Jason DeBord's Rock Subculture Journal

Notes & Words: Benefit For UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland at Fox Theater | Oakland, California | 5/13/2017 (Concert Review + Photos)

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“You never know who you’re saving; you never know what future you’re making possible…”  Kelly Corrigan speaking to a packed Fox Theater in Oakland, with 1,615 people in attendance on Saturday night for the 8th annual Notes & Words: Benefit For UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.  As per their format, entertainment included both writers and musicians on stage.  This year featured musicians Daveed Diggs, The Head and the Heart, and Vocal Rush and writers Michael Lewis, Calvin Trillin, and writer (and event host) Kelly Corrigan.  The Oakland School for the Arts Chamber Choir also performed.  Notes & Words is an annual benefit concert created to support the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland; the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland provides the highest quality medical care to children throughout California.  An intimate show, it shared many personal stories and perspectives by way of the personalities on stage as well as video presentations offering real context by showcasing some of the patients of the Children’s Hospital.

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The Rock Subculture Journal 2016 Year In Review (Top 10 Live Music Concerts, Top 5 Albums, Top 50 Songs, and more…)

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As with my 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Year in Review features, this article looks back on a year of music with a summary of the highlights. This year, I attended about 35 shows, with hundreds of different sets of incredible talent and music to make sense of, not to mention trying to keep up with all of the studio releases from artists, new and old. This is my attempt to (subjectively) share my favorites of the year, from live shows to new songs and albums. You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2016 in that separate article.

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Notes & Words: Benefit For UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland at Fox Theater | Oakland, California | 4/30/2016 (Concert Review + Photos)

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“…that’s the dream, that together we can do amazing stuff for the right reasons!” Author and event organizer Kelly Corrigan was left nearly speechless on stage as she reflected back on the amazing evening that closed with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and performers from the Oakland School for the Arts covering David Bowie’s “Life On Mars?”.  All part of the annual Notes & Words: Benefit For UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland at Fox Theater on Saturday night.  The sold out crowd of sponsors, donors and attendees took in a wide ranging selection of entertainment that also included a rocking performance from The Stone Foxes and readings from B.J. Novak and Dave Eggers.  There was a lot of emotion throughout the night, though the majority of it was good humor and contagious joyfulness.

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The Rock Subculture Journal 2015 Year In Review (Top 10 Live Music Concerts, Top 10 Albums, Top 100 Songs, and more…)

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As with my 2012, 2013, and 2014 Year in Review features, this feature looks back on a year of music with a summary of the highlights.  This year, I attended about 50 shows, with hundreds of different sets of incredible talent and music to make sense of, not to mention trying to keep up with all of the studio releases from artists, new and old.  This is my attempt to (subjectively) share my favorites of the year, from live shows to new songs and albums.  You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2015 in that separate article.

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The Lovemakers at Popscene at Rickshaw Stop | San Francisco, California | 2/13/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

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“Is that the only pair of panties we’re going to get tonight?”  Lisa Light, remarking on the underwear tossed at her co-vocalist and guitarist Scott Blonde of The Lovemakers at Popscene at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco Friday night, as part of their “My Bloody Valentine’s Day Party on Friday the 13th of February”.  The band seem to have a special relationship with the annual romantic holiday, though looking around it seemed to have turned out more singles looking for fulfillment than happily coupled couples.  Building on their 2014 reunion, the band seems at it’s best live and on stage, literally pouring water on their hot and sultry style of retro pop and dance music.  The Lovemakers were supported with a blazing set by Beginners, who came up from their home in Los Angeles.  Filling in with fantastic DJ sets were Popscene’s Aaron Axelsen and Omar.

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The Rock Subculture Journal 2014 Year In Review (Top 10 Live Music Concerts, Top 10 Albums, Top 100 Songs, and more…)

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As with my 2012 and 2013 Year in Review features, it’s always a challenge to reflect back on a year of music and summarize the highlights.  Honestly, I don’t know if I will have have a year that beats 2013, which was an incredible one for me with a lot of travel as well.  This year, I ended up attending 60-something shows, most with two or more artists, so hundreds of different sets of incredible talent and music.  As such, I feel it is important to highlight the best of the best of the best, in an attempt to celebrate the year that was. You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2014 in that separate article.

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The Lovemakers at Popscene at Rickshaw Stop | San Francisco, California | 7/10/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

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“Are you ready, San Francisco?” Scott Blonde of The Lovemakers, on guitar on the front end of a blazing set at Popscene at Rickshaw Stop last night, sometime around midnight.  With co-vocalist Lisa Light holding down the opposite corner on bass, it was am impressive onslaught of thumping and catchy 80s-inspired synth pop for the on and off again band that is maybe the best thing those outside of San Francisco are missing of late, as they have amazing songs and an incredible live show.  Following on a fantastic opening set by The Trims and framed by cutting-edge DJ sets by Aaron Axelsen and Omar, it was another unique evening with Popscene.

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Luscious Jackson at The Independent | San Francisco, California | 5/31/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

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“We’re female chauvinist pigs…”  Jill Cunniff, one of the three members of Luscious Jackson, prefacing her invitation of a handful of men in the audience to join them on the stage to shake their booties during their song, “#1 Bum”.  It was an informal kind of show for the band, who haven’t been in San Francisco for a very long time, having recently reunited for their first studio album since 1999.  One of just three headlining shows for this tour (having played Los Angeles the night prior and with Boston still to come next Saturday, as well as two festival appearances), The Independent appeared sold out (or close to it) last night.  They put on an electric show with material spanning their original 90s songs as well as the new album, all sounding fresh and original.  They definitely still have “it”, and hopefully their efforts to reinvent themselves with their PledgeMusic campaign and new independent streak will lead to a resurgence of their special brand of rock/pop/hip hop.

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The Rock Subculture Journal 2013 Year In Review (Top 10 Live Music Concerts, Top 10 Albums, Top 100 Songs, and more…)

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As with last year’s 2012 Year In Review, reflecting on the many shows attended in 2013 and trying to make some sense of it all was a challenge.  Having attended nearly 100 events, which usually includes at least one supporting act and a headliner, as well as one 10-day festival and many multi-artist shows, I saw literally hundreds of sets.  Miraculously, I can probably count on one hand the number that were “bad”, and the majority were awesome in one or more ways.   Still, I feel it is important to highlight the best of the best of the best, in an attempt to celebrate an amazing year of music.  You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2013 in that separate article.

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Crisis Presents… with Jake Bugg, Bastille, Michael Kiwanuka, AlunaGeorge, Foxes, and Al Doyle (Hot Chip) at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on December 20th

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Crisis – the national charity for single homeless people across the UK – will be holding a special concert event at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London on Friday, December 20th.  “Crisis Presents…” will be hosting a special concert with UK artists featuring Jake Bugg, Bastille, Michael Kiwanuka, AlunaGeorge, Foxes, and Al Doyle from Hot Chip doing a DJ set.  Also planned is a special performance by singers and musicians from their London Skylight centre. [Read more…]

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