Latest news with #NoisePop
Axios
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Noise Pop spotlights local talent: "Fake Your Own Death"
One of the best things about attending Noise Pop is discovering the city's local talent at one of your favorite dive bars. The latest: That's exactly what I did earlier this week, when I stopped by Benders in the Mission to see Fake Your Own Death, a San Francisco-based group made up of vocalist Terry Ashkinos, drummer Scott Eberhardt, lead guitarist Shane Ryan and bassist Adrian McCulough. Drawing inspiration from bands like Fugazi, Sonic Youth and The Cure, their music is loud, subversive and unapologetic with themes reflecting on existential crises, failed relationships and technology's effect on society. What they're saying: "Art is always political," said Ashkinos, who is a middle-school teacher by day. "Everything that you put out in the world is either pushing up the status quo or tearing it down. I like the idea of using music to give alternative perspectives." Fun fact: Their name comes from F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel "The Great Gatsby," in which the titular character Jay Gatsby fakes his own death in order to start a new life. The concept of reinvention and starting anew continues to inspire the band's music, Ashkinos said. My thought bubble: I'm a fan of the post-punk sound and the band's Interpol-like vibes. Plus, I experienced a bittersweet moment during their set when I was hit with a wave of nostalgia after noticing the giant " Lucky 13" sign (RIP) hanging on the back wall. What's next: Fake Your Own Death's newest single, " Leave Your Luggage By The Pool," is out now. You can see them play next at Winters Tavern in Pacifica on March 28.
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival rolls into first full week
Celebrating its 32nd year, the annual Noise Pop Festival continues Tuesday with a busy schedule of local and national acts including Death Cab for Cutie songwriter Ben Gibbard, hip-hop maverick Earl Sweatshirt and more. A San Francisco institution ever since it began as one night of loud, tuneful local bands back in 1993, the festival has expanded this year to ten days of music, film and art featuring some of the most respected names in independent music. While the focus remains on the cutting edge of indie rock, the eclectic festival also features modern R&B, global grooves and even avant-garde electronic music. Noise Pop will also be returning to unusual venues with multiple events at Grace Cathedral and Mission District art space Gray Area. After going dark on Monday following a busy opening weekend to the festival that included sold-out shows featuring St. Vincent, the Reverend Horton Heat and Chat Pile, Noise Pop ramps up the activity on a number of fronts Tuesday. Feb. 25 marks the beginning of four days of collaboration with radio station KEXP's live session series broadcasting from 25th Street Recordings in Oakland. This week's Live on KEXP feature artists headlining shows during the rest of the festival (Cymande, Wyattja) in addition to some hand-selected local acts including electronic favorites Toro Y Moi, rising Oakland rockers Fake Fruit and experimental punk band Marbled Eye. Tuesday will also commence the annual series of free happy hour shows at popular Mission District dive Bender's that will offer a range of performers like Fake Your Own Death (led by ex-Elephone guitarist Terry Ashkinos) and local songwriter Jacob Aranda. Other highlights on Tuesday include the first of two nights with acclaimed Odd Future member and rapper/producer Earl Sweatshirt, who will be performing two completely different sets at the Great American Music Hall with support from Navy Blue and El Cousteau and a special set from Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service principal Ben Gibbard at Grace Cathedral that includes an opening performance by Sea Lemon, the dreampop solo project of Seattle-based musician Natalie Lew. Wednesday finds August Hall hosting a sold-out show by influential and heavily sampled British funk outfit Cymande. Formed in the early '70s by Afro-Caribbean musicians who had ended up in London, the band was discovered at an underground club in Soho by British producer John Schroeder. The band had some success with its eponymous debut and the bass-driven minor hit single "The Message," touring the U.S. with soul vocalist Al Green, jazz keyboardist Ramsey Lewis and like-minded global funk band Mandrill, but a lack of impact in their native country led the group to dissolve after three albums with a fourth that didn't see release until 1981. However a resurgence of interest spurred by the creative sampling of their songs by De La Soul, EPMD, The KLF, MC Solaar, Heavy D and the Fugees eventually spurred a one-off reunion in 2006. That was followed by a full-blown revival a decade later that included a new album and Cymande's first U.S. tour since 1973. The band has since been the subject of an acclaimed documentary and released another new effort entitled Renascence last year. Brooklyn electro-soul duo Bathe opens the show. Wednesday will also mark the first San Francisco appearances by reunited Austin-based band the American Analog Set in 20 years. Crafting a mix of lush, delicate dream-pop and minimalist post-rock instrumentals, the group earned a loyal fan base starting in the mid-1990s. While the band went on an extended hiatus in 2005, they released For Forever, their first album in 18 years, late in 2023 and played their first live shows since 2011 in Austin last year. The group's back catalog is also receiving a deluxe reissue treatment by Numero Group, who put out a box set of their first three albums in 2024 and will release a second box later this year. These two shows at Grey Area will feature AAS playing a 90-minute set drawn from the band's first six albums. More details about Noise Pop's full schedule of events, tickets and festival badges can be found at
CBS News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
32nd annual Noise Pop Festival takes over San Francisco
Celebrating its 32nd year, the annual Noise Pop Festival kicks off Thursday with a packed schedule of local and national indie-rock acts that runs through March 2. A San Francisco institution ever since it began as one night of loud, tuneful local bands back in 1993, the festival has expanded this year to ten days of music, film and art featuring some of the most respected names in independent music. While the focus remains on the cutting edge of indie rock, the eclectic festival also features modern R&B, global grooves and even avant-garde electronic music. Noise Pop will also be returning to unusual venues with multiple events at Grace Cathedral and Mission District art space Gray Area. While the festival officially commences on Feb. 20 with the annual NightLife kickoff party at the Academy of Sciences featuring a DJ set from modern-funk maestro DāM-FunK with local DJ/producers 3kelves and Yuka Yu, Noise Pop is also co-presenting a tribute to visionary director David Lynch featuring the Red Room Orchestra at the Great American Music Hall Wednesday night in partnership with the SF Sketchfest. Thursday events also include a concert by sludgy alt-metal duo Pagoto led by L.A. Witch guitarist Ellie English who play the Kilowatt with San Francisco headbangers Theya, local heavy trio Highwinds featuring Kyle Gibson (The Fresh & Onlys) and LA-based "dungeon metal" band Forest Lawn. On Friday, the festival ramps up with San Francisco indie synth-pop artist Geographer led by musician Mike Deni performing his breakout album Animal Shapes at August Hall, German electronic producer Parra for Cuva taking over Grey Area in the Mission for a sold-out immersive multi-media show, veteran psychobilly guitarist the Reverend Horton Heat who headlines the Great American Music Hall with support from gritty blues rocker Black Joe Lewis and fiery Tex-Mex ska/punk band Piñata Protest (a triple-threat tour that also stops in Santa Cruz, Healdsburg and Sacramento), and the first of two nights at the Kilowatt with power-pop icon Paul Collins, who will perform favorites by the Nerves (the LA trio he played drums for with future Plimsouls songwriter and current Bay Area Peter Case) and the Beat. On Saturday, the action continues with SF legends the Flamin' Groovies playing at the 4 Star Theater with Sacramento garage-rock greats Th' Losin Streaks and NYC post-hardcore band Les Savy Fav delivering songs from their first album in over a decade at the Great American Music Hall, while Sunday features a highly anticipated sold-out performance by indie-rock chameleon St. Vincent at Grace Cathedral and a sold-out show by acclaimed noise-rock group Chatpile, also at the Great American. Other upcoming performers of note the second week of programing include hip-hop maverick Early Sweatshirt, a sold-out show by Irish folk-rock group Lankum, Death Cab for Cutie/The Postal Service principal Ben Gibbard, influential and heavily sampled British funk outfit Cymande and the first San Francisco appearances by reunited Austin-based dream-pop band the American Analog Set in 20 years . More details about Noise Pop's full schedule of events, tickets and festival badges can be found at
Axios
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Who to expect at Noise Pop this year
The lineup for this year's Noise Pop Festival – San Francisco's favorite indie music celebration – is finally out. Why it matters: The 10-day event has been a fixture in the city's nightlife scene for more than 30 years and has provided a platform for many emerging indie artists who have gone on to receive wider fame, including Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips and The Shins. What to expect: More than 100 artists will perform at 25 or so different venues across the city from Feb. 20 through March 2, including at The Independent, The Four Star Theater and Public Works. Driving the news: This year's lineup features three main headliners, with performances from eclectic rocker St. Vincent, Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service, and rapper Earl Sweatshirt. Other performers include DIIV, Fantastic Negrito, Piñata Protest and Flamin' Groovies. Check out the full lineup here. Flashback: Last year 's performers included the Cherry Glazer, Kate Bollinger and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The bottom line: Noise Pop's namesake festival remains one of the best ways for San Franciscans to discover up-and-coming talent and see indie staples alike. If you go: Ticket prices vary per show and can be purchased here. Pro tip: Consider buying a badge, which provides access to special perks like exclusive parties and happy hours, plus all shows – even if they are already sold-out. Prices start at $289 and can be found here.
Axios
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
SF Music Week to boost industry will debut next month
San Francisco is launching its first SF Music Week in an effort to boost the economy and help grow the local music and arts scene. Why it matters: Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the newest initiative to support the local music industry Wednesday as another economic driver to spur the city's comeback following a slow post-pandemic recovery that has led to reduced foot traffic and big retailer closures in downtown. Between the lines: The initiative builds on former Mayor London Breed's creation of entertainment zones — an effort to revitalize struggling areas — which allow businesses to sell alcoholic drinks outdoors during special events. The latest: The city has partnered with SF Live and indie promoter Noise Pop to host SF Music Week, running Feb. 24 to March 2. The programming includes studio and venue tours, film screenings, musician master classes, panels, workshops and live performances that will run concurrently with the 2025 Noise Pop Festival. It's also providing a platform to connect musicians, artists and other industry leaders with resources to advance their careers. What they're saying: The goal is to reinforce San Francisco's reputation as a city that "champions the arts" and strengthen its "position as a global hub of arts and culture, allowing us to foster innovation, attract talent, and support local businesses," Lurie said in a statement. "We're not just celebrating our vibrant music scene, but also actively shaping a more sustainable ecosystem for artists, venues and music lovers alike," added Stacy Horne, an event producer at Noise Pop. Catch up quick: SF Music Week was inspired by the success of 2024's SF Live, a six-month free concert series funded with $2.5 million in state dollars to aid the local nightlife and entertainment sector. What's next: This year's event will kick off with an industry summit on Feb. 28 featuring a conversation with keynote speaker Ghazi Shami, CEO and founder of independent record label Empire. Other panel discussions will focus on the intersection of music and technology and will detail the history behind the city's music scene. The free summit runs from 9am-6pm at the Swedish American Hall. Register here.
