Pants-Off Dance-Off, Noise Pop Edition
In the great tradition of intelligent, competitive entertainment (such as the shining beacon of light that is Pants-Off Dance-Off, or American Idol, or any other number of quality programs on the telly) I am enlisting the help of you, the reader, to help me decide what shows to see at the upcoming Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco (Feb 27-March 4). There are so many excellent offerings that I am a bit stumped.
On the superb show Pants-Off Dance-Off (that I was unfortunately exposed to one time, and summarily blinded for a week) all the people that you never wanted to see in various states of undress do just that for you. You get the nymphomaniac Ukrainian girl who thinks she is a lot hotter than she is, the nerdy computer programmer geek who thinks he’s hilarious in his undies, or the sassy large lady who wants to broaden your horizons of beauty (and pretty much fails). The viewers vote and America Decides who they want to see take it all off on the website.
There should not be much pants-off dancing in San Francisco for me but the democratic model of you guys voting to help to decide my itinerary suits me well, since I’ll be reporting back on the whole shebang for your enjoyment. Some shows I know for sure that I won’t miss, but there are a few nights (mostly Thursday and Friday) where I could go either way, and that’s where you come in. Please help me navigate the waters of grade-A indie rock — have you seen any of these bands? As George Thorogood wonders, Who do you love?
Incidentally, if you live in the Bay Area (or need a junket), this is also a list of recommendations of where you should consider being in a few weeks’ time — tickets are on sale and a few shows are already close to selling out.
WEDNESDAY Feb 28
* JOSH RITTER (Solo Acoustic) @ SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL
with Will Sheff (Okkervil River)
Doors 7pm/Show 7:30pm
* WILLY MASON @ CAFÉ DU NORD
with The Watson Twins, Ryan Auffenberg, Built for the Sea
8pm/9pm
This means Wednesday (unless I can clone myself) I will have to miss covering the Sebadoh show at GAMH and John Vanderslice/Damien Jurado @ The Independent. Ouch.
THURSDAY Mar 1 (totally undecided)
My options:
* ROKY ERICKSON AND THE EXPLOSIVES @ GAMH
with Howlin Rain, Oranger, Wooden Shjips
7pm/8pm
* FRENCH KICKS @ SLIM’S
with Scissors For Lefty, The Oohlas, Magic Bullets
7pm/8pm
* LYRICS BORN @ THE FILLMORE
with The Coup, Lifesavas
7pm/8pm
* ALEXI MURDOCH @ CAFÉ DU NORD
with Aqueduct, Midnight Movies
7:30pm/8pm
* TRAINWRECK RIDERS, LANGHORNE SLIM (co-headlining) @ RICKSHAW STOP
with Poor Bailey, The Morning Benders
8pm/9pm
FRIDAY Mar 2 (completely undecided)
* VIC CHESNUTT @ SWEDISH AMERICAN HALL
with Zach Rogue, Thao Nguyen, Alela Diane
7pm/7:30pm
* TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS @ GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
with Georgie James, So Many Dynamos, Pony Come Lately
7pm/8pm
* STATE RADIO @ SLIM’S
with The New Amsterdams, Street To Nowhere, The Actual
7pm/8pm
* ANNUALS @ CAFÉ DU NORD
with Simon Dawes, Pilot Speed, Ray Barbee (from the surf movie Sprout soundtrack) And The Mattson 2
8pm/9pm
* JOLIE HOLLAND @ THE FILLMORE
with David Dondero, St. Vincent
8pm/9pm
* AUTOLUX @ THE INDEPENDENT
with Snowden, Malajube, Death of a Party
8:30pm/9pm
* THE DONNAS @ BOTTOM OF THE HILL
with Boyskout
8:30pm/9pm
* THE DANDY WARHOLS @ MEZZANINE
with Audrye Sessions, Elephone, DJ Aaron Axelson
9pm
SATURDAY Mar 3 (pretty set)
* The Art Of Noise Pop [Exhibit & Expo]
1pm to 6pm @ Swedish-American Hall
* SPINTO BAND @ RICKSHAW STOP
with Dios Malos, The Changes, The Old Fashioned Way
8pm/9pm
* CLINIC @ THE INDEPENDENT
with Earlimart, Sea Wolf, The Mumlers
8:30pm/9pm
SUNDAY Mar 4 (pretty set)
* MIDLAKE @ BOTTOM OF THE HILL
with Minipop, Ester Drang
12:30pm/1pm
* Afternoon panel with Indie Night School
3:30-5:30pm @ Swedish-American Hall
* CAKE @ BIMBOS
with Money Mark, The Botticellis, Scrabbel
6:30pm/7:30pm
My head is spinning.
Name: Heather Browne
Do you have any gems by Material Issue?
SINEDDIE — February 3, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
I’ll be at the Josh Ritter show, not that it makes a difference.
Matt — February 3, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Yes, Matt, I cannot WAIT for the Josh Ritter show. He’s one that I have been dying to see for a while now, heard nothing but good things about his live shows.
heather — February 3, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
For your undecided days, I would go with Alexi Murdoch and State Radio. Different sides of the music spectrum but both good.
mel... — February 3, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Definitely see Roky Erickson while you still can, the chances are way too few and far between
-tom — February 3, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
I would vote for the Lyrics Born, Coup, & Lifesavas on Thursday, March 1. Perhaps the three best things going-on in hip hop these days… all sharing the same stage. Also, props to the Coup for getting back out there after their bus accident a couple of months ago.
Ken Smith — February 3, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
You should really try & ctach Simon Dawes. Superb debut album!
Jesse a.k.a. The Vicar — February 3, 2007 @ 11:56 pm
Josh Ritter + Annuals
Two of the best albums of 20006
Fintin — February 4, 2007 @ 5:02 am
Spinto Band over Clinic easily. Clinic has been doing the same thing for the last 6 years. You will not be able to stop grinning while watching Spinto
Anonymous — February 4, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Definitely check out the Alexi Murdoch show, if only, because Aqueduct is opening and it’s SUCH a fun band. Pure pop/rock catchiness. So infectious.
You’ll love it. Don’t even ask why, just go.
Cousy — February 5, 2007 @ 12:34 am
Thursday, Trainwreck Riders/Langhorne Slim all the way!
Joe — February 5, 2007 @ 7:07 am
I once drove 900 miles to see Guadalcanal Diary. I would do the same for Roky Erickson. See him and give him a hug for me. Then run like hell.
JohnnyHank — February 5, 2007 @ 8:16 am
Jolie Holland, Alexi Murdoch, and ESPECIALLY Pop Levi!
fb — February 5, 2007 @ 8:51 am
Def go see NJ’s finest Ted Leo. He does great things on the guitar and is a helluva nice guy. djs
daviso — February 5, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I’d like to see Ted Leo + The Pharmacists
srslush — February 7, 2007 @ 7:55 am