Mesh Magazine

I caught New York Ninjas (who, inexplicably, hail from Southern California) at the Stork Club on Saturday. The band blended late ’70s, early ’80s style punk rock with, well, Ninja-influenced lyrics, fog machines and confetti and was incredibly entertaining. Headlining the show was Chicago’s Flatfoot 56, who kicked out Irish-style punk rock, complete with mandolin, reminiscent of Flogging Molly. The show also served as a CD release party for Cliff Greenwood, who laid down roots punk rock with his backing band The Monsters. Unfortunately though, Mr. Greenwood’s CDs didn’t arrive, which I think he planned as a statement on the record industry and a show of solidarity with the Greenwood brothers’ band.


Photos by Brian Brophy. More photos and a New York Ninjas mp3 after the jump.
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Friend of Mesh Jason Cassidy started an MP3 blog today, Your New Favorite Song, where he promises to feature one new favorite song per day, five days per week, everything from ’80s-era Paul-Simon-sounding indie rock to Kelly Clarkson to Bone Thugs featuring Akon. Jason hails from Chico, California (that all-important tour stop between Portland and San Francisco), where he plays music, writes about music, and organizes shows.

Photo by Amanda Lopez.

East Bay noise rockers XBXRX released their new album, Wars, today on on Polyvinyl Records. The entire album can be streamed now on MP3.com. The band also announced a video contest open to you, the fans:

“In an effort to keep fans involved in their music as much as possible, xbxrx are having a video contest for “Center Where Sight”, a song from their new album Wars. Fans are encouraged to submit videos for the song and the winners will be judged by the band, along with Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Matmos, and Jenny Hoyston from Erase Errata.

Though they can’t guarantee its condition, the first prize winner will receive the guitar used on the Wars tour (see dates below) as well as a poster and sticker. Second and third place winners will receive a copy of Wars and a guest list spot when the band plays their town. Entries will start being accepted now until May 22nd. Winners will be announced on June 10th.

Submissions can be made by email – xbxrxvideo@yahoo.com – or post office (DVDR is preferable) at:
XBXRX
Center Where Sight Video Contest
P.O. Box 3648
Oakland, CA 94609″

Tour dates after the jump.
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Turn Records, home to the likes of Citizens Here and Abroad, Calling All Monsters, and Thee More Shallowes (Who recently signed to Anticon) has just released The Dying Californian’s new album, Coarsegold today. The band expands on their Americana-pop sound on the album, with slightly blues-tinged melodies and sugary harmonies.

Listen to “Blurred Just the Same” off of Coarsegold.

The Mesh Mix is back on 93.7FM in San Francisco, www.westaddradio.com on the internet, or download the MP3 by clicking the flyer below.

Songs by Peter, Bjorn & John, The Evens, Les Savy Fav, The Mall, Xiu Xiu, Wolf Parade, Tommy Guerrero, Appleseed Cast, Tartufi, Trail of Dead, Bill Withers, Sleater Kinney, Elliott Smith, The Fucking Ocean, TV on The Radio & Arcade Fire.

Rancid return to the Bay Area after a long absence with two shows at The Warfield tonight and tomorrow. (They also played at Thrasher Magazine’s party at Great American Music Hall last night). Tickets are $23, all ages.

The band is working on new material for a Spring 2007 release, in the meantime, listen to “Sidekick” off of Rancid’s 1994 release, Let’s Go.

Kashmere Stage Band
Texas Thunder Soul 1968 – 1974
Now Again

This impressive collection of gritty instrumental funk and soul music was captured in the six years that the Kashmere Stage Band was under the guidance of band leader Conrad O. Johnson, and it’s especially impressive considering that Johnson was a high school music teacher and the Kashmere Stage Band was a high school big band. This group of young players was so adept and so talented at such a young age that these recordings could pass as the work of seasoned veteran funk and soul musicians. There are some well composed originals and a fair amount of cover tunes on this release, and it’s all given exuberant life by these young players, whose signature is left through amazing soloing and some of the tightest in-the-pocket playing south of Motown.
– Max Sidman

Listen to “I Wish” by Kashmere Stage Band. 

Oakland’s The Mass creates crushing metal that blends thrash and off-kilter time signatures with an undeniable jazz influence from saxophonist Matt Walters. The band’s last release, 2005’s Perfect Picture of Wisdom & Boldness showed that their sound had evolved tremendously from their debut full-length City of Dis with prog-like dynamics taking the music to much more interesting places. The band plays tonight at Annie’s Social Club. Openers Walken claim that “power, speed, and volume are our weapons,” and from what we’ve heard, we can’t disagree. The show 21+ and $6.
Listen to “This Is Your Final Dream” by The Mass.

Take Root Records is a new label with a small (one band) roster, but ambitious plans and a recording studio (Take Root Recording) that has already recorded the likes of Ludicra, Le Plebe, The Black Furies and Tim Bluhm. The label’s initial signing is Bellavista, which features members of Vue (Sub Pop). The band creates lush, fuzzed-out songs with pounding drums and a sound so large, it defies the fact that the band is a trio.

Bellavista is headlining Take Root Records’ launch party Thursday, December 13th at The Rickshaw Stop, with Immigrant (ex-Evening), who recently toured the West Coast with The Killers, plus DJs Bertie (Blow Up), Brian (Scissors for Lefty) and Baby Ryan. The show is only $5.
Take a listen to the tom-heavy “River of Lust” by Bellavista.

Bella Vista River of Lust MP3