San Francisco Weekly — August 1, 2012
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Equal-Sided Visions
Ufabulum, released in May, is Squarepusher’s 15th album in about as many years. Apart from succumbing to the high-concept headwear en vogue among the luminaries of electronic dance music (all of whom owe him a debt of one kind or another), British maxi-instrumentalist and unassuming visionary Tom Jenkinson doesn’t appear to have noticed time passing. Ufabulum is one of his best offerings yet, sharp and tuneful and just warm enough that you might not realize there’s not a single organic sound on it. To take it on tour, he also created a video synthesizer and LED lightshow — not to be missed, especially if you’ve always wanted to drop acid at a 4 p.m. screening of Tron. See Squarepusher perform with Eric Sharp at the Regency Ballroom on Thursday, Aug. 2. 8 p.m., $27-$30; theregencyballroom.com. Daniel levin Becker
Tuesday’s Free
Wood Shoppe showcases local and touring artists before they’re big at laidback Mission venue Brick and Mortar Music Hall on the first Tuesday of each month. This week’s pre-Outside Lands edition features headliner Foxygen playing DIY psych-rock out of Astoria, N.Y., joined by anthemic indie rock from L.A. outfit NO, bedroom pop from S.F.’s Dylan Shearer, and Live 105 and Popscene regular Miles the DJ. Foxygen channels the Rolling Stones on its new EP, Take the Kids off Broadway, but all of Wood Shoppe’s lineup will make a feast of free sounds for anyone who wants to discover new music. It goes down Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 8 p.m., free; www.woodshoppesf.com. Whitney Phaneuf
Scientist of Rhyme
In her video for “Woman at Work (The Song),” Psalm one (aka Cristalle Bowen) raps while dressed as a chemist, blending mysterious substances and playing to the camera while a chilly soul guitar trembles in the background. This setup is more than nifty-looking fiction, as it references Bowen’s past as a chemistry grad and professional chemist — a path she put on hold to give hip-hop a whirl. Since signing to respected indie hip-hop label Rhymesayers in 2006 and independently issuing three volumes of her Women @ Work mixtape series, the Chicago MC’s career has been simmering at a low boil. Though she could use some flash and ferocity to elevate her clever rhymes, hopefully the world will be seeing more of Psalm One’s name soon. Psalm One performs with The Hood Internet and Tanya Morgan on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at The Independent. 8:30 p.m., $12-$14; www.theindependentsf.com. Reyan ali
Wilderness at Heart
As a state with a population of over 37 million, condensing California into one container — metaphorically or otherwise — would be quite a feat. But the Brooklyn band woods attempts to do just that on “Cali in a Cup,” a handsome, laid-back, and sunlit number infused with just the right dose of harmonica. The song, which will appear on the group’s forthcoming seventh album, Bend Beyond, is another slice of warm indie-folk from the prolific and selfsufficient players also responsible for small label Woodsist and this weekend’s corresponding Woodsist Festival in Big Sur. In a 2011 interview, Woods member G Lucas Crane described his act’s aesthetic as not being about a sound but “an intent” and “heart” — an altogether believable sentiment. Woods performs with Peaking Headlights and Wet Illustrated on Friday, Aug. 3, at Great American Music Hall. 8 p.m., $16; www.slimspresents.com. Reyan ali
Ufabulum, released in May, is Squarepusher’s 15th album in about as many years. Apart from succumbing to the high-concept headwear en vogue among the luminaries of electronic dance music (all of whom owe him a debt of one kind or another), British maxi-instrumentalist and unassuming visionary Tom Jenkinson doesn’t appear to have noticed time passing. Ufabulum is one of his best offerings yet, sharp and tuneful and just warm enough that you might not realize there’s not a single organic sound on it. To take it on tour, he also created a video synthesizer and LED lightshow — not to be missed, especially if you’ve always wanted to drop acid at a 4 p.m. screening of Tron. See Squarepusher perform with Eric Sharp at the Regency Ballroom on Thursday, Aug. 2. 8 p.m., $27-$30; theregencyballroom.com. Daniel levin Becker
Tuesday’s Free
Wood Shoppe showcases local and touring artists before they’re big at laidback Mission venue Brick and Mortar Music Hall on the first Tuesday of each month. This week’s pre-Outside Lands edition features headliner Foxygen playing DIY psych-rock out of Astoria, N.Y., joined by anthemic indie rock from L.A. outfit NO, bedroom pop from S.F.’s Dylan Shearer, and Live 105 and Popscene regular Miles the DJ. Foxygen channels the Rolling Stones on its new EP, Take the Kids off Broadway, but all of Wood Shoppe’s lineup will make a feast of free sounds for anyone who wants to discover new music. It goes down Tuesday, Aug. 7, at Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 8 p.m., free; www.woodshoppesf.com. Whitney Phaneuf
Scientist of Rhyme
In her video for “Woman at Work (The Song),” Psalm one (aka Cristalle Bowen) raps while dressed as a chemist, blending mysterious substances and playing to the camera while a chilly soul guitar trembles in the background. This setup is more than nifty-looking fiction, as it references Bowen’s past as a chemistry grad and professional chemist — a path she put on hold to give hip-hop a whirl. Since signing to respected indie hip-hop label Rhymesayers in 2006 and independently issuing three volumes of her Women @ Work mixtape series, the Chicago MC’s career has been simmering at a low boil. Though she could use some flash and ferocity to elevate her clever rhymes, hopefully the world will be seeing more of Psalm One’s name soon. Psalm One performs with The Hood Internet and Tanya Morgan on Wednesday, Aug. 1, at The Independent. 8:30 p.m., $12-$14; www.theindependentsf.com. Reyan ali
Wilderness at Heart
As a state with a population of over 37 million, condensing California into one container — metaphorically or otherwise — would be quite a feat. But the Brooklyn band woods attempts to do just that on “Cali in a Cup,” a handsome, laid-back, and sunlit number infused with just the right dose of harmonica. The song, which will appear on the group’s forthcoming seventh album, Bend Beyond, is another slice of warm indie-folk from the prolific and selfsufficient players also responsible for small label Woodsist and this weekend’s corresponding Woodsist Festival in Big Sur. In a 2011 interview, Woods member G Lucas Crane described his act’s aesthetic as not being about a sound but “an intent” and “heart” — an altogether believable sentiment. Woods performs with Peaking Headlights and Wet Illustrated on Friday, Aug. 3, at Great American Music Hall. 8 p.m., $16; www.slimspresents.com. Reyan ali
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