Live This Month: September 2015

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.

How has it taken this long to include Chelsea Wolfe in one of our podcasts? Wolfe started out in Sacramento before relocating to LA, and over the course of four albums has defined a unique mix of heavy doom and gothic folk. “Iron Moon” comes from her new album, Abyss, and it highlights both sides of her sound very well. Speaking of Sacramento, our state capital also happens to be where Mike Krol recorded his new record, Turkey. Krol’s an expert at no-nonsense garage rock with a power-pop heart, and Turkey doesn’t waste any time over the course of its 18 minutes.

We’ve also included in this mix the lead-off track from The Expanding Flower Planet, the first LP from Deradoorian. As Angel Deradoorian’s credits might suggest — she’s played bass and sang in Dirty Projectors, collaborated with Flying Lotus, and was a member of Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks — she’s a musical omnivore, crafting vocal-driven songs with elements of freewheeling prog and psych.

Locally, three of our favorite Bay Area bands celebrate new albums with release parties this month. Oakland’s Shannon and the Clams have long been at the top of the garage-pop universe, with songs that soar on earworm melodies and Shannon’s stellar vocals. Their records are consistently strong — and early singles suggest that the Sonny Smith-produced Gone by the Dawn isn’t likely to change that — but the group is even better live.

Also great live is Golden Void, back with their sophomore full length, Berkana. The album was recorded by Tim Green (of the F*cking Champs), and, while their prior LP was tracked live, this time the group added layers of instrumentation to their heady psych. Finally, Bay Area post-punk favorites Wild Moth are back with Inhibitor, out now on Iron Pier. It’s an intense, melodic set of post-punk that demands to be heard live and loud.

Enjoy the podcast — and then go see some concerts!

About the bands:

Shannon and the Clams – “It’s Too Late”
On Sept. 11, The Mantles, Silver Shadows, and Magnanimous join the Clams for a show at the Great American Music Hall.

Deradoorian – “A Beautiful Woman”
The artist performs with Lætitia Sadier at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall on Sept. 23.

No Vacation – “Dræm Girl”
Appearing at the 20th Street Block Party alongside Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Nick Waterhouse, Andrew St. James and more on Sept. 12

Seoul – “Real June”
Seoul’s tour with Young Ejecta arrives at Bottom of the Hill on Sept. 23; Name Parade kicks off the show.

Golden Void – “Dervishing”
Co-headlining The Chapel with the Mermen on Sept. 19

Chelsea Wolfe – “Iron Moon”
Wovenhand supports the Los Angeles-via-Sacramento artist at the Regency Ballroom on Sept. 26.

Wild Moth – “Mirror”
Celebrating the release of Inhibitor on Sept. 11 at the Humanist Hall in Oakland; Nervous, Terry Malts and Composite round out the bill.

Emotional – “Chinatown (demo)”
Performing at the Rickshaw Stop on Sept. 28 with Motor Inn and Trance Farmers.

NITEPPL – “Shadows”
Playing BFF.fm’s birthday party on Sept. 14 at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall with Future Twin and The Silhouette Era.

Dam-Funk – “We Continue”
The electronic funk artist performs a live set at The Independent on Sept. 6 with Nite Jewel and the Sweater Funk DJs.

Mike Krol – “This Is the News”
The LA garage rocker’s tour with Mac McCaughan and Flesh Wounds arrives at the Rickshaw Stop on Sept. 17.

Woolen Men – “After the Flood”
On Sept. 20, the Portland band joins Skygreen Leopards at the Hemlock Tavern.

Mark Nelsen & The Mutiny – “It Ain’t The Way”
The Gathering of the Tribes — taking place at Public Works on Sept. 13 — unites 18 local psych and rock bands, including Carlton Melton, The Spiral Electric, Cellar Doors, Down and Outlaws and many, many more.

Lou Barlow – “Moving”
The indie rock veteran plays at Bottom of the Hill on Sept. 22 with California and We Arsons.

Neon Indian – “Slumlord”
Playing two nights at the new venue Social Hall SF on Sept. 22 and 23.