Live Photos: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks with Ty Segall at the Belly Up, October 20, 2011

Photos by Natalie Kardos

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks headlined at the Belly Up Tavern last Thursday night in support of their latest album, Mirror Traffic. Malkmus and company ripped through songs both new and old, as well as a smoking cover of “Hey Joe.” Between songs, the former Pavement frontman joked with the crowd about how folks from the Central Valley are “survivors” who like to “come to San Diego, party at SDSU, throw up all over your city, and then go home to Stockton to get married and have kids.” Photos of the show are below.

Video: The Cave Singers – “Black Leaf”

MP3: The Cave Singers – “Black Leaf”
MP3: The Cave Singers – “Swim Club”

Over the past year, rustic folksters The Cave Singers have toured Europe, Asia, and North America (several times), supporting the likes of Fleet Foxes, Wanda Jackson, and Neko Case. And amidst all that touring, the band still found time to release its third album, No Witch, its best album to date.

The Seattle trio will close out the long year with a string of West Coast dates, with like-minded Northwesterners The Builders and the Butchers joining them along the way. Both bands will play the Casbah on December 9. Full list of tour dates is below.

Album Review: Tom Waits – ‘Bad As Me’

Photo credit: Jesse Dylan

“Chicago,” the opening track on Tom Waits‘ first studio release in seven years, starts with a sense of urgency, thanks to a driving, train-track rhythm, accents of banjo, sharp saxophone stabs, and a contemplative yet assured howl. “Maybe things will be better in Chicago,” Waits sings in his inimitable rasp. Continue reading…

Video: Wild Flag – “Electric Band”

Super-powered supergroup Wild Flag have just released the video for “Electric Band,” off their stellar self-titled debut album. Like the previously released clip for “Romance,” “Electric Band” shows off the band’s quirky sense of humor. Whereas the former video found the group donning animal masks and taking people on in basketball, in the latter they compete against a group of people wearing bear masks in baseball. We think we’re noticing a theme here.

As we’ve already mentioned, Wild Flag are set to play the Casbah on November 1, and you absolutely should not miss it. The band played one of their first-ever shows at the venue last year and damn near blew the roof off the place, so it’s safe to assume that this time will be even more (wait for it…) electric.

Video: He’s My Brother She’s My Sister – “Lazy Daze”

L.A.’s western-tinged folk-rock vaudevillian troupe He’s My Brother She’s My Sister is made up of five players: brother and sister lead vocalists, a slide guitarist, a standup bassist, and a tap dancer/drummer who provides full body percussion while jumping up and down.

That alone should make you at least morbidly curious, but if it doesn’t, this will: beginning tomorrow night, the quintet will embark on a “Days of the Dead” tour, celebrating Halloween with seven shows up the California coast. The tour begins at the Casbah on October 25, and the band will be joined on the tour by The Mumlers, Amanda Jo Williams, and Kera and The Lesbians. It’s a no-brainer, if you will. Full list of tour dates is below…

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