Tuesday was one of those rare occasions when I made my way to Bottom of the Hill before sunset . I was there to meet up with Veil Veil Vanish for a portrait or two before their opening set. The opportunity also afforded me the fun of watching Serena Maneesh 's souncheck. When you reach for your ear protection at the soundcheck, you know it's going to be a wild evening. I bided my time between soundcheck and show in my mobile photo editing studio (my laptop in [...]
Rock 'n' roll is defined as getting off work at 9, going to Bottom of the Hill at 10, leaving at 1, getting home at 2 and going back to work again at 7. But two things are in my favor: It's a slow news day, and Sim Dynasty is down, so I have no [...]
In the midst of enjoying a series of sold-out, locally-headlined shows during last week's Noise Pop festivities, there was just enough of a gap between bands, drinks and good times for me to have a real downer of a realization: if the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has its way, many of the great venues hosting Noise Pop shows would be put out of business. Places like Bottom of the Hill, Cafe Du Nord, Slim's, and the Great American Music Hall. Chances are pretty good that if you've been to see a show recently, you've [...]
We danced the night away with Memory Tapes at Noise Pop. This is one band you need to jump on the bandwagon of. See how the show went down inside.
The scope of the Bay Area's independent music scene came through loud and clear at Friday night's sold out Noise Pop show at Bottom of the Hill
The annual Sunday day show at Bottom of the Hill is an odd little affair. The sunlight coming through the window feels jarring, for sure, but what was odd about this year's version was the crowd. This was an all-ages show featuring a headliner made up of young boys playing sunny rock, and that brought [...]
Sacramento, by its nature and its history, is a place where expectations fall short of their intended aim. During the late 1990s, the band Far created rock music that sounded like what it could be like to be young in Sacramento: more questions than answers, long roads of shimmer-hot blacktop, and frustration. Lead guy Jonah Matranga's vocal range within the space of one track could range from gentle keening to the bare-throated howl of an animal one size larger than his small body. The songs felt fearless, with the inertia of a determined plunge into the unknown. Unafraid [...]
When a Rogue Wave show ends with a couple dozen people dancing on the Bottom of the Hill stage, you know a sea change has happened in the band. The press materials for the new album Permalight go into a lot of detail about this, but nothing in the press materials could prepare you for [...]
by Aaron Blumenshine As led by singer/pianist/guitarist Nikolaus Bartunek, the maturity of Picture Atlantic's songwriting stems from how much of a history nerd Nik is. Fortunately, the results are exciting. Based in Santa Clara, CA, the band started as a collaboration of various local hardcore band members and developed into an uplifting and mature rock band. Nik's songwriting meshed well with the addition of his friends, and the band courted its first fans with an EP release. Change is Welcome thus appeared in 2006 as a self released EP. With [...]
Enthusiastic hip-hop fans lined up, down, and around the block waiting patiently to pack in to the sold out, all-ages P.O.S. show at Bottom of the Hill . Desperate fans took to panhandling for extra tickets, and countless sneak-in attempts occurred. The intensely powerful jazz-infused slam poetry of Dessa (the sole female representation in the Doomtree collective) permeated through the walls as eager fans listened in. Dessa wrapped up by serenading the crowd like the true soul musician she is. [...]
designed by Imerr We are unbelievably psyched to team up with San Franciso's Noise Pop Festival to present one of my favorite groups of all time, the legendary Far , this Thursday, February 25, at San Francisco's own Bottom of the Hill. If your only exposure to Far is their ridiculous cover of Ginuine's Pony , go get 1998's Water & Solutions immediately, then buy tickets here . This is not part of a [...]
Vivian Girls and Best Coast fail to impress at Bottom of the Hill.
View the full set on flickr:
I know almost nothing about The Lonely H. My experiences with this group of long-haired youngsters is pretty much relegated to the undying love my good friends and editors Abbey Simmons and Josh Lovseth have lauded on them over the years. And you know what? That's like a Willy Wonka-style Golden Ticket. This is Grandpa [...]
With dates with Editors and including Noisepop & SXSW!
Winter Music Fest. It's a thing, and it's happening right now. If Noise Pop is the Oscars, then perhaps Winter Music Fest is the Golden Globes. Last night four bands of varying talent took turns taking the stage at Bottom of the Hill, and the result was a cornucopia of cacophony. Sure. Fighting the Villain hit [...]
Horse Feathers It was a modest and older crowd at the Bottom of the Hill one Wednesday night in San Francisco, all waiting patiently for a special evening with the always wonderful Horse Feathers . TV Mike And The Scarecrowes Combining wistful, storytelling lyrics with folksy, jangling chords, shimmering and virtuosic fingerpicking, and deliberate gestures, TV Mike & the Scarecrowes invariably recalled the glory of an amphetamine-strained 70s folk rock movement. [...]
Sometimes, when a bit intoxicated and in the presence of a certain sort of, well, more emotional music a strange feeling takes over my face. A well of emotion so great behind the thin layer of my skin, it feels as if a gentle force is pulling my head towards the stage. It might be [...]
Sea Lion, the name of the latest album from The Ruby Suns is inspired by a sea lion colony visible from Hwy 1, south of San Francisco. I figured this was a neat little tid-bit of information considering the band is based out of New Zealand. Recorded by Ryan McPhun alone in his Auckland basement and sung entirely in Maori, Sea Lion is not another psychedelic indie pop album. This is meant to pay tribute and teach those listening to the record how to embody one's surroundings. The album is an exotic and experiential romp [...]
I like going to see hockey. I'm always telling people that they can't appreciate hockey unless they see it live. You can't see the speed, the positioning, or really feel the hits unless you're in the arena. But what about Hockey, the band? Do you need to see them live to truly appreciate them? Do [...]
The Color Awesome!
Spinning Platters
The Bay Bridged
GreenShoelace.com Music Box
kata rokkar...
Sound On The Sound
MVSCLES- Sweet n Sour
The National
James Blake- A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Video: Kanye West – Black Skinhead / New Slaves (Live on SNL)
