Switch On Clean Energy: CAKE performed a sold-out benefit concert
for Proposition H, the San Francisco Clean Energy Act, at the Independent on Friday.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

October 13, 2008

We had no idea how entertaining and tight the band CAKE is when performing live, but Fog City  found out first-hand Friday during a sold-out benefit concert for Proposition H, the San Francisco Clean Energy Act, held at the Independent.

Where does one begin with the accolades this band deserves? They are numerous. Comprised of musicians’ musicians and songwriters’ songwriters, Cake is infectious, the type of band no matter how much you might pay for a ticket – in this case as much as $100 (included a signed Cake T-shirt) – they’re worth every last penny.

With an enlarged banner that read “Proposition H – Switch on Clean Energy” draped across the stage, Prop H campaign manager Julian Davis, Alix Rosenthal and Community College Board candidate Bruce Wolfe, took to the stage to introduce Cake and to urge the 500+ Cake fans in attendance to vote for Prop H.

Alix Rosenthal, Julian Davis and Bruce Wolfe

“We have the opportunity to become the first major city in the world to require 100 percent of our electricity come from clean energy resources,” Davis said. “They say, ‘as goes San Francisco, so goes California, so goes the nation.’ Let’s show the world how to get it done.”

Following the rallying call, Cake arrived on stage and launched into an unplanned song-set led by a sore-throated John McCrea (lead vocals, guitar, vibraslap) with exquisite accompaniment by Xan McCurdy (lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Gabe Nelson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Vince DiFiore (trumpet, keyboard, backing vocals), and Paulo Baldi (drums, vocals).

Cake: Vince DiFiore, Gabe Nelson, Paulo Baldi, John McCrea, and Xan McCurdy

John McCrea

Xan McCurdy

Kudos to Independent co-owner Michael O’Connor and the Prop H campaign maestros for their vision in pairing Proposition H with eco-conscious Cake. As a testament to the band’s commitment to renewable and sustainable energy independence, Cake recently installed solar panels to power their recording studio in Sacramento.

Cake’s upcoming (sixth) album, due to be released in 2009, will be produced with 100 percent clean solar energy.

How fitting! A Yes on H Cake.

(More pics at SmugMug)