Show Review: A Hawk and a Hacksaw at The Independent, 10/9/09

Accordian solos don't get any cooler than this.
Accordion solos don't get any cooler than this.

Any trip to the Divisadero corridor always deserves a stop at one of the many excellent and inexpensive restaurant choices available. On this trip, the choice was half an order of BBQ chicken, mac ‘n cheese, and corn. I was still picking kernels out of my teeth when we walked in midway through the set of Damon and Naomi, the openers for the evening. The music was melancholy and wistful, with intertwining vocals from both musicians, Damon on acoustic guitar and Naomi on keyboards. I wasn’t too disappointed, but their brand of self-proclaimed “dream pop” wasn’t doing anything to help out my impending food coma. It was a surprise to learn that the duo did a stint on Sub Pop back in the mid-to-late 90’s. However, I wasn’t much into indie rock back then; rather, mainstream alternative, but that’s beside the point. The set ended a little after 10:00pm, and on to the waiting game. Continue reading “Show Review: A Hawk and a Hacksaw at The Independent, 10/9/09”

Album Review: Reverend And The Makers – A French Kiss In The Chaos

Reverend And The Makers - A French Kiss In The Chaos

Reverend and the Makers come from Sheffield, which gives them a huge head start in my book with that being the home of my all time favorite, Jarvis Cocker, and many others such as The Human League and Arctic Monkeys.  This is a British band I had heard of but never really listened to.  A French Kiss In The Chaos is the band’s second full length album following on from 2007’s The State Of Things which reached #5 in the UK charts. The album was released July 29th in the UK but currently shows no signs of a US release.
Continue reading “Album Review: Reverend And The Makers — A French Kiss In The Chaos”

Week in Review: Top 5 Posts For Oct 2 – Oct 8

A lot of people are hardly strictly waiting for us to announce our most read post of the week.
A lot of people are hardly strictly waiting for us to announce our most read post of the week.

This week saw a lot more competition to be in our Top 5 Most Viewed New Posts of the Week.  Without the killer buzz-saw of Kylie Minogue reviews, all manner of posts had a shot at the top.  Keep coming back this weekend for some rare weekend updates including some show reviews and our weekly New Release Round Up.  And now, on to our top posts.  Can you guess what #1 might be? Continue reading “Week in Review: Top 5 Posts For Oct 2 — Oct 8”

Show Review: Fran Healy & Andy Dunlop from Travis at The Swedish American Hall, 10/8/09

This photo speaks for itself
This photo speaks for itself

This event was billed as “An Evening with Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop from Travis: A Chronological Acoustic Journey Through the Travis Back Catalogue- Laugh Out Loud Stories, Scottish Accents, Handsome Scottish Men, Naked Torsos.” Although one of these things didn’t occur (the naked torsos) I’m not sure I can do a better job describing the show then they did, but here goes.

Continue reading “Show Review: Fran Healy & Andy Dunlop from Travis at The Swedish American Hall, 10/8/09”

Show Review: Andrew W.K. & Calder Quartet at Swedish American Hall, 10/7/09

Andrew W.K.'s back (in San Francisco)
Andrew W.K.'s back (in San Francisco)

The Swedish American Hall was host tonight to an experiment in both performance and audience, as Andrew W.K. brought Calder Quartet with him on a small tour to promote an album of piano improvisations called Cadillac 55. Standing outside the hall waiting on some friends, I watched the crowd go in. First, I saw some former meatheads who made up much of Andrew W.K.’s audience during his major label days. Then I saw a large group of senior citizens go in, having come to see the Calder Quartet, who are a reknowned classical group. And of course, there was a large music nerd contingent. So how would all of this mix? Continue reading “Show Review: Andrew W.K. & Calder Quartet at Swedish American Hall, 10/7/09”

Show Review: School of Seven Bells, Warpaint and Phantogram at Slim’s 10/6/09

img_4897

I had only a passing familiarity with School of Seven Bells before it was suggested I would like them.  I believe I was told, “If you like Murder By Death, you should check out School of Seven Bells.”  That’s a poor “RIYL,” but it turned out fine in the end.  Still, this is a band that needs my help to take their show to the next level. I hope they’re listening. Continue reading “Show Review: School of Seven Bells, Warpaint and Phantogram at Slim’s 10/6/09”

10 Quick Questions with Gary Houston of Voodoo Catbox

Visit Gary Houston at the TRPS show, for he designed the poster!
Visit Gary Houston at the TRPS show, for he designed the poster!

Gary Houston of Voodoo Catbox has been doing great rock posters for many years now.  The first two rock posters I ever bought were from Voodoo Catbox: a diamond-shaped Foo Fighters than you can see on my wall when you come visit, and a Bad Religion poster made to look like an E.C. Comics cover.  Gary designed the TRPS poster that you may have seen in our sidebar for the last couple of weeks, and I caught up with him this week for an email interview.

Spinning Platters: What was the first work of art you did for money? Continue reading “10 Quick Questions with Gary Houston of Voodoo Catbox”

Album Review: Jeremy Warmsley – How We Became

trans087x

How We Became is the album everyone forgot to notice when it came out last fall.  Then again, the only people that could have noticed it live in England.  America, I present to you the Jeremy Warmsley.

I stumbled upon Jeremy Warmsley on my quest to go through as many Blogotheque take-away shows as possible.  There Jeremy Warmsley was hidden, gangly and unassuming in front of a church, armed only with his acoustic guitar and his warbley voice.  I was smitten.  And so I found my way to How We Became. Continue reading “Album Review: Jeremy Warmsley — How We Became”

Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: October 6th-October 12th

Appearing Saturday with Thursday. Huh? Yeah, that's right.
Appearing Saturday with Thursday. Huh? Yeah, that's right.

October is upon us, which means everyone is playing all the time. I guess it really is Rocktober! Lotsa great shows this month, all on the same day. Happy decision making!!

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Weekly Guide To Bay Area Concerts: October 6th-October 12th”

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Journal, 10/04/09

The masses huddled together for warmth, because miss Neko Case is gonna send chills down your spine
The masses huddled together for warmth, because miss Neko Case is gonna send chills down your spine

I have come to the second and final day of my adventure in the lovely Golden Gate Park. I have refilled my water bottle, stocked up on trail mix, and am ready for music.

This day already feels a bit different from the previous day. It’s still very crowded, but it’s noticeably easier to navigate. I can’t quite tell if fewer people came, or if people are spread out better. It might just be that people have the bearings down, because the crowd is moving a bit better.

Anyways, on with the show:

Continue reading “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival Journal, 10/04/09”