SF Show FOMO

 I happened to move out of San Francisco right when a surge of sought after shows were heading to town. Some of them were part of the Annual Noise Pop Festival, some were earlier Faux-Chella shows and some were one off shows that I would have loved to go to. Alas, I had already moved and as happy and excited as I was to be starting a new chapter in the LBC I found myself feeling FOMO for the shows I was missing back home in SF. 

Caribou @ The Fox Theater in Oakland 2/16/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Caribou at The Fox Theater in Oakland on February 16th might have been the first Faux-Chella show this year. This was one of of Mr. Caribou (Dan Snaith) him self's rescheduled shows from the postponed 2021 North American tour. Caribou is touring in support of their 2020 album, aptly named Suddenly. The 16 year strong, psychedelic electronic music man returns to the states for the 22nd Coachella Music Festival. 

Coachella 2022 is April 15th - 17th & April 22nd - 24th and all bands that play the coveted festival in the desert cannot play in or around LA, San Diego or Inland Empire for at least 3 months before or after show days, that's why so many Coachella acts come to the Bay to play this time of year. There are more Faux-Chella shows to come!

Caribou @ The Fox Theater in Oakland 2/16/2021
photo by Marc Fong

Caribou @ The Fox Theater in Oakland 2/16/2022 
photo by Marc Fong 

For some reason I thought that Oliver Tree was playing Coachella this year making his show at The Warfield on twos day (2/22/2022) a Faux-Chella show. Oliver Tree is one of those new artists with a lot of buzz however the mainstream fanbase hasn't caught on to him yet, a perfect combo for a Coachella act, right? Wrong. He is not playing Coachella this year so his show in San Francisco was not a Faux-Chella show. And no it wasn't one of the dozens of Noise Pop Festival shows either. 

Oliver Tree @ The Warfield 2/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Oliver Tree @ The Warfield 2/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Oliver Tree @ The Warfield 2/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong

This is one of those one off shows that  I wish I was at. I don't even know any of his music and sometimes that makes for the best time because there's no expectations. He's traded his brown bowl cut for a long, blonde, Tiger King inspired mullet and from the looks of it his show is not short of entertaining antics. 

San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival returned this year for it's 28th year and from February 21st to February 27th it bombarded the city with shows at various venues.

Azealia Banks @ The Warfield 2/27/2022
photo by Marc Fong

 I was surprised to see the outspoken, vixen rapper Azealia Banks on the line-up this year because Noise Pop usually caters smaller, more obscure, more underground acts. Maybe Banks is more obscure and underground than I thought and was pretty bummed I wasn't in town for it. Azealia Banks played at The Warfield on February 27th closing out SF's long running festival with a bang. 

Azealia Banks @ The Warfield 2/27/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Azealia Banks @ The Warfield 2/27/2022
photo by Marc Fong

The Wombats @ The Wiltern 2/25/2022

 

The Wiltern marque 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Friday February 25th, 2022 marked the final stop of The Wombats' North American tour in support of their latest album, Fix Yourself, Not The World. It was a sold-out show at The Wiltern and I was doubly excited because it was my first time seeing a show there. As soon as I walked in I was in love with the art deco aesthetic. It's high ceilings, retro moldings and balcony reminded me of The Fox Theater in Oakland while the teared floor section with people spilling into the aisleways and on to the stairs reminded me of The Warfield in San Francisco. There was a lot of people there but it didn't feel like a sold-out show probably because it was my first time being there, I had no reference and it's such a big space. Down on the floor by the photo pit there was more wiggle room than there was anywhere else on the floor. The English three piece was pretty much right on schedule, starting their set right around 9:00. 

The first song of the night was the first song off the new album, "Flip Me Upside Down". With it's upbeat tempo, easy beat drops, array of hooks and catchy chorus The Wombats' effortlessly proved they were there to have a good time right off the bat. They wasted no time transiting into the next song to which I wondered if it would be one of those shows with no banter. Turns out it was anything but one of those banter-less shows because from there on out front-man Matthew Murphy was all about connected with fans, cracking jokes, making shout outs of gratitude, sharing tidbits and introing songs from time to time. 

The Wombats at The Wiltern 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The Wombats at The Wiltern 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The last time The Wombats toured in the United States was back in 2018 when they released their fourth album, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life so the excitement of their fans had been brewing for nearly four years. Add to that the pandemic, and lock downs and new music, their very loyal fanbase was busting at the seams with excitement. It didn't matter if it was one from the archives or straight off the press of their 2022 release, when they played a song people were stoked. So stoked that they were dancing, jumping and throwing their hands up in the air.  

The Wombats at The Wiltern 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Of course some old favorites got a louder response but every song The Wombats played that night was met with boisterous elation and the band fed off of that energy. Over the course of the show their collective stage presence was amplified. They interacted with each other, bassist Tord Overland Knudsen was all over the place with no shortage of leg flails and animated facial expressions and Murphy repeatedly went to the edge of the stage to get as up close to fans in the front as possible. They really did a great job keeping fans engaged and it wasn't just because the show was being live streamed. This wasn't my first time seeing them and they put on a good show every time I have seen them.

A little later on in the show someone in what I thought was a teddy bear costume joined the band on stage only to return on the next song with another costume creature. Turns out they were dressed as wombats, naturally and Murphy claimed that one of them was their tour manager. After his going solo with Love. Fame. Tragedy in 2018 it was good to see him back up there with Knudsen and Haggis. They're good together, they looked good, they sounded good amd they performed even better. After nearly 20 years together, The Wombats don't phone it in, they deliver a show worth seeing, even when it's show 14 of a 14 show run. 

The Wombats at The Wiltern 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The Wombats hop back over the pond to start their Europe/UK tour next month. Hopefully it won't be another four years before they tour the States again. 

The Wombats at The Wiltern 2/25/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

2/25/2022 set-list
1. You Flip Me Upside Down 
2. This Car Drives All By Itself
3. Moving To New York 
4. Cheetah Tongue 
5. Techno Fans
6. Ready for the High 
7. Pink Lemonade 
8. Everything I Love Is Going To Die 
9. Kill the Director 
10. People Don't Change People, Time Does
11. Lemon to a Knife Fight 
12. Worry 
13. Jump Into the Fog 
14. Wildfire 
15. Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) 
16. If You Ever Leave, I'm Coming With You 
17. Greek Tragedy 

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022

 A few weeks back on a Wednesday night, up and comer Molly Moore played to a crowded room on Wilshire Blvd in LA. It was the release show for her EP Escapism and not only was it a free show, it was at a secret location. Not totally secret as the address was listed on the show flyer but by address only, not a venue name or anything like that. It was a sort of Speakeasy if you will, a first in all of my show going experiences. 

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

My friend and I arrived shortly after the show started. Our IDs and proof of vaccination were checked outside and once we were cleared we were instructed to enter through the ATM. The place was flanked with mirrored walls, funky art, neon lights and packed with mask-less show goers. 

We were able to get a sweet spot right up front, mere minutes before Molly Moore's set started. Decked out in matching orange creamsicle colored tie-dye sweat suits, her accompanying band led the way and got situated on the teeny tiny stage ahead of Miss Moore. Then, in a flash,  there she was, rainbow colored hair and all. In a busy cartoon graffiti two piece bikini top and early 2000's inspired JNCO pants she was the face of Gen-Z style. The crowd, of which I was compiled of lots of friends and family of Moore and company, ate it up right away, hooting and hollering with every spoken word and cued song. 

The music stopped after the first song so that some technical issues could be worked out but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits on or off the stage. Moore handled it like a pro, sharing some insight of what got her to where she was, couches she surfed and what Escapism is all about: basically that the only way to grow and blossom into your true self is to face your own realities instead of trying to escape them. They got right back into the swing of things with "Vacation" a single off of the EP and Moore invited everyone who knew the words to sing along. 

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Under a kaleidoscope of colorful lights, Molly Moore really started shine as the show played on. It took

her a minute to warm up and really find her groove but once she did, she was playful and personable and positivity radiated from her as she performed. Last year she played at Bottlerock Napa Valley and opened for Chromeo at San Franisco's August Hall leading up to that festival yet she's still coming into her own and she's doing it well.

 

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

At one point my friend pointed out that Molly Moore had a early Gwen Stefani feel and sure enough there was a No Doubt cover of "Bath Water" later in the show. By the time we left the smile on my face matched the smile Moore wore all night. For my first show coverage since moving to SoCal it was quite an experience I am so happy I was able to have. She doesn't have any upcoming shows at the moment, but keep your eyes out for more from Molly Moore. 

Molly Moore EP release show 2/16/2022 in LA 
photo by Nikki DeMartini