Now Hear This » Hemlock Tavern http://www.nowhearthismusic.com "There are two kinds of music, good and bad. I like both." - Duke Ellington Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:52:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Win a pair of tickets to Totimoshi @ the Hemlock Tavern http://www.nowhearthismusic.com/2008/06/13/win-a-pair-of-tickets-to-totimoshi-the-hemlock-tavern/ http://www.nowhearthismusic.com/2008/06/13/win-a-pair-of-tickets-to-totimoshi-the-hemlock-tavern/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:39:00 +0000 Michael http://nowhearthismusic.com/?p=41 File this under “I’ve been living under a rock”. How has this incredible Oaktown band managed to fly under my radar for more than ten years!? Their fifth album, Milagrosa, continues their patent blend of stoner rock, punk, and metal with a nod toward their Latin heritage.

Sound The Horn

The blistering opening track from Milagrosa is a perfect example of how effortlessly the band shifts from blazing, tight riffage to moody late 70′s drama metal and back without missing a beat.

Singer/guitarist Tony Aguilar explains the thinking behind the band’s first conceptual record: “I wrote most of the songs as an imaginary fight between love/compassion and hate/violence. I wanted to relay the stories as one choice versus the other both in the lyrics and melody, like on the song ‘Milagroso,’ where I say ‘the fields of hate that turn our fate the putrid stench the violence at hand/decisions towards compassion to be made by each and every hand’”. Sounds like something I’ve been looking for lately… They also appear to have finally put an end to the Spinal Tap parade of drummers.

The new record, produced by Page Hamilton of Helmet, comes out July 8.

CONTEST:
Titomoshi is playing at the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco on the 21st with fellow locals Grayceon & Hurry Up Shotgun. I have a pair of tickets for the first person to email me at mlubenow@gmail.com with the English translation of their new record’s title.

Tour dates:
8 July: San Francisco- *Record release @ 12 Galaxies w/ Big Business & Triclops
25 July: San Francisco- Benders w/ Hail Satan
5 August: Tempe, AZ – the Sets w/ Nebula
6 August: Albuquerque,NM – Ralli’s 4th St. Pub w/ Nebula
8 August: Austin, TX – Red 7 w/ Nebula
9 August: Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre w/ Nebula
10 August: Houston, TX – Rudyards Beer Bar w/ Nebula
12 August: New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks w/ Nebula
13 August: Birmingham, AL – the Nick w/ Nebula
14 August: Jacksonville, FL – Landshark Cafe w/ Nebula
15 August: Orlando, FL – Backbooth w/ Nebula
18 August: Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar w/ Nebula
19 August: Wilmington, NC – Soapbox w/ Nebula
20 August: Virginia Beach, VA – Jewish Mother w/ Nebula
21 August: Washington DC – Black Cat w/ Nebula
22 August: Philadelphia, PA – the Khyber w/ Nebula
23 August: Baltimore, MD – Otto Bar w/ Nebula
24 August: Boston, MA – Church of Boston w/ Nebula
25 August: NYC, NY – Knitting Factory w/ Nebula
27 August: Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop w/ Nebula
28 August: Lansing, MI – Mac’s w/ Nebula
29 August: Columbus, OH – Ravari Room w/ Nebula
30 August: Chicago, IL – Reggie’s w/ Nebula
1 September: Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon w/ Nebula
6 September: Portland, OR – Ash St. Saloon w/ Nebula
10 September: Hollywood, CA – Viper Room w/ Nebula
11 September: Long Beach, CA – Alex’s Bar w/ Nebula

]]> http://www.nowhearthismusic.com/2008/06/13/win-a-pair-of-tickets-to-totimoshi-the-hemlock-tavern/feed/ 1 Birds Of Avalon at the Hemlock Tavern http://www.nowhearthismusic.com/2008/04/04/birds-of-avalon-at-the-hemlock-tavern/ http://www.nowhearthismusic.com/2008/04/04/birds-of-avalon-at-the-hemlock-tavern/#comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:21:00 +0000 Michael http://nowhearthismusic.com/?p=28 I’m definitely getting too old for the midweek show. In my twenties I could have pulled off rocking out on a Wednesday night and head in to work Thursday morning without blinking an eye. Right about now I wish both eyes were closed in blissful slumber. But I’m not complaining ’cause the set Raleigh, NC based Birds of Avalon put on at the Hemlock Tavern over in SF last night was worth every ounce of pain I’m feelin’ now. Since they played the Hemlock Monday night too and what with Jay Reatard and the Black Keys rocking different clubs not too far away me and just a couple dozen other folks had Birds, Olympia, WA’s Nudity and local rockers Dzjenghis Khan all to ourselves. Luckily twenty bodies feels like a crowd at the Hemlock and Birds of Avalon killed it like people were hanging from the rafters.

After getting the kids to bed I ended up missing all but the last two songs of Dzjenghis Khan’s set. Their super fuzzed 60′s garaged up punk Cream meets Motorhead wall o’ sound had me regretting I didn’t see more.

The Widow – Dzjenghis Khan (from their 2006 demo)

Nudity’s set was dominated by their epic track ‘The Nightfeeders’. Clocking in at over twenty minutes of Can meets Hawkwind psych rock it lost my attention somewhere in the middle but got me back to a decent head-bob by the end. An edited (and enjoyably concise IMHO) version is streaming at their myspace page.

Night Concentricks – Nudity (a Nightfeeders remix snippet from their current 12″)

I can’t think of a better husband and wife guitar slingin’ punch in the gut than Birds Of Avalon’s Cheetie Kumar and Paul Siler. The former The Cherry Valence members are flat out kill good. Their set last night made it even harder to wait the three weeks are so between now and the show they’re opening for The Raconteurs at Bimbo’s on the 23rd. Check out their website for one of the most hectic tour schedules I’ve ever seen (Visalia?!) and streams of their new album Outer, Upper, Inner (see geeky superfan photo on the right).

Horse Called Dust – Birds Of Avalon (from their debut Bazaar Bazaar)

You have one last chance to check them out before the Raconteurs show (if you were even able to get tickets) tonight over in Oakland at Eli’s Mile High Club, again with Nudity.

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