Thursday, August 23, 2018

Weezer & Pixies with special guest Sleigh Bells @ The Shoreline 8/7/2018

As if the Weezer and Pixies co-headlining tour couldn't get any more epic, Sleigh Bells joined them  to open one of the most anticipated shows of the Summer.


Sleigh Bells @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong
It was a sunny August evening in Mountain View as people trickled into The Shoreline Amphitheater. There were fans of all ages there that night and seeing parents (or aunts, uncles, etc.) bring their kids to concerts, introducing the next generation to the music they grew up listening to always makes me smile. The family friendly event drew show goers old and young to the merch stands whose lines stretched long and far well before the first band of the night. I bypassed the lines and headed straight to my seat as to not miss any of Sleigh Bells' opening set.


Sleigh Bells @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong


Sleigh Bells @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong



The noise-pop rockers from Brooklyn New York have released four albums since 2010 but they're still pretty obscure. Being on a bill with two popular alternative-indie bands that have been around since the late 1980's and early 1990s, it wasn't surprising that seats out-door arena was sparsely filled in time for Sleigh Bells' 7pm set.
Sleigh Bells is known for their juxtaposition of loud beats and shrieking guitar riffs against dreamy vocals and Krauss' over the top delivery definitely brings the music to life when you see them live. The spunky front-woman glowed as the setting sun beat down, washing out pulsating strobe lights that fans usually blindly swim in at their shows. Sandwiched between Derek Miller and a second, touring guitarist she was a pop of bright energy as they shred beside her. It's  a piece of cake for her rile fans into a frenzy when they're the headliners but it took a little more work to pump up the sparse crowd that night in Mountain View. And she delivered with the same intensity that she would have to a packed house.
Sleigh Bells @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong






"Crown On The Ground" off their first album Treats, "Come Back Kid" off their second album Reign of Terror, title track Bitter Rivals from their third album were included in their set which seemed to be over before it even really began. They also played a couple new songs from their latest releases and between all of the head-banging, Alexis Krauss sure does sing pretty.








Pixies were up next after a super quick change over and they mellowed things out a bit before Weezer took the stage.

Pixies @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong


Weezer @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong
It was refreshing to see good ol' Rivers Cuomo in jeans and a cardigan over a collared shirt and tie (especially since the last time I saw him when they played with Blink 182, he Rivers, was wearing eyeliner). His "Buddy Holly" style even matched the Happy Days/"Buddy Holly" music video  inspired stage design. It was like taking a step back in time back in time, back before being a nerd was cool and Rivers Cuomo was the coolest nerd there was.





Weezer nostalgia thrived as they played all the hits, including favorites from the Blue album which are always my favorite to hear them play. Weezer is always fun to see and that nostalgic feeling is a big part of it. They still write hits that kids and their parents love and they also play the classics that got parents hooked when they were kids themselves.



Weezer @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 8/7/2018
photo by Marc Fong
As different as the three bands on this line up are, they're really cut from the same alt-rock fabric and that's what made this show so special. From loud, bratty pop-rock, to sad indie-rock to straight up pop indie-rock, Weezer and Pixies with special guest Sleigh Bells was a well rounded and possibly a one of a kind show.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

King Princess @ Popscene 7/23/2018

At the ripe age of 19 years old, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer King Princess has a lot under her belt already including her buzz worthy EP Make My Bed  but up until July 23rd she hadn't played in SF. She conquered that feat easily, with two back to back sold-out headlining shows: first debuting at Popscene then playing at Great American Music Hall the next night. 
By 9:00 on Monday night Popscene was stuffed to the gils with young show goers. Filling in for Popscene founder/house DJ Aaron Axelsen was DJ Dallas who spun more modern tunes than I'm use to hearing at Popscene but the crowd seemed to be feeling it. There was hardly room to turn to talk with a friend let alone dance as youngsters relentlessly pushed closer attempting to wedge themselves as close to the stage as they could. 

King Princess at Popscene 7/23/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini
It was an early night for Popscene with the main act hitting the stage more or less on time at 9:45 to a polite uproar of cheers. The set started off slow with Mikaela tucked in a dark corner on keys for the title track "Make My Bed" before finding her way to the front of the stage. Sporting an oversized Backstreet Boys shirt, her all black outfit was very lack luster which kind of suited her nonchalant stage presence. She automatically clicked with fans as she chit-chatted between songs. Being a Bay native myself I like to think that I'm openminded, open hearted and creative. I'm straight but I grew up with a gay mother and I have many gay friends. With that being said, hearing the leading lady of King Princess, someone a who's part of the LGBTQ community, refer to San Francisco as a "gay city" and say that everyone in the room that night was "just a bunch of faggots and dykes" struck a nerve with me. I was almost offended. No city is gay or straight, black, white, asian, hispanic, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, etc. A city is itself just like people are themselves and everyone should be allowed to be whoever they are, where ever they are. That's what we're fighting for, especially now under the Trump administration. Especially women and minorities. But King Princess fans were un-phased by those same words coming from a young, privileged, gay, white girl and the show continued with out a glitch.  

King Princess at Popscene 7/23/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini
With only one EP out to date, they played all five songs from it, the most noteworthy of the night being "Talia" and of course the claim to fame single "1950". Mikaela and her band play seamlessly well together, a comfort you can hear in their meticulously hazy indie rock. King Princess herself was gracious and kind and her singing was passionate. She wasn't bashful about being onstage but I don't think she's found herself in that way quite yet. Much like her outfit, her stage presence was a little lack luster.  It will be interesting to see she her develop as a performer and really come into her own. It was great being back at Popscene for another SF debut show of an up and coming artist. 

King Princess at Popscene 7/23/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini