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Yonas Media brings back Bay Rising

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST

There's nothing like a good old fashioned battle of the bands to bring out the competitive spirit. And nothing fuels that desire to pummel your opponent into the ground more than $10,000 in prizes. OK, this isn't American Gladiators, but there will be a panel of judges, scrutinizing each performance like a bunch of drugged up Paula Abduls.

For the second year in a row, Oakland-based production company—Yonas Media—brings back "Bay Rising." Bands will battle it out at two semifinal shows: scheduled for 8/4 at Cafe du Nord and 8/5 at The Uptown. The finals will be held on 8/27 at the Great American Music Hall. Prizes include a five-day recording package at Yonas Media's new Oakland Recording Studio.

All genres are welcome. Submissions end July 15. More info here: Yonas Media

RCA signs Audrye Sessions

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

East Bay darlings Audrye Sessions have officially signed to RCA/High Sea records, confirming the rumors sprouted from the underground as far back as January. Audrye Sessions have been re-recording their lush-laced rock tunes in Los Angeles for nearly a month with Andrew Scheps, who can name-drop works with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and The Rolling Stones. The label re-release version of Braille includes a few new arrangements and three new tracks.

What's the biggest perk of being on a major label? "A record label gets you a booking agent. And the booking agent is what I care about... Touring full-time and playing everyday," says guitarist Mike Knox.

Audrye Sessions begins touring with Margot and the Nuclear So and So's in August.

Amplive tackles MGMT

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

And now for your DJ Amplive (Zion I) remix update. The Oakland producer, whose Rainydayz Remixes album—an interpretation of Radiohead's In Rainbows—caused such a legal snafu, is at it again. But this time there won't be any cease & desist letters (we assume). Fresh off the heels of a recent MGMT/Of Montreal mashup, Amplive releases a second remix from MGMT's Oracular Spectacular, and we think it's better than the first.

On the track, "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters," Amplive builds off of the song's heavy synth vibe, pushing the drums to the front and compressing the vocals, which happen to be spat by Oakland's own Mistah F.A.B. F.A.B, coming off the hype of a collaboration with Snoop for the track "Life of the Party" reveals some restraint as his tone/flow drops the hyphy for a minute and picks up on a Kanye West vibe.

You can download remixes here: Amplive/MGMT remixes

Make Air Not War

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

Don't feel embarrassed about air shredding the battle axe in front of the mirror while folding your laundry. Consider that pseudo-rocking and those air arpeggios practice. Your favorite Judas Priest and Metallica songs are more relevant than ever. The US Air Guitar Championships return just in time to dethrone those wussy 'Guitar Hero' players. (No skilled bastards!) Your imaginary guitar skills could prove to be the best in the nation, that is, if you make it past the judges on June 25th at the Independent.

Round one is just the warm-up. You'll get the opportunity to get all Eddie Van Halen-like to a song of your choice for a full minute. (It'll be the longest minute of your life, but think of all the air groupies you could make.) Round two won't be as easy—a surprise tune will be thrown your way, so start studying the rock almanac. You know, Clapton, Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Satriani, Hendrix, etc. Judges will rate your stage presence, technical merit and vivacious airness.

Grab the spandex, it's go time!

VH1 Taps Thriving Ivory

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

Bay Area pop rockers Thriving Ivory will hit the national scene in a major way later this month as VH1 unveils the band as their latest "You Oughta Know" artist. With tunes recalling the sweeping sound of early U2, Thriving Ivory delivers the charm and grace that lend them a timeless sound. The band creates each soul-bearing song as an engaging and sweeping production, which we've heard from their debut single "Angels on the Moon," heavily rotated locally on Live 105. Thriving Ivory is set to join the ranks of former "You Oughta Know" alums Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis, and will be featured at Best Buy stores across the U.S. Best Buy partners Rhapsody America will also offer an exclusive download of a live five-song EP from the band with each purchase of the album at a Best Buy location. Let's hear for those locals!

"Angels on the Moon" debut video

2008 Treasure Island Fest. Lineup Announced

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

The 2007 introduction of the Treasure Island Music Festival was basically perfect. An incredible lineup, a beautiful location in the middle of the San Francisco Bay (literally), easy access, reciprocal stage setup (no sound bleeding here), environmentally friendly, good food, old school arcade games, booths featuring local businesses, and a frickin' Ferris Wheel. As I enjoyed one amazing set after another while looking out over the Bay and the SF skyline and not dying of heatstroke and/or getting trampled by 80,000 attendees (10,000/day is just right, thank you), all I could think was - "who needs this Coachella business?"

And of course, the nautically-themed fest will return for 2008, and it's shaping up to be just as kick-ass as the 2007 inaugural experience... if not better. As always, some local artists are representing. Just take a look at this ridiculous initial lineup:

Saturday September 20th:

JUSTICE
TV ON THE RADIO
GOLDFRAPP
HOT CHIP
CSS
ANTIBALAS
AESOP ROCK
AMON TOBIN
FOALS
MIKE RELM
NORTEC: BOSTICH + FUSSIBLE

Sunday September 21st:

THE RACONTEURS
TEGAN & SARA
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
SPIRITUALIZED
OKKERVIL RIVER
TOKYO POLICE CLUB
THE KILLS
DR. DOG
JOHN VANDERSLICE
THE DODOS
FLEET FOXES

With more TBA.

In case you didn't know, the Treasure Island Music Festival comes to us from the incredible efforts of Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment (also busy with the Outside Lands Festival). This year's edition will be bringing back the Ferris Wheel and other festival activities (like a treasure hunt – yarrr!), will feature the same flawless transportation system for getting on and off the island, and will once again aim for the "go green" method of carbon neutrality.

Tickets for the festival go on sale May 30th at 10:00 a.m. Single day tickets cost $65.00, two-day tickets cost $115.00. A limited quantity of VIP tickets will be sold as a four-pack (which includes four VIP tickets to one day of the festival, one VIP parking spot on the island, preferred viewing area, VIP Lounge with full bar and other amenities) for $445.00. Additionally, a limited number of early bird two-day tickets will be available for $99.00 through the festival pre-sale. More info can be found here.

So get your tix soon, and then make a stop at 826 Valencia for some pirate gear. Ahoy!

Dengue Fever to play Dawn 2008

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST

Religion is a heavy-handed issue, if not often problematic. However, religion also represents significant history and custom, which can be recognized and celebrated regardless of one's own spiritual beliefs. So basically, even if you're not Jewish, there's quite a lot to be enjoyed at Dawn 2008, an all-night arts and cultural celebration of the Jewish holiday Shavuot at the Grand Opening of San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum. This event is co-presented by the Contemporary Jewish Museum and Reboot, to both introduce the museum and to celebrate Shavuot, which commemorates the day the Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

Let's take a look at the lineup of festivities for the evening, which starts at 8:00 p.m. on June 7th:

"A one-night only Bay Area performance, Dengue Fever, a six-member band with its own psychedelic take on American rock sounds of the '60s fused with vintage Cambodian pop.

Conversation with special guest Jonathan Safran Foer, acclaimed author of international bestseller, Everything is Illuminated.

A unique, live performance in front of 1926 Russian Jewish silent film, "Benya Krik," by author Issac Babel commissioned exclusively for the evening."

And then you throw in theatrical and spoken word performances, premiere film screenings, visual arts, lectures, comedy, readings, open-space discussion forums, special guests, the opportunity to explore the museum's stunning facility, and the spinning skills of DJ Yossi Fine to get you up and moving, and you’ve got a truly spectacular evening, regardless of religious beliefs. I mean, who doesn't love Dengue Fever? And Jonathan Safran Foer? In the same place over the course of the same evening, I might add?

Here are the down and dirty details:

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008
Doors open at 8 PM

WHERE: Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission Street, between 3rd and 4th streets
San Francisco, CA 94103
CJM main number: (415) 655-7800
For DAWN '08: (415) 655-7854

TICKET INFORMATION:
General Admission Tickets for DAWN '08 includes admittance, full entertainment program, and Museum sneak preview. Space is limited.
$12 Advance Tickets
$10 Community partners/ CJM Members/students
$15 General Admission at the door

Tickets can be purchased online here: Contemporary Jewish Museum or by calling (415) 655-7854.

Much much more information can be found at the event website.

Backstage with Langhorne Slim

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

You gotta love a guy who gets inspired by a found Humpty Dumpty doll. Note: the doll on Langhorne Slim's leg was found while he was wandering the streets of San Francisco. (Must have fallen off a wall or something.) He carried Mr. Dumpty around the dressing room, brought him on stage and coddled it as if it were his new best friend. Odd? Yes. But the life of a musician can be very solitary, especially when you don't really have a place to call home. As is the case of Langhorne Slim... sort of. The folk singer—who's self-titled debut dropped in April—is currently on his first national tour. He does call the west coast his home, but we're not sure how long he'll be around. LS is one of those free spirit musicians with a knack for writing nostalgic folk songs in a modern world—and the road is always beckoning. The Owl Mag went backstage and sat down with Langhorne Slim before his show at SF's Independent to talk about everything from east coast vs. west coast and David Letterman to cutting up a rug and playing with a full band.

The Owl Mag: You've been on tour a couple weeks, how has it been so far?

Langehorne Slim: This is our first national headlining tour. We didn't know what to expect, but it's been a very pleasant surprise. There have been good crowds pretty much everywhere. Even when they're smaller, they've been very nice. I can't really complain.

So what would you like to accomplish, as a band, over the next two months while on tour?

LS: Fame and inner-peace. We want to build what we're doing. We want to have a lot of people hear what we're doing and hopefully like it. I want to be busy and play for a lot of people.

Is it really true that you like to dance?

LS: Yeah, sure, who doesn't? I don't know if I'm any good at it, but I have a song called "I Love to Dance," and that might be where that comes from. But yeah, when the mood hits, sure.

Do you try to play music that people can dance to?

LS: Yeah. There's an audience and an entertainer and I really like the idea of that coming together and not being like, "These are guys up on a stage." Ideally, I'd like to break down that wall. But I understand how it can be uncomfortable to let loose, completely. Sometimes everybody does freak out and it's a beautiful thing.

How long have you been playing the guitar?

LS: I stared playing when I was 12 or 13. I was self-taught in the sense that I didn't study music. A cousin of mine taught me how to play the Nirvana song, "Polly," and I played it over and over again. And then with those chords I started writing my own little songs.

What were some of your influences growing up?

LS: The Kinks' Greatest Hits, David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Animals' Greatest Hits were three big ones for me. I really liked classic rock music. Nirvana was huge for me. I liked the Butthole Surfers and Pavement. More Recently, I've been really getting into Lee Hazlewood, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen—the big boys.

What's different now, as opposed to when you first picked up a guitar?

LS: There's definitely a difference in the music. I think you feel like you have something within yourself—you start with a feeling or idea—then you keep doing it and you feel like you need to do it. You get closer to finding your truth or voice. I'm still very much on that level.

What do you ultimately want to do with your guitar?

LS: I would like to write music that is true to myself and in some way important to other people who can relate to it. I would love to be a respected song writer.

What is your music, exactly?

LS: I now give an answer, but I don't like to do it. I cringe every time (I'm forced to label my music), but I say acoustic rock 'n' roll. The music that I love is rock 'n' roll, country, blues, R&B and soul.

How was your recent performance on the David Letterman show?

LS: It was an awesome experience. After watching that show my whole life, being in the actual studio was pretty surreal. It looks a lot more sprawling on television. I was definitely nervous about it, running over the song over and over again in my head. Thankfully, it wasn't filmed live and thankfully there was a live audience. It was good exposure and it was a really nice experience.

Are you still living in New York?

LS: No. I was living there for 7 or 8 years, but now I'm an hour north of San Francisco with my girlfriend. I think we're trying to figuring out our next move.

So do you spend much time here in San Francisco?

LS: Well, she (my girlfriend) and I met at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco—she was living here at the time, so I'd come out anytime that I could. My three big cities in the country are New York, and I'm not interested in living in New York anymore, New Orleans and San Francisco. I've never lived in San Francisco or New Orleans.

What do you like about San Francisco?

LS: It's a beautiful place—I like the people that I've met, I'm closer to the woman that I love. It's also where I fell in love. My only problem is that I don't want to live in an apartment. A bit of privacy is a good thing, I think.

Why are you over New York?

LS: I don't know. I never truly felt at home in New York. It is always small apartments. Where I'm at now is a little house. I just feel much better within myself if I'm in a more naturally-beautiful place. New York is a beautiful place, but I think I might be somebody that just needs to have nature around me.

So you prefer the West Coast over the East Coast?

LS: My honest answer is, yes, I do. I prefer to be out here for my own piece of mind, but my family is still out there (the East Coast), so I still have a strong connection there. I definitely see myself spending more time out here, at this point in my life. I feel better out this way. It could just be because it's different here and I don't really know that many people, so it's new terrain. It's sort of exciting in that way.

Do you feel that you can musically relate to the West Coast?

LS: I don't think it works that way. I don't know that if I grew up in Chicago or in San Francisco that my music would be any different than it is. I'm not somebody that writes if I'm heartbroken or depressed or uptight or nervous. I write when I feel good.

How long have you been playing with a bass player and a drummer?

LS: Going on four years.

What are the advantages of playing with others as opposed to playing solo?

LS: I can write a song, bring it to them and they can make it better. I was very fortunate—they were the first people that I met when trying to put a band together, and they were the right people. They're very talented and skilled musicians, but at the same time they are very tasteful and able to follow something that is a little more sloppy like myself.

But they live still live on the East Coast, so how do you practice?

LS: We never really practice. My songs are not the most complex arrangements, so if I write something at home or on the road, they've got it at sound check or a motel room or somebody's house.

Is there a lot of improvisation on stage?

LS: Some nights. I like the songs a whole lot when I write them, but in a little while they can lose their meaning. In order to keep that meaning and be able to relate to what I'm singing about, yeah, it helps to switch it up from time to time.

What's the difference between the new self-titled album and your last released full-length?

LS: Time has gone by. It wasn't supposed to be so much time but our label got bought out, and we were without a label for a little while. I think it's (the new album) is a lot better than the other one. I still like the other one, but with time, you begin to express what you're trying to express better and better. Musically, it's a little different.

So you're satisfied with the album?

LS: Never—not yet, at least. I'm proud of it, but I'm not satisfied. You do something and hopefully you're proud of it, and it's on to the next thing. If we play a show and people said it sounded good, it makes me very happy. But tomorrow is another day and things keep moving and what you're doing only gets stronger.

Langhorne Slim - "Restless Live" on The Late Show

Talking House Records Signs Loquat

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Let us appreciate, for a moment, the beauty of the local record label. It's a mutually beneficial way to represent the music & arts scene and demonstrate appreciation for the area in which it resides, and is just a really cool addition to any city. San Francisco can therefore show appreciation for Talking House Records, a local label featuring local talent.

It’s just as important to get the word out about news surrounding a local record label, so let’s give an update on Talking House, mmmkay?

First – Local favorites known as Loquat have officially signed with Talking House and are set to issue their second full-length, Secrets of the Sea. The dreamy, shimmery pop that Loquat have become known for will hopefully flourish under the guidance of Talking House, so be sure to look for their new album come this fall.

Second – Not only have Elephone been residing within the walls of Talking House for awhile now, but they recently earned enough votes to play the San Francisco Black and White Ball, taking place on May 31st. This event, headlined by Seal, will hopefully serve as a warm-up to the arrival of Elephone's new album, out on July 15th.

And Third – The folks at Talking House are also set to issue avant-garde cellist Joan Jeanrenaud's new album, Strange Toys, out on June 24th. According to a press release, Jeanrenaud's music is "minimalist, polyrhythmic, organic, and electronic all at once, accessible to listeners unfamiliar with contemporary classical music, thanks to her bold experimentation with electronic beats, unusual instruments, spoken-word, and other unique elements." You can experience the album live and pick up a copy for yourself by stopping at Great American Music Hall on June 25th for Jeanrenaud's record release party.

Hot Tub, Subtle, and The Federalists

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Not sure what to chat about whilst standing around the office water cooler? Impress co-workers with your superior foresight by demonstrating a keen ability to identify what's hot. Simply use our Band Barometer to know which local bands are heating up.

Hot Tub: Hot Tub is everywhere. If they aren't headlining, these ladies make themselves the main event. Who doesn't love chicks that run their mouths off in that "we think we're so tough," sort of way, bringing cute rap on playful electro and old school beats? Hot simplicity with raunchy songs is getting this threesome lots of attention. They're wild and tacky, often campy, and ready to serve it hard—straight out of Oakland. They've got the bait and they ain't afraid to go fishin'. We're hooked.

Subtle: Subtle is Oakland's bragging rights. A six member masterpiece presenting the album to testify against the current, forgettable music of buzz bands and false idols, they have been giving and people don't know what they got. Because maybe you never heard or knew that it could be like this, but Subtle's new release Existing Arm transcends pop, takes rap with class, adds heart and the incredibly developed allegory of Hour Hero Yes.

The Federalists: The Federalists are a guilty pleasure easy to indulge in, straightforward in their earnestness and sweet pop. In the three years these East Bay rockers have been around, more than 40,000 MySpacers have friended the band. Live 105 tastemaker Aaron Axelsen has been spinning their latest single "City Girl." Check out "Impossible" off of their latest self-titled album, which boasts a tune reminiscent of the same quirky-retro nostalgia that fuels John Waters' films.

Paid Dues CANCELLED

Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

(updated 6/13/08)

There's no room for stunna shades and ghetto egos at the Paid Dues Festival. Now in it's third year, the hip hop love tour, returns to the Bay Area with a show at the Berkeley Community Theater on June 14th. It's a smaller scale, less commercial Rock the Bells, really (produced by the same company—Murs 3:16 and Guerilla Union) and features independent hip hop artists that the press release suggests are "...largely shunned by the mainstream media." We've never shunned De La Soul or Hieroglyphics. But we see what you mean. Mainstream hip hop is defined more by the women in the videos and the size of rims. You won't get those types of egos here, especially with a lineup like this: De La Soul, Blackaclicious, Little Brother, Sage Francis, Hieroglyphics, Supernatural and Scratch from The Roots, Kidz in the Hall, Braille, and B. Dolan.

Organizers of the independent hip-hop festival tweak their lineup towards acts with advanced lyrics and political messages, which enhances the quality of the show. So expect to go slightly dumb and get smart at the same time!

SHOWS:

6/4 Nokia Theatre New York, NY
6/7 Club Cinema Ft. Lauderdale, FL
6/13 Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
6/14 Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley, CA

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2008

Sun, 4 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

October 3rd - 5th marks the 2008 rendition of one of the coolest music festivals on the planet: San Francisco's own Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. This flurry of banjos will take place in Golden Gate Park not too long after the inaugural Outside Lands Festival, but here's the big difference between the two (besides Outside Lands' distinct lack of banjos) – HSB is FREE. Did you hear that? FREE. As in free of charge, free of money, free of increasing credit card debt, free of whatever. It's just free. The initial lineup for this year's festival features a legendary rocker, Bohemian punk and folk fave.

Lineup:

Robert Plant & Allison Krauss ft. T Bone Burnett
Earl Scruggs
Robert Earl Keen
Iris DeMent
Bad Livers
Gogol Bordello
Loudon Wainwright III
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Revue

With many more TBA. More info here. And we would provide info on purchasing tickets for the festival, but wait, this festival is FREE. No tickets needed. Just show up and enjoy the banjos.

BFD 2008 Announced

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

Ah BFD. It's sorta become synonymous with summer...sprawling out on the Shoreline lawn, getting burned by the steamy parking lot asphalt. Then there's the bands; some big, some small, some from far away, some local. Live 105 does a pretty good job, don't they? This year is no different. It's going to be another hot one in Mountain View on June 7th.

The Budlight Festival Stage (noon to 8:30PM) features a variety of bands. Punk fans will get their fill from Pennywise and hip-hop goers will enjoy a set from old schoolers Cypress Hill (we can smell the reefer right now). British band The Kooks, fresh off the release of their sophomore album Konk, will get a chance to woo American audiences for round two. The Subsonic Tent (3PM to 11PM) is kind of like a mid show after party with DJ AM and DJ Omar spinning their faves. Electronic baldie, Moby and local hip-hopper, Lyrics Born will take you from trance to call and response. Finally, the Soundcheck Local Music Stage, (1 to 6PM) will feature Bay Area favorites like indie psychedelic band Love Like Fire, alt-poppers The Federalists and space-rockabilly band The Phenomenauts.

Don't forget the sunscreen and a comfy pair of shoes.

For more info. and a full schedule, go here: Live 105

Rancid hits the road

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

See, there's this band called Rancid, and they've developed quite the fan base over the years with their one-two punch of reggae-infused punk. And despite this fan following, the band has not played a live show since 2006, nor have they released any new Rancid music since 2003's Indestructible.

And you thought this story had a sad ending? Nope, not this time. It's been announced that the Berkeley-native band has scheduled a shiny new summer tour that's chock-full of shows. And that's not all – this tour is meant to support Rancid's highly-anticipated new album that's nearly complete, and will mark their seventh album overall. Set for release later this year, the album was penned along with Epitaph president Brett Gurewitz as producer and Joe Barresi (Tool, Bad Religion) as mixer.

Two years without a live show and five years without a new album; if that doesn't spell anticipation, then I don't know what does. Check the band's tour dates here, and stay tuned for more new album details as they emerge:

6/10 – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
6/11 – Club 101 – El Paso, TX
6/13 – La Zona Rosa – Austin, TX
6/14 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
6/15 – Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
6/18 – Jannus Landing – Saint Petersburg, FL
6/19 – Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
6/20 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL
6/21 – Plush – Jacksonville, FL
6/22 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
6/24 – House of Blues – Myrtle Beach
6/25 – Hooligans Music Hall – Jacksonville, NC
6/26 – Jesters – Fayetteville, NC
6/27 – Rocketown – Nashville, TN
6/28 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL
6/29 – Cain’s – Tulsa, OK
7/01 – Sunshine Theatre – Albuquerque, NM
7/02 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
7/03 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
7/26 – The Fillmore – Denver, CO
7/27 – The Beaumont – Kansas City, MO
7/28 – The Myth – Minneapolis, MN
7/30 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL
7/31 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL
8/01 – Clutch Cargo – Pontiac, MI
8/02 – Kool Haus – Toronto, ONT
8/03 – Kool Haus – Toronto, ONT
8/05 – Metropolis – Montreal, QUE
8/06 – Metropolis – Montreal, QUE
8/08 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA
8/09 – Lupo’s – Providence, RI
8/10 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
8/11 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
8/13 – Fillmore @ Irving – New York, NY
8/14 – Fillmore @ Irving – New York, NY
8/15 – Fillmore @ Irving – New York, NY
8/16 – Fillmore @ Irving – New York, NY
8/17 – Fillmore @ Irving – New York, NY

Lyrics Born Drops 'Everywhere'

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Bay Area has become increasingly more well-known in regards to our consistently dynamic music scene. We can prove this by citing from our stellar roster of some of the original movers and shakers, which includes the charismatic Lyrics Born.

The MC's new album, Everywhere At Once, hits the scene April 22nd, and he will celebrate his new release with a full-fledged tour. Starting at Berkeley's own Rasputin Music and ending at San Francisco's own Outside Lands Festival, Lyrics Born is fully set to bring his eclectic, dance-fueled hip hop to the masses. Checkout the dates below:

04/22 Berkeley, CA - Rasputin (in-store performance)
04/22 San Francisco, CA - Icon Lounge (record release party)
04/26 Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards
04/27 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
04/28 Eugene, OR - Wow Hall
04/29 Portland, OR - Berbati's
05/02 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
05/03 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
05/04 Los Angeles, CA - Key Club
05/07 Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
05/08 Ft Collins, CO - Aggie Theater
05/06 Snowmass, CO - Chili Pepper Fest
05/07 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amp (Live 105's BFD)
08/22-24 San Francisco, CA- Outside Lands Festival

The Rising Tide of Sea Wolf

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

Alex Brown Church, the vocal and songwriting force behind chamber pop up-and-coming Sea Wolf, branched out from indie rock band Irving when he found himself evolving as a songwriter. His new music more closely resembled the type of musician he hoped to be, but didn't necessarily mesh with the Irving sound. As Sea Wolf, Church signed to Dangerbird Records last year, the same label as Silversun Pickups. Since the release of his debut album Leaves in the River, Church has heard more than a few songwriting comparisons to indie mainstay Coner Oberst (Bright Eyes). He has been touring relentlessly since the fall 2007 release of his debut.

Before Sea Wolf opened for Bay Area favorites Nada Surf at The Fillmore last month, Church took a few minutes to chat with The Owl Mag about his call to music, why licensing tunes is not necessarily selling out and where he lays his head when he's in San Francisco.

The Owl Mag: This was your second year going to SXSW as Sea Wolf. Was it different than last year in any way?

Alex Brown Church: Definitely. When we went last year we didn't have a record or an EP out. We didn't have anything out, so ... We had just signed to Dangerbird. It was more like going out there to play for a handful of people that weren't going to see us in Los Angeles for whatever reason. They were all spread out across the country, radio people and stuff. So it was kind of more like a pre-album release. This one was more... we had the record, the EP out for a little bit, so people knew who we were this time... We went out there for a purpose, but there was a lot more just fans at these shows.

Speaking of fans, you had a song on Gossip Girl. How have things changed for you since then?

ABC: I haven't really noticed. I have no idea. I don't know if it made a big difference or not.

Well checking out your YouTube page under "You're A Wolf," they're (posters) like "Oh my god, this song was on 'Gossip Girl'!"

ABC: Really?

Yeah. So, how did you decide that you wanted to license your songs? Because I see you guys have "You're A Wolf" featured in a Chevy hybrid ad that's coming out soon.

ABC: Yeah.

What made you decide to do that?

ABC: Well, it's nice to make money off your music. That's kind of the best way to do it these days. And also... I don't know... it's also another way of getting your music out there in a way that seems like a lot of indie bands are doing that now, just because it gives you exposure. But, uh, it was a bit of a... I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, you know? But in the end I did. I decided, "Whatever." Songs should hold up regardless of the commercial. It wasn't like it was something that I felt really bad about. It's a hybrid, so whatever.

So you went to NYU for film school, were you thinking at that time that you wanted to do music as well?

ABC: Yeah, definitely.

You've been involved in music all your life?

ABC: Well, kind of. I started playing bass, which was kind of my first instrument, in high school, thinking that I wanted to do music. When I was real young I wanted to play and I took violin lessons when I was 8 or 9. And, uh, only for a year. It was something I always loved, and I always wanted to do... nobody in my family are musicians or artists or anything. It was just something that I wasn't sure what to do, how to do it. I also wasn't sure what exactly I wanted to do; I had a lot of artistic aspirations. Not just film and music, but other things. So it just took me a while to try out a bunch of different things. In college my college roommate was actually in a band and that was the first time I had been exposed to somebody that was in a band. Seeing it from the inside made me feel like it was something I could actually do. At that time was when I started experimenting with writing songs.

What is the most important part of the songwriting process for you?

ABC: The most important part is the very beginning. Having the time and the space, for a lack of a better way of saying it, let your muse wander a little bit. And I guess that's the most important part, is giving yourself the space to write. And then also sitting down and actually forcing yourself to do it occasionally. [laughs]

You've been touring for a while. You were touring with Nada Surf before the holidays, and now you're touring again, SXSW... are you going back into the studio anytime soon?

ABC: Probably not until next winter, I would think at the earliest, because I haven't had a whole lot of time to write. So it might be a little while. We'll see. This fall I want to get back into writing. I tend to record as I write sometimes. At least that's what I did for the first record (Leaves in the River). I hope to have the next record out by next year, middle of next year.

So your debut Leaves in the River has been getting a lot of critical acclaim, you've been getting a lot of positive feedback. Does that intimidate you for a second album?

ABC: No... well I don't know, yeah. I think the negative feedback intimidates me more. The positive feedback is like, "Ah, cool." Gives you a little confidence, you know? I think that I did go through a little period where I was feeling like it wasn't obvious to me what the next step should be, where the next record should go. I think I was struggling with it for a little while because of people's expectations, or potential expectations. I eventually got over it, so now I'm at the point where I'm excited to have fun and mess around, and at the end of that have a record be done.

So I read in an article on NPR that you spent some time growing up in the Bay Area.

ABC: Yeah.

Where did you grow up in the Bay Area?

ABC: Berkeley. I lived in Sonora. Well, Columbia, California, in the foothills. Two and half hours east from here. I lived there, it was a Gold Rush town. I was born there, lived there until I was 7, and then lived in France for a year. When we moved back, we moved to Berkeley. So I pretty much spent my junior high, middle school, high school years in Berkeley.

When you're coming through the Bay Area do you have any favorite places to stop? Make sure you go to when you're in town?

ABC: My mom's house. She still lives here. We always stay at my mom's, even when I was in another band... Other than that, maybe Cancun Tacqueria, I think it's different than the one in San Francisco, but there's the one in Berkeley that I really like.

"You're A Wolf"

Bay Area bands battle for Footstock Festival

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

San Francisco's Independent will become a terror dome of Mel Gibson-esque proportions Wednesday, April 16 for the annual ING Bay to Breakers "Battle of the Bands" event. Well, not really. But a contest made for local prime time TV will feature four Bay Area bands—Pleasuremaker, The Hot Toddies, The Crazies Will Destroy You and Young Has Beens—as they duel it out for a chance to play the opening slot at this year's "ING Footstock Festival" (on May 18). Other prizes include $500, which they can spend on booze or wacky B2B costumes and Southwest Airlines tickets for everyone in the band.

Fans can vote online but are limited to only one vote. To really express your inner American Idol judge, fans at the show will get an extra special tally as their vote will count 5X more than online voters. (Sounds like a presidential election.)

High Sierra Festival lineup announced

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

Maybe it doesn't seem quite as big and exciting as the Outside Lands Festival, but the lineup for the High Sierra Music Festival is still pretty darn cool. The four-day festival prides itself on providing an intimate music & arts experience, including camping, eclectic music line-up on five stages, and a variety of outdoor activities, personal wellness programs and arts & educational events. The folks behind the High Sierra Festival are also making considerable efforts to "go green" via partnerships with Green Mountain Energy for carbon offsets, Clean Vibes for recycling and Clif Bar to purchase wind credits. Throw all this against the beautiful scenery of the Sierra foothills, and you can see why people come back to this festival year after year.

Scheduled to take place July 3-6 at the Plumas-Sierra Fairgrounds in Quincy, CA, the festival lineup currently includes:

Bob Weir & Ratdog
Gov't Mule
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Built to Spill
Mike Gordon
Railroad Earth
Charlie Hunter Trio
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Robben Ford
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quarter ft. Bela Fleck
James Hunter
New Monsoon
The Slip
Surprise Me Mr. Davis
Bassnectar
The Mother Hips
Emmitt-Nershi Band
Critters Buggin
The Lee Boys
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Spam Allstars
Groovesect with Fred Wesley
Marchforth Marching Band
Buckethead
Akron/Family
Scott Amendola Band
Blvd and MC Souleye
Rotary Downs
The Weather Underground
And more

Check out the festival website for additional information, including ticket prices and all that good stuff.

Sub Pop scholarship for the creative college-bound

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

Last year marked the inaugural year for the Sub Pop scholarship, humorously entitled the "Loser Scholarship" The "loser" part, of course, refers to the fact that in the more stereotypical Varsity Blues-type high school atmosphere, the "creative" and "musical" types (yay band and choir geeks!) are perhaps considered to be the "loser," non-prom-king-and-queen types.

Well, the rockin' folks at Sub Pop are here to celebrate the non-traditional high school types by offering college scholarships to high school students who happen to be more creatively and/or musically inclined. Sub Pop is offering three scholarships, a grand total of $13,000 - one for $6,000 and two for $3,500 each. To apply for these scholarships, the student must be a resident of Washington or Oregon, and a graduating senior on his or her way to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college.

Officially speaking, the Sub Pop peeps are looking for an applicant who is involved and/or interested in music and/or the creative arts in some way. Interested students are required to submit an essay, no longer than one page, letting Sub Pop know about some of the following topics:

-What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?
-How and/or why did you become interested in artistic outlets?
-Why do you need this scholarship money?
-What are your influences and/or who inspires you?
-Who are some of your favorite bands or artists?

Applicants are encouraged to send digital links and provide hard copies of their artwork along with their essay, but they must also be aware that Sub Pop will not return any of this material, so be sure not to send originals. The deadline for applications is May 1st.

Additional information can be found here. And seriously, be sure to check out last year's winner, who might just be the coolest dude we've ever seen.