Philadelphia-based pysch guitar virtuoso Chris Forsyth is returning to San Francisco for the first time in more than a year, and he’s bringing along some friends with close ties to the City of Brotherly Love when he plays the Hemlock this Thursday night, as Meg Baird and Earth Jerks support.

Since we citizens of the Bay were last graced with Mr. Forsyth’s presence, he released the stellar forty-one minute, four-song album Solar Motel on North Carolina label Paradise of Bachelors. Joining Forsyth as “The Solar Motel Band” at the Hemlock on Thursday to share the music they call “a positive alternative to the ’90s grunge revival,” will be Paul Sukeena (guitars), Peter Kerlin (bass), and Steven Urgo (drums).

Opening the night on Thursday will be San Francisco-based Earth Jerks who, according to the show’s Facebook event page, are “originally from a pleasant suburb of Philadelphia.” Whether they hail from Bucks County or South Philly, the band brings a dark brand of ambiant electronic post-rock soundscapes to the bill. Baird follows with her old-time folk sound, honed in Philly with the psych folk act Espers before she busted out on her own.

Below, watch Forsyth’s gorgeous, mind-bending video for “Solar Motel Part I”, and if you like what you hear, don’t miss out on Forsyth and his mates’ two bootleg live sets recorded at separate Philly venues last year. Details on Thursday’s show at The Hemlock follow the video.

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Meg Baird, Earth Jerks
The Hemlock Tavern
March 13, 2014
8:30pm, $7 (21+)