The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater in Berkeley 10/8/2016

The tour in support of the 3rd album from The Head and The Heart  started his past July in Kansas City, about two months before the September 9th release of Signs of Light! Three months later, the indie-folk band from Seattle made their way to The Greek Theater in Berkeley on Saturday, October 8th! It doesn't get much better than seeing shows at one of the best outdoor venues in the Bay Area, on the beautiful campus of UC Berkeley, on a warm Indian Summer evening. 

The Tallest Man on Earth @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

I arrived as the sun was setting, enjoying the last sun-lit exchanges of show-goers proudly describing who they were who they were there to see perform.  From where I stood, it sounded like there were just as many people there to see The Tallest Man on Earth as there were for The Head and The Heart. Some fans compared The Head and the Heart to Mumford and Sons, which isn't surprising but it was surprising when the question of why went un-answered. It's pretty obvious that both bands fall under the folk category.




Even post banjo filled Mumford is still pretty folky (maybe not their 2016 EP but everything before that, definitely). The Head and The Heart are like Mumford and Sons just not as Rail Road Revival-y, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros (pre and post Jade) and even The Lumineers. Why? Indie-folk, that's why.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The Tallest Man on Earth went on right on time at 8:00 on the dot and all eyes were on the handsome, charming, Swedish frontman, Kristian Mattson. Transmitting a kindness from the stage with a warm smile across his face and a guitar in hand, Mattson transcended a care-free vibe into the crowd. Twenty and thirty something ladies swooned like young teenagers at the top of just about every song and I was tickled by how many people around me sang along through out the set. Earnest yet modest, Mattson was intermittently, outwardly gracious for fans getting there early for what would be their last show of the tour and for The Head and the Heart for having them.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Dusk had set on top of the hill at UC Berkeley as the six members of The Head and the Heart found their way to the stage.  The stage design made you feel like you were hanging out in your friends living room with ceiling to floor curtains, round hanging lanterns and leafy greenery created a cozy, homey atmosphere. It was quite quaint and a lovely fit with the wholesome, wholehearted feels The Head and the Heart give. 

A wave of cheers and applause swelled from the crowd as the sound of the first single, "All We Ever Knew" off Sings of Light, filled the evening air. Opening with their current single was a risk worth taking: not only was everyone was delighted by it but it also eliminated the anticipation of hearing them play it, integrating a delightful audience experience from the start. Once they had fans dialed in they threw it all the way back to "Coeur d'Alene" from their 2011 self-titled debut.  Jangly piano keys  of "Ghosts" welcomed another oldie yet goodie early on before back to back to back songs from 2013's Let's Be Still filled the Autumn air.  Fans positively adored when Charity Rose shared lead vocals on the album's bitter sweet title track, "Let's Be Still": the track that quintessentially captures the essence that is The Head and The Heart. As their name suggests, The Head and the Heart ride on the (not so) subtle emphasis on both emotion and intellect, i.e the struggle between following your heart and doing what you think is best for your own good. A highly relatable, gut-wrenching  juxtaposition.

The  Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

They were unconventionally, visually charming up on stage: Jonathan Russell starting off front and center in a tan wide brim hat and matching coat,  Charity Rose Thielen, to his left, in a black slit sleeve cape over a floor length shimmery Orchid Pink dress and the rest of the guys seemingly doing their own thing in button up shirts and denim jeans. Their causally cool look accentuated their stylistic, artisan vibe. Interludes of warm harmonies between his and her vocals, violin, guitar and tambourine pleasantly characterized the set as they do throughout their repertoire.

The Head and The Heart @ The Greek Theater 10/8/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The acoustics that Saturday night at The Greek faired well with the folky hymns and rustic instrumentals, whisking them up then gently laying them down.  The new album finds this collaboration more fluid and unified than albums past. Perhapse age and experience helped them grow stronger, personally and musically.
Heart-always-on-their-sleeve songwriting was effortlessly brought to life at their show with an enchantingly welcoming stage presence, friendly fan interaction, placid swirling melodies and intimate harmonies.



 It's plain to see, and hear, that The Head and the Heart unabashedly wear their cohesive heart on their sleeve along side their head. They delivered a most enjoyable, good for the soul, show going experience! Great way to round out the 2016 season at The Greek Theater in Berkeley which officially wraps up this Friday November 4th with Miss Lauryn Hill and Nas!







The Head and The Heart SET-LIST 10/8/2016 
1. Signs of Light 
2. Coeur d'Alene 
3. Ghosts 
4. City of Angels 
5. Turn It Around 
6. Another Story 
7. Let's Be Still 
8. Colors 
9. Lost In My Mind
10. Shake
11. Winter Song 
12. Rhythm & Blues 
13. Sounds Like Hallelujah 
14. Down In The VAlley 
15.  Library Magic 
16. Oh My Dear 
17. Your Mother's Eyes 
18. Rivers and Roads 

CocoRosie's rescheduled show at The Regency Ballroom is soon!

France transplants, CocoRosie sadly had to cancel their show at The Regency Ballroom on March 27th but the show has been rescheduled! The theatrical, experimental indie duo will be at The Regency Ballroom on October 30th, that's less than 2 weeks!

The Bay Area natives, sisters Bianca "Coco" and Sierra "Rosie" Cassidy love wearing costumes, so the timing of their rescheduled show in San Francisco couldn't be better it being the eve of All Hallows' Eve. 

Tickets are still available to see CocoRosie live with SORNE! 

Boys Noize @ The Regency Ballroom 10/6/2016

Berlin based electronic music producer Alexander Ridha also known by his DJ name, Boys Noize returned to San Francisco last week with a headlining set at The Regency Ballroom.

Since his first U.S tour in 2012, Boys Noize has released two albums, 2015's Boys Noize presents Strictly Vol. 1and Mayday at the start of Summer 2016. And it seems that the Mayday DJ has been busy touring, too: he was just at 1015 Folsom on August 4th! His fans in SF are lucky because there aren't too many US shows on his tour but two months later Boys Noize was back!

Boys Noize at The Regency Ballroom 10/6/2016
photo by Nikki DeMartini

His set time kept getting pushed back later and later since there wasn't very many people there by 9:30pm but DJs Gia and Pilo kept people lurking in the shadows of the empty venue happy and dancing.
An hour behind schedule, a midst a cloud of fake fog and blinding white light, Boys Noize finally hit the stage! He looked small in middle of structure that looked like pipes outlined with a handful of red siren lights but his music was loud! You could feel the beats in your bones as the hard bass vibrated throughout the venue. It may have gotten started late but Boys Noize definitely brought the party to SF once again!

He's only got a few shows left in the US, check out when and where you can catch Boys Noize live here! 

New album from Streets of Laredo out October 21st!

The Brooklyn by way of New Zealand sextet, Streets of Laredo is gearing up for the release if their sophomore album, Wild, on October 21st!

Inspired by the 70's folk-rock circuit, close-knit brothers Dan and Dave Gibson and sister Sarahjane traded New Zealand for New York. They met bassist Sean McMahon and trumpet player/synthesist/percussionist, Andre McGovern and formed the band soon after. 

In 2014 their critically acclaimed debut album, Volume I & II introduced us to their sing-a-long collision of jangling harmonies, heart pounding percussion, horns, guitars and a wide array of even more instruments. Now, two short years later, you can hear that their heart is still on their collective sleeve on their new album Wild.

Anyone and everyone who pre-orders Wild automatically gets a copy of "Silly Bones",  a single off the new album! Pre-order your digital copy here and your physical copy here!

Nao @ Social Hall SF 9/27/2016

Currently on tour in support of her debut album, For All We Know, Neo soul singer Nao brought down the house at her sold-out show at Social Hall SF on September 27th!

I've been to a few shows since the underground venue opened last year but this was the first time I'd been to a sold-out show there. It was a whole new experience seeing the place filled to max capacity surrounded by fans buzzing with a youthful exuberance. 

Nao @ Social Hall SF 9/27/2016
Photo by Nikki DeMartini

The one time back up singer from London was more than a few minutes late for her scheduled 9:30 start time which resulted in the girls who were perched against the front of the stage, taking copious amounts of selfies, to grow anxious. All nerves were settled though as the all boy back up band proceed to their spots on stage followed by the star of the Tuesday night show. Dressed in an all white, deep V jumpsuit, Nao grabbed attention before she even started singing, which wasn't long as they jumped right into "Happy". 

Nao @ Social Hall SF 9/27/2016
Photo by Marc Fong

Self described as wonky funk, Nao's vocals are unique, smooth and soulful while her over all sound is synthy electro swirled with funk giving her that Neo Soul feel with a fun flare. The 28 year old Brit reminds me of mix of Nikka Costa and Macy Gray.
She glowed on stage, smiling wide and working the crowd as she sang, moving back and forth across the stage as her fans graciously sang along. They seemed to know the words to of the all songs from For All We Know, released this past July including, "inhale Exhale" and "Get To Know Ya" at the top of the set. Golden and indigo hues washed over her as she buoyantly connected with fans from the stage throughout the charmingly charged set. 

Nao's last show in the States (on this run anyway) is tonight at Austin City Limits before she goes back to play more shows in the UK!