I love seeing a band “off cycle” or when they don’t have anything specific to promote. They are loose. They don’t have to focus on promoting anything. It’s when a band gets to simply be themselves on stage. I’ve probably seen Bleached more than almost any other band at this point (not to dismiss their recent Single Of The Week, of course), but this may be the first time I’ve seen them like this.Continue reading “Show Review: Bleached with Thank You Come Again and DJ Omar at The Chapel, 11/15/22”
Oh, man! Remember how excited we were about Sketchfest 2021? And then Sketchfest 2022? And remember how upset we all were when BOTH of them were sidelined due to that plague that still ravages our world? And then Jean Grae and I tried to develop a machine that would suck all the virus out of the air? Well, the good news is (provided BQ 1.1 doesn’t screw everything up), everything is a go for Sketchfest 2023, and they decided to add a few more shows to the lineup that go on sale Wednesday, 11/15 at 10 am PST: Continue reading “SF Sketchfest 2023: Line Up Additions!”
Fun Fact- I had a different Single of the Week picked out for this week. I wrote it up and decided I was done. It was the debut solo single from The Raincoat’s Gina Birch. Then I landed upon “Leech” by London’s Dream Wife. This track- a throbbing post-punk anthem with heavy poetry from vocalist Rakel Mjöll that breaks out into a near scream without giving you the catharsis of a full scream- is addictive magic. If the full length is half as potent as this single, we’ve got a serious contender already in the queue for the 2023 Album Of The Year.
You can enjoy “Leech” in all of the usual places. Obviously, I’m going to keep going down this rabbit hole, and if my fellow American does the same, maybe they will pay us a visit next year?
I feel funny using the phrase “heir apparent” when describing a newer artist in relationship with a past act. But, for Yves Tumor, calling them the heir-apparent to David Bowie is totally appropriate. Does Tumor sound exactly like Bowie? Nope. Not much at all. But the darkness, the theatricality, the hooks- all very Bowie-esque. “God Is A Circle,” lyrically, is a dark meditation on the what and why of what our parents teach us. It’s a stunning track, through and through.
“God Is A Circle” is available in all the usual spots. Expect more genius from Yves Tumor in 2023!
Do you remember the last time Rihanna has graced our earbuds with a solo project? It was 2016. To put it on perspective, Obama was in the White House. Since then, America elected a fucking actual fascist as President, and, somehow, made it so the Republican party could actually say out loud the stuff they mumble quietly. Overt racism, homophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, etc, went from being something pushed aside and shamed to something folks were visibly proud of! And, of course, that awful human ended his time in office by turning COVID into pure chaos instead of working hard to get the country aligned on it. And, yes, we are still picking up the pieces of that nonesense today. (I stand by the fact that if we had clear, concise COVID messaging from the get-go, we wouldn’t be in the current financial mess we are in today)
When I learned that Rihanna was dropping a new single on 10.28, the day after my birthday, it was the first time I felt a shred of optimism in, dear god, 6 years? Like, maybe- just maybe- Rihanna was the key to returning the world to order and kindness. The song itself was written in memory of Chadwick Boseman. The lyrics, however, are actually about finding strength through grief. So maybe, just maybe, Rihanna isn’t the prophet we needed, but the catalyst for building up the strength to get through the pain of now and help encourage and motivate us to fix it. Anyways- “Lift Me Up” is a stunning ballad that I’ve already listened to 10 times and will keep relistening to for the rest of the day, maybe longer. And you probably should, too.
Since Sleater-Kinney released an album of other artists covering Dig Me Out, it only seems right to spotlight this new Quasi single. Janet Weiss sounds like her car accident never happend. Her drumming is as forceful and melodic as ever. Sam Coomes’ keyboard playing is consderably more ferocious that in the past. This song is a gem. It really is a good time to jump back on the Quasi train. Assuming you ever got off.
“Queen Of Ears” is the lead single from Breaking The Balls Of History, due out on SubPop on Febuary 10th. Pre-Everythinging can be done here. Of course, you should also give this 2020 track that I missed a listen, too.
Dig Me Out is a classic record. In many ways, it opened up the worlds of both Riot Grrl and Indie Rock to bigger, more mainstream audiences. It’s also nearly perfect as it is. When it was first announced, Dig Me In left me with mixed feelings… There could be some truly great interpretations of these songs on this record. But why mess with a good thing? I mean, other than to raise money for SMYRC, an organization that provides queer and trans youth a safe place to make art, 25% of the proceeds from this release go to.
Zella Day is a singer songwriter that signed to Hollywood Records when she was merely 17, and has been putting out a steady stream of material since then, enough to be considered a “veteran” at the young age of 27. We had a lovely opportunity to talk about what it’s like to be making decidely non-Disney music on a label owned by Disney, producing music as a teenager. The conversation ran through early tours, navigating the major label system, finding an off-ramp to the major label system, nourishing a community during the pandemic, and so much more. She may be one of the wisest humans I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to. And, apologies- we both have pets that interrupt some pretty pivotal moments, so bear with that.
Zella Day’s most recent record is called Sunday In Heaven, and is available now from Concord Records in all the usual places, included some lovely vinyl variants!
It’s a downright intimidating new release day. New Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift and Arctic Monkeys and a-ha (Did you know a-ha are still together?) and Archers Of Loaf (even more surprising?!?) and I’m kinda drowning so much that I almost MISSED giving you a single of the week this week. So here is some blissful, Fleetwood Mac-inspired country from Roanoke. The band, not the city. This song is the perfect antidote to the epic amount of stress that has been burning through the world. “After I Go” is, simply put, pleasant. And, yes, I know it’s uncool to enjoy pleasant things, but sometimes it’s nice to just have something nice.
“After I Go” is the lead single from Wolf Motel, coming to you November 11th on… (checks notes) Kill Rock Stars Nashville? Yes. The legendary Olympia punk label now has a Nashville imprint.
I am ALWAYS ready for a new Bleached track. This one is a big, classic power-pop number. Heavy in the riffage, and colors of Bangles-esque minor key harmonies… A catchy, optimistic number from a band from Jennifer Clavin, a songwriter that, somehow, always knows exactly what I need right when I need it.
You can buy/stream “Flip It” in all the usual places. Bleached are also playing a handful of dates this November, including a 5th Anniversary show for the Lodge Room in LA on November 9th and a 10th Anniversary show for The Chapel on November 15th. They put on a fantastic show. So get your Omicron booster and party with us!
