When The Lights Go Down In The City
A few weeks ago we got a review copy of Margot & the Nuclear So and So's record Dust of Retreat and rolled our eyes at their horrific name. We expected MATNSS to be a novelty pop-punk band fronted by a marginally talented 19 year old girl with blue hair.
It's unclear what finally inspired us to listen to it, but turns out it's an endearing, melodic, diverse record and we've fallen in love with singer Richard Edwards' gentle voice. MATNSS is a little alt-country, a little sensitive singer-songwriter, a little bit kook-folk, but it's all tied together by the strong songwriting. This album is waitlisted for our Best of 2006. RIYL: Those Bastard Souls (there are horns & violin), The Unbelievable Truth, and...Death Cab? (Just trying to throw a recognizable name in there.)
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's are playing this Monday at the Independent with eight band members, none of whom are named Margot. Listen to Dust of Retreat and enter to win two tickets to their show as well as a copy of their debut record. (Contest ends 4/24; winner will be notified via email.)
There are so many other shows we're excited about this week, it's a shame we have to choose. Tonight our Brit friends Madame Legal have come all the way from Birmingham to play at the Rock-It Room. They've got some Soundgarden and Sabbath in them, but the singer, young Oli, is a Jeff Buckley devotee, so much so that he marvelled at the fact that we saw him live (Oli was too young back then, sigh) and was all too proud to show us his new tattoo.
More show picks after the jump.
You might catch SFist Emily seeing her latest interview subjects, The Headlights, tonight and on Friday she'll be show-hopping from The Stills at Popscene to the Elected at Bottom of the Hill. One of our lucky winners will be seeing Living Things and Diamond Nights at Cafe Du Nord before partying all night at the Phoenix Hotel. Please, no dumping the TV in to the pool. You might find a little more civilized crowd when Kronos Quartet performs with Matmos and Walter Kitundu at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for the first of two nights.
On Saturday we'd like to go see Maria Taylor because we're such fans of her band Azure Ray. On Sunday we congratulate locals Drop Black Sky on their CD release show at DNA Lounge. Friend of SFist MattyMatt Syd is playing with Patrick Thomas and Todd Hannigan at Rock-It Room.
On Monday, one of our favorite bands Eisley is at Great American, but Margot & TNSS is at the Independent. How will we choose? And finally on Wednesday, our plaid-shirted crush Ryan Adams brings his cigarette-smoke-soaked surly sensitivity to Palace of FIne Arts for two nights.
It's more singer-songwriter goodness than we can handle, really.
Margot & the Nuclear So & So's photo by Dennis Kleiman.