After discovering that the word "bender" is derogatory slang for "homosexual" in Europe, The Morning Benders has changed its name to POP ETC. Read more about the decision here and download a new mixtape in anticipation of the band’s third album out June 12.

San Francisco-by-way-of-Asheville, NC psychedelic rappers Fist Fam has changed its name to Weekend Cult, according to the guys a name inspired by "mushroom addled backwood bonfire gatherings." Stream the latest LP from the boys here or below.

According to SF Weekly, Oakland’s gritty, garage trio Bare Wires has broken up after a disastrous South By Southwest which resulted in the band canceling the rest of its national tour. We’re looking forward to hearing frontman Matthew Melton’s new "pop" project called Warm Soda.

–Whitney Phaneuf

Oakland’s experimental electronic movement is gaining national attention, helped hugely by West in Dust founders Dave Reep (Elephant & Castle) and Glenn Jackson (James & Evander). Get a feel for the label’s futuristic underground sounds on its new compilation, available for free download or stream below, featuring both local and international artists. In the coming month, expect an EP of new material from Placeholder and a debut from Medla. 

Catch key members of this growing scene Yalls, Glenn Jackson and Some Ember at a free show tonight in Oakland at Era Art Bar Lounge.

Track list below with local artists in bold:

01 Ra Cailum “わかりません"
02 Hugo Frederick “Limber”
03 Placeholder “Pot Pan”
04 Gardland “Jaws”
05 Benefits “Souse”
06 Xavier León “Who Did I Break”
07 Medla “Ruhl”
08 Rekchampa and Morning High “Thoughts About the Inbox”
09 Different Sleep “Deep Inside Us”
10 Yalls “Outerbanks”
11 Rave Deep “Step Right”
12 Glenn Jackson “Fell”
13 Colo “You’re Mine”
14 Elephant & Castle and shortcircles “All I Can Say"

–Whitney Phaneuf

We receive lots of submissions at the Deli, but the latest from Bay Area duo Ramon and Jessica has really made my ears perk up (I am a sucker for boy & girl duets). Comprised of violinist Dina Maccabee and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Olsen, the duo has brought a quirky and gorgeous blend of indie folk to the SF scene for many years, collaborating with a revolving door of local musicians and releasing two albums, Ramon & Jessica and Handyman’s Honeymoon.

Ramon and Jessica have just released their third album, Fly South, enlisting the help of friends, a few Casio keyboards and toy pianos to create a completely unique album. Stream it here. “Waltz #3 Where the Coffee Becomes Wine” and “The Words You Know” are my two favorites, but the whole album is truly beautiful. Watch them perform "Diamond in the Sky," off Fly South, below or here.

–Amanda Dissinger 

Imagine prepping all of your raw material for the studio, beginning the recording of your first full length debut and then your father dies in a tragic accident. This is exactly what happened to Adam Burnett of Dangermaker.

The product, Black Dream, is Burnett’s original cuts smeared with a layer of darkness. The first single, "You’re Not There," alludes to the awful situation in name alone, but even more in Burnett’s repeated chants of "I’m still here." The promo video for the rock track takes a different stance as a mime struggles to entertain people in and around Chinatown. While both points of view are rather drab, I think I prefer the true story to the miserable mime. Judge for yourself below.

You can catch the San Francisco foursome later this spring at Hotel Utah on April 21st and at Bottom of the Hill on May 19th.

-Justine Fields

Fresh off four years spent touring and traveling Europe, gothic singer-songwriter Emily Jane White is taking the Bay Area by storm once again. The songstress, who is heavily influenced by depression-era blues music and classic gothic literature, is set to release her third album, Ode to Sentience, June 12th via Antenna Farm Records.

Listen to “Black Silk," the first single from Ode to Sentience, and watch a new video for second single “The Cliff." Catch White live in her home turf in April, dates listed below and on her website. 

–Amanda Dissinger

Upcoming Live Dates:

Wed 4/11: Cafe Du Nord, SF

Thu 4/12: Christy’s on the Square, Santa Rosa

Sat 4/14: Cafe Mekka, Nevada City

Oakland music producer Elephant & Castle (aka David Vincent Reep) recently released two videos for new tracks, “I Will” and “En Memoria” (featuring fellow Oakland darlings tUnE-YarDs), off his forthcoming album Transitions, out Tuesday, March 27 via Plug Research.

The nomadic, young producer traveled around Colorado, Texas, California and London, where he was inspired by the Elephant and Castle neighborhood’s blues and soul sound. After returning to the US, Reep became fascinated with rave music and started interning at a studio where he self-released a 7” of his own experimentations. Next he released the acclaimed Analogue EP, mastered by Daddy Kev, plus a bunch of singles available for streaming on Bandcamp. On Transitions, expect more jazz and ambient sounds similar to artists such as DJ Shadow, Flying Lotus and Burial.

— Amanda Dissinger

Elephant & Castle – En Memoria feat tUnE-YarDs from Plug Research on Vimeo.

San Francisco’s Siddhartha claim to be of the “dashiki shoegaze” genre. This isn’t another blog band buzz word–it’s a genre invented specifically by the group, for the group. While I’d be satisfied claiming them as a freak psych rock, dashiki shoegaze it is.

What does “dashiki shoegaze” mean exactly? My best guess is African inspired rock, rich with guitar pedal distortions. At least, Siddhartha’s “The Fire Next Time,” the first track from their upcoming LP IF IT DIE sounds like effect laden world rock. Download the mp3 here and if you like the dashiki effects, grab the full record out May 1st from Neurotic Yell Records.

-Justine Fields

SF electro-dream pop favorites Loquat are staging a semi-comeback with new album We Could be Arsonists, out April 24th digitally and May 1st physically via Nacional Records. The new album comes after a tumultuous few years of highs and lows for the band, with a complete lineup change as well as a new baby for lead singer and guitarist Kylee Swenson Gordon and her bandmate husband Anthony Gordon.

After their last release, Secrets of the Sea, the band fell upon hard times, eventually leading to two members leaving the band. The new lineup of Loquat now features keyboardist Chris Cooper, guitarist Chip Cosby, and drummer Jon Langmead, as well as a fresh perspective to performing and songwriting. We Could Be Arsonists features many songs that reflect the life changes for Swenson Gordon including “Seeds,” about her pregnancy, and “Monsters,” a song dedicated to her one year old son, Braxton.

The band is ready to reveal the new Loquat, starting with five shows at SXSW including the Deli Magazine’s party on March 15th at The Gypsy Lounge. SXSW dates are below and check out http://loquatmusic.com for more info and new music.

–Amanda Dissinger

Loquat @ SXSW:

THURSDAY, MARCH 15
Seagate booth; Austin, Convention Center; 500 East Cesar Chavez Street  Austin, TX 78701; 3:45 p.m.; acoustic

The Deli Magazine Un/Off party; The Gypsy Lounge; 1504 E 6th St., Austin, TX 78702; 8:20 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16
Nacional Records’ official SXSW showcase; Maggie Mae’s; 323 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 7870; 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17
Batter Blaster party; Hole in the Wall; 2538 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705; 12:45 p.m.

Quantum Collective party; Whole Foods rooftop; 525 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78703; 6:30 p.m.

SF’s soulful, 70s-esque rockers Sleepy Sun are set to have a big spring. The Northern California-born band, who crafts sprawling tracks reminiscent of Led Zepplin with an Americana edge, will release a new LP, Spine Hits, on April 10th as well as embark on a national spring tour and SXSW dates, listed below.

Following their past releases, Embrace and Fever, Spine Hits takes the eerie, yet familiar Sleepy Sun sound and makes it even catchier. First single “Stivey Pond” is lurking and creepy, like a road trip in the middle of a deserted desert; you don’t know what’s around the next corner and you’re bracing yourself.

Don’t miss the band of brothers as they kick off five shows at SXSW on March 14th or head to a city near you.

–Amanda Dissinger 

SXSW:

3/14 – Buffalo Billiards – Ache Ent Showcase – 10pm
3/15 – Spider house – Austin Psych Fest Day Party – 4pm
3/15 – Bat BAR – Leafy Green Showcase- 11pm
3/16 – Red Eye Fly – Noise Pop Day Party- 5pm
3/16 – Spider House – Panache Party – 9pm

Tour Dates:

03/12 – El Paso,TX – Low Brow Palace &
03/13 – San Antonio, TX – The Korvoa Basement &
03/18 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada – BRO FEST &
03/20 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
03/21 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
03/22 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
03/23 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
03/24 – Reno, NV – St. James Infirmary  w/ The Soft White Sixties
04/6 – Columbia, MO – Mojos
04/9 – Brooklyn, NY – Grasslands Gallery*
04/10 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge*
04/11 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar*
04/12 – Boston, MA – Church of Boston*
04/13 – Burlington, VT – Monkey House*
04/14 – Montreal, QC – Casa del Popolo*
04/15 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern*
04/16 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place*
04/17 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern*
04/18 – Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub*
04/19 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Garden Bowl
04/20 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean*
04/21 – St Louis, MO – Off Broadway Night Club*
04/22 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory*
04/24 – Austin, TX – Mohawk Austin*
04/25 – Houston, TX – Orange Show Center for Visionary Arts*
04/26 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia*
04/27 – Atlanta, GA – The 529*
04/28 – Raleigh, NC – Kings Barcade*
04/29 – Washington, DC – DC 9*

& w/ Crystal Antlers
* w/ White Hills

Andy Cabic, better know as alt folk outfit Vetiver, kicks off his West Coast tour tonight, March 8, at The New Parish in Oakland. Cabic draws inspiration for his hazy afternoon-listening folk from wandering the streets of SF’s sleepy Richmond District.

Fresh from his success at Sundance where his original score for film “Smashed,” a collaboration with Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats), received rave reviews, Vetiver also earned wide acclaim for last year’s album The Errant Charm on Sub Pop.

Catch Vetiver on tour this spring:

March 9 – Blue Lamp (Sacramento, CA) – Tickets

March 11 – Haven Underground (Nevada City, CA) – Tickets

March 13 – Seasons Performance Hall (Yakima, WA) – Tickets

March 14 – The Shakedown (Bellingham, WA) – Tickets

March 15 – Electric Owl (Vancouver, BC) – Tickets

March 16 – Logan’s Pub (Victoria, BC) – Tickets

March 17 – Columbia City Theater (Seattle, WA) – Tickets

March 18 – The Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR) – Tickets

–Whitney Phaneuf

San Francisco’s best lady rapper, K. Flay, is about to make the rounds, so get your calendar ready. She’ll be headlining a Popscene show on April 5th at Rickshaw Stop, but not before hitting SXSW, of course (Bay Area – represent!). No seriously, she’ll be doing some serious Bay Area representing in Austin as she’s playing the Oakland-based Pandora Party on March 14th at Antone’s, the SF-based Noise Pop Fest show on March 16th at the Red Eyed Fly and lastly, although they’ve got nothing to do with the Bay, the Baeble Music Party on March 17th at Peckerheads.

Not familiar with K. Flay? Download her latest EP, Eyes Shut, for free on her website or check out her spot on Last Call with Carson Daly. If it’s not obvious by her three South By slots, she’s not to be missed. And duuhhh, Bay Area peeps know that K. Flay’s Popscene show is what’s good on April 5th.

-Justine Fields

San Francisco’s favorite Americana-folk-punk duo Two Gallants returned from touring Europe to their hometown on February 23 and 24 for the 20th annual Noise Pop Festival. Two Gallants will begin touring with new material in the states this fall, including three SXSW shows.

Drummer Tyson Vogel and lead singer/guitarist Adam Stephens chose a nostalgic venue from their early days of live performances, the intimate Edinburgh Castle Pub. The two shows sold out their 100 tickets each within hours of going on sale a month in advance, and the crowd seemed to be long time fans. Vogel and Stephens chose the perfect balance of new songs and old favorites. The new songs went over quite well, leaving audience members incredibly eager for the next album.

New song “How’s It Going Baby Girl” is a classic Two Gallants hard rocker with an amazing edge that’s perfect for dancing along to, while “Girl with the Broken Eyes” finds the duo sharing a mic to mimic an acapela-style, sparse harmonica, tambourine and guitar picking their only accompaniment. Although the rocking song exemplifies the band’s talent at controlled chaos, the slower song is especially chilling as the two sing: “Though they say I’ll rue the day I gave you a piece of my heart/ It’s do-re-mi, dust to dust/ Things all fall apart.”

From their beginning as childhood friends to their shows outside the 24th St. Mission BART Stop to the Edinburgh Castle, Two Gallants have found themselves on tour as far reaching as China and Korea. Their unique sound is rooted in their genuine love of the art of musicianship and performance. These two lads certainly have many great years of contributing fantastic music to the Bay Area and beyond.   

–Shauna C. Keddy