Show Review: Echo & the Bunnymen with Kelley Stoltz at The Warfield, 5/19/2011

The pictures on my wall // Are about to swing and fall
The pictures on my wall // Are about to swing and fall

Roughly a year and a half ago, British post-punk dreamers Echo & the Bunnymen came to American shores for just a few stops to host a darkly gorgeous, orchestra-accompanied performance of their classic album Ocean Rain. No doubt inspired by the success of their tour and the continuing trend of artists who perform full-album sets at their shows, the Liverpool-based quintet was back in town with a similar formula, although taken to a much greater length. This time around, frontman Ian McCulloch and the rest of the crew were performing TWO of their older records — their debut Crocodiles and sophomore effort Heaven Up Here — with a 3-song encore after each. Lest the smallish crowd and the lower capacity of the venue place doubts in the mind of those who passed by the Warfield Theater on Thursday night, the excitement and enthusiasm from the fans was even more fervent than for the band’s Ocean Rain performance, and the group themselves performed with even greater intensity than before.

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Show Review: PJ Harvey at The Warfield, 4/14/11

PJ Harvey is simply an artist.  It just so happens her medium is music.  Every tour for each new record is an engrossing sensory experience, completely different than the last.  Having seen her perform at the Warfield for every record, minus White Chalk, (she left SF off the tiny tour), since 1998, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to experience more than my share.

All of the shows up until now, have been full of the energy, gusto, and a hauntingly excitable sound that had left fans floored.  Every show ends with just about the biggest display of genuine applause I’ve ever seen or been apart of for an artist.  PJ Harvey fans seem to connect with the music fully in both a primal, intellectual, and emotional level, which doesn’t always happen with most artists.

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Show Review: The Dresden Dolls with Pomplamoose at The Warfield, 12/31/2010

Amanda Palmer surveys the crowd
Amanda Palmer surveys the crowd

Forget what you thought you knew about how to celebrate for the beginning of a new year. Forget what you thought could happen with two Bostonians, a collective of YouTube musicians, a pile of balloons, two cannons of confetti, and two thousand lovers of punk cabaret. If you were not one of the aforementioned fans that filled San Francisco’s Warfield Theater to nigh-overflowing to see the triumphant Bay Area return of the Dresden Dolls, you missed one of the greatest shows in the band’s career, and one of the best shows of 2010, and, quite likely, 2011 as well.

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Show Review: The Backstreet Boys with Christian TV at The Warfield, 6/27/10

The Boys, mid-step, at SF Pride earlier that afternoon.

There is something to be said about the survivors of a trend. No matter who you are, what trend you come from, it’s hard to disrespect anyone that doesn’t give up. The Backstreet Boys are one of those acts. Much like Sonic Youth, REM, Madonna, and Neil Young, The Backstreet Boys have consistently put out records since their inception. These days, of course, are the days of The Backstreet Boys on the commercial wane. Gone are they days of playing arenas and selling 1.1 million records in a single week. So, how does the sole survivor of the late 90’s boy band movement fare with their move to the small stage? Continue reading “Show Review: The Backstreet Boys with Christian TV at The Warfield, 6/27/10”

Photo Gallery: Paramore, Paper Route, The Swellers at The Warfield, 11/10/09

paramore

I usually never drink at shows. On occasion I might be up for a whiskey on the rocks, but rarely do I ever booze it up a show that I’m really into. I can’t tell you exactly why I decided to drink at this particular show; it could be because I was one of the handful of people over 21, or because I have the day off tomorrow (today) or whatever. The $7 it cost for a Red Stripe didn’t even deter me. It just felt like the right night to indulge, so I did. 2 beers, a whiskey on the rocks, and a shared Sex on the Beach with my companion later, I was thoroughly rocking out at the Paramore show.

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Show Review: Moby and Kelli Scarr at The Warfield, 10/15/09

Oh no, I'm shredding again! Out of the doorway, like bullets on tin!
Oh no, I'm shredding again! Out of the doorway, like bullets on tin!

I first listened to Moby’s most recent record back in July. It’s an album called Wait For Me, and it’s a very calm album. I listened to it once straight through, and I was very disappointed. I thought it was kind of boring, and determined that I would probably never listen to it again. I didn’t think much about this fact until he announced tour dates, which was a surprise, since he didn’t play live to promote Last Night, which was a good, high energy dance record. I listened to it again, and concluded that I didn’t think that this was going to be a particularly good show if this was the material he was going to be focused on. Then, he pulled a fine rock star move. Continue reading “Show Review: Moby and Kelli Scarr at The Warfield, 10/15/09”

Show Review: Pet Shop Boys at The Warfield, 9/23/09

What a couple of squares ...
What a couple of squares ...

Pet Shop Boys concerts exist in their own universe. A universe of abstract expressionism, interpretative dance, avant-garde fashion, modular sets and (for this tour anyway) Adidas sports wear. They are such elaborate productions that the Pet Shop Boys themselves are almost accessories in their own shows. But that’s how it should be. From the very beginning they knew their minimalistic style couldn’t carry an entire concert. So they hired world class dancers and set designers to produce dazzling abstract synthpoperas. Continue reading “Show Review: Pet Shop Boys at The Warfield, 9/23/09”

Show Review: Porcupine Tree at The Warfield Theater, 9/18/09

All I could take was this ironic photo
All I could take was this ironic photo

I arrived at the Warfield tonight for the Porcupine Tree show, and Market Street was already packed with people waiting to get in.  Another night, another sold out show at the Warfield, and this time it’s a band with no “hits” to speak of.  This time, it’s the masters of modern British prog, Porcupine Tree.  I’m a huge fan, so I’m not the best person to judge whether this show was good or bad.  But I can tell you, if you’re also a fan, everything you need to know. Continue reading “Show Review: Porcupine Tree at The Warfield Theater, 9/18/09”

Show Review: Phoenix & The Soft Pack at The Warfield Theater, 9/17/09

Thomas Mars feels at home among his fans
Thomas Mars feels at home among his fans

Phoenix is something of a rarity these days:  they’re a band that can sell out the Warfield.  It’s been a pretty slow-selling concert season here in San Francisco, and a lot shows are going undersold in many venues around town.  Some venues are offering season passes, some are offering their shows for half price on sites such as Goldstar, and others are simply papering the house.  None of that was necessary for Phoenix, who are riding the wave of their extremely well received album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Continue reading “Show Review: Phoenix & The Soft Pack at The Warfield Theater, 9/17/09”