New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Indie pop favorites Billy & Dolly (aka Bill Rousseau and Dahlia Gallin Ramirez formerly of the heavy 00s band Monolith) today released new album Dally Bon Idyll. Treading familiar territory, Dally Bon Idyll features powerful, yearning vocals telling intimate stories of love gone wrong.
Download the playful single "Gold," reminiscent of the duo’s inspirations Donovan, Simon & Garfunkel and Dolly Parton, and watch the video for "Oh Yeah" below.
–Amanda Dissinger
Dividing its time between Northern California and New York City, we’re lucky enough to call HUFF THIS! our very own all summer and through Burning Man. Clearly fans are happy to have the band in the Bay Area since they just voted HUFF THIS! Artist of the Month.
"One part love, one part flight, one part nervous, one part fearless," HUFF THIS! has made a beautiful album called Tuff Love, which depicts the pain and hardship of love through lush, experimental folk pop songs. The album was made in 2010 by a collaboration between lead singer, keyboardist and guitarist Alison Clancy and electro-acoustic cellist and composer Chrissy Lancaster of the Bill T. Jones Dance Company. The band also features drummer Tony Long and bass player/producer Sonny Ratcliff.
Tuff Love is a six-song collection of ambitious, passionate songs. Opener "River" features Clancy’s haunting vocals singing "Take me, take me, take me to the river/I want to swim" and sets the theme of yearning for something that you can’t have. "Big Love" is a simple track, with just a simple guitar and Clancy’s voice, and tells the story of a girl with a big heart who will miss her lover’s tender heart that she knows so well. What’s so immediately grabbing about the album is its strings, the layering of voices and soundscapes to create music that makes you feel like you’re in a lovely dream.
Tuff Love is an album to listen to over and over in order to fully grasp the nostalgic and bittersweet tone of the music and the story of a lost love. Download Tuff Love here or stream below, and watch the music video for "Lovin’ You." –Amanda Dissinger
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Two weeks ago, I was departing for Coachella Weekend 2. This was the first Coachella I’d ever attended, so I had no expectations except that there’d be a cool hologram if I didn’t melt before the end of the weekend. While I did come close to sweating every morsal of liquid from every pore in my body, I lived (and missed the hologram in order to be back at my job in San Francisco by 9:00 am the following morning).
So although I didn’t get down with Tupac, I did catch three of the Bay Area’s elite and felt quite proud for our little part of the music contributing world.
First up was Oakland’s Wallpaper. The electro-rock fivesome kicked off the festivities in one of the tents and lead singer Ricky Reed was arguably more excited to be there than any of the fans. He gushed about having been an attendee at Coachella for many years past and that it was mind-blowing to have been invited to perform. The synchronized drumming and adorable pink-haired singer were definitely a fun way to get things started (and in my case to begin applying sun block at rapid fire pace).
Later that first day, I struggled to leave the shade to catch San Francisco’s golden boys Girls at one of the outdoor stages. Obviously, I couldn’t miss Mr. Owens and his amazing backup singers, so I dragged my ass to the sun soaked crowded field. I’ve seen Girls before (read my review here) and while I think the backup belters are the best thing going on in that group, I’m pretty sure everyone else in attendance walked away saying it was a favorite from the weekend. Sometimes, I just can’t help but swing against the current, what can I say?
However, when it comes to the East Bay’s tUnE-yArDs, I am part of the in-crowd. I fucking love everything about Merrill Garbus and her saxophonists and her bassist and their whole vibe and their set on the second day was just GREAT. That the band is able to reproduce its sounds so flawlessly live is just WHOA. Plus, she did this really awesome bit where she had the audience close their eyes then turn away from the stage. When she had us open our eyes to the beautiful Indio Mountains that she was viewing from her vantage point, she exclaimed something along the lines of, “Look at where we are! How cool!!” And it was…even if it was anything but cool in temperature.
–Justine Fields
If you’re as excited as we are about Adios Amigo‘s new EP out June 1, the follow up to the band’s stunning debut EP, head to Bottom of the Hill tonight for its show with headliner Oakland’s Kids on a Crime Spree. Also on the bill is Oakland’s James & Evander, who recently released irresistible 7-inch Let’s Go, part vintage 70s soul, part futuristic spaced-out synths. Listen below.
–Whitney Phaneuf
No excuses necessary for rocking out to Excuses For Skipping‘s infectious sound–the band won our 2011 SF Fans Poll. When they’re not banging out the tunes, you’ll find this foursome kicking it in San Francisco’s Mission District. Read more in our Q&A with lead singer Linda Moody.
And don’t miss Excuses for Skipping tonight, April 27, with fellow locals Loquat for its album release party at The Independent.
-Whitney Phaneuf
It’s the classic story: girl meets girl, girl falls in love with girl, life happens and girl changes, girl writes beautiful record about the relationship. This is the story behind Sacramento based Sea of Bees’ (aka Julie Ann Bee) new album Orangefarben out May 1 and streaming now on NPR. Bee sings every word with passion, nostalgic yearning and pain, and while it’s incredibly heartbreaking, it’s also incredible raw and hopeful.
On "Teeth," Bee sings about her ex’s white and crooked teeth, on “Girl”, she talks about the first time she met her ex and how she was “out of this world," on “Take”, she discusses how her ex needed to just “take take take what she wants." All of us have been through this type of tumultuous relationship, but few can turn something so awful into something so gorgeous.
Orangefarben (named for her nickname for her ex-lover) is a stunning piece about loss, first love and forever pledging your heart to someone. It’s the perfect heartbreak album, it’s the perfect falling in love album. In a word, it’s perfect.
Watch the video for "Broke" below, shot around the countryside surrounding Bee’s home in Sacramento, and catch her on tour with some great local artists including Sister Crayon, Andy Cabic of Vetiver and Little Wings. Tour dates below.
–Amanda Dissinger
05.12.12 – New Paltz, NY @ Market Market
05.15.12 – Manhattan, NY @ The Mercury Lounge w/ The Loom
05.17.12 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Rock Shop w/ Spinto Band
05.20.12 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe
06.02.12 – Sonoma, CA @ Huichica Music Festival
06.07.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Bows & Arrows w/ Little Wings
06.09.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s w/ Sister Crayon
06.10.12 – Sacramento, CA @ Fifth String w/ Andy Cabic of Vetiver
06.11.12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot
06.12.12 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Sister Crayon
06.13.12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland w/ Sister Crayon
06.16.12 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door w/ Sister Crayon
06.22.12 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill w/ Sister Crayon
Broke from New Canada on Vimeo.
After discovering that the word "bender" is derogatory slang for "homosexual" in Europe, The Morning Benders has changed its name to POP ETC. Read more about the decision here and download a new mixtape in anticipation of the band’s third album out June 12.
San Francisco-by-way-of-Asheville, NC psychedelic rappers Fist Fam has changed its name to Weekend Cult, according to the guys a name inspired by "mushroom addled backwood bonfire gatherings." Stream the latest LP from the boys here or below.
According to SF Weekly, Oakland’s gritty, garage trio Bare Wires has broken up after a disastrous South By Southwest which resulted in the band canceling the rest of its national tour. We’re looking forward to hearing frontman Matthew Melton’s new "pop" project called Warm Soda.
–Whitney Phaneuf
Oakland’s experimental electronic movement is gaining national attention, helped hugely by West in Dust founders Dave Reep (Elephant & Castle) and Glenn Jackson (James & Evander). Get a feel for the label’s futuristic underground sounds on its new compilation, available for free download or stream below, featuring both local and international artists. In the coming month, expect an EP of new material from Placeholder and a debut from Medla.
Catch key members of this growing scene Yalls, Glenn Jackson and Some Ember at a free show tonight in Oakland at Era Art Bar Lounge.
Track list below with local artists in bold:
01 Ra Cailum “わかりません"
02 Hugo Frederick “Limber”
03 Placeholder “Pot Pan”
04 Gardland “Jaws”
05 Benefits “Souse”
06 Xavier León “Who Did I Break”
07 Medla “Ruhl”
08 Rekchampa and Morning High “Thoughts About the Inbox”
09 Different Sleep “Deep Inside Us”
10 Yalls “Outerbanks”
11 Rave Deep “Step Right”
12 Glenn Jackson “Fell”
13 Colo “You’re Mine”
14 Elephant & Castle and shortcircles “All I Can Say"
–Whitney Phaneuf
We receive lots of submissions at the Deli, but the latest from Bay Area duo Ramon and Jessica has really made my ears perk up (I am a sucker for boy & girl duets). Comprised of violinist Dina Maccabee and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Olsen, the duo has brought a quirky and gorgeous blend of indie folk to the SF scene for many years, collaborating with a revolving door of local musicians and releasing two albums, Ramon & Jessica and Handyman’s Honeymoon.
Ramon and Jessica have just released their third album, Fly South, enlisting the help of friends, a few Casio keyboards and toy pianos to create a completely unique album. Stream it here. “Waltz #3 Where the Coffee Becomes Wine” and “The Words You Know” are my two favorites, but the whole album is truly beautiful. Watch them perform "Diamond in the Sky," off Fly South, below or here.
–Amanda Dissinger
Imagine prepping all of your raw material for the studio, beginning the recording of your first full length debut and then your father dies in a tragic accident. This is exactly what happened to Adam Burnett of Dangermaker.
The product, Black Dream, is Burnett’s original cuts smeared with a layer of darkness. The first single, "You’re Not There," alludes to the awful situation in name alone, but even more in Burnett’s repeated chants of "I’m still here." The promo video for the rock track takes a different stance as a mime struggles to entertain people in and around Chinatown. While both points of view are rather drab, I think I prefer the true story to the miserable mime. Judge for yourself below.
You can catch the San Francisco foursome later this spring at Hotel Utah on April 21st and at Bottom of the Hill on May 19th.
-Justine Fields
Fresh off four years spent touring and traveling Europe, gothic singer-songwriter Emily Jane White is taking the Bay Area by storm once again. The songstress, who is heavily influenced by depression-era blues music and classic gothic literature, is set to release her third album, Ode to Sentience, June 12th via Antenna Farm Records.
Listen to “Black Silk," the first single from Ode to Sentience, and watch a new video for second single “The Cliff." Catch White live in her home turf in April, dates listed below and on her website.
–Amanda Dissinger
Upcoming Live Dates:
Wed 4/11: Cafe Du Nord, SF
Thu 4/12: Christy’s on the Square, Santa Rosa
Sat 4/14: Cafe Mekka, Nevada City
