Fenech-Soler @ Brick & Mortar 5/20/2017

Brothers Ross and Ben Duffy have been working on the third album from Fenech-Soler since the 2013 tour of their second album, Rituals. After just about four years in the making, ZILLA was released on February 3rd, 2017 and UK's party starters kicked off their North American tour in April!

After getting the electronica group together in 2010, the band's name-sake, Daniel Fenech- Soler and fellow co-founder, Andrew Lindsay left the band last year before the third album was made.
Since then the Duffy brothers have taken the helm, keeping the band going without changing it's name and making new music that fits their exsisting outfit.

Following the first band of the night Moderns, Arkansas' Knox Hamilton played a great supporting set which included "A Sight For Sore Eyes" inspired by the city of San Francisco. After a half hour of rocking, talking up their debut album being on-sale at the merch table and praising both of the other bands, Knox Hamilton had the crowd adequately riled up for Fenech-Soler.

Fenech-Soler @ Brick and Mortar 5/20/2017
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The duo from King's Cliff in the UK had two more in tow with them for the tour: one on backup synthesizers and one holding it down on the drums and the four of them took the stage just past 11:00. It'd been three years since the last time they played in San Francisco which was also their first show here at none other than San Francisco's premier indie club, Popscene. And man did they return with vigor!







I was really excited that they opened with my favorite song, "Late Night TV" off the new album. It's flirty build up of guitar hooks and bright synths was a great way to reel people in! And Ben positively erupted on stage! You couldn't ignore the passion in his voice as he sang and you couldn't look away as he aggressively brought their summery electro-pop to life.  It was super fun just watching him light up the stage!

Fenech-Soler @ Brick and Mortar 5/20/2017
photo by Nikki DeMartini

I loved the jackets Ben and Ross were wearing: one in tasseled denim and the other in a shimmery embroidered bomber. Their look matched their "night on the town" sound. Highly stylish and mildly metrosexual, they both rocked it comfortably. Ben's low-key fancy jacket reminded me of Michael Jackson, the way the crimson and gold embroidery wrapped around the shoulders and down the lats. It all came together when he asked if there was any Janet Jackson fans in the house at the top of their lo-tempo rendition of the 1986 single, "Control". It's always a cool change of pace when bands
do cover songs live; however, easily being the slowest song of the night, I think fans were happy when the band switched back to their own up-lifting beats.






Like most electro-pop bands, the use of actual instruments is more apparent when played live in comparison to studio albums. Soaring synth melodies Fenech-Soler do so well were made edgier by vibrant drum hooks and again, Ben's performance and over-all stage presence amped-up their dancey factor. Notably excited to be back in San Francisco, his sensational energy carried the show.

Fenech-Soler @ Brick and Mortar 5/20/2017
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Their music is made for the club scene but Fenech-Soler's live show is worthy of a bigger, possibly more acclaimed venue, especially in the Bay Area where that diso-ish vibe is so hot right now. They played a whole bunch of new stuff including the first single, "Kaleidoscope" and their newest single, "Conversation". They also played songs they hadn't played in a while which is pretty awesome of them to do considering their old material was made and most likely last played with their ex-bandmates. Fenech-Soler definitely deliver a performance that their fans want to see. And, that's what makes a show a great show.

Fenech-Soler @ Brick and Mortar 5/20/2017
photo by Nikki DeMartini

If you're not a fan of electro-pop, give Fenech-Soler a chance. Their live show will blow you away. Hopefully it won't be another three years before they tour North America again!

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017

Rickshaw Stop was a buzz with a wide age range of show goers who came out to see the Magic Giant's first headlining gig in San Francisco last Friday night at Popscene! 

Tickets to the show sold-out as people got down to Popscene classics spun by club founder himself, DJ Aaron Axelsen. 

The turn-tables stopped around 10:30 and the live music started with a very gracious Armors from So-Cal opening the show. 

Axelsen mixed tunes again after the openers and the headliner's name dimly illuminated the stage behind all of their back lined gear, giving the venue a sort of warm ambiance. Banjos, acoustic guitar, fiddle, cello and a bunch of drums that littered the stage were a clear indication that we were in for an eclectic treat!

The guys of the three piece band from LA  hit the stage close to 11:45pm with witty frontman Austin Bisnow, introducing the band by name incase we didn't catch it projected behind them. A skater, a bohemian hipster and a burner, their stylish appearance is as eclectic as their sound.

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017
photo by Marc Fong

They started their set with "Let It Burn", a highly rhythmic song about a realistic approach to the trials and tribulations that are life.  Very much Indie. Very much Folkie.  Magic Giant is not indie-folk. The blossoming band uniquely stands apart from that popular genre with layers of infectious dancey undertones. When I first listened to Magic Giant, I couldn't help but think of the indigenous inspired music of Crystal Fighters. With colorful melodies, whirling percussion, sparkling energy and a down to earth vibe, Crystal Fighters are more worldly while Magic Giant weigh more on the poppy side.

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017
photo by Marc Fong

Between the first and second song, the charming lead singer expressed excitement for being back in SF, playing their very first headlining gig here after opening for The Revivalists at The Fillmore back in February!
They popped with enthusiasm, playfully interacting with each other around the stage as they played, and carrying on with friendly banter. The kinetic energy in room built up as they played their already released hit single, "Set It On Fire" off of their yet to be released debut album In The Wind. 

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017
photo by Marc Fong

The fluidity of transitions between all the different instruments each band member played was quiet impressive. Just about every song was delivered with a new or different instrument. Whether it was the addition of a harmonica, horizontal playing of the cello or Bis pounding a floor tom while he sang, their sound micro-adjusted from song to song.
I must say, the flurry of drums and percussion really stood out through out the night.




Their vibrant vibe prevailed as the set-list offered stuff we may have heard before as well as brand new stuff we had never heard as described by Bis. Kindered fans commenced in joyful engagement along to every song all night. There was no way of telling if they'd heard it before or not by the outpouring positive reaction.

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017
photo by Marc Fong

 Magic Giant's palpable happiness extended into humbleness as they mercilessly thanked Aaron Axelsen for having them, Armors for opening for them and everyone who was at their SF headlining debut. With a fun and majestic sound, Magic Giant is en route to being one of the biggest break through bands on the wave of new alt-indie. 

In The Wind is out as of today!

Magic Giant at Popscene 5/12/2017
photo by Marc Fong

Saint Cupcake in Portland!

As I explored Portland last month, I found the cutest little cupcake shop in what's known as the Hawthorne District, called Saint Cupcake. The little shop's shabby-chicness was just as cute as the assortment of cupcakes they offer!

I really enjoyed their use of varied cake stands to showcase their cupcakes. It's not the traditional display that you see in most bakeries or cupcake shops: shelved in a display case. It's clean and open, inviting you to see the whole cupcake, not just the frosting. 

The first day I stopped by the shop, the Confetti cupcake caught the attention of my sweet tooth. 

Pillbury's classic Funfetti cake mix and the frosting that came with it had the yummiest chunky sprinkles mixed right in. It's been years since I've seen a cake or cupcake like that since Pillsbury changed it's Funfetti formula: the frosting's sprinkles are now packaged separately so you can add them and it's just not the same!

I decided I'd come back because my adventure around town had just begun that day but by the time I made it back the Confetti cupcakes were all sold-out! Determined to get one, I returned on the last day of my vacation and, wha-la! It's true what they say, the third time is the charm. It's easy to to see Saint Cupcake makes everything fresh from scratch:  All of the cupcakes  there are so cute in an almost artisan fashion.

I love that they call their mini-cupcakes dots and wound up leaving with FIVE dots.

Intrigued by the flat frosting on the seemingly classic Chocolate with Vanilla Buttercream flavor, I decided to get it. 

 Big Top is a vanilla cake with chocolate chips with vanilla cream-cheese frosting which is tinted with a different color each day depending on the mood of the shop and topped with rainbow sprinkles. There were a couple reasons why I decided to try this cupcake: 1. I never had a cupcake with chocolate chips in it, a muffin, yes but not a cupcake. 2. the days I went into Saint Cupcake the frosting on Big Top was seafoam, my favorite color!

The Confetti cupcake is vanilla cake with pastel colored sprinkles baked right in topped with a swirl of cream-cheese frosting with the same pastel sprinkles mixed in it.

Fat Elvis is such a creative flavor and name that I couldn't leave Portland without having had one! Banana cake with chocolate chips with a peanut butter fudge frosting garnished with a crispy banana chip....what?!?

The lemon curd on top of the Lemon Sparkle caught my eye. I really liked the name (who doesn't like a little sparkle?) and a dear friend who's the inspiration of the cupcake element of this blog, loved all cupcakes but lemon was one of her favorites. So, in honor of Robin, on impulse, Lemon Sparkle was the 5th dot I got.

I didn't eat them all at once but all of them did have that taste of freshness. You know the one: the cake is fluffy to the bite, it's butteriness dancing on your tongue, the creamy frosting isn't rough around the edges but silky smooth or rich and thick (depending on the cupcake). 

I liked them all but my favorites were the Fat Elvis and Big Top!

I didn't realize that Fat Elvis has chocolate chips in the banana cake when I bought it, so they were a delightful surprise! The banana flavor isn't too strong or too subtle. Compared to the super decadent peanut butter fudge frosting the cake is light.
This frosting might be the thickest frosting I've ever eaten and my new favorite! It's 80% peanut butter, 20% fudge and 110% percent delicious! A great representation of one of the King's favorite sandwiches in cupcake form. 

It's like it was meant to be, me trying this cupcake to review for my music and cupcakes blog!

I knew there was chocolate chips in the vanilla cake before  taking my first bite of the Big Top dot because I could see them!
The cake itself is super buttery and dare I say it...moist but it isn't dense like a lot of buttery cakes tend to be. The frosting is the creamiest cream-cheese frosting I've ever tasted! The little twists on this otherwise standard vanilla cupcake make it anything other than vanilla in a big way!

The vanilla cake of the Confetti cupcake isn't as buttery as the vanilla cake of the Big Top cupcake but it is more dense. It's cream-cheese frosting is thick and not too sweet or cheesy and the sprinkles aren't as sugary or waxy as the OG Pillsbury ones were. Aside from the pop of color throughout the cake and frosting, the Confetti Cupcake was rather plain tasting but still a lot of fun!







The last day of my Portland vacation was bitter sweet thanks to Saint Cupcakes' tasty little treats!

At $1.50 per dot the price was on point! If you make it to Portland and have a hankering for a cupcake, Saint Cupcake has you covered! They have a few different locations around town.