Are you familiar with John Vanderslice? Do you at least know the name? If not, you have some listening to do. Vanderslice is one of indie rock’s most revered songwriters, collaborators, and producers, and he’s also a legendary nice guy. The man is a San Francisco musical institution in and of himself, and gets unanimous respect from both the local community and the indie rock world at large. He was a perfect headliner for the 2007 Noise Pop bill. Playing the 500-person capacity Independent, Vanderslice sounds fantastic as he rocks out to an audience of adoring fans and fellow musicians…entire summary
John Vanderslice - guitar, vocals
Casey Foubert - electric guitar, percussion
David Brocker - bass
Ian Bjornstad - wurlitzer
Are you familiar with John Vanderslice? Do you at least know the name? If not, you have some listening to do. Vanderslice is one of indie rock’s most revered songwriters, collaborators, and producers, and he’s also a legendary nice guy. The man is a San Francisco musical institution in and of himself, and gets unanimous respect from both the local community and the indie rock world at large. He was a perfect headliner for the 2007 Noise Pop bill. Playing the 500-person capacity Independent, Vanderslice sounds fantastic as he rocks out to an audience of adoring fans and fellow musicians alike with—in true Noise Pop fashion—opening sets by three different acts, including Damien Jurado, the Submarines, and Black Fiction.
Vanderslice’s music is at times both experimental and polished indie pop. He is one of the more innovating figures out there but his own compositions are oftentimes rooted in classic singer-songwriter formulas, usually telling stories about quirky characters. His voice is a crooning vehicle that is weathered but innately resilient. At the time of this show, Vanderslice was gearing up for the summer release of his latest album, Emerald City, and plays a few tracks to preview it for his hometown crowd, including the opener, "Numbered Lithograph," and "The Tower.”
Vanderslice also plays material from his past albums, of which he’s released five on Barsuk. His classic 2005 release Pixel Revolt is represented by "Plymouth Rock” and "Angela,” a strange story-song about a bunny. He works really well with his audience, bantering with the crowd and his bandmembers, at one point calling out "let’s all enjoy the tension of my water being balanced up there on top of all that expensive equipment.” "Keep The Dream Alive” is a standout track from his sophomore album, Time Travel is Lonely, which is a damn near perfect melodious pop-rock song. "Exodus Damage” is one of Vanderslice’s better known compositions with the neo-new wave "Dance Dance Revolution” lyric, and "They Won’t Let Me Run” is a more ambient, experimental track, driven by his clear-as-a-bell vocals. Vanderslice at one point does perhaps the most endearing merch push ever to be heard, pushing pillowcases and hand-painted journals by a friend. Had you been there, you’d probably buy one.
John Vanderslice grew up on the east coast and relocated to San Francisco, where he started the venerable Tiny Telephone studio in 1997. At this small, affordable recording studio bands including Mike Watt, Portastatic, Death Cab for Cutie, and Nada Surf (among many others) have recorded, and Vanderslice has offered his production chops to many an album over his prolific career, collaborating with Spoon and the Mountain Goats, among others.
Click here to visit John Vanderslice's myspace page.
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