Sweet Sound Bites: Best Shows & Albums of 2014

Here's my list of some of the best shows and albums from 2014!

Top Ten Shows of 2014

1) MIA @ Live105's BFD June 1st, 2014 @ The Shoreline

It had been four years since I saw MIA live and even though I'd prefer to see her play her own show, rather than a set at a music festival, I was beyond stoked to see her at BFD this past summer! It was also the first time in nearly 10 years that my cousin Jenn and I went to LIVE105's Annual Summer show together. In our heyday, we went to BFD every year, so last summer was definitely a blast from the past being at BFD together! Our general admission lawn tickets were upgraded to much better and closer seats in the 200 section just in time to see MIA's performance! We were up and out of our seats as soon as she hit the stage and both of us were singing and dancing as soon set started.

MIA at Live105's BFD 2014
Photo by Marc Fong

About half way through the second song MIA herself made her way off the stage, up into the seats of The Shoreline and stopped near our row to spit lyrics as fans gathered and danced around her....myself included!! It was a jambalaya of rap-jams as MIA & co. busted out abbreviated versions of songs from every album, intertwining the mix with a couple hits played in full. The Matangi mama kept Shoreline security on their feet from beginning to end as she invited fans to dance on stage, wrapping up her set with her signature, defiant style. I still can't believe I danced with MIA!

Click this to see more pictures from BFD 2014!

OKGO at The Independent 7/16/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

2) OKGO @ The Independent July 16th, 2014

OKGO at The Independent 7/16/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Based on their innovative,creative, eye-catching music videos I knew that the OKGO show at The Independent would be a good time. There weren't any treadmills on stage but there were confetti cannons and OKGO wasted no time putting them into action. By the second song the room and everyone in it covered in inches of colorful confetti! Carrying on convos with band-mates and fans, posing Q&A sessions and performing amongst the thick of the sold-out crowd, Kulash carried on with a genuine charisma and continuously connected with fans through out the show. OKGO engaged fanatical fans even further by using a mixing app on their phone and getting everyone to help compose a beat, which they recorded and played back for everyone to hear. It was pretty neat!

This show was pure fun, from the power-pop songs to the band's on-stage antics, to their insistent crowd interaction, good times were meant to be had and they most definitely were!

3) Die Antwoord @ The Fillmore May 27th, 2014

By the time I got to the sold-out Die Antwoord show at The Fillmore the floor was pulsating with dancing, jumping, fist pumping fans getting down to unique techno beats and sick, agro rhymes. Famous for hosting some of rocks most treasured acts like Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix and The Grateful Dead it was something else to see Die Antwoord transform the historic Fillmore into a full on Zef rap rave! Ninja and Yolandi Ve$$er popped under black light lit stage with a non-stop explosive energy that fueled the party. Raging excitement spread as they debuted brand new music off of their third album, Donker Mag which dropped one week after they played in San Francisco, while hits from the first two albums got even more of a roaring response. Out of all of the shows I've been to at The Fillmore, I've never seen anything quite like the show Die Antwoord delivered that night!

4) MS MR @ The Fillmore April 15th, 2014

The connection between fans and the band was instantaneous and MS MR's friendly disposition quickly spread through out the venue as soon as they stepped on stage. The sad-core indie-pop band from Brooklyn was happy to be back in SF and headlining at The Fillmore and their SF fans were equally as happy to be there, showering the end of every single song with piercing cheers and loud applause. Their up-beat energy put a spirit lifting spin on the performance lead by Lizzy's strong soulful vocals, fervent dancing and impressive bouts of violent stomping in platform shoes. It's refreshing to see that Lizzy is still humbly surprised and flattered by fan's overwhelming out-poor of admiration, one that sends good chills down my spine and leaves Lizzy positively glowing.

MS MR at The Fillmore 4/15/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

5) Sylvan Esso @ The Fillmore June 6th, 2014

Sylvan Esso at The Fillmore 6/6/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

North Carolina's indie-elctropop duo, Sylvan Esso was warmly welcomed by a good sized crowd when they opened for tUnE-yArDs last June at The Fillmore. Their dreamy synth sound paired with Amelia Meath's seductive singing easily seduced the room to groove along with them. And groove we did: while Amelia circled the stage, Nick Sanborn bust out colorful build-ups and beat break-downs behind a small synthesizer set-up.

Their showmanship was captivating, their gracious nature was moving and their opening act stole the show in my opinion.

6) The Matches @ Slim's November 8th, 2014

The Matches at Slim's 11/8/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

I've been a fan of The Matches since they were known as The Locals and I when heard that band was getting back together for a reunion show for the 10th Anniversary of their first album, E Van Dahl Killed The Locals, my heart fluttered with excitement. Tickets quickly sold-out and more Bay Area shows were added before The Matches announced, that due to popular demand they were going on a reunion tour playing not only in San Francisco and their hometown of Oakland but also Chicago, LA, New York and Australia and I ended up buying a ticket from a girl who flew in from Chicago to see them at Slim's.

It was a very nostalgic night, not just for me and all of the loyal Matches fans there but also for the band: it was touching how sincerely surprised and overjoyed the four of them were by the amount of support and massive turnouts. Everyone sang along as the band played every song from E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals from start, "Dog-Eared Page" to finish "Sick Little Suicide". Their stage presence was full of life just like back in the day: Shawn's animated performance lit up the stage, Jon donned a blonde afro-puff wig as an homage to the do he sported in his youth and Justin hopped up and down and all around. Slim's is my favorite place in the city to see punk bands and it was great to see the much beloved Matches again.

7) Bonnie & The Bang Bang @ Slim's March 14th, 2014

Bonnie and The Bang Bang at Slim's 3/14/2014
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

2014 was a big year for my friend Michael and his band Bonnie and Bang Bang: they had a weekly month long residency at The Milk Bar in SF, they performed at Bay to Breakers and SF's Not Dead Yet Festival along with shows up and down the West Coast including a few headlining gigs! Before their headlining show at Slim's in June, Bonnie and The Bang Bang played a great set when they opened for The Sam Chase in March! I was so happy that my cousin Jenn and her then fiance now hubby to finally got to meet Michael and see him and his band rock!

Their gritty, garage rock sounded great with solid singing, insane guitar shredding and powerful pounding from Michael on the drums.

8, 9 and 10: First City Fest, Outside Lands and Treasure Island Music Festival

What's better than weekends full of butt-loads of music, sunshine and having fun with friends?!

Outside Lands 2014

First City Fest 2914

Standout performances:

- Future Islands and Phantogram at First City Fest, August 23rd & 24th, 2014 .

- Kanye West and Tegan and Sara at Outside Lands.

- Outkast and TV on the Radio at Treasure Island Music Festival