Los Campesinos!

I recently reconnected with an old friend I went to grade school with back in NJ. He now lives in LA and manages a great restaurant/bar called Mirabelle on Sunset. This restaurant happens to be fairly close to the Troubadour, so I stopped in for dinner and a beverage prior to going to see Los Campesinos! After I clarified that they were not a Latino, but a Welsh band... he asked what kind of music it was. As you know, I hate this question. But I gave him the simple answer: Tweecore. So, after I let the blank stare linger a moment longer, I came up with, "imagine Iggy & The Stooges covering Raffi (or maybe the other way around?) and that will get you somewhere in the neighborhood."

After I ate, I headed over to the show and was disappointed that I only caught the last song of a band I was actually curious about, Parenthetical Girls, and I totally missed Abe Vigoda, which I heard was incredible. During the short break, I got my adult beverage and thank goodness I got it quickly because before I knew it, the band was on stage and ready to go @ about 10p... This is remarkably early for a headliner on a Saturday night, no?

In any case, Los Campesinos! started their set with the polychoral 'ONE TWO THREE FOUR, ONE TWO THREE FOUR' introduction heard on the track, 'Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats'. And from there it was loud, animated, clappy, dansy, and sweaty music for the next 45 minutes. An unfamiliar listener might not have understood that the wanton cacophony generating such excitement was actually quite calculated and extraordinarily tight... While it was obvious that the crowd embraced Los Campesinos! from the motions of their bobbing heads, it wasn't until members of Parenthetical Girl came out into the audience that the crowd let loose. It seems that these two bands have generated quite a bond, and there was some serious emotion when lead singer began talking about how hard it was going to be to part with their touring companions.

Parenthetical Girls started hopping, dancing, crowd surfing and getting the audience going nuts... And I mean Go Team! @ GAMH 2006 nuts.. It was a very memorable show... make sure to catch them the next time they are stateside.

Check out an interview on Above The Fold
Venuszine's recap of Paranthetical Girls
More pictures from the show on Prefixmag.com

Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Jamie Lidell @ El Rey

It is said that Los Angeles sucks the soul dry. Fortunately for about 800 Angelinos in attendance at the El Rey Theatre last night, a fresh, delicious refill was served courtesy of Jamie Lidell; and their cups now runneth over!

The evening's stage was set by James Pants who opened with a radio countdown format, spinning samples off vinyl and digital format and throwing in a little vocals. He got the crowd warmed up for some elbow-jerking, ass-shaking good times.

After a short break, Jamie Lidell emerged wearing black-and-white striped pajama pants and a shiny gold smoking jacket. The sax player followed wearing a red silk robe and business socks. These guys definitely do not suffer for fashion. Sax guy's awesomeness does not end there, though, as he demonstrated how to play two-- count 'em: one, two-- saxophones simultaneously. Jamie is also supported by a keyboardist, bassist, and two percussionists. After about four songs from his new album, Jim, the band disappeared leaving Lidell alone on stage for a 15 minute beatbox and looping interlude that captivated the smiles and feet of all in attendance. The band then returned to the stage to dish up a fresh serving of funk, soul, groove and, of course, a little bit (more) feel good.

As I walked out of the show, I was surrounded by ear-to-ear grins, and comments that included, "Did that really happen?", "Holy Shit! He touched me, I can't believe he touched me.", "That might have been the greatest show I've ever seen, now lets go have sex." Though I didn't check with everyone personally, based on hearing these comments, it seemed that all who were there enjoyed the show.

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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.

Why I LOVE Noise Pop.

Every year I get excited about the bands headlining at Noise Pop. And inevitably, I walk away with a new love affair with at least one of the bands that would open for them. Last night my Noise Pop discovery was The Builders and The Butchers who opened for Helio Sequence at the Independent. Their style is a grimy southern rock with bluegrass, folk, and punk influences. Each song is written and performed with a haunting dark passion that makes me believe they've lived everything they were singing about (murder, thievery, and rambling) as great storytellers should always be able to do. If someone can find postings with lyrics.. please let me know.

More photos on The Bay Bridged