On this day in 1989, the Godfathers of Grunge, Nirvana, released their debut studio album, “Bleach.” Kurt Cobain claimed that most of the album’s lyrics were written the night before it was to be recorded in Seattle, and that he was feeling “pissed off” while writing. The title for the album was inspired by public health posters urging drug users to bleach their needles (“Bleach Your Works.”) At the time, the band was still defining their signature sound, borrowing heavily from influences in dirge-rock, punk rock, and heavy metal. “Bleach” was well received by critics, but it wasn’t a commercial success. Interest in the band’s debut album peaked after the release of “Nevermind” in 1991.
Despite Mark Twain’s cheeky remark that “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco,” the Bay Area does have the occasional temperate day during the so-called “warmer” months. Like most major cities across the US, summertime in San Francisco is a frenzy of music festivals and outdoor concerts, because what better way is there to celebrate summer than spending time outdoors listening to excellent music? Here’s a list of outdoor concerts and festivals we’re excited for throughout June and July in the Bay Area. (Just don’t forget to bring a sweater!)
John Mellencamp is performing a two night engagement on June 13th and 14th at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California (just south of Cupertino) as part of his “Sad Clowns and Hillbillies” Tour. Listen to classics like “Jack and Diane,” “Hurts So Good,” and “Pink Houses” while taking in breathtaking views, overlooking the entire Valley. The Mountain Winery hosts it’s Annual Summer Concert Series in an outdoor amphitheater facing it’s historic, ivy-covered Winery Building. For more information, check out The Mountain Winery’s website. For ticket information, click here.
The Monterey International Pop Festival is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this summer. Founded in 1967, it was the first major rock festival, predating Woodstock, and was an influential force behind (and kickstarted) the famous Summer of Love in 1967. The original festival hosted the likes of The Jimi Hendrix Experience (their first major US performance), Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, and The Grateful Dead. Now, 50 years later, the festival, scheduled for June 16th-18th, boasts big names like Leon Bridges, Father John Misty, Regina Spektor, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Dr. Dog, and The Head and the Heart. The festival is taking place at the same location as it did 50 years ago, at The Monterey County Fairgrounds. For more information, check out their website here.
ID1OT Music Festival and Comic Conival, created and hosted by stand-up comedian, Chris Hardwick (“@midnight with Chris Hardwick”), will be taking place at The Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View on June 24th and 25th. This two-day event features musical acts on The Mainstage, such as Weezer, Girl Talk, TV on the Radio, OK GO, and Animal Collective; a Comedy Tent with comedians Demetri Martin, Michael Che, and Garfunkel & Oates performing; a Comic Book Artist’s Alley; and a Comic Conival with games, interactive displays, photo ops, and more. For more information about this unique festival, check out their website.
Australian rock legend, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, will be performing at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Saturday, June 24th. The architecture of this gorgeous outdoor amphitheater is based off of the ancient Greek theater, Epidaurus. Over the years, The Greek Theater in Berkeley has become one of the most well known, and well liked, outdoor concert venues in the Bay Area. Located at the base of the Berkeley Foothills, The Greek Theatre overlooks the city, as well as the picturesque UC Berkeley campus. The Greek Theatre is owned and operated by the University. On July 14, multi-talented musician and singer, Beck, will be performing at The Greek Theatre alongside fellow Los Angeles native, Thundercat, for what’s sure to be an unforgettable night of funk-rock. For upcoming concert information, click here.
Also on July 14, rocker Alanis Morissette will be performing at The Wente Vineyards, just south of Livermore, in the midst of the beautiful, rolling hills of the East Bay. Wente Vineyards provides a unique amphitheater experience, where guests can reserve a table for the concert and enjoy a sunset dinner provided by the Vineyard’s restaurant. So go ahead, swallow that “Jagged Little Pill” while feasting on a gourmet meal with world class wines. For more information, click here.
What outdoor concerts or festivals are you most excited for this summer?
North Carolina indie pop duo, Sylvan Esso, recently released their sophomore album, “What Now.” Their 2014 self titled debut LP, which featured the hit, “Hey Mami,” put them at the top of every indie music lover’s playlist. On “What Now,” singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn have grown into their art, continuing with the snarks and style of their humor-heavy first album. Meath’s vocals, paired with Sanborn’s beats, are just as hypnotic this time around. The opening track, “Sound,” draws listeners in through it’s delicate layering, while the album’s centerpiece, “Die Young,” is the perfect mix of textured pop and bitterness.
On this day in 1963, the classic pop single written and produced by infamous record producer, Phil Spector, “Da Doo Ron Ron,” peaked at number 3 on the US singles chart. The song, released in March, was performed by The Crystals, a prominent act in the “Girl Group Era” of the early 1960’s. The Crystals were well known before the single, but “Da Doo Ron Ron,” as well as “Then He Kissed Me,” also written and produced by Spector and released in July of that same year, made the group a household name. For the composition of “Da Doo Ron Ron,” Spector used his signature production technique. By using a multi-track recording system, Spector was able to build the song in layers, ultimately achieving a result he called a “Wall of Sound.” This “Wall of Sound,” created by a large ensemble of musicians, resulted in fuller, more dense harmonies, and therefore, ensured more engaging music for AM radio play and jukeboxes.
Earlier this year, Pioneer rolled out a new set of firmware updatesfor select A/V and hi-fi components and systems initializing Blackfire’s FireConnect wireless multi-room audio distribution. Pioneer has now released the MRX-3 Wireless Speaker featuring FireConnect by Blackfire Research for the US market, another major step in expanding the Blackfire wireless home entertainment ecosystem. With the MRX-3, your music can follow you from room to room – the speakers can be grouped to create a wireless, multi-room audio system via Blackfire’s FireConnect. Enjoy Stereo Mode thanks to Blackfire’s FireConnect Technology: simply combine two MRX-3 speakers to create a Right and Left pair. FireConnect provides reliable, fast and flexible performance, enabling dynamic, real-time wireless streaming.
The MRX-3 has Chromecast built-in, meaning, you can access streaming services through Chromecast-enabled apps. Built-in dual band WiFi also allows you to access Spotify, internet radio, and other music streaming services, directly. And, with FireConnect compatible audio products, such as multichannel or stereo A/V receivers, you can stream almost any music source, including vinyl and Hi-Res Audio files, to the MRX-3 wireless speakers, anywhere in your home.
The Pioneer MRX-3 comes in black and weighs 5.1 lbs. For more product information, visit:
