Friday, October 31, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Solcraft
Solcraft EP (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 1:37 PM
The four men of Solcraft call their sound "Bay Area style rock," but it's unclear what that means even after a listen to their EP. What one does hear is three songs and twelve minutes of capable, relatively straightforward alt-rock with a crunchy grunge edge, something like Godsmack playing Collective Soul — which isn't as bad as it sounds.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Maxwell Pelted with Bra and Panties from the Front Row
Maxwell Live Show Review!!!
Breaking News / Local Show Reviews / Pics and Video Rachel Swan — Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Only one pair of panties were thrown at last night's Maxwell show, and it looked like they hadn't been broken in, yet. The panties were extra large and white, styled like floppy little-boy briefs. A phrase stamped across the back became legible when Maxwell stretched out the elastic with his fingers: "I Heart Maxwell."
Granted, panties are expensive, and we're in a recession. They might not have been as expensive as the black brassiere that came flying from another adoring fan. But they're expensive enough to justify not wanting to adulterate your favorite Victoria's Secret G-string and hurl it at the Paramount Theatre stage. No matter how much you love thirty-five-year-old, edgily handsome, multi-platinum-selling Maxwell. No matter what he promised earlier in the evening. (In the middle of his set, Maxwell asked if someone in the audience was planning to lie on top of him later that night. He also dry-humped the floor and said "I'm gonna chop you up like vegetables and eat you like you've never been eaten before."). It didn't even matter that he dedicated "the next song to the future panties that will be on this stage."
Here's a clip of Maxwell singing one of the songs he performed last night, "Fortunate":
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Mark Applebaum
Sock Monkey (Innova Recordings)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Fourteen-minute opener "Magnetic North" emanates creaks, drips, and lasers, courtesy of Applebaum's "mouseketier electroacoustic sound-sculpture." In the extensive liner notes, he stresses the importance of "playing" music like children instead of "performing" as adults. This distinction tells you all you can know about Sock Monkey without actually listening.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mal Sharpe's Big Money in Jazz Band
Firecracker Baby (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 11:04 AM
A host of Bay Area musicians get together at Yoshi's to honor Louis Armstrong on the day of his birth, from special guests John Coppola and Roger Glenn to vocal jazz mainstay Faye Carol. Adept musicianship, intermittent clips of Louie in conversation, and warm-hearted renditions of old Armstrong favorites make it a keeper.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Jefferson Starship
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty (The Lab Records)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Don't let the name fool you into expecting some sort of "We Built This City" redux. Rather, this don't-call-it-a-comeback album is a collection of folk and traditional protest songs, including covers of Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" and Woody Guthrie's "Pastures of Plenty." Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, and even Grace Slick are on board.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Little Teeth
Child Bearing Man (Absolutely Kosher Records)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Fri, Oct 24, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Playful, chaotic 21st-century pop music à la Animal Collective and Broken Social Scene - with an emphasis on chaos. Child Bearing Man is willfully uneasy: a little rough, often noisy, occasionally harrowing, but underpinned by the simple joys of melody and rhythm.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Your Daily Lick: Jenavox
The Garden EP
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 1:51 PM
This Bay Area quintet's six-song, self-released EP has the feel of an intimate bedroom project. Singer-songwriter leanings, alternative folk, and a bit of early '90s college rock mingle with an unexpected Brit-pop aesthetic, revealed through bright acoustic guitar chords and a slight vocal affect. The songs are unassuming but improve with age.
Radio Express #7
For the week of October 23-29, 2008.
Bay Area Bands / MP3s and Song Samples / Podcasts / Radio Express Nate Seltenrich — Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Enjoy fine tunes by artists featured in this week's music section. Radio Express is your chance to hear the bands we write about!
Palin vs. Wolfman
Breaking News / MP3s and Song Samples Rachel Swan — Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Submitted by Arlene Harriet Skjerly.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Your Daily Lick: J.Boogie's Dubtronic Science
Soul Vibrations (Om Records)
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Just because you sing about revolution doesn't mean you're part of one. J. Boogie's sophomore album is certainly fun and features a wide range of local talent including Lyrics Born, MC Zion, and Crown City Rockers. But style doesn't mean substance, and deep down Soul Vibrations is merely a lightweight dalliance of borrowed hip-hop, soul, and world music.
