Live This Month: July 2014

Summer’s here, which means that bands are hitting the road in droves and new albums are coming out fast and furious. That’s great news for local music fans, but it also means that July is the sort of month where tough choices abound.

On Saturday, July 5, for example, you could check out The Fresh & Onlys, whose House of Spirits shows the band continuing to explore new textures without sacrificing any of the killer songcraft that’s made them one of the best SF groups around. If electronic music is more your speed, though, you should spend that evening at the latest Push the Feeling, where Silver Hands is performing in support of the new Skulls 12″ on Push the Feeling’s newly inaugurated record label.

For another tough one, look at July 9: Peter Matthew Bauer‘s first solo LP, following The Walkmen’s decision to take an “indefinite hiatus,” is a real winner, but Extra Classic‘s mix of dub, reggae and pop sounds makes the SF group’s album release party equally tempting.

July also means that festival season is in full swing. Fourth of July weekend brings the return of Burger Boogaloo, a two-day garage rock celebration in Oakland’s Mosswood Park. With the legendary Ronnie Spector sitting atop a bill that includes Thee Oh Sees, Shannon and the Clams, Reigning Sound and many more, the Boogaloo offers a compelling argument to stick around town over the holiday.

The weekend after that, we’re excited to present the fourth annual Phono del Sol Music Festival on July 12, collecting ten local and touring bands — with headliners Wye Oak and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down — along with a bevy of great food trucks for a can’t-miss day of summer fun.

Enjoy the podcast and then go see some concerts!

About the bands:

A Sunny Day in Glasgow – “In Love With Useless (The Timeless Geometry in the Tradition of Passing)”
Headlining the Hemlock Tavern on July 15; locals Cruel Summer and Swiftumz support.

The Fresh & Onlys – “Animal of One”
On July 5, the SF band plays alongside Cold Beat and Devon Williams at The Chapel.

Peter Matthew Bauer – “Latin American Ficciones”
The Walkmen member’s solo tour stops at Bottom of the Hill on July 9; he’ll be joined by Tabernacle and Skyler Skjelset of Fleet Foxes.

White Fence – “Like That”
At Phono del Sol 2014, White Fence joins Wye Oak, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Nick Waterhouse, Blackbird Blackbird, Yalls, Tony Molina, A Million Billion Dying Suns, The Tambo Rays, and Bill Baird.

The Antlers – “Hotel”
On July 11, the band’s US tour with fellow New Yorkers Yellow Ostrich comes to the Great American Music Hall.

Hundred Waters – “Down From the Rafters”
Hundred Waters and Pure Bathing Culture perform at The Independent on July 29.

Silver Hands – “Skulls (Mike Simonetti Remix)”
Appearing at Push the Feeling on July 5th with YR SKULL and epicsauce DJs.

The Clientele – “Reflections After Jane”
On July 27, The Clientele perform at The Chapel with The Tyde and Matt Kivel.

Amen Dunes – “Lilac In Hand”
The band’s tour with Axxa/Abraxas comes to the Rickshaw Stop on July 7; VANIISH opens.

Travis Hayes – “Follow Me Home”

On July 11, SF singer-songwriter Hayes joins Before The Brave, Trebuchet and Christian Lee Hutson at Bottom of the Hill.

La Sera – “Losing to the Dark”
La Sera is one of the many great bands performing as part of Burger Boogaloo in Oakland on July 5 and 6.

Craft Spells – “Breaking the Angle Against the Tide”
Touring with locals The Bilinda Butchers, the two bands arrive at The Chapel on July 17.

CYMBALS – “Erosion”
Astronauts, Etc. and The Wild Wild join the British band on July 23 at the Rickshaw Stop.

Extra Classic – “A Little Rain”
Celebrating the release of Showcase with Bart Davenport at the Make-Out Room on July 9.