New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Is Pinched Nerve (as the name implies) irritating? Decide for yourself. It’s upbeat, lo-fi, psychedelic punk in the Matt & Kim “Yea Yeah” sense, except it doesn’t excite me as much. Listen to El Pinched Nervosa, the complete fourth album self-released by Pinched Nerve, and see what you think.
-Justine Fields
Although recorded in Seattle and titled after the neighborhood in which it was recorded, “Wedgewood” comes to us from three San Franciscans known as The Northern Key. Its sophomore effort brings us ten songs fit for a coffee shop–pleasantly tempoed tunes, many of which are male-female duets, are the perfect soundtrack for the conversationalists’ conversing, the writers’ writing, and job hunters’ hunting. Download "Soak” by clicking here. The Northern Key play Brick and Mortar next Thursday, November 3.
-Justine Fields
Five San Franciscan friends who make solid garage rock instead of just bumming around like friends normally do? I can dig it. Which is why I’ve really been enjoying Plastic Villains. Their album Shades For the A-Bomb remind me of a certain hometown high school band I spent countless weekends supporting at all different under 21 venues in my suburb. Being filled up with pleasant youthful thoughts is a total bonus in my book, so check out their song “Fish Hook Esquire” below and wallow in psych rock delight.
-Justine Fields
Talk about a concept album. San Francisco’s indie pop “it” kids The Hundred Days recorded their debut album Really? in just a hundred days and nights. The album, released earlier this fall, blends the band’s love of moody alternative and catchy pop (think The Cure meets Franz Ferdinand); its newest single “Girl At A Party,” the follow up to the unavoidable catchy “Sex U” is another foray into fun, dance music with a signature and melodious sound.
After hitting the festival circuit hard at SXSW, Noise Pop Festival and the BFD festival over the past year, the band has just announced a string of tour dates with Sydney’s Art Vs. Science, including a date on November 4 at SF’s DNA Lounge. Check out the new video for “Girl At A Party” here.
–Amanda Dissinger
Tonight, Oct. 14, SF/NY art-pop duo NewVillager opens for Metronomy at its sold-out Rickshaw Stop gig. Download the new "Mixed Ape" mixtape here.
Tomorrow, Oct. 15, electro-pop trio Geographer kicks off Treasure Island Music Festival. SF’s avant-garde, noise rock outfit
Sunday, Oct. 16, shoegazers Weekend
–Whitney Phaneuf
Download a track off the second album from San Francisco pop-rockers The Trophy Fire. Get it while you can from RCRD LBL. The Trophy Fire’s album Modern Hearts is out next Tuesday.
-Justine Fields
When my editor emailed offering me a ticket for the most regarded San Francisco band in indie right now, I couldn’t turn it down. Even though Girls, the San Francisco pair of Christopher Owens and Chet “JR” White, have earned a precious 9.3 on Pitchfork and have raked in astounding reviews from every corner of the media for their second full length, Father, Son, Holy Ghost I just haven’t grown into a fan. After their show last night at the Great American Music Hall, the first of a two-night run, and the last stop on a countrywide tour, I can still maintain, I’m not really a fan.
Owens and White took to the flower adorned stage with a full band that included a set of brothers on guitar and drums, their touring keyboardist, and three Supremes-inspired backup singers who stole the show from the small blond-haired front man.
In interviews, Owens has openly expressed how he feels the latest album is better than the last because he was able to fine-tune the backup vocals with voices other than his own. In concert, this really held true. As the main set came to a close before the encore, the lead backup vocalist joined Owens for an unbelievable solo on “Vomit” that garnered the loudest applause of the evening. Her voice was hands down the greatest instrument on stage.
Doo-wop girl group backup or not, Girls music sounded quite fine tuned as they played through more than 15 songs to the sold out crowd. They kicked the set off with “Honey Bunny” and continued to play a smattering of songs from Father, Son, Holy Ghost, their EP, Broken Dreams Club, as well as a handful of cuts from their debut, Album, including “Lust For Life, “Laura,” and “Hellhole Ratrace,” among others.
Girls’ shoegazey, surfer rock downer songs left the crowd barely elated. Yes, the audience clapped, yes, they cheered during the encore after the band bridged the gap from retro rock to anthemic guitar solo on “Hellhole Ratrace," but for a band to be back in its hometown following a long, celebrated tour, it just didn’t seem as exhilarating as I imagined when I received that email from my editor. Girls will have another go tonight and tickets are still available.
-Justine Fields
Geek chic lovers, prepare to swoon hard for Kapowski. Be prepared for Oakland-based Kapowski to steal your heart with their video for “Picture of Health.” It’s so damn twee, it almost makes me want to put an end to my fabulously single life. Dancing in the sun? Making out over parking meters? A private concert on Lake Merritt? Merill Garbus approved? Lead singer Jesse Rimler, marry me!
–Justine Fields
What’s next, Ty Segall Greatest Hits?
The prolific garage rock darling will release Singles 2007-2010 on November 22, a double album featuring unreleased or out of print tracks. Listen to "Bullet Proof Nothing," one of the songs on the new album.
–Whitney Phaneuf
SF’s Extra Classic takes retro recording to a new level on its latest LP Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like A Laser Beam. The analog, dub-inspired project of Adrianne Verhoeven and Alex deLanda, Extra Classic recorded its new album on an 8-track with vintage recording equipment from the 60’s and 70’s. Stream the entire album here and don’t miss the vintage soul fun at the band’s release show on October 26 at the Make Out Room, along with King Tuff.
Treasure Island Music Festival is just a month away, which means you should already be composing playlists to get psyched for the awesome-packed line up. In the absurd chance that you haven’t already started guffawing over the stellar acts, we’ve got you covered.
One of our Bay Area friends on the bill, Thee Oh Sees, just released their latest track, “Carrion Crawler,” on Pitchfork. Garage grooves abound in this rock ‘n’ roll cut from their upcoming LP on November 15. Now off you go: download / learn / impress your friends at Treasure Island!
–Justine Fields
SoCal band around MTV VMA town Young The Giant just released an EP of remixes, succinctly titled Remix EP, via their Facebook page.
None other than San Francisco’s very own lady rapper K. Flay scored a slot on the mix. Her reworking of “My Body” can be all yours, along with a slew of other Young the Giant remixes, if you simply head over to their fan page here and press the like button.
–Justine Fields
