Live This Month: February 2012 — an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #270)
February 1, 2012
Live This Month: February 2012 (Podcast #270)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. The twentieth installment of the Noise Pop Music Festival takes over a wide variety of local venues later this month — and we’ll be covering many of those shows — but there are also plenty of pre-NP events worth checking out. Locally, two bands are seeing the release of records for which it feels like we’ve been waiting forever: the debut LP from ultra-catchy punks Terry Malts, and the latest Rick Rubin-produced effort from Howlin Rain.
Speaking of new albums, Laura Gibson’s bringing her newest folk-rock set to SF for a February show. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Grimes has already sold out her Noise Pop date at the Rickshaw Stop, which will come just one day after the release of her new album, Visions. Enjoy this mix of tunes and then go see some shows!
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About the bands:
New York seven-piece band Ava Luna (“Wrenning Day”) is currently touring with Twin Sister. On February 4th, they’ll both be performing at the Great American Music Hall.
The Situation EP is the first release from local band Future Twin (“Yuka”). The group’s EP release show is an exciting one that also features Twin Steps, Exray’s and Death Cheetah all at the Hemlock Tavern on February 2nd.
Eleanor Friedberger (“My Mistakes”) is one-half of The Fiery Furnaces, but her solo record, Last Summer, is probably her best work yet. Friedberger and band come to The Independent on February 4th. Dominant Legs supports.
Sea Lions (“Grown Up”), from Oxnard, released the delightful jangle-pop collection Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sea Lions But Were Afraid To Ask last year. The quintet performs at Cafe Du Nord on February 3rd with Jeremy Jay and Tremor Low.
Laura Gibson‘s (“La Grande”) new album, La Grande, was inspired by the Oregon town that shares the record’s name. The folk performer and Breathe Owl Breathe will appear at Bottom of the Hill on February 6th.
Visions is the buzzed-about new album from Montreal’s Claire Boucher, also known as Grimes (“Genesis”). She’s co-headlining a sold-out Noise Pop show at the Rickshaw Stop on February 22nd.
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Live This Month: January 2012 — an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #268)
January 4, 2012
Live This Month: January 2012 (Podcast #268)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area.
If the beginning of January feels a little slim on the live music front, things should ramp back up into the usual overwhelming number of interesting shows by the month’s end. Several young local bands recently came onto our radar — including Churches, Poor Sons, and Primitive Hearts — and they’re all partaking in locals-heavy bills in the next few weeks.
On the coming-into-town front, it seems that, by sheer coincidence, a number of the month’s highlights all offer variations on electronic pop. From the most immediate and dance-oriented, like Starfucker and Fujiya and Miyagi, to the more experimental, including High Places and Religious to Damn, synth fans have a lot to get excited about in January. Enjoy this mix of thirteen tunes and then go see some shows!
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About the bands:
Deleted Scenes (“Bedbedbedbedbed”) is touring behind Young People’s Church of the Air, the D.C. band’s latest collection of psych-pop. A Lull and Ravenna Woods also perform at the Rickshaw Stop on January 23rd.
Brainstorm (“Forms Without a Frame”) is a big-sounding experimental pop duo from Portland. The band’s touring comes to Vitus on January 5th and the Hemlock Tavern on the 11th.
After the recent release of the Heatwave EP, Ash Reiter (“Heatwave”) will be performing at Cafe Du Nord on January 11th and the Starry Plough on January 27th.
Churches (“Save Me”) is a new band that includes Caleb Nichols (of Grand Lake) and Pat Spurgeon (of Rogue Wave). You can see them at a free show at The Uptown on January 6th, with Grass Widow, Culture Kids, and Wave Array.
Oakland rock and roll trio Primitive Hearts (“Killin’ Time”) has some great demos you can download on Bandcamp. The band is playing at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records with SorryEverAfter and Dark Beach on January 19th.
The Dyunes EP is the first release from SF’s Poor Sons (“Scales”). Party Owl and Cool Ghouls perform alongside the band at the Hemlock Tavern on January 14th.
Jeffertitti’s Nile (“Mountain Jam”) is touring the West Coast this month. See the LA psych band at Thee Parkside on January 19th and at The Knockout on January 23rd.
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Live This Month: November 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #260)
November 2, 2011
Live This Month: November 2011 (Podcast #260)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. The November concert schedule offers a chance to check out the artists behind some big recent releases, as bands like M83, Wild Flag, and Real Estate arrive in support of well-received new albums. Locally, a diverse assortment of acts are launching new releases of their own, including the classic-leaning rock and roll of Zodiac Death Valley, The Northern Key’s singer-songwriter pop, and the raucous art-rock of Wet Illustrated.
This podcast episode includes songs from thirteen artists all performing in the Bay Area during November. Take a listen and then go see some shows!
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About the bands:
The excellent SF band Wet Illustrated (“Gypsy Town”) released 1x1x1 last month on True Panther. The band opens what should be a terrific show at Amnesia on November 17th, with Tim Cohen’s Magic Trick and Devon Williams.
Gauntlet Hair‘s (“Keep Time”) self-titled album is the Denver band’s debut LP. The group’s West Coast tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra finds them at the Rickshaw Stop on November 3rd and The New Parish on November 7th.
Wild Flag (“Romance”) includes members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and The Minders, and the band’s self-titled debut lives up to the promise of those previous groups. On November 4th and 5th, Wild Flag and Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives play at the Great American Music Hall.
SF’s Zodiac Death Valley (“La Razon”) and LA’s The Icarus Line are holding two joint record release parties at Cafe Du Nord on November 5th and 6th. Local bands The Tambo Rays and Nectarine Pie open the Saturday and Sunday shows respectively.
Formerly the leader of Dear Nora, Katy Davidson’s new band is called Key Losers (“Bi-Focal”). The band brings California Lite to the Hemlock Tavern on November 20th. Lesbians and Nora Roman and the Border Busters support.
Oakland electronic pop artist Metal Mother (“Shake”) performs live infrequently, but she’ll be at Cafe Du Nord on November 29th. She’ll be joined by The Horns of Happiness, Mortar and Pestle and Birdseye.
Minneapolis band Peter Wolf Crier (“Right Away”) explores complex prog-pop on its new record, Garden of Arms. On November 4th, you can see the group at Cafe Du Nord with Birds & Batteries and The Curious Mystery.
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Live This Month: October 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #258)
October 4, 2011
Live This Month: October 2011 (Podcast #258)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. While the Treasure Island Music Festival is the month’s biggest draw — and we’ll have a separate mixtape soon showcasing TIMF’s many great bands — there are plenty of great shows this month. Girls cap a national tour with two big hometown shows, while The War on Drugs brings an acclaimed new album to SF. Meanwhile, EMA and Hooray for Earth return to the City, while locals The Soft Moon and Garrett Pierce have release shows for new EPs. Those are just a handful of the dozen-plus great bands in this mix.
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About the bands:
Calgary singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen (“Peace on the Rise”) is touring behind his fourth album, Diaper Island, which is out now. VanGaalen performs with Gary War at Cafe Du Nord on October 11th.
Nobunny (“Blow Dumb”) is teaming with Ty Segall for a Halloween weekend show on October 28th at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall. The fuzz pop talent will also be MCing and performing “Budget Rock Hits of the 90s” at Bottom of the Hill on October 21st.
Melted Toys (“Rose Again”) will be performing at “Buried Treasure,” our free Treasure Island Music Festival Popup Concert and Mixtape Exchange, taking place on October 7th at the San Franpsycho Store (1314 Grant Avenue, San Francisco). ChuCha Santamaria Y Usted also performs, and there will be a DJ set by Elephant and Castle.
Santa Barbara’s Gardens & Villa (“Star Fire Power”) have crafted a sharp indie pop sound blending electronic and acoustic instrumentation. On October 13th, the band headlines Bottom of the Hill, with Young Man and Waterstrider.
Megafaun (“These Words”) is a psych-folk band from Durham, North Carolina, with a new self-titled double LP. See the trio at Cafe Du Nord on October 7th with Jessica Pratt and Doug Paisley.
Garrett Pierce (“Everybody Breaks”) is one of our favorite singer-songwriters, and his new EP, Everybody Breaks, comes out this month. He’s performing at the Hemlock Tavern with Himalayan Bear on October 25th.
The War On Drugs (“Baby Missiles”) is a Philadelphia band led by Adam Granduciel. Slave Ambient is the name of the group’s new LP, available on Secretly Canadian, and they’ll perform with Purling Hiss and Carter Tanton at The Independent on October 23rd.
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Live This Month: September 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #256)
August 31, 2011
Live This Month: September 2011 (Podcast #256)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two big local-focused events top this month’s calendar. First, we’re pleased to be co-producing the free, all ages 2011 Rock Make Street Festival, taking place on September 17th at Treat Avenue and 18th Street in the Mission District. Additionally, the Mission Creek Music Festival returns to SF and Oakland for its fifteenth installment this month. Beyond those fests, the September concert calendar seems heavy on out-of-town acts playing can’t-miss shows in SF, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a whole lot of great local bands accompanying them.
We’ll be serving up a Rock Make mixtape in the near future, in the meantime, hear new music from Pepper Rabbit, Devon Williams, Man/Miracle, Jens Lekman and more.
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About the bands:
LA duo Pepper Rabbit (“Murder Room”) just released Red Velvet Snow Ball on Kanine Records. The band’s North American tour with BRAIDS and Painted Palms comes to Bottom of the Hill on September 27th.
Devon Williams‘ (“Your Sympathy”) new album Euphoria came out this week on Slumberland Records. Williams’ West Coast tour behind the record comes to the East Nile on September 3rd and the Rickshaw Stop on the 4th.
Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman (“An Argument With Myself”) will be performing at the California Academy of Sciences on September 29th. The show is a Nightlife event that is doubling as a Treasure Island Music Festival pre-party.
Local indie pop trio Dreamdate (“Pyramids”) is one of our longtime favorite bands. You can see Dreamdate twice this month: at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records on September 3rd and at Thee Parkside on September 29th.
September 27th is a big day for SF band Dominant Legs (“Hoop of Love”). That’s the day the band’s first LP, Invitation, comes out, and, that night, the group performs at Cafe Du Nord with Nurses.
Active Child (“Hanging On”) is LA musician Pat Grossi’s electronic pop project. Chad Valley and Silver Swans perform alongside Grossi at Bottom of the Hill on September 28th.
Unfortunately, after the recording of this show, Tennis‘ (“Is It True?”) tourmates The Vaccines cancelled the bands’ upcoming tour due to illness.
Pamela (“Lie Down”) consists of two members of The Splinters, and the duo just released the Pamela is Hungover tape on Whoa Whoa Records. The band celebrates the release at Thee Parkside on September 15th, with Part Time, Surf Club, and Permanent Collection.
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Live This Month: August 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #254)
August 3, 2011
Live This Month: August 2011 (Podcast #254)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. For us, August hits a high point early, as August 6th we’re throwing our annual fundraiser, Regional Bias, at the Verdi Club. As we discuss on the podcast, with four great local bands on the bill — Little Wings, Royal Baths, White Cloud, and Sea of Bees — as well as DJs, local artists, and more, it’s a really special event, and we hope to see you there.
After Regional Bias, is there anything else of note? How about the Outside Lands Festival, which returns to Golden Gate Park with a really strong lineup full of local bands and big name headliners from August 12th through the 14th? Meanwhile, the ongoing Total Trash Fest hosts a ton of great garage rock shows. Finally, as usual, there is no shortage of exciting bands celebrating the release of new albums, including Tim Cohen’s Magic Trick and Ganglians, or touring with new records coming soon, like Mikal Cronin and Wooden Shjips.
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About the bands:
Moonhearts’ Mikal Cronin (“Apathy”) has a self-titled solo album coming out on Trouble in Mind Records on September 20th. Before heading on tour with Ty Segall, Cronin will be performing at the Hemlock Tavern on Sunday, August 28th with Mouthbreathers and Cosmonauts.
Little Wings (“How Come?”) is on of our favorite local bands, and we’re really excited to have Kyle Field co-headlining our Regional Bias fundraiser show at the Verdi Club on August 6th. Royal Baths, White Cloud, and Sea of Bees also perform.
Vetiver (“Wonder Why”) hasn’t performed locally since releasing The Errant Charm on Sub Pop. Andy Cabic and his band are performing at Outside Lands and also playing an Outside Lands night show at the Rickshaw Stop on August 12th.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah‘s (“Same Mistake”) third full length, Hysterical, comes out in September. The recently regrouped band is performing at Outside Lands and at The Independent on August 10th.
Chicago rock and roll duo White Mystery (“Blood & Venom”) released Blood & Venom earlier this year. Burnt Ones and Mrs. Magician round out the Hemlock Tavern’s bill on August 25th.
SF band Lilac (“Cathedral”) recorded their debut EP at Different Fur Studios, and they’ll be performing at Different Fur’s 43rd anniversary party at Cafe Du Nord on August 26th. Also playing: Tragik, Grillade, and Dirty Ghosts.
Sacramento’s Ganglians (“Sleep”) are playing at the Hemlock Tavern with Bright Archer on August 21st. Still Living comes out on August 23rd via Lefse Records.
Tim Cohen‘s band Magic Trick (“Daylight Moon”) has a new album of lengthy, ambitious songs called The Glad Birth of Love. On August 24th, the band performs alongside Magic Bullets, PreTeen and Tambo Rays at the Rickshaw Stop.
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Live This Month: July 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #252)
July 6, 2011
Live This Month: July 2011 (Podcast #252)
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. As summer touring heats up, a bunch of buzz bands are coming through town this month, and the arriving Iceage, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Cold Showers have all received strong praise for their debuts. Meanwhile, several locals, including Release the Sunbird, Form & Fate, and Painted Palms, all have new records they’re supporting with SF shows. Last, but not least, we’re gearing up for our free Phono Del Sol festival this month, and our latest Regional Bias event in August. We hope to see you at both!
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About the bands:
Mirah (“Gone are the Days”) co-headlines our first Phono Del Sol Festival, a free, all ages daytime event that takes place in Potrero Del Sol Park on July 16th. Also playing are Aesop Rock, Man/Miracle, Magik*Magik Orchestra, Religious Girls, and Appetite. More details here.
Branching out from Rogue Wave, Zach Rogue releases Come Back to Us as Release the Sunbird (“Always Like the Son”) later this month. Prior to performing at Outside Lands, Rogue’s new band will be at the Swedish American Hall on July 28th.
Before heading to Big Sur for the sold-out Woodsist Fest, Woods (“Pushing Onlys”) teams up with The Fresh & Onlys, The Mantles, and DJ Britt Govea for a show at The Independent on July 29th. The band’s latest album, Sun and Shade, came out in May.
Thurston Moore‘s (“Circulation”) new solo album, Demolished Thoughts, is a thoughtful collection of songs that ranks among this year’s highlights. Moore and Kurt Vile are co-headlining a tour this month that stops at The New Parish on July 25th, and the Great American Music Hall on the 26th.
SF R&B revivalist Nick Waterhouse (“Just Want To Buy You Some Maracas, Girl”) has been making waves with a compelling live show. Waterhouse and his band The Tarots perform with Allah-Las at the Elbo Room on July 22nd.
Fat Possum recently released Unknown Mortal Orchestra‘s (“How Can You Luv Me?”) psych-funk-rock debut LP. UMO supports Yuck at The Independent on July 26th and 27th.
Unnatural Helpers (“Sunshine / Pretty Girls”), from Seattle, are led by Dean Whitmore (of The Intelligence). The band will be performing at the unbelievably packed 1-2-3-4 Go! Records Anniversary weekend at the Oakland Metro on July 22nd, and at the Hemlock Tavern on July 28th.
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Live This Month: June 2011 – an audio guide through SF concerts this month (Podcast #250)
June 1, 2011
In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area. June kicks off the summer touring season, which means a bunch of acts coming through SF and locals heading out on tour. Not coincidentally, a bunch of the bands included here have new records out this month, including My First Earthquake, Matt Bauer, The Wooden Birds, and Black Lips. Enjoy this mix and then go check out some shows!
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About the bands:
Local band Phantom Kicks (“Better Days Of”) released the Tectonics EP for free download earlier this year. See them perform on June 18th at El Rio, with Blackbird Blackbird, Old Arc, and Yalls.
John Vanderslice (“The Piano Lesson”) is reuniting with the Magik*Magik Orchestra for a one-time-only performance of White Wilderness with a full orchestra and choir. Find out more here about this special show on June 17th at the Herbst Theatre.
Andrew Kenny (of American Analog Set) leads The Wooden Birds (“Two Matchsticks”), whose second album, Two Matchsticks, comes out June 7th. The band plays with The Definite Articles and White Cloud on June 25th at Bottom of the Hill.
This month, Crossbill Records will release The Jessamine County Book Of The Living, the latest from former SFer Matt Bauer (“Blacklight Horses”). Bauer performs at Viracocha on June 23rd, with Chloe Makes Music.
The US tour in support of Dancer Equired, Times New Viking‘s (“Ever Falling in Love”) first album on Merge Records, hits the RIckshaw Stop on June 14th. King Tuff and Spencey Dude & The Doodles open the show.
Long-running New York garage rock band The Fleshtones (“Bite of My Soul”) released their latest album, Brooklyn Sound Solution, on Yep Roc earlier this year. East Bay Grease performs with the band at Bottom of the Hill on June 28th.
