Considering my usual tendencies towards the darker, brooding, far too narcissistic and self-indulgent end of the musical spectrum, The Dont’s Those Delicate Chemicals embraced my ears with a welcome sense of levity. Their third album (and the first one I’ve had the pleasure of delving into), Those Delicate Chemicals really stands out as being able to deliver the practices of a heady and experimental band through the parameters of a delightful pop-like sound. With its layers of charming guitar riffs, delicately placed textural oddities and an overall exuberant atmosphere, Those Delicate Chemicals could very well be the pop anthem for your art school experience… and I mean that in the most sincere way I can muster.

Considering how surprisingly small San Francisco can seem, it comes as no surprise to hear influences from formerly local avant-rock stars 60-Watt Kid throughout this album (no more apparent then in the final two songs “Backtalk” and “The Will of God”). Perhaps they’re friends, perhaps they’ve just seen each others shows on a number of occasions, but the jagged ethereal and heavy tremolo guitar layers that appear throughout the songs of both bands is obviously comparable. Serving as one of the many interesting layers throughout Those Delicate Chemicals, these wonderfully well-placed interruptions serve a vital role to elevate the pop framework to a vast and intricate soundscape.

Opening with their call and response anthem “Which Side You’re On (The Pirate Song)” Those Delicate Chemicals kicks off with a cheeky wink and a smile. You’d love it if its clarion call asking “what side you’re on” was The Dont’s feeling the waters for whose side the listener is on, but lets not mince words; this is a song about pirates, and pirates will “get it done.” Surly as their “piratic oath” would demand, the song leads its crowd in a triumphant bellowing of “ARRRRRRRRR. “ I imagine this is not a moment to miss at their performances.

Leading immediately into one of my favorite songs on the album, “Breakdown,” Those Delicate Chemicals moves on past its initial playfulness to its slightly more serious, but still jubilant, elements. While the songs change somewhat in tonality, listening across Those Delicate Chemicals it’s hard to pigeonhole it with one thematic quality. Not at all to its detriment, Those Delicate Chemicals seems to lack a greater arch to its narrative. There is depth to the individual songs, but short of the fastidiously executed sound, there seems little that ties them together. Favorites certainly pop out (“Regardless, The Goddess,” “Peacetime,” and “Gasoline” come to mind) but there is a certain distance held between the music and any underlying concept for the album.

Perhaps that’s just the point. The Dont’s keep the audience at a distance with their Ramones style surname uniformity, and maybe by withholding just enough the mask serves to direct the listeners attention to the complexities of the sound as opposed to the distraction of a message. The mask is their tool of misdirection.

The Dont’s Those Delicate Chemicals is definitely an album to seek out. Elaborate and boisterous, Those Delicate Chemicals is the type of intelligent and experimental pop sound that is very hard to come by. It carries with it a depth that rivals its avant counterparts, but is delivered with the accessibility many similar sounding artists lack. I encourage you to add it to your collection if for no other reason than to scream “ARRRRR” every time that pirate captain demands.

–Ada Lann

Which Side You’re On (The Pirate Song) by thedonts

The Dont’s Those Delicate Chemicals can be purchased here.

As San Francisco’s true summer begins, and the heat descends, hopefully you’ll be making time between your enjoyment of our long overdue nice weather to see some live music.

Thursday night, at the Hemlock, you can catch The Royal Baths playing with Mrcy Hot Sprngs, Outlaw, and Lilac, 9pm.

Friday head out to the East Bay where Burbank International will be playing their first show in far too long. At Mama Buzz, along side Nick Sinetos, this is a show you should definitely check lest it be another year before you can see them again, 8pm.

Lastly, on Saturday head over to the Great American Music Hall for a juggernaut of an instrumental band line-up with From Monument to Masses, Silian Rail and Judgement Day. This will be From Monument to Masses’ final show so see that this event makes itself onto your Saturday night to-do list.

–Ada Lann

Looking at the calender this week there seems to be a lot happening. Here a few selections.

Tomorrow night head down to The Bottom of the Hill for The Sandwitches, The Splinters and Texas’ Woven Bones, 9pm.

Thursday the 19th head out to Thee Parkside for the thoroughly packed line-up featuring Hunx & His Punx, Shannon & The Clams, Okmoniks, The Goochi Boiz and Miss Chain and The Broken Heels, 9pm.

Lastly on Saturday wander over to the Hemlock where rising local stars Man/Miracle will play with Slang Chicken and Yellow Dress, 9pm.

–Ada Lann

Folk-pop, down-tempo philosophical musing, romantic longing and infectious harmonies all find their place on A Cure for Sleep, by San Francisco musician Jascha Vs. Jascha. Lead singer-songwriter Jascha Hoffman has a sweet voice that he uses to pronounce each syllable with great accuracy, and this debut album will satisfy listeners with its impressive variety of styles. His music brings to mind that of little-known Saddle Creek Records band Son, Ambulance His tender voice and story-telling sensibility, with its sad slant but still driving music, is similar to that of the Nebraska band.

With topics like the greed of God in “Some Hungry Guy”, one’s shifting idea of family as one grows up in “Too Young”, and the attachment one keeps to past lovers on “Phonograph” and “Curse”, Hoffman certainly has a lot on his wakeful mind. Hoffman’s focus on vocals puts an interesting twist on Delta blues legend Robert Johnson’s originally guitar-heavy song "Phonograph"–the slower pace and subdued music allows one to better appreciate the lyrics. The song features a fascinating operatic interlude, an experimental moment which highlights Hoffman’s laudable ability to merge genres. “Mirror” features a catchy chorus that is easy to sing along with, and a sweeping orchestral bridge.

The standout track is “Corydon”, for the song’s emotional poignancy. On it, Hoffman sings “Oh you who are young, consider the snow drifts. White as God’s own ribs”. Although this imparting of wisdom is a somewhat unexpected metaphor, Hoffman always makes his strange statements completely believable, if still dreamlike. The song is based on a poem by D.A. Powell, about the homosexual shepherd Corydon made famous by Virgil. Although this source of inspiration may seem obscure, it makes more sense considering that Hoffman is a Harvard grad and literature enthusiast. The album is enhanced by beautiful string arrangements, and backing vocals, drums, bass, guitars and percussion by Bay Area artist Jesse Olsen. He is another young artist to watch out for musically, as he founded Deconstruct My House, an organization that showcases "experimental, politically engaged music-centered creative work".

A Cure for Sleep came about as a result of Hoffman blogging about his nightmare—already Hoffman is taking an experimental approach to his next effort. He is encouraging feedback of early versions of his songs on his website and Facebook, so that his songs are partially formed by music listeners themselves.

-Shauna C. Keddy

Tonight, teaming up with Yours Truly this time around, Epic Sauce will be putting on yet another of its ever impressive Thursday shows.  Once again at Milk, starting around 8, this time around locals Blackbird Blackbird, Kites Sail High, Fiveing and Gobble Gobble will be playing with rising stars Teen Daze.  Sounds like a good show.  You can RVSP here.

Social Studies

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It’s a particularly busy few days coming up in this week’s show highlights.

Start off tomorrow night at 111 Mina where Yours Truly and Blood Drank Magazine will be presenting Pure Ecstasy, Sleep Over, Young Prisms and oOoOO, 9pm.

Alternatively, previous Artist of the Month winners My First Earthquake will be rocking out Bottom of the Hill also at 9pm.

On Friday, East Bay Express will be putting on the massive event Best of the East Bay at Jack London Square. Free and all ages, Best of the East Bay will feature a long list of great East Bay acts including Stone Foxes and previous Album of the Month winners Birds and Batteries.

On Saturday at the Rickshaw, for what looks to be an amazing show, Social Studies will be celebrating their album release party with Maus Haus, 60-Watt Kid and Montra, 8pm.

Of course if still hanging out in the East Bay, head over to the Uptown for Hunx and his Punx, Tropical Sleep and Wrong Words, 9pm.

Lastly, if you still haven’t cemented your Saturday plans, Thee Oh Sees will be playing with Yellow Fever and Bare Wires at the Independent, 9pm.

Lots to choose from this weekend. Head out and see some music, friends.

–Ada Lann

The last time we posted about The Limousines they were playing last years Treasure Island Music Fest. This week they’ve dropped us a line via our Open Blog to warn us that Rock n’ Roll zombies are in the imminent future [see below]. Their debut album Get Sharp released last week.

You can also spare us from catastrophe and organ eating entities by posting about your band in our open blog HERE.

-Nicole Leigh

If you like MGMT you will love this group! The Limousines was born when Eric Victorino of Strata and Giovanni Giusti AKA Nozebleed made sweet love in the SF Bay Area underground. Catchy lyrics, dance worthy beats, electro-pop at its finest. They just released there first full length album, Get Sharp which you can download on itunes and pick up in local Bay Area music Stores. Topping charts on XM radio, local radio, and itunes. Their album is already gaining popularity in international markets and has a tight hold on the Bay Area’s hipster scene.Mark my words, The Limo’s won’t be hitting the breaks anytime soon.

April’s Artist of the Month winners Billy & Dolly will be playing this weeks The Rumble San Francisco as presented by Future Sounds. The best part about The Rumble [as always] is that its free to anyone who RSVP’s and its only $5 to those with commitment issues and/or those who are socially sensitized to making plans. Billy & Dolly will perform along with  LA’s Rumspringa and Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt. Wednesday, August 4th at Cafe du Nord. No street fighting just sound.

-Nicole Leigh

This weeks show highlights, it would seem, are brought to you by the Mission. Not that there aren’t other events around the Bay Area, but for now here are a few selections from the calendar for this week.

Head out to the Knockout tomorrow for the Mantles EP release with the newly minted Royal Baths and Fungi Girls, 9pm.

On Friday, out at Amnesia, Southpaw Records will be celebrating it’s first anniversary with Bare Wires, Ty Segall, and The Sandwitches, 9pm.

Lastly, head over to El Rio for an early afternoon BBQ and show with The Love Dimension, These Hills of Gold, Nectarine Pie, The Aerosols, and B and Not B, 3pm.

Next week’s highlights brought to you by the Marina… or not.

–Ada Lann

This Monday, Ethan Miller (Howlin Rain, Comets on Fire) will be performing an original score to the 1922 film Hungry Hearts with members of Colossal Yes and Drunk Horse. The musicians have come together to perform as Moab Strangers. The combination of psychedelic, folk and blues influenced elements that each of the members bring to the project should pair interestingly with the film about a family of Jewish immigrants in the Lower East Side [check out a sample of the score below]. The event is worth checking out whether you are a film fan, a live music fan or if you’re just finally ready to give up on the dream of Pink Floyd coming to the next screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Castro Theater.

Hungry Hearts screens at the Castro Theater as part of the 30th Anniversary San Francisco Jewish Film Festival on Monday, July 26th at 7pm. $15

You Need to Download Flash to Listen to this MP3

-Nicole Leigh

What exactly is foolproof about the San Francisco-based band Foolproof Four? Well the first obvious thing to point out is that there are, in fact, only three of them, so that right there points to some clear foolery committed by this trio. They are a band that must be seen live, as the camaraderie between these young men is hilarious and creates really great audience engagement. The band consists of Noah Grant, Dan Brennan, and Nate Harris. At their show at Cafe Du Nord on Friday night, July 16th, the band played almost ten songs to a rapt audience. The energy they put out was very well reciprocated, as the crowd was in step with their every joking or emotional moment in each song.

As a more unusual choice for an alternative rock band, the three began with their acapella song "Lady Valia Stood Her Ground". Lead singer and songwriter Grant wrote the song as a statement on facing violence and not letting it break you. Specifically, it is about his admiration for the nonviolent protesters at UC Berkeley. But for those more inclined to rocking songs, the band has plenty of rowdier songs as well. The talent of this band is apparent by their variety–their songs include a blues, jazz and country sound. Look for their song "Economology" in the upcoming film Dream an American.

-Shauna Keddy