Monday, February 27, 2017

New Music Monday!

Case of the Mondays? Chase away the Monday Blues with some new tunes!


Baltimore's Future Islands, is gearing up for the release of their 5th album with the single "Ran". 
Due out April 7th, The Far Field  is their first album since 2014's huge success, Singles. 

The first release off the forthcoming new album is a lovely modern rock song painstakingly painting heartache longing over love lost. It's mix of robust melonachly optimism is soothing, a great song to listen to it in the morning while perparing for the start of a fresh new day.





Cold War Kids are also releasing their new album on April 7th! It seems like L.A Divine has been a year, or more, in the making but this Spring their sixth studio album will finally be a reality!
While maintaining their signature, lo-fi harmonistic sound  "Love Is Mystical" is a poppy departure for the Long Beach band. The music video for the catchy, feel good single plays just as pretty as the song. It's always good to see old favorites trying new things and doing them well.




It's been two years since hearing anything new from MisterWives but the playful indie kids with an energetic, SKA pop are back! Giving us a taste from their soon to be released sophomore album, Connect the Dots, "Machine" is a vibrant, encouraging anthem. Rich with Bollywood friendly melodies,  it's a testament of staying true to oneself. It's another empowering artistic statement which  MisterWives has come to be known to do.
Connect the Dots comes out in full on May 19th!






The latest one from WATERS has been making waves since it's release on February 24th. "Hiccups"puts a shimmery, modern twist on the grunge genre. Synth-infused, angsty riffs and bashing drums are polished by powerful chords high-lighting the four-pieces' power-pop versatility.
 The new single might be a foreshadowing a more mature, overall sound on their third album, Something More! also due out on May 19th!




There's no doubt about it, Lana Del Rey has been on a role since her 2010 Born To Die debut.
The sad-core songstress is at it again with the release of LOVE and it's very vintage video last week, followed by a promise to put a spell on Trump which spawned witches Nation wide to help bind the POTUS. The flower-crown trend-setting singer has said that all of her past work was for her fans but her new stuff is for her and what's not to LOVE about that?!
A tour and new full length album from Lana sometime this year are only speculations at this point.







Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Kills wish-list

Most everyone knows that last Tuesday was Valentine's Day but did you know that February 14th is the anniversary of the band, The Kills? This year marks 15 years that Jamie and Alison have rocked our world with their live performances!
 They celebrated with a secret show at Electric Lady in New York City last week and the celebration continues with their 15th Anniversary "mini" tour!




March 17th 
Pappy and Harriet's, Pioneertown, CA 

March 18th 
House of Blues, Anaheim, CA

March 21st
The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA



March 22nd 



Over almost decade and a half the dynamic duo have released five albums, the most recent being last year's Ash & Ice which they toured in support of. Now, less than a year later, they'll be back at the beautiful Fox Theater in Oakland on March 22nd! 

The Kills @ The Fox Theater 6/4/2017
photo by Nikki DeMartini


As the Oakland show date quickly approaches, I've been thinking about the songs I'd die to see The Kills perform live. With her witchy wails, his caustic guitar riffs and their bad-ass swagger, the sexually charged blues-rock pair is one of my favorites so of course anything they play will be great!

Keep On Your Mean Side
2003 
No Wow
2004













This is my Kills wish-list:

Superstition 
Doing It To Death 
Nail In My Coffin 
U.R.A Fever 
Echo Home 
Sour Cherry 
Wild Charms
Hard Habit To Break 
Baby Says 
 No Wow
Sibierian Nights 
DNA 
Days Of How And Why 
Last Days of Magic 
Black Balloon 
Wait

Last Good Bye
Goodnight Bad Morning  

Blood Pressures
2011
Midnight Boom
2008 




It's going to be a killer set no matter what songs they play next month!

Here's wishing that they go on tour next year for the 10 year anniversary of their third album,  Midnight Boom and play it in it's entirety! 

Friday, February 17, 2017

Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017

Since working with platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated rapper Kendrick Lamar on 2015's To Pimp A Butterfly and his own 2015 release, The Beyond/Where The Giants Roam which got rave reviews, Thundercat has been on fire! 

Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 


Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 



The new album Drunk from the 33 year old jazz-funk fusion, virtuoso bassist, is his fourth solo album and the fourth to be produced by Flying Lotus. Hot on the heels of this latest release, Thundercat completely sold-out three consecutive nights at The Independent February 12th, 13th and 14th!






Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 



It was pretty late (for Independent headliner standards anyway) by the time he hit the stage at Monday night's show but fans were un-phased by it. Strapped with his bass, sandwiched between his drummer and synth/keyboardist, Thundercat commenced the eclectic jam season of boundless musical eccentricity.





The bass driven fusion of jazz and funk had a psych-rock flare that sounded clean and was mesmerizingly spellbinding. You could see that his own was music taking him away as you watched him play.

Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 


He learned the hard way that show-goers in SF can be stubborn after a couple feeble attempts to get his fans to wave and clap their hands failed. But, he handled the rejection nonchalantly which was quiet endearing.


Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 



"Friend Zone", off the new album was on the 15 song set that went long and two en core songs kept transfixed fans out even later. Two special guest appearances from Flying Lotus and The Mars Volta drummer, Thomas Pridgen at the tail end of the show made staying out on a week night well worth it!



Special guest appearance from Flying Lotus
Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 
Special guest appearance from Thomas Pridgen
Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 

















Thundercat has a couple more shows in The US before hopping the pond to The UK and then he'll be back for both Coachella weekends in April before he's off to Japan!

Thundercat @ The Independent 2/13/2017
photo by Marc Fong 



Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017





Shortly after the announcement of their third album, 1000 Palms in 2015, the original guitarist of Surfer Blood, Thomas Fekete left the band because cancer had spread to his lungs and spine. Their fourth album, 2017's Snowdoniais their first album the band has released since Fekete's untimely passing. This is also their first album and subsequent tour since the original bassist, Kevin Williams left to pursue a new job in Austin, Texas.





Last month the tour in support of  Snowdonia started in their home state of Florida bringing them across the country as the February 3rd release date approached. Their Bay Area show was at The Chapel in San Francisco on February 7th, just a few days after Snowdonia dropped!

Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong 

It was a wet and cold night as show goers trickled into the rustic venue in SF's hip Mission District that Tuesday night.  Brazilian quartet, Boogarins warmed things up with some of their distorted,
lo-fi, physcadelic rock. Frontman, Dinho Almedia was humbly fierce: passionately belting while jamming with the band. Overlapping fuzzy guitar, bass, thumping drums and plenty of reverb whirled from the stage for the better part of half an hour.Experimental instrumentals,  reminiscent of At The Drive In  with a lo-fi, grungy quality but an exceptional execution, the Boogarins delivered a great spirited opening set. A very cool juxtaposition to the calming indie rock that was up next.

Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong 
Boogarins @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong 






















They came, they sound-checked, they left and around 10:30pm Surfer Blood reappeared and were ready to play! The room and balcony were full of mature fans respectfully enjoying the night as  John Paul Pitts led the way into "Neighborhood Riffs" from their first album. Noisepop 2015 was the last time was Surfer Blood was in SF and the reserved frontman made it a point to say that it was good to be back at the top of the set!

Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong 


Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong 
The new album is the first that Pitts wrote and mixed on his own, tailoring to the strengths of his bandmates and the outcome is quite a sonic departure for the band. They tackle existential topics of mortality and aging through more complex songs while maintaining the signature Surfer Blood indie-pop by incorporating bright hooks. For as all the heavy issues they've recently faced, the remaining original bandmates managed to stay strong and put a positive spin on things.


Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong






In a sort of dream-like state, deep shades of blue lights resinated with shoegaze tempos and melodic lead vocals were highlighted by playful interactions on stage and fans were just as easy going as the band.
Laced with beachy surf-rock choruses, the mellow set had songs off Snowdonia, including the brand new single, "Frozen" and "Island" as well as plenty of older stuff like "Weird Shapes" and "Miranda" off  Pythons and Astro Coast.







The reinvented indie band that was once a boys club now has new found harmonies thanks to bassist Lindsay Mills' skilled vocals. The female touch plays nicely with their updated, but not totally different sound. Although only half the original members are in the band, with a new bassist, a new guitarist and a new album, this indie fave has not lost their identity.

Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong




Surfer Blood @ The Chapel 2/7/2017
photo by Marc Fong




The Snowdonia tour will bring Surfer Blood full circle: April 29th is the final show of this run at the Respectable Street Block Party in their hometown of West Palm Beach Florida!
There's no place like home to wrap a tour after four months on the road!





Sunday, February 5, 2017

Kara's XOXO Cupcakes


Kara's Cupcakes has a location in 3 Embarcadero Center in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District and it's just as cute as the stores in Garadelli Square and the Marina District. 
It's the month of love and with February 14th drawing near, Kara's is prepared for Valentine's Day in the sweetest way!

Kara's Cupcakes @ 3 Embarcadero Center
photo by Nikki DeMartini



Kara's Cupcakes 3 Embarcadero Center
photo by Nikki DeMartini
 The sleek bakery keeps things minimalistic and chic with a couple heart shaped decals on the glass storefront. One reads XOXO Valentine Cupcakes and the other one says i love cupcakes. Places go over board with lovey-dovey decorations but these are short and sweet and all that's needed to get you inside.
 All month long, Kara's artisan cupcakes are adorned with little red or pink fondant hearts, sweethearts if you will. Chocolate lovers can go for Chocolate Velvet, Fleur De Sel, Sweet Chocolate,  Peanut Butter Chocolate, Raspberry Chocolate or Chocolate Coconut. If you like keeping things Vanilla you can indulge in Sweet Vanilla or Vanilla Coconut or mix things up with Vanilla Chocolate. Feeling Fruity? Go for Passion Fruit, Meyer Lemony Lemon, Banana and Banana Carmel. Red Velvet is a classic Valentine's Day favorite! If you're just looking for a little cupcake love, some of their cupcakes are available as mini-cupcakes, too!



All of Kara's Cupcakes are baked fresh everyday and made with local, real ingredients so you really can't go wrong! 


Thursday, February 2, 2017

Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017

I can't remember the last time I ate McDonalds's but I do remember the last time I saw Mac Sabbath! It was at Outside Lands 2015: the Black Sabbath tribute band played on the GastroMagic Stage in the forest just past Choco Lands and gourmet chicken McNuggets were passed out while they played. It's one of the funnest sets at a Music Fest I've ever been to! Their show at Slim's last Friday night was sure to be just as insanely entertaining! 

Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong 

Arno Corps, an all Arnold Schwarzenegger everything tribute band was set to open the show at 9:00 but they didn't storm the stage until 9:30. And open they did! All of the hardrock/metal/hardcore fans at the schtick show got aggressively riled up, smashing and thrashing as the band performed songs who's themes spanned Schwarzenegger's career. 



Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong 
The world's first "drive-thru metal" band doesn't sell any CDs or release albums so the only way to get an order of Mac Sabbath is to see them live. Come 10:45 on Friday night everyone at Slim's was hungry to fill up on some Mac Sab! The band was all there once the stage was unveiled: drummer Catburglar, a cross between the Hamburglar and Peter Criss' KISS persona with the same painted face and caped Hamburglar costume. Bassist Grimalice, named as a nod to Alice in Chain's late bassist Mike Starr and a striking resemblance to the purple character Grimace. 

Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong 


Slayer McCheese on lead guitar representing the blood feining metal band with a huge, horned, cheeseburger for a head. And of course, the lead singer Ronald Osbourne: taking on the obvious roles of the fast food chain's famous clown and Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne in a yellow jumpsuit, big red shoes bright red hair and scary crazy face paint. 







All of Mac Sabbath's songs are Black Sabbath covers with a Mickey D's twist. Their take on the classic "Iron Man"is "Frying Pan", "Electric Funeral" is "Organic Funeral", "Chicken for the Salves" is a parody of "Children of the Graves" and so on! They also mock song lyrics, for example: their version of "war Pigs" called "More Ribs" is about a man obsessed with the limited time offer of the McRib and getting more of that elusive BBQ sandwich! 

Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong 

I love that not only do they look like what you'd expect a band called Mac Sabbath to look like and that they change all of the song lyrics to reflect their distain for the evils of fast food but Ronald Osbourne delivers banter in an English accent, too! His over the top performance was matched by his wild stage antics of taking his knickers off without disrobing, squirting fans with "vodka catsup" and "Jack Daniel's" mustard and doing a beer bong made from a giant red and yellow striped straw. 


Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong 





It was funny how agro and rowdy the crowd got! Some people must have thought they were at an actual hard metal show the way they were violently moshing! Big, burley, bearded, full-grown men had no qualms shoving and pushing smaller show-goers around. I had to throw a few elbows just for protection and to secure my stage front spot. Fans definitely ate up the energy that the band was serving! 














Mac Sabbath is a riot and they most definitely give it their all to deliver a serving of fun all around. From the costumes, to their stage presence, to their crowd interaction and of course their play on Black Sabbath lyrics, they are truly a happy meal in concert form.

Get a taste of Mac Sabbath while they're on the road around the States through April! Their show is a guilty pleasure you won't regret treating yourself to!

Mac Sabbath @ Slim's 1/27/2017
photo by Marc Fong