Marnie Stern played Soda Bar on Saturday night and, as predicted, she melted every face in the place. Dishing out riff after riff of high-speed, finger-tapped intensity, the New York musician made her hyperactive guitar work seem effortless. In typical selfless fashion, we brought our cameras to the show to document all the assorted awesomeness for you. You can check out our photos below, but be forewarned — there was no kissing booth this time. Continue reading…
Despite being packed into an 80-degree auditorium (and the $10 all-you-can-drink boot-shaped beer glasses), the crowd at the San Diego Woman’s Club on Saturday night was breathlessly quiet. Continue reading…
The Autumn Defense, the side project of Wilco’s John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, played Anthology on Feb. 3. Longtime Wilco/Uncle Tupelo bassist Stirratt and multi-instrumentalist Sansone, along with several touring members, took advantage of Anthology’s impeccable sound and atmosphere to put on a lighthearted, engaging performance. Continue reading…
If there is one indisputable fact about last night’s Cee-Lo Green show, it’s that everyone was happy to be there.
Be it openers The Nervous Wreckords, who were thrilled to play a packed house, or Vokab Kompany, who earnestly believed that their performance might attract crossover fans, or Cee-Lo himself, who may have confessed to being high on ecstasy (“My nipples are half-erect!”), the performers were all elated in their own ways. The audience, too, didn’t seem to think there was a better place on Earth to be, despite the crazy melting pot of spastic dancers, drunk-as-fuck frat boys, tarted-up Gaslamp girls, and a handful of out-of-place indie fans. Continue reading…
Salty sweethearts Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley of Tennis aren’t just capable young sea navigators — they also put on a great, albeit short, live show. In person, Moore brings to mind a more innocent, bigger-haired Liz Phair, while Riley resembles an older Dennis the Menace. The two, along with touring drummer James Barone, rocked their new album, Cape Dory, to a sold-out audience of canned-beer drinkers at the Tin Can Alehouse on Saturday.
It was easy to discern the palpable romantic chemistry between the recently married Riley and Moore. But, in true relationship fashion, it was even easier to see that they succeed together because of their individual talents. With furrowed brow and frail fingers, Moore played her keyboard with nimble precision, singing each song in her whispery but strong voice. Riley, head down and dancing, strummed his guitar with the assurance of someone who clearly knows the difference between port and starboard.
As for drummer Barone, who applied the necessary percussive glue to the tracks — maybe he’ll meet a nice female bass player before Tennis record their sophomore album. Check out photos and video of the show below.