio’s effortlessness and that unique feeling of discovering a song over the airwaves. There’s something about giving up control of the playlist to a good radio DJ and hearing something exciting for the first time that can trump even the most impeccably curated personal mix. All of this means, then, that for those of us who can, and frequently do, opt out of traditional radio listening, the radio might not be necessary, but it still seems needed.
I’m curious to know your thoughts: Do you listen to the radio? Have online music options and iPods impacted your radio habits? Do you listen to online radio stations? If you were a KUSF listener, what are you going to do now? Post your thoughts in the comments.
Also, if you are interested in joining KUSF supporters in figuring out next steps in protesting the station’s sale, please do visit Save KUSF on Facebook.
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Religious Girls and Appetite play Yours Truly/TerrorEyes.tv show 1/21/11 at the Common
January 20, 2011
Friday at The Common, two of the Bay Area’s finer music videographers, Yours Truly and Terroreyes.tv, present directors’ cuts of previous work along with performances by Appetite and Religious Girls. Catching an Appetite performance outside of the Sacramento area is rare, but expect to hear more about this project when Teddy Briggs’ newest record sees its official release on vinyl in June.
It’s a good deal — for $10, you get in with complimentary beer from Rogue and pizzas on sale courtesy of The Pizza Hacker, plus that hip SoMa ambiance.
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The Dodos announce ‘No Color’ tour, including hometown show at the Fillmore 4/7/11
January 20, 2011
As we’ve all heard by now, the new album from the Dodos comes out on March 15th via Frenchkiss, and the duo brought in Neko Case to sing on the album. That’s really awesome.
Starting February 1st, those who pre-order No Color on the Dodos’ website will receive an immediate download of “Black Night,” one of the songs from the new record.
And starting March 10th, Meric and Logan will set out on a fairly long U.S. and European tour. This tour includes a stop at the Fillmore on April 7th. All tour dates and a special “making-of” No Color video after the jump.
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Review + Photos: Still Flyin’, Social Studies, La Corde @ Rickshaw 1/14
January 20, 2011
Still Flyin’ grandstanded the audience at Rickshaw last Friday night, flooding the stage with two percussionists, three backup singers and some epic dance songs. Jamming through songs off their new release Neu Ideas, Sean Rawls played an easy comaraderie with the audience, teasing them with promises of old favorite, “Bird is Aware,” later in the set. It was hard to tell whether the band or the audience was having more fun or dancing harder, but I will say, Rawls brought the champagne.
Social Studies, with their precise indie pop, flushed out the middle set. While their music rides on the energy of rock, there is a darker filament to their music that nicely offsets singer Natalia Rogovin’s silver and gold voice. You can catch them playing Noise Pop on February 23rd at Bottom of the Hill.
Rock band La Corde was playing when I got to the Rickshaw. I caught their last song, punctuated by the singer’s wild and ready dancing. Keep an eye out for four new songs they have coming out.
La Corde
Social Studies
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Foxtails Brigade announce ‘The Bread and the Bait’ debut
January 19, 2011
Foxtails Brigade are set to make their official debut – although the band has been playing around the Bay for awhile now, linking their name to a certain jaunty, acoustic neo-folk style.
The Bread and the Bait is scheduled for release on April 12th, 2011, via Antenna Farm Records. The album features frontwoman Laura Weinbach, and was recorded by Scott McDowell, Anton Patzner, Dave Reep and Drew Zagesec.
Foxtails Brigade – “The Bread and the Bait”
Foxtails Brigade – “The Hours”
Foxtails Brigade will be playing live at Viracocha this Wednesday, January 19th (8:00 pm, $5-$15 suggested donation), along with Chloe Makes Music and Jascha vs. Jascha.
Previously:
- Seaweed Sway returns with Mariee Sioux, Foxtails Brigade, Judgement Day at Swedish 6/11
- Foxtails Brigade Chat With Sivan
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PUBLIC ENEMY at Yoshis?!
January 19, 2011
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 3rd record, Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy brought the noize to SF’s Yoshis this past weekend. It just so happened to be Martin Luther King’s birthday weekend. Back in 1991, the band’s fourth release, Apocolypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Back, addressed the fact that some US states did not recognize MLK’s birthday as a national holiday (in the song “By the Time I Get to Arizona”). That same song is now being used to rally people against the current racist immigration policies in that state, and is even more timely given the recent shootings there. Coincidences? Not for Public Enemy. They knew it then, and they are still fighting the powers that be. Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Professor Griff were all in attendance, and joined by a very hot band. They nailed all the hits and the crowd, heavy with middle aged white guys, was loving every minute of it. Chuck sported an Oscar Grant t-shirt. Flav took off a jacket to reveal his big clock.
Inspired by the band’s passion, I managed to sneak backstage to pay my respects. The 2nd show at 10pm was sold out, and the door man was doing everything he could to shoo me out. In desperation, I asked Flav if I might be able to stay for the last set. After a long dramatic pause, as if I was on his reality show begging for another date, he granted me permission to stay and I was ushered right back in. Thanks again Flavor!
