Michael Gaither, local singer-songwriter, is live RIGHT NOW on KZSC’s Backroads program. He’s a writer of entertaining and often humorous songs that reflect on everyday experiences. Tune in until 2 pm to catch the performance and interview.
Michael will also be performing in “An Evening of Songs and Stories: Three Songwriters In-The-Round” with Nancy Cassidy and Jay Howlett at the Corralitos Cultural Center, 127 Hames Road, Corralitos later tonight at 6 pm. More info at (831) 254-2669.
Heyyy did you catch the Maps & Atlases show at Kuumbwa on Sunday? I did! Those Chicagoans whumped and warbled their way into the hearts of the assembled believers. If you’re in southern CA, head’s up! They’re headed your wayyyy!If you ain’t gonna to catch ‘em on this go around, big ugly yellow couch will hook you up, my friend. Check out this clip of Maps & Atlases performing “Solid Ground,” the fourth track on their new record Perch Patchwork (Barsuk).
Nursery electro-dance two-piece is comprised of composer Frank Wong and singer Emma Jean and has been tearing up a storm around town recently, playing to both captivated house shows as well as an impressive late-day performance at May’s SCUMFest. The electrifying duo will be making their Crepe Place debut on September 22nd (opening for electro-folk balladeer Casiotone for the Painfully Alone), and will appear on The Rising Tide this Friday night, July 9th, at 8:30 to perform some of their electro bangers and talk about the trials and tribulations of being an upcoming electronic dance act in a town not necessarily known for churning them out like other metropolitan cities.
Woah- what a killer lineup! This Wednesday, June 30th, KZSC Welcomes: Nite Jewel & Harlequin Baby at The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz. Nite Jewel is Ramona Gonzalez, a composer and songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. Nite Jewel’s music has been said to be a part of the new electronic chillwave genre. Joining Nite Jewel is local favorite, Harlequin Baby! This show will be so much fun. Oh! And be sure to stay after Nite Jewel’s set for a very special Nite Jewel DJ set featuring Ramona and Cole from Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti!
Wolf Paradejust picked the world up and dropped it on my head. An advance copy of their latest Sub Pop release, Expo 86, just landed at our station, and our pet seahorse is still recovering from the impact. We don’t really have a seahorse, I just needed an excuse to embed this video:
Firstly how cool is it that male-bodied seahorses give birth? What if I could give birth to a sea horse? What if I could be reborn as a seahorse? Incidentally, the opening track of Expo 86 grapples with the mysteries of reincarnation. Krug cries, “You’re gonna be okay come morning, / find your legs and find your horns. / Everybody’s gotta be reborn, / but you will never be born as a scorpion.” So according to Wolf Parade:
scorpion reincarnation – no
seahorse reincarnation – undeclared (I’m taking it as a maybe.)
Yes, this album is fantastic, and you should totally pick it up, or at least tune into our summer indie rock shows soon for a listen. (I’d be remiss to not let you in on a lil’ secret: Pitchfork has two tracks available for free download.) Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner team up again on the songwriting for this album. If Krug and Boeckner’s collaboration on Wolf Parade’s sophomore release Apologies to Queen Mary was nothing short of magical, then Expo 86 is an act of merciless sorcery. The symbiotic blend of Broekner’s infectious melodies, his guitar driven dance rhythms and Krug’s unearthly synths and vocals will exhaust, inspire and delight. The sixth track, “Ghost Pressure” is a must summer for dance parties; think The Boss meets Culture Club in a dungeon dance hall. THIS TOUR IS GONNA BE AWESOME! And hey, Wolf Parade will play with The Moools at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz on July 29th!
