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Erika Rasmussen on July 17, 2019
Sometimes, the past just sounds like a better time. Postmodern Jukebox, founded by arranger and pianist Scott Bradlee in 2011, is a music collective that covers popular tunes from the modern age—but with a twist. They are uniquely rearranged in the style of more sultry genres, like swing, lounge and big band.…
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Matei Predescu on July 17, 2019
Since 2012, Western Standard Time has paid tribute to Jamaician ska originators—like the Skatalites—through the lens of big band. This West Coast all-star band is composed of established jazz heavyweights currently working the LA scene. Many of them are internationally acclaimed Grammy-winners. The band features world-famous ska musicians, such as Angelo Moore…
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Metro Staff on July 17, 2019
Rebecca Roudman makes her living as a cellist in the Oakland Symphony and the Santa Rosa Symphony. But when she’s not performing the work of the masters, she is using her instrument to conjure up blues, bluegrass and rock & roll melodies. It would seem that Roudman and the rest of her…
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Matei Predescu on July 17, 2019
This newly formed local alternative rock outfit displays their polished and multilayered songcraft on their recently released debut album, Aurora. “Rock ’n’ Roll Queen” and “Chasing Ghosts” recall timeless traces of the Foo Fighters, QOTSA and Soundgarden. Incorporating a nuanced blend of spacey keys, atmospheric synths and catchy guitar riffs, the band’s…
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Matei Predescu on July 11, 2019
Odesza’s arrival at the newly renovated Frost Amphitheatre on Stanford’s campus will showcase the venue’s newly minted facilities and frame the duo’s versatile approach to electronic music. Their use of provocative samples and unconventional production combined with pop-influenced singer-songwriting elements blurs the boundaries between house, techno, electronica and indie rock. The Seattle-based…
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Matei Predescu on July 11, 2019
This eclectic yearly music festival has its roots in the underground techno scene of the mid-’90s. Since its acquisition by LA production company Insomniac, Audiotistic Bay Area has become a staple of the West Coast festival circuit. From hip-hop to EDM to turntablism, Audiotistic curates a diverse palette of music from artists…
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Erika Rasmussen on July 11, 2019
It’s not often that rewatching a sitcom seven times all the way through pays off, but this Saturday is one such occasion. Three rounds of 25 questions surrounding five of the nearest and dearest ’90s pals will test the public’s Friends literacy. What’s up with Phoebe’s mother? How many non-human creatures has…
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Matei Predescu on July 11, 2019
Even without the acclaimed biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, the music of Queen is strong enough to stand on its own. Through a combination of boundary-pushing production and raw talent, the British prog-pop-rockers filled arenas with adoring fans during their heyday. Original members Roger Taylor and Brian May continue to pack stadiums with the…
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Matei Predescu on July 11, 2019
Local guitarist and composer Mason Razavi looms large in the Bay Area jazz scene. His critically acclaimed albums and regular engagements with the San Jose Jazz Festival are a testament to his expertise and sensitivity as an artist. Razavi’s latest project, Quartet Plus, Vol. 2, highlights his creativity as a forward thinking…
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Nick Veronin on July 11, 2019
San Jose hard-blues heavyweights Zed are back with their third full-length effort, Volume. “This album is definitely next level for us,” says bassist Mark Aceves. The group’s new drummer—veteran Bay Area musician Sean Boyles—does more than hammer away on Zed’s latest LP; he helped with songwriting and arrangements as well, which not…
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