Well in the midst of all our current Best Emerging Artist poll business we should, of course, still mention there are still shows to be seen this week. Here are a few selections from the calender.

Tomorrow Bay Area Bourgeois will present a show at Era Art Bar in Oakland with Ben Thompson (recently selected for the poll from our Sonicbids Submissions), Hydroplane and Fool’s Paradise, 8pm.

Friday out at the Knockout Maus Haus will be playing their last show before a few month hiatus with Sleeptalks, 10pm.

Saturday at Slims catch Magic Bullets with the Fresh and Onlys and Crocodiles, 9pm.

–Ada Lann

Here Come The Saviours gained the most votes amongst the Bay Area-based artists that submitted to be considered for our Best Emerging Artist Poll 2010. They will therefore go on to the next stage of our poll along with B. Hamilton, The Spyrals, and Ash Reiter.

TOP 10 ARTISTS FROM OPEN SUBMISSIONS

Region: SF Bay Area

Jurors: Deli Washinton DC and Philadelphia Editors

1. Here Come The Saviours – NOMINATED FOR NEXT PHASE

2. B. Hamilton – NOMINATED FOR NEXT PHASE

3. The Spyrals – NOMINATED FOR NEXT PHASE

4. Ash Reiter – NOMINATED FOR NEXT PHASE

5. Callow

6. Fans of Jimmy Century

7. Foreign Cinema

8. Bears! Bears! Bears!

9. Commissure

10. Leilujh

As we finish up the nomination process for our upcoming Deli SF 2010 Best Emerging Artist Readers Poll, we are proud to announce the bands selected from our Sonicbids submission page.

Birds and Batteries

Birds & Batteries are on a steady rise with consistently sold out shows in San Francisco, a new record, a Daytrotter session and more national touring ahead. "Panorama" is the third full-length from Birds & Batteries and their finest work to date (Spune/ Velvet Blue Music). The new album is a rare mix of organic and electronic, pop and experimental and an effortless play of surprising elements.

Birds & Batteries’ "Up To No Good" EP (2009, Eightmaps) showed singer / bandleader Mike Sempert exploring synth-funk and the influences of Bowie’s "Scary Monsters" and P-funk. On "Panorama" (2010, Spune/Velvet Blue Music) his love for artists like Harry Nilsson, ELO, and David Byrne shines through, and he trades in a bit of the irony for empathy. Sempert might as well be a scientist in his next life, as he is able to blend his classic folk-ish voice with synth textures for down right futuristic results. When pressed for a simple summary, he’s described the sound as "Art-rock meets Tom Petty." Basically it’s not all that easy to define. Sempert is joined by Christopher Walsh (guitar), Jill Heinke (bass), and Brian Michelson (drums).

The new record conjures up blue skies and big views. It is heartfelt and bold and unlike anything in the current indie landscape. After playing festivals in the spring of 2010 – SXSW, Noise Pop, NX35 – Birds & Batteries toured nationally in the summer and fall of 2010. They’re scheduled to return to Noise Pop 2011 in SF in February.

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson is a San Francisco based/Iowa raised electronic artist forging a trail into uncharted sonic territory with compositions that are as motivating on the dance floor as they are uplifting in the headphones. Graduating from Cornell College with a degree in composition, Ben marries his love of electronic dance music with his passion for structure, harmony, and melody. This hybrid of classical sensibility and contemporary sounds creatively blends elements of electronic, house, techno, rock, and funk.

Ben’s ability to keep a strong foot in both the “sophisticated” art world and the “party” club scene has earned him a diverse and growing audience, including the staff of iTunes who labeled him a 2010 Electronic Artist to Watch. Having only been producing electronic music for 4 years, Ben has already booked at premier SF venues and parties, including Mighty, 111 minna, The Boom Boom Room, the Disco Biscuits after party and Kelly’s Mission Rock, and also opened for international acts Lazer Sword, Signal Path, Shlohmo, and Ghosts on Tape.

Prior to making electronic music Ben was logging hours on the guitar playing in jazz and funk bands, writing acoustic pieces, and studying composition. He is proving to be a steadily rising star and is currently working on a follow up to his 2010 self-released EP, Time Traveler. Ben’s next release in 2011 will coincide with a small tour to promote his already infiltrating sound.

Slowness

Slowness is a drone-pop trio from San Francisco that formed in 2008 in a big living room just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The group—Geoffrey Scott (guitars, vocals), Julie Lynn (bass, keyboards) — enlisted Monte Vallier at Ruminator Audio as producer. After several attempts to get it right, the band completed its first four-song EP, Hopeless but Otherwise, and hit the road for a 17-date U.S. tour in the summer of 2010. The group is currently recording a follow-up EP with Vallier, on which Sean Eden, formerly of Luna, will add guitars. Slowness is booking a European tour for the summer of 2011 to support the soon-to-be released For Those Who Wish to See the Glass Half-Full.

Check back again soon to begin voting on your favorite SF act.

The Mother Hips, Chico-based jam-band from the nineties, headlined a holiday show at The Great American Music Hall the weekend before Christmas. Although the stoner vibe of their long instrumental bits may have been a bit much for those in the audience not high on cannabis, they were tighter on certain songs and held their own even while missing many of their original members. The showstopper was when lead singer Tim Bluhm’s wife Nicki came onstage and raised the roof with her powerhouse voice. Those completely gone from too many joints and five minute musical interludes were snapped back to attention, with the refreshing presence of a woman onstage among the five male hippie rockers. The beautiful Mrs. Bluhm walked onstage, appearing polished and stylish, and proceeded to sing with wisdom and heart. Even though she only graced the stage for one song, it hit home more than the entire rest of their performance for me.

The female power was introduced early in the show in fact, with San Francisco-based all women’s choir, The Conspiracy of Venus, kicking the show off with a rousing and fun-filled set. Choir director Joyce Todd McBride included one superb song she wrote herself, but otherwise early comers to the show were treated to three Tom Waits songs, two by Joni Mitchell, and one by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol. Additionally, a rocking choir version of the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” got the audience dancing and joining in. Highlights of their set were a solo by Demetra Delia Markis and their fun props such as a toy cowboy gun yielded by Frankie Burton. The girls ranged in age from twenties to middle age and it was a joy to see them all up their in their holiday finest.

More girl power was exhibited in the second opening act, Or the Whale. Led by Alex Robins, the band is given flight by the amazing singer Lindsay Garfield. Or the Whale has appeared on Good Morning America, and their debut album Light Poles and Pines helped earn them a 2008 Hollywood Music Award for Best Americana/Roots Artist as well as a coveted spot on Radio & Records Top 100 Americana Artists of 2008. And believe me, they live up the hype. Americana without feeling cliché or too cool for school, this band knew how to rock, and how to bring it down home. Not to mention, it was precious to notice that (accidentally?) four out of six of them were clad in plaid shirts and jeans.

The highlight of the show though, had to be when the choir joined The Mother Hips for a song, taking advantage of the onstage box seating. In the twenty or so shows I have seen at the GAMH, I have never seen it used before. But it was not just their placement in the box that made this moment great, it was their voices with the Mother Hips, a perfect pairing.

Words and Photos by Shauna C. Keddy

Or the Whale Photo by Melanie Robins

Happy New Year Deli readers! Hope your holiday went well. Here are a few selections from the calender for your first weekend of 2011.

Tomorrow at the Hemlock former Artist of the Month Winners Thralls and Ash Reiter will be playing with the Pentacles, 9pm.

Thursday out at the Eagle Melted Toys will be playing with Nodzzz, Mantles, and The Art Museums, 8pm.

Friday catch Silian Rail open for The Velvet Teen alongside Low-Five at Bottom of the Hill, 10pm.

Finally, on Sunday close out your weekend at Kimo’s with Commissure, Crawler, and Rogue Sounds, 9pm.

–Ada Lann

It’s the week of Christmas and stresses abound

still there are shows that for you can be found.

Though they may be few and far between

here are selections from the calender we’ve seen.

Tomorrow at evening head up to Hemlock

where We Shore is Dedicated will be bringing the rock.

Also that night up the hill at Kimo’s

Dandelion War will play out your woes.

Lastly next Tuesday after Christmas is done

catch Commissure at Sub-Mission for some late evening fun.

Otherwise we hope that your weekend is swell-y

Happy Holidays from us at the Deli!

–Ada Lann

Nestled somewhere in the nebulous cracks between genres, The Actors’ latest EP High and Low (my first encounter with their sound) is a moving combination of heroic vocals, gentle synthesizer tones, and grooving beats. Mixed with a generous helping of reverb, High and Low is a vivacious and sincere synth-heavy pop album.

Opened by rhythmic tonal croaks amidst layers of ethereal synth melodies, High and Low gradually comes to life with the esoteric “Theory of Something.” An interesting combination of lyrics both metaphorical and grounded, “Theory of Something” builds its conclusion in charming vocal harmonies that “everything is something sometime” only to morph into a gentle grooving outro.

“Through A False Door” follows, quickly exploding in a brilliant burst of guitar hooks and voluminous synthesizer tones. Characterized by its epic atmosphere and a chugging baseline, “Through A False Door” continues to build on the previous tracks intensity with the lead singer belting out in a powerful high tenor.

With a distinct synth line and funky grind on the bottom end, all the best elements that make up High and Low come together on the albums most seductive track “First Date.” The singer is able to show off an impressive vocal range, with fantastic harmonies supporting it, while a tight knit drum and bass build a strong foundation for the more delicate synth tones to rest upon.

This probably best describes what the Actors are able to accomplish with their sound. With such epic and capacious sounds there needs to be something that grounds the listener to the moment of the song. Strong rhythmic baselines coupled with an impressive clock-like drummer fix the ears to a point while the rest of the sounds spiral about in glorious high-energy bursts and reverberations.

Catchy and sweet, High and Low is an exciting EP with plenty of space to discover sounds and hooks within the music that will certainly delight your ears. Rumor is The Actors are working on a new release. If High and Low is a herald of anything then we should expect whatever is upcoming to be just as stimulating.

–Ada Lann

Up a little late but here are few selections from the calender for the weekend.

Thursday at Slims Music for Animals will be playing with The Frail, Fans of Jimmy Century, and Return to Mono, 8pm.

Friday head over to the Hemlock for Silian Rail, Summer Darling, and Honeycomb, 9:30pm.

Saturday wander out to the Hotel Utah for former Artist of the Month winners Foolproof Four with The White Buffalo, 8pm.

–Ada Lann

Maus Haus

Fol Chen

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo

Exray’s

[See More Photos Here]

–Ada Lann

Well compared to last week’s live music bonanza there seems to be a little less going on. Regardless, here are a few selections from the calender.

Wednesday night former Artist of the Month winners Blackstone Heist will be playing with Death Jazz and Lloyd’s Garage at the Elbo Room, 9pm.

Thursday at El Rio catch Commissure with Distance from Shelter and Granted Earth, 9pm

Saturday, KUSF will be presenting a show at the Hemlock with Shannon and the Clams, The Night Beats, and Outlaw, 9pm.

–Ada Lann

With jagged guitar strikes piercing a harrowing and portentous synth-drone, Skeletal System’s “Small Talk” opens their just recently released two-track EP. A vast and reverberating chamber of sound engulfing eerie and despondent lyrics, “Small Talk’s” pensive mood begs to be played at high volume so that the listener can be consumed by its resonance, sending chills in a fascinating way.

Like a thick cloud punctured by the blips of a falling satellite, “Static Eyes” fills the second side of the single with additional ominous intensity. Marked by its sharp arpeggio-ed synthesizer tones, “Static Eyes” (all though certainly dark in its own right), functions as a lovely bridge out of the utter despair that characterized the previous track.

All in all this EP (or single, however you choose to define it) is a brief but enthralling release by one of San Francisco’s great synth-rock bands. Hopefully, it is a herald of more in-depth things to come. It is available for free at Bandcamp and comes highly recommended.

–Ada Lann