Sticky Fingers coming to SF!

Tomorrow, Australia's 5-piece pysch-rock band, Sticky Fingers drop their 3rd album Westway (The Glitter & The Slums) and kick-off their North American tour! 

The follow-up to their critically acclaimed sophomore album, 2014's Land of Pleasure, has already been getting praises for the first single, "Outcast at Last" released earlier this year. One of the stops on their 15 show run is this Saturday night at the Rickshaw Stop! 

Here are some questions I for the band before they hit the road answered by keyboardist Freddy Crabs! 

Q: I've read that the founding members of the band met while busking, does the band still busk these days?

A: Yeah, we met Diz, our lead singer, buskin' on the street as a kid when we first came Australia from New Zealand. Fortunately for the general public we don't busk on the streets anymore, but occasionally we might have a guitar in hand being a nuisance in a park, the beach or somewhere out in the open so if that counts then we still do. 

Q: What's the inspiration behind the album cover artwork for Westway (The Glitter & The Slums)? It reminds me of Boulevard of Broken Dreams painted by Heinwein, the painting with Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and James Dean at Phillies Diner. 

A: Ah that's fair! We had a bit of inspiration from the Streets song, "A Grand Don't Come For Free" and from David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. We actually though of the stain glass idea when we were playing pool in the local lawn bowls club across the road from our studio in Marrickville, Sydney. We saw this real classic stained glass window and thought, fuck wouldn't it be cool if we just got our own? I originally wanted my character to be naked with one of those classical biblical small penises but that didn't quite workout, unfortunately. We were stoked with the final product. A lotta people don't realise that the album cover is actually taken of one of our local drinking holes called The Gladstone Hotel. The stain glass window is also real, so if ya ever in Sydney go check it out. 

Q: Rumor has it that the new album features a collab with a hot new artist. without giving anything away, who are some of your favorite new bands/artists this year? 

A: Man. I'll give it away cos it's out soon. His name is Remi and he's a fiercely talented rapper coming out of Melbourne. He's got his own unique flavours and will do some big things around the world soon. I have no doubt. The track he's on is one of the more fun flavours off of our album and it's prob one of my favourites. Some juicy bass lines, big guitar lines and solos. In a nutshell that's usually me, done! 

Q: Westway (The Glitter & The Slums) drops on September 30th, the same day as your North American tour, is this a coincidence or intentional? 

A: Pure coincidence my (wo)man. We didn't plan on playing heaps of the new album on this tour but now that's it's out there for the world to peep so we have no choice! We're pretty stoked to get some of these new songs in the set. Sometimes when you play the same songs over and over again you need to mix it up and keep it fresh and that's what new material offers. It's def sounding hot in rehearsals so we can't wait to show the North Americans. 

Q: Any venues or cities on this tour that will be new to Sticky Fingers? 

A: A few joints like Edmonton, Winnipegand.  Also over in the States I haven't been to Minneapolis before. That will def be a vibe, keen to hear that accent! Places like Montreal and Van City and obviously San Fran will be super fun again. Plus these shows are bigger than last so that's real exciting for us. It's been an upward ride for us in terms of venue increases so we've never really stopped being excited bout coming to the Americas knowing that more cats are jumpin' on us. It's a crazy feelin'! 

Q: Favorite album(s) of 2016 so far? 

A: It's worth checkin' out our pals The Delta Riggs Active Galactic. Real good groove rock with some disco flavours and fat bass lines. A solid listen. You won't go wrong. 

Also, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' most recent record, Skeleton Tree is real moving. Cave's teenage son died recently and this album deals with his intense emotional response to that. A must listen. 

Thanks for the awesome insight Freddy! 

The Sticky Fingers show at Ricksaw Stop this Saturday is sold out!

Billie Eilish @ Popscene 9/9/2016

Rickshaw Stop hosted Popscene on Friday September 9th with the fresh faced new artist, Billie Eilish  making her SF debut opening for MCHL.

Billie Eilish @ Popscene 9/9/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

People were still staggering into the show as Billie Eilish and her under-age entourage hit the stage close to 10:00. With huge black Xs across both hands, it was easy to see that the whole band, including the white haired songstress, were under-age or straight edge and proud. But, I would have never guessed just how young the leading lady actually is. Heartfelt lyrics about heartache and damaged indifference age her well beyond 14 years old. Soft vocals harboring deep emotions carried the first song of of the set, her most recent single "Six Feet Under". Her airy falsetto un-pretentiously romanticized a Lana Del Rey kinship while her bashful stage presence played well with the warm delivery of songs with otherwise cold themes. 

Billie Eilish @ Popscene 9/9/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

The all boy band behind her, which consisted of a synth player, a drummer on an electric drum kit and bassist, had a shy feel too, hardly lifting their gaze from their respective instruments. Unassuming backup vocals from the synth player, gently coincided with Billie's, so much so that their light harmony went almost untraceable. Tuning a ukulele, the young leading lady opened up a bit, playfully introducing a song about "an interesting way to break up with someone". It turned out to be sassy outlook on the unsavory situation of  being dumped on your birthday. 

Flashes of swirling lights casually illuminated Billie on the dark stage, casting a hauntingly romantic aesthetic throughout the small venue. 

Billie Eilish @ Popscene 9/9/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

She sweetly thanked Popscene founder, Aaron Axelsen for being cool before ending the short set with her critically acclaimed single, "Ocean Eyes". The introspective allure of her music flawlessly translates to the stage. There's no denying that Billie Eilish has found her voice, now we'll see her to grow as a performer. 

MCHL @ Popscene 9/9/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

MCHL @ Popscene 9/9/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

Oh so many shows in Rocktober!

Summer is the time of the year when bands jump on the Music Festival bandwagon and I don't blame them: it's an easy meal ticket (so to say), it's great exposure and awesome chance to expand their fan base (for example I discovered and ultimately fell in love with The Dead Weather at Outside Lands in 2009). Being surrounded by other bands and music biz peers has to be fun experience for them, too! And, depending on the festival, the band's show day and when they roll-in, bands and crew might be looking at treasured, per diem off day (AKA a day off)! Festivals can also be great platforms for staging come-backs: like how LCD Soundsystem reunited after 5 short years and hopped on the Festival circuit starting at Coachella this year and riding that "reunion tour" wave all the way to Outside Lands in August. They're not the first band to take advantage of staging a Summer Music Fest comeback and they certainly won't be the last.




Festivals are great for bands and fans alike: bands reach hundreds of fans with a huge potential to make more fans and fans get to see a bunch of different bands in a day, two days or over the course of a weekend depending on the festival!  In all of their glory, Music Festivals just can't compare to a one-off show and, as  seasoned show goers know, this time of year is slow as far as shows go. Except for a few indian-summer/Fall fests like: Voodoo Fest, Austin City Limits, Life is Beautiful, Desert Trip and Treasure Island Music Festival, the end of Summer is bitter sweet because it's also the end of festival season BUT when the fests end, the one-off shows begin!

Are you ready for ROCKTOBER!?!?!

Oct 1st: Tegan and Sara at The Fox Theater in Oakland 

The identical twin sister indie duo took last year off to work on their 8th studio album, Love You To Death after hitting the festival circuit pretty hard in 2014. Their new album dropped on June 3rd, and their world-wide tour in support of it, which started in London on June 22nd, brings them to states in September!

PEACHES @ Outsidelands 2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Oct 3rd: Peaches at Mezzanine, SF 

It had been SIX years since we heard anything new from PEACHES but as of last year she's back and ready to rock our world! The provocative, feminist rocker is currently on tour in support of 2015's Rub, her  6th studio album. October 3rd is your chance to get up-close and personal at her intimate and titillating show at Mezzanine!

Oct 5th: Phantogram at The Fox Theater in Oakland

One year after their sophomore album, Voices, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel of the electronic-dream-trip-pop duo, Phantogram joined forces with Outkast's Big Boi to create the experimental hip-hop group known as Big Grams. The trio graced stages at festivals the past two Summers but Phantogram released a new single earlier this Summer and their current tour is in support of their third album! Three drops two days after their headlining show at the beautiful Fox Theater in Oakland! 

Music Video for Phantogram's single "You Don't Get Me High Anymore" 

The Lumineers @ Bottle Rock Napa 2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Oct 6th & 7th: The Lumineers with BORNS at The Greek in Berkeley 

The 4 years between The Lumineers' self-titled debut and their sophomore album Cleopatra felt like forever, right?! At long last the feel good indie-folk faves returned earlier this year with the single "Ophelea" and the release of Cleopatra on April 8th. Now they're on the road again! A second show at The Greek Theater in Berkeley was added by popular demand on October 7th with one of last year's biggest breakout artists, BORNS! 

Oct 6th: Grouplove at The Fox Theater in Oakland

The fun loving, energetic, alternative-dance group, Grouplove is back with their third album! Big Mess dropped September 9th, the same day they kicked off their tour in support of it! 

Oct 8th: The Head and The Heart at The Greek in Berkeley

Seattle's indie-folk rockers, The Head and the Heart are hitting the road in September following the release of their third album, Signs of Light. The gang plays The Greek Theater in Berkeley October 8th, the day after they play The Greek Theater in L.A! 

Oct 8th: Tourist at The Independent, SF

London based, Grammy Award winning writer/producer William Phillips AKA Tourist, brings his first headlining tour to The Independent on October 8th! 

Oct 12th: Fitz & The Tantrums with Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees) at The Fox Theater in Oakland

 Fitz and The Tantrums' "Hand Clap" is one of this Summer's hottest singles and the energetic jazz-pop fusion band is going to rock The Fox Theater in Oakland on October 12th! The debut solo album Neon Trees' frontman Tyler Glenn drops on October 21st! The "Shameless" singer is opening for Fitz and The Tantrums on their 2016 Come Get Your Love Tour! 

 

Oct 19th: The Temper Trap at The Warfield, SF

The Temper Trap just played at Mezzanine on June 5th but the Aussie boys are already on their way back to the Bay. This time they're playing at The Warfield! The foursome has grown since the  their wildly successful 2009 debut, both literally and figuratively: the now a five-piece indie-rock band explore their own sound on their latest release, Thick as Thieves which they're on tour in support of! 

Oct 20th: Green Day at the UC Theater in Berkeley

The last time I was this excited about a comeback was a couple years ago when The Matches from Oakland reunited! Berkeley's original punks, Green Day never technically "left" so I guess it's not really a "comeback" but I am super stoked! Four years ago Billie Joe, Mike and Tre gave us three separate albums, Uno! Dos!, Tres! and on October 7th the Rock n' Roll Hall of Famers' deliver their 12th studio album, Revolution Radio! Their hometown show at the newest music venue in the Bay Area, The UC Theater in Berkeley on October 20th is already sold-out!!

music video for Green Day's single "Bang Bang" 

Oct 22nd: Young the Giant with Ra Ra Riot at The Fox Theater in Oakland

Home of the Strange, Young the Giant's 3rd album featuring "Something to Believe In", "Silvertounge" and "Amerika" dropped August 12th! They'll be at The Fox Theater in Oakland with Ra Ra Riot on October 22nd! 

Oct 23rd: Kaleo with Bishop Briggs at The Fillmore, SF

Icelandic rock band, Kaleo and the unsigned, British musician (now based in L.A) Bishop Briggs both continue to grow in popularity with their singles "Way Down we Go" (Kaleo) and "River" (Bishop Briggs). With no album to date, Bishop Briggs still manages to drive throngs of fans to see her live, making her show with Kaleo at the historic Fillmore on October 23rd a highly anticipated one! Kaleo's sophomore album, A/B is available now! 

Oct 27th: M83 at The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SF

Five years after their famous Hurry Up, We're Dreaming album, Anthony Gonzalez's M83 returned this year with their 6th studio album, Junk.  Now the acclaimed synth-shoegaze-dreampop pioneers are on their second tour of 2016! On April 17th they graced the stage at The Fox Theater in Oakland and next month they're bringing their show to The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium! 

Oct 27th: K-Flay at Great American Music Hall, SF 

Stanford University Alumni, K-Flay slayed sets at Music Fests this Summer, including Bottle Rock Napa and she just released a brand new EP! Crush Me is the innovative indie, hip-hop artist's fourth EP to date but it's the first release from Imagine Dragons' frontman Dan Reynolds imprint Night Street/Interscope Records! Catch her headlining show at Great American Music Hall October 27th! 

music video for K-Flay's single "Blood in the Cut" 

Broncho with Guided By Voices @ The Independent 8/22/2016 & 8/23/2016

Oklahoma's BRONCHO played two shows in SF opening for Guided By Voices on Monday August 22nd and Tuesday August 23rd at The Independent!

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/22/2016
Photo by Evan Andrews 

There was a mysterious air about the deeply experimental punk four-piece as they solemnly played their grainy, guitar heavy, bass buzzing tracks. Their rather flat stage presence complimented the slow, some what spacey sound heard on their new album, Double Vanity.

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/22/2016
Photo by Evan Andrews 

Out on June 10th, the third album from the band stretches further away from their  nostalgic eighties movie soundtrack beginning, to a refined limbo between an angsty past and the un-known future. It's a little more pschydelic than fans of their distorted punk might remember. Singer Ryan Lindsey's characteristic awkwardness was the extent of the action show goers got as he un-audibly sang to a nearly full house.  Even the minimal banter he made was hard to understand. But, you have to remember this is what makes BRONCHO interesting.

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/22/2016
Photo by Evan Andrews 

They played for a better part of half an hour with minimal banter and even less movement on stage, yet the crowd of seasoned Guided By Voices fans weren't bored by it. In fact, BRONCHO's opening set served as a exhilarator for the headliners, as good openers are suppose to do!

I wasn't there the following night, but I do have some photos from show 2 to share with you thanks to a photographer friend!

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

BRONCHO @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Guided By Voices @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Guided By Voices @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Guided By Voices @ The Independent 8/23/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

Weezer & Panic! at the Disco @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016

It had been six years since the last time I saw Weezer and I was super excited to see them last month at The Shoreline Amphitheater! On the surface the three bands on the bill: Weezer, Panic! at the Disco and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness seemed like a weird mix-match but it actually worked because they're all positive, up-beat pop. Plus the line-up targeted a wide age-range of fans which was a really smart ticket selling move!

Panic! at the Disco @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

I saw Weezer a handful of times when I was in High School and I owned the Blue album but I was never a die-hard fan, so I was kind of surprised just how excited I was to for this show. I don't know if I was more excited for Weezer or for the nostalgia of seeing Weezer but it felt good to be giddy. It had also been a couple years since I had been to a show at The Shoreline Amphitheater and the first one-off show I can remember seeing there in almost a decade (eek!).



It took about 15 minutes to walk to the end of the ticket-holders line and another 15 minutes or so to get into the venue. I don't remember the lines ever being so long but I did get to enjoy the warm amber waves of the sunset as I waited and that's when I noticed how young the crowd was. Maybe they were there for Panic! or Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness? Maybe cool Aunts and Uncles brought them? Maybe Weezer's demographic is younger than I remember or I'm just older. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness was over by the time I got inside and seats in the 100's, 200's and lawn space was quickly filled by gaggles of fanatical Panic! at the Disco teenage fans and families.

Panic! at the Disco @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

 I never really got into Panic! at the Disco but it was fun vibing off the energy of the fans that I was surrounded by! Everyone as far as my eyes could see, practically jumped out of their seats as soon as Brendon Urie and the rest of the band hit the stage. There was no shortage of pizazz on stage as the Vegas native paraded around in a Cheetah print blouse and a blue blazer, delivering hit after hit with a blaring energy. I've gotten use to seeing phones being held up to snap pictures at shows but everyone around me was videoing the show on their phone and I do mean the show. Not part of a song or a whole song or two, the whole show and everyone around me was doing it! It was weird, little un-comfortable and sad that kids (and their parents) weren't actually enjoying being there, at a live show. 

Brendon Urie gave a very personable performance more so than I would have expected with insights to growing up on Las Vegas and a brief shout-out for LBGT rights.
The singer probably made some fans blush when he took off his shirt before he jumped on the drums for a super charged drum solo followed by some back flips near the end of their fully entertaining set! I was happy that they played the one song of theirs I actually know and probably their most well known song, "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies."

Panic! at the Disco @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

The change-over between bands was painless and quick, a pleasant surprise with a bigger production at a big out-door amphitheater and Weezer was on-stage within a half an hour after Panic! at the Disco. They opened with their new single "California Kids" off their 2016 self-titled album also known as The White Album. Once again everyone on their feet and if Weezer hadn't already grabbed everyone's attention, they definitely had it after explosions of confetti shot out from both sides of the stage before the end of the first song. They went on to play two older songs in a row, "Hash Pipe" and "My Name is Jonas".

Weezer @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Unexpectedly, all the feels swelled and fluttered in my chest at the sound of the soft, melodic chords of Jonas. That's the Weezer I grew up listening to. That's the Weezer I love.

Back in the day Weezer was indie before indie was indie, I forget that they've evolved and since soared into the pop stratosphere since their Blue album days.

Weezer @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

They sounded great, they looked like they were  having fun and the crowd ate it up. Known for being a little awkward, Rivers' stage presence and performance was what fans have come to expect but his full-on aqua-marine eyeshadow and liner was a bit awkward. Though I wish they would have played more classics, the set was pretty well balanced with songs from their album catalog minus Pinkerton. I wouldn't have guessed that Panic! at the Disco and Weezer would make for such a dynamic bill. It was a good night for a pop show! 

Both bands will be at City of Trees in Sacramento September 10th before their Summer Tour is over and they do their own thing.

Weezer @ The Shoreline Amphitheater 7/31/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

Weezer set-list 7/31/2016 

1. California Kids 

2. Hash Pipe

3. My Name is Jonas 

4. (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

5. Pork and Beans

6. I Love The USA 

7. Perfect Situation 

8. Thanks God For Girls

9. Dope Nose/Back To The Shack/ Keep Fishin'/The Good Life/Surf Wax America 

10. Undone (The Sweater Song) 

11. King Of The World/Only In Dreams 

12. Island In The Sun

13. Say It Ain't So 

Encore

1. El Scorcho 

2. Buddy Holly 

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes from Candicake

Pink Lemonade cupcake from Candicake
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Not only does Candicake (located in SF's Mission District) have some of the cutest cupcakes I've seen, their Pink Lemonade Cupcake is the most colorful cupcake I've had. With bright yellow frosting, some pink sprinkles and a small pink, polka-dotted straw sticking out of the top, there was no mistaking that this was a Pink Lemonade Cupcake!

Pink Lemonade cupcake from Candicake
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Nearly day-glow yellow, the frosting was like a hybrid of sugary goodness frosting mixed with buttercream as is was light and sweetly creamy. Maybe a whipped buttercream? My cupcake was topped with little dollops of starburst patterned frosting but others were topped with a swirl of frosting. The lemonade flavor was found solely in the frosting as a sweet hint of the juicy, tart citrus. At first I thought that the cake was pink but on further "investigation" I discovered that it was a pink and yellow marble cake!

Pink Lemonade cupcake from Candicake
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Because I didn't taste a flavor I assume it was white cake and that food coloring was used in the batter to make the colorful cake. Both the cake and frosting had a made that day freshness and was light to the bite. It wasn't weighed down by flavor or sugariness, it was just right. Candicake's playful Pink Lemonade cupcake is a fun little cupcake that looks perfect for a Summer treat and it is, thanks to it's smaller size and how light it is. You won't feel too guilty for treating yourself to this little guilty pleasure!

Candicake delivers their tasty, eye catching cupcakes starting at orders of at least a half dozen so plan your parties accordingly! The Pink Lemonade Cupcake isn't listed on the menu on-line so you might have to make a special request!

Midi Matilda @ The Independent 7/8/2016

Been missing Midi Matilda? Well they are back! The indie-pop duo straight outta Oakland were on fire at their show last Friday night with Panic is Perfect at The Independent!

Midi Matilda at The Independent 7/8/2016
photo by Marc Fong 

The last time I saw Midi Matilda was at the height of their climb up the indie-pop ladder when they opened for Geographer at The Fillmore in 2013. They even made an appearance at the high-caliber festival, Outside Lands later that year. But then they suddenly... disappeared.








Some unforeseen circumstances with their label and management didn't stop them from making music for the past three years though, they just haven't had an outlet for it.  

Finally freed from said label and any label at that, Midi Matilda has been building up their own comeback one single at a time! They've released a new single every month since February when they came crashing back on to the scene with, "Tidal Wave". 

Panic is Perfect at The Independent 7/8/2016 
photo by Marc Fong

San Francisco's new high-powered, electro-pop band, Panic is Perfect, got he crowded room fully riled during their adrenaline pumping, insatiable percussion charged set. They played for a better part of an hour, leaving fans roaring for more fun when they left the stage to make way for Midi Matilda. 

Midi Matilda at The Independent 7/8/2016
photo by Marc Fong

Picking up were Panic is Perfect left off, Skylar and Logan hit the dim stage in an inconspicuous fashion and jumped right into the same sensational single that brought them back, "Tidal Wave." They seemed lighter on stage than I remembered them: fun and unpretentious. With high energy and even higher spirits, I immediately felt spirits of surrounding fans lift to a higher level.  The room  moved and shaked with the duo as they poured their hearts out on stage. Even on the most dreamy of their dream-pop tracks, there was something new, something almost edgy . Midi Matilda's re-invention finds the Oakland indie boys with a little more rock and a little less emo.  Even their cover of the slow tempoed R&B hit, "Hotline Bling," was fun-loving and catchy. 

Midi Matilda at The Independent 7/8/2016
photo by Marc Fong

Skylar's invigorating command of the stage and Logan's consistent, vigorous drumming of up-beat tunes: including of course, new ones that hadn't been played live until very recently, captivated dancing fans happily. Their sensational performance and the show-case of local bands last week at The Independent prove without a doubt that the local music scene in SF is alive and kicking! 

While Midi Matilda plan to keep releasing material they made while they were "away", they haven't talked about releasing an album anytime soon.  All the more reason to make it out to one of their shows!

Midi Matilda at The Independent 7/8/2016 
photo by Marc Fong

July 8th, 2016 set-list

1. Tidal Wave 

2. Love and The Movies 

3. You Make Me Feel Like

4. Red Light District 

5. Apple Pie 

6. Hotline Bling

7. Slowly No Way 

8. Ottawa 

9. Talk About It 

10. By The Firelight

11. Day Dreams