By going to the Noise Pop Festival official website, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. I know this because, if you're anything like me (which you are), you'll go straight to the schedule link and shit your pants over the slated acts, before realizing that you've messed yourself in public over what in fact is last year's lineup. Spare yourself the humiliation and read on.
A select few acts of 2008 have been disclosed to the media, and I'm telling you now, they are indeed shit-worthy: our lord, Stephin Merritt's very own Magnetic Fields will headline two shows at The Herbst Theatre in support of their justly anticipated album, Distortions. The Mountain Goats will play three separate shows at three separate venues soon to be announced. Then there's Gutter Twins, the collaboration between Greg Dulli of Afghan Whigs and Mark Lanegan, performing in support of their debut album Saturnalia, which is set for an early 2008 release through Sub Pop.
Want more? How about Cursive, Kelly Stoltz, Tilly & The Wall, Capgun Coup, and Blitzen Trapper -- and that's just the start of a soon-to-be-fully-unveiled roster of 100+ bands to appear from February 26 - March 2 at a dozen or so close-to-our-heart San Francisco venues, like The Great American Music Hall, The Independent, Mezzanine, 12 Galaxies, and Bottom of The Hill.
As you can see, it's shaping up to be a damn good hoopla, with 2008 marking the sweet 16 of a festival that's been bringing bay area rockers the dope-est (I've heard a lot of people saying that again, "doooooope") in indie, punk, and electronic music since its establishment in 1993. At its advent, Noise Pop was a one-night hoo-ha, but that hoo-ha has evolved into the week long, hip-hop-happenin hoodang it is today, shooting above and beyond your average West Coast gala. Some would go as far to call it a veritable cultural shin-dig, its sticky fingers now involving gallery art shows, a music-themed film festival, a discussion panel led by musicians and minimally sordid music industry professionals, and a number of planned and spontaneous events, of which there's nothing more exciting.
Unlike the overwhelming nature of CMJ or SXSW, Noise Pop has forever been unique in its dedication to bridging the gap between fans and bands, keeping the venues intimate and ticket prices low. Year after year, show-goers revel in performances by the not-unknown-for-long, who add themselves to a roster that's showcased acts the likes of Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, Devendra Banhart, Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, Frank Black, Jeff Tweedy, and Spoon.
Dooooooope.
