Rosey's Diary: November 22-27, 2011

It's been a weird week for me for reasons I don't really want to go into, but today it was punctuated by an internet troll talking shit on Twitter and to you, little troll, I hope you get a life. I love social media and know that my life and my work are very public and thus subject to criticism, but when stalkers and trolls hang around, sometimes it makes me rethink living out loud. However, instead of pulling back, I'll once again give you another installment of my diary. All after the jump.

Tomorrow: Noah and the Whale at House of Blues Anaheim

This is a song for anyone with a broken heart. This is a song for anyone who can't get out of bed. I'll do anything to be happy. Oh, 'cos blue skies are coming. But I know that it's hard.

The last time Noah and the Whale toured through San Diego, I was working the door, so while I had an amazing time listening to the band soundcheck to an empty room, I didn't get to catch much of the actual show. Fortunately I got wind that the band is playing at the House of Blues in Anaheim tomorrow, so while many of you might be at the Morrissey show in Escondido, I will be smack in the middle of Downtown Disney. Tickets are available for the show, so if you're looking for a Tuesday getaway, I'd say it is worth the drive.

This is the last San Diego show, filmed by this amazing guy named Blake who I like to think of as a kindred spirit.

Noah and the Whale Tour Kickoff Video

!!! At the Noah and the Whale show, I gave a stranger my card because I saw him shooting video, and just now, Blake sent me his video and he filmed the entire show without interruption. Now I can have that cathartic cry during "Give A Little Love" that I held back from on Tuesday. The sound is phenomenal. Now you have evidence of the show you missed. One thousand thank yous to Blake.

Bahamas + Noah and the Whale Tour Kick-Off Images

[ed. note: As promised, these are photos from Phillip DeFalco. See more photos by clicking 'keep on reading' at the bottom of this post.]

Noah and the Whale Kick Off Tour In San Diego: May 24, 2011

On Tuesday night, I was quite excited to be working at the Noah and the Whale/Bahamas show. I've recruited Phil, another photographer for shows, so he'll be posting some photos later, but in the meantime, I thought I'd give a little rundown of the show.
As I've been endlessly whining about,I've had kind of a shit week and kinda felt on the edge of...well, something...it felt like nothing I was doing was worth anything and I've been feeling really delicate, like one more little thing happens and I'm just going to lose it. I only say all of this because I wasn't prepared for just how emotional and eventually cathartic this show ended up being. I got there early...around 5:45...and walked in on Noah and the Whale soundchecking with "Blue Skies".

This is a song for anyone with a broken heart
This is a song for anyone who can't get out of bed
I'll do anything to be happy
Oh, cos blue skies are coming
But I know that it's hard

So imagine walking in all fragile and being one of 4 people in a room as Charlie sings this. Talk about intense. The rest of the soundcheck was more rockin and we just cleaned up loose ends before opening doors at 7. I was taking tickets at the front door, but we got everyone in really quickly because we didn't have stamps or wristbands or ID checks or anything like that. This ultimately meant that those of us working were able to peek in on the show. We were blown away by Bahamas...guitar, drums, and two women singing backup harmonies. They were phenomenal and I suggest seeing them if and when they come to a town near you. They felt really appropriate at the Woman's Club...it felt timeless, like you could've walked into the room with that band performing in 1955, 1965, 1975 and it would've felt exactly the same which is a pretty rare quality for a musician/band to have. You can check out Bahamas' Daytrotter Session here.

When Noah and the Whale came on at 8:30, we didn't have much to do in the lobby, so I went in for the first song and almost had a total meltdown. It was "Give A Little Love"

Well I know my death will not come
'Til I breathe all the air out my lungs
'Til my final tune is sung
That all is fleeting
Yeah, but all is good
And my love is my whole being
And I've shared what I could
But if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart

Well my heart is bigger than the earth
And though life is what gave it love first
Life is not all that it's worth
'Cause life is fleeting
Yeah, but I love you
And my love surrounds you like an ether
In everything that you do
But if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own
Don't break his heart

Well if you are (what you love)
And you do (what you love)
I will always be the sun and moon to you
And if you share (with your heart)
Yeah, you give (with your heart)
What you share with the world is what it keeps of you

The rest of the show was equally intense, and the production, sound, and lights were amazing, impacting the half full room that much more. It really did bum me out that this show wasn't a sell out because Noah and the Whale are amazing with every performance, but at the same time, a half house with passionate fans is a far more comfortable show. At the end of the show, I was filming the final song of the encore, "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N", and I looked to my left and there was a guy filming and wiping tears from his eyes. It was pretty amazing to see that I wasn't the only one completely moved by this show.

Jeff's Weekly Pick: Noah and The Whale @ San Diego Women's Club Tuesday May 24, 2011

Noah and The Whale, an indie folk rock band from London, will be making the first stop of their upcoming tour this Tuesday in San Diego. This show will be taking place at the intimate San Diego Women’s Club in Banker’s Hill. First and foremost, this is an all ages venue, so there is no reason not to attend. The last time the band was in town, they played a heartwarming set at The Casbah.
Noah and The Whale burst onto the scene with the release of Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down in 2008. Lead singer Charlie Fink wrote all of the songs on the album, and the result was nothing short of amazing for the young band. Former backup vocalist and one time girlfriend Laura Marling became the focal point for the band’s sophomore effort, The First Days of Spring. It became apparent that Mr. Fink and company had moved on from that relationship with a new batch of songs and a new sense of purpose. In a sense, the growth of the band’s music reflects the band members themselves maturing in real life. Moving to the present, Noah and The Whale recently released its third full length, Last Night on Earth, to mixed reviews. This is definitely the most polished production to date, but the folk leanings have almost disappeared on this record. This only shows the band’s willingness to step outside the box and try something different. The songs move with an almost effortless rhythm, which results in a rewarding and pleasant listen.
It promises to be a great evening with the band performing stateside in the comfortable room at the historic building. Having witnessed a number of shows there, I am always impressed with the sound quality and sight lines (not a bad spot in the room). If you were on the fence about attending, do yourself the favor of going to see one of Britain’s youngest and best bands. You will thanking yourself as the songs remain on repeat in your mind long after the show ends.

Bahamas sets the stage.

Wath a video of L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N below.

The Black Cat Is Open For Business....and other stuff

Today was quite a productive day. After skipping two weeks of meetings, we had a lot to talk about at the Casbah today. We were stoked about the number of sell-out shows recently...The Greenhornes, ManMan, Chris Robinson, Low Volts, Pinback, and even Urge Overkill was only about 5 tickets from sell out, so we'll put that in the win category, but we have a lot of shows coming up...some, like Yelle and Jenny and Johnny and Yeasayer had tickets fly out the door, but others...well, let's just be frank...we need to move some tickets. Noah and the Whale has consistently done well at the Casbah, and we moved them up to the San Diego Woman's Club to offer a larger capacity all ages show...BUY YOUR TICKETS. The band is amazing and we want them to keep coming around. Check out this cool movie you can watch about the making of their record. Here's a free download of "Give It All Back", and check out the video of "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." below:



The show takes place on May 24th at the San Diego Woman's Club. Bahamas opens.

After our meeting, we had a wonderful lunch at Mama Testa. I used to think it was an Italian restaurant, but it has become one of my favorite taco shops in town and Cesar is awesome, so pay them a visit and try the fish tacos or the Buey Menso. Trust me. Their salsa bar alone is worth the trip.

From there, we checked out the Black Cat. This is a new spot in City Heights, and the new owners celebrated the grand opening last week. It's on Van Dyke and University and is a cool spot to get you out of North Park. I say make a night of hopping from Til Two to Tower to Black Cat and then call a cab because you'll get liquored up on the cheap, or make it a pre-Soda Bar/Eleven stop. The bar is open from 11am-2am daily, has two pool tables, a loft space for private seating, some large cozy booths, a small stage (in hopes of getting a cabaret license), and they've got wi-fi (of course I asked!!). The building has been around since the 20s, was originally a bank, but has seen many bar owners since the 50s. Good luck to Matt and his new spot. Go support!

After our quick stop, we went to ArtLab, which is jon Block's office and a community art space. I incorrectly said it is the new home of Sight and Sound, but that is still gonna be at Queen Bee's. The Saturday event features Republic of Letters’ CD release party, the solo debut for Get Back Loretta’s Kevin Martin, the Spanish acoustic dance band Todo Mundo, live improv comedy from Roar Theatre, Prosperity Dance Company, hip-hop rhymes from Destructo Bunny. Open mic legend Jefferson Jay emcess. Group art show will be curated by Alli Bautista. There will be an interactive drum circle from Bliss Music Therapy. Video art from Kinetic Collage.

Tickets are $12, but if you buy them in advance, they're only $10 and include a complimentary cocktail. Get tickets here.

Just a normal Wednesday. Along the way I answered a bajillion emails, texts, picked up a new client, got one step closer to a trip to New York, and now it's time to get ready for a night out to see Federico Aubele at Anthology and The Tree Ring at the Casbah.

just another day in the life of a blogger.

Jeff's Weekly Pick: Laura Marling @ Casbah, February 3

Though not primarily recognized as a singer/songwriter venue, The Casbah hosts the talented British songstress Laura Marling this Wednesday February 3.

Laura burst onto the UK scene at the tender age of 16, joining Noah and The Whale, an up and coming indie folk band in their own right. She performed on their debut album and had a romantic relationship with lead singer Charlie Fink. Laura has personally moved on to focus primarily on her solo career. Her debut full length, Alas I Cannot Swim, was well received, resulting in a Mercury Prize nomination in 2008 (a great honor indeed).

Her sophomore effort, I Speak Because I Can, is scheduled for a March release. After a brief stint in Australia, Laura will be making her 2010 US debut at The Casbah on Wednesday. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel set the stage.

Watch “Devil’s Spoke” from her upcoming album, below.


Laura Marling - Devil's Spoke

Laura Marling | MySpace Music Videos

Noah & The Whale, Robert Francis @ Casbah, 10.21.09

I already posted about Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, and The Builders and The Butchers at the House of Blues on October 20, so if I'm gonna do this sequentially, I'll jump to Wednesday night. While most of my friends were at the sold out Grizzly Bear show at Belly Up, I was more interested in Noah & The Whale and Robert Francis at the Casbah, but it was certainly obvious that the former affected attendance at the latter.

I'd been hearing a lot of buzz about Robert Francis, and after seeing him, it was obvious why. His hearttfelt songs were still gritty enough to give him an edge. The show was just a day after the CD was released and his excitement was palatable. This particular song struck me, and I was glad he'd taken my suggestion to turn off the fan.



I saw Noah & The Whale at Coachella and remembered being bummed that I missed most of their set, so for this show I was right up front to soak it all in, especially because their new record, The First Days of Spring, had been playing incessantly on my stereo since it's release on October 6. The band certainly delivered a stellar performance. They joked that they'd gone to the zoo while in town, but then were attacked by a Grizzly Bear, an obvious acknowledgement of the underwhelming attendance. It didn't matter, though, they still played an amazing set of music for those of us there to bear witness. I shot a bunch of videos and unfortunately the humming of the fan is a bit overpowering, but you can still tell how lovely a performance it was.

The rest of the Robert Francis and Noah & The Whale videos if you 'keep on reading'.

Tonight At Casbah: Don't miss Noah & The Whale

Noah & The Whale was one of my favorite surprises at Coachella this year, and they're playing a very limited U.S. tour. They played L.A. last night and will be at Casbah tonight. Their new record, The First Days of Spring, dropped on October 6th, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the year.

The First Days Of Spring - Noah And The Whale

Here's their press:

Noah and the Whale’s new album The First Days of Spring (Cherrytree/Interscope) is a staggering multi-media experience that has earned the band gushing reviews and sold out shows in Europe. The Guardian (U.K.) raved about the album’s vivid imagery, saying, "It is also a masterpiece. That, at least, is crystal clear." NME called it a work of "Spiritualized-tinged grandiose beauty." The Observer (U.K.) warned, "Sufjan Stevens had better watch his back… Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch has been served notice… this is a beautiful album."

There's an accompanying feature length film, and unfortunately there is no planned San Diego screening, but you can see the trailer here.

The First Days of Spring Official Trailer from charlie fink on Vimeo.

Tickets for tonight's show are $10 adv/$12 at the door. For more info on the band, click 'keep on reading'.

And in the unlikely event that the songs' lyrical tales aren't vivid enough, Fink has directed a feature-length film on a shoestring budget as a companion piece and is hosting intimate screenings as part of the band's U.S. tour, including a newly announced date at Piano's in New York on Nov. 1, the night before the band plays three consecutive evenings; residency at Mercury Lounge.

The First Days of Spring is the fruit of a labor Fink began in 2008, an album that was also a film, and as he sees it, vice versa. The album was recorded in London and New York with producer Emery Dobyns (Patti Smith, Antony & The Johnsons). The film was shot on location in London and Surrey with an ensemble cast including model Daisy Lowe.

TOUR DATES
Oct. 20 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
Oct. 21 San Diego, CA Casbah
Oct. 22 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall
Oct. 24 Seattle, WA Crocodile Café
Oct. 25 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge (early show and BBQ)
Oct. 28 Madison, WI Majestic Live
Oct. 29 Chicago, IL Lake Shore Theatre
Oct. 30 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room
Oct. 31 Toronto, ONT Horseshoe Tavern
Nov. 2 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Nov. 3 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Nov. 4 New York, NY Mercury Lounge

FILM SCREENINGS
Oct. 6 Los Angeles, CA Cinespace
Oct. 6 Dallas, TX Good Records
Oct. 8 Minneapolis, MN Bryant Lake Bow
Oct. 8 San Francisco, CA Popscene
Oct. 9 Seattle, WA Comet Tavern
Oct. 19 Los Angeles, CA Space 15 Twenty (Q&A with Charlie)
Oct. 20 New York, NY Angels & Kings
Nov. 1 New York, NY Pianos (Q&A with Charlie)