LA’s Fool’s Gold are hitting the road this fall in support of their sophomore album, Leave No Trace, out August 16th. Following a handful of shows in August, they’ll tour the US in September, and will head to the UK in November with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The five-piece band of founding members Luke Top (vocals/bass) and Lewis Pesacov (guitar), Garrett Ray (drums), Brad Caulkins (multi-intrumentalist), and Salvador Placencia (percussion) have become known across the globe for their energy and ability to get people to let loose and take pride in their dancing shoes. This unified Fool’s Gold line-up has allowed for the dynamic of the band to have a redefined sound, in a live setting and on record. Tour dates are as listed below:
Wed. Aug. 3 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek w/ Lykke Li , Best Coast
Sat. Aug. 6 — Seattle, WA @ Mural Amphitheatre – KEXP BBQ: Concerts at the Mural
Mon. Aug. 22 — Las Vegas, NV @ Foundation Room on the Roof at The Mandalay Bay
Sat. Sep. 3 — Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Festival
Tue. Sep. 13 — Tulsa, OK @ Cains Ballroom w/ Cold War Kids
Wed. Sep. 14 — San Marcos, TX @ Texas Music Theater w/ Cold War Kids
Thu. Sep. 15 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Music Hall w/ Cold War Kids
Sat. Sep. 17 — Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
Mon. Sep. 19 — Columbus, OH @ Skully’s
Tue. Sep. 20 — Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Wed. Sep. 21 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Thu. Sep. 22 — New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
Sat. Sep. 24 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Sat. Oct. 1 — San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
Fri. Nov. 2 – Dublin, Ireland @ The O2 w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sat. Nov. 5 – Paris, France @ Le Trianon w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mon. Nov. 7 – London, UK @ The O2 w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wed. Nov. 9 – London, UK @ The O2 w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Thu. Nov. 10 – London, UK @ The O2 w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sat. Nov. 12 – Glasgow, UK @ SECC – Hall 4 w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Wed. Nov. 14 – Manchester, UK @ Evening News Arena w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tue. Nov. 15 – Manchester, UK @ Evening News Arena w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Thu. Nov. 17 – Sheffield, UK @ Motorpoint Arena w/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sat. Nov. 19 – Birmingham, UK @ NEC – LG Arena
Sun. Nov. 20 – Birmingham, UK @ NEC – LG Arena
It’s not always easy to get on board with who Rolling Stone dubs as an Artist to Watch, no make no mistake that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros more than live up to all the hype surrounding their raucous and friendly alt rock, selling out shows across the country. I’d been spinning their debut record Up From Below for weeks and was amped to see how their eclectic sound translates live.
Openers Fool’s Gold, comprised of much of Foreign Born, wholly impressed with their bouncy groove rock that incorporates elements of African soul, tropicalia, ’80s dance jams and Hebrew to create a glorious sound scape perfect for partying to. It’s hard to imagine that the collective’s front man Luke Top is a paralegal by day. The band nailed a hot set gearing up the sold out house for the main act
The First Unitarian Church isn’t a huge venue; sure it holds a hell of a lot of music lovers, but it’s by no means a large venue. Rather, it’s a dark, unventilated church basement that has continuously put on some of Philadelphia’s greatest shows for years. I had myself convinced that the show was at Johnny Brenda’s — how could a ten piece band perform on the Church’s stage? Especially one with the wild amounts of energy that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is known for.
When a ragtag looking bunch took to the stage, my hopes of an elaborately dressed ensemble were dashed, but nothing about their stage presence was lacking. Their energy, which was mirrored by the crowd, rivals only that of the couple shows I’ve seen Tilly and the Wall perform at the Church. ES&TMZ opened with their bounciest tunes, whipping the crowd into a cheering frenzy for each song that followed the one before it.Front man Alex Ebert nailed every note, sounding just as polished as on the record. Pixie-ish front woman counterpart Jade Castrinos‘ are transfixing and beautiful; she surely would have stolen the show if her mic had been turned up slightly.
What was a show stopped was the band’s performance of crowd [and my personal] favorite “Home.” Alex and Jade stared into each other’s eyes, belted out the love song with vigor and ad-libbed the spoken word bridge that on the CD recounts when Alex fell “deep, deeply in love” with Jade. While the below video of the Magnetic Zeros at the NPR offices in DC doesn’t do their on-stage show justice, catch a glimpse of what you missed if you couldn’t snag tickets to the hottest event in Philadelphia this past Sunday night.
If you miss Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros when they head your way, I am sorry for and disappointed in you in advance. You will not have [and haven't had] a better time at a concert this year.
Tour Dates:
Nov 21 - Pearl Street Downstairs / Northampton, Ma.
Nov 22 – Metronome / Burlington
Nov 23 – Cafe Campus / Montreal
Nov 24 – El Mocambo Club / Toronto
Nov 25 - El Macambo Club / Toronto
Nov 27 – Lincoln Hall / Chicago
Nov 28 – High Noon Saloon / Madison
Nov 29 – The Varsity Theater / Minneapolis
Dec 01 – Boulder Theater / Boulder
Dec 02 - Sheridan Opera House / Telluride, Co.
Dec 04 – The Bell Tower / Pullman, Wa.
Dec 05 – Neumos / Seattle
Dec 08 – The Biltmore Cabaret / Vancouver
Dec 09 - Doug Fir Lounge / Portland, Or.
Dec 10 – WOW Hall / Eugene, Or.
Dec 12 – Great American Music Hall / San Francisco
Dec 14 – The Mayan / Los Angeles
Los Angeles collective Fool’s Gold weaves together western pop aesthetics with African rhythms and melodies. The group started as a side project of two young LA musicians, vocalist/bassist Luke Top and lead guitarist Lewis Pesacov, who set out to explore their shared love of various forms of African music (specifically Congolese, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Malian), Krautrock, and 80s dance influenced pop music.
At first listen, it might be tempting to label Fool’s Gold as “world music,” but the band is, in its essence, a Los Angeles band; it is music made for hot nights in a sweltering desert. The multi-cultural group of players was born from a city that is a melting pot of neighborhoods and cultures.
The songs for the forthcoming self-titled album were mostly recorded live over a two-day session at the Sunset Lodge recording studio in Los Angeles in 2008, to be later completed in closets and apartment living rooms in 2009. Lewis and Luke collaborated on the music, written over a three-year span. Luke would then weave in the Hebrew/English lyrics. The Hebrew initially tied him to a birthplace that he barely knew, but evolved to be the perfect vehicle to express the overarching themes of duality that are the heart of the songs.
The songs resonate beyond just the immigrant experience to one that is understood by anyone who has struggled with dispelling illusions of the ego and the world. Although the melodies are jubilant, the irreverent and whimsical lyrics belie the tension of one exploring the existential and physical self.
Look for the Fool’s Gold self-titled debut on September 29th.
Tracklisting:
01. Surprise Hotel
02. Nadine
03. Ha Dvash
04. The World Is All There Is
05. Poseidon
06. Yam Lo Moshech
07. Night Dancing
08. Momentary Shelter
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Concert Calendar
Nov 23, 2011
HaHa Tonka @ Recordbar, Kansas City MO
Nov 25, 2011
Thee Oh Sees @ The Granada, Lawrence KS
