Bay Area Bands: Culture Spy, East Bay Express

New Videos: Warm Soda, Sage The Gemini, B. Hamilton, 100s

Whitney Phaneuf — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:31:00 -0700

Tough to beat The Coup's new video, but these local acts are worthy of a few minutes of your work day.

Warm Soda — "Jeanie Loves Pop”
Warm Soda invades the bedroom of a Sixties suburban teen queen in its video for the power pop track "Jeanie Loves Pop."…

Watch Patton Oswalt in The Coup's New Video for 'The Magic Clap'

Whitney Phaneuf — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:35:00 -0700

Only comedian Patton Oswalt can get away with calling The Coup's Boots Riley "Kanye."

In the new video for "The Magic Clap," off the Oakland outfit's 2012 album Sorry To Bother You, Oswalt acts out the song's political lyrics in hilarious quick cuts of him prancing around a leopard-print sofa.…

Exclusive Premiere: Mortar & Pestle's Debut EP

Alex Taitague — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:31:00 -0700

The Express is pleased to premiere the debut EP of Oakland's Mortar & Pestle on Post Primal Records. It's something of an emotional roller-coaster — or, at least, like being inside an emotional pinball machine.…

Listen: New Songs by Manatee, Kids On A Crime Spree, and Thee Oh Sees

Alex Taitague — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:08:00 -0700

Manatee — "Which Way To Go" and "Theme (Dugong Sing-Along)"

The Oakland quartet Manatee has two new tracks out this week on the B-side of a seven-inch split with Stockton's Surfer Club. Manatee rocks hard and in a range of ways: the first track, “Theme (Dugong Sing-Along)” is instrumental, drawing on some surf-rock melodies, distorting the amps, and adding some chaotic Arena-rock-grade drums.…

Know the Best in Bay Area Music? Vote at Thizzler and Submit to Play Mission Creek Oakland

Whitney Phaneuf — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:45:00 -0700

Local blog/promoter Thizzler wants your vote for the best new artists in Bay Area hip-hop and Mission Creek Oakland Music and Arts Festival (MCO) has opened up submissions for bands to play its month-long festival in September. It's a short window for both, so don't miss out.…

Free XXYYXX Show at Cal on Friday

Alex Taitague — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:21:38 -0700

This Friday, April 12, electronic musician and producer XXYYXX (AKA Marcel Everett) will play a show at UC Berkeley's Sproul Plaza at 9 p.m.. The artist will shower the campus with his choppy, sample-heavy, but always seductive electronic beats for free.…

Listen: New Songs by SAFE, James Riotto, Weekend

Alex Taitague — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:27:00 -0700

SAFE — “Normal Needs”

Oakland's SAFE — aka Chris Edley — is set to release a new seven-inch on April 16 for Greedhead Music. On "Normal Needs," he takes a quiet approach: The minimal electronics, soft vocals, and simple sonic adornment make for a maximally enjoyable song.…

Listen: New Songs by Legs, Shannon and The Clams, Les Sins, and More

Alex Taitague — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:12:00 -0700

Legs — "Two Colours"

The first single from Legs' LP Pass The Ringo — out on April 23 via San Francisco's Loglady Records — comes with a music video. The Oakland-based quintet ambles through this acoustic jangle, strolling through a jaunty ambiance perfect for a Spring release.…

SXSW Recap In Tweets: The Coup, Wax Idols, Toro Y Moi, and More

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:56:00 -0700

Lest you think Occupy is over, Oakland's The Coup will perform tonight with nine other bands in the streets of downtown Austin as part of Occupy Southby.

Tonight at 12:45! The Coup will be live in the street w #OccupySXSW.…
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Listen: New Music from Antwon, tUnE-yArDs, Painted Palms

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:11:40 -0800

There's new local music to suit any post-Valentine's Day mood.

Antwon — In Dark Denim
San Jose rapper Antwon dropped his new mixtape In Dark Denim yesterday, with the message: "HEY HERES MY ALBUM TO SEX TO HAPPY VDAY."…

First Friday Music Picks

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:34:00 -0800

There's so damn much to do on First Fridays these days that finding the good stuff can feel like an incredibly daunting task. But never fear: We've got your back.…

Listen to Antwon's New Track, 'Automatic,' Produced by Friendzone

Whitney Phaneuf — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:07:40 -0800

San Jose rapper Antwon raps on a new track produced by Bay Area duo Friendzone, which we can assume is responsible for the choppy, chilled-out cloud-rap sound on the track. Antwon is set to release a new album in February on Greedhead Music, his first on any label.…

Sunday at Bar 355, Catch Ava Mendoza's Trio Unnatural Ways Before Its European Tour

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:01:00 -0800

Why do local musicians, especially ones who play avant-garde and free jazz, love Bar 355? To quote Oakland guitarist Ava Mendoza: "They're okay with us being really loud."

When the music is as unbridled as the kind Mendoza and her trio Unnatural Ways create, the louder the better.…

Stream Christopher Owens' 'Lysandre' in Full

Whitney Phaneuf — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:43:00 -0800

Christopher Owens has gone from hanging out on Pill Hill to modeling for Yves Saint Laurent. After breaking up his garage-pop band Girls (at the peak of its popularity), the former frontman will release his first solo effort, Lysandre, on Tuesday, January 15.…

Listen to Thao and The Get Down Stay Down's New Single, 'We the Common (For Valerie Bolden)'

Whitney Phaneuf — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:03:10 -0800

Perfectly timed with our preview of The Most Anticipated Local Releases of 2013, San Francisco's Thao and The Get Down Stay Down just released the title track off We the Common, out February 5.

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Noise Pop 2013 Lineup Announced: Toro Y Moi, Amon Tobin, Rogue Wave, and More

Whitney Phaneuf — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:55:00 -0800

Noise Pop is the music festival for people who hate music festivals, i.e. the all-day, drag-out, beer-guzzling, bro-fest that many of the weekend-long music festivals have become. Noise Pop 2013 will take place over six days, Tuesday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3, 2013, and today organizers announced an initial lineup that includes Berkeley resident Toro Y Moi, San Francisco's Rogue Wave, and experimental DJ extraordinaire Amon Tobin.…

Post-Art Murmur Live Music Picks

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:52:07 -0800

Pay reverence to Art Murmur's roots as a gallery walk: Go out tonight, get tipsy, and buy art. Then stumble into a new First Friday tradition and catch some live music.…

Mission Creek Oakland Brings Monthly Music Series to The Uptown

Whitney Phaneuf — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:14:20 -0800

Mission Creek Oakland, the Oakland edition of the San Francisco arts festival that showcases local bands, will hold the second edition of its new monthly music series at The Uptown this Thursday, November 29 (9 p.m., $5). The lineup is a trio of synth and indie rock duos, with Oakland's Believe headlining, joined by Santa Rosa's Teenage Sweater and Oakland's LESSONS.…

Beginnings and Endings: Toro Y Moi at Public Works, Birds & Batteries' Last Show

Whitney Phaneuf — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:02:13 -0800

Indie-pop producer Toro Y Moi, aka Chaz Bundick, has said his recent move to Berkeley inspired his forthcoming album, Anything in Return. Hear for yourself at his weekend-long listening party and art show at Public Works, running three consecutive nights starting tonight, Friday November 16.…

High on Fire's Matt Pike Out of Rehab, "Sharper and Stronger" Than Before

Kathleen Richards — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:06:00 -0700

High on Fire frontman Matt Pike is officially of out rehab and "healthy," according to the Oakland metal band's publicist, and, to celebrate, the band just released a video for "Fertile Green" off its new album De Vermis Mysteriis. In a statement, Pike, who was recently spotted at Oakland's Art & Soul Festival (which the Express co-produced) to watch friends/fellow Oaklanders Saviours perform, said in a statement: "As I acclimate back to society, I realize the beast within is even sharper and stronger!"…

A Brief Guide to Art & Soul/First Friday

Kathleen Richards — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:52:59 -0700

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that there's this little festival happening this weekend in Downtown Oakland called ART & SOUL (full disclosure: the Express is co-presenting). But it's not just a two-day affair; there's before-parties, after-parties, and before-before parties (hello First Friday!).…

3rd Annual Slaughter by the Water Announced

Kathleen Richards — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:31:03 -0700

Party on a boat, er, aircraft carrier, y'all. Philm, Severed Fifth, Absu, Witchaven, Impaled, Autopsy, Fog of War, and Abysmal Dawn are among the bands scheduled to perform at the third annual Slaughter by the Water show, happening Saturday, August 25, aboard the USS Hornet in Alameda.…

Vitus Is Moving

Rachel Swan — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:57:00 -0700

Roughly a year since opening a "gourmet gastropub" and nightlife venue in Jack London Square, the owner of Vitus has decamped, and he's taken the most of the club with him — including a full bar staff, a couple months' worth of bookings, and even the twinkly marquee sign that was featured in a January Express cover story. It now bears the name of Vitus' predecessor, Dukes R&B.…

Lead Singer of Girls Announces Departure

Kathleen Richards — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:40:37 -0700

Girls frontman Christopher Owens announced via Twitter this morning that he is leaving the San Francisco garagey indie-pop band. Owens tweeted:

"Dear all, This may come as a surprise to many & has been an issue of much thought for me. My decision was not easy to make.…

Influential East Bay Musician Jef Leppard Killed in Motorcycle Accident

Rachel Swan — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:11:03 -0700

We were saddened to hear about the death of Jeffery Davis, aka Jef Leppard, guitarist for the hardcore band Voetsek, former member of STFU, sound man at Oakland Metro Operahouse, recording engineer at Lennon Studios, and beloved member of the Bay Area punk scene. He was killed Sunday evening after his motorcycle hit a gray Audi in San Francisco's Richmond district, SF Appeal reports.…