Kata Rokkar’s Albums of 2009: #50 – #26

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

There’s a distinct difference between ‘best albums of the year’ and ‘favorite albums of the year.’ Who am I to say what is the ‘best’ album? What makes an album better than the other? You’ve probably already figured out that I’m trying to say that music taste is subjective. The past 12 months have probably been one of the better years in music in a while. There were albums that defined genres (Merriweather Post Pavilion), albums that reinvented the bands sound (The Hazards of Love), albums that majorly disappointed (Mama, I’m Swollen), and albums that became a sign of what’s to come with ‘popular’ music (Twilight New Moon: Soundtrack).It’s time to break down the albums that rocked me this fine year.

Click on the album art to purchase the album:

50. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!

They have redeemed themselves and returned with a more fun vibe that we all knew was coming.

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Dull Life from It’s Blitz! (2009)

49. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues

The sounds of a wet and foggy forest were perfectly captured and projected with J. Tillman’s most vulnerable record to date. Country-side driving will never be the same.

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[mp3] J. Tillman – Vessels from Vacilando Territory Blues (2009)

48. Band of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

I found myself rocking pretty hard in the car alone to this amazing rock and roll record. Oozing sexuality and a pent-up frustration to destroy. One the most fun records of the year.

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[mp3] Band of Skulls – Blood from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey (2009)

47. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

Besides having one of the most bad-ass covers of all time, Neko Case created a hurricane of an album that will carry you away in her embrace. Let her take you.

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Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You from Middle Cyclone (2009)

46. The Mars Volta – Octahedron

Could it be that I have a hard-on for The Mars Volta? Probably. But after a handful of songs and records that made me wonder what the fuck they were doing, finally The Mars Volta mixes their bizarre nature and progressive sound and makes something substantial. A grower, but boy does it grow into something amazing.

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The Mars Volta - Teflon from Octahedron (2009)

45. Iron & Wine – Around the Well

Sure most of these songs were recorded years ago, but this compilation from Sam Beam were meant to be released this way. It flows just like a normal Iron & Wine album should…subtle and sweet.

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[mp3] Iron & Wine – Waitin’ for a Superman from Around the Well Disc 1 (2009)

44. Passion Pit – Manners

BOOM! This album made remixers piss themselves in delight and put Boston back on the map as one of the premiere spots for good music that gets you moving.

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Passion Pit – Moth’s Wings from Manners (2009)

43. Foreign Born – Person To Person

If my drive along the Northern Pacific Coastline had an official soundtrack, Person To Person would be it. The harmonies and swirling guitars along with the Walkmen-like vocals and lyrics is just a taste of what this brilliant album has to offer.

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[mp3] Foreign Born – Early Warnings from Person to Person (2009)

42. Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx, Pt. II

Turn it up and make the world know that we all need is more Wu. Flows like this haven’t been heard in years, it’s been a long time coming.

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Raekwon – New Wu Ft Ghostface Method Man from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx PT II (2009)

41. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

I hated this record to no end when I first heard it. I missed my Decemberists. It was only after a few more full listens that I realized that they belong to no one and that this may be the Decemberists that was meant to be. You know what? I’m fine with that.

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[mp3] The Decemberists - The Rake’s Song from The Hazards of Love (2009)

40. Message to Bears – Departures

Multi-instrumentalist Jerome Alexander’s Departures is a series of bittersweet articulations that seem suspended somewhere between a certain dreamy sense of wonder and awe and a heavy melancholia. It’s a haunting piece of work. Listen carefully.

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[mp3] Message to Bears – At the Top of This Hill from Departures (2009)

39. Akron/Family – Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free

This actually might be their best and most accessible record to date. The experimental folk group brought in all the stops and made the feel-good record of the year.

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[mp3] Akron/Family – River from Set’em Wild, Set’em Free (2009)

38. Russian Circles – Geneva

Someone told me, “You won’t see it coming, this record melts your face and freaks you out all within an hour.” He couldn’t be more right. It goes from hauntingly intense to magnificent beauty to uncharted territory for a group known to shred your ears to pieces.

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[mp3] Russian Circles – Malko from Geneva (2009)

37. Wilco – Wilco (The Album)

A charming record that may not get the appreciation it deserves. The songwriting is as solid as it usually is from Tweedy and the tongue-in-check manner of delivery remains intact. This was just their ‘entertainment’ record and boy did they hit their mark.

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Wilco – Deeper Down from Wilco (The Album) (2009)

36. Dan Deacon – Bromst

A strobe light of colors and manic sound that solidifies Dan Deacon as the king of spastic, high energy dance music. Hidden in this insane finger-painting of a record gone mad, is a layered and perfected album. All hail the king!

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Dan Deacon – Woof Woof from Bromst (2009)

35. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains

Oh yes, I was so happy to hear that beautiful 90s alt-punk throwback sound. If they had come out a decade an a half earlier, they would be know as genre defining geniuses. However, they are stuck here in the 21st century and forced to remind us that simple and loud music used to be enough for us. [See early Modest Mouse / Diary-era Sunny Day Real Estate]

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Cymbals Eat Guitars – And the Hazy Sea from Why There Are Mountains (2009)

34. The Swell Season – Strict Joy

I was afraid they were going to piss this album away into Once Part II. Phhhh, I should have known better, These people know what they’re doing. Strict Joy is just as touching as their last, but in a different sense.

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The Swell Season – The Rain from Strict Joy (2009)

33. Irepress – Sol Eye Sea I

Okay, bizarre artwork aside [four armed purple ping-pong monster?], this record is the shit. Heavy and drastically unique, Sol Eye Sea I is a brutal rocket launch on the senses. Pushing and pulling with pure metal complexity. So awesome.

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[mp3] Irepress – Rhintu from Sol Eye Sea I (2009)

32. The xx – XX

Probably the one of the most overhyped records of the year. Although, this is all for good reason. The intro to the record is actually my favorite of all time. Yes, of all time. The chill atmosphere with male/female vocals in this R&B / new wave manner caught me off guard. Thank God for that.

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[mp3] The XX – Crystalised from XX (2009)

31. Why? – Eskimo Snow

Yoni Wolf goes Americana psych-folk? Sure! Why not? Everything this guy touches is gold anyway. Each song is a detailed story that doesn’t leave the listener one bit disappointed. While not a good ‘entry’ album, Eskimo Snow might be Yoni’s greatest songwriting achievement.

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[mp3] Why? – This Blackest Purse from Eskimo Snow (2009)

30. dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion

Fans of the band were divided and I’m still not totally sure what happened with this album. However, dredg is undeniably comfortable with this new direction they’re heading toward. I had to step back a few times and realize that one needs to let go in order to enjoy this album. PPD is a long, intricate and personal record; listen carefully.

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dredg – Pariah from The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion (2009)

29. Volcano Choir – Unmap

I did not see this coming from Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. Layered with painstaking detail and emotional prowess, Unmap may be too much for some people. For me, it was just right.

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[mp3] Volcano Choir – Island, IS from Unmap (2009)

28. Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue

I love how colorful and blinding this album gets at times. I am immediately reminded of Boards of Canada, but more upbeat and cartoonish. I thought I knew this record before I wore some nice headphones…boy was I wrong.

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Bibio – Fire Ant from Ambivalence Avenue (2009)

27. Noah And The Whale – The First Days Of Spring

I usually dislike ‘break-up’ records when I’m no longer going through times like that. But this is beyond your normal story of woe-is-me heartbreak sob story. This an entertaining story that forces the listener to care about the ‘character’ involved in this story. The lush percussion, carefully picked guitars, and string arrangements briskly guide the listener to feel loneliness, hope, and rebirth. An amazing achievement of a record.

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[mp3] Noah And The Whale – Blue Skies from The First Days Of Spring (2009)

26. Various Artists – Dark Was The Night

Dark Was The Night, the best indie music compilation ever, was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National and founder of the Red Hot Organization John Carlin. 31 exclusive tracks graces this record from Bon Iver to Spoon, Sufjan Stevens to Arcade Fire. In addition, the double cd/triple viny helped benefit the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS.

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Grizzly Bear and Feist – Service Bell from Dark Was The Night (Disc 1) (2009)

CLICK HERE FOR #1 – #25

Tags: Akron/Family, albums of 2009, albums of the year, Band of Skulls, Bibio, Cymbals Eat Guitars, dan deacon, dark was the night, dredg, Favorite Albums of 2009, Foreign Born, Grizzly Bear and Feist, irepress, iron & wine, J. Tillman, Message to Bears, Neko Case, Noah and The Whale, Passion Pit, Raekwon, Russian Circles, the decemberists, The Mars Volta, The Swell Season, The XX, Volcano Choir, Why?, wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Posted in Favorites of 2009, Music | 2 Comments »

Kata Rokkar’s Half-Assed Guide To Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 9

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

I’m not going to try ans impress you with my knowledge of blues and bluegrass acts. There are probably some pretty amazing artists that I’ve never heard of rocking out today, but that’s the fun of going to this weekend’s festivities. I mean, it’s free, so unless you hate crowds and the smell of BO, weed, and carnival food…wait, I’m not doing a good job at selling this am I? Anyway, besides all that, there’s a lot of amazing artists that I do know performing today. Here’s what I’m going to try and catch…

Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers

This is my #1 Must-See today. Comedian, actor, author, and banjo player Steve Martin releases his first musical recording since 1978’s number 1 hit “King Tut” (which I hope he plays). This isn’t a comedy show though, this may be some of the best banjo music to come down the pike in a long time. His new record, The Crow features able assistance from some of Steve’s pals, including Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Tim O’Brien and Mary Black. Martin wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, creating a new body of work that will stand alongside the classics for years to come.

Sat Oct 3, Banjo Stage (2:40pm)

Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg, once-described as a “one-man Clash,” has spent the last two decades writing and performing passionate, witty, socially conscious music. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco was what brought Mr Bragg to my attention and I have since inched up his catalog over the years. This will be my first time seeing him perform, I look forward to something heartfelt and fun.

Sun Oct 4, Rooster Stage (1:15pm)

Okkervil River

The haunting and calming music here is purely the Austin’s own Okkervil River. Like tour partners the Decemberists and soul mate Alasdair Roberts, Okkervil River deals primarily in dark string instruments and even darker poetry. “Some nights I thirst for real blood/ For real knives/ For real cries,” singer Will Sheff sings on opening track of 2005’s Black Sheep Boy. Less country, more indie –whatever that means–Okkervil River paradoxically is at their most commercially ambitious.

Sat Oct 3, Towers Of Gold Stage (1:35pm)

Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines from The Stand Ins (2008)

Elvis Perkins in Dearland

His smart and likable songs might be crammed with excessive details, but it’s Elvis Perkins’ voice that you notice and cling to, especially the way he pulls at the syllables. It’s difficult not to term his music “dreamy” and this low-key, assured, and excellent debut recalls the great singer-songwriters; which makes him a perfect fit for Hardly Strictly. Perkins matches the crooning, knowing delivery and half-ironic lyrics of Rufus Wainwright with the visionary vocal gymnastics and love of obscure embellishments (circus/ marching band music plus singing saw, on the first song alone) of Jeff Mangum. His live shows exert positive energy and may cause uncoordinated hippie dancing (beware).

Sun Oct 4, Star Stage (11:40am)

Elvis Perkins – Shampoo from In Dearland (2009)

Neko Case

Instantly recognizable and uniquely commanding, it has been uniformly overlooked by the masses and beloved by those who have caught on. And, believe it or not, it gets even better, whether Neko Case is warbling like a porch-swing neighbor to Loretta Lynn, pontificating from the spiritual pulpit of Etta James, or unleashing the high-octane zeal of a power-pop spitfire. Her uncanny, often eccentric lyrics have always been delivered with an inherent passion behind the impulse, but rarely have they approached the boldness of her outstanding live shows. This one you have to get to early, it’s gonna get crowded.

Sun Oct 4, Star Stage (5:20pm)

Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You from Middle Cyclone (2009)

Tags: Billy Bragg, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 9, Neko Case, Okkervil River, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers
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This Week In Bay Area Live Shows: Sept 28th – Oct 3rd

Monday, September 28th, 2009

And you thought Outside Lands Festival was a shitshow for people that live in San Francisco. Wait until all the crazies and hippies descend on Golden Gate Park this weekend (October 2nd – 4th) for what may quite possibly be one of the best free concert festivals in the country.  Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is exactly how the title suggests, the bluegrass but in the mix you’ll find Nick Lowe, MC Hammer, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Tom Morello, Steve Martin (Yes, THAT Steve Martin), Okkervil River, Old 97’s, Emmylou Harris, Robyn Hitchcock, Billy Bragg, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Neko Case, Dr. Dog, Aimee Mann, Booker T. & the Drive-By Truckers, and many maaaaaany more. I’m going to try my damndest to catch most of the above artists and discover a few at the same time without losing my freakin’ mind with the crowds. See ya there!

I missed yesterday’s post for this week’s best shows, but I don’t recall anything substantial happening (I’m probably wrong, but whatever).

Tonight (Monday) Alice in Chains rocks the The Fillmore with their new lead singer, Dead Meadow and Spindrift play The Great American Music Hall, TV on the Radio singer/guitarist Kyp Malone’s Rain Machine does The Independent, and glam rock group theSTART play UC Davis.

Wednesday we have Ida Maria and Ladyhawke at The Fillmore, Datarock at Slim’s, and stoner rockers Kylesa and Kowloon Walled City at the DNA lounge.

Thursday hosts Abe Vigoda at The Knockout and David Bazan and Say Hi rock The Independent.

Friday, after the chaos of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2009, you can see Asobi Seksu, Anna Ternheim and Loney, Dear at Slim’s, Paramore and Paper Route at The Warfield, Experimental Dental School and Clipd Beaks at The Hemlock, hardcore legends T.S.O.L. and Disciples play 924 Gilman in Berkeley, Gil Scott Heron rocks The Grand Ballroom At the Regency Center and our friends at Bay Bridged hosts a killer line-up with Tartufi, Judgement Day and Geographer at Rickshaw Stop.

Saturday, the SF LovEvolution with Deadmau5, Groove Armada, and many more DJ artists play at the Civic Center for those of you not into folk/blues/good music(?), The Horrors rock The Independent, and Miike Snow and Jack Peñate play a sold out Bottom of the Hill.

Rain Machine – Give Blood from Rain Machine (2009)

Geographer – Can’t You Wait from Innocent Ghosts (2008)

Kowloon Walled City – Turk, Taylor and Jones from Turk Street (2009)

Clipd Beaks – Nohorizons from Winterfucking (2008)

Disciples – Rising from Colors of Being (2008)

Tags: Aimee Mann, Billy Bragg, Booker T. & the Drive-By Truckers, Clipd Beaks, Disciples, Dr. Dog, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Emmylou Harris, Geographer, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Kowloon Walled City, Lyle Lovett, MC Hammer, Neko Case, Nick Lowe, Okkervil River, Old 97's, Rain Machine, Robyn Hitchcock, Steve Earle, Steve Martin (Yes, THAT Steve Martin), Tom Morello
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This Week In Bay Area Live Shows: June 7th – 13th

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Another eventful week in the Bay ladies and gentlemen. First off, tonight you have the 4th Annual D.A. Taylor Charitable Foundation Benefit at The Independent featuring Rogue Wave and Turf Yard.

Monday Camera Obscura spreads the love at The Fillmore, electro-wacko Patrick Wolf, Living Things, Jaguar Love and Plastiscines weird it up Slim’s, and Handsome Furs will be supporting their newest and best album ‘Face Control’ with railcars and The Cinnamon Band at The Great American Music Hall.

Tuesday hosts Neko Case and Jason Lytle at the The Warfield (which will be on Wednesday too), IAMX (Chris Corner of Sneaker Pimps) will be at Slim’s, and the brilliant Felice Brothers and Willy Mason are performing at The Independent.

Your Wednesday line-up includes an amazing show at the Great American Music Hall with Secret Chiefs 3 and Kayo Dot. Thee Parkside hosts Static Radio with No Harm Done and Jokes For Feelings, The Lemonheads headline at Slim’s, and dueling guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela and The Mother Hips will be performing at Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

This Thursday we have Canadian rockers The Constantines and Crystal Antlers at the Rickshaw Stop, Swedish indie poppers Love Is All at the Bottom of the Hill, M.I.A. protege Rye Rye at Popscene, and The Von Bondies and Audrye Sessions at The Blank Club in San Jose.

Friday brings the onslaught with powerviolence (yes that’s a real genre)/grindcore trio Magrudergrind at the Gilman St Project in Berkeley, experimental noise pop group Telepathe with Nite Jewel make dance at the Bottom of the Hill, darkwavers She Wants Revenge and Great Northern hit up Bimbo’s 365 Club, Norwegian electro-rockers Datarock play at The Independent, and Wallpaper. crash at the Rickshaw Stop.

Hippie…err…Harmony Festival at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa is hosting a megaload of freespirited, earth loving, soulful, and psychedelic artists this weekend. You have Shpongle, Matisyahu, India.Arie, Balkan Beat Box, Michael Franti & Spearhead, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Wassabi Collective, Steve Kimock’s Crazy Engine and DJ Gaudi all rocking out from Friday to Sunday. Let me take this opportunity now to mention that I hate Michael Franti. WTF is Rebel Rock? Really? Please stop this nonsense, it hurts my brain thingy.

Saturday is where the party is though. Au Revoir Simone and The Antlers takeover Bimbo’s 365 Club, garage punk wacko Jay Reatard and Thee Oh Sees perform at The Independent, and Papercuts will be at the San Francisco Amoeba Records at 2pm.

My highlight of the week is Bat for Lashes at The Great American Music Hall. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite female vocalists and is already at the top of my Best Albums of 2009 with ‘Two Suns.’ Expect a full report of the show.

See you out there!

Willy Mason  – Sold My Soul

Love Is All – A More Uncertain Future

Telepathe – So Fine

Bat for Lashes – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover)

Tags: 4th Annual D.A. Taylor Charitable Foundation Benefit, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Au Revoir Simone, Balkan Beat Box, Bat For Lashes, Camera Obscura, datarock, Great Northern, Handsome Furs, Harmony Festival, India.Arie, Jay Reatard, Love Is All, Magrudergrind, Matisyahu, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Neko Case, Papercuts, Patrick Wolf, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rogue Wave, Rye Rye, Secret Chiefs 3, Shpongle, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, Static Radio, Steve Kimock's Crazy Engine, Telepathe, The Constantines, The Felice Brothers, The Lemonheads, The Von Bondies, This Week In Bay Area Live Shows, wallpaper., Wassabi Collective
Posted in Concerts, Music, This Week In Bay Area Live Shows | 1 Comment »

This Week In Bay Area Live Shows: Jan 25 – 31

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

Yet another busy week in the Bay Area. Well, I take that back, usually the week is pretty slow when it comes to shows and the weekend is chock full of awesomeness. However this week is wall to wall greatness all around. Particularly this coming weekend. If you are keeping track of the SF Sketchfest, then you know that Tim Meadows, Andy Richter, Bob Odenkirk, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul F. Tompkins, and Zach Galifianakis will be in town. Hopefully I’ll see some of you out at the Album Leaf show at the Bottom of the Hill this Wednesday. Have fun this week people!

25th – Sunday:

Department of Eagles / The Cave Singers
Café du Nord
2170 Market Street
San Francisco CA 94114

Amebix / Annihilation Time / Hellshock
The Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco CA 94109

Jay Reatard / Nobunny / Bare Wires
The Independent
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco CA 94117

26th – Monday:

Calvin Johnson
Artists’ for Television Access (ATA)
992 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Tera Melos / TRICLOPS! / them hills
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107

27th – Tuesday:

City and Colour / William Elliott Whitmore
Slim’s
333 11th Street
San Francisco CA 94103

28th – Wednesday:

The Album Leaf / Black Mamba / Anomie Belle
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107

Talking Music 2008 | Neko Case
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco CA

Katy Perry / Alphabeat
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94115

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings / Ivan Milev Band
The Warfield
982 Market Street
San Francisco CA 94103

29th – Thursday:

Adele
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115

Hercules and Love Affair / Tal M. Klein / Andy Butler / Pat Mahoney (of LCD Soundsystem)
Mighty
119 Utah Street
San Francisco CA 94103

Kaki King
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center
1317 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702

30th – Friday:

John Vanderslice and special guest DJ Aesop Rock
The Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco CA 94109

DeVotchKa / Crooked Fingers
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115

Fruit Bats / Sera Cahoone / ScareCrow
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107

Amon Tobin / Mophono / JK47
2-DAY SHOW!
The Independent
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco CA CA 94117

31st – Saturday:

Blu & Exile / Wale / UCB
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street @ Mint
San Francisco CA 94103

Lindstrøm
Paradise Lounge
1501 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

John Vanderslice – White Dove

Tera Melos – Blast Off!

Hercules and Love Affair – You Belong

Wale – The Kramer

Tags: Adele, Amebix, amon tobin, bay area shows, Calvin Johnson, City and Colour, department of eagles, DeVotchka, Fruit Bats, Hercules and Love Affair, Jay Reatard, john vanderslice, Kaki King, Katy Perry, Lindstrøm, Neko Case, sf sketchfest, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Tera Melos, the album leaf, Wale
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