Monthly Archives: August 2011

Who’s Where? East Bay: Places to hear live music in Oakland, Berkley and Alameda for Sept. 2-3, 2011

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

Local concert venues have a big variety of offerings on Friday and Saturday. One of the biggest names to emerge in the contemporary folk scene, Girlyman is returning to the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse with all its close harmonies and pop sensibilities. Continue reading →

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SONG DUEL!: “Back in Black” by AC/DC vs. “Back to Black” Amy Winehouse

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

When the title tracks from two of the most popular albums of all time—representing melodic hard rock and retro soul—face off, one of them is bound to leave the bout black and blue. Continue reading →

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Who’s Where? East Bay: Places to hear live music in Oakland, Berkley and Alameda for Aug. 26-27, 2011

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

In its current incarnation as a blog for Paste Magazine, Crawdaddy is bringing one of San Francisco’s most promising and noteworthy rock bands—The Stone Foxes, fresh off a triumphant set at Outside Lands—to The Starry Plough’s intimate space. Continue reading →

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Racking Up Plays: “Bang Pop” by Free Energy

Posted on August 23, 2011 by

If any of your friends ever ask you, “What the heck is power pop, anyway?”—which happens to me all the time—just play them this bangin’, hormone-fueled jam. Continue reading →

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Worthy of a Shout-Out: Cotati’s got a squeezebox festival, Rohnert Park never sleeps at night

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

What impresses me about the Cotati Accordion Festival, other than its mere existence, is its diversity. Bands of all genres that prominently feature accordion are invited to perform. Continue reading →

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The Annotated Decemberists No. 4: “Angel, Won’t You Call Me?”

Posted on August 15, 2011 by

The narrator’s relationship to this “Angel” is not explained in detail and therefore left open to interpretation, but basically we have a fairly straightforward musical love letter—albeit one couched in plenty of self-deprecation. Continue reading →

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Five awesome (yes, I said awesome–what of it?) discoveries at Friday’s Oakland Art Murmur

Posted on August 7, 2011 by

Honestly, some of the most creative artwork I saw all night was drawn in crayon on the back of paper placemats and taped to the wall at the pizzeria. Continue reading →

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Nitpicking the Hits: OneRepublic hopelessly endures the ‘Good Life’

Posted on August 1, 2011 by

This song somehow found its way into the top tier of the Billboard Hot 100 this summer despite the fact that it was released in 2009. As with so many things, its popularity can be traced back to the Canadian police drama Rookie Blue. Continue reading →

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