Fuck You 2012
Has there been a shittier year than 2012? I can't think of one. Fuck you 2012! What a complete waste of time. Really we should strike it from the calendar. We could call it 2011b or something. With that said, here are a few redeeming qualities from the year that should not be named: 2012 did grant me my first chance to see a show at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. Oh Big Sur, I love you. Oh Flaming Lips, thank you for bringing me back to Big Sur (and the show at Bimbo's in February was pretty [...]
Synthetic ID and Uzi Rash LPs available now on 1-2-3-4 Go!
Bay Area punks Synthetic ID and Uzi Rash both have new LPs available from 1-2-3-4 Go! records. Aperatures is the debut LP for Synthetic ID who aim for an aggressive, post punk attack and are based in San Francisco. The album is set to ship on December 11th but you can pre-order here. On the other hand, veteran East Bay punks Uzi Rash have declared Coreless Roll Can Liner to be their last LP. The group played their final farewell show on November 29th in Oakland. Limited to 400 copies and available now, order Coreless Roll Can Liner here.
Uzi Rash ends with final show in Oakland this week
Having returned from a final tour, Oakland's Uzi Rash is calling it a day with one final show on November 29th at Sugar Mountain alongside Terry Malts, Apogee Sound Club, K^ren and Yogurt Brain. "Golden Dawn" comes from the group's latest album, Coreless Roll Can-Liner, out now on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, and they also just released a 38-track (!) comp on Burger Records called Beast of Trash.
Review & Photos: Total Trash 2012, Day 1 @ The New Parish, 10/26/12
Total Trash, how I missed thee. All ages shows are getting harder to come by. There are many theories on this. Shannon and her Clams delivered the full Misfits catalog and the fans lapped it up. Nobunny hopped through a set of Halloween classics that woulda made any KALX DJ proud. Yes to "Monster Mash" and "Purple People Eater" but also Roky Erikson's "2 Headed Dog," The Cramps' "Goo Goo Muck" and favorites of Lux and Ivy like "The Crusher." For "Ghostbusters," Señor Nobunny brought out an all star crew of back up singers including a lamb-chopped Shannon Shaw and [...]
Mixtape: Highlights from San Francisco Bay Area Punk, Post-Punk and Hardcore (Podcast #290)
Mixtape: Highlights from San Francisco Bay Area Punk, Post-Punk and Hardcore (Podcast #290) The Bay Area has held a prominent place in punk music since punk first became a thing, with groups like Crime, Avengers, Flipper, and Dead Kennedys among the genre's most important '70s and '80s bands. As punk artists began to achieve mainstream success in the '90s, Bay Area bands were again at the forefront, while a wide variety of acts continued to operate independently on local labels like Lookout! and Fat Wreck Chords. Given that history, it shouldn't be surprising to find that there's still a wealth [...]
Total Trash Halloween Bash adds third night: Coachwhips, Guantanamo Baywatch, more at Oakland's Lobot Gallery
If (like me) you missed out on tickets to The Coachwhips' sold out show (Saturday, October 27th at the Verdi Club), listen up! A second Coachwhips show has been added!!! It will take place on Sunday, October 28th at Oakland's edgy Lobot Gallery. Before there were Thee Oh Sees, there were The Coachwhips. John Dwyer's frantic guitar and vocals were every bit as tasty. The band was deeper in the garage as this was the early part of the Millennium, a primordial version of Thee Oh Sees, more raw and beautifully sloppy. The band formed in 2001 and was gone [...]
Review & Photos: Scream contest — The Mallard, Wimps, Uzi Rash at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, 8/17/12
SF's The Mallard opened up a screamy good night on Friday. Singer Greer McGettrick cut her arm halfway through the set and soon wore blood on her cheek like warpaint. The show provided a pleasing clash of both guitars and vocals. McGettrick's unusual guitar effects bring flashbacks of the UK's amazing (but sadly defunct) Kaito. At one point, she taped 5 of her 6 strings down so she could play with one hand and bang tambourine with the other. Soon all the kids'll be doin' it. Don't miss The Mallard on Saturday, September 8th at Oakland's Uptown with Sic Alps [...]
Review & Photos: Temescal Street Cinema returns with Will Sprott! PLUS Guantanamo Baywatch, Chuckleberries and Courtney & the Crushers at the White Horse AND the art of Max Nordile 6/14/12
Portland's Guantanamo Baywatch closed out a perfectly orchestrated Thursday evening in Berkeley. It all began at 8pm, opening night of Temescal Street Cinema, where Will Sprott played a soulful set to a crowd of unprepared film buffs. The set woulda sounded just right in a smoky little night club circa 1959, but it sounded pretty damn good on Telegraph Ave. Although Will's band The Mumlers are awful quiet lately, Will is playin' around town fairly regularly. He will be in SF on June 21st for BAMM TV. It's free but you should RSVP here. August 20th he plays the Redwood [...]
Photos: Buffalo Tooth, Uzi Rash, Poor Sons @ Elbo Room 06/13/12
It's no surprise that Eric Kang of Poor Sons is also in Buffalo Tooth, as the bands share the same basic premise: psych rock that eschews the tinny retro vibe, at least production-wise, and instead goes with a bassy, heavy sound. But at their Wednesday night headlining gig at Elbo Room, Buffalo Tooth were wearing their proto-metal influences a little more brazenly: I was hearing Motorhead, Blue Cheer, and Diamond Head — or more precisely, early Metallica covering Diamond Head, especially on the 7" cut "Only Son", which they busted out at the show. Only Son by Buffalo Tooth "Only [...]
Terry Malts and Uzi Rash play free show Saturday
In a city starved for all ages shows and free shows, you can't beat this opportunity to see Terry Malts and Uzi Rash on Saturday afternoon. Don't let the location, the Speakeasy Ales & Lagers brewery, fool you -- it is an all ages affair, but there will be tasty Speakeasy beers on hand for the adults. Terry Malts, by the way, have a new split 7" coming out in June on Loglady. Terry Malts, Uzi Rash, Synthetic I.D., Yi Speakeasy Ales & Lagers May 26, 2012 4pm, Free, All Ages