In her sixth studio album, British Folk singer, Laura Marling, delves into the complexities of femininity and female relationships. The album title, Semper Femina, a term borrowed from Latin, translates to “always a woman.” The phrase, popularized by a misogynistic line in Virgil’s “The Aeneid” – “A woman is an ever fickle and changeable thing,” is reclaimed and used as a tool of empowerment by Marling on the track, “Nouel.” Marling’s soft demeanor demands attention from the listener: from the the jagged baseline of the opener, “Soothing,” to the closing track’s somber refrain (“once it’s gone, it’s gone,”) Marling’s latest LP is a quiet, commanding force to be reckoned with.
On this day in 1985, supergroup “USA for Africa” hit Number 1 on the US singles chart with their charity song, “We Are the World.” Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie (who also lent their vocals to the track), and produced by Quincy Jones, the single was arranged to raise money for African famine relief efforts. The recording of “We Are the World” brought together some of the most famous recording artists of the time, including: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Ray Charles. Sales of the benefit single – which exceeded over 20 million copies – combined with merchandise sales, raised over $63 million for the famine relief fund, which corresponds to $138 million today. “We Are the World” enjoyed critical success as well, receiving three Grammy Awards, including one for “Song of the Year.” A remake of the original song, “We Are the World 25 for Haiti,” was produced and recorded in 2010 after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, causing massive devastation for the country. Watch the original and the remake below.
For us at Blackfire Research, April is shaping up to be a music lover’s dream. From newly-minted breakout stars to the return of 60’s psychedelic rock, the San Francisco Bay Area is playing host to a number of highly anticipated concerts this month.
On Saturday, April 15, English indie pop group, The xx, comes to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in downtown San Francisco as part of their North American tour promoting their latest album, “I See You.” Accompanying them is breakout artist, Sampha, who just recently released his debut album, “Process” to rave reviews and stunning critical acclaim. For tickets, click here.
Radiohead returns to The Greek Theatre in Berkeley for a two night, sold out engagement on April 17 & 18. The beautiful outdoor amphitheater, located at the start of the Berkeley Foothills, adjacent to The University of California campus, is the perfect venue to reconnect with everyone’s favorite 90’s rock band.
Also making an appearance in Berkeley this month: The Zombies. Journey back in time as the iconic 60’s psychedelic rock band performs at The UC Theatre on April 25 as part of the First Anniversary Show celebrating the remodeling and reopening of this historic venue. Tickets are on sale now.
Winner of Best Rap Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards, Chicago native, Chance the Rapper, takes his critically acclaimed “Coloring Book,” on the road, performing to an already sold out crowd at the Oracle Arena in Oakland on April 26. In addition to his massively successful solo career, Chance lends his talents on other influential albums, such as Kanye West’s “The Life of Pablo.” Recently, Chance made headlines when he donated $1 Million to the Chicago Public School system, garnering high praise from another well-known CPS alum, Michelle Obama, who took to Twitter to thank Chance for his generosity, branding him as a leading “example of the power of arts education.”
R&B chart topper, The Weeknd, will be making a stop at San Jose’s SAP Center on Friday, April 28 for part of his first World Tour, Starboy: Legend of the Fall. The award winner’s sophomore album, “Starboy,” was released last November and chronicles the aftermath of the artist’s newfound fame. Tickets are on sale now.
British folk singer, Laura Marling, who just released her sixth studio album, “Semper Femina,” to rave reviews, will be gracing The Fillmore stage in San Francisco on April 30. Marling’s placid stage demeanor, coupled with the richly poetic language of her lyrics, accentuates the hypnotic effect she holds over an audience. Experience the magic, you won’t regret it.
On that same night, iconic American folk singer and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, David Crosby, will be performing at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. In addition to his classic hits, Crosby will be performing songs from his latest solo album, “Croz,” as well as pieces from an upcoming album titled “Sky Trails.” For more information, click here.
What concerts or events are you most excited for this April? Let us know in the comments section!
Dirty Projectors frontman, Dave Longstreth, has suffered through a multitude of lineup changes throughout his band’s 15 year stretch, but no shake-up has been more devastating than Amber Coffman’s departure. With this split from his girlfriend and final bandmate, Longstreth is solo once more. Coffman’s vocals were a staple of the band’s unique, Brooklynite, indie-pop style, and on Longstreth’s latest album, Dirty Projectors, her absence haunts every lyric. Longstreth is mournful – painting, in broad strokes, images of love, loss, and loneliness. Sonically, the album spins from one bold arrangement to the next. In all his isolation, Longstreth has made time for collaboration, the standout being “Cool Your Heart,” a whirling, calypso pop jam featuring DΔWN and co-written by Solange.
On this day in 1974, Billy Joel earned his first Billboard Top 40 Hit with his now iconic bar ballad, “Piano Man.” The song was only moderately successful during the time of its debut, peaking at #25 on the US charts. However, it wasn’t until after the release of Joel’s 1977 album, “The Stranger,” which launched him into superstardom, that “Piano Man” gained notoriety, becoming his most well-known lyric. The song, written by Joel, is a re-telling of his own experience working as a piano-lounge singer in Los Angeles between 1972 and 1973 while negotiating a split from his first recording label, Family Productions. The large cast of characters that appear in the song are all based on real people who would frequent the bar: “The Waitress” who’s “practicing politics” actually refers to Joel’s first wife, Elizabeth Weber, who worked as a waitress in the bar on the nights Joel sang. In 2016, “Piano Man” was one of twenty-five recordings selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, citing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Drink up!
