Ugly Winner
facebook.com/uglywinner
Ugly Winner formed as a three piece in 2008, playing shows around the Bay Area, touring the U.S. West Coast and working on songs for their first full-length entitled “Minutes, Years & Never”. The album was released in 2010, along with a split 7″ with San Francisco based band, Slow Trucks. Suffice to say, the band is rooted in San Jose DIY, local indie music, and art. They are synonymous, almost, with their bassist’s place called the “Ginger Bread House”, a destination for many touring bands choosing to grace the heart of Silicon Valley


The Hooks
thehooksmusic.com
Formed in Sligo, Ireland in 2003. We played two nationwide tours with Shane MacGowan, did a few 2FM Fanning sessions.
With 2004 came the trip across the Atlantic to edge of the Pacific and San Francisco.


Hurry Up Shotgun
hurryupshotgun.com
9:30
Oakland’s Hurry Up Shotgun have been playing their muscular noisepop/rock for audiences across the bay area and beyond for 5 years now, growing more powerful with every show. In April of 2011 they went into the studio with Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Helmet, Jello Biafra, Tool) and recorded their 2nd album.

Tremor Low
facebook.com/tremorlow
Tremor Low is a four-piece band hailing from Oakland, California that creates insistent, brooding post-punk/new-wave music. Tremor Low brings their live experience to crowds throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, delivering a dense swell of synthesizers, iconic vocals and airtight rhythm. In 2012 the band will tour in support of “Kingmaker” hitting the road and inspiring new generations of misanthropes everywhere.


Permanent Collection
permanentcollection.bandcamp.com
Originally beginning as the post-Young Prisms solo project of Jason Hendardy in 2011, San Francisco’s Permanent Collection became a more rounded-out affair when locals Megan Dabkowski (bass), Brenden Nerfa (guitar) and Mike Stillman (drums) were added to the mix. One part pop, one part shoegaze, with a punk spirit and energy, Permanent Collection exists in a world where it can scribble love notes to Creation Records on one hand, while nodding to neighbors Slumberland Records over the bay bridge on the other.

The Stairwell Sisters
stairwellsisters.com
Which is exactly the kind of women that make up The Stairwell Sisters. Evie, Stephanie Prausnitz. Lisa Berman, Martha Hawthorne, and Sue Sandlin are career women, organizers, activists and mamas; making ends meet working and living in San Francisco. They also happen to crank out acoustic, old-time music with a punk-rock intensity. Somehow, between raising children, working and releasing records, they’ve taken their band to some rather well-regarded places – appearing on “A Prairie Home Companion,” festival stages from Lincoln Center (NYC) and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (SF) to Celtic Connections (UK), and many points in between.


My Second Surprise
mysecondsurprise.com
After recording debut album ‘Avoidance As A Way Of Life’, Ayal moved to Brighton UK and released it (2005) under his own ‘StagFrenzy Recordings’ imprint. The album was signed to EMI Music Publishing and debut music video ‘perfect cure’ won the Israeli Grammy and played on MTV Europe. It was time to move on, this time to the States, where he spent part of his childhood. After playing SXSW 2007 he settled in San Francisco and started recording his second album, on which he’s doing pretty much everything (except for strings & horns). This sophomore effort, titled ‘Time To Move On’, was mixed in Tucson AZ by Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Iron & Wine) and self-released in 2009.


The Seshen
theseshen.com
The Seshen is a 7-piece Bay Area-based band whose songs mix live and electronic elements. Their music utilizes electronic textures to suggest complex emotions and vivid imagery but also to blur the distinction between the abstract and the familiar. The Seshen takes influences from electronic music, hip-hop, pop, R&B, dub, and indie rock to create beat-driven compositions with a strong emotional core. The band consists of bassist/producer Aki Ehara, drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboardist Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman and synchronizer/sampler Kumar Butler, who provide the sonic backdrop for vocalists Lalin St. Juste and Akasha Orr.

The Wild Kindness
thewildkindness.com
Mike Alexis (guitar, vocals), Doug Saenz (drums, keyboards), James Levis (guitar) and Ross Murray (bass) received their indie rock bonafides through years in the bands AM Magic, the Decoration, Upstairs Downstairs and Actionslacks. What brought these four together for another go-around is simple: old friendships, mutual respect and a shared musical history. No Craigslist; no hired guns. The timing was right and the Wild Kindness was inevitable.

Formed in June 2011, the band immediately got to work, writing songs and getting a few shows under their belt before hunkering down to record their debut EP, Coming Down to the Ghost. Recorded by James Levis at a warehouse in San Francisco’s SOMA district, the band spent random nights in early fall using borrowed mics and rack-mounted gear courtesy of Kyle McGraw from Faultline Studios. The result is a sharp-focused batch of songs with roots in psych, garage and indie pop.


Persephone’s Bees
persephonesbees.com
Russian born singer/composer/keyboardist Angelina Moysov and Californian guitarist Tom Ayres don’t have a style or genre, unless Progressive-Retro-Psychedelic-Glam-Fusion-Circus-Pop makes sense — and it kinda does. Blessed with the support of the busy Brooklyn rhythm section of Robin Macmillan (drums) and Jacob Silver (bass), PBees live shows are mythical, magical, one of a kind moments of sheer fun! “Notes From The Underworld”, their first release on Columbia in 2006, was produced by Eric Valentine (Queens Of The Stoneage, Nickel Creek). The second self-produced collection, “New In Berlin”, is just coming out, the title track describing Angelina’s lyrical predictions of a sic-fi world where “No revolution is possible in this…” and her insane Yoko Ono styled vocal screams. Still walking their own path between reverence and disloyalty for all their loved influences, the LP “New In Berlin” continues with the same tight arrangements, sweet vocals, and insane guitar that their fansdescribe as “mesmerizing”!

Dirty Ghosts
dirtyghosts.com
Allyson Baker doesn’t scare easily. Back in the ’90s, she was sneaking into 
Dwarves shows and frequenting mosh pits before she was barely out of 
junior high; by age of 17, she was playing guitar for some of 
Toronto’s most notorious punk and hardcore bands (Teen Crud Combo 
R.I.P.), before leaving her friends and family behind in 2000 to shake 
some action in San Francisco. And yet, for all her apparent 
fearlessness, Allyson is very much haunted by forces beyond her control. Dirty Ghosts may be her 
new band, but it’s the five-years-in-the-making product of a 
habit she just can’t quit, a sound and vision that—despite numerous obstacles along the way—just had to be unleashed. True to their name, Dirty Ghosts rose from the ashes of San Francisco sludge-blues combo Parchman Farm in 2006; as an antidote to that band’s wall of squall, Baker and fellow Parchman Farm exile Carson Binks (another Toronto expat) launched Dirty Ghosts as a stripped-down duo, writing rhythmically driven new songs 
built around intricate drum loops pieced together by Aesop Rock. And as if this relaxed, more experimental ethic wasn’t a radical 
enough shift for these life-long punk-rockers, for the first time in 
her musical career, Allyson was forced to add “vocalist” to her résumé.


The Memorials
thememorialsmusic.com
The Memorials were spearheaded by Bay Area drumming prodigy, Thomas Pridgen, in December of 2009. After a few years performing with The Mars Volta, Thomas turned his attention to forming his own group, incorporating a range of styles as diverse as the experiences of the bands members. Instead of becoming another rock bands’ heartbeat, the focus was to collaborate with proficient musicians whom Thomas felt would fill a void he has heard in rock music throughout his life. Thomas reached out to friends and former students of the esteemed Berklee College of Music, Viveca Hawkins (vocals), and Nick Brewer (guitars), to join him in his newest endeavor. Recording with his friend’s yielded a family vibe that enabled a comfortable yet intense recording process. The groups’ assets were rounded out with the addition of a bass, organ, synthesizers, and multiple percussive elements.

Extra Life!
extralifeband.com
northern-spy.com
Pre-recorded
Brooklyn-based Extra Life have challenged various underground circles with their dark, unclassifiable fusion of Experimental, Pop, Industrial, Prog, Classical and even Medieval aesthetics. The band’s dramatic sound, labeled by some as “Plague Pop”, has been called everything from “genius” to “pretentious” to “religious”. Extra Life was formed in 2007 by singer/keyboardist Charlie Looker after his departure from influential noise-chamber cult Zs and his brief stints with Dirty Projectors and Dax Riggs. After some lineup changes, the band gelled as a trio with guitarist/violinist producer Caley Monahon-Ward (of Snowblink) and drummer Nick Podgurski (of Feast of the Epiphany)


Blank Tapes
theblanktapes.com
8p
The Blank Tapes is the monicker of Los Angeles / San Francisco based multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Matt Adams, who has produced 9 albums of “winsome pop tunes” (OC Weekly) and “Kinks-plus-Creedence roots-rock ‘n’ roll” (LA Record) recorded almost entirely by himself on an 8 track cassette tape recorder in garages, basements & sheds across the California coast. Lately his band has consisted of Pearl Charles, DA Humphrey, & Will Halsey and the four piece recently toured Europe for their second time sharing stages with the likes of Thee Oh Sees and R. Stevie Moore. Immediately before that, they toured Japan for their first time along with the director of the surf movie Stoked & Broke by Korduroy.tv (which includes over a dozen Blank Tapes songs in the soundtrack and has gained international acclaim within the surf community). Earlier this year, they also toured Brazil for their second time (after having 2 of their songs featured in TV commercials), not to mention all of the massive amounts touring they’ve done here in America.


Glimspe Trio
glimpsetrio.com
8:40p
Blending their signature brand of frenzied, improv-driven musicality with a sound rooted in rock, Glimpse Trio’s music is accessible and challenging all at once.
Singer and guitarist Mike Sopko and Hamir Atwal are the driving forces behind Glimpse Trio’s music. Drawing from classical training-with a heavy focus on improvisation- Sopko and Atwal craft songs that nod to their diverse influences and speak to their suburban musical roots.


The Ian Fays
TheIanFays.net
9:20p
The Ian Fays are a folk-electro-casio pop quartet from San Francisco, CA. They wear matching outfits every show and are known to give out amazing party favors to audiences. The group is fronted by twin sister singer-song writers and has a revolving back-up band. This back-up band always includes their older sister who dances and plays xylophone, triangle, tambourine, bells and an egg shaker.

Dogcatcher
dogcatcherband.com
There’s something magical that happens when four musicians come together from four completely different backgrounds. For Mountain View’s Dogcatcher, the result is a mellow, subtly-intense blend of soul, jazz, folk and indie-rock. Their first album, KILR, was a quiet folk-oriented solo album Heine wrote while living in San Diego and digesting the Iraq War he’d recently returned from. After KILR, Heine returned to his hometown, Mountain View, and formed a proper group, plucking musicians out of totally different bands to create an eclectic, genre-defying sound. On Dogcatcher’s second album, It’s Easy, the four members demonstrate that they have truly come into their own. Heine’s soft, hushed voice and simple-stated lyrics compliment the easy, hip-shaking nature of the music. But for listeners looking for lyrics with depth, Heine will not disappoint. Rather than aim for overt expressions of emotion, Heine always goes for the understated, which makes the emotionality behind the music that much more powerful with repeat listens.


Wave Array
wavearraymusic.com
Wave Array is a four-piece rock band hailing from the East Bay/San Francisco, CA that is stretching the limits of alternative/indie rock into the psychedelic and experimental realms. Using vibrant guitar and bass work, driving rhythms, and palpable melodies, the quartet aims to resonate frequencies of human emotion and thought buried beneath the preoccupation of everyday life. Wave Array’s eclectic compositions of melodic vamps and hard hitting jams have already sparked the interest of the Bay Area music community as well as local and nation-wide radio. Their self-produced debut album, Cheapjack Moon, is available on iTunes and Amazon.

MoonFox
Facebook.com/moonfoxband
MoonFox is a bone clattering, boot stomping, San Francisco based rock and roll band. Formed in the embers of 2011 by songwriter and lyricist Danika Ingraham, the group is a vehicle for bringing her nightmares and fantasies to life through the ritual magick of song. Taking inspiration from the poetic anarchy of Patti Smith, the world weary cynicism of Tom Waits, and the hellish fury of Nick Cave, MoonFox seeks to forge a sound instantly recognizable and approachable, with a heavy dose of introspective and emotional lyrics that eat away at the psyche of the listener long after the music ends.
Fronted by the firecracker Ingraham, whose vocals lilt and moan like the echoes of a haunted whorehouse, the band is rounded out by the face melting leads of SF music veteran Stuart Ackridge (Flower Road, King Kong, Krayola Picasso, Too Hot To Bark), the shredding bass of Tommy Anderson (Electric Shepherd, The Love Dimension), and the relentless drum beats of Tyler Weeks.


New Diplomat
newdiplomat.net
Alt/Electro/Rock band New Diplomat manages a sound that is both fresh and familiar. Hailing from all over the world (Belgium, Italy, U.S, Argentina and Uruguay) and uniting in San Francisco, CA they consolidated an EP that is as accessible as it is crafted. Evocative of the accessibility of The Killers, The Strokes or Muse; New Diplomat is Impulsive, Melodic but Highly Charged.Their debut “Buy Yourself Some Freedom” has already landed them sold out shows, festival appearances such as Noise Pop 2012, SXSW 2012 and BFD 2012 as well as a single produced by Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Kasabian), soon to be released.


Shana Falana
shanafalana.com
Shana Falana is an experimental pysch-pop band emerging from Brooklyn’s vast shoegaze scene. Combining live-looping of reverb-drenched vocals and guitar with drums, pre-recorded “backing tracks”, and stunning visual projections, Shana’s live experience has often been described as transcendental. Praised as “the most entrancing modern psychedelic pop now being made” by Chronogram magazine (NY), Shana is now touring the US and Europe in support of her debut EP, “In The Light”.

Corner Laughers
cornerlaughers.com
Fresh from the fields of Mystery Lawn Music, San Francisco Bay Area indiepoppers The Corner Laughers invite listeners to gather in their summer-solstice 2012 release ‘Poppy Seeds’. The record is a shimmering love letter to the Golden State, offering the clever wordplay, magical melodies and heartbreaking harmonies fans and critics have come to expect from the group while breaking new ground in focus, depth and texture. The band is led by singer/ukulele player Karla Kane, with bassist Khoi Huynh, drummer Charlie Crabtree, and guitarists KC Bowman and co-founder Angela Silletto, who made the poignant decision to leave the band midway through the recording of the album to pursue a new path, away from her native California. Their sound defies pigeonholes but has been compared to that of Kirsty MacColl, XTC and, despite some sunshine-pop tendencies, the “rainy melancholia” of Camera Obscura (Magnet Magazine). Produced by Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels), Poppy Seeds also features collaborations with powerpop legend Mike Viola (Candy Butchers) and psych-pop expat Anton Barbeau.


Via Coma
viacoma.us
Formed in 2009, Via Coma consists of Rob Marshall (vocalist/bassist/lyricist), Jesse Kyle (vocalist/pianist), and Nicolas Gracia (vocalist/guitarist). The band release their first demo, Bridges, in 2009, which saw two pressing and is currently sold out physically but still available through iTunes.

In the summer of 2010, Via Coma began writing their first full-length album. The sound of the yet to be release record is a departure as well as an expansion from the sound of Bridges. Over the course of writing and recording, Via Coma developed a knack for song craftsmanship, melody and sonic nuance; qualities one rarely hears in the same package.

Hooray for Everything
facebook.com
Hooray for Everything is a loud, melodic, and energetic female-fronted punk band from the East Bay. Core members Faith Gardner (guitar and vox) and Jamie Sanitate (drums) have played in many different bands, together and separate, and HFE is their latest incarnation together. HFE has been around for about five years and their current bassist is longtime friend Matt Peterson from Tucson, Arizona. Their music is influenced by and/or has been compared to The Wipers, Husker Du, Team Dresch, The Big Boys, and even Black Sabbath amongst many others. HFE’s releases include a 2009 self-titled full length CD and a 2011 split 7″ with Angries from Corvallis, Oregon, and plan to record a second full-length in the near future. Other HFE achievements include time and interplanetary travel, the resurrection and destruction of the Cyclops race, baking excellent pies, and writing unprofessional bios about their band.


Caldecott
Facebook.com
Caldecott is an organically grown band of working men based in Oakland, creating music based on experiences in the Bay Area and beyond. Each aspect of Caldecott contributes a unique and essential taste in music, which is shaped into something all communities can appreciate. The group takes any opportunity to build beautiful melodies and foot-stomping rhythms for everyone that understands passionate music and good times.


Cool Ghouls
facebook.com/coolghouls
Cool Ghouls began as a prenatal brain child between high school classmates, Pat McDonald and Pat Thomas back in 2007. Originally called The Patricks, the band was hatched between the two Pats while McDonald was a freshman at SF State and Thomas was a freshman at UC Santa Barbara. They emailed each other demos and extolled the merits and virtues of rock n roll until Thomas finished school in 2010 and moved home to Benicia, a half hour Northeast of SF.
They started jamming at Pat’s practice space on 6th and Market and enlisted fellow Benicia native, Ryan Wong to supply the tunes with ripping guitar solos. The Pats remembered Ryan from high school as that younger guy who could shred way harder than both of them combined. Pat got SF State classmate and good-timing New Jerseyite, Cody Voorhees to play drums. Thomas, McDonald, and Wong all came up with some catchy tunes. They practiced harmonies. They developed musical telepathy. They drank beer and malt liquor. They started realizing they sounded pretty good. Pat watched a Parliament Funkadelic concert film and heard George Clinton say, “How you cool ghouls doing tonight?” They called the band Cool Ghouls.


Future Twins
futuretwin.com
Future Twin was originally brought together by the first all girl moped gang in San Francisco, The Lockits. They became fast friends and were soon waxing synth songs, huffing gasoline and making shred tents. Now consisting of Jean Jeanie (gtr/vox/field recordings), Antonio Roman-Alcala (drums), Jo Bleak (rhythm & bass), and Dan DK (synths & bass), their music juxtaposes a tangible beauty with an honest grit that can only come from a band birthed and breathing in San Francisco’s Mission District. The band has announced the dual release date of July 31st for the new Resist 7″ as well as Future Twin Deluxe Edition, a limited edition cd release combining the new 7″ along with the 5-song EP/cassette Situation. The single “Situation” is available for free download, and the video for “Landslide” was premiered by Impose recently. The band will be playing San Francisco this summer, and will also be hitting Brooklyn, NY for a pair of shows as well.

Spidermeow
reverbnation.com/spidermeow
myspace.com/spidermeow
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Spidermeow is a psychedelic alt-country trio from Oakland that melds art-rock and americana. Combining dedication to songcraft with an extrapolative improvisational outlook, the music is informed by the disparate yet organically consonant background of the the three main participants. Singer songwriter and guitarist Anthony Pulsipher was raised in east Tennesee , more interested in SST bands and LSD than country music. His lead guitar is informed by years of Transcendental meditation and red meat. Ron Guensche is the prodigal Pleasanton boy. The hi-fi whiz of the band, he can build a bass guitar from scratch using nothing more than a coffee table and a drawer of twist ties. Ivel Raival’s native Indonesia is a nation of islands and the laid back lava of the drums reflects the sublime heat he brings to the party. Spidermeow is more band than beast, a philosophy of action Formed in 2009 they are finishing their 2nd album. Expected for release early fall 2012.


Vandella
vandellasound.com
In the best kind of way, Vandella can be a tough band to pin down. A 4-piece, female-fronted band from San Francisco, their music takes listeners from the gulches of swampy, guitar-driven rock and the dusty twang of Americana to the amber honey of country-tinged folk. The result is an eclectic library that’s fresh yet somehow familiar. In their three years together, the tight-knit group has come a long way: 2009 saw the release of the V EP, with the band working up the ranks of the local music scene to earn bills at San Francisco staples such as Great American Music Hall, Bottom of the Hill, and Café du Nord, to name a few. Two West Coast tours and spots on coveted bills and festivals with nationally-touring acts followed. Set to release their debut full-length album, Fire in the Desert, in May 2012 and embark on yet another tour, the foursome is hard at work and looks to be having a hell of a time doing it.

Callow
callowtheband.com
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Red Moses and Sami Knowles met at a San Francisco house party in the fall of 2006, but it wasn’t until three years later, when they got an RV and hit the road, that their musical life became priority. The two, which make up the indie duo Callow, have been living in the bay and touring the West ever since. The simplicity and challenge of life in a tiny space has no doubt influenced their sound– a hauntingly minimal, meaty, introspective and transcendental kind of art rock, conceptualized on their debut album Orb Weaver (released May 3, NxNW Records). Red’s raw contralto is reminiscent of Vice Chestnut, while Sami creates a dark, primordial landscape with the simultaneous use of keyboard and percussion.


Dear Indugu
dearindugu.com
Guest DJ
Dear Indugu is an acoustic/electric indie-rock band from Oakland, California noted for powerful instrumentation, potent lyrics, and rich vocal harmony. What began as the solo project of singer-songwriter Jesse Strickman, grew into a permanent four-piece, with an occasional live horn section. The name, Dear Indugu, is inspired by the film ‘About Schmidt’ and is a metaphor for the communication of one’s innermost feelings to complete strangers.

Tawnee Kendall
facebook.com/TawneeKendall
Tawnee Kendall, accompanied by her band, The Hangover Brigade, captivates audiences with her heart-felt, soulful songs, a rich, powerful voice and dynamic performances. Tawnee’s musical roots began with folk and bluegrass; the likes of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Alison Krauss. Over her 20 years of songwriting and performing, Tawnee has expanded into the genres of rock, jazz, and soul. Her upcoming EP features songs that range from heartbreaking to hilarious. Each one, an emotional and evocative tale. Tawnee has the ability to transport you, electrify you, excite you.


Finish Ticket
finishticket.com
Finish Ticket is young and promising indie pop band from the San Francisco Bay Area, consisting of twin brothers Brendan and Michael Hoye, and Alex DiDonato. They formed the band in 2008, and while still in high school, quickly became recognized by many bay area blogs/tastemakers as one of SF Bay Area’s best new local acts. Now barely out of high school, Finish Ticket has self-released two EPs, “Life Underwater” in 2009 and “Shake a Symphony” in 2010 and has opened for large touring acts, such as the Smashing Pumpkins, Train, The Black Keys, Phoenix, Broken Bells, Young the Giant, Switchfoot, Awolnation, 100 Monkeys, and many more. You can hear their songs “New York” and “Rivers” played on The Bay Area’s Live 105 (FM 105.3), the top radio station in the area for modern and alternative rock music. This past summer, after a successful nation-wide college radio campaign, they embarked on their first national tour with Bird By Bird (Jonathan Devoto, formerly of The Matches), which included two radio shows/festivals put on by Live 105, and a slot on Milwaukee’s annual Summerfest music festival, where they shared the stage with Young the Giant and Switchfoot. Currently they are writing and recording new songs for an upcoming full length that will be produced by Pierre de Reeder of Rilo Kiley (Vampire Weekend, Julian Casablancas, She & Him).


Cassandra Farrar + The Left Brains
cassandrafarrar-leftbrains.tumblr.com
San Francisco musician Cassandra Farrar, along with the support of her Band the Left Brains, brings to life, in a fusion of folk/pop/rock sounds, Cassandra’s lyrical diary. With fun, quirky, and upbeat tunes from her guitar and ukulele, Cassandra Farrar and her Left Brains bring a variety of relatable and honest music to the table. Her unique vocals and catchy hooks will get stuck inside your brain instantly. Cassandra Farrar+ the Left Brains are proud to release their debut CD as a band, “Hello My Name Is…” Though just starting out, they are always excited to meet new folks & share their music through live performances locally and eventually globally.

Ambience
enjoyambience.com
We’re a group of guys who love to make music. Sometimes we’re from San Francisco, and sometimes San Jose.. but its actually Cupertino

We came together in a garage in 2004. The awkward years taught us a lot and we emerged as a band called Ambience somewhere along the way. We like big epic jams and effects pedals, although sometimes its so much more satisfying to break it down with just naked, natural percussion.

Having complimentary strengths and weaknesses allows us to create the music we write. Knowing when a song is complete is also really important, whether it takes 3 minutes or 3 months. Songs are usually born in the studio for us, but they don’t mature until we perform them. You can really say that about any form of art though, its meant to be shared.


Dangermaker
dangermaker.com
Dangermaker emerged from San Francisco, CA when singer/songwriter Adam Burnett unveiled a series of unfinished home demos to drummer Carlos Rodrigues. They collaborated to create edgier sounding songs than either had previously, resulting in a widely reviewed 5-track EP including the Owl Mag naming Dangermaker “One of my top 5 favorite Indie bands in the Bay Area”. However, the band was still an incomplete duo until bassist Peter Ruecktenwald rode his bike across the country to San Francisco and keyboardist David DeAngelis left the Arkansas Delta to see what the West Coast had to offer. While all four members began as complete strangers, they were brought together by a shared passion and need to create music reflective of their diverse backgrounds, tastes, and influences, a need that came to fruition when they went into Studio SQ to record “Black Dream” with producers John Flores and Justin Sachs.


Avengers
www.facebook.com/TheAvengers1
“One of the first and finest bands to emerge from San Francisco’s punk scene & major inspiration in a scene that flourished long after they broke up. Singer Penelope Houston was one of the pioneering women of American punk.”
—Mark Deming Allmusic

White Cloud
facebook.com/whitecloudband
WHITE CLOUD has been playing in the Bay Area for 3 years, from major venues and art shows, to warehouses, even an old AC Transit Bus outside of Ashby BART. Formed in the Fruitvale area of Oakland, with the intent to merge the various members musical interests, which range from Neu!, Aphex Twin, Syd Barrett, Faust, Love, Sonic Youth to name just a couple. With the first official EP coming out in the next following months (recorded at the historic Different Fur Studios, and by the band), it follows a loose concept of a schizophrenic time traveler. WHITE CLOUD consists of James Murphy (drums, vocals) Shiv Mehra (guitar,bass, vocals) Patrick Vacchio (bass, guitar, keys) and Nicolas Capello (vocals, guitar, bass, keys)

Rin Tin Tiger
rintintiger.com
Rin Tin Tiger is an alternative folk rock trio from San Francisco, CA. High energy, lyric heavy, dynamic music lead by an acoustic guitar. Essentially, a group of condemned little brehs.”Upbeat Dylan-esque tunes…these guys bear watching” – SF Weekly

Disappearing People
disappearingpeople.bandcamp.com
Disappearing People are a new two-piece lo-fi group out of Oakland comprised of drummer Landon Monroe Bates and vocalist/guitarist Scott Travis Johnston. The duo have just put out their first cassette release Dissolve (2) which was self-recorded and then mastered by Greg Ashley (of Gris Gris). The six-song release is full of lengthy lo-fi psych tracks with whirling reverberated vocals over dark, grungy and hazy guitars and loops.

Devotionals
facebook.com/devotionals
Devotionals is a humble exploration of existence, the time bound-less ache upon awakening, a rumination on the composition of the everyday breath. Based around the compositions of Tyson Vogel, the band constantly evolves into a gathering of universes built by the presences of Jeff Blair, Lewis Patzner, Emily Ritz, Erin Wang, Andrew Maguire, Joanna Blanche Lioce, Alfred Ramos. Giving a nod of reverence to what has come in forms of Rachmaninov to John Fahey, to the unknown echos of the street musician, these songs a midwife to the gravity of a heart and the ache to understand.


Ghost and the City
ghostandthecity.com
In 2008, Oakland based collective, Ghost & the City, tested the waters with their debut self titled album, followed strongly by their second release Sazerac – the name for a whiskey drink that takes a different approach to an old-fashioned. Delightfully appropriate considering the style of music Ghost plays is a reassembly of the past. This summer the collective is releasing a series of singles and remixes produced by the Bay Area’s finest and made available for free download via ghostandthecity.com. And remember, respect the bowtie.


Worth Taking
worthtaking.com
Not one for idle hands, Worth Taking’s Jerod McBrayer has an unquenchable thirst for creating catchy songs for himself as well as others. When he’s not mastering tracks for well known musicians around the country, Jerod is touring the states with any of the numerous groups he contributes to (Treephort, E For Explosion, and The Home Alones… just to name a few) or on Festivals such as Cornerstone.

The Hollyhocks
thehollyhocks.com
Dan Jewett and his pal Kristin Sobditch layer on guitar dreaminess, while bassist Yuri Jewett and Kristin share their sonic stories. The Hollyhocks will take you on a journey through a forest of lush instrumentation. Along the way, you will stumble across some pretty female harmonies and they will invite you inside to stay warm. But don’t be fooled, their lyrics are darker than you think. Good thing drummer Jason Silverio leaves behind enough beats and breadcrumbs for you to find your way back home.

After a year in the studio, The Hollyhocks, working with producer Allen Clapp (Orange Peels), have completed their debut album Understories. The album features an eclectic mix of interwoven, layered guitar combined and lush female vocal harmony that have made the Hollyhocks favorites locally. Inspired by such artists as the New Pornographers and Throwing Muses, the band took the time to sonically grow together before setting out on last year’s recording adventure with Clapp. The results are obvious as the songs range in texture and intensity, but always capture that unique hint of Oakland flavor with a pinch of optimism and a dash of darkness.


Custom Kicks
facebook.com
The Custom Kicks are a punk band with a power fop feel. Their sound is directly influenced by bands such as The Rezillos, The Dickies, and The Zeros. Although fronted by Guitarist, Kate McClure, all members sing in both English and Japanese. Members include Adachi Herouki on Bass (member of local acts The Pleasure Kills/Basements XOXO) Miki Kodoma on Keys (XMember of Japanese Thrash/Metal band Little Princess) and Jordan Christensen on Drums (XMember of Riverboat Gamblers) They most recently released a 7″ on Silver Sprocket.


Minor Kingdoms
minorkingdom.com
Minor Kingdom was born in a Minneapolis bedroom in the fall of 2007. What started as a solo recording outlet for frontman and songwriter Kristian Melom quickly grew to a collaborative platform, housing over twenty rotating members. Assembled around a unique cast of professional musicians; the group fuses elements of post-rock, folk, and blues to create an eclectic genre they can call their own. The music has recently drawn comparisons to other artists: Wilco, Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon and Bonnie Prince Billy among others.

Over the past four years Minor Kingdom have released two albums, toured the Midwest and gained national exposure playing for local radio stations. The project has recently relocated to San Francisco, CA where Kristian is planning a solo West Coast tour to support the group’s latest release entitled “Don’t Worry Baby.”

TV Mike and the Scarecrows
bravescarecrow.com
Gathered in kitchens with kettles and cans of aluminum lager the songs performed by this ensemble echo the limestone hills that they hail from. songs that paint simple stories of hearts and pines but with the heat of another Saturday night We have played with: tUnE-YarDs, Fruit Bats, Horse Feathers, Rafter, Beachwood Sparks, The Donkeys, Karl Blau, The Avett Brothers, The Impossible Shapes, Catfish Haven, My Morning Jacket, Awesome Cool Dudes, Drakkar Sauna, Pink Moutaintops, Minus Story, Cross Canadian Rag Weed, Trailer Bride, and many more.


Brian Belknap
facebook.com/brianc.belknap
LIVE PERFORMANCE
Brian Belknap’s latest release, Cradle to Grave is a homemade record that benefits enormously from the fact that the home in question belongs to M Ward and She and Him producer sideman Mike Coykendall.

Coykendall was largely responsible for Belknap’s return to the music scene after a 10 year hiatus, helping him put out 2008′s Lucky Me. That album eventually came to the attention of Director Adam Rifkin (Detroit Rock City) who featured three of it’s songs in the new Showtime series Look! that debuted in the fall. Rifkin has called Belknap “one of the greatest singer/songwriters alive today.”

Cradle to Grave picks up where Lucky Me Left off, with Belknap in top form alternating between accordion, mandolin, slide and acoustic guitar and Coykendall bringing the same sensibility that has put him in demand by everyone from Conor Oberst and Jolie Holland to Blitzen Trapper.

Recorded live in just two days with minimal overdubs the record captures both the intensity and intimacy that makes Belknap so compelling on stage.


Cannons and Clouds
facebook.com
San Francisco’s Cannons and Clouds assert smartly designed, melody-forward indie rock. Their sound, both wistful and dynamic, is accentuated by slow-building acoustics, classical harp, and rich multi-part harmonies portraying unfeigned ballads and confessional narratives.

Slow Moving Lions of the Vegetable World
slowmovinglions.bandcamp.com
There are many ways to make Slow Moving Lions, and they will all keep you equally buzzed. Here are some common methods:
3 parts strings: 1 part saw
3 parts ohio born: 1 part oakland
3 parts xy: 1 part xx
3 parts berkeley: 1 part west oakland
3 parts carless: 1 part van owning
3 parts tobacco: 1 part non-smoking
3 parts folk: 1 part punk
3 parts love stories: 1 part drinking songs


YoungDigerati
facebook.com/YoungDigerati
Young Digerati are the architects of a synth-heavy, Anglo-centric, (small “r”) romantic sound that could have been built only in San Francisco (or in 1985). So it’s no shock they’ve already scored airplay on their hometown’s influential Live 105 – or that they’ve been booked on the station’s BFD Festival and on DJ Aaron Axelsen’s legendary “Britpop” night Popscene.

The prototypical Young D tune features lushly programmed keyboards and guitars, layered over live drums and bass. It inevitably stars a girl whom the band clearly will never get, and guys with whom they’ll never quite fit in. “Why do the girls I like move to the South to start a brand new life?” That’s the ego-crushing query that crops up in the very first line of the debut single, The Dauphin. The band’s expanding cycle of songs consistently and un-self-consciously calls to mind the Pet Shop Boys collaborating with the Postal Service on the soundtrack to a lost John Hughes film. They’re currently writing, recording, and performing gigs on the West Coast and around the Bay Area.


8th Grader
facebook.com/8thGraderMusic
Singer-Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, 8th Grader breathes new life into the slow jam with soulful harmonies and R & B inspired ear candy.

My Parade
myparadesf.com
My Parade is from Oakland California. Formed by singer song writer Grady Hord, who hails from the southern United States, and lead guitar player Don Valle, a Bay Area native, the music is deeply rooted in southern blues and west coast garage rock. The result is a celebration of classic tones, guitar heavy rock n roll, and lyric based song writing. The band is rounded out by Colie Sutter on bass guitar and Steve Herbowy on the drums. All are from different walks of life, brought together by the joy of playing music.


Bonnie & the BANG BANG
facebook.com/BonnieAndTheBANGBANG
Bonnie & the BANG BANG is a force you soon won’t be able to ignore. They are a breath of fresh air in a sea of musical derivatives. With simple song structures, cutting lyrics, rich bluegrass textures and grooving rhythms, their sound is cleverly pop, a fresh take on the folk aesthetic.

Their live show is formidable. The music sweeps in like the cold waters of a slow flood. The tension rises and soon you find yourself up to your neck in the rhythm. Tom Baugh is the glue. His piano and synth leads rip through the warm fabric of guitar, banjo and mandolin played deftly by Jake Dineen. Joe Warren is a rhythm section onto himself. With deep, sometimes effected acoustic guitar, a kick drum and a high hat, Warren’s double duty in Bonnie is an impressive feat. You won’t be able to keep from swaying from side to side and bouncing on the balls of your feet. The experience is exponentially better when you know the words and can sing along.

The lyrics are subtle and thoughtful. Patrick James Stiles can build on an image or an emotion, arresting the listener’s attention and leading them through the corridors of a haunting dream. His narratives are gripping, and although his darker themes are sometimes explicit, the melody is always catchy. You might find yourself humming some of his lyrics the next day.

Bonnie & the BANG BANG have the tools to take the indie music world by storm. They are taking the steps and climbing the ladder of the Bay Area music scene at a rapid pace.