Madeline Kenney releases new single and video, “Sucker”
Oakland's indie-rocker and singer-songwriter, Madeline Kenney, is a magician. Again she beguiles with her new single, "Sucker." Whether by the misdirection of tranquil nylon guitars and pulsing sultry ride symbol or some imperceptible trap door of tasteful guitar licks, the song's hypnotic vibe draws you in before the big reveal: our vulnerability. Sucker's Lunch by Madeline Kenney To accompany the song is an artful, patient music video that resembles a Jim Jarmusch vignette. The video follows her cleaning up on back-alley sleight-of-hand games before using that experience to contrast her own vulnerable experiences in a diner monologue. It's a power dynamic [...]
Tiny Telephone to host Lomelda, Madeline Kenney, and Judith Horn
In the 10th installment of their Lucky Cloud concert series, Tiny Telephone Oakland welcomes Lomelda, Madeline Kenney, and Judith Horn this Friday, May 24. Dead-set on making analog recording affordable or at least achievable for smaller acts, Tiny Telephone is well-known in the Bay as a mainstay of the indie scene. It’s an intimate venue, and the three performing acts are all the type to benefit from that kind of environment. Judith Horn is a local act, hailing from Oakland and playing minimalist singer-songwriter type indie rock. Her lyrics take center stage in her music, floating over the top of [...]
Photos: Madeline Kenney at Rickshaw Stop
Madeline Kenney (photo: Ian Young) Former Oaklander Madeline Kenney gave a great performance at Rickshaw Stop last Thursday, October 18. We were lucky to have photographer Ian Young at the show capture the gallery from the night you can check out.
Giveaway: Madeline Kenney at Rickshaw Stop
(photo: Cara Robbins) We knew we couldn't have Madeline Kenney for long. Though she recently relocated (again!) to North Carolina, Kenney made a major mark on the local music scene during her time in Oakland. She's coming back for a night to not just play the Bay Area, but to officially release her new album, Perfect Shapes, produced in conjunction with Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak/Flock of Dimes fame. We've got a pair of tickets to give away to her big party tomorrow night at Rickshaw Stop. She'll be joined by locals Sandy's and Boy Scouts. Find out how you [...]
Live This Month: October 2018 — an audio guide to upcoming Bay Area concerts
Download: Live This Month: October 2018 (Podcast #433) In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a month off, Live This Month is back with a mix full of tunes that will make you want to see some concerts! This month's mix is bookended by post-punk, with the lean and atmospheric EXEK starting things off, and Wax Chattels' raw and noisy sounds wrapping the episode up. In between, we've got a wealth of new music, including recent and new-to-us songs from locals [...]
Madeline Kenney releases comes back to the Bay next week
Madeline Kenney (photo: Cara Robbins) Singer-songwriter Madeline Kenney will release her sophomore album Perfect Shapes via Carpark Records. Produced by Jenn Wassner of Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes, the collaboration is nothing less than perfect. Previous tracks released ahead of the album, "Bad Idea," "Overhead," and "Cut Me Off" were just the tip of the iceberg. This new album deals with subjects of femininity, societal pressures, expectation, value, and self-worth. Check out the music video for "Overhead" below! Though she recently relocated to North Carolina, you can see her locally at Rickshaw Stop and the Crepe Place later this [...]
Madeline Kenney announces new album, ‘Perfect Shapes’
(photo: Cara Robbins) Oakland's Madeline Kenney is shaping up to be one of the most prolific artists in the Bay. On the heels of last year's Night Night at the First Landing comes another full-length, Perfect Shapes. Expect it out October 5 on Carpark Records. Produced by Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner — her first production job for another artist — Perfect Shapes builds on the looping, sustained sounds of Night Night. Kenney is currently touring with Wye Oak, and you can see her locally at the Independent on the 17th and Starline on the 18th. To start, watch the exuberant [...]
Madeline Kenney and Nate Brenner debut “Still Learning”
Oakland's Madeline Kenney, a longtime TBB fave, is back with a fresh track. This time, she's teamed up with Naytronix (aka Nate Brenner of Tune-Yards) for a spare, but still stirring, song: "Still Learning." Kenney says about working with Brenner: "This track took about a year to make, not because it was particularly complex or elusive, but rather because Nate and I would do a lot more hanging out, drinking beer, and eating pizza than tracking every time we got together. If this song had a flavor it would be mushroom pizza by the slice. Featuring Derek Barber on what [...]
Mixtape: Highlights from Bay Area Music in 2017
This episode originally ran on KQED.org. http://media.libsyn.com/media/thebaybridged/2017_Highlights_Mixtape.mp3 Download: Mixtape: Highlights from Bay Area Music in 2017 (Podcast #419) With each passing day, 2017 appears increasingly determined to solidify its place as the worst year in recent memory. Despite all of the hardships being experienced locally, nationally, and around the globe, the year has offered a wealth of impressive albums from Bay Area musicians. For some of the notable artists featured in this mixtape, their 2017 successes built on the previous year's achievements. Jay Som followed up 2016's buzzed-about Turn Into compilation with her first proper LP Everybody Works. It's a [...]
Behind The Song: Annie Hart’s “Hard To Be Still”
Welcome to the next installment of Behind the Song, the illustrated series where I talk to artists and get the backstory to your next favorite song. While on tour a few years ago in Portland, Annie Hart of Au Revoir Simone planted the first seeds of what would become her stunning debut solo album Hard To Be Still. I caught up with Annie last month after her fantastic and fun-loving performance (dancing in the crowd included) at Bottom of the Hill. She was joined by tour opener, the captivating singer-songwriter Madeline Kenney of Oakland. Annie shared some of her adventures with [...]