England’s rising pop-punk sensation SHARKS played the Fox Theater on Saturday night, sharing the stage with Social Distortion for the second night in a row. With their brash and impulsive strain of the slamming pop-punk genre, the group proved to many that night that it still has a place in today’s music scene. Their tight-nit power chords and chanting melodies rang throughout the Fox Theater that evening, enticing the crowd along the way.

Traveling all the way out from the UK, the band played crowd favorites off of their debut full-lengthThe Joys of Living 2008-2010, while also providing a sneak peak at their new record dubbed, No Gods, due to be released March 19th on Rise Records.

This article was republished at Thrillcall.

RE:Generation is a video series featuring five famous DJs collaborating with a slew of popular artists. The promotional project was assembled by Hyundai, and features Mark Ronson, Skrillex, Pretty Lights, DJ Premier, and Crystal Method collaborating with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Berkelee Symphony, Nas, Trombone Shorty and more. Not too long ago we shared the collaboration between Ms. Badu and Ronson.

The film premiers in two theaters at the Metreon this Thursday (2.16) as the first official event for Noise Pop Festival (which stay tuned for more coverage later this week). We’ve included one of our favorite videos that features DJ Premier, The Berkelee Symphony and Nas. If you didn’t know, after gaining fame as one of hip hop’s top producers, Premier received formal training in classical composition.

If you’re interested, download the RE:Generation soundtrack.

I honestly could care less about the Grammy, but found Deadmau5′s prank on Skrillex too savory to pass. Deadmau5 walked the red carpet wearing a black t-shirt printed with Skrillex’s phone number and a message that read “U Mad Bro?” How could he after winning three Grammys? For good measure, Deadmau5 tweeted to his 800k Twitter to be sure that the joke didn’t get lost.

My question though, is this really all in the name of fun or is Deadmau5 jealous?

Also, isn’t Cults the original Lana Del Ray blurred-crossover-controversy? Everyone upheld them as this DIY band bursting onto the scene with their EP, only later to learn they were groomed by a major, and precedingly dropped by the indie buzz scene like rotten food.

Thanks to LB4YB for the heads up.

I have a crush. Well I have two crushes to the chagrin of my girlfriend. One is on Annie Clarke. Yes, I know. Who doesn’t? Sorry Annie. So you know, you’re music comes first to me and then your beauty. I swear that’s not a line. Sorry girlfriend.

Now, my second crush is on Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear. Well hell, Grizzly Bear and the whole group do just fine by me. Everyone who gushes over Wilco, Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel or the equivocal–Grizzly Bear is my musical utopia. And for shits and giggles, just to clarify, my love for Grizzly Bear can not be summed up by this video below.

No. No it goes far deeper than that.

Download Mp3 – Daniel Rossen – “Silent Song”

And one more bonus track..

Just let the cawing violin repeat. Let it repeat.

“Red, and yellow, green, These things are blurring /  Red, and yellow, green, These things are blurring /  You say we’re all snow / You say we’re all snow / You say we’re all snow”

“Life is gone, life is gone, life is gone..life is gone…”

Isn’t it captivating?

We’ve made no secret of it, Labyrinth Ear is one of our favorite premiering groups. I’m still in love with their remix of Arthur Russel “Walk on The Moon.” Hell, we even featured Labyrinth Ear for good measure. Basically, hello, HELLO, Labyrinth Ear this is SF Critic saying uhm, “Call me?”

Ha, alright–here’s another recent track called “Humble.”

Whether this is a personal reflection or not, her most recent album cover might suggest her efforts to change her public persona (with it’s bizarre twist showing the silouhette of a mouth); which dramatically shifts from the glamorous, though intended to be bizarre (based on our interview with St. Vicent), face shots that we came to expect after her first two albums.

Download Mp3 – St. Vincent: “Cheerleader”

San Francisco natives “Weekend” took their lo-fi, noise pop sound to The New Parrish in Oakland last Wednesday night. The group shared the stage with fellow local Luis Vasquez; founder of the up and coming post-punk project, “Soft Moon.”

Weekend chose to only shine two lonely lights upon the stage that evening, resulting in a stark, almost noir like setting. Their simple, yet confounded sound echoed throughout the venue with their effective blend of dark and melodic songwriting. The photos in this piece are a reflection of this.

Their newest release Sports, which received high marks by Pitchfork and other notable critics, is available through iTunes and your local record shop.

The Rap is a series of op-eds with mp3s that highlight local musicians and upcoming events in the Bay Area. Each week a band writes about their favorite local band, and the following week, the band that was chosen gets to chooses their favorite Bay Area group.

If you’re a Bay Area musician and would like to participate please contact us (David [at] SFCritic.com).

Written by Adam Dragland of Team Candy

Long before Blink 182 and Simple Plan did to their genre what Nickelback did to alternative rock, there were bands much like Airfix Kits defining a new style of music called punk.  This bay area trio is proof that it can be as much fun today as it was back then.  Real punk is lively music with a smart ass wit and a straight-ahead beat.  The rebellion, the angst, the attitude: it’s all there, but implied.  Why whine about the pain and injustices of life when you can snicker and entice your audience to slam dance them away?

Airfix Kits strip punk rock down to it’s Clash-flavored skeleton and brings it alive.  Their shows are fast and chaotic, always every bit as loud as good rocking demands.  Bassist Alan Kasameyer is the embodiment of their energy, channelling Mike Watt from The Minutemen in style as he flails his way across every inch of the stage.  The veteran of Your Mother and Giant Haystacks’ right hand becomes a blur of bass thumping motion; you literally can’t make out a distinct finger while he’s playing.  This freedom to groove is a testament to the steady and often pounding drums provided by Phil Lantz.  Meanwhile, singer/guitarist Allan McNaughton (also formerly of Giant Haystacks) plays the straight man to his rhythm section’s madness.  His bright clean guitar tone, Scottish accent, and dry sense of humor are the perfect contrast.  McNaughton remains firmly anchored in the song while the music spins around him.

The make or break aspect of any band is their songs, and Airfix Kits shine in this regard. Their numbers are often enhanced with call and response where everyone gets in on the action.  “Playing Both Sides” does this quite tastefully, fitting for a song about a two-timing lady.  It’s the kind of tune that demands the whole club shout the refrain in unison.  “Flex Time” may be the band’s finest moment.  It’s a song about surviving the dreaded workday that would make Frankie Goes To Hollywood smile.  How can you not love a breakdown to drums and punkapella in the middle of a song? Moments like this need to be experienced live to truly appreciate, and that’s the way music should be.

Catch the Airfix Kits February 17th at The Hemlock!

Download Mp3 – Airfix Kits: “Playing Both Sides”

Download Mp3 – Airfix Kits: “Flex Time”

About The Author:

Adam Dragland is the singer and guitarist for the San Francisco rock band Team Candy.  They’ve just released “The Tenderloin Sessions”, a 3 song demo that can be downloaded for free by clicking the link. They perform tonight at Brick and Mortar Music Hall at 8pm.

I havent been much of a Busdriver fan in the past but I am a loyal Aesop Rock fan and I can solidly say that is the reason why this track is good. Superhand Mantra that is.

In anticipation for the release of Beaus$Eros, his seventh full-length album, along with the Aesop Rock collaboration Busdriver has released the video for Kiss Me Back to Life, which leans too heavily on a Basquiat-esque self absorbed dayglo absurdist art. The imagery is more interesting than the music.