First Concert(s) of 2010 - Double Header!

I had the special privilege of catching my former co-worker's band, The Matinees, yesterday at El Rio in San Francisco. Jaime was my office manager at The ONION and was there with us from the beginning! I love their sound. Look out for them in San Francisco!

I then zipped off to see The Builders and The Butchers who never ever disappoint! Check out the video here.



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Starfucker @ Bottom of the Hill

Strength and Deejay Ceejay opened for Starfucker. Here's a clip from Strength.

The Builders and The Butchers - New Album, Tour Dates!

Earlier this week, The Builders And The Butchers release their second full length album called, "Salvation is Deep Dark Well". As many readers of this blog know, this is one of my favorite bands. Hailing from Alaska via Portland, these guys play a southern-grime-rock that returns to classic rock and roll roots. Everyone feels they need to draw comparisons to what/who they sound like which is a testament to its familiarity and one of the reasons I believe this band to be accessible to all listeners. Those in the indie community draw comparisons to the Decemberists.. though I disagree. Personally, I have described this bands sound to Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, and the Cold War Kids. Lead singer, Ryan Sollee is quoted in an interview with the Seattlest, "The era of songs that drive and influence the majority of the Builders' material is early Depression-era blues, folk, and gospel, and weirder stuff like Tom Waits."

I've introduced many people to this band by taking them to their live performances and I've never had anybody leave saying, "Yeah, that was OK." Instead they blather superlatives for weeks on end. And I love it because It's true... you feel really really great while listening to The Builders And The Butchers... which is ironic because their songs are about death, poverty, betrayal, death, heartache, and more death. It's story telling at its best.

The Builders and The Butchers are currently on Tour and will be playing at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on July 15, 2009. Tickets are $10. Buy your tickets now.




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The Builders and The Butchers - This Saturday!!!!

Many of you who read my blog know already that I think that The Builders and The Butchers have one of the best live performances around. I first saw them when they opened for The Helio Sequence during Noise Pop 2008 at the Independent and since have seen them 5 times in 4 different cities. I'm not a crazy stalker or anything. I just happened to be in the places that they were playing while I was traveling on business trips.

At any given point, TBATB have at least 5 people on stage and often times, there are more. They play an dark, yet animated southern-rock with double drummers (wearing tambourines on their ankles) and 'singing and shouting with guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, accordian, drums, xylophone, bells, and washboard.'.. and and trumpets, and a tin funnel... They hand out instruments (shakers, tambourines, etc) for the audience to participate which makes for a very fun experience. Singer Ryan Sollee has a unique and compelling voice and delivers his masterfully written lyrics with a passion that you don't hear very often. Alex Ellis plays non-upright acoustic bass and sports a sweet 'stache. Harvey switches between mandolin/banjo, and Ray and Paul play the drums and the trumpet.. among other shit.

Every person I introduce to their music is immediately taken, often blown away. Every person I bring to their live show immediately walks away muttering superlatives incredulously. For this reason... if you have the means to get to Bottom of the Hill this Saturday, February 21, 2009, you must go. They will be opening for Murder by Death (also awesome), so get there early.

Here's some video:



P.S. To Current fans of The Builders... go listen to a new song, titled 'Barcelona' on their myspace page.

Here's quote from Denver's Westword:

"Luckily, the Builders and the Butchers saved the day with their double drummer, country-rock infusion on hand to bring the mood back down to a pleasantly depressing level of euphoria. The place was packed, and you could feel that same energy resonate through the whole theater by the time Murder by Death took the stage to elevate the Valentine's Day blues factor to a whole new level. Songs from the act's new album, Red of Tooth and Claw, comprised an hour and a half of whiskey-driven rock and roll, while a video played in the background to keep all senses engaged. The video, which was in sync with the music and looked like something out of an art school kid's nightmare, perfectly set the mood for the other album that dominated Murder's set, Who Will Survive and What Will be Left of Them? - which the outfit also played in its entirety.

Quote from Brooklyn Vegan

"The Builders and the Butchers started the show with an up-tempo set, echoing other new traditional bands O'death and the Decemberists - especially in its strained, twangy vocals and mandolin/banjo on the side. The muddy stage mix accentuated the malleted drums, which sounded like steel-toed boots kicking Rubbermaid containers (in the best way possible). Singer/guitarist Ryan Sollee passed the crowd hand percussion for the last chorus of the band's last song. All together, the band came off like a fun work-in-progress, with its various songwriting and stage-show parts fine-tuned enough for the welcoming, appreciative crowd."

Quote from WouldbeHipster from a show that boasted Amanda Palmer as the headliner

The heavy lifting started early as Portland-based openers The Builders and Butchers took the stage, immediately jumping into their percussive-heavy songs about, what else, death and dancing. Now, don't get me wrong, their CD is a solid dose of goth-punk-blues. However, you can't bottle lightening (lest you end up as one of their future song topics no doubt). Live, there's a delicious take-no-prisoners element and more instruments than you can shake a washboard at. By the end of the blistering half hour set their need for percussion was so great, many audience members were enlisted as back up, one lucky person armed with the band's kick drum.

Quote from the Owl Mag:

Though the band only performed on the shorter side of a half hour, the set was the right amount of intense with not a bit of pretension. The Builders and the Butchers tossed out tambourines, cymbals, and maracas for their last song "Bringin' Home the Rain." Those that couldn't reach an instrument embellished the music with clapping and stomping. The simple percussion was by far one of the most beautiful moments of the night.

Other reviews:
Phoenix

Sound on the Sound





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The Swan Song...

It has been a wonderful adventure being in San Francisco for the last 9.5 years. Over the last three years, I've seen about 500 different bands perform live in San Francisco, and luckily for me, my last concert in San Francisco was pretty much the best I could ask for: Face shredding performances from multiple bands in a nearly-sold-out small venue.

Portugal. The Man + Foxy Shazam at Bottom of the Hill.... That's the last handstamp I'll get from an SF venue until I eventually move back. Portugal put on a phenomenal show (almost as good as their Slim's performance). I have never seen this trio perform as a trio. They always bring others on stage (usually members of other bands on their tour). At one point there was 9 people with instruments on stage. And, while it was really really really really loud, it was amazing to see.

However it was opener, Foxy Shazam, that made this bill a night to remember forever. Keyboardist, Schuyler Vaughn White, stands like a giant animal on his keyboards while playing. It was some of the most amazing keyboard playing I've ever seen live. Between songs, lead singer, Eric Sean Nally fills in with hilarious and eccentric comedic interludes.

Their passion and stage presence was the best I've seen since Gogol Bordello. In fact, if you can imagine Gogol Bordello, Queen, and Andy Kaufman on stage together, it MIGHT give you an idea of what you are in for when you see Foxy Shazam live. If they ever stopped touring, they could make a career Off-Broadway. Check out the video below of Foxy Shazam... IF you think the composition and theatrics are amazing in this video, their live performance is easily an order of magnitude more bizarre.

Thank you San Francisco.
And goodbye.
For now.

New Years Eve Concert Roundup

Les Claypool @ The Fillmore (on sale 11/18)




Cake + The Lovemakers @ The Warfield on sale 11/18




Brazilian Girls + Kinky + Ved Vire Society + Many many more @ SF Concourse Exhibition Center, $55+, 21+ only, tickets on sale now.




ALO + Honeycut @ The Independent ($85, open bar, 21+, on sale now)




Melvins + Comets on Fire @ Slims




Scissors for Lefty @ Bottom of the Hill, $19.99/$25 (18+)



Stay tuned for updates as more shows are announced.

Two Seconds @ Bottom of the Hill

Teenage phenoms, Two Seconds, hit the stage again Friday night at the Bottom of the Hill. If you are unfamiliar with their sound, imagine if the White Stripes and Sleater-Kinney made babies... they would be named Two Seconds. The duo consists of Sierra Frost on vocals and guitar and Lily Faden on drums and vocals. Frost brings a tremendous song-writing ability and an extraordinary voice. Faden's performance on drums is unmatched by any local act I've seen. She brings a true rock and roll flair to the drums with flailing hair, arms, and bare feet. Trying to qualify their talents by categorizing them with other teen acts would be an exercise in futility as this duo can rock harder than most bands, on any level.

To date they've release two albums and recently cut a new single which can be heard on their myspace page. One listen to their sound, and I guarantee that you'll want to see these two prodigies perform.

Both the girls have been performing with Elephone, led by Ryan Lambert. Additionally, Lambert and Frost have started yet another project called Kill Moi. However, as the kids approach the end of their High School days, the future of Two Seconds remains uncertain. So get to this show tomorrow night, as the magic that they make together might soon take a back seat to responsibility, education and other ambitions.


San Francisco Live Music
SFlivemusic

Have You Been Killed?

Two of San Francisco's very talented emerging local artists, Ryan Lambert (Elephone) and Sierra Frost (Two Seconds, Elephone) have started a side project called Kill Moi. Check out their new myspace page.

While they haven't performed as Kill Moi yet in San Francisco, you can catch Elephone at the Indie Festival on August 25th along with Sugarcult, Scissors For Lefty, Audrye Sessions, Push To Talk, immigrant, minipop, Poor Bailey, Overview, Panda, Bel Air Academy, National Product, ESKIMO JOE, Cold Hot Crash, and The Frail. You can catch Two Seconds perform at Bottom of the Hill on September 7th.

Thread Productions Showcase

After paying my money to get into the Bottom of the Hill and getting my hand stamped, I felt somewhat uncomfortable. I felt a little out of place.. like that old Sesame Street song, 'One of these things is not like the other'. No, was not judging anyone. It was just that I was the only person in the place without a headband. Did I miss a memo? I didn't know there was a dress code. So, nervously, I approach the bar trying not to make eye contact with with anyone and I ordered a drink. I filter through the crowd and I approach the merch booth to buy the new Sky Pilots CD. Lo and behold! They were giving away headbands to everyone at Bottom of the Hill. Huzzah! Conformity at last! Plus one of the band members gave me a copy of the Thread Productions compilation CD. But the giving didn't stop there. Each and every band that stepped foot on that stage must have summoned the gods of rock-awesomeness before they went on stage, and they gave the audience performance to remember if they ever recover from the head explosions and the face-shreddings. The headbands, by the way, were merely for safety: to prevent chunks of brain from the head explosions from getting everywhere. I won't say any more. Check out the pictures. Listen to a sample of the bands in the playlist below.

Low Red Land. As you can see, they are pretty stiff... almost like they're not really into it.


Sky Pilots: I promised head explosions. They delivered.



Silian Rail: Remember when Neo dodged bullets in the Matrix? Yeah.. He's that fast. Pretty good for a guy with no arms.

Apologies to Tartufi: My battery died in the middle of the Silian Rail set.




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Thread Productions Showcase @ Bottom of the Hill - JULY 27th

Attention Rockers: Clear your calendars and make sure you are at the Bottom of the Hill on July 27th for the Thread Productions Showcase. The four bands performing in the showcase are Tartufi, Silian Rail, Low Red Land and Sky Pilots who are all part of the San Francisco music collective, Thread Productions. I have seen the Sky Pilots play Hotel Utah and The Knockout, and I would definitely get to Bottom of the Hill early enough to catch their entire set. The Sky Pilots manage to skilfully weave dischord and complicated rhythms into heavy hitting math rock that, performed by lesser musicians, would sound like a nonsensical cacophony. If you own more than two Fugazi albums, and love Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, and hate kittens, you will love the Sky Pilots.
"thread productions"

Rock Out to the Blackout with Portugal. The Man

From SFgate.com: At least 20,000 without power in downtown S.F.

Sorry everyone... I think I had too many windows open while downloading Zoolander off iTunes, cooking a lasagna, making microwave popcorn and listening to Portugal The Man. My bad.

BTW, new Portugal The Man album comes out today... AND they will be playing Bottom of the Hill tonight. In the dark. (see how it all ties together?)

New Shows Announced.. and Treasure Island Music Festival Playlists..

8/20 - MC Lars @ Cafe du Nord... buy tickets now.
8/24 - Oh No! Oh My! (Bottom of the Hill)...
9/12 - Lily Allen @ Warfield
9/17 - The New Pornographers @ Warfield
9/30 - They Might Be Giants @ Fillmore
10/02 - The Noisettes (Bottom of the Hill)
10/26 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists (Great American)
11/12, 13, 14 - Of Montreal - 3 NIGHTS @ GAMH!
11/13 & 14 - Stars - 2 NIGHTS @ Bimbo's
11/29 - Ghostland Observatory (Mezzanine)..

Also, if you don't have tickets to the following shows, you should hurry before they sell out:
8/29 - Gogol Bordello.. This Gypsy Punk rocker will deliver an unforgettable show... guaranteed. LISTEN HERE.



9/15 - 9/16 Treasure Island Music Festival...
Saturday Sept. 15 will feature Thievery Corporation, Gotan Project, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, M.I.A., Ghostland Observatory, Zion I, and more. LISTEN HERE!


Sunday September 16 will feature Modest Mouse, Spoon, Built to Spill, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, M. Ward, Earlimart, Au Revoire Simone, and more. LISTEN HERE!


MC LarsGotan ProjectNew Pornographers"Treasure Island Music Festival"treasureislandmusicfestivalohnoohmynoisettestedleoandthepharmacistsofmontreal"ghostland observatory"Thievery Corporation