Archive for the ‘Folk/Country Rock’ Category

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Sonny and the Sunsets

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artist: Sonny and the Sunsetssonnysunsets

hails from: San Francisco, CA

musical style: Doo Wop, Garage-Pop, Folk Rock

for fans of: The Kinks, Beach Boys, Everly Brothers

Death Cream

why you should check them out:

Sonny and the Sunsets are creating a sound that aims for the middle ground between nostalgic surf-pop and lo-fi garage rock. Think Beach Boys meets The Kingsmen. It’s a common sound trend amongst many buzzed-up blog bands, however this San Francisco quartet have managed to produce an honest and witty sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries.

background check:

The leader singer and songwriter of the group Sonny Smith grew up in San Francisco before moving onto the rockier pastures of Gunninson Colorado. In Colorado he worked as a professional musician playing piano in local bars and clubs around town. After some time there he moved to Costa Rica, but eventually found his way back to Northern California. He began releasing solo records in early 2000 and started to make a name for himself  – even touring with Neko Case.

However in 2007 he decided to change his approach and put his sound in front of an ensemble he dubbed Sonny and the Sunsets. The band’s debut was released on Soft Abuse in 2009 and has created quite a stir in the burgeoning San Francisco underground rock scene. Several SF all stars make guest appearances on the album, including Kelly Stoltz, Tim Cohen (of The Fresh and Only’s), and Heidi Alexander (of The Sandwitches). The songwriting balances on the Sonny’s humorous and creative lyrics, along with the catchy surf sounds of sugary guitar melodies. It’s a perfect summer record, so make sure you get acquainted with it as soon as you can.

–Dawson Ludwig

where you can find them in cyberspace:

myspace

sonnysmith.com

on tour:

sonnysmith.com

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Mark Kozelek

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Mark KozelekArtist: Mark Kozelek

Hails from: San Francisco, CA

Musical Style: Folk, Rock, Indie

For Fans of: American Music Club, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake

Unlit Hallway(Live)

Why you should check him out:
Somber and steady, Mark Kozelek weaves a plaintive and vulnerable swath between experimental indie rock and sonorous folk music that some have dubbed “sadcore.” But don’t let the melancholy title worry you, this prolific singer/songwriter is a true American original, an
influential and respected craftsman, and one of the strongest voices to emerge in the last 25 years.

Background Check:

Born and raised in Ohio, Mark Kozelek spent time in Atlanta before moving to San Francisco and forming the immaculately sorrowful Red
House Painters in 1989. The group fused Kozelek’s bittersweet baritone voice with deeply intimate compositions. Formed around an often experimental slant, Kozelek lead the group through several acclaimed albums over the course of nearly a decade before the band dissolved.

At that time, Kozelek moved towards more acoustic centered solo material, releasing his debut album under his own name, Rock ‘n’ Roll Singer EP in 2000. The album included masterful reworkings of classic songs by the likes of John Denver and even AC/DC, a feat Kozelek would continue throughout his career. In 2002, Kozelek again assembled a

close knit group of musicians, including some Red House Painters alumni, to form the more accessible and straightforward Sun Kil Moon. Their debut album, Ghosts of the Great Highway, signaled a true embrace of Kozelek’s Midwestern roots and featured country inspired rock songs that Red House Painters had so often skirted for more
haunting and atmospheric aesthetics.

Sun Kil Moon continues to this day, most recently releasing April in 2008. Kozelek has also kept a full plate on his table with the founding of his label Caldo Vera Records, and a steady string of solo
albums, including 2008’s Finally LP and last year’s Lost Verses Live, a collection of his works presented in stunningly stripped down live renditions. Now one of the most recognized voices in music, Kozelek
still leads a generation of songwriters with his poetic and gentle songs.

Where you can find him in Cysberspace:
On Tour:
Mark Kozelek is also playing the NoisePop festival.  See dates and buy tickets HERE
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Tiny Television

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Tiny TelevisionAstist: Tiny Television

Hails from: San Francisco, CA

Musical Style: Country, Americana, Indie

For Fans of: Ryan Adams, Son Volt, The Devil Makes Three

Hallelujah

Why you should check them out:
Singer/songwriter Jeremy D’Antonio is a well traveled, but not yet road weary troubadour whose humble roots inform on his sincere alt-country stylings. Now at home in the Bay Area,  he takes his
simple melodic approach to the fullest as the founder and frontman of Tiny Television.
Background Check:
D’Antonio traces his line in the sand to the streets of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was there that the young musician cut his teeth and honed his richly textured Americana folk rock under the Tiny Television
moniker. Imbued in a sense of the historic, D’Antonio moved to the snow tops of Denver and eventually found himself in the communal hands
of San Francsico.

The songwriter utilizes a large group of friends to accommodate his revolving door of collaborators within the confines of Tiny Television. Writing lyrical and true to life tales, D’Antonio takes
from his southwestern state of mind and creates impacting and immediate country rock. His debut album, Mission Statement, is as layered and enriched as the neighborhood it’s named for.

Tiny Television is an amazing avenue for D’Antonio’s powerful voice and traditional sound, one that allows the songwriter the freedoms of
his art and demands the fullest of his talents. No doubt that the maturing presence fronting Tiny Television is setting the stage for some truly remarkable records to come.

Where you can find them in Cyberspace:

MySpace

Tinytele.com

Facebook Fan page

On Tour:

JamBase

Tiny Television Plays Noise Pop on Thursday February 25, 2010 at the Rickshaw Stop.  Get tickets HERE!