Happy Birthday, cupcake

 It was my birthday earlier this month and to celebrate my cousin and her two kids (my god kids) visited me in San Francisco. We decided on a trip to the San Francisco Botanical Garden. It was a sunny January day and some of the infamous pink Magnolias were already blooming high above us on otherwise bare branches. 

Cupcake from Whole Foods 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Before we went exploring we made a pit stop for the birthday festivity of blowing out a candle on the cupcake my cousin got for me and making a birthday wish. Both of my god kids were very excited about this because my cousin had gotten them their own treats, too. It was so cute the way their eyes lit up when she opened up the cupcake box and lit a candle in it, you'd think it was their birthday.

 

exploring the San Francisco Botanical Garden

The cupcake was from Whole Foods and my thoughtful cousin picked a cupcake covered in frosting flowers. The flowers were light blue and green with a couple darker green leaves which reminded me of hydrangeas. 

 I mentioned to her that the cupcake was very fitting since we were celebrating at the Botanical Garden and she said that's why she got that one. She sure does know how to make a birthday girl feel special that cousin of mine.

 After singing me Happy Birthday, the kids had their treats and then burned off the sugar rush running around the park but I saved my cupcake for later. 

The frosting flowers got a little smooshed in transit but it still looked pretty and tasted yummy. All of those frosting flowers and leaves sure made for one very well frosted cupcake and I love frosting. It was classic vanilla frosting and I could see that the cake was chocolate. To my delighted surprise, the chocolate cake was rich and chocolatey! I'm almost positive it was devils food cake based on it's deep brown color and how moist and flavorful it was. Chocolate cake under frosting flowers is like dirt that flowers grow in only way yummier, though my godson might disagree.Without one flavor outweighing the other, it was a perfect balance of vanilla vs. chocolate. 
Individual cupcakes from Whole Foods are bigger than standard cupcakes so there's more to love which is great news for cupcake lovers. I've never had a cupcake from Whole Foods that I didn't like, in fact they're the best cupcakes from a grocery store bakery I've had making this a perfect little birthday treat for me.
Keep these pretty and yummy cupcakes in mind for birthday celebrations as a gift for someone else or for yourself!

cupcake from Whole Foods 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021

 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

Last month Wet Leg made their San Francisco debut at the one and only Popscene, the city's premier indie night club, which was hosted at  Rickshaw Stop.

The British band from Isle of Wight, founded by Rhain Teasdale and Hester Chambers released the underground hit single of Summer 2021, "Chaise Lounge".

It's quirky, clever lyrics, buzzing guitars and uninterested monotone are undeniably indie, sparking people's interest which quickly made it and the girls behind it a sensation.
Their SF debut show sold-out just as quick. 

It had been a while since I had been to Popscene, so long in fact I can't recall the last time I was there. I was excited to be back, excited to be approved to cover Wet Leg and excited that one of my good friends who I work music festivals with was in town and able to join me.

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

The place was packed by the time we got there which was well after doors opened and after the opening acted. From what I could see the crowd was around my age, a sight to see with the reputation that Popscene has of debuting the hottest breaking bands and usually drawing a younger crowd.  I wasn't about to push my way through the thick of the crowd to get a better view of the band and scope out the whole scene though. Proof of vaccinations were being checked at the door but still, it was definitely too close for my new normal comfort level. 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

It was surprising to see Teasdale and Chambers joined by four other for a total of six people on stage. Wet Leg the duo is a full band ensemble live or at least they were that night in SF. They all seemed to vibe well with each other while they played but their stage presence was lacking. Just about as stagnant as the crowd, the band not surprisingly found themselves in a spot most bands have been at one point especially as they’re emerging. Wet Leg, for as popular as they are and are becoming, are still finding their voice on stage.

They started their set with what could be considered their second single, the riffy, poetic, garage/indie rock hybrid "Too Late Now". 

Being from the Bay Area and going to shows here my whole life, though the crowd was stagnant for the most part I could tell that they were into it. Something about air about them and the way they intently watched the show. The lighting was dark and harsh with lots of red washing everyone out, adding to the "cool" kid aesthetic the show already had and the vibe that Popscene is known for. With no banter between songs the eleven song set seemed to fly right by. Before I knew it that guitar driven, rhythmic intro of "Chaise Lounge" filled the room. Wet Leg saved their best known song for last as most up and coming bands do. It riled some signs of life through out the crowd as some people sang along to and some bopped about. As soon as the hit song was over, Wet Leg left the stage, house lights came up and everyone there hightailed it toward the exit. 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

Wet Leg opened for CHVRCHES at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium the night after playing Popscene and they recently announced up coming tour dates through out Europe, North America and Canada. They've also announced the release date of their first album, April 8th, 2022!  The more live shows they play the more comfortable they'll become on stage and I'm looking forward to seeing where this wave takes Wet Leg. 

set-list 12/15/2021

1. Too Late Now
2. It's Not Fun 
3. Ur Mom 
4. Wet Dream 
5. Supermarket 
6. Loving You 
7. Obvious 
8. Oh No 
9. Being In Love 
10. Angelica 
11. Chaise Lounge 

Favorite new music find of 2021

 I found my favorite new music find of 2021 when I wasn't looking for it, not really anyway. COVID bookended by a busy work schedule aside I was finally getting to see DRAMA live and I was very excited about it.  It was an Outside Lands night show and DRAMA had been on the  whacky 2021 "postponed" festival circuit playing some of the same festivals that I was working but I had yet to see them.  Better yet, that night I was getting to see DRAMA live at Bimbo's, the most picture-esqe, art-deco venue to see a concert in SF. Fate would have it that contrary to personal show going practices, I arrived in time to see the opener that night, too. 

The band was Brijean, a collaboration of Brijean Murphy and Doug Stewart  based out of Oakland. I hadn't heard of them before but later found out that Murphy is an accomplished DJ, making a name for herself as a sought after percussionists on the indie scene after working with the likes of Poolside and Toro Y Moi. Their demeanor, though a bit meager was somewhat oddly inciting, or maybe it was seeing Murphy situated behind a huge pair of bongos that sparkled the initial interest. What kind of hippy noodling experience were we about to get into with these two hipsters? 

Brijean @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Their sound, retro yet bubbly, is unassumingly immersive. Hypnotically harmonizing melodies of sweet bass hooks, fun percussion and dancey synths with Murphy's almost nymph like vocals that carry a unique pitch and leisurely allure complete the package. Stuck in a trace standing there in front of the stage I was completely submerged in every song they played. If I closed my eyes long enough I bet that I could have easily forgotten where I was, transported far far away to another place and time.
The song "Hey Boy" totally encapsules their tropical, trippy vibe which simultaneously transcends a high and lo tempo like butter across all of their tracks. Filling every nook and cranny with a smooth deliciousness that's hard to resist.
Turns out their whole 2021 album, Feelings is no different. Just the right amount of funk and jam and indie and of course those sweet, sweet bongos. 

Their sultry finesse matched that of Drama's.
Coincidence? Maybe.
Both bands did play Outside Lands...either way it left me thinking that Brijean and Tash Sultana would be a good billing fit, too. 

DRAMA @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Brijean is a great soundtrack for a small at home get together, a cocktail party, a picnic, a warm bath and as I found out a few days later, a perfect mid-day set at a music festival. That's right, the chill dynamic duo played the Panhandle stage at the 2021 Outside Lands which had been postponed to Halloween weekend from it's usual early to mid August scheduling. As the sun shown down on Golden Gate park, the small crowd that had gathered at the small stage was a happy one. Happy to be there, basking in warm sunshine and the feel good tunes with summer of love undertones. It was here that I determined that "Moody" is my favorite song by them, recorded and live. And that yes, I am a fan of Brijean. 

 I'm happy I found out about Brijean and to be sharing them with you. Maybe you'll be a fan now, too!

Brijean at Outside Lands 2021 
photo by Nikki DeMartini