Aimee Meyers
Staff Writer
For the twenty-fourth year, Noise Pop is taking over the Bay Area later this month, gracing San Francisco and Oakland with nine days packed with nothing but the finest indie films and concerts. Although a lineup boasting almost 140 bands may seem exciting at first sight, deciding which acts to check out can prove to be quite the challenge. Not to worry, though – the Foghorn’s got you covered for six sonic days.
02.23: Metric, Joywave @The Masonic
Watch frontwoman Emily Haines sing down the house Tuesday night as Metric presents the Bay with material off their latest record, “Pagans in Vegas”, and seals the deal with hits like “Help I’m Alive” and “Gold Guns Girls.” Show up early though, as electronic groovers Joywave will get the party started immediately.
02.24: La Sera, Surf Curse, Burning Curtains, Rudy De Anda (Co-Presented by KUSF!) @Rickshaw Stop
Need a midweek pick-me-up? Come get down with KUSF at the Rickshaw! Former Vivian Girls bassist Katy Goodman presents us with her jangly, 1960s-tinged melancholy melodies in La Sera, and LA punks Surf Curse will bring their mosh-inducing take on garage rock revival to the Bay. Be sure to stick around for prog-pop crooner Rudy de Anda and the British two man rock band that is Burning Curtains.
02.25: Day Wave, Hot Flash Heat Wave, Harriet, dot Vom @Rickshaw Stop
Oakland’s Day Wave will fill the room with sunshiny vocals, surf guitars, and heavy synths, and Hot Flash Heat Wave blends chill wave with alt rock, creating a 1980s throwback sound that they like to call “gold jazz.” Come early to get your synth-pop fix as Harriet also shares the bill, along with “nu-gazers” (and USF alumni!) dot Vom.
02.26: Parquet Courts, Chris Cohen, Emotional, The World @The New Parish
Parquet Courts will bring their “Americana punk” straight from Brooklyn (by way of Texas) to Oakland Friday night, bound to kick out one of the festival’s best sets. Cruise on over the bridge to catch them along with Chris Cohen (of Deerhoof and the Curtains), reverb poppers Emotional, and post-punk-meets-jazz group The World.
02.27: Wax Idols, Dinosaurs, Carletta Sue Kay @The Knockout
LA punks Wax Idols will take a surf rock trip down at the Knockout Saturday night, and Carletta Sue Kay will grace us with his otherworldly art pop just after Dinosaurs (USF’s very own!) kick off the show with an inspired garage rock bang.
02.28: DIIV, Dirty Ghosts, Creative Adult, Fine Points @The Independent
For those hungry for an extra helping of beach pop at the end of the week, DIIV is here to satisfy that craving as they promote their new record “Is The Is Are” on Sunday. San Francisco natives Dirty Ghosts, Creative Adult, and Fine Points will serve as openers, kicking things off with everything from new wave to punk to surf rock.
Photo courtesy of Kii Arens
