Since you won’t be seeing much on Bay Area shows or anything else for that matter in the next few days. I’ll post this Spring themed mix to tide you over until I return from Boston on the 14th. Enjoy!
Bay Area rock band Facing New Yorkhas announced that vocalist/bassist Brandon Canchola has left the band. This is a huge loss to a band that has seen many members move on. Not to mention their last record, Get Hot, was only released last year to rave reviews (including a spot on my End of Year List). We wish the best for the band and hope for brighter days. In the meantime check out Gavin Castleton’s new album, Home, which the band was heavily involved in. An official statement can be read here.
Facing New York – Give Love
Facing New York – Styrofoam Walls
Facing New York – You Might Not Feel It At All
Washington band Alligators are spreading their Radiohead, The Beach Boys, and The Zombies influenced synth-rock with their latest single, Where Does It Hide? Taken from their upcoming album, Piggy & Cups, which will be released on the 7th of April on Applehouse Records. Try and catch them on tour this month…
03/13 Port Orchard, WA @ Juwapa’s Vegetarian Restaurant Juice Bar
03/14 Bellingham, WA @ Whaam!
03/21 Seattle, WA @ The Back Room
03/26 Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan
Alligators – Where Does It Hide
Like a gift from indie pop heaven, Helicopters are a breath of fresh air for your ears. Their new album, Sizing Up the Distance, the band comes off like a sweet and charming version of Hot Chip with Bono-esqe vocals. If that appeals to you feel free to get the album here.
Helicopters – Emergency
dredg have expended their touring schedule for the coming months. Here’s the latest dates to be added to their itinerary:
April 22nd Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
April 24th Orlando, FL – The Social
April 25th Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
April 26th St. Petersburg, FL – State Theatre
April 30th Houston, TX – Meridian
May 01st Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
May 02nd Austin, TX – Emo’s
May 04th Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
May 05th Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
May 06th Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
May 08th Pomona, CA – The Glass House
May 09th Santa Barbara, CA – Velvet Jones
May 10th San Diego, CA – House of Blues
May 12th Fresno, CA – Starline
May 13th San Luis Obispo, CA – Downtown Brew
May 15th Reno, NV – The Underground
May 16th Chico, CA – Senator Theatre
May 19th San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
May 20th San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
May 21st Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
May 22nd West Hollywood, CA – The Troubadour
May 23rd West Hollywood, CA – The Troubadour Torche, From Monument To Masses and Judgement Day are expected to appear on select dates of the trek. dredg’s new album The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion has been set for a May 19th release date through the bands own Ohlone Recordings label, which will be distributed by the the Independent Label Group.
St. Vincent has released the opening track to her upcoming album, Actor, which comes out the 5th of May. You can pre-order it here.
St. Vincent – The Strangers
Oh and the new U2 album came out this week. It’s ok…
Motel De Moka: Stunning artwork mixed with the best minimalistic, experimental, and ambient music I’ve never heard of.
ipickmynose: His weekly song obsessions quickly become my song obsessions. Plus his view into the Bay Area indie scene helps me understand this strange new land I’ve found myself in.
Captain Obvious: His library of covers is unrivaled as well as his detailed and spot-on album reviews.
Here it is. Click on the album covers to purchase the album and keep reading, I have a few more surprises up my sleeve before this year ends.
20. Woven – Designer Codes: Listening to this album was like watching Alien for the first time. Terrifying, moving and pieced together with Goth -like architecture and supernatural sounds.
Woven – Fragments
19. Nada Surf – Lucky: What makes me love Nada Surf is that poetry + pop mix that they mash so well. Lucky is not as abstruse as Let Go, but it’s certainly a straight up fun rock record.
Nada Surf – These Bones
18. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes: Indie rock’s version of the Byrds arrived this year with this gently harmonic record debut that warms the heart and sooths the soul. It’s the kind of record that rewards with every listen.
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
17. Facing New York – Get Hot: Balls out entertaining rock music is hard to come by these days. But lucky for our benefit Facing New York decided to overcome some changes in line-up and enhanced their style to this clap-demanding super catchy rock & roll with Get Hot.
Facing New York – Me N My Friendz
16. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals: Whether you consider this an album for A.D.D. indie brats or a genius mish-mash that is a view in the future of party music, you can not deny that Feed the Animals is a shining star in today’s sky of pop culture.
15. Beck – Modern Guilt: Beck paired with DJ Danger Mouse seemed like a good idea on paper, but no one really knew what to expect. What we got was Beach Boys-like surf music with that special Beck tweak. This record was made for convertible cars.
14. The Walkmen – You & Me: This disarming and dramatic record was slow to grow on me. However, after a few more listens, I was marveled by its well structured songs and throwback to classic rock ‘n’ roll.
The Walkmen – The Blue Route
13. The Mae Shi – Hllyh: There aren’t that many bands out there like The Mae Shi and there wasn’t any album like Hllyh this year. This spastic yet charming record screamed in my face yet for some strange reason…I enjoyed it.
12. Man Man – Rabbit Habits: Man Man can’t exactly bring their famous frenzied live show to your living room, but listening to Rabbit Habits is the closest you’ll come to it. The gypsy psycho freak band has probably made their finest record to date.
11. Foals - Antodotes: Sounding like Bloc Party’s evil twin, Foals entered the scene with their swarming guitars and sketchy vocals and left me in awe. Songs like Two Steps Twice and Hummer are electrifying in execution and make this record a perfect driving soundtrack.
Foals – Balloons
10. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago: This is not your average folk record. Bon Iver’s emotional record paints pictures of snowy pine trees and the pain of a guilty man. This record must be handled with care and loved for its delicacy.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
9. Quiet Village – Silent Movie: Like some kind of 70s soundtrack mixed with RJD2-like sampling, Silent Movie is what I miss from proper easy listening music. Be careful though, your mom might like this too.
Quiet Village – Circus of Horror
8. Santogold/Diplo – Top Ranking: There is so much going on in this masterfully manufactured mix tape. Mashing dub-step, reggae, dancehall, and the extremely talented Santogold is an ideal equation for the perfect party music.
Santogold – Creator (Mumdance Mix)
7. Q-Tip – The Renaissance: No hip-hop artist came close to even evening out to this masterfully constructed album. Q-Tip has more than proven that he can hold his own as a solo artist with a little help from the late, great J Dilla.
Q-Tip – Life Is Better (ft. Norah Jones)
6. Max Richter – 24 Postcards in Full Colour: The concept is almost laughable but this Berlin based 21st century composer brings on the emotion by showing that love and loss can happen in small increments of time.
Max Richter – H in New England
5. Black Mountain – In The Future: Rough, wicked, and wailing with desert rock brutality; In The Future is a Frankenstein-monster built from the best aspects of classic rock and prog-metal.
Black Mountain – Tyrants
4. The Notwist – The Devil, You + Me: Gracefully trekking musical ground that has been graced a million times over; The Notwist somehow make electronic rock music interesting and touching again.
The Notwist – Good Lies
3. TV on the Radio – Dear Science: If you list out all the elements that make up Dear Science, you’ll wonder how an album stock pilled with so much could be so amazingly catchy. This album is a grand picture of what to expect in coming future of rock music.
TV on the Radio – Red Dress
2. Portishead – Third: I can’t tell you how much a loved this record the day it came out. I don’t normally listen to a record on repeat in fear that I may ring it dry of all its magic, but that is not the case with Third. It’s yet another masterpiece from this deeply mysterious band.
1. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: Along with one of my favorite live shows of the year, Sigur Rós also made my favorite album of the year. I guess you could say that they were my favorite band of the year? Maybe. But I can without a doubt say that this album is a flawless piece of work. How could a band so epic in execution take on a more upbeat direction? This album is the answer to that question. It struck me in a time of my life that involved a lot of changes and therefore will always have a special place in my heart.
Well it’s Turkey Day week; so whether you’re going home to family or spending it friends, here’s a few “things to do” in the Bay Area before you stuff your face with extreme yummy-ness.
Sunday (Today):
Drive-By Truckers / The Hold Steady
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115
Note: The Hold Steady will be headlining on Monday at the same venue.
Monday:
Portugal. The Man / Wintersleep / Earl Greyhound (HIGHLY Recommended)
Slim’s
333 11th Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Deerhunter / Times New Viking / Common Eider, King Eider
The Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco CA 94109
Tuesday:
The Decemberists / Loch Lomond
The Warfield
982 Market Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Wednesday:
wallpaper. / The Lovemakers / Hottub
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street @ Mint
San Francisco CA CA 94103
Thursday:
What are doing looking here? You should be with people you care about on this day! And what kind of venue would open their doors on Thanksgiving Day anyway? You obviously aren’t a very good businessman to think that this is possible. Phhhh.
Friday:
M83 / School of Seven Bells
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115
Saturday:
Dizzy Balloon / The Frail / The Picture Atlantic
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell St
San Francisco CA 94102
Let me take this time to share some Kata Rokkar news (among other things). Before you go…
Oh yeah, Chinese Democracy is out. Pick up your free Dr. Pepper. (I think the website crashed though, heh)
Far is currently touring the UK right now. So if you’re in that neck of the woods, do yourself a favor and see them live. This may not happen again…
Members of Death Angel, Will Haven, Phallucy, Eightfourseven, Death Valley High and other “special guests” will take part in a benefit concert for Deftones bassist Chi Cheng on Saturday, November 29 at Fat City in San Francisco, California.
Fat City
314 11th Street @ Folsom
San Francisco, California 94103
Cost: $12
I have obviously been busy this week and will be for the coming week. But my shortage in lengthly posts and descriptions of new and upcoming bands will continue in the coming month. I’m just taking a short break (or holiday, for that matter). Anyway, there certainly is no shortage of fantastic shows in the Bay Area this week. I’ll be attending a handful but it would behoove you to try to see at least one of these this week… (cough) Girl Talk (cough).
Facing New York / Built for the Sea / Dizzy Balloon
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Sunday:
22nd Annual Bridge School Benefit
Neil Young / Death Cab for Cutie / The Smashing Pumpkins / Jack Johnson, etc
Shoreline Amphitheatre
1 Amphitheatre Pkwy
San Francisco, CA 94043
Monday:
The Notwist / Jel / Odd Nosdam
Bimbo’s 365 Club
1025 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
Girl Talk / The Death Set / CX Kidtronik
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94115
(2 Night Event!)
Tuesday:
Crystal Castles / Lymbyc Systym
The Independent
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(Another 2 Night Event!)
Wednesday:
Buddy Wakefield / Andrea Gibson / Anis Mojgani / Derrick Brown
Angelico Concert Hall
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Thursday:
Soulwax / 2 Many DJ’s
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street @ Mint
San Francisco, CA 94103
The Black Keys / Dr. Dog
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94115
Friday (Halloween!):
Yelle / Passion Pit / Friendly Fire / Funeral Party
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street @ Mint
San Francisco, CA 94103
Blasthaus presents DJ Z-Trip Halloween Bash!
supperclub
657 Harrison St
San Francisco, CA 94103
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!
Since you won’t be seeing much on Bay Area shows or anything else for that matter in the next few days. I’ll post this Spring themed mix to tide you over until I return from Boston on the 14th. Enjoy!
The Very Most – April Is The Kindest Month
Like a gift from indie pop heaven, 
