With the help of a buddy, I discovered a new breed of hangout spots that adds to San Francisco’s unique and rich character. Lately I have been catching myself saying “Wow, that’s a great idea,” and this was definitely one of those times. Think half laundromat and half cafe. Yes, that’s right, a laundromat with baskets, suds, hangers and all. Wireless Internet (at no charge, unless you don’t have a laptop; you would then pay to use their in-house computer). Laundromat customers with Macbooks galore (to the point where I’d feel shameful for having my PC). Live daily performances of local music artists. This definitely suits the needs of an urban city.
Today’s music group was what brought me to Brainwash. Ken Oak Band is an independent group of 2 guys that have incredible talent. Their bio is on the site, and it describes how they weren’t a natural hit at first. They just kept at it and soon enough, they were noticed. It was very nice to see some bright new faces and original sounds. These days I rarely get chances to hear new music, unless someone (or the virtual Pandora) recommends something to me. Combine an acoustic guitarist and a cellist with contemporary vocals and I’m there. Oh yes, and make that live. You really can’t beat the sound quality of live music.
Ken Oak Band’s style is a hybrid of artists like The Fray, Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Depeche Mode, and many more, evolving into a new genre called cello rock. Now that’s my cup of tea! It has been said that the cello emits a sound that covers the range of a human voice. Maybe that’s why the the combination of an acoustic guitar and cello creates such a vibrant and harmonious balance. Very complimentary. Call it quasi contemporary, or even classical. Their music can be sampled on MySpace or iTunes.