Five Can't-Miss Live Shows

Five Can't-Miss Live Shows

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Get on the weekly party wagon at these sure-to-be-killer shows.


5/2 Overkill at the Regency Ballroom

Need to clear your sinuses? Sweat out all your ills? Blast away your worries? Grab a ticket to see Jersey thrash metal legends Overkill and let them take care of you. Longtime vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth still sounds excellent sneering and screeching like a rabid Rob Halford (of Judas Priest) over pulsing waves of muscle-bound riffs and cascading blast beats, only stopping to breathe for the occasional gratuitous guitar solo (remember those?!). One of the first successful thrash bands in the 80s (aside from the Big Four), their musical chops stun in their ultra-honed live show. After all, they've been at it since the rest of us were still playing in sandboxes. We're just hoping for some pyrotechnics.

5/2 Ty Segall, White Fence, Shannon & The Clams, and The Mallard at The Independent

We've made it pretty well known how in love with Bay Area wunderkind Ty Segall we are, and how much we just can't put down his new collab album Hair, with brilliant LA noisenik White Fence (see our recent interview here). We'll hit up this show to see the headliners, but we plan on getting there early, grabbing a drink, and settling in to see local up-and-comers The Mallard. Their homemade sound harkens back to the rough-and-tumble beginnings of psychedelia and scrappy punk, and their recently recorded full-length Yes On Blood comes out soon on Castleface Records. The real task will be trying not to slosh our drinks everywhere while headbanging.

5/2 Kids On A Crime Spree at Bottom of the Hill

This fledgling band, who has one EP on Slumberland Records to date, shows a ton of promise, especially as a live band. In the vein of The Ravonettes' feedback-and-ennui-infused, saccharine 60s rock n' roll, KOACP sports uncharacteristically well-crafted, bite-sized tunes that beg for the occasional good sonic freak out (like an extended, unhinged noise jam or two, just to contrast their inherently sleek sound). Perhaps their headlining spot at Bottom of the Hill will inspire them to kick out the jams and let loose.

5/3 A B & The Sea's Record Release Show at Great American Music Hall

We've always been astonished local outfit A B & The Sea hasn't broken into the collective consciousness yet. Their sunny, California pop sound boasts killer production quality, meticulous and ridiculously catchy hooks–perfect for piña coladas accompanied by the warmth of the sun, and just generally escaping your daily doldrums. However, being in SF, we're more inclined to pair any live show with watered-down dive bar swill and the warmth of colored stage lights. Their record release show, this time for their Constant Vacation EP, is sure to be a good time.

5/4 Washed Out and Memoryhouse at Mezzanine

This show begs for a thorough Craigslist hunt (it's sold out), but we promise it will be totally worth the possible few extra dollars. If you're a Washed Out fan and have seen him before, you know it's not all knob-twiddling and far-away vocals. Leader Ernest Greene sports a full-on live band and the energy of a hyphy rapper, and his songs are just, well, gorgeous. Dream-pop slangers Memoryhouse will begin the evening's chill out session, hopefully by playing tracks from their excellent 7-inches Caregiver and Lately.

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