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Concert Review: Lotus

November 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lotus at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach

 

By Mackenzie Gilchrist and Marisa Marlowe

Lotus
El Rey Theatre (L.A.) & Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach)
November 18 & 19, 2011

Lotus played this past Friday night at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach and we think we can speak for all who were in attendance when we say that the night was a success. Fresh from a show at El Rey Theatre in L.A. the night before, the Colorado and Philadelphia natives entranced the San Diego audience with their combination of electric and acoustic melodies.

 

We were lucky enough to attend both the L.A. and the Solana Beach shows and it was evident in the large turnouts that the band’s popularity in southern California is steadily increasing. The last time we saw them in L.A. in 2009 at the Roxy, they seemed to have a tough time filling up the venue, but this was certainly not the case this past weekend. Both performances brought in crowds of eager fans waiting for the unique Lotus grooves to fill their ears. As bassist/sampler Jesse Miller discussed in his interview previous to the shows, the group designs each individual setlist in anticipation of the crowds that they are expecting and they were on point for both nights. The show in L.A. felt intense, packed with energy and even a little rowdy at times. Some kids in the crowd were dancing so hard to favorites like “Spiritualize” and “Hammerstrike” that they looked as if they might pass out!

 
At the Belly Up however, the crowd was still gettin’ down, but the smaller venue provided a more intimate, laid back atmosphere. They opened with the song “Harps” (one of our favorites!) from their new self titled album, which got the crowd amped and grooving from the start. They played two long sets throwing in a few other tracks from the new album like “Golden Ghost” and “In an Outline” and finished with an explosive “Bellwether” encore. Although the atmosphere was not quite as boisterous as Thursday’s show, there was no lack of enthusiasm or movement among the audience, and we did in fact see many familiar faces from the night before. We are also happy to report a great turnout of USD students within the crowd, who appeared to take up almost the entire front section lining the stage.

 
With their growing popularity, Lotus plays at many big festivals around the country such as Outside Lands and Summer Camp, but it is a completely different experience seeing them at a bar when you can get right up close. They are the sort of group that is careful to make eye contact with as many people in the audience as possible so it feels like they are up on stage playing just for you. They also take the time after the show to go talk to fans and sometimes sign a few autographs. Percussionist Chuck Morris was even nice enough to give Mackenzie the Hawaiian lei he had been wearing for the show. Some of our friends were shocked at our willingness to travel up to L.A. for Thursday’s show and then again to Solana Beach on Friday, but in our opinion the only regret from the weekend was the fact that we were unable to travel to Phoenix to see them again on Saturday.

Filed Under: Concerts, USD Radio Tagged With: , , ,

Concert Preview: Yellow Ostrich

November 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yellow Ostrich is playing at San Diego's Belly Up Tavern on Wednesday, November 9.

 

By Haley Earl-Lynn

Yellow Ostrich
Belly Up
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 

From the perspective of a twenty-something year-old lady on the prowl, the dating scene here in San Diego can seem pretty complicated.  That poor little lady may wonder, “Are we dating? Are we just friends? Are we supposed to ignore eachother next time we are both ordering a So-Cal chicken sandwich at Urbane during our lunch break?” Lucky for that lady though, the up-and-coming band Yellow Ostrich has put all of her worries and ponderings to rest.

On their newest album, The Mistress, Yellow Ostrich breaks it down and makes it real simple for distressed ladies. Their track “Hate Me Soon” could easily be made into a how to guide: Hooking up for Dummies. The most helpful line: “You’re gonna hate me soon if you don’t understand that what we’re doing here has got no long term plan… I’m gonna love you soon when you are out of reach and when I see you ‘round, you never wanna speak.”

Spreading the word about this song until it reaches as many twenty-something year-old lady friends as possible is the best way to clear up the whole hookup culture confusion. Yellow Ostrich is just what modern women need. Beyond that, the rest of their music happens to sound darn good as well.

Yellow Ostrich began as Alex Shaaf’s solo project. He found himself in New York with a lot of music, but no band. He hooked up (platonically, unfortunately) with drummer Michael Tapper of the band Fool’s Gold. The two began collaborating and found themselves with a complete album. The Mistress hit the Internet and built up enough fan support to allow for Shaaf and Tapper to head out on a mini tour around New York. Early this year the band added Jon Natchez to round out the trio.

Yellow Ostrich is best categorized as an indie-rock band – go figure, right?! Shaaf’s strong vocals define the band’s sound. Their distinct sound is comparable to that of San Diego natives, Dirty Gold. Both bands represent youth and inexperience in the best ways possible. The Mistress has a fun, free sound. It can’t be compared to a band like Coldplay’s perfectly-crafted pieces or a band like !!!’s intricately produced beats.

“Whale” is Yellow Ostrich’s biggest hit. Unlike “Hate Me Soon”, “Whale” is much more friendly sounding. While the former provides a valuable lesson to the needy, the latter wins hearts over. Other eargasmic tracks include “Hold On” and “Mary”.

Yellow Ostrich stop by San Diego’s Belly Up Tavern this Wednesday night, along with Ra Ra Riot and Delicate Steve. Fans can expect a notably charismatic live performance. Critics have raved that Yellow Ostrich have a notably strong presence on stage. If you can’t make it out Wednesday, fret not. Even though the band won’t be playing in San Diego again soon, they will be just a short drive away in L.A. at El Ray Theatre on Thursday night. Tickets are moving fast.

What’s to come for the band is still unknown. After the tour they will be recuperating and relaxing back in New York. They have high hopes for future albums. Taking inspiration from the likes of Neil Young and the Velvet Underground, The Mistress was wildly more successful than originally anticipated. Fans can only hope for more lessons and charming tunes in a sophomore album from Yellow Ostrich.

Filed Under: Concerts, Upcoming Shows, USD Radio Tagged With: , ,

Interview: The Parlotones, 6/9 at Belly Up

June 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

www.theparlotones.net

USD Radio caught up with Paul Hodgson, guitarist of South Afrian rock band, The Parlotones prior to their 6/2 performance at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.  We talked about California, hamburgers, and the band’s wine label before the band’s set.

By: Chuck Cartwright

The Belly Up Tavern is on a hot streak booking top flight international talent for the sleepy seaside community of Solana Beach to enjoy.  First it was Biffy Clyro a few weeks back, and this past Thursday 6/2 we had the good fortune of catching South African superstars, The Parlatones live and in full color.

The Parlotones are arguably the hottest thing out of South Africa since the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.  The self-proclaimed “melodic rock” four piece has achieved multiplatinum status in their home country.  They have been criss-crossing the globe over the past two years in support of their 2009 release, “Stardust Galaxies”.

USD Radio had the opportunity to speak with guitarist Paul Hodgson (@Paul_Parlotones) in advance of their performance.  When asked about his impressions on California, he replied “it looks just like the movies”.  While personally I disagree, Hodgson said California was his favorite part of America, though “not quite like Cape Town”.  The band has tourned in the United States on a few different occasions, building a feverant cult-like fanbase along the way.

The crowd at The Belly Up wasn’t very large, though those who were in attendence were extremely passionate about the act they paid to see.  Fans sang along with band through much of the set.  The Parlotones launched into a borrage of their well-traveled tunes, carrying themselves as true veterans of the touring circuit.  Complete with matching suits, the band put on a fantastic show despite questionable attendence figures.  Led by the showmanship of frontman Kahn Morbee, The Parlatones didn’t hold back as they energetically performed all of their most popular songs.  The closest thing I could compare them to would be a cross between The Killers and Muse, although they definitely had a unique flavor all to themselves.

The Parlotones- Stardust Galaxies

As Hodgson notes, “we just like to go out and play, whether it’s for a few thousand or a few hundred”.  And play the band did, even graciously submitting to a two song encore for the passionate fans who seemed to hang on every lyric.

The only downside to the evening was that Hodgson and the band didn’t bring along any of their specially vinted South African wine.  “None of us are wine makers, we just know what we think tastes good”, said Hodgson in reference to the winemaking efforts of the band.  The Parlatones created a wine called ‘Giant Mistake‘, named after their single from the album A World Next Door to Yours which will soon be distributed in the United States.

Regardless, The Parlotones show no signs of stopping.  “The American fans have actually been easier to win over than the British” noted Hodson, clearly with world domination on his mind.  When asked if he was sick of eating hamburgers and french fries yet, he quickly replied that “hamburgers were the one thing he’s definitely not sick of”; which further illustrates that he and his band are fully committed to breaking in America.

You can catch the band across the U.S. through the end of June.

Check out “Push Me To The Floor” here.

Stardust Galaxies - The Parlotones

5 June: Santa Fe, NM – Corazon - Buy Tickets

7 June: Dallas, TX – The Prophet Bar - Buy Tickets

8 June: Austin, TX – Stubbs Jr - Buy Tickets

10 June: Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits- Buy Tickets

11 June: St. Petersburg, FL – Local 662 - Buy Tickets

12 June: Orlando, FL – Backbooth Bar - Buy Tickets

14 June: Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 - Buy Tickets

15 June: Nashville, TN – Exit/In - Buy Tickets

16 June: Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar - Buy Tickets

18 June: Columbus, OH – The Basement - Buy Tickets

19 June: Chicago, IL – The Double Door - Buy Tickets

21 June: Cleveland, OH – The Grog Shop - Buy Tickets

22 June: Pittsburgh, PA – The Hard Rock Cafe - Buy Tickets

23 June: New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom - Buy Tickets

24 June: Washington, DC – Red Palace - Buy Tickets

25 June: Boston, MA – T.T. The Bear’s - Buy Tickets

26 June: Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live - Buy Tickets

2 July: Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Kirkwood Festival

13 July – 17 July: Dragonflies & Astronauts at El Teatro in Montecasino

16 October: Pensacola, FL – Deluna Fest - Buy Tickets

 

Filed Under: Interviews, USD Radio Tagged With: , , ,

Show Review: Biffy Clyro at Belly Up Tavern

April 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

Biffy Clyro at Belly Up, presented by FM 94.9

USD Radio’s Chuck Cartwright checks out NME’s “Best Live Act”, Biffy Clyro.  The band headlined an installment of the FM 94.9 “About the Music” concert series at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach on 4/14.

By: Chuck Cartwright

From the very first note that came from Simon Neil’s guitar, it was clear that Biffy Clyro’s sound was too big for The Belly Up Tavern.  Rock anthems typically reserved for stadiums full of adoring fans in Europe, were being played in the sleepy seaside community of Solona Beach for roughly 1,000 lucky patrons.

As I entered the venue, a few folks looking for conversation casually asked if I knew anything about the band who we paid a measly $6 to see.  I told them they were one of the biggest bands in Europe, and how they have over half of a million fans on Facebook, and how they’re currently revered as one of the most energetic touring acts in the world.  How was is possible that there were people in attendance who didn’t even know how privileged they were to see such an acclaimed band, in such an intimate venue?

Luckily everyone understood once the three haggard-looking musicians, hailing from Kilamarnock, Scotland took the stage.  They launched into “The Captain”, the first track off of their new album and never quit for over an hour and a half.  Whenever the crowd began to applaud at the perceived conclusion of a track, the band would catapult into a guitar solo or rock ‘n roll infused jam until they were ready to call it quits.

The three Scots made enough noise to fill a stadium, and quite frankly I think some of the folks at The Belly Up were taken aback by the rapturous musical assault by the ragtag trio.

By the time Biffy Clyro finally relented, I wasn’t sure there was still a roof on The Belly Up Tavern.  My ears rang for at least an hour, all the way back to San Diego.

Once I got home, I added myself to the band’s hundreds of millions of Facebook fans, and continued to ponder why they aren’t more popular on this side of the pond.  Why weren’t they playing the main stage at Coachella this weekend, instead of in Solona Beach?

With the energy they displayed, I don’t think Biffy Clyro will be playing small venues in the U.S. for much longer.  It’s just not possible–the beast needs to be let out of its cage.

Only Revolutions - Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro- "Only Revolutions"

 

Filed Under: Concerts, USD Radio Tagged With: , , ,

Rogue Wave: Interview – Band Plays Belly Up on TUESDAY

April 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Make sure to grab tickets to the band’s show on Tuesday. It’s a do not miss concert and with any luck, we’ll be able to put a show review up.
_____

Rogue Wave front man Zach Rogue is proud of his band’s newest release, Permalight, and stands behind the balance of upbeat, life-affirming melodies and quiet pulsing songs heard on the release. Rogue also worked to create an album that was more cohesive and could “capture one moment at a time.”
While the music may be cheery and playful at times, it draws from a group whose time between albums was tainted by loss and heartbreak. The transition into 2007 brought the loss of good friend, and former member Evan Farrell who passed away in an apartment fire. As if that loss weren’t enough, Zach Rogue went on to face months of bed rest, recovering from slipped discs in his back. The leap from being told that he could never play music again to finding himself in a recording studio playing guitar and writing music created an exciting feeling. Rogue recalls how it felt as though he was reliving his youth and learning to play music again, ultimately writing the song “Permalight” as his first full song after his injury. Overall, the experience taught Rogue that life truly is a gift and that movement and self-expression can be humbling.
As an album, Permalight comes across with a sound slightly different from previous work. As mentioned before, the album seems to have more of an upbeat sound. Everything falls more in line and certain songs have a bit of a dance feel to them. Rogue mentions that a few tracks have this dance feel and that some incorporate the use of a drum machine. Yet in the long run, it seems as though most critics focus on the introduction toward this new sound without really holding on the fact the Rogue Wave feeling can still be heard on the entire album. On some songs, the album has this slightly different, new sound while other songs maintain the sound that perpetuated Rogue Wave to the masses.
Production for the new album found the band in Oxford, Mississippi, working with Dennis Herring, whose past production credits include Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, and MUTEMATH. For Rogue, the push to work with Herring came out of respect and admiration. The two shared a mutual vision and Rogue feel in love with Herring’s studio in the south. After an initial meeting, Rogue determined it would be a good match and he recognized Herring’s sometimes brutal honestly as something that would help the band in the long run. The final result is a product that will not only satisfy long-time Rogue Wave fans but will also appeal to listeners who might have previously dismissed the band before.

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