Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Last year, industrial metal band, Static-X announced they would be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's debut studio album, Wisconsin Death Trip, with a reunion tour. 

In 2014, fans mourned the passing Static-X front-man, Wayne Static, so a reunion tour is, at the very least, unusual. 

In addition to the tour, Tony Campos, Koichi, Fukuda and Ken Jay, the remaining members of Static-X, announced that they'd be reforming the band in honor of Wayne Static. The up-coming album, set to be released in 2020, will be appropriately titled, Project Regeneration. The 2020 release will be the first since the band's last album with Static in 2009. 

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

For the tour, and presumably the album, the band enlisted the help of the mysterious Xer0, a masked guitarist/singer who steps in for the late singer. Xer0's identity has not been revealed though there's a lot of evidence the singer is Dope's front-person, Edsel Dope. In any event, Wayne Static's "replacement" sports a leathery mask that bares a creepy resemblance to Static, complete with tall, electric hair.

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019

photo by Marc Fong

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Fans in SF got their X-mas gift a week early when Static-X came to town! 

Their raucous, sold-out, headlining show at Slim's on Tuesday December 17th certainly showed that while the great Wayne Static was no longer with us, his music still is.  

crowd at Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019

photo by Marc Fong

As the lights dropped, a screen projected images of the band members with a special focus on Wayne Static. The band members took the stage one at a time as the images faded. They kicked off the show with "Bled for Days", one of Wisconsin's Death Trip's heaviest anthems, setting the pace for the evening. Each member took a turn highlighting their solos. 

Xer0 was an attraction with his Static mask, towering hair and remarkably similar vocal style to Static himself. But, in no way did he try to usurp Static's legacy, I think that the mask, as a ghoulish as it may seem, was another way to pay homage to the band's founder. 

It was a furiously rocking night of fast music, talented musicians and remembering a metal legend. This is clearly a different Static-X without the original main-man, but the Project Regeneration tour (and album) is a great way to appreciate this killer band. 

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Static-X @ Slim's 12/17/2019

photo by Marc Fong 

set-list 12/17/2019 

1. Bled For Days 

2. Wisconsin Death Trip 

3. Fix 

4. Sweat of the Bud 

5. Love Dump 

6. I Am 

7. Otsegolation 

8. The Trance is the Motion 

9. Get to the Gone 

10. Black and White 

11. This Is Not

12. Destroy All 

13. Start a War 

14. Behemoth 

15. Cold 

16. I'm With Stupid 

17. Push It

written by Marc Fong

edited by Nikki DeMartini

Sprinkles Cupcakes for Santa Claus

There aren't too many things that are better than cookies and a glass of milk and who would no better than Santa Claus himself. But even Santa must want to switch up his sweets from time to time, right? Spinkles Cupcakes has three special Holiday flavors, Ginger Bread, Chocolate Peppermint and Christmas Cookie! It's  a Christmas miracle, right?! A Christmas Cookie Cupcake! 

Holiday Mini Cupcake sampler & standard Cupcake from Sprinkles Cupcakes 

photo by Nikki DeMartini

T'is the season of eats, treats, parties and celebrations so I was really excited when I saw that Sprinkles offers these flavors in their mini cupcake selection this season. You can still indulge and try all three flavors without over indulging. They even have a Mini Cupcake sampler which is a three pack that comes in a custom box to hold one of each of the special Holiday flavors. Another Christmas miracle! 

I stopped by Sprinkles on two different occasions and both times they were out of the Christmas Cookie Cupcake in both sizes. This could only mean that the Vanilla Cupcake with Vanilla frosting that has red and green sprinkles on top and inside is on everyone's list this year. The Mini Cupcake Sampler actually comes with a mini Gingerbread cupcake, a Chocolate Peppermint mini cupcake and a Red Velvet mini cupcake but I switched out the Red Velvet for a second Gingerbread.

Sugar free Red Velvet cupcake from Sprinkles Cupcakes

photo by Nikki DeMartini

As I placed my order I noticed that they had vegan and sugar free Red Velvet cupcakes. I didn't even know they had vegan and sugar free options! They boxed up a sugar free Red Velvet cupcake for me and I was on my merry way.

The cream cheese frosting was so creamy and sweet it's hard to believe that it was sugar free. Same goes for the Red Velvet cake. It's sweetness was right on par with a regular, sugar filled Red Velvet cake. It was so buttery and moist, I dare to say it was ooey-gooey.  This sugar free cupcake is as close to being decadent as a sugar free cupcake can get.








The holiday packaging for a single cupcake is simple but really cute. A red, signature Sprinkles dot made to look like a snowflake with gold foil around it.

Gingerbread & Chocolate Peppermint mini cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes 

photo by Nikki DeMartini 

 The scent of gingerbread filled my nose
as soon as I opened the box, wafting around the air like dancing sugar plum fairies. I had one of these first so that the signature holiday flavor wouldn't be masked by the chocolate peppermint combination.
Cinnamon and sugar was the first thing I tasted, followed by not-too-sweet buttercream frosting and last but certainly not least, the spice and sugar of classic gingerbread. It really is the flavor of Christmas, gingerbread. It makes you feel warm and cozy when you eat it or even just smell it.





The Chocolate frosting on the Chocolate Peppermint mini cupcake seemed to be more rich than the frosting on the Gingerbread mini cupcake. Maybe because it's chocolate? The small chunks of candy cane on top of the frosting made it difficult to tell if the frosting itself is chocolate peppermint or just chocolate but it sure was yummy. The chocolate cake was as to be expected, not very chocolately as most chocolate cakes tend to be. Both of the mini cupcakes were not as moist as the standard size cupcake. Maybe because of their size any moisture got baked right out of the cake?
They were the perfect size for a little holiday treat, just a few bites at most.
Mini cupcakes and sugar free cupcakes are great options to have especially around the holidays!
Santa would be happy with either one (or both).

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds

The Emerald Cup took place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds over a two day spread on December 14th and 15th.  The 16th Annual competition and festival brought top cannabis experts, educators and farmers together with consumers for the largest, most respected, organic outdoor cannabis competition in the world. 

The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong

The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

With over 700 contest entries, 300 different brands of cannabis, over 160 speakers, more than 100 educational sessions and podcasts plus 20 + music acts this year alone, it's no wonder it's one of the best cannabis fests there is! 

The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

High on the musical acts this year were Santigold, Flatbush Zombies, and Steel Pulse.  Emancipator, The Expendables and Con Brio were just some of the other bands but it's the cannabis community that really makes this event so successful. No matter how lit the music line-up is at The Emerald Cup, live music always plays second fiddle to all of the other festivities going on at this festival.  

Con Brio @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

Con Brio @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

One of the biggest highlights this year is that Tommy Chong from the famous Cheech and Chong movies got awarded the Willie Nelson Life Time Achievement award!

Steel Pulse @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

Steel Pulse @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

Steel Pulse @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong

Tim Blake, founder of The Emerald Cup, introduced the award ceremony on Sunday. He spoke of positivity and progress not only in the cannabis community but in dreary times and that was the best highlight of The Emerald Cup 2019. It's not only a cannabis expo/festival (though it is certainly that) but it is a celebration of life. The awards ceremony was undoubtedly the focus of the weekend: cannabis growers, artisans and artists were recognized, celebrated and awarded accordingly. Click here for the full list of winners from The Emerald Cup 2019. 

Santigold @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma 

photo by Marc Fong 

Santigold @ The Emerald Cup @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

Santigold @ The Emerald Cup @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds

photo by Marc Fong

Santigold @ The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds

photo by Marc Fong

Some winners from different cannabis categories include: 

 #1 Sweet Edibles = Cannabis Infused Granola Clusters from Atlas Edibles, Alameda 

#1 Savory Edibles = All Natural Peanut Butter Zendo Edibles Orange 

#1 CBD Topicals = Deep Soak from Newell's Botanicals, Sacramento 

#1 "flower" for personal use = LA Kush Cake from Paula Jobe-Hudgens, Nevada 

#1 Booth at Emerald Cup 2019 = Nice Guys Delivery featuring Albert Einstone's

The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong

The Emerald Cup 2019 @ Sonoma County Fairgrounds 

photo by Marc Fong 

What will be the highlights next year? 

Keep an eye out for what The Emerald Cup will serve up in 2020! 

written by Marc Fong 

edited by Nikki DeMartini

Musically inclined Holiday wish-list

Remember having a Christmas wish-list when you were a kid? Granted there are things you want that would make for the perfect gift(s) when you get older, however the novelity of a wish-list becomes a thing of Christmas past the older you get.

So, what do you get for the music lover on your shopping list? 

Concert tickets are always a good go to, current or up-coming tours permitting of course. How 'bout thinking outside of the box for musically inclined things to wrap up? Musicians don't only make music you know. 

For example: 

Oakland punks Green Day have their Oakland Brand, all organic, coffee. 

She hasn't release an album in years but along with Savage X Fenty Lingerie by Rhianna there's also her Fenty make-up line. 

Gwen Stefani has a stylish  L.A.M.B eye ware line. 

Dolly Parton has a few children's books out there. 

Work out like Madonna with her Addicted to Sweat video collection. 

Learn some new recipes from Action Bronson and one of his cookbooks. 

New music from one of my most favorite rock stars would rock, but some other works of hers are at the top of my (would be) wish-list. 

The Kills @ Outside Lands 

photo by Marc Fong 

Leading lady of The Kills and The Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart is a bonafide artist through and through. The Florida raised, Nashville dwelling, pants wearing, vegan is no doubt a rockstar, but she's also a painter, writer and fashionista. 

She's had art exhibits in L.A., New York and Nashville to show off her abstract, avant garde paintings and earlier this year she released her first book: a collection of photos, poems and short stories called CAR MA. Growing up, Alison Mosshart's mother was a high school art teacher and her father,  a used car dealer. CAR MA is a love letter to the motor car, a book about rock N rock and love. The author staes that "It's a book about America, performance, and life on the road. It's a book about fender bender portraiture, story tellin' tire tracks, and the never ending search for the spirit under the hood." Is there anything she does that isn't cool? CAR MA is available via Dover Street Market.

R13 x Alison Mosshart Collection 

Alison rocks, obviously, and so does her fashion. This year she took it to the next level. Her first fashion collaboration is a collection with the New York label, R13. Her eccentric line is fierce and oh so rock N roll with price tags to match. 

My favorite pieces are the fuzzy, over-sized, blue zebra print sweater and the super skinny, army green + neon pink, cheetah print jeans. 

 I wouldn't have thought to wear these two together but Alison pulls this look off like the rock star that she is. 

This outfit alone is nearly $1,500 and that's why it is on my (would be) wish-list. The whole Alison Mosshart collection is rad, again I ask, is there anything she does that isn't?

Baby It's Cold Outside: then & now

The Academy Award winning song, "Baby It's Cold Outside" was originally written by Frank Loesser and Lynn Garland in 1944 and was made famous in the 1949 Ester Williams film, Neptune's Daughter. The holiday jingle was sung at house parties to indicate to guests that the party was over and it was time to leave. By the time it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song it was already a Christmas time classic. 

The duet features lyrics that are sung in conversation style by the "host" (called the wolf which is usually sung by a male) and a "guest" (called the mouse which is usually sung by a female). 

Over the years, the song has been covered and remade countless times: Sammy Davis Jr and Carmen McRae in 1957, Dean Martin in 1959, Ray Charles and Betty Carter in 1961, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey and in 2004 along with Dolly Parton and Rod Stewart that same year, Willie Nelson and Nora Jones in 2009, and there's more where that came from, a lot more.

It's continued to pop up in movies over the decades too: 1991's For the Boys with Bette Midler and James Caan, 1996's Starlight with Vanessa Williams and Bobby Caldwell, 2003's Elf with Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell/Leon Redbone, just to name a few. 

Sixty years after it's release, since 2009, "Baby It's Cold Outside" has gotten criticism and backlash  over it's lyrics, deeming them to imply or depict sexual assault or harassment. Ten years after the controversy began, we have a brand new "Baby It's Cold Outside" with brand new lyrics. 

Jon Legend and Kelly Clarkson got together and recorded what some are calling a "modernized" version of the classic Christmas song. It's the duo's first time doing a Christmas collaboration and this new version is on Legend's updated 2018 A Legendary Christmas album which just dropped last month.

The beloved song sounds exactly the same as the original: Clarkson's delivery whispy and timid while Legend is charming and flirty. The only difference is the lyrics but even then, you have to listen closely. Most of the changes are in the male's response to the female's lyrics. 

For example: 

- "what will my friends think..."

- "I think they should rejoice" 

- "... if I have one more drink"

- "it's your body, it's your choice" 

Some see the lyrics in the original song not as being about a guy at a party who won't take no for an answer but as a glimpse at a time when woman were not allowed to be openly sexual. Meaning, the woman being portrayed in the song is in a tug of war with the expectations of what a woman "should be" in society's standards and her natural desires.   

Both are profound, really. When it comes down to it, the gift of "Baby It's Cold Outside" is that it's given woman a voice for over 70 years now. It just depends on how you look at it and there's no denying, either way, that this Holiday favorite is here to stay. 

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019

In support of their latest release, Cold War Kids played to a packed Fillmore SF last Wednesday. Their new album, New Age Norms 1, is a collection of frenetically poignant songs that are undeniably CWK: a fun edge that's part dance/part rock. Naturally, their live show fit that motif.

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019

photo by Marc Fong 

Cold War Kids took the stage after a brief greeting from front-man Nathan Willet. They started fast and furious with their 2017 single, "Love Is Mystical". Through the hazy orange light the band rocked out, embracing their crunchy tunes. It's obvious that CWK enjoys making and playing music as much as we enjoy watching and hearing them play.

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Of course their familiar hits, "Miracle Mile" and "Hang Me Up To Dry", drew appropriate cheers from the crowd but it was their latest single that really added fire to the boil. "Complainer", is full of style and funk that can only be truly effectuated by Cold War Kids.

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Not surprisingly, their latest album is dance-y, funky and an all around good time while also being reflective and heavy. Their live show reflects all of this if not more. New Age Norms 1 is available now. You should definitely make it a point to catch CWK live while waiting to see if there will be a New Age Norms 2.

set-list 11/20/2019

1. Love Is Mystical 

2. Miracle Mile 

3. Hang Me Up To Dry 

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

4. Complainer 

5. Fine Fine Fine 

6. Dirt In My Eyes 

7. Calm Your Nerves 

8. 4th Of July 

9. Waiting For Your Love 

10. Can We Hang On? 

11. Mexican Dogs  

12. Restless 

13. Beyond The Pale 

14. Drive Desperate

15. So Tied Up 

16. Audience 

17. Vacation

18. Hospital Beds 

19. First   

Cold War Kids tour dates 

- December 7th @ The Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

- December 12th @ The Anthem, Washington, DC 

- December 13th @ Ottobar, Baltimore, MD 

- December 19th @ Delmar Hall, Saint Louis, MO 

- December 20th @ Arvest Bank Theater at The Midland, Kansas City, MO 

- January 16th @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR 

- January 17th & 18th @ Neptune Theater, Seattle, WA

- January 19th @ Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, Canada 

- January 22nd @ Ogden Theater, Denver, CO 

- January 23rd @ Waiting Room Lounge, Omaha, NE 

- January 24th @ First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 

- January 25th @ Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL 

- January 27th @ Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH 

- January 28th @ Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI 

- January 29th @ Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, Canada 

- January 31st @ House of Blues Boston, Boston, MA 

- February 4th & 5th @ Webster Hall, New York, NY 

- February 6th @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC 

- February 7th @ The National, Richmond, VA 

- February 8th @ The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 

- February 10th @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, Ponte Vedra, FL 

- February 11th @ Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, GA 

- February 12th @ Marathon Music Works, Nashville, TN 

- February 14th @ Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK 

- February 15th @ Stubb's Bar-B-Q, Austin, TX 

Cold War Kids @ The Fillmore SF 11/20/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

review written by Marc Fong 

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019

The last time I saw Ghostland Observatory live was 2010 at The Warfield in San Francisco, so it's fair to say it's been years since the last time I saw them, almost a decade! 

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Last year the electronic duo from Austin Texas released their fifth studio album on Turner's Trashy Moped Recordings. See You Later Simulator came eight years after their fourth studio album, 2010's Codename: Rondo. Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner have toured quite a bit for a band who announced they were taking a hiatus following the release of their fourth album in 2013 to "bath and relax in the cosmos". 

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Ghostland Observatory shows have been popping up all around the states for the last four years or so and they started hitting the road harder after their 2018 release.   

I didn't know they were currently on tour and to my delighted surprise, after their show at The Midway in SF on November 15th, they headed to The Regent Theater in LA on November 17th. 

Playful synth-folk from Munya (not to be confused with MUNA from NorCal) started the Sunday night show with Ghostland starting right at 9:30 as people were still arriving.  

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

They started in a dramatic fashion and I liked it. The room was dark, fog falling off the stage as cheers and chants rose from the floor. Clapping got louder as Behrens and Turner got situated on the still ominous stage. 

The gigantic triangles on stage that framed equipment and the opening act while she performed were finally illuminated. Glowing neon encompassed Behren as he sang and hid Turner as he made hooks and melodies loom around us. Beaming lasers shot out from the stage about half way through the first song, "See You Later Simulator" right as the beat dropped and the abrasive bass boomed. And, the crowd lost it and loved it: the lasers, the deafening sounds, the energy.
The dance party had officially begun. 

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Gone are the braided red yarn, Raggedy Ann wig and big frame sunglasses the front-man use to wear. Now Behrens rocks his own long locks and modest shades, looking like a humbled rock star in all black, nothing fancy. I was able to catcha fleeting glimpse of the silver cape Turner wore before tucking away inside the tiers of neon triangle. Like a mad scientist behind the scenes concocting things. 

Songs from earlier in their catalog got the loudest reactions but every song had the crowd palpating with engaged enthusiasm.  The enthralling, everchanging lasers paired with rhythmic, inky, electronic Ghostland tracks were a hypnotic mix, making it easy to fall into a trance if you weren't on the floor dancing.

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Behren's explosive energy gained momentum as they played. Violently belting out lyrics as if his life depended on it then ripping on his guitar with full pizzazz. There's no way he couldn't have grabbed your attention by the collar, lifting you to your tippy toes, if you were there. 

Watching him was exhilarating and tiring all at once.  

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

The Regent was a great venue for this show, as I'm sure The Midway in SF was: not to big, not to small with a night club vibe and a stage fit for a DJ. If Ghostland Observatory played at a bigger place it would take away from the epic light show and through the roof performance, which says a lot about this duo.

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019

photo by Marc Fong 

2020 will be 15 years since they first hit the scene and in this day and age where the EDM genre is ever expanding (like indie music) they put on a great live show. You don’t get that a lot with electro shows and this is electro-goth!

As we approach a new year, this is, without a doubt, one of the best shows I've been to this year. 

Ghostland Observatory @ The Regent Theater 11/17/2019

photo by Marc Fong 

Ghostland Observatory have two more shows to round out their year on the road. They're going home to the lone star state for a show at White Oak Music Hall in Houston Texas on December 28th and a special New Years Eve show with Golden Dawn Arkestra in their home town of Austin Texas.