Them 9’s — The one that got away
Over the past few years, although riding on the cusp of success, some indie bands have fallen out of popularity. Fallen heroes include: Smith Westerns, Vinyl Thief, The Virgins, Viola Beach.
To indie music...
Now, Now releases new single “AZ,” announce album Saved
On March 1st, Now, Now released their third single, “AZ” in support of their newly announced sophomore LP, Saved (2018). Coming off the coattails of two 2017 singles, “SGL” and “Yours,” and a sma...
How these five indie artists found their names
In the late 1970s and early 80s, “primal therapy” was all the rage when it came to analyzing and diagnosing neurosis. The method created by Arthur Janov involves bringing back repressed memories from childh...
Growing to Such Great Heights
On February 19th, the 15th year anniversary of the Postal Service’s first and only album Give Up (2003), I sat on my couch and went through all the old playlists I had made since the inception of Spotify, a c...
Emotions flow at a wholesome night spent with Cuco and friends
“This place looks poppin’!” our Uber driver announced as she pulled up to a sketchy pool hall that was blasting Latin music and flashing disco lights from within. After checking the place out a bit, we ca...
Real Estate brings warmth back to the Bay
Last weekend, Real Estate visited Fox Theatre to play their first show in Oakland, CA. The concert was part of the Noise Pop Music & Arts Festival, the Bay's annual indie arts week, and it was only fitting ...
Japanese Breakfast puts the punk in indie rock
Since the release of her 2017 record Soft Sounds from Another Planet, Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner has risen from the fairy-like starlett listeners were introduced to with catchy single “Everyone Wa...
Finding epicenters of acceptance with Palehound
Noise Pop’s Thursday night lineup this year was, in a word, stacked. From quickly emerging artists Jay Som and Japanese Breakfast, to seasoned vets Madlib and Jeff Rosenstock, I was torn on who to see that ni...
Five indie artists under 21 you should listen to
Are you in your college years? Are you somehow not already famous? Have no fear! These emotions will only deepen as we go over five young artists that have already reached significant fame.
Gus Dapperton (19)...
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah bring the Thunder to SF
The Rickshaw Stop is not the biggest venue. It can hold 400 people probably, if you try hard enough, but it doesn’t seem like the place you’d find a band that’s been around for the past 14 years, already ...
Weedhead weirdos: a night with Jerry Paper and Mild High Club
On Wednesday, January 24th, I made the trek from Berkeley to Mill Valley across the Richmond Bridge in the pouring rain to experience some good times with Mild High Club. I was really committed to this concert ...
Hippo Campus charms at the Fillmore with soulful set
Hippo Campus, formed in 2013, has performed the likes of South by Southwest, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. But on Tuesday night, they seemed happy to grace the stage of The Fillmore in front of an eager audience ...
Surveying the scene: how Low End Theory has recovered since parting ways with The Gaslamp Killer
A weekly Wednesday night event in a seedy pocket of East Los Angeles, Low End Theory has always been cooler than it should have been: with better-than-thou fashionable attendees despite its un-instagrammable ae...
Homeshake Slows It Down At The Observatory
Peter Sagar, former Mac Demarco guitarist, started Homeshake in 2013. Since then, Homeshake has released three albums, their newest one titled Fresh Air (2017). It seems like I've been seeing Homeshake everywhe...
Chad VanGaalen’s Wordsworthian approach at the Chapel
On a Tuesday night, the Chapel opened its doors to a lukewarm audience that trickled in over the span of two hours. So lukewarm, in fact, that I was able to successfully save the two stools next to me for a fat...