CLUB NSSN, the pre-party show on the eve of LIVE105's Annual holiday showcase Not So Silent Night, went down last Thursday night at Mezzanine with Sundara Karma, How To Dress Well and Bishop Briggs!
Backed by a stage full of stacked Orange Amps, the British boys of Sundara Karma got things started with some arena aspiring, dreamy pop-rock. The opening slot at Mezzanine marked the last show of their debut tour of the States in support of their 1st EP, Loveblood and even though it was their very first time even being in San Francisco, they had a handful of hard-core fans there. In bell-bottoms, velvet pants, flowy blouses and corduroy jackets with long-hair everywhere, their psychedelic swagger was juxtaposed with a poker-faced demeanor.
Immersed in finely tuned, subtlety grandiose rock, cheers from the crowd grew louder with every song Sundara Karma played from their EP. Intent on delivering their very best, the Berkshire quartet gained momentum with the glittery, Summer Music Fest anthem "Flame" and the catchy, chorus driven "She Said" after a calm "Young Understanding" kick off.Brooding guitar, gritty bass, funky drum-lines lifted up by soaring choruses and sweet Baritone notes from frontman Oscar Lulu characterized their steadfast set which ended in a flurry of applause for title track "Loveblood".
Fans were anxious to keep the party going with How To Dress Well who went on about half an hour after all the Orange Amps were cleared away. Mr. How To Dress Well, Tom Krell, hit the hazy stage with a drummer, synth player and keyboardist as plumes of smoke blasted from the smoke machine. With a pep in his step and a charming wittiness, the singer/songwriter was quick to engage with fans, lightening up the mood in the room.
Emotionally charged songs were softened by sparkling electronic and acoustic melodies. Bandmates kept mentioning bad feed back but their experimental indie-electro sounded good from where I stood. Carrying every song with an un-sung power, Krell's angelic falsetto was cooly enthralling from the sexy, "Can't You Tell " to the extended dance version of "And It Was You" to the alt-pop, islandy track off the new album Care. They even treated SF to a low-key cover of Ariana Grande's "One Time" and invited fans to sing along.
With lots of laughs on stage between songs, they're a very likable, down to earth band with a fun upbeat vibe and danceable tunes to get lost in. It was fun to see How To Dress Well having fun while getting us geared up for Bishop Briggs.
The headliner stayed behind the scenes until the stage was ready and set for her. With her band tucked in the corners, giving her ample space on the stage, the illusive Bishop Briggs coyly hit the stage at 11:30. In a cute skirt, halter top, festive rhinestone covered bomber number and Nike's, the London born starlet literally bounced around the stage. Leering out over the mic, she looked intimidating as she sang but between songs she was sweet and friendly: thanking her loyal fans, LIVE105 and DJ Aaron Axelsen for supporting her since the beginning. With such a big hit single and soaring popularity, it's kind of hard to believe that she only has one, (very) recently released EP so of course the set consisted of songs from it. Her velvety vocals delivered "How I Do", "Wild Horses" and almost everything else in between, saving her huge hit, "River" until the end!
LIVE105's CLUB NSSN has been giving San Francisco show-goers and new music enthusiasts alike the great gift "little" shows the night before Not So Silent Night for 10 years! Cheers to another 10 years of intimate shows with line-ups of breaking bands!
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| Sundara Karma CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Backed by a stage full of stacked Orange Amps, the British boys of Sundara Karma got things started with some arena aspiring, dreamy pop-rock. The opening slot at Mezzanine marked the last show of their debut tour of the States in support of their 1st EP, Loveblood and even though it was their very first time even being in San Francisco, they had a handful of hard-core fans there. In bell-bottoms, velvet pants, flowy blouses and corduroy jackets with long-hair everywhere, their psychedelic swagger was juxtaposed with a poker-faced demeanor.
 |
| Sundara Karma CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Immersed in finely tuned, subtlety grandiose rock, cheers from the crowd grew louder with every song Sundara Karma played from their EP. Intent on delivering their very best, the Berkshire quartet gained momentum with the glittery, Summer Music Fest anthem "Flame" and the catchy, chorus driven "She Said" after a calm "Young Understanding" kick off.Brooding guitar, gritty bass, funky drum-lines lifted up by soaring choruses and sweet Baritone notes from frontman Oscar Lulu characterized their steadfast set which ended in a flurry of applause for title track "Loveblood".
Fans were anxious to keep the party going with How To Dress Well who went on about half an hour after all the Orange Amps were cleared away. Mr. How To Dress Well, Tom Krell, hit the hazy stage with a drummer, synth player and keyboardist as plumes of smoke blasted from the smoke machine. With a pep in his step and a charming wittiness, the singer/songwriter was quick to engage with fans, lightening up the mood in the room.
 |
| How To Dress Well CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
Emotionally charged songs were softened by sparkling electronic and acoustic melodies. Bandmates kept mentioning bad feed back but their experimental indie-electro sounded good from where I stood. Carrying every song with an un-sung power, Krell's angelic falsetto was cooly enthralling from the sexy, "Can't You Tell " to the extended dance version of "And It Was You" to the alt-pop, islandy track off the new album Care. They even treated SF to a low-key cover of Ariana Grande's "One Time" and invited fans to sing along.
 |
| How To Dress Well CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
With lots of laughs on stage between songs, they're a very likable, down to earth band with a fun upbeat vibe and danceable tunes to get lost in. It was fun to see How To Dress Well having fun while getting us geared up for Bishop Briggs.
 |
| Bishop Briggs CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
 |
| Bishop Briggs CLUB NSSN @ Mezzanine 12/8/2016 photo by Nikki DeMartini |
LIVE105's CLUB NSSN has been giving San Francisco show-goers and new music enthusiasts alike the great gift "little" shows the night before Not So Silent Night for 10 years! Cheers to another 10 years of intimate shows with line-ups of breaking bands!
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