Issac Brock and crew sauntered out to fervent fans in Oakland Wednesday night. The 25th-anniversary tour for The Lonesome Crowded West has twenty-one scheduled tour dates full of 90s gems that soundtracked college dorms through the early 2000s. This one was sold out, with fans of all ages and all eras of the band attending. Beanie-topped tidy grunge folks in the teeming audience at the Fox howled when the first licks of “Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” began. The setlist continued down a nostalgic path stirring ephemeral eddies of light-push-moshing. “Doin’ The Cockroach” is their disco grind dance number. The crowd obliged. Continue reading “Show Review: Modest Mouse at The Fox Theater, 11/30/22”
Author: Tiffany Black-Darquea
Show Review: Phil Lesh & Friends, Midnight North at Stern Grove Festival, 8/14/22
Rolling away the end of summer with Phil and Friends with opening tunes from “Midnight North.” Continue reading “Show Review: Phil Lesh & Friends, Midnight North at Stern Grove Festival, 8/14/22”
Show Review: Thao with Black Belt Eagle Scout and Quinn Christopherson at The Fillmore, 5/7/22
QUINN CHRISTOPHERSON
“Welcome to the Fillmore,” the top-hatted greeter with gentle eyes said as their generous gloved hand-stretched an apple towards me. “Thank You.” Continue reading “Show Review: Thao with Black Belt Eagle Scout and Quinn Christopherson at The Fillmore, 5/7/22”
Show Review: Interpol, Tycho, and Matthew Dear at The Greek Theatre – UC Berkeley, 4/30/22
Show Review: alt-j, Portugal. The Man, Cherry Glazerr at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 4.1.22
As an alt-j fan celebrating The Dream release and larger venue openings in the bay area the joke was on me when it came to the night of the show and what happened vs what I expected from this sold-out venue and bill.
The Bill Grahm Civic Auditorium might as well be the venue that “Band Aid” Penny Lane spins around to Cat Steven’s (Yusuf Islam’s) “The Wind” in Almost Famous. An iconic movie scene where a super fan relishes the empty room after an incendiary performance of their fav band. If this venue could talk. Continue reading “Show Review: alt-j, Portugal. The Man, Cherry Glazerr at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 4.1.22”
Show Review: Perfume Genius, Madame Gandhi at Stern Grove, 06/27/21
The Shy Reverence of Being Back Together Again…
Towering silver eucalyptus and cascading gold nasturtium cradled the colorful crowd on Pride Sunday. This was the first live music many of the Stern Grove goers had attended since the pandemic. The vibe was a mellow picnic; towels, shawls, and blankets quilted the ground, families and friends gathered carefully upon them. We aren’t quite back to normal yet, but it seems promising. Continue reading “Show Review: Perfume Genius, Madame Gandhi at Stern Grove, 06/27/21”
Show Review: Failure, Swervedriver at The Fillmore, 4/23/19
I found myself in the violet music tank again, half way through Swervedriver’s set. This British alt-rock favorite from the ’90s was delivering their murky dirges to a full house of murmuring English accents, The band engaged the crowd occasionally, dropping out to a full and discordant organized distracted sound. I liked it a lot. Continue reading “Show Review: Failure, Swervedriver at The Fillmore, 4/23/19”
Show Review: Cass McCombs, Sam Evian at The Fillmore, 4/5/19
When Entering the iconic SF Fillmore, you are immersed in the 60’s & 70’s rock n roll scene, familiar whether you were there or not. Technicolor posters swirled with psychedelic, lettering illegible to sober eyes, line the walls from floor to ceiling. Bill Graham’s spirit awaits guests at the top landing of the stairs with a barrel of shiny red apples — for free of course. Bill created the perfect container for musical adventurers. Continue reading “Show Review: Cass McCombs, Sam Evian at The Fillmore, 4/5/19”
Show Review: The The, Agnes Obel at The Masonic, 9/27/18
Continue reading “Show Review: The The, Agnes Obel at The Masonic, 9/27/18”
Show Review: Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 9/14/18
If you haven’t had the opportunity to acquaint yourself with the picturesque Gundlach Bundschu
The venue’s main stage is a cozy, dark, and ambient-lit renovated
Gundlach’s second stage features exquisite views of sprawling vineyard property. It is intimate but comfortably open and spacious for moving about during the show.
The opener, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat (ESMB), sauntered out anxiously, compensating with awkward stand up and 90s references. But the folks on the hill stood to attention when ESMB drilled forward at a fast pace into their avant garde post-punk set. Continue reading “Show Review: Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 9/14/18”