Not too many bands have traced the kind of eclectic arc traveled by The Cult. Anchored by the British songwriting team of singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy for three decades, the group has traversed from its UK gothic-rock roots in the early 1980s through a rise to global fame with the iconic college-rock album Love before becoming hard-rock kingpins and MTV favorites after the release of 1987's Rick Rubin-produced Electric.
While The Cult found even greater success with the follow-up effort Sonic Temple in 1989, the band spent much of the '90s in disarray, as the working relationship between Astbury and Duffy disintegrated. The singer would explore other outlets with his band Holy Barbarians and on a solo album before The Cult's first celebrated reunion in 1999. Since then, the group has toured and recorded regularly, while still taking time out for other projects including Astbury's stint as vocalist for The Doors of the 21st Century with Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger.
Though Astbury had at one point insisted The Cult would no longer be making albums, the band's brand new release Choice of Weapon is rightfully being hailed as its best in ages. The loquacious singer recently spoke with All Shook Down about recording with two producers and his lyrical inspirations. The Cult performs with The Icarus Line and Against Me! at the Fillmore this Sunday, May 27.
It's impossible to separate the man behind Spiritualized from his music. The psyche of Jason Pierce, aka J. Spaceman, permeated the packed house at the Fillmore last night -- and there were a few casualties.
The bartender attributed the chaos to a poorly mixed cocktail of alcohol and pot, but there was more to it, a heightened sense of emotion in the air. From Pierce emanated an intensity that flooded the audience with Spiritualized's wall of sound. Some of us swam, others drowned.
Mark Lanegan Band
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Great American Music Hall
Better than: Staying at home and thinking about death.
Mark Lanegan plays in the dark. Literally. A blue light here, a red one there, and zero variables. All you can really make out is his pronounced frown, gigantic jawline, and the shiny Johnny Cash pompadour of his guitarist. It's only appropriate really -- the Mark Lanegan Band is the sound of brooding desolation, of loves lost and lonely roads and longing. The illuminating flashes of light in the set are few and far between, usually coming in the form of soaring country and blues-tinged guitar solos. Make no mistake, it is all very gorgeous -- but it's not necessarily great at holding one's attention for an entire show, especially in a room kept so dark.
As Memorial Day approaches, so does the extended pleasure of a three-day weekend. While it might be tempting to turn off your phone and barbecue straight from Friday to Monday, we strongly urge you to look over this short list before checking out completely. Read on -- your weekend awaits.
Friday, May 25
What: Selectorate presents Secret Circuit/Laughing Light of Plenty
Where: Monarch
When: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Why: Back in 2008, heads turned when a band called Laughing Light of Plenty released "The Rose." Dropped on the enigmatic Whatever We Want imprint, it sounded like an inspired mix between the neo-Balearic murmurings of that year and the cockshure swagger of The Stone Roses. Though the song proved a success, not much was heard from the group afterwards; an extremely limited edition double LP did little to change that status. However, central member Eddie Ruscha Jr. has put together a new project called Secret Circuit. Pulling from a similar space as Laughing Light of Plenty, but injecting more cosmic and electronic aspects, Ruscha's latest moniker is every bit as weird and danceable. Check out tracks like "Nebula Sphynx" and "Khoi Khoi," before heading over to Selectorate, at Monarch, this Friday, to catch Secret Circuit's first ever live performance in San Francisco.
Lately, the talk surrounding Canadian producer and DJ Felix Cartal has focused on his hair, his love of sushi, and his latest album, Different Faces. Growing up in Vancouver listening to punk bands like Death From Above 1979, he later developed a taste for the electronic side of music. Eventually he tried his hand at producing, which culminated in his 2009 debut EP, Skeleton. Attracting the attention of Steve Aoki, he began a series of releases on the Dim Mak label; last year's single "The Joker" catapulted him to worldwide fame. His most recent album, Different Faces, exemplifies his signature vocal electro-house sound and features the big-room voice of Polina and the gritty-growling of Sebastien Grainger. We catch up with Felix Cartal on his album release tour with Clockwork and chatted about his hair, his love/hate relationship with EDM artist Autoerotique, and his following on Twitter. He plays the I Love This City rave on Saturday at Shoreline's Park Stage from 8:40 - 9:40 p.m.
