Category Archives: Nu-Soul

Do You Remember Rock & Roll?

If not, let the Alabama Shakes remind you. They’re selling out shows across the country and their debut album isn’t even out for another couple months. I managed to see these blues-infused soul grabbers play a jam packed show at the Indy in San Francisco last night. Best overpriced scalped ticket I ever bought!

Don’t believe the hype? Are you in Lefsetz’s corner? All due respect to differing musical tastes, but you’d have to be made of stone to hear a song like “Be Mine” and think that this is a band that’s “not ready.” They sound like they were born ready.

Go see the Alabama Shakes, if you can. Pick up their album Boys & Girls when it drops the second week of April. And peep my photos from last night’s show:

Additional photos on my Flickr.

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by Eternal Pamnation on Jan 27, 2012 at 05:33 PM

Also posted in San Francisco can be cool, So Good It Hurts |

Long Live Old Souls

Musically speaking, Amy Winehouse’s addictions did her in long ago.

We all waited around for a follow-up to her 2006 album, Back to Black. But as the years went by with no new records and a lot of cancelled concerts, I think we all knew where this story was going. Maybe two albums was all she had in her. I mean, what kind of songs would a well-adjusted clean-and-sober Amy Winehouse write anyway? I’d rather not speculate.

This is not to say that an artist needs to be drug-addled mess to make good music. I’m just saying that an artist like her — who knows how express genuine human emotion — is a rare and fleeting thing. Rare, but thankfully, not non-existent.

Enter the Shakes. An ocean of gratitude to Aquarium Drunkard for bringing my attention to this as-yet unsigned band from Athens, Alabama.

I know it’s a little odd to draw comparisons between a solo artist and a band, but I first heard the Shakes right around the time I found out Amy Winehouse died and was struck by the similarities. They’re both authentically soulful and they both sound like they’ve been around the block. The Shakes, however, are much more bluesy and hopefully a lot less self-destructive. Vocally, lead singer Brittany Howard bears a little more resemblance to Janis Joplin — another member of the infamous 27 Club. Let’s just hope she’s around longer than that.

-Eternal Pamnation

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by Eternal Pamnation on Jul 27, 2011 at 01:37 PM

Also posted in Retro |

So Sayeth Pam – SFxSW

The music fest officially starts today, but I won’t be in Austin til Thursday and I’m getting antsy. So many bands, so little time to see them all! I’ve narrowed down the list but still have lots of conflicting events on my calendar. I’ve also been warned that, as a non badge-holder, I shouldn’t get my heart set on getting into a particular venue. Guess we’ll just have to see how this schedule I’ve made for myself pans out.

I do find it interesting that out of the kajillion artists on tap, many the ones I hope to see are from my home turf, the Bay Area. What does this say about me? Not sure. But I suppose, to paraphrase Dorothy, that if I ever go looking for new music, I shouldn’t look any further than my own backyard. The bright side to having SF bands on my SXSW list is that even if I don’t catch any of them in Austin, I’ve got a pretty good shot at catching them back in the Bay. Here are just a few:

The Sandwitches

Do a Google search for “Sandwitches” and the new song by those punk-ass LA rappers Odd Future will undoubtedly come up. But I’m talking about THE Sandwitches. This all-girl, jangly folk-pop trio is probably the musical opposite of OFWGKTA. They’ve got a new album called “Mrs. Jones’ Cookies” coming out at the end of the month and I really like what I’ve heard so far. The Sandwitches are not an official SXSW band, but they are playing a few unofficial events around town.

The Fresh & Onlys

Fun facts: One of the founding members of the Fresh & Onlys still keeps his day job at Amoeba Records and two of the members of the Sandwitches were formerly back-up singers for the Fresh & Onlys. So, you know, everything’s connected … man. I’m loving this new track from their forthcoming EP “Secret Walls.” It’s due out in April. Jeez, they just put out a full-length record last October. Slow down, guys. I can’t keep up.

Track: “Do You Believe In Destiny?”
The Fresh & Onlys – Do You Believe In Destiny by forcefieldpr

The Papercuts

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They’re already on their fourth record (“Fading Parade”), they’re signed to Sub Pop and they’ve been touring with Beach House. So the Papercuts are already popping off and I’m late to the party. But better late than never, I always say.

Hunx and His Punx

Give it up for a man from Da Town! Oakland’s Seth Bogart, aka Hunx, will be representing at SXSW once again with his Punx (or is it Punkettes?). If you were in a gay motorcycle club in the 50’s, this is the kind of music you’d hear. I really can’t overstate the gayness. And I’m not too young to be in love with the title track to his forthcoming album, “Too Young To Be In Love.” I don’t think anybody is.

- Pam Torno

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by Oldschool Brian on Mar 15, 2011 at 12:18 PM

Also posted in Festivals, Independent, Live Show, preview |

Corinne Bailey Rae -Love Ep is nothing but covers

01 I Wanna Be Your Lover www.pinboardblog.com by PinBoardBlog.com
A wise man once said that in these modern times a band just starting out SHOULD record a cover song. Pick a act or song that your band would like to be associated with, that way when fans of the original song search these vast internets to illegaly download their favorite song… perhaps your version shows up in the search results. The fan of the original clicks your link and Boom you have anew fan.

Corrine Bailey Rae doesn’t need that strategy at all. Her last LP “The Sea” was amazing and did just fine on it’s own. The upcoming The Love EP, a digital-only album of love song covers hits the streets nee mobile devices on Valentines Day. And she does a pretty true version of Prince’s ” I Want To Be Your Lover” . Which the purple one himself DID NOT play when I saw him at MSG last month. Sooo Prince you owe me one.

CBR breaks down the rest of the ep here.