Having seen The National perform at least ten times over the past few years, one comes to expect certain things from the band’s live set: the cathartic chorus of “Apartment Story,” the crowd sing/scream-along with “Mr. November,” and of course singer Matt Berninger’s gracefully awkward stage presence. Continue reading…
Cass McCombs is a man who keeps to the shadows. He’s a notoriously slippery interviewee, and is generally controlling about what aspects of himself he reveals to the public. It should be no surprise, then, that when the enigmatic musician performed at the Casbah on Thursday, he did so in near-darkness. McCombs’s mellow set may have had more in common with his somnambulant album Wit’s End than the comparatively upbeat Humor Risk, but the beauty of his songwriting was always visible, no matter how (literally or figuratively) dark it got. Check out the photos…
Full album stream: Crooked Fingers – Breaks in the Armor
As headliners Crooked Fingers cycled through songs new and old this past Saturday at the Casbah, they also cycled through their lineup. Continue reading…
The November installment of Sight and Sound went off on Saturday night at University Heights’ 3rd Space. As you might expect from the reliably classy event series, there was plenty to keep people entertained, including free massages, face painting, art, booze, and crepes. And because the night wouldn’t have been complete without music, a pair of local heavyweights were on hand to serve up some tunes.
Following a set by a beatboxer named Generik (probably not the type of lead-in she’s accustomed to), Miss Erika Davies took to the stage with her trustee band. Together, the trio — which included Gary Hankins on guitar and Christopher Carroll on drums — treated the crowd to songs from her gorgeous full-length, Galaxy Lakes.
Next, Nervous Wreckords frontman/Owl and Bear tee-shirt owner Brian Karscig unfurled some laid-back country ditties. The songs bore little resemblance to the rock-and-roll glitz of his normal band, but the intimate setting at 3rd Space proved an ideal setting for him to show off his twangy side. Check out the photos…
Brooklyn’s Dub Trio have played San Diego many times before, but Tuesday night was their first headlining show here. After stints as the backing band for Mike Patton and Matisyahu, they brought angular metal riffs peppered with dub breakdowns to the Casbah. The subwoofers got a workout, as did the audience’s ribcages. Check out the photos…