WEEZER - LIVE AT FINGERPRINTS MUSIC - LONG BEACH, CA - 10/8/2014

We have witnessed an array of incredible in-store shows at Fingerprints Music over the past 20 years or so. Heck, just two weeks ago we were lucky enough to be in the crowd for an intimate acoustic performance by Chrissie Hynde. That was a night that neither of us will ever forget. Where do you go from there? Bam! The email hit our mailbox announcing an all acoustic performance by a little band named Weezer. Are you kidding? We thought for a minute that we were dreaming. We knew we had to act fast since Weezer has legions of devoted fans that would do anything to get into this show. After an afternoon of dialing the store non-stop, we finally got through on the phone lines and secured our spots by purchasing their great new album "Everything Will Be Alright In The End."

Weezer had originally booked one show at 8pm, but a second show at had to be added at 7pm due to the overwhelming demand. About 250 fans packed each show to a cozy capacity. We were lucky enough to get a nice spot on the side of the stage for the late show. The band played a short set which included 5 powerful songs from their new release "Everything Will Be Alright in the End." Weezer invited their fans on stage during both "Go Away" and "Foolish Father" to act as the backing chorus. It was an impressive testament to the band and their passionate fan base. Many had already memorized the music and lyrics within the 24 hours of their record being released. The best thing about attending the late show was the fact that the band stuck around for over an hour to sign autographs and chat with their fans. It really made for another unforgettable night at Fingerprints. 

Their latest record has critics and fans agreeing that it is a return to their garage rock sound that established them as one of the most influential bands of the 90's. As the lyrics to the new song "Back To The Shack" say "Take me back, back to the shack. Back to the Strat with the lighting strap. Kick in the door. More Hardcore. Rockin' out like it's 94'. Turn up the radio." Weezer is back!

ROSE WINDOWS CONCERT REVIEW - FINGERPRINTS MUSIC - LONG BEACH, CA 12/9/2013

We sure wish all of our Monday nights were like tonight. We were fortunate enough to catch an amazing performance by the Seattle band Rose Windows when they stopped by Fingerprints Records in downtown Long Beach. This in-store show was wedged right between two sold out performances at the Wiltern Theatre. The band is currently touring in support of their excellent album The Sun Dogs which is out now on Sub Pop Records.

Guitarist Chris Cheveyo and lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi

Rose Windows had plenty of hype coming into tonight's show and we can definitely tell you that they deserve all of the acclaim and more. It would be easy to label them a psychedelic band but that doesn't even scratch the surface of the septet's sound. While they do infuse 60's influences into their music, the sound that they create is completely original and often times inspired. Somehow they are able to mix traces of folk, eastern music, rock and even a little heavy metal into their music. Check out the video below of their performance of the song "Wartime Lovers."

 

Lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi has drawn comparisons to Grace Slick but we thought she sounded a little more like a young Sinead O'Connor. Her powerful, distinct vocals mixed with the poetic lyrics of lead guitarist Chris Cheveyo create an unforgettable listening experience. The band will be heading back out on the road in January playing more intimate venues. If you have a chance to see them live, don't pass it up.

 

Set List

Walkin' With A Woman

There Is A Light

Wartime Lovers

Season of Serpents

Heavenly Days

Indian Summer

Native Dreams

The Sun Dogs II - Coda 

 

Rose Windows on stage at Fingerprints

 

Lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi

TRAVIS - CONCERT REVIEW - FINGERPRINTS RECORDS - LONG BEACH, CA - 10/7/2013

We are simply blown away by the quality in-store performances that Fingerprints Records continues to book. Tonight's show was by far one of the best we've seen. The Scottish band Travis stopped by the East Village record store and played an inspired six song set of mellow Alt Rock followed up by one of the longest autograph sessions we've ever experienced. Tonight's show was the band's last US date before embarking on tour of the UK. They are out in support of their excellent new album Where You Stand which is a return to form for the band that influenced a legion of Britpop bands including Coldplay and Keane.




Travis on stage at Fingerprints Records

 This was our third time seeing Travis play live and they just seem to be getting better with age. Singer Fran Healy's vocals were magnificent and were often times chillingly beautiful. The band played three songs from the new album and three of their biggest hits from older albums. Healy gave tonight's show a "Storytellers" vibe by giving the background on many of the band's songs. He explained that "Sing" was recorded in Los Angeles while band stayed at the Chateau Marmont hotel. When the band checked out, they realized their stay at the hotel cost more than recording the entire album. He jokingly referred to this time period as "the good old days." Here's a video we shot of the band's performance of that song.

 



 

Healy also took the time to explain the inspiration behind the new song "Boxes." After guitarist Andy Dunlop bought his son the best Christmas gift money could buy he was mortified by the fact that all he wanted to do was play with the box that the gift came in. The band wrote the song about everyone's obsession with boxes from the beginning of life to death. Fran Healy joked about the band's uncanny ability to write depressing songs that sound happy.

The sold out crowd of several hundred people all seemed extremely passionate about the band and their music. When Healy asked who in the crowd had attended Saturday's Wiltern Theatre show a large majority of the crowd raised their hands. By the end of the show the sweaty room of fans were all singing along with the band as they performed their huge 1999 hit "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" Healey stopped the song about half way through and segued into a few verses of the Neil Diamond classic "Sweet Caroline."





 SET LIST

Mother

Where You Stand

Sing

Boxes

Flowers In The Window

Why Does It Always Rain On Me?



Singer Fran Healy

 



Drummer Neil Primrose



PAPA - CONCERT REVIEW - RECORD RELEASE SHOW AT FINGERPRINTS RECORDS - LONG BEACH, CA 10/8/13

The band Papa played a special street date in-store performance tonight at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach to celebrate the release of their full length debut album Tender Madness. We didn't know much about the band going into tonight's show except for the fact that they were formed by ex-Girls drummer Darren Weiss and his childhood friend Danny Presant.

 

Papa on stage at Fingerprints

To say we were impressed would be an understatement. The band has a very powerful, full sound that seems fit for a large venue. Vocalist Darren Weiss actually joked to the crowd, "It's nice to playing here tonight, we had already gotten used to playing stadiums." Having Weiss front and center on the drums adds a raw energy to the band that can't be ignored. Check out the video we shot of the band performing "Put Me To Work" to get a sense of this energy.


 

The band played an eight song set which were all tunes from their new album. The songs styles ranged from arena rock to power pop to indie rock. Some of the songs even felt inspired by 80's new wave. It was a very intriguing mix of sounds that came across as very fresh and original.

 

The band is getting ready to head out on the road with Cold War Kids. If you have a chance to see them live don't pass it up. The new album is excellent and is out now on cd as well as vinyl which includes a download card.





Set List

Papa

If You're My Girl, Then I'm Your Man

Young Rut

Forgotten Days

Cotton Candy

Get Me Through The Night

Put Me To Work

I Am The Lion King







Darren Weiss and Danny Presant



THE FLING - "MEAN SOMETHING" RECORD RELEASE- FINGERPRINTS RECORDS - LONG BEACH, CA - 8/22/2013

Just five days after their awesome acoustic set at Buskerfest, The Fling performed live at Fingerprints Records to celebrate the release of their new album "Mean Something." The album is available now and was financed through Pledgemusic.com with the help of the band's fans. 

Singer/Guitarist Dustin Lovelis took the stage at Fingerprints and told the crowd that the band would be playing all the songs from the new album. There's no better way to preview a new album then to hear the band perform it live, in it's entirety. It was a nice treat for fans in attendance tonight. This was my third time seeing The Fling play live and they seem to get better every time. They have a intoxicating quality to their music that has the ability to draw you in. Their sound is a nice mix between 90's alt rock with just a little 60's pop thrown in for good measure. Check them out if you have a chance.







The Fling



  

Graham Lovelis (bass, vocals)

Justin Roeland (guitars, keys, vocals)

 

 

Dustin Lovelis

 



TIJUANA PANTHERS-CONCERT REVIEW-FINGERPRINTS RECORDS-LONG BEACH, CA-8/24/2013

Tijuana Panthers took a break from their west coast tour tonight to play a special homecoming show at Fingerprints Music in Long Beach. A capacity crowd packed the popular East Village record store to see the return of their hometown heroes. The band was celebrating the release of their new album "Semi Sweet" which is out now on Innovative Leisure Records.



Tijuana Panthers' sound is a mix of 60's surf rock, garage rock with a little punk attitude mixed in for good measure. The band took the stage at Fingerprints and tore into the song "Pushover" a great track from the new album.  Check out the video we shot. By the time the song was over the crowd was worked into a hot, sweaty frenzy. They seemed to feed off the energy that the band put out during their live show.

 

Phil Shaheen drums like a possessed madman while Daniel Michicoff played his bass like a machine gun and guitarist Chad Wachtel is reminiscent of a young Dick Dale. What makes Tijuana Panthers unique is that they have no dedicated lead singer. All three members take turns singing lead vocals while the others handle background harmonies.  

 

Below is a video of the band performing the song "Summer Fun" from their debut album Max Baker.



 Below is a video we shot of the band performing "This Town" which was the last song of their set. At this point in the evening the room felt like a sauna from the heat being generated by the crowd.



SET LIST

PUSHOVER

TONY'S SONG

BAINBRIDGE

FATHER FIGURE

CHERRY STREET DONUT SHOP

REDHEADED GIRL

BOARDWALK

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

CREATURE

BABY I'M BORED

CREW CUT

PRAYER NEEDS

DON'T SHOOT YOUR GUNS

THIS TOWN

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

 

PALMA VIOLETS - LIVE AT FINGERPRINTS RECORDS - LONG BEACH, CA - 4/21/13

About 30 seconds into the Palma Violets' in store concert Judy and I mouthed the words "Holy Shit" to each other at the exact same time. We simply could not believe what we were seeing and hearing. The incredible sound that Palma Violets creates is like nothing either of us has ever experienced in our 30 years of concert going. There is no better way to put it, this band simply blew us the fuck away!

Imagine The Clash with a psychedelic shoegaze undertone and you'll get an idea of what you are in for with Palma Violets. Their show is more of an experience than just a concert. The wall of sound and the energy that comes from the band makes it impossible not to shake your ass.

The band came to the US from England with plenty of hype. After just two years together they have already been named Best New Band by the New Music Express and their first single, "Best of Friends", was voted the 2012 Song of the Year from the same publication . Click below to see the band's video for "Best of Friends." The guitar tone and the drumming style are reminiscent of the early Jesus and Mary Chain sound. Just brilliant stuff!



The band members are all barely out of their teens but the what they lack in age they more than make up for with their incredibly tight musicianship and tenacity. Bassist Alexander "Chilli" Jesson and guitarist Samuel Fryer seem to feed off of each other's frantic energy while sharing the lead vocal duties. Peter Mayhew's 1960's inspired keyboards and William Doyle's fast punk drumming round out their incredible sound.

Below is a video that Judy shot of the band performing the song "Johnny Bagga' Donuts" which is the song they opened the show with at Fingerprints.

 

Here's another video that Judy shot from the Fingerprints show of the band performing the song "Last of the Summer Wine."

The band wedged the Fingerprints show between their performance at the Coachella Valley Music Festival and their San Francisco tour dates. They are touring in support of their excellent debut album 180 out now on Rough Trade Records. If you have a chance to pick up the album or see them live don't pass it up. Don't say we didn't warn you.   



Judy with the members of Palma Violet

Promotional Flyer For Fingerprints Show

JIMMY EAT WORLD - RECORD STORE DAY - FINGERPRINTS RECORDS - LONG BEACH, CA - 4/20/13

Wow what a day! Record Store Day is like Christmas morning for those of us that still love to collect physical music. In addition to all the limited edition vinyl offerings, many record stores also have special in-store concerts. Fingerprints Records in Long Beach, California has become legendary for putting together some of the best live in-store shows in the country. Two years ago Foo Fighters performed on the Fingerprints stage which added to the incredible legacy that the store has gained over their 20 plus years in existence. This year's live shows were just as fantastic. We were lucky enough to get two spots to the sold out Jimmy Eat World show. The band was promoting their forthcoming record Damage which will be released on June 11th. As a special treat for Record Store Day, the band released a 7" vinyl single of the song "Damage" from the new album with the B-Side being a cover of the Radiohead song "Stop Whispering."



Jimmy Eat World Exclusive Record Store Day 7" Single

Here's a video we shot of the band being introduced by Rand Foster, the owner of Fingerprints Records. Singer Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind take the stage to perform "I Will Steal You Back" which is the first single from their new album.

 



 Here's a second video we shot of the band performing their huge hit "The Middle" which was the final song of their set.



 

SET LIST  

I Will Steal You Back

Big Casino

Work

Damage

Heart Is Hard To Find

Hear You Me

Lucky Denver Mint

The Middle

 

As an extra added bonus to an already incredible day of music, Jimmy Eat World signed these great posters for everyone that came to the show.

 



 





BROADHEDS - Fingerprints Records - April 10, 2013

The Los Angeles based band Broadheds played a special in store performance at Fingerprints Records in Long Beach to celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album out now on Dangerbird Records. The new band was formed by Peter Walker formerly of Eulogies. Their sound is a cool mix of ska, reggae, surf and a little punk energy thrown in for good measure. We have a feeling that this band's music will end be up being the soundtrack to this summer.

Here's a video that we shot at the Fingerprints performance to give you a sense of their sound.





Set List

Young Love

Tomorrow I Might Feel The Same

Was There Really Any Chance?

I'm Angry

Push Shove

Nothing That I Care About

Something All Our Own

At Least Now I Have Something

Today

Pick Me Up

Outta Reach

 

 

Fishbone Concert Review- Fingerprints Record Store- Long Beach, CA - 7/31/12

Talk about a kick ass night of music! I was blown away by the incredible in-store performance by the classic LA band Fishbone. Since moving to California in the 80's I've heard stories of their legendary shows. I finally got the opportunity to catch them live tonight and they did not disappoint. They were at Fingerprints Records to promote their Crazy Glue EP out now on DC-Jam Records.

As the crowd gathered in front of the stage, the band started the night with the song "Forever Moore" from the 2008 album Still Stuck in Your Throat. This was an excellent choice since it showcased the overall talent and improvisational skills of the band.

The band has gone through many personnel changes over the years but they have always been led by singer/saxophonist Angelo Moore. Angelo admitted to feeling a little under the weather this evening due to a staph infection in his leg. He started the set sitting on a stool but by the time they started the second tune "Hide Behind My Glasses" he ditched the stool and was at the edge of the stage asking to borrow a pair of shades from the audience. Once up and outfitted with shades, Angelo seemed to kick the band into another gear. His incredible vocals and saxophone skills propelled the band for the next hour of music.

  

Fishbone Live At Fingerprints - Singer Angelo Moore performs "Hide Behind My Glasses"

What really impressed me was the way the band moved seamlessly between genres of music. One minute they were playing ska, the next funk, the next punk, the next soul. I've never seen a band that had so much versatility with their sound and was able to play all styles equally well. It's really a nod to their incredible talent and musicianship.

The band ended the hour long set with the song "Ugly" which Angelo dedicated to "Mitt Romney and all those other muthafuckers." After the show the band stuck around to sign autographs and to take some photos with the several hundred fans in attendance.



Angelo Moore with Judy during the in-store signing



Set List

Forever Moore

Hide Behind My Glasses

Crazy Glue

The Goose

DUI Friday

Akkafoo

Flutterbutter-What Have I done

Everyday Sunshine

Ugly