The long awaited reunion of Americana/ folk-rock duo Two Gallants (Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel) finally took place last weekend in their home-city of San Francisco, at the beloved Portero Hill venue, Bottom of the Hill. The venue was completely packed on its second sold out night, and many attendants even flew and drove in for the show. Favorite songs from the duo’s four releases to date (three albums and one EP) such as "Seems Like Home to Me", "Steady Rollin’", "Despite What You’ve Been Told" and especially "Las Cruces Jail" were welcomed by an uproarious crowd. Stephens and Vogel, who have been friends since childhood, were incredibly grateful for the reception of fans, and were as tight in their playing as they were during their last tour in 2008. The two had not played together since their December 2008 performance at The Fillmore. These home shows kick off a North American tour, which will be followed by a string of European dates. With stops in Vienna, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and England, these boys will have quite the busy summer. Their show in Vienna is with Saddle Creek Record label-mates Bright Eyes and Warner Bros. band Jenny and Johnny. (Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Rice both hold ties to the Nebraska-based Saddle Creek Records as well). Another highlight of the tour is a performance in Belgium at a free outdoor festival.

Although Two Gallants are known for Vogel’s intense drumming power, the band is revered for its controlled chaos—they have many songs of quiet profundity. One such song of fierce tranquility is "Crow Jane", from 2004’s The Throes which was performed with the help of Jackie Perez Gratz (from the San Francisco metal-trio Grayceon) on a beautiful electric cello.

Stephens and Vogel have been recording as Two Gallants (named after a James Joyce story in Dubliners) since their mid-20’s, and have been applauded for a sound that authentically hearkens back to the early days of blues music in America. Songs such as "The Deader" (Two Gallants, 2007) were passionately sung along to by fans, with such classic blues sentiments sung by Stephens as "Let the river be my guide, let the desert be my bride". Another audience favorite to sing along to is always "Despite What You’ve Been Told", with lines such as "I’ll take to the hills, savage and free. I don’t need nobody and nobody needs me". The band opened with a cover of the Blind Willie McTell song "Dyin’ Crap Shooter Blues", which was on their 2003 album-length demo By The Grace of God, and sounded as if it could have been written by Stephens himself. The band also performed their controversial song "Long Summer Day" (What the Toll Tells, 2006), which tells the story of an African American man before the civil rights movement, who is driven crazy by hard work in the hot summer days, while a "white man feels lazy" and turned away from voting. Their songs always tell rich narratives, but this stands out as their most political song to date.

Fans were relieved to see Stephens playing with his full force, as he was seriously injured in an accident when returning from his tour of his solo album released this fall We Live on Cliffs (Saddle Creek). When driving through a Wyoming snowstorm with his drummer Omar Cuellar, their van flipped multiple times. Physical therapy sessions have enabled both to be able to play again.

If you missed them on this tour and are eager to check out new material from the two, Vogel’s solo album was released last summer, entitled The Devotionals, and is a mesmerizing instrumental project. Otherwise, stay tuned for the recording of their next album and more home shows to follow.

–Shauna C. Keddy

I’ve been listening to a lot of The Clash lately. I think it’s something about the springtime that brings out the 70’s punk girl in me. When I heard the first song off Terry Malts’ new 7-inch I’m Neurotic, I couldn’t help but equate the two. Their biography section on their Facebook Page, while never the most important way to retrieve information on a band, seems to, in this case, ring true to the trio as it reads, “Detached, disillusioned so and so’s, thriving on barely trying.” These Bay Area boys pull off the lazy and bored musician thing better than most.

The first song off the EP, also titled “I’m Neurotic,” starts with a fuzzy guitar riff over a fast-paced and extremely powerful drumbeat as the vocals creeps quietly into the song repeating “I’m neurotic.” It’s the perfect opener for a 7-inch as it instantly grabs an audience that seems to be currently obsessed with finding a 60’s or 70’s band to compare a new band to (guilty). Terry Malts originality shines through more on the second track, “Distracted” which kicks off with an echoing gospel-like acapella before starting into another quick and highly succinct drumbeat with drawn-out guitar riffs. The last track “Where is the Weekend?” is by far the “sloppiest” song in the best and most oxymoronic way possible. The patterned and simple lyrics over a chaotic and fast paced tempo in a short two minutes left me wanting more—hoping for a full-length from these guys soon.

 –Anna Oseran

Opening with a warm ambient hum, "What With" sets the tone for Mist Giant‘s debut EP Human Tree and lays out the foundation for their pensive electronic indie-rock sound. Smooth ambient synths, subdued rhythms, and a peppering of wistful guitar melodies bring to life Mist Giant’s brand of drone-y pop. Borrowing some of the musical practices of trip hop, Mist Giant has created an exciting and austere soundscape with this EP.

Minimal and well-crafted, Human Tree is a wonderful surprise from a band that seemed to pop up on my radar out of nowhere. With the chugging ambiance of “What With,” the eerie sounds and electronic drums of “Empty Archipeg,” and the pulsing heartbeat rhythm of the “Some Ophelia,” Mist Giant have delivered an intricate and thoroughly intelligent set of songs. Human Tree comes highly recommended for anyone in search of a brief respite from the Bay Area’s great garage revival.

-Ada Lann

Human Tree is currently available for download here with the promise of a vinyl pressing this May.

Spring rolls on with week of lovely weather. Here are few show selections for you to take in once the sun goes down.

Tonight Ears of the Beholder will be presenting a show at the Rickshaw with Dominant Legs, Superhumanoids, and Dirty Ghosts, 8pm.

Friday, back at the Rickshaw, Soft White Sixties will be celebrating a double album release party with AB and the Sea alongside The She’s, 8:30pm.

Saturday out at the Hotel Utah catch Manatee with The Soonest, The Dandelion War and Calling Morocco, 9pm. This will be The Soonest’s EP release show.

–Ada Lann

 San Francisco garage rock scion Ty Segall and his band played to a sold out crowd on last Thursday the 21st at Bottom of the Hill. This is not your Mom and Dad’s rock and roll — this is the kind that’s meant for teenage rebellion.

Channeling the unadulterated energy from early 60’s garage rock, Ty Segall’s sound is nothing short of noisy and his look is dirty. But don’t let all the drum banging and guitar fuzz fool you — these are completely talented musicians, and they showed their skills to the jam-packed crowd.

The kids and the not-so-young alike danced and shoved the night away, getting throughly riled up by the rocking lo-fi grooves curated by Mr. Segall and his all girl band. Especially noteworthy performer was drummer Emily Rose Epstein. Her tight drumming kept everyone’s feet moving — but it was still fun since she beat the hell out of her drums.

Opening bands for Ty were San Francisco based R&B act Nick Waterhouse and the Tarots, Costa Mesa band TRMRS and local band The Royal Baths.

 – Lauren Manary

Gypsy-electro-roots-bassheads Beats Antique has taken its sound circus back on the road. Treading the line between hippie and raver, the Oakland, CA-based trio plays Milford, CT tonight, Burlington, VT on April 27, and Boston, MA on April 28. You can also catch Beats Antique at festivals Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Electric Forest, Camp Bisco, All Good, Lollapalooza, and Bear Creek.

Beats Antique’s eclectic sound appeals to a wide variety of tastes. Like-minded collaborators range from Bassnectar to John Popper. The local favorites quickly sold out the Fillmore in late March, and the show featured surreal animal masks, dancers, live instruments, and, of course, heavy beats. They closed the set with a Glitch Mob remix that left everyone sweaty and slightly transformed. Being Bay Area cool kids, Beats Antique’s refreshed website is worth a look, and there you’ll find the complete 2011 tour schedule. –Whitney Phaneuf

Vardo by beatsantique

Finally fulfilling the promise of their demo we reviewed recently, Phantom Kicks have announced the release of their official EP Tectonics. Featuring all the songs from the demo plus a few additions, this EP is definitely worth a listen. Grab yourself a copy while it’s still free over at their Bandcamp page and, if it’s not too late to make plans for the evening, catch them at the Hemlock tonight with Ash Reiter and Radiation City.

–Ada Lann

Listening to the Dolphins EP from San Francisco’s Mi Ami feels like a thirty minute trip into deep space. Pulsing, deep, rhythmic beats and shrill desolate vocals, plunge you further into the journey. It’s electronic pop for when its 4:30am and you’re positive you’ll never need sleep again.

With one 4 song EP, Mi Ami have gone from high energy, noisy avant garde rock trio to a slightly mellower, hypnotically intense electronic duo. No review of Dolphins can ignore the fact that in the past year and a half, Mi Ami has created something many fans might not expect. There is not a trace of guitar or any of the acoustic percussion styling that is very much apart of what was their signature indie rock sound. However, Daniel Martin-McCormick’s shrill often unintelligible lyrics carry the Mi Ami torch.

What’s left in this stripped down electronic version of Mi Ami is a dark, synth laden landscape of sound where the electronic pulsing kick drum pushes you through dense air. There’s a lot of isolation coming through on Dolphins. It’s haunting. A nighttime beach party in a cave where you realize you don’t recognize a single face around.

Dolphins is not a hard pill to swallow, just an unexpected curveball. Imagine Blond Redhead putting out an album that sounded like Crystal Castles and you’ll get the gist. With that said, Crystal Castles fans should definitely check this release out.

–Nicole Leigh

Tonight SMiLE! will be presenting a benefit show for the Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival at the Knockout. The line up will feature Kill Moi, Spiro Agnew, The Rabbles, and Upstairs Downstairs with DJ Neil Martinson spinning Psych, Soul, Glam, Bubblegum, Laserboogie and such. Head out tonight and put your money toward helping a great institution for the local music scene. Doors at 9pm.

Sometimes, you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But if you’re a broke college student like me, it may not be within your financial means to jet off to a tropical destination at the drop of a hat.

Now listening to this album wont get you a suntan, but you might feel like you’re sitting in the warm sun – Painted Palms’ EP Canopy is an aural vacation that takes you far away from the gritty city livin’.

If you’re an Animal Collective lover, this album definitely takes some influence from them. The opening track entitled “All of Us” (and my favorite from the EP) opens with a thumping drum that pulls you right into the song and the album and uses vocal elements similar to them. Although these elements are shared, “All of Us” is still unlike anything else out there – Painted Palms has successfully made something truly beautiful and catchy, but not kitschy.

The rest of the album is definitely more disco than the first track. Somehow, disco plus soundscapes equals awesome. Another notable track is the glittery and sensual “Great White.” While it seems to a little out of place with the rest of the album, its still a good track, regardless.

I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a concept album, but it certainly feels like it. This EP takes you to the beach, under water and to the rainforest and that’s why they’re one of the most exciting electro-pop groups out right now. Painted Palms has been one of the few acts lately to get me really excited – its pop-y, beautiful, visual, catchy but somehow also really relaxing. Its just good old-fashioned happy music. – Lauren Manary

While this April 20th may provide a ridiculous excuse to celebrate lethargy, that really is no reason you shouldn’t head out to see some live music this week. Here are a few selections from the calender.

Tonight head over to the Hemlock where Thralls will be headlining a show presented by See the Leaves alongside Bad Bibles and Portland’s Night Surgeon, 9pm.

Tomorrow at the New Parish in Oakland (((folkYEAH!))) will be presenting a show with Sonny & The Sunsets, The Sandwitches, and Beaches, 9pm.

Also on Thursday, down at Bottom of the Hill, Ty Segall will be playing with Royal Baths, TRMRS, and Nick Waterhouse & The Tarots, 8:30pm.

Finally on Sunday, back out at the New Parish, (((folkYEAH!))) will be presenting another show with Sleepy Sun and Spectrum, 9pm.

-Ada Lann

FpodBpod’s debut album is a refreshing balance of fun pop with psychedelic garage rock songs, and as well as slower melodic tracks. Lead singer-songwriter Sean Olmstead is a superb multi-instrumentalist, and Beatles fans will get a kick out of his quirky sensibility (á la Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club) and melodic voice. A California native, Olmstead is also known for his contributions to Indianna Hale the beloved Bay Area band The Blank Tapes.

From the soothing, dream-like title track “Girls”, to the catchy chorus based “If I Forget To”—this album captures a versatile and fascinating artist at the start of a sure to be promising career. Some songs may put you in a hypnotized daze, but others snap you right back out of it and get you tapping your feet and considering the lyrics. On the downbeat “A Friend”, Olmstead sings of accepting the death of a close friend, and on the rollicking “If I Forget To”, he explains to a former love that he only neglects them because: “it’s just that I can’t stand to think about the love we knew”. He has some fun on songs such as “Mama Fell Asleep” and “Hey, Nate” which show his jam band and garage rock singing style, respectively. Add on two instrumental songs and a fast-paced cover of the Kraftwerk song “Neon Lights” and you are in for a view of an inspired creative mind.

These songs are certainly dance-ready, and it is always a joy to see which Bay Area musicians come together to lend a hand when a musician played most of the instruments themselves during recording. Be sure to head to Amnesia on April 29th to see FpodBpod play with The Beehavers and Montra.

-Shauna C. Keddy