NOISE POP 2008 - TILLY AND THE WALL

At this point, it may be difficult to predict what bands I'll be going to see on the final day of Noise Pop, but I'm sure glad one of my options is Tilly and the Wall. Their sophomore release, Bottoms of Barrels, is much more... um... clappy?... in a pixies-meets-architecture-meets-the-pipettes way. I don't know.. I'm never good at those comparisons. But I do know is that if you have a CSS remix of one of your songs, you are a force to be reckoned with. In any case here are a couple of tracks for you to hear for yourself. The first and third tracks are off the new album... and the second track is from their first album, Wild Like Children.

Tilly and the Wall will play on Sunday March 2, during Noise Pop at The Rickshaw Stop. Opening will be Capgun Coup. In the time I've taken to write this post, I've already developed a liking to Capgun Coup's raw basement-style indie pop. Definitely maybe going to see this show.

Rickshaw Stop - March 2, 2008
Show @ 6:30 - $15, ALL Ages

NOISE POP - THE GUTTER TWINS

Much hype has been surrounding the collaboration of Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan called The Gutter Twins. I haven't heard a single measure of any of their songs from the upcoming release, "Saturnalia". In fact, I think the only people who have heard what they sound like are people that have seen them live as The Gutter Twins, and those number few. They haven't posted any of their songs online and creating a lot of mystery around it. So, of course, because I can't have it... I want it. I'll have to wait until March 1st when they play Bimbo's, which will supposedly be their CD release party too. Here's a press release with a little background:

SEATTLE, WA - Sub Pop veterans Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan return to the label in its 20th year under the moniker The Gutter Twins for the March 4th, 2008 worldwide release of Saturnalia, their highly anticipated first album. In addition, the band has announced a handful of very special US and European show dates to preview the complex and carefully crafted songs in advance of the official record release. Show dates and on sale information provided below.

Mark Lanegan rose to fame as singer for the much loved Seattle band Screaming Trees and Greg Dulli as the magnetic leader of the Afghan Whigs. Following the break up of both groups, Lanegan and Dulli went on to achieve significant notice on their own. Lanegan continued to release successful solo albums, as well as create vivid partnerships with the likes of Belle & Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell and Queens of the Stone Age. Dulli, meanwhile, innovatively fused indie, soul and electronic sounds in his post-Whigs ensemble the Twilight Singers, who released their first album, Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers, in 2000; the most recent Twilight effort, 2006's Powder Burns, proved a crowning achievement, landing on many year-end best lists.

The Gutter Twins was born out of a rumor told by Lanegan to a journalist after the two artists began collaborating together in various ways in 2002. What started as a rumor grew into an honest and raw record, and while Saturnalia brings together the driving forces behind '90s favorites, the record does not rest on the sonic laurels of these singer's previous successes.

3/1/08 - Noise Pop - Bimbo's, $18, 18+

NOISE POP 2008 - BAND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Some people get excited about birthdays and holidays, others go nuts for fleet week or pride week. The time of year I get most excited about each year is Noise Pop. Six nights of music and a hundred or so bands playing at the best venues across San Francisco. They bring "nationally-known indie rock, electronic, punk and cutting edge musical artists teamed up with the best local bands, transforming the city into an almost week-long celebration of the finest that the underground and not-so-underground has to offer."

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 2

Since there will undoubtedly be some tough decisions to make, I'll be spending some time making my 'fantasy schedule' and I'll report back here with my thoughts. Here is the list of bands that have been announced. Check back often, as this list will multiply in size. I've provided a quick NOISE POP 2008 link on the side-bar for convenience.

A Place to Bury Strangers
ASG
Blitzen Trapper
British Sea Power
Capgun Coup
Cursive
Darker My Love
Fleet Foxes
Fu Manchu
Fuck Buttons
Gutter Twins
Holy Fuck
Jeffrey Lewis
The Magnetic Fields
Minipop
Monotonix
The Mountain Goats
Panther
Saviours
Tilly And The Wall

NOISE POP 2008 WEBSITE

Rodrigo Y Gabriela announce Warfield show!

Although it won't be as intimate as seeing them at the 930 club in DC, I will most definitely see this show. Two performers, Two guitars, four hands, no drums... one awesome show...

They will amaze you, and if you disagree, I will fight you:


Rodrigo Y Gabriela will play at the Warfield on Feb 9.
Pre-Sale tickets available now
If you're ambitious, you'd go see them at the Fillmore in Colorado too.

It's Christmas, It's Music, It's sung to 'Africa' by Toto?

Yes... This video is well worth spending 3 minutes watching... trust me.



Thanks to The Elaborate Hour for finding this.

Welcome Back!

After nearly 100 years in exile, Absinthe is now back in the United States and legal. Cheers.

This Is Not The Robo-Boogie... Or The Robot

When Will Pelle Carlberg Play in SF?

To my knowledge, Pelle Carlberg is still under the proverbial radar. I'm anxious to see his live performance. He's been touring for over a year all over the world but hasn't played in the US except for a handful of appearances on the East Coast. I haven't heard anything about visa issues, though it is entirely possible. C'mon Aaron Axelson, can't you pull some strings? These are your people.

My guess is that he has the elements of a singer-songwriter that would have mass appeal in the US... but if that happens, I could see myself getting really really sick of his songs in a big way. For now though, I find his songs appealing as long as I don't listen to them too often. Here's a video for you to check out. Also, look for a song called 'Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls". Great lyrics.

Bagel Radio Blog

I can't believe I hadn't visited the Bagel Radio Blog before... I've been to a bajillion Bagel Radio events and they're a great source for Bay Area music.. Read it. It's good.

Kosher Boys

Last one I post... I swear..

Soda Boys

Ok.. Its hard enough to get the Crank That song from Soulja Boy out of my head when I hear it, but this spoof video is whole other story.. enjoy.

Yuri Lane - Harmonica + Beatbox

How To Choose An Instrument

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Slap Cello

More videos from the "Heavy Music" channel at Heavy.com

Kid Zeppelin?

23 Seconds, 23 Magic - for $999?

I've always wondered about the mystery of Blonde Redhead's lyrics to the title track of their newest album, "23". Daphne Carr of PaperThinWalls interviewed Blonde Redhead vocalist Kazu Makino who said, "'23' is sort of my magic number. I don't know what it means, but I seem to be surrounded by it. The album is full of ideas that derived from things that have been close to me for a while, and the number 23 is one of those things." While Carr is disappointed by the sound of '23', I find it quite magical. In fact, if I were to have one song playing for me as I die, this would be the one. Tomorrow, I may be able to find out when that will be.

A Bay Area company called 23andMe.com will launch a service tomorrow that will provide you with a complete report of your DNA. For $999, the company will reveal the secrets of the 23 pairs of chromosomes you possess, give you a break-down of your genetic 'hand-me-downs' from your family tree, and identify certain diseases that you may be at risk of developing. Perhaps this '23' is yet another element of Kazu Makino's magical number.

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.

Hot Toddies + Two Seconds @ the Knockout

Friday night @ the Knockout will feature a great local line-up including Two Seconds, The Hot Toddies and My First Earthquake. Two Seconds continues to record and remain active in the music scene as well as collaborating with a spectacular group of local acts. Among these bands is Oakland's The Hot Toddies.

If the Pipettes were described as 'The Shangri Las meet Le Tigre', then the The Hot Toddies would be best be described as 'The Pipettes meet Dance Hall Crashers'. Listen to their sound at their myspace page. Also opening is My First Earthquake.


The Knockout is located at 3223 Mission at Valencia. Show starts @ 10pm and tickets are $6.

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