Posts Tagged ‘The Botticellis’

Kuestionnaire: The Botticellis

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

So you haven’t been to one Mission Creek Festival show yet? Well on the 23rd of July at 9PM at The Knockout in San Francisco, one of the finest acts in the Bay Area will be performing their hearts out to a crowd of lucky people. You see, The Botticellis are the essence of not only Bay Area music, but California music. Free spirited, intelligent, and not oversaturated with influence, their last album, ‘Old Home Movies’, is a short yet sweet piece of pop craft that assists the listener in visualizing sunny Pacific beaches, windy roads, and a brisk atmosphere aided by their perfect harmonies and beach-bum vibe.

The band is currently working on their new album but guitarist/lead vocalist Alexi Glickman was kind enough to answer this week’s Kuestionnaire.

1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?

my dad’s copy of rhythm nation on vinyl that he won’t give me

2. What have you been listening to lately?

Lupu plays Brahams Op. 118 & 119, Op. 79 No.2

3. What’s your favorite local band?

anything any of the patzner bros (Judgement Day) are jammin

4. What was the last show you attended?

Little Wings @ Outerlands

5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?

Nelson Twins @ the Universal Amphitheater ca. 1990

6. What show are you looking forward to?

kuma/koshka @ saysay and jj’s

7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?

Burton Li – living the dream

8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?

Blythe’s age 3 feminist manifesto songs on cassette

hmmm– deserted island– can i bring four surfboards instead?

9. Would you call yourself a music geek?

fox is the new wolf

geek is the new jock

so….. no

(i went to music school instead)

10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?

imagine on vhs

11. What’s the last book you read?

Blythe just read me Ha Jin’s short story “A Composer and His Parakeets” and Oprah’s book club is reading me some Faulkner.

12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?

live performances in the studio

13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?

getting my ass kicked by all the members of some shitty band at sxsw– pretty much tops the charts ( when folks gonna back a brother up when it’s time to throw down?!)

14. Any favorite tour locations?

the Pasties’ house in Olympia

15. Lastly, what have you done today?

jammed a song for my dad and ran the lands end trail before sitting down to mix our second record…

The Botticellis – Up Against The Glass

The Botticellis – Old Home Movies

Judgement Day – In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Edvard Grieg Cover)

Tags: Judgement Day, kuestionnaire, Mission Creek Festival, The Botticellis
Posted in Kuestionnaires, Music | No Comments »

Kuestionnaire: Judgement Day

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

String metal? The description of Oakland based instrumental band Judgement Day sounds cool on paper; but is it really? In reality, the “string metal” act is more than cool, it’s awe-inspiring. After all, classical music is the true inspiration and influence of metal music, so it would make sense that the genre would return to its roots with a bit of a sinister twist. Their music screams and roars with immense intensity both on their first full-length, Dark Opus (self-released, 2007) and at their insane live shows. Just go to one of their concerts and look around at audience members during their songs; you will see jaws drop and people mouthing, “This is the best thing ever!” The band has worked with the likes of dredg, Cursive, Bright Eyes, and are now supporting (and performing on stage) with indie-pop act, Mates of State. In addition, the band is working on their next release, Peacocks \ Pink Monsters, which has no release date at this time.

You can still catch Judgement Day on tour now with Black Kids and Mates of State and will be supporting (and performing on stage) atmospheric rock band, dredg. For you Bay Area folks, Judgement Day play tonight at The Independent with Mates of State and will be at the Great American Music Hall on the 19th of May and at Bimbo’s 365 on the 20th with dredg.

The extremely talented Anton Patzner (violinist of Judgement Day) was kind enough to swing by the ol’ Kata Rokkar to fill out this week’s Kuestionnaire…

1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one is your most cherished?
I don’t really have a record collection. I just hang out with other people who do.

2. What have you been listening to lately?
Tibetan Monks and Radiohead – In Rainbows – both discs.

3. What’s your favorite local band?
The Botticellis

4. What was the last show you attended?
Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s in New Haven Connecticut

5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
The Arcade Fire at Coachella 2005 or Radiohead at All Points West 2008

6. What show are you looking forward to?
Our shows at Bimbos and Great American Music Hall with Torche and dredg!

7. What musician would you like to hang out/work with for a day?
I’d love to take a composition lesson from John Williams (the guy who wrote the music for Star Wars, not the guitarist)

8. What four albums you would bring to a deserted island?
I don’t know about albums but if it were records I’d bring most Push-ups in a 10 minute period, longest duration for jump rope, world largest bladder and most buses jumped on a scooter.

9. Would you call yourself a music geek?
I don’t think I would. I’m really cool.

10. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
I don’t own any dvd’s except for Scarface.

11. What’s the last book you read?
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It was good.

12. Do you prefer live performances or recording in the studio?
I go back and forth. When I’m not touring with Judgement Day I make my living producing soundtracks for films and that is really fun. It’s hard to say which I like more.

13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you’d like to share?
No. They’re too embarrassing.

14. Any favorite tour locations?
Seattle! We are there right now. Also, Portland, Denver and Philadelphia. Those towns show bands a great time.

15. Lastly, what have you done today?
Woke up in a hotel room, took a shower and answered this questionaire.

Judgement Day – Seventh Circle

Judgement Day – Flight II

The Botticellis – Up Against the Glass

Tags: Judgement Day, kuestionnaire, The Botticellis
Posted in Kuestionnaires, Music | 1 Comment »

Kata Rokkar’s “Dear, Spring” Mix

Monday, April 6th, 2009

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!

“Dear, Spring”

Mix Full Download Here

The Very Most – April Is The Kindest Month

Metric – Gold Guns Girls

Ida Maria – Queen Of The World

Dan Auerbach – Heartbroken, In Disrepair

Facing New York – Comin’ Up

The Botticellis – Old Home Movies

Voxtrot – Soft & Warm

Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others

School Of Seven Bells – Connjur

Iron & Wine – Carried Home

Sean Hayes – 33Fool

The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Nature Springs

Jonah Matranga – Springtime

Tags: Dan Auerbach, Dear, facing new york, Grizzly Bear, Ida Maria, iron & wine, Jonah Matranga, Metric, School of Seven Bells, sean hayes, Spring, Spring Mix, Spring playlist, The Bad & The Queen, The Botticellis, The Good, The Very Most, Voxtrot
Posted in Music, Web Site | 3 Comments »

Kata’s “I’m Not Going, But I’d Like To” SXSW Special

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

It would be impossible for me to describe the plethra of bands attending this year’s SXSW. I’ll leave that for someone who has more time on their hands than me. I will however tell you about a handful of shows that I believe you should check out (if you’re going) or just check out the band’s music if you’re not going (like me).

Fans of sweet folk and people who became a slave to anything Bon Iver puts out should check out The Low Anthem. The Providence, RI trio released the critically acclaimed Oh My God, Charlie Darwin just last September and has been riding the wave of it’s success since. They’ll be all over the place at SXSW, so there’s no excuse to miss them…

Wed March 18th:
3PM – Mad Dragon Party @ The Thirsty Nickel
Thu March 19th:
12:30 – Music By The Slice @ Homeslice Pizza
3:00PM – End of the Road Party at Lambert’s
1AM – Bella Union Showcase at The Ranch
Fri March 20th:
10PM – Central Presbyterian Church
Sat March 21st:
4PM – PureVolume House @ 2nd and Trinity

The Low Anthem – Charlie Darwin

You seriously can’t go wrong with this line-up. If you haven’t heard of at least Bart Davenport, you’re betraying yourself in ways you could never imagine. From the sonic melodies of The Botticellis to the danceworthy electro-beats of Sugar & Gold, missing this show is not an option.

Saturday, March 21

1am – Pterodactyl (Uncle Booking)
12am -Gravy Train!!!! (Uncle Booking)
11pm – Sugar & Gold (Antenna Farm)
10pm – Bart Davenport (Antenna Farm/Uncle Booking)
9pm – The Botticellis (Antenna Farm)
8pm – The Dry Spells (Antenna Farm)

@ The Radio Room, 506 E. 6th, Austin, TX.

Bart Davenport – A Young One

The Botticellis – Up Against the Glass

Sugar & Gold – Neighborhood

Those looking for just plain fun early-Beatles idealism won’t need to look any further than The Morning Benders. While you’re at it, go ahead and check out their brand new EP titled Grain of Salt on +1 Records.

Wed March 18th:
9:00pm || Stimulus Package hosted by HearYa.com @ Paradise Cafe
Thu March 19th:
3:30pm || The Bay Area Takeover @ The Beauty Bar
Fri March 20th:
12 – 6pm || The +1 House Party @ The Legendary Hank Sinatra’s
Sat March 21st:
1:00am || Wave Rooftop: Official SXSW Showcase

The Morning Benders – i was wrong

The Morning Benders – Doctor Doctor (Daytrotter Session)

Besides being lucky enough to tour with a few of my favorite bands (Wintersleep, Appleseed Cast), An Horse will be spreading their balls-out rock all over Austin this weekend. I like what I’m hearing and will most likely head out to purchase their upcoming debut release, Rearrange Beds, as should you.