Alwaysmovinginstereo

Zola Jesus opened for the xx nearly two years ago at the Fox Theatre in Oakland, easily becoming the most pleasant surprise of the night. That's saying something considering the show was stacked, with fellow openers Warpaint being as outrageously beautiful as they are, and headliners the xx beefing up their set and presence to suit their ever-growing success. 

Sometimes you remember exactly how you felt the first time you heard a song. A song you've heard 100 times. Beyond all the memories and feelings you've since attached to it. You remember the exact drink in your hand and the friends surrounding you that regrettably you forgot you had. 

I heard "I Can't Stand" and was instantly taken, especially by her voice, so hauntingly powerful it completely enveloped the 2,800-capacity room. I remember. I remember. I remember. Perfectly.

sisters.

Three months and counting.

M83 at Terminal 5 in NYC on May 10, 2012. 

Janet Jackson's 25th Anniversary of Rhythm Nation 1814

I was always thinking of games I was playing...

St. Etienne, the early 90s English indie-dance act that inexplicably covered a Neil Young classic and garnered their first and only US club hit. Here's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart."

Sacramento cool kids Sister Crayon are running up and down the state this week. Continuing to make their homies proud, they play a sold-out show on Saturday in LA at the Troubador with the Tune-Yards, and then notably Sunday's last slot at SF Pride's main stage.

The sun-baked crowd this Sunday will undoubtedly cool down with the trip-hop electric soul of Terra Lopez, Dani Fernandez, Nick Suhr, and Jeffrey LaTour.

Streaming above is a remix of one of my favorite SC songs, "Souls of Gold" by fellow Sac native Raleigh Moncrief. You can find the original on their full-length Bellow, which was released earlier this year on Manimal Vinyl.

I just realized, you know which artist played the last slot at the 2008 pride...?

GAGA. That is all. Congrats, SC. 

M83's anticipated double-album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming finally and officially dropped on Tuesday. I must admit, I've been apprehensive. How could the self-proclaimed youth and nostalgia-obsessed Frenchman and mastermind Anthony Gonzales live up to the hype(machine)? I mean, everyone loves that sax solo in lead single "Midnight City"! And Urban fuckin' Outfitters had rights to the first complete stream of the album!

Still, I believe true mainstream success will elude M83. Unless within the year he sells out the Fox Theater(I call it) and every track is licensed to movies, tv, and commercials ala Moby's Play. 

Regardless, I will continue to listen to standout track "Steve McQueen" with my fist in the air.