I won’t be going, but if I was, these would be my highlights. Now I know it will be impossible to see all of these bands/artists, I know how SXSW works. However, the SXSW website has a plethora of free songs for you to sample to assist you in your decision. If you are not going, go ahead and download them anyway; there’s obviously a reason why these bands were picked to showcase their music this year.
Abe Vigoda – Don’t Lie
AIDS Wolf – Tied-Up In Paper
Black Lips – O Katrina!
Boats – 500%
Cage – Shoot Frank
Cut Off Your Hands – Turn Cold
dredg – The Papal Insignia
Doomtree – FLEX
Fair to Midland – Tall Tales Taste Like Sour Grapes
The Felice Brothers – Frankie’s Gun
Sage Francis – Conspiracy to Riot
Eugene Francis Jnr & The Juniors – Beginners
Laura Gibson – Spirited
Hamell On Trial – When You’re Young
Lisa Hannigan – Lille
HEALTH – Crimewave
Hot Lava – Apple+Option+Fire
Junk Science – Hey (the sequel)
Kraak & Smaak – Squeeze Me
Kylesa – Said And Done
The Mother Hips – Mission in Vain
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head – Slow Motion Tag Team
Want to find a reason to get out of the rain and into some amazing live events? I give you Noise Pop 09! The Noise Pop Festival, which runs this Tuesday, February 24th through Sunday, March 1st, 2009, is an ambitious iteration of San Francisco’s favorite indie music, arts and film. For their 17th anniversary, Noise Pop 2009 will honor what’s made it the best-loved celebration of indie music and culture since its humble birth in 1993. This years music will feature such indie superstars like Antony and the Johnsons, Martha Wainwright, Stephen Malkmus, Deerhunter, St. Vincent, A.C. Newman, French Kicks, No Age, The Submarines, and Ra Ra Riot, among many many others. Noise Pop also features a long list of artist/photographers whose work is currently being displayed at the Mini Bar at 837 Divisadero St in San Fran. Also, there are some great films being showcased this week including Wilco’s Ashes of American Flags, Andrew van Baal’s Largo (a movie I’ve been waiting to see for months), and independent record store documentary I Need That Record. Of course I’m leaving out a whole bunch more but that’s what I’m looking forward to. I plan on catching one or two films and hopefully see Kool Keith (Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom) at the Mezzanine. All listed Noise Pop shows will be highlighted in blue; so go grab a badge and have fun this week.
As for non-Noise Pop events; today is quite busy for the Bay Area. You’re got Far (live video below) at Slim’s, Modest Mouse at the Fox Theater, and Michael Zapruder at the Bottom of the Hill tonight. See you out there!
Good luck trying to find ticket for the Glasvegas/Carl Barat (Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things) show on Thursday. However, consider yourself lucky if you happened to snag a couple, I can only assume it will be a kick ass concert. I’ll be attending the hometown hero Sean Hayes’ show over at the Rickshaw Shop on Wednesday. If you haven’t given him a listen yet, you need to. I cannot stress that enough. He’s simply amazing. Oh and don’t forget to get a bottle of wine signed by Maynard James Keenanthis weekend. See you out there!
4th – Sunday (Today):
Maynard James Keenan (Tool lead vocalist) Bottle Signing
Whole Foods Market Cupertino
20955 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
Rademacher / David Dondero
The Knockout
3223 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
5th – Monday:
Ragwater Revue / Super Adventure Club
The Elbo Room
647 Valencia / 17th St.
San Francisco, CA
6th – Tuesday:
New Thrill Parade / The Deadbeats
Hemlock
1131 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA
7th – Wednesday:
Sean Hayes / Michael Musika Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell St
San Francisco, CA 94102
DJ Spooky / Adrian & Mysterious D (Bootie) / Kid Kameleon
DNA lounge
375 11th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
8th – Thursday:
Glasvegas / Carl Barât
Popscene
330 Ritch Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
9th – Friday:
Magic Bullets (cd release) / The Passionistas / Airfix Kits
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
10th – Saturday:
Scissors For Lefty / Mud
The Blank Club
44 S Almaden Ave
San José, CA 95113
I’ve stumbled across a handful of bands that I figured I’d share with you all. The amount of potential in these acts are unprecedented and should be infesting your iPod, or at least showing up on the next advertisement for one.
The Piano Creeps
Bringing back memories of Mazzy Star and channeling Nico and The Velvet Underground; The Piano Creeps is filled with desertlike folk country-ish sounds, that never seems to wear thin. Though lead vocalist Mary Lorson rarely raises her voice above a sultry whisper, it’s bright enough to hold your attention all night. Just yesterday, the band released their debut album “Future Blues (for me and you)” on The Kora Records.
The Piano Creeps – Hey Love
Rademacher
Whimsical, heartfelt, sincere: all these adjectives only scratch the surface of Rademacher. The Fresno, CA group has independently released three EPs and a full length and have just released their fourth EP entitled, ERA. The EP showcases that their truly individual sound knows no boundaries and is willing to cross genres many times within a song. The great thing about Rademacher is that they are able to create catchy indie pop without lumping themselves into “Garden State” territory. Check them out on their California tour this October.
Rademacher – If U Know
Blackout 101
It’s hard to find good honest young talent these days. And when you do find it, it’s only a matter of time before they are corrupted by the evils of fame. Well that may not be the case with the Calabasas, CA based pop punk band, Blackout 101. While living the dream of talented musicians, like touring the UK and having their record produced by Deftones producer Shaun Lopez, the boys have still been able to keep their music tight and imaginative in a genre sucked dry of creative energy. This week, Blackout 101 has been lucky to open up for the newly reunited Far, as well as a few more West Coast dates. Check’em out.
Blackout 101 – Open Your Eyes
Well I’m off to LA to see Hot Little Ponyat the Troubadour in LA. I’ll be back Friday night with pictures and probably a funny story or two.
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
Abe Vigoda – Don’t Lie
Want to find a reason to get out of the rain and into some amazing live events? I give you 
