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Nick Veronin on February 7, 2019
A few years back, as the music blogosphere was taking a deep dive into Simpsonswave—penning think pieces on the YouTube-spawned micro-genre’s visual aesthetics, gauzy sonic textures and potential for conjuring bittersweet, spacey nostalgia—a group of Arizona metalheads were plotting a revolt. Phoenix-based Okilly Dokilly have a decidedly less chill take on The…
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Wallace Baine on February 7, 2019
Pull at the tap root of Nirvana, Soundgarden or Pearl Jam and eventually you’ll get to Mudhoney, the often overlooked pioneering band of the “grunge” era destined to go down in history as Kurt Cobain’s favorite band and primary influence. Maybe because they never got the payday of their most famous brethren,…
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Wallace Baine on February 7, 2019
The local and acclaimed piano trio colloquially known as Saint Mike (violin, cello, piano) turns its attention to child prodigies in a concert featuring music from composers who got an early start. They include some classical music brand names, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Chopin, as well as a piece from…
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Wallace Baine on February 7, 2019
Russian-born pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov comes to town with a long list of honors and competition prizes, many of which evoke Rachmaninov, the Russian legend whose name has become shorthand for virtuosic piano mastery. A faculty member at the Moscow Conservatory, Gryaznov is also known around the world for his transcription work. He…
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Wallace Baine on February 7, 2019
Silicon Valley’s ace vocal choir The Choral Project addresses the issue of homelessness head on with Art of Sound: Seeking a Home. The program features David Lang’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning showcase The Little Match Girl Passion, inspired by the music of J.S. Bach and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. The concert will also…
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Wallace Baine on February 7, 2019
In case you need proof that reggae is the music of the world, check out the singer known to fans as “Sammy J.” He brings to reggae fans his own musical narrative as a New Zealander with Maori bloodlines and a background in social work. Steeped in the deep soul and R&B…
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It was getting late in the evening and the sun was slowly disappearing into the night as I pulled up to your gate. I buzzed you from the call box and you said you had been expecting me. You showed me around and requested I add more lights to a big tree…
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Mike Huguenor on January 30, 2019
Swaggering and cool, RJD2’s production work is known to many more than probably realize it. He penned the tune used in the opening credits of AMC’s hit period drama, Mad Men. First emerging on El-P’s Def Jux label in the early 2000s, his beats have always been at once forward-thinking and classic…
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Mike Huguenor on January 30, 2019
Oakland’s Sugar Candy Mountain is one of the most recent contributions to the Bay Area’s long and storied tradition of gritty, lysergic rock. This East Bay duo mixes synth pop with swirling psych and elements of tropicalia (check out the castanets on “Crystalline”). The neon boat on the cover of this the…
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Mike Huguenor on January 30, 2019
There is a classic indie rock vibe to Funny Face House’s BDIY-005. Released this past August, BDIY is a hissing snap of four-track rock complete with weirdo melodies, scuzzy vocals, double-tracked guitar solos and warbly keyboards. Think Pavement debut Slanted and Enchanted, or Thee Oh Sees. It’s also an unabashedly fun record,…
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