Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022

 

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

After hitting the road with The Violent Femmes and Me First and The Gimme Gimme's last year which brought them to Heart Health Park in Sacramento, Flogging Molly made a triumphant return to The Bay Area last month. 

 

These beloved Irish punk rockers having been coming to town every year around St. Patrick's Day for years delivering a one, two punch kind of show every time. With a bit of Irish luck and most COVID safety mandates lifted, Flogging Molly took the stage at The Fox Theater in Oakland about a week after the celebrated Irish holiday on Friday March 25th.

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong 

 Following Vandoliers and Russkaja, Flogging Molly hit the stage with their undeniable passion fueling their effervescent punk rock songs. Gracious and humble, front man Dave King led the crowd into a night filled with infectious Celtic energy that Flogging Molly is known to do best. 

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong

That fateful night somewhere between opening and supporting acts and before the headliners took the stage the announcement of Foo Fighters' drummer, Taylor Hawkins' passing sent shock waves through the music community. Their fifth song of the night, "Whistles In the Wind" was a heartfelt dedication played in remembrance of the acclaimed drummer gone before his time. 

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong

18 songs deep, the set stretched on into the night ending with a single encore of "Tabacco Island". 

Flogging Molly @ The Fox Theater Oakland 3/25/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Flogging Molly set-list 3/25/2022

1. Drunken Lullabies

2. The Hand of John L. Sullivan 

3. Swagger

4. Selfish Man 

5. Whistles in the Wind

6. The Worst Day Since Yesterday 

7. The Times They Are A-Changin'

8. Life in a Tenement Square

9. A Song of Liberty

10. Float 

11. Black Friday Rule 

12. Croppy Boy 

13. Devil's Dance Floor

14. Crushed 

15. If I Ever Leave This World Alive

16. Salty Dog

17. What's Left of the Flag 

18. The Seven Deadly Sins 

19. Tabacco Island 

Spring time in the LBC: strawberry cupcake from Frosted

Strawberry Cream Cheese cupcakes at Frosted in Long Beach 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Spring has officially sprung!
Days are getting longer and nights shorter, so I decided to take advantage of the springtime weather and have my first cupcake experience in Long Beach. 

I hopped on my (borrowed) bike and headed to the first cupcake place I could find.

Frosted on 2nd Street was the destination and what a great first impression of the LBC cupcake scene it turned out to be!

I was tickled to see a cupcake shaped bike rack right outside of Frosted when I got there. (how cute is that!?) I parked, locked up and headed inside. I was delighted that I was the only customer when I walked in  and also delighted that Frosted required all customers to wear a mask while inside. 

Outside of Frosted Cupcakery on 2nd Street in Long Beach 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

cupcakes in a box at Frosted in Long Beach 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

The place itself is not overwhelming at all, with no inside dining available it's quite to the point, order and go, yet I was a tad overwhelmed with deciding which cupcake, or cupcakes to get. I was just excited I found a cupcake spot in my new neighborhood. Without a particular craving, I asked the gal behind the counter if she had any recommendations. Her first recommendation was the flavor of the month which was a cinnamony one.

Next, she recommended a customer favorite: Strawberry Cream Cheese. Being that it is the middle of Strawberry season (January - May), I haven't reviewed a strawberry cupcake in a while and the fact that was the cutest cupcake in the case I got one of the Strawberry Cream Cheese cupcakes. 

Strawberry Cream Cheese cupcake at Frosted in Long Beach 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Tucked in a box customized to hold two cupcakes, my two cupcakes (yes I got two) survived the bike ride home splendidly without any smooshing or spills. 

One thing that's always stood out to me about this seasonal favorite is how fragrant strawberry cupcakes are. At least the ones I've had in the past have been.
The Strawberry Cream Cheese from Frosted is pretty with it's pink frosting, light coating of teeny pearl sprinkles and big, matching gummy berry but the smell of juicy strawberry didn't hit me upon or before my first bite. "Yummy" was the first thing that hit me when I took my first bite. 

Strawberry Cream Cheese cupcake at Frosted in Long Beach 
photo by Nikki DeMartini

 

The cake is pink, but not too pink, nowhere as pink as the pink frosting. To me this is a good sign of it being a more authentic strawberry flavor. It was light yet moist and buttery which can probably be attributed to the fact that cupcakes are baked fresh from scratch every day at Frosted cupcakery. The Strawberry flavor is kind of hard to describe. It was strawberry but not artificial. It's a fresh baked cupcake with a fresh strawberry taste that isn't overbearing. A few bites in I found myself chewing on a chunk of actual strawberry baked right into the cupcake! That was a first and such a delightfully delectable surprise! 

The ratio of cake to frosting was spot on: pink cream cheese frosting covers the whole top of the cupcake and there isn't too much of it. It's a tint of tangy with a touch more of sweet but not too sweet. In essence it's a great cream cheese frosting and it paired with the fresh, fresh strawberry cake well, anything sweeter would have made it a completely different cupcake. With Summer right around the corner this cupcake will transition to be a great Summer time treat, too! 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022

 Instead of celebrating St. Patrick's Day the traditional way with green beers and corned beef , the night of March 17th was intoxicated with music at The Warfield in San Francisco. 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

For his second and biggest North American tour to date, Yungblood's Life on Mars tour evoked a spirit thriving with a new wave of Hot Topic allure. The British pop-goth-rock sensation invited the like minded, Palaye Royal, UPSAHL and Poutyface to join him and fans in San Francisco obliged. The concert venue in the heart of downtown SF was already buzzing before the music started like a high school dance, patiently waiting in angst yet not so secretly brimming with excitement to fill the dancefloor with sweaty, awkward interactions. 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Sandwiched between two other opening acts, the Lady Jesus singer-song writer known as UPSAHL dominated the stage. Last time we saw UPSAHL in SF it was at a tightly packed Popscene show at Rickshaw Stop on November 30h, 2021. Since then, the enigmatic 23 year old from Phoenix, Arizona has been excelling forward with not only a sizzling debut album, but also an electrifying live show and magnetic performance.  

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

Seeing her dominate a much larger stage , at a much larger venue was great. It's thrilling to witness an artist on the rise from their humble beginning.  UPSAHL's stage presence was even more brash and sassy than it was last year when she headlined Popscene just a short three months ago. Her sound is gruff yet catchy and even her outfit questioned the norm, ignoring unspoken show etiquette of wearing a shirt of the band you're seeing. She rocked an over sized t-shirt of her own over a menagerie of fishnet apparel, of course. Setting the pace for her set, she opened her with her popular 2020 single that encapsulates her headstrong energy, "People I Don't Like." 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

 There was enough middle fingers, stomping and attitude for all. And the audience loved it all. The people riding the rails in front row were Yungblud fans,  for sure and were there to secure their spots for him but they knew all the words of some of UPSHAL's  songs played at the show that night. 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

With her current upward trajectory I'm sure we'll see UPSAHL headlining larger shows of her own soon. 

UPSAHL at The Warfield 3/17/2022 set-list

1.People I Don't Like 

UPSAHL @ The Warfield 3/17/2022
photo by Marc Fong

review written by Marc Fong & Nikki DeMartini

2. Douchebag 

3. Time Of My Life 

4. Drugs 

5. Money on My Mind 

6. Lady Jesus

7. IDFWFEELINGS

8. Thriving 

9. Sad Sorry After Party

10. Lunatic

                                                                                                                                                                

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

Wu Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes in Long Beach 2/6/2022

February 4th, 5th and 6th of this year marked the debut of the California Vibrations Festival more widely known as Cali Vibes. The three day reggae festival was held at the Marina Green Park in Long Beach California and featured headliners Rebelution, The Marley Brothers and Dirty Heads. Along with up and comers like Hawaiian songstress, Hirie, there were some big names who weren't headlining.  Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime with Rome, Shaggy and Atmosphere for instance. And then there was one act on the bill that was not like all of the others. Rap legends Wu-Tang Clan played on the main stage on Sunday. What's more surprising than them being on a a reggae festival line-up was not only were they not a headliner but Wu-Tang was on before the second to last band. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

It was my first time going to a music festival to go to a music festival rather than work it in a long time and I was there to see Wu Tang that night. It was my first time seeing them live. The sun was still up when their set started and first on stage was a DJ to hype up the crowd. He wanted us to make some noise before he'd have the clan come out. One by one the Wu Tang Clan hit the stage. First up was U-God followed by Masta Killa, Cappadonna, GZA, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck. The last two members to join the rest of the clan on stage, RZA and Method Man garnered the biggest reactions from the crowd. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Each member of Wu Tang hit the stage with such a pure energy that was hard not to feel. Passion exuded from them was they rapped. A positivity lingered in the air with all of the weed smoke. I couldn't get over how happy they all looked up there. Method Man was almost unrecognizable in his his ear to ear smile that kept flashing through out the set. RZA was having such a good time I lost count of the number of champagne bottles he sprayed into the crowd. Fans through up their wu hand sign when instructed and did so even when not instructed. Everyone was having a good time. 

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Wu - Tang Clan @ Cali Vibes 2/6/2022
photo by Nikki DeMartini

Ever changing graphics lit up the back of the stage with things like the Wu-Tang logo, "Wu Tang Ain't Nothing to Fuck With", and of course "Wu Tang Is Forever". Snippets of old music videos and throw back footage were spliced in, too. They paid tribute to ODB, the DJ spun Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which the crowd sang along to, they covered The Beatles and Rick James and Bob Marley's "One Love".

They gave love to Long Beach and reggae music and to everyone who was there. Wu Tang was such a rejuvenating high that night at Cali Vibes. Seeing how stoked Wu was to be there and knowing how stoked I and everyone else was to be there to see them.
It was a great festival set. 

set-list 2/6/2022
1. Gravel Pit 
2. Slang Editorial 
3. Winter Warz
4. Uzi (Pink Ring) 
5. Da Mystery of Chessboxin' 
6. Killa Bees on the Swarm 
7. Solid As a Rock
8. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing to Fuck With 
9. Shame on a Nigga 
10. C.R.E.A.M
11. Method Man
12. Tearz
13. Breaker, Breaker 
14. Protect Ya Neck 
15. Come Together (The Beatles cover)
16. Reunited
17. For Heavens Sake 
18. Severe Punishment 
19. One Blood Under W
20. 4th Chamber 
21. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
22. Mary Jane (Rick James cover)
23. Ice Cream 
24. Bring the Pain 
25. Can It Be All So Simple
26. Da Rockwilder
27. Shimmy Shimmy Ya
28. Brooklyn Zoo
29. Got Your Money 
30. Da Rockwilder
31. Duel to the Death 
32. Triumph