Among the numerous not-quite-revelations Steve Jobs breathlessly announced today about the iPad2 -- faster processor, thinner case, two cameras -- one especially caught our attention: Apple is bringing its amateur-friendly music production software GarageBand to the tablet computer. (It's also bringing iMovie over, but that's another post for another blog.)
So what's so great about GarageBand on a tablet? After all, GarageBand is an inherently limited and incomplete piece of software. It's made for amateurs to compose soundtracks to their home movies. It's not for serious musicians.
Or is it? We know of "real" musicians who have access to fancy studios and feature-laden gear but use GarageBand as a kind of sketchpad to record and play around with musical ideas. And given that the iPad is kind of like a sketchbook itself, it seems these two could be perfect companions -- especially when you take into account the amazing features of the iPad's touch screen.
Our Cheesecake Factory is on Geary, atop the Macy's building. You might never have even noticed it; I hadn't until I saw it behind a rabbi on TV who was lighting a gargantuan menorah in Union Square to counteract the giant Christmas tree. It was almost as if the Cheesecake Factory was sponsoring the event, since its sign seemed to encase his whole head.
I have since gone to the bar there on a few occasions, especially when I want to get away from San Francisco without going very far. Once inside, you will find yourself transported into any cheesecake factory, anywhere. ... It's that magical. For one thing, there is absolutely no one inside who lives in San Francisco, save the staff. It's all tourists. Go ahead, close your eyes and imagine that you are in Boise. Also, the place is exactly the same as the one I have been to in Marin and the one I have been to in Anaheim. The layouts may vary a tiny bit, but in general they all have the same characteristics. Everything is big, bold, vaulted, gilded. The staff wears all white and is encouraged to suggestively sell their way into the largest tab possible.
Over the past few weeks, streaming music startup Spotify has quietly been signing deals with the major U.S. music distributors as it prepares for a U.S. launch. But now that the Swedish firm has locked up EMI and Sony (with Universal in tow), it's also begun to hire people in the U.S., signaling that we're gonna see the mythical service in action soon. Here's why you should be excited:
Another week, another cause to devote your disposable income to. Peter Arko and Robert Khoury, the respective head honchos of venerable local music blogs Ears of the Beholder and See the Leaves, are teaming up to start a compilation series called City Limits Records, where "influential bloggers/musicians/tastemakers" from all over the country (dare we say globe?) show off their scenes.
And so we join the SXSW deluge: Village Voice Media, the parent company of SF Weekly, and Frank 151 yesterday announced the details of our annual SXSW party: We'll deign to spare you any unfortunate lyrical references to the Wu-Tang Clan but it is headlining. Other eyebrow-poppers you'll want to check out include Carrie Brownstein's new band, Wild Flag (of whom we approve), and a DJ set by Erykah Badu. Oh and this year, the whole thing is free -- no wristband or badge required. Full lineup and relevant details after the jump.
