Kali Uchis with Gabriel Garzón-Montano @ The Warfield 9/17/2018

The internationally renowned Kali Uchis set forth on a 25 date North American tour with Gabriel Garzon-Montano in tow. The rising R&B luminary who's debut album, Jardin was named one of "The Best Albums of 2017" by Billboard and Okayplayer played two shows at The Warfield in San Francisco last week with Kali.  Contributing writer, Alicia Deschamps covered their sold-out, Monday night show. 

 On a regular but much anticipated Monday night, I left the office beat from a long day at work and headed to The Warfield to see one of my new favorite singers Kali Uchis and her opener Gabriel Garzon-Montano.

Gabriel Garzon-Montano @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong 

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong 

 The show that night had sold-out quickly, so a second show was added the following night. Though I knew that going in, I was still pleasantly surprised to join a very enthusiastic crowd mostly full of younger ladies dressed for a Friday night on the town and giddy like they were waiting to see Justin Bieber. Everyone seemed ready to have a great time as the room buzzed with excitement waiting for the show to start.

Gabriel Garzon-Montano @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

First up was Gabriel Garzon-Montano, a blond, slim, tall presence that walked on stage through purple lighting, giving me all sorts of Prince vibes with his sexy, open shirt outfit and confident demeanor. It was like he's been doing this for decades. Then, he started singing and everything made sense: why Paste Magazine featured him in their article "The Best of What's Next", why all these twenty-somethings were entranced by his music and why he was on tour with Kali Uchis (as the two musicians are perfect compliments of each other). When he introduced himself in Spanish the crowd went nuts. He was truly mesmerizing from the moment he graced the stage. 

Gabriel Garzon-Montano @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Observing him meticulously as I swayed with every song, I found it funny that he was singing "Fruitless" from his first studio album Jardin: a song about not being able to find his way home yet he seemed at home on stage, singing and hopping between different instruments. For a second I forgot about Kali Uchis and I wasn't mad about it.

Gabriel Garzon-Montano @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

After the typical stage turn-over, I found myself in a now packed theater. Then the music was qued and the crowd went wild when a siren silhouette appeared in the background. And I do mean wild.  

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Here she was, Kali Uchis, the bilingual, Colombian-American songstress with the most catchy yet thoughtful song of 2018 (in my opinion) hypnotizing us with her Latin hips and soft yet delightfully powerful voice. Clad in white pants with waistline fringe, perfect for that desired dramatic effect when hips move to the beat of the drums and a bedazzled bra that brought on fond memories of the Queen of all Latin girls herself, Selena.

 Kali delivered song after song to a crowd full of fans more than happy to sing along with her time after time. The most surprising perhaps, the throwback vibe song "Miami", an unplugged version performed to perfection, hypnotizing the crowd who like me probably wondered how she made a great jam even better. We may never know but we sure did enjoy it.  

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

"Just a Stranger", about wanting money instead of love is one of the catchiest songs off her debut album Isolation, was so well received you'd think it was the anthem of this generation. 

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Equally great was "After the Storm", her hit single that caught my ear while I browsed for unnecessary things at Urban Outfitters on a random Saturday afternoon earlier this year. Thank god for Shazam.I seldom find an album that I like in it's entirety but Isolation truly delivers whether listening to it at home or enjoying it live. Throughout the show she thanked fans for their support, sharing the most personal anecdote before singing "Killer" a post break-up song she wrote after her four year relationship ended at age 19. 

Overall Kali gave the audience what they wanted, soulful songs with seductive dance beats that made us all forget that Mondays are suppose to be awful. This might have been her first sold-out show in San Francisco but I definitely think it won't be her last and I can't wait for the next one. 

Kali Uchis @ The Warfield 9/17/2018
photo by Marc Fong

review written by Alicia Deschamps.

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater in Oakland 9/4/2018

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

She played Alt 105.3's BFD in May and less than five months later, Bishop Briggs was back in the Bay Area, playing The Fox Theater in Oakland on September 4th. The blue eyed British starlet kicked off her very first headlining tour in April and in June she announced more shows which included her show in Oakland with Joywave.

Joywave @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

It's hard to believe how far the 26 year old has come in three years since she only just released her debut album this Spring. She broke on to the scene in 2015 with  her first single, "Wild Horses" but most know her because of  "River",  her 2016 her hit single that catapulted her into the spotlight. Now, with two EPs, one LP and after hitting the festival circuit hard for the last couple years it's great seeing Bishop Briggs out on her own.

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

The show wasn't sold-out like so many shows on her headlining tour are but that didn't slow her down. She burst on to the stage a little after nine o'clock in baggy white windbreaker pants, a black baggy long sleeved shirt and a beanie. Her pants almost looked see through as blinking lights kept illuminating them from behind her, silhouetting her legs in the moments she was standing still. She's cut her long jet black hair and has strayed away from the two high buns hair do look but one thing that hasn't changed since seeing her two years ago is her kinetic energy.

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

The girl never stops moving. During her songs if she's not jumping up and down, or bouncing around she's doing laps around the stage or running from one side of it  to the other. And all while holding a tune with her seductive vocals. Before it seemed like nerves that kept her on the move but it's clear that she is fully in control now. Her stage presence is charged by her passion for her music, Bishop Briggs has really blossomed since headlining Club NSSN at Mezzanine in 2016.

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

For as big of a name as she's created for herself, she hasn't let it go to her head and is quite humble. Charismatic and personable, she squatted low to get to her fans level to converse with them throughout her set. She talked about her climb to the top and how amazed she was by all the fans going out to see her on tour, she gave an encouraging speech about knowing your worth and she introduced her band.




Apart from intense indigo and emerald and occasional bursts of light the stage remained rather dark which fit the mood of Bishop Brigg's brooding alternative pop. With her band tucked back behind her giving her ample space for all of her boisterous antics, she did just that, ending her headlining show in Oakland with her biggest hit yet, "River."
Bishop Briggs is on the road until the end of October so catch her if you can.

Bishop Briggs @ The Fox Theater 9/4/2018
photo by Marc Fong

Raspberry Chocolate cupcake from Hotcakes Bakes

Cupcakes @ Hotcakes Bakes
photo by Nikki DeMartini

After spending a week in L.A my Dad sent me back home the best way possible, with a cupcake! 

Situated along South Centinela Avenue, Hotcakes Bakes is a full service bakery offering wedding cakes, classic cakes, custom cakes and of course cupcakes (plus a variety  of other desserts). Since it's right by LAX, my Dad and I made a pit stop and he treated me to a treat for my flight. 

Boarded up with bumble-gum pink colored ply wood, the storefront isn't much to see as it's currently under construction but the inside is pure chic cuteness! An assortment of colorful cupcakes, regular sized and mini, fill two glass pastry displays which take up most of the store. The pink wall across from them have shelves full of other baked goodies. 

The tall, fluffy, piles of frosting that sit on top of all of their cupcakes caught my eye. Especially the bright, colorful frosting that topped the lemon, strawberry and raspberry chocolate cupcakes. And the beyond Buttermilk, what could be considered a boring flavor was made fun with an awesome tie-dye frosting! 

In addition to standard flavors like chocolate, vanilla, red velvet and even my favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting, they also offer some unique flavors like Snickerdoodle, Boston cream pie and English Toffee. And I love the name of their rainbow sprinkle cupcake too, the Sprinklicious cupcake.
I had a really tough decision to make and not a lot of time because I had a plane to catch. 

I ended up going with the Raspberry Chocolate cupcake because: 

1. I've only reviewed a vegan Raspberry Chocolate cupcake 

2. raspberry is a summer time fruit and Summer is almost over 

3. A fresh raspberry sits on top of the raspberry frosting of Hotcakes Bakes' Raspberry cupcake which I personally have never seen on that flavor cupcake before. 

Raspberry cupcake from Hotcakes Bakes
photo by Nikki DeMartini 

They asked if we wanted a napkin to eat our selections right then or if we'd like them to go and my Dad and I got ours to go. They have individual plastic cupcake to go containers which are just perfect, not to mention genius. I can't tell you how many times frosting has been smeared and even smashed because cupcakes get jostled around so much in a box.

 I got to the airport, got through security, got to my gate and then I got to enjoy my cupcake. 

I had to eat some of the frosting before I could take a full bite of the cupcake because it was stacked so high. I hadn't noticed it at first but along with the fresh raspberry on top there was also fresh raspberries mixed into the frosting! 

It's consistency wasn't quite whipped...it was creamy yet light and not too sweet with a hint of tart raspberry. The chocolate cake was fresh but not very chocolatey. It was a little on the dry side but bites with both cake and frosting took care of that. If the cake was super buttery or moist I think it would have been an overload with the frosting. Something else I didn't notice at first was the hard shell of chocolate right under the pile of frosting which I don't think was special to this flavor. Maybe it's there to help keep the high frosting in place? I'm not sure but it was a tasty little surprise. 

Raspberry cupcake from Hotcakes Bakes
photo by Nikki DeMartini 

The Raspberry Chocolate cupcake from Hotcakes Bakes was a great afternoon treat that wasn't too sweet and it traveled well. I was one satisfied passenger and I will definitely go back there for more cupcakes next time I visit LA. Thanks for the great recommendation Dad!

Walk Off The Earth @ August Hall 8/26/2017

Walk Off The Earth, the five piece indie-pop band of multi-instrumentalists from Ontario Canada known for their creative covers of pop songs, played at August Hall last Sunday night August 26th. 

photo by Nikki DeMartini

 After 17 years the club known for being the spot in the city for EDM shows closed it doors and re-opened earlier this year as August Hall. With it's 100 year old architecture, stained glass windows and 32 foot high ceilings, the 750-1000 capacity music hall is a pristine restoration of one of SF's original masterpieces. 

It was my first time at the new music venue located at 420 Mason Street in Union Square since it's renovation and it did not disappoint. From the 1920's stylistic marque, to the personalized cocktail napkins, to the polished wood and iron hall itself, even the modern bathrooms carry a retro feel that remind me of Bimbo's 365 Club across town. 

photo by Nikki DeMartini

It was pretty packed by the time I got there but there was still a feeling of openness to it. 

Mike "Beard Guy" Taylor started off their set with a drum solo and the room was alive with a spirited energy before Sarah, Gianni, Ryan and Mike joined him on stage. From guitar, theremin, ukulele and trombone each of the five multi-instrumentalist band members also proved to be vocalists as they shared singing duties. Within the first three songs Sarah, Gianni and Ryan had all already taken their turn on lead vocals. 

It's been three years since the release of their sixth studio album, Sing It All Away but their renditions of  hits like Ed Sheeran's "Shape Of You" and Pharrell's "Happy" keep them relevant. Really grabbing everyone's attention was their cover of Sheeran's "Shape Of You" which was their third song of the night but the forth song of the night, their own "Rule The World" really dialed the crowd in. 

The use of kazoos and whistling tubes make their already exuberant performance pop with fun like a confetti filled popper bursting at midnight on New Years eve. It's not too often you see pyrotechnics at a smaller, indoor venue but like sensory overload a kid experiences at their first visit to a carnival, plumes of smoke intermittently blasted from the stage throughout their set. 

The room buzzed with a youthful excitement as different members of the band expressed their love and gratitude for San Francisco, their most favorite city.  Along with covering everything from Adele to Chainsmokers to OutKast, they treated SF to a brand new song that they'd never played live before. 

Walk Off The Earth at August Hall 8/26/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini


The highlight of the night came midway through their jam packed set when when all five of them got behind one acoustic guitar and performed a melody consisting of: Somebody That I Use to Know, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, My Girl, Twist and Shout, Royals and All Time Low. It was a sight I've never seen before and I think most would agree that it was so much fun to see live.

Walk Off The Earth at August Hall 8/26/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini

   

Walk Off The Earth isn't officially on tour, like they told SF fans that night, they just wanted to play a show in San Francisco so they booked one. Their hootenanny sounded flawless as they sweetly dominated the stage at the newest venue in their beloved city by the bay. Fans happily sang and danced along to all 20 songs of their set well into night without a care, as if Monday weren't just right around the corner.

set-list 8/26/2018 

1. Beard Guy/Drums 

2. Red Hands 

3. Shape Of You (Ed Sheeran cover)

Walk Off The Earth at August Hall 8/26/2018
photo by Nikki DeMartini

4. Rule The World

5. Gang of Rhythm

6. Happy (Pharrell Williams cover) 

7. Taekwondo

8. 5 peeps one guitar melody

9. Lost In You 

10. Issues (Julia Michaels cover) 

11. 5th Avenue 

12. 6/8 Country Riff C to G 

13. Home We'll Go 

14. Hello (Adele)/Closer (Chainsmokers)

15. Fire In My Soul

16. Girls Like You 

17. Sing It All The Way 

18. Hold On (The Break) 

19. Hey Ya! (OutKast cover) 

20. R.E.V.O