Localized Appreesh

Localized Appreesh: Still Flyin’

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Still Flyin’

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Tireless indie pop supergroup Still Flyin’ is back, with a follow-up to 2009’s superfun Never Gonna Touch the Ground.

The expansive SF band’s sophomore album – On A Bedroom Wall – is varied, it’s a grand mishmosh of styles, influences, and instruments (like any good party record). It has a synthy ’80s shoulder-shaking influence throughout, peppered with funk and reggae rhythms, cut through with earnest pop melodies; picture a funkier, modern Adam and the Ants, and maybe throw ’em in an underground, all-night dance club in a beachy locale. And hand over that fruity cocktail while you’re at it.

On the release of said second record, the spirited act hits Rickshaw Stop this Friday – and really, Still Flyin’ is known first and foremost as a great live band. Leading up to the big show, bandleader/pied piper Sean Rawls reflects on first records, favorites dishes, and the worst part of San Francisco’s seamless seasons.

Year and location of origin: 2004, San Francisco.

Band name origin: I wrote a joke reggae song for a band with my buds from college called Je Suis France.  When I moved to San Francisco from Athens, GA I was so obsessed with my reggae song that I decided to make a band based on it. The band name is from the chorus of that song.

Band motto: They gave us a chance and now we are going to take it from them.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Smooth wild unhinged mechanical soft bombastic happy melancholy popular unpopular.

Instrumentation: 1. Guitar/synth/vocals; 2. Synth/vocals; 3. Vibraphone/guitar/synth/sax/vocals; 4. Percussion/guitar/vocals; 5. Bass; 6. Drums

Most recent release: On A Bedroom Wall (May 22 via Ernest Jenning)

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: No problem getting rained on for half the year.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Jacket in July.

First album ever purchased: Back to the Future soundtrack.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Cleaners From Venus box set

Favorite Bay Area eatery and dish: Pretty much any torta at La Torta Gorda.

Still Flyin’
With Tambo Rays, Trails and Ways
Sun/10, 7pm, $10
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell, SF
(415) 861-2011
www.rickshawstop.com

Localized Appreesh: Major Powers & the Lo-Fi Symphony

Tony Robles
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2

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Behind every San Francisco band is the shadow of the past – decades of sweeping musical scenes that came before it, haunting the Victorian venues, ghosts with ink stamped on their hands. With Major Powers & the Lo-Fi Symphony, that tap-tap-tapping is a bit more literal.

Two of the three members of the trio (French brothers Kevin and Dylan Gautschi) are the sons of Pamela Wood, bassist of 1970s Bay Area act Leila & the Snakes. That’s not to say Major Powers & the Lo-Fi Symphony emulates Leila & the Snakes’ minimalist rock’n’roll weirdo sound, just that perhaps the musical spirit of experimentation courses through the veins of certain families.

No, MP&LFS gets just as much vigor from both the height of the ragtime era and the rise of ’90s Buzz Bin alternative rock as it does the less tangible local past. Led by dynamic pianist-songwriter Nicholas Jarvis Powers, the bouncy band calls itself “adventure rock” and makes good on the promise with complex arrangements spruced up with those tickling feel-good keys and power pop vocals.

The trio is currently in the process of releasing its first LP –  We Became Monters – on SF’s Amazing Pony Records, but for now you can catch it popping up live in venues across the city (most recently, a piano showdown at Monarch). This week? Upper Haight experimenters-haven Milk.

Year and location of origin: 2011, Richmond, Calif.

Band name origin: Nick dreamt the phrase “Lo-Fi Symphony.” Dylan’s girlfriend said, “call it Major Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony.” We all got jazzed.

Band motto: “There is no spoon.”

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Everything Bert Does In Mary Poppins Meets Superdrag Meets Queen.

Instrumentation: Piano, Guitar, Drums.

Most recent release: We Became Monsters.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Hotties.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Money.

First album ever purchased: Dylan: Sex Packets, Digital Underground.
Kevin: Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em.
Nick: Ice Ice Baby (single).

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Dylan: Powerman 5000 in 1998.
Kevin: All Eyez On Me, Tupac.
Nick: “Ice Ice Baby” (single) (I’m not kidding – I bought one cassette and that was it).

Favorite local eatery and dish: Dylan: my kitchen
Kevin: La Taqueria, Carnitas Burrito
Nick: Fonda, Skirt Steak, THAT SHIT CRAY

Major Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony
With the Greening, Hungry Skinny
Thu/24, 9pm, $5
Milk
1840 Haight, SF
(415) 387-6455
www.milksf.com

Localized Appreesh: Wild Hunt

Tony Robles
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1

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The essence of Oakland’s Wild Hunt could summed up thusly: doomy, progressive metal that perches in the cerebral cortex during a waking nightmare. A ghoulish nightmare from which you don’t necessary wish to wake. It’s black magic behind fluttering eyelids.

Along with more traditional metal riffs, there are drawn-out, heavy breakdowns that lend easily to slow, deliberate head banging, blended with modern hypnotic ambiance that gives it that dream-like quality. It doesn’t hurt that drummer-vocalist Harland Burkhart sounds like he’s growling underwater. I’ve seen Enslaved noted as a point of reference here, and agree with that assessment.

So now you need to hear it, right? Well, you’ve chased it down and speared it. The quartet’s debut album, Before the Plane of Angles, which was mixed by Laudanum’s Salvador Raya and mastered by Justin Weis (Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra), is out now on Kemado. And the album release show is this weekend at El Rio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihzeCQWlMHc

I caught up with the Wild Hunt in that unsettling space between wake and sleep. Here’s what Burkhart had to say:

Band name origin: “Wild Hunt” refers to the ancient European myth of a phantasmal cavalcade of dead folks seen madly flying through the sky, usually around Yuletide. There are a variety of different versions of the legend; some believe the Norse god Odin leads the pack, others believe King Arthur, others believe Ronald McDonald.

Band motto: You got fourteen cent?

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Heavy, melodic, dreamlike. At times jarring, at times tranquil.

Instrumentation: Two guitarists, one bassist, one drummer/vocalist.

Most recent release: Before the Plane of Angles (Kemado Records, 2012)

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Being situated in such a hotbed of creative activity.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Paying rent.

First album purchased: For me, possibly Oingo Boingo, Only a Lad.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Allseits, Hel.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Southie has become my lunchtime destination. That dang fried rock shrimp sandwich has changed my life, tell you what.

Wild Hunt
With Giant Squid, Black Queen
Sat/19, 10pm, $8
El Rio
3158 Mission, SF
(415) 282-3325
www.elriosf.com

Localized Appreesh: Glitter Wizard

Tony Robles
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1
Localized Appreesh: Glitter Wizard

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

I’ve been wanting to get Glitter Wizard in Localized Appreesh for some time. It’s based in the Bay Area, plays local haunts often, and I appreciate what it’s putting out there. Fronted by Wendy Stonehenge, the hair-shaking, psychedelic glam rock band is at once wildly individual and comfortingly throwback.

That vintage guitar sound and the fringed frocks that adorn Glitter Wizard recall tripping San Francisco musicians of yore; and yet, there really aren’t many other bands doing it up quite like this now, in the modern day Bay. We’re dying for the long-hairs, the rock’n’roll dramatics, the all-out performance of Glitter Wizard, sonically Hawkwind, aesthetically Bowie.

The band’s next releases aren’t out ’till summer (read: real soon), but you can catch the act live this weekend opening for another band with a penchant for glittering spectacle and glammy make-up, White Hills. Before all that, Stonehenge fills in the blanks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drbGNEqZlbI

Year and location of origin: Glitter Wizard was originally birthed in Santa Cruz sometime around 2006. The Bay Area version came together in 2008.

Band name origin: I just felt that the name was a perfect amalgamation of our glammy stage show and our heavy rock sound.

Band motto: Turn up the guitar!

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Gypsyhawk said it best: “You guys sound like Uriah Heep played by punks!”

Instrumentation: Wendy Stonehenge on vocals, Doug Graves on keys and synths, Fancee Cymballs on drums, Lorfin Terrafor on Guitar, Kandi Moon on bass.

Most recent release: Our last release was our first LP, Solar Hits, but we have a new seven-inch and full-length coming out this summer.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: We’ve probably got more good bands here than any other city in the country, if not the world.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: You have to book shows at least three months in advance.

First album ever purchased: New Kids on the Block — Hangin’ Tough (how embarrassing).

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Def Leppard — High ‘n’ Dry (only slightly less embarrassing)

Favorite local eatery and dish: Lorfin and Kandi just introduced me to the beef brisket at Tommy’s Joynt. So good!

Glitter Wizard
With White Hills, Disappearing People
Sun/13, 9pm, $12
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., SF
(415) 621-4455
www.bottomofthehill.com

Localized Appreesh: A B & the Sea

Tony Robles
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0

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

You already know A B & the Sea, right? The creamy surf pop act last year released the perfect summer pop song and matching video – “In the Sunshine” – all hand-holding, first kisses, and  beach frolicking.  And earlier that year, the band played Noise Pop again, amid a sea of punks before Ted Leo.

Well now, it’s basically summer 2012 (we have to make up seasons ’round these parts) and the band has just released its newest contribution to our cultural zeitgeist, the full-length Constant Vacation.  Produced by Wallpaper and Jim Fairchild, and full of bouncy, beachy harmonies, it’s got that infectious aforementioned “Sunshine” single plus more contenders for song of the summer (“California Feeling”). There’s got to be a frozen cherry Popsicle we can split around here somewhere.

And you know what happens next right? The requisite, much ballyhooed album release party.  Check ’em out in post-release bliss headlining the Great American Music Hall this week.  You know you want to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7mVeiYCy5c

Year and location of origin: 2008 Oshkosh, WI.

Band name origin: the cleverly brothers.

Band motto: constant vacation

Description of sound in 10 words or less: cruisin’ the pacific banger highway; no rearview, no destination.

Instrumentation: vocal harmonies and sunshine.

Most recent release: new record Constant Vacation record release show May 3rd at Great American Music Hall. No…not Six Flags Great America…maybe next time.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: the babes.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: nonsense.

First album purchased: Coolio, Gangstas Paradise cassette.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Miniature Tigers, Mia Pharaoh.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Mission Cheese ched or die sammy. So scrummy…

A B & the Sea
With Tommy and the High Pilots, Yellow Red Sparks
Thu/3, 8pm, $15
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
(415) 885-0750
www.slimspresents.com

Localized Appreesh: Street Eaters

Tony Robles
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0

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

There are plenty of socially constructed gender division duos out there in pop music (Matt and Kim, Mates of State et. al.). One boy, one girl, how cute, blah blah blah. Street Eaters – bassist John Mink of Fleshies and drummer Megan March of the Younger Lovers – needn’t worry about such fluff. In fact, they don’t seem to busy themselves with any sort of fluff, mainstream expectations or extra, unnecessary background instrumentation.

The East Bay act makes minimalist, yet noisy punk with great sing-along potential (they both sing) – and they seem to have a sense of humor about it all (check the video for “Useless Eyes” below). The result is two distinct voices rising over thick, distorted bass lines and tight, hard-hitting drumming. Punk that’s bounce-worthy.

Tonight, Tuesday, Street Eaters open for Burger Records’ Audacity and touring headliners Screaming Females. Skateboard to the show and get there early.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBV4rFAhf6o

Year and location of origin: 2008, Berkeley, Calif.

Band name origin: A coffee-induced hallucination in which a huge monster starts terrorizing the land, eating streets until stuffed then falling asleep on the last BART train and waking up in Pittsburg/Bay Point.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Secret Punk. Abrasive euphoria. Minimalism, maximized. Lyrics with meaning. Basement.

Instrumentation: Megan – drums, singing … John – bass, singing.

Most recent release: “Rusty Eyes and Hydrocarbons” our first LP on Bakery Outlet and Plan-it X Records

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Seeing your friends from around the country when they tour here. Perspective is hard on this one because we both have lived in the East Bay pretty much our entire lives.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Getting stuck in traffic on the way to a show.

First album purchased: We each bought a couple albums at the same time for our first purchases: REM (Out Of Time), Devo (Freedom Of Choice), Breeders (Last Splash), Metallica (Master Of Puppets). Who bought what shall remain a mystery.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: The new Screaming Females record!

Favorite dish: Revenge (served cold).

Street Eaters
With Screaming Females, Audacity
Tue/24, 8pm, $10
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17 St., SF
www.bottomofthehill.com

Localized Appreesh: Grandma’s Boyfriend

Tony Robles
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1

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Not only does San Francisco punk act Grandma’s Boyfriend have the best name ever, but the group took it upon itself to add its own questions to the Localized Appreesh survey. Truly, a band after my own heart.

While it doesn’t have any shows this week (check back in early May for a house show in Oakland, and a show June 7 at Knockout, plus July 3 at El Rio), Grandma’s Boyfriend is celebrating a milestone: the release of brand new six-song seven-inch EP on Loglady Records, which can be downloaded here.

It’s agile power pop/snot-punk joy, the Romantics meet FYP, with darker lyrical themes straddling anxiety, fear, love, and redemption. Check out the EP, then check out their answers below.  Just make sure to hide the octogenarians.

Year and location of origin: Grandma’s Boyfriend (originally RubberThumbFoolAroundRachelSweat) formed in San Francisco in October 2009. George joined summer 2010. Thea joined in February 2012. We are all San Francisco natives.

Band name origin: While visiting a friend of ours’ parents, that said friend asked us if we’d met her grandma’s boyfriend. We said “no.”

Band motto: “Fuck if I know.” That’s what it is.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Rock ‘n’ roll sensori.

Instrumentation: Mike: rhythm guitar and vox; Malcolm: drums; George: bass and vox; Thea: lead guitar

Most recent release: Our self-titled seven-inch. For some reason a lot of them are about getting killed and lost love and girls that just take things too far. It’s being released on Loglady Records later this month (pre-orders up now!!!).

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: The fog.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Bands that form in San Francisco and then move to New York and still try to claim SF.
Interesting tour story: While touring in Japan two summers ago, we arranged to take an overnight bus from Yokohama to Kobe. One of the bands we just played with in Yokohama took us out for “all you can drink” at some restaurant. After drinking and eating for two hours, we were in a rush to get to our bus before it left. Our new friends kept assuring us there was a bathroom on board. There wasn’t. We tried to sleep it off because we weren’t sure when we’d get to a rest stop. I remember waking up in the back row of the bus in the pouring rain to George pissing into a water bottle between Malcolm and myself.

First album ever purchased: Mike: It’s Time to See Who’s Who, Conflict; Malcolm: Rocket to Russia, Ramones; George: Bad Hair Day, Weird Al; Thea: Nevermind, Nirvana

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Mike: Slave to Love, Symbolick Jews; Malcolm: I vacuumed the floor at Recycled Records for a Smashing Pumpkins tape; George: A copy of Born in the USA Mike found in a box of tapes; Thea: Received a mixtape from a friend of Reigning Sound, True Widow, and the Parting Gifts

What do you see when you look in the mirror?: Mike: Catholic guilt; Malcolm: I’m not answering this. This is question is dumb; George: Fuck if I know; Thea: Solitude, tranquility and balance

Favorite local eatery and dish: Mike: Golden Era – everything; Malcolm: El Castillito on Church & Duboce – burrito; George: Brother’s Pizza – pizza; Thea: El Toro – baby super prawn burrito, no lettuce, no tomato!

Localized Appreesh: The Buttercream Gang

Tony Robles
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5
Localized Appreesh: The Buttercream Gang

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The Buttercream Gang is pretty much based on good deeds. That is, the San Francisco-based, Napa-born group initially formed as a loosely defined do-gooder crew (read all about that below) and this week, it does another mitzvah: the band will play a benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank at CELLspace.

The Gang’s music is feel-good as well, a playful mix of upbeat sun-soaked California indie pop with jangly guitar, jumpy African inspired percussion, and multi-part harmonies. There’s even some sax in there – the ultimate party instrument, at least, according to ’80s movies. Sonically, it’s somewhat in line with pals (and fellow Localized Appreesh-ers) Waterstrider, and has gained a few worthy comparisons to the likes of Vampire Weekend and others leading the celebrated Afro-pop charge.

So now that you’re versed, lick the sugary frosting off your lips, because it’s Buttercream Gang time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKE1VQYrCWM

Year and location of origin: We formed in a garage in Napa in 2003. We had a different name then and were just a cover band. About a year and a half later we were writing original music and changed our name (for better or for worse) to The Buttercream Gang. Our first show was on New Years, we played Devo’s “Whip It”.

Band name origin: The Buttercream Gang was a movie that our group of friends thought was really funny in high school. We formed our own real life version of The Buttercream Gang and did a couple half-assed good deeds, in imitation of the protagonists of the film. We decided on The Buttercream Gang because, in a weird way, we see playing music as the good deed that we supply to listeners.

Band motto: We make ya move an twist with the flick of a wrist.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Infantile adults dancing aimlessly to the sounds of the world.

Instrumentation: Pete Davies, Bobby Renz, Robinson Kuntz, and added to the band in 2011 for our album release were Max Bonick and Alex Garcia. We are all multi-instrumentalists and rotate around drums, guitars, bass, organ, keys, percussion, vocals, saxophone.

Most recent release: Our third full length album, Polite Men. Working towards releasing new material by the end of summer.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: There are many good bands to be inspired by.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Getting noticed amongst so many good bands.

First album ever purchased: Pete: Kris Kross – Totally Krossed Out; Bob: Green Day – Dookie cassette tape; Robinson: MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em; Max – Beastie Boys – License to Ill.
Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Pete: Tanlines – Mixed Emotions; Bob: Chantells – Waiting in the Park ; Rob: Wye Oak – Civilian ; Max: Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Rip, Rig, Panic.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Pete: French Laundry; Bob & Robinson: San Tung’s Dry Fried Chicken Wings; Max: The pastor burritos from Tacos Labamba in Sonoma
 
Vupes, Vulpes – a Silverfox Concert for Good
With the Buttercream Gang, Mahgeetah, Sun Life
Thu/12, 7pm, Use the code “SFBG” for $20 entry (50% off), includes open bar
CELLspace
2050 Bryant, SF
vulpesvulpes.eventbrite.com

And just for kicks, here’s some clips from the direct-to-video movie that inspired the band name:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOWW-r0AWr8

Localized Appreesh: Love Songs

Tony Robles
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5
Localized Appreesh: Love Songs

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Love Songs, a long-running SF band with high-five worthy metal riffs, is party punk at its funnest. Here, the wailing guitars meet lead singer Craig Ums’ (also of What Happens Next?) classic pop punk holler a la Descendents’ Milo with a mildly Jello Biafra-ish flair for live theatrics.

The whole package is loud, spazzy skate-the-pool, fuck-the-rules backyard/basement thrills (see: “Thrillhouse” lyrics “We belong in the basement”).  See also: the band’s 2007 seven-inch single “Hot Buns,” said to be the “sequel to the theme of the sequel to Top Gun.” See? It’s long been destined for good things.

And yet Love Songs has had a sparse couple of years (with guitarist Jackson splitting, and the band playing just a few shows in in 2011). But it’s back, with a brand new addition, (Frank, who they describe as “a shredder and a super nice guy”) and ready to split open the Knockout tonight. It should be a night of firsts: the unveiling of the formidable Frank, the first time you read this column and head directly to a bar, perhaps your first ice cream sandwich of the week? I don’t know you, I don’t know what you’re getting into.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0hF6g6awPI

Year and location of origin: Born in 1999 on unincorporated land in the hills separating the east bay from even east-er bay. Also, down the street from Jason Newstead.

Band name origin: Why not just warn people out of the gates that they’re about to get motherfucking lite-rocked?

Band motto: Hard and soft.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: We dig bands starting with D – Descendents, Dickies, Damned, DEVO…

Instrumentation: drums, bass, 2 guitars, “singing.”

Most recent release: Time Off – a 5-song EP with lots of guitar solos but fewer scatological references than usual. Available through www.thelovesongs.com.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: We’re in good company and there are always shows to play/go to.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Having to compete with so many good shows all the time.

First album ever purchased: Midnight Star No Parking On My Dancefloor.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Weird Al Yankovic Alpocalypse.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Zachary’s deep dish pizza with jalapenos and pineapple.

Love Songs
With People’s Temple, Tall Timbers
Tue/3, 8:30pm, $6
Knockout
3223 Mission, SF
www.theknockoutsf.com

Localized Appreesh: Bang Data

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Bang Data

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The duo behind Bang Data has long been moving and shaking in the Bay Area music scene: MC Deuce Eclipse has worked with Oakland hip-hop act Zion I, while musician-producer Juan Manuel Caipo is engulfed in the local Latin alternative music scene.

So then it comes as a surprise to find that newest release, La Sopa, is actually Bang Data’s debut full-length. The album – which blends a hyper, thrilling mix of samba, hip-hop, and ska with Latin beats – was released digitally March 13, and the hard copy dropped today.

Perhaps even more thrilling – and totally fitting – the single “Bang Data” (also the band’s EP, Maldito Carnaval) was featured on pulse-quickening meth drama, Breaking Bad. To celebrate all this, after years of hard work, the band will play an album release party at Elbo Room this week. Get shaking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuXmgesbUg

Year and location of origin: 2008 Bay Area.

Band name origin: It came from describing our sound: hard hitting music with a message.

Band motto: Think out of the box.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Like a soup of styles – Latin, Alternative, Hip Hop, Afro Electro.

Instrumentation: Drums, Beats, Guitar, Synths, Trumpet, Bass, Vocals – it could be anything.

Most recent release: La Sopa.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Living in the Bay Area.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Not enough spots for live music.

First album ever purchased: Deuce: Fat Boys; Caipo: Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Black Keys: El Camino & Canteca de Macao (Spain)

Favorite local eatery and dish: Deuce: Los Toros in the East Bay (Soup); Caipo: El Perol/Limon Rotisserrie (Lomo Saltado, Chicken).

Bang Data
With Non Stop Bhangra
Fri/30, 10pm, $10
Elbo Room
647 Valencia, SF
(415) 552-7788
www.elbo.com

Localized Appreesh: Doe Eye

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Doe Eye

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Doe Eye, aka Maryam Qudus, is perhaps the most local of Localized Appreeshers. (That is, despite her current traveler status while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.) The lady with the big brown eyes and soulful voice is a true blue, born-and-raised San Franciscan. And she often uses the city as her muse.

The ooh-ooh pain of hazy torch hit “I Hate You” off last year’s Run Run Run EP is likely about a former lover, though it could easily refer to this push-pull foggy city we inhabit. “Darling,” she coos repeatedly, “it hurts to love you.”

Her full-length is due out later this year. This week she headlines Cafe Du Nord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjGN2Mbqky0

Year and location of origin: I’m a solo artist, so I’ve been songwriting since I was a kid. But the origin of Doe Eye was February 2011 – Union City, Calif.

Name origin: My friend gave me the nickname “doe eye” because of my freakishly large eyes.
Personal motto: “Eat cake for breakfast”. I have a sticker of it on my journal – where I write deep philosophical thoughts. Helps lighten the mood when I write.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Dreamy and epic.

Instrumentation: Lead vocals, two guitars, keys, two cellos, violin, bass, trumpet, drums and two-to-three back-up vocalists.

Most recent release: My EP titled Run Run Run in August of 2011 – available for free on doeeye.bandcamp.com.

Best part about life as a Bay Area musician: The Bay Area music scene is crackin. It’s the best it has ever been. Having huge support systems like LIVE 105 and so many great venues like Bottom of the Hill, the Independent and Cafe Du Nord. San Francisco is my favorite city in the world, so I find myself influenced by the city a lot.

The weather, the Bay Bridge, the people –  all of it. I love it.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area musician: I fly back and fourth a lot between the Bay Area and Boston because I study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. I hate loving the Bay Area so much and not being able to be here. There is always so much going on in the Bay – shows, events, that I have to miss.

First album ever purchased: I grew up listening to a lot of rap – which doesn’t really influence my music much. My older brother was a huge influence for that. I honestly don’t remember what my first album purchase was – but I do remember listening to a lot of 2Pac.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Beach House, Teen Dream. For some reason, I never listened to Beach House until now. A lot of people have been asking me lately if my music is influenced by Beach House so I decided to listen. Uh – yeah I can see why they would ask that. The really reverbed-out dreamy sound – that’s my forte. Teen Dream is an amazing album. I can’t stop listening to it. I can’t wait for their next record.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Delarosa, Eggplant Panini – yum.

Doe Eye
With the Bins, Minor Kingdom
Thurs/22, 9 p.m., $10
Cafe Du Nord
2170 Market, SF
(415) 861-5016
www.cafedunord.com

Localized Appreesh: The Myonics

Tony Robles
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0

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Older sister band to previously profiled rabble-rousers Symbolick Jews, offensive psych-rock locals the Myonics just released their new, aptly-titled LP, Pagans. Richard Hell, Syd Barrett, and pioneering Japanese electronic act Yellow Magic Orchestra all equally inspired the record. Can’t really go wrong with that mix, right?

Plus, a super-special limited edition vinyl purchase of Pagans includes “occult figurines, religious and faux-religious artifacts, found objects and stolen mantelpieces personalized by the band” – along with the requisite download code.

So let’s take a sloppy punk-as-fuck attitude (“I Don’t Give a Fuck About You”), throw down some truncated pop hits mixed with meandering psychedelia then plop in some beep-beep, knob-twisting digi-organisms, and you could extract the very essence of the Myonics. Or you could buy the record. Or you could see it performed live this Friday at Lost Church.

Year and location of origin: 2006 in Los Angeles.

Band name origin: A made-up word meant to sound scientific and possessive.

Band motto: Either “That’s a really hot shot” or “We’ll figure it out.”

Description of sound in 10 words or less: The end is nigh.

Instrumentation: 1-3 guitars, electric bass, 1-2 drum kits, electric autoharp, trumpet, cheap synths, microcasette recorder, and some vocals

Most recent release: Pagans, a full-length long playing vinyl record containing 10 concise pop masterworks. The album’s also available in a “Special Edition” – folk objects personalized by the band with a download code affixed to them. Buy either online here. Or better yet, come to the shows and save yourself the shipping charge (by giving us more money). Also available at Amoeba Music.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Living on the edge of destruction is creatively stimulating.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Living on the edge of destruction is stressful. There are also way too many bands here and we’re claustrophobic.

First album ever purchased:
Jasper – The Beatles – Yesterday…and Today (on cassette)
Nat – The Backstreet Boys – Millennium (I think)
Tom – In Utero
Eric – Midnight Oil – Species Deceases
Brian – Queen – LIVE Killers
Billy – Peter Pan (soundtrack)

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: 
Jasper – Tom Verlaine – Cover
Nat – Wax Idols – No Future
Tom – Starsailor (tired of memorizing the scratches on my mp3s, i finally got the vinyl)
Eric – Emily’s Sassy Lime – Desperate, Scared, But Social [ed. note – rad]
Brian – Sun Ra – It’s After The End of the World
Billy – The Tornadoes – Meet The Tornadoes

Favorite local eatery and dish:
Jasper – The Great Koonaklaster’s Strawberry Ice Cream Sodas or Eddy’s Steakburgers.
Nat – The taco truck on Harrison near 19th street; veggie tacos.
Tom – Eggplant with Tofu at Chili Cha Cha 2.
Eric – “I got nothin.'”
Brian – The pizza at Golden Boy’s.
Billy – Redwood Cafe – Meditation Plate.

The Myonics
With the Wounded Stag
Fri/16, 8:30 p.m.
Lost Church
65 Capp, SF
www.thelostchurch.com

Localized Appreesh: Date Palms

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Date Palms

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

It’s hard to imagine a better fit to experimental film than psychedelic drone. The brief images on screen take you away to darkened unknown landscapes, the multitracked tape manipulation of sound mimics the calm yet uneasy mood in a segmented rhythm.

It’s with this symbiosis in mind that I recommend Date Palms – the Oakland band, made up of veteran droners Gregg Kowalsky and Marielle Jakobsons  – and its double-feature this weekend. The duo will perform its soothing/unsettling, lost-in-the-rippling-barren-desert, music during two nights (one in SF, one in Oakland) of Super 8 films by Paul Clipson, himself a recipient of last year’s GOLDIES.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEknV_BW-bg

Year and location of origin: Jingletown, Oakland, 2009.

Band name origin: I grew up in South Florida.

Band motto: Slow and Low.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Psychedelic minimalism with Eastern tinged melodies driven by cyclical, distorted bass patterns.

Instrumentation: Bass, Violin, Tanpura, Fender Rhodes, various analog synths, tapes.

Most recent release: Four-way split double LP on Immune Records for Record Store Day with Date Palms, Expo 70, Pulse Emitter, and Faceplant (one half of Peaking Lights).

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: An open minded audience.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Pacific Coast isolation, makes it difficult to tour East Coast and Europe.

First album ever purchased: Kiss – Dynasty (cassette).

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Miles Davis – Live Evil LP (reissue).

Favorite local eatery and dish: Cholita Linda, Fish Tacos

Date Palms
With Barn Owl, Ensemble Economique, and Super 8 films by Paul Clipson
Fri/9, 8 p.m.
Lab
2948 16th St., SF
www.thelab.org

With Barn Owl, Ensemble Economique, and Super 8 films by Paul Clipson
Sat/10, 8 p.m., $7-$10 donation
Liminal Space
950 54th St., Oakl.
www.liminal-space.org
 

Localized Appreesh: The Shants

Tony Robles
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0

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The Shants have done something curiously rare these days: created an authentically Southern and categorically enjoyable stompy blues and folk record in the heart of garage punk and hip-hop obsessed Oakland. That authenticity come from real roots, as these sorts of things often do – the new record, Beautiful was the Night, is said to be a “haunted love letter” to singer Skip Allum’s youth in the South Louisiana delta pines.

The resulting record is a lively mix of Americana, twanged vocals, bluesy riffs, bits of piano and violin, and steel guitar, with guest appearances by the likes of multi-instrumentalist/horn player Ralph Carney, Blue Bone Express, and vocalist Quinn DeVeaux. I think singer Brianna Lea Pruett, who also guests on the record, describes the music best when she says in the short documentary on the making of the album, “Even in the dark parts, there’s a sweet treatment to it.”

With the long-awaited release of its debut full-length record finally here, the quartet will play Cafe Du Nord this Thursday.

You can watch the making of the new album here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaPdF3T8UZs

Year and location of origin: Oakland, 2009

Band name origin: Its a reference to the Gaelic word, shiant, meaning blessed or charmed… and the Shiant Isles of Scotland. Skip came across it while doing some research on his Scottish family origins, which can be traced to those islands. That’s the short version, anyway.

Band motto: “Is the pedal steel too loud? How ’bout now?”

Description of sound in 10 words or less: A dusty, slow blend of Southern folk, and country blues.

Instrumentation: 1954 Harmony archtop guitar, Emmons double-neck pedal steel guitar, 1970s Peavey bass guitar, drums. May soon have a new fella on many other instruments. Stay tuned!

Most recent release: Beautiful Was The Night, our first full-length! Available now at live shows, our website, iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify, etc. and all Rasputin Records locations. It was recorded with all analog gear over at the Rec Center (formerly Bakesale Betty’s storage space) and at Tones on Tail Studios in Oakland, with Mr. Eliot Curtis.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: The diverse musical community is pretty inspiring. We may not sound like a lot of other bands coming out of Oakland and the city… but we are all very DIY-focused & often looking to expand our sound with new textures.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Tolls and parking tickets are a bitch, man. After shelling out this much money, we should get board seats with Caltrans and Alameda County.

First album ever purchased:
Skip: Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend
Carver: Nirvana – Nevermind
Adam: The Police – Synchronicity
Sam: Son Volt – Trace

Most recent album purchased/downloaded:
Skip: Samantha Crain – You (Understood)
Carver: Etta James – Etta James Rocks the House
Adam: Keith Jarret – Shostakovich 24 Preludes and Fugues
Sam: Calexico – Feast of Wire

Favorite local eatery and dish:
Skip: Aslam’s Rosoi on Valencia. I love their lamb Madras.
Adam: Lo Coco’s on Piedmont Ave in Oakland. Their Maria and Suzanne pizzas so good.
Carver: Brown Sugar Cafe in Emeryville. Get the chicken & waffles.
Sam: Bakesale Betty’s in Oakland. Fried chicken sandwich, of course.

The Shants
With Chadwick Stokes
Thurs/1, 8 p.m., $17
Cafe Du Nord
2170 Market, SF
(415) 861-5016
www.cafedunord.com

Localized Appreesh: Churches

Tony Robles
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1
Localized Appreesh: Churches

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.
 
There’s a whole lot of religious imagery going on within new local guitar-and-drums superduo Churches. Most vivid, beyond the obvious, is the guilty, desperate strain in mesmerizing first single, “Save Me,” and its jittery remixes. The track and remixes (available on Bandcamp) are both pleading and sensual, evoking the classic good/evil ecstasy of sacred customs.

Musically, the band – made up of Caleb Nichols (Grand Lake, Port O’Brien) and Pat Spurgeon (Rogue Wave) – arouses memories of ’90s bedroom angst; “Save Me,” recorded at Tiny Telephone, utilizes this vibe and mixes it with distorted pop, repetitive calls, and lightly-employed synth. Second single “Feel Alright,” released today, follows the garage trail deeper, occasionally evoking an early Nirvana-lite.

What better way to showcase an auspicious local act than with a slot during Noise Pop? Churches plays Bottom of the Hill this week with Fresh & Onlys. But first, they gave us the rundown on a new life as Churches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AH9XkyhkQE

Year and location of origin: September 2011. San Francisco and Oakland. Tiny Telephone and Harlan Street.

Band name origin: I came up with the name while on tour with WATERS (I was playing bass with them). I remember that Van and Niko and I were talking about what my next music thing should be and we came up with the idea for Churches, which is the English translation of my middle name, Kirke, but plural.

Band motto: Aequalis opus aequalis stipendium.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Re-experience teen angst through distortion and chorus plus loud drums.

Instrumentation: Guitar, Singing, Drums + (a little) Bass and Moog.

Most recent release:  “Feel Alright”  – a self-released single, out today, Feb. 21.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Lots of great venues, lots of great musicians and studios.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Living here can be expensive. Being a musician can be expensive. Many musicians are poor. So, the math is against some of us.

First album ever purchased: Michael Jackson Dangerous.

Most recent album purchased/borrowed from the Web: Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Super Duper on Market and Castro.  Best burger in the WORLD.

Noise Pop: Churches
With Fresh and Onlys, Talkdemonic, Disappears
Wed/22, 8 p.m., $12
Bottom of the Hill
www.bottomofthehill.com

Localized Appreesh: Bhi Bhiman

Tony Robles
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1

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Bhi Bhiman manages a joke when he coolly plucks bluesy guitar while singing about kimchi on “Kimchee Line” off his new album Bhiman (“it’s cabbage time”). It’s just not the food you’d expect to hear name-checked in a folky 1920s blues-style standard. (Though on another track, “Ballerina,” he does mention beans.) Despite this wry wink, his songs have an inherent sadness to them, which only makes more intriguing that irreverent style of telling socially conscious stories with lyrics you just wouldn’t quite imagine there in another time period. It’s the contemporary take on the classic style.

He has been referred to as the “Sri Lankan Woody Guthrie,” but that sort of makes me cringe, for a number of reasons. Though it’s true they both sing stories of the downtrodden (check “Guttersnipe” below). But Bhiman is a musician who needn’t be reduced to borderline comparisons based partially on ancestry. He’s got a style his own, and was born in St. Louis. This week, the SF-based musician celebrates the release of Bhiman with a show Sat/18 at Bottom of the Hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALAYYMwQMWQ

Year and location of origin: Born 1982, St. Louis, USA, Earth.

Motto: Badabing Badaboom.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Socially aware country blues and soul.

Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar, vocals.

Most recent release: BHIMAN (BooCoo) – released Jan. 24, 2012.

Best part about life as a Bay Area musician: Diversity of culture

Worst part about life as a Bay Area musician: Cost of living

First album ever purchased: Michael Jackson’s Dangerous.

Most recent album purchased/borrowed from the Web: Booker T Jones, The Road From Memphis.

Favorite local eatery and dish: There’s a new Korean place called Manna that is really good and reasonably priced (incredibly important). I get the soft tofu soup with pork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUxknehMG6E

Bhi Bhiman
With Vandella and Misisipi Mike & Cree Rider opening
Sat/18, 8:30pm, $12
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., SF
www.bottomofthehill.com

Localized Appreesh: The Yellow Dress

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: The Yellow Dress

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Dogs, ghosts, kids, hand-clapping, whistling on a sunny park day – it’s all in the video for the Yellow Dress’s “This Could Be Anything.” The song itself is already a treat, kicking off with the aforementioned clapping and whistling and a solitary guitar, in pipes mariachi trumpet and swallow-you-whole powerful vocal pipes à la orchestral pop master Beirut. (It also has garnered comparisons to Magnetic Fields and a drug-less Velvet Underground.)

The Yellow Dress closed out 2011 with a metaphoric group hug, thanks to the video and a well-received second album, Humblebees. This year, it’s already off to a run through the park, pull your dress up and get mud on your ankles, start. In the next seven days, the San Francisco band will play three local shows, all at interesting venues, perhaps a bit off the beaten path. Do it up big and catch a trio of Yellow Dress performances.

Year and location of origin: 2007, San Francisco (the corner of Haight and Fillmore to be exact)

Band name origin: We used to be called Mr Stopmotion and the Yellow Dress after a particularly dapper couple I saw walking through Golden Gate Park, back then we were just a two-piece, and the name was pretty unweildy. For about a day we were Mr Stopmotion, which sounds like a Devo/XTC cover band. We decided on The Yellow Dress, which immediately led to a dramatic (and affirming!) number of yellow dresses in both (me and original bandmember Jon) of our lives. For a not very interesting story that sure took a lot of time to write.

Band motto: I’m sorry.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Earnest-indie-twee-folk-pop.

Instrumentation: Acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, glockenspiel, male/female vocals, trumpet, organs, whistles, hand claps, if anyone reading this plays the cello and love dinosaurs please call me.

Most recent release: Humblebees.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: With so many artistic people around it’s easy to find like minded folks to play with, slowly envelop in your ever growing line-up.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: With so many artistic people around you are rarely the only game in town any given night.

First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: The Top Gun soundtrack. It was great.

Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: West Indies Funk Volume 3 (2012 is the year of the steel drum).

Favorite local eatery and dish: I miss Mission Burger so much, you have no idea. The Yellow Dress is however willing to give a full endorsement to the chicken millanesa torta at La Torta Gorda.

The Yellow Dress
With Adam Balbo, the Slaves
Thurs/9
Alley Cat Books
3036 24th St., SF


With Matt Dorrien, Fox and Woman
Fri/10, 8 p.m., $8
924 Gilman, Berk.
www.924gilman.com


Valentine’s Day Monthly Rumpus: Sugar’s Coming Out Party
With Pocket Full of Rye, Janine Brito
Feb. 14, 7 p.m., $10
Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa, SF
www.therumpus.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Consumption: Bay Area bands choose their favorite eateries

Tony Robles
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0

I know, it’s so close to the weekend that you can taste it. But before you sign off for the day, your peepers sore and fingers trembling, here’s a comprehensive list – sure to get your tummy rumbling – of Bay Area bands’ favorite local restaurants, food trucks, and eateries. I compiled these answers from our On the Rise questionnaire (results of which are in this week’s issue) and my ongoing Localized Appreesh column. Enjoy.

San Francisco Bay Guardian: So local Bay Area musicians, what’s your favorite local eatery and dish?

DJ Theory: Cubano sandwich and sangria from Parada 22 in Upper Haight.

Dirty Ghosts: I don’t wanna be boring and say the super burrito at Cancún which is my real answer, so the margarita pizza at Una Pizza Napoletana

Metal Mother: Tacubaya in Berkeley, all the vegetarian dishes are amazing. My favorite is probably the ‘seasonal vegetable’ tamales.

Main Attrakionz: Buffet Fortuna in Downtown Oakland; chow fun noodles

Seventeen Evergreen: So many options here but let’s nominate the Chilaquiles at the farmer’s market in the Ferry Building or a number of places in the Mission for the same.

Jhameel: Cheeseboard Pizza in Berkeley. Perfect vegetarian pizzas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPLYLsVDG8w

Future Twin: Secret Spot has delicious bagels, fresh squeezed juice, and homegrown greens.

Terry Malts: The #6 at Turtle Tower, best for hangovers.

Tycho: Thai Time — Red Chicken Curry (or anything else there).

Black Cobra: 1. Cathead’s Barbecue. Cornmeal crusted tofu is killer!
2. The Submarine Shop on West Portal. Italiano center sub with a Coke.

Silver Swans: El Metate Mexican Veggie burrito, the vegetables are roasted and always fresh. Everything there is delicious and on the cheap, right down to their alfajore cookies, I fully endorse the entire menu.

Le Vice: Broken Record — fresh organic soul food in a grimy-ass dive bar. Tasty as fuck. Hipster bling.

Ash Reiter: House of Curries – chicken tikka masala with potato nan.

Magic Touch: Ken Ken Ramen – Japanese ramen + veggie up.

The Fucking Buckaroos: Mission’s Kitchen – Breakfast Burrito.

Prize: Millenium for overall vegetarian dining experience, and the garlic spread from Stinking Rose for the best actual thing to put in my mouth.

Swiftumz: Fresh Dungeness crabs!

Buffalo Tooth: Morty’s in the TL, Chicken BLT.

Cosmo  Alleycats: Steve: Le Colonial’s brussels sprouts; Mike: Cordon Blue, California @ Hyde, menu #5; Emily: Where to begin? The food trucks at Off the Grid are ridiculous. I’m addicted to Curry Up Now’s chicken tikka masala burrito. Also, the veggie burger at the Plant Organic is to die for. And I love my Thursday night ‘liquid dinners’ with the band at Blondie’s Bar & No Grill.

Mental 99: Joe: Iwashi (sardine) at Tataki South (Church and 29th). Dawn: It’s hard to go wrong in SF – so many good places to eat. But the veggie burrito at Taqueria Cancún is pretty tasty – and close by, especially if you just played El Rio.

Uni & Her Ukelele: Green Chili Kitchen.

Symbolick Jews: The Philly cheese steak at Mission Kitchen is forged in the fires of gastro-intestinal hell, and I stand by its superiority over any other cheese steak in the city.

G-Eazy: Gordo’s on College Ave in Berkeley, without a doubt.

The Spyrals: That’s a tough one. Probably Los Compadres. It’s a family owned Taqueria in South City, near where we rehearse. Damn good carnitas.

TurbonegrA: Esperpento. It’s cheap and fast – like us!

The Sandwitches: Chevys and fried chicken.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1871NoR6IMQ

Debbie Neigher: Plantain black bean burrito at Little Chihuahua.

Violet Hour: Sausages at Rosamunde’s on Haight

Waterstrider: We frequent Taqueria La Familia. It is the best Mexican food in Berkeley. Their veggie burritos or chile rellenos do the trick for me.

Dreams: Shakin’ Jesse at Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe. Guinness, espresso, and ice cream – can’t go wrong with that.

The 21st Century: Al Pastor at El Metate–dynamite.And the Cold House Noodles at Yamo.

Rank/Xerox: Golden Gate Indian Cuisine and Pizza on Judah. Best restaurant in the city, eat everything but the Italian dishes.

The Jauntying Martyrs: Lucca Foods on Irving and 20th.  Best deli in SF, baby. Get the Billy Filly. (You can only get it when Billy’s working).

Religious Girls: Bake Sale Betty’s fried chicken sandwich

Localized Appreesh: Ash Reiter

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Ash Reiter

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Call it youthful summer abandon or fresh-baked pop, but there’s something about Ash Reiter’s song and Perez Bros-directed video “Heatwave” that melts the ice of a chilled and cubed SF day. Whether it’s the the lilting melody, surfy plucking, stoop sing-along, or the perfectly-cast ice cream man offering up too many dripping frozen treats, it’s hard to wipe that sticky grin off your face. That is, until you see the ice cream man’s crestfallen face, realizing it’s just too much sugar.

Fun fact: Ash Reiter is both the cheery lead singer/elementary school music teacher, and the eponymous band name. The indie pop five-piece has played with MGMT and been featured on Daytrotter, released the Heatwave EP late last year and followed that up with Christmas in California. About to embark on a Pacific Northwest tour, Ash Reiter will celebrate its return to SF with a Noise Pop show Feb. 21 at Bottom of the Hill. But before all of that, a stop at Amnesia this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l26Z6BLirU

Year and location of origin: 2008 in the East Bay.

Band name origin: My mom and pops gave it to me. In college my band was called Drunken Boat (like the Rimbaud poem) but another band by the same name started hassling me about so I decided to just go by my own name.

Band motto: What would Paul McCartney, Bryan Wilson, The Strokes, Feist, Grizzly Bear, The Talking Heads, or Jolie Holland do?

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Sunny intelligent retro indie pop with a folk twist.

Instrumentation: Ash – guitar, vocals, Will – drums, vocals, Drew – guitar, Scott – bass, Anthony – keys, vocals

Most recent release: Six song EP – Heatwave. Plus we’re mixing a full-length called Hola right now.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: I’m from here but I’m always discovering new places and people. I like living close to my nana.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Touring – you have to drive so far to get to the next big city- it’s not like East Coast where you can pop from city to city.

First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: Prince’s Batman Soundtrack.

Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: St Vincent – Actor is my latest purchase and obsession.

Favorite local eatery and dish: House of Curries – chicken tikka masala with potato nan.

Ash Reiter
With Chrystian Rawk (record release), Anna Ash, and the Heather Band
2/4, 9 p.m., $7
Amnesia
853 Valencia, SF
(415) 970-0012
www.amnesiathebar.com

Localized Appreesh: The Fucking Buckaroos

Tony Robles
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2
Localized Appreesh: The Fucking Buckaroos

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. Each week a band/music-maker with a show, album release, or general good news is highlighted and spotlit. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

It takes some serious chutzpah to name your band the Fucking Buckaroos. But then, the Fucking Buckaroos is a seriously ballsy act. Eschewing glamour and easy labeling, the playful San Francisco band blazes dusty trails, boasting a noisy, boozy, punkish bluegrass clatter.

The punkabilly act’s newest release (suitably titled The Fucking Buckaroos: II) is said to “make the angriest metalhead a Christian and the soberest dad chug a bottle of Night Train,” whatever that means. See for yourself, the Fucking Buckaroos are offering their new album by donation. Be a gentleperson and pony up for the record, then ride that bucking bronco (49 Van Ness-Mission) down to the Knockout for the riotous album release party this weekend.  How many more cowboy references can I fit here? A horse walks into a bar:

Year and location of origin: San Francisco, 2004
Band name origin: Buck Owens had his Buckaroos, so why couldn’t Fuck Owens have his Fucking Buckaroos?
Band motto: Shiniest coat, best of show!
Description of sound in 10 words or less: New-Rage Punkabilly Psychograss
Instrumentation: Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, Bass, Drums, (in studio: Accordion, Piano, Lapsteel, Tuned 40oz Bottles)
Most recent release: The Fucking Buckaroos: II.
Best part about life as a Bay Area band:  Having so many cities to play right at your fingertips.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Not having a combined place to both practice and hang out.
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: Weird Al Even Worse.
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: Ovens “Now It’s Over” 7″
Favorite local eatery and dish: Mission’s Kitchen – Breakfast Burrito.

The Fucking Buckaroos
With Filthy Thieving Bastards, Deadly Gallows
Sat/21, 4-8 p.m., $8
Knockout
3223 Mission, SF
(415) 550-6994
www.theknockoutsf.com

There are no words for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZBY-a4Eqqg&feature=related

Localized Appreesh: Prize

Tony Robles
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0

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. Each week a band/music-maker with a show, album release, or general good news is highlighted and spotlit. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Perhaps it’s a sign of these chilling, uneasy times, but there seems to be an opera-meets-electro thing happening right now (looking at you, Austra), and I’m not about to complain. The removed digital synth laid over with dramatic, emotion-packed operatic vocals is a shivery, highly effective combo. Local digi-folkster Prize knows this firsthand. A classically trained musician, she fled the world of strict opera and meshed her given skill with the digital toys of the future. Plus, she threw in a dash of Victorian cabaret. 

This weekend at Hotel Utah she premieres the music video for her song “Terror Machine” – machine, check, high drama, check – off The Split EP, recorded by Ian Pellicci at Tiny Telephone. At the show you can expect a gothy carnival of lasers, lights, and shredded lace.

Year and location of persona origin: I had been writing my own music while studying at the conservatory for a bit before I came up with Prize. It was probably around 2010, when I started becoming sick of the tightly-laced opera world, when I came up with my deconstructed Victorian aesthetic.
Performer name origin: I came up with the name as I was falling asleep- I had a story running in my head about a young child finding a Crackerjack prize. I thought it captured a feeling of curiosity and excitement, and I had a feeling that the name would make me feel sparkly.
Performer motto: Drink more water than whisky.
Description of sound in 10 words or less: Minimal, electro-orchestral arrangements of siren songs. Primadonna folk-punk.
Instrumentation: Vocals, guitar, drums, synth, violin, cello.
Most recent release: The Split EP.
Best part about life as a Bay Area performer: I have performed at the coolest places even as a young singer, and I didn’t have to live in LA.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area performer: Well, I have a Master’s in Music and I still had to live out of my van for four months to make things work.
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: I had the entire Madonna discography on cassette tape by the time I was 11.
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: I recently downloaded ill.Gates’ free track, a freakybass remix of Die Antwoord.
Favorite local eatery and dish: Millenium for overall vegetarian dining experience, and the garlic spread from Stinking Rose for the best actual thing to put in my mouth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeVDVGUYAII

Prize
With the Cuss, and Deeper
Fr/13, 9 p.m., $8
Hotel Utah
500 Fourth St., SF
(415) 546-6300
www.hotelutah.com

Localized Appreesh: Swiftumz

Tony Robles
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Localized Appreesh: Swiftumz

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. Each week a band/music-maker with a show, album release, or general good news is highlighted and spotlit. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com. This installment is guest written by Frances Capell.

If you pick up a copy of Swiftumz’s (a.k.a. Chris McVicker’s) LP, Don’t Trip (Holy Mountain), you’ll notice a purple sticker that says “CALL ME,” and lists his phone number. Weird, yes, but it’s the same endearing candor that lights up McVicker’s darling lo-fi pop tunes. His retro guitar hooks and fragile, imperfect voice remind me of Girls’ Chris Owens, but McVicker is one of a kind. Check out the album, give him a call, or go see him at the Hemlock Tavern this Saturday.

Year and location of origin: We’ve all been playing music together for years, this incarnation is new and based around my solo project.
Band name origin: A nickname some people call me.
Band motto: “Short sets!”? Do bands have motto’s? I think we are all into having fun playing music together, being productive at practice so we can be good live.
Description of sound in 10 words or less: Short, heartfelt, pretty pop songs with good instrumental arrangements.
Instrumentation: Two guitars/drums/bass and whatever else is called for.
Most recent release: Don’t Trip LP (Holy Mountain Records). Released October 2011.
Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Feel like this is the best place to live, and that translates to most aspects of life and art.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: I don’t know, I think we all really like it here.
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: Prince 1999.
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: Bought last week at Aquarius: Fac.Dance Compilation, Scare Dem Crew The Album, Dictators Manifest Destiny.
Favorite local eatery and dish: Fresh Dungeness crabs! [ed note: but from where, Swiftumz?]

Swiftumz
With Wet Illustrated and Meercaz
Sat/7, 9:30 p.m., $6
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
(415) 923-0925
www.hemlocktavern.com

Warming up with the picturesque video for “Day We Met:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH-Oh_NhDr4

Localized Appreesh: Buffalo Tooth

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Buffalo Tooth

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. Each week a band/music-maker with a show, album release, or general good news is highlighted and spotlit. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

This week’s Localized Appreesh hones in on the mysterious garage punk of San Francisco’s Buffalo Tooth. The band has a set of thrashy-fun songs up now on Bandcamp, recorded by the illustrious Matthew Melton of Oakland’s Bare Wires, but that’s all to be had so far besides the live show (you can catch that this week at Hemlock Tavern). Buffalo Tooth is patiently awaiting an official release. Which, aren’t we all?

Year and location of origin: 2011, Black Hills of South Dakota, Buffalo Specimen: A-46B.
Band name origin: It’s a symbol of resistance and power in Native American culture.
Band motto: Mid-set high fives.
Description of sound in 10 words or less: Blue Cheer/Black Flag; basically bands with colors in their names.
Instrumentation: Guitar/Vox – Greg Downing, Bass/Vox – Eric Kang, Drums/Vox – Sean Grange
Most recent release: Upcoming 7″ S/T EP on Archer’s Guild Records, recorded by: Matthew Melton (Bare Wires) and mastered by: Patrick Haight.
Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Tons of awesome bands to play with, the Bay has so many killer bands right now.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: No moneys……
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased:Oh boy, Slipknot when I was 11.
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: Danava Hemisphere of Shadows.
Favorite local eatery and dish: Morty’s in the TL, Chicken BLT.

Buffalo Tooth
With Down Dirty Shake, and E Minor and the Dirty Diamonds
Wed/28, 9 p.m., $6
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
(415) 923-0925
www.hemlocktavern.com

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