Backseat Beat Episode 11: The SHE’S, part 2
May 24, 2011
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.
After a hard year of acing chemistry, we’re gearing up for summer, digging through our drawers for that bikini we bought last August, maybe a little white lipstick, and our ancient tube of Bain du Soleil. Nothing says summer like kicking back and sipping warm PBR on a blanket while picking sand out of your sandwich. Yeah, that does sound nice… Too bad nine days out of ten this summer we’ll be freezing our asses off, wrapped in six layers, knowing there’s no way in hell we’re going to stick one toe in the water at Ocean Beach. But it’s not a total loss — bands like The SHE’S are writing songs that are so perfect for summer, they’ll keep us warm while we’re holed up in our apartments, fighting back the fog.
Summer vacation is nice and all, but it’s not the only thing on The SHE’S minds. In part 2 of episode 11, The SHE’S discuss braces, Yoda, and their fans. The also wanted us to tell you that they’ll play your quinceañera… just don’t bring up the word queso, okay?
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Weekend plays last show for a while at the Indy, recording new Slumberland EP this week
May 23, 2011
Weekend headlined the Independent last Thursday, with local support from Jealousy and Clipd Beaks, just before taking an extended break from playing shows. The Independent was firmly packed, and though Weekend was slightly under-amplified, their set was strong with a handful of new songs performed. They’ll be in the studio this week, likely documenting a few of those songs at Ruminator Audio, where they recorded the previous release, Sports. There is no release date yet for Weekend’s follow-up EP on Slumberland.
Weekend will head to Europe next month to play the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, which couldn’t have a more diverse music schedule (Iron Maiden, Arctic Monkeys, Mastodon, PJ Harvey, MIA, The Strokes, Kings of Leon headline). The remainder of the European dates haven’t been announced.
Weekend – End Times (Radio Edit) by Slumberland Records
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Recommended, 5/23-5/29: SF Popfest Edition!
May 23, 2011
Every Monday, we’ll be offering you early picks for some of the week’s best concerts. Do you think we omitted something worthwhile? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to visit our Local Concert Calendar for an expanded set of daily listings.
Mixtape: SF Popfest 2011 (Episode #249)
By now, you’ve hopefully had a chance to sample some of the many exciting bands partaking in this year’s San Francisco Popfest, which runs from this Wednesday to Sunday. These day-by-day previews highlight some of the many reasons why we’re excited to support this fest.
Wednesday
Acclaimed Australian shoegaze band The Black Ryder co-headlines Wednesday’s Rickshaw Stop show (8pm, $12) with SF’s Blackbird Blackbird, who has been working on new songs that continue to experiment in new sonic directions. As with all of the Popfest shows, get there early: on Wednesday, Mikey from Blackbird Blackbird’s jangly, Brit-influenced band Wolf Feet opens the show.
Blackbird Blackbird – “Euphoria”
Thursday
Dominant Legs‘ only release so far is 2010′s Young at Love and Life, but every visit to that four-song EP gets me psyched for the band’s upcoming full length. At Cafe Du Nord on Thursday (8pm, $12), the SF band’s smart avant-pop will be paired with Sarah Records band Aberdeen, reuniting after 10 years apart. The SoCal twee-pop group was, notably, the only California band to release any music on Sarah before it folded. The Motifs and Sweater Girls open the show.
Aberdeen – Sunny in California by sfpopfest
Friday
Visa troubles have prevented Allo Darlin’ from being at the Rickshaw Stop (8pm, $15) on Friday night, but I don’t want the disappointment to obscure what remains an amazing show. “Teenage Kicks” gets most of the attention, but The Undertones‘ catalog is far deeper; the group’s self-titled debut features an abundance of nervy foot-stompers, and the band eventually went on to explore psychier terrain before the end of their first run. Playing a slate of “35th Anniversary” shows earlier this year, the reunited quintet’s recent output has returned to that classic punk-pop sound. Local jangle-pop heroes The Mantles and Burlington’s The Smittens support.
The Mantles – Raspberry Thighs
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Video: The Tambo Rays – “Draggin Our Bones”
May 23, 2011
THE TAMBO RAYS- Draggin Our Bones from Katelin Hull-Nye on Vimeo.
Newcomers the Tambo Rays have started things off with a bang. This video for “Draggin Our Bones” is an elaborate affair – shot on 16mm film, with a full cast of characters entrenched in 1920s film noir.
More music, including the catchy “Draggin Our Bones”, can be heard on the Tambo Rays’ Soundcloud.
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Grandma’s Boyfriend – “Jellyyyyyyyyyyy”
May 20, 2011
Grandma’s Boyfriend – “Jellyyyyyyyyyyy”
Grandma’s Boyfriend recently reaffirmed that whole book/cover rule for me in a big way: the band name might be juvenile, but the music is some undeniably catchy DIY power-pop. I Want Pizza! is out on cassette via Loglady, and the band is playing a free show this Sunday with Wet Illustrated and Permanent Collection. Details in the flyer above.
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Photos & Review: HEY LADIES! Agent Ribbons, Hot Toddies, Bam!Bam! @ The Uptown, 5/18/11
May 20, 2011
“Free shows are the best shows!” announced Natalie Ribbons, mastermind behind Agent Ribbons who headlined an all girl showcase at the Uptown last Wednesday. Amen to that. Originally from Sacramento, these ladies moved to Austin a few years back. It is our loss and their gain. Their time in Austin has paid off with yet more energy and confidence. The set began with an acapella song complete with a cooperative hand clapping game. One song featured masks, another left Natalie lying on the ground, and all brought infectious, barefoot, pogo action. They played a great deal from their brand new 2nd CD/LP, Chateau Crone, just released on Oakland’s very own Antenna Farm Records. They closed with “Birds and Bees” from their 2006 CD/LP Time Travel and Romance, a surprise encore and special request from some very excited friends in the front row.
Oakland girls The Hot Toddies held the middle slot of the showcase. The first song could have been the Go-Go’s (and that’s not such a bad thing really), but from there they took off, mixing surf and sugary pop nuggets with some serious instrumentation. Take “Rain or Shine” from their aptly-titled, new CD Get Your Heart On. There is no reason this shouldn’t be a summer radio hit. The 1st CD Smell the Mitten contains the now classic “Wet Dream” with a great line about Chai tea. Four part harmonies are a rare commodity these days, and often for good reason, but these ladies pull it off.
All the boys with cameras were very excited
Opening the evening were two more Oakland rocker grrrls known as Bam!Bam! – I’m sad to say I only caught the last song, but it left me wanting more. As if by telepathy, they projected a video as they left the stage. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a band end the set with a video but surprisingly it worked. I believe this awesome video was for “Why I Had To Go” and now I long to see it live. Fortunately Bam!Bam! play this Saturday in Oakland’s Mosswood Park as part of Moss Woodstock, an all day free festival of art and music. It all starts at noon.
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Photos & Review: The Fiery Furnaces @ Cafe Du Nord, 5/18/11
May 20, 2011
Lost At Sea – The Fiery Furnaces by reversefrasier
Ask a random person on the street about Brooklyn sibling band The Fiery Furnaces, and you will be met with a blank stare. But for nearly ten years, Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger have been the darlings of the art rock intelligentsia and quite a few more diverse fringy people as well.
The Freidbergers are the product of a musical, creative family and their output has shown an infuriating insistance on reshuffling and exploring, in defiance of stylistic category.
As with their recorded output, The Friedbergers’ live outings have ranged from spare to bombastic with shifting side players. They have also been responsible for one of the most chopped n’ screwed live albums ever, Remember – a sort of collage of live source tapes. Wednesday’s partially-seated duo show – just Eleanor, Matthew and an electric piano – sold out quickly and drew a lively multi-generational crowd.
As a listener who has found the group somewhat impenetrable, I was eager to catch the flavor of this intimate date and try to get the essence of their intense and broad appeal.
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Wiretap Music presents Love Inks, Here Come the Saviours, Spiro Agnew at the Hemlock 5/21/11
May 20, 2011
This Saturday, May 21st, Wiretap Music presents two local bands and one band from Austin at the Hemlock (9:30 pm, $7, 21+). Spiro Agnew (album release, You’ve Been Set Up) and Here Come the Saviours open for out-of-towners Love Inks, making for an evening full of guitar-led electronica, shoegaze, and minimalist pop, respectively.
Additionally, for those keeping watch, Spiro Agnew are changing their name and will be known as What Model Citizens following the conclusion of Saturday’s show.
