Live This Month: October 2014

October, you’ve outdone yourself this time! Any month that offers a free weekend of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park and two days of great bands at the Treasure Island Music Festival is bound to be good. What’s most surprising about this month’s quality concert offerings, though, is how varied and plentiful they are beyond the festivals. Seriously, a lengthy list of Bay Bridged favorites — like King Tuff, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Ex Hex, and White Fence — were omitted from this mix not because they’re not worth seeing, but because there are plenty of new bands equally deserving of the spotlight.

This month affords particularly noteworthy opportunities to see several great acts from overseas. Australia’s Ausmuteants are embarking on their first U.S. tour, and the band’s resume should indicate the caliber of garage punk at work here: Order of Operation was recorded by Mikey Young (Total Control/Eddy Current Suppression Ring), and it’s being released on Goner Records. Meanwhile, Allo Darlin’ is poised to release We Come From The Same Place next week via Slumberland, and everything we’ve heard so far indicates it’s more top-notch indie pop from this stellar London-based band.

There are also a number of exciting new developments closer to home. Happy Diving released a stellar noisy-pop EP earlier this year. “Sad Planet,” from the group’s forthcoming debut LP, sounds just as noisy and just as catchy, both of which are very good things. Oakland’s Mall Walk recorded their first EP with Monte Vallier soon after the band formed, but “Teen Missing” feels like the sort of rich, textured work of a much older band. All of the other local songs here — from Oakland bands St. Tropez and Everyone is Dirty and SF’s Cash for Gold — are also from recent or upcoming releases.

Enjoy the podcast and then go see some concerts!

About the Bands:

Ausmuteants – “Freedom of Information”
The Australian band’s performance at the Hemlock Tavern also features locals Meat Market and Bicycle Day on October 15.

Allo Darlin’ – “Romance and Adventure”
Headlining the Rickshaw Stop on October 24; The Hot Toddies and The Tropics support.

Cash for Gold – “Out All The Time”
Performing at Slim’s as part of an all-local bill with O, Taxes, and Bed on October 16.

Happy Diving – “Sad Planet”
Celebrating the release of Big World on October 22 at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records.

S – “Vampires”
Jenn Ghetto’s solo project comes to 1-2-3-4 Go! Records on October 10 and Milk Bar on October 16.

Beverly – “Honey Do”
Supporting The Drums at Great American Music Hall on October 6.

Mall Walk – “Teen Missing”
Playing on October 4 at Bottom of the Hill and October 26 at Leo’s.

St. Tropez – “In Pictures”
Playing at Leo’s on October 11 with The Seshen and Waterstrider.

Operators – “True”
The group’s tour with Zola Jesus comes to Bimbo’s on October 8.

Ryan Hemsworth – “Every Square Inch”
Appearing at the Treasure Island Music Festival on October 18.

Everyone is Dirty – “California”
The local band will perform at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall on October 7 and at Bottom of the Hill on October 31.

Chastity Belt – “Seattle Party”
The Seattle band comes to The Night Light on October 17 and the Hemlock Tavern on October 21.

The Growlers – “Big Toe”
Performing at the Treasure Island Music Festival on October 19.

Tonstartssbandht – “Last Time”
Walter TV and Blood Sister join the band at Brick & Mortar Music Hall on October 16.