See Moir Music: With the Presidents
Abe and Georgie gave you the day off, maybe
Happy mid-February.
Where I’ll Be
Thu 2/20 — Washed Out at Cal Academy of Sciences
The last time I went to Cal Academy of Sciences it was for a halloween drag show on a Thursday night. It’ll be good to be back. This is also a kick-off for Noise Pop, which starts Mon, 2/24. Last year I got a badge but definitely didn’t make enough use of it. All 3 of these shows are Noise Pop shows, actually!
Fri 2/28 — Maya Jane Coles at 1015 Folsom
Bought this ticket based on the low-key hype alone, and ever since she’s worked her way into various listening rotations. Looking forward to it.
Sat 2/29 — Jacques Greene at Starline Social Club
Last time he was in town I was pretty meh on getting tickets to see him. Now that he’s back, very much looking forward to it. Repeated exposure, it builds affection (sometimes). Another Girl is excellent.
Conflicts and considerations
Thu 2/20 — Gallant at The New Parish
I almost saw him a few years ago when I got tickets to see him and Cautious Clay at the Fox Theater. That tour got cancelled (low ticket sales, maybe?) and then I saw Cautious at the Independent later that year. 🤷🏻♀️
Fri 2/21 — Jungle (DJ set) at 1015 Folsom
Rumor has it that Jungle isn’t as interesting DJing as they are live. We’ll see how tired I am after Washed Out on Thursday.
Fri 2/21 — Dan Shake at The Great Northern
Chicago house legend that my friend told me about, promises to be a great show. Same fact of potential tiredness applies here too, knowing me I probably won’t make it out at all.
Fri 2/21 — bbno$ at Slim’s
I’ve listened to him on his own exactly 3 times. He collaborated on a track with a DJ that I saw on a boat DJ party last summer that my friend put on the annual ThanksBASSgiving playlist that he makes, which is why I remembered him (he’s also on this track that I found from the same playlist, and I like it much more). He is also featured on NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 73. That’s right, it’s still around. Am I obligated to attend based on this confluence of factors alone? Maybe.
Sat 2/22 — Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Freight & Salvage
Sun 2/23 — Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Freight & Salvage
If you’ve heard of Paul Simon’s Graceland, you’ve heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. What that says about international music distribution, popularity, colonialism, etc. seems like murky waters that I am unqualified to wade in.
Fri 2/28 — Ben Gibbard at August Hall (Sold out)
Ben, just play a postal service show already.
Fri 2/28 — Atish at Public Works
He’s playing in the loft the night before he plays the main room, just in case you want to hear him both nights.
Sat 2/29 — Atish at Public Works
I was working late one night and heard another colleague playing a great DJ set across the room. I went over to find out what he was playing at it was a set by this DJ, Atish. I recommend music that makes you get up out of your seat to go find out who is playing it.
Sat 2/29 — Colony House at August Hall
I saw them a couple years ago with Knox Hamilton. I haven’t been at a show with so many plaid-clad boys in awhile. Is pop-indie a genre? If so, they’re it. Pleasant. Jangly.
Just Announced
Fri 4/10 — DJ Koze and Floating Points (DJ set) at 1015 Folsom
Nabbed tickets to this. Very excited. This time last year I’m pretty sure I had no idea who DJ Koze was (the data says: yes, yes I did), but the music community vibe is strong with this one. This is where shazamming DJ sets gets me. Check out DJ Koze presents Pampa, Vol. 1 for a taste.
Fri 4/17 — Channel Tres and Kerri Chandler at 1015 Folsom
Saw Channel Tres open for Robyn at her Fox Theater show, and they had a bunch of energy and I enjoyed their set. In the months since, they’ve cropped up on several remixes. Check out Topdown and their remix of Tangerine.
Sat 5/2 — Maribou State (DJ set) at Public Works
Bailed on seeing them live in October, but more excited to see their DJ set. I feel like the crowd/crew at Public Works is also just so friendly so looking forward to heading back there again. Oddly, this show had a 1 ticket limit.
Other local events
Wed 2/19 — Nerd Nite SF #117: Baroque, Bones, and Badasses! at Rickshaw Stop
I always intend to go to Nerd Nites, but I’ve only made it to one. This one sounds like a delightful set of talks.
Sun 2/23 — THE END OF YOU Series: Surveying the Anthropocene at Gray Area
Gray Area always touching that spectrum of art and existentialism.
Thu 2/27 — After Dark: Wired World at the Exploratorium
~ Data ~ and ~ science ~ and maybe some analog synths? I’m in.
Fri 2/28 — Shaping SF Benefit Bay Cruise and Book Release Celebration at a Boat in the Bay
Shaping SF is a super great local history organization. They just started doing boat tours, kicking off with this book release and tour combo. What a delight!
Cool things other places
Thu 2/13 — Vinyl vs. Mp3 vs. AIFF: Sound Test at Nowadays, NYC
This was last week and despite not being an audiophile, I am perpetually curious about music technology. Maybe someone will host something similar out here.
Tue 1/25 – Sun 9/27 — Night Fever at Design Museum Danmark
An exhibit on club design in Denmark. What better excuse do you need to visit Denmark this summer?
Other notes
Recent great releases
The part of me that loves scream-singing along at concerts is very excited about continued Born Ruffians tracks. They just put out a single, Dedication.
Luttrell is also dripping out new singles ahead of a promised new album. Some Other Time is nice. (He’ll be back around at 1015 on May 1st).
Speaking of Anjunadeep artists, Cubicolor also dropped a new single: Hardly a Day, Hardly a Night.
Shazamming while Dancing
Dom Dolla and Sonny Fodera at The Midway put on the bro house spectacular I was expecting. So fun to see San Frandisco get played in San Francisco, and a delightful set from both of them. Sweat through every last one of my layers dancing. A few new producers to dig into after that set.
Project Pablo, Robin + Elaine, OneMohit + Jay Handles at Public Works were a delight. I’m not sure who was playing before Project Pablo came on (at 11:30, bless his soul) but they were also great. Delightful low key dancing, tough to shazam (but that’s ok!)
Read Moir Music
Last week I spat out a screed about what it takes to get to a concert, noodling over the complexities of actually making this concert aficionado life happen in light of stressful concert ticket queues and spring shows seemingly all going on sale the same week. Not much to add to it in the past week, beyond discovering that ticketmaster apparently used dynamic pricing methods for the rage against the machine + run the jewels tickets (thanks for sharing that tidbit, Jessica) so it’s clear that ticket sites, promoters, and others continue to innovate in terms of selling tickets. Still noodling on other music-relevant topics, and just started reading Hit Makers, which has some fun bits and pieces about the music that I hadn’t learned before. My to-read list, it grows forever.