Live This Month: May 2012

It seems we’re in a “when it rains, it pours” sort of place for significant new local albums, and this mix only scratches the surface of the latest in Bay Area records, with songs from Ty Segall & White Fence, Sleepy Sun, Whirr, and Blasted Canyons. On the touring front, Herman Dune and Royal Headache crossed different oceans to come do some U.S. shows, but both are stopping in SF in May. Additionally, if you don’t immediately recognize some of the names in this playlist, you might recognize their main bands: Dana Buoy is Dana Janssen of Akron/Family’s solo project, while Naytronix is the experimental pop of tUnE-yArDs’ Nate Brenner.

Finally, the month closes with two great local festivals over Memorial Day weekend. In San Francisco, the 2012 installment of the SF Popfest includes several strong indie pop shows. Meanwhile, Oakland’s 1-2-3-4 Go! Records has a packed slate of East Bay shows for a new festival called The Go! Go! Whatever your pleasure, listen to the mix and then go see some shows!

About the bands:

Amidst busy solo careers, Ty Segall & White Fence (“I Am Not A Game”) found time to collaborate on Hair, a new record out now on Drag City. Locals Shannon and the Clams and The Mallard support them at The Independent on May 2.

SF psych-rock band Sleepy Sun (“V.O.G.”) just released its third full length, Spine Hits. The band finishes a US tour May 18 at The Independent.

Dana Janssen of Akron/Family is also a solo artist under the name Dana Buoy (“So Lucky”). Gauntlet Hair joins Buoy on a West Coast tour this month. See them and Minot on May 9 at Bottom of the Hill.

Naytronix (“Cry”) is an electronic pop project from Nate Brenner of tUnE-yArDs. Brenner’s band headlines a stellar all-local show at the Hemlock Tavern on May 17, with Yalls and Mwahaha.

Royal Headache‘s (“Girls”) debut LP came out last year in Australia, and it’s available stateside this month on What’s Your Rupture? The band is performing at Vitus in Oakland on May 26 as part of 1-2-3-4 Go! Records’ The Go! Go! festival.

Blasted Canyons‘ (“Holy Geometry”) second record is a new EP called 2nd Place, out now on Castle Face Records. The band headlines a top-notch lineup at the Rickshaw Stop on May 23, with Sunbeam Rd and Fine Steps.

Day 4 of The Go! Go! festival features local shoegaze/dream pop band Whirr (“Junebouvier”) performing with Ceremony, Big Gids, Gun Outfit and ++++. The Pipe Dreams LP is out now.

Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500 (“Blue Thunder”) is playing two intimate shows of Galaxie 500 songs at the Hemlock Tavern this month. At both May 11 shows, Wareham’s trio will be joined by SF’s Tortured Genies.

Herman Dune (“Tell Me Something I Don’t Know”) is a French duo pairing wry lyrics with stripped-down folk rock. On May 14, the band comes to The Independent.

How Lambchop‘s (“If Not I’ll Just Die”) eleventh album, Mr. M, ranks as among its best, a pretty impressive feat for this Nashville band. See them at the Great American Music Hall on May 4.

San Diego’s TV Girl (“I Wonder Who She’s Kissing Now”) headlines a May 27 show at the Hemlock Tavern that’s part of the 2012 SF Popfest.

Brooklyn band Suckers (“Turn On The Sunshine”) comes to Bottom of the Hill with Young Man and Vanaprasta on May 17. The group’s second album, Candy Salad, is out now.

SF’s Part Time (“Visions of the Future”) wraps up a North American tour with The Drums and Craft Spells with a hometown performance. The Great American Music Hall hosts this sold-out show on May 12.

Xiu Xiu‘s (“Hi”) latest collection of experimental synth-pop is Always, out now on Polyvinyl Records. The former locals come to Bottom of the Hill on May 31.