guess the issue, win a prize
By nick g | June 30, 2009
Well, no prize but the satisfaction of knowing where Joker’s “boner” is hidden…
LOL@chortle!
Topics: Random | 1 Comment »
nothing to do with tonegazer
By nick g | June 28, 2009
This really has nothing to do with Tonegazer, but I did the sound/boom operating for this movie. It hits home with musicians… and people who like somewhat-melodramatic short films. Tonegazer’s own Hadley Hill is featured as the music for this film. The songs are “It’s Not You, It’s Me… OK, It’s You” and “Unsettling”. Hadley Hill’s bassist, Seth, directed the film and stars as the legendary guitarist Hadley Hill.
Truth be told, there is no Hadley Hill. It’s just a band name with a fake person’s name. Like Harvey Danger, but with more staying power.
Topics: Art News, BAY AREA, Random, Tonegazer News, things we love | No Comments »
“He’s Looking Over Here”
By Annie | June 28, 2009
We have been patiently awaiting “The Hunter” by Burning Face Productions for quite some time now, if only it would finally be released! Check out a scene from it below with one of our favorite comics, Mr. James Fluty. Head on over to his page here for a full listing of his upcoming stand up dates, and more Burning Face films right this way.
Topics: Random, things we love | No Comments »
June 6th House Show
By TG | June 21, 2009
The June 6th show was so much fun, a special thank you to all of the bands that played that night. All of the sets were incredible and it made us so very happy to be able to have the show in our little basement. If we had it our way, we would do it all of the time.
We were only able to capture a few pictures throughout the night, so if anyone else has some please send them our way! Email us your photos at info@tonegazer.com.
As for now, here are a few of the ones we took.
Topics: BAY AREA, Events, PORTLAND | 2 Comments »
we’re hosting a show
By TG | May 31, 2009
Come check it out if you live in the Portland area - because house shows are always the best.
Topics: Events, PORTLAND | 3 Comments »
Why I hate reggae night; or Church and Moggs mini-review
By nick g | May 26, 2009
Church is generating a big buzz from Portland, Oregon (not Maine). Moggs is a great 
band from Petaluma. Other bands were playing. Combine this with $2 Pabst bottles and you’re looking a good night right in the smiling face. But throw in reggae night and that smiling face gets turned upside-down, revealing a sour old woman. This is what happened last week at The Casbar in Santa Rosa.
The Ocean Floor opened the show with four short songs. Not bad, but nothing extremely memorable. Then the players all switched instruments and Church was suddenly on stage. It’s amazing how dramatically different the two bands are. Keyboards, drums, percussion/sampling and guitar were accompanying the singing, with the keyboardist handling the bass duties with his left hand. The songs were far superior to those on Church’s Myspace page. There is something lingering and though they’re not quite catchy, I want to listen to more of it. Apparently a couple of the members are originally from Santa Rosa, too, so there’s a local connection.
This band is definitely worth seeing live, though I hesitated buying a CD because I only got to hear four songs. I keep kicking myself, though, because there’s this lingering “what if they’re really awesome on that cd” feeling that keeps creeping up on me. And they’ve got like four CDs, too. I could have at least bought one to help defray the cost of touring. God, what an asshole I am.
Moggs was up next. I own both of their records (and one cd of a record I bought - it came with the record. Can I say record again? Good). Moggs played a total of five songs. They were very good, as usual. Precise and sonically divine. Guitar and drums that make the White Stripes sound even worse than they already are, and that’s pretty bad. Moggs knows how to kick ass, in fact they teach the asskicking class at the JC, which everyone knows is tougher than the one at State. It’s like the Melvins learned how to make their songs less boring and added vocal harmonies. Mmmmmm, delicious.
They split the set with The Highlands, who were not my thing. Punk rock with drums, mini acoustic guitar through a distorted Marshall amp, cello and screaming vocals is like pooping into a skinny funnel, it all gets stuck and nothing comes through. Sorry, Highlands, but you should stick to the powerpoppunktrio sound of electric guitar, bass and drums.
The show was not bad, considering each band only got about 20 minutes to show their stuff. It started an hour later than advertised and ended two hours later so a DJ could play reggae music. Whatever sells booze, I guess. Can’t wait for Church to come back. They’d be awesome at a house show.
moggs photo via JESSAMYN HARRIS
Topics: Music News | 2 Comments »
GO TO THIS
By TG | May 12, 2009
Topics: BAY AREA, Events, Santa Rosa | 2 Comments »
Album Review Time
By TG | May 8, 2009
Hello-Charlie here. Since it seems I can’t think of anything to write most days, I’m going to start simple and do a couple of album reviews. Sound good? Cool. Here we go.
Woods- Songs of Shame
I’ve been into Woods for a couple of years, I like most of their stuff, and the other bands they’re all in are usually good too( Meneguar mostly). So listening to Songs of Shame is a bit like re-visiting a record I had not heard in a long time, but I have heard this before. SoS is a faithful and basic extension of the last few Woods albums. Not much new here, except for the seemingly out of place guitar freakouts and female back up vocals.
I was surprised when opening track, “To Clean”, started off with a Pavement esque rock out and the falsettos were kind of in tune. As the album progresses, the boys of Woods pull back a little to give us standard lo-fi gloominess and despair. Waiting for the summer and going insane thematically make up SoS’s moods, with the occasional rainy day, let’s-hang-out-at-the-lake sentiments thrown in to round out the titular Shame. Kind of depressing guys, but, hey, I get it. I know how these albums go. If you like Woods or maybe a band like Pygmylush, check it out. If you like drums that sound like five gallon jugs and analog organs and acoustic rustiness, definitely check it out. Not too shabby, given all the shabbiness strived for.
Vaselines- The Way of the Vaselines
The Vaselines were a couple of kids from Scotland in the early 90’s who just wanted to make silly, sexually frustrated music. Then fucking Kurt Cobain had to stick his big fat head into it and start talking about how good they were and covering their songs on MTV. Thanks Kurt, now a bunch of hipster fucks have decided that this band influenced you and therefore must be the greatest thing on Earth.
Well, this re-issue of sorts collects those early tracks originally released by Sub Pop, which itself was a collection of previously released EP’s and other junk. And it’s being called indie gold. Nice. It sounds like the slacker’s late 80’s that is so the shit lately, so I guess that counts as gold. And Guess what? Like the Pixies before them, the Vaselines are back! Ready to cash in on a whole new generation of Nirvana freaks who just heard that this band, like, totally influenced their God.
Sorry, this review is coming off too negative. I kind of like this stuff. The vocals are all “we don’t sing and we’re just fine with it.” The guitars are simple, the beats interesting enough and the stuff gets better as it goes along. The songs are pretty funny, lyrically and musically. I can dig this. It’s cool. They encompass a lot of the reasons we liked this music 20 years ago. You remember (even if I don’t): a complete lack of giving a shit and a total fuck you too attitude that lead the way for the gloriously apathetic 90’s.
Bob Dylan- Together Through Life
So you think the Vaselines are old school? Well, this here is some days of the dinosaurs shit right here. I love me some Bob Dylan, and so do a lot of people. This guy is universally recognized as a great and powerful smith of songs, a provocative personality who’s lost none of his punch in his golden years. The last few Dylan albums have certainly reinforced that notion, but this one, well this one is something new-again. Here we get a collection of songs that sound loungy and nostalgic. There are dirges, honest to God dirges, capable of soaking more than a few hankies. Dylan sounds wistful and rowdy at certain moments, and I can actually understand most of the lyrics.
Proving that he’s nowhere near the twilight of his career, Dylan has reclaimed his crown with a steady flux of the blues and soul music. Not genres I usually find myself attracted to, but I think that’s the magic that ol’ Bobby brings with him. That universal appeal I mentioned earlier. Even if it’s not your cup of tea, it still commands your attention, and your resepect. So show some respect, dammit! It’s Bob Dylan we’re talking about here. Would it kill ya to just listen to the album? Of course not! And you might learn something along the way.
-Charlie
Topics: Reviews | No Comments »
David Bazan Portland House Show Review
By TG | May 7, 2009
Read all about David Bazan’s intimate house show tour right here at Alarm Magazine, featuring a review of Bazan’s local Portland stop a month back by our own Charlie Swanson.
I love this photo! image via Sunboil.com
Topics: Music News, PORTLAND | 1 Comment »
Daredevils & Queens Shows Cancelled
By Annie | April 23, 2009
So, despite the fact that they have had no sound complaints, have had no violent or underage drinking fiascoes, and for the longest time have continued to allude police awareness, Daredevils and Queens is now being forced to cease hosting concerts. This comes as incredibly sad news to us, specially since three of our most successful shows that we have helped with have been at Daredevils and Queens.
The owner Travis and his wife have been incredibly giving, helpful, and supportive of all of the bands and artists that have shared their space. And yet, they were told they had to shut down simply because a Fire Marshall happened to walk past their place one night while they were having a private party. How much can a city repress their creative youth before people get really outraged? If it is not profitable for the seniors living in the area, or the rich, or if it does not draw tourists, it is simply not allowed. I know that for the most part people are just doing their jobs, but why are these rigid zoning codes in existence? Who precisely, is being protected when a business decides it wants to support the local arts and is disallowed? I don’t live in Santa Rosa anymore, but knowing how this affects all my friends who are in bands, searching for venues to play in, makes me feel so incredibly angry.
I just want to take this time to extend my appreciation to the owners and staff of Daredevils and Queens who have been so supportive and helpful in giving artists and bands a place to display their talents. The shows that we put on there, were some of the most enjoyable events I have been to in a very, very long time in Santa Rosa.
There has to be something that we can do to bring awareness to this complete dismissal of underground music and art within Sonoma County. For the full story, please head on over to City Sound Inertia.
image via Caitlin Child
Topics: BAY AREA, Santa Rosa | No Comments »