Proper Art or Propaganda: On Nicolas Jaar’s Sirens George Green October 6, 2016 Album Review A coin sits on a hospital-grey album sleeve. What to do? Anyone that has had the fleeting anxiety when thumbing through a couple of fresh scratch cards knows. Like a chisel or a paintbrush, this coin is a tool....
Foals Provide the “Rock” in Indie Rock Brendan Redmond October 4, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Reviews As the Uber neared the flashing welcome sign of the Fox Theater, my mind began to race. I was unsure what atmosphere Yannis Philippakis and the remainder of Foals would create. As soon as I walked into the Fox,...
Danny Brown loses his mind on the infectious Atrocity Exhibition HR Huber-Rodriguez October 3, 2016 Album Review, Reviews It’s been a big year for rap. The four biggest rap stars of the moment- Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Chance the Rapper- all put out full length projects, and Young Thug has over the summer skyrockete...
Creepoid has nothing to prove Ally Mason September 30, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Reviews Philadelphia fourpiece Creepoid has got nothing to prove. Far enough in their musical career to have honed a peculiar sound that’s equal parts melody and noise, Creepoid continues to create music that channel...
VÉRITÉ brings The Fillmore to life Joanna Jiang September 29, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Photos After a quick live equipment check, Brooklyn songstress VÉRITÉ (real name Kelsey Byrne) hit the Fillmore stage before an impressively energized post-Folsom Street Fair crowd. The second opener for fellow Eas...
Synapses Still Sizzling from Symbiosis Conner Smith September 28, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Reviews Now that the dirt – like black tar in our lungs – has begun to dissipate, the myriad of experiences at this weekend’s Symbiosis begins to take shape. Immersive visual experiences, live art, world music, l...
Flume Closes Out the Weekend at Bill Graham Arnav Chaturvedi September 28, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews Australian producer and musician Flume camped out in San Francisco for three nights as crowds trudged through dense bass, making their way in and out of the Civic Center. Flume has been preforming for the ma...
Okkervil River Meets Death On Away HR Huber-Rodriguez September 20, 2016 Album Review, Reviews Few bands have maintained the album to album consistency achieved over the last dozen years by Austin’s Okkervil River. Fronted by Will Sheff - the band’s vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and ...
Local Natives Release Third Album, Sunlit Youth Jacob Elsanadi September 13, 2016 Album Review, News, Reviews Local Natives have released their third studio album this week amidst mixed reviews. Sunlit Youth (2016), released by Loma Vista Recordings, was preceded by four singles from the album: “Past Lives,” “Vil...
Frank Ocean’s Blonde is lightyears ahead of 2016 HR Huber-Rodriguez September 9, 2016 Album Review, Reviews The enigmatic Frank Ocean rewrote the book on R&B with his landmark second album, 2012’s Channel Orange, and the anticipation surrounding his latest release has been bordering on sensational. Ultimately, ...
Coldplay Rival Superbowl Performance for Labor Day Weekend Arnav Chaturvedi September 8, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Photos Coldplay returned to Levi's Stadium on Saturday (9/3) to bring a triumphant end to the US leg of their Head Full of Dreams tour . Their last appearance at the stadium was none other than the extravagant ha...
Savoir Adore return for The Love That Remains Joanna Jiang August 16, 2016 Album Review, Concerts, Festivals, and Live Previews By coincidence, we are perhaps starting to associate Savoir Adore with the end of (holi)days. The last time lead song architect Paul Hammer and company were in town, we were trying to make the most of the final...
Mitski, Japanese Breakfast demonstrate the highs and lows of life on tour HR Huber-Rodriguez July 19, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews, Reviews Last Friday (4/8) the Starline Social Club in Oakland played host to two of the best working songwriters in indie rock: New York’s Mitski and Philadelphia’s Japanese Breakfast. While the former is a rapidly...
Indie music and food festival Phono del Sol leaves patrons happy, waiting for next year Valerie Law July 12, 2016 Concerts, Festivals, and Live Reviews This year’s Phono del Sol was a lively celebration of local art, public parks, and music. The 2016 lineup featured Chairlift, Alvvays, Born Ruffians, Mr Little Jeans, Adam Vida, The Seshen, The She’s, Hot ...
Shura shares millennial insecurities, that Nothing’s Real Joanna Jiang July 9, 2016 Album Review Commonly compared to a young Madonna, Aleksandra Denton (as Shura) is, in personality, much more inconspicuous. With a sweet demeanor and dyed ends, Denton blends in with today’s alternative crowd. And her br...