Premiere: Owl Paws live video for “Keep On” with Native SF
Bay Area favorites Owl Paws have a busy spring lined up, kicking off with the premiere of their Native SF video for "Keep On." Lead singer/songwriter Derek Ted told me the band had to trek pretty far out, with instruments in tow, to capture this easygoing stunner of a performance. The video is the latest from Native SF, who document emerging artists set amongst beautiful San Francisco scenery. Check out the magical clip below, filmed live on location at Fort Funston. "Keep On" is from Owl Paw's forthcoming EP Smoke Rings & Diamonds, which will be released by Urban Scandal [...]
What’s Happening This Weekend? A Guide To Shows Around The Bay, Feb 24 ― Feb 26
Catch Tacocat in Oakland Saturday night at Starline Social Club. Friday, February 24 Garrett Pierce @ The Lost Church Burbank, CA singer-songwriter with a penchant for covering the British R&B singer known as Seal. ALO, Moon Hooch @ The Fillmore Moon Hooch is a Brooklyn-based jazz fusion trio currently touring in support of their third LP, Red Sky. Phosphene, O.C.D., Trash Vampire @ Bender's Bar & Grill Noise Pop's happy hours at Bender's are always chaotically loud, disastrously fun, and soundtracked by emerging local bands. Headliner for tonight's is Phosphene, who describe themselves as the "under-underground" of the Bay Area [...]
Go behind the song with Owl Paws’ premiere of “Keep On”
Welcome to Behind the Song, our new illustrated series where we talk to Bay Area artists and get the backstory to your next favorite song. For our first installment, I spoke with Derek Schultz, lead singer and songwriter for Owl Paws. Listen to the premiere of "Keep On" from their upcoming EP Smoke Rings & Diamonds, and check out the story behind the song below. Rob Goodman is a writer and artist in San Francisco.
Owl Paws premiere “Fade Into You” for LMSFN compilation
While San Francisco's own Owl Paws has been touring the country in support of their debut album Reservoir and ramping up for the release of a new EP titled Smoke Rings & Diamonds, they made time for a special compilation from LMSFN called Group Effort Volume 1. The album features Owl Paws and more Bay Area bands, including: Mall Walk, Buddies, Toner, Pardoner, Dick Stusso, Never Young, Jay Som, Baus, Plush, and Crush. The musicians deliver a stellar set of covers, from Fleetwood Mac to Prince and No Doubt, with Owl Paws closing out the record with their raw, spot-on [...]
Owl Paws unleash new single “Animal Brain”
San Francisco's Owl Paws has announced a new EP entitled Smoke Rings & Diamonds. The first single from the Sean Paulson-recorded album is "Animal Brain." Captured at Different Fur Studios and mastered by Will Yipp, the track drips with melancholy as lead singer Derek Schultz yearns for a blunt treatment to numb his senses and return him to some notion of emotional equilibrium. The chorus snarls as he sings: "Take my animal brain and blow it out...medicate these wounds...'til I write it down." At the heart of the tune is the idea of self-medication for art's sake. And in this [...]
Owl Paws to support Samantha Crain at Amnesia
San Francisco's finest folk rockers Owl Paws are set to support Samantha Crain next Tuesday at Amnesia. The bill couldn't be more perfect — the trio's melancholic melodies will fit in nicely beside Crain's soothing voice and gorgeous compositions. Rounding out the evening is another SF-based performer and fellow folkster, M. Lockwood Porter, guaranteeing a show full of rousing harmonies and hearty acoustic guitars. Owl Paws has also just finished tracking some new singles, so expect more music from the band in 2016, even after coming off a year in which they released a full-length album. Call 'em the hardest [...]
Nick’s five favorite Bay Area releases of 2015
Ever since I started writing for The Bay Bridged I have become hopelessly insulated from the larger national music trends. Lately, all my music recommendations to friends and family have consisted almost exclusively of local acts, and ever since I stopped working at a record store I no longer have any idea of what constitutes mainstream tastes. And I don't think I'm missing much. I haven't cared about Adele since she butchered a Bond theme, Jamie XX is about as emotionally engaging as a Christopher Nolan flick, and Grimes sounds like a parody of modern pop, like music you would [...]
Owl Paws release music video for “Bring Me Back”
San Francisco folk-rock trio Owl Paws has a new music video for "Bring Me Back," a single from their latest excellent full-length album Reservoir. With its pulsing bass line, driving drumbeat and somber vocal melody, the song balances the haunting majesty of Grizzly Bear with the rhythmic attack of The Dodos. It's hard, fast, slightly bitter and achingly vulnerable, the crashing pace belying a crushing sadness lurking in the words. If you dig this tune, go ahead and check out the LP here. You'll quickly find there's not a bum track on it. https://youtu.be/SZ0oiQdOC-o
Rin Tin Tiger and Owl Paws team up for double album release show
San Francisco bands Rin Tin Tiger and Owl Paws have teamed up to do a "double album release show" at The Independent this week. Rin Tin Tiger is celebrating their latest release, Burial Grounds, with Owl Paws putting out their first full length, Reservoir. The groups will be supported by fellow SF band Growwler. Headliner Rin Tin Tiger is solid and reliable, with thick guitars, a penetratingly strong lead singer, and just a full rockin' sound. They make for an energetic show! Then there's Owl Paws, who make muscular folk rock. Their tough, workmanlike rhythm section provides a well-built groove structure for the [...]
Urban Scandal Records birthday show at Honey Hive Gallery
Urban Scandal Records is a DIY punk label run by Stephen Beebout, and it's turning three this week. Based out of the underrated avenues of the Richmond District, the San Francisco label has signed bands such as Owl Paws, Strange Bloom, and No Hands. They're celebrating their hard-earned longevity by throwing a show at Honey Hive Gallery this Thursday. Flying in from Texas to play will be Fairbanks, who recently opened for The Spill Canvas. The rest of the line-up consists of San Francisco locals WAG, Field Medic, and Owl Paws who will be playing an acoustic set. Though the Facebook event specifies to not bring [...]