The HAD Guide To Noise Pop 2009

A week from tonight, Noise Pop will get rolling, and provide the faithful of San Francisco with a week of cutting edge, fantastic rock music. As such, we here at HAD thought we might give you a run down on the festival's full lineup, and even tip our hats to our picks for each night. Of course, we can't guarantee you'll agree, but at least you'll be in the know, right?

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Opening Night Party w/ Deerhunter, Lilofee
Mezzanine, 10 p.m., free w/ RSVP and badge-holders
For us, this is the no-brainer of opening night: A free show, featuring Deerhunter fresh off their amazing new album, with all the Noise Pop glitterati in attendance. Sure, it'll be a mad house, but it'll be an amazing show. Too amazing to miss, if you ask us.

John Darnielle In conversation and song hosted by Tobias Wolff
Herbst Theatre, 8 p.m., $20
Given that The Mountain Goats play later in the week, this is definitely one for the fans. Then again, you could probably get out of here in time to still catch Deerhunter, and Darnielle is notoriously witty. Not to mention we heart Tobias Wolff - eh, may as well check it out, no?

Antony and the Johnsons
Nob Hill Masonic Center, 8 p.m., $32.50-$40
At the risk of inspiring hatred in our friends and enemies, we'll go on record saying we still don't "get" Antony. We saw him solo, we saw him with Lou Reed, we've heard the records. Not. Our. Style. Sorry folks...

Wednesday, Feb. 25

FILM: Ashes of American Flags
The Roxie, 9:15 p.m., $10
There are many other films in the Noise Pop lineup, but this is the only one that really, really grabbed us. That being said, we're going to miss it, so the DVD will have to do. :( In the meantime, check out the trailer here.

The Mountain Goats w/ Papercuts
Swedish American Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $20
Unquestionably an awesome venue to see this killer band. A tiny intimate room, and the perfect space for their sound. We'd be there, if we weren't, well, read on...

Stephen Malkmus w/ Kelley Stoltz, Peggy Honeywell, Goh Nakamura
Great American Music Hall, 8 p.m., $20
Our pick for night two, and probably the show we're most excited about overall. We love Malkmus to the max, and seeing a rare solo show is even more enticing. Never mind that the last time he did a solo show Bob Nastanovich showed up for a few songs...

Sleepy Sun w/ Lumerians, True Widow, Kings & Queens
Bottom of the Hill, 8 p.m., $10

French Kicks w/ Broken West, Here Here
The Independent, 8 p.m., $15
We've been seeing the Kicks since 2002, and to be frank, they never fail to satisfy. They're a great live act, and their new material is their best yet. You can't miss with this show.

Matt Costa w/ An Horse, Robert Francis, Two Sheds
Slim's, 8 p.m., $20-$22
To be honest, we know little-to-nothing about Mr. Costa, but you know what they say about a man and the company he keeps: We can vouch unequivocally that Two Sheds and An Horse are two of the hottest duos out there right now. You won't be disappointed.

Thursday, Feb. 26

Scissors for Lefty w/ Picture Atlantic, Man/Miracle
Benders, 5 p.m., free
What can we say, we love SFL. If that means we can go to a free happy hour AND see the band, well, all the better.

Thao Nguyen w/ David Dondero, Sean Smith, Colossal Yes
Swedish American Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $14
While we've never seen Thao Nguyen live ourselves, we've heard on good authority that she has a lot of a good thing going on. So much so that she's our pick for night three.

Josh Ritter w/ Laura Gibson, Dave Smallen, Tiny Television
Great American Music Hall, 8 p.m., $20
Full disclosure: some of the HAD staff went to school with Ritter, so we've been digging on his tunes since, oh, 1998ish? That being said, you can't argue with success: the man presents a portrait of what a poised folk rocker should be. Recommended.

Martha Wainwright w/ AA Bondy, Ryan Auffenberg, Karina Denike
Slim's, 8 p.m., $12
Wainwright got the ball rolling singing backup for her slightly more famous brother Rufus, but broke out on her own a few years back, and from the sound of things she's doing okay. Her records are solid, folky pop, and well, we'll just say it: no one's kicking her out of bed for eating cookies.

Goblin Cock w/ Warship, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Kowloon Walled City
The Rickshaw Stop, 9 p.m., $12
There can be no way that this band can live up to their name, but if they do, please let us know. Seriously though, drone metal by way of Pinback? You have to at least be curious...

From Monument to Masses w/ Crime in Choir, Built for the Sea
Bottom of the Hill, 9 p.m., $12

Thee Oh Sees w/ Tyvek, Unnatural Helpers, the Fresh and the Onlys
Cafe du Nord, 9 p.m., $12
Local, new music is really the basis for Noise Pop, so you really wouldn't be hurting if you went to check out Bay Area faves Thee Oh Sees, now would you?

Kool Keith: Dr Octagon vs. Dr. Doom and Mike Relm w/ Crown City Rockers, kutMasta kurt
Mezzanine, 9 p.m., $18
Hip Hop DJ time showdown. It'll run late, and be good. So, we'll see you at say, 1 AM?

Friday, Feb. 27

Maus Haus w/ Sugar & Gold, Tempo No Tempo
Benders, 5 p.m., free
Much like the previous day, free happy hour, awesome music. No complaints.

St. Vincent w/ Cryptacize, Rafter, That Ghost
Great American Music Hall, 8 p.m., $16
We like to keep things positive around here, and we really have no criticisms for St. Vincent. That being said, she wasn't quite our cup of tea when we saw her open for The National, so we'll probably rain check.

The Morning Benders and the Submarines w/ the Mumlers, Rademacher
Slim's, 8 p.m., $12-$14
Again, solid local music, you can't go wrong.

Ra Ra Riot w/ Cut Off Your Hands, Telekinesis, the Hooks
The Independent, 8 p.m., $15
Our pick for night four: we missed their show in September because of Spoon's Fillmore run, and have been bummed ever since. We're glad to have Ra Ra Riot back in town, and we're psyched to see this show.

Telekinesis, Dear and the Headlights w/ Kinch, Big Light, A B and the Sea
Bottom of the Hill, 8:30 p.m., $10-$12

Port O'Brien w/ Odawas, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Dame Satan
Cafe du Nord, 9 p.m., $13
We love us some Port O'Brien, that's for sure. If it wasn't for their higher frequency of Bay Area visits, we 'd be hard pressed to turn down this show.

Saturday, Feb. 28

The Matches w/ Dizzy Balloon, Ex-Boyfriends
Bottom of the Hill, 1 p.m., $14
Can you really argue with rock and roll in the afternoon? We didn't think so. This is a bay-area-strong show, and will probably have a lot of local love. Plus, you have an excuse to start drinking at 1, which is something.

Bob Mould w/ Mark Eitzel, Donovan Quinn, Jason Finazzo
Swedish American Music Hall, 7:30 p.m., $20
Mould is a legend, and seeing him in a room this intimate will be a treat. Our pick for day five.

AC Newman w/ Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele, Devon Williams, City Light
The Independent, 8 p.m., $15
We're sure this show will be fantastic, but between feeling luke warm about his new record, and generally just feeling like Mould is the rarer "catch", we need to relegate Newman to tier two.

Portugal. The Man w/ Japanese Motors, Girls, Love Is Chemicals
Cafe du Nord, 9 p.m., $13

Clues w/ Loch Lomond, Harbours, the Red Verse
The Rickshaw Stop, 9 p.m., $12-$14

Sholi w/ the Dead Trees, Everest, Jake Mann
Bottom of the Hill, 9 p.m., $12
Sholi's had a huge year, from opening for Iron and Wine, to being featured in The Believer music issue, to being signed to Touch And Go. We can pretty much guarantee this show (also their CD release) should be a home run for the band.

Flosstradamus and N.A.S.A. w/ Wallpaper
Mezzanine, 9 p.m., $18-$20
When we mentioned this NASA show, we had no idea it was a Noise Pop event. That being said, given that it's at Mezzanine we're hoping that we can catch Mould and still make it over in time for NASA's takeoff.

Sunday, March 1

No Age w/ White Circle Crime Club, Infinite Body, Veil Veil Vanish
Bottom of the Hill, 1 p.m., $12
No Age, in the afternoon, on a Sunday. Noise Pop, we love you forever.

Les Savy Fav w/ the Mae Shi, the Drums
Mezzanine, 8 p.m., $20
Les Savy Fav closes the fest, and their live show is notoriously epic. Having never seen it, we can't give guarantees, but you can bet we'll be there.