In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area.
How has it taken this long to include Chelsea Wolfe in one of our podcasts? Wolfe started out in Sacramento before relocating to LA, and over the course of four albums has defined a unique mix of heavy doom and gothic folk. “Iron Moon” comes from her new album, Abyss, and it highlights both sides of her sound very well. Speaking of Sacramento, our state capital also happens to be where Mike Krol recorded his new record, Turkey. Krol’s an expert at no-nonsense garage rock with a power-pop heart, and Turkey doesn’t waste any time over the course of its 18 minutes.
We’ve also included in this mix the lead-off track from The Expanding Flower Planet, the first LP from Deradoorian. As Angel Deradoorian’s credits might suggest — she played bass and sang in Dirty Projectors, collaborated with Flying Lotus, and was a member of Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks — she’s a musical omnivore, crafting vocal-driven songs with elements of freewheeling prog and psych.
Locally, three of our favorite Bay Area bands are celebrating new albums with release parties this month. Oakland’s Shannon and the Clams have long been at the top of the garage-pop universe, with songs that soar on earworm melodies and Shannon’s stellar vocals. Their records are consistently strong — and early singles suggest that the Sonny Smith-produced Gone by the Dawn isn’t likely to change that — but the group is even better live.
Also great live is Golden Void, back with their sophomore full length, Berkana. The album was recorded by Tim Green of The Fucking Champs, and, while their prior LP was tracked live, this time the group added layers of instrumentation to their heady psych. Finally, Bay Area post-punk favorites Wild Moth are back with Inhibitor, out now on Iron Pier. It’s an intense, melodic set of post-punk that demands to be heard live and loud.
Enjoy the podcast and then go see some concerts!
Subscribe to The Bay Bridged Podcast!
About the bands:
Shannon and the Clams – “It’s Too Late”
On September 11, The Mantles, Silver Shadows, and Magnanimous join the Clams for a show at the Great American Music Hall
Deradoorian – “A Beautiful Woman”
The artist performs with Lætitia Sadier at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall on September 23
No Vacation – “Dræm Girl”
Appearing at the 20th Street Block Party alongside Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Nick Waterhouse, Andrew St. James and more on September 12
Seoul – “Real June”
Seoul’s tour with Young Ejecta arrives at Bottom of the Hill on September 23; Name Parade kicks off the show
Golden Void – “Dervishing”
Co-headlining The Chapel with Mermen on September 19
Chelsea Wolfe – “Iron Moon”
Wovenhand supports the Los Angeles-via-Sacramento artist at the Regency Ballroom on September 26
Wild Moth – “Mirror”
Celebrating the release of Inhibitor on September 11 at the Humanist Hall in Oakland; Nervous, Terry Malts and Composite round out the bill
Emotional – “Chinatown (demo)”
Performing at the Rickshaw Stop on September 28 with Motor Inn and Trance Farmers
NITEPPL – “Shadows”
Playing BFF.fm’s birthday party on September 14 at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall with Future Twin and The Silhouette Era
Dam-Funk – “We Continue”
The electronic funk artist performs a live set at The Independent on September 6 with Nite Jewel and the Sweater Funk DJs
Mike Krol – “This Is the News”
The LA garage rocker’s tour with Mac McCaughan and Flesh Wounds arrives at the Rickshaw Stop on September 17
Woolen Men – “After the Flood”
On September 20, the Portland band joins Skygreen Leopards at the Hemlock Tavern
Mark Nelsen & The Mutiny – “It Ain’t The Way”
The Gathering of the Tribes — taking place at Public Works on September 13 — unites 18 local psych and rock bands, including Carlton Melton, The Spiral Electric, Cellar Doors, Down and Outlaws and many, many more
Lou Barlow – “Moving”
The indie rock veteran plays at Bottom of the Hill on September 22 with California and We Arsons
Neon Indian – “Slumlord”
Playing two nights at the new venue Social Hall SF on September 22 and 23
