There’s a place in San Francisco that brings together the sounds of the world. From Ethiopian Jazz to Brazilian tropicalia to Norwegian thrash metal and even the songs of bats.
It’s hailed as one of the best independent record stores in the U.S. by both Spin and Paste magazines. Aquarius is not only the oldest one in San Francisco; it just may be the most intriguing. I investigated why and how one record store has helped keep the light shining on underground music.
The Stairwell Sisters play rollicking old style music. The two founding members used to practice their harmonies in the stairwell of their workplace in San Francisco. That was twelve years later. Now, The Stairwell Sisters band bring their mix of traditional songs and new compositions to audiences throughout the Bay Area.
The sounds you’re hearing now are from San Francisco’s Nice Guy Trio. They use elements of many styles, including calypso and klezmer, to create their own unique form of jazz.
You can hear them for free at a midday show on Thursday (09.06) as part of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Garden Festival. These outdoor events start at 12:30pm.
