Both Friday and Saturday's free Noise Pop Happy Hours at Bender's laid the foundation (hello, $3 beers) for a pretty rockin' city-wide indie takeover this weekend. The happy hours paid homage to some of the best emerging local talent and gave us occasion for some pretty legit hometown pride-ing.

Friday's happy hour, sponsored by The Bay Bridged, featured Hunx and His Punx, Spencey Dude and the Doodles as well as the buzzed-about locals Weekend. Often compared to Jesus & Mary Chain, their sound's been described as what would happen if "No Age traded in good vibes and instead got really angry from the depths inside a muffled cavern" (Fader). Their Noise Pop performance, as well as their recently inclusion on Gorilla vs. Bears A-string SXSW showcase, solidifies them as a band to keep a pulse on in the coming year.

Saturday's event, hosted by the cool kids at Brooklyn Vegan, featured folk-garage Berkeley band The Odawas, Sonoma's That Ghost and The Baths.  We left pretty excited about the angsty, driving sounds of The Baths, who are off to join Thee Oh Sees for a brief tour this month and then onto SXSW.