In Case You Were Wondering About The 2010 Noise Pop Lineup....

It's been a few weeks since this year's Noise Pop dates got announced, and in the meantime, the organization has released some of the festival's 2010 lineup. It's (unsurprisingly) pretty tasty; we're pretty excited to see that Foreign Born on the bill, Atlas Sound will be in attendance, and Magnetic Fields will be making a return as well. What's more, there's a host of San Francisco mainstays, including John Vanderslice, Rogue Wave, and the multi-talented Mark Kozelek. The full schedule is still to come, but to see even more of the acts announced thus far, head to the Noise Pop schedule page.

Noise Pop 2009 Dates Announced

Stephen Malkmus at GAMH during Noise Pop 2009, from the HAD Archive

While none of the acts have yet to be put out there, you can still mark your calendar: Noise Pop has announced that this year's festival will take place from February 23-28th. It goes without saying that not only is the fest San Francisco's premiere music event, but also damned fun as well. We can't wait!

Previously: Noise Pop 2009

Stephen Malkmus Video From Noise Pop: "Pink India"

Because we love you, and we know you love the Malk. That's why.

Noise Pop 2009: Videos Already Making Their Way To The Web

For anyone who attended last week's Noise Pop fest, it's no secret that there were HD video cameras all over the place at every gig. While we had heard rumblings that the video would be in the edit bay for the better part of 6-8 months, it looks like the release cycle will be far faster than that.

Three full length gigs (Deerhunter, Ra Ra Riot, and Port O'Brien) have been posted on YouTube, and supposedly the remainder are making their way to streaming music beheamoth Wolfgang's Vault. Suffice it to say, both for those who were there, and those who not, this is an awesome treat.

Check out the Deerhunter vid above, and head to Noise Pop's YouTube page for Ra Ra Riot and Port O'Brien.

Noise Pop 2009: End Of Festival Wrap Up

Well kids, we won't lie to you: it was a long, long, week; but it was also fantastic. The sheer breadth and quality of this year's Noise Pop was a force to be reckoned with, and we couldn't be happier we were there for it. In case you missed some of our coverage over the past few days, we figured we'd provide links to all of our coverage right here. That way you can go back, reminisce over photos, and get down to resting up for next year!

XOXO,
HAD

Deerhunter @ Mezzanine
Stephen Malkmus Solo @ Great American
Scissors For Lefty @ Benders
Loch Lomond @ Diesel
Telekinesis @ The Independent
Cut Off Your Hands @ The Independent
Ra Ra Riot @ Diesel, The Independent
Loch Lomond @ Rickshaw Stop
Clues @ Rickshaw Stop
No Age (w/ Bob Mould) @ Bottom Of The Hill
Les Savy Fav @ The Rickshaw Stop

Noise Pop 2009: Les Savy Fav Played Mezzanine - Pictures, Review

"This is a rock and roll situation" - Tim Harrington uttered these words last night during Noise Pop's closing party with Les Savy Fav, and we couldn't agree more. While we had been warned that LSF's live set was "intense", "unbelieveable", and "off the hook", nothing really could have prepared us for the insanity that descended from the stage at Mezzanine last night.

Harrington is simply intent on destroying any perceived notions of safety or rock and roll standards: he was willing to go anywhere, do anything, and let (it seemed) anyone on stage. The band's lead singer started out the night wrapped in toilet paper and claiming it was a cast, and over the course of the night would find himself draped in a curtain, in a striped sailor's shirt, tied to a fan with duct tape, and wearing no shirt at all.

Harrington's antics, however, weren't limited to clothing: there were certainly actions as well: he descended into the crowd multiple times, without any intent on having a cordless mic. He did an airplane from the balcony and then slid down the stairs on a pair of ottomans. He shoved a half eaten banana in the mouth of a photographer, and kissed the lens of another. He drenched three fans on stage with a garbage pail of beer, and made a call on the phone of another. It simply never let up.

For the fans' part, the crowd was loving every minute of it, and embraced Harrington's disregard of convention as their own. Numerous fans climbed on stage and made themselves a part of the stage show. The photo barrier was all but irrelevant and was dissolved about halfway through the show as the throng of fans surged forward to be closer to the band. That being said, the reaction was not all crazed mania: there was definitely fans of the band who were there for the music, and not just getting sucked into the craziness.

So, how was the music? To be frank, sometimes it was difficult to separate from the on stage antics, but the fact of the matter is that it was very, very good. Harrington's vocals were significantly more garbled and spoken-word then they are on the records, but the rest of the band managed their duties with precise expertise, which was surprising given all that was going on around them. The band's music is pretty straight-ahead rock and roll, so given a solid foundation, it shouldn't be too hard to recreate in a live setting. Still, we were impressed that given the nature of the show they were able to deliver such a tight, precise.

We attended the show with a friend who had seen the band three times before, and has every intent of seeing them again and again and again. Frankly, we can see why: Les Savy Fav delivers a show that is simultaneously memorable, unique, musically accessible, and full of such extreme vitality that it's impossible not to love. What's more, in the context of a week that was laced with so much fantastic music, there needed to be a finale that completely evaded any kind of comparison, and Les Savy Fav achieved that without a doubt.

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: No Age Played Bottom Of The Hill, Bob Mould Joined - Pictures, Review

To sell out the Bottom Of The Hill is one thing, to sell out Bottom Of The Hill at one o'clock on a Sunday afternoon is another thing entirely. Today at Noise Pop's afternoon show, that's exactly what No Age managed to do. Not only was it a completely rewarding foray into No Age's distinctive hard core/punk/sonic experimentation, but it was a fantastic rock show (with a surprise guest!) to boot.

The show was straight ahead from the first song, and the band actively encouraged the crowd to get rowdy. In return, the band did their part to present an unrelenting, steady stream of breakneck rock songs. The crowd responded in turn by moshing, crowd surfing, and generally letting loose.

While a No Age show evokes a certain vibe reminiscent of the hard core scene, there's no question that the band also offers a fair bit more. It's a combination of a number of factors: more complex melodies, a wide arrangement of atmospherics and pedals, and more diverse rhythms. This results in a show that, while still rocking, also manages to offer a bit more depth and enjoyment of the compositional talent in the band.

To top off the show, the band welcomed Bob Mould onto stage and the crowd (and the band for that matter) proceeded to go apeshit. It was so clear that all the musicians were psyched to be playing together, and what's more the crowd was loving every minute of it. Despite the fact that the band seemed to see fit to have the tracks with Bob wrap up the gig, the crowd was having none of it and the band finally gave in for one more tune. Randy Randall surfed the crowd, and the rest was history.

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: Night Six - End Of The Fest!

Well, it's certainly been an exciting week of killer music, and we won't blame you if you're feeling more than a little worn down. That being said, we're in the final stretch of Noise Pop, so don't back out on us now! Today's schedule is significantly more chill, with just two shows on the menu. We think you'll make it out, and if you don't well, you'll be sorry! (Headliners below, full lineup here)

Noise Pop 2009 Night 6:
No Age @ Bottom Of The Hill (1PM show, commencing now!)
Les Savy Fav @ Mezzanine

Noise Pop 2009: Clues Played The Rickshaw Stop - Pictures, Review

The show from Clues last night at The Rickshaw Stop was simultaneously one of the most anticipated, and mysterious, of this year's Noise Pop festival. The Montreal band are the only project of Alden Penner since he departed the notorious Unicorns. Since the band made their debut last fall, there has been little-to-no news about their record, aside from one or two mp3s and feedback from fans who were at the shows. Well, HAD managed to catch the set at the Rickshaw last night, and suffice it to say that Clues are very much ready to deliver some amazing music.

Given that there was no prior exposure to most of the music played last night, it was a unique task for the band to deliver their set and at the same time drum up crowd enthusiasm. Remarkably, they did so with apparently very little effort: many of the songs were upbeat, danceable, and immediately accessible. What's more, the enthusiastic crowd was more than happy to embrace the set with open, dancing arms. That being said, the biggest reaction was undoubtedly for the lone mp3 released thus far, "Perfect Fit". We're guessing that once all the material gets out there, these shows will be nuts.

As for the band's sound, it was unquestionably louder, heavier, and synthier than the mp3 for "Perfect Fit". The band was constantly rotating instrumental duties, and it seemed that everyone on stage touched every instrument at some point during the set. That being said, it was very clearly Penner's show, with him singing lead on all but one of the songs, and having a significant swath of space from which to define his stage presence.

Many of the songs also wore Penner's influence on their sleeve, and we'd be lying if we didn't say that Clues seems to be a far more obvious legacy to The Unicorns than the other offshoot project Islands. Penner's vocals are so distinctive, his compositions so eclectic, and his stage presence so explosive yet edgy, that he can define a band just by being present on stage. What's more, it's clear that he was driving the arrangements, particularly in the encore with some of the less practiced material.

Obviously it's difficult to ultimately describe how a whole show's worth of material sounds live. That being said, the set by Clues last night was unquestionably fantastic. To be able to play a set of completely new material and suck in a sold out crowd is no small feat. What's more, Penner's legacy with The Unicorns is heavily lauded and scrutinized - delivering new material is always a questionable task that requires a gentle delivery.

Suffice it to say that Clues performed that delivery expertly: they've defined a sound that, while relying heavily on Penner's influence, is most certainly its own. Unicorns fans will definitely not be disappointed. More than that, we're guessing that they'll be more than pleasantly surprised that Penner and Co. have passed The Unicorns legacy to create something new, but equally great.

Many more photos at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: Loch Lomond Played The Rickshaw Stop - Pictures, Review

After catching Loch Lomond's Noise Pop set at the Diesel happy hour on Friday, we were so intrigued that we decided to come back for more. The six piece band played at the Rickshaw Stop on Friday night, and delivered a set that was a greeted with a strong dose of crowd enthusiasm.

Surprisingly, while the set was more musically intricate than the set at Diesel, it was also noticeably more subdued. In particular, lead singer Ritchie Young took on a vocal timbre was that significantly less aggressive, and quite a bit more twee. Ultimately, it didn't hurt the music, but it did serve to give it more of the folky feel that we're familiar with from the band's records.

Still, the band seemed instrumentally far more confident in a real venue, and it probably didn't hurt to have a real stage with this many people to make space for. Many of the instrumental parts (clarinets, xylophone, viola), sounded fuller and more confident, as did the multi-part vocals. Overall it contributed to create a set that, while more mellow, was significantly more authoritative in its bent.

Given the two personas of Loch Lomond that we've seen at Noise Pop, we're curious to see where they go from here. The band will apparently be back in April, so that may give us a good clue as to what comes next. That being said, we have to admit that we were liking the slightly more edgy vibe from the Diesel show. Either way, Loch Lomond very clearly delivering on a well defined sound, and unquestionably giving us a reason to listen. See you in April kids!

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: Night Five - It's Saturday!

If you've been rocking the Noise Pop vibe hard this week, then you're probably running on about your last ounce of energy. Well, ramp up, grab a red bull, and get your ass back out the door! There're some great shows tonight, and you certainly don't want to miss out on the tastiness, now do you!?!?!? (As always, headliners below, full lineup here)

Noise Pop 2009 Night 5:
Bob Mould @ Swedish American
Sholi @ Bottom Of The Hill
AC Newman @ The Independent
Portugal. The Man @ Cafe Du Nord
Clues @ Rickshaw Stop
Flosstradamus and N.A.S.A. @ Mezzanine

Noise Pop 2009: Ra Ra Riot Played Diesel And The Independent - Pictures, Review, Setlist

Let us start by saying this. We have heard many, many, extremely positive things about Ra Ra Riot's live set, and expectations can be a dangerous thing. Last night the band played two sets: one acoustic at Diesel, and one at The Independent to finish off the night. From what we had been told, we were expecting a set on the order of an artistic revelation, with a level of energy that would defy expectations. In reality, what we got was a band that has an extremely decent record, delivering an extremely decent performance of that record. There was little to criticize, but there was also very little that left us reeling.

The band's acoustic set started up the night, and it felt more than a little contrived. We might go so far as to say that any time we see a fretted acoustic bass, things start to feel a little contrived. The set was completely solid instrumentally, but just lacked the power and enthusiasm that had been delivered minutes before by Loch Lomond. That being said, we were more than willing to write this off - a band that's not used to playing acoustic can easily go bland under those circumstances, and Loch Lomond's set was also a lot to measure up to.

Unfortunately, when we got to the set at The Independent, it seemed to be more of the same. For a band that already has it's creative paintbrush firmly in the well of the Arcade Fire, it's a dangerous thing indeed to flirt with a mellow live show. However, Ra Ra Riot did exactly that - they delivered a show that existed precisely on the cusp of busting out and delivering a truly rocking show. Rather, they seemed far more concerned with delivering a stable, intricate set that held a firm grip on the arrangements of their record without adventure or pushing any boundries.

At the end of the day, we try to shy away from unnecessarily harsh criticism here at HAD - slinging mud's never any good for anyone. What's more, we're guessing there are more than a few people that will disagree with this review: the show was one of the first to sell out, and the crowd was going nuts all night long. That being said, we'll stand by our lament. We do actually like Ra Ra Riot's record, and we were hoping that the live environment would be a venue for them to push the record over the edge and really wear its bloody heart on its sleeve. Instead, it seemed to be a complacent delivery that had less to do with soul, and more to do with preaching to the choir.

Pita-Setlist here

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Noise Pop 2009: Cut Off Your Hands Played The Independent - Pictures, Review

Writing a review on Cut Off Your Hands and not mentioning The Vines seems to almost border on the impossible, so we'll just get it off our chest. Both bands hail from the Australian continent (New Zealand and Australia, respectively), both bands draw heavily on 60's and punk rock influences, and both bands are fronted by singers who don't seem to have any perception that there is anything remotely like "appropriate" behavior for a rock band on stage.

That being said, Cut Off Your Hands are certainly not even remotely a ripoff. Their songs were adventurous, accessible, exciting, and full of life. The set was dappled with fantastic backing vocals, wonderful melodies, and driving rhythms that all combined to make for ridiculously immediate rock and roll. In short, this band delivers the entire package. And be quite certain, dear reader, that package most certainly includes rock and roll insanity.

Within 30 seconds of being on stage, Cut Off Your Hands front man Nick Johnston dove into the crowd, and was most certainly not caught. Rather, the crowd seemed to give way, and he headed resoundingly to the floor. Not one who was quick to learn a lesson apparently, Johnston would repeat this exercise two more times during the night to the same result. While the behavior was slightly unsettling, it is worth mentioning that with so many bands seeming routine on stage, it was unquestionably invigorating to see a band that was ready to deliver on all cylinders, regardless of the outcome.

And in the end, the outcome was, in fact, unforgettable. It's impossible to argue with the sheer amount of energy coming off stage, or the classic accessiblity of the melodies of the songs. At the same time, the band undoubtedly defined their own personality, and delivered a set that was distinctively theirs. Being from New Zealand, it seems that the band might not travel to the US as often as one might like. That being said, you can bet that next time they're in town that we'll be there. The band is touring the US now: Do. Not. Miss.

Many more pictures on the HAD Archive

Noise Pop 2009: Telekinesis Played The Independent - Pictures, Review

Seattlites Telekinesis got their feet wet in the Noise Pop water last night in one of the opening slots at The Independent. Being that the band has been garnering a fair dose of praise lately, we got there early to check it out and see what exactly we made of it. While we heard some whispered comparisons to Death Cab, we're guessing that's less from the music, and more from the band's city of origin. Telekinesis' set was far too rocking, their vocals far too full, and their rhythms far too direct to ever be mistaken (at least in a live setting) for their Seattle compatriots. Long story short: dead solid rock and roll.

Probably the most immediately noticeable aspect of the band is that they're fronted by a drummer. In the end this doesn't serve to make much of a difference to the sound, but it was noticeable in the stage setup. The drum kit was front and center, and if we're not mistaken it definitely brought the instrument to a far greater degree of prominence in the mix.

As for the tunes themselves, they are incredibly vivid, jangly rock and roll with accessible melodies, and riffs that are familiar as soon as you've heard them. The band did a fantastic job at roping in a crowd of potentially unfamiliar listeners, and truly engaging them in the music. The band could have easily been headlining the room, and we're guessing that next time they will be.

Many more photos at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: Loch Lomond Played Diesel - Pictures And Review

As last night's Noise Pop got off to a start, we managed to make it down to check out the happy hour sets at the Post Street Diesel store. The event was surprisingly well organized, with killer acoustics and free drinks to be had to boot. The first set was from Portland natives Loch Lomond, and it was a doozy. The band managed to squeeze a crowd of people into a tiny space, and on top of that break out a variety of instruments, including not one, but two types of clarinet!

The band had a variety of instrumentation, but it really didn't completely define their sound. Rather, it acted as an addition to the solid composition to flesh it out, and give the songs more depth. The solid backup vocals had the same effect, with the band at times singing incredibly solid four part harmonies.


While most of what we've heard from the band online has been relatively mellow and folky feeling, they definitely manage to add a solid dimension of rock to their live sound. The tunes had a solid percussive base, and lead singer Ritchie Young also really kicked his vocals up a notch in enthusiasm and timbre. The end result was that the band delivered a solid, rocking set that had the crowd well invested by the time it wrapped up.

Loch Lomond plays again tonight at Rickshaw Stop.

More pictures at the HAD Archive.

Noise Pop 2009: Night Four Commences!

Tonight is the first weekend night of this year's Noise Pop, and as such we imagine you should be prepared for slightly more packed (and probably more rowdy) crowds. Tonight's lineup is strong, with more of an emphasis on "fresh blood" - all the headliners tonight are bands that have just realized success in the last couple of years. That being said, new music is just what Noise Pop is all about, so we can't think of a better way to kick off the weekend. As always, headliners below, full lineup here. Start your engines!

Noise Pop 2009 Night 4:
Maus Haus, Sugar and Gold - Benders (Happy Hour, 5-8PM)
Ra Ra Riot (Acoustic Set), Loch Lomond - Diesel (Happy Hour, 5-9PM)
St. Vincent - Great American Music Hall
The Morning Benders and the Submarines - Slim's
Ra Ra Riot - The Independent
Telekinesis, Dear and the Headlights - Bottom Of The Hill
Port O'Brien - Cafe Du Nord

Noise Pop 2009: Scissors For Lefty Played Benders - Pictures, Review

Last night at Bender's we managed to catch Scissors For Lefty playing to a packed room during the first Noise Pop show of the night. The band delivered an awesome set of their trademark partified, danceable pop, and the crowd was right there with them. By the end of the set the band (and the crowd) was dancing, sweaty, and happy.

The show was pure, classic SFL: lead singer Bryan Garza delivered an epic performance, sometimes on guitar sometimes not, with in between trips to every corner of the stage. His vocal performance continues to be a highlight of the show, dripping with charisma and begging to be watched. Meanwhile, the rest of the band delivered a solid instrumental performance combined with their always-strong backing vocals.

The band pulled upon material from their whole catalog, but the focus was certainly more focused on Underhanded Romance and last year's Consumption Junction EP. Talking with Garza before the show, we were psyched to learn that the band is actively working on new material, and has 20-plus tracks in the bag for a forthcoming record. While this may be the last SFL live show for a while, we were psyched to see them going strong - we'll be keeping an eye out for that new record.

Many more pictures in the HAD Archive

Noise Pop 2009: Night Three Is Here

We're still reeling from the goodness of Noise Pop thus far, and we're not even half way through! Nights one and two brought us so much awesomeness, that we're hard pressed to see just how it could continue to stack up. Still, that's the key to Noise Pop: it continues to hit home with awesome tunage every night! Here's what's in store for this evening (Headliners below, full lineup here):

Noise Pop 2009 Night 3:
Scissors for Lefty - Benders (Happy Hour, 5-8PM)
Thao Nguyen - Swedish American Music Hall
Josh Ritter - Great American Music Hall
Martha Wainwright - Slim's
Goblin Cock - The Rickshaw Stop
From Monument to Masses - Bottom of the Hill
Thee Oh Sees - Cafe du Nord
Kool Keith: Dr Octagon vs. Dr. Doom - Mezzanine

Noise Pop 2009: Stephen Malkmus Played Great American - Review, Pictures, Setlist

Tonight's set by Stephen Malkmus at the Great American could not have been more divergent from last night's Deerhunter set: one man, singing classic melodies to a devout crowd, armed only with a guitar. And yet, Malkmus managed to deliver far more than a simple one man show of the singer-songwriter variety. Despite a broken string and some stumbling lyrics, he brought forth a vast selection of his catalogue and offered up everything from old favorites, to covers, to his latest solo work, to the most far flung of Pavement b-sides.

First and foremost, more on that setlist: it was riddled with Pavement classics and b-sides, and even touched on a Silver Jews number. What's more, it didn't seem that encouragement to delve into the past was even needed: Malkmus opened the set with "Harness Your Hopes" and it was clear from there that the set would be comfortably retro in its bent. The set ran the gamut from Slanted And Enchanted through Real Emotional Trash, and from the sound of things, the audience kept right up with him. Even a cover of the O'Jays "Love Train" simply couldn't be stopped.

And really, there was no need to stop anything at all, because the room was clearly full of love. The Malkmus devotees are a hardcore bunch, from the numerous song requests it was clear that they had come to see Malkmus in something of a journey to Mecca. His catalogue is beloved, and yet so often beleaguered by breakup/reunion drama that this night provided a unique opportunity. Specifically: to see the man, and hear the songs, and simply transcend anything that stretched beyond the pure enjoyment of the composition.

It was clear from Malkmus' attitude that he could feel the positivity as well. For much of the set he was grinning and clearly enjoying himself. Moreover, he was a ridiculously good sport for all the song request cat calls, and even had a solid go at one ("Vanessa From Queens") that suited his fancy. He was obviously there to deliver songs to his fans, and more than succeeded in doing exactly that. From the first notes of "Harness Your Hopes", to the final distorted chords of "Summer Babe", the fans were rapt. As Malkmus took his final bow and headed off stage it was clear that tonight was everything and more that this crowd was looking for.

More photos at the HAD Archive

Setlist
--
Harness Your Hopes
Us
Blue Arrangements (Silver Jews)
Starlings Of The Slipstream
Pink India
Spit On A Stranger
Fin
Range Life
Real Emotional Trash
Loretta's Scars
We Have Laid Here (Bill Fay Cover)
Lions (Linden)
Freeze The Saints
Shoot The Singer
Zurich Is Stained
Heaven Is A Truck
Vanessa From Queens (Partial)
Here
--
Love Train (O'Jays Cover)
Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones Cover, Partial)
Summer Babe

Noise Pop 2009: What's On For Night Two

Well, after a killer night one, we're more than a little psyched for Noise Pop 2009's night two. If you have any reservations, throw them out the door, because tonight's lineup is just as good, and quite frankly begging for your attention! Headliners are below, check out the full lineup here.

Noise Pop Night Two Lineup:
Girls @ Diesel (Happy Hour, 5-9PM)
The Aimless Never Miss @ Benders (Happy Hour, 5-8PM)
Stephen Malkmus @ Great American
The Mountain Goats @ Swedish American Music Hall
French Kicks @ The Independent
Matt Costa @ Slim's
Deerhunter @ Rickshaw Stop (yes, we know it's not officially Noise Pop, but come on!)
Ashes Of American Flags (new Wilco doc) @ The Roxie (9:15 PM)
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison @ The Roxie (7 PM)