Royal Blood @ Slim's 4/14/2015

Between playing at both weekends of this year's Coachella, the British rock duo, Royal Blood played back to back sold-out shows at Slim's in San Francisco last week and tickets for both nights went quick!

There was a line outside well before doors opened and when they did, people  parked themselves right in front of the stage as soon as they got inside on Tuesday night. It was refreshing to see the turnout of fresh faced of teens, tweens, and even some kids  younger that waiting to see one of today's best rock N roll acts as the venue filed with fans of all ages. The L.A based band, Mini Mansions gave the crowd a solid set full of songs off their recently released sophomore album, The Great Pretenders before the Royal Blood took the stage a few minutes past 10:00. 

The two-man band utilized the whole stage with bassist/vocalist, Mike Kerr stage right, while Ben Thatcher held it down behind his drum kit across the way on stage left. Bright flashes of red, gold and blue saturated the dim, foggy stage as rough yet refined hard-blues rock rolled off it with a mesmerizing intensity. A serious stature characterized their stage presence but the performance did not lack enthusiasm. The bass pounding set included, "Figure it Out", "Ten Tonne Skeleton", "Loose Change" and "Little Monster" and an appropriate yet anticipated encore consisting of the first single   off of their 2014 self-titled debut LP, "Out of the Black".

Even though Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich joined the boys of Royal Blood on stage for the last song at Wednesday night's show, no one missed out on a remarkable rock show on Tuesday night!  

Royal Blood set-list 4/14/2015

1) Hole

2) Come On Over

3) You Can Be So Cruel 

4)Figure it Out 

5) Better Strangers

6) Little Monster

7) Blood Hands 

8) One Trick Pony

9) Careless 

10) Ten Tonne Skelton

11. Loose Change 

Encore: 

Out of the Black 

Edible Arrangement . . . Cupcakes!

I recently stumbled upon an opportunity for "gym friendly" cupcake review while working at one of my three jobs which is, yep, at a gym! 

Did you know that Edible Arrangements now makes chocolate dipped fruit treats in other forms other than the original "flower arrangement"?! I didn't!

One faithful morning, I was delightfully surprised by a box which looked like a box of chocolates from Edible Arrangements and was curious to find out what treats were inside since it was obviously not an arrangement.  

When I opened the box I found an assortment of chocolate and white chocolate covered somethings: some were star shaped and others were shaped and decorated to look like cupcakes! I figured that it had to be  cantaloupe or pineapple under the chocolate coating and my first bite unveiled a bright yellow pineapple! The tropical fruit was cool, fresh, juicy and tasted great with the dark chocolate which I wouldn't have guessed. 

Along with being a refreshing, no guilt tasty treat it also has some  health benefits! 

Pineapple is a great source of fiber, Vitamin B-6, Iron and Potassium. This fruit is also a natural anti-inflammatory, it promotes digestion, its full of powerful antioxidants which ward off free radicals lowering cholesterol levels making it a very heart healthy (and yummy) food and so much more!  Dark Chocolate, while delicious, also packs a powerful antioxidant punch along with a slew of  vitamins and minerals. 

I love that Edible Arrangements has embraced Cupcakes! 

Being fit can be fun AND yummy!  

New Release Teases

There are some bands who come right out and say the release date of their new album (Death Cab For Cutie, Kintsugi announced sometime this January and available as of March 31st), others who will bombard us with publicity stints up until the album actually drops (Madonna, Rebel Heart, available as of March 6th: album was leaked sometime in December 2014 forcing Madge to rush early releases of 6 new songs before the new album was officially announced followed by an intrusive Instagram campaign with numerous artists replicating the Rebel Heart cover-art). And then there are the bands that like to build up hype  around a looming release by teasing  us with the date and/or if they even have a new release in store.

The Aussie boys of Indie Alt-Pysch band, Tame Impala have been on the road for the better part of a year and have had fans wondering when to expect to hear new material.  That question was answered earlier this month, well almost: on April 4th cover art and the name for Tame Impala's 3rd LP was released and on April 5th they released a single, Cause I'm a Man, from the upcoming album Currents. 

Tame Impala @ The Fox Theater 11/15/2014
Photo by Marc Fong

As their festival sets continue to stack up (including OSL 2015), a definite release date has yet to be announced but I bet fans attending said fests will enjoy some more new tunes from Tame Impala until then. 

It's been 3 years since Icelandic band, Of Monsters and Men hit the scene with their folkie debut, My Head is an Animal and with an onslaught of tour dates lined up (including LIVE105's BFD 2015), it seemed like they were teasing with a possible Sophomore album that may or may not be out soon.  

Low and behold on March 16th OMAM made the announcement that Beneath the Skin is slated to be released on June 9th. Fans who  pre-order the album get a digital copy of the album's first single, "Crystals"! 

Another Australian band, Atlas Genius  have been a big tease, posting pictures on social media bragging about the completion of their next album and traveling to New York to finish mixing the illusive new album but no further details have been released! 

They have also been talking up some summer gigs (including LIVE105's BFD) so maybe showgoers will get more info about the new Atlas Genius album! 

The Bots @ The Independent 4/7/2015

The Independent was still filling up at The Preatures show when the supporting act, The Bots, took the stage on Tuesday night. 

The Bots at The Independent 4/7/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

The Bots at The Independent 4/7/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Brothers Anaiah and Mikaiah Lei started The Bots in 2007 and last summer the boys hit the festival circuit in a big way, playing at Coachella, Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, Summer Sonic, Afropunk Fest and Riot Riot Fest! 

The Bots at The Independent 4/7/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Now after all of that overwhelming exposure and the release of their debut full length album, Pink Palms last October the two young brothers are back at it! 

Currently on the road with The Preatures, lead singer/guitarist Mikaiah Lei greeted show goers at The Independent and introduced himself and his younger brother Anaiah on drums as they humbly got situated on stage.  With an experimental soul sound flush with punk and garage rock undertones, their spirited performance popped with a youthful energy. 

The Bots at The Independent 4/7/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Mikaiah was all over the stage between verses and more people began dancing and cheering the band on the crowd warmed up to them. There was definitely an energized feel as The Bots flaunted their talents while delivering a positively stimulating set! 

The Bots at The Independent 4/7/2015
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015

In less than a year the bad ass duo, Deap Vally have gone from opening for bands like Band of Skulls to headlining their very own tour. Monday, March 23rd was anything but mundane at their show at The Chapel with Creep Beat and L.A. Witch!

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015
Photo by Marc Fong

While the five young guys of Creep Beat  filled ear-holes with their gritty style of surf-punkrock, the three ladies of L.A. Witch toned things down with nineties inspired, lo-fi dream-pop rock. It was pretty cool that Julie (the drummer from the headlining act) let both openers play her Deap Vally "branded" drum kit and, while both bands kept asking the house to turn up the bass, or vocals or everything, Creep Beat's requests had a fun undertone while the requests from L.A. Witch came off cross and condescending.

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015
Photo by Marc Fong

Deap Vally stormed the stage with an unpretentious fierceness and the  ladies immediately engulfed the restored hall in a roaring rock n roll sound, with little tuning,  in a way neither opening act could reach. Barefooted, Julie impressively stomped on the pedal to her kick-drum like it was nothing. In a cash money patterned leotard, she laid down a thunderous tone amidst the flurry of her heavy drum slaying.

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015
Photo by Marc Fong

Lindsey, also barefoot, shined with a vibrant confidence and an uber cool attitude. Her raspy vocals and sweeping bass lines accentuate their California bred bluesy rock while their approachable don't mess with us demeanor make for quite an impactful  live show.

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015
Photo by Marc Fong

Since exploding on the music scene with their 2013 debut album, Sistrionix the two have really honed the collective noise they make: it's still a big loud sound but they're more in control of it now which comes across with more driving rock force than before. It's been rumored that the girls have been working with Yeah Yeah Yeah's guitarist, Nick Zinner in the studio on their forthcoming sophomore album...perhaps this rock mentor  has something to do with their elevated elegant edginess. Even their screamin' new dyed dos slap you with a bold rock style!
Whatever it is, it's working. Lindsey and Julie beamed as they busted out a bunch of new material before taking a break to say thanks and confirm that they were playing "new shit"! Show-goers were equally excited to hear new music from Deap Vally as they were to hear songs from Sistrionix  like their first single, "Make My Own Money". The LA based ladies laced their playful banter with F-bombs and the atmosphere was a comfortable one as SF fans watched them rock on!

Deap Vally @ The Chapel 3/23/2015
Photo by Marc Fong

Deap Vally has a couple more shows lined up with glam-goth rocker Marilyn Mason this month before their tour wraps up with a couple festival sets. It doesn't get more bad ass than that! 

Easter Cupcakes from Mazetti's

Mazetti's Bakery in Pacifica was bustling with customers picking and placing pastry and coffee cake orders for Easter Sunday Brunch this weekend. I couldn't resist the cute Easter themed cupcakes I spotted while waiting in line and ended up leaving with 1 coffee cake (for Easter Brunch) and 2 Easter Cupcakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cupcake that initially caught my eye was decorated to look like a little bunny jumping down a rabbit hole with his little feet and cotton tail sticking up! It was so cute! The crafty confectionists at Mezzetti's used white frosting , coconut shavings and pieces of sugar candy to make the top of the cupcake look like a little white bunny. The cake was chocolate and filled with a dollop of milk chocolate frosting which added to the overall richness of the chocolate flavor of the cake. 

The frosting was thick and sugary and the milk chocolate frosting filling and dash of coconut shavings were small touches that really dressed this simple cupcake up!

 

 

 

 

 

It made sense to get a carrot cupcake to go along with my bunny cupcake and the fact that it was the last one had me sold! The cake was a lot more golden than carrot cakes I've had in the past and my first bite reminded me more of fruit cake than carrot. There were raisins, chunks of walnuts and even some shreds of carrots in it and though I could see the spices through out it, I could hardly taste them. The classic cream cheese frosting was just as thick as the white frosting on the Bunny Cucpcake but not as sugary and suited the subtle carrot cupcake nicely.

 

 

 

 

 

If you like your carrot cake more on the cake side, rather than carrot and all the usual suspects that come with carrot cake, go with a Carrot Cake Cupcake Mazzetti's!

 

Eggs aren't the only things you can decorate for Easter! Both of these festive cupcakes would be great for any Easter basket! Hoppy Easter!