Oct
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival–Day I
in Music
As mentioned, our now-annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival musical madness began on Friday and didn’t end until 7pm last night on Sunday. As usual with HSB, we saw some outstanding music that we had anticipated, some unexpected magical sets, and one or two that sorely disappointed. As with every music festival, hard stage choices have to be made so when you guess wrong, it can hurt.
On Friday we saw John C. Reilly, Tom Brosseau and Becky Stark, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Beachwood Sparks, Ben Kweller, Jenny Lewis (with the Watson Twins) and Conor Oberst. All were outstanding (though Beachwood Sparks took a while to spark). Reilly-Brosseau-Stark have been playing together for a good long period now, and they have truly jelled, with Reilly really ratcheting up his singing chops and comfortableness on stage since we saw them last in Santa Barbara. We then moved over to Conor Oberst’s annually-curated stage (Rooster) for Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express (including Prophet’s talented wife, Stephanie Finch), who were one of the highlights of HSB this year. They primarily played songs from Prophet’s outstanding recent album (Temple Beautiful), regaling the local crowd with locally-set lyrics and songs. Prophet and band showed themselves to be fine musicians with great feel for the express lane. Prophet blazed on guitar throughout and especially fired-up the crowd in the last third of his set (no small feat when you begin at noon on Friday). Beachwood Sparks started a little sleepily after Prophet’s firebrand performance, but eventually ignited and got at least one festival dancer dancing. As for the next hand-picked performer, Ben Kweller simply killed. Kweller is one of our better songwriters and singers, and playing solo on acoustic guitar (which he pedaled into electric-fuzz), he quickly won the crowd over with his energy, voice, playing and well-crafted songs. He’s a must-see when on tour. Jenny Lewis then came out with Jonny, the Watson Twins and a great band and stormed the stage and airwaves with fan-favorites and couple of new songs (one an homage to her recently-passed father). Lewis’ voice was in fantastic form and her fans ate the show up. Following Lewis, Friday’s finale was, of course, Conor Oberst who came out with his Mystic Valley Band, with Nate Walcott added on keys and horns. Oberst and band gradually built their set with Oberst’s well-crafted songs, culminating in several soaring highlights. The first was a stunning delivery of favorite Lua with Jenny Watson and the Watson Twins vamping perfectly on backup vocals in support. The second was an excoriating delivery of Roosevelt Room, with the band raging and Conor literally spitting the lyrics as if the world’s survival depended upon its heeding his message. It was a perfect way to end the day in San Francisco. All was well again.
Check out some photos from Day 1 below.
John C. Reilly and Tom Brosseau:
John C. Reilly, Becky Stark and Tom Brosseau:
Chuck Prophet:
Chuck Prophet and wife, Stephanie Finch:
Beachwood Sparks:
Ben Kweller:
Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins:
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, with Nathan Walcott:
Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis and Watson Twins on Lua:
Conor and band on Roosevelt Room:
Oct
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival–The Interpretive Dance
in Music
We ventured north early on Friday for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival and were treated to a cornucopia of musical magic. We rolled through fine sets by John C. Reilly, Tom Brosseau and Becky Stark, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Beachwood Sparks, Ben Kweller, Jenny Lewis (with the Watson Twins) and Conor Oberst (photos and reviews to follow). But in addition to the usual scintillating sounds, the attendees are always well worth perusing. And such was the case during the first half of Beachwood Sparks’ set, when a young lass garnered the entire Rooster Crowd’s attention with her freestyle dancing to Beachwood’s pedal steel-accented song. Sweetness. So great to be here again.
Oct
Watch The Walkmen on NPR
in Music
Check out The Walkmen performing on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in support of their latest album Heaven. We love this band, and Hamilton Leithauser’s vocals have never sounded better.
Set List:
Heaven
We Can’t Be Beat
Love Is Luck
Oct
Watch Animal Collective Play “Rosie Oh” on Jimmy Fallon Show
in Music
Animal Collective has just released their 10th album, Centipede Hz. Last night they performed Rosie Oh on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Check out Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) on drums and vocals. Behind all the multi-layered musical magic lies some great vocal performances. Bravo!
Oct
Watch Aimee Mann Perform at the Bing Lounge
in Music
We’ve been on an Aimee Mann roll recently since her charming new album Charmer was released, and she is now out on tour with her bandmates in support of her first new album in quite a while. Check out Mann and mates (Jamie Edwards and Paul Bryan) at Portland’s Bing Lounge for Kink Radio, as they perform Slip and Roll, Labrador and the title-track from the new album, and then the enslaving Save Me from the soundtrack for the 2007 movie Magnolia. Go buy her album and catch Ms. Mann on tour if you can. The reviews of both are all pegged at “Rave.”
Oct
Brief Review, Photos and Video of Wilco at Avila Beach
in Music
Last Saturday we ventured up to Avila Beach to catch Wilco outdoors at the Avila Beach Golf Resort, with the ocean, palms and hillsides as backdrop. Twas the quintessential Central Coast concert. And while Wilco (Jeff Tweedy, really) complained a bit about the sun, the rest of us reveled in the warm rays and warmth of friends, family and fellow followers. It was the feelgood show of the year. LA, you can have the cavernous Hollywood Bowl. Between our Santa Barbara Bowl and this relatively nascent Avila Beach Resort venue, you can’t touch the Central Coast’s music venues.
Wilco began their set perfectly, with the quiet and contemplative One Sunday Morning, the superb final song off their most recent album, The Whole Love. Check it out below.
After this sweet beginning, Wilco ( Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt–whose bass playing and harmony vocals constantly shined through, Nels Cline–one of the best guitar players extant, dream-drummer Glenn Kotche, gifted guitar/keys player Pat Sansone and Mikael Jorgensen) kicked it up and went on to play 25 songs in total, as you can see from the setlist way below. Jeff Tweedy was in fine form and mood throughout, weaving songs and humor in and out throughout the day. Our song highlights were the opener, a comparatively-acoustic Spiders (Kidsmoke), Impossible Germany (featuring Nels Cline’s flawless guitar play), and the singalong of California Stars (see the latter below, apologies for the shaky video from the crowd-jostle). While some of the drama of indoor lighting was lost in the beach setting, Wilco’s mien this day meshed well with the surroundings and crowd. They played songs from throughout their history, and while we would have liked more of our favorites from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, on this day the setlist, band and venue couldn’t have been better.
Towards the end of their set Tweedy joked that “We’re trying to make a 6:30 tee time.” Thankfully, he quickly corrected: “I’m kidding. You will never see that happen.” But darned if they didn’t finish their encore at just about that time. Regardless, the crowd left fully-sated. It was a masterful day of music in completely agreeable Central Coast environs.
Check out photos below the setlist of Wilco and quirky, but lovable opener Jonathan Richman (with constant-companion Tommy Larkins on drums).
Setlist:
Main Set:
One Sunday Morning, Art Of Almost, I Might, Muzzle of Bees, Spiders (Kidsmoke), Impossible Germany, Born Alone, Shouldn’t Be Ashamed, Handshake Drugs, When You Wake Up Feeling Old, Whole Love, I Must Be High, I’m Always In Love, Heavy Metal Drummer, I’m The Man Who Loves You, Dawned On Me, Hummingbird, A Shot In The Arm
Encore:
Passenger Side, California Stars, Can’t Stand It, Walken, Monday, Outtasite (Outta Mind), Hoodoo Voodoo
All photos Lefort
Oct
Listen to New A.C. Newman Album “Shut Down the Streets”
in Music
(photo by Noah Kalina)
At long last A.C. Newman’s new album (his third solo) Shut Down the Streets will be released next Tuesday on October 9th. Knowing well the craft and cunning of Newman’s nuggets of pop-rock genius, Shut Down the Streets is one of our most highly anticipated albums of this year. You can listen to it now (as introduced by A.C. himself) over at Huffington Post. Listen in to this life-affirming music from A.C. Newman. And then go buy it HERE. Support the artist by skipping just one Gucci salad and après-latte, and instead use that jang to buy something that will last a lifetime.
Oct
Watch Two Door Cinema Club Killin’
in Music
We had seen this coming, but with everything going on musically we had briefly lost sight of Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club. No mas. TDCB is out hitting the world hard in support of its new album, Beacon. Check out this band absolutely killin’ on Fallon last week on new song Sleep Alone. And then check out (for a while anyway) a full, hour-plus concert from Brooklyn last Thursday as presented by Bowery Presents. As you’ll see, the band is ultra-tight and indefatigable onstage. Lead singer Sam Halliday has seriously sonorous pipes and every member of the band shines live (particularly drummer Ben Thompson).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-X30XEawAM&feature=em-uploademail-new
Oct
Watch The Shins on Conan
in Music
In advance of tonight’s Gibson Theater show in LA, The Shins showed up on Conan and performed No Way Down off of their pop-classic Port of Morrow album (one of the best of 2012). Check it out followed by a bonus performance of The Rifle’s Spiral after.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppG0s8dMylI&feature=em-uploademail-new
Oct
Watch “The Wolves (Act I and II)” from Bon Iver’s “Last” Concert
in Music
Following their Radio City Music Hall shows, Bon Iver ended their recent New York City reign with a concert at the Lower East Side’s Angel Orensanz Foundation. The oracular Frank Ocean opened the evening. Check out the night’s encore (possibly their final song, as recently hinted by Justin Vernon) of The Wolves (Act I and II) below. To say that the audience is enraptured during this performance would be an understatement. Vive le Bon Iver!!
