There’s Talk – Showbams

Noise Pop 2019: Here are the shows you can’t miss

Written by Molly Kish //

Noise Pop //
Bay Area venues – San Francisco & Oakland
February 25th-March 3rd, 2019 //

Noise Pop returns this year for its 27th installment with a lineup that features more than 130 acts spanning 18 Bay Area venues. In addition to the debut of the “Ear Up Global Showcase” this Saturday, March 2nd, NP2019 boasts a brand-new venue located in SF’s Mission District that’s known as the Brava Theater Center.

Attendees can still look forward to plenty of happy hours at Bender’s Bar & Grill as well as special showcases curated by DoTheBay, San Franpsycho, BFF.fm, Sea Witch Productions and Text Me Records. Plus, you can also view the “Noise Pop Festival Photo Retrospective” this Tuesday, February 26th at The Royale to relive some of the best moments in Noise Pop history through the lenses of the Bay Area’s top photographic talent.

Brava Theater Center

The festival’s art this year highlights the Bay Area’s very own Kristin Farr, whose work can be seen on public murals, office building interiors and festival stages in SF and beyond and was even included in the Emmy Award-winning KQED Art School series.

Noise Pop badges and individual tickets to shows are still available and can be purchased here. To help you sort it all out, we have broken down the 2019 lineup and offered our top performances that you won’t want to miss below.

TUESDAY 2/26

Men I Trust @ Great American Music Hall

WEDNESDAY 2/27

Noise Pop Happy Hour with Coke

Baths @ Great American Music Hall

The Marías @ The New Parish

THURSDAY 2/28

Vetiver and Fruit Bats @ The Chapel

DJ Boring & Jacques Greene @ 1015 Folsom

FRIDAY 3/1

Saul Williams @ Brava Theater Center

Tourist @ Gray Area

Vagabond @ Swedish American Hall

SATURDAY 3/2

Beirut @ Fox Theater Oakland

Bob Mould @ The Fillmore

Princess Nokia @ UC Theater

VHS Collection @ The Independent

SUNDAY 3/3

Partner & Dude York @ Cafe du Nord

Daughters @ The Independent

Check out the monthly Noise Pop Podcast series to discover more new music and create your own customized Noise Pop schedule here.

WATERS show versatility at Brick & Mortar Music Hall February residency

By Katy Meacham //

WATERS with Two Sheds, There’s Talk //
Brick & Mortar Music Hall — San Francisco
February 10, 2014 //

On monday evening, a smaller sized group gathered together for the second installment of SF based band WATERS’ current weekly February residency at Brick and Mortar Music Hall. Intimate seemed the theme of the rainy winter’s eve. Opening was electro-folk trio There’s Talk, who set the mood and welcomed guests with their atmospheric sound and airy vocals. Next up was once local (Sacramento), now LA based Two Sheds. The band energetically moved between melodic and folksy songs and more upbeat harder edged guitar riffs. Lead singer Caitlin Gutenberger crooned over her crowd as we all felt a bit more at ease.

The headliner and current resident of Brick Mortar, WATERS, took the stage. While the band is much more up-tempo and harder edged than the previous two, it all felt very much in the family. Lead singer and founder, Van Pierszalowski, started the set off with all new stuff. Not only is Van a very lively performer but the band’s great harmonies, grungy guitar and drum heavy beats got the crowd moving. The SF band seems to always be teetering between pop and grunge, hard rock and introspection, which was exemplified by ending the show with both a “fast one and a slow one”.

They ended with the slow one, and Van came down to the floor and had the group crowd around him. As instructed the crowd was to shout out the lyrics to the chorus as he played and sang the verse. It was hard not to smile as we all sang together, for just one moment all getting to perform.

Two more shows are left this month for Waters’ residency, February 17 & February 24 — be sure not to miss out!