Posts Tagged ‘Vocals’
Local Licks 10/24/07
October 24th, 2007 | 
Author: Mahealani Uchiyama, Dubious Ranger, Mia Zuniga, Sergeant, and Whitey on the Moon
Reviews originally published in the East Bay Express on 11/24/07.
Mia Zuniga Stories Such as These (Love Music Records). Slick, but above all, soulful R&B: polish without pretense, barefoot and pretty, like the girl in the cover photo. Love Music, the name of the Pittsburg native’s record label, is a perfect fit, for Stories Such as These is a total pleasure.
Mahealani Uchiyama A Walk by the Sea (Dancetera). Inspired by her African and Native American ancestry, Uchiyama sings in Hawaiian, Tahitian, and other languages over beautifully percussive music about a search for home and identity.
Dubious Ranger Even These Things Tell Stories (Nothing Room Records). Try as they might to downplay the They Might Be Giants silliness in their music for hip post-punk influences like Television and Pavement, the members of Dubious Ranger aren’t fooling anyone. Still, they could’ve done worse.
Sergeant Midnight to Midnight (self-released). There’s not a lot going on here beyond Keli Reule’s intense vocals — sweeping from a dark pop-star croon to the searing growl of the Distillers’ Brody Dalle — which save this brooding, artsy indie-rock record from the cut-out bin.
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Sleepyboy Moe
MySpace (listen to “Lucky Son,” “Dreamy Windows”
Official site
Hometown: Oakland
Next local show: 11/28, The Stork Club
Recent release: The Sleepyboy Moe Tapes, 2006
When it comes to homegrown East Bay music, Sleepyboy Moe is the real deal. Shaun Wargowsky, the man behind the name, moved to Oakland in 2005 and immediately became active in the local scene. The singer/bassist/guitarist began performing solo and with drummer Lindsay Cooper (of nicely named Oakland band Espionage a Trios) at small venues including Epic Arts in Berkeley. He recorded his debut CD, The Sleepyboy Moe Tapes, entirely in analog in Oakland and Berkeley. And his CD release party will take place Tuesday at The Stork Club in Oakland.
The May Fire
MySpace (listen to “Red Eye,” “Right and Wrong”)
Official site
Hometown: San Francisco
Next local show: None planned
Recent release: Right and Wrong, 2006
Is that a cowbell we hear? The leadoff track on the May Fire’s debut disc is loaded with it — bangin’ out the quarter notes a la “Don’t Fear the Reaper” through every verse. Many purport to love the cowbell, but few have the guts to feature it in their official “Hello” to the world.
Fans of Elastica may appreciate the verse bassline and rhythm in the next track, “Nothing Today.” The song wraps up with a guitar solo that screams White Stripes. This is good, mind you — as they say, sometimes innovation is overrated. And if you’re looking for something unique, try their backstory. Singer/guitarist Catty Tasso hails from Chile, while drummer El Pipe is from Colombia. The two met in Los Angeles in 2004, then moved to San Francisco. Needless to say, they have a strong Latino following.