Recent Posts
Arts Programs
Music Blogs
KQED Arts Bloggers
More from KQED
Event
Beyond the Listings: November 2009
There are plenty of great shows in the Bay Area in November, including some welcome returns by touring bands. Here are a few picks for great shows in the coming month:
Despite all of the success that Canadian indie bands have had over the past decade (alphabetically, that list goes from Arcade Fire through Wolf Parade), I'm baffled that The Hidden Cameras remain so under-the-radar. Leader Joel Gibb and his rotating cast of contributors are known for bright, baroque instrumentation, but have dialed down those sounds on the recently released Origin:Orphan, which trades more strongly in electronic sounds and heavier tones. Gibb has always weaved more serious lyrical themes into his songs, but this is maybe the first time that the music's caught up, and it's a welcome new chapter for this extremely talented group. The Hidden Cameras have been known for some theatrical live shows, so it'll be interesting to see how the new material is conveyed when the band performs at Bottom of the Hill on Thursday, November 19th. They'll be joined by singer-songwriter (and sometimes Hidden Camera) Gentleman Reg and local electro-country-rock band Winter's Fall.
"Unlikely" is a word many have used to describe the ongoing reunion of Mission of Burma, who return to the Bay Area for a performance at The Independent on Saturday, November 14th. The band were post-punk pioneers in their original four-year existence, and the Signals, Calls and Marches EP and Vs. helped inspire a legion of bands captivated by the quartet's loud, defiant, and frequently anthemic rock and roll. Mission of Burma's 2002 reunion tour (which included an awe-inspiring stop at the Fillmore) reinvigorated them, and they've since released three more albums, all well regarded. The latest is last month's The Sound The Speed The Light, an ambitious work that explores a variety of tones through four three-song suites. What's perhaps most striking, though, is that despite the members' ages, their ability to transfigure guitar noise into sweeping experiments in sound can be matched by few more recent, younger bands. SF trio Erase Errata, playing a rare show, join Mission of Burma for their Portland and SF shows, lending further reason to check the night out.
Other shows of note:
- Several local bands celebrate CD releases this month: Tempo No Tempo on November 4th at the Rickshaw Stop, Man/Miracle on November 14th at the LoBot Gallery, Birds and Batteries on November 8th at Cafe Du Nord (in a show presented by The Bay Bridged), and Or, the Whale, on November 14th and also at Cafe Du Nord.
- Local indie rock-pop band Actionslacks play their only 2009 show at Bottom of the Hill on November 18th to celebrate their fifteenth anniversary as a band. The band is taking requests from their back catalog for the show, and are currently plotting a new EP for 2010.
Ben Van Houten is the Programming Director of The Bay Bridged.
Resources
Comments [] -
NPR Topics: Music
-
Lil Wayne's Jail Time: All Part Of The Plan
Today, a New York judge told the rapper he can't postpone going to jail past March 2nd. He's a star whose influence reaches well beyond the hip-hop world. He's been in a Nike commercial with LeBron James, interviewed by Katie Couric. Even President Obama's mentioned his name—a few times. And he may even represent a new model for rappers who get sent to jail.
-
Science-Fiction Music: Monsters, Aliens In 'Filk'
NASA recently announced that significant amounts of water have been found on the moon, leading to speculation that we might someday populate our orbiting friend. The idea sounds far-fetched, but it's the type of thing science-fiction fans have been dreaming of for many years. In music, stories of space travel and extraterrestrials predate even Tin Pan Alley.
-
Mumford And Sons: London Folk Goes Global
After bonding over a shared affinity for country, bluegrass and folk music, Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane began collaborating in 2007, with an enthusiasm that helped land them at the forefront of London's underground folk scene.
-
A White House Celebration Of Music From The Civil Rights Movement
Listen live now, as The White House Music Series continues. President Obama and the First Lady host a concert for Black History Month, featuring performances by Bob Dylan, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Joan Baez, Smokey Robinson and more.
