NOISE POP IS HERE WHAT ARE YOU DOING READING THIS GET OUT THERE AND BE SOMEBODY. (Note: Actually, please read this as you're going to need something to help you get through the sprawling Noise Pop schedule.)
Wednesday: Surfer Blood at Rickshaw Stop
Critically adored Florida rockers Surfer Blood have a new album due out in early May, but we might as well fall over ourselves now about it. The band will likely tease Noise Pop audiences with at least one track from the upcoming release, and we hope more. They may as well play this gem of a new single — from the yet-to-be-released-but-already-titled 1000 Palms—that dropped last week, “Grand Inquisitor”:
Wednesday: Jessica Pratt at The Chapel
San Francisco artist Jessica Pratt’s new album On Your Own Love Again is taking over. Everyone from NPR to Dusted to Consequence of Sound is hailing the album as one of the young year’s most promising. Her whispering ballads strike a personal, provocative chord; NPR explained it better: “You pay attention to just the words, and then the breaths that follow, the echoes, the wistful vapor trails receding into the distance. There are epic stories swirling around inside of that stuff, and they might not necessarily be the same stories she's telling in words.” That’s no hyperbole; this is nothing short of profound.
Thursday: Eleanor Friedberger at Brick and Mortar
Fiery Furnaces frontwoman Eleanor Friedberger has adapted to life as a solo artist without incident. She appears to be maintaining the same rapid-fire production pace. As a duo, she and her brother Matthew put out nine albums (!) in a little over a decade, an incredible output considering the complexity of the content. Friedberger’s solo material highlights her authoritative, assertive vocal stylings, but we secretly hope the Fiery Furnaces era isn’t over.
Friday and Saturday: Cathedrals at The Independent
San Francisco dream pop outfit Cathedrals are still hovering below the radar, but it's a matter of when, not if, they'll become a nationally known quantity. You have to figure their super accessible sound will scale, and their two-night stand at the Independent already feels like a significant step forward. And what’s greater is Cathedrals seems intent on being a part of the fabric of the local scene. Lead singer Brodie Jenkins recently told Paste Magazine’s SF correspondent Adrian Spinelli “we couldn’t be prouder of SF and the scene, and that’s why we won’t leave. There are a lot of artists that left, but we want to stay.” Please stay! We’ll be nice!
Sunday/Monday: Caribou at the Fillmore
Dan Snaith’s Caribou may have finally matched the initial genius of his first project Up in Flames (under the since-vacated name Manitoba) with Your Love Will Set You Free. There wasn’t a better electronic album in 2014 (or for as long as we can remember for that matter). As their reward (and our reward), they get two dates at the historic, vaunted, hallowed grounds of the Fillmore. And please be sure to watch this eerily compelling music video for "Our Love."
For more words like these, follow @ChrisTrenchard.
