The Lumineers @ Great American Music Hall 12/6/2016

The Bay Area's one & only alternative rock radio station, LIVE105 KITS 105.3 FM, celebrated 30 years of being on the airwaves by inviting listeners to a special show with The Lumineers at Great American Music Hall! How cool is that?! In true rock fashion, LIVE105 didn't sell tickets to the show, you had to listen to win if you wanted in. 

photo by Nikki DeMartini

 Considering everyone who was there had tickets at will-call, the line moved quickly once doors opened at 7:30. Gingerly mingling, listeners filled Great American Music Hall with cheerful feels and no time seemed to pass before the music started an hour and a half after doors opened.
After a little wave and quick hello, fresh faced and smiley Wesley Schultz efficiently started the show with the sweet, soulful lullaby  "Sleep On The Floor". Their sophomore album, Cleopatra followed a more melancholy route than their 2012 debut, so it was refreshing to see that the whole band was all smiles with an amicable showmanship to boot.




Happy to chat between songs,  the frontman built a friendly connection with fans carrying on about The Lumineers' early days when they played at the quaint Amnesia bar in the Mission District.
He shared that he had a new found love for San Francisco since his brother moved here and that The Lumineers had opened for a band at the same venue years ago but Tuesday night's show was the first time they headlined at Great American Music Hall. It was really cool to hear all those little known facts about one of folk-rock's most popular acts.

It was also cool that they played their most well known songs at the top of the set: "Sleep On The Floor", "Ophelia", "Cleopatra" and the beloved, break through hit "Ho Hey". Smartphones and Androids were held high to capture Kodak moments and video snippets of the intimate show but before playing "Ho Hey" Schultz politely requested that after the song, all phones be put away so we would all be there, enjoying the moment together. Fans happily obliged.

The Lumineers @ Great American Music Hall 12/6/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

At times all five members were on stage, other times only two or three were on stage with practically un-noticible transitions. The band's beauty, Neyla, switched  between violin and cello through out the show and charming harmonization came from all of the band members at one point. There was no crazy lighting, just some simple whites and soft pinks accentuated their humble music, making the lighthearted show that much more luminous.

The Lumineers @ Great American Music Hall 12/6/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The frontman was exceptionally engaging and personable, giving fans sweet insights about the song "Dead Sea" being an homage to his now wife and his crazy life on the road. He even performed a song from the middle of the crowd which he did at shows on their World Tour, like their two shows at The Greek Theater in Berkeley October 6th and 7th. Those shows were at bigger venues though, so it was really special he ventured into the crowd at such a small(er) venue.





Being that it was a radio station gig, the fact that they didn't phone it in and played a full, 17 song, set was awesome! The Lumineers went above and beyond for LIVE105 and their listeners.

They looked great, they sounded great, they were great!
A private show with The Lumineers was a great way to celebrate 30 years of LIVE105!

set-list 12/6/2016 

 1. Sleep On The Ground 
2. Ophelia
3. Flowers In Your Hair 
4. Ho Hey 
5. Cleopatra
6. Classy Girls 
7. Dead Sea 
8. Charlie Boy 
9. Darlene 
10. Boots of Spanish Leather (Bob Dylan)
11.  Slow It Down
12. Submarines
13. Gun Song 
14. Angela 
15. Big Parade 
16. My Eyes 
17. Stubborn Love

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

To celebrate the release of Royal Blues, their 4th studio album, Dragonette embarked on a 23-date North American tour! Kicking things off the day the album dropped on November 11th in Montreal, the tour is running through December 11th in Boston, including a stop in SF along the way!  

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Last November the threesome sizzled at their headlining show at SF's premiere Indie nightclub, Popscene and exactly one year and nine days later, the Canadian synth-pop band headlined at The Independent on November 29th!








The Tuesday night show was off to a slow start and even though it wasn't sold-out, the floor was full when Dragonette started close to 10:30. In a mirror mosaic jacket, white jeans and backed by a wall of pixelated lights, Martina Sorbara looked like a quintessential, indie-synth-pop disco queen.  

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Teetering on the edge of the stage in front of bassist Dan Krutz and drummer Joel Stouffer, she
dominated the stage belting out the bright, upbeat title track of the brand new album. Equally as joyful as the band's joyous energy, fans seamlessly chimed in on the chorus of the first hit of the set, "Let The Night Fall." After that, the night was their's.

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Fans were locked in and they were ready to do what they had gone there to do, dance, and Dragonette was more than ready to deliver a dance party.

Her  stature is small but Martina's powerful vocals and unwavering stage presence make her larger than life. Seeing her sing is mesmerizing.

Dragonette @ The Independent 11/29/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

They fired off highly danceable song after song with fiery determination. From the youthfully cinematic "High Five" to the bubbly "Hello" and the weird intensity of "Future Ghost" Dragonette  are adept at crafting catchy, hook laden songs covering all the pop bases.









Their dance party ends this week but not before Dragonette play shows in Chicago, Ohio and New York!

set-list 11/29/2016 
1. Royal Blues
2. Let The Night Fall
3. Out Lines
4. Body To Body
5. Fire In Your Shoes
6. I Get Around
7. Firebird
8. Future Ghost
9. Run Run Run
10. Sweet Poison
11. Pick Up The Phone
12. Right Woman
13. Hello
14. High Five 
15. Darth Vader 
16. Let Go 
17. Fixin' To Thrill 

en core 
1. Stupid Grin 
2. Live In This City 

Club NSSN 2016! December 8th @ Mezzanine!

T'is the night before Not So Silent Night and all through out the city everybody will be stirring to get out of the house and go to a show! LIVE105 has stuffed our stockings with a pre-party show to warm us up for nights one and two of Not So Silent Night with CLUB NSSN at Mezzanine on December 8th! 

The four piece, arena ambitious "indie-Springsteens" from the UK, Sundara Karma will be the first of three bands that night following DJ Aaron Axelsen. Touring in support of their brand new EP Loveblood, Sundara Karma will get us into the spirit with anthemic guitar music, soaring choruses and brooding romanticism tied up with an uplifting euphoria!

Next on the nice list is Tom Krell delivering groove-alicious How To Dress Well jams. The latest How To Dress Well LP, Care is a collective evolution of the singer-songwriter's sound from hazy bedroom R&B to full fledged alt-pop with more depth and clarity than we've heard from him before. He'll be spreading Holiday cheer for all to hear until it's time to get our jingle on with Bishop Briggs. 

Up until Black Friday last week, this year's biggest starlet in the music scene was un-signed and album-less but Briggs managed to make a name for herself in a BIG way. The fashionable "River" singer has finally given us the gift of a self-titled EP via Island Records! Prepare to be merry and bright because one week from tonight is her first headlining gig in the Bay Area! 

After this line-up we'll be ready to rock around the Oracle Arena at Not So Silent Night! 

Live music after all, is the best present you can get! 

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

When Alexis Kraus announced at Northside Festival in July 2015 that "next time they were on stage it'll be with new music," a fire of excitement was ignited inside me. The 3 year mark was approaching since Bitter Rivals, so we were well due for some new angsty, girl power driven, bass heavy, punk. The flame of my excitement was fanned this July with the  announcement of their 4th studio album, Jessica Rabbit dropping November 11th and the Fall tour in support of it, which included a show at The Independent in SF! A few weeks later, a second show at the same small club was added due to popular demand! My excitement was triple fold! I had to be at one of those shows...I needed to cover one of those Sleigh Bells' shows!

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

I had my work cut out for me. Since Treats, their 2010 debut, the loud Brooklyn based duo have been a hot ticket: last time they were here was in 2013 when they closed out the Tunnel Stage at Treasure Island Music Festival and before that they played The Regency Ballroom in 2012. Now, there was only a few months until they'd be back at The Independent since their first show there back in 2011!

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

We got a taste of Jessica Rabbit thanks to the early releases of the album's opening track, "It's Just Us Now" along with "Hyper Dark" and "Rule Number One". These three premature tracks were a good intro, easing fans into the new direction the band is taking. In 2010, Treats slapped us with an unapologetic, abrasive approach to a new kind of industrial rock: what's come to be known as Noise-Pop or Noise-Punk. Layers of blown-out, screaming guitars and big stomping bass met with soft, raspy vocals delivering catchy lyrics drew fans to them fast, like moths to flame. Though they haven't hit that same hype since, they've maintained their distinctive, distorted, bratty hyper active sound: 2012's Reign of Terror was a little more grandiose, striving to be Arena Rock worthy in a sense while 2013's Bitter Rivals embraced a more varied instrumentation. 

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

Like Bitter Rivals, Jessica Rabbit is more of a creative outlet for the knockout front woman, with Alexis Kraus writing more of the melodies and song lyrics. Rather than churning out a new album following the last as they've done, Sleigh Bells worked on Jessica Rabbit over a three year period. The new album is definitely the most  melodic and harmonic in their catalog and it isn't nearly as edgy as we've heard in past but some of their OG sound does blare through on those early released tracks. Just the thought of seeing them preform new material within a week of the full album coming out was exciting in and of itself.  Then, early Tuesday morning, the morning of the first of two SF shows, tragedy hit. Bad-ass Alexis had laryngitis and the show that night was canceled! Both shows at The Independent were canceled actually and condensed into one show Wednesday night at Mezzanine. Ticket holders would be honored the following night and I was left wondering if this would help or hinder my fate as two press lists were now also condensed to one. 

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

Wednesday morning rolled around and alas I got the approval I had sought for so long! I was confirmed to cover Sleigh Bells less than 24 hours before the show and I could. Not. Wait!

Mezzanine was hot and stuffy by the time I got there, fighting my way as close to the stage as I could get through the sweaty, millennial crowd.










Red lights faded to black before the flashing of bright, white strobe lights welcomed Sleigh Bells to the stage! Hands went up and the place went wild at the sight of Alexis and the sound of a classic Treats anthem, "Tell Em'".  The brunette, daisy duke, torn fishnet, halter top, bomber jacket wearing bombshell was very apologetic, thanking their SF fans for making it to the show that night after having to cancel the night before and change venues. She might not have been feeling 100% or hitting all of the notes the way she would have if she wasn't sick but she certainly gave it her all! While Derek stood his ground stage left, Alexis worked the stage, riling everyone up in the club: climbing on amps, reaching out to the crowd, asking fans to help her sing to which they fervently complied as they fed off her kinetic energy.  Pumping up excitement even higher, pulsating lights made amplified Derek's shredding, thumping hooks and shrill riffs.

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

"Bitter Rivals" and "Riot Rhythm" stirred a frenzy of shove-filled moshing while new, slower tempo tracks and "Comeback Kid" gave the crowd a chance to regain some composure.
Busting out 13 songs in a 45 minute window, they played more fan favorites from their debut than any of their other albums! It was awesome but the end came so quick, too quick! After she did some crowd surfing during "Crown on the Ground", Alexis, Derek and their touring 2nd guitarist were brought back to the stage by the room full of roaring fans.

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

The two song en core delivered another newbie "Rule Number One" and one more classic Treats track, "A B Machines" to close out the show with driving force. Miss Kraus carried the show, solidifying what we already knew, that she is a fierce force to be reckoned with!
Both of the Sleigh Bells  shows in SF could have been canceled and rescheduled but being sick couldn't stop this rockin' vixen!

Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016
photo by Evan Andrews 

Tom Misch @ Popscene 11/11/2016

People started  lining up outside Rickshaw Stop hours before doors opened for Tom Misch's debut show in San Francisco Friday November 11th! Some of them even claimed to have paid over $100 for tickets on stub-hub because the Popscene Presents show to see the young rising star had sold-out so quick! Talk about one hot ticket!

Tom Misch @ Popscene 11/11/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Tom Misch @ Popscene 11/11/2016
photo by Marc Fong

The vibe that night was less new-wave/indie with  DJ Aaron Axelsen spinning more trendy R&B than what's usually heard at Popscene. It segued nicely to the opener, Chris McClenney who announced his would be DJ set due to a sore-throat.

Tom Misch @ Popscene 11/11/2016
photo by Marc Fong

When the young Londoner went on around 11:00, he received his warm welcome to the small stage humbly; graciously thanking his kind and respectful San Francisco fans through a sincere smile. They  un-intrusively jammed out indie-rock from his LP, Beat Tape 2 and his Reverie EP. Heavy with various strings, laying bass, guitar and violin chords with underlying new-soul beats. The frontman beamed in disbelief of the turn out and the reaction as the crowd cheered them on before and after each song. Cool and collected, the guys were concentrated as they played and fans gently sang along.
 It had been a little bit since seeing a Popscence show as packed as it was for Tom Misch and it was notably profound to see a full house for such young, new talent!

Tom Misch @ Popscene 11/11/2016
photo by Marc Fong

Aaron Axelsen did what he does best once again! Packing people in to see the latest and greatest new artist before they break big, or in this case bigger, at Popscene!

Har Mar Superstar @ The Chapel 11/7/2016

Har Mar Superstar @ The Chapel 11/7/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

The Minnesota bred entertainer known by his alter-ego, stage name Har Mar Superstar awed at The Chapel last Monday night with his unique take on soul! Tickets weren't sold out prior to doors opening but with a full balcony and not uncomfortably crowded floor, it felt like the show ended up hitting capacity before the headliner went on.

Poised and playfully arrogant, front man Sean Matthew Tillman sauntered on stage with the rest of the band in tow as the crowd gleamed with anticipation for him to steal the show.







His provocative coolness was an instant crowd connection as groovy rock N' soul tunes lofted through the converted mortuary. They played the gamut of their not so common range of soul fusion without a glitch.  Elements of rock N roll, indie, funk and even some pop and R&B, it's appropriate to say that Har Mar Superstar is in the rock N' soul genre. And if that music genre hasn't been established yet, then Har Mar Superstar is the pioneer of it!

Har Mar Superstar @ The Chapel 11/7/2016
photo by Marc Fong

Along with a diverse repertoire of sounds, Har Mar Superstar himself changed his look on stage before the eyes of the audience a few times. From African print leggings and an all leather letterman, to a floor length Indian print dress, to a colorful stripped beach blanket to going topless, he looked like just another one of the hipsters there in their SF haven.

Har Mar Superstar @ The Chapel 11/7/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

With strong, smooth, almost croon worthy vocals and an intriguingly seductive delivery, Tillman's singing style was as impressive as his enticing dance moves. His voice was steady and solid as he wiggled and glided all around stage. The band even got in on the action too, with some synchronized dips and shimmies through out the show! While all of his moves were very impressive, his most impressive move that night is when he did a handstand mid song!

Har Mar Superstar @ The Chapel 11/7/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Flaunting a gaudy confidence Har Mar Superstar puts on an engaging, theatrical, animated personable, entertaining show full of heart and soul!

The last show of the Best Summer Ever US Tour: Part Deux is on New Years Eve with Big Freedia at 1st Ward Chop Shop in Chicago! What a fun, over the top way to ring in the new year that will be! 

CocoRosie @ The Regency Ballroom 10/30/2016

The wildly experimental indie-folktronica duo, CocoRosie played to an exuberant crowd at The Regency Ballroom on Sunday October 30th!

CocoRosie @ The Regency Ballroom 10/30/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Sisters Bianca (Coco) and Sierra (Rosie) had to cancel their show at The Regency last minute earlier this year and the rescheduled show couldn't have happened at a more appropriate time of year because they're known for wearing costumes! 

CocoRosie @ The Regency Ballroom 10/30/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

A few days before they returned to their native Bay Area, CocoRosie invited followers on social media to dress up as their own version Pipi Longstockings to the Halloween weekend shows in SF and LA. Along with being fun and festive, the invitation was backed with an enticing possibility of being in an up-coming, new music video, too!

CocoRosie @ The Regency Ballroom 10/30/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

There was a good turn out when doors opened at 8:00, with some fans showing their Pipi Longstockings spirit but there was more who were not. Seats up in the balcony filled up during the two openers as they set the circusy theme. A couple of show-goers entertained on lookers by doing acroyoga while there was still space on the floor!

The place was pretty packed when the house lights dimmed for CocoRosie around 9:00. In full-on ghetto fabulous Pippy Longstockings fashion, backed by a beatboxer and synthesizer player, the sister act's look was as unique as their sound. The stage remained rather dark but the diverse singing techniques of the Cassidy's popped from the splintered shadows.  

It was fun watching people get their freak on to old-timey, Avant Pop-rock and a fun show to see on the eve of All Hallows Eve!

CocoRosie @ The Regency Ballroom 10/30/2016
Photo by Marc Fong