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Matei Predescu on July 17, 2019
At 23, indie R&B singer-songwriter Ian Santillano is shining with artistic potential. Santillano hails from Hayward but is quickly gaining traction within San Jose’s DIY music scene. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Santillano’s lush guitar harmonies and bouncy bass lines complement his understated vocals with a waviness reminiscent of contemporary R&B acts like Daniel Caesar and The Internet. Santillano’s debut EP, 1856, dropped last Friday and will be celebrated with a performance at the Art Boutiki featuring his band, the Housewarmers. Sharing the date are local surf rock band Swells and the Lünatics, and the Sacramento neo-soul group Basi Vibe. Continue reading »
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Matei Predescu on July 17, 2019
San Jose alt-pop rock band Frantic Romantic has released six music videos since October in a concerted effort to build buzz for their new full-length album, Celestina, which comes out this Saturday. Their visually striking music videos for songs such as “Among the Stars,” “At Night” and “Rocketship,” showcase their original take on the ’90s rock aesthetic. The sextet of hard-hitting musicians channels a vigorous sound driven by soaring synth lines, distorted guitars, moody keys and powerful vocals from their lead singer, Mr. Kerosene. Continue reading »
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Erika Rasmussen on July 17, 2019
Back in 2017, when the Warped Tour announced it would no longer be making its annual cross-country trek, even those who took down the thumb-tacked posters of their alternative, punk and hardcore heroes long ago must have felt a tiny tug at the heartstrings. Fortunately for Bay Area locals, Shoreline is one of only three venues across the nation to host the storied festival this year. Marking its 25th anniversary, the tour that gave rise to the likes of Blink-182, Paramore, Less Than Jake and even Katy Perry returns with sets from The All-American Rejects, Jawbreaker, Offspring, Thrice, Sum 41 and more. Continue reading »
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Erika Rasmussen on July 17, 2019
La música y el arte están vivos y buenos. Sonido Clash, a cultural arts collective, emerged in 2009 to address a lack of creative diversity in local nightlife. The group celebrates and explores the diaspora of Latinx sound and art, from the traditional to the contemporary, and hosts this summer fiesta. Sonido Clash has found international footing, making friends across the country, as well as in Tijuana and Mexico City through collaborations and partnerships. At Summer Vibras, attendees may browse arts, crafts and jewelry—or, swap records, clothing and other goods while relishing comida y música buena. ¿Entiendes la vibra? Continue reading »
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Matei Predescu on July 17, 2019
This iconic classic rock band got its start playing in the nightclubs of late ’60s Chicago, ultimately taking the city’s name for its own. At a time when most rock groups stuck to the classic four-piece arrangement of two guitars, bass and drums, Chicago challenged conventions by incorporating the diverse musical traditions of their hometown—gaining an international following by merging rock & roll with a killer horn section that drew inspiration from jazz, funk and R&B. The rest is history. Continue reading »
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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. More than 100 musicians and vocalists have rotated through the project, which has more than 20 albums since 2013. Most recently on PMJ’s YouTube, Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ country trap was reinterpreted as smoky Dixieland jazz. Continue reading »
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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 of Fishbone and Korey “Kingston” Horn of the Aggrolites. Funneling the intoxicating rhythms of ska through the sheer power and intentionality of big band arrangements, Western Standard Time cooks up a decisive concoction of high-energy grooves. Continue reading »
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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 quartet—a guitarist, bassist and drummer—don’t get much downtime. They’ve put out two albums this year and are maintaining a packed touring schedule, which brings them to Rosita Park in Los Altos this week as part of that city’s Summer Concert Series. Continue reading »
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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 sound draws from the unapologetic rough edges of their hard rock influences while seamlessly blending honest soulfulness with their lyrics and melodies. To celebrate the release of Aurora, the Silver Echo is putting on a release party and live show at Redwood City’s Club Fox this Thursday. Continue reading »
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Bill Kopp on July 17, 2019
Arguably the queen of 1980s rock, Pat Benatar has achieved a singular mix of success, both critically and commercially. With record sales of more than 30 million units to her credit, Benatar is among the most successful—and undeniably talented—artists of the modern rock era.
Six of the diminutive singer’s albums have gone platinum in the United States, and she found significant success in Europe and Australia as well. Her striking good looks and powerful voice made Benatar a darling of the nascent MTV when it launched in 1981, and she would remain a fixture of the channel’s music programming through the 1980s.
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