Best of 2011 Vol.2

It took a while, but I finally pulled together volume two of my Best of 2011. Most of these songs fit into 2 rough categories: 1. electronica/chillwave stuff didn't fit in very well with the mostly Indie Rock songs I put on Vol.1 (Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, St. Vincent, Panda Bear, Cut Copy, Tune Yards), and 2. runner-up songs from artists already on Vol.1 (Michael Kiwanuka, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, John Maus). Then there's one neo-soul song (Mayer Hawthorne) and a song by one of my best friends (The Strange Mistake). Enjoy!

Best of 2011 Vol.2

Also, if you haven't already downloaded Vol.1, click here:

Best of 2011 Vol.1

Upcoming Shows

March

Friday, March 16th, Questlove will be spinning a DJ set at the Independent.  I have seen him spin before and he puts down some solid stuff, which you would expect from a music junkie like him.  The problem for me is I don't do the dancing in the club thing...and I am old.  If you enjoy getting your groove on though, I recommend checking him out.  $30 tickets can be found here.

Sharon Van Etten and The War On Drugs are coming to the Independent on Wednesday, March 21st. Tickets are $20 plus service charges and doors open at 7:30. Sharon was previously on Yes Homo Pop Princess Mix 6, and possibly some of the Indie mixes. Grab tickets for the show here. (Update: Tickets are sold out)

Bahamas was featured on Indie Mix 11 with his cover of Wreckless Eric's, "Whole Wide World."  He will be at Brick and Mortar in San Francisco on, Wednesday, March 21st.  This is the same night as the Sharon Van Etten show, but relax, the decision of which show to attend has been made for you.  Sharon Van Etten tickets have sold out, Bahamas has not.  Aren't you glad you avoided that dilemma?  Grab $8-10 tickets for Bahamas here .

Yellow Ostrich, is coming to town on, Friday, March 23rd.  I like Yellow Ostrich's covers better than his original stuff.  I bought his new LP on vinyl and I wasn't super enthralled by it.  He does interesting things and at times he has it all locked in and the end product is great.  Other times I feel like it's some abstract experimental bedroom studio tinkering that I would rather not be a part of.  Would it be wrong to go to his show and tell him to perform a whole Beach House album?  Tickets are $12 here.


April

Wednesday, April 11th, M. Ward will be playing the Fillmore.Tickets are super money, clocking in at $42 after service charges.  Is it worth it to you?  If it is get them here.








The Sandwitches have been on a couple of mixes.  The last one being Indie Mix 10.  They will be at the Brick and Mortar in the city on, Thursday, April 12th.  Tickets are $10-12 and you can get them here.

This one is a biggie for me.  This is a dude that I check tour schedules for and plot his movements on my wall map with pins and string.  Well guess what?  That string is headed straight for the Fox in Oakland.  My days spent praying have paid off.  Andrew Bird will be coming to town Friday April 13th.  Tickets are on the pricier side at $37.50 before service charges, but it's Andrew fucking Bird!!!  *Tries to whistle and just spits on himself*  He has been on at least two mixes from the blog that I can think of.  You may remember his appearance on Indie Mix 10...or maybe not.  Either way grab tickets for what is sure to be an amazing show here.

If Andrew Bird isn't your thing you have options on April 13th.  Damien Jurado, Peter Wolf Crier, and Dear Indugu will be at the Bottom of The Hill.  Damien was actually on the very first indie mix I made for this site.  I feel like we have featured Peter Wold Crier before too but maybe their name has just been floating around my ipod.  Tickets are $12 and you can get them here.

Childish Gambino will also be at the Fox in April.  He stops into town on Thursday, April 19th.  Tickets are $25 before the service charges.  He loves Asian girls and Asian girls love him...just ask SK or DANakaDAN. He sings a bit too much for me, but I have really particular taste when it comes to hip hop, actually I am not even sure if this is completely hip hop. The straight hip hop joints he has done I have enjoyed though. His comedy comes through in a lot of his raps and I appreciate a witty emcee. He also gets really personal and I give props to a rapper that is unafraid to show that part of himself on stage.  One of his songs was on Hip Hop Mix 10. Grab tickets for the show here.

Bon Iver, forever known as Bonny bear to me, will vie for your attention on the same night as the Childish Gambino show.  He will be at the Bill Graham Civic Audiotorium on Thursday, April 19th.  Dude is a grammy winner now, so watch out!!  Tickets are $45 and you can get them here.

Tennis is a solid new band with sounds that are right in our wheelhouse here at Stereofat.  I know both Tres Ouias and I have featured them on previous mixes.  They will be at the Independent on Monday, April 30th...Monday??  Damn it!!!  If you are not a 60 year old like me then this will be a great show worth attending.  They are touring in support of their sophomore album.  Tickets are $13-15 and you can get them here.




May

I always said that I didn't like bands that were big enough to play stadiums.  To this day I have never been to a stadium concert.  People who play in stadiums are Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, not exactly my cup of tea.  Stadium tickets are also super expensive and you end up being miles away from the stage.  I guess I am happy the Black Keys have made it to stadium level rockers, but I kind of doubt I will pay the ticket prices for this show at Oracle arena.  Tickets range from $47.25 to $64.30 and you can get them here.

Daptone Represent!!  Lee Fields and the Expressions are one of the few Daptone acts that I haven't managed to catch live.  That is a shame, but a shame that I can do something about.  They will be at the Brick and Mortar in SF on, Saturday, May 19th.  Tickets are a little pricer at $20-25, but they do have a lot of band members to feed.  Get yo tickets here.



June

Have you guys heard of Mayer Hawthorne?  Mayer has a headlining show at the Fillmore on, Saturday, June 16th.  Tickets will be $35 after service charges and will be available to purchase right here on March 4th.  He will also have a show with Foster The People as the headliners on Friday, June 29th at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Tickets for that will be $37.50 and they are available here.