Category Archives: san diego

reviews, san diego

Review: The Avett Brothers; May 10, 2009 at The Belly Up Tavern; Solana Beach

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The Avett Brothers

No one likes a gushy reviewer. People want evenhanded critiques that take a band’s flaws as well as their strengths into account. Reviews that seem overly positive wreak of bias and/or ignorance, smack of unchecked fandom, and can diminish the credibility of the reviewer. But, like it or not, this is going to be one of those reviews, because when The Avett Brothers performed to a packed house at The Belly Up on Sunday, it truly was a flawless show.

Backed by Bob Crawford on standup bass and—because no country/folk/bluegrass band is complete without a long-haired, head-banging Asian guy—Joe Kwon on cello, brothers Seth and Scott Avett took to the stage with understated confidence. Their aw-shucks Southern humility dropped no hints as to the stellar performance they were about to deliver but, from the moment they began to play, The Avett Brothers nailed each note with baffling ease and agility. Continue reading →

reviews, san diego

High Fiving Hipsters or: San Diego Loves the Avett Brothers

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High Fiving Hipsters

The last time I was at the Belly Up I high fived a hipster. The results were fascinating and hilarious; I came out after the show to see my “victim” sitting on a ledge outside being consoled by his girlfriend.

“It was a good show though, right baby?” she said with a hopeful and worried tone.

He responded with his head hung low, “Yeah it was okay…I just can’t believe that guy high fived me.”

I had apparently ruined the guy’s life. I spent the car ride home making obnoxious phone calls at 1am telling my friends the story of the wounded hipster. Why the hell did I high five him anyways? The moment had come right after Built to Spill finished an extended version of “Randy Described Eternity” and I was in heaven. It was one of those concert moments that I live for; it felt like there was no way anybody in the audience could have been on any level other than the one I was on: pure stupid bliss. Continue reading →

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Single Screen Signs Maren Parusel

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Maren Parusel

San Diego’s Single Screen Records has just added German export Maren Parusel to its rapidly growing roster.

The former front-woman of Wild Weekend—which started as a The Zeros cover band but whose local prestige eventually grew to rival that of its muse—and the also-defunct Squiddo, Parusel has decided to fly solo. Her debut 7-inch is currently being pressed and will be released sometime this summer.

Single Screen has been melting a lot of wax lately. In addition to signing Parusel, the label has 7-inch releases planned for The Powerchords, Beaters, The Atoms, The Illuminauts, and Charles Musket, as well as the debut full-length from The Paddle Boat.

You can catch Parusel’s wistful pop melodies live at the Beauty Bar on May 23rd, where she’ll be playing with The Dabbers and Red Pony Clock. We’ve also got a video of her performing the captivatingly carnivalesque “Ordinary Day” after the jump. Continue reading →

san diego

Grand Ole Party Tour with Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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Grand Ole Party
Since taking the city by storm with their debut release, 2007’s Humanimals, San Diego dance-funk band Grand Ole Party has kept plenty busy. They’ve played back-to-back sold out shows at the Casbah, thrilling audiences with their syncopated sass. Lead singer Kristin Gundred started her own label, Zoo Music, and signed bands like Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls. The band has also been hard at work in the studio, recording their eagerly awaited follow-up to Humanimals.

But since nothing is ever enough for you people, the band hasn’t stopped there. The trio has lined up a Midwest tour where they’ll be opening up for a little band called Yeah Yeah Yeahs. You may have heard of them. Continue reading →

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The Powerchords – Dummy

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Sure, almost a year has passed since The Powerchords released their infectious full-length album, …Think I’m Gonna, but it’s never too late to make a music video, especially when that video contains vibrant colors, wacky effects, and zany Japanese subtitles.

The power-pop quartet have been mysteriously absent from the live scene for a while, which is a shame since their performances are not to be trifled with. They do have one date lined up, though; they’ll be playing with Beaters, Reverse Cowboys, and Platanos on May 24th at the Che Cafe.