#violent change

3/6/25.

Yet another amazing San Francisco band. Now have actually been around since 2016, but really started making music in earnest in the early 2020s. Earlier releases have a more vocal-centric sound (listen to "Wind Was" from 2023 release "And Blue Space Is Burning Noon"). I'm not saying this is hi-fi by any means, just that, I'm drawn to the vocals. Vocally, I'm reminded a bit of The Wrong Words, who released an album on Trouble in Mind over a decade ago. At times I hear Scott Miller of Game Theory.

"Now Does The Trick" is the new LP set for release in May 2025 on Perennial Records. And while there is only one song currently available, it has a Syd Barrett/Cleaners From Venus feel.

Crisis Man - Crisis Man

7/26/19.

Day two of the Tony posts.  Tony Molina is on the precipice of making it big.  His last two releases have shown a quieter songwriting tack than his earlier releases or bands (he was a member of Oven and Violent Change), which led to a wider audience.  And now Pitchfork has reviewed his “new” release “Songs From San Mateo County”. I put new in quotes because this is a oddz n’ sodz release of material recorded between 2009-2015.

This release combines his more punk tendencies combined with his clear love of Teenage Fanclub.  And of course, it wouldn’t be Tony Molina without a few Thin Lizzy inspired solos.  The songs are short (”Intro” is 13 seconds but somehow complete).

7/27/23.

I first heard about Sloth Mate Productions (based in California...I'm assuming Oakland based on the tag) with the release of Children Maybe Later. But I actually bought their Violent Change 7" release years earlier - on this blog I credited it as a self-release.

It's hard to find any real information about the label, and their new band Now is equally enigmatic. "And Blue Space Is Burning Noon" is set for release in a few days. Members are Hannah, Will and Oli. That's it.

10/26/22.

Children Maybe Later is yet another excellent Oakland, California based band. Former members of Violent Change, RAYS, and The World play on this album being released by Sloth Mate Productions (only 3 releases in total).

There is only one song here - the warbly, yet beautiful "Carousel" (the keyboards remind me of The Caretaker). I'm not sure if the rest of the record sounds like this but based on the other bands listed above I wouldn't expect it all to sound like this.

7/24/20.

I purchased my first Violent Change album a few years ago. But I don’t remember them having such a funky lo-fi sound. This San Francisco band reminds me of The Clog and Sheer Mag.