Rosie Tucker Steps Out

ROSIE TUCKER

RUBY THROATED

RETT MADISON

HI HAT, LA

08 MARCH 2019

Rosie Tucker held court at the Hi Hat, hosting a show that served as an album release party for Never Not Never Not Never Not, (out now on New Professor). Spurred on by a hometown crowd, Tucker boasted a tight backing band that brought the LP's songs to life, and made the packed club feel like a small dinner party. She showed her command from the off, stringing out the intro of "Gay Bar', pausing to take it all in, then dropping into the first line. "Fault Lines" and "Real House Music" stood out, and mid set, Tucker took a few songs solo, with "Icebergs" visibly melting the audience. Coming between SF's Noise Pop and the looming shadow of SXSW, (let alone a tour), Tucker''s Hi Hat show proved a vital respite in the middle of upcoming chaos. Support for the evening was provided by locals Ruby Throated and Rett Madison, with the West Virginia native showing off a huge voice and songs from an LP due in the fall, providing an early evening highlight with "Flea Market".

 ROSIE TUCKER

RUBY THROATED

RETT MADISON

Tenth Anniversary

Bogart (2001-2018)

Hard to believe, it was ten years ago today when i sat down and rattled off some thoughts on Elliott Smith that became the very first BAMNWGAN transmission. Starting with no fixed point, it evolved over the years as a diary of live shows. For those curious about the name, check here...

2018 saw the passing of Bogart, participant in many of the travels tracked on the blog over the years. We would walk whichever city we were in (read: attempting to enter every restaurant in SF's Mission District), then he would sleep in the car during the show, and we'd knock out a post-show walk. Now and then we'd hit the venue lottery, and he could attend. Too many adventures to recount here, but shoutouts to Thee Parkside in San Francisco and Muni Winery in Los Alamos, who were always ready with a water bowl, and the bands who were uniformly kind. Not surprisingly, he took to All Dogs. One story worth noting is the time we scoured Silverlake (LA) until we found the building from the cover of Elliott Smith's Figure 8. While the show is the thing, his legacy of exploration will stick with me.

Exploring San Francisco

Prowling Sunset Boulevard...

Felte Fifth Anniversary

FELTE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

featuring: HOUSES OF HEAVEN + CHASMS

PICO UNION PROJECT, LA

16 NOVEMBER, 2018

CHASMS

HOUSES OF HEAVEN

LA-based Felte Records celebrated their 5th anniversary with a two-night showcase of the depth and breadth of their roster. The Pico Union Project served as the launchpad for an epic weekend, with the old Welsh Presbyterian Church lending gravitas to the proceedings. Here's a gallery of some Friday night action from Houses of Heaven's throttling set, and a special Chasms presentation, where they incorporated not just a live drummer, but the one and only Sandra Vu (Sisu/Dum Dum Girls). Happy Birthday Felte!

HOUSES OF HEAVEN

CHASMS

 

 

Pico Union Project

Tacocat Returns To LA

TACOCAT

BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT

SUSAN

BOOTLEG THEATRE, LA

10 NOVEMBER, 2018

TACOCAT

BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT

SUSAN

Tacocat returned to LA, providing a necessary outlet to blowing off some of the nervous energy pent up in a fire-ridden state. Holding down the bar at the Bootleg Theatre, courtesy of Sid The Cat Presents, they tore through a set heavy on their most recent release Lost Time, and prior breakthrough NVM, (both on Hardly Art), and found room for some new songs. Playing "I Hate The Weekend" on a saturday night is pretty much peak Tacocat, and as one who works retail, very much appreciated at this time of the year. They capped off the evening with a spot-on cover of Talking Heads "Psycho Killer".

Support act Black Belt Eagle Scout, was the big revelation, with the question beforehand being how Katherine Paul's stark and intense songs from her debut Mother Of My Children (Saddle Creek Records), would translate live. In the company of an intuitive rhythm section, Black Belt Eagle Scout opened with "Soft Stud", and when KP stepped out to solo it home, all doubts were dispelled. "Indians Never Die" kept the audience transfixed, and a transcendent "Sam, A Dream" effectively blew the doors off the place, highlighting what was one of the most memorable sets of the year.

Over the course of two EP's and a full-length LP on San Diego's Volar Records, LA trio Susan has carved a particular niche, melding girl group harmonies with a buzz saw attack. Can't believe it's been four years since we last crossed paths, but happy to report that their opening set was as tight and feisty as ever.

TACOCAT

BLACK BELT EAGLE SCOUT

SUSAN