Author: August W. Zander

Author, artist, musician and eco-travel guide manager. Born in Akron, Ohio (The Black Keys!) and raised in locations worldwide as a military brat. Landed out west. Life is short; live it big.

Radar Love: Introducing California indie duo The Heatlamps

Posted on by August W. Zander

We’ve been listening to the California indie band The Heatlamps.  And even though they only have a few songs readily available online, The Heatlamps are a band to watch.

The Los Angeles duo of Bo Jacobson and Louis Weeks blend arpeggiated guitars and solemn-sounding piano chords that express a feeling of longing on their new single, “Find You.”

Those riffs are beautifully juxtaposed with lyrics like: “Maybe someday we won’t be waiting for another tomorrow / It’ll be our time,” followed by “Show me the way / All I wanna do is find you.” 

“The song ends with an angelic swirl of noise made by guitars, pianos, synths and ghostly vocals, bringing it all to a reassuring conclusion,” writes James Ramos for The Wild Honey Pie blog.

A bit of a surprise, however, considering the talent and musical skills of the duo, is the lack of information about them online.

Whether you are alone and looking for someone, you’ve found the one, or aren’t really interested, this song will definitely get you in your feelings.

Just as beautiful, and with a sweet melodic rise-up and piano keys, is the also recently-released “Nothing In This World.”

Jacobson’s voice is both comfortably sad and beautifully soothing and sweet. That’s a rare thing among vocalists. On the more upbeat and rhythmic “Echo,” the duo slide into a catchy riff with Jacobson’s vocals (and lyrics) once again a huge element of the track’s success. On each of the tracks profiled, the duo’s lyrics lean towards love, heartbreak, and longing.

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes drop ‘My Town’, featuring IDLES’ Joe Talbot

Posted on by August W. Zander

From Indie is Not a Genre:

This week has seen Brit rock band, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes share their latest single, My Town, which features IDLES’ Joe Talbot. The track got its debut play as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World on Wednesday and it was met with bounds of joy from adoring fans. Listen below.

The track sees Joe Talbot and Frank Carter unite as one, solidifying their place as the most exciting partnership in British music, it also allows Carter to assert himself as a vital voice in music, shouting out about injustice, politics, the patriarchy and toxic masculinity which affect each of us every day.

My Town is a metaphoric look at the nations mental health after a trio of strong lockdowns, visioning every person as a ‘town’ and its residents, with the town then representing the mental wellbeing of the person.

Speaking about the track, Frank states:

It’s easy to dissociate when it’s someone else’s problem but we are each responsible for keeping the streets clean, looking out for our fellow neighbours and acting with kindness and respect as we walk through life. We are then reminded that My Town looks just like yours, and no one gives a fuck at all and if we don’t start looking after ourselves soon then we are all going to be in big trouble.

My Town sees Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes return with a new found immediacy and directness, punching out the speakers and really hitting home.

Radar Indie Band: San Francisco’s TREASVRE

Posted on by August W. Zander



This post first appeared on MusicInSF.com

Local Artist Spotlight Interview: TREASVRE

How did you come up with the name of the band?
We wanted something simple, memorable, poignant but unique.

How would you describe your sound?
Atmospheric rock. It’s a little postrock, a little shoegaze, with prog rock and electronic influences. We draw from a wide swath of musical styles for inspiration, so it’s hard to pin us down as being one specific genre!

When did you first become interested in playing music?
We’ve all been musical from a young age. We were inspired to be in a band ourselves starting in our teens when we began seeing live music and going to shows in the Bay Area. Seeing our favorite bands play on iconic stages like The Fillmore and Great American Music Hall was so motivating to us as young musicians. We wanted to be a part of creating that indescribable live music experience.

What’s the strangest or funniest thing that’s ever happened to you at a show?
Once we put on a DIY show at a garage in SoMa the same day as Up Your Alley Fair. We had no idea, until the music attracted some show-goers we weren’t expecting. Most of them scantily-clad in their kinky leather outfits! It was a fabulous surprise.

What are you listening to these days?
Goblin, Prince, The National, Joey Landreth, Billy Preston, Phoebe Bridgers, Tiny Gun, Low Roar, Beach Fossils, Ulver, Grails, Just Like Vinyl, Glass Candy, Kano, and Curve, to name a few!

What does music mean to you?
Music is so important, it’s hard to overstate how important it is to us. Music has gotten us through the best and worst moments in our lives. Music is our emotional outlet, our community, and our way of connecting with others. Music is everything!

How’d you guys first get together to play music?
It’s a long story! The short version: it all started as a side project. Now it’s our main squeeze!

What inspires you to write?
We are inspired by the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining on dark clouds, the sunshine after a storm. Finding hope in darkness is a huge theme in our music. We write a lot from personal experience, but we also look to other musicians for inspiration. There’s nothing more motivating than seeing live music after seeing a show. We are overflowing with creativity!

What’s the biggest challenge in becoming a musician today?
Being a musician is not just about making music, you have to be a social media manager as well. A lot of musicians don’t feel particularly comfortable promoting themselves online or putting themselves out there constantly on social media. But it’s an important aspect of getting your music out there!

What are some of your favorite Bay Area music venues?
Bottom of the Hill, Great American Music Hall, El Rio! We also were big fans of Hemlock Tavern back in the day. We need more small stages!

What are some of your favorites places to hang out in the Bay Area?
Noc Noc, Church of 8 Wheels, Golden Gate Park, Alamo Square, El Rio (again), the Mission, Alice’s Restaurant, Point Reyes Station. The list goes on …

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
We like to ride around on motorcycles

Two New Tracks from Brooklyn’s Black Bear

Posted on by August W. Zander

The post Black Bear – “Overflow The Boarders” and “Such Great Heights” appeared first on Upstream Indie .

Up and comer Black Bear (Sam Beebe) from Brooklyn is an interesting new indie rock artist.

He has recently released two new tracks, “Overflow The Boarders” and “Such Great Heights”. Both songs offer a fun and airy feel, with a propelling beat and a unique sound. They offer a great insight to the true talent this artist has.

 “Overflow The Boarders” is a track about grabbing freedom for yourself. It is based on the story of Beebe’s father-in-law, who was a journalist in Bulgaria in the 70’s, but it is extremely easy to relate to. The song is intriguing and easy to listen to. It seems like a perfect track for anyone looking to feel free.

“Such Great Heights” is Black Bear’s collaboration with Viki Peitchev, with whom he’s been in love for 14 years. The couple chose to cover this Indie classic with a twist of their own. They chose to reimagine it as a duet of their own, with a whole new soundscape. This is an interesting take on the song and simply a good listen.

There is much to pay attention to when it comes to Black Bear. His tracks are easy going and simply good listens. It would truly be a mistake to miss out on these two amazing songs and the talented musician behind them.

Fred Neil’s ’38 MacDougal’

Posted on by August W. Zander

The only problem with Fred Neil’s music is that there’s not nearly enough of it. That’s why even a brief, informal session like 38 MacDougal feels like a treasure trove. Taped in 1965 at Neil’s apartment by Peter Childs, who accompanies Neil on guitar throughout, the recently released collection is the equivalent of a private recital by one of the great American singer-songwriters.

The post Fred Neil :: 38 MacDougal appeared first on Aquarium Drunkard.

Watch Director’s remastered Prince performance of ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’

Posted on by August W. Zander

A classic YouTube clip of Prince dazzling his peers at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony has been re-cut by the original director.

A classic YouTube clip of Prince dazzling his peers at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony has been re-cut by the original director.

SOURCE: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/rss2.0.xml

Band to Watch: Hear In Color

Posted on by August W. Zander

Local Band Spotlight: Hear In ColorApril 29, 2021

How did you come up with the name of the band?
We actually tried multiple different names before landing on Hear In Color. We used to go on long drives and listen to music we liked in the car. We often would ask each other what colors we would see or associate with the songs or albums playing. Our singer Faith came up with the name “Hear In Color” because of those memories & because of how people all over experience and interpret music differently.

How would you describe your sound?
Indie, Alternative, Shoe-gaze, Dream-pop, with hints of emo & post-rock.

When did you first become interested in playing music?
Music has been an important part of our lives for as long as we can remember. We’re all in our early 20’s as of now.

What are you listening to these days?
Omar Apollo, Chicano Batman, The Strokes, New Sense, Iraya, Khruangbin, MF Doom, Death Grips, No Vacation, Video Age, Dijon, Crumb, The Backseat Lovers.

What does music mean to you?
Music sort of acts as a source of therapy in each of our lives. One way or another we have all been heavily impacted by music & creativity in general. It helps keep us stable in many ways.

How’d you guys first get together to play music?
We all pretty much met at Diablo Valley College through classes/mutual friends. Initially, the group was a trio that included Isaiah, Gerardo, & Faith. Shortly after once, we had our first gig coming up, we then added Valente & Eli to the lineup. This addition added a whole new energy and brought a new dynamic to the group to help give it a much fuller & more expressive sound. We would jam in the jazz practice room when we could fit time in (since we had some shows lined up before COVID hit) & it just became a good fit.

What inspires you to write?
For most of us writing has always been one of the few ways we could get thoughts or feelings or whatever out of our head and actually in the physical. It feels really good to have an idea in your head and see it form into an actual project and how those around you interpret it as well.

What’s the biggest challenge in becoming a musician today?
One of the biggest challenges for us at least was trying to adapt to the quarantine. We did a majority of this EP remotely & it definitely came with many speed bumps and technical difficulties that halted production time. Although the pandemic has given us more time to write, we do miss gigging so much & the impact that it offers to the community & scene.

What are some of your favorite Bay Area music venues?
The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall, 924 Gilman, Great American Music Hall, Rickshaw Stop, Up The Creek Records, Starline Social Club, Cornerstone.

What are some of your favorites places to hang out in the Bay Area and why?
Port Costa, Berkeley, Bear Creek Road, Reliez Valley Road, Romo’s Caffe (Oakland), Wildcat Canyon Road, Diablo Valley College.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
Valente knows how to breakdance, Eli/Gerardo make tea together & there are currently 10 empty cups of coffee in Faith’s car. Also, Isaiah has two birds that live on top of his fridge.

Is there anything you’d like to plug?

The post Local Band Spotlight: Hear In Color appeared first on Music in SF®.

Louis Raphael

Brandon Riley’s Retro Pop Sound Smolders on ‘Marco Polo’

Posted on by August W. Zander

Brandon Riley is an Indie Pop artist inspired by the glam and excitement of the Roaring 20’s and the heartbreak of the Depression. He embodies this energy with everything he does, including his music. Recently Riley has put out a new single titled “Marco Polo.” This track presents an energy that is simply true to the era, whether it’s the 1920’s or the 2020’s.

With “Marco Polo” being Riley’s first release, it is a perfect entrance into learning more about who this artist really is. The song has a modern nostalgic and fun feel to it. It blends casual and lowkey feel with an eclectic sound. It is truly a song that anyone can get into.

Growing up in Kansas City, Riley was influenced by a variety of classic tastes, ranging from The Beatles to Rolling Stones and so much more. It was these influences as well as his focus on improving himself as an artist. All of his hard work paired with his talent and the release of his first single has proven that Riley is truly an artist to pay attention to.

Be sure to check out Brandon Riley and his awesome new track. He has shown an amazing amount of talent and is sure to continue to put out more tracks that are just as good. Now is the perfect time to get behind this artist.

The post Brandon Riley – ‘Marco Polo’ appeared first on Upstream Indie.

Heno Drops New Single ‘Creases’

Posted on by August W. Zander

The lyrics of “Creases” feel a bit like a personal essay set to a melody, with Heno starting with a thesis statement – “you can never know the extent of the pain someone’s going through” – and then outlining his experiences, his philosophy, and his plan for action in life. It’s thoughtful and clear-headed, but also direct in speaking about depression and trauma in a way that feels very particular to this moment in time.

I’ve noticed that when musicians write about these topics now it’s almost always in plain and direct language that wouldn’t be too far off from, say, an Instagram caption. It makes some sense, in that being this clear about it is the most effective way of communicating these ideas and it’s a choice to be raw and vulnerable, but I do find myself yearning for more abstraction.

I can imagine a version of this that isn’t quite so obvious in its language and plays more on the ambiguous feel of the melody and arrangement, which conveys a feeling of calm just on the other side of panic and chaos.

via FluxBlog