San Francisco Music Blog

EKAphotography

Today, Another Planet Entertainment and Noise Pop announced the return--yaaargh!--of the Treasure Island Music Fest. The now-annual celebration of indie rock and sub-mainstream electronic acts is scheduled for October 17 & 18, 2009. At this early stage, no acts have been confirmed, and the TIMF website offers no further info, just a clickable link to be notified as updates occur. Watch this space for more info, as it becomes available.

Bob Mould

Bob Mould and Mark Eitzel
Swedish American Hall
February 28, 2009
Review by Vicky Walker

Better Than: All those weedy so-called "emo" musicians who wouldn't recognize tragedy if it bought them a beer.

Misery loves company, it's said, so I'm not surprised to see a sellout crowd at the Swedish American Hall for the myrmidons of melancholy, Bob Mould and Mark Eitzel. Round-shouldered young men in dark clothing huddle next to young women in sharp bangs and paisley-swirled frocks. Balding older men stand at the back, feet planted, arms folded, stubbornly refusing to step aside for incomers. Several rows of folding chairs in the main hall have transformed it into a school assembly for overgrown ruffians. The century-old wood paneling and soft lamps make it warm and cozy, bathed in a warm fireside glow.

From Monument to Masses
Bottom of the Hill
February 26, 2009
Review by Brian Moss

Better Than: Any other band I've witnessed since the New Year turned.

In our recently turbulent times, while an unarticulated fuck Bush song has seemed to have an obligatory place on most records, music has seemed to lack the sense of impassioned urgency and protest that has been present in the past. It's been awhile since From Monument to Masses has graced the Bay Area with a show. The highly politicized instrumental trio formed here in 2000 and released three acclaimed records on hardcore scene icon turned DJ Steve Aoki's Dim Mak label. They toured off and on and then scaled back local shows in 2006 when drummer/programmer/keyboardist Francis Choung moved to New York. Despite being a bi-costal band, they're still actively writing and traveling. Last night, as part of the Noise Pop festivities, all three of the boys were back in town for a one-off local date.

Rocket Fuel, Straight Up: Kool Keith

We've always thought of indie rock as being perfectly matched with cheap beer, rotgut whisky, and hangover-inducing vodka. And certainly, you'll find a lot of two-buck Chuck in the places where musicians live. But now, you can have a nice merlot or cabernet alongside your feedback, distortion, and shoegazing, thanks to a recently-announced venture between Noise Pop and Karl Wente, the fifth-generation winemaker behind Livermore's Wente Vineyards. Starting with tonight's show by the Mountain Goats, Wente is pairing wines with bands: for the Mountain Goats, it's the Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (red) and the Louis MelSauvingon Blanc (white); for Mark Eitzel, try the Morning Fog Chardonnay; and for Donovan Quinn, how about the Sandstone Merlot?

While the partnership obviously lends alternative credibility and cultural cachet to Wente, it's unclear what it means to Noise Pop artists and the festival's target audience, besides being served at N-Pop's industry mixers and open-bar VIP events. This seems like a dubious shenanigan which, if anything, shows how indie rock festivals have become prey for corporate culture-vultures. With this in mind, we're suggesting our own pairings: David Dondero: one bourbon, one scotch, one beer; Kool Keith: rocket fuel, straight up; Bob Mould: a heroin balloon and a Diet Coke; Antony and the Johnsons: an estrogen-and-gin cocktail; Goblin Cock: Listerine on the rocks; The Matches: lighter fluid in a martini glass.

The Mountain Goats Solo
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Swedish American Hall at Cafe Du Nord
Review By Melissa Baron

Better Than: Going to a crowded, dancey, pushy Noise Pop show. Or listening to your Mountain Goats records at home.

From recordings alone, one could probably imagine what a typical  Mountain Goats concert looks like, especially one featuring front man John Darnielle solo. His voice usually fluctuates between soft, delicate whispers and strained belting. As he sings his face and body will change. First he'll smile serenely and nod his head slightly, then he'll tense up, building up to an epic release. Between songs he'll chat candidly with the audience, infinitely more sociable and funny than one  imagines from his songs.

Actually from ATL: Deerhunter

Noise Pop week is once again upon us, and Rickshaw Stop  talent buyer Dan Strachota has a secret he just can't keep under wraps any longer: a free, all-ages show Wednesday night by "two big-name NYC noise pop bands" (though one is originally from Atlanta). One of those bands happens to be Deerhunter; the other, on their maiden SF voyage, is The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. As Strachota gushes, The Pains sound like "killer early MBV/JAMC fuzz," and if those acronyms mean anything to you, you'll want in on this secret.

The show is being presented to fans gratis by MySpace, and as Strachota notes, tickets will be given away on a first come, first served basis. That means get there early, and be prepared to wait in line for a few hours.

Peter Samuels

Noise Pop staffers inspect the damage following an early-morning fire.

Just two weeks before the opening of their 2009 festival, Noise Pop narrowly averted a major catastrophe when a fire broke out at their offices, located at 2180 Bryant Street. According to Noise Pop's Bill Rousseau, the fire began just before 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, most likely caused by antiquated wiring dating back to the 1940s and a blown fuse box. The building's property manager, who had stopped by to do some work, smelled smoke and called 911. Rousseau, who had been alerted by his alarm company, arrived on the scene just after 5:30 to find six fire trucks, two hook-and-ladder cars, and "about a dozen guys with chainsaws and axes" in the process of putting out the blaze.

In an email sent out to staffers, Noise Pop's Chris Appelgren says, "Basically we were really lucky. There was minimal damage to our stuff here in the office. Our merch might be a little smoky smelling, but for the most part, we survived with things intact, though in need of a good cleaning." Though Rousseau notes with irony that "most of the damage was done by the Fire Department," he's grateful for their efforts: the fire, he says, was about half an hour away from getting out of control, according to the building's owner, a former firefighter. "Right now our office smells like a campfire," Rousseau says, but he's not complaining. "We dodged a major bullet," he says with obvious relief.

Courtesy of Noise Pop

The Closer: Les Savy Fav

Get ready, San Francisco. That annual extravaganza of musical zanyness, alt./indie hiptitude, and overall sub-mainstream coolness known as Noise Pop is only three short weeks away! As always, attending a festival with so many performances in so many different venues requires plenty of pre-planning, so it's not too early to save your pennies, mark your calendars, and begin mapping out your N-Pop strategy.

 
This year's festival looks hella cool so far; Feb. 24's opening night party features Deerhoof, and Les Savy Fav close the festivities out on March 1st. Recently-confirmed acts include Matt Costa, Keil Keith, Flosstradamus, David Dondero, Colossal Yes, Built For The Sea, Mike Relm, The Hooks, and The Dead Trees. These artists will join an impressive lineup of previously-booked performers including Bob Mould, Antony and the Johnsons, Stephen Malkmus, and many more. A $150 N-Pop badge gets you in to all the gen-adm showcases (though early arrival is suggested); individual show tickets will also be available. For the terminally-indie and perpetually-broke crowd, cheer up, already: there's plenty of free performances, including a throwdown at the SF Apple Store by Themselves, Rainbow Arabia, Yoni Wolf and Boy in Static. A list of scheduled acts can be found here; however, live performances are only part of the Noise Pop happenings.