It’s been a week for sold-out shows, climaxed by this morning’s frenzied onsale of Prince’s surprise shows in Oakland. But it’s also Noise Pop week, which means that a look at the festival lineup yields names like Vince Staples, Kamasi Washington, Mountain Goats or Drive Like Jehu — all followed by those two sad words: sold out.
Not that the party’s over. Noise Pop is at its core best when booking lesser-known acts worthy of checking out, so we bring you this, five upcoming Noise Pop shows that aren’t yet sold out. Bonus: with room to move, you won’t get stuck standing behind the tall, 6’3″ guy.
Antwon
San Jose’s strangest rapper is also dual parts sensitivity and brawn — he can rap about sex one minute and get sad about kangaroos the next, and there’s no one quite like him in a live setting. He’s with Alexander Spit, Unlikely Heroes and NETO on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the New Parish. Details here.
Day Wave
Jackson Phillips once trained at the Berklee College of Music to be a jazz drummer. Three things happened next: a Whiplash-like atmosphere of competition, the discovery of Pet Sounds, and a move to Oakland. His latest project Day Wave appears with Harriet, Hot Flash Heat Wave and Dot Vom on Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Rickshaw Stop. Details here.
American Football
Kinsella, thy fingerprints are everywhere. As a member of Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc and Owen, Mike Kinsella has put his stamp on indie rock for good; with American Football, predominantly active in the late 1990s, he’d reach a wide audience now grown and hungry for this reunion. The band plays with Her Space Holiday and Onelinedrawing on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Regency Ballroom. Details here.
Hamilton Leithaiser
The Walkmen were always a fascinating live act, utilizing the same vintage equipment once used by the Monkees to create modern-sounding songs. But the real emotional tug-o-war came from dynamic frontman Hamilton Leithaiser, who appears in a solo show here with Paul Maroon, Samantha Perez and Hannah Valente of The She’s, Sarah Bethe Nelson and Doncat on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Swedish American Hall. Details here.
Carly Rae Jepsen
OK, you got us — “lesser-known acts” doesn’t exactly apply to the singer whose “Call Me Maybe” was perhaps the most globally recognizable pop hit of 2012. But Jepsen’s latest E•mo•tion seems to be an unheralded follow-up, full of giant hooks that cohere, song after song, into a fully realized album. She appears with Cardiknox and Monika on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Warfield. Details here.
