Single Of The Week: Hasta La Vista by Dream Wife

Dancing is super hard right now. I, personally, have had a hard time moving at all for the last six weeks. I’d never thought I’d be jealous of running errands, but I am. This track, “Hasta La Vista” by Dream Wife popped up in my inbox, and I put it on, and it helped me feel like I can remove myself from all the pain and suffering of the world right now, and just feel a warm, steady groove. This light and bouncy, bass driven groove calls to mind the brightest cuts from Erase Errata, with just enough of a pop sheen to feel like you can put it on for anyone, at anytime. 

“Hasta La Vista” is the second single off their forthcoming release So When You Gonna… which is coming out July 3rd. Preordering / Presaving can be done here. Also, since touring is out of the cards for a bit, Dream Wife have launched a podcast centering around amplifying womxn in music. You can stream the first episode of that here!

Singles Of The Week: forever by Charli XCX / Phenom by Thao and The Get Down Stay Down

 

I wanted to avoid any Singles Of The Week that were connected to the pandemic currently devastating the world. However, two singles dropped this week that bring the quarantine front and center. Those are “forever” by Charli XCX and “Phenom” by Thao and The Get Down Stay Down. Both songs are great, and both relevant for different reasons. Continue reading “Singles Of The Week: forever by Charli XCX / Phenom by Thao and The Get Down Stay Down”

A Letter From The Editor: Let’s Make Sure Live Music Stays Alive

Someday, when we meet again…

So, as you may have noticed that this site has been quiet for a few weeks. That’s not so much because a lack of content, but, to be totally frank with you, this whole COVID-19 thing has left me feeling, well, really depressed. In a way where I just didn’t want to touch the site at all, because I didn’t want there to be a long stretch of “this is how we are going to handle things in the COVID-19 era” content with livestreams and think pieces and weird, meandering posts about whether or not the live event industry can overcome this without any real knowledge of when this will end. It all became more real when I lost my day job as Venue Success Specialist at Eventbrite, because, well, nobody can put on events pretty much anywhere in the world right now. Continue reading “A Letter From The Editor: Let’s Make Sure Live Music Stays Alive”

Show Review: Thundercat, Guapdad 4000 at The Fox Theater, 3/6/2020

Photo by Ayat Maqbool

Thundercat caught my attention with his 2015 release, Lone Wolf/Where the Giants Roam and continues to keep me intrigued today. Whether he was collabing with the late Mac Miller or releasing a chopped and screwed version of Drunk, he continues to showcase his broad musical tastes and deliver unmatched energy. The new single, Dragonball Durag, is a perfect example.

Before tonight, I’d only caught Thundercat for his set at Camp Flog Gnaw last year. Michael McDonald joined the stage to perform “Show me the Way” and treated the crowd to McDonald’s own “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near).” In my opinion, one of the top moments of the festival! Sadly, it was overshadowed by Millenials booing Drake off stage. Needless to say, I was psyched for this show and ready to see Thundercat deliver to the Fox Theatre in Oakland. Continue reading “Show Review: Thundercat, Guapdad 4000 at The Fox Theater, 3/6/2020”

Single Of The Week: Get Better by Mates Of State

Forget all your politics for a while
Let the color schemes arrive
Come onboard, it’s a curious sight
Absorbing sound that’s never been right
Never ahead of, never behind it
Occasionally guarded, just keeps us surrounded
It’s luck
Everything’s gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better
Ah
I propose a less serious boat
But don’t mistake it for a party of jokes, who are never ahead of, never behind us
Floating in circles there’s more to remind them of less
Everything’s gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better

 

Single of the Week: Personal Shopper by Steven Wilson

Steven Wilson is certainly no stranger to epics. Whether his work in the band Porcupine Tree with songs like the sprawling “Anesthetize,” or his solo effort about serial killer Denis Rader “Raider II,” he has proven quite the knack for epic songs, cycles, and albums over the years. It should prove no surprise that his recent single for the upcoming The Future Bites, “Personal Shopper,” shares this epic quality.

Continue reading “Single of the Week: Personal Shopper by Steven Wilson”

Outside Lands Early Bird Tickets On Sale Thursday, March 12th at 10am

The news lately has been anything but great lately, so I have some good news! It looks like Outside Lands 2020 Eager Beaver Tickets are going on sale THIS THURSDAY at 10am. This is the cheapest tickets are going to get, and these tickets go fast, so buy them early! It’s true, there is no line up yet. But, I mean, you are going to go. Might as well buy them now!

Show Review: Habibi, Rudy de Anda, Babewatch at Bottom Of The Hill, 2/29/2020

In the world of garage rock, it’s expected for bands to put out material quickly and furiously. Bands like Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall have set the bar so high that one record a year comes off as “slow.” When Habibi didn’t follow up their 2014 debut – a delicious blend of garage crunch, 60’s girl group harmonies, and Iranian melodies – right away, people just assumed they called it quits. It wasn’t until 2018, when they put out a short EP, that I thought they were even still a unit. However, it took six long years before we got a proper follow up. It also meant six years without a proper visit to SF. I’m glad that 2020 gave us both. Continue reading “Show Review: Habibi, Rudy de Anda, Babewatch at Bottom Of The Hill, 2/29/2020”

Film Review: The Way Back

Affleck is true champ in worthwhile basketball drama

High school basketball coach Jack (Ben Affleck) tries to motivate his team. 

Remember the “Sad Ben Affleck” meme that was circulating a few years ago? Maybe you thought to yourself, “Hmmm… that would make a great film. Especially if it were combined with an underdog high school basketball movie like Hoosiers.” Well, sorry to say, but director Gavin O’Connor has beat you to it in his new Affleck-helmed picture The Way Back. But you know what? All kidding aside, despite a few flaws, the movie actually works, and Affleck delivers what’s easily a career best performance. 

Continue reading “Film Review: The Way Back“

Single Of The Week: The Steps by Haim

Haim’s swift rise to fame was partnered with an even swifter decline in critical favorability. Their second record, Something To Tell You, had the band playing bigger venues than ever, but it wasn’t a far enough progression for the band to keep them as a the critical darlings they deserve to be. I was even ready to shrug them off… Then, I heard “The Steps.” This song is kind of a monster… There is still that signature classic rock riffage, but the song is just plain “bigger” than anything we’ve ever heard from them. This is an anthem for the ages, and may very well be the thing we needed from Haim.

Expectations are firmly set for their third record, Women in Music, Vol III, in stores & streaming April 24th. You can preorder double red vinyl from this link!