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. 

Snoopadelic, Santigold, Con Brio + more to play Emerald Cup 2019

Emerald Cup is less than one month away!
2019 marks the16th Annual Emerald Cup competition and festival on December 14th and 15th. Known as the largest and most respected organic outdoor competition not just in the state of California or the country of the United States but in the world, Emerald Cup is the destination for cannabis growers, cannabis distributors and those who partake in cannabis and cannabis goods. 

Jay and Silent Bob @ Emerald Cup 2018

photo by Marc Fong 

Situated on the Sonoma County Fair Grounds, Emerald Cup hosts a variety of competitions, award ceremonies, panel discussions and live music performances. 

High lights from the two day event last year include a discussion with Jay and Silent Bob plus music from Lyrics Born, Nattali Rize, Margo Price, Gogol Bordello and Big Gigantic.

Lyrics Born @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong

Nattali Rize @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong

Margo Price @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong 

Gogol Bordello @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong

Gogol Bordello @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong

Big Gigantic @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong 

Big Gigantic @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong 

The biggest high light of all though is when Willie Nelson himself accepted the Life Time Achievement Award named after him (the award itself was a custom  Bluegrass "lamp" bubbler). 

Willie Nelson accepting his Life Time Achievement Award @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong 

Margo Price introducing Willie Nelson to the Awards Ceremony @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong

Willie Nelson @ Emerald Cup 2018 

photo by Marc Fong 

The music line-up this year is going to be lit with acts from DJ Snoopadelic (Snoop!), Santigold and Con Brio. Another moment you won't want to miss on-stage this year is when Tommy Chong receives the Willie Nelson Award, The Emerald Cup's Life Time Achievement Award. 

Tickets for  Emerald Cup 2019 are going fast so get them while they last!
(cannabis sold separately)

WAR opens for Santana @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019

The winning streak at the brand new Chase Center continued last week when WAR opened for Santana on November 12th. 

The Mexican American guitar virtuoso closed out Bottle Rock in Napa Valley this past May and even though Carlos Santana has been on tour all year long, this is the only show with WAR on the bill. Santana started his musical career in San Francisco right before the Summer of Love in 1966 making this Supernatural Now show an extra special one. It was in fact, A Special Thank You to The Bay Area.  

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Age ain't nothing but a number because after 50 years since WAR formed, the music veterans still have what it takes to deliver great music. Their infectious funk + rock + jazz + rhythm songs fueled a generation and still move people in ways that many artists today can't. 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2109 

photo by Marc Fong 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019

photo by Marc Fong 

Last Tuesday night, a good amount of people got to the show before the headliner to see the openers. WAR showed their Bay Area fans that even after decades they can still rock out with the best of them. 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2109 

photo by Marc Fong 

Opening for the great Santana at the newly minted Chase Center, WAR played to an audience who couldn't help but to shake their groove things to all the classics. Fan favorites had people singing and dancing to, "The Cisco Kid", "Slippin' into Darkness", "Spill the Wine" and "Low Rider". 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

So did the band's frontman, Lonnie Jordan, who fearlessly sang and danced through the set with the grace and aplomb that can only come from years of experience and the love of music. 

The whole audience swayed to all the funky tunes that WAR played for them. Bright, colorful lights seemed to make thier feel good music more lively, the show more energized. When the band's most familiar anthem started, fans gave a roaring response and couldn't help but to sing along. Originally released in 1975, "Why Can't We Be Friends" has been redone many different ways and covered by Smash Mouth and Reel Big Fish, but those don't hold a flame to seeing WAR perform the hit live. There's heart and soul that artists who cover the song cannot match. It's a must see. 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

WAR @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

WAR got the crowd ready for Santana in the best way, every one was loose and ready for more when he hit the stage. A lot of Santana's upcoming shows are "intimate evenings with" which will be amazing shows in their own right of course. But to see two huge rock acts from the sixties and seventies on the same stage in a new arena was truly something special. 

The Bay Area thanks you WAR and Santana.

Santana @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Santana @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019

photo by Marc Fong

written by Marc Fong and Nikki DeMartini

Amazon Uprising: Party with a Purpose 11/16/2019

Join Los Angeles this Saturday, November 16th for a protest like no other in Downtown LA to demand Big Banks stop funding rain forest destruction. It's the Amazon Uprising: Party with a Purpose, dance protest. 

There will be a march to the door steps of Big Banks followed by live music from Santigold, Nahko Bear and Walk The Moon. There will also be speeches from youth activists and indigenous leaders to get you pumped up as we spark a global movement to protect and restore the rain forests of the world. 

Hopefully this DTLA event will generate lots of momentum for this very important, environmental movement. Bring all your friends, dance, have fun and let your voice be heard to save the Amazon. Party with a Purpose to save the Amazon is free with RSVP. 

13,232 people have already RSVP'd which means together we've saved 2,460,400 trees in the Amazon Rain Forest. 

#AmazonUprising 

Every time you or someone in your community shares a social media post with the hashtag #AmazonUprising, it will be tracked and Amazon Uprising's coalition of partners will fund the protection of 50 trees (that's enough for 500 animals). 

See you on Saturday! 

written by Marc Fong 

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019

San Fermin isn't from San Francisco but they did headline at August Hall in San Francisco on November 7th.  

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

The Brooklyn based band was part of SF's infamous annual Noise Pop Festival last year when they recorded Live at The Fillmore on Feburary 23rd, 2018 with Magik *Magik Orchestra. Since then, they've released their forth studio album, The Cormorant 1 which they're currently on tour in support of. This is their first album released under Sony Music Entertainment. 

The Thursday night didn't sell-out, allowing the crowd to comfortably watch and enjoy the show at the downtown venue. When San Fermin took the stage, they took over it with saxophone, trumpet,, keyboard, guitars, bass, drums and violin. There was at least 9 people on stage!

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong

Founder of the band, Ellis Ludwig-Leone, was accompanied on lead vocals by Karlie Bruce and violinist Claire Willin, who in many respects was a highlight of the show. As a whole the band has a grace about them that really shines when they play live. You can see that performing live makes their obvious connection stronger which in turn connects them to their fans who come out to see them.

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Being that The Cormorant 1 was just released on October 4th, the set-list was mainly composed of those new songs. Some classics were thrown in, too, like "Emily" off of their second album, 2015's Jackrabbit.

San Fermin @ August Hall 11/7/2019 

photo by Marc Fong 

Rumor has it that follow up to The Cormorant 1 will be released some time in 2020. This could mean that San Fermin will be back in San Francisco sooner than
we thought, which is good news for anyone who missed them at August Hall. 

WAR with Santana @ The Chase Center 11/12/2019

The newest arena in San Francisco's Mission Bay, The Chase Center, opened on September with an inaugural show from Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony on September 6th. The new home of the Golden State Warriors is slated to host a lot more big shows, including: The Black Keys, Cher, Boston, Bad Bunny, Tame Impala and Ariana Grande. 

The next big show there is on November 12th when guitar god Santana and funk legends WAR take over.

WAR has been around since 1969 churning out hits like "Spill The Wine", "Why Can't We Be Friends" and "Low Rider" over the last five decades. SF native, Santana has been around just as long, gaining his biggest comercial and critical success with 1999's Supernatural, his 18th studio album. 

Now, 20 years later, these two iconic bands are performing together for one special show as a thank you to The Bay Area and tickets are available!