Friday, November 20, 2009
Your Daily Lick: Dave Smallen
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Everything Changes and Nothing Changes (self-released)
If the name Dave Smallen doesn’t ring a bell, try Street to Nowhere. That’s the talented young East Bay singer-songwriter’s former band, signed to Capitol Records in 2006 and later disbanded. His solo debut is more mature and subdued than STN’s wild-eyed pop-punk, comparing favorably to the likes of Bright Eyes and the Counting Crows.
At Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th St., San Francisco) on November 27. 9:30 p.m., $12
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Brace Yourself: It's Top Ten Time
Bay Area Bands Nate Seltenrich — Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 4:30 PM
In honor of our upcoming Holiday Guide on November 25, which features top-ten album reviews by a number of EBX staffers and contributors, here are a few lists already released by other outlets. Consider them top-ten snacks before your top-ten meal next week.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Your Daily Lick: Camp Out
Closer (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Contributing to San Francisco's vibrant indie-pop scene, Camp Out makes comfortable, upbeat music that should appeal to fans of mainstream pop and independent music alike. Band members Maddy Hanks and Jackie Law co-produced and self-released Closer without any label support, but their melodies and harmonies best most industry-groomed pop.
At Hotel Utah (400 4th St., San Francisco) on November 19. 9 p.m., $6
— Nate Seltenrich
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Your Daily Lick: Corinne West
The Promise (Make Records)
Bay Area Bands Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Bay Area folksinger Corinne West left home at age fifteen to rove in the company of artists and activists. Years later and now three albums strong, her work as a singer-songwriter seems to carry with it the spirit of those times. There's a freewheeling energy to her soft, introspective roots style, and an understated brilliance to the album as a whole.
At Freight & Salvage (2020 Addison St., Berkeley) on November 20. 8 p.m., $19.50
— Nate Seltenrich
Monday, November 16, 2009
Your Daily Lick: Vinyl
Fogshack Music Volume Two (Avila Street Records)
Bay Area Bands Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Leadoff track "Jelly James Jam" is a formless freak-out featuring funky guitar strikes, bluesy harmonica, psychedelic Hammond and wah-wah guitar, and a prominent disco beat. Vinyl's sophomore effort, featuring Les Claypool, Yossi Fine, Felonious, the Rondo Brothers, and others, blends the noodley jam band and beat-driven club scenes in seamless fashion.
At the Independent (628 Divisadero St., San Francisco) on November 25. 9 p.m., $15
— Nate Seltenrich
Friday, November 13, 2009
Annie's Social Club in San Francisco to Close on New Year's Eve
Breaking News Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Popular San Francisco music venue Annie's Social Club is set to close on New Year's Eve, according to the SF Weekly. A post on the paper's All Shook Down music blog yesterday afternoon said that the announcement had been made via an email newsletter for the Yahoo group sf_indie. Throughout its four years in business, Annie's Social Club has been a linchpin of the local metal scene and home to regular events like Punk Rock & Schlock Karaoke and Open-Mic Comedy. The announcement contained no indication of the reason for the closure, nor did it answer the question of why rock clubs can't seem to get a decent foothold at 917 Folsom St., which was previously home to both the Cherry Bar and the Covered Wagon Saloon. — Nate Seltenrich
Your Daily Lick: Hey Young Believer
Invisible by Day (self-released)
Bay Area Bands Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Benevolent note to young bands: unless you play punk, don't put sixteen songs on your debut album. Even if you think they're all good. That's Hey Young Believer's main mistake, as most of the pure, peppy pop-rock songs are solid on their own - lead singer Lily Wolfson's classical training makes sure of it. Unfortunately, en masse their impact is blunted.
At Hotel Utah (400 4th St., San Francisco) on November 19. 9 p.m., $6
— Nate Seltenrich
Thursday, November 12, 2009
It's Time to Dance
Pics and Video Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 12:41 PM
So says France's Kap Bambino:
— Nate Seltenrich
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Against All Odds, Vinyl Sales Still on the Rise
Breaking News Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Earlier this year, we reported that according to Nielsen SoundScan, vinyl album sales in 2008 reached an all-time high of 1.88 million (that is, since Nielsen started keeping track in 1990). 2008's mark was nearly double 2007's of 990,000, proving that the medium is rapidly bucking the industry's greater trend toward digital. But according to a just-released news brief from Nielsen, 2009's figures are on pace to smash 2008's -- sales to date just broke the 2 million mark, compared to 1.5 million at the same time last year. That means if the trend continues, which it almost certainly will, we'll be looking at well over 2.5 million units sold by the end of the year. It's still just a drop in the bucket compared to digital (Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, BEP, and Taylor Swift have already sold over 10 million digital tracks each). But kudos to the bands, labels, and manufacturers (like San Francisco's Pirates Press) who have helped stage this unlikeliest, and most ear-pleasing of comebacks. The only question: When does the vinyl bubble pop? — Nate Seltenrich
Rogue Wave Documentary Airs on PBS
Bay Area Bands Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Last night on PBS, the Independent Lens premiered the film, D-Tour. It's a documentary about Pat Spurgeon, drummer of Oakland's indie rock band Rogue Wave, as his body slowly breaks down from a failing kidney. It follows his life with dialysis, seeking a donor, trying to find money for treatment and medical expenses, making music, and some soul searching, all while on tour just as the band starts to take off.
