We're back from summer vacation -- did you miss us?

Last Saturday night we braved a sold out Cafe Du Nord to see two of our favorite obscure indie rock bands: Tilly and the Wall and Now It's Overhead. Apparently Tilly's not so obscure anymore, since there was a line down the block at the venue before doors even opened. Luckily our friend in Now It's Overhead got us in – thanks Andy! We caught the tail end of Jason Anderson's opening set which, according to our Springsteen-obsessed friend, was more or less a re-enactment of Bruce live circa 1974, complete with sing-alongs, callouts to the audience and lots of mid-song banter. On a more original note, Now It's Overhead's next record is due out in September on Saddle Creek. It's a highly anticipated release for us, so we were delighted that they played a handful of new songs. Tilly and the Wall brought the joy, celebratory melodies and choruses of harmonies as usual, but something about the packed Du Nord slightly dampened the usually euphoric Tilly mood. We love that venue, but we wish we didn't have to crane our necks so hard to catch a glimpse of the band. Being able to see the band might have helped the guy next to us, who complimented the "pretty dancing girl" and the programmed drum beats; clearly he had no idea that most of Tilly's percussion comes from her expertly miked tap shoes.

Giveaways are back too! Tonight Scanners have come all the way from London to play Popscene at 330 Ritch. They're a quartet of scowling brunet Brits, two men and two women. Those of you who like a strong female rock vocal with the intensity of PJ Harvey and swagger of Chrissie Hynde should head to the show. If we could force everyone to stop what they're doing and listen to Scanners we would, but instead we'll do the next best thing and give one of you a copy of their record Violence is Golden. Email us if you want to win it. (Contest ends 7/19.)

Also playing tonight is Honeycut, a new band featuring Bart Davenport on vocals, keyboardist/arranger Herve Salters and drum programmer Tony Sevener, mix their own mashed-up Gnarls-y sound at Bottom of the Hill. Their album The Day I Turned To Glass will be out on September 26th on Quannum. Legendary Kinks frontman Ray Davies headlines the Warfield.

Listen to Scanners and download their song "Lowlife"

Listen to Honeycut

More concert picks, after the jump.

On Friday at Bimbo's, Dios (Malos) and Black Fiction open for The Mother Hips, who are celebrating a live concert DVD release. The locals in Finest Dearest plays with Empty Rooms and Magic Bullets at a venue we've never heard of called 58 Tehama – it sounds like an address to a house party but apparently it's a real venue. Landmark's Embarcadero theater is presenting two screenings of "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" which features footage from a 2005 tribute with U2, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker and more. Both of the screenings will open with a performance by The Conspiracy of Beards, which is a 30 member acapella male choir performing gritty, uplifting renditions of Cohen's songs. Sonic Youth plays with Awesome Color at the Fillmore, then sticks around to open for Pearl Jam.

Saturday night, Pearl Jam plays the first of three nights at the cavernous, soul-sucking Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. As much as we detest the Bill Graham black box, we happened into some free Pearl Jam tickets courtesy of a friend so we're braving the massive crowd. We haven't seen Pearl Jam since 1994. Admitting that makes us feel old, but songs like "Worldwide Suicide" and "Life Wasted" off their new self-titled record have us really excited to see the show. Also on Saturday, Birdmonster, Triple Cobra and Aunora are at Bottom of the Hill and 12 Galaxies starts its Concert Film Festival which is free of charge, lasts several nights and consists of them screening concert footage from The Pixies, GBV, and more.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Gnarls Barkley brings their mind-expanding sound and crazy costumes to the Fillmore -- we really wish we had tickets to see them! On Wednesday Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave plays a solo show at Rickshaw Stop with Our Lady of the Highway and Brian Glaze. Spin-Off, the annual DJ competition held at Guitar Center, is having a regional competition which is open to anyone who'd like to compete. The finals will be held in September and the grand prize is a Scion X8.