BottleRock Napa Valley 2014 Festival Journal, Day 3

Noah Gunderson. (Photo by Bob McClenahan)
Noah Gunderson. (Photo by Bob McClenahan)

After full days Friday and Saturday, you might think I’d have been a little worn out by Day three of BottleRock Napa Valley. Not me: I was ready with bells on, and perched directly in front of the Sprint stage early in the day for Noah Gundersen to kick it all off. His set began with Noah on acoustic guitar, a woman playing the violin, and a drummer. The three sang wonderful harmony, and before long were joined by the electrics: initially a bass and a guitar, but there were some keys mixed in for good measure, too. To top it all off, Gundersen played a bit of the harmonica in places as well. “We’re really trying to kick your Sunday off with a bang,” he said, adding that there were “usually a lot more people in the drinking section.” I noted that this was the first band whose entire discography I wanted to download as soon as I got home. (I haven’t yet, but still intend to.) I don’t know how else to describe their sound but “electric folk,” which is to say that it was like nothing I’d ever heard, and I loved it. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2014 Festival Journal, Day 3”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/19/12 – 7/25/12

This guy is really excited about the show at Rickshaw Stop on Friday Night!

Here’s another sampling of the fine music out your disposal in the Bay Area this weekend! I think that there’s something for everyone this week.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/19/12 – 7/25/12”

Show Review: The Fray with Scars on 45 at The Fox Theater, 2/20/2012

The Fray's Ben (drums) and Isaac (atop the piano, singing his ass off)

The Fox Theater. Scars on 45. The Fray, live. A crowd that actually applauds with their hands more than with their voices. These are things that, until Monday night, I’d never before experienced. And all were, as it turned out, the beginning of a wonderful cure for a stereotypical “case of the Mondays.” Though I’ve been listening to The Fray for several years, this was my first chance to catch a show, and until last week, I’d never even heard of English opening band Scars on 45. They did, however, come highly recommended by a friend, and so I couldn’t wait for the show to start. Lucky for me, the lights went down promptly at 8:01 pm. Continue reading “Show Review: The Fray with Scars on 45 at The Fox Theater, 2/20/2012”