Category: Editor’s Show Picks
Countdown to NYE! Bring it in with Sea of Dreams SF
November 30, 2011
by Eboni Jones, Ticketfly Marketing Intern
Oh the stress of figuring out how to spend New Year’s Eve! Where to go, what to wear, who to bring it in with?
Well, if you’re in SF there’s no need to worry cause Sea of Dreams NYE has got you covered. For the 11th Annual NYE event, anonEvents, SunsetSF, Metrowize and AnTenNae have outdone themselves. Over 20 musical artists, over 8 hours of partying, 5 stages, art installations, costumes, and plenty more. Sounds better than what you did last year? Now check out some of the artists scheduled to perform:
Santigold – Philly – Muse of the Afro Punk movement
Amon Tobin – Brazil – One of the most influential electronic music artists in the world
Beats Antique – Oakland, CA – A little bit of electronica mixed with World Root music
Claude Von Stroke – Detroit, MI – Founder of dirtybird & Mothership labels
MarchFourth Marching Band – Portland, OR – costumed dancing beauties, acrobatic stilt walkers, life size marionettes
An-ten-nae – SF – Exemplifying the ‘Acid Crunk’ sound
Diego’s Umbrella – SF – Introduced the world to Gypsy Rock
J Phlip – Champaign, Illinois – House music DJ, producer
Motion Potion – SF – Pusher of Electric Nostalgia
Zack Darling – North SF Bay – The name of his unique musical flavor of bass-heavy dance floor bootlegs? Mashstep!
If that’s not enough to get you excited, then you might be half dead (no seriously, is your heart not pumping harder?).
There are tickets still available. Plus VIP tickets with special amenities including complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres, hello!
Get your tickets ASAP, you don’t want to be the ‘one’ who has to hear all about it from everybody else!
Categories: Editor's Show Picks, News, Ticketfly Clients
Show Review: Shellac at The New Parish, Oakland
October 24, 2011
by Sean Campbell, Ticketfly Senior Accountant/ Financial Analyst (Yes, even the accountant writes show reviews)
Shellac is one of those bands that has a bit of mystery about them. They’ve only released four studio albums in 20 years, rarely tour, and don’t count on Facebook or Twitter to keep their fans interested. Saturday’s show at the New Parish brought home what keeps fans interested: their utterly unique, driving noise/math rock sound, heavy on the sarcasm and the rhythm and light on traditional conventions of live shows. Shellac shows have no encores, intro music, or fashion statements, though they do feature bassist Bob Weston’s audience Q&A, which usually goes like this:
Weston: “Steve is tuning. Questions! You in the front!”
Fan: (inaudible)
Weston: “What? Huh? Turn your cellphone camera off, jerk! Next question!”
It’s that sort of warm and fuzzy band/fan interaction that compelled me to leave a beautiful Santa Cruz beach on Saturday evening and drive up the 17 to Oakland. I’ve never been to the New Parish, and I will be returning. This is definitely my favorite club in the East Bay. Balcony? Check. Outdoor Patio? Check. Liquor? Check. It’s a great sounding, roomy venue that knows what it’s doing. The show was sold out but there was room to move and buy drinks. I look forward to checking out their sister club, Brick and Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco.
Opener Helen Money is a solo cellist that plays through loops and effects, sometimes strumming the cello like a guitar, sometimes playing it as a percussion instrument. She was a very engaging performer.
Shellac came onstage and set up with drummer Todd Trainer in front, crash cymbal 10 feet in the air. They launched into “Canada”, “Squirrel Song”, “Steady as She Goes”, my personal favorite “Watch Song” and other fan favorites. They absolutely rule live. You can really hear the distinctive sound of their Travis Bean instruments (necks made out of aluminum) and custom amps. Bass and drums locked into the groove while singer/guitarist Steve Albini sang about radio, aliens, Satchel Paige, fighting, and ghosts. They played for about 90 minutes, stopping only for question time and to announce a song, “this song is about an a******, **** him and **** all his ****.” They announced their last song and said they’d have t-shirts for sale after the show.
They played no encore or solo acoustic songs. Just one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, without frills. Definitely check them out when (if) they come to your town. They’ll be making their way up to the Northwest in the coming week. And check out the New Parish!
Local photographer Shannon Corr got some great photos of the New Parish show you can check out on his Flickr.
Categories: Editor's Show Picks, Show Reviews
A Night of Sweet Relief is Tomorrow! A Portion of Every Ticket Sold Goes to a Great Cause!
October 14, 2011
What?
Sweet Relief has partnered with venues, promoters, ticketing companies, artists and artist management in designating one evening of live music performances per year as a part of “Night of Sweet Relief” to assist our nation’s suffering career musical artists. This is a night to get off the couch, away from the TV, movie or video game and into the excitement of live entertainment! Listening to music is great, but seeing the artists perform live, playing right in front you on stage is an experience you never forget.
All YOU have to do is either:
1) Buy some tickets on October 15th! On Ticketfly or over the phone at 877-4-FLY-TIX
or
2) Attend a Sweet Relief Event at one of these participating venues.
When?
On Saturday, October 15th 2011 hundreds of live music events taking place in arenas, theaters, clubs and bars can participate in supporting this cause by building in a $1 donation component to their ticket price or door cover charge. Ticketfly will be donating a portion of EVERY ticket sold online and via phone all day! We are very excited to be a part of such a wonderful event that supports both musicians and live music. We can’t think of a better reason to get out of the house and see a show!
Plus, a few select Ticketfly clients have kindly agreed to MATCH our donation. So if you buy on Ticketfly for any of these venues, you’ll be donating double the normal amount. Here are those generous folks!
SBL Entertainment
Brooklyn Bowl
Johnny Brenda’s
Warren Miller Entertainment
Double Door
The Green Room, Flagstaff
R5 Productions
Union Transfer
The Independent
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
Established in 1994, Sweet Relief has raised and distributed millions of dollars to pay for medical costs, housing, food and other vital expenses of ill, disabled and elder musicians, singers, composers and arrangers.
In 2010, Sweet Relief had one of the most outstanding effectiveness ratios of any entertainment charity with 91 cents of every dollar going directly to assist musicians in need.
Greater than 70% of professional musicians do not have health insurance.
A generation of musicians is reaching elder years with minimal social security benefits and no industry safety net.
YOUR SUPPORT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Categories: Editor's Show Picks, News
Show Review: Boris at Regency Ballroom, SF 10.8.11
October 13, 2011
by Stefan Wicks, Senior Customer Support Rep
My only previous experience with the Regency Ballroom was seeing the monolithic stoner metal band Sleep perform. On the way to the 10.8 Boris show I was recalling surprisingly vivid memories of standing in the ornate wooden ballroom with its intricate wood carvings and crystal chandeliers. Sleep’s massive amplifiers on stage shook the whole thing. The sound at the Regency is great because with the right band it’s not just sound, it’s touch. You can feel it in your body. You receive the vibrations through your feet like an elephant can feel a fellow elephant’s low grumble of warning when a rhinoceros approaches.
Japanese amplifier worshipers Boris did not disappoint, solidifying the Regency’s place as holy ground to those who bow down before the gods known as Sunn, Orange and Marshall. Despite some brief technical difficulties toward the beginning of their set they started out strong, got stronger, then got transcendent. Here’s how it went down:
Their first few songs weave between heavy rock grooves and My Bloody Valentine style washy vocals and guitars. Then they start to rock so hard that they might as well walk up to each member of the audience, punch them in the stomach and kiss them in the face all at the same time. I mean this was a musical performance that made your blood run. This was an experience that reminded you that you were alive.
Now after this balls out rock assault they drop right into solid 4 on the floor dance grooves. The audience stands bewildered and a general WTF vibe seems to permeate the room. Female guitarist Wata takes lead vocals on this song and her serenade is reminiscent of Sarah Cracknell interpreting french ye ye pop of the 60s. If St. Etienne on acid tastes like fennel then this song would taste like a steak seasoned with fennel with ice cream doused in sweet liqueurs for dessert. No one dances. I now know what it is like to stand in a room full of awkward dudes with boners.
After our ice cream liqueur dessert we get some soft serve Slowdive swirl, then it’s time for some traditional Japanese melodrama in the tradition of 90s goth tinged rockers L’arc-en-ciel. Then more rock assault, then 2/3 of the way through their set they turn up and tune down. Those who came for the heavy shit are about to get their money’s worth. The drone begins, and this is truly where Boris is at the top of their class. Despite the wide array of textures, styles, chord changes, melodies, and non melodies Boris has employed across their expansive back catalog, they are most often touted as a “sludge/doom” band. I can only assume this is because this is where their strengths lie, although even within their “doomiest” songs there is still a range of emotions and musical textures seldom achieved by Sabbath worshippers releasing albums which may as well be called “Volume V.”
Boris expressed their full range at the Regency show. Only the most cantankerous of souls could have walked away from this show saying they did not get what they wanted, not an easy accomplishment for a band who has been releasing records for 15 years. One thing that can be said definitively about Boris is that unlike 70s prog rock bands, who are ugly people making ugly music, here we have beautiful people making beautiful music. Another thing that can be said definitively is that they are the greatest rock band on the planet.
Categories: Editor's Show Picks, Show Reviews
We’ve Still Got Some of These Darn #FreeFest Tickets. You want ‘em?
September 07, 2011
Bummed you aren’t that one lucky duck who won our All Expenses Paid trip to Virgin FreeFest? Don’t despair! You could still be a winner.
Step 1: Follow @Ticketfly on Twitter
Step 2: RT the following message (from a public account only) by 6pm EST Friday 9/9 and you’re entered!
Win tickets to Virgin Mobile #FreeFest at @MerriweatherPP this Saturday 9/10. Follow @ticketfly and RT to enter. I did! #FlyAwaytoFreeFest
Not sure if you wanna go yet? What?! Don’t be silly. Check out the schedule!
Categories: Editor's Show Picks, News, Ticketfly Clients
