Poetic Memory: Bazile (List)
Photo credit: Caroline Poe
Bazile is a solo artist from Austin, TX who writes music that he calls “Space Folk.”
Originally from Mississippi, Bazile grew up listening to film scores, and that appreciation has greatly contributed to his style of songwriting. And although his songs are often cinematic, Bazile truly shines when it’s just his voice and guitar.
Bazile took two years to record his debut album, The Sojourn of Professor Narducci, and it was a long, deliberative process. The end result, however, is a captivating work that succeeds in balancing the music with his often melancholy lyrics. For a sample of the album, check out “Solder City” and the Sufjan Stevens-esque “Life of Particles” (MP3s). Bazile’s Poetic Memory is below.
Roadside Graves to Play West Coast Tavern on Monday
In a shocking report, the Surgeon General just revealed that Americans aren’t getting enough rowdy folk in their diets. If you’re among the folk-deficient, bleary-eyed masses, look no further than Monday’s Roadside Graves show at West Coast Tavern to get your life back on track. (NOTE: The show was originally to be held at the Tin Can Alehouse, but was canceled. Thanks to SD Dialed In, the show has found a new home at West Coast Tavern.)
I can’t think of a better way to start your week than experiencing Roadside Graves’ joyous, knee-slapping live set. The band is currently touring in support of the critically acclaimed EP, You Won’t Be Happy With Me, out now on Autumn Tone Records. Continue reading…
Poetic Memory: Adam Haworth Stephens (List)
If you’ve heard Two Gallants, then you know how Adam Haworth Stephens‘ voice can stick with you. The singer/songwriter’s distinctive delivery and poetic lyrics have helped make the San Francisco duo one of indie rock’s most compelling acts, and now he’s venturing off on his own.
Stephens’ solo debut, We Live on Cliffs, is set for a September release on Saddle Creek. You can download the album’s first single, “The Cities That You’ve Burned” (MP3), from his website.
To celebrate the impending arrival of We Live on Cliffs, Stephens is taking his pop-inspired alt-folk on the road. And because no self-respecting tour is complete without a stop in America’s Finest City™, he’ll be headlining at the Casbah on Sunday, August 15th. Proving that two great acts are always better than one, San Diego’s favorite songbird, the always-charming Miss Erika Davies, will be opening.
Two Gallants may be on hiatus, but Stephen’s gallantry is still going strong — the scruffy musician was kind enough to share some of his influences with us. You can read his Poetic Memory, along with the rest of his tour dates, below. Continue reading…
The Owl and Bear Podcast vol. 139
I was only reminiscin’ on the love I believed we’d shared.
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Florence and the Machine – ‘Dog Days Are Over’ (Video)
Florence Welch isn’t shy. The lead singer of Florence and the Machine has a powerful set of pipes, and she uses it to belt out notes with abandon. As a child, Welch was frequently reprimanded in school for impromptu singing, and got her break by serenading Mairead Nash of British DJ duo Queens of Noize during a chance bathroom encounter. Welch’s outgoing personality is also evident in her lyrics — her band’s first hit was “Kiss With a Fist,” a stunning ode to passion and violence.
Florence and the Machine’s video for “Dog Days Are Over” is currently nominated for Best Rock Video and Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Both honors will be decided by fans, so you can help the band win by voting here and here. With its Eastern imagery and soulful vocals, the video is a great demonstration of Welch’s quirky charm and tenacious talent.
After you vote, head on over to the band’s Facebook page for a free download of “Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix).” And, if you feel like “liking” the page while you’re there, don’t be shy.
Poetic Memory: Dinosaur Feathers (List)
Dinosaur Feathers have made a bit of a name for themselves back East. With a sound often compared to Animal Collective and the Beach Boys, these Brooklynites have received rave reviews from music fans everywhere, including Paste magazine:
When asked what…generated a bit of blog-buzz in recent months, Sullos demures: “The more you play, the more people talk about it.” True, but it likely has a bit more to do with the band’s melange of Latin and African-infused drum machine beats — plus the fact that these guys can really sing. Sullo and his bandmates use their voices like instruments, stacking and weaving them into a textured sonic tapestry that drips with 60s nostalgia.
We’re excited to see them at The Rumble this weekend, and you should be too. For a taste of their sound, check out “Fantasy Memorial” (MP3). Then, read their Poetic Memory (below).
Stop, Drop, and Rumble at Bar Pink – This Saturday
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To quote our friends at Future Sounds, “Whatever show plans you have for Saturday night, get rid of them.”
August 7 marks the next Rumble, the multi-band, multi-drink, multi-month music showcase at Bar Pink. Last month’s event featured indie up-and-comers Harlem, What Laura Says, and San Diego’s own Sunday Times. Our friends Indigenous also celebrated their birthday, so it was quite the shindig. There aren’t any officially associated birthdays this time around but, if the lineup is any indication, attendees will still find plenty of cause to celebrate.
Opening the show will be Lesands, America’s Finest City™’s favorite electro-synth rockers. They’re relatively new to the local scene, but they’ve already received positive feedback from KCRW and elsewhere.
Next will be Brooklyn-based Dinosaur Feathers, a band that has exploded in popularity and won’t be playing places like Bar Pink for long. Future Sounds call them “Beach Boys meet Animal Collective,” a band that boasts “amazing vocal harmonies coupled with tropical beats.” Since Animal Collective are already half Beach Boys, that should make Dinosaur Feathers at least two-thirds Beach Boys, and that’s never a bad thing. Paste magazine has praised their use of harmonies “like instruments, stacking and weaving them into a textured sonic tapestry that drips with 60s nostalgia.”
After all that beachy, boyish goodness, Rumspringa will take the stage. They’re headlining the Rumble through August, and will carry it through to Las Vegas. Their upcoming full-length, set to be released on Cantora (not to be confused with Cantore) Records, and live shows have put audiences in “sacrificial trance-like states.” Cool. Click here for downloads and additional info…
Poetic Memory: Mark Olson (Interview)
Photo credit: Ingunn Ringvold
Mark Olson co-founded The Jayhawks with Gary Louris back in 1985, and even though he split from the band 10 years into its 25-year existence, he left an indelible mark on one of the first great alt-country bands — and on lots of great bands that followed in the Jayhawks’ footsteps.
Olson hasn’t stopped working, either. Between 1995 and today, Olson has released seven albums with The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers, a celebrated 2008 reunion album with Gary Louris called Ready For The Flood, and (soon to be) two solo albums.
Olson will release Many Colored Kite, his second solo album, on July 27. The album was produced by Beau Raymond (engineer for Devendra Banhart) and features collaborations with Jolie Holland, Vashti Bunyan, and Neal Casal of Ryan Adams’ band the Cardinals. For a sample, check out “Little Bird of Freedom” (MP3), the Jolie Holland-collaborated first single from the album.
In anticipation of Many Colored Kite, we asked Mr. Olsen to send us a list of his influences. He obliged, and even though it’s not exactly a list, it’s still awesome. Check it out below.
Sarah Jaffe Announces Tour (MP3)
Sarah Jaffe at the Casbah - June 10, 2010
In May, Texas songwriter Sarah Jaffe released Suburban Nature, her excellent sophomore album. She also just completed tours with the likes of Norah Jones and Lou Barlow. Now, she’s heading out on her own.
Jaffe’s brand of stripped-down introspection is a breath of fresh air in an age of muddy music. Her well-developed, resonant lyrics and songwriting are reminiscent of old Moon Pix and Knock Knock-era Cat Power and Smog, respectively. When I saw Jaffe open for Barlow in June, her set might’ve been the highlight of the night.
It doesn’t look like she’ll be stopping in San Diego this time around, but there is a conspicuous gap between her stops in Phoenix and Los Angeles, so you never know. If you get a chance, check out her show. In the meantime, download “Clementine” (MP3) from Suburban Nature. Tour dates are below.
Contest: Win Electric Tickle Machine’s ‘Blew It Again’ on Vinyl
NYC psych garage rockers Electric Tickle Machine debuted Blew It Again in October, and they’ve been accumulating fans ever since. The album, produced by Matt Boynton (Gang Gang Dance, Bat for Lashes) is a multi-faceted piece of work, ranging from compulsive singalong pop (“Part of Me”) to modernized Highway 61-esque tracks like “Bones.” Blew It Again is a hoot to hear, and the band’s energy on record implies that their live shows are a hell of a time.
Electric Tickle Machine also just participated in a wide-ranging interview with ABC news. In the interview, band mastermind Tom Tickle explains that their odd moniker is “a reference to the evolving relationship between humanity and technology and the vessels through which we process our culture, our art, our entertainment, and how we can look at doing something artistic within the context of a world where we already know the output.” If that hurts your brain too much, maybe simply consider Mr. Tickle’s disclaimer that Electric Tickle Machine “is not a euphemism for a vibrator.”
We at Owl and Bear are proud to offer a vinyl copy of Electric Tickle Machine’s debut album, Blew It Again. For a sample of their work, check out “Gimme Money” (MP3). Then, follow the instructions below.
To enter the contest, just comment below and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on August 1, 2010.
July Rumble: Birthdays, Beers, and Bands
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It seems like only yesterday that San Diegans gathered at Bar Pink for the June installment of the Rumble to watch Maren Parusel, Chasing Kings, and Drug Wars. The truth is, it’s been a month, which means it’s time once again to lace up your stampeding shoes and direct yourself toward the North Park watering hole.
Saturday’s lineup starts strong and get better from there. Tempe-based three-piece What Laura Says will set a high bar with their bluesy, poppy Americana. Next up will be San Diego’s Sunday Times. Not much is known about this enigmatic group, but the few videos on their MySpace page show promise. Texas trio Harlem will headline, fresh off the release of their Pitchfork-acclaimed sophomore album, Hippies. Described by the bipolar music mag as “bubblegum…flavored with booze and cigarettes,” Harlem will undoubtedly put on a Rumble-worthy set. Finally, FM 94/9 music director/DJ Michael Halloran will keep your toes tapping between sets.
July 10 also commemorates the birthday of Rumble sponsors Indigenous, so it’s an extra-special event. Instead of three-dollar Trumers and free Trumer tastings, this time there shall be free Trumers for all (while supplies last)!
The San Diego Rumble collective includes Future Sounds, Indigenous, San Diego:Dialed In, M-Theory, Bar Pink, artists-rights organization BMI, Trumer Pills, and — oh yeah — Owl and Bear. To make your intentions known, RSVP on this month’s Facebook event page. See you there!
MP3: Harlem – Friendly Ghost
MP3: What Laura Says – I’d Dance With You
Photos from last month’s Rumble:
The Owl and Bear Podcast vol. 138
You’re such a baby, it’s just a nosebleed.
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Wilco Archive Update – June 25
Here’s the final installment of the summer updates. Click here to view the full list.
Stars – The Five Ghosts (Review)
Most people know, recognize, and love Stars for their hit 2005 album, Set Yourself on Fire. With its songs about wanton breakups, doomed second chances, and last nights with lascivious lovers, Fire placated the heart of the love-scorned listener.
The Five Ghosts, to be released on June 22 on Stars’ own Soft Revolution label, finds us five years later: more playful, less vengeful, but plagued by the persistence of memories. The haunting by the ever-present past is the central theme of The Five Ghosts, and resonates throughout the new songs. Continue reading…
Wilco Archive Update – June 18
Here’s volume four of the summer updates. Check back next Friday for volume 5 (the last one)!
Click here to view the full list.
Fanfarlo – Fire Escape (Video)
U.K. five-piece Fanfarlo will release their new, digital-only “Fire Escape” EP on July 13th. In addition to its unadulterated title track, the EP features remixes by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, The Horrors, Toro Y Moi, and Tom Elmhirst.
Go See April Smith at Lestat’s on 6/16
That headline is not advice; it’s an order.
Spunky little April Smith and her band the Great Picture Show will play Lestat’s Coffee House in Normal Heights on June 16, and if you go (and you’d damn well better better), she will literally knock your socks off. If you’re wearing sandals or flip flops, make sure you fasten them to your ankles.
I stand by what I said when I wrote about her back in February:
If I was only allowed to say one thing about April Smith, it’s that she can sing. Fortunately, there’s plenty of space here to gush about the Brooklyn-based belter: she also has an electric presence, she writes damn good songs, and she’s pretty much destined for greatness.
At that point, I had just watched her upstage the impossibly charismatic Langhorne Slim. Think about that for a minute. Downloads and tour dates are below…
Tortoise Play Casbah Tonight
Hot on the heels of dropping their first record in five years, re-releasing a bunch of classic albums on vinyl, and (just last week) bringing a newborn track into this world, Tortoise have hit the road. And this time (unlike last time), they’ll stop in sunny San Diego. Continue reading…
Wilco Archive Update – June 11
Here’s volume three of the summer updates. Check back next Friday for more! Click here to view the full list.
Time to Move & Shake at the Rumble
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Come Saturday, you’ll feel that familiar shake ‘neath your feet and think it’s happening again. But this time, it won’t be another e-quake (as far as I know); it’ll be the sound of people stampeding to Bar Pink for The Rumble.
If admission weren’t 100% free, I’d call The Rumble the “always sold-out” indie rock showcase that rolls into America’s Finest City every month. Since there’s no cover charge, I’ll just say it’s the indie rock event that has it all: free bands, the jockeying of discs, cheap booze, me…
This month’s featured artists include San Diego’s Maren Parusel and Drug Wars and L.A.’s Chasing Kings. Throw in local celebutante Seth Combs (spinning under the stage name DJ Meth Combz), and you’ve got yourself one hell of a happening. Get there reasonably early, steal a space at the bar, order some astoundingly inexpensive drinks, and have a blast. That’s what we do, anyway. Continue reading…
Wilco Archive Update – June 4
Here’s volume two of the summer updates. Check back next Friday for more! Click here to view the full list.
Poetic Memory: Normandie Wilson (List)
Photo credit: MySpace
Fans of San Diego’s eccentric mariachi rockers Red Pony Clock have no doubt noticed Normandie Wilson, their fetching marimba player. The self-described “DIY Burt Bacharach-influenced pop” songstress is preparing her fourth solo album, The Flower Box, for release on July 1st. You can hear the first single, “Elevator,” on her MySpace page, or you can download the lovely “Goodbye” here (MP3).
It’s fitting that Wilson’s vocals soar like a bird over her swanky pop arrangements — she’s a member of the San Diego Audubon Society, and has dedicated herself to painting every single species of bird before she dies. We’re guessing that she also approves of (at least the first half of) our website’s name.
Wilson will be tearing herself away from the mixing board on June 23rd for a rare performance at the E Street Cafe in Encinitas, so be sure to catch her. In the meantime, be sure to check out her Poetic Memory below, in which she lists the albums and artists that ignited her love for music. Continue reading…
O&B Guestcast vol. 1 – dau-al-set
The inaugural installment of the Owl and Bear Guestcast was compiled by Italy’s dau-al-set.
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