Civil Twilight rocks The Independent

Civil Twilight’s self-titled album demonstrates an enveloping gift for melody, balancing soft yet powerful vocal delivery backed by understated instrumental juxtaposition. And let’s face it: Lead singer Steven McKellar is easy on the eyes. Their performance at The Independent Monday combined these elements for an incredible night.

I’ve been to The Independent too many times to count, but have never seen tables and chairs set up on the main floor. That combined with ultra dim lighting made for quite an intimate setting for Civil Twilight to do what it is they do best: put on an breathtaking performance.

Voxhaul Broadcast and The Daylights, both hailing from Los Angeles, opened for Civil Twilight.

The drummer of The Daylights overshadowed every component of the entire night: Svend Lerche was not only in a constant trance of rhythmic brilliance, he remained impeccably in tune with the disheveled approach of the rest of the band. Close to the end of their set, The Daylights took the audience by the hand and led them on the emotional journey through “Quick Fix” that resonated despair and heartbreak from beginning to end.

Drummer of Civil Twilight Richard Wouters graced The Daylights with a guest appearance on the second to last song of their set, providing structured texture to incorporate a dual drum arrangement.

There was a grungy, mysterious young guy posted by the bar who looked identical to lead singer of The Strokes Julian Casablancas, which turned several heads throughout the night. He was even approached several times, revealing disinterest so as to not stray from the rock n’ roll vibe even for a split second.

It was evident from the beginning that the guys from Voxhaul Broadcast, The Daylights and Civil Twilight were incredibly amicable, not only individually but amongst each other as well.

By the time Civil Twilight hit the stage, everyone got up from their seats and inched toward the stage. They members captured the essence of what a live performance should deliver, flawless, organic composition that somehow converged from its three seemingly detached members. Their interaction on stage was very limited, stifling the aesthetic fluidity of the overall performance. If there was a specific genre for their music, it would have to be “Arena Epic.”

McKellar is pretty popular with the ladies. They engulfed the front of the stage much like a hundred pigeons would attack a baguette.

The second song from the set was most definitely the highlight. They performed the hit song “Is Anybody Out There?” There was a series of unique graphics projected on the amps and the back screen, continually changing as the songs progressed.

Andrew McKellar’s use of a bowed guitar vowed the unsuspecting crowd; many of them exclaimed that they had never seen one before.

The Civil Twilight set was nearly two hours long, holding the mesmerized audience captive throughout its entirety.

 

 

 

Cafe Abir: bring on the Tsunami

Serious coffee drinkers are serious about their coffee, in constant search of the perfect brew made from only the best beans. Café Abir does not cater to that lifestyle in the least bit.

Serving as the gateway to Tsunami Sushi Bar restaurant and Corkage Sake and Wine Shop, Café Abir is not just another coffeehouse. The owner’s brother roasts the coffee himself in a small micro roasting machine, making sure its lifetime never exceeds 48 hours. A complimentary beer accompanies every meal any time of the day.

The location is extremely spacious with tall booths, a wrap-around couch, several tables, floor-to-ceiling windows on each side, and outside seating, offering a convenient space for meetings, studying, and working.

The employees are down to earth, welcoming regular customers and newcomers with the same friendly energy. There’s a bulletin board on the right side of the entrance displaying upcoming events in the neighborhood. There is also free WiFi, but they only accept cash for purchases, never credit cards.

“I come here to do my homework or just hang out with friends. Everyone who works here is super nice and the vibe of the place is mellow,” said Jessica Steinberg, a student at the University of San Francisco.

The menu includes an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and pastries, and a long list of coffees, teas, and sodas. Cork Bar and Tsunami are connected to Café Abir, creating a powerhouse triangle of food and drinks.

“We’re connected to Tsunami. The sushi chefs there work wonders and the sake on tap is awesome,” said Nino Boles-King, an employee of Café Abir who has worked there for one year.

The café presents an ideal atmosphere for when reservations at Tsunami are backed up and there’s a waiting list. The most sought-after seats are the ones at the sushi bar itself, run by the very lively Jojo Ono. The dim lights and house music bumped at a moderate volume make Tsunami a hip restaurant, welcoming customers until midnight weekdays and 1 a.m. weekends.

Boles-King and Ono agree that the conjoining aspect of the three businesses draws customers in and keeps them coming back.
“When guests have to wait, they can drink sake and wine. They can also do sake tasting,” said Ono.

Ono swears by the sashimi, declaring it to be his top recommendation on the menu for the taste and aesthetic appeal alike.
“It is a great value. The chef makes each sashimi like an art piece. And it’s very tasty,” said Ono.

To stream or not to stream, that is the question

Instant gratification has slowly replaced the need for human interaction, and Netflix is sheer proof of that. The video service provider not only offers access to a collection of 100,000 titles for a flat rate, it even streams selected films and shows online, available at the click of a laptop touchpad mouse.

“I use Netflix religiously. Its accessibility has changed our movie watching experience,” said Nopa resident Liz Tran.

Netflix single-handedly drove Blockbuster and countless independent video retailers out of business. Customers complained that late-fees enforced by video stores were unreasonable, and with Netflix that worry is a thing of the past. Multiple people can access a single account online, boosting its convenience factor even further.

Although Netflix has taken the market by storm, Blockbuster fought back with a similar streaming system. The attempt was quickly left in the dust for several reasons. Blockbuster charges per movie download as opposed to unlimited streaming provided by Netflix, and on top of that they have a 24-hour expiration time. Blockbuster Streaming requires movies to be downloaded to a computer, whereas Netflix streams everything online, offering access from anywhere.

In this technology-driven society, how do independent video stores stay afloat in such competition? Film Yard Video on Divsadero St. has managed to stay in the race.

The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about all film genres, eager to make suggestions and nerd out over Star Wars. After all, their job involves watching movies all day long.

“If you like movies, you can sit around and talk to us about them all day,” said Film Yard employee Robin Griswold.

Open until 11 p.m. every day, Film Yard welcomes late-night browsers with popcorn. The store is small but packed with an extensive selection and peculiar categorization style (by classics, “based on books”, physical humor, cult, director, etc). They even have plenty of VHS tapes. But Netflix has a much greater selection, and even Film Yard employees take full advantage of it.

“I totally have a Netflix account, but don’t tell my boss!” said Grisworld.

In her view, Netflix complements independent video stores rather than eliminate business altogether. The digital craze hasn’t affected sales noticeably.

“This is a neighborhood business. There is some sort of loyalty from our customers,” said Griswold.

The online video service provider may offer instant streaming, but the interactive element that is a major part of the film community is lacking in the digital world. Loyal customers are not willing to give up that experience.

“I’ve been going there for years. I owe them a lot in late fees, but that still won’t keep me away,” said customer Jaime Nabrynski.

Customers understand the strict late-fee policy, said Griswold. The store needs to keep movies in constant rotation to keep business going.

So will the convenience of digital domination overpower geeky film chatter at Film Yard Video? For now, the answer is thankfully no.

Noise Pop brings Best Coast to the best coast

photo cred: LA Underground

Get you dancing shoes on and beer mugs filled, Noise Pop Festival starts tomorrow! For the nineteenth year in a row, Noise Pop is putting on a week- long series of much-anticipated concerts, art shows, and documentary screenings fueled by unbeatable happy-hour deals.

Individual tickets are available for each specific event, although some are free and open to the public, but a festival badge provides unlimited access for the entire week. After all, who would want to be left out in the rain without a ticket?

Passes are available at 2011.noisepop.com, and the festivities set in motion Tuesday at 5 p.m. with performances by Dirty Ghosts, Harderships and Hot Fog at Bender’s Bar and a Treasure Island Music Festival Photography show at Mini Bar.

Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard will close out the festival on Sunday night at the Great American Music Hall with a serene solo set; numerous performances and installations are sandwiched in between.

Perhaps the most anticipated show of the festival is Best Coast and Wavves at the Regency.

“I’m literally counting down the days for the Best Coast show. They are just amazing,” said Jayson Breed, a music blogger from San Francisco.

Their debut album Crazy for You received praise beyond belief, labeled as one of the best 50 albums of 2010 by Pitchfork.com. Delivering strong vocals backed by chill-wave instrumentals, Best Coast is sure to draw an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday.

Let the good times roll!

A closer look: the Western Addition

The Western Addition today is very different from what it was twenty to thirty years ago. There is a strong foundation upon which the buildings stand, as most of them stayed fairly intact after the 1906 earthquake.

After World War II, the Western Addition was largely comprised of African American residents, but has since undergone sweeping gentrification, resulting in its shifting makeup. Today, middle-class individuals populate much of the neighborhood.

The first person I talked to directed me to Humberto Ruiz, who is a public policy advocate and has lived in Western Addition since 1976. He said that under the Johnson administration, the President ordered project housing to be implemented into the neighborhood, which immediately resulted in a soaring crime rate complemented by liquor stores, pawn shops, and bars.

In the 70s, drugs consumed the neighborhood, with an outbreak of crack addiction followed by a heroin epidemic. Ruiz mentioned that although the location is extremely safe and relatively low-key, the occasional car burglary and street corner fight is still part of the general lifestyle there. He is currently renovating a house that he bought in the 70s for $105, 000 and is now worth $3 million. Such a dramatic change in the value of a home certainly reflects the changes in status and lifestyle.

The Western Addition has transformed from a dangerous area to a desirable location, serving as one of the most historical parts of San Francisco.

Residents living in the Western Addition enjoy  the neighborhood for multiple reasons. It’s very accessible to other popular neighborhoods in the city, and also has a fair amount of restaurants, shops, bars and churches, as well as the Alamo Square Park.

Jennifer Teves, a resident of the neighborhood for about a year now, said that it’s still a little bit risky for her to walk around by herself at night, but that she feels safe in the neighborhood for the most part. She sees smashed car windows on a regular basis.

Car burglary is a popular crime because the thieves can simply run into the park to hide and are able to avoid getting caught. She said that many people with dogs move to Western Addition to take advantage of the Alamo Square Park.

Western Addition seems to me like it is split into two entirely varying halves. There is the part by Alamo Square comprising of nice houses and young working professionals, which is completely night and day from the part by the Fillmore district that is pretty run-down and lower class oriented. People were much more reluctant to speak to me in the latter area, and many of the merchants didn’t speak much English which resulted in not only a language barrier but also a cultural one.