Hats Off to Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco

Rickshaw Stop - quality photo from the archive at Baytaper.com

     Hands down, our favorite concert venue in the San Francisco Bay Area is The Independent. The sound system is tailored well for the venue, the shows start at or near the advertised start time, the crowds are more respectful and appreciative of the bands than other venues, and the employees are friendly and helpful. Moreover, the layout is one we would copy if we designed our own venue – the stage is high enough for a good line of sight even by people in the back, and the rectangular shape has its long sides parallel to the front of the stage, which allows a greater percentage of the concert attendees to be near the front.

     With that said, we want to acknowledge that another venue, Rickshaw Stop, is the 2013 leader in attracting bands. It started in January, when Rickshaw Stop hosted Jessie Ware and Tom Odell in successive weeks. Better yet, Tom Odell opened for Sweden’s Urban Cone. And the venue has remained ahead of the curve in recognizing and booking artists who desire a fan base which would sellout venues far larger than Rickshaw Stop and The Independent. For example, the U.K. band Bastille is interrupting its European tour for two performances in the United States, and one will be at Rickshaw Stop. Another good example is the visit by The 1975. 

     If the personnel at Rickshaw Stop is reading this, we ask that you raise the height of the stage slightly, but that you do whatever it takes to hold onto the person (persons) responsible for bring in the talent. We also ask that you entice Ballerina Black up from Los Angeles.

     Here are songs from groups of upcoming events at Rickshaw Stop (along with a song from Ballerina Black - no, we haven't met anyone associated with the band, we just want to see them in concert). The order of the songs is not based on the order of appearances by the bands.

    Bastille will be at Rickshaw Stop on July 22, 2013

    The 1975 will be at Rickshaw Stop on July 25, 2013


    Majical Cloudz will be at Rickshaw Stop on August 24, 2013


    Young Galaxy will be at Rickshaw Stop on October 1, 2013


    Hunter Hunted will be at Rickshaw Stop on July 11, 2013


    Bastille will be at Rickshaw Stop on August 8, 2013


    Ballerina Black - we hope to see them added to the list of bands heading to Rickshaw Stop in 2013!!!