Nina Persson at the Casbah - 10.19.14

Nina Persson stopped by San Diego's Casbah Sunday night for a captivating set of original songs and a few covers that vacillated between dark beauty and unabashed, rapturous disco.

Backed by a terrific four piece band, which she cheekily referred to as Nina's Persons, Persson finds herself now stepping out on her own as a true solo artist for the first time in her career. Although sticking close to tracks from her new album, "Animal Heart," Persson did find time to break away for some covers during her set, including a brilliant version of Daniel Johnston's "Walking the Cow."

The charismatic Persson owned the Casbah stage Sunday night and it was a joy to see her perform and hear that voice which retains all the same charm that's endeared Persson to her audience over the years.

Nina Persson's debut solo album, "Animal Heart," is available now via The End Records. The last date of her current east and west coast tour in support of the long player is Monday night, October 20, at Mozambique in Laguna Beach. For more info on Persson's album and future dates, be sure to like her on Facebook and follow @theninapersson on Twitter.

Nina Persson at the Casbah Photo Gallery

The Thurston Moore Band at the Constellation Room - 10.11.14

"Let's de-mythologize this whole thing..."

Thurston Moore has returned to the road with a fresh band and some new tracks for a round of dates in support of his new album, "The Best Day," out October 21 on Matador. Moore, along with the aptly named Thurston Moore Band, brought the jams to a rabid and ready Constellation Room crowd this past Saturday night for a show that found Moore and company, which includes Debbie Googe on bass, Steve Shelley on drums and James Sedwards on guitar, in full rock god mode playing through a set that hewed close to material from Moore's latest long player.

As I fought my way through the packed Santa Ana house (which was also hosting a Mexican wrestling and music festival in the parking lot), I noticed the average age inside the Constellation Room skewed a bit young and I'm glad I wasn't the only one to make note. At one point during opener Sebadoh's set, Lou Barlow observed that he first opened for Moore's Sonic Youth back when most of the audience was "still in diapers." That's probably true and ultimately speaks volumes to the longevity of Moore's music and his importance to the post-punk scene.

Sonic Youth was one of the touchstone bands during my teen years so I found myself in good company with the kids in attendance (despite being about 10 years older than most). Although I grew up in the 90's and experienced the band's seminal early albums sometime after their original release, the music still had an undeniable power. There's a magic that came through in those tracks and it was something special indeed to see and hear some of that same creative fire burning within Moore as he thrashed and shredded on the Constellation Room stage.

Though this was the last night on the tour with Sebadoh supporting, The Thurston Moore Band will resume touring the east cost throughout the remainder of October starting on the 21st with a stop in Brooklyn. For more info on the new album and additional tour dates, check out Thurston Moore's website and follow @THURSTONMOORE58 on Twitter.

The Thurston Moore Band at the Constellation Room Photo Gallery

Greylag at the Casbah - 10.4.14

Direct from Portland, Oregon, Greylag stopped by the Casbah in San Diego on Saturday night opening up for The Whigs with a set of authentic rock with a country edge.

As pleasant a sound as Greylag creates in the studio, the band really fires on all cylinders live. The boys brought the house down with a tight and rollicking performance, closing out their time on the Casbah stage with a little something they referred to as a lullaby. They know how to work a room and fill it with some blistering tunes and are definitely a band to watch.

Greylag is currently supporting The Whigs on some west coast dates with stops in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, just in time for the band's debut long player which drops on 10/14 via Dead Oceans. For more info, be sure to check out Greylag on Facebook and follow @GreylagMusic on Twitter.

Greylag at the Casbah Photo Gallery

Telepathe at Los Globos - 10.3.14

I've been hooked on Telepathe for a little while now. The band's 2009 long player, "Dance Mother," left a significant impression on me after giving it a listen and the occasional singles that have been released since, such as "Slow Learner" and "Drown Around Me," have left me looking forward to a full length follow up.

I had the chance to photograph the band's show at Los Globos in LA last night. The night was highlighted by a set that saw members Melissa Livaudais and Busy Gangnes in fine form. The show got off to a timid start when Livaudais had to beckon the audience closer before their set started proper. I'm always slightly amused whenever I see a crowd at a show collectively stand behind some imaginary velvet rope, waiting for someone to give them the okay to approach the stage.

At one point during the set, a dancer dressed in a skin tight latex(?) one piece was brought out on stage, adding a bit of performance art to a night at the club. It was a really cool, unexpected moment that found the band opening up their stage repertoire a bit.

Telepathe next play Brick & Mortar in San Francisco on 10/4, followed by a date at Glasslands in Brooklyn on 10/11. For more info, be sure to check out Telepathe on Facebook and follow @telepathe on Twitter.

Telepathe at Los Globos Photo Gallery

Gardens & Villa at the Constellation Room - 9.19.14

It's no easy feat getting an OC crowd to drop their own pretense and just have a good time at a concert but the boys of Gardens & Villa did just that at the Constellation Room this past Friday night with a thrilling set equal parts retro and very now. I'm a sucker for good synthpop and Gardens & Villa make some very good synthpop indeed.

There's a real passion, a fire present when the Santa Barbara natives took to the stage. It's an enthusiasm that bled over into the crowd, setting everyone off into a euphoric frenzy of dance and elation. The band gave the packed house its all, leaving the room a hot, sweaty mess by night's end.

There was a moment during the set that stuck out and made me realize just how special this band is. Midway through, the five piece took a break from playing their own songs to perform a version of Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy." It's to the band's credit that I didn't even realize I was listening to a song I'd heard countless times on the radio at first. They very much made it their own and had me moved by a song that meant little to me beforehand.

Gardens & Villa is currently touring the US throughout the remainder of 2014, including additional west coast stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Cruz this winter. The new album, Dunes, is available from Secretly Canadian. For more info be sure to visit Gardens & Villa's website and follow the band on Twitter @gardensandvilla.

Gardens & Villa at the Constellation Room - Photo Gallery

Slow Magic at the Soda Bar - 9.13.14

Slow Magic stopped by San Diego's Soda Bar this past Saturday night as part of last weekend's San Diego Music Thing festival and conference. Greg Doherty was on hand to cover the show for celluloidannoyed.com.

The crowd at the Soda Bar were there for one reason only, Slow Magic, though the DJ’s that filled the slots earlier in the evening gave the crowd a great warm up. The Soda Bar was not a big venue, and it was packed well before the Slow Magic midnight performance.

Just setting up for his show, you know this is going to be different. The stage holds a small table, his laptop, a lot of wires between the laptop and his two transparent drums, all that separate him from the crowd.

I’d not been to a Slow Magic gig, though I had a few favorite songs, but the experience up close in the Soda Bar with his African-looking mask, drum beats, and energy he puts into his performance was amazing.

The crowd was packed around the stage and fed off his energy. They obviously knew the songs, jumping in perfect rhythm to the drum beats, and he kept the energy level going the entire time. At one point he picked up one of the drums and walked into the audience in front of the stage and played the single drum surrounded by the crowd. Somehow the crowd made room for him and they got to experience him even closer than before.

I’m still amazed at how he manages to do all this while wearing a mask. Other than the occasional power outage, and a few impromptu repairs to the drums, (not surprising seeing the abuse they get) he was able to navigate the tracks on the laptop, the drums and the synthesizer without missing a beat.

Slow Magic is currently touring the US in support of the new album, "How To Run Away." For dates, check out Slow Magic's official site and stay up to date via Twitter @SlowwwMagic.

Slow Magic at the Soda Bar - Photo Gallery