Sierra Combs
Contributing Writer
CAB, USF’s campus activity board, kicked off its spring concert “Donaroo” with a bang. Each spring, popular up-and-coming artists grace USF with their talent, music, and entertainment for only ten dollars. And with headliners A-Trak and G-Eazy performing, Donaroo 2015 was no different. Continue reading G-Eazy and A-Trak take USF by Storm
Mia Orantia
Staff Writer
Coming all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, 27 year old Ronde Osburne made his way to San Francisco for one weekend just to see his favorite hip-hop group OutKast at the annual Treasure Island Music Festival. As he took the shuttle across the Bay Bridge, he was mesmerized by the city and festival location. “I was taking pictures of everything,” said Osburne. “I didn’t know I was going to be on an island. I was like, ‘This is cool as s***.’” Continue reading The Treasure Chest of Music, Art, and Culture Unlocked at Treasure Island Music Festival
Dillon Rawlings
Staff Writer
Along Clement Street between 5th and 6th avenue, The Neck of the Woods is an atmospheric bar and concert venue with a killer happy hour and intimate vibe.
This past Wednesday the space featured the indie-alternative rock group Colony House of Nashville, Tennessee. The three-man band performed a high-energy set of songs off their newest album, “When I was Younger.” Released only 6 weeks ago by Descendant Records, the album is a sweeping mix of emotionally charged, highly personal lyrics set to tight harmonies and fresh-rain electric guitar riffs. Exposed within lead man Caleb Chapman’s smooth vocals and the group’s vigorous stage performance is the band’s regard for alternative influences such as Coldplay and Brandon Flowers. Continue reading Bringing Down The Colony House
Best Coast put on a special free concert last week at Amoeba’s record store on Haight Street. With minimal advertising of the event, those that came into the store were surprised to also be attending a small concert. Not long after the performance started, people began flooding into the shop.
The duo Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno took no time to introduce themselves. They immediately started off their performance with heavy guitars strumming to the crowd’s delight, seguing into material from their new album, “Fade Away.” Cosentino’s beautiful voice permeated the store throughout the show.
Maintaining the trends of its past work, Best Coast’s new songs are full of smooth guitar riffs and female vocals. Finally speaking to the crowd, the group introduced its title track song, “Fade Away.” The song is full of melancholic undertones, with slow-paced drumming and vocals. The band seemed to toy with the audience’s emotions, intertwining past songs that are usually fast-paced with heart-wrenching new material. Nearing the close of the show, Cosentino introduced “I Don’t Know How,” a charming song from “Fade Away.” For the first minute or so, it seemed as though everyone was swaying sadly in unison, humming along to themselves.
The band’s entire performance lasted only thirty minutes, consisting of both old and new material. Best Coast closed the show by proclaiming its love of California and San Francisco. Cosentino and Bruno met with fans who lined up to get a copy of “Fade Away” and autographed merchandise. You can see them again live with the Pixies in February at the Fox Theater in Oakland.
Throwback Thursday! This 80’s band is going strong in 2013 promoting their thirteenth album.
I first came across Depeche Mode during one of my many late Friday night rides home from work during sophomore year of high school. Mindlessly driving through the backroads of my town, “Enjoy the Silence” began to play on the radio, and Dave Gahan’s smooth melodic voice enveloped my rusty pickup. The soft bass and trance-inducing melody cocooned me in a way. Since then, Depeche Mode has been my go-to band whenever I want to feel overly self-indulgent.
Naturally, when I found out that Depeche Mode would be touring in the Bay Area, I made it my goal to kick off my college concert-going years with their show at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. At first I was skeptical about the show since I had some intense qualms with their latest album, “Delta Machine.”
After listening to it for the first time, I reasoned that Depeche Mode would simply never create another song that would reach the same level as “Personal Jesus” or “Just Can’t Get Enough,” and that was that. In addition, the album’s songs—with the exception of “Soothe my Soul”— are far too slow; and while their previous slow songs have usually made me want to sway in content, there are serious undertones of melancholy in the new material. When I listened to them, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was being engulfed by an ominous shadow I wasn’t ready to face.
Despite that, I went to their concert cognizant of my irrevocable love for them and with an open mind. Fortunately, I was quick to learn that Depeche Mode on CD and Depeche Mode live may as well be two different groups all together. There was an indescribable energy about them, and—while I would say that much of the audience’s enthusiasm at the concert was in part due the spectacular lights and visuals of the stage—much of it was due to Dave Gahan’s performance as front man.
Gahan commanded the audience’s attention without a word. He walked on stage adorned in black eye makeup dressed in a simple gold and black vest, and seemed to effortlessly encompass sex, Goth, punk, and glamour all in one. As he belted out “Welcome to my World,” a love affair with the audience began. He succeeds in what most front men cannot, and that is to make a connection with everyone. Despite how near or far you were to the stage, Gahan pulled you in, whether it be through intense eye contact or through his signature twirls and the shaking of his hips.
Throughout the show, my previous hesitations regarding Delta Machine ceased. While I had viewed Depeche Mode’s slow and sad songs as their tool to personally torment me and tempt me into a state of self-indulgence, I felt far more connected. I wasn’t being sung at; I was being sung to.
In short, Depeche Mode has still got it. I believe them to be a “cult classic” of the music world, pulling in everybody to indulge and dance and sway with them.
