Nearly four years after the 2007 wildfires forced them to cancel a scheduled gig, The Pipettes finally returned to San Diego on Thursday. Well, at least one Pipette did. Former members RiotBecki and Rosay departed the band in 2008 and, several lineup changes later, the group is now comprised of original member/Hitchcock-blonde Gwenno Saunders and her sister Ani. Continue reading…
On Friday, two local acts and one visiting band had the crowd at Soda Bar shaking to some fine fine music. First, San Diego’s Shapes of Future Frames unleashed their Bowie-inspired space oddities on the crowd. The trio is currently putting the finishing touches on its debut album, which should see release in the next few months.
Next, Santa Barbara’s fast-rising Gardens and Villa dazzled with their worldly, Local Natives-inspired rock. The synth-heavy set was a big hit with the audience, whose pleas for an encore were answered in the best way possible — with a rollicking cover of Gary Numan’s “Cars.”
Finally, local headliners Cuckoo Chaos took to the stage with their off-kilter rock. With the exception of the set-capping mainstay “Jam Song,” the five-piece stuck to their newer material. The freshly hatched songs are set for inclusion on the band’s full-length debut, Woman, out in July on Lefse Records.
Check out pictures of all three sets below. Continue reading…
MP3: Childish Gambino – “Freaks and Geeks”
Download: Childish Gambino free EP
Last Tuesday night, Donald Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Mr. On-Your-Girlfriend’s-List) entertained a sold-out crowd at the Belly Up Tavern with a mix of comedy and music. The multi-talented actor/writer/rapper opened up for himself, performing a 20 minute stand-up routine before launching into an impressive set of serious hip-hop. Check out the photos below…
April Smith and the Great Picture Show brought their swinging, old-timey pop to M-Theory Records on Monday. The New Jersey native and her band were surprised by the big turnout at the Mission Hills store, but they shouldn’t have been. Anybody who has heard their excellent album Songs For A Sinking Ship is most likely a fan, and hearing Smith belt those notes in a live setting was clearly an offer San Diegans couldn’t refuse.
Of course, seeing as how Smith and Co. just finished a tour opening for Fitz and the Tantrums, it’s safe to assume that Monday’s crowd wasn’t the biggest they’d ever played for. But that didn’t stop them from launching into renditions of songs like “Colors,” “Terrible Things,” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” with enough gleeful energy to fill an arena.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a thousand pictures — but we’re bloggers, not mathematicians, so we’ve got both for you. Check out the video for “Colors” above and the pictures of April Smith and the Great Picture Show below, which should tide you over until the next time they come to town. Continue reading…
MP3: The Baseball Project – “1976” (via Paste)
MP3: Maren Parusel – “Dear Love”
On the eve of MLB opening day, The Baseball Project brought good music, obscure references, and flat-out giddiness to San Diego’s Casbah. Continue reading…