Social Studies
How in heart are we with Social Studies?! One of SF's best coolest pop bands. Sweet like Mexican Coca Cola not that corn syrup junk.

"On their debut EP, This Is the World's Biggest Hammer, San Francisco's Social Studies excel in ardent electropunk and get high marks for their cheerful blend of Casiotone-charged melodies and stripped-down tempos...the quartet knows how to rock a dance floor by playfully weaving a nostalgic arcade hook between flushed bursts of guitar and disco drums..." - SF Bay Guardian

The Ian Fays
"The Ian Fays make sweet dramatic music, creating a mesh of lo-fi Mirah-esque vocals, paired with the dreamy acoustic/electronic juxtaposition of something much like Azure Ray. The band recently signed with Italy's Homesleep Records and released their album The Damon Lessons. - Skatterbrain

Sweetie
Sweetie is a new band with members of Century Schoolbook and the Nervous Breakdowns.

The Time Flys
Oakland, California's enfant-terribles The Time Flys are back with another blast of rock'n'roll rebellion. Performing at the pinnacle of their powers, these guys (and gal) pick up right where their debut, Fly, left off. Together, Sir Eric "The Masher" Von Ravenson, Andy Freeze (aka Andy Jordan of The Cuts), Erin Error and Peter P. Juvenile seamlessly fuse mid '70s glam, late '70s proto-punk, and even later '70s Killed By Death-style punk to create music that, in these stale times, sounds remarkably fresh. The combination of guitar, bass, drums and attitude hasn't sounded this great since the heyday of Sire Records.(bio)

The Greatest Hits
"The Greatest Hits are five punk rockers playing songs that come natural. You can call it punk, glam, or rock. They call it 'Trash Bin Alley Rock,' Nils Forever is the singer and songwriter for The Greatest Hits. When he takes the stage eyes focus on his flashy outfits and raw, vulnerable presence. The melodies he sings are filled with the attitude of Axl Rose, the sexual tension of Marc Bolan, the darkness of Alice Cooper and the pop sound of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. (bio)

The Luxury Sweets
And now, out of the primordial ooze of Santa Cruz punk rock comes The Luxury Sweets! Five musical ulsters that have a passion for rock n roll in this age of ear bleeding grindcore and melodramatic half-breed indy bands. They have taken the raw medium of basic human emotion and applied it to the feel of the 50s 60s and 70s to produce a potentially nostalgic remembrance of the 1977 movement combined with classics like Chuck Berry and Gene Vincent to produce a new and exciting form of rocking unheard in todays lineups.

In front, a man that knows no shame and belts out crystal clear melodies with diamond like precision. Two Gibsons raging with the fury of 50 years of guitar licks and fire fingers to back them up while still carrying flawless harmony. On rhythm we have a pounding P-Bass driving the train and sticks of rage to keep the insane tempo. If you are looking for a fun, fast and exciting evening full of harmony and rolling licks then in the company of The Luxury Sweets is the place to be. (bio)

(memo to bands: admitting to your lack of shame can help get you booked!!)

Punk Rock Sideshow w/DJ Tragic & the Duchess of Hazard, every Monday

Curtains
Chris Cohen (ex-Deerhoof) was given his first drum set at the age of 3. Pictures in the family album also show a plastic mic taped to a floor lamp and connected to nothing? This is when he began in earnest what he is still working on today in The Curtains. Inspired at a young age to form a band, Chris acquired the necessary instruments even though there was no one else around to play with him. It was a lonely time but Chris could pretend, and the discovery of "overdubbing" on a 4-track at the age of 12 gave Chris the impression that he could, by himself, synthesize any band he wanted. (bio)

Scary Mansion
Wonderful singer-songwriter from Brooklyn who you may have heard singing a duet with TV On the Radio on their most recent album, Return to Cookie Mountain on the song "Snakes and Martyrs."

Michael Leviton
"Straw hat or no straw hat, there is no denying the brilliance of Michael Leviton's perfectly titled debut, My Favorite Place to Drown . The cover sticker says that Michael "sings the loneliest songs," but don't let that put you off. Of course, it's a cliché -- but as sure as G7 chords sound good resolving into D chords, Leviton's snarky uke-inspired lullabies will make you laugh from crying. Or something like that. Plus, like any modern uke balladeer must have, Leviton's got a knack for amazing song titles -- one after the other -- "Summer's the Worst," "I'm in Love with the Tip of Your Icebergs," "If Sense Were Really Common." However, as modern as his wit gets, at his heart Leviton's a classicist. Just like Merritt's tunes, half these songs could be by Rogers and Hart. And the production from Rainer Maria's Kyle Fischer only helps to make that point -- it's all old timey strings, and brass, upright bass, and soft percussion. There are even some ladies who stop by to duet with our man. One gets the impression that Michael won't be so lonely after some more ladies hear these tunes. Which is too bad, cause I'll be damned if this isn't one of the most pleasant surprises of the year so far. A summer record, with a broken heart, and a glass of lemonade -- a little too sweet, but hey, at least it's cold." - Other Music

Lazarus
Lazarus began in 2001 as Trevor Montgomery's post-Tarentel solo project. His first release was a minimal and soulful collaboration with longtime friend Marty Anderson (Okay, Dilute). His second release, 'Like Trees We Grow up to be Satellites (The Backwards America)', punched through the whispering darkness into an orchestral declaration of strength and political upheavall. Lazarus has now grown into a small ensemble, featuring Sacramento natives Kathryn Sechrist and Kelly Nyland, exloring overwhelmingly beautiful depths with dense layers of drums, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, glockenspiel, and Trevor's shamanistic, gospel-inspired vocals. (bio)

60 Watt Kid
60 Watt Kid consits as Kevin Litrow (ex-Dance Disaster Movement on vocals, guitar, harmonica and keyboard), Derek Stovall (guitar, keyboard and electronic devices) Garret Pierce ( tom drum, vocals and percusive instrumentation). Intergalactic pop, psychedelic melodies, crafted room spinning fingerpicking and sci fi lyrics.

Barn Owl

Ex-Boyfriends
"With audible influences like the Cars, Weezer, the Cure, and Alkaline Trio, the tempo of Ex-Boyfriends is far from broken-hearted. This threesome is clearly on the prowl with infectious hooks and off-the-charts danceability factor." - Spin

Looker
NYC pop rock mavens Looker:

"To the left of Josie & the Pussycats bubblegum and to the right of the Breeders' artiness." - Chuck Eddy, Village Voice

Lou Lou & the Guitarfish
Flaunting the love-child DNA of 60’s British invasion & 70’s SF punk, these young teens rock with swagger and style. Songwriting siblings George & Lou Lou provide quirky lyrics, addictive melodies and classic trash guitar riffs. (bio)

The Ebb & Flow
"The Ebb & Flow makes epic, experimental pop that builds up and up, then explodes like a confetti-filled balloon, bright bits of color showering down on your mind and soul. Sam Tsitrin's voice has the Neil Young quaver, and the vocals of his female counterpart, Roshy Kheshti, haunt like Kate Bush. Combined with synthesizers, organs and various other instruments, they create a controlled chaos of endorphin-releasing riffs and beautiful melodies." - Willamette Weekly

The Dont's