Category: Festizio

"I hear jazz, people walking and the sound of cars…"

Posted on by Keane Li


www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

“I hear jazz, people talking. The sound of cars”

I took this photo one night while staying late in the office. After uploading it to Radar, a commenting friend suggested the caption sounded like “the beginning of some amazing lyrics.” So, using the photo and a beautiful night as inspiration, I wrote a simple song and recorded it this morning with GarageBand (please pardon the internal mic buzz).

♫ CLICK HERE TO LISTEN, HOLMES ♫

I hear jazz, people walking and the sound of cars
Through the windows while I’m talking with a coworker
It’s almost Friday and she’s packing for the country tonight

And I don’t know what I’m doing here twenty to nine
I guess I’m trying to find a way to bide my time
Cause life moves fast and I just need a chance to breathe

Oh my God, it becomes two o’clock
And I’ve had too much to drink
We’ll sit outside the bar and we’ll talk for hours, I won’t need anything
Except to hear you speak and a chance to hear you sing

The stars they shine so brightly lit
The street lights can’t contest with this
And if it’s real I hope it never stops

I happen to find me beside myself
here rushing and thinking about someone else
And I can’t help but feel our time is up

Oh my God, it’s past four o’clock
And I’ve had too much time to think
We’ll sit in my car and we’ll talk for hours, I won’t need anything
Except to hear you speak and a chance to hear you sing…

Festizio / Our New Album Is Out!

Posted on by Keane Li


www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

After months of recording, mixing and production, our first full-length record is out! It took a lot of hard work (and many painful hours in the studio), but we’re more than ecstatic with our results. Also, we’re happy to announce that we’ll be playing our next show at Slim’s on May 30 (TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!, and please join our Facebook Page to stay updated)!

Check out our new album on CD Baby or get a digital copy on iTunes or Amazon! ☺

San Francisco alt-rock band Festizio combines ambient sounds and driving rhythms in a landscape of intertwined harmonies. Listeners often associate its sound with bands like Radiohead and Muse, though the eclectic variation of genres that Festizio employs clearly distinguishes it as unique. With a diverse musical background, the band also collectively draws from a variety of influences ranging from dance rock to soul. Already garnering positive reviews from industry critics and Bay Area venues, Festizio’s popularity is spreading well beyond its local roots. With the release of its long-awaited self-titled album, Festizio solidifies its reputation by providing a fresh new sound to rock music.

Festizio is Keane Li, Ryan Scott, Gerald Pan and Nicholas Mitrousis.

I wrote a new song today…

Posted on by Keane Li


www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

It was recorded in my apartment with a simple area mic so it’s a bit rough. I could tell you what the song is really about, but that would destroy the subjective fun of interpreting it with your personal perspective. Let me know what you think it’s about…

It’s Cool (I’ll Do It For You)

I see you in the sunshine
I see you in the fading of the light
I see you in a long kiss goodnight
It always reminds me, it always reminds me

I see you on the last train
I see you in a faraway airplane
Don’t know when I’ll see you again
But it always reminds me, it always reminds me

If I’d known love could be so cruel
That everything you do cuts into
But it’s cool, I’ll do it for you
I’ll do it for you

When winter weather comes around
You know it’s not the cold that’s got me down
Cause even so the low temperature
It still reminds me, it always reminds me

So I’ll take the chance to let you through
Cause no one understands me like you do
No, no one else can realign me
But they always remind me, they always remind me

If I’d known love could be so cruel
That everything you do cuts into
But it’s cool, I’ll do it for you

If I’d known at the start to choose
There’s nothing I could do, I’d still lose it too
But it’s cool, I’ll lose it for you
I’ll do it for you…

Too sappy? Click here for more kick-ass rock! :D

Festizio – Yelp/OurStage Elite Event @ 111 Minna (02.22.08)

Posted on by Keane Li


www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

When I was a kid, I dreamt of designing ambient restaurants with exotic food where people could escape into. I love art for similar reasons – a poignant painting reflects a refuge for the soul where one can get lost and disappear. 111 Minna exudes creativity and classy crowds, and thus it’s set apart from other bars in the nightlife scene.

(The only nametag I had on all night read, “Angela B.” That is, in fact, not my real name.)

The Yelp/OurStage Elite Event was obviously my best Minna experience (though I’m not complaining about the “Nude Girls” exhibit). Minna serves as an excellent music venue with a spacious and artistically decorated stage, and a separate bar area for more casual listeners.

(Someone threw a pair of women’s underwear on stage that had a mouth hole in the front. Dear You, where can I get more?)

A huge thank you to Jessica Morris of OurStage and Nish for the invitation, and to Jeremiah of Minna for the superb sound support. But really, it’s the brilliant Yelp Community that effectively stole the show.

(VIDEO: FESTIZIO BLOG)

If I could create just one beautiful escape for the world before I die, I’d be set.

MP3 – Festizio – "Turn Out the Lights" (New!)

Posted on by Keane Li

Click the image!
www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

Our first band recording in almost a year… In the past, we labored endless nights recording and editing separate instrument tracks. This time we just set up a couple of area mics in our rehearsal space and did a quick live recording (I recorded the vocals at home for audio cleanliness). It’s not as flawless as multi-tracking, but indie rock isn’t about flawlessness… just as much as it isn’t about any substantial effort (lazy).

Festizio @ Beale Street Bar & Grill (12.01.07)

Posted on by Keane Li


www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

Review from Anthony Von Eckstein, Booker, Beale Street Bar & Grill

“As a music club manager and musician in the San Francisco area, I have been involved with 1000s of musicians and bands for over 20 years. The first time that tears ever came to my eyes at the end of anyone’s gig was last Saturday night when Festizio came out to play here at our downtown SF venue! The sound of music that emanates from this cerebral rock band is a great mix of melodic and edgy rock riffs, clear and excellently delivered vocals, and a rhythmical energy that cascades into a waterfall of creative overtones. Awesome attitudes, showmanship, and stage presence are also in abundance with Festizio, an emerging force in the universal pages of rock music.”

Gosh, thanks! :)

Festizio @ Broadway Studios (11.02.07)

Posted on by Keane Li


We didn’t design that flier… nor do we endorse “lazers” of any kind…

www.festizio.net
www.myspace.com/festizioband

(Today is the first day of the rest of my life.)

Several months ago, I made the hard decision of leaving my stable, well-paying finance job for the opportunity of developing something better. I traveled and dabbled in saving, but, more importantly, I grew as a person. As months progressed, my bank account dwindled, and I felt surprisingly naked uninsured. (An unaccountable shade proves somewhat unnerving.)

A few moments before we left for load-in at Broadway Studios, I received a call from an exceptional company and was offered a dream position. The fear of stagnated funds dissipated, and life suddenly shined brilliant bright light upon the evening (read: I left my card open at the bar for the first time in three months).

And so it was of no consequence that last night’s events pushed well into the AMs of today, as a new day was appropriate for my circumstance. Broadway Studios served as venue for a sort of rebirth in my life. We played a strong, solid show (indication of how much we had grown in the past year), and left feeling infinitely empowered.

The spacious interior has a sort of positive energy that other venues lack. It’s warm and inviting, yet still mysteriously subtle without being sinister, even whilst draped in intricate displays of Halloween decor. Aside from standard tables and chairs, the main floor offers several cozy, stage-front booths. Drink prices are typical for North Beach (they also offer a food menu). Two stairways lead upstairs, where one finds additional seating and the band dressing room (complete with refrigeration and shower). Best of all, there is secured parking right next to the place.

But most impressively, Broadway boasts a professional team of players. Patrick, the director, was absolutely friendly from the very first moment we met until well past closing. Tim, the sound technician, took our requests with great consideration, and performed remarkably well given a faulty house sub. I told Ben, the emcee (I don’t know why they have an emcee, though he’s a cool dude), to completely fabricate our story for the introduction, rather than give boring, true-to-life descriptors – apparently, we now have a Disney Channel special pending… But let us not forget what perfects a great club: hot waitresses (and that merit goes to Ashley and Jess – ps, call me).

And so everything turns full circle, and the great hope I embraced for so long proved worthy of correctness. I felt it on stage as I feel it in life: a sense of confidence, maturity and balance.

Today may very well be the best day of my life. Finally, I feel like a rock star, and it has nothing to do with a band…