interviews, listen, san diego, video

Poetic Memory: Man Man (List)

Leave a comment

Full album stream: Man Man – Life Fantastic
MP3: Man Man – “The Ballad of Butter Beans” (from 2008’s Rabbit Habits)

The gloriously wacky Philadelphians known as Man Man are coming to San Diego on May 11, and we couldn’t be happier. The upcoming Casbah gig is one of O&B’s most anticipated shows of the year, and the band’s fourth album, Life Fantastic (out today), is already shaping up to be one of 2011’s best releases.

Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk), the new disc builds upon the schizophrenic sound of Man Man’s O&B-acclaimed third LP, 2008’s Rabbit Habits. As should be expected, Life Fantastic‘s tracks are at times morbid and hilarious, but always musically impeccable. The new album is a little more melodic — and dare we say, more accessible — than their past efforts, and while catchiness has never been a problem for the group, this time around the songs are more infectious than ever.

In anticipation of tomorrow’s Casbah show, drummer Christoper “Pow Pow” Powell sent us a list of his favorite YouTube videos, which include everything from Salt N Peppa to The Muppet Show. Check it out below…

art/books/film

More is More: Owl and Bear’s Favorite Director’s Cuts

1 Comment

With the increasing popularity of internet streaming, DVDs may not be long for this world. The first quarter of 2011 saw a 20% drop in DVD sales, the Blu-Ray format hasn’t rescued the the flagging market, and even Netflix is moving away from those antiquated plastic discs in favor of the easier streaming model.

How did this happen? When they were first introduced in the ’90s, DVDs were a film lover’s dream — not just because of their superior quality, but because of all those glorious special features. Supplemental bonuses like commentaries, deleted scenes, and director’s cuts made us feel less like boobs as we watched the tube, enriching our knowledge and maybe even our appreciation of cinema. Continue reading…

listen, san diego

The Rumble Rolls into San Diego on Saturday

Leave a comment
Click to enlarge

MP3: Longstay – “I Swore That Off Before”
MP3: The Fling – “Wandering Foot”
MP3: Gun Runner – “Fiber Glass”

If you gauged the passage of time in terms of Rumbles, life would go by very quickly. It seems like only yesterday that the monthly music showcase last passed through San Diego, and here we are again. It’s like having a birthday every month.

This month’s Rumble will be held at Bar Pink tomorrow, May 7, and will feature Longstay, The Fling, and up-and-coming locals Gun Runner. Longstay are an Americana/indie-folk band in the vein of Dawes. Local art advocates Sezio.org have called their Homes & Houses EP “a rock-pop album that’s not afraid to show some soul, or a soul-pop album that’s not afraid to rock.” In addition to the MP3 (above), be sure to check out Longstay’s puzzling website for a few minutes of a-maze-ing fun.

Long Beach’s The Fling recently released their debut LP, When The Madhouse Appear, and it’s received rave reviews. Exploding In Sound has described it as  “shoegaze inflicted folk music, woozy pop balladry, swirling psychedelics, luscious vocal harmonies, and all around incredible song writing.”

Last, but not least, are openers Gun Runner. We’re pleased to have these talented San Diegans (and O&B friends) on the bill. The seriously talented quartet is one of this town’s best indie bands; we compared their Bad Neighbors EP to the “psychedelic blues of Bob Dylan’s 2007 masterpiece, Time out of Mind” (but with far, far, far better vocals).

DJ Snakehips will spin discs between sets. As always, The Rumble is free, and it’s brought to you by Future Sounds, Indigenous, San Diego: Dialed In, Bedouin Vintage Collective, Friends With Both Arms, Strong Screen Printing, Eventbrite, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and, as always, your friendly neighborhood Owl and Bear.

interviews, san diego, video

Poetic Memory: Dessa (List)

Leave a comment

When your first album has people favorably comparing you to Joni Mitchell and Roseanne Cash, you’re off to a good start. But when you update those influences with a hip-hop edge, you’re off to an even better one.

Such has been the case for the one-named Dessa, who released her debut, A Badly Broken Code, last year. The Minneapolis native’s unique combination of rapping and singing has earned her plenty of attention, and her current headlining tour should only add to the buzz.

Dessa will play the Casbah on Sunday, May 8, along with Doomtree label-mates Sims — whose latest album, Bad Time Zoo, is currently at the top of the CMJ hip-hop charts — and Lazerbeak. For a taste of what to expect, you can watch Dessa’s video for “Dixon’s Girl” above.

Tickets for the show can be purchased here. In anticipation of the event, Dessa was kind enough to share her top 5 influences, in order of appearance: Continue reading…

contests, listen, san diego

Contest: Win Tickets to See Man Man on May 11

17 Comments
Photo credit: Mike Persico

Full album stream: Man Man – Life Fantastic
MP3: Man Man – “The Ballad of Butter Beans” (from 2008’s Rabbit Habits)

If Tom Waits joined a troupe of deranged carnies during the end of days, it would probably sound a lot like Philly five-piece Man Man.

The O&B Best of 2008-ranked band has been blowing minds for years now, putting astounding musicianship and experimental songwriting into a blender and hitting “liquify.” Man Man haven’t been to San Diego in a while, but even if they came to town every week, we’d still go to every show.

Fortunately for us, lead singer Honus Honus and his band of merry mischief-makers are currently touring to support their upcoming album Life Fantastic (which is, as the title says, fantastic.)

If the above full-album stream has you excited to see Man Man live, you’re in luck, because we’re giving away two tickets to the band’s May 11 Casbah show. To enter the contest, please comment below and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on May 9, 2011. Click here for more tour dates.

a san diego music blog (and more)