By Kate Kotler
Mix together Radiohead and Muse, add a dash of the SF music scene, and ice it with the smooth vocals of Keane Li, and what do you get?
This San Francisco band has been around and kicking for quite a while. Those in the know have been enjoying songs such as the slow, soulfully driven “Beautiful” and peppier live favorite “Get Up” at venues such as Slim’s and Grant and Green in SF. Fans get into the groove while watching four accomplished young musicians come together to create a new type of “San Francisco sound.”
In short: Festizio has been a well-kept musical secret for those in the Bay Area for several years.
Now, with the 2009 release of the band’s first studio album (self-titled), Festizio positioned themselves firmly to launch beyond the Bay and onto the national scene.
For a first album, the self-funded, self-produced Festizio (by Festizio) has super-impressive production qualities. It sounds as if the band had been sojourning in Paris with Nigel Godrich or on the road with Rich Costey… It is that professionally and expertly produced.
(I love alliteration.)
To be honest, I haven’t liked a local band this much since the year 2000 when I spent many a night down in LaLa watching Common Rotation (who were at that time known as 28 Orange Street) perform for packed bar crowds…
Listening to Festizio — live or on CD — takes me back to some sort of youthful musical bliss place that inspires me to write poetry or learn how to play the piano. (Or, maybe ukulele… you know, because I’m quirky.)
All in all it’s good stuff. And for $5.99 on CD Baby, it’s a great buy and great way to support indie artists in their quest for musical loveliness.
Seriously: Check out Festizio if you haven’t already — you will be glad you did.
They are currently working on some songs in the studio!!
Yeah I know! Keane just pinged me — I need to update the article, I guess I thought that they just released this album, I didn’t realize that it came out in 2009 and that they were already working on a new disc… Regardless it’s FANTASTIC stuff.
*waves hi*
Heh, I feel like a douche now because I haven’t written anything for them…considering they gave me a preview CD…*whistles*
Gerald, the bass guitarist for Festizio, found your blog entry and showed it to me. However he’s being lame and not commenting. I’m sure he really appreciates your shout out to the band. They just wrapped up recording a few days ago. Gerald can sell you an album for 5 bucks and sign it too!
Awww — he should comment, fo’ sure!
We’d love to grab a signed album and give it away to a reader on site…
We’d be nowhere without friends and supporters
I was planning on sending you some copies of our new album when it’s done. Let me know how many you would like! I’ll be sure to have them all signed.
You know where to find me
Thanks again. Always,
Keane
Sweet! I’d love to give em away (and keep one for myself, of course!) to GGotS readers. I’m moving to Chicago very soon, so I’ll have to email you my new addy. I think I sent you an invite to my going away party on the 21st – let me know if you didn’t get it and I’ll send the deets over. If you can’t make it, let’s try to grab a drink before I leave…
xoxo
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