While every weekend in the Bay Area is packed with fantastic local shows, seldom do we see a triple CD-release, particularly from three of the most up-and-coming bands in the Bay Area — in this case: Tartufi, Built for the Sea and Low Red Land. The show, presented by The Bay Bridged, will take place Thursday, Sept. 18 at Slim’s in San Francisco.
The headliner for the show is Tartufi — a band that won The San Francisco Bay Guardian’s “Best Indie Band of 2007” and whose new album Nests of Waves and Wire is highly anticipated among local indie fans. This show is a bit of a tease as the album isn’t officially out yet, but presale is available, and the band will play many songs from the new album.
Trying to describe Tartufi’s music is difficult, more so than your typical good indie band. “Eclectic” is an understatement; “noisy” doesn’t do it justice. The music is varied enough to be able to draw out influences anywhere from indie pop to heavy metal. Vocalist Lynne Angel has the projection of an opera singer (minus the crazy vibrato) and emotion to match. Paired with Brian Gorman on drums, this duo could pull off any sound in the rock realm.
Certainly during their live show but particularly on the album, this band in no way sounds like a two-piece. The raw and driving guitar sounds are varied in effects, and interspersed with bass, delicate bell sounds and even sirens throughout the record. Not only that, but the drums’ sound is so heavy it often sounds like a choir of drums. This show kicks off a national tour for Tartufi that runs through the beginning of November.
Built for the Sea, who have not released an album in over two years, will release a new EP that seamlessly brings together all of the elements the band has been working on over the years. As their name hints, the sound is indeed aquatic, as the instruments flow and lap into each other, with Lia Rose’s vocals supported atop like a floating leaf. With the guitar and vocals heavy on the reverb, and the occasional fairytale lyric, the package is indeed dreamlike, but definitely not soporific.
