Time to ring the new year with the first Kuestionnaire of 2009. Michael Zapruder! This San Francisco singer-songwriter is becoming increasingly well known due to his hypnotizing and extremely enjoyable new record, Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope. The record itself is similar to what you would happen if Leonard Cohen was born 30 years later. Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope is a brilliantly arranged and the eleven songs are filled with exceptional melodic structure, incomparably beautiful harmonies, and poetic lyrics.
You can buy the special edition of the album here. It includes a t-shirt, buttons, stickers, posters, and signed nude picture of himself *
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is
your most cherished?
Tough one. I guess maybe it’s a vinyl version of a Brahms piano piece called
Intermezzo in Eb. It’s a great piece and a great performance, but mainly I
cherish it because I had to really search the web for it. A second choice
would by Cat Stevens’ Greatest Hits - the vinyl copy I had in high school.
2. What have you been listening to lately?
The Road to Perdition soundtrack, Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea by Silver
Jews, Bee Gees First, Construcao by Chico Buarque.
4. What was the last show you attended?
I saw Conor Oberst and the Mystic River band a little while back and it was
pretty great.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
It’s a toss-up between Cornelius at Bimbos, Os Mutantes at the Fillmore, and
Boris at SxSW a few years ago. If I had to choose, I’d go with the Os
Mutantes show.
6. What show are you looking forward to?
Andrew Bird at the Fillmore.
7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
I think the best living songwriter is David Berman of Silver Jews. That
would be interesting.
8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
Remain in Light by Talking Heads, The Best of Leonard Cohen, In a Silent Way
by Miles Davis, and Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould (#1)
9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
I might well do that.
10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
I like Jandek on Corwood. I have that.
11. What’s the last book you read?
Bob Woodward’s “Plan of Attack”
12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
They both have great things about them - I suppose if I had to choose one,
I’d keep making recordings.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
I once told a rabid crowd of Tennessee Volunteers fans the score of a
7-overtime game that was in progress, then confessed that I didn’t really
care. They turned on us then. Also, we played an all-ages show in Southern
California on election night this past November, and I had the honor of
announcing that Obama had been declared the winner - to our utter shock and
dismay, nearly every kid in the crowd booed. I was not embarrassed, but I
feel that they should have been.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
I like lots of places we go, but I guess Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Tucson,
New York, Washington DC, and of course Oakland and San Francisco stand out.
15. Lastly, what have you done today?
I took out the recycling.
Michael Zapruder - Happy New Year
Scott Pinkmountain & The Golden Bolts Of Tone - You Gave Me This
Most hip-hop artists that are inspired by punk rock suck. That’s not so much an opinion as it is a fact. Despite how parallel they are and rebellious the music is. Even modern pop punk tendencies are similar to modern hip hop (it would seem). But with Doomtree’s P.O.S., that’s just not the case. Three years ago P.O.S. released his intense sophomore album Audition, which featured collaborations with heavyweights like Slug from Atmosphere; Craig Finn of The Hold Steady; and Greg Attonito of The Bouncing Souls. On the verge of his third release, Never Better, P.O.S. is ready to show you why you need to turn his music up really loud. The new track, Goodbye, explores his range not only as a hip-hop artist, but as a punk rocker.
Good luck trying to find ticket for the Glasvegas/Carl Barat (Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things) show on Thursday. However, consider yourself lucky if you happened to snag a couple, I can only assume it will be a kick ass concert. I’ll be attending the hometown hero Sean Hayes’ show over at the Rickshaw Shop on Wednesday. If you haven’t given him a listen yet, you need to. I cannot stress that enough. He’s simply amazing. Oh and don’t forget to get a bottle of wine signed by Maynard James Keenanthis weekend. See you out there!
4th - Sunday (Today):
Maynard James Keenan (Tool lead vocalist) Bottle Signing
Whole Foods Market Cupertino
20955 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
Rademacher / David Dondero
The Knockout
3223 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
5th - Monday:
Ragwater Revue / Super Adventure Club
The Elbo Room
647 Valencia / 17th St.
San Francisco, CA
6th - Tuesday:
New Thrill Parade / The Deadbeats
Hemlock
1131 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA
7th - Wednesday:
Sean Hayes / Michael Musika Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell St
San Francisco, CA 94102
DJ Spooky / Adrian & Mysterious D (Bootie) / Kid Kameleon
DNA lounge
375 11th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
8th - Thursday:
Glasvegas / Carl Barât
Popscene
330 Ritch Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
9th - Friday:
Magic Bullets (cd release) / The Passionistas / Airfix Kits
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
10th - Saturday:
Scissors For Lefty / Mud
The Blank Club
44 S Almaden Ave
San José, CA 95113
When first hearing the SUNBEARS!, you have to wonder how a band that sounds so good can go unnoticed. There seems to be a sense of sweet honesty and huge pop sound that is familiar to anyone who fell in love with the Postal Service’s “Give Up.” The music they create passes through your ears like a gentle breeze but comfortably stays inside you. I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again, this band will not go unknown for very long.
The song itself sounds almost too cute to be accepted into the indie music scene or the music blogosphere, but there is this soulful “magic” that resonates from The Sound of Arrows‘ new single M.A.G.I.C. that is irrefutable . The release of their 9-track debut EP will be on the 28th of January and from the sound of things, is already showing signs of Top 10 potential this year.
I will outwardly admit that I have no clue why I’m seeing Bonobo live tonight at 103 Harriet in San Francisco. I more or so classify Bonobo as the kind of music you’d listen to while you’re having sex with all the lights out. And that is obviously not happening tonight. I guess I might sip my beer and/or alcoholic drink and catch up with an old friend who’s come to visit this weekend. I’m not saying I won’t enjoy the music. Bonobo is probably one of my favorite Ninja Tune artists aside from Amon Tobin and Blockhead. However, when my friend asked me if I wanted to go see Massive Attack a year back, I declined due to the fact that I wasn’t sure if there would be any kind of worthy performance (none at least that would warrant a $50 ticket price). I remain skeptical, but openminded. In the meantime, check him out for yourself.
Well, memorable is kind of an understatement when describing this past holiday week in New York. While it may have been filled with good times (getting back with my old band and laughing so hard I cried, seeing Slumdog Millionaire with my brothers, etc) it also had it’s horrible times (missing the last train to Grand Central because of a detour on RT. 9, losing my luggage, etc) and it’s bizarre times (I found that people who seem overwhelmingly overpowered by their luggage on the conveyor belt mildly amusing, I unabashedly find Dick Clark more interesting now that he’s had a stroke, etc). Anyway, I’m home safe and sound. Here’s to an awesome 2009 with new music and a new president! Woohoo!
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
Michael Zapruder - Happy New Year
