Tomorrow: Emily Wells at The Chapel!

Known for her varied use of classical and modern instrumentation, the multi-talented Emily Wells returns to The Chapel for the first time in over two years!

There are a handful of shows lined up in anticipation of the release of her 9th album, due out early next year and first of which is tomorrow night at The Chapel in San Francisco. Fans can expect to see Emily fuse her signature violining with acoustic drums, guitar, keys and beat machines along with her specialty of using  live sampling. The rustic setting is an optimal one for the hauntingly pretty, neo-gospel that the humble performer produces single handedly, on stage.

Tomorrow's show is the night of Emily with dream-pop artists Emily Neveu opening for Emily Wells. Tickets are available here: http://bit.ly/Emily_Wells_1021

Promised Land Sound: new album & upcoming tour!

Nashville native, psychedelic-indie rockers Promised Land Sound are about to embark on a short  West Coast/ East Coast tour in support of their new album, For Use and Delight.  

Promised Land Sound

For Use and Delight  

Heavily driven by garage rock inspired guitar hooks and mellow folk melodies, the four twenty-somethings evoke a classic psychedelia anesthetic on their Sophomore album, released on October 2nd. From Graham Parsons to Bob Dylan, Promised Land Sound revive that Country vibe while jamming within and around cascading guitar solos. 

The quaint music venues they're set play on their 16 show stretch will be great to get to know them and their down to earth sound.  

TOUR DATES 

Monday October 19th - San Antonio, TX @ Limelight

Tuesday October 20th - Ausin, TX @ Stubbs

Thursday October 22nd - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress 

Friday October 23rd - Los Angles, CA @ Echoplex 

Saturday October 24th - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar 

Tuesday October 27th - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 

Thursday October 29th - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

Friday October 30th - Seattle, WA @ Neumos

Saturday October 31st - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret 

Wednesday November 4th - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium 

Thursday November  5th - Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club 

Friday November 6th - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 

Saturday November 8th - Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel 

Monday November 10th - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 

Tuesday November 11th - Philadelphia, PA @ King Fu Necktie 

Wednesday November 12th - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook 

Culture Collide 2015: Milo Greene @ The Swedish American Hall 10/1/2015

Culture Collide, the "melting pot" of Music Fests celebrating multicultural music and arts, returned to San Francisco with two nights of diverse shows at the Swedish American Hall and DSF Clothing company on October 1st and 2nd.

The budding Festival featured 17 bands in the city this year and Milo Greene from Los Angeles California headlined the show at the Swedish American Hall on Thursday night.

Milo Greene @ The Swedish American Hall 10/1/2015
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Resembling a cute Swedish cabin, with criscross wood pillars framing the wooden ceiling atop white walls, the intimate venue has a uniquely warm, inviting atmosphere that you don't find at too many other concert venues in SF. Doors opened at 7:00 and music started around 8:30 with the first of three bands, Over The Trees from Norway followed by Karate Dance from Ecuador at 9:30.

Dapper young professionals who couldn't find a free seat at the seated show, lined the walls, stairways and balcony,chatting and laughing amongst themselves until the headliners hit the stage. 

The Indie rock quintet lined the stage and  started right on time at 10:30 as scheduled. Usually when a show is listed as being an Intimate Evening With...it means that there's no openers and obviously this wasn't the case last Thursday night. Rather, Culture Collide presented Milo Greene in different light. As each member of the band took their seat, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that it was going to be an unplugged performance. It was that unplugged element and the setting that gave the show it's intimacy. 

Milo Greene @ The Swedish American Hall 10/1/2015 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Known for being loud with a cinematic edge, they sounded flat out amazing stripped down especially with the venue's spot on acoustics. The absence of blaring guitar allowed the seamless harmonies of all 5 band mates to shine bright, gently intensifying their already immersive sound. They kept things causal with friendly banter between every song, getting fans to laugh along with them before captivating the room the with the next folk-pop song. Intriguingly enough, with band name which implies that they're a solo artist, Milo Greene effortlessly share the spotlight as "lead-singer". This isn't an easy thing to do as a band without completely changing the overall vibe but Milo Greene makes it work and it works really well for them. 

It's refreshing to see a band really take the time to connect with their fans and not take themselves too seriously yet deliver a delightfully impeccable show. Culture Collide aims to deliver something new to every town the tour rolls threw and they hit the bulls-eye with this one. 

Rock N Roll Scream Queens

There's no doubt about it, I'm a rock N roll girl at heart and the louder it is, the better!

 As a girl in a man's world  it's truly inspiring when female lead singers in the male dominate rock genre aren't afraid to let out a good, deep scream or growl. 

With Halloween right around the corner, I'm dedicating this blog post to my favorite, badass, rock N roll scream queens.

Alison Mosshart of The Kills @ Outside Lands 2012
Photo by Marc Fong

Alison Mosshart of The Dead Weather @ The Warfield 2010
Photo by Marc Fong 

From garage indie-rock duo, The Kills to the bluesy/psychey alt-garage rock supergroup The Dead Weather, front lady Alison Mosshart rocks hard! Don't let her slim stature and reserved demeanor off stage trick you because the way this chick wails is quite a treat!






Fluctuation in pitch, volume and the way she delivers lyrics characterize Mosshart's distinctive  vocal range  in both bands but more so in The Dead Weather.
2009 introduced us to her darker new sound with The Dead Weather's debut, Horehound and while there's no ignoring the domineering, brash  attitude that demands attention throughout the album, she really got comfortable with her new found voice on 2010's Sea of Cowards.
Stand out tracks from the albums which highlight her howling include: "60 Feet Tall", "Hang You From The Heavens", "New Pony", "Die By The Drop", "Gasoline" and "Jawbreaker".  She is a force to be reckoned with on stage and the rawness that Alison brings to every song live will blow your mind!
 It was worth the 5 year wait for The Dead Weather's third album, Dodge and Burn,released on September 25th. Now the wait begins to see the solid rock act's new material live and of course to see and hear Alison in action!

Sleigh Bells @ Treasure Island Music Fest 2013
Photo by Marc Fong 

Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss has a killer Bronx-ified Rock-a-billy style and a set of lungs that are as good as her looks. Her coarse vocals lace the band's bratty, rowdy, Noise Pop tracks before slapping you with solid, sometimes shrill, hollers as heard on "Riot Rhythm", "Infinity Guitars", "Demons", "Bitter Rivals" and "Sing Like A Wire" (to name a few).
New music from Sleigh Bells is likely heading our way soon! On June 18th Krauss thanked show goers for making ti to their set at the Northside Festival state, "next time we're on stage it will be with new music."

Sleigh Bells @ The Independent 5/30/2011
photo by Marc Fong 

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has wicked, signature style and. . . "grace". Gone are the days with her one of a kind band, guzzling bubbly then spewing it onto fans and deep throating her microphone  now that she's a mom but we'll always have the memories. Her edgy sound had dullified a bit since the 2003 YYY's breakout debut LP, Fever To Tell: the Where The Wild Things Are soundtrack is lovely and so is her solo work but it's just not the same Karen O, ya know?

 Chalk full of yelling, screaming, grunting and groaning, Fever To Tell (more like Fever to Yell) doesn't come close to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP, Master.

Crystal Castles @ The Fox Theater 4/27/2013
photo by Marc Fong 

Alice Glass once led Canada's now dismembered Crystal Castles and though inaudible most of the time, the manic, house infused electropop duo remain one of my favorites from that genre.

Crystal Castles @ The Fox Theater 4/27/2013
photo by Marc Fong 

About every two years after their 2008 self titled debut they released an album and each one was riddled with Glass' piercing screeches. Thrashing around the stage as harsh strobe-lights blinded  dancing crowds, Crystal Castle's live shows were always intense ones and she always stole the show.







Halloween time is my favorite time of the year! Not only is the season changing, but there's treats in store, a reason to dress up in a costume and it's the month of "Roc-tober", which is a treat in itself if you enjoy going to shows! 

If you and your ghouls don't have Halloween plans get tickets to LIVE105's Scream Scene with Awolnation, Passion Pit and more October 29th & 30th at The Masonic OR Heartbreak Halloween with IAMSU!, Sage the Gemini and more on October 31st at The Warfield!

Happy hauntings! 

Being in a band you can wear whatever you want, it's like an excuse for Halloween everyday. 

- Gwen Stefani