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!
It’s been hard for anyone who’s been a long time fan of Murder by Death. When pianist Vincent Edwards left the band in 2004, it became apparent that he had a huge influence on the band’s sound. So their last two albums, In Bocca Al Lupo and Red of Tooth And Claw, suffered from that true whiskey-dry creepiness that made Murder by Death enjoyable (for me at least). Well I guess God was listening, because not only is Murder by Death playing Red of Tooth And Claw into Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them, but they will also be performing with ex-keyboardist Vincent Edwards. Whether he’ll be adding to songs from In Bocca Al Lupo and Red of Tooth And Claw is unknown to me, but this is exciting for any MBD fan. So make sure you make it out this Saturday to the Bottom of the Hill and check it out. Also today is my first Lykke Li show and from what I’ve been hearing from this tour, it’s going to be a good time. See you out there!
Sunday – 15th:
Lykke Li / Wildbirds & Peacedrums
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115
Don Caballero / dd/mm/yyyy / Sbach
The Independent
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco CA 94117
Monday – 16th:
Philip Glass
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco 94102
Tuesday – 17th:
Lisa Hannigan / Gavin Glass
The Independent
628 Divisadero Street
San Francisco CA 94117
Wednesday – 18th:
Foot Village / T.I.T.S. / The Drums
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Thursday – 19th:
Andrew Bird / Loney, Dear(Thursday & Friday)
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco CA 94115
Audrye Sessions / As Tall as Lions / The Soft White Sixties
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Grails / James Blackshaw
Café du Nord
2170 Market Street
San Francisco CA 94114
Friday – 20th:
The Drift / The Necks
Swedish American Hall
San Francisco CA
Scissors For Lefty / The Vox Jaguars / Room For A Ghost
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Saturday – 21st:
Murder by Death / Fake Problems / The Builders and the Butchers
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Cake / The Lovemakers
Fox Theatre
Oakland, CA
Dropkick Murphys
The Warfield
982 Market Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Wildbirds & Peacedrums – Doubt/Hope
The Drift – Streets
Murder by Death – That Crown Don’t Make You a Prince
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
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 
