it’sEli MacDonald
Staff Writer
Once called “The Harlem of the West,” the Fillmore District of San Francisco has long been home to the Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church. Each Sunday, this unique Christian congregation worships to the powerful notes of live jazz, encouraging its audience to participate through the crash of a tambourine or the stomp of a foot. Continue reading Taking the Pulse of the Fillmore
Dillon Rawlings
Staff Writer
On September 24th, the Fillmore hosted the psychedelic U.K. band Temples, who looked every bit as 60’s acid rock as they sounded. Draped in fringe, flares, and suede, against a video backdrop of what looked like a highly colorized pot of oil mixing with water, the four-piece set harmonized and guitar-hooked the audience into a mellow delirium. Continue reading An Hour At the Temples
Only one year out of college, James Blake is truly living the dream.
Recently nominated for a Mercury Prize and days after his breathtaking set at this year’s Austin City Limits Festival, the Foghorn had the chance to sit down and speak one on one with the English musician James Blake hours before his sold out performance at The Fillmore on September 21st.
Foghorn: You just released a collaborative track titled “Fall Creek Choir Boys” with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver a few weeks ago, was this recorded together with the two of you in a studio or via email?
James Blake: It was going across The Atlantic, we both met each other (last year) at South By Southwest and we kept exchanging emails, sending each other music, sending each other beats, and vocals he recorded and we eventually worked out the song.
F: When your first started making music, what did your mom and dad think of it all? Was it seen more as a hobby to them or did they see it as a professional career?
JB: They saw it as a thing to do right to the end. When I was recording “Limit To Your Love” I actually recorded it in my parents’ home where I grew up and they came in (to my room) and it was the song they liked the best out of anything I had recorded up to then. Oddly enough I didn’t really believe them! I don’t think anyone really knows that, but yeah they definitely seem to be the barometer to what song is going to be popular.
F: What did your dad think of your cover of his song “Where You Turn” which you retitled “The Wilhelm Scream”?
JB: He really likes that song. It’s strange though, changing the name of the song, taking out some of the lyrics and chopping some of them out is kind of like changing your second name especially when it’s your dad’s song. I think he really took it really well to be honest, considering I really reinterpreted and chopped up his song. I think he understood and really got the point of it though.
F: Looking at some of your peers in the music industry who are some some people you look up to in the music industry or are people you’d like to work with more?
JB: At the moment I’d really like to work more with Justin (from Bon Iver) whether it’s in a studio, or or a bedroom or even over a cup of tea. I just want to play really. In terms of artist I’m on the festival circuit with… it’s really cool playing with (the band) Warpaint, they put on an amazing show. I really also enjoyed playing with Flying Lotus and The Gaslamp Killer in Los Angeles, I think they’re doing really great stuff.
F: Looking at California based artists, what are your thoughts on Tyler the Creator who also started to blowup at SXSX when you did?
JB: I think Tyler is great, I spoke with him him once. There is a lot of shock value with Odd Future which I really love!
F: I appreciate that about them too!
JB: The think that I really see about Odd Future is Tyler’s vulnerability. I think his album “Bastard” is a great album. It’s beautiful, heartfelt sentimental album, But I don’t think he needs my psychiatric summary. I do think he’s my favorite out of that collective.
F: To get more personal, how does it feel being 22, going on 23 next month and thinking about all that you’ve accomplished in this past year? You just graduated college less than a year ago, just played all of these major music festivals, and was nominated for a Mercury Prize. Is this all accomplishments you reflect on much?
JB: I haven’t had time. I’ve been so busy playing shows, writing songs , and getting as much time as home which is very little. I’m also trying to keep my friends and make sure it doesn’t…
F: Fall apart?
JB: Yeah, I want to make sure everything stays stable. I graduated college a year ago…and your best friends don’t need to be serviced, but you do lose touch with a lot of people because geographically your not in the same place and it’s hard…but I’ve made a bunch of new friends and have had such an amazing time. This next year since I won’t be touring and I’m going to have a year to look back and look at where I want to go with my career. I agree with you though that I’ve been lucky to do all of that stuff.
F: Will you be recording this next year?
JB: Yeah, I’ve already been recording a lot of stuff, but next year I do want to try some new stuff.
F: For you personally, do you enjoy playing at individual venues more or playing the touring circuit?
JB: Towards the end of the festival circuit, I felt that I wanted to get back to doing shows in venues, but last time by the end of doing a tour of shows though in smaller venues, where it’s harder to get the sound right, festivals do become more appealing because of big sound systems. Now though on this tour I’ve been playing in venues that do have big sound systems.
F: Last time you came to San Francisco you were playing at The Great American Music Hall and this time you moved up to the larger Fillmore Theater.
JB: To be honest though they’re both great venues.
F: The Great American is beautiful and one of my favorites.
JB: That venue is beautiful! It has a great sound system as well, so I couldn’t complain. Looking back though seven months ago, the venues really have changed. Working in a venue like this though gives us all a chance to do all the stuff our band wants to do.
F: Since we’re very much known for our food scene, did you eat anywhere special in San Francisco?
JB: I’ve been living off burritos and Salvadorean food the past two days I’ve been here. I wanted to go to the equivalent of a greasy spoon in England and scouted out mexican places since I’ve been here and have tried to stay away from chains.
F: As a final question I noticed on your tour schedule you have a lot of days back and forth on and off from touring, and what do you like to do on tour and in San Francisco?
JB: I like it when we’re by the sea. It lets me completely refresh.
F: Do you surf?
JB: No I just like looking at it. Being back in America is really exciting. When we went around on our first tour we got to get our first impressions of it all and now that we’ve come back it’s much like revisiting an old friend. I feel now I can navigate through cities that I’ve been to.
San Francisco has been really fun. The whole city looks so beautiful! Today though has been so beautiful, I walked down to Fisherman’s Wharf. I looked back at San Francisco and this glorious view and thought this is such an amazing city! I know some people here and have had such a splendid time.
BOTTOM OF THE HILL
Their online site features quite the spectacle: a retrospective calendar listing bands the venue has hosted over the years including Postal Service, Modest Mouse, Greenday and Bright Eyes. With an occupancy limit of 246 people, big names have been able to give some of their most intimate performances in this homey locale. Bottom of the Hill has a good eye for unrealized pop sensations, while also staying steadfastly loyal to local acts on a weekly basis. This venue is also notorious for its secret shows; smaller acts like Phantom Planet, Pretty Girls Make Graves and Brand New have all had memorable secret shows here.
Good to Know: Fully equipped with a late night kitchen and a well-lit outdoor patio.
Location: 17th St. between Missouri and Texas (at the bottom of Potrero Hill).
MUNI: 38 Geary to the 22 Fillmore
http://www.bottomofthehill.com
MEZZANINE
Mezzanine is the Studio 54 of live electronic music that comes through San Francisco. Mezzanine began to make itself known as a major player among Bay Area venues in November 2006, when it housed elusive surrealist band The Knife (who have, to this day, only played two others shows in the U.S.). Mezzanine is in large part responsible for recruiting a sizeable amount of fans for Justice, our generation’s answer to Daft Punk, by hosting them twice in 2007. In addition to rock and electronic, Mezzanine regularly hosts big name hip-hop artists such as Method Man, Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco. The large venue also showcases films, local art and design parties each month.
Good to Know: Has a taste for booking artists who have not preformed in several years including Public Enemy, Groove Armada, The Slits and ESG.
Location: 444 Jesse St. between Stevenson and Mission.
MUNI: 5 Fulton or the 38 Geary
http://www.mezzaninesf.com
SLIMS
Hate waiting for bands you don’t care about to load and unload their stuff on stage? Brick-walled Slim’s 333 is famous for playing obscure videos between musical acts, such as retro Bettie Boop reels and bizarre aerobics tapes that star Jennifer Love Hewitt. Though this spot has been the San Francisco check-point for the bubblegum punk of the Paramores and the Metro Stations of the world in more recent years, Slims can be trusted to include hard-core, metal and J-rock acts on a weekly basis.
Good to Know: Slim’s is a mostly standing-room-only venue, however, for each show there are seventy tickets available for table seating where you can have dinner under New Orleans-inspired chandeliers while you watch the performance from above in the balcony.
Location: 333 11th St. between Folsom and Harrison.
MUNI: 5 Fulton to 9 San Bruno
http://www.slims-sf.com
GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
Great American Music Hall, sister club of Slim’s 333, is slightly bigger and has a different feel with its beautiful frescoed ceiling. This venue is renowned for its incredible acoustics. From Betty Carter to the Grateful Dead, artists have chosen Great American to create a unique live sound. Great American’s stage supports all genres except for heavy electronica acts. Don’t expect the Chemical Brothers to roll through here, but you can catch the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Cold War Kids, Deerhoof and The Cinematic Orchestra this fall.
Good to Know: The Great American Music Hall has been known to fill their ballroom floor with candlelit tables for great sit down concerts.
Location: 859 O’Farrell St. between Polk and Van Ness.
MUNI: 38 Geary
http://www.musichallsf.com
FILLMORE
You know you’ve made it big when you headline a show at the Fillmore. Destroyed in 1989 by an earthquake and then reopened in 1994, the Fillmore serves as an active museum where almost every night the feature performance is documented by giving audience members custom made posters upon exiting. This began in the 1960’s when artists wanted to capture the sold out shows of the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd in a one-of-a-kind poster. Once you’re inside the Fillmore, walls covered with photographs echo the magic of where great live rock all began in San Francisco.
Good to Know: Oddly enough, red apples are available and free for your enjoyment. If you’re not into apples, the Fillmore is located in one of the best restaurant areas of the city, offering Thai, Italian, French and Mexican food.
Location: On the northwest corner of Geary and Fillmore.
MUNI: 38 Geary
http://www.thefillmore.com
POP SCENE
By design, Popscene separates itself from how things are typically done in other San Francisco premier nightclubs. Every Thursday at 330 Ritch, the night begins with a serious dance party conducted by club founders Aaron, Omar and Nako. When the house DJs are not in, Popscene invites quite the array of guest DJs, including members of Blur, Death Cab For Cutie, New Order and Le Tigre. Resident DJs who established the concept of Pop Scene are well known for integrating sounds from 80s moguls such as The Cure and The Smiths with new and upcoming artists from any genre. The space, smaller than the Hayes-Healy lounge, has housed unbelievably memorable performances by Amy Winehouse, The Klaxons, MIA, Kate Nash and Vampire Weekend.
Good to Know: If you’re respectful and not obnoxious, bands willingly hang out with you after they play their set (shhhhhhh).
Location: 330 Ritch St. off of Townsend between 3rd and 4th streets.
MUNI: 38 Geary to 30 Stockton
http://www.popscene-sf.com
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