10 albums from local bands that you can buy right now
You probably don't need us to tell you that musicians have taken a major financial hit in the last few weeks as Coronavirus fears close music venues across the country. It's been well documented that, over the last decade or so, concerts have overtaken album sales in terms of literal payoff for musicians. The sudden cancellation of not just major festivals, but smaller public gatherings, has left artists, venue owners, and the entire artistic community that we cover daily reeling from surprise and worried about the financial future. The (relatively) good news? There's been a flood of quality releases from [...]
The folksy, jazzy, gentle pop of the Saxophones’ ‘Eternity Bay’
(photo: Connor Sorenson) When Alexi Erenkov and Alison Alderdice got married, Erenkov’s vows weren’t your typical declarations. “They were about our mortality,” says The Saxophones’ drummer Alison Alderdice with a bit of a grin. “The light and the dark and how this marriage will end when one of us dies...It was really romantic, though.” The couple laugh. The Saxophones — vocalist and lyricist Alexi Erenkov, drummer Alison Alderdice and bassist Richard Laws — create music that is gentle and ethereal, layered with woodwinds and rich, serenading vocals. Alderdice shifts their 3-month old on her chest, who looks in my direction [...]
The Saxophones release anticipated “Lamplighter”
(photo: Conner Sorenson At long last, Oakland’s the Saxophones have hit the waves with a new song and it’s, ah, just what we were hoping it would be. Husband-wife dream duo Alexi Erenkov (vocals, guitar, synth, woodwinds) and Alison Alderdice (drums, vocals) create a soothing and expert blend of warm sexy sax, Erenkov’s resonating vocals and tickling guitar plucks. The Saxophones are a unique and pleasing blend of jazz, folk and sad indie pop for fans of The Magnetic Fields and dreaminess. The tune has some great storytelling and just wait for that breakdown sax, living up to its name. [...]
Mixtape: The Lush Sounds of Bay Area Dream Pop
Download: Mixtape: The Lush Sounds of Bay Area Dream Pop (Podcast #434) This episode first ran on KQED.org. Whether they call themselves post-punk, psych or indie pop, a wide array of Bay Area musicians cultivate lush atmospheres and textural depth in songs that are as sonically detailed as they are catchy. The Bay Area's "dream pop" standouts--eleven of whom are featured in this mixtape--include a number of promising new bands, like Topographies, a quartet whose stellar debut single is an exciting burst of fuzzed-out, propulsive rock. Other highlights include Tanukichan, the project of Oakland's Hannah Van Loon, whose layered music [...]
The Saxophones announce debut LP on Full Time Hobby
(Photo of and by The Saxophones) Bay Area duo the Saxophones have developed a bit of a following across the pond, with UK label Full Time Hobby releasing a 7" earlier this year and an EP in 2017. The label also just announced the forthcoming release of the Saxophone's debut full-length, Songs of the Saxophones, set for a June 1 release. The debut track from the album, "Picture," is available for streaming now. Saxophones lead singer and songwriter Alexi Erenkov says the song is sung from the point of view of an entitled California surfer who is "on the verge [...]
Mixtape: Bay Area Musicians to Watch in 2018
This episode first ran on KQED.org. http://media.libsyn.com/media/thebaybridged/Musicians_to_Watch_2018.mp3 Download: Mixtape: Bay Area Musicians to Watch in 2018 (Podcast #421) Despite the many challenges that unfortunately failed to disappear at the end of 2017, one bright spot for 2018 is the wealth of emerging Bay Area musicians and bands poised for significant growth this year. This mix showcases fourteen of our picks for local artists to watch in the coming months, with highlights in a variety of genres, including hip hop, electronic pop, folk and punk. Several of the acts included here released acclaimed projects in 2017. Rose Droll's debut EP Photograph [...]
The Saxophones release ‘If You’re on the Water’ EP, perform at Lost Church July 22
Parker Robinson Photography Last November, we told you about The Saxophones and their forthcoming lathe-cut picture disc EP. Well, it's finally all released and available for free download via Bandcamp, and it's just lovely: If You're on the Water EP by The Saxophones If digital isn't enough, you can also buy the picture disc I mentioned, but a mere 33 copies are available. The Saxophones say the lathe-cutting process creates "an eerie and distorted sound that is quite delightful to fans of scratchy records." Plus you'll almost definitely be the only collector on your block with a copy. [...]
Get to know: The Saxophones
Photo: Jesse Littlebird Oakland band The Saxophones began about 10 years ago as a solo songwriting project for Alexi Erenkov, who was in college studying jazz saxophone, flute, and clarinet, but as he put it, he was "dreaming of playing guitar and singing". So despite the woodwind-y name, this project is somewhat ironically dominated by Erenkov's intimate vocals, with sprinklings of sax solos and clarinets mixed in. The Saxophones just dropped their first track in several years, "On the Water", which is also the first track from their forthcoming EP, set for release on limited-edition lathe-cut vinyl. Highly [...]