The Wheel's Still In Spin

I Need That Record: The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store

I Need That Record, an independent documentary by Brendan Toller, was shown at San Francisco’s Artists’ Television Access as part of Noise Pop 2009.

The feature-length film examines the reason for the closing of over 3,000 independent record stores in the past decade. The movie looks at the effect of the rise of e-commerce, a dwindling in diversified support from corporate radio, the rise of the digital music revolution, and the missteps of the major record labels. As the overall record industry has compounding years with fewer sales, more independent record stores are closing their doors. The major labels rely on sales from big box retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy more than the locally owned and operated shops.

Gogol Bordello Non-Stop

One of the great things about the Noise Pop festival is the myriad of bands it hosts in San Francisco for live performances. In addition to the concerts, the festival also hosts art shows and a music film festival. One of the most anticipated films of the festival was Margarita Jimeno’s Gogol Bordello Non-Stop. The sold out showing at the Artists’ Television Access on Friday, February 27th was well received.

The documentary follows Gogol Bordello from the band’s inception in 2001 through 2006. It focuses on who the band is, who the individual members are, and how they became Gogol Bordello. It delves into what the band stands for and represents.

The beginning club performances show Eugene Hutz as less of a lead singer and more a leader of a musical party. He easily pulls more people into his wild festivities. He draws more musicians, more dancers, and more fans. The community that Hutz created, much like the band, is equal parts international and free spirited punk. Early on, Hutz establishes a motto for the band: “Drink Locally, Fuck Globally.”

Thao Nguyen, David Dondero, Sean Smith, and Colossal Yes – Noise Pop – Swedish American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA – February 26th, 2009

Last year was a good one for Thao Nguyen. She and her band, The Get Down Stay Down, released their first album for Kill Rock Stars. We Brave Bee Stings and All, which was TWSIS’s #1 album of 2008, was met with strong praise. The band spent a good portion of the year on tour. And Thao played last year’s Noise Pop festival.

This year, she was invited back to Noise Pop as a headliner at the Swedish American Music Hall. Her set was originally billed as a solo performance. And that is how she began her set – just her guitar and vocals. After a few songs, however, she added two friends on background vocals.

The Mountain Goats (solo) and The Papercuts – Noise Pop – Swedish American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA – February 25th, 2009

When John Darnielle stepped onto the small stage at the Swedish American Music Hall the audience knew they were in for a special show. It was billed as a solo Mountain Goats show. Darnielle picked up one of the two acoustic guitars placed on stage and comfortably sat on his stool. The Swedish American Music Hall offered an intimate setting. But the true extent to which this show would be unique became apparent shortly into the set.

Darnielle opened with the song “Alphabetizing.” He then announced that there would be a lot of older Mountain Goats songs performed that evening. He expanded on this as the set went on. Darnielle explained that the songs were ones he doesn’t normally play live, even though they get requested. He also pleaded that the specifics of the setlist not be divulged. He doesn’t want fans on upcoming tours to expect these songs played. He went so far as saying he would personally hold this San Francisco audience responsible for future audiences repeatedly shouting out these requests.

Bay Area Concerts – 2/27/09-3/5/09

Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 2/27:

The Tones – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Maus Haus | Sugar & Gold | Tempo No Tempo – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Ra Ra Riot | Cut Off Your Hands | Telekinesis | The Hooks – The Independent – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – Dear and the Headlights | Kinch | Big Light | A B & The Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Port O’Brien | Odawas | Afternoons | Dame Satan – Café Du Nord – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – The Morning Benders | The Submarines | The Mumlers | Rademacher – Slim’s

NOISE POP – St. Vincent | Cryptacize | Rafter | That Ghost – Great American Music Hall

Thank You | Mi Ami | JAWS – Hemlock Tavern

Sat 2/28:

NOISE POP Matinee Show – The Matches | Dizzy Balloon | Ex-Boyfriends – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP Afternoon Show – Themselves | Rainbow Arabia | Yoni Wolf | Boy Static – The Apple Store Downtown – FREE

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Music for Animals | Aim Low Kid | Audio Out Send – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Bob Mould | Mark Eitzel | Donovan Quinn | Jason Finazzo – Swedish American Music Hall

NOISE POP – A.C. Newman | Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele | Devon Williams | City Light – The Independent

NOISE POP – Portugal. The Man | Girls | Love is Chemical | Agent Ribbons – Café Du Nord

NOISE POP – Flosstradamus | N.A.S.A. | Wallpaper | DJ Morale – Mezzanine

NOISE POP – Clues | Loch Lommond | Harbours | Red Verse – Rickshaw Stop

NOISE POP – Sholi | The Dead Trees | Everest | Jake Mann – The Bottom of the Hill

Matt Wertz | The Alternate Routes – Slim’s

Sun 3/1:

NOISE POP – No Age | White Circle Crime Club | Infinite Body | Veil Veil Vanish – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Les Savy Fav | The Mae Shi | The Drums – Mezzanine

Papercuts – Kimo’s

Mon 3/2:

Chris Isaak – Amoeba Records San Francisco – FREE

Thu 3/5:

M. Ward – Palace of the Fine Arts – SOLD OUT

Restiform Bodies | DJ EGADZ | (N1nth) Cloud – Holy Thursday at Underground SF

Fujiya & Miyagi | Pop Levi | Project Jenny, Project Jan – The Independent

Estelle | Solange | DJ Funklor – Mezzanine

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Noise Pop 2009

Beginning today, the Noise Pop Festival will begin its week of concerts, movies, and art showings. In addition to the art shows, here is the festival's schedule of events.

Tue 2/24:

City Arts & Lectures “Talking Music” – John Darnielle in conversation and song w/ Tobias Wolff – Herbst Theater

Antony & The Johnsons | William Basinski – Nob Hill Masonic Center

Deerhunter | Lilofee | DJ Jimmy Tamborello | DJ Aaron Axel | DJ Omar – Mezzanine – FREE w/ RSVP

Wed 2/25:

Happy Hour: The Aimless Never Miss | The Sleepover Disaster | Evacuee – Bender’s – FREE

The Mountain Goats (solo) | Papercuts – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Stephen Malkmus (solo) | Kelley Stoltz | Peggy Honeywell | Goh Nakamura – Great American Music Hall

Sleepy Sun | Lumerians | True Widow | Kings & Queens | KUSF DJs – The Bottom of the Hill

French Kicks | The Broken West | Here Here | The Dont’s – The Independent

Matt Costa | An Horse | Robert Francis – Slim’s

Film: Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison – The Roxie

Film: Ashes of American Flags (Wilco concert film) – The Roxie

Thu 2/26:

Happy Hour: Scissors for Lefty | Picture Atlantic | Man/Miracle – Bender’s – FREE

Thao Nguyen | David Dondero | Sean Smith | Colossal Yes – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Kool Keith | Mike Relm | Crown City Rockers | Hopsin | DJ Kutmasta Kurt – Mezzanine

Martha Wainwright | AA Bondy | Ryan Auffenberg | Karina Denke – Slim’s

Thee Oh Sees | Tyvek | Unnatural Helpers | The Fresh and Onlys – Café Du Nord

From Monument to Masses | Crime In Choir | Built for the Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

Josh Ritter (with string quartet) | Laura Gibson | Dave Smallen | Tiny Television – Great American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

Goblin Cock | Warship | Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band | Kowloon Walled City – Rickshaw Stop

Film: Of All the Things – Artists' Television Access

Film: Largo – Artists' Television Access

Fri 2/27:

Industry Noise Conference – Swedish American Music Hall

Happy Hour: Maus Haus | Sugar & Gold | Tempo No Tempo – Bender’s – FREE

Ra Ra Riot | Cut Off Your Hands | Telekinesis | The Hooks – The Independent – SOLD OUT

Dear and the Headlights | Kinch | Big Light | A B & The Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

Port O’Brien | Odawas | Afternoons | Dame Satan – Café Du Nord – SOLD OUT

The Morning Benders | The Submarines | The Mumlers | Rademacher – Slim’s

St. Vincent | Cryptacize | Rafter | That Ghost – Great American Music Hall

Film: Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams – Artists' Television Access

Film: Gogol Bordello Non-Stop: A Gypsy-Punk Documentary – Artists' Television Access

Sat 2/28:

Pop ‘n Shop – The Verdi Club – FREE

Matinee Show – The Matches | Dizzy Balloon | Ex-Boyfriends – The Bottom of the Hill

Afternoon Show – Themselves | Rainbow Arabia | Yoni Wolf | Boy Static – The Apple Store Downtown – FREE

Afternoon Film: Seven Signs: Music, Mythology and Faith of the American South – Artists' Television Access

Afternoon Film: I Need That Record: The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store – Artists' Television Access

Happy Hour: Music for Animals | Aim Low Kid | Audio Out Send – Bender’s – FREE

Bob Mould | Mark Eitzel | Donovan Quinn | Jason Finazzo – Swedish American Music Hall

A.C. Newman | Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele | Devon Williams | City Light – The Independent

Portugal. The Man | Girls | Love is Chemical | Agent Ribbons – Café Du Nord

Flosstradamus | N.A.S.A. | Wallpaper | DJ Morale – Mezzanine

Clues | Loch Lommond | Harbours | Red Verse – Rickshaw Stop

Sholi | The Dead Trees | Everest | Jake Mann – The Bottom of the Hill

Sun 3/1:

Afternoon Film: Loki: Arnaldo Baptista – Artists' Television Access

Afternoon Film: Nightflight: Born Again – Artists' Television Access

No Age | White Circle Crime Club | Infinite Body | Veil Veil Vanish – The Bottom of the Hill

Les Savy Fav | The Mae Shi | The Drums – Mezzanine

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Noise Pop 2009 Art Shows

San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival is one of the few music festivals to explore the amalgamation of music and art. Here is a list of the art shows the festival is presenting this year.

Now through March 4, “The Art of Noise Pop – A Retrospective of Festival Posters, Photography and Design” will be displayed at the Mini Bar (837 Divisidero St). On display will be artwork from past festivals and other pieces from the artists who create the festival’s designs.

Also through March 4, “Sights of Sounds” will be on display at Park Life (220 Clement St). This exhibit will showcase the artwork of musicians including: Alissa Anderson, Joseph Arthur, Bianca Casady (CocoRosie), Harrison Haynes (Les Savy Fav), Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy), Nate Manny (Murder City Devils), Mark Motherbaugh (Devo), Sara Singer (The New Trust), Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy), Paul Miller (DJ Spooky), and John Vanderslice.

Finally, through March 7, Lauren Dunkoff’s “Family” show will be at the Eleanor Harwood Gallery (1295 Alabama St). Dukoff has been photographing Devendra Banhart and musical family for years. On display will be performance and candid shots with Banhart, Bat for Lashes, Vashti Bunyan, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Espers, Feathers, Bert Jansch, Little Joy, Joanna Newsom, Vetiver, and more. Also, some artwork by these musicians will also be on display.

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Bay Area Concerts – 2/20/09-2/26/09

This coming week the Noise Pop Festival will begin its week of glorious concerts, movies, and art showings. Here are this week's recommended concerts.

Fri 2/20:

Audrye Sessions – Amoeba Music Berkeley – FREE

Andrew Bird | Loney, Dear – The Fillmore

Scissors for Lefty | The Vox Jaguars | Room for a Ghost | DJ Ted E Bearski – The Bottom of the Hill

Ben Taylor | Eoin Harrington | Schuyler Fisk – The Independent

Sat 2/21:

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO Annuals | Jessica Lea Mayfield | What Laura Says – Slim’s – WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS HERE

Murder By Death | The Builders and The Butchers | Fake Problems – The Bottom of the Hill

Cake | The Lovemakers – Fox Theater – SOLD OUT

Kinky – The Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center

Donavon Frankenreiter | Gary Jules – The Independent – SOLD OUT

Kelly Joe Phelps – Freight & Salvage

Duncan Sheik | Lauren Pritchard, Holly Brook & Louis Schwadron – Palace of the Fine Arts

Futuristic Prince | Tenderloins | Media – Mezzanine

Sun 2/22:

Modest Mouse | Japanese Motors | Mimicking Birds – Fox Theater – SOLD OUT

Dan Bern – Freight & Salvage

Dirty Hands | Mischka | Sage – Red Devil Lounge

Tue 2/24:

NOISE POP – City Arts & Lectures “Talking Music” – John Darnielle in conversation and song w/ Tobias Wolff – Herbst Theater

NOISE POP – Antony & The Johnsons | William Basinski – Nob Hill Masonic Center

NOISE POP – Deerhunter | Lilofee | DJ Jimmy Tamborello | DJ Aaron Axel | DJ Omar – Mezzanine – FREE w/ RSVP

Wed 2/25:

NOISE POP Happy Hour – The Aimless Never Miss | The Sleepover Disaster | Evacuee – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – The Mountain Goats (solo) | Papercuts – Swedish American Music Hall – SOLD OUT

NOISE POP – Stephen Malkmus (solo) | Kelley Stoltz | Peggy Honeywell | Goh Nakamura – Great American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Sleepy Sun | Lumerians | True Widow | Kings & Queens | KUSF DJs – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – French Kicks | The Broken West | Here Here | The Dont’s – The Independent

NOISE POP – Matt Costa | An Horse | Robert Francis – Slim’s

Thu 2/26:

NOISE POP Happy Hour – Scissors for Lefty | Picture Atlantic | Man/Miracle – Bender’s – FREE

NOISE POP – Thao Nguyen | David Dondero | Sean Smith | Colossal Yes – Swedish American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Kool Keith | Mike Relm | Crown City Rockers | Hopsin | DJ Kutmasta Kurt – Mezzanine

NOISE POP – Martha Wainwright | AA Bondy | Ryan Auffenberg | Karina Denke – Slim’s

NOISE POP – Thee Oh Sees | Tyvek | Unnatural Helpers | The Fresh and Onlys – Café Du Nord

NOISE POP – From Monument to Masses | Crime In Choir | Built for the Sea – The Bottom of the Hill

NOISE POP – Josh Ritter (with string quartet) | Laura Gibson | Dave Smallen | Tiny Television – Great American Music Hall

NOISE POP – Goblin Cock | Warship | Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band | Kowloon Walled City – Rickshaw Stop

Back to The Wheel's Still In Spin Mainpage.