New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Geek chic lovers, prepare to swoon hard for Kapowski. Be prepared for Oakland-based Kapowski to steal your heart with their video for “Picture of Health.” It’s so damn twee, it almost makes me want to put an end to my fabulously single life. Dancing in the sun? Making out over parking meters? A private concert on Lake Merritt? Merill Garbus approved? Lead singer Jesse Rimler, marry me!
–Justine Fields
What’s next, Ty Segall Greatest Hits?
The prolific garage rock darling will release Singles 2007-2010 on November 22, a double album featuring unreleased or out of print tracks. Listen to "Bullet Proof Nothing," one of the songs on the new album.
–Whitney Phaneuf
SF’s Extra Classic takes retro recording to a new level on its latest LP Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like A Laser Beam. The analog, dub-inspired project of Adrianne Verhoeven and Alex deLanda, Extra Classic recorded its new album on an 8-track with vintage recording equipment from the 60’s and 70’s. Stream the entire album here and don’t miss the vintage soul fun at the band’s release show on October 26 at the Make Out Room, along with King Tuff.
Treasure Island Music Festival is just a month away, which means you should already be composing playlists to get psyched for the awesome-packed line up. In the absurd chance that you haven’t already started guffawing over the stellar acts, we’ve got you covered.
One of our Bay Area friends on the bill, Thee Oh Sees, just released their latest track, “Carrion Crawler,” on Pitchfork. Garage grooves abound in this rock ‘n’ roll cut from their upcoming LP on November 15. Now off you go: download / learn / impress your friends at Treasure Island!
–Justine Fields
SoCal band around MTV VMA town Young The Giant just released an EP of remixes, succinctly titled Remix EP, via their Facebook page.
None other than San Francisco’s very own lady rapper K. Flay scored a slot on the mix. Her reworking of “My Body” can be all yours, along with a slew of other Young the Giant remixes, if you simply head over to their fan page here and press the like button.
–Justine Fields
Depressed? Deerhoof is back with a free web album to cheer you up.
99% Upset Feeling is the result of the band’s tireless Deerhoof Vs. Evil tour. Stream and download the experimental, live sounds that have dominated the SF scene since the mid-90s.
To truly know Deerhoof is to see them live, so don’t miss the SFMOMA Atrium show on Sept. 15 with Adam Pendleton.
–Whitney Phaneuf
With one part Ross Peacock (formerly of Oakland scene-stars Clipd Beaks) and two parts Nathan and Cyrus Tilton (formerly of bay area band Ned, also with Peacock), plus guest vocals by current Oaktown sensation Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards, Mwahaha is bursting with people who call the sunny side of the bay home.
Check out their psychedelic infused rock with this free download of “Rainbow Diamond” and be on the lookout for the whole album dropping December 6th on their own Mwahaha Music or watch this recent performance from The Uptown.
–Justine Fields
Wrapping up touring for its latest EP June, SF’s Cannons and Clouds should deliver a great set to the Rickshaw Stop on Wednesday, August 31. The six-piece crafts a definitive example of compatible collaboration – a result just as delicate as it is formidable. Classical piano and harp intertwine with sonorous vocal harmonies, warm guitar licks, and a potent rhythm section to compile beautiful, direct emotion. “River Parade," in particular, resonates. The Rickshaw show will also feature The Family Crest, Garage Voice, and Downhill From Here in support.
–Julianne Wagner
Ty Segall, San Francisco’s modern day Kurt Cobain (primarily in a his signature flannel fashion sense), is getting around town. If you missed his garage rock set at Outside Lands and you can’t bare to wait ‘til his gig on Aug. 27 at Hemlock Tavern or you’re busy during his Sept. 12 show at The New Parish, then fear not because you can certainly get your fix at his just announced show tomorrow, Aug. 26, at The Knockout with the always-amazing Shannon and the Clams. –Justine Fields
Afrolicious is a party and a person. Joe "Pleasuremaker" McGuire’s foray into African music and an extension of his weekly party at the Elbo Room, Afrolicious released its first EP Dub for Mali, available for download here.
Produced by Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation, the tracks were recorded in an improvisational atmosphere to better capture the energy of the Afrolicious party. Practice your best dance moves to this pastiche of afro-beat, disco, dub, reggae, down-tempo, funk, blues and beats.
–Whitney Phaneuf
Weekend is back after a year of touring for last year’s breakthrough album Sports.
The result of three weeks in the studio with producer Monte Vallier, Weekend will release its new EP Red on Sept. 20. Slumberland Records promises another long-player from Weekend in 2012.
If "Hazel" is any indication of Red’s sound, this EP will measure up to the clattering, shoegaze-pop treasured in Sports.
Be sure to catch Weekend on tour throughout September with Talk Normal.
–Whitney Phaneuf
Dominant Legs‘ latest video for "Hoop of Love" features the two band members happily leaving a city that looks to be San Francisco in exchange for a jaunt to the woods. Once there, they act appropriately for the summer, doing backflips (on land and water), eating fresh fruit, smiling a lot and prancing about like an Urban Outfitters ad. "Hoop of Love" froths in Technicolor synth and charming electric guitar shimmies. Ryan Lynch’s falsetto vocals dream of junior high crush awash in pastel flowers and glitter stickers, aching to "keep his mind shut…to not want to know the joke." Dominant Legs’ easy pop is a mechanism to stretch out the blissful days and transform them into an everyday false reality.
–Julianne Wagner
Dominant Legs – "Hoop Of Love" from stereogum on Vimeo.
