In Live This Month, we sample some of the great local and out-of-town bands performing in the coming month in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It’s a big month for local bands Doe Eye and Papercuts, both of whom have record release shows for exciting new albums. Doe Eye’s Television is the first LP from Maryam Qudus and her band, and, on first listen, it’s a real winner. Embellishing Qudus’ singer-songwriter pop with impressive studio inventiveness, there’s a feeling of liberated creativity to the album that calls to mind the works of its producer, John Vanderslice. With respect to Papercuts’ Life Among the Savages, it’s Jason Quever’s fifth full length, not his first, but it’s been a criminally long three years since his last record. As one might expect from Papercuts, the album is a rich, well-crafted affair with depth that makes it more than worth the wait.
Two names included in this mix might be better known for past projects. Juan Wauters is now out solo, but he previously crafted some of the best jangly pop out there with The Beets. Ditto Pillar Point‘s Scott Reitherman, who cut his indie pop teeth with the cult band Throw Me the Statue. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Protomartyr delivered a raucous set of churning punk at South by Southwest (hence their inclusion in that podcast too), and their Hemlock Tavern show is rounded out by some great local punk bands.
Enjoy the podcast and then go see some concerts!