2012-02-26

Blasted Canyons - 2011-12-15 - Thee Parkside SF (Positive Destruction presents)

Poster designed by Greer of The Mallard

It's about time I get the next series of posts one out of my back pocket.  "Expertly curated" indeed, the sounds of these groops (three local, one from Portland) complimented each other like peanut butter and jelly and/or a Parkside $6 PBR and whisky special with a pickleback chaser.

Presented in backwards order...this is the first of several posts to cover that night.

Matt from Blasted Canyons had point-blank announced they could never hope to top the two-drummers-and-keyboard onslaught of Hot Victory, but damn me if they didn't try their hardest to drill their sci-fi tinged psych-synth-punk-(ga)rage into everyone's heads in the process, indeed sounding like WWIII by the end of their first tune, a previously-unheard two part jam in the key of awesome.


Holy spawn of Cthlulu these kids can rage...and the master of disguise Finken looks different every single time I see him, wonder how he pulls that off.

Note:  'Blood On The Wall' was dedicated by Hether to Jay Bronzini, who had sadly passed away a few days before.


Dual-source audience blend, made with Olympus LS-5 sitting on Byron of Pow!'s guitar case and my partner in crime's Sonic Studios DSM-6s/L's > Edirol R-09HR.

Setlist

instrumental jam > Manson Eyes 
Fries Yr Eyes
Consider Drowning
Death and a Half
Liquid Fiend
Lasers vs Lizards
Ice Cream Man
Blood On The Wall

Download the full set from the Incubation bittorrent tracker

Or better yet, here's a video of the whole thing!  Cue to about 12:00 if you just want the songs and don't want to sit through the quite interesting lecture playing over the PA about the dangers of LSD.



Hot Victory - 2011-12-15 - Thee Parkside SF (Positive Destruction Presents)


Hot Victory
2011-12-15
Thee Parkside SF


From my friend's Sonic Studios DSM-6s/L's > Edirol R-09HR

Tracklist:


? x 7


A man and women on drums, with a keyboardist, and pretty much unlike anything I've seen before.  A complete space-out celestial sphere drum circle freakout is the best description I can give it, but I'm a bit tired, and probably amnot giving them the justice they deserve.


It looks like they'll be playing a couple of shows with Blasted Canyons up in Portland and Tacoma in late March.  I'm not sure how legit this is as H.Fortune did mention she was seeing listings of shows that BC knew about or hadn't agreed to play.

If anybody can supply track names to these interstellar jams, that would be very helpful to the cause.


Link to complete audio recording on Incubation bittorrent tracker.


Here's video of the last 4:00 of their set:





Pow - 2011-12-15 - Thee Parkside SF (Positive Destruction Presents)


Pow!
2011-12-15
Positive Destruction Presents...
Thee Parkside SF

Setlist

Night Train To Fog Town
Cyberattack!!
Ivy (My Little Cat)
@ The Station
I Don't Care That Much
Funemployment Check

Link to complete audio recording on Incubation bittorrent tracker

Or if you just want to watch it, you can do so here:




2012-02-12

Thee Oh Sees - 2011-12-07 - SF State University




THEE OH SEES Go To College
2011-12-07
The Depot
San Francisco State University

Trisource blend (TH1 only for most of track 02/03/most of 04)

TZ0: Sonic Sudios DSM-6s/L > Edirol R-09HR
TH1: Olympus LS-5 w/built-in mics
TH1: Cisco FlipHD audio

A completely INSANE Thee Oh Sees show...with two drum kits and keyboards and various monitors, I figured there would be NO WAY they could fit on stage, but somehow they pulled it off, loads of crowd-surfing and mayhem.  And it was free!



This was filmed with my FlipHD, with sound synchronized from multiple portable recorders, for some reason TZ0's cut out near the start of 'The Dream', and he only noticed near the end of 'Enemy Destruct'.  The FlipHD audio was dropped by -33dB due to it being overloaded, but it adds loads of sizzle, and the TH1 recording by -6dB to better balance the TZ0 recording, which was done further back.  


Anyway, enough of the technicals...and enough of the hype over the "SF Garage Scene"...all I know is that these guys put on one HELL of a live show and can whip up a frenzy like few others, and this was a PERFECT place to do it in as the crowd was packed and feeling it...

Watch the COMPLETE VIDEO recording here.  If you don't agree this was a completely AMAZING performance, I will refund 100% of your money, guaranteed:





Setlist  

Contraption/Soul Desert 
The Dream 
Tidal Wave 
Enemy Destruct 
Block Of Ice 
Mean Step Lively 
I Was Denied 
Destroyed Fortress Reappears 
Carrion Crawler 
Dead Energy 

Incubation bittorrent of audio recording (FLAC format)




Highlights:

* the lucky person who got handed JPD's guitar to play during 'Block Of Ice'  
* the announcement that if you are crowd surfing, to please avoid hitting the ceiling lights 
* JPD: "you guys will crowd surf to anything"...don't believe him for a second!

* some "bro" who started dancing on stage during 'Dead Energy' only to be sent back from whence he came through a well-applied boot, to cheers of approval and delight


A link to the Flickr picture set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26494411@N02/sets/72157628334450939/


<- college         weed ->

The opening groups after the jump:









Twin Steps
2011-12-07
The Depot 
SF State Univ


TZ0TH1 blend 
TZ0: Sonic Sudios DSM-6s/L > Edirol R-09HR
TH1: Olympus LS-5 w/built-in mics

Setlist

PA/soundcheck/intro
Wave Of My Emotion
Junkie Song  
'Last Night'  [new song]
Son Of Sam  
Pinkie Promise



Incubation bittorrent of audio recording (FLAC format)

Frontman Drew Pearson was a ball of energy throughout, spending as much time in the crowd as in front of it, and throwing sampled sounds into the mix to bridge songs.  The gospel/soul-tinged punk was pretty delicious as well, and his appreciation of the headliners was noted warmly as well.  My partner in crime saw them last year at Engine Works, so that set may one day see the light of day.

I also put up a video of "Junkie Song" on YouTube here:







One more band after the break...

2012-02-05

Thee Oh Sees - 2011-12-04 - Verdi Club SF



Thee Oh Sees
2011-12-04
Verdi Club
San Francisco, CA

taper: tomzero

equip: Sonic Studio mics -> Edirol R-09HR (24 bit / 48 kHz) -> Nero (level boost & downsample to 16 bit / 44.1k) -> cd wav -> flac level 8

tracklist

00 soundchecking...
01 Contraption ~ Soul Desert
02 The Dream
03 Enemy Destruct
04 Tidal Wave
06 Meat Step Lively
07 Carrion Crawler
08 I Was Denied
09 Robber Barons
10 Destroyed Fortress Reappears
11 Dead Energy
12 unknown [possibly its debut] 
13 ...outro

(Incubation bittorrent)

I couldn't care less about the latest Superb Owl, if you keep in mind where I live, you'll easily understand why...and, anyway Thee Oh Sees put on a better show than that creature appearing at halftime.

Started to video, but had a feeling part way through Contraption I wouldn't be able to remain sitting off to the side but would be in the thick of it, which was about right.  So into the breach I went...you might spot my balding pate in the YouTube of Block of Ice if you know who to look for.  Lots of people at the back of the stage watching and hanging out, so this definitely had the hometown show vibe...and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.


Some idjit (heh, me!) kept calling out for "Corrupted Coffin", even if that person should very well know that the band had only rehearsed it a few times, two of which appear on the latest releases.  As good as the Castlemania version is, the one on the TOS/Total Control split (which I can't find online, alas) simply is one of the most astounding songs ever to clock just over a minute.  I did call out for "Meat Step" at the right time, so JPD kindly obliged, after stating the setlist was in the other room (meaning that's what they were playing anyway, of course.


Any help id'ing the last track...it was a slow, old style number...would be most appreciated!


Videos


Contraption/Soul Desert (thehappyone)




Block Of Ice (omartesting)




Total Control - 2011-12-04 - Verdi Club SF





Total Control
2011-12-04
Verdi Club
San Francisco CA


taper: tomzero


equipment: Sonic Studio mics -> Edirol R-09HR (24 bit / 48 kHz) -> Nero (level boost & downsample to 16 bit / 44.1k) -> cd wav -> flac level 8


Setlist


01 soundcheck
02 Retiree
03 One More Tonight
04 Love Performance
05 Goth Plod
06 Rogue Abortion
07 See More Glass
08 No Bibs
09 Carpet Rash
10 Stay Away
11 Meds II
12 Full Moon [Swell Maps]


Complete audio recording (FLACs in zipfile)


My second time catching these guys, the first is being when they played with Mikal Cronin and Thee Oh Sees the month before in Oakland.


Eagerly awaited in my area by those who weren't able to make this Aussie supergroup's last appearance, they were even more intense this time, with the highlight for me being Carpet Rash, one of the great songs so far of the 2nd decade of this century.  "Please, please me", the perfect dystopian anthem for our times.


I was perfectly positioned right in front of guitarist Mikey Young, who as some of you are aware also plays for Eddy Current Suppression Ring.


The set was adroitly concluded with a Swell Maps cover (Full Moon).


Video of 'Goth Plod' taken by DerGato



More photos, for the complete photoset, visit my Flickr album.


Lars helps out on One More Tonight
Perhaps the best young Aussie axeman not named Angus
Young and Stewart
If you haven't yet picked up their full-length Henge Beat, do so!
Here's a track-by-track rundown.



2012-02-04

The Mallard - 2011-12-04 - Verdi Club SF



The Mallard
2011-12-04
The Verdi Club
San Francisco CA


taper: tomzero


equipment:  Sonic Studio mics -> Edirol R-09HR (24 bit / 48 kHz) -> Nero (level boost & downsample to 16 bit / 44.1k) -> cd wav -> flac level 8


setlist 


00 soundcheck
01 soundcheck
02 Mansion
03 Shallows
04 Candy For Brains
05 I Listen To Lyrics Last
06 Fog
07 Ex
08 1999
09 Fault
10 Vines
11 Moon Beeps [The Intelligence]


Complete audio recording (FLACs in zipfile)
  


                        Video thanks to DerGato





First out of three times last December I was to check out the stylings of the MALLARD.  I got to know their set really well, standouts are 'I Listen To Lyrics Last' which has made it to the blogosphere, the quite ducky Candy For Brains, and the Intelligence cover at the end, which hopefully pleased Lars Finberg, who was playing with Thee Oh Sees later on.


The soundcheck at the start took quite a while, but the sum result was worth it.  I was also at this show but decided for whatever reason not to record.

The Mallard will be playing along with Thee Oh Sees in early March 6th at the Independent in SF.  Don't miss it!


As a bonus, you can check out our recording of followup act Bronze's set.  Any help ID'ing the tracks most appreciated, as more than half the set seems to be new songs.


Setlist


"Feeding Time" 
-----??-----
-----??-----
-----??-----
Sides
"The Longing"
So Slow
"The Price Of Quality"







Wax Idols - 2011-12-03 - TFT004 Oakland CA


Wax Idols
2011-12-03
TFT004
Oakland CA

taper: thehappyone
equipment: Olympus LS-5 w/built-ins

Setlist

Dead Like You
Hitman
William Says
Human Condition
Hotel Room
Gold Sneakers
Grey Area
All Too Human
Romeo's Distress [Christian Death], with Corey Cunningham of Terry Malts on guitar

Lossless FLAC files (Bittorrent)

Romeo's Distress


(For some reason, this video got quite a few dislikes from the YouTube peanut gallery.  I just don't get it.  This is an outstanding cover of the Christian Death classic. ) 

The last of the four bands to play at the Time Keeping Time 004 event.  Man, I've been drawing that show out. 

Not much in my notes I made right after I saw Wax Idols in this godforsaken place seems to be suitable for public consumption.  I've been quite a follower of this particular group, but this was the first show of theirs I had seen since they toured the US last October, and it was readily apparent how much more tight the group had become as a result of playing places like Marfa, TX or Raleigh, NC.  So once again, I'll let the recording speak for itself and keep my blathering to a minimum, and point you all to Hether's Twitter feed, which is not for the faint of heart or easily offended, but is always guaranteed to engender some reaction if you're not undead, and maybe even still if you are.

If you have any spare dollars for the cause, please buy a copy of the album here.


2012-02-03

A new direction: Torrent time




I went ahead and set up a Bittorrent tracker for all my future lossless filesharing.

You can access it here:


This is open to all, but you'll need to sign up, and of course, you have to of course be familiar with using torrents.  This will also allow others who have similar tastes to share.  If you're wondering, yes, I do post to DIME, but I want to have my own rules, though most of DIME's happen to be very sensible.

I will still endeavor to update the blog, but will most likely use it to just provide audio samples and video footage.

There's a few things there one there now, for the most recent postings.  Enjoy.  As I get time over the course of the next few weeks, I'll be adding additional recordings of mine to the tracker.  And if you have anything you want to share that's a recording of independent origin (I don't want anything which I can buy), I invite you to add it!



If you want an RSS detail feed of the torrent uppings, go here:
http://incubation.atmyheels.com/rss.php


If you just want the download-only links:
http://incubation.atmyheels.com/rss.php?dllink=1