Everything CW

Upcoming Shows: our recommendations

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:56:26 GMT

Listen up music fans, we’ve got the 411 about some great shows coming up:

A Fine Frenzy @ Great American Music Hall
You may not be very familiar with the name A Fine Frenzy, but chances are, you’ve heard their music. Their sparkling ballads have been featured all over the place from One Tree Hill to The Hills. A Fine Frenzy is fronted by the fiery and spunky redheaded singer/songwriter Alison Sudol, who has all the makings of a great artist. Not only did she teach herself how to play the piano, but she also has a strong love for fine literature, which emanates through her whimsical yet refined lyrics. Sudol & co. are ready to take the music world by storm with their sophomore release Bomb in a Birdcage. Catch A Fine Frenzy @ the Great American Music Hall on Thu, Nov 12, 8 PM. Tickets are available online here.
http://www.myspace.com/afinefrenzy

Peter Bjorn & John @ Great American Music Hall
We all best know the Swedish trio of Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson for that one catchy whistling tune. Peter Bjorn & John (or as I like to call them, PB&J) bursted onto the scene with their ubiquitous hit “Young Folks,” which was featured everywhere from commercials, Gossip Girl, and was even sampled by the infamous “outburster” himself, Mr. Kanye West. The indie-rock imports, now in their tenth year, want to show that they’re not just some one-hit wonder. With their latest release Living Thing, PB&J are out to prove that they’re in it for the long run. Catch Peter Bjorn & John @ the Great American Music Hall on Thu/Fri, Nov 19/20, 9 PM. Tickets are available online here.
http://www.myspace.com/peterbjornandjohn

Support the Local Music Scene

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:45:58 GMT

The Bay Area music scene has always been a busy and bustling hotbed of incredibly diverse and unique new talents. Here are some of my favorite local acts that I feel are right on the verge of breaking out:

Audrye Sessions
Genre: Indie/Rock/Alternative
Sounds Like: Radiohead, Muse, Manchester Orchestra
http://www.myspace.com/audryesessions

Audrye Sessions, who describe their sound as having a "very Brit-rock feel like The Beatles meet Muse,” craft guitar-powered pop that blends brooding energy with lush arrangements and delicately tender vocals. The Oakland-based quartet got their start playing gigs at local coffeehouses, eventually becoming one of the Bay’s most recent buzzed-about bands, playing for Noise Pop and SxSw and opening for the Dandy Warhols and Louis XIV. Earlier this year, the group made the leap to major-label status, signing with Black Seal, and released their self-titled debut album. What’s most striking about this band is frontman Ryan Karazija’s voice. His wispy falsetto is so similar to that of Thom Yorke’s, it’s downright eerie.

Dizzy Balloon
Genre: Rock/Pop/Indie
Sounds Like: Queen, The Beatles, The Morning Benders
http://www.myspace.com/dizzyballoon

Dizzy Balloon (formerly known as Panda) is a five-piece pop group hailing from Piedmont. Their self-titled debut, which was released last year, features infectiously upbeat and punchy pop numbers that make you want to get up, clap your hands, and boogie down. These rowdy youngsters were barely juniors in high school when they began to gain popularity around the Bay Area, garnering steady airplay on KITS (Live 105) and packing venues, including Slim’s and Bottom of the Hill. They’ve become known for their high energy live shows and beat out over a hundred other Bay Area bands last year to win the opening spot for Not So Silent Night, sharing the stage with rock heavyweights such as The Killers, Bloc Party, and Franz Ferdinand. Catch them at the Rickshaw Stop in SF on November 28, and see all the Dizzy buzz for yourself.

LoveLikeFire
Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop
Sounds Like: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, The Killers
http://www.myspace.com/lovelikefire

The San Francisco-based indie rock quartet know how to take initiative, forging a truly independent path of their own, without the aid of a label, as they independently released two EPS and promoted their music through a self-organized and self-financed national tour. The group was formed in 2006 when vocalist Anne Yu and drummer/keyboardist David Farwell met at a show playing in other bands, eventually teaming up with bassist Eric Amerman and guitarist Marty Mattern. Anne Yu’s hauntingly enticing vocals are set against a multi-layered wall of sound, similar to the style of Arcade Fire, that treads into darkly brooding territory, taking the listener to a rhythmic and artful trip through a dream-pop landscape. Recently, the group signed to Heist or Hit records and released their latest album Tear Ourselves Away in the UK, but I have a feeling soon enough they’re going to makes waves across the ocean here in the US.

Joshua Radin @ Great American Music Hall

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:54:20 GMT

Singer-songwriter Joshua Radin stopped by SF last night, along with the Watson Twins, to play a show at the Great American Music Hall. I was very curious to see how well he could translate his melancholy and subdued music into a live show. His performance was a delightful mix of honesty and humor. The candid singer-songwriter entertained the crowd by providing charming insight and commentary about his songs as he played them. With just him and acoustic guitar at-hand, Joshua Radin didn’t need much else to command the attention of the crowd. Radin’s sweetly stunning voice and emotionally open delivery easily captivated the audience, lulling them into a “pin-drop” hush and outright awe. If you missed it, check out his music at http://www.joshuaradin.com.

Cobra Starship @ The Warfield

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:53:01 GMT

There I was, a 21-year-old college student, stuck in a sea of teenybopper girls dressed in day-glo apparel, screeching at the top of their lungs, “I make them good girls go bad...” You’d think that I’d be above this, right? Well…no. Actually, I was singing right along with them.

I’ll probably get a sh*tstorm for saying this, but I love pop-punk and Fueled by Ramen bands. So, when asked to cover the Cobra Starship/Boys Like Girls show at the Warfield, I was like, “Hell yeah!”

As soon as Cobra Starship’s stage was set up, with their neon glow-in-the-dark “Get Awesome” signs, you knew what kind of show you would be in for. The gang pulled out the big guns early by kicking off their set with “The City Is At War,” immediately whipping the crowd into a dancing frenzy. Lead vocalist Gabe Saporta came out looking all trendy with his plaid shirt and trucker cap, and the others looked just as snazzy.

The bulk of the set consisted of songs from their most recent album Hot Mess, but they also managed to squeeze in some of the old goodies. Before playing their huge debut single “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane),” Gabe gave props to the man, the myth, the legend—Samuel L. Jackson. Cranking up the Snakes on a Plane love, the lively front man then commanded the masses to put up their best Cobra signs, and they were more than happy to oblige. In the middle of the song, the band mixed in parts of Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” creating a surprisingly awesome medley.

Gabe worked the crowd like a pro, giving off charisma and confidence, and he had them eating out of the palm of his hand by the end of the set. The Cobra crew capped off the night with their latest hit “Good Girls Go Bad.” Sadly, there was no Leighton Meester (Blair from Gossip Girl who handled lead vocal duties on the recording) but Keytarist Victoria Asher stepped up to the plate, doing an impressive job filling in for the Gossip Girl.

Anna Ternheim @ Slim’s

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:09:41 GMT

Anna Ternheim is a superstar, or at least she is in her native country. The Swedish singer-songwriter has won many awards for her music, including Best Female Artist and Best Lyricist from the Swedish Grammyjury. Although Anna isn’t as well-known around here, her latest release, Leaving on a Mayday, produced by Bjorn Yttling (of Peter Bjorn and John) is sure to grab some attention. Recently, I had the chance to check her out as the opening act for Loney, Dear and Asobi Seksu at Slim’s.

The platinum blonde songstress came out on stage looking very chic and sleek with her all-black get-up, sporting an oversized blazer and a pair of liquid leggings. She also had these very cool mid-calf motorcycle boots, which I absolutely fell in love with. But even more than a fashion statement, she wanted to share a piece of her mind with the crowd through her music.

After opening up with “Let It Rain,” she went into “Black Sunday Afternoon,” introducing the song as “a song about missing and kidnapped children.” From the get-go, Anna established a serious tone, only stopping a few times between songs to say a polite thank you. This girl meant business! She switched things up a bit by playing the upbeat, cowbell-tinged “What Have I Done,” getting the mostly peaceful crowd to groove along. I felt that the performance could’ve used a tad more cowbell, but that’s just me.

Anna was backed up by fellow Swedes Loney, Dear. The band did an awesome job, playing like they’ve been backing her up for years. The set came full circle, as Anna ended on a bittersweet note with “No I Don’t Remember.”

Leaving on a Mayday was released on August 11, and is available through Amazon and iTunes.

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s @ Fox Theater

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:40:58 GMT

Recently, I got the chance to check out my very first Yeah Yeah Yeah’s show at the Fox Theater in Oakland. Needless to say, I was blown away.

The NYC trio turned the Theater into one giant dance hall, getting those booties shaking and the floor quaking, as they played upbeat energizers like “Dull Life,” “Heads Will Roll,” and their latest single “Zero.” The band also showed their “soft side,” stirring the crowd with their emotional ballads, including “Soft Shock” and, of course, their breakthrough hit “Maps.”

Karen O came out looking as fierce as ever, with her neon orange glow-in-the-dark make-up, electric blue fish net stockings, and zebra-themed leotard with a mane-ish head-piece to boot. I just love Karen O’s sense of style. She shows that it’s not what you wear, but how you rock an outfit. She can wear a frickin’ potato sack, and still be sexy.

The rest of the gang played amazingly well, with guitarist Nick Zinner bringing on the distorted rhythms and drummer Brian Chase laying down the dynamic beats. During the whole time they were on stage, the band looked like they were genuinely having so much fun, making the concert that much more awesome!

The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are just one of those bands that you have to see play live. This will have to go down as one of the best concerts I’ve been to… ever!