Author: Dakin Hardwick

SF SKETCHFEST ON SALE SUNDAY AT 10 AM PST

It’s been an embarrassment of riches for those in the market for distractions from the pending end of America. Noise Pop dropped their Phase 1 lineup on Wednesday. Mosswood Meltdown gave us their first five acts on Thursday. And today, SF Sketchfest just pulled out ANOTHER absolutely apeshit lineup. 

I’ll get the annual Nerd’s Guide to you at some point after I’m done digging into the 8,000,000 acts performing. Highlights include Bill Murray doing two nights at Great American Music Hall, Riki Lindhome doing her one-woman show about fertility, the great Kathryn Hahn in conversation with the great David Wain, Tim Curry making his first public appearance in a VERY long time in conversation with Peaches Christ, and just plain TOO MANY THINGS TO LIST—tickets on sale Sunday at 10 am. The schedule and tickets are here. 

Single of the Week: “Knocked Up” by Melody Federer

I’ll be frank with you. My original choice for Single of the Week was John Waters’ cover of the Jingle Dogs’ version of “Jingle Bells.” Instead of putting you through that, I give you “Knocked Up.” A song by Melody Federer about, you guessed it- accidental pregnancy. It’s a beautiful and honest song about the stress and anxiety of pending parenthood, and it’s pure and excellent.

You can enjoy this single in all the usual places. And you should… It’s great. The imagery… “Peeing on a stick in Walgreens.” MAGIC. 

MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN HOLIDAY SPECIAL & FIRST FIVE BANDS

I’m starting to feel a twinge of… Hope? Maybe we can battle the rise of fascism in this country still? And our good friends at Mosswood Meltdown have announced that their first headliner is… DEVO! The only line of defense against the devolution of democracy. Plus, the return of the mighty Kreayshawn and garage titans Osees, The Exploding Hearts, and The Kids, with a LOT more to come! Tickets are on sale NOW!!! Buy early because prices go up! 

“Oakland California, November 2024. A town without a Mayor, a D.A., or a major sports team. Our city has lost so much, but we haven’t lost the soul of the people. Here at Oakland CA’s Mosswood Meltdown Music Fest, we celebrate our own heroes. We elect John Waters, the Prince of Puke, to preside over our festivities.

We’ve witnessed De-evolution on a world stage in real-time, so this year, we’ll be hosting the pioneers of De-Evolutionary theory, the legendary art-punk band DEVO from Akron, Ohio, as well as San Francisco legends Osees, The Queen of Oakland, Kreayshawn, Portland’s only Rock n Roll band, The Exploding Hearts, and Bloody Belgium’s The Kids!

In the face of disasters, Oakland, CA, is resilient. Thanks for helping support independent music and arts in our community. “

Noise Pop 2025 Phase 1 Announced!

Hi. 

It’s a rough week to convince people that there is still fun left to be had. But, as my therapist reminded me today, I once said, “Disco was more rebellious than Punk.” So, Noise Pop has decided to rip the band-aid off the wound that was the 2024 election and give us something to put on some pants for… Phase 1 of the Noise Pop 2025 lineup! Including one of Tim Walz’s favorites, American Football, celebrating two nights at Great American Music Hall, the perfect place to regroup and resist. 

There’s so much more… UK’s legendary Cymande! The first Les Savy Fav show in the Bay Area in forever! Spinning Platters’ Fav Soccer Mommy! There’s so much more, and so so so so so much more to come! Full lineup below. Tickets are on sale this Friday at 10 am at NoisePopFest.com! 

Single of the Week: “Magnetic” by Tunde Adebimpe

I wrote this before the election results came down, which were pretty devastating all across the board, and, honestly, I don’t know what we’ve got to do to ensure that the entirety of Trump’s agenda gets prevented, but I do know that we have no choice. I predict extreme hardship for everyone except for a handful of people over the next four years. We failed at the resistance to the point of more people dying during Trump’s first administration than at any point this country’s history, including the civil war, and unless we get this 100% right this time, it will be worse. And Tunde’s voice and lyrics helped keep me from going under during the Bush years, and I’m grateful he’s back. I need this song today. Also, it  might be worth going back to this one a bit, too. 

TV On The Radio remains one of the most innovative and groundbreaking acts of the last 20 years. Sadly, they’ve been silent for the last decade. They did announce a handful of Winter reunion shows (and are playing the stacked Primavera Sound next year), but I think we are hungry for new material. Well, this isn’t TV On The Radio, but hearing lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe’s voice reminds me of how amazing his voice is. “Magnetic” is a beautifully intense work that makes me feel “OK” about his band’s recorded hiatus. 

“Magnetic” is out now on SubPop Records and can be enjoyed here. 

Show Review: Danny Elfman with Johnny Jewel + Desire at Shoreline Amphitheater, 11/3/24

I remember it like yesterday. October 26th, 1995. The eve of my 16th birthday. Oingo Boingo were scheduled to play their final SF show, and I couldn’t have been more excited. As a “ska” teen, despite Oingo Boingo not being a ska band, they were still part of my world, and I was eager to suit up and get sweaty. Well, the band was too eager to close up shop and canceled every show except the one that was recorded for their Farewell album, and I ended up having a beach bonfire and broke a femur running from the cops instead. 

Dammit Danny. Continue reading “Show Review: Danny Elfman with Johnny Jewel + Desire at Shoreline Amphitheater, 11/3/24”

Show Review: Pretty Girls Make Graves with Cig Corpse at The Regent Theater DTLA, 11/2/24

When When We Were Young dropped their 2024 lineup, I only barely glanced at it at first. It was all album plays, and I assumed that meant there wasn’t anything surprising in the lineup. Then I looked at the poster again and saw a familiar, blurry image in the corner that looked like Pretty Girls Make Graves’ classic record, The New Romance. Sure enough, someone did what they needed to do to get what I considered to be the greatest band of the early oughts emo revival back together. The band is near the top of my list: “I’d do anything to see them again.” Tour dates opened up, and, sadly, nothing in the Bay Area. So, I used Southwest credit and decided to spend less than 24 hours in Los Angeles. Continue reading “Show Review: Pretty Girls Make Graves with Cig Corpse at The Regent Theater DTLA, 11/2/24”

Book Review: Taste In Music: Eating On Tour with Indie Musicians By Alex Bleeker (Real Estate) and Luke Pyenson (Frankie Cosmos)

I’ve never been a touring musician. The closest I’ve come to this was the Summer of 2015 when I worked at Ticketfly and worked on-site at festivals pretty much all Summer. That being said, I’m very prone to car sickness, which would make me an awful bandmate. When I first learned about Taste In Music: Eating On Tour with Indie Musicians, I honestly was expecting a bit of a horror novel, as, well, low-budget touring across America sounds like an experience in a LOT of risky gas station meals. Continue reading “Book Review: Taste In Music: Eating On Tour with Indie Musicians By Alex Bleeker (Real Estate) and Luke Pyenson (Frankie Cosmos)”

Single of the Week: “Too Much Too” by Emily Rose & The Rounders

“Too Much Too” is the kind of retro country that would’ve been all over country radio in the 1970s, but now it is somehow indie rock instead. I’m pretty okay with this because Rose’s honey-soaked vocals and reverb-drenched pedal steel would sound out of place alongside Morgan Wallen and Post Malone. So give us more of this spooky and forlorn sound, and we will happily give it a home alongside Nick Cave. 

Emily Rose is currently on the road in Orville Peck’s band, but expect more music and shows once she gets a break from Peck’s tour! More info can be found here. 

Garfunkel & Oates’ Riki Lindhome Announces Debut Solo Album

It’s been nine long, arduous years since the amazing Garfunkel & Oates’s last record, and their brilliant TV series did the “fade away” far too early. And Oates, aka Kate Micucci, has been bringing us TONS of great music, including last year’s best children’s album, My Hat. But Garfunkel? Ms Riki Lindhome? She hasn’t been silent, as she’s had a hit series and has gotten plenty of acting and writing work. But she’s finally putting out music again! And on March 14th, she’s releasing an album with the single most relatable title ever: No Worries If Not. And I am very excited. 

Preorder links are not ready yet, but you really should follow her on Spotify to keep in the loop. In the meantime, indulge in the brilliance of the first three singles below: Continue reading “Garfunkel & Oates’ Riki Lindhome Announces Debut Solo Album”