Washed Out with Brijean @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022

 About half way through the MMXXII tour, Washed Out stopped in SF for a show at The Regency Ballroom. The Georgian known as the "godfather of chillwave" AKA Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr., better known as Washed Out was finally on a proper tour for his 2020 album Purple Noon. More or less of half the shows were supported opening act by LANNDS and the other shows by opening act, Brijean. On January 22nd, Brijean opened the show. 

Washed Out @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Washed Out Purple Noon album cover 

The music from both bands prescribed a chill night yet as the room filled in, the amped energy of the crowd was uncharacteristically rowdy for the bands they were there to see. They weren't rowdily dancing but they were loud and not polite. It was as if they were there because they just wanted something to do on a Saturday night. The show was well sold but being that we were at a chillwave show, there was a startling amount of seemingly out of place bros there. 

Oh San Francisco, so diverse you never know what kind of crowd you're going to find yourself in.

Brijean @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Brijean @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Brijean hit the stage to a room full of people and conversation. The Bay Area based duo who had opened for DRAMA last October, did their best to weather storm with their moody bongo vibes, a great precursor for what was up next. 

Brijean @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Colorful lights from Brijean gave way to bright lights and fog washing out the stage for the headliners. A dreaminess smoldered from where Greene leisurely stood behind a synthesizer, keyboard situation and as impressionistic indie hymns washed over the crowd there was a calming affect comingling in the chaotic air. Each twinkling note offering a mature sense of a euphoric passage. Hidden in the looming shadows and murky atmosphere, Greene kept to himself for the most part as Washed Out lit up the night like the light at the end of a tunnel. 

Washed Out @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

Though Washed Out played at The Phoenix Hotel on the outskirts of the infamous Tenderloin district of San Francisco last year, this tour was the light at the end of the tunnel for Washed Out. 

Washed Out @ The Regency Ballroom 1/22/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The MMXXII tour is over but Washed Out is still chugging along. He'll be bringing the chill to One Big Holiday in Cancun on March 2nd then back to the States for Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Florida on March 3rd. 

Cupcakes from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats for Valentine's Day

 Last year the big freeze in Texas had started to thaw around Valentine's Day so I ventured out for a Valentine's Day treat. I was working in Athens Texas and while the small, quiet town felt like the middle of no where, there was a cute cupcake shop there.  It was February 13th and workers at the Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats shop were busy getting things ready for the big day. I had gone in for one cupcake but they all looked so good. Some were decked out with intricate, edible decorations which I came to find out were special for Valentine's Day from the very friendly manager type lady. Before I knew it I walked out of Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats with three cupcakes.
Happy Valentine's Day to me!

cupcakes from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats in Texas
photo by Nikki DeMartini

cupcakes from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats in Texas
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The first one I tried was the one I was going to get before being easily swindled into getting three and that was the Maple Bacon cupcake. With a piece of bacon, waffle and a little vile of maple syrup stuck right into it, it sure was a sight to see. The vanilla cake and vanilla frosting were standard, there was so much going on on top that it sort of took away from the cupcake itself. It was tough to tell if both the cake and the frosting were vanilla or not. 

cupcake from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats in Texas
photo by Nikki DeMartini

I don't remember in what order I had the next two cupcakes but I do remember they both had the same frosting. One was adorned with a mini chocolate chip cookie and the other with a mini chocolate chip cookie, a tiny slice of cheese cake and chocolate drizzle. The cake was the same standard vanilla cake and the frosting wasn't frosting at all...it was chocolate chip cookie dough! This is the first and so far the only time I've had a cupcake with cookie dough as frosting and it was delicious! 

cupcakes from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats in Texas
photo by Nikki DeMartini

I thought that the delectable decorations would take the cake of the cupcakes at Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats but their chocolate chip cookie dough frosting did! 

Go big and go home with more to love with these everything's bigger in Texas treats. 

cupcakes from Treehouse Cupcakes & Frozen Treats in Texas
photo by Nikki DeMartini

More DRAMA music

 Shortly after the release of their debut album Dance without Me on Valentine's Day 2020, the R&B/indie fusion duo DRAMA hit the road in support of it. Less than a month later Na'el Shehade and Via Rosa found themselves in San Francisco for three shows. First up was a free show at Amoeba record store on Haight street on March 2nd, then at two sold-out, headlining shows at The Independent on March 3rd and 4th. 

DRAMA @ The Independent 3/4/2020
photo by Marc Fong 

A few days after their third show in SF the rest of their tour, along with every other tour everywhere,  was abruptly canceled as COVID lock-downs raged across the world almost as quickly as the as the virus itself. DRAMA was the last pre-covid show that was officially covered for Sweet Sound Bites. 

DRAMA @ The Independent 3/4/2020
photo by Marc Fong

 I wasn't too familiar with them then but they had a lot of buzz and even though I couldn't cover them in SF myself due to working the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival in Florida, I did get approved to cover DRAMA at The Independent on March 4th, 2020 for my blog. Pictures from that show were stunning, giving me FOMO as soon as I saw them. Lighting fixtures separately framed Shehade and Rosa in warm violet hues in a perfectly minimalistic way while enchantingly embodying their sultry sound.  

With a short festival circuit in 2021, DRAMA wasted no time getting back in the game playing Lollapalooza, Life Is Beautiful and Outside Lands. Before the festival on Halloween weekend they headlined an Outside Lands night show On Wednesday October 27th, 2021. Having missed them while working Lollapalooza and potentially missing them while working Outside Lands, I was stoked to be able to see them at the picturesque art deco venue, Bimbo's 365 Club. Though there's no doubt they bring it to their festivals sets they strike me as a must see one off show duo. And I wasn't wrong about that. 

DRAMA @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini 

With the same lighting and stage set up that they had when they played at The Independent 19 months earlier, their exuberance for being back in SF matched that of the crowd. I can't recall a moment there wasn't a smile on Shehade's face through out the whole show. They sounded good, they looked good, it was a damn good show that made you feel good and left you feeling good. 

Last week DRAMA announced that they're gearing up to release a new EP on February 18th titled "Don't Wait Up" and they've already given us three songs off of it: "3AM", "Dark Rain" and "Don't Hold Back" and they've all been on a steady repeat since. 

The first music festival up for DRAMA this year happens to be the same festival I worked when I missed them at The Independent, Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in Florida. I'm working that festival again this year so maybe it'll be my first time catching them at a fest, maybe it'll be yours.

 
DRAMA is touring too if you really want to immerse yourself in those intimate vibes of theirs at a more intimate show. 

DRAMA @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini 

New Sofi Tukker

 Sofi Tukker dropped "Original Sin" last Friday, the first single off their forth coming new album due out on April 29th. The song features the two best friends see-sawing on vocals which seductively explore the navigation of life and it's temptations the best we can. It's saucy with an easy, percussion heavy build up and a soft drop of it's pulsating beat. Following suit of  2020's "Purple Hat", 2021's,  "Mon Cheri" and so many songs from Sofi Tukker their latest is another dance floor worthy one. It's repetitive existential lyrics cloaked in it's atmospheric vibe could be easily featured in an episode of Euphoria. It's one of the best that 2022 has offered so far that I've heard. 

While the platonic couple have dropped a good number of singles over the years, this album will comes as a long awaited follow up to their 2018 debut, Tree House. It's title is Wet Tennis is an odd name on the surface but dive just a little bit deeper and Sophie Hawley-Weld explains that Wet Tennis is an acronym for: when everyone tries to evolve, nothing negative is safe. Learning that made me like the album even though only one song off of it has been released. People need more of the kind of energy that the message of Sofi Tukker naming their second album this. Especially in these on-going, trying, taxing times we're doing our best at living through. It comes as a relief to hear this essence of like being discussed in a positive light. "Original Sin" serves as a humble release as it welcomes you to shake it out.
Sofi Tukker's vibrancy for life daringly blares in the promotional photos for the album with Sophie and Tuk popping in bright orange, neon pink and purple Ombre tennis outfits. They always present themselves in eye catching threads and I am absolutely loving the over all unintrusive yet  in your face sunset feels their new album is already giving. 

Now's your chance to shake it out with Sofi Tukker  because the duo has been on tour as of January 28th. They're also on that festival circuit as early as February 26th at Belly Up Aspen and speaking from experience, they know how to get the party started at a fest. If history repeats itself, fun times are ahead with Sofi Tukker!

Happy Birthday, cupcake

 It was my birthday earlier this month and to celebrate my cousin and her two kids (my god kids) visited me in San Francisco. We decided on a trip to the San Francisco Botanical Garden. It was a sunny January day and some of the infamous pink Magnolias were already blooming high above us on otherwise bare branches. 

Cupcake from Whole Foods 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Before we went exploring we made a pit stop for the birthday festivity of blowing out a candle on the cupcake my cousin got for me and making a birthday wish. Both of my god kids were very excited about this because my cousin had gotten them their own treats, too. It was so cute the way their eyes lit up when she opened up the cupcake box and lit a candle in it, you'd think it was their birthday.

 

exploring the San Francisco Botanical Garden

The cupcake was from Whole Foods and my thoughtful cousin picked a cupcake covered in frosting flowers. The flowers were light blue and green with a couple darker green leaves which reminded me of hydrangeas. 

 I mentioned to her that the cupcake was very fitting since we were celebrating at the Botanical Garden and she said that's why she got that one. She sure does know how to make a birthday girl feel special that cousin of mine.

 After singing me Happy Birthday, the kids had their treats and then burned off the sugar rush running around the park but I saved my cupcake for later. 

The frosting flowers got a little smooshed in transit but it still looked pretty and tasted yummy. All of those frosting flowers and leaves sure made for one very well frosted cupcake and I love frosting. It was classic vanilla frosting and I could see that the cake was chocolate. To my delighted surprise, the chocolate cake was rich and chocolatey! I'm almost positive it was devils food cake based on it's deep brown color and how moist and flavorful it was. Chocolate cake under frosting flowers is like dirt that flowers grow in only way yummier, though my godson might disagree.Without one flavor outweighing the other, it was a perfect balance of vanilla vs. chocolate. 
Individual cupcakes from Whole Foods are bigger than standard cupcakes so there's more to love which is great news for cupcake lovers. I've never had a cupcake from Whole Foods that I didn't like, in fact they're the best cupcakes from a grocery store bakery I've had making this a perfect little birthday treat for me.
Keep these pretty and yummy cupcakes in mind for birthday celebrations as a gift for someone else or for yourself!

cupcake from Whole Foods 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021

 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

Last month Wet Leg made their San Francisco debut at the one and only Popscene, the city's premier indie night club, which was hosted at  Rickshaw Stop.

The British band from Isle of Wight, founded by Rhain Teasdale and Hester Chambers released the underground hit single of Summer 2021, "Chaise Lounge".

It's quirky, clever lyrics, buzzing guitars and uninterested monotone are undeniably indie, sparking people's interest which quickly made it and the girls behind it a sensation.
Their SF debut show sold-out just as quick. 

It had been a while since I had been to Popscene, so long in fact I can't recall the last time I was there. I was excited to be back, excited to be approved to cover Wet Leg and excited that one of my good friends who I work music festivals with was in town and able to join me.

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

The place was packed by the time we got there which was well after doors opened and after the opening acted. From what I could see the crowd was around my age, a sight to see with the reputation that Popscene has of debuting the hottest breaking bands and usually drawing a younger crowd.  I wasn't about to push my way through the thick of the crowd to get a better view of the band and scope out the whole scene though. Proof of vaccinations were being checked at the door but still, it was definitely too close for my new normal comfort level. 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

It was surprising to see Teasdale and Chambers joined by four other for a total of six people on stage. Wet Leg the duo is a full band ensemble live or at least they were that night in SF. They all seemed to vibe well with each other while they played but their stage presence was lacking. Just about as stagnant as the crowd, the band not surprisingly found themselves in a spot most bands have been at one point especially as they’re emerging. Wet Leg, for as popular as they are and are becoming, are still finding their voice on stage.

They started their set with what could be considered their second single, the riffy, poetic, garage/indie rock hybrid "Too Late Now". 

Being from the Bay Area and going to shows here my whole life, though the crowd was stagnant for the most part I could tell that they were into it. Something about air about them and the way they intently watched the show. The lighting was dark and harsh with lots of red washing everyone out, adding to the "cool" kid aesthetic the show already had and the vibe that Popscene is known for. With no banter between songs the eleven song set seemed to fly right by. Before I knew it that guitar driven, rhythmic intro of "Chaise Lounge" filled the room. Wet Leg saved their best known song for last as most up and coming bands do. It riled some signs of life through out the crowd as some people sang along to and some bopped about. As soon as the hit song was over, Wet Leg left the stage, house lights came up and everyone there hightailed it toward the exit. 

Wet Leg @ Popscene 12/15/2021
photo by Mo Howard

Wet Leg opened for CHVRCHES at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium the night after playing Popscene and they recently announced up coming tour dates through out Europe, North America and Canada. They've also announced the release date of their first album, April 8th, 2022!  The more live shows they play the more comfortable they'll become on stage and I'm looking forward to seeing where this wave takes Wet Leg. 

set-list 12/15/2021

1. Too Late Now
2. It's Not Fun 
3. Ur Mom 
4. Wet Dream 
5. Supermarket 
6. Loving You 
7. Obvious 
8. Oh No 
9. Being In Love 
10. Angelica 
11. Chaise Lounge 

Favorite new music find of 2021

 I found my favorite new music find of 2021 when I wasn't looking for it, not really anyway. COVID bookended by a busy work schedule aside I was finally getting to see DRAMA live and I was very excited about it.  It was an Outside Lands night show and DRAMA had been on the  whacky 2021 "postponed" festival circuit playing some of the same festivals that I was working but I had yet to see them.  Better yet, that night I was getting to see DRAMA live at Bimbo's, the most picture-esqe, art-deco venue to see a concert in SF. Fate would have it that contrary to personal show going practices, I arrived in time to see the opener that night, too. 

The band was Brijean, a collaboration of Brijean Murphy and Doug Stewart  based out of Oakland. I hadn't heard of them before but later found out that Murphy is an accomplished DJ, making a name for herself as a sought after percussionists on the indie scene after working with the likes of Poolside and Toro Y Moi. Their demeanor, though a bit meager was somewhat oddly inciting, or maybe it was seeing Murphy situated behind a huge pair of bongos that sparkled the initial interest. What kind of hippy noodling experience were we about to get into with these two hipsters? 

Brijean @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Their sound, retro yet bubbly, is unassumingly immersive. Hypnotically harmonizing melodies of sweet bass hooks, fun percussion and dancey synths with Murphy's almost nymph like vocals that carry a unique pitch and leisurely allure complete the package. Stuck in a trace standing there in front of the stage I was completely submerged in every song they played. If I closed my eyes long enough I bet that I could have easily forgotten where I was, transported far far away to another place and time.
The song "Hey Boy" totally encapsules their tropical, trippy vibe which simultaneously transcends a high and lo tempo like butter across all of their tracks. Filling every nook and cranny with a smooth deliciousness that's hard to resist.
Turns out their whole 2021 album, Feelings is no different. Just the right amount of funk and jam and indie and of course those sweet, sweet bongos. 

Their sultry finesse matched that of Drama's.
Coincidence? Maybe.
Both bands did play Outside Lands...either way it left me thinking that Brijean and Tash Sultana would be a good billing fit, too. 

DRAMA @ Bimbo's 365 Club 10/27/2021
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Brijean is a great soundtrack for a small at home get together, a cocktail party, a picnic, a warm bath and as I found out a few days later, a perfect mid-day set at a music festival. That's right, the chill dynamic duo played the Panhandle stage at the 2021 Outside Lands which had been postponed to Halloween weekend from it's usual early to mid August scheduling. As the sun shown down on Golden Gate park, the small crowd that had gathered at the small stage was a happy one. Happy to be there, basking in warm sunshine and the feel good tunes with summer of love undertones. It was here that I determined that "Moody" is my favorite song by them, recorded and live. And that yes, I am a fan of Brijean. 

 I'm happy I found out about Brijean and to be sharing them with you. Maybe you'll be a fan now, too!

Brijean at Outside Lands 2021 
photo by Nikki DeMartini