Geographer @ Rickshaw Stop 3/11/2010

I just posted up a blog about the Geographer show on the CW website. Here it is:

Celebrating the release of their new EP, Animal Shapes, local threesome Geographer stopped by the Rickshaw Stop this past Thursday night (3/11) to deliver a dazzling set of their electro-pop tunes. The band has amassed quite a lot of buzz within the scene, garnering a swirl of positive press, including a note-worthy nod from Spin Magazine.

The room was packed and the anticipation built up, as fans chattered in excitement, patiently waiting for the Bay Area trio to come on. The band began with a bold statement, kicking off their set with the transcending ethereal anthem, “Each Other’s Ghost.” They made a charming impression, though slightly veered off towards the end of the song with an awkward attempt to rouse a round of synchronized hand-claps amongst audience members. It might’ve been a slight misfire, but kudos to them for at least trying to stir up the crowd.

Once they got into their newer, upbeat and synth-heavy material, the band really started to take flight. Songs like, “Verona” and “Paris” earned an awesomely positive response and seemed to resonate with the crowd, as they shifted and bobbed along in enjoyment. It was clear that this crowd had an itch to get their dance on. And Geographer was more than willing to oblige.

What sets Geographer apart from many is their blend of traditional and classical influences with a heavy hand of modernized synthy sounds. Nathan Blaz is absolutely superb on the cello, providing an extraordinary and sensational touch of depth to the songs. Drummer Brian Ostreicher is like a beastly machine, meticulously holding down the beats with command and precision. Of course, there’s lead singer Mike Deni, whose soft and introspective voice adds a unique dimension and brings their music to new heights. It’s seriously astonishing to see how the band incorporates all these different elements and brings everything so flawlessly together in a live setting.

The band ended their performance on a high note, playing their latest single, “Kites,” leaving fans with a rush of musical joy and an overwhelming desire for more.

Geographer is a fairly new band, yet I already have a feeling that they have the potential to go far.

Animal Shapes is out NOW and available through itunes.

Also, just for you, here's a clip of them playing, "Kites," at the show:

Tegan and Sara @ Fox Theater

Here's my blog for the Tegan and Sara show that took place this past Friday (3/5) at Oakland's Fox Theater:

Canadian indie pop duo, Tegan and Sara, are well-known for putting on entertaining shows, especially when it comes to their funny and playful on-stage banter. But, this past Friday Evening (3/5), the usually chipper twin sisters did not seem amused.

The Quins stopped by Oakland’s Fox Theater to play a gaggle of songs from their latest album, Sainthood. For the most part, the sold-out crowd were genuinely excited to see the duo, but there were the small few that were just plain rude.

From the get-go, fans knew what to expect when Tegan straightforwardly set down the agenda: “We’re going to play a bunch of new songs. Then we’re going to play a bunch of old songs.” With many of their songs barely clocking in at three minutes, T&S breezed past their set with cunning and precision. They played a good chunk of new material, such as “On Directing,” “Hell,” and their latest single “Alligator,” saving the older (and best) stuff for last.

Everything was running smoothly until a few belligerent audience members decided to throw some crap on stage. It wasn’t long before Tegan felt impelled to lay down the law (in a teasing way, of course), saying “If that beer hits this electrical equipment and I get electrocuted, I will be so mad.” Then she threatened to have the lights turned on and the offenders picked out if it happened again. If that wasn’t bad enough, some idiots hurled some glow sticks through the air, closely zooming past Sara’s face. She was adamant about making her frustrations known, telling off the “genius” who threw that thing: “Maybe if I was on my way to rave and this was 1996, I would be excited to get some new glow sticks. But seriously, please stop throwing them.”

With rowdy individuals aside, Tegan and Sara summoned the patience and mustered enough energy to put on an incredible performance. T&S mellowed out as the show came to a close, treating fans to a special acoustic rendition of “Back In Your Head.”

In the end, despite all the disturbances, there was the sense that all was forgiven, as the two lingered on stage to show their sincere gratitude, clapping and waving towards the crowd with warm smiles.

(Tegan and Sara playing "The Con." Sorry about the shaky/crappy camera work)

This Providence- CW Interview

Here's the interview that we did with This Providence fully edited and all. If you listen closely, that's me giggling in the background. teehee. woops. Enjoy!

Noise Pop 2010

Hello friends! This might be a tad late, but it's still definitely worth sharing. Last week was the Noise Pop festival, and I had the chance to interview Rogue Wave and The Dodos. Here's a little blog I wrote for the CW:

Alas, one of the Bay Area’s most awesome musical events, Noise Pop, has come to a close. Looking back, there were tons of memorable highlights from this year’s festival. From the intimate Rogue Wave show at Bottom of the Hill to John Vanderslice’s numerous yet welcomed appearances, there were tons of treats and surprises to keep indie-rock fans enthralled. Out of all the amazing shows, perhaps the best event had to be last Thursday evening (2/25), when The Dodos put on a collaborative performance with the Magik* Magik Orchestra at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Members of the Magik* Magik Orchestra opened up the evening with a few experimental instrumental pieces, which all culminated into a lovely duet featuring Minna Choi (Magik* Magik’s chief composer) and John Vanderslice (of course). The Dodos subsequently took the stage with a delightful acoustic set of their own, which included their latest single, “Fables.” After what seemed like a really long intermission, The Dodos, along with the 26-piece orchestra, stepped onto the stage to the sheer excitement of the crowd. The performance was something truly magical. The orchestral accompaniment made The Dodos’ music simultaneously tangible and transcending. It brought the music to life, giving it body and color, and, at the same time, took it to a whole different level. The entire ensemble effortlessly glided through the set, adding spice into some of the newer songs like “Longform” and “Two Medicines,” while putting a new spin to older songs like “Walking” and “Ashley.”

Personally, what made this show even more special for me was that I got to watch it all at the side of the stage. This’ll definitely be an experience I’ll never ever forget.

(Just for you guys, here's a peek of the magical performance. The Dodos playing "Red and Purple" with the Magik* Magik Orchestra)


(My view watching The Dodos from the side of the stage)














(Me interviewing Pat from Rogue Wave. Pic taken from John Vanderslice's blog. Yup, I'm famous. lol. j/k.)


Interviews should be up on the CW website soon...