San Diego Gets Smart
Photo credit: Lambfarm
If you find yourself complaining that they just don’t make music like they used to, you need The Smart Brothers in your life. Oscillating between high-energy roots romps and tender ballads of surprising depth, the San Diego duo create charming, old-timey folk just like grandpa used to make. With their finely crafted compositions and intricate, flawless harmonies, The Smart Brothers make music to fall in love with—and fall in love to. (more…)
Review: The Silent Comedy; January 17, 2010; Bar Pink, San Diego
Few bands in San Diego inspire the kind of rabid devotion that the Silent Comedy enjoy. From their Prohibition-era wardrobes and Old West mustaches to lead singer/bassist J. John’s manic ramblings, the band have struck upon a winning combination of musical chops and good-natured theatricality that has earned them a passionate following. Celebrating their return to San Diego at Bar Pink after a brief but hectic West Coast tour, the Silent Comedy were greeted by a characteristically packed house. And, from the raucous opening song “Poison” onward, the band had the crowd exactly where they wanted them. (more…)
Black Mamba To Celebrate ‘Birthday’ at the Casbah
Up-and-coming San Diego band Black Mamba are set to release Golden Birthday, a 12-inch EP, at the end of the month on the illustrious Single Screen record label. To commemorate the event, the band will be playing a show at the Casbah on April 30th, with The Paddle Boat, Tape Deck Mountain, and Drew Andrews. Don’t miss out on what will clearly be an amazing show.
Speaking of amazing shows, San Diego blog extraordinaire Sezio has just published their review of Black Mamba’s Luce Loft performance from two weeks ago. If you weren’t at any of the five incredible Luce Loft performances—which showcased local heavies The Silent Comedy, Writer, Joel P. West, John Meeks, Calico Horse, and the ubiquitous Paddle Boat—be sure to read Sezio’s reviews so you can at least pretend you were.
Can’t read? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out the video of Black Mamba playing the dreamy “Smoke & Mirrors” after the jump.
Weekend Concert Lineup: August 22nd – 24th
^^ Broken Social Scene ^^
FRIDAY:
Toronto rock throng Broken Social Scene will be bringing their amiable brand of baroque pop to the House of Blues this Friday. Those following the antics of the prolific Canucks over the past year know that there have been two “Broken Social Scene Presents” solo albums so far, Kevin Drew’s Spirit If… and Brendan Canning’s Something For All Of Us.
SoCo Music Experience Schedule Released
^^ The Black Keys ^^
The folks behind the annual Southern Comfort Music Experience, to be held in the Ace Parking Lot at the corner of Imperial and Park this Saturday, have finally seen fit to declassify its set times. A five dollar “donation” grants you access to the event and its eleven musical acts.
Weekend Concert Lineup: August 7th – 10th
^^ The Muslims ^^
THURSDAY:
It’s the first Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for TNT, the downtown Museum of Contemporary Art’s bi-fortnightly event that features everything from DJ lessons to poetry readings to artists talking about why they do all those artistic things that they do. This month’s TNT is called Optimal Illusion and it’s got photographic and video works from actual lady artists. Kelly and Maren from Wild Weekend will also be on hand to spin some 60’s girl group and 70’s girl punk. Guys, here’s your chance to impress the fairer sex by appearing to be sensitive and cultured, as well as to practice pronouncing the word weltanschauung.
Weekend Concert Lineup: July 31st – August 2nd
^^ Jason Reeves ^^
THURSDAY:
For those of you who like your punk fast and dirty like grandma used to make, Jay Reatard is playing at the Casbah tonight. Helping blow the roof off the place will be fellow punkers Cheap Time, as well as San Diego’s very own The Sess, who are part of Single Screen Records’ batting-a-thousand roster of awesome local bands.
Those cut from a more sensitive cloth can go check out Jason Reeves at Soma tonight, who will happily help you relive the painful memory of every girl who, for one reason or another, just didn’t feel like dating you anymore. Jon McLauglin will be opening.
The Silent Comedy – The Silent Comedy
2008, Singleton Records
For a band whose live performances are marked by their theatricality and infectious intensity, The Silent Comedy’s recordings can be surprisingly intimate affairs. Their debut full-length, Sunset Stables, emphasized narrative and restraint over whiskey-drinking and foot-stomping, and now, on their self-titled EP, they pick up where that record left off.
From the opening moments of maudlin country ballad “Daisy”, The Silent Comedy draws you into a rich world of broken bottles and shattered hearts. The song nimbly swells, retreats, and swells again, a ribcage barely containing the heart within. J. John’s vocals intertwine in a tender duet with I. Forbes’ gorgeous violin, and when he begs, “Break me, Daisy”, it’s hard to believe that she hasn’t done so already.
