The Preatures at The Independent – A Concert Review

      “How can we miss an opportunity to see The Preatures perform live?” That was the response to the often asked question “How can you miss an opportunity to see the Giants win the 7^th game of the World Series?”

     Admittedly, there was a temptation to bypass the concert in San Francisco in order to watch the local team battle a very good team in Kansas City. At the end of the evening, we were very pleased that the temptation was resisted. Among the highlights were (1) a strong opening act by Liverpool’s Circa Waves, (2) a rousing performance of The Preatures’ “Is This How You Feel?” and (3) a wardrobe malfunction.

     The performance by The Preatures began with “Blue Planet Eyes,” the title track from the band’s recently released album. The four male members of the band climbed the couple of steps to the stage, grabbed their instruments, and started the slow simmer that characterizes the start of the song. The current trend is for bands to begin their setlist with a high energy, “we have arrived” song. The Preatures did not follow that trend. Instead, the arrival excitement was generated by the sequence of the three appearances – band members emerging to signal the start, instruments kicking in as the actual beginning, and then the charismatic Isabella Manfredi joining by walking to the microphone to set everything in motion. It worked well for The Preatures.

     The Preatures setlist from last night is pictured in this post. They performed the twelve songs without requiring the audience to wait through a pause before an encore. That’s always appreciated. The predictable feature of the setlist was that the final song would be “Is This How You Feel?” It would be difficult for any band to follow the performance energy created during that song.

The Preatures - the setlist

      The wardrobe malfunction? Well, keep in mind that The Preatures are from Australia. So, it was an honest mistake when Isabella asked a patron if she could wear his cap as a tribute to the World Champion SF Giants. The patron agreed, but failed to mention that it was a vintage Milwaukee Brewers’ cap. No harm done – a couple of Giant caps were quickly thrown onto the stage and they were passed around among the band members. In addition to Isabella Manfredi (vocals and keyboards), the members of The Preatures are Gideon Bensen (guitar and vocals), Jack Moffitt (guitar), Thomas Champion (bass) and Luke Davison (drums). 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePreatures

Website: http://www.thepreatures.com/

Circa Waves

     Circa Waves started the evening rolling. This band from Liverpool doesn’t finesse their music; it’s more of a frontal assault. Last night, it was what the San Francisco atmosphere needed and the concert-goers responded. The members are Kieran Shudall (vocals and guitar), Sam Rourke (bass), Sian Plummer (drums) and Joe Falconer (guitar).

Circa Waves - The setlist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CircaWaves

Website: http://circawaves.com/home/

**********************************************

Additional pictures from The Preatures 

The rejected Brewers cap

Rural Alberta Advantage and July Talk – A Concert Review

     Bottom line concert impression: Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the musical knowledge of your fellow attendees. It’s impressive enough that a show sells out in the middle of a World Series that includes the local team. It’s more impressive when many in the crowd know a good percentage of the songs of an Indie band visiting from the country to the north. But it’s amazing when many in the crowd know all the lyrics to a song that is barely on your radar, despite the band having been on your radar for a while.

     Rural Alberta Advantage visited The Independent in San Francisco. The three members exhibited the connection with the audience that is consistent with their reputation. And there was some friendly “ribbing” between the two male members – “F----in’ drummers.” Rural Alberta Advantage comprises Nils Edenloff (guitar and lead vocals), Paul Banwatt (percussion), and Amy Cole (keyboard, percussion and backing vocals). Last night, Edenloff covered the role of stabilizing frontman, while Amy was the “all American girl” (all Canadian, if you hold that America is a subset of North America) who appears to be the type that would have a positive influence in any environment. Banwatt was the hard-working, drumstick-blurring band component (hard worker among three hard workers).

     “Terrified” by Rural Alberta Advantage 

     “Stamp” by Rural Alberta Advantage 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruralalberta

Website: http://www.theraa.com/

     The best way to describe the performance by July Talk might be “interestingly entertaining.” It was certainly interesting, with the embarrassment of an audience member as being the father who abandoned the “sibling” members of the band at age three (if they were siblings, their physical interactions were “just wrong”). And it was equally certain that they were entertaining, with the band banter, the provocative attire of the female member (Leah Fay), the sometimes Johnny Cash/George Thorogood vocals of the male lead (Peter Dreimanis), and the often attention-grabbing guitar play of Ian Docherty. The other two members of July Talk are bassist Josh Warburton, and drummer Danny Miles.

    “The Garden” by July Talk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julytalk

Website: http://www.julytalk.com

“Arcadia” by Fairchild – A Song Review

     “New and Improved” – For many years, that was the advertising approach of established products. Make a change in the formula of a laundry detergent and then flood the airwaves with statements that it is time to retry the product.

     Well, this is not a gimmick. “Arcadia” is new and improved. Shorten the band name, change one member, add to an already attractive guitar mix, and then let the blogosphere fall in love. Fairchild Republic is now just Fairchild. Listening to “Arcadia” is now infectious.

     Fairchild is from Gold Coast, Australia. The members are Adam Lyons (vocals), Nathan Lyons (keyboard), Tim Voeten (guitar), Patrick Huerto (guitar), Tommy Davies (bass), and James Alexander (drums). “Arcadia” will be a track on the upcoming release of “Sakako,” which is scheduled to drop in the U.S. on November 21.

    “Arcadia” by Fairchild 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearefairchild

Website: http://www.fairchildband.net/