Jason DeBord's Rock Subculture Journal

Rock Subculture Journal

Peter Hook & The Light Performing New Order’s “Movement” and “Power, Corruption & Lies” at Mezzanine | San Francisco, California | 9/27/2013 (Concert Review)

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“I asked him what he wanted for his birthday…  What do you think he said?  He said, ‘Dad, I wanna play ‘What Do You Want From Me?””  Peter Hook of Peter Hook & The Light, currently, and formerly of Joy Division, New Order, Ad Infinitum, Revenge, Freebass, and Monaco.  “What Do You Want From Me?” was the top single produced by Monaco, and as Peter Hook (more affectionately referred to simply as Hooky) recounted his conversation on stage before the packed crowd at Mezzanine in San Francisco last night, he held his hand on his heart, touched by his son’s request, and beaming with pride.  It was definitely a special sort of evening last night, with more than the one big surprise, as I don’t believe his current band Peter Hook & The Light – with son Jack on bass – have ever performed that song live for the public.  The other big surprise of the night was opening and supporting band Slaves of Venus… but more on that later.  In the end, it was nearly three hours of not just the promised first two New Order albums, Movement and Power, Corruption & Lies, but a bit of Joy Division as well.  Really much more to cover than I can even contemplate in this opening teaser, but it was a stellar show and a showcase of amazing music.

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Arctic Monkeys “AM Tour” at Fox Theater | Oakland, California | 9/26/2013 (Concert Review)

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“As it so happens, this one goes out to all the ladies!”  A song intro by Alex Turner, front man for Arctic Monkeys, one of the coolest and most charismatic bands on the planet.  Dispensing with too much in-between song chit chat, the band kept building upon the frenzy within the audience throughout their hour and a half set.  The fans in attendance, who started lining up a 6 am in morning to ultimately bask in the stunning lights of pure and unfiltered cool glowing from the stage, made the first of two back-to-back Arctic Monkeys shows at the Fox Theater in Oakland a tough one to best.  The band is in the midst of their world tour in support of their fifth studio album, AM, which was released earlier this month.  Showing confidence in the future, the band closed out the show with an encored that ended with their new hit single, “R U Mine?”, which might just be their best song yet.

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Little Boots with MNDR at The Independent | San Francisco, California | 9/24/2013 (Concert Review)

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“Are you up for a rave?  Do you have raves in San Francisco on a Tuesday?”  Victoria Christina Hesketh, AKA Little Boots, leading into “Broken Record”, the thumping lead single from her highly acclaimed second studio album Nocturnes, which was released in May.  A natural performer, Little Boots certainly brought a special mix of charisma and energy to the stage to power her amazing music, building on Amanda Warner of MDNR’s blazing opening set within the intimate setting of The Independent.  Definitely a great night of contemporary electronic synthpop as Little Boots kicks off her world tour running through the end of the year.

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Monophonics with AM & Shawn Lee Playing The Independent in San Francisco on Saturday, September 28th

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San Francisco-based Monophonics will be bringing their “Psychedelic Soul & Heavy Funk” style of music to The Independent in San Francisco on Saturday, September 28th.  Joining them on the bill are AM & Shawn Lee, who had an album release party in June that I reviewed, following the release of their second collaborative album this year, La Musique Numberique.  Also performing will be DJ Bcause. [Read more…]

Blondie with X “No Principals Tour” at Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium | San Francisco, California | 9/19/2013 (Concert Review)

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Blondie’s spectacular show at the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco Thursday night was a reminder of how seemingly effortlessly Debbie Harry and the band crossed into and innovated within so many different styles and genres of music in the late 70s and early 80s.  Punk, post-punk, disco, pop, New Wave, even some rap, reggae, and infusions of some world music, they were quite the innovators, really serving as a pioneering force in music, and they continue to record new and relevant music today.  The Debbie Harry-fronted East Coast post punk/pop/disco group Blondie share the bill on the “No Principals Tour” with Exene Cervenka and John Doe fronting on vocals for the West Coast, L.A. punk pioneers X, which features its original line-up.  Both artists brought amazing energy to the stage, which created a frenzy within the crowd at the Masonic unlike anything I’d seen at the usually mellow venue, with fans of both bands flooding the area between the all-seated venue and the low stage.  It was definitely a different sort of concert (in a great way) and celebration of music that really served as a pivotal transition from the 70s to the 80s, paving a pathway into what turned out to be fresh and new world.

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