Photo Recap: White Sands, New Mexico

I'm finally back and somewhat plugged in again, but being thrown back into the fray means I'll have to recap our crazy adventure in segments- first installment being our stop at White Sands, New Mexico. It was amazingly quiet and the sand felt like silk, and we got to 'rent' a sled and slide down the big dunes for a couple of hours- a most excellent break from sitting in a car for hours on end! Check out the whole flickr set here, stay posted for more.

HCFM: Washed Out

Washed Out hit my radar back in '09 (it seems so long ago!) when my homegirl, Nicole of the Bay Bridged, mentioned their SF NYE'10 gig. Since then, "Feel it All Around", the single on the new album, Life of Leisure, has been on heavy rotation in my head. The lo-fi synthed out post-80's LA (note: the band is from Georgia, but don't they sound like they should live in LA? all the sunshine there...) jams are perfect for that post house party, semi-stoned haze when your good friends are still hangin' out talkin' about literature or sexuality or something equally weird or serious.

And how faithful is this video to that indie tropicalia? So good! Vacation in Miami time!

Washed Out will be playing at the Rickshaw Stop on Sunday with Small Black, Pictureplane and Young Prisms. Show at 7, 21+, $10.

FEEL IT ALL AROUND from Northern Lights on Vimeo.

Hump Day Inspiration: Expats!

Our buddy Alexander Chen used to be a true local. So local, he was in one of our favorite local bands (Boy in Static). He was a local guy doin' local stuff in a localocation (yeah, I just made that word up). But alas, he's moved around the world to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Lots of expats make a break for it to explore artistic opportunities - Edith Wharton, Henry James, etc - and Alexander is no exception. He's currently working with Consulate General, an ambient pop act which features appearances from members of Sole & the Skyrider Band and Slowdive, among others. I, for one, hope that their band name is at least in part inspired by their expat status!

Give Consulate General a listen below and keep a look out for the Person Number album, out 4/6/2010!


What Time Is It Now by alexanderchen

HCFM: OONA!

Maris and I first experienced OONA when she (they?) opened for Birds & Batteries at one of our favorite venues! While we initially were most impressed with the 3.5" stilettos in which Oona navigated the stage, something about their true-to-life lyrics, Oona's rich vocals and the simple soulful rock that backs them both just stuck with me. I found myself tapping out the beat to "Tore My Heart" the next day.

Check out OONA with Joe Bagale and the Thrill of it All at the Indie tonight. Show at 9, 21+, $14 at the door.

Monday Morning Leftovers

A nasty cold had me pinned to the couch all weekend. Thankfully, Law & Order: SVU season 8 was around to keep me company. Superb writing! Action! Intrigue! That catchy theme song! Ice-T! I can't tell you how much I love this show. Catch the show at 9/8c on NBC or become a fan on Facebook.

Something to look forward to: SXSF! For those of us not headed to Austin this week, a small get together featuring cold beverages and ice cream.

Another golden find from the couch this weekend: Emerging Thoughts. DIY clothing and decoration tutorials and shopping, all in one website! And they carry one of our favorite jewelers, Cara Lyndon!

Check out Maris' dispatches from Austin on the brand new Bay Area Bourgeois Twitter!

Twitter!

Just a quick post to alert all readers to our new Twitter account! It's pretty rough hewn right now but Maris is posting updates from her road trip to SXSW! Check it out!

Bay Area Bourgeois on Twitter!

HCFM: YSP!WSD!

Here at BAB, we heart acronyms! If you do too, catch some catchy keyboard rock at Bottom of the Hill Tonight! You Say Party, We Say Die will be headlining BotH and will be joined by Fake Your Own Death (FYOD) and Nylon Heart Attack (NHA).

Also, how rad is this video?! Monsters in Prague!

Show at 10, 21+, $10.

Hump Day Inspiration: Texas

Holy smokes I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow! I wasn't sure if it was gonna happen but it's official- we're taking a road trip to Austin, Texas for that giant music festival known as South by Southwest. Many bands will be discovered, as well as many new sights seen... I've never driven halfway across the country before and I'm stoked to possibly witness natural wonders like White Sands, New Mexico.

I plan on getting acquainted with our new twitter thing so I can keep y'all posted from the roads and honky tonks along the way. If I'm a little MIA for the next two weeks it's probably because I'm busy trying to get a tan at the likes of Barton Hot Springs...

The Weekend Lingers...

via marispacifica

Stoked on free CDs! Car rides are much nicer now with the sounds and beautiful covers of James + Evander's This Isn't the Beginning of Anything and Mist and Mast's Action At a Distance. PS- Fleet Foxes Remix? Yes!

Highlights from last Friday's Art Murmur definitely include the sculptural works of Mari Andrews and Sheila Ghidini's works on paper (and beeswax!) at 23rd Street's Chandra Cerrito Contemporary.

I shot a baby. Ha, sorry- Lauren and her beautiful little Kiera were the perfect mates for a sunny afternoon at the park and it was wonderful to have the chance to capture them together.

Meghan made us a twitter, oh whaaa...

Now that I watched the Oscars, there's some definite catching up to do- namely, Crazy Heart and A Serious Man. Where have I been?!

HCFM: Little Boots

Little Boots definitely took the electronica scene by storm last summer, as evidenced by the endless multitude of remixes of her work (which is apparently the gauge for a successful artist now? anyways).

Breathy vocals akin to Alison of Goldfrapp, and a Madonna-style sexy scandal have Little Boots poised to become the next Lady Gaga (like the world needs another!). Check out Little Boots at the Fillmore and catch the rad openers, Dragonette and Class Actress. Or if you're cheap like me, see her at Amoeba Records that same day!

Fillmore show Tuesday at 8 pm, $20, all ages.
Amoeba show Tuesday at 6 pm, FREE, all ages.

Topiary in the 1930s

view more at WMUD's photostream

I'm doing some research on the Art Deco period for a current project and came across this amazing set on flickr. The images are from The Book Of Topiary by Charles H Curtis. Wow.

Tuesday Choose Day

Pics from Saturday night's show at the Mezzanine- !!!, Maus Haus, Sugar & Gold, and My First Earthquake all had their best game faces on and all put on amazing shows.

Meghan's pics and write-up for the Wallpaper and Limousines show last Friday over at The Bay Bridged!

Ever wonder how much you should be getting paid? This site is pretty handy.

Tonight marks another installment of Comedy Night at the Layover in Oakland. If you like Russian Roulette but can't handle the committment, this one's for you. Each week features a different line-up, last week's lucky highlights include the antics of Sammy Franco and the wit of BAB-loved Emily Heller.

Susanna's postcard project has really gotten me thinking about how to shed some extra baggage.

Lucy, the heartbreaking star of an amazing story recently told on This American Life.

aaaand....
Shoes