Waters - Out In The Light (2011)

While Port O’Brien was great, especially the boisterous “I Woke Up Today” and its equally playful video, I love Van Pierszalowski’s new band, Waters even more. It’s quickly becoming one of my most played albums this summer. Decidedly more indie rock than folk, Waters is also louder and feels more emotionally raw. “For The One” (mp3) kicks off the album with a blur of catchy fuzz that just begs to be turned up, as if the guitar was playing through blow out amps. Two of my other favorites on the album similarly embrace the rock n’ roll spirit — “Back To You” is driven by thumping drums and vocals escalating at the chorus, while “Take Me Out To The Coast” incorporates remnants of his old band’s communal sing alongs. However, not all of the album is pushed into the red, it's actually quite balanced. The quiet strumming on “Mickey Mantel” highlights a wonderful yearning chorus. If only all my favorite bands came back this strong after breaking up.

Waters plays at the Branx on Thursday with Mister Heavenly.

WATERS - For The One by cityslang

FNBP: Humming Ale & Guidance Counselor (2010)

Few things bring on the weekend better than energetic dance rock paired with delicious ale.  This week the bold and the daring come together in the form of Anchor Brewing's Humming Ale and Guidance Counselor's fearless dance rock off their self-titled album.

Guidance Counselor makes sure-to-wake-your-neighbors, dance-beat fiasco tracks with wall-shakin' drums and spastic vocals. When 'stached, lead singer Ian Anderson (not THAT Ian Anderson) looks like your creepy '80s uncle (on the left), but his energy and enthusiasm for getting the listener moving shines through in his role as frontman and dance commander and is infectious. Even the songs that don't sound like singles are still fun, if more for the dance floor than the headphones. I dare you to try and sit still to tracks like, "Talk It Out," "Creature" or "I Don't Wanna Speak." Simply put, they are pure energy and pure fun. Is Guidance Counselor for everyone? Probably not. But neither is being super awesome. This group is clearly humming!

As described by Anchor's website, "Humming" is a term that has a long history in association with malted beverages, used centuries ago to describe both ales and beers. In this particular case "Humming Ale" suits this bold, hoppy ale, which Anchor created to celebrate the anniversary of their first brew. The name reflects the productivity and constant exertion of the brewery since its inception in San Francisco in the late 1800s. Humming appears as a pale or golden ale that provides a nice mixture of hoppiness with a substantial malt body that will get you buzzing, but also won't sit too heavy should your body give into the music.

So forget Michelob Ultra, Humming Ale should be your activity beer of choice for the holidays, and most certainly if those activities include sweating on the dance-floor to Guidance Counselor while your creepy conservative Uncle looks on outwardly horrified... but secretly jealous.

Top 5 Favorite 2010 Bay Area Garage Rock Albums

The Bay Area appears to be the epicenter for a kick ass garage rock scene that encompasses the full range of sloppy rock n’ roll, from fuzzy and hazy pop to loud and psychedelic jams. Even though the year isn’t over, there are already way too many albums to include all the great releases. So let’s go see who’s playing at Thee Parkside, knock back a couple tallboys, and argue over who I missed.

5. Kelley Stoltz - To Dreamers (San Francisco)
   Damn catchy retro pop nuggets.
   
   
4. Hunx and his Punx - Gay Singles (San Francisco)
   A wild and hilarious dude fronting a glammy girl group band. Think gay Ramones.
   
   
3. Nobunny - First Blood (Oakland)
   Dude wears a bunny mask and tosses off blistering garage punk hooks. Hell yeah!
   
   
2. The Fresh & Onlys - Play It Strange (San Francisco)
   Seamlessly integrate country chug and classic stroll into fun psychedelic pop.
   
   
1. Bare Wires - Seeking Love (Oakland)
   Like all great garage bands, they only lift from the best and have Seeds-like attitude to spare.

The Morning Benders - Big Echo (2010)

Mark you calendars, Friday, May 21st at the Regency Ballroom The Morning Benders will be rolling into town to open for Broken Bells. I'm not sure which is more of a treat: Two stellar "groups" playing one show or The Morning Benders' new album Big Echo. The Berkeley to Brooklyn based band nails it on the head on this one. I was originally turned onto these guys because of their similarities to Ra Ra Riot, but I feel like they have taken great leaps forward with this release and established not just a sound, but a level of independence from defining comparisons. Although, there are some elements of Ra Ra Riot and Elvis Perkins mixed in with Beach Boy harmonies, I think it is fair to say that The Morning Benders have come to the party to stay by their own right. "Excuses" is the type of single that connects with you immediately and kicks off the album in a way that draws you in real close with its indie pop catchiness. Once "Excuses" sets the table for the rest of the album, you can enjoy the layered instrumentation and vocals that can be both relaxing and invigorating, depending on the mood - I could both fall asleep and prep for a night out to this album. This is a great album that I highly recommend. In addition to "Excuses," check out "Cold War" and "Hand Me Downs."

FNBP: Rogue Wave - Permalight (2010) & Trumer Pils

Permalight: easy to listen to; not “easy listening.” Smooth vocals, catchy instrumentation and a distinct style all add up to a new Rogue Wave album that will make the fans of Asleep at Heaven’s Gate quite content and should continue to generate a fan base far beyond the shores of the East and West Bay. Permalight is a pop album that dances around styles and pacing like an album that was marinated and tinkered with for three years, which it was. The upbeat “Solitary Gun” leads into the bouncy, danceable single "Good Morning (The Future)," but then the pace slows considerably with "Sleepwalker" only to be kicked back into gear by the very catchy "Stars and Stripes" and "Permalight" (be prepared to sing along). I think the album tapers off toward the end after having some really engaging, electro-pop tracks in the beginning. I like what Rogue Wave did with Permalight; however, I don't think many people will be blown outta the water by what is here.

In a similar light, Trumer Pils makes for easy drinking. And speaking of water, Trumer found its way from Salzburg to the East Bay because of  perfect beer brewing water (or so I've been told). Now whether or not this is entirely true, I have no idea; however, the result is a crisp, clean, refreshing award-winning pilsner that resembles champagne in texture. I am not always in the mood for a Pils, but this one is a great option when I am. Conveniently, San Francisco has been inundated with waves of bars serving the golden brew, including my afternoon walk home stop at Tony Nik's. "Refreshing" could be used to describe both Trumer and Rogue Wave, and the combination could make for the perfect sunny afternoon. Check out these two golden gems from the East Bay, and your won't be disappointing.

Miles Kurosky - The Desert Of Shallow Effects (2010)

In a year with an abundance of albums by bands I like, this probably would've been my most anticipated album if I believed it ever would come out. Likely, it was my most anticipated album of 2005, the year after Beulah broke up.

Any Beulah fan should love this album and probably some people who hear this will be prompted to go back and discover Beulah for the first time. I'm just stoked to hear Miles Kurosky share his bummed out perspective over upbeat indie pop. The songs playfully shift gears multiple times, packing in plenty of hooks, tempo changes, and layers of orchestration. However, it never seems overstuffed. I like every song on the album, but my favorite sub-songs are embedded in "An Apple For An Apple", when the drums crank it up and then later when the keyboard takes over as the driving force, and in "I Can't Swim", when a squiggling guitar backs a soaring chorus.

With so many instruments playing all at once I'm curious to see how he pulls if off live when he plays Doug Fir on April 9th.

Slabtown Bender 2010 Lineup

Since I didn't know most of the lineup for this year's Bender, I had to hit up MySpace to help plan my weekend. I've included the band's rough genre, based on the few songs I heard, and their hometown, which was necessary for some of the most Google-unfriendly bands. After listening my way through the list I'm pretty amped and I know I'm going to have to bring plenty of extra cash for albums.

Friday 2/5 (Doors at 5, show at 6)
Howie and the Hotknives (Portland) garage rock
Idle Times (Seattle) psychedelic rock/garage rock
Blank-its (Seattle) punk rock
The Bugs (Portland) punk rock
Bipolaroid (New Orleans) psychedelic rock
The Girls (Seattle) post punk/synth rock
Ty Segall (San Francisco) garage rock/lo-fi
Coconut Coolouts (Seattle) garage rock
Bare Wires (Oakland) 70's punk rock/power pop
Head (Seattle) pop punk

Saturday 2/6 Matinee (Doors at Noon, show at 2)
East Wenatchee Iowa/Cougar? (Portland) indie punk/lo-fi
Foxgloves (Portland) boy-girl indie pop/power pop
Junior’s Gang (Portland)
Old Growth (Portland) punk rock/hard rock

Saturday 2/6 (Doors at 5, show at 6)
Thee Headliners (Portland) garage blues
Sons of Bitches (Portland) country punk
The Sandwitches (San Francisco) female-fronted garage pop/indie
Shannon and the Clams - (Oakland) female-fronted punk
Lord Von Raven (Oakland) glam/garage rock
Greg Ashley (Oakland) psychedelic folk
King Louie and the Missing Monuments (New Orleans) garage rock
Cheap Flight (Portland) Steve Turner of Mudhoney's brand new band
The Teutonics (Germany) retro garage rock

Sunday 2/7 Matinee (Doors at Noon, show at 2)
Denizenz (Portland) punk rock
Timecopz (Vancouver, BC) punk rock
Burning Yellows (Portland) indie pop/lo-fi
Nectarine Pie (Oakland) psychedelic rock/garage rock

Sunday 2/7 (Doors at 5, show at 6)
TherapistS (Portland) punk
Indian Wars (Vancouver, BC) garage rock
Manic Attracts (Vancouver, BC) punk rock/lo-fi
Dirty Cupcakes (San Francisco) female-fronted punk rock
Pity Fucks (Portland) garage rock/punk rock
Dead Ghosts (Vancouver, BC) garage rock
The Leaders (Portland) psychedelic rock
Pure Country Gold (Portland) garage blues
The Mean Jeans (Portland) Ramones-style punk rock
Spider Babies (Portland) punk rock
Pierced Arrows (Portland) hard rock/garage rock

Audrye Sessions @ Hawthorne Theater

How many concerts have you seen where a band plays an orange traffic cone? Ska bands and Stomp don't count. None? I win. Although I couldn't really discern what it sounded like in the midst an epic climax. But that's the kind of creativity and energy that Audrye Sessions displayed at the Hawthorne Theater this weekend. This Bay Area band also incorporated a washboard and violin bow (for the lead singer's electric guitar) into their soaring alt. rock anthems. They sound a lot like early Radiohead with a more optimistic outlook, although the way the lead singer's voice turns the corner mid-word reminds me more of Travis' Fran Healy, especially on tracks like "New Years Day" and "Where You'll Find Me". I enjoyed the whole set, but the standout track was definitely the "Turn Me Off". It's just a sweet single.

The Gaslight Anthem @ Slim's

Headliner: Somewhere between Bruce Springsteen and Social Distortion their sounds meet at a junction called The Gaslight Anthem. With a combination of punk and rockabilly instrumentation and lyrics that pay homage "the every man's" real-life experiences, it is difficult not to be swept up in the energy of the music and the passion of the vocals and harmonies. There is certainly a charming element to the rough-around-the-edges appearance of the band members, which had the female portion of the crowd swooning, but what impressed me most was their spot-on live renditions of songs off of Sink or Swim, Señor and the Queen, and The '59 Sound. They played all my favorites and there were very few people in the audience who were not at least signing along with all the choruses. A fantastic performance.

2nd Act: If The Black Keys added two members, and Dan Auerbach was a female vocalist, then they would be the Heartless Bastards. As a HB first timer, I was blown away by Erika Wennerstrom's blue-eyed soul vocals and reverberating garage rock. They are definitely worth a listen, so check out their 2009 release, The Mountain. For San Franciscans, HB will be back for Outside Lands... so plan accordingly.

Opener: The opening act, A Death in the Family, were familiar sounding Australian punk rockers. Familiar because their sound was a combination of The Bouncing Souls, Rancid, and Bad Religion. A solid, energetic opener, but lacking originality... or maybe my pure punk days are behind me, which is possible.

The Lonelyhearts - Disaster Footage At Night (2008)

A great collection of radiant and melodic southern rock and folky Americana. The San Francisco/Iowa based duo get it done with acoustic and electric guitars, keyboard, a bit of synth, and honest, Tom Petty-like vocals (at times) and story-telling lyrics. A really solid, mellow album, with my personal favorites being: "New Virginia," "Harlequin Bands," & "Concrete and Chrome."

Murder City Devils @ The Great American Music Hall

Note: This review is a joint venture of DoctorDiggs & NightraiN

Looks can be deceiving... Maybe its Spencer Moody's argyle sweater, shaggy red beard, and spectacles. Or, perhaps its the casual manner in which Moody's band-mates take and leave the stage and approach each song. Regardless, the Murder City Devils' appearance is fairly nonchalant and unassuming in contrast to their primarily intensely uproarious music, aggressive lyrics, and rowdy, beer-chucking fans. On this night, the Murder City Devils absolutely kicked ass, despite Moody's "decision" not to sing some of his lyrics (most noticeably on "Somebody Else's Baby"); however the crowd did a pretty solid job of filling in with a veritable Music Hall sing-along. Drummer Coady Willis simply killed it (no pun intended), hammering away each lead-in and fill with gusto and perfection. As expected, the rain-soaked crowd was full of energy and booze, heaving plastic cups of whatever into the air with approval, and reacting as one with each moan of the organ and punctual howl. Overall, the group had great stage presence, except Lelsie Hardy, as she seemed to take every opportunity to grab her purse and duck backstage, for whatever reason (although she is quite hot, in that rocker-chick kinda way). The set list seemed to have nearly every notable track, but Diggs wished they'd played "Lemuria Rising," and I felt that the stand-out crescendo of the performance was the sing-along track off of Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts, "I Want A Lot Now (So Come On)."

The openers were decent musically, but both quite entertaining in their own way. Silverghost, a sort of a pop-new wave duo out of Detroit, opened and had some catchy bits, but nothing spectacular. Diggs adds, "Silverghost wasn't too bad, and the 3 song cassette tape I bought after the show for $3 (that's 1 cent more per song than iTunes would charge for digital versions) sounds pretty good, although they said it was "meaningless" when I asked them to sign it... maybe because the only writing utensil available was a pencil. Oh well." The second band, Triclops, out of the San Francisco area, was mediocre live at best, although their recorded music sounds much better. Honestly, the lead-singer was just fucking strange in person, with an array of vocal effects ("March of the Half Babies" [yeah, seriously] sounds like it was sung with lungs full of helium), endless crowd surfing, arm swinging with LEDs up the sleeves, speaker dancing & sitting, guitar smacking, and "I just shat my pants" facial expressions.

Ultimatley, an excellent, fun, nostalgic show, that came with a pretty solid meal to boot... not to mention, perhaps the last show of its kind in San Francisco. Only time can tell.

Or, The Whale - Light Poles and Pines (2007/2009)

It is well documented that I appreciate things like pedal (slide) guitar, folk-country influences, and the contrast between raspy, strained male vocals and harmonic, less abrasive female vocals. Or, The Whale brings all of the aforementioned together, with a particular emphasis on the well-placed pedal guitar. This San Francisco based group is often paired with The Devil Makes Three out of Santa Cruz, but while Devil Makes Three takes a drumless three person ragtime-punkish approach (which is excellent), Or, The Whale fills out their indie folk-country sound with seven musicians and a multitude of vocalists. I understand that they are one hell of a live tandem, and both are on my must see list.

Or, The Whale's music is not quite as quirky as their name. "Call and Response" is the obvious standout on Light Poles and Pines, originally released in 2007, and certainly the most accessible for people who are not particularly interested in "that country sound." An "I listen to everything except country" attitude should not deter you from appreciating this cut, because its hooks are universal and undeniable. Pedal guitar, a sing-along chorus, and conspicuous enthusiasm all come together over toe-tapping snare and symbols, which makes for a track that has a similar feeling to (not duplicates) a quickcrit favorite: "I Woke Up Today" by Port O'Brien. In contrast, songs like "Rope Don't Break" and "Threads" have a down-home, back-porch kinda feel that permeate with country influence and are also fantastic.

Light Poles and Pines may not be for everyone; however, the music and lyrics are excellent and provide a West Coast take on the typically Sounthern sounds.


Call and Response - Or, the Whale - Or, the Whale

Audio Out Send - Sharpen The Hours (2008)

I've been casually following this Bay Area band for a while and have always enjoyed listening to their new material, but this is the first album that I've been able to get exited about - the music is more engaging and the songs are catchier. Overall, it sounds awesome. Like Grandaddy and Earlimart, they write hazy, laid back indie rock perfect for fog engulfed mornings. Songs cruise along, the vocals riding over the low level distortion and chugging rhythms. The tone is often dreamy and beautiful, with just enough noise to keep it interesting. Although mellow, it's hardly sleepy - the drums push forward, and songs build and threaten to rock out. "Calling On The Girl" is my favorite, but really most songs on album are worth a spin. A great album for heading into fall.

Port O’Brien @ Café Du Nord

It was indie folk rock night at Café Du Nord last night and the building was a shakin’. It wasn’t so long ago that I wrote this album review in anticipation for this show. Port O’Brien’s live performance was touted as a must see, and I must say, the entire show exceeded the hype. Port O’Brien played in front of friends & family with high energy and enthusiasm as expected, and plenty of team vocals and crowd participation. They certainly do put on an entertaining live show, but with lead sing Van Pierszalowski nearly out of voice, I imagine they could go bigger.

The Builders and The Butchers of Portland were surprisingly awesome… surprisingly, because I knew nothing about them or their music until earlier this week. All night I couldn’t think of whom they reminded me of, and then this morning it hit me—The Decemberists! I then proceeded to find out, via other reviews, that I am not the first to draw this comparison. They folk rocked it up something serious with an abundance of yelling, drum pounding (they have two “percussionists”—see picture—who hammer away on everything within reach, including washboards), mandolin & banjo plucking, and one of the most distinctive lead singer voices I’ve ever heard. This was my first encounter with The Builders and The Butchers, and it certainly won’t be my last. I highly recommend checking them out. Note: The red lighting made good concert photos virtually impossible.

The Old-Fashioned Way had a lead singer with a deep baritone that was similar to Matt Barninger of The National. I remember enjoying their set, but after The Builders and The Butchers rambunctiously impressive set I can’t remember other specifics. I’ll have to check ‘em out again.

Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing (2008)

For the past year or so I have had people of all different musical tastes recommend this Oakland based band's live show. So, when their current tour slated them to rock Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco in support of their recently released album, I figured now was as good a time as any to dip my ears into the musical waters of Port O'Brien (I think that line just put me as the front-runner for "Cheesiest Line of the Year" award).

Anyway, the opening beats of "I Woke Up Today" made me want to do a drunken sailor jig in deck shoes aboard a storm ravaged fishing vessel... And when the gang-bang vocals kicked in (where the whole band sings simultaneously) I was sold. In my opinion, comparisons to many and mighty indie darlings are thrown about too easily for All We Could Do Was Sing. Sure there are moments when Port O'Brien sounds like other bands, but their music—layered, girl/guy vocals, occasional string arrangements, strummy guitar, nautical themes, and intimate, mellow, folky acoustic pieces—is far too diverse for a closely paralleled comparison. I have listened to this album HARD the last few weeks, and it continues to impress—both the up-tempo and mellow tracks, equally.

Check out: "I Woke Up Today," "Close The Lid," "Stuck On A Boat" and this video that looks like something awmercy & ancientindianwizard would collaborate on...

Boyz II Men @ The Alameda County Fair

Oh, its real. And it was spectacular! Some rather large gentlemen in a Raiders jersey who sat in front of me remarked, "more like Men to Grandparents", but classics are classics folks. They're ageless.

Before I get into the main event, I'd like to talk about the opener, Too Crazy (2 Crazy? Too Crazee?). He was introduced as a Disney tween sensation but all my google searches were in vain and yielded results concerning Miley Cyrus only. He had a midget hypeman and the song he performed was called "Stay in School" (I assume from the chorus). It was a postive message for all the children in the crowd at the 6 pm show, and I was excited to find out more about him but now I'm wondering if it was all a funnel-cake induced dream. I'd love to know more about this mysterious Too Crazy character if anyone is highly-skilled at internet stalking and wants to look him up.

And then Boyz II Men came on, taking the stage to "Motownphilly". Their mikes went out and there was some very loud feedback, but they didn't let that slow them down and they belted and bootied to the best of their ability as the crowd went wild. And by went wild, I mean people stood up. I was dissapointed to see the tall, skinny member of Boyz II Men who does the deep-voiced talking interludes and carries a cane in the music video for "End of the Road" was no longer with the group. It did leave a bit of a hole in their slow numbers, ie almost every song. But there was a contagious sense of magic in the air that peaked during their classic number, "I'll Make Love to You". At this point in the show, the floodgates of emotion burst wide open as women ran down the aisles flapping their arms in a manner reminiscent of the prize-winning pigeons on display at the Small Animal Exhibit.* They were flapping not to fly, but for a rose. Boyz II Men handed out dozens of red roses to their adoring fans during this song, it was really a beautiful moment. However, I thought the song was bit of a racy choice for a 6 PM set. There were a lot of children and also a lot of babies in the crowd.** I mean there was a parking lot for strollers right next to the theatre. They ended their set with "End of the Road", inviting the crowd to sing along. My pleasure.

One of the best parts about seeing Boyz II Men at the county fair is that you're also at the county fair. And nothing says county fair like eating food on a stick, or even better is still on the bone.

*I was really dissapointed by this. Tricked by the wording, I was expecting a miniature animal exhibit so you can imagine my dissapointment when it was just a bunch of bunnies and pigeons in cages. Animals that are small by nature, not by deformity. Totally misleading.
**My theory about all the babies in the crowd: Boyz II Men is some baby making music. Some of those babies were definitely conceived to BIIM.

Pela @ Bottom of the Hill

There are some concerts that highlight a band’s weaknesses, exemplifying that their music requires the tender, adjusting touch of the studio—which is fine. And then there are some shows that truly accentuate a band’s excellence and prowess. Pela’s performance at Bottom of the Hill on Wednesday night was most certainly the latter. They played their songs off of Anytown Graffiti, and a few new tracks, with such vigor and intensity that it was almost as if they were doing crisp punk covers of their own songs. And goddammit it was fun! I got a workout just watching the band members jerk, jump, and rampage around the small stage. Frontman Bill McCarthy (who is apparently originally from Santa Cruz, and injured his hand rockin’ so hard that he fell off stage onto a pint glass before their previously scheduled show in San Francisco) belted the lyrics with such a playful passion and energy that it was hard not to feel a little envious of how much fun the band was having on stage. This band’s live performance is a must see for both fans and the unacquainted.

Also, Pela was prefaced by two very commendable Bay Area acts—San Francisco’s The Love X Nowhere (who sound similar to a psychedelic Muse and/or Keane, with an impressive female drummer, guitarist and lead vocalist) and Oakland’s Audio Out Send (who’s live performance reminds me of an amped up R.E.M. sound, but that’s probably because of the vocal similarities). Anyway, I would definitely pay to see them both play longer sets.

Hot Chip @ The Fillmore

Hot Chip is so fun. Whenever I see them live I leave wishing they were my friends. We would hang out in someone’s living room, and play with keyboards and laptops all day… I would teach them some dance moves and they would let me play the tambourine on “Over and Over”. (Seriously guys, call me!) They played at the Fillmore last night and turned the place into a big ole dance party. Its not really necessary to actually see them to enjoy them, they aren’t going to blow your mind with a guitar solo or anything like that. But I like to be up close, so a friend and I made our way towards the front. Where we evidently angered people (who were probably jealous of our mind-blowing charisma and charming hip shakes) and some silly girl shoved my friend. My friend is 5 feet of pure adorableness, and I can’t fathom anyone wanting to do anything other than hug her. I’ve had a dangerous amount of makers mark at this point in the night. So I asked the girl if she had ever been punched in the face. She said no. I said, I will punch you in the face. And then her boyfriend pulled her away from me. Which is lucky for us both, I’ve never punched anyone in the face and I’m not sure I know how. That was the only bad part of the concert. That, and waking up this morning.