Noise Pop 2010 – Spinning Platters

Noise Pop Show Review: Wallpaper, The Limousines and Butterfly Bones at Slim’s, 2/26/10

The Limousines

The Limousines were already on stage when I walked in a bit late. The first thought that popped into my head was “this is going to be boring, because the music was very bland.” First impressions though are a dangerous thing because they are often way off the mark. After less than a minute, when the song changed and the beat started resonating with my heart beat, I started swinging my hips a little bit. The crowd was very much loving The Limousines. I can’t say the drunk energy was infections, rather it made me a bit envious that I wasn’t as drunk as everyone else; because maybe I would have enjoyed them more. By the end of their set there was still a little blah quality that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. At one point I thought it was either the singer’s voice or the lyrics. And since I didn’t particularly dislike the singer’s voice, I guess by default that means the lyrics were what I didn’t like. I felt that there wasn’t anything being said in the lyrics of the songs, as if a bunch of random words were strung together; nor was there any obvious difference from one song to the next.
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Noise Pop Show Review: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at Bimbo’s 365 Club, 2/28/10

zeros_1 — Happy happy joy joy all the time

Noise Pop is over, and what better way to bring the festival to an end than Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. It was a lazy Sunday here in the city, so lazy that I lazily missed the opening bands at Bimbos and spent 20 minutes looking for parking because I was too lazy to take public transportation to beautiful Bimbo’s 365 Club.

But enough about my inability to be on time, let’s talk about Mr. Sharpe (actually Alex Ebert, front man of Ima Robot), his merry band of bards, and their ability to perform. It would be an understatement to say that they put on a great show. They had the crowd at a very giggly “Hello, San Diego!” There was enough flannel in the audience to clothe Williamsburg in the winter, and by the smell of things, everyone was a jolly as the crowd at Woodstock. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at Bimbo’s 365 Club, 2/28/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: Magnetic Fields at the Herbst Theater, 3/1/10

Magnetic Fields2 — The Magnetic Fields, unadorned.

“You’re REAL handsome.” This is what the toothless bum, who was propositioning me for a 3-way said, as I made my way to the Herbst Theater for The Magnetic Fields. I was running a real tight schedule and unfortunately I had no time for a toothless-three-way, I had a show to get to.

The Magnetic Fields were first introduced to be in the form of 69 Love Songs. I was amazed that I’d never heard of the band and even felt a little embarrassed. Since then the Merritt-led band have been gracing my iPod playlists, adding some unique perspectives on love and sound. They’re the type of band that most of your friends don’t know about and you feel real proud when you’re the one to pop their Fields cherry. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Magnetic Fields at the Herbst Theater, 3/1/10”

Noise Pop Film Review: Strange Powers Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields at The Mezzanine, 2/28/10

MagFieldsQ&A_0000_edited-1 — Added Bonus: Q & A with Stephin Merritt, Claudia Gonson and the Directors

The film Strange Powers, Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields opens with Stephin Merritt being interviewed by one of the directors. She asks “What are you reading now?” and the question is greeted with a dark stare and stony silence. This is how genuine the film is in its portrayal of this iconic songwriter, which is demonstrated in the Q & A after the movie. Stephin Merritt doesn’t waste words. Much like his song lyrics, his responses are concise and thought out. The good news is, for the most part, so is the film. Continue reading “Noise Pop Film Review: Strange Powers Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields at The Mezzanine, 2/28/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: Dizzy Balloon, The Hounds Below, Visqueen and Laarks at Bottom of the Hill, 2/28/10

free-bbq-meal — I forgot my camera at home, so instead you get this reference to Bottom of the Hill Sundays of the past.

The annual Sunday day show at Bottom of the Hill is an odd little affair. The sunlight coming through the window feels jarring, for sure, but what was odd about this year’s version was the crowd. This was an all-ages show featuring a headliner made up of young boys playing sunny rock, and that brought a crowd of admiring teenage girls to the venue. Mix them with the usual Sunday afternoon crowd of hungover aging hipsters Noise Pop veterans, and what do you get?
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Noise Pop Show Review: We Were Promised Jetpacks at Slim’s, 2/27/10

I feel like I’ve been on a music marathon this past week. And then, this Saturday was the show I’ve been looking most forward to. That night We Were Promised Jetpacks were back in town and I f’ing love them. Yes this review will be extremely positive because this was hands down the best show I’d seen as of yet during Noise Pop. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: We Were Promised Jetpacks at Slim’s, 2/27/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: The Mumlers with Sonny and the Sunsets at Cafe Du Nord, 2/26/10

Some mildly shocking things happened at the Cafe Du Nord. Friday night was the first time I had ever been to Cafe Du Nord in my life. I know, shocking right? The last time I wanted to see at Cafe Du Nord was when I was 18, begging the Cafe to let me in so I could see Erin McKeown. I had a huge crush on her back in the day. So I walked into the Cafe and liked what I saw, a bar, pool tables, and a cool setup. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: The Mumlers with Sonny and the Sunsets at Cafe Du Nord, 2/26/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: Mirah and Thao with Horse Feathers at Swedish American Hall, 2/27/10

“We are aiming for sincere energy, not professionalism or fluid transitions.” Those were the words of Thao Nguyen, of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, halfway through her immensely crowd-pleasing collaborative performance with Mirah last night at Swedish American as part of Noise Pop 2010. And while Ms. Nguyen may have felt the need to defend herself with this disclaimer, there didn’t appear to be a single fan in attendance who wasn’t in complete ecstasy for the duration of the evening.

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Noise Pop Show Review: !!! at The Mezzanine, 2/27/10

If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind that !!! is one of the best live shows touring, then allow the next few minutes of reading dispel that. Like a tsunami, you know it’s coming, but your not quite sure what to expect, talk of what is coming seems nearly speculative until it happens and it takes you with it. Caught up in !!!’s wave of sweat, dance and sex! As we make our way inland it’s clear we are all at the mercy of front man Nic Offer. Offer spends most of his time dancing and waving his arms at the very front of the sage, flailing and shaking yet graceful and rhythmic. Offer makes it known that he’s here to entertain and you have no option to join, as he makes his first tour around that crowd: you’re not dancing, now you are! Drinking a bottle of beer at the front of that stage: no you’re not, Offer is now dumping it over his head, now you’re all wet because he shook it all over you, it’s OK your drenched in sweat anyways. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: !!! at The Mezzanine, 2/27/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: The Magnetic Fields with Mark Eitzel at The Fox Oakland, 2/27/10

With all of the bombast and thundering rock acts that have barreled through the Fox Theater over its first year of new business, one would think that the venue is only sticking around for the big, loud shows. Despite having a few concerts last year for softer, calmer acts, such as the folk masters of Bon Iver or the raptly-followed Band Of Horses, the majority of the performances at the Fox have been for big bands that seem to be out to test the limits of the theater’s foundations. Tonight’s show, arguably one of the most anticipated nights of the Noise Pop Festival, was a stark contrast to all previous acts; it was also perhaps the only show in my life that I did not need to wear earplugs for, for any moment of the performances. The Magnetic Fields had returned to the Bay Area, bringing with them their quiet, peaceful brand of beautiful joy and gorgeous melancholy. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: The Magnetic Fields with Mark Eitzel at The Fox Oakland, 2/27/10”