Video: The Boyish Charms – “The Tweed Twig”

Sure, groups like Arcade Fire and Fleet Foxes know how to make great music, but can they make you laugh? The ability to properly tickle the funny bone is rare in indie rock, and it’s what gives The Boyish Charms an edge over the competition.

That comic sensibility is on full display in the San Diego band’s new video for “The Tweed Twig.” The ridiculously catchy song is the first single off The Boyish Charms’ latest album, the tongue-twistingly-titled Infinity in its Infancy (available now on white vinyl).

In the Gerry Saucedo-directed clip, band members Robbie Lawson and Cam Jones rack up late fees at some place called Blockbuster Video, go on a wild shopping spree at Horton Plaza, and impress strangers with their sensual corn dog-eating abilities. The video also stars Red Pony Clock frontman Gabe Saucedo (brother of Gerry) as “Marsellus the Mailman.”

Check out the ensuing hilarity above, then catch The Boyish Charms on May 26, when they’ll play with A Book About Elephants and Seed at the Park Gallery.

Live Review and Photos: Fleet Foxes and Cave Singers at Spreckels Theatre, May 6, 2011

Photos by Natalie Kardos

Last Friday, indie-rock flower children Fleet Foxes treated a sold-out Spreckels Theatre crowd to a set of immaculate compositions.

To say that the band was methodical would be an understatement. Whereas most performers take the stage and immediately launch into their first song, Fleet Foxes singer Robin Pecknold took a couple minutes to get situated before trickling into “The Cascades,” an intricate instrumental from the band’s acclaimed new album, Helplessness Blues. Continue reading…

Live Photos: J Mascis and the Black Heart Procession at the Casbah, May 7, 2011

Photos by Natalie Kardos

Last Saturday night, after an intense (and dimly lit) opening set by The Black Heart Procession, J Mascis took the stage alone. With only an acoustic guitar and a small half-circle of monitors and amps – which seemed paltry compared to his customary wall of Marshall stacks – he performed songs off his new record, Several Shades of Why, as well as a few Dinosaur Jr. tunes. As he effortlessly bent the strings of his acoustic guitar during one solo after another, he also proceeded to show the crowd that he was a better at guitar than any of us could ever hope to be. Continue reading…

UCSD Soaks Up the Sun God

Photo credit: Erik Jepsen

It’s safe to say that the summer festival has gone mainstream. With the Coachellas, Bonnaroos, and Sasquatches of the world selling out in record time, tickets to these highly anticipated festivals are becoming increasingly hard to come by. (Whether scalping has something to do with it is another subject entirely.)

And that’s why UCSD’s Sun God festival — taking place this Friday on the university’s campus — is such a welcome alternative: the day of music and festivities is only open to students and their invited friends. That means no scalping, boho-clad celebrities, or lingering $300 charges that take months to pay off. Continue reading…

Live Photos and Video: The Pipettes at the Casbah, May 5, 2011

Photos by Chris Maroulakos

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…

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