World Famous In San Francisco

Monday Night Smile is the best. Totally the best! I love going out on Mondays, its like Presidents Day. And this Monday was extra cool because The Interchangeable Hearts, Citadelle, and Lumerians played and The Vortex Room did the visuals. I got some neat photos this time maybe you should go look at them!

First was Interchangeable Hearts and I heard somebody bagging on the band before they started. I was totally surprised because almost everybody I've talked to recently says you shouldn't bag on local bands because they have it hard enough. Anyway, based on what I heard I thought I wouldn't like this band. And, their brand of pop (like, an indie rock Carly Simon) isn't my favorite, but I liked this girl's voice and her keyboard playing. I shall be keeping an eye out. And word on the street is they have a record release show in April at the The Hotel Utah.



Next was Citadelle. Everybody was there to see them. They were on tour, or actually it seems like they've just moved here. They are obviously plugged into some scene I don't know the first thing about as I had never heard of them. They played a sort of heavy seventies psych that was (... sigh, is still) super popular and people cared like it was 2001 and this were Comets on Fire (if it were 2001 I think I'd be saying they were better than Comets on Fire). That means I thought they were really good for what they did, I'm just not feeling the heavy seventies in my light thirties.



Last was Lumerians. I thought the performance was pretty good. They play a psych drone fuzzfest kinda thing, but with some sonic youth (or some other song based group) worship thrown in. I could have done without the hissy fit they were throwing over the persistent feedback issues they were having. Obviously that is frustrating, but did it really detract from the music they were playing? Not as much as they might have thought. Which is maybe a problem -- whats going on under all that fuzz? I'll have to check out the music on the myspace.

Based from what I saw though, I might describe them as "What if Wooden Shjips were as awesome as everybody says they are?". And thats not so bad.



way more here, super cool!

see more on flickr

A few Fridays ago No Doctors had their record release at the Elbo Room with Wooden Shjips, Fuckwolf, and Sic Alps. Also, it was a Jack Daniels promotional night where they were giving away a guitar. I kind of hate those promotional night, but they're also kind of hilarious. I mention it only because the Elbo Room was super bitchy this night. Supposedly some dude on the internet named grandma put us on the list but when we got there this lady at the door made this huge production about how we weren't on the list. I hope he was just saying that to get people to go to the show, that's great promotion! Anyway, I offered to pay, but this woman had a big deal to make about it for five minutes before letting me pay. I'm sure she had to, all sorts of people were probably trying to pull a mentos to get at that guitar.

We've been reviewing a lot of shows lately so I'm just going to stick to the highlights:

Sic Alps - Everybody loves these guys. I wanted to like them, but enough with the vocal effects already. Every song doesn't need to sound like its coming from deep within a cave, even if that cave does seem to sound really good.

Fuckwolf - So, they've added bongos. I heard they were becoming the next Faust. I don't know if I agree with that, but the bongos ruled. Their crazy dance dub destroy manifesto is totally extreme. Somewhere in the middle of the set it feels like you can't be take anymore, but they know better. These guys continue to be one of my favorites.

Wooden Shjips - Good news! This performance wasn't limp at all and the drummer wasn't slacking. Bad news! They still have no stage presence. Beer time!

No Doctors - Unlike Wooden Shjips, No Doctors owns the stage. I like their classic rock schtick, but I can see how its not for everybody. Two guitars, sax, and drums. Who needs bass after fuckwolf anyway?

@Edinburgh Castle w/ Expo 70, Rahdunes, and Metal Rouge (nz/la)



I think we're going. Unless we go see them next week at the elbo room with fuckwolf. Be careful Shjips, you don't want to become overexposed like fuckwolf!