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*indie rock* Motopony // Survival Guide

Motopony plays mellow, folksy indie rock.  Survival Guide plays simple electronic indie rock.  This would be a good show for a second date.

$10.00

Show Info / Tickets

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*british hip hop* Kate Tempest // MicahTron // Saturn Rising

Kate Tempest demands more than a cursory listen.  To call her lyrics-dense would be an understatement; the music is almost an afterthought to the poetry, which is her first and foremost vocation. Her allusions run deep and wide, her narratives spin out in detailed arcs. 

$13 / 15

Show Info / Tickets

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: End of March 2014

*lofi indie rock* Tue, Mar 18, 9pm, $8 // Sean McArdle Band, Chaos of Birds, Graham Patzner @ The Night Light, Oakland

sean mcardle writes rough, slightly off key indie rock that sounds like it was recorded in an underwater basement. this is a compliment; it echoes simon joyner, a forever favorite of mine. chaos of birds sounds like a band that’s trying to find its sound and is currently experimenting with a lofi, sometimes kind of post-rock, sometimes kind of post-punk sound

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 19, 9pm, $12/15 // Yellow Ostrich, Pattern Is Movement, Paint The Trees White @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

yellow ostrich plays pretty, mellow indie rock. pattern is movement is bizzarre, mathy, deconstructed pop music

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 19, 9pm, $10 // THUMPERS @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall, SF

this band was dubbed way too happy and enthusiastic for pitchfork, so i think you can expect they’ll inspire some mild toe-taping

*comedy* Thu, Mar 20, 8pm, $20-25 // W. Kamau Bell @ New Parish

did you know that i not only have great taste in music, but also in comedy? it’s true. w. kamau bell’s comedy manages to be both cutting and jolly at the same time

*americana* Fri, Mar 21, 8:30pm, $10/12 // Guy Fox, Big Tree, The Districts, Young Moon, @ Bottom of the Hill

guy fox plays eminently danceable music that flirts with being kind of loungey, but is a lot of fun live. big trees is fronted by two women whose voices soar in beautiful harmonies; calling it folk music sells it short.  young moon plays interesting, pretty indie rock with washed out vocals that sound like they’re coming from underwater

*indie rock* Sat, Mar 22, 9pm, $12/15 // Lost in the Trees, Icy Demons @ The Chapel

indie rock written by a composer. precise and soulful.

*hip hop* Sun, Mar 23, 8pm, $14 // Astronautalis, Playdough, Transit, Low Country Kingdom @ Thee Parkside, SF

smart, melodic, fun hip hop by one of the the most dynamic and hard working performers you’ll ever see

*electronic indie pop* Tue, Mar 25, 8pm, $12/14 // Small Black, Snowmine, Yalls @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

this is a show of enchanting, mellow indie pop. yalls and small black are of an electronic bent, but snowmine channels chamber music

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 26, 8pm $10 // Saintseneca, The Blank Tapes, Vikesh Kapoor @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

saintseneca is full-throated indie rock in the spirit of neutral milk hotel or the silver jews. the blanks tapes play mellow, washed-out surf rock and viksesh kapoor is a classic singer-songwriter with a great voice.

*country* Sun, Mar 30, 8pm, $8 // The Native Sibling, Lauren O’Connell, Kevin Tudball @ Hotel Utah, SF

both the native sibling and lauren o’connell both perform country rock with stunningly beautiful vocals

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Upcoming Shows: Fri, Mar 7

*classic indie rock* Fri, Mar 7, 8pm, $12/15 // Mirah, AgesandAges, Emily Moldy @ New Parish, Oakland

mirah is one of the godmothers of northwest indie rock, a staple of the k records cohort. if you don't know her or you've never seen her, get yourself to one of these shows so you can consider yourself a cultured person

*metal* Fri, Mar 7, 8pm, $12/14 // The Summit, The Ocean, The Atlas Moth, Silver Snakes @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

since i moved to the bay area i've gone to exactly no metal shows. this show has a sampling of metal i like: the summit is gloomy, pretty instrumental metal; the ocean is more traditional heavy metal, and silver snakes is a little proggy at times but mix it up enough to keep it interesting

*metal* Fri, Mar 7, 9pm, $18 // Russian Circles, Helms Alee, Ken Mode @ Great American Music Hall, SF

more excellent instrumental metal from russian circles, supported by helms alee, a classic seattle act

full march calendar

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: March

This post is late.  I know both my readers are disappointed, but sometimes that how things roll.  At the end of February, I was in one of those little ruts where music just doesn’t sound good, and it doesn’t do anyone any favors to churn out a list when you’re in that headspace.

So I thought I'd put together a truncated list this month, something that I pulled from my Songkick list, with limited new recommendations.  But as soon as I started to even dip my toe into the pool of offerings this month, I had no choice but to jump in fully.  There's just too much good stuff.  Here is a few week's worth, and expect a second post shortly covering the remainder of the month. *Edit* I updated the list for the whole month.  Enjoy!

*surf rock* Wed, Mar 5, 9pm, $12/15 // Shannon & the Clams, CCR Headcleaner, Calvin Love, Gravys Drop, Al Lover @ New Parish, Oakland

i’ve seen shannon & the clams many times in seattle but not once since i’ve moved to oakland. why is this? because they play wednesday nights in violation of teacher bedtime. someday, they’ll play a weekend show and we’ll be reunited

*classic indie rock* Thu, Mar 6, 9pm, $12/15 // Mirah, AgesandAges, M. Lockwood Porter @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall, SF

*classic indie rock* Fri, Mar 7, 8pm, $12/15 // Mirah, AgesandAges, Emily Moldy @ New Parish, Oakland

mirah is one of the godmothers of northwest indie rock, a staple of the k records cohort. if you don't know her or you've never seen her, get yourself to one of these shows so you can consider yourself a cultured person

*metal* Fri, Mar 7, 8pm, $12/14 // The Summit, The Ocean, The Atlas Moth, Silver Snakes @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

since i moved to the bay area i've gone to exactly no metal shows. this show has a sampling of metal i like: the summit is gloomy, pretty instrumental metal; the ocean is more traditional heavy metal, and silver snakes is a little proggy at times but mix it up enough to keep it interesting

*metal* Fri, Mar 7, 9pm, $18 // Russian Circles, Helms Alee, Ken Mode @ Great American Music Hall, SF

more excellent instrumental metal from russian circles, supported by helms alee, a classic seattle act

*alt folk* Sat, Mar 15, 9:30pm, $10/12 // We Became Owls, decker., TaughtMe @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

we became owls is more on the folk than the bluegrass end of the spectrum. decker. is haunting folk rock

*post rock* Sat, Mar 15, 9pm, $15 // This Will Destroy You, Silent Land Time Machine @ The Chapel, SF

this will destroy you plays beautiful post rock

*piano* Sun, Mar 16, 9pm, $18/20 sold out // Nils Frahm, Douglas Dare @ The Independent, SF

this show is sold out, but if you're looking for incredibly gentle, beautiful, sad piano compositions, listen to nils frahm

*lofi indie rock* Tue, Mar 18, 9pm, $8 // Sean McArdle Band, Chaos of Birds, Graham Patzner @ The Night Light, Oakland

sean mcardle writes rough, slightly off key indie rock that sounds like it was recorded in an underwater basement. this is a compliment; it echoes simon joyner, a forever favorite of mine. chaos of birds sounds like a band that's trying to find its sound and is currently experimenting with a lofi, sometimes kind of post-rock, sometimes kind of post-punk sound

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 19, 9pm, $12/15 // Yellow Ostrich, Pattern Is Movement, Paint The Trees White @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

yellow ostrich plays pretty, mellow indie rock. pattern is movement is bizzarre, mathy, deconstructed pop music

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 19, 9pm, $10 // THUMPERS @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall, SF

this band was dubbed way too happy and enthusiastic for pitchfork, so i think you can expect they’ll inspire some mild toe-taping

*comedy* Thu, Mar 20, 8pm, $20-25 // W. Kamau Bell @ New Parish

did you know that i not only have great taste in music, but also in comedy? it’s true. w. kamau bell's comedy manages to be both cutting and jolly at the same time

*americana* Fri, Mar 21, 8:30pm, $10/12 // Guy Fox, Big Tree, The Districts, Young Moon, @ Bottom of the Hill

guy fox plays eminently danceable music that flirts with being kind of loungey, but is a lot of fun live. big trees is fronted by two women whose voices soar in beautiful harmonies; calling it folk music sells it short.  young moon plays interesting, pretty indie rock with washed out vocals that sound like they’re coming from underwater

*indie rock* Sat, Mar 22, 9pm, $12/15 // Lost in the Trees, Icy Demons @ The Chapel

indie rock written by a composer. precise and soulful.

*hip hop* Sun, Mar 23, 8pm, $14 // Astronautalis, Playdough, Transit, Low Country Kingdom @ Thee Parkside, SF

smart, melodic, fun hip hop by one of the the most dynamic and hard working performers you'll ever see

*electronic indie pop* Tue, Mar 25, 8pm, $12/14 // Small Black, Snowmine, Yalls @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

this is a show of enchanting, mellow indie pop. yalls and small black are of an electronic bent, but snowmine channels chamber music

*indie rock* Wed, Mar 26, 8pm $10 // Saintseneca, The Blank Tapes, Vikesh Kapoor @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

saintseneca is full-throated indie rock in the spirit of neutral milk hotel or the silver jews. the blanks tapes play mellow, washed-out surf rock and viksesh kapoor is a classic singer-songwriter with a great voice.

*country* Sun, Mar 30, 8pm, $8 // The Native Sibling, Lauren O'Connell, Kevin Tudball @ Hotel Utah, SF

both the native sibling and lauren o'connell both perform country rock with stunningly beautiful vocals

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March Selected Things Teaser: Chastity Belt & Dude York

March's post is going to be late, late, late, but there is a great show going on tomorrow night you should see at the Knockout:

*rock* Tue, Mar 4, 8pm, $7 // Ava Luna, Chastity Belt, Dude York, Krill @ The Knockout, SF

i've been digging on chastity belt since i first heard them a couple of years ago at seattle's reverb festival (now the macefield music fest). and they've rightly been gaining national attention. i'd catch them regularly around town, and they often played with dude york, whose fun, bouncey, slightly smarmy rock charmed me in its own right. it's a real treat to get to see these two acts together in the bay area.

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Islands at the Great American Music Hall 2/1/2014 greatamericanmusichall

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: February

February may be a short month but it’s not short on shows, perhaps because bands are gearing up for festival season.  Go see some music and do a little rain dance.  California is parched.

This month the Bay Area is riding a surf rock wave, so if that's your jam you're in luck.  I've been making my way out the the beach more and more, so that's right up my alley.

Recommended bands are bold and linked; click venue names for show information; times listed are show start times.  This information was accurate to the best of my knowledge upon posting, but you should confirm details at the actual venue website before making plans i.e. I'm not responsible for incorrect information ruining your night, okay?

*indie rock* Sat, Feb 1, 9pm, $16 // Islands, Haunted Summer, Ash Reiter @ Great American Music Hall, SF

the unicorn's "who will cut our hair when we're gone" is one of my favorite albums of all time. that band didn't last, but nick thornburn went on to make excellent music with islands. it's been years since i've seen them, but i can unequicovally say they are excellent both live and recorded. i listened to three songs by ash reiter and impulse bought their record because it was just such infectious indie pop 

*surf rock* Sat, Feb 1, 9pm, $14/16 // Shannon & the Clams, Scraper, Silver Shadows, DJ Ack Ack Ack@ The Chapel, SF

shannon & the clams is bright, perfectly constructed surf rock who put on a tight, fun show

*surf rock* Sat, Feb 1, 9pm, $6, // Pow!, Los Craters, Massenger, The Electric Magpie @ Hemlock Tavern, SF

if you're looking for a cheaper show this saturday, you can never go wrong with the hemlock. los craters plays solidly constructed classic surf rock. massenger is surf rock that rocks a little harder

*surf rock* Sun, Feb 2, 7pm, $7 // La Luz, Golden Drugs, Meat Market @ 1-2-3-4 Go Records, Oakland

i guess there's a lot of surf rock happening this weekend. i generally decline to describe bands as "female fronted" or "all women," because one would hardly describe a band as "male fronted" or "all male." however, there is an intimacy and an ease that some groups of all female musicians achieve amongst each other that is a pleasure to watch, so sometimes it is a salient feature to mention. la luz is such a band. you shouldn't miss their dreamy, hypnotic surf rock in this intimate venue, even for the superbowl

*rock* Wed, Feb 5, 9pm, $10/12 // The Pack a.d. @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall, SF

these two women write classic, stripped down rock

*psychedelic indie rock* Wed, Feb 5, 9pm, $5 // The Spyrals, The Cairo Gang, Tomorrow's Tulips, The She’s @ The Night Light, Oakland

this whole show has a stoner beach vibe. the spyrals are solid, slightly psychedelic rock; tomorrow’s tulips are sleepy, lofi, psychedelic rock; the she’s play summery bubblegum summer pop

*acoustic electronic* Thu, Feb 6, 9pm, $15 // Dawn of Midi @ The Chapel, SF

dawn of midi has been described as indescribable, and heaven knows my amateur musical vocabulary feels insufficient for the task (case in point: it's taken me half this post to remember the term for "music where no one sings." lyricless? no, that's not right).  hypnotic, subtle, instrumental, precise. even though their music is minimalist, i have a feeling watching them live will leave you as breathless as watching a tight-rope act

*indie rock* Sat, Feb 8, 9:30pm, $12 // Shearwater, Jesca Hoop, Cazadero @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

i'm thrilled to see shearwater, whose album "animal joy" was on heavy rotation for 2013. beautiful, haunting deep male vocals over dark, uncluttered rock instrumentation. this is a show i’d go to regardless of the openers, but the openers are good too. jesca hoop has a soaring, catchy sound, and cazadero are like a perkier silver jews

*post rock/shoegaze* Sat, Feb 8, 9pm, $8 // Here Come The Saviours, The Cold and Lovely, Face Tat @ El Rio, SF

face tat i recommended last month, and the more i listen the more i dig their dark, deliberate, droney electronica. i can't quite get a bead on the cold and lovely, but i think i like their fuzzy, dreamy, deconstructed pop sound. here come the saviors is kind of messy, loosely constructed shoegazey rock

*indie rock* Mon, Feb 10, 8pm, $13/15 // Augustines, My Goodness @ The Independent, SF

i was sick when augustines came through last fall with frightened rabbit, but they have a big, swelling sound driven by energetic drums and intense vocals. what a treat to see them with seattle staple my goodness, who have a traditional bluesy rock sound and have great energy live

*indie rock* Tue, Feb 11, 8pm, $10/12 // Hospitality, Air Waves, Matt Kival @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

hospitality is tight, snappy indie rock. air waves plays dreamy, jangly indie pop

*indie rock* Tue, Feb 11, 9pm, $10/12 // Dave Davison, The Great Work, The Soonest @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

dave davison is bright indie rock; the soonest is thoughtfully composed, melancholy indie rock

*dancey indie pop* Thu, Feb 13, 8pm, $13/15 // Royal Teeth, Chappo @ The Chapel, SF

i caught royal teeth as an opening act about a year ago, and their youthful energy and infectiously catchy dance hooks sure caught my attention. since then, they've been working hard touring and just put out a super fun album, "glow." check it out. go see them. bring a friend. fun will be had by all.

*indie pop & garage rock* Thu, Feb 13, 8:30pm, $6 // Sandy’s, Elle Belle, Rustangs @ The Hemlock Tavern, SF

i'm basing this recommendation on just a few samples from each band, but it seems like every band on this bill has something going for them, which is the kind of show i like to check out.  sandy's has a sweet, dreamy vibe reminiscent of beach house. elle belle has a surf rock sound, and rustangs play garage rock with a psychedelic sensibility

*indie rock* Fri, Feb 14, 9pm, $8 // Cookie Tongue, Dead Western, The Lord Dog Bird @ Hotel Utah, SF

a lot of the bands booked at hotel utah are reminiscent of the seattle diy scene in the early 2000s. it’s nostalgic in a slightly uncomfortable way. dead western is like a mellower, darker calvin johnson. cookie tongue is cute diy pop.  The lord dog bird plays hypnotic dirges.

*dark rock* Wed, Feb 19, 9pm, $6 // Animal Eyes, Panic is Perfect, Casey Chisholm, Halyconaire @ The Night Light, Oakland

this show is a steal, i tell you. all the bands are doing something interesting, but halcyonaire is one best things happening in the bay area right now. i finally caught them live last month, and they are astonishingly good. i mean, it's not that astonishing, considering how good their album "dread hymn" is, but with a full band they take it to the next level of excellence. portland-based animal eyes plays mellow, somewhat mathy rock with lots of change-ups. panic is perfect is perfectly good electronic indie dance pop; casey chisholm plays one-man down-tempo electronic pop.

*50s/60s pop* Fri, Feb 21, 9pm, $6/8 // King Lollipop, Santoros, Gravys Drop, Levitation Room, DJ Al Lover @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

a show steeped in nostalgia and dusted with a 50s pop sensibility.  king lollipop, one of the members of shannon and the clams, is a bit like roy orbison.  gravys drop is 60s lofi rock’n’roll

*lofi noisepop* Fri, Feb 21, 9pm, $6 // DSTVV, Snow Wite, Blood Sister @ Hemlock Tavern, SF

sometimes, the last show that i write up i am tapped out on describing music. thus, i will use my cheat method which is to simply copy and paste their bandcamp tags, because i feel that those often capture the essence of a band's sound in a truncated, impressionistic sort of way, far better than i can: "grungegaze industrial lofi oakland rock sanfrancisco shitgaze drone gothgaze indie industrial lo-fi noisepop seapunk shoegaze synth"

*experimental* Sat, Feb 22, 9:30pm, $12/14 // Xiu Xiu, Tearest, Farewell @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

i'm not entirely sure how i feel about xiu xiu, but they are such a long-lived band that has quietly influenced so many acts that i love and respect that i think it would be worth seeing them

*indie rock* Tues, Feb 25, 8pm, $23 // Lord Huron @ The Filmore, SF

lord huron is a band that doesn't make an impression but gets into your psyche. though i've listened to their album "lonsesome dreams" many times, every time i unintentionally hear them i think, "who IS this? it's so good." they are not a band i feel close to, but their music is so lovely that i would love to see it live

*indie rock* Thu, Feb 27, 9pm, $10/12 // Social Studies, Aan @ The New Parish, Oakland

social studies performs energetic, well-crafted indie rock that is well worth seeing

*indie rock* Fri, Feb 28, 8pm, $20 // Real Estate, The Shilohs, Dream Boys @ The Independent, SF

i have the exact same thoughts on real estate that i have about lord huron. beautiful, well-crafted, impersonal, worth seeing

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Been years since I've seen them.  Can't wait.

Finally, an Islands show at the Great American Music Hall! “Kicked open a coconut, could have shared it with anyone, but I wanted to share it with you.”

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: January

I'm off to a slow start coming out of the holidays, but it seems that so is the scene in general. Not much is going on in the first few days of the month, but things really start to pick up after the first weekend.

My theme this month is variety: variety in what appeals to me, variety within shows. It's like a sampler box of Bay Area and West Coast music, which is perfect if you've made a resolution to see more live music this year.

Recommended bands are linked and bolded; click on the venue name for show information.

*hip hop* Sat, Jan 4, 9pm, $8 // Telli Prego, Peter Feliciano, Onewerd, BP & Praduh, Sean Dick @ Hotel Utah

born and raised in san francisco, telli prego creates hip hop with smart lyrics and good flow

*football* Sun, Jan 5, 12/1:40pm doors/game, free // San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers @ The Chapel

what? my football fandom may be sporadic and non-monogamous but that doesn't mean i don't like to watch a hometown team in the playoffs. also it seems like the chapel would be a fun place to watch a game

*post rock* Tue, Jan 7, 9pm, $8 // Wander, Balms, Airs @ Bottom of the Hill

this is embarrassing to admit, but i've been hearing the term "shoegaze" for years without actually associating it with any specific musical sound. maybe it's because i lived in seattle for so long, where "shoegaze" just seemed to mean "what people do as they listen to music." (joke: how do you spot an extroverted seattleite? they're the one staring at someone else's shoes). anyway, listening to wander, it dawned on me that, oh, this is shoegaze, because you get lost in the builds and swells that put you in a kind of a trance that would be ruined by eye contact or acknowledging your fellow human beings. with just a touch of metal sensibility, wander constructs music to get lost in. (EDIT: i've been informed wander is best classified not, in fact, as shoegaze but rather as post rock, so i apparently still have no fucking clue what that term means)

*rock* Wed, Jan 8, 8pm, $15 // Mikal Cronin, Cool Ghouls, Cocktails @ Rickshaw Stop

this show is part of the week-long 10-year anniversary celebration for the rickshaw stop, and this is a great line-up to celebrate with. mikal cronin is writing some of the catchiest rock out there these days and cool ghouls plays some solid surf rock. despite recommending cool ghouls a bunch of times, i've never managed to see them, so that's going to change this month

*indie rock* Fri, Jan 10, 8pm, $14/18 // Sea Wolf, Ghost and the City @ Great American Music Hall

sea wolf is one of those bands that i've always lost track of amongst all the wolves, owls, deers, oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and waves of indie rock nomenclature. but that is a shame, because they are really, really good and i’m kicking myself for not listening sooner

*dream/indie pop* Sat, Jan 11, 9pm, $8 // StaG, Tidelands, Dinners, @ Thee Parkside

stag is catchy dream pop; tidelands is intense, tightly constructed indie pop. this show seems like one of the best bets of the month.

*performance rock* Sun, Jan 12, 8pm, $16 // Leslie & the Ly's, Double Duchess, DJ Kidd Sysko @ Rickshaw Stop

if you've not heard of leslie and the ly's, let me give you a snapshot. leslie hall created and curates the mobile museum of gem sweaters, which also doubles as her tour bus. she generally appears in a skin-tight lamé body suit, despite having a sizable number of songs dedicated to pants. her first album was entitled "gold pants," and the remix album is called "songs in the key of gold." in other words, you should see her if you possibly can

*dark rock* Tue, Jan 14, 9pm, $8 // PSSNGRS, Face Tat, Casey Chisholm, Kid In The Attic @ Bottom of the Hill

here’s why i’m recommending this show: i like things that are starting out. i like things that have potential. none of these bands feel like they’ve quite hit their groove yet, but they also sound like something that’s growing. i like to support and observe the development of the scene. face tat taps into the appealing aspects of electronic music while remaining imaginative. their songs develop just enough that they don’t quite put you in a trance.  casey chisholm sounds like a more chill diamond rings. these bands seem like they have growth potential, so get in on the ground floor and check them out

*indie rock* Fri, Jan 17, 9pm, $12 // Painted Palms, Soft Metals, Melted Toys @ Rickshaw Stop

painted palms plays catchy pop music with an ever-so-slight psychedelic edge

*indie rock* Fri, Jan 17, 9pm, $10/12 // The Hundred Days, Cosmic Suckerpunch, Blackout Party, Dogcatcher @ Bottom of the Hill

this is one of those indie-rock sampler-plates this month: there's probably something that you'll like, and something that will clash with your pallet.  for me, what i'm digging the most is the hundred days, with their dancey hooks and new wave sensibility. blackout party is good americana/roots and dogcatcher is indie rock with a bit of a funk groove

*surf rock* Mon, Jan 20, 8pm, $12 // Pure Bathing Culture, La Luz @ The Chapel

la luz is a dreamy surf-rock band out of seattle who's album "it's alive" is going to be on heavy rotation on my playlist this summer. fun fact: i met some super rad girls at the filming of their video for "brainwash," in which we spun some hypnotic spinners (those are our legs around the 1:55 mark). pure bathing culture is also pretty, dreamy pop. this should be an excellent show

*indie rock* Tue, Jan 21, 8pm, $10 // Cloud Control, Body Parts, Wild Ones @ Rickshaw Stop

cloud control is beautiful, dreamy indie rock; wild ones is electro-tinged indie pop; body parts is more dancey and synth driven

*rock & pop* Tues, Jan 21, 8:30pm, $6 // Vision, O Presidente, Cobalt Cranes, Unstrung @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall

this is another variety show, with lofi, high energy bedroom rock from vision; poppy college rock from o presidente; and dreamy female-fronted indie rock from cobalt cranes. vision and cobalt cranes are also playing on weds, jan 22 at eli's mile high club.

*dark & indie rock* Thu, Jan 23, 8:30pm, $6 // Kitten Grenade, Halcyonaire, Sad Bastard Book Club @ Hemlock Tavern

halcyonaire’s lofi, dark country rock album “dread hymn” has been on heavy rotation for me the last month and i've been wanting to check them out live. they'll pair well with sad bastard book club, which is shoegazey (see, i'm learning) post-rock with a hint of metal. this might be an odd match up with kitten grenade, which is, surprisingly, a ukelele-driven outfit who writes sweet pop songs. but hey, variety is the spice of life

*pop* Fri, Jan 24, 9pm, $12 // Dent May @ Great American Music Hall

dent may writes kind of silly but heartfelt music

*indie rock* Sat & Sun, Jan 25 & 26, 8pm, $20/22 // !!!, Fine Steps @ The Chapel

i wonder how !!! feel about having chosen a band name whose pronunciation must be explained in every press encounter (it's "exclamation point exclamation point exclamation point," i believe). anyway, they write high-energy rock music that'll get you dancing

*indie & electro pop* Fri, Jan 31, 9:30, $10 // Birdmonster, The Lower 48, City Light @ Bottom of the Hill

the lower 48 writes catchy, well-constructed pop songs with tight harmonies. city light is fun, electronic indie pop

*pop punk* Fri, Jan 31, 9pm, $10 // Japanther, Self Defense Family, Creative Adult @ Thee Parkside

japanthers is pop punk, but with fuzzed out vocals and more playful, interesting song structures. self defense family is like a poppier nation of ulysses ( i could only find their music on spotify so either go that route or take my word for it). i can’t imagine this not being a fun show

*rock* Fri, Jan 31, 9pm, $8/10 // The Kanes, The Wearies @ Hotel Utah

the kanes are solid rock, traditional rock

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: December

How does each month fly faster than the last?  What's more, this post brings 2013-- and a year of doing this little blog-- to a close. Pardon me while I wax sentimental for a moment.

In this past year, I moved from Seattle, where I lived for my entire adult life, to Oakland, the city where I was born but never lived. I closed out my 20s. I found much-needed equilibrium in my career.  And practically every month, I listened to, and saw, lots and lots of wonderful music. While I've always sought out new and live music, the little bit of accountability of publishing this little list for myself has focused my interest and broadened my tastes. Some months I love music more than others.  Some months I'm more open to new experiences than others.  Many months there's a current to what catches my attention; I rarely know what's driving that current. But sometimes it's best to just observe our reactions to art with no analysis or agenda.

This month there is no theme that I noticed, just a mix of sounds, of bands I love, bands I've seen, and bands I've never heard of but who sparked my interest for one reason or another.  Performances slow down later in the month as the holidays get into full swing, but there's plenty to keep you busy earlier in the month.

As always, bands I recommend are linked and bold; more information can be found by clicking on the venue name.

*rock* Tue, Dec 3, 9pm, $8 // Jail Weddings, The Dandy Lions, Bones Of A Feather @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

jail weddings is high energy rock that promises to skirt the edge of a nervous breakdown

*indie rock* Tue, Dec 3, 8pm, $10  // Cate le Bon, Kevin Morby (of Woods & The Babies), Karina Denike @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

this promises to be an evening of very pretty, delicate, vocal-forward indie rock. also i've been informed that karina denike is one of the singers from the dance hall crashers and this is information that i should share with you, because that is the band that forever inspired my dear friend alithea's haircut. i mean. it's a great haircut

*indie rock* Thu, Dec 5, 9pm, $7/$10 // Guy Fox, Bonnie & the Bang Bang, Growwler @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

one thing about doing this blog is you read a lot of press copy wherein the words have only vaguest relation to the reality of the music, so when you see a band described "a breath of fresh air in a sea of musical derivatives,” you're usually right to roll your eyes.  however, bonnie & the bang bang actually lives up to that hype. they do indeed, as their press kit suggests, employ “simple song structures, cutting lyrics, rich bluegrass textures and grooving rhythms” to create a sound that is “cleverly pop, a fresh take on the folk aesthetic.” listen to their album, and check them out live if you can.  growwler is a fun sounding rock band.  guy fox has some deliciously catchy tunes, and puts on a super fun live show

*rock* Fri, Dec 6, 9:30pm, $6 // Steel Cranes, Oceanography, Turtle Rising @ Hemlock Tavern, SF

this should be an altogether solid rock’n’roll show. oceanography generates a huge sound with just two people; steel cranes create some kick-ass female fronted rock, and turtle rising plays fun rock

*indie rock* Fri, Dec 6, 9pm, $20/$22 // Two Gallants, Once and Future Band @ Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, CA, US 

i rarely buy advance tickets anymore, but two gallants puts on too good a show to risk missing it. huge, aching vocals and some of the most cruelly honest songwriting you'll ever encounter. not to be missed

*artwalk* Fri, Dec 6, 12:00-9:00 pm, free // Oakland Art Murmur: First Friday Art Walk @ Downtown Oakland

i love almost any event that closes down city streets; all the better if it involves art and evening and roving bands of diverse people

*beer & rock festival* Sat, Dec 7, 12:30-6pm, $50 // The Bay Brewed: A Rock n Roll Beer Festival ft. Mikal Cronin, Kelley Stoltz, Shannon and The Clams, French Cassettes, Golden Void, Magic Fight @ Public Works, SF

i love the bay bridged. i love rock and roll.  i love mikal cronin, and shannon and the clams, and beer, and all-you-can-drink beer, and little music festivals. alas, i have an all-day commitment that will preclude my attendance, but if you love some or all of these things, then this event is probably well worth the price tag

*rock* Sat, Dec 7, 9pm, $7 // Frozen Folk, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Halcyonaire @ Nightlight, Oakland 

halcyoniare caught my ear with heavy, country-western tinged dream rock. it's music that sounds like it should be echoing over the southwestern deserts at dusk. frozen folk plays frenetic, discordant math rock. wooden indian burial ground has a psychedelic sound that might be kinda great or might be kinda insufferable live.

*dark rock* Sun, Dec 8, 8pm, $10 // My Jerusalem, Know Secrets, High Water @ Thee Parkside, SF

my jerusalem is melodic, dark indie rock

*dance rock* Tue, Dec 10, 9pm, $? // We WIll Be Lions, Sea Knight, Special Guests @ Nightlight, Oakland

we will be lions has a fun dance vibe reminiscent of the likes of franz ferdinand.  i feel i caught a bit of sea knight a few months back and they sounded great, but they only have shitty live videos anywhere online. however, a cheap show in my hood will inspire me to check them out again. also, wouldn't it be funny to name your band "special guests"?

*indie rock* Thu, Dec 12, 8pm, $16 // Jonathan Richman ft. Tommy Larkin @ Great American Music Hall, SF

if you at all get bummed out around the holidays, do not despair. jonathan richman knows, and jonathan richman is coming to town to make you feel better.  jonathan richman will play you a show that is like a warm embrace, and for at least those magical minutes you spend with him, you will not be sad. you will be transported into his joy, and you too will be filled with joy. so go see jonathan richman. you won't regret it

*lofi rock* Fri, Dec 13, 9pm, $7 // Cool Ghouls, Santoros, The Spyrals, Unstrung, DJ Al Lover @ Brick & Mortar Music, SF

to describe cool ghouls, i will simply quote their bandcamp tags. "rock rock & roll san francisco bay shit hella good psych vocal harmonies San Francisco." i believe that about sums it up. but in seriousness, these guys make some seriously fun lofi rock'n'roll

*indie rock* Fri, Dec 13, 7pm, $10 // Cougar on A Meth Binge, That's Not Her, Life Changing Decisions, Blue Alley Cats @ Eli's Mile High Club, Oakland 

cougar on a meth binge is an oakland band making some interesting (and, despite the name, surprisingly sweet) acoustic indie pop. they seem like they're starting to build something good that's worth checking out

*indie rock* Mon, Dec 16, 7:30pm, $12/14 // Midlake, Sarah Jaffe @ Bottom of the Hill, SF 

midlake is beautifully crafted, delicate indie rock

*electropop* Thu, Dec 19, 10pm, $13/15 // Wild Cub @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

wild cub inspired me to do three things i usually do not do: 1) buy tickets in advance 2) for a show on a weeknight 3) for a band i've never seen. however, it's the thursday before winter vacation, and wild cub has been a rising favorite of mine ever since hearing their phenomenal single "thunder clatter," which is about the most perfect picker-upper of a song i've ever heard. i can practically listen to it all day, every day. these days, there are few bands i love that i've not seen, but wild cub is one of them. i'm eagerly anticipating this

*surf rock* Thu, Dec 26, 9pm, $8/10 // Caldecott, Spooky Flowers @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

caldecott plays that lofi, surf-rock tinged rock’n’roll that’s thankfully making a little resurgence these days

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This will be an incredible show.  So happy to see the well-deserved attention Chastity Belt's been getting.

WIRE with: Chastity Belt Monday November 18, 2013 Slim’s

TICKETS!

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Selected SF Bay Area Shows: November

There's an almost overwhelming amount of great shows coming up this month.  This list is sure to grow because I definitely missed things.

As the weather turns colder (but, like, not that much colder, this place is basically paradise) and the days shorter, we start to seek out warmth and comfort; maybe that's why traditional rock'n'roll is sounding good to me this month.  And yet I find the cold months can be some of my most productive, creative, and disciplined, and that impulse is reflected, too, in my picks this month.

Recommended bands are bold and linked; click venue names for more show info.

*indie rock* Mon, Nov 4, 8pm, $15/17 // Destroyer @ The Independent, SF

destroyer's streethawk: a seduction has been my favorite album for nearly a decade.  i'll never quite forgive dan bejar that each subsequent album is produced in a complete different style. i guess if you've achieved perfection, you don't try to replicate it. still, i'll be ever hopeful that destroyer will someday return to the stripped-down lushness of that one flawless album

*mellow indie rock* Thu, Nov 7, 8:30pm, $6 // Exquisite Corps, Skyscraper Mori, Cougar on a Meth Binge @ Hemlock Tavern, SF

exquisite corps is mellow, dreamy indie rock; despite their name, cougar on a meth binge is similarly sweet acoustic indie rock

*indie pop* Fri, Nov 8, 9pm, $8 // Eliot Rose, Patrick O'Malley, Paint the Trees White @ Hotel Utah, SF

eliot rose'se new ep sounds like jonathan richman crossed with men without hats and kissed with a hint of glam rock.  patrick o'malley is straightforward and fun music that toes the line of being just a little too they-might-be-giants-esque

*honky tonk* Sat, Nov 9, 9:30pm, $14/16 // Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, Chris Shiflet w/ Dead Peasants @ Cafe du Nord, SF

traditional honkey tonk that i'm told is a damn fun show

*dance pop* Tues, Nov 12, 8pm, $12 // Hunter Hunted, We Are Twin, Choirs @ Rickshaw Stop, SF

hunter hunted are super super catchy dance pop that had me involuntarily dancing in my chair as i was writing this up.  we are twin is solid pop music with stunning, soulful vocals. this should be a good show

*rock'n'roll* Wed, Nov 13, 9pm, $12/15 // Those Darlins, Diane Coffee, Jesus Sons @ The Chapel, SF

it doesn't happen very often that a song insists you shut up and listen, but "oh god," the first the first track on those darlins new album, insists you listen.  Weaving blues, folk, country, and rock traditions into an achingly beautiful and arresting ballad.  the then bridges into more traditional, perfectly executed, no-frills rock'n'roll.  this is a group that is serious about making music

*rock'n'roll* Thurs, Nov 14, 9pm, $7/10 // Leopold and His Fiction, The Rockonigles @ The New Parish, Oakland

traditional, blues heavy rock'n'roll

*latin pop* Fri, Nov 15, 9/10pm doors/show, $12 // Trails and Ways, Waterstrider, St. Tropez @ New Parish, Oakland

beautiful, harmonic latin pop that's as danceable as it is listenable

*latin hip hop* Sat, Nov 16, 8/9pm doors/show, $15 // Los Rakas @ New Parish, Oakland

danceable, crisp, and fun hip hop.

*indie rock* Sat, Nov 16, 8/9pm doors/show, $12/15 // Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Army Navy @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

sslyby isn't entirely my style of indie rock, but bands that have been around as long as they have are usually worth seeing for the sheer precision and expertise they bring to their work

*math rock* Wed, Nov 20, 8:30pm, $7 // Qui, Roland, Big Long Now @Hemlock Tavern, SF

i'm recommending this purely on the basis that not many bands surprise me, and qui totally did. at the first uninspired powerchords, i was rolling my eyes, but then they went in a completely unexpected direction.  the best i can describe it is if antony decided to head up a math rock band.  big long now is likewise interesting and precise music

*rock* Fri, Nov 22, 8:30pm, $12 // Papa, Panic is Perfect, Bent Shapes @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

papa is good rock’n’roll with a new wave touch and echoes of the national

*indie rock* Fri, Nov 22, 8:30pm, $15 // John Vanderslice @ Richkshaw Stop, SF

john vanderslice is one of those big-throated, old-school staples of indie rock you should probably see at least once in your life

*dance rock* Sat, Nov 23, 9:30p, $10/12 // That's Not Her, Scissors For Lefty,  United Ghosts, Vela Eyes @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

scissors for lefty is fun and danceable; united ghosts is standard dark rock

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: End of October

*pop* Mon, Oct 21, 8/9pm doors/show, $12/14 // Hunx + His Punx, Wet Drag, Violence Creeps @ The Chapel, SF

hunx revels in being gay and in your face. last time i saw them he almost peed on someone from stage and yes that is a recommendation to go see them

*avante garde rock* Tues, Oct 22, 8/9pm doors/show, $7/10 // The Garden, Lovely Bad Things, Bicycle Day @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

the garden is bizarre, abrupt, deconstructed rock

*folk* Tues, Oct 22, 8pm, $25 // Okkervil River, Matthew E. White @ The Fillmore, SF

why haven’t i listened to okkervil river before?  i’ve long been vaguely aware of them. the term “stomp folk” comes to mind as i listen to them and if you don't like it well that's just too bad

*blues rock'n'roll* Thurs, Oct 24, 9pm, $12 // Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Big Tits, Lonesome Shack @ Thee Parkside, SF

traditional blues inspired rock'n'roll from tennessee, tav falco seems like the ultimate underground cult figure. no website, no label (though you can listen on spotify), just smatterings of recordings on youtube.  lonesome shack is a seattle band in the same genre, and i like to rep seattle acts that are touring through

*electronic pop* Fri, Oct 25, 8:30/9:30 door/show, $14/15 // The Blow, Kisses, The Ian Fays @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

the blow is a mutating, durable force of nature that's been around about as long as i've been aware of seattle indie rock, but that act that i saw in some diy space a decade ago will have morphed into something completely different and yet still stripped down and raw when you see them at this show.  they opening acts are a little more accessible new wave pop acts, but the whole thing sounds like a good time

*surf rock* Wed, Oct 30, 9pm, $8 // No Bunn, Mongoloid (Devo Tribute), Shannon & the Clams @ Elbo Room, SF

well lucky you (and lucky me, since i was too beat to catch them earlier this month), there's another chance to see the splendid shannon & the clams this month.

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: Start of October

I'm in the throes of an early Fall cold as I'm pulling this list together, so I'll be short and sweet on the descriptions. Any typos and poor recommendations are strictly a result of the cold medicine.

This post focuses on the first few weeks of October; I'll post recommendations for the second half of the month in a week or so.

Recommended bands are linked, click venue names for show details.

*rock* Tues, Oct 1/Wed, Oct 2, 8pm, $20 // Man Man, Xenia Rubinos @ The Great American Music Hall, SF

i always forget about this band but i bet you it's hard not to dance when they're playing. tight, groovy rock

*country* Fri, Oct 4, 7/8pm doors/show, $12/15 // Hurray for the Riff Raff, Spirit Family Reunion, The Deslondes @ The New Parish, Oakland

hurray for the riff raff is fronted by haunting and powerful female vocals and the deslondes have a great classic country sound.

*festival* Fri, Oct 4, Sat, Oct 5, Sun, Oct 6, 10:30am, free // Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival @ Golden Gate Park, SF

i haven't waded through the lineup to have specific recommendations for anything new, but some greats acts i see right off the bat include on the cave singers, first aide kit, conor oberst, father john misty (friday); martha wainwright (saturday); justin townes earle, emmylou harris (sunday). unfortunately saturday looks like the weakest line up, but hey, you can't complain too much about free

*indie rock* Sat, Oct 5, 9pm, $25 // Conor Oberst, The Felice Brothers @ The Fillmore, SF

i can't exactly recommend conor oberst, because if you don't love him you probably hate him, and he's not something that you come across because someone said you should listen to. he's something you come across because one time you were 19 and you heart was broken and nothing spoke to you like the ache in his strange, off-key voice and the expansiveness of his smart, poetic lyrics. but i would be remiss not to mention it's happening, so that if you do love him, you can go see him

*surf rock* Sun, Oct 6, 9pm, $5? // Bath Party, Seasides, New Sun Company @ The Night Light, Oakland

bath party is excellent, dark, deconstructed surf rock and the other bands they're playing with sound real good too

*post punk/sludge rock* Mon, Oct 7, 8/9pm doors/show, $10/12 // No Joy, Heavy Hawaii, Wild Moth, Burnt Palms @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall, SF

wild moth caught my ear big time last month with their deconstructed garage rock. the other bands on the bill seem to be in a similar vein but don't pull it off as well

*surf rock* Wed, Oct 9, 8pm, $8 // Shannon & the Clams, Guantanamo Baywatch, The Chuckleberries @ El Rio, SF

if you haven't seen shannon & the clams then fortunately you have an opportunity this month to correct that gross oversight on your part

*dark rock* Wed, Oct 9, 9pm, $21 // White Lies, In the Valley Below @ The Great American Music Hall, SF

white lies is almost a guilty pleasure for me because they can be so ridiculously over-the-top angsty with their dark, melodic crooning that it makes me feel like a teenager to listen to.  but, i like it

*lofi rock* Sat, Oct 12, 9pm, $5? // Old Light, My Life as a Dog, TBA @ The Night Light, Oakland

sparse, lofi post punk rock from portland

*hard rock* Sat, Oct 12, 8:30/9pm doors/show, $25 // Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg with Andrew W.K., FIGO, The Meat Sluts @ The Independent, SF

this will be one hell of a party

*expo* Sat, Oct 12 & Sun Oct 13, 11am - 7/6pm, $15/20 // Alternative Press Expo @ Concourse Exhibition Center, SF

alternative publishers, comics, zines, and artists

*dark & melodic rock* Wed, Oct 16, 7/8pm doors/show, $10 // Oceanography, Sea Knight, Not Sure. Not Yet, Crez DeeDee @ The New Parish, Oakland

i caught oceanography at the night light last months and i can't believe they make this huge sound with only two people. sea knight is pretty, melodic rock, crez deedee adds just enough of a twist to a classic rock sound that you dad might not like it

*technical rock* Wed, Oct 16, 8pm, $21 // The Dodos, Dustin Wong @ The Great American Music Hall, SF

dustin wong must be seen to be believed, preferably from up close. this former guitarist for ponytail is like the yo yo ma of guitar loops. watching him work, you go into that hypnotized haze that sometimes comes over you when you're in the presence of overwhelming technical genius

*lofi rock* Fri, Oct 18, 9pm, $7 // Frozen Folk, Couches, Brasil, Everyone is Dirty @ The Night Light, Oakland

frozen folk are strange, dischordant, stripped down, frenetic rock. this is a show that sounds like it should be in a basement

*festival* (Sat, Oct 19 &) Sun, Oct 20, 12pm, $85/day // Beck, Animal Collective, Sleigh Bells, Strfckr, Lord Huron, Japandroids, Real Estate, and others @ Treasure Island Music Festival

this is pricey but damn if it's probably not worth the price to see all these bands in one fell swoop. nothing much interests me on the saturday lineup, but sunday looks killer

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October Teaser

Lofi, deconstructed, and discordant jams are tickling my fancy as we slip into fall.  Here's a preview of my October recommendations.  Bath Party is playing at the Night Light on Sun, Oct 6 with Seasides and New Sun Company.

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Selected SF Bay Area Events: Second Half of September

More great shows have popped up or come to my attention as the month has gone on and I feel like it would be doing you (okay myself, I am the only one reading this) a disservice not to highlight them.  I also add updates to my monthly post because I'm obsessive and like to have everything in one place, but I'd hate for shows to get lost just because they happen later in the month.

As always, linked bands are recommended.  Click band names for music, venue names for event info.

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*dark rock* Thurs, Sept 19, 8?pm, $5 // Mad River, Megafauna, Mosshead, Oceanography @ The Night Light, Oakland

oceanography has a grand, haunting rock sound that some might suggest is derivative of the likes of the national, but i frankly generally like derivatives. if i like a sound, why wouldn't i want more of it? plus this whole show has a cool nature type theme to it, just based on names

*indie rock* Fri, Sept 20, 8/9pm doors/show $15/17 // Woods, Fresh and Onlys, Jessica Pratt @ The Chapel

super mellow but very pretty indie rock

*post punk* Sat, Sept 21, 9pm, $6 // Wild Moth, Permanent Collection, Tender Buttons, Tongue @ Thee Parkside, SF

i don't know what post punk is, but that's the label i've seen given to wild moth and its tiring thinking up labels sometimes. they've got a great lofi, garagey, deconstructed, joy-divisiony rock sort of thing going on that seems totally worth checking out for six bucks on a saturday night

*synth pop indie rock etc* Sat, Sept 21, 8:30/9:30pm doors/show $10/12 // Blouse, Social Studies, Feathers @ Bottom of the Hill, SF

portland has this cool, smooth, dark, synth pop sound that's coming out of it these days, and blouse is an example of it. super chill dance music with ephemeral vocals. social studies is sweet, solid indie rock. i've recommended them before but never actually seen them

*indie rock* Tues, Sept 24, 8/9pm doors/show $15/18 // Islands, Bear Mountain @ The Chapel, SF

islands is essentially a solo project of nick thorburn’s, one of the founding members of the brief by brilliant unicorns.  he writes weird, beautiful, and genre defying indie rock and puts on a fantastic show

*dark rock* Tues, Sept 24, 9pm, $5 // Oceanography, Warships, Magic Flight @ Elbo Room, SF

your second chance to catch these guys this month. they also have a show in oakland on thursday, sept 19

*indie rock* Mon, Sept 30, 9pm, $25/$28 // Frightened Rabbit, Augustines @ the Warfield, SF

at first i thought, sure, i'd love to finally see frightened rabbit live, but it's 9pm on a monday.  rough way to start off the week.  but then i listen to their records again, with their heartwrenching brand of indie rock... and then i listen to augustines (or perhaps "we are augustines"?) and their intense, introspective but grand sound that gets you in the gut... and i'm like, "whatever, i'll make it work, this show is going to kill"