For a tour named after an album called Smoke + Mirrors, Imagine Dragons sure were transparent when they played Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on July 21. True, they started as silhouettes behind a white screen before launching into “Shots,†also the first song on their latest album, but once they were unveiled the stage was set for a night of gratitude, humility and perseverance. Continue reading…
Recent decades’ technological advances have produced plenty of bands with strong recorded outputs but weak live shows. The scarcity of wheat across such endless fields of chaff can be frustrating, but it does make the rare display of true live talent all the more enjoyable. Continue reading…
You don’t know who Shaw is, but that’s just something you’ll have to remedy.
On his mesmerizing debut EP, Pretending We’re Not Animals, the San Francisco native sets tales of fauna against electronic, sterile backdrops. His vocals are robotic yet mournful, drifting like echoes across barren, frigid soundscapes before fading into the ether. It’s seventeen minutes of the most stirring music you’ll listen to all year, and you can buy it from his label, Swordfish Records.
In addition to his auspicious solo work, Shaw has joined a new band, the New York City-based The Future Self Envy. The group is finishing up work on its debut EP, Bangerdropper, set for release in June. After that, Shaw will turn his attention back to his solo work and release some more EPs. His Poetic Memory is below. Continue reading…
The last time Metric came to town, it was for the 94/9 Independence Jam in Oceanside. The Canadian quartet had third billing at the outdoor festival, overshadowed by big-name groups the Black Keys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. But that didn’t stop them from blowing those bands away with their infectious, moody synth-pop.
Now, Metric are set to wow us again. The band is playing San Diego Indiefest on March 27th, and this time they’re at the top of the bill. Continue reading…