Peerless pop: Social Studies at Hemlock Tavern. All photos by Jen Snyder.
By Jen Snyder
I used to have this ridiculous tendency to annually denounce everything I was into and hurl myself into a new persona. This resulted in a confusing metamorphosis from punk to hippie to goth to indie rocker to grunge fan to glam kid. It was entirely exhausting - what with all the costume changes and makeovers to my album collection. It takes a bit of growing up - and a touch of laziness - to realize that it's really those standby good friends and classic tunes that really get your heart pumping. Like Social Studies.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, I found myself praising Social Studies once again for its commitment to just plain excellent pop music. During its set at the Hemlock Tavern, the outfit revitalized my love for its 2006 release, This Is the World's Biggest Hammer, drumming out the songs perfectly. The show included all your old favorites, including the epic "Sparrow," which twists and turns for minutes without losing any of its innovation and heat.
To be honest, though I am still patiently awaiting the release of their next full-length, I don't even care if it takes them a decade to get it out there. Their performance was reminiscent of the time I saw the great Dolly Parton live. She too serenaded me with classic, perfectly manicured, and sweetly sung songs that came out exactly the way you hear them in your head. Natalia Rogovin is the only other lady aside from Parton who has gotten up onstage and done exactly what I suddenly wish I had been doing all along. The result is a dreamy jealousy that manifests itself later in your shower where you sound really awesome doing soapy renditions of the songs.
On a sadder note, the Jan. 31 show was apparently bassist Jason Kick's last. I'm sad to see that talented person leave Social Studies because it's hard to imagine them improving or changing. Thankfully the group seemingly suffered little injury when they brought in their newish guitarist Tyler McCauley. Needless to say, I'm going to keep faith.
True believers: Vows.
The opening bands were also positively awesome, making the show an all-around musical version of birthday cake. I was happy to see that the San Francisco locals of Vows have found their footing in an early Beatles pop niche. Never before has a show of theirs - and I must say I've been to a few - come off so seamlessly. Taking their time to record an album will likely be rewarding as their songs are continuing to grow and emerge, unblemished. I think it's time that the world sees Vows - now.
A band and its van: Anavan.
Also on the bill was Anavan, on tour all the way from Ketchikan, Alaska. Actually, I think they're from Los Angeles, although they'd have you believe otherwise. Anavan brought all the grungy high energy that comes from bands on extremely long tours who have basically been practicing every night since they left. They are one of those dancey-meets-spazzy bands who keeps it cute by adding high-pitched vocals and keyboards in a Alvin and the Chipmunks/Hawnay Troof-y sort of way.
Unless you're planning on making the trek to South by Southwest this March, which you really should, don't count on seeing this group anywhere near San Francisco for some time. Their MySpace page suggests that they're pretty booked till at least April. In any case Vows and Social Studies can remain your backyard go-tos, and that's not half bad.
digg •
del.icio.us •
sphere •
google
•
Comments (1)
Actually, Vows have recorded an album. It's called Everything Forevermore and it was pressed by Pirates Press in August of 2008, now available to any person(s) with $10 or proper barter items. Vows' controversially confidential second album, Mirages is currently in mixing...
Posted by Ol' Big-Ears | March 15, 2009 07:51 PM