Ian Birnam/Staff

If you would like to see live performances and interviews of the three bands down below, please check out our multimedia page.

Now in its sixth year, the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival is once again about to take over San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Much like you don’t need to be reminded about the fog that will roll in around late afternoon, you don’t need a preview guide telling you about how rad Vampire Weekend is or how amazing it is that you have the chance to see Paul McCartney. Rather, this brief preview is meant to bring some smaller bands to your attention, three of which hail from the Bay Area. Try to catch these bands in between chowing down on pastrami cheese fries and dancing to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The Soft White Sixties

When you hear the term “Working Class Soul,” what do you think of? Perhaps the funk and jive of soul mixed in with some old-fashioned rock ’n’ roll? This combination in conjunction with a dose of pop sensibility gives an idea of what The Soft White Sixties bring to the table. The San Francisco five-piece have been playing numerous stints, including this year’s SXSW festival, where they’ve been performing tracks from Get Right., their upcoming LP. Album opener “City Lights” melds fuzzy keyboard riffs and guitar licks reminiscent of the Black Keys as vocalist Octavio Genera melts through the wall of sound. If the keys and six-strings make up the wall, though, then Ryan Noble’s bodacious bass is the foundation, fortified by the catchy drum beats from Joey Bustos. Those in need of some gritty pop tunes can catch The Soft White Sixties opening up the Lands End stage on Saturday.

Midi Matilda

If anyone has told you the spirit of the ’80s is dead, tell him or her to listen to the dance-inducing rhythms of Midi Matilda. With a nostalgic flair and silky, smooth beats, the duo of Skyler Kilborn and Logan Grime have formed a partnership made in electro-pop heaven. After they both graduated from Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, Kilborn and Grime released their EP, The Red Light District, and are planning on releasing a debut album in the near future. Tracks like “Ottawa” combine melodious synth riffs with harmonious “ooohs” as Kilborn’s vocals swim gracefully alongside them. Others consist of falsetto swoons and blaring horns mixed with soothing keyboard swells, such as on “Day Dreams.” If you’re an early riser and manage to get to the festival when it begins, the groovy duo will be opening up the Twin Peaks stage this Friday.

The Mother Hips

It is truly a rarity for a band to say they’ve been around for 10 years. It’s even more surprising to hear a band has stayed together for more than 20, such a statement that Bay Area folk-rock band The Mother Hips can confirm with pride. The band released their eighth record, Behind Beyond, this year, continuing their venture through the dusty trails of bluesy California twang. Not all tracks shine bright through the Bay fog, though. “Song For JB” serves as a memorial to friends of the band who have passed away in recent years, including Wilco member Jay Bennett, whom the song is named after. Other tracks have a much lighter tone, such as the hip-swaying narration of “Toughie.” Fans old and new of these veterans of rock can watch them take over the Panhandle stage at 6:05 p.m. this Saturday.

Atlas Genius

Other than porting over the delectable chocolate Tim Tam cookies to the United States. via Pepperidge Farm, Australia has also been successful in popularizing its rock bands in the States. Almost everyone has heard of Jet — you know you remember “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” — and Powderfinger had their time here as well. However, the latest band to make it from down under are the brothers Keith and Michael Jeffery, better known as Atlas Genius. The duo first hit it big in this hemisphere with the swirling string plucks of “Trojans” but have become increasingly popular this year with their debut album, When It Was Now. Other tracks to watch out for this weekend include the lofty guitar strums and bass-toned synth of “Symptoms” and the blaring high-energy velocity of “Electric.” Sway away with the Aussie duo and their tourmates at the Twin Peaks stage at 2:10 p.m. this Saturday.

Ian Birnam covers music. Contact him at ibirnam@dailycal.org.

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Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings/Courtesy

After a decade of studio silence, Oakland-based hip-hop ensemble Hieroglyphics have released The Kitchen, an album that serves up a reminder of why the nine-man group has solidified its presence in the underground hip-hop scene and beyond. Though the album boasts a meaty helping of 17 tracks, each one is able to distinguish itself from the others as a sizable portion worthy of fulfilling any fan’s hunger.

While the lyrics and rhymes of the Hiero crew are definitely part of what keeps the album varied, the production is the secret spice to this record’s recipe. Each track offers a beat different from the last, chopping and cutting up a vast array of beats and samples. While Hiero deserve credit for the well-crafted beats, the album’s guest producers were the Sacramento DJs known as the Sleeprockers. Without a doubt, the production wouldn’t be as saucy or diverse if both parties had not collaborated the way that they did. Tracks like “Exciting,” with its synth hook, are reminiscent of an eight-bit video game gone thug with the Hiero crew laying down rhymes sharp enough to slice the track’s beefy bass. “All As Above So Below” uses soulful backing vocals over a thick beat with crisp chimes and a sample of the opening lyric from the Beastie Boys hit “Paul Revere.”

While the album has a variety of flavors, some tracks share a few similar ingredients. “Livin’ It Up” and “Nano Salt” both share a funkalicious groove with the spicy horns on the former complementing the reverb-rich synth on the latter. Much like culinary recipes, though, a few common ingredients don’t necessarily imply identical dishes. Overall, with its smooth rhymes and crunchy beats, The Kitchen is a definitive reminder of Hiero’s stance in the hip-hop world. As the chorus of “Immortals” states, “Hiero ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

Ian Birnam covers music. Contact him at ibirnam@dailycal.org.

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This season is the season of music festivals. And for all you music festival junkies at Cal – we know you’re out there — this music festival season is your GO time. Whether you danced your a** off at EDC over the weekend or you’re headed to Outside Lands in August, there were/are several things you need to remember:

1. Dehydration is REAL. Whether you’re in the middle of the desert, enjoying SoCal sun or bathing in mild Bay Area air, there’s one you need to keep in mind. You guessed it: WATER. Dehydration is one of the most common reasons that people don’t get to enjoy the festivals they planned on enjoying, so remember to grab your CamelBaks and Klean Kanteens before heading out. (Fortunately, most big music festivals have water-refilling stations!)

2. Comfort, comfort, comfort. First off, comfortable shoes are a MUST. Close-toed shoes are highly suggested — preferably ones that can be tied up and will stay on. We recommend Converse, Toms, Vans and especially combat boots — you want to enjoy some dope-a** music, not worry about being stepped on for hours at a time. Also, remember to wear non-constrictive clothing like flowy tops and vintage t-shirts that’ll ensure you can dance your booty off without wanting to strip naked in the middle of an Empire of the Sun set. (Unless that’s your cup of tea. Wink, wink.)

3. Bands might make her dance but they don’t have to make you dance. Remember that you don’t have to spend tons of money in order to look awesome at a music festival. Thrift shops around the Bay Area and in Berkeley like Buffalo Exchange and all the shops along Haight Street in San Francisco can provide you with inexpensive but great clothing options for those festival days. If you want to go a little wilder and find some crazy pieces you’d probably never wear on a normal basis, head out to those thrift shops we mentioned or check out Forever 21, the sale section at Asos, Boohoo or search in the $50 and under section at Polyvore.

4. Remember to pace yourself. This applies to various music-festival activities from dancing to inhaling herbs to getting inebriated. Going too hard at the beginning can wear you out and ruin the next several hours or even the next few days of your music festival. We know you want to have a kick-a** time, but try not to experience that kick-a** time in a too concentrated period. If you play at a level you know you can control, we can guarantee that you’ll have a great time.

5. Happy mindset = happy time. The most important thing to remember as you prepare for your music festival is to enjoy yourself. As corny as it sounds, going into a festival, or any event really, with the mindset that you will have fun no matter what and that you won’t let anything bother you is a promise to yourself that you’ll have a wonderful experience that you will never forget. So just remember what we’ve mentioned and relax and enjoy to your heart’s desire.

Do you have any reminders for preparing for music festivals? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: Caesar Sebastian under Creative Commons

Contact Gabrielle Nguyen at gnguyen@dailycal.org.

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Sarah Huerta/Courtesy

Besides the heavy load of coursework that UC Berkeley provides, being at Cal can often feel like a hip summer indie music festival. Half the students (and nonstudents) you see walking and lounging around look like flower children, and you might often have to ask yourself, “If I were alive to go to Woodstock, is this what it would look like?” We at the Daily Clog decided to explore some of those little commonalities you might not notice on a day-to-day basis:

1. Most people look like they’re going to Coachella. If you’ve been around Cal on a nice warm day, you may have taken a look around and realized that everyone looks like a really hip Instagram photo waiting to happen. You may have the urge to ask yourself, “Do I go to UC Maxi Skirt?” or “Is that guy carrying that huge North Face backpack in order to carry all his concert supplies, like sunblock, a Camelbak water bottle and a nice blanket to sit on while he’s watching Portugal. The Man play?”

2. It smells like “that dank-dank” everywhere. You know it does, and no one needs to tell you that this one is true. Just like many summer music festivals, Berkeley has the quality of smelling very herbaceous — or, at least, many parts of Berk do. If Happy High Herbs on Channing Way had a tent at Bonnaroo or Coachella, sales would be through the roof! (Business proposal, guys — think about it.)

3. The music scene is super dope. Berkeley and the surrounding Bay Area is home to one of the most happening music scenes in the country. The Bay Area hosts music festivals every summer, including Outside Lands (check out the lineup here). Berkeley itself has hosted a number of amazing artists like Vampire Weekend, Green Day, She & Him, Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver — essentially many active festival-goers’ dream line up.

4. Being on Memorial Glade is like being at a mini music festival. Sitting on your blanket and sunbathing on the grass of the Glade, you might feel like you’re at a summer music festival … just without the music. But once you put those headphones in, you’re at f***in Coachella, baby! You’ll really get this vibe during special events like Cal Day, when many of you sat back and relaxed on Memorial Glade, inhaled some precious fumes and enjoyed the gentle sounds of The Antlers.

What similarities do you see between Cal and music festivals? Let us know in the comments!

Contact Gabrielle Nguyen at gnguyen@dailycal.org.

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Outside Lands/Courtesy

Outside Lands is normally known for its stellar lineup of a wide variety of artists, and this year’s is no exception. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Phoenix and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are heavy hitters this time around. However, this year has arguably the biggest headliner since Radiohead fronted the festival the first year it was offered. The Beatles legend himself Paul McCartney will be gracing Golden Gate park’s stage. Not much more needs to be said about him, other than his performance will most likely garner the largest crowd an Outside Lands performer has ever had.

In addition to the fab Sir Paul, Willie Nelson will be jamming at the festival as well with his family, providing another 70′s legend in the mixture of the modern music giants. In addition to the aforementioned bands, Jurassic 5, Vampire Weekend, The National, Pretty Lights, and The Head and the Heart will all be playing as well.

More recent up and comers will be there as well, such as Tallest Man on Earth, Grizzly Bear and Atlas Genius will all be performing off the coattails of their recent(ish) album releases. The festival will also feature some prominent local acts such as Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

I could go on for awhile about how incredible this year’s lineup is. I could go on about how producer/DJ legend Zedd will be there to the adoration of electro-junkies, or how Flea will melt the crowd’s faces off with funky bass slaps, or how Trent Reznor will undoubtedly shred the microphone with his voice. But each artist on the bill could have an entire blog post dedicated to them. Instead, if you can’t wait for August to come, you’d be best served to snag the next round of tickets when they go on sale this Thursday.

Ian Birnam covers music. Contact him at ibirnam@dailycal.org.

The post Outside Lands announces 2013 Lineup appeared first on The Daily Californian.

For those looking for some ballsy folk rock, San Francisco duo Two Gallants should be a band on your radar. The duo crank out saucy, crunchy guitar riffs backed by symbol-heavy drums and a bluesy harmonica. The screams of vocalist Adam Stephens also add some diversity to the band’s folksy appearance, as the throat-straining vocals provide a refreshing take on folk music. The duo released their fourth album, The Bloom and the Blight this past September, and appeared at SF’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival the month before.

Check out their song “My Love Won’t Wait” below:

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Tennis/Courtesy

On Wednesday afternoon, I spoke with Alaina Moore of the band Tennis. Originally from Denver, Moore and her husband Patrick Riley started the band after they met each other at college. Now, with two albums (Cape Dory and Young & Old) out, the band will be playing San Francisco’s annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival this Friday.

The Daily Californian: Are you excited for Outside Lands?

Alaina Moore: I am, I’m really excited. It’s a festival that we all wanted to play for a while and we’re really happy to be able to do it this year.

DC: How do you like the bay area?
AM: We love San Francisco. We love California in general. We always look forward to traveling the west coast, but San Francisco is one of our favorite cities.
DC: Yeah, it’s amazing. This is actually going to be my first time at Outside Lands as well. I love going to Golden Gate Park though and I think that it’s a perfect setting for a festival. I think its going to be great.
AM: Oh yeah, absolutely, and we’re so lucky we actually have some time to watch some bands so its going to be really fun.
DC: I was actually going to ask you, do you have anything in particular that you’re looking forward to?
AM: Yeah well we’re actually gonna stay an extra day so we can watch Grandaddy. And kind of drive through the night, because the next night we have a show in LA — the following day. But we’re going to be irresponsible and stick around so we don’t miss it.
DC: Yeah. I’m looking forward to it, I’m going to all three days. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Neil Young the night you guys play. I’ve really looked up to him.
AM: Oh my gosh, yeah thats going to be amazing. Actually I’m really excited to see Alabama Shakes.
DC: Alabama Shakes! They sound great.
AM: I know I really wanted to see them play [on] their tour with Neil Young right now. They played Red Rocks back in Colorado and we were on tour when it happened, but I would have loved to see that show actually.
DC: Yeah, I love the singer for Alabama Shakes, she has such a soulful voice. It’s awesome.
AM: If I could trade voices with someone it would be her or somebody like her. Like, down in my heart I wish I just had a powerful black woman’s voice and I obviously have the exact — I have like a frail, white girl’s voice instead, but I can dream.
DC: But I do have to say that I think for the music that you guys make with Tennis, I think your voice fits the music perfectly.
AM: Thanks, I appreciate it.
DC: We’ll talk more about the music. [There's] one other question I wanted to ask you, just in regards to other bands. What has been [your] main summer jam? What song have you really been listening to this summer and really enjoying?
AM: Actually my favorite record right now is Frank Ocean’s record, Channel Orange. I can’t get enough of it. I’ve been listening to that a lot this week. I also really love the Dirty Projectors’ new album [that just] came out.
DC: Swing Lo Magellan.
AM: I’ve been very, very into that. It’s actually really nice to have divergent new music to be excited about. It’s really refreshing to hear something so different from your own music that you make. It’s really a nice change of pace.
DC: Yeah definitely. So since I’m still in college, this definitely interests me, but I know you and Patrick met in college, is that right?
AM: Yeah we did. We met my senior year of college, we were both philosophy majors. We actually both transferred from separate schools, where we hadn’t finished studying music. And we both had the same personal revelation, but separately, that we wanted to study philosophy instead and changed to the same school and ended up in the same program and met then.
DC: Wow, sounds like fate.
AM: Yeah I — I mean, I don’t know if I believe in that, but it really seemed like fate.
DC: Yeah, that’s probably as close as you can get to it.
AM: Definitely. And we were definitely meant to meet, especially when you add to the fact that he registered for the class where he met me by mistake because he’s a little bit dyslexic and he misread the course schedule. And then he met me the first day of class. So it definitely feels like the universe was setting everything up for us to meet.
DC: That’s awesome. So, did you both get philosophy degrees then?
AM: Yeah we did. He actually double majored with English and philosophy. But by then I’d been in college for almost six years with like a billion superfluous credits because I changed my major so many times, so I just made it by with philosophy. My professors were starting to tease me by saying, “Don’t let graduation stand in the way of your education, stay forever!”
DC: Yeah sometimes it’s tempting because there’s a bubble school can create that’s fun to operate in.
AM: Yeah. Have you ever seen the movie “Kicking and Screaming”?
DC: I have not.
AM: Not the Will Ferrel movie, but oh my gosh, I’m blanking on the director right now…
DC: I’ve heard a lot about it.
AM: Noah Baumbach! It’s [such a] good movie, but there’s a character in there who’s like a career college student who’s been in college for like 15 years and has 6 bachelor’s degrees. I feel like that almost could have been me, haha.
DC: Growing up, did you ever imagine you’d be living off of making music?
AM: No, I mean I always loved music. And I always loved to make music, but I was never exceptionally good at it to be completely honest. But I don’t know, I really, really feel like I stumbled into this, so I feel fortunate to be able to lead a creative life as an adult, because I never would have seen this coming.
DC: It must feel pretty surreal at times, I bet.
AM: Yeah it does and I often feel out of my element. You meet so many fans who are so talented and so successful, and they’ve been doing it for so long, and they’ve devoted their whole lives to making music, and they have been in 20 bands before this one, and side projects, and they play every instrument … And I don’t. My story is so different from that, but it’s still just really rewarding to be a part of this world and culture.
DC: Let’s talk about the music briefly. I have to say your album, Young & Old, I’ve had it on repeat a lot since it came out. I remember when the “Origins” single came out I was playing it quite a lot. I love the way it sounds.
AM: Thank you.
DC: It’s got a great — I don’t know, I want to say it has a very throwback feel to it, but I think you guys definitely put your own spin on it and made it really original, and I think there’s a lot to say for that.
AM: Thank you, I appreciate that. We love vintage sensibility with music and visually with clothing and style and everything, but we never want to be so throwback that we’re just duplicating something that’s already been done, because we won’t be contributing to anything. We’ll just be making poor revisions of things that already exist. So we hope that it still sounds original.
DC: It does, yeah. What is the song writing process like for you guys? Is it usually pretty collaborative, or is it just “Hey I wrote a song, we’re doing it this way” or how is it?
AM: It really just depends from song to song. Some songs are so collaborative, we really write from beginning to end together, and then other songs — more rarely — one of us will write almost the entire thing independently from the other one and show it to them later. And we always end up finishing it together, because I don’t play guitar very well and he doesn’t sing or write any of the lyrics. It just depends, every band is different.
DC: Yeah. I remember you saying that..you know, there’s the whole story where you and Patrick were on the sailboat for 8 months and it inspired to write Cape Dory. And I know you said you were influenced by the Shirelles during that time and I can definitely hear that — the ’50s and ’60s girl group vibe on tracks like “Marathon” or “My Better Self.” I think the songs have a particularly warm, analog quality, you could say. Was that a conscious decision to have it sound like that, or did it just come about?
AM: Yeah that was definitely a conscious decision. That;s part of what we love most about 50s and 60s music is the piano, tone and quality, that warmth, that sincerity. We worked very very hard to create that when we record music –it’s definitely what we love most about it.
DC: Yeah. So I know that Patrick Carney of the Black Keys worked as the producer. How did you guys hook up with him. Had he expressed interest, or did you just give him a call and ask him to come on board, or how was that?
AM: Well we were fortunate enough to be introduced by mutual friends at Fat Possum through email and we just very innocently were like, “Hey, you want to produce our next album?” and we had no idea if he would even respond. He said that he was really interested in how our band might evolve and he wanted to be a part of that. It was really great because we wanted someone who was an audio engineer, had experience crafting songs, but also knew what it felt like to be a songrwriter and feel really possessive about what we’re doing. And I mean, I feel like every time you add another person into a creative process, things inevitably get a little more complex and sometimes more difficult to maneuver. Sometimes I think it’s so hard to just go write songs. But Patrick and I, even though we couldn’t have any of the songs we wrote without the other person, but sometimes it is so hard to write with somebody. So we felt like Patrick Carney was just a good fit insofar as being able to work with us, add some qualities that we felt like we were missing. We wanted more of a [458] edge and before that, we felt like we could only achieve that through a very lo-fi recording quality that would automatically make it grittier. But we didn’t want to keep making lo-fi sounding music, we just wanted it to be inherent in the songwriting, that edginess. And we felt like he could help with that, and he did.
DC: Yeah I was going to ask how much input Patrick Carney had on the creative process. Would you say the primary thing was adding kind of an ominous undercurrent, you could say, to the songs without making them lo-fi?
AM: Well all of the songs were essentially written when we went into the studio with him, so his biggest role was helping us use sound and he helped a lot with writing drum beats. And what he would really do is play the song and he would be like, “That’s all perfect except for the chord progression of the piano on the chorus of this.” But he wouldn’t write anything. He would be like “Why don’t you revisit that?” And then I would just go write something. And so, it would just be his vision of the song that would kind of move us in a direction, but he was really good about never writing anything technically, which I appreciated because I really didn’t want anyone else to have written our record other than Patrick and I.
DC: Was he as, I guess, shall we say, “blunt” with you guys as he is in interviews?
AM: Yeah, absolutely! That’s just completely who he is and it’s awesome. It was a little … I mean it wasn’t really off-putting because I feel comfortable around that type of personality But it was hard to have the mix of being a little starstruck around him when we first were meeting with the combination of his frankness — it was kind of weird at first. But I actually feel like it made it, in a weird way, easier to get to know him. He was really down to business, very black & white about things, and honestly I am too, so it worked really well.
DC: That’s awesome to hear. So what can we expect from you guys in the near future?
AM: You know, we are on the cusp of figuring that out. I know that we really want to write again. We’re very very anxious to write and I feel like we’re on the cusp of evolving in some way. I feel like some changes are in store for us as a band. We’re kind of weighing our options right now and we’re not really sure where we’ll end up. But we have another string of dates and we’ll be done touring for the year in October and that’s when we’re kind of going to buckle down and see what the future holds.
DC: So I know that after your first album, you had said that you were going to take a little hiatus, but that didn’t end up happening. You went straight into writing and recording Young & Old. Do you think you’ll take that hiatus now or go straight into a new album?
AM: We’ll go straight into writing and recording again. I didn’t understand this at first, but I’ve met a lot of other bands who say they can’t stop. You get this momentum. When you do a break for yourself, or a vacation, or whatever, you don’t even know what to do. And I feel like people nowadays don’t take that time — that hiatus — unless they need it because they’re having a mental breakdown or something. But we’re good and we’re focused and we just don’t want to lose this momentum. We want to see where it takes us.

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Anjelica Colliard/Staff

With the end of school comes vacation, and concerts are a summer must.
Whether it’s relaxing with friends or simply listening to quality music, concerts provide everyone with a unique and entertaining experience.
This summer, the Bay Area has a loaded lineup that has something for just about everyone. Hopefully if the weather is warm, it will be perfect to grab that picnic blanket and sunscreen and get prepared for a musically exceptional summer.

Outside Lands
Date: August 10-12
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Last year the Rolling Stones called the Outside Lands Music Festival “one of America’s best.” This is no surprise considering the number and variety of artists performing at the festival.
This year Outside Lands’ lineup caters to fans of every music genre. For dubstep fans, Skrillex will be making his first appearance in the Bay Area.
In addition to featuring more contemporary acts such as Jack White and the Foo Fighters, the festival will also host classic artists such as Metallica, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.
The festival will also spotlight some rapidly-rising bands such as Fun and Of Monsters and Men.

Rock the Bells
Date: August 25-26
Location: Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View
Rock the Bells, one of the most anticipated hip-hop concerts of the year, will for the first time be a two-day event lead by artists Kid Cudi, Nas and J. Cole. With DMX headlining the festival this year, Rock the Bells has added Eve, Jadakiss, Future and Pusha T to its lineup. Also debuting will be the self-taught, Pennsylvania-based rap artist Mac Miller.Foster the People
Date: June 29
Location: Greek Theater, Berkeley

Primarily known for their popular hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” the Los Angeles based trio Foster the People is one of the most well-known bands of the indie pop movement. Their 2011 album, “Torches,”received two Grammy nominations for “Best Alternative Album” and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.”

In addition to the viral success of “Pumped up Kicks,” other popular songs include “Helena Beat” and “Call It What You Want.” Mayer Hawthorne and the County will open the concert.

Sublime with Rome
Date: July 22
Location: Greek Theater, Berkeley
A collaboration between drummer Eric Wilson and bassist Bud Gaugh produced Sublime with Rome, a band known for its reggae-influenced music.
Singer Rome Ramirez adds a laid-back, Jamaican feel to the groove of the band’s hit “Yours Truly.” Their popular songs include “Take it or Leave It,” “Lover’s Rock” and “Same Old Situation,” which highlight the breezy, reggae style of the band.
Other groups that will be performing at the concert are the South Gate hip-hop group Cypress Hill, the two-man San Diego-based band Pepper and HB Surround Sound.

Avicii
Date: June 28
Location: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco
Avicii, otherwise known as Tim Bergling, is a Swedish DJ, record producer and remixer. His hit single “Levels” swept the electronic and house genre into full gear.
“Levels,” although self-written, takes inspiration from “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.”
With his remixes, Avicii adds a new flair to classic songs. Some examples include his remixes of “All You Need is Love” and “Avicii vs. Madonna — Girl Gone Wild.”

Keane
Date: June 30
Location: Fox Theater, Oakland
Keane, an English alternative rock band, is unique in its use of the piano as its primary instrument.  In doing so, Keane has transitioned from a largely piano rock sound to an electronic sound.
“Strangeland,” an album that the band released in May of this year, has lyrics which focus on the different choices and paths people take in life. This is its fifth consecutive number one album on the UK Album Charts.
The concert’s lineup will include the English band Mystery Jets as well as the indie rock California-based band Kiev.

Dirty Projectors
Date: July 27
Location: Fox Theater, Oakland
The Dirty Projectors are a classic American rock band. “Swing Lo Magellan,” its album set to release on July 10, is based off of their single “Gun Has No Trigger.”
This album has a more haunting vibe, as composer David Longstreth wanted to mirror his feelings of the harsh winter when isolated in places such as the Delaware County and New York. Wye Oak, a Baltimore folk rock duo, will open.

The post Sounds of Summer appeared first on The Daily Californian.

20th Century Fox/Courtesy

Let’s be honest. Last summer was a sore disappointment. Out of the many blockbusters to be released — “Thor,”  “X-Men: First Class” and the laughably awful “Green Lantern” — no film stood out as the centerpiece of the summer season (except maybe “Harry Potter”). There was no “Inception” or “Dark Knight.” And, to make matters worse, Big Boi didn’t even play during his slot at Outside Lands. But this summer, things are going to be different, bigger and better than before.

Big Boi’s making a return to Outside Lands, Christopher Nolan is back with the final installment of his acclaimed Batman series. This week, our arts writers bring you the best of summer.

Upcoming Films

Prometheus (Release Date: June 8, 2012)

Doomed to an eternity of punishment by Zeus, Prometheus was known to the ancient Greeks as the Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to mortals, forever enshrined as the martyr of mankind. In Ridley Scott’s upcoming blockbuster “Prometheus,” a crew of space explorers aboard the spacecraft Prometheus follow a celestial map left behind by ancient civilizations in hopes of finding the origins of humanity.
If the trailer is any indication of the film’s trajectory, we are sure to witness cutting-edge special effects and a talented ensemble cast. “Prometheus” works as a loose prequel to the 1979 classic “Alien,” also directed by Ridley Scott. Obviously versed in the field of special effects, Scott aims to bring the extraterrestrial movie into the 21st century in a post-“Avatar” landscape. Whether you’re a fan of the original, or an average moviegoer, “Prometheus” is sure to provide some out of this world entertainment.

— Carlos Monterrey

Safety Not Guaranteed (Release Date: June 8, 2012)

It’s not every day that a classified ad seeks out a time travel partner. When three Seattle magazine writers need to pitch a story, they set out to investigate the unusual wanted ad. “Safety Not Guaranteed” stars Aubrey Plaza from NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” It is her first leading role in a time travel movie that is very decidedly not about time travel at all.

Instead, Darius Britt (Plaza) is put up to the challenge of being the time travel partner for Kenneth (Mark Duplass), the oddball who has apparently “done this once before.” Expect Plaza’s trademark deadpan delivery and cutting wit as well as all that quirky movie charm and charisma that’s so damn hot these days.

The film has already been touted as an “indie darling” at Sundance — itself the indie darling of film festivals — and promises to be the independent summer comedy to warm the cockles of the hearts of the young, hip and sardonically-satiated.

— Natalie Reyes

To Rome with Love (Release Date: June 22, 2012)

It’s impossible to justify a Woody Allen obsession. He’s had some strokes of genius (“Annie Hall”  “Crimes and Misdemeanours”) and, more recently, some pretty big misses (2004’s “Melinda and Melinda”). There’s something about Woody that keeps his fans coming back year after year. We are annually treated to a few pithy one liners, self-deprecating New York intellectuals, painful neurotics and more recently, an exotic European locale to explore.

Beginning with 2005’s “Match Point” and culminating in last year’s lauded “Midnight in Paris,” Allen’s annual cinematic offerings to his die-hard fans have been enjoying something of a critical renaissance recently. This year, we are especially lucky as the neurotic “Woody Allen Character” will once more be played by Allen himself. The screenplay – written by Allen of course – is based on stories from Boccaccio’s “The Decameron.” “To Rome With Love” is likely to be the most hilarious and literary popcorn flick offered this summer.

— Thomas Coughlan

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Release Date: June 22, 2012)

When news that a 70-mile wide asteroid is set to strike Earth in three week’s time, Dodge, an insurance salesman, is left in numb shock after his wife leaves him. Penny, his next door English neighbor with a devil-may-care attitude and a few relationship hang-ups of her own, sets out to fix his romantic life.

Although featuring space bodies colliding with our planet, “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” is no “Melancholia” or even the 1998 thriller “Armaggedon.” Instead, this film is the type of feel-good dramedy where people faced with the finite ticking of life’s clock embark on journeys of self-discovery. Steve Carrell plays Dodge with the same comedic, downtrodden air of Frank Ginsberg from “Little Miss Sunshine” and Keira Knightly steps out from her typecast role of period actress to portray a manic pixie dream girl — beguiling her way into our hearts as an asteroid sets to end her world.

— Natalie Reyes

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Release Date: June 22, 2012)

History is boring. Vampires are entertaining. These are two facts that we are all aware of, but rarely consider to be related. This summer, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” will change that. Adapted from the 2010 New York Times Bestseller of the same title by Seth Grahame-Smith, the film rewrites history, turning everyone’s favorite American historical figure into a vampire-killing-machine. With a plot that reveals the “real” truth behind Lincoln’s abolitionist beliefs — vampires can easily buy and eat slaves, and thus no more slaves equals no more vampires — the film has moderate potential to be a compelling re-examination of our country’s past. Most likely, however, the Timur Bekmambetov directed and Tim Burton-produced flick will be more about sweet axe-twirling tricks and silhouette shots of star Benjamin Walker with a Lincoln beard. But hey, it’s summer. Hyper-patriotic bad-assery is all that you could ever hope for.

— Sarah Burke

The Amazing Spider-Man (Release Date: July 3, 2012)

Five years after the original Spider-Man film series called it a wrap, Columbia Pictures has opted to reboot the franchise with an entirely new cast and director. Gone is director Sam Raimi. Instead, newcomer Marc Webb (“(500) Days of Summer”) controls the helm while Andrew Garfield (“Social Network”) takes on the title role that at one time seemed perfectly suited for a young Tobey Maguire. And don’t expect Mary Jane Watson to rear her red head in this picture. Actress Emma Stone will try to prove that timeless adage “blondes have more fun” as she plays Spidey’s high school sweetheart, Gwen Stacy.

“The Amazing Spider-Man” avoids taking on any stories already covered in Sam Raimi’s films, as Spider-Man’s origin is completely sidestepped. The film instead focuses on the little known history of Peter Parker’s parents and the secret behind their disappearance, creating the possibility of exploring more of Peter’s past in a new summer franchise.

— Jawad Qadir

The Dark Knight Rises (Release Date: July 20, 2012)

While Hollywood has overdosed audiences with superhero movies for the past 10 years, Christopher Nolan’s Batman series, particularly “The Dark Knight” (2008), has felt surprisingly fresh and inventive. The movie’s dense plotting, grand scale, and ensuing terror feels quite atypical of a superhero movie. Nolan’s ability to transcend the genre by turning a simple good-versus-evil tale into a more universal metaphor of human morale led audiences to hail it as the best superhero movie yet.  It’s understandable then that Nolan’s third and final installment in the trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises,” has earned unreasonable amounts of hype.

But can Anne Hathaway reinvent Catwoman so it doesn’t feel like a repeat of Michelle Pfeiffer’s unbeatable performance? Can Nolan expand on the epic scale that made “The Dark Knight” so … well, epic? Does Tom Hardy have Ledger’s ingenuity and courage to create yet another iconic villain? Can it beat “The Avengers,” a movie breaking box-office records as we speak? Although instinct tells me otherwise, I pray that Nolan has enough flair to outdo himself once again.

— Braulio Ramirez

Upcoming Festivals

San Francisco Carnaval (May 26-27, 2012)

You haven’t fully experienced San Francisco until you’ve experienced San Francisco Carnaval. As California’s largest multicultural celebration, the two-day festival includes a parade with more color and pride than Mission Street can hold. Floats adorned with huge, shimmering decorations, flags and lively dancers in outfits that range from bedazzled bras and feather headdresses to traditional saris take over the street and fill the air with cultural songs from around the world. As for the rest of the festival, food tents offer an almost overwhelming array of ethnic cuisine, and long rows of booths display goods that range from handmade jewelry, to textile handbags to kilts. With the theme “Spanning Borders; Bridging Cultures,” the weekend-long event brings unique cultural communities together to celebrate diversity. Produced by the nonprofit San Francisco Cultural Arts Tradition, the free festivities will take place on Memorial Day weekend throughout San Francisco’s Mission District.

— Sarah Burke

Live 105′s BFD (June 2, 2012)

Summer means outdoor fun, and what’s more fun and outdoorsy than a summer music festival? If the sunburned-to-a-crisp attendees of Coachella this last April are to be believed, absolutely nothing.

Believe this: While the Bay Area might not be a hotbed for, well, actual heat, it is and has historically been fertile ground for some of the best concerts around. Case in point? Live 105’s BFD, held annually at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.
June 2 will be the alternative rock station’s 18th Big Fucking Day. You can bet your basslines it’s going to rock hard. With headliners like Jane’s Addiction, Silversun Pickups, genre-defying Garbage, NorCal natives Cake and Australian synthpop group The Naked and Famous, BFD will feature 40 bands on two stages. For all the headliner hype  however, don’t miss the Bay Area players. Check out local bands the Stone Foxes, the Dirty Ghosts, Trophy Fire and Young Science.

— Natalie Reyes

Fillmore Jazz Festival (July 7-8, 2012)

San Francisco’s precipitous streets are steeped in cultural history, its storefronts witnesses to the passage of time and its artistic players. But the city doesn’t stop at observing history -— it regularly pays homage and adds its own flavor.
The Fillmore Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival on the West Coast does just that, gathering jazz musicians of all types, from classic American jazz to Venezuelan-inspired sounds to Nigerian beats. From July 7 to July 8, the festival will feature music from Fillmore’s past — in the ‘40s, Fillmore Street jazz clubs hosted the likes of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday — along with gourmet fare and art.

Get jazzed about jazz, seek that sexy saxophone and dance right into the fun. Basic swing lessons accompany the festival, and the “Any Swing Goes” Dance Contest NorCal Championships wrap-up the festivities. Foxtrot your way to the Fillmore this July weekend and celebrate the free spirit of jazz.

— Natalie Reyes

Silent Film Festival (July 12-15, 2012)

Instead of celebrating the masterpieces of narrative cinema, summer usually becomes a time of 3D superheroes, flashy special effects and cliche rom-coms. Fortunately, the Silent Film Festival organization annually brings the past back to light with the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Although often overshadowed by the Bay Area’s various summer music events, the Silent Film Festivals provides one of the few chances to see classics such  as William Wellman’s 1927 film “Wings” or Lubitsch’s “The Loves of the Pharaoh” remastered with live musical accompaniment. All films will be shown over the course of four days from July 12 to the 15 at the beautiful Castro Theater further adding to the history of film theme.

— Jawad Qadir

Outside Lands (August 10-12, 2012)

The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival will once again grace San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on August 10-12. As one of California’s premier festivals, this year’s lineup will include acts such as Stevie Wonder, Skrillex, Justice, Jack White and Big Boi. The success of past years has made the event a likely destination for top artists encompassing a wide range of genres.
Though most flock to the festival for the music, the venue also offers an array of other attractions that might be of interest to the artistically inclined.

The fair takes pride in providing a stimulating atmosphere for those who enjoy wine, music and art. A separate lineup is presented at the wine lands section of the festival. Along with a sports lounge, arcade, bar and various food and art vendors, the festival presents a unique alternative to the average weekend.

— Carlos Monterrey

The post Summer Preview 2012 appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Outside Lands/Courtesy

The lineup for this year’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival will be announced tomorrow. The festival’s mascot Ranger Dave has been posting titleless album covers on Instagram, hinting at some of the artists that will be playing.  Justice, Passion Pit and Bloc Party are just some of the speculated artists. Who are you hoping to play this year?

Elroy Will/Courtesy

Danny Brown will be playing a free show on Lower Sproul this Friday. If you missed the acclaimed rapper opening for Childish Gambino at the Fox Theater the day before, come check out the artist for this special 4/20 — I mean Friday — concert event.

Local Limelight Retro Edition:

The Lovemakers/Courtesy

This week we look at a Bay Area band from a few years ago. The Lovemakers are an electropop group from Oakland that  unfortunately broke up a few years back. However, their music still kicks ass, as the sex-driven melodies and ’80s-esque gloss from their four records will get you dancing — and maybe even a bit more — all night long. Check out their single, “Prepare for the Fight.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdS7g0755_4&w=420&h=315]

The post This Week in Sound: 4/20 Concerts and Outside Lands announcements appeared first on The Daily Californian.