Minipop - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports

This Week in Le Rock: Feb 27 - Mar 2

Spencer Williams — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Let's start with tonight: Minipop, from San Francisco, will be headlining at Bottom of the Hill starting at 8:30pm. They'll be playing with Trophy Fire, Two Sheds and West Indian Girl. Last time we saw them, we couldn't get enough. They are absolutely first-rate. In 2007, Minipop released their debut full length A New Hope on Take Root Records and played about 75 shows. We can't believe the show isn't sold out (yet)!

Saturday night, Port O'Brien will be co-headlining with Delta Spirt at Cafe du Nord. We saw Port O'Brien open for Nada Surf earlier this month. We were completely entertained the entire night. Not only did they play some awesome music (they even include a banjo in their band) but they were quite funny throughout. With Super Tuesday looming, they ended up dedicating several of their songs to most of the presidential candidates.

Many individual Noise Pop shows are already sold out including The Gutter Twins, The Mountain Goats, British Sea Power, She & Him and Holy Fuck. A Noise Pop Badge is the only way to guarantee entry into all the sold out general admission festival shows. Unfortunately, the Noise Pop Badges are not for sell anymore - so hopefully you already bought tickets to the shows you wanted to see!

For full listings...take the jump!

SFist Reviews... Minipop & Kate Nash

Spencer Williams — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

As we waited we were treated to some awesome indie tracks by DJ Nako and DJ Aaron Axelson. If we only had a list of songs they played. This kept us sane for the first hour as we waited for Minipop, one of our favorite San Francisco dream-pop bands. There's really nothing bad we can say about them; we love their debut album and it was even better live. It's dream-like, rhythmically-driven pop is a female version of Coldplay. It's catchy but not trite, familiar but not boring. It's no wonder that popscene calls this band one of their favorites. We loved "Generator" and "Like I Do." Frankly, we can't wait to catch them at the Noise Pop Festival later in February. They were the perfect opening for the likes of Kate Nash.

Take the jump for Kate Nash's review and to find out if you are a "bitch" when you go to a concert...

This Week in Le Rock: Jan 7 - 13

Spencer Williams — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Nash is only playing three other shows in the US - two in New York and one in L.A. You also won't be able to see Nash for a long time. It seems that she is solidly booked until mid-April, touring to Australia, Ireland and then back home to England. After that she's off again, this time on a European tour. She's a very busy girl, indeed. We have a feeling that this show will end up being sold-out just as her New York shows are; buy your tickets now. At $16 bucks, this show is a total bargain. We'd definitely pay more for this popscene's line-up.

Another show this week that is worth checking out is the Boxcar Saints on Tuesday night at Bottom of the Hill. "No Water," their newest album, is currently available for download only on their website and MySpace page. (Why no iTunes or cdbaby.com? Weird.) They are known for their "south-of-the-border rhythms, gypsy howling, and circus-inspired smoky cabaret growling." What a description!

Our friends over at BayBridged are presenting the Audio Out Send, The Lonelyhearts and Leigh Gregory at Hemlock Tavern on Friday night for only $7 bucks. Nice - cheap but great music. Read everything you need to know about this show, here.

Take the jump for full listings...

This Week in Le Rock: December 17-23

Spencer Williams — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

Friday night you'll want to head over to Slim's to catch six bands: Perfect Machines, Fyre Away, High Like Five, the Paper Sons, Punch Face and Bob Hill Band. We're most excited about the Paper Sons; they've just been voted number one again on Bay Music Scene. The founding members are guitarist Phil Pristia, bassist Fran Dickinson and Dennis Rodriguez on drums. Tom McCullough's voice and front-man (their newest addition) puts the finishing touches that the Paper Sons need and deserve. The newest EP should be arriving soon!

Saturday is another night of some of our local favorites: The Matches, Minipop, Panda & Cold Hot Crash at Slim's. (We are loving Slim's this week!) We had a blast at Minipop's CD release party last month and have been looking forward to Cold Hot Crash, who won Live 105's 2006 "Best Local Band" competition. They also just contributed a song to the fantastic holiday album, "A Foggy Holiday" (Talking House Records) - a collection of holiday songs recorded by local Bay Area bands.

Take the jump for full listings...

New Tunes Tuesday #8

Spencer Williams — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Each Tuesday we will feature new music that should (or whatever) be on your radar. All bands this week featured in our Standout section are from the Bay Area.

Arp, the brain-child of Alexis Georgopoulos, is mood-shifting without the listener even realizing it. It calms and soothes through the intricate repetitive looping that is often reserved to high-energy dance-floor music. It seems that this is the album that you want to listen to after going out to the club; the calm after the storm.
Download: "St. Tropez" and "Potentialities"

Win a free copy of Arp's new CD here:

For more info on other CD releases, another CD giveaway and our new non-guilty pleasure, take the jump...

Contest: Minipop @ Rickshaw Stop 11/3/07

Spencer Williams — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Minipop, a San Francisco-based band, is releasing their much anticipated debut album, A New Hope next Tuesday. Lucky for all of us we'll be able to get their new CD this Saturday, a few days early, at their CD Release party at Rickshaw Stop.

Minipop is a favorite of LIVE 105, which has played their single “Like I Do” in heavy rotation since its release in late 2006 and said they were "a band to watch" for 2007. It's 2007 and we are watching. They have just returned from a very successful tour across the U.S. with the likes of Film School, Great Northern and Cursive.

Grab two tickets on us by entering the contest below. (There will be two winners, each with a pair of tickets.) UPDATE: YOU WIN THEIR NEW CD AS WELL!!

Remember, if you win, a notification will be sent to you at the email address you provide in the contest form, usually a day or so after the contest ends. So please keep an eye on your inbox and junk mail folder for a message from us. Thanks, and good luck!

Minipop and Built For the Sea
Rickshaw Stop (155 Fell St.)
Doors Open: 8PM
$10 (All Ages)