Noise Pop upped the ante for their 23rd annual festival with a new HQ at the Swedish American Hall and a sizable lineup of over 150 acts sprinkled around the Bay. If you haven't got a (now sold-out) regular badge, you're probably picking shows a la carte, so here's a little guidance if you need it. That said, you can still throw down $400 for a Super Fan Badge and really make it count. As an aside, there are lots of music-focused films to be watched, but here we'll concentrate on nine live acts not to miss. In some cases we just had to highlight a sold-out show, which is fine if you're going the badge route or can otherwise make it work (Stubhub links provided). The music starts this Thursday the 19th and doesn't stop until March 2nd.

Thao Nguyen (of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down)
SF-based Thao Nguyen gets a lot of the Fiona Apple/Regina Spektor/Cat Power comparisons, but I'd say she's got a different energy than any of them (not that those three have the same energy, they're all quite different). Nguyen is a little looser and maybe even more enjoyable, with arrangements that make me think of upbeat Modest Mouse. She's going it alone for this performance, but will have openers like the Mynabirds, who are also excellent, bouncy fun. — Caleb Pershan
Tuesday, February 24th, Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market Street between Church and Sanchez Streets 7:30 p.m., $20

Flight Facilities
Darlings of the electro-blogosphere, Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell combine forces under the banner “Flight Facilities” for the purpose of producing bubbly electronic synth sounds that eschew the fist-pumping brash of their rave brethren for a more relaxing and comfortable mood. “Crave You” is a crowd favorite with a cocktail of stirring piano chords, sparkling drum hits, and hypnotic vocals. If you’re looking to go up on a Tuesday, the Regency will be the place to be. — George McIntire
Tuesday, February 24th, The Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness Avenue between Bush and Sutter Streets, 8:00 p.m., $23-25

Giraffage
The track "Feels" gives me lots of them, in part because the lyric — which is sometimes hard to hear, but is "grow old with you" — becomes refreshing and earnest as the pitch jumps around. "Close 2 Me" and other tracks are cut from the same cloth, as San Francisco producer Charlie Yin grabs and remixes choice bits of R&B. This is one of those sold out shows, but if you've got a badge and it wasn't on your radar, or if you're willing to brave Stubhub, this is a push in that direction. — Caleb Pershan
Thursday, February 26th, The Independent, 628 Divisadero Street between Hayes and Grove Streets, 8 p.m.
$45 (Stubhub)

Tony Molina
If you prefer your music with deafening electric guitars 60-70 seconds at a time, Tony Molina is the right act for you. The Millbrae rocker takes literally the name Noise Pop with his fancy and loud guitar-work. If you pine for San Francisco’s rich, rough-and-tumble garage-rock past, show up to absorb the nostalgia emanating from Tony Molina’s speakers.— George McIntire
Thursday, February 26th, Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue, 8:00 p.m., $12-14

Les Sins
All shoes can be dancing shoes at a Les Sins show, where you'll inevitably be shuffling, twisting, and gyrating from start to finish. The side project of Toro Y Moi’s Chaz Bundick is the type of infectious disco-r’nb hybrid that bestows upon you more confidence in your moves than booze ever could. — George McIntire
Thursday, February 26th, The New Parish, 579 18th Street Oakland between San Pablo Avenue and Jefferson Street, t8:00 p.m., $20

Cathedrals
For all you homers out there, bust out your reminder app for Mission-based electronic pop duo Cathedrals, who are the city’s biggest on the bill this year. Much like San Francisco’s geography, Cathedrals’ sound oscillates between up and down, sunny and foggy. Halfway through “Harlem” they sharply pivot from sultry jams and nosedive into a body-clattering guitar solo accompanied by bellowing vocals. Show the home team your support and turn The Independent into AT&T Park. — George McIntire
Friday, February 27, The Independent, 628 Divisadero Street between Hayes and Grove Streets, 7:30pm., $45 (Stubhub)

Wet
On paper, Wet come across as another garden variety indie pop group from Brooklyn, but don't be so quick to pigeonhole this trio, who promise to bring the charming sway-inducing rhythms of their 2014 self-titled EP to the compact mattress-walled venue of Rickshaw Stop. Wet’s two biggest hits to date, “Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl” and “You’re The Best”, are great pick-me-up tracks. And don’t forget to bring some change for the coat check because it will be definitely be getting steamy in the Rickshaw. — George McIntire
Friday, February 27th, Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell Street between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue, 9 p.m. $13-15

The New Pornographers, How To Dress Well
It’s the granddaddy of them all and fortunately for you, not sold out (yet). One man groove factory How To Dress Well is worth the price of admission by himself. His 2014 LP “What Is This Heart” lit up end-of-the-years lists with its dramatic new age R’nB sounds complemented by an angelic voice. Indie rock veterans several times over, The New Pornographers, will be playing in support of their latest effort “Brill Bruisers” making for a genre-diverse show, perfect for that person who brags they listen to “everything except country.” — George McIntire
Saturday, February 28th, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Avenue Oakland between 18th and 19th Streets, 7:30 p.m., $35

Caribou
Caribou's best tracks, like the dislocating "Odessa," "Can't Do Without You," and "Our Love," feature incredible arrangements with house baselines and vocals from somewhere in the ether. For gigging purposes, Caribou — who is Dan Snaith of Ontario, Canada — performs with a live band, taking the lead on his creative percussion. As he readies his fifth album for release, expect more soulful, head-nodding grooves. — Caleb Pershan
Sunday and Monday, March 1st and 2nd, The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Boulevard at Fillmore Street, 8 p.m. $25