Jack Rabid of The Big Takeover on Leopold and His Fiction

The Big Takeover's infamous scribe Jack Rabid gave us a sneak peak at his glowing review of Leopold and His Fiction's Golden Friends EP before the next issue of The Big Takeover hits stands.

"This six-song EP is really a two-song teaser for a forthcoming third LP, with two songs each from last year’s Ain’t No Surprise and 2006’s self-titled debut added. Having reviewed Ain’t in issue 63, the new approach foreshadowed by “Golden Friends” and “Throne” is interesting torment. It’s hard to tell from such limited sample if the San Francisco trio are fully modifying their dirty-roots rock, gut-bucket shake ‘n’ shimmy that had me reaching for Gun Club, Tex & the Horseheads, Flesheaters, and Pontiac Brothers references. But with Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers) producing, the lighter swamp blues soul of “Golden” is something I could hear Tom Waits howling in a graveyard—although Daniel James’ molasses voice is plenty sexy. “Throne” is just his voice and mostly just a quiet electric guitar playing a line like The Beatles’ “Something.” Bring on the LP." Click Here to Read More..

Tired of Technology? This Video is For You.

I like the word ironic. A lot. However, I tend to be a walking Alanis Morissette song with my misuse of it. I'm telling your right now that what I'm about to ask you to do is ironic in it's truest sense. The only thing wrong about it is the fact that it goes completely against the entire message of the video.

So listen to East Bay Express (who deemed this a Video of the Day) when they tell you to share this on your Facebook. Also share it on Last.fm, Twitter, Blip.fm and MySpace for that matter. And if you aren't near your computer there is always your iphone, ipad, Blackberry, Droid or Sidekick.

If you're in San Francisco, and prefer the real world to the virtual, head out to Midnight Strangers' Record Release Party at Hemlock Tavern on Saturday, April 17th. If you tune in to KALX you might even be the lucky winner of a pair of tickets. Don't want to take the risk of missing out, buy your tickets in advance!


The Future Of Humanity from Midnight Strangers on Vimeo. Click Here to Read More..

"Golden Friends" by Leopold and His Fiction Keeps Gaining Momentum

Praise for Leopold And His Fiction's track "Golden Friends," continues to earn fabulous reviews, and is no exception for the website Foundwaves.
"Songs by the aptly named Leopold and His Fiction seem almost like short stories collected by an itinerant traveler hitchhiking his way across the country. With raspy narration by singer Daniel James, the music feels drenched in world-weary mystery, populated by the lonely souls who haunt empty bus stations, dusty back-road gas stations, and crumbling saloons."
Foundwaves describes "Golden Friends," as having, "...a slower, haunting feel, like a creeping car ride through darkly winding city streets, or perhaps a trip explored on foot while sneaking sideways glances at whiskey-breathed strangers." Read what else they had to say..... Click Here to Read More..

Addicted to technology? Yeah we are too.

Can you walk out the door without your iphone or blackberry? Do you need to check your email a hundred times a day? Now we have the ipad to the fuel the addiction. Yeah, it is a bit out of control but we still do it, don't we? San Francisco quartet Midnight Strangers couldn't have made the point more clear than they did with their short film/video  for their contemporary new-wave influenced track "The Future of Humanity."


The Future Of Humanity from Midnight Strangers on Vimeo.

If you live in the Bay Area, celebrate the release of their new album Days of Decadence with the CD release party, Saturday, April 17th at the Hemlock Tavern in their hometown.

Neo-new wave guitar rock with hints of electronics and synths, Midnight Strangers are building a fanbase of ears akin to the Killers, but with a more streamlined pop sensibility. Lead singer Chris Swimley has built a name for himself for previous albums, even earning "Best Male Alternative Vocalist of the Year" at the 2007 L.A. Music Awards. For his third solo album, he decided to bring in a band to make it a group effort. With Anthony Petrocchi on drums and Rob Pera on guitar, Midnight Strangers' live shows are full of a visceral vibe you'll bop to. Click Here to Read More..