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.
I must admit, the first thing that endeared me to Symbolick Jews was the name. It’s a good name. But when I actually took a listen, I was still hooked – and amused. Good name, good hooks, good sense of humor.
The weirdo experimental San Francisco band has a handful of tripped out releases, including American Masters Volume 5, which came out this month. With dragging bass and creepy, haunted voices matched to high pitched squeals piping up from nowhere, there are jumbly moments of Mr. Bungle greatness seeping in often.
Take a solitary hour and listen to everything that’s happening on the release – there’s much to contemplate. Then get up and check out the Symbolick Jews show; live music waits for no thought process. The Jews play the Stork Club tomorrow night. Get to know them first below.
Year and location of origin: Late 2009, San Francisco.
Band name origin: We flipped through a dictionary and the first word we put our finger down on was, “Chumbawumba,” so we just went with Symbolick Jews. The additional ‘k’ is for ‘kindness.’
Band motto: “Are we getting paid tonight?”
Description of sound in 10 words or less: The fear of God.
Instrumentation: Adam – Vocals, Brian – Drums, Jasper – Guitar/Vocals, Burd – Bass/vocals, Paul – Guitar/vocals, Vanessa – Keyboard/vocals
Most recent release: Slave to Love
Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Everyone in the Bay Area loves our music and won’t stop talking about us.
Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Living in the shadow of Third Eye Blind and Flipper.
First record/cassette tape/or CD ever purchased: Weird Al Yankovic, Bad Hair Day.
Most recent record/cassette tape/CD/or Mp3 purchased/borrowed from the Web: Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything.
Favorite local eatery and dish: 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.
Symbolick Jews
With Dimples, Grandma’s Boyfriend, Curse Words, Burgers
9:30 p.m., $5
Stork Club
2330 Telegraph, Oak.
(510) 444-6174
www.storkcluboakland.com