ART: Visiting "mirror" artist Daniel Rozin has created a dazzling exhibition, "Reflections," in which guests can "multiply your visage into hundreds of kaleidoscopic views, use computers and mirrors to distort your appearance, experiment with your face under different wavelengths of light, and play with perspective to capture aspects of yourself you’ve rarely witnessed. Among the exhibits on display are new interactive works highlighting Daniel Rozin’s provocative take on self-examination." more ›

Epic Records' epic, eight-member, chamber, folk-pop band Margot and the Nuclear So & So's will be headlining the Great American Music Hall on Saturday night, with Telekinesis and Everything Now opening. Margot has sold out most of their past SF shows, and the Great American is always such a great treat. more ›

This just in: "The Killers have been forced to cancel their show this evening at San Francisco's Warfield due to illness. The show will be rescheduled for December 12th at The Warfield; all tickets from the cancelled show will be honored for this date."

"It's not even on Goldenvoice's page for the show yet," our well-placed source wrote, "For shame." more ›

Saturday night we had the pleasure to watch one of Noise Pop's most intriguing local acts: Wallpaper. We interviewed Eric Frederic - the man behind it all - earlier in the week and had even listened to his new EP, T REX on his MySpace page but we had no idea it was going to be that much fun. We were on such a high from Wallpaper's set that we didn't want to ruin it so we left early and missed Immigrant and headliner, Panther. more ›

We volunteered to meet and greet sell Noise Pop merchandise to festival attendees who often ended up spending all their money on band merch (as if) and/or beer (or more specifically in Cafe Du Nord's case -- Fernet Branca and Poppy Jaspers). It was quite a fun experience though, and we highly recommend it. Contact them about volunteering at next year's event! more ›

Wallpaper, a sweet/sleazy duo from Oakland will be serenading the head-bopping Noise Pop fans at Rickshaw Stop on Saturday night. They will be opening for the hipster-loving band, Panther. Wallpaper's infectious electronic sound can be heard on their new EP, T REX that will be digitally released in late April. You might file their EP between Prince and MSTRKRFT - quite an adventure. We touched base with the lead singer who answered (quite humorously) our very important questions in sometimes his own language. He ends up being a major slut with a nightmarish vendetta against a "crotchety old republican." If that's you, you better watch your back! He's ready to strike. more ›

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Yes, we are a bit late with the listings but that doesn't stop us from being excited for this week's music offerings. It's Noise Pop - something we've been talking about since December. Since there is so much going on this week, we are going to highlight some shows that we know you can still get tickets to. more ›

February may well be our favorite month in San Francisco. Between the Chinese New Year parade, the glorious weather, and Noise Pop, there’s really no better place to be this time of year. Noise Pop officially kicks off tonight. To celebrate we’re reposting an interview with the man behind it all, Kevin Arnold, that we originally ran last year. more ›

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Each Tuesday we will feature new music that should (or whatever) be on your radar. more ›

The Coachella 2008 line-up was announced last night. The reason you didn't hear anything about it was because they announced it in Mexico City, something to do with creating international ties. “This is really a way for us to get closer to our fans throughout Latin America who have been supportive of Coachella for the past 10 years,” says Goldenvoice’s Paul Tollett. Super; we just care about the line-up. more ›

Each Tuesday we will feature new music that should (or whatever) be on your radar. more ›

It looks like several of you took our advice and joined us at the Kate Nash concert Saturday night. With lines almost around the corner, we thought, "Great, we'll be lucky to get a spot close enough to even see the stage." Looks were deceiving though - we entered and secured a spot on the second row (or so we thought). more ›

Pollan is ready to serve at 8 p.m. at the Herbst Theatre; 401 Van Ness; $17-19. SOLD OUT

They're here - the shiny, rectangular all-access passes to your favorite indie-rock festival, Noise Pop. According to their press release, these badges will "...grant access to all general admission Noise Pop shows, film screenings, happy hours and other happenings during the festival." Yes. We want one. more ›

SFist interviews Onion editor, Joe Randazzo more ›

-- Why, it's our very own SFist Rita kicking it in the comfy confines (and breaking down the latest season of Project Runway) over at SFGate. Awesome. [Culture Blog] more ›

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. Standouts: 1. Arp - In Light: Pop minimalism aren't two words that aren't often placed in the same sentence, let alone right next to each other, but Arp, based out of San Francisco, has fused pop and minimalism together to something organic and exciting. Also categorized... more ›

November 2004 - September 2007 more ›

-- The Exorcist: Linda Blair, pea soup, 360-degree head turn, Satan, "the power of Christ compels you...," blah, blah -- whatever, it's still a great movie. And besides, it stars Ellen Burstyn, who is practically perfect in every way. Part of the Castro Theatre's William Friedkin Series, it screens tonight at 7 p.m.; $6-$9. more ›

-- "Endless Strummer": It seems like at any moment in San Francisco, a Joe Strummer tribute is taking place. Ok look! Here's one now, featuring Clash City Rockers, La Plebe, David J, Odd Numbers, the Hooks, Harrington Saints, the Shakespearos, and the Ferocious Few covering his oeuvre. Starts at 9 p.m. at Bottom of the Hill, 1233 - 17th St., all-ages show; $10. more ›

There are no less than three fantastic music festivals all taking place over the weekend of September 14-16. What gives? And how do we choose? Since we live in the bay area, perhaps our decision has been made for us: we're heading to the inaugural Treasure Island Music Festival presented by the fine folks at Noise Pop and Another Planet. The two day festival features 14 bands each day on two stages with mostly hip hop and electronica on Saturday (Theivery Corporation, DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, M.I.A.) and a great lineup of indie rock on Sunday (Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Clap Your Hands). And it all takes place on Treasure Island, that scrap of land you've seen a thousand times but likely have never set foot on. Getting there is sure to be an adventure! Check out the full lineup and get your tickets. We've got a pair of tickets for one lucky winner to go to one day of the Treasure Island Music Festival. (We're not sure which date yet but will update this post as soon as we hear back from our contact! But both days are really good so you can't go wrong. Contest ends 8/22; winner will be notified via email.) more ›

-- Litz Plummer, the Opera Lady: Wow. This should be an interesting combo: Coming to the Eagle this evening is the opera lady. You know? The one who sings on Maiden Lane, near the Hermes store. (Where you buy all of your blue separates, just like us?) She's part of tonight's "Thursday Night Live" along with All My Pretty Ones and Carletta Sue Kay. 10 p.m., the Eagle Tavern, 12th St. & Harrison; $5. more ›

-- Queer Jitterbugs Salsa Series: Come learn and/or showoff your salsa moves at this weekly Monday night dance class/party. Perfect for those of you who want to do something on a Monday night, but don't want to deal with DJ-heavy dance clubs. The dancing goes from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. at Julie's Supper Club, 1123 Folsom (at 7th St.). more ›

Update!: We got the contest entry form working (we think) -- sorry about the mixup. Go on, enter now! more ›

We don't say this lightly, because there are really a lot of great artists coming out of the Bay Area, but we do have a current favorite: Birds & Batteries. We've been telling you about this co-ed quartet for a little while now, and our expectations for their new record were really high. Thankfully it's good news: we love I'll Never Sleep Again. It's still the B&B we met on their last release, but this time the woeful steel guitar and Mike Sempert's deep drawl are buffered by better production, including warm bursts of synth so thick you could hold them in your hand. The record starts out by making the simple, straightforward Neil Young classic "Heart of Gold" into an existential epic, and we love the song "Starclusters" so much that it's secured a solid entry in our top 10 tracks of the year. One lucky winner will get a Birds & Batteries prize pack, including two tickets to the CD release party on Wednesday night at Cafe Du Nord, a limited edition copy of the CD with silk screened artwork, plus a poster from the show. Enter to win (contest ends 6/25; winner will be notified via email). more ›

The nicer the weather gets, the busier we get across the Ist-A-Verse. But we like being busy. Here's a peek at what we've been up to since last week! more ›