Recliner

3/18/13

What a night!

Thanks to everyone who made it out and helped us celebrate our 10th anniversary. We sure had fun, and from the sound of it, you did too. Thanks to the friends who helped out onstage, and offstage and all that shared in the love. Here's just a few photos people shot at the club. Stay tuned for more "pro" shots from our friend Martin Lacey, who also played with us that night. No pressure Martin. See more photos here.

Recliner at the Verdi Club with one last jam before the doors open

3/6/13

10 Year Anniversary Celebration – 3.16.13

We're getting all our friends together to celebrate!

WHERE: Club Verdi

WHEN: Saturday, March 16 • 7:30 pm

WHY: To celebrate 10 years

WHO: You!

Click the image below to read the key to our success:

*Of course, the danger of doing a graphic like this is that you forget, neglect, or purposely don't include people you probably shouldn't have. Like that one guy who strung our guitars before the show. Or, say, a wife or girlfriend. Yeah, you can see the danger. But these are a few of the folks that helped creatively fuel the fire the past 10+ years, and we thank them.

1/30/13

10 Year Bash - 3.16.13

We're turning 10 years old - or whatever it is bands do. Well, they usually break up. That's what they do. So this is quite an achievement, if we don't say so ourselves.

So we're throwing ourselves a big ol' bash with lotsa special guests, and the original cast and crew of Recliner. It's free and you and your friends are invited.

Verdi Club • 7:30 p.m.
Get Directions

11/16/12

New Year! New Show!

Recliner are set to rock the Make Out Room in San Francisco on Friday, January 18. It's that age old tradition of ringing in the third week of the new year! Come join us.

10/28/12

Giants win the World Series!!!

Recliner are Giants fans. Well, the majority of us. And majority rules on this one...cuz they did it! The Giants won the World Series. Facing elimination six times throughout the post season, and with a team that only knew the small ball. And hitting slumps. And mid-season errror filled games that made you cringe. Hard.

And yet, here they are, winning the World Series against a Detroit team known for its thunderous hitting. For sweeping the Yankees! For Fielder and Cabrera. C'mon!!!

But that team didn't show up. They didn't hit. And that was the key. In fact, the Tigers led the Giants for one inning. Until they didn't. The rest of the time our pitching and defense did it all. Oh except for when we were hitting when it mattered, playing small ball when it counted, and homering when it really counted.

That was pretty much the story throughout the series. Giant dominance. It was odd for this Giants fan to witness, as we are a tight knit group accustomed to a great deal of Torture. But there was Zito, doing what he's never done before (a World Series win). And Bumgartner, redeeming his late season lack of presence. Even Lincecum, who stepped up and filled in for his fellow above mentioned fallers-from-grace. It was theater. It was fun to watch, and it was Giants baseball like we are very unaccustomed to. Each getting it done as if it was an every day thing. Like they'd been doing it all season.

But they hadn't. It was ugly mid-season. Before the All-star break I don't know one Giant's fan who'd thought they were going all the way. Well, except George, who perpetually bets the Giants to win with money from his 2010 lucky bet.

Yes, I could analyze forever, but ultimately this site is about music. So I will finally segue to something remotely approaching musical. Because as much as I hated the entire broadcast handled by McCarver and Buck, I appreciated seeing the highlights of the Giants broadcast to the sounds of The Who. Somehow, I think FOX was able to nail the sound of the Giants in this post-season. Big brash chords to accompany a big brash achievement. Never say die. Never give up. And then make it hurt when you have the chance.

I can hear people cheering in the night out the window as I type. I hope they remember not to destroy this great city as they celebrate their teams great achievement. Because in the end it is a game. But certainly I feel their adrenaline - and I understand it. The Giants lived up to their name in this series. And I think The Who captured the sentiment perfectly for me:

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

10/15/12

Here we go Giants. Clap. Clap.

What's going on with our starting rotation? Let's hope it's a hick-up. I will worship in the Reverend Pence's congregation as long as he's preaching (and hitting). Let's do this thing.

8/28/12

The Sun is Up. The Sky is Blue...

It's been a great summer. It's been a horrible summer. Recliner's extended family certainly got out and enjoyed what this world has to offer. Highlights include the Olympics in London, the Azores of Portugal, new marital bliss, a trip around the world stopping in the Maldives, Turkey, Bali, oh and a trip to Williamsport, PA for the Little League World Series. Yeah, we get around. It's been a nice hiatus (and ongoing as we speak - hurry back Flanders!).

But we've also lost a few friends and family members along the way. People we love and miss dearly. Which is certainly a reminder of how lucky we are to play music together and to enjoy life wherever it may take us. There's been plenty of inspiration. Now's it's time to turn it into some new music.

8/8/12

Goodbye Tony

I met Tony Sly when I was in sixth grade. Back then, he was just my buddy Jon's kid brother. You tend to ignore your friend's younger siblings at that age, don't you? But that was only until I realized what great taste in music he had. Eventually, I got to know Tony – and got to benefit directly from his record collection. I'm pretty sure I still have a box of duped tape copies.

Over the last few years, I mostly kept up with Tony through his brother Jon, who was perhaps one of his most strident supporters. Next to his mom. And his dad. And his other brother. And his wife. And really anyone who knew Tony. That's because he was the kind of guy you rooted for. Because he was such a real and warm person. He wasn't a rock star. Though you'd have a hard time convincing his fans of that.

Earlier this year I had the great pleasure of recording harmonies on a new song Tony wrote for an album of mostly acoustic NUFAN covers. The result was his last new song, Liver Let Die (click the link to hear the song). I hadn't heard it before this week. When I did, I got chills. It's a little pop gem. I'm told that Tony thought it was just a throw-away song. I got the feeling Tony thought that way about a lot of his songs. I don't think he knew his own talent.

In the last couple of years, Tony set out on a solo career. I believe he was on the verge of being appreciated more for the songwriter he was – a damn good one. When I go back and listen to a lot of the NUFAN songs, I'm struck by how well crafted they all are. Stripped of the rapid fire drums and power chords, and you have the heart of a true singer songwriter. He showed this to great effect in the re-tooling of many of his bands popular songs found on the Acoustic and Acoustic 2 albums done with Joey Cape from Lagwagon. His last album, Sad Bear, shows a range that I think truly set him apart as a songwriter amongst his peers. It's the best thing he ever wrote, in my opinion. He was just getting started.

Which makes his passing all the sadder. I never grasped how popular he and his band were – until this week when I saw the outpouring of love and support from fans and musicians around the world. But that's because, to me, Tony was just a regular guy. He didn't play the rock star role. Or the neglected artist role. Both of which he was more than justified in doing. After all, here's a guy some credit with forging an entirely new genre of melodic punk rock. I just knew him as a warm and generous guy that loved to laugh and be around his friends and family.

I know it doesn't help now, but I hope his wife Brigitte, his two girls, and the rest of his family take some comfort in the fact that his legacy will live on through his music. We were all better to have had Tony in our lives, rather than not at all. Again, I know this is of little comfort now. My heart goes out to his whole family while they come to terms with this huge loss.

I will miss you Tony. And thank you for turning me onto a new way of thinking about music.

7/16/12

Sunless Summer

Yes, it's the perfect summer in San Francisco, when fog billows over Twin Peaks as if to mock the 100º heat of Stockton and beyond. If you don't already own it...it's time to enjoy a free download of Sunless Summer (option-click to download, or just click to listen).

4/30/12

May 18 Show with English Beat

Just confirmed! Friday May 18, 2012 at the Avalon in Santa Clara.

Get your tickets! If you buy through the band, you save yourself the $5 fee.

Contact us for more information.

4/2/12

Celebrating 10 Years

It's true. Recliner is nearly ten years old - which, according to our calculations, is roughly 30 years old in human years (which would put the Rolling Stones at right about 150 years old).

So ten years, five records, and three permutations later, and we're excited for what's to come. Both in terms of new music (we've got quite a few new songs) as well as a celebration somewhere down the line to mark the occasion. Thanks for being a part of it and stay tuned for some cool announcements coming soon.

- Team Recliner

3/19/12

LADY BRAIN

podcast

We had an excellent time with Steph & Lauren on the Lady Brain show this week. Check out the audio from our show. We play a couple songs and serenade the ladies with a special Lady Brain song we made up in the parking lot.

Enjoy Here

3/15/12

ST. PATRICK IS READY TO ROCK

Come wish our own Garreth Finucane well this Saturday as he sits behind the kit one last time for Recliner this St. Patrick's day. A fitting day to say goodbye to our Irish friend. We will miss him - as he embarks upon love, marriage, and a jaunt to Barcelona. Fare thee well Gar!