Friday, October 28, 2016

tonight! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet, with The Old Grey Whistle Test, Surf Bored, + special guests Jordannah Elizabeth + Jessi Adele & the Starling Curve.

Special Halloween Seaweed Sway Show. The Old Grey Whistle Test (Juliet & Capulets) & Surf Bored (Montague boys) team up to sing songs from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet (90's style, think Garbage, The Cardigans, Radiohead, and Everclear). Jordannah Elizabeth + Jessi Adele & the Starling Curve are both on tour, and will be playing their original songs first. Doors at 8, Show at 8:30. $10. at Amnesia. Pick a side! Costumes of any kind are encouraged, though not required. Co-presenting with Clay Eugene Smith. Read all about it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/496963690501434/

Next week we head back to Amnesia for Killer Whale's return, with Meernaa & Rose Droll supporting. http://killerwhalemusic.bandcamp.com / 8:30pm. $7-10. Co-presenting with Gaylord's Party Music. Gonna be an amazing night. https://www.facebook.com/events/1245978065433255

...More info for ToNight...
Friday October 28th
Seaweed Sway presents:
A Special Halloween Show
Music from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet
Performed by The Old Grey Whistle Test & Surf Bored (with members of Vandella)
Plus Special Guests:
Jordannah Elizabeth (Baltimore)


When:
Friday, October 28 / 8 PM doors/ 8:30 PM show until 12:30am
Where: Amnesia, 853 Valencia St. @ 20th St.
Tickets: $10 at the door

The Old Grey Whistle Test & Surf Bored are joining forces to each take on half of the iconic soundtrack to the 1996 Baz Luhrmann version of "Romeo+Juliet," for a special Halloween show on October 28th at Amnesia. Each band has their own distinct sound (OGWT's got the psychedelic/noir/ethereal rock thing going on, while Surf Bored's described as Southern surf rock) and both will be giving their own unique treatment to songs that are pure 90s goodness, from artists ranging from Radiohead, to Garbage, to Desree. Costumes are strongly encouraged (extra points for those in the vein of the film!), and sides (Capulet v. Montague, you know it) will be chosen upon entry. Supporting acts are two artists that lived in the Bay Area not too long ago, and they’re making their way back on tour. We’re pleased to present the deeply soulful singer/songwriter Jordannah Elizabeth, traveling from Baltimore, and folk artist Jessi Adele and the Starling Curve, driving down from Portland. While we don't want to unveil all the surprises, this evening will be one for the books: eclectic, gorgeous, and nostalgic.


BAND BIOS & MUSIC LINKS BELOW:

The Old Grey Whistle Test is the pseudonym for the solo musical musings of San Francisco-based vocalist, songwriter, and frontwoman Tracey Holland. Described as something of a "beaker-full of Nancy Sinatra-noir, Linda Perhacs' psychedelia, Stevie Nicks-mysticism, and Kate Bush-esque power set to a score of Ennio Morricone", the resulting collection of songs on OGWT's debut, Ouroboros, is a small treasure trove of richness. Both personal and cryptic,Ouroboros is Holland's debut record as a solo artist (she's normally one-half of SF-based rock/soul outfit Vandella), released in May 2016 and celebrated accordingly with a sold-out staged funeral for a release show. Ouroboros revels in this same unshakable draw to the subtler, darker aspects of life which are explored intently throughout the album. The complexities of identity & intimacy, the dark corners of our own selves to be reconciled; breakdowns, messiness, and what it means to take ownership of - and ultimately stand in the power of - one's own demons, sexuality, and self; even the unseen, mysterious, and metaphysical are all dragged out and sifted through from a decidedly-feminist lens with an almost-defiant honesty at times. There’s an unmistakable potency and vulnerability to The Old Grey Whistle Test's sound that hovers between sounds & worlds: haunting, strange, and beautiful.


Surf Bored was conceived in the hot, sticky Athens, GA summer of 2013 out of a need for evolution and migration. Singer T.J. Mimbs sought a departure from the jangly, indie-pop tunes of his former band, The District Attorneys, in favor of a looser, stouter style. After writing and recording demos for two songs that would eventually make it on to Surf Bored’s debut album, The Rehearsal, Mimbs discovered that hints of surf rock were creeping into the fold.

In the fall of 2013, Mimbs relocated from the comfort of his Athens indie rock roots to the uncertain waters of the San Francisco Bay Area. Already knowing locals Daniel Blum (drums) and Jeremy Lyon (bass), both of the Tumbleweed Wanderers, Mimbs set about looking for guitarists keen on playing long and loud -- and quickly lit upon Avi Vinocur (Goodnight, Texas) and Chris Tye (Vandella).

With all but Mimbs involved in other touring bands, Surf Bored congealed into a home base for each musician -- an outlet for experimentation, and a reminder of why they began playing music in the first place. Surf Bored is an avenue for escaping the harsh realities of adulthood -- a celebration of carelessness, however fleeting. Surf Bored stares life in the face and offers a sardonic smirk.

The band uses this juxtaposition to craft its own unique brand of surf rock with a Southern twang. With the release of its debut album in March of 2016,Surf Bored is primed to spread its message to the masses: worry less, rock more.

Jordannah Elizabeth is an American ​author​,​ music and arts​ critic, editor, music promoter, and folk soul musician.

Jordannah is also the founder and director of Publikprivate.org, a literary nonprofit organization that helps musicians, arts and culture journalists and creative writers find jobs and internships. The blog has featured contributors like Pulitzer Prize winner, Mark Fritz, Cat Power music director, Gregg Foreman and film director, Lee Davis.
​ ​
S​he​ is the author of an anthology of 40 of her articles, "Don't Lose Track Vol 1: 40 Articles, Essays and Q&As” published by UK based publisher Zero Books"

Jordannah has written for 7 Alternative Weekly Newspaper & released 3 albums, along with two upcoming albums (a single and LP), and her second book all under the title, The Warmest Low.

Jessi Adele & The Starling Curve are a harmony-driven country/soul three piece from Portland, Oregon.

On her first record (Lone Valkyrie), Jessi, often sparsely accompanied, sings about love and loss, the devil and Loretta Lynn.  Jessi's second album, The Wake, was released in 2014 under her own name.  Here, musicians from the songwriter's adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon add touches of bowed bass, banjo, and piano, telling tales of travelers and misfits.  More recently, Jessi has been collaborating with fellow musicians Adam McBride-Smith, Paxton Scott & Eddie Rogers, creating Jessi Adele & The Starling Curve.  This show is part of their West Coast Tour.

https://www.facebook.com/starlingcurve

SEAWEED SWAY is a collaborative community project, attempting to share good music and create memorable events, using sounds as a glue for bringing people together. Next show on the horizon after this one is Thursday November 3rd, starring Killer Whale, Meernaa, & Rose Droll at Amnesia.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Making Americana Great Again (at Amnesia Tonight) + Lava Mae donations drive + Register to Vote + Lea's Bday

Hello,
My friend and Seaweed Sway collaborator Joe Deakins booked this one, and thus we've got an incredible line-up. If you are just hearing about it now, I've gotta say, it's prooobably worth changing your plans. Poster below by Pete Fields, who is on first tonight!

Making Americana Great AgainSeaweed Sway Presents: Hardly Strictly Warm-Up Sessions
with TV Mike & the Scarecrowes
Eight Belles
& Slow Motion Cowboy(s)

at Amnesia
plus plus plus
Lea Troeh is celebrating her birthday this evening, which is an honor, as she's one of the best people in the world.
In Lea's true altruistic spirit, she invites you to REGISTER TO VOTE (8:30pm is when we'll start) + donate toiletries or socks to SF's homeless via LAVA MAE*. & there are cookies for earlybirds!

Learn more about LAVA MAE IN THIS VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1419354871438700/?pnref=story
*For the Lava Mae hygiene drive, they could especially use:
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Travel Shampoo**
Soap Bar
Deodorant
Socks**
We'll have "C'mon Give a Sh!t" stickers for those who donate!
**preferred new/unopened, but clean&gently used socks + mostly full big bottles of shampoo will find good homes**

RSVP here: http://facebook.com/events/126051434507762 // $7-10 admission
READ MORE ABOUT THE BANDS, & MORE GOOD SHOWS BELOW THAT:

SLOW MOTION COWBOYS

On the new album "In Exile/On the Mesa" Pete Fields of the Slow Motion Cowboys has written songs to try and put down the feeling of a place changing before his eyes . Speaking the truth about the old neighborhoods and the vanishing characters of the bands home town of San Francisco, the album takes you on a tour with the folks who know it best.  Written in Field's new home of Oakland, CA and recorded live in an Airstream trailer in Taos, New Mexico, the songs ride between the two worlds, and lope with a rhythm that contradicts the fast changing world we live in today. As the name might suggest, the Slow Motion Cowboys push back against the money and technology disconnecting us from our communities and the creative bonds that create a feeling of place. Songs such as "Foggy Moon" and "Golden Gal" describe the wandering thoughts and nostalgia of someone looking and longing for someone or something that is not visible anymore, asking for a second chance to make it right.  In "Georgie" the traditional melody is layered with words sung only to the sleeping, an admission of dedication and love that could never be said during the light of day. On "In Exile/On the Mesa" SMC capture the infectious energy and good will that has come to define their live shows.  The lap steel dances behind the wavering vocal melodies, the rhythm section seizing the past with its traditional country music tempos, showcasing the cohesion of musicians polished from extensive touring throughout the South West U.S.  The pertinence is clear listening to the record, the Cowboys are inviting you to peek through the key hole and open up a feeling that has come to define Pete's songwriting.  Bearing the torch from the bottom of the Bay to the tip of the Mesa, these are country songs, story songs, desert shanties kicking up the dust before it settles into something none of us recognize.
EIGHT BELLES
Americana duo Eight Belles was formed in 2010 when guitarist Henry Aloysius Nagle met singer-songwriter Jessi Phillips at a backyard party in Oakland, California. Eight Belles creates inspired, subtle Americana music that pays respects to its influences but sounds like nothing but itself. If Harry Nilsson and Patsy Cline had a love child and left it in the forest to be raised by wolves, its cries would sound very similar to this music. 

Listen to Eight Belles new, self titled album here: https://eightbelles.bandcamp.com
TV MIKE & THE SCARECROWES
T.V. Mike and the Scarecrowes are a Cosmic Twang Stomp band hailing from the West Coast via Indiana.  Their songs follow the aesthetic of the Great American Songbook.   The core of the group moved to California in 2007 and have been rolling up and down mountains and deserts since.
TV Mike aka Mike Klinge began playing music in Bloomington, IN in 1999 under The Pious Companion.   The group went on a tour and had the pleasure of opening up for The Constantines and My Morning Jacket.  In 2005, TV Mike met Andrea DelaRosa and gathered a backing band called the Scarecrowes. The group then moved to California and has rotated through a lot of members with the core of TV Mike, Andrea DelaRosa, Matt Lundquist, and Aaron Deer staying consistent.
TV Mike and the Scarecrowes have shared the stage with: The Avett Brothers, The Blank Tapes, Austin Lucas, Rev. Peyton's BDB, Horse Feathers, Beachwood Sparks, The Fruit Bats, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Easy Leaves, Dead Winter Carpenters, Hillstomp, Rose Windows, Love as Laughter, tUnE-YarDs and many more.
LISTEN AT http://bravescarecrow.com

......
10/28 FRIDAY:
Halloween Show:
The Old Grey Whistle Test & Surf Bored play the songs of Romeo & Juliet
Jordannah Elizabeth on tour (Baltimore)

~~~~~~~~~~
11/3 THURSDAY:

co-presenting with Gaylord's Music Party:
KILLER WHALE
with Meernaa
& Rose Droll

at Amnesia
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1245978065433255~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, KIDS YOGA at ROCK BAND LAND for ages 2-6 continues.
One more Friday in September 9/30 + new sessions in October, November, & December.
Tell all the weird silly kids and parents you know!
Sign up here: http://rockbandland.org/yoga

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to all who made it to our last show on 9/9, with Anne Carol Mitchell & Emily Shumway, Jeremy Rourke (with Vanessa Verlee & Dave Mihaly), & Lost Comet. We had a speaker on behalf of the Dakota Pipeline Resistance, Luta, as well as on Yes On Prop 64 - the Adult Use Marijuana Act and raised $150 for them!

Thanks for reading!! See you soon,
Whether you live near or far, I encourage you to listen to all the bands listed here!
Jessie

Friday, September 9, 2016

Benefit for Standing Rock #NoDAPL & Yes on 64 with Anne Carol Mitchell & Emily Shumway, Jeremy Rourke, & Lost Comet

Hi out there,

Tonight, Friday 9/9, this is going down.

Seaweed Sway Presents:
Anne Carol Mitchell & Emily Shumway
(with Louis Vega)
Jeremy Rourke (with Vanessa VerLee & Dave Mihaly)
Lost Comet (ft. Sharon Pucci & Marc Nielsen, who are celebrating their anniversary!)


We will have two speakers on these issues:

AT 9pm SHARP, Wicahpiluta Candelaria (aka Luta), who just returned from the opposition efforts at the Dakota Access Pipeline Construction Site, and will give us an update.
Wicahpiluta Candelaria (aka Luta) is Native to the Bay Area, He is Rumsen Ohlone and Apache. He is a traditional clapper singer, a cultural preservationist, an active member of Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSPRIT), The American Indian Movement (AIM), a poet and composer in the Rumsen Ohlone Language. He has opened up for Native leaders such as John Trudell (Dakota), Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu (Quiche Maya) and has presented at the San Francisco Green Festival, the World Music Festival, The Yerba Buena Garden's Native Contemporary Arts Festival, the California Institute of Integral Studies, SF State on the ethnic studies panel, the San Mateo conference on Mental Health & Perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and more. He is also a recipient of the San Francisco Arts Commission's Native American Arts and Traditions Grant.
+ between sets, Jesse Stout will expound the virtues of voting YES on Proposition 64 - the Adult Use of Marijuana Act November 8th. Prohibition disproportionately impacts people of color, and $1B new tax revenues can fund education, public health, & other social services.

All at Amnesia, 853 Valencia St. between 19th & 20th in SF.
8:30 doors / 9:00 sharp, it all starts

$9, or more if you can spare it (the extra $2+ will go to the speakers' causes. if you're on a tight budget, $7 admission works too)
 
 
......

Also, it's the beginning of a new KIDS YOGA at ROCK BAND LAND (Fridays in September, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30)! Sign up here: http://rockbandland.org/yoga / Tell friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/1260530270647720

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE FUTURE AWESOME SHOWS with Slow Motion Cowboys, Eight Belles, TV Mike & the Scarecrowes, Jordannah Elizabeth, Killer Whale, Meernaa, Rose Droll, Gentle Spirit, & Plush
below....

9/29 THURSDAY:
10/28 FRIDAY:
at Amnesia.
more artists to be confirmed soon!!
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/496963690501434

~~~~~~~~~~

11/3 THURSDAY:
co-presenting with Gaylord's Music Party
KILLER WHALE with Meernaa & Rose Droll

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1245978065433255

~~~~~~~~~~
11/18 FRIDAY:
co-presenting with Down Mouse Pleasures

peace,
Jessie