San Francisco

Post-Punk Revivalists: Astral

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Astral, a Bay Area trio who has just released its third full length album Forever After, are taking the prize for the most aptly titled band we’ve come across in ages. Their brand of atmospheric rock is absolutely "of, relating to, or coming from the stars." Even more, this release finds the group fitting snuggly into the genre of post-punk revivalists, creating a proper blend of ringing bass and melodic guitar work that quickly curves into soaring arena ready sounds. Try the trio on for size below.

-Justine Fields

Walk and Talk by Astral

San Francisco

The Sandwitches Kick Off Tour, New 7” ‘The Pearl’

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SF trio The Sandwitches will release new 7" "The Pearl" on Nov. 8 and tonight kick off its tour at the Fillmore. 

“The Pearl,” from Sub Pop sister label Hardly Art, is a dissonant, yet beautiful track, much like the Sandwitches’ other music. Full of sound–acoustic guitar, random voices, drums, a harmonica–“The Pearl” is comforting and also oddly threatening. Listen to the entire 7" here.

–Amanda Dissinger

 

San Francisco

The Soft White Sixties Embark On Fall Tour

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The Soft White Sixties are rockin’ and rollin’ through the West Coast beginning in Seaside, California on Dec. 1. The soul tinged five-piece, formed in 2008 by singer-songwriter Octavio Genera and now including bassist Ryan Noble, rhythm section Joey Bustos, guitarist Aaron Eisenberg and guitarist Josh Cook, make music that is a throwback to another time (say, the 1960s), when rock n’ roll was badass and groovy and simple.

The band has started making its mark in California, selling out shows in Bay Area venues such as Café du Nord, Bottom of the Hill and The New Parish, performing at SF’s Summerfest, opening San Francisco’s NoisePop festival and SXSW. As if they weren’t busy enough, the band recorded a five song EP and has begun prepping for three new singles, all set for release later this year.

Check out the band’s tour dates below, running from Dec. 1-18 and find out more here.

–Amanda Dissinger

12/1 Seaside, CA – The Alternative Cafe

12/2 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop*

12/9 Sacramento, CA – Blue Lamp ^

12/10 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater ^

12/11 San Diego, CA – Casbah ^

12/12 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room

12/13 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge

12/15 Seattle, WA – The High Dive

12/16 Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios

12/17 Eugene, OR – Luckey’s

12/18 Caspar, CA – Caspar Inn

^ support for Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter

* support for The Mumlers

San Francisco

Peep This: Thee Oh Sees’ ‘The Dream’

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Thee Oh Sees are due to put out its double-EP-turned-LP Carrion Crawler/The Dream in just two weeks on November 15th! A month back, they let us peep the track "Carrion Crawler" and today we get the other title track, "The Dream," available over at Pitchfork. Shrieks, punk guitar solos and heavy bass oscillations are the framework for this latest cut, which stands as an almost chronological development from the 70s retro guitar progressions on "Carrion Crawler."

The band tells the Deli these two songs, as well as the rest of the album, were "cut live to tape in less than a week at Chris Woodhouse’s Sacramento studio in June." Thee Oh Sees have been holding down the Bay area indie scene since 1997. 

-Justine Fields

San Francisco

Local Listening: Your Soundtrack to Halloween Weekend

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This Friday, Oct. 28, kick off Halloween weekend at Bottom of the Hill with SF-based folk-rock outfit Please Do Not Fight, alt-folk band Rin Tin Tiger, singer-songwriter Debbie Neigher and indie-folk’s Owl Paws. Halloween Hoedown 2011 will feature costume contests and free treats, plus the first 50 people in costume will receive an autographed copy of the concert poster designed by Zen Zenith of Please Do Not Fight.

On Saturday, Oakland’s answer to beach pop The Hot Toddies headline Halloween Rock Party! at Rickshaw Stop with Ghost & The City, Sun Hop Fat and DJ Brother Grimm.

Bay Area spookers, The Soft Moon, headline The Independent on Monday, Oct. 31 for the Part-Time Punks Halloween Night! Expect lots of bass, lots of drones, lots of sounds you’d hear creeping out of a Haunted House. Out next week, preview The Soft Moon’s EP here

-Justine Fields & Whitney Phaneuf

San Francisco

Album Stream: Pinched Nerve’s ‘El Pinched Nervosa’

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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

San Francisco

New Release & Free MP3: The Northern Key “Wedgewood” LP

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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

San Francisco

One to Watch: Plastic Villains

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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

San Francisco

The Hundred Days New Video, Tour With Art Vs. Science

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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

San Francisco

Weekend Roundup: Local Listening

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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 Oxbow opens for the touring EVANGELISTA (Carla Bozulich) in a show at the Oakland Metro Opera House that promises to be a spectacle. The performance will feature a screening of new documentary “Blood, Sweat + Vinyl,” which chronicles three influential DIY music labels.

Sunday, Oct. 16, shoegazers Weekend and garage rock veterans Thee Oh Sees open the amazing lineup at Treasure Island Music Festival. If you’re looking for something more low key, check out the king of Sacramento dark folk Troy Mighty aka Dead Western opening for Carla Bozulich at The Lab in SF.

–Whitney Phaneuf

San Francisco

Live Review: Girls at Great American Music Hall

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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