chiddythekidd

[chiddythekidd]

Photos from Portaits of Past in Portland

[chiddythekidd]

i delayed myself, but i got it done! there will be more.

[chiddythekidd]

Only a couple pics of Danzig, because, well, he was incredibly disappointing. The most fun part was @burningeyeslikestars & mine constant heckling of the former rock god! #oldmandanzig #farpasthisprime #helookslikeamuchlesscutecryptkeeper (at The Warfield)

[chiddythekidd]

Deafheaven completely destroyed their set! #localmusic #postblackmetal #whywoulddanzigdothistohimself (at The Warfield)

[chiddythekidd]

Aetting up for tonight's show... Danig & Deafheaven! So stoked to not only be working on this show, but that i also get to watch it with the lovely @burningeyeslikestars (at The Warfield)

[chiddythekidd]

#neighborhoodbrats tearing it up at #hemlocktavern #punkrock #localmusic #diy

[chiddythekidd]

a masterpiece of misanthropy, mayhem, & melody.

Hark all ye Metalheads, dust off your altars to the Elder Gods & prepare ye for worship! Rejoice, for the South Bay’s own progressive, technical metal outfit, Sentient Ignition released their debut EP, Enthroned in Gray. Officially released digitally earlier this week, this is one of the finest works of metal the Bay Area has birthed since the early days of Thrash.

The record opens with the haunting & atmospheric synth intro track, Ascension, & then rends the gates of Hel wide open with the title track, & they never let up. Coming in at just under 45 minutes, (only the intro track clocks under 5 minutes) the album is a non-stop barrage of face melting, soul shattering, metal euphoria. That's not to say there are no moments of calm & melody, they do find their way into the mix, but one of the things I love most about this kind of technical, theory based metal, is that those quieter moments showcase how even jazz has an influence on the genre.  but then the distortion kicks back in & you are slammed into high gear. stand out tracks include the title track, Enthroned in Gray & the album closer Binding Time.

of course the technicality of the music really shines through. diverse rhythm patterns, odd time signatures & a variety of vocal techniques all blend & compliment one another to create an incredibly epic soundscape, but one that is washed over by a bleak & melancholy tone. a feeling that is exquisitely captured by the album’s artwork, provided by Swedish surrealist Par Oolafson. the range of vocal techniques is exceptionally impressive, running the gamut from deep & soothing melodies to guttural beastly roars to piercing & demonic screams, & the delivery is phenomenal, spitting out words in matching rhythms to the guitar. the rhythm & lead guitars attack both simultaneously & harmonically, steering clear of over using “chucka chucka” or “djint” patterns, & focusing more on delivering complex melodies or the occasional, brutal breakdown. building all of this on a solid foundation of rhythmic & punctuated drum patterns, that both accentuate & shepherd the rest of the instrumentation into a cohesive monster of a living musical entity. yes this record (& this band) is the sonic embodiment of an Elder God heaving itself from its slumber deep within the Earth.

Keep your eyes & ears primed to witness this group of insanely talented people rise & conquer, first the Bay Area metal scene, & then... the WORLD! Highly recommended for fans of Opeth, Between the Buried & Me, or for those more acquainted with the local scene, As Black Hearts Break. Enthroned in Gray is available now, as a digital download or order a physical CD, along with t-shirts proudly displaying the album art, at www.sentientignition.com

[chiddythekidd]

just a few more pictures from the hemlock tavern.

[chiddythekidd]

a couple Fridays ago, I had the pleasure of attending a night of punk rock pleasantries at the Hemlock Tavern in SF. The Hemlock is a great place to catch local bands, mostly because the bar room is a major juxtaposition to the music room. You have to pass through a somewhat swanky looking hipster bar to get to the doors leading into the music room, & as you cross through the double swinging doors & climb a small stair case, you find yourself in a small rectangular room with a rather impressive looking sound “ booth” (it takes up like a 1/6 of the entire room) in one corner & a very small bar for displaying merch on one side, & on the other side a small, & only slightly elevated, stage. there is also a bar with stools lining the wall across from the stairs. the room probably can only (safely) accommodate a couple hundred people, but on average probably holds only one hundred folks. ultimately it provides a wonderful hidden gem, perfect for punk shows.

I attended specifically to see the opening band, reunions. this was my second time seeing these guys live, but they are swiftly becoming one of my favorite acts to catch live or just to casually listen to (come on guys, when are you gonna release a full length?) reunions burn fast & bright, punching you right in the face with loud, yet melodic & catchy punk rock anthems. top that all off with the gravely, throaty bellows of guitarist/lead vocalist eric saylor, & well you've got the recipe for an incredibly intense throwback to early 90s emo/hardcore/punk nostalgia. these guys are seriously the real deal, reminiscent of hot water music, planes mistaken for stars or this engine burns (think deep elm records catalog), also recommended for fans of bayside & rise against.

the second band on the line up was a three piece power punk outfit named the last season. honestly, I was at first a bit unsure, if not a little put off, by their haughty stage presence, I was soon won over by their aggressive yet catchy brand of punk, as well as their bassist’s genuine commentary about the importance of supporting local punk music. musically, they reminded me a lot of the recognizable tone associated with fat wreck chords’ bands, specifically the more hardcore styled groups like no use for a name or good riddance. combining fast & loud verses & sing along choruses with intermittent slow, grinding breakdowns, & the drummer was maniacal in his technicality. their songs tended to be formulaic, but fun & infectious, practically irresistible to enjoy.

the headliner of the evening was another local group. the four piece, cables & arms, was a progressive punk power house. able to blend fast, loud & fuzzy punk rhythms with light, atmospheric melodies, & heart thumping bass lines with rapid fire, jack hammering drums, all topped off with hints of distinctly unique vocals. I was instantaneously hooked. creating vastly expansive sonic soundscapes, with rich harmonic layers, leading the listener down trails both painfully aggressive & hauntingly vulnerable, exposing moments of imposing dominance & delicate submission. this was truly post-hardcore at its very best, reminiscent of (the obvious) pioneers Thursday, but also calling back to deep cuts of “pre”-post-hardcore groups like snapcase & one king down, as well as fitting nicely with fans of the more contemporary groups like la dispute & touche amore.

on a side note, I will be submitting a list of the best “punk” releases of 2016 to the super diy zine “drooly dog” (look them up on facebook), & it will include releases from both reunions & cables & arms.

[chiddythekidd]

more awesome art from my baby sister!

“ Thunder Dance ”

This piece has a fun and intriguing story. This canvas was given to me by a customer at the cafe I work at as a barista, he found it on the side of the road with three are and picked them up thinking of me that I could use them which I did with the piece Harassment Trap of course they already had efforted paintings on them. This one here just had a green tree, a sun, and an orange background. I felt gladdened by someones work so I did not want to just destroy it with a black over paint; I decided to blush the sides darker, outline the tree turquoise, and paint a lovely little person. This piece is quite similar to the piece Fire Dance with are they dancing or climbing here? What for? With who? The perspective? Why thunder or why even dance?

[chiddythekidd]

new art from my baby sister. I am so proud of her & all the amazing things she does, from painting to acting to singing & just generally being an awesome human “bean“ing!

“ Harassment Trap ”

This piece is very deep in my heart and close to my soul with its meaning. I was also given this canvas by a customer with Thunder Dance , this originally had a painting of only a black box and some organized dots. At this time of my life I didn’t feel interested in adding on to a painting and I wanted my own expression right then and there. At this time I felt very trapped, in my heart from past relational encounters that entangled me, I don’t want to go into harsh details as I am a growing adult learning how to live with my hardships as a woman and being disrespected. I will though state this painting represents my sexual encounters that left me trapped and broken. I hope women in the world or anyone who has been sexually harassed and abused can feel healthy genuine catharsis from this image and understand their stance like myself. Art has helped me heal from experiences like this and letting me learn what is healthy and appropriate and what is not. I hope others can relate to this in a healthy way or feel loved. I do feel loved now, please no I am okay I hope this piece helps others like it has enveloped me

[chiddythekidd]

a few Thursdays ago I returned to the spectacular Lost Church in the Mission district of San Francisco to see two truly remarkable women bare their souls in the form of some amazing music. as a side note, I arrived pretty early so that I could take some pics of the fabulous interior of this unique venue so that you all can get an idea of what it looks like.

throughout the evening the two performers, Ellisa Sun & Itoro Udofia, shared the stage as well as alternating “solo” sets. they began the night with an audience participation activity. upon entering, they had each attendant write down on a small piece of paper something they wanted to release or let go of, & they then would read one before their songs & try to find a way to associate what was written to the song being performed, the results were often quite interesting & sometimes could be a bit of a stretch.

the music began with both women on stage, performing a cover of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day”. Ellisa then performed several songs by herself, most of which she mentioned were brand new, like at most months old, some so new that members of her band (who were in the audience & later joined on stage) hadn't even heard them yet. it was one of these songs that I really enjoyed the most. yet to have an official title, she simply called it “Squirrel”, it was a beautiful love song about keeping oneself guarded to the point of “breaking your heart before you can break mine”.

Itoro & her band took the stage next, & just blew me away. with a beautifully soulful voice, she often mixed spoken word poetry into her songs as well as creating vocal rhythms using a loop pedal (which she had named Lupita). Her songs were all very profound & thoughtful, touching on themes of mother/daughter relationships, & how the community in Oakland had welcomed her in & how it became her home. her amazing singing was accompanied by quiet & atmospheric melodies played on keyboard (performed by a friend of mine ive known since junior high Adam Coopersmith), & guitar & bass. the music blended elements of R&B, jazz, & ethnic folk, creating something incredibly moving.

after a short intermission, Ellisa returned to the stage, this time with a couple members of her band, performing electric guitar & bass. during this set they performed a few more recognizable songs from her previous releases as well as a few more cover songs.

Itoro then closed out the evening with another set of heartfelt songs. the whole evening was a splendidly intimate event, just perfect for the setting of the Lost Church.

[chiddythekidd]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZXY94jUak)

after some recent events in my life, ive found this song has really struck a fresh & personal chord with me, & listening to this conversation regarding the meaning of the song & album its found on, has made these events (both past & present) that much more meaningful. for more clarification on the events I'm speaking of go check out   https://chiddythekidd.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/small-crew-guerrilla-indie-film-making-in-san-francisco

[chiddythekidd]

a few pictures from last friday’s show at the lost church!

[chiddythekidd]

Vagabondage celebrates 10 years of songs about goats, jalapenos, & drinking with Unwoman at the Lost Church

is there possibly a more perfect way to spend Friday the 13th, than witnessing the wonderfully raucous folk punk band Vagabondage celebrate their 10th anniversary at the Lost Church in SF? well, maybe, when you add the haunting gothic/steampunk cello music of Unwoman, which is exactly how I spent this past Friday (which so happened to be the 13th). & what made this night even more special for me specifically was the fact that Vagabondage were one of the first groups that I recorded personally, apparently 10 years ago, on my Tascam 4-track, signifying the true birth of Trident Heart Anticorporated.

the Lost Church, located in the heart of the Mission district of SF, is a beautifully decorated & designed, small venue which hosts the occasional acoustic concerts, movie nights, poetry recitals, & stage performances. ive only been there once before, about a year ago, again to see Vagabondage, & honestly that is a shame, I ought to be going there more often, & I think I will try to attend more of their various events this year.

the evening was kicked off with John & Cindy, the original two members of Vagabondage, performing a couple of their earliest songs. Cindy’s simple accordion tunes were complimented by John’s deep melodic & raspy bellows extoling the pains of jalapenos & the wonders of his glasses. it was a quick way of pumping the crowd up for what was to come.

after that short “tease”  , the stage was graced by the solo cellist/singer, Unwoman. to say that she was mind-blowing would be putting it mildly. seriously, this was quite simply, nothing less than a life altering experience. using a loop-pedal to create layers of rhythm & melody, she was able to construct incredibly sophisticated soundscapes, accentuated by her delicate, yet powerful voice, which she also, occasionally layered with loops & octave shifts. but ultimately the thing that really blew me away was her remarkably literary poetry. her use of language was profoundly, emotionally intelligent, exploring themes from film & literature, to philosophy & psychology, all with deep, poetic grandeur. her entire presence was commanding. though she definitely embodied elements of goth & steampunk, I hate to reduce her music & performance to such contrived labels. I would certainly recommend her to fans of those aforementioned genres, particularly fans of Amanda Palmer/the Dresden Dolls, but I would also encourage fans of all genres to at least give her a listen.

the main event of the evening was of course the fantastic Vagabondage, who were, as I mentioned, celebrating their 10th anniversary. a five piece folk-punk group based in the SF Bay Area. bringing with them a raucous lust for life, these guys can easily get a crowd riled up. several of their songs encourage audience participation, especially their classic tune “Raise Your Glass”. where many of their songs tend to lean on the silly side, they are able to get a bit more somber, with tunes about stars at night, drinking with friends & memories of favorite places shared which no longer are. but then they go & turn it all back around with songs about the dark underbelly of Sesame Street & magicians/musicians who drive their fans to “throw the goat!” it seems these days as though acoustic based, accordion folk-punk is oversaturating the alternative music scene, but still Vagabondage has a way of shining through, reminding us of the minimalist intimacy of the sub-genre that won our hearts in the first place. even after 10 years these guys are still making fun, artistic music without getting overly pretentious about it. a flagship band for freaky folk-punk fans of Jason Webley, Gogol Bordello, & the Decemberists. here’s to another 10 years of songs about painful Mexican food, small farm animals, & lots & lots of drinking!

[chiddythekidd]

Local music for sale! (soon)

I’m beginning to work on a new project today. fueled by a great idea from my dear friend/little(r) sister/ & fellow trident heartian, sunny, I'm going to be installing a cd rack at here comes the sun coffee house in montara & will be selling cds from the many incredible local musicians who call montara (& the coast) home. specifically featuring music from the folks who work with me at the cafe, we will also include other artists with strong ties to the coffee shop. ill probably also include a section on my website devoted to these musicians as well. stay tuned for more information soon, & to get a taste of what we will be offering, come check out our open mic on Jan 20th!

[chiddythekidd]

Check out Extraordinary X-Men (2015-) #17 on @comixology

its not often a comic book can get you all verklempt, but this issue did it for me. to anyone who doubts that comic books can be just as emotionally poignant & powerful as any other form of media, I implore you to read this issue!