…is at the 2011 Noise Pop Holiday Shop on Sunday, December 11 at Bottom of the Hill. Not only does the event showcase chic, locally made goods for your holiday shopping pleasure, it also features a special raffle benefiting Potrero’s Daniel Webster Elementary School where the purchase of a $5 ticket can earn you one of these fabulous prizes to round out your holiday gift list.

• One week at Bendita Casita Condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Airfare not included)
• Gift certificates to local restos Skool, Serpentine and Yield Wine Bar
• $25 gift certificates to Threadless T-Shirts
• Gift Basket from Baked
• New Release CDs from Sub Pop Records
• Noise Pop poster package
• Book from local music photog legend, Jay Blakesberg / Rock Out Books
• Family Photo Shoot with music photographer Peter Ellenby 
• Family Photo Shoot with Emily Payne Photography
• Wine from Tim Teichgraeber esq. and Burke Wine
• 3 Certificates from Potrero Chiropractic & Acupuncture
• Roman Ruby Botanicals Gift package

Better than a Kmart special. And if shopping’s not your thing, not to worry. You can go big and stay home by purchasing ticket packs online. Even if you win bubkis, all the proceeds support a great cause. Like keeping music and arts programs in my kid’s school at Daniel Webster. And that’s important. So pony up.

James Vincent McMorrow - “Higher Love” (Steve Winwood Cover)

Dublin native, James Vincent McMorrow, is embarking on his first North American headline tour starting next week. And if you haven’t been tipped to his beautiful debut album “Early In The Morning” yet, you should get on that now. Move over Bon Iver.

Artist: Ganglians
Album: “Still Living”
Homeland: Sacramento, CA
Release Date: August 23
Label: Lefse Records
Featured Track: “Jungle”- 

Who hasn’t been loving the first two singles from the Sacramento lo-fi psychedelic pop outfit, Ganglians? I sure have. So finally, after months of anticipation, their second album release is nigh. AND, they’ll be playing at The Hemlock Tavern, August 21 with the aforementioned Cuckoo Chaos before jaunting off for a European tour. Oh, life is rough.

Artist: Cuckoo Chaos
Album: “Woman”
Homeland: San Diego, CA
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Label: Lefse
Featured Track: “Just Ride It”

Let’s just say, ’nuff said on the lead single from the debut album “Woman” by San Diego indie pop outfit, Cuckoo Chaos. They’ll be heading out on a West Coast tour this month supporting Ganglians. Can I get a “hell, yeah”?

8/10 – Sacramento, CA – Luigi’s
8/12 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
8/13 – Seattle, WA – The Vera Project
8/14 – Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
8/17 – Fresno, CA – Audie’s Olympic
8/18 – Santa Barbara, CA – Muddy Waters
8/19 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
8/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Echo
8/21 – San Francisco, CA – Hemlock Tavern

The good folks over at The Bay Bridged have another great music fest on tap. This one at the hidden gem, Potrero del Sol Park, in Potrero Hill. A great untapped locale for live music, playing…and skateboards! And it’s free. Wheeee! The event goes from 12-6. Let’s pray for some sun!

Luke Rathborne

White Cloud

I can hear the excuses already…I just got back home…holiday weekend…I’m tired. Wah wah wah. I’m having none of it. I say, what better excuse to keep the good times going than to run on over to Milk Bar July 6 for some all girl band action with Oakland’s surf pop princesses, The Hot Toddies. Not too shabby, right? Add to that the soulful sounds of Luke Rathborne and the psych pop sounds of San Francisco’s White Cloud, and you have yourself an eclectic evening of music for cheap or for free. For free if you RSVP on the Eventbrite page here. For cheap if you show up at the door – $5. It all goes down at 9PM.

J. Irvin Dally- “Sun Room”

Wunderkid J. Irvin Dally produced one of my favorite albums last year, Despistado. A simply stunning album you must add to your collection. And he’s back with a new limited edition vinyl 7″ Sun Room/Teeting, to be released by the Bay Area’s very own Pretty Blue Presents on July 12. Supporting the release, he’ll be touring the West coast with a stop at San Francisco’s Hotel Utah next Friday, July 8 playing in conjunction with Garret Pierce. Hello date night!

July 6 – San Diego, CA – Bar Pink
July 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Cafe
July 8 – San Francisco, CA – Hotel Utah
July 9 – Davis, CA – Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
July 11 – Seattle, WA – High Dive
July 12 – Portland, OR – The Waypost

SISTER CRAYON - “Still the Same Person”

EXCUSES FOR SKIPPING - “Tonic for Hysteria”

WHITE ARROWS - “The Voyeur”

DJ BAGEL TED

Let’s get ready to…RUMBLE! Next Wednesday, June 8, the monthly free music showcase rolls into town featuring a trifecta of Cali-based indie artists including Sacramento’s Sister Crayon, San Fran’s Excuses for Skipping and LA’s White Arrows. Our very own DJ Bagel Ted will be spinning tunes as usual. And true to form, the event is free. But to get your free pass, you must RSVP at Eventbrite here. Otherwise, it’s $5 at the door. See you there!

Mr. Loveless- “The Old Pain”

It’s that time of the month again. The first Wednesday of the month where you get a free preview into a line up of the bands of tomorrow. And May is a good month. Not only is it a great line up of artists – featuring San Francisco’s James & Evander, Mister Loveless and LA-based group, The Fling – but it’s also my birthday. So if you don’t come for the music, come for that.

For free entrance, RSVP here. Or pay $5 at the door.

Winter’s Fall – “Anyways”

Vanaprasta – “Healthy Geometry”

Space Ghost – “Drone”

Come to Milk Bar this Wednesday, April 6, for another great line up of ‘what’s next’ in music, featuring Winter’s Fall – a Berkeley-based 5 piece that sounds like Band of Horses meets My Morning Jacket; the LA-based group Vanaprasta that has such a buzz going they landed on Consequence of Sound’s “Top 25 Bands to Catch at SXSW”; and Oakland’s Space Ghost that will bring their bass and synth dreamy beats.

As usual, DJ Bagel Ted will be spinning beats all night. RSVP for free here on EventBrite or pay $5 at the door.