Tonight! ToyGuitar, Modern Man and Nervosas are playing at the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco.

Modern Man is an Oakland based band that plays haunting, reverb-filled shoegaze that seems to be soaked in drudgery, simply for good measure. Last year, the band came out with a cassette called Small Waves. The track to check out is Dada, a diddy filled with equal parts angst and anger. ToyGuitar is a Bay Area band that is a new manifestation of the ’90s East Bay punk band, One Man Army. This project was forged last year, and the results have been exciting. Toyguitar released a self-titled 7-inch on Adeline Records that has a definite power pop feel. Nervosas is a touring band from Columbus, Ohio. Their sound can best be described as hook-filled "dark punk" with post-punk aesthetics. They also released an impressive self-titled LP on Let’s Pretend Records.

Be sure to catch this show tonight! You won’t regret it! –Erin Dage

This week the Oakland based trio Frozen Folk, released with their most recent EP, Sleepy on Breakup Records. As a band that strives to be "Sweaty, complex and supple," they combine elements of math rock, post punk and prog rock to create their sound. The first track off their EP, Cat Convertersis a testament to those aspirations. Complex riffs with unconventional time signatures are laid upon a foundation of slightly haunting vocals. The band keeps consistency with this formula throughout the EP, with songs such as Eggs and Marrowbone, Sacrilegious Wind and Eat Me Alive.

That said, here are a few shows Frozen Folk will be playing in the near future:

April 6th at El Rio with Lubec and The Peels
April 26th at Eagle Tavern with Everyone is Dirty –Erin Dage

Psychic Jiu-Jitsu, JAM, Clusmy Concentration and The Twitches offer to guide you through the doors of perception with a night of psychedelic music, tonight at SUB/Mission in San Francisco. Jam is a psych-rock outfit whose music could be the soundtrack to a séance for the spirit of Syd Barrett. Tripped-out folkies, Clumsy Concentration will to make their SF debut with their first ever show, and garage jazz-punks The Twitches are set to kick off the night. Psychic Jiu-Jitsu will headline as this band combines garage rock melodies with shoegaze guitar noise to create a truly mind-bending sound. 

Make it out tonight for a night of face-melting psychedelia! –Ethan Varian

Along with a revolving cast of live musicians, San Francisco-based artists, Peter Maffei and Hunter Stroope have carved out their own rock and roll sound under the moniker, The Electric Magpie. Sharing lead vocal duties and harmonizing like it’s their natural, intrinsic ability, they invented their own sound that sits between the realms of modern psychedelic folk and classic rock. After self-releasing their debut single, She Said No (To My Love) in 2012, The Magpie was snatched up by Los Angeles based label, Lolipop Records, who introduced the band to a broader Californian audience by releasing their second single, What’s For Tea? in early 2013. A year later, they’re finally ready to drop their debut full length album, Begins. We got our hands on The Electric Magpie’s upcoming release and thought it be privy for us to share a bit about the nooks and crannies of the album.

Opening with the album’s debut single, Mourning Gloria, the record immediately offers a sonic snapshot of what lies ahead within the LP. The first track seduces your ears with a driving organ, acoustic and electric guitar interplay, gorgeous feedback and the tight, effortless harmonies of Maffei and Stroope. Listen to this track with headphones, if only to hear the melodic repetitions of the lyrics, "She’s always there", revolving through your headspace.

The Electric Magpie’s proclaimed anthem, What’s For Tea? is comfortably placed as track two. What’s For Tea? is constructed with tireless riffs made to last a life-time, while being laced with warm vocals. The song reads familiar and friendly. During the heavy, distorted riffs of the next track, Airport Blues the album slightly shifts as the song is dominated by the tense dissonance of volatile guitars, but it is continuously uplifted by breezy vocals.

One of the most charming moments of Begins comes in the form of Birds in the Trees. Anchored by steady acoustic guitars, the song is powered by conversational lead vocals that are accompanied by subtle, playful and echoing backup vocals. A handful of masterful moments transform this song about birds fucking up your morning coffee into an elegant affair. After the hungry Hold On (Hannah) and the cerebral interlude that is DEAN, the record progresses onto an acoustic lullaby that is appropriately titled, Springtime Ease. Minimal percussion allows the track to float along buoyantly, withstanding the brief but erratic psychedelic meandering that sneaks into the ending.

What’s For Tea? (Reprise) offers the same infectious riffs, but this time is projected through a hazy filter that sets the stage for the finale of the album. Soaring string instruments breath life into the track as an organ rings quietly while Maffai proclaims, "So long, farewell, what a time it’s been. Day Is Done but our love never ends." And you believe it. Day’s Done is the proper conclusion to this masterful record. It is an amalgam of rock and roll’s finest moments from the initial pop-educated British invasion, to the psychedelic underground of the 1960s, 1990s and the present day.

For their first full-length offering, The Electric Magpie proves not only that they are well-versed in vintage and modern rock music, but that they have mastered a rounded, patient and distinctive sound. Begins resonates as a cohesive, collective whole. It offers a sonic experience that is much more important than a mere collection of rocking songs, and it does so without delving into sinister realms or indulging in any rock and roll truisms.

The album’s official release is April 15th on Lolipop Records. – Lauren Espina

Tonight CCR Headcleaner, Marriage + Cancer, Stillsuit and Baus will be coming together for a show at the Night Light in Oakland. Baus is an Oakland-based band with a sound that’s derivative of no-wave and post-punk. This month they released their debut LP, Idol Minds. Stillsuit is a self-proclaimed experimental band from Oakland. Their music is decidedly noise rock with abrasive vocals and jagged guitar riffs.

Portland-based pissed pop band Marriage + Cancer is in town for their second Bay Area and has been supported by great local bands for both events. Known for their reverb-laden vocals and up-tempo riffs, this band is not to be missed as they make their way through California. CCR Headcleaner wages and aural assault on unsuspecting ears. The Bay Area band is loud, sludgy and chaotic. Their most recent release is a split EP alongside Ty Segall’s side project, Fuzz, for the Less Artists More Condos 7 inch series. – Erin Dage

Shannon and the Clams will be sharing a bill with Mane and Marriage + Cancer at the Knockout in San Francisco. Opening the show is Mane, an all-girl band from San Francisco. Drawing from ’80s goth and post-punk, they have cornered the market for music that is "garnet meets violet meets meatlocker."

Marriage + Cancer is a band based out of Portland, Oregon. Playing a brand of music called "pissed pop" with reverb-filled vocals and almost surf rock guitar licks, the band is not be missed as they make rounds all the way from the Northwest. Throughout their career spanning multiple albums, Shannon and the Clams have demonstrated their love for all things ’60s. Whether they be under the influence of ’60s pop, surf rock, or R&B one thing is for sure – they put on a hell of a show. –Erin Dage

In Split Screens’ new 7 inch single entitled, The Sinner, Jesse Cafiero takes an experimental twist on psychedelic, feel-good vibes. The title track tenderly greets you, as cool effortless guitar leads flow with warm basslines, and a clean cut production value. Clear and soft vocals gently coo a one-sided conversation, bursting with a struggle of contained passion, ever so delicately accented with cymbal crashes. An echoey chorus leads into a reverberating organ-touched ending. The B side, Meeker Hollow, features a simple piano melody and a slow, steady beat that is joined by components of an orchestra as well as a hint of electronic inspiration. The smooth quality of sound shines through to the lyrics, and segues into a wave of a melodic jam.

This new 7 inch release from Split Screens fails to disappoint and pushes the boundaries of chillwave psychedelia. – Kat Collins

Congratulations to the Bay Area based power pop band, Dancer for winning The Deli Magazine San Francsico Artist of the Month Poll! Dancer won over voters with their style of hook-filled power pop that incorporates ’77 punk attitude in the vein of Johnny Thunders and Richard Hell. Recently the band came out with a 7-inch called Bitchin’ Heat on Grazer Records. The release packs a serious punch with jams on it such as "Heart Failure". We’re happy about their success and wish them the best of luck in their power-pop filled musical endeavors!!

Pop-rock explorers, The Greening will be hosting their vinyl release show for their upcoming album Eon v. Aeon, this Friday ay Slim’s in San Francisco. The band describes their music as Collage Rock, infusing catchy rock and roll hooks with all manner of fuzzed-out, psychedelic space tones. But make no mistake; The Greening is definitely still a guitar band as evidenced by the heavy riffage on new tracks like “Into the Fugue” and the prog-rock inspired “A Victory”.

Also performing are Oakland’s Everyone is Dirty, who combine the grit of 90’s era Sonic Youth with the pop sensibilities of Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley. Lead singer Sivan Gur-Arieh’s darkly seductive vocals and electric violin are the highlight of the group’s transfixing live performances. Kicking off the night is Sweet Chariot, a local SF group who plays americana biker rock in the spirit of Tom Petty and Gram Parsons. 

Stop by Slim’s this Friday to check out some of the Bay Area’s best rock and roll! -Ethan Varian

If you ever thought you were sorely lacking in the "rowdy punk show" department, we have just the event for you. Tonight Meat Market, Yi and Copout will be playing together at El Rio .Yi is an Oakland based band that finds solace in harried, yelling vocals and kicky, fast-paced instrumentals. Their latest 7-inch release, Punk Memories explores themes such as problematic punk scenes and kidney stones.

Meat Market is an Oakland based band that combines elements of surf, punk and garage rock to create a slew of perfectly rowdy tunes. Within the past few years they have come out with a few solid releases such as their self-titled full length album and 7-inch single Too Tired. Be sure to catch them before they head off to SXSW! –Erin Dage

A single bill with both Cool Ghouls and Cellar Doors on it is a knock-out for any garage-psych fan. Multiply that formula by four and you get Amnesia‘s March residency. Every Tuesday this month, two of San Francisco’s premiere rock and roll outfits–and some of California’s biggest underground bands–will be co-headlining a residency at the intimate Valencia Street staple, and you can join the party for the sliding scale of $7-$10.

Since releasing their eponymous debut LP in 2013, the Cool Ghouls have risen to the forefront of the city’s rock and roll community with a raw, classically-minded sound and raucous live shows. With infectious harmonies, three rotating lead vocalists and the occasional horn section, they never offer the same show twice, and these residency shows will be no different. Currently in the process of recording their second record, the band is ready to unload some new material, though you can also bet on hearing crowd favorites like Natural LIfe and the sweet, facial hair-inspired Grace.

Cellar Doors channels the city’s underground psychedelic scene of the 1960s through their own modern, post punk filter. The result is a dark, distorted psych sound that exists in the more sinister spectrum of rock and roll. Though the band has only released a single EP, 2011’s The Melody Haunts My Reverie, they have been busy spreading their reverb-soaked music like a plague throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Live shows are the only place to hear the band’s latest tunes, so take advantage of the chance to catch them multiple weeks in a row at one of the cozier venues in San Francisco.  –Lauren Espina

Dancer and Gravy’s Drop are playing for free tonight at the Hemlock Tavern! Dancer is a hook-filled power pop band that also shares in the tradition of ’77 punk artists like Johnny Thunders. This month, the band released its newest 7" dubbed Bitchin’ Heat on Grazer Records. Managing to be saccharine sweet, but with an aggressive edge – the song Heart Failure off their newest release is worth checking out.

Borrowing from bands of the ’50s and ’60s, Gravys Drop is pure, unabashed rock n’ roll. Last year, the band came out with their LP, Gumball on Burger Records, Spot-on Sound and Cut-Rate Records. It’s packed to the brim with solid jams, that are influenced by doo-wop and surf rock of yore.

Make sure you make it out to the Hemlock Tavern tonight! – Erin Dage