It's About Time A Rock Band Made Another Deal With The Devil

Last night I went to go see Portugal. The Man. I've been listening to their new album, Church Mouth, incessantly for the past few months. The album is somewhat different than their previous releases incorporating a classic southern-blues rock vs. a rock-synth combination. In my opinion each album/ep is better than their last. On 'Church Mouth' you might initially hear a White Stripes influence, but the sound is bigger than that; perhaps it is what the White Stripes would have liked to achieve if 1/2 their band was a bit more talented. On the other hand, I've read reviews that discuss how Portugal. The Man is influenced by Led Zeppelin. Great. Saying that a rock band is influenced by Led Zeppelin is like saying the Pope is influenced by Jesus Christ.

But it is a valid comparison; and a comparison that even the most discriminating music lovers will agree with especially after seeing them perform live. As a group, Portugal. The Man, is incredibly tight and each member plays like he is trying to out-do the musical awesomeness coming from the band mates around him, and that was fun to see. Cliches aside, while you will hear the influences of greats like Led Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Santana and Black Sabbath, the band continues to exhibit the fruits of their musical experimentation which may or may not be the direct result of a faustian bargain.

My Bloody Valentine Reunion Confirmed

MOG contributor Mackenzie P reports that a My Bloody Valentine reunion is confirmed. Read more at MOG.com

Ween Set List - San Francisco

San Francisco
The Warfield
Friday 11/10/07
Courtesy of Mango Tango, Tenacious Hand Stamp field correspondent

Warfield setlist

Birthday boy*
Chocolate town*
Mutilated lips*
Tried and true*
I don't want it* (Gene finishes with electric guitar solo)
Golden eel
Spinal
Baby bitch
Learning To Live
Piss up a rope
Light me up
Voodoo lady
Spirit walker.
Take me away
Waving my dick
Richard smoker
Transdermal
Object
Buckingham
Bananas
Party
Daisies
Own bare hands
Mollusk
Johnny on the spot
Goin gets tough
Slow down boy
Pandy
Ocean man
Shamemaker->
Fiesta

Encore
Hammer down
Tooter
Reggae junkie Jew
Dr rock

* - acoustic

Read more about the show here: Mango Tango's thread

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

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Ween Set List - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
Friday 11/9/07
Courtesy of Mango Tango, Tenacious Hand Stamp field correspondent

Dont Shit Where You Eat
Spinal Menengitis
Now I'm Freaking Out
Bananas And Blow
Learning To Love
Take Me Away
Gabrielle
Freedom Of 76
Don't Get 2 Close
Object
Even If You Don't
Woman And Man
Mutilated Lips
Buckingham Green
Your Party
Beacon Light
My Own Bare Hands
Tear For Eddie
Spirit Walker
Stallion Pt.3
Mollusk
Back To Basom
Superstar (Carpenters)
Ocean Man
Waving My Dick In The Wind > p.a. malfunction
Stroker Ace
Touch My Tooter
Puerto Rican Power
Did You See Me
Shamemaker
Fiesta

Encore
E: Squelch The Weasel
Birthday Boy
Tender Situation
Roses Are Free

If you were at the show and would like to comment, read Mango Tango's thread

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DREAM GIG

Ziddio.com is running a contest that will allow your band to go see the greatest band of all time. Upload a video of your unsigned band at its best and you'll have a chance at not only seeing Led Zeppelin play live at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, your band will play at the VIP after-party and take home $20k in equipment from Gibson!

More info at Ziddio.com

Coming Soon to the Independent!

On November 10, L.A.-based sextet, West Indian Girl, returns to the bay area to headline at the Independent. Their last performance was at the Treasure Island Music Festival where they played a 20 minute set on the side stage. I remember wanting to hear more. If I said that the sound is like a Death Cab meets Honeycut, you might get a good idea for the sound, but I don't think that's exactly it. The show at the Independent is the 3rd Annual D.A. Taylor Charitable Foundation Benefit. Opening for West Indian Girl is Earlimart.

The show is on November 10, at the Independent and tickets are $13-$30 and available at Independent.com

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Also returning to San Francisco is Vampire Weekend. Check out my earlier post about Vampire Weekend when they opened for the Shout Out Louds at the Rickshaw Stop. I'm very excited for their return. This time they will headline the Independent. They claim to be specialists in the following styles: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "Upper West Side Soweto", "Campus", and "Oxford Comma Riddim." If you don't know what that means, that means you don't know anything. Go read a book. Or just go to their myspace page and listen to a couple of tracks.

Vampire Weekend performs on Wednesday 12/5 @ The Independent. Tickets are $12 and available at Independent.com

Nicole Atkins - Neptune City

Nicole Atkins made her San Francisco debut earlier this year at Popscene when she opened for the Long Blondes. For the most part, the crowd was mulling about and the buzz of conversation would've made it extremely difficult to command a stage. No one even noticed the small frame emerge onto the stage... and those that did, didn't expect that little Jersey girl was going to be able to drown out the rowdy audience.

The moment Nicole Atkins opened her mouth to sing her first note, there was a resounding thud of jaws dropping onto the floor of the 330 Ritch nightclub in San Francisco. I was frozen in place and a bomb could have gone off in the neighboring parking lot, but there was no way I was going to take my eyes off what I was witnessing. What ensued was song after song of soulful crooning that invoked an image of Sinatra's pipes with Joplin's spirit.

Yesterday, she released her first full length album called Neptune City... I rocked out to it during the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Bay Area and then I watched her perform 'The Way It Is' on David Letterman. Anyway, the album is quickly becoming a desert island album for me so do yourself a favor and buy it. It's a keeper. And look out for her in a city near you. Also, if you see her, tell her that I want to make babies with her.

Check out another live review on Water Cooler Gossip

Check out this video: "The Way It Is"



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Unfettered Joy

The Pipettes delivered a genuine smile-fest at Bimbo's last night. Despite the usual repressed San Francisco (too-cool-for-school) crowd, the Pipettes were able to conjure up a little activity on the area in front of the stage (known to many as a 'Dance' floor). Like the last time I saw the Pipettes, no one left the room without an ear-to-ear grin.


Opening for the Pipettes were San Francisco locals, Social Studies, who also cast a spell of joyful perfection with their Indie-Nintendo-Rock and KarenO-meets-Lovefoxxx vocals. (Picture Below)


After the show we made new drinking friends.

Hello, old friend.

I've recently been spending a lot of time on the east coast visiting my nieces and nephew. The little monkeys are 6.5, 4.5, and 0.15 years old. Thankfully, I was never charged with changing diapers, but I quickly became an expert in retrieving pacifiers and quelling the shrilling cries of a newborn. Most of my time was spent entertaining the two older monkeys. Between soccer games, T-ball practice, karate lessons, horseback riding sessions, going to the zoo, the pumpkin patch, the air and space museum, carousels, watching 'High School Musical' AND 'High School Musical 2' I was a bit overwhelmed by suburban life. San Franciscans, after all, have more dogs than children under 18.

Now, my brother always was a big role model in my life, and I always viewed him as a 'do-no-wrong' type of guy. Yet, he was the one that kept me in check when I tried to slip through lies and tom-foolery. What a prick.

So when he started investing some time and interest in my social life, I started to view him a bit differently. My earliest memories of live music involve my brother. He brought me to his university when I was 15 years old and showed me how to rock. Yes... he took me to Fishbone and before I knew it, he was crowd surfing. The guy I looked up to all my life, who I believed to be stodgy, condescending prick, showed me that he was actually pretty fucking awesome.

Fast forward (20-ish years) to wife, house in the burbs, three kids, killer career and he's got little choice but to be somewhat on the fringe of (sub)popular culture. Although, he DOES know all the words to the popular songs of 'High School Musical' 1 & 2. Bless his heart, he has set aside the selfish whims of youthful irresponsibility and lives in a near-story-book life. Anyway, Since my brain was about to explode from the parade of midgets and mini-vans, I figured I needed to force-feed the father some old-fashioned fun. I scoured the local club websites.. and lo-and-behold.. Rodrigo y Gabriela making good at the 9:30 Club for a show they had previously cancelled a while back!

The show was sold out, so he tried to use that as an excuse not to go. Granted, he had a point... the 9:30 Club in DC is about a 40 minute drive from the burbs, so there was a risk of not getting in.. but for me, it was the journey that I was looking forward to, not the destination. We rolled up to the 9:30 Club, I hopped out while he looked for parking, and by the time he walked up to the door, I had two tickets in my hand for face value.

The 9:30 Club is an amazing venue. As you walk through the narrow hallway there are small dungeon-like concrete openings that allow access into the main hall (there are real doors too). The main floor is about the size of the Independent... and they REALLY pack it in. The mezzanine level had several risers so it doesn't require you having to lean on the rail to see the show (like at Great American or 12 Galaxies). All told, the venue holds about 1200... but if there is a fire in there, you're fucked.

The stage setup had a couple of small cameras on the microphone stands which looked right on to Rodrigo and Gabriela's guitars. They projected the close up image of the fast-fingering-phenoms up on the giant screen behind them as if to say, 'if you don't believe it is possible to actually play this music the way we do, here's a close-up.' It was a great touch and mesmerizing to say the least.

My big-bro never missed a beat and was rocking it out with the DC crowd and assumed wing-man duties which was a nice surprise. How could I have ever thought my idol and mentor had lost his touch? The only thing that could have made the night better is if we ordered pizza and passed out before the delivery guy arrived.

Etymology of Datarock

When the New York Yankees lose a game in the playoffs, it usually means the rest of my day goes quite poorly. I understand that's not something many non-sports fans can understand, but it happens. In general, I would disappear into seclusion and it is nearly impossible to get me back into a good mood. On Friday, however, I was committed to willing myself back into a good mood so I would be able to make it to a show on Friday. This was the data used into swinging me back into a good mood:

Fact: many great musical acts were in town,
Fact: it was the beginning of a long weekend,
Fact: the impending shit-show, Fleet Week, was on the horizon,
Fact: F-14s were delivering good vibes
Fact: the weather was pleasant
Fact: I had tickets to go see Datarock at the Rickshaw Stop

Conclusion: Snap out of it. It's just a game.

Datarock is a Norwegian band who describes their sound of a mixture as musical styles that they like. Simple enough. Their Wikipedia entry classifies them as Dance-punk, Electro Rock, and Post-punk revival. Clearly this is an odd combination, but it is true. It is nearly impossible to bundle their sound into one contrived definition. So, let's analyze what we know about Datarock and see if they are worthy of the name.

DATA //
da·tum [dey-tuhm, dat-uhm, dah-tuhm] noun, (singular)
da·ta [dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] (plural)
1. a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.

ROCK //
rock [rok]
1. to move or sway to and fro or from side to side.
2. to be moved or swayed powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.
3. to dance to or play rock music.
4. (of popular music) to have the driving beat characteristic of rock.
5. to shake or disturb violently

They opened their set with 'New Song' and rocked it hard, loud and fast. After that, they proceeded to touch a variety of musical genres. It was like going to a concert festival where one band played every stage. And they delivered an impressive performance.

Fact: I moved and swayed to and fro or from side to side.
Fact: I was moved powerfully with excitement, emotion, etc.
Fact: I danced to rock music.
Fact: The music being played had the driving beat characteristic of rock.
Fact: It shook and disturbed me violently (when I tripped up the stairs.) Yes. up. shut up. It was a long day.

Conclusion: Datarock maintains a musical backbone as they explore the limits of their versatility and creative innovation while melding a variety of genres into an extraordinarily unique collection of songs that truly rock.

Treasure Island Music Festival

I'm wayyy too lazy to put up a detailed report of this show.. but, the beauty of the blogging allows me to introduce you to a very a thorough recap of the Treasure Island Music Festival.

60 days of Rock Awesomeness

Sept 18th through November 17th is going to keep us all busy. If you can believe it, the list I'm about to organize doesn't even cover everything. But this should keep you busy. 54 shows in 60 days. I dare you.

9/18 - The Sounds
9/18 - Peter Bjorn and John
9/20 - Air
9/20 - Sean Hayes
9/21 - The Dilettantes...watch video
9/23 - Morrissey
9/24 - Maps
9/25 - !!! (chk chk chk)
9/26 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
9/27 - Midlake
9/28 - Klaxons
9/29 - Ladytron
10/2 - Jolie Holland
10/5 - Datarock
10/5 - The Aliens
10/5 - Honeycut
10/8 - Beirut
10/9 - Shout Out Louds
10/10 - Aesop Rock + Black Moth Super Rainbow
10/11 - Bat For Lashes
10/12 - Fujiya & Miyagi
10/12 - Rogue Wave
10/13 - Film School
10/15 - The Black Lips
10/16 - Electric Six
10/17 - The Velvet Teen
10/19 - The Go! Team
10/19 - Silversun Pickups
10/20 - Big Star
10/23 - The Pogues
10/24 - Blonde Redhead
10/25 - Man Man
10/25 - Tokyo Police Club
10/26 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
10/27 - Bridge School Benefit
10/28 - Scissors for Lefty + Kid Beyond
10/29 - The Pipettes
10/29 - Broken Social Scene
10/30 - Hot Hot Heat
10/31 - 1990s
11/1 - Architecture in Helsinki
11/2 - Ghostface Killah
11/3 - Do Make Say Think + Apostle of Hustle
11/4 - Tiger Army
11/4 - Tinariwen
11/5 - The Long Blondes
11/6 - Art Brut + The Hold Steady
11/7 - M.I.A.
11/9 - Feist
11/12 - Portugal. The Man
11/13 - Of Montreal
11/14 - Stars
11/15 - Parallel 23
11/17 - Cold War Kids

Boldface indicates my top recommendations. Use the links on the radar to the right to navigate to tickets or more information.







San Francisco Live Music
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The Sounds @ The Fillmore

The Sounds have been touring for 3 years straight. They just flew across the country to play two shows en route to Australia where they will continue to tour. If there was a way to harness the energy they create from the body heat of their fans, the world's energy problems would no longer be an issue. Yes. The show was amazing, once again.

Tim was there... life was good. I got to see an old friend, Liam Mayclem of Eye on the Bay fame. Ironically, the first opener was called Liam and Me (Philadelphia), and they rocked a near sold-out crowd despite the fact that they weren't announced on the bill... After that, we got a great show from Under The Influence of Giants and then of course... the sweat generators, The Sounds who made us all shake our asses. I slowly wedged myself near the front of the crowd with hopes of trying to capture a camera-phone shot of lead singer Maja Ivarsson, whose hot, sweaty body I was holding up during a brief crowd-surfing moment. Unfortunately, no posters were handed out. Doesn't matter. If you were there, you won't need any poster to remember the awesome time that was had by all.

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Concerts For Everyone

If you are even remotely into seeing live music, there's a concert for you on October 5th. In fact, five bands spanning three decades will be playing at 5 different venues, and I probably wouldn't judge you if you went to see any one of them. Maybe.

Early 80's enthusiasts can go see the original members of the Go-Go's at the Independent. If you prefer hearing something from the late 80's and early 90's, well, you can go see the Black Crowes at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. How about the original members of The Beta Band who formed in the late 90's? Their new project is called The Aliens, and you can see them at Slim's. Still not your fancy? Well, possibly The Shins who rose to fame in the early 2000's might tickle your pickle. As for the me, I'm going to the Rickshaw Stop to see a band called Datarock whose freshman release was just two years ago. Here's a video of one of their songs, Computer Camp Love.


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UPDATED 9/22 - HONEYCUT is also playing on 10/5. They will be performing at Bottom of the Hill. Might have to double up Honeycut and Datarock...

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Just Announced: Broken Social Scene Plays Kevin Drew's 'Spirit If' LIVE at the Fillmore

That headline just rolls right off the tongue, eh? Yeah, so, the way I understand it is that members of Broken Social Scene are doing solo projects but the band members of Broken Social Scene and other Arts&Crafts label artists will be touring to perform the songs of the solo artists.... uh... whatever. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew's 'Spirit If' is playing at Fillmore on Monday, October 29. Love em to death, but I'll be at the Pipettes show.

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Just Announced: The Pipettes @ Bimbo's 365

San Francisco was introduced to the Pipettes earlier this year when Aaron Axelson of Live105 fame brought them to play Popscene @ the Rickshaw Stop. While I didn't see them perform their full set that evening, I did get a chance to hear them live earlier in the day at Amoeba. Axelson described the Pipettes as "Le Tigre meets the Shangri-Las". Their sound is refreshing, familiar, and inspires pure joy. When I left Amoeba that evening, I noticed that every face in the room had a glowing smile from ear to ear. The music is not complicated, but it does what it sets out to do: Entertain. Check out the video from Popscene and the embedded video below.

The Pipettes will be performing at Bimbo's on Monday October 29th. Tickets are $15 in advance / $17 at the door. Doors at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. This an 18+ show.



San Francisco Live Music
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Just Announced: Blonde Redhead @ Warfield

When I saw Blonde Redhead perform in April, the chills I felt from the angelic vocals and haunting rhythms remained with me through May. Blonde Redhead returns to San Francisco in October, this time playing the Warfield. They played three shows over two nights during their stay in SF last April. First, they played to over 1000 people @ Amoeba, and then proceeded to play to two sold out nights at Bimbo's.

My point is that I wouldn't procrastinate on buying your tickets.
Blonde Redhead will perform Wednesday, October 24, 2007 @ The Warfield
Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm

Blonde Redhead Tickets go on sale Sunday 9/9 at 10am.

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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.


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Pickle!

It's hard to determine what the 'best' shows I've been to in the last two years. But if I had to give a quick list, here's what I would say:

Blonde Redhead @ Bimbo's
Ratatat @ Bimbo's
Gogol Bordello @ Fillmore
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Fillmore
The Sounds @ Fillmore
Arcade Fire @ Warfield
Go! Team @ Great American Music Hall
Silversun Pickups @ Rickshaw Stop

Clearly, I would see any of these bands upon their return to San Francisco. So now I'm in a pickle since the Go! Team and Silversun Pickups are playing on the same evening at two different venues on October 19. I already have tickets to the Go! Team, so it really comes down to whether or not I can double up the shows on a friday night, or sacrifice SSPU for the Go! Team. What would you do?

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Silversun Pickups Announce Fillmore Show

Silversun Pickups will return to San Francisco on 10/19/2007 to headline the Fillmore. Special guests include Midnight Movies + The Happy Hollows.

Live 105 pre-sale info, for more info go to www.live105.com:
Start: Thu, 09/06/07 10:00AM PDT
End: Fri, 09/07/07 5:00PM PDT

Public on sale info: Sun, 09/09/07 10:00AM PDT

Tickets available on Ticketmaster.com

San Francisco Live Music
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