Despite being a working student whose free time consists of reading comic books on the train while wedged in the middle of a commute hour human sandwich, being a writer for The Rumpus has it’s perks.
Covering Noise Pop is up there on that list. [List of free shows after the jump.]
Noise Pop is a 17-year old San Francisco tradition that brings both emerging and established artists together for a solid week of spectacular music, film, and visual art. Since its inception in 1993, Noise Pop has expanded from its musical roots to include film screenings, gallery openings, a grassroots-retail Pop’N’Shop, and a whole mess of happy hour events across the city. While I encourage you to get yourself a badge and go hog wild, I understand that some of you value the silly little things in life like sleep, sobriety, and keeping your job. Luckily for you, I don’t! So, like a kid on Halloween with a pillowcase full of candy, it may be hazardous to my health, It’ll definitely keep me up past my bed time, and I’ll probably have a tummy ache afterward, but I will be there every night, bringing you the latest from the hipster front lines.
For those of you who are more concerned with cost than sobriety, check out the awesome number of free events going down at Noise Pop XVIII:
Friday 2/19: The Art of Noise @ Project One Gallery. Curated by Elliot Kotek and Stacy Horne, the show focuses on visual art inspired by music. 21+, 7-10pm.
Tuesday 2/23: Noise Pop’s FREE Opening Night Party is happening at Benders, but here’s the catch: In order to RSPV and get in for free, you have to go to the Diesel store on Market, pick up a free shirt that says “Be Stupid”, sign up for the guest list, and then show up at Bender’s wearing the aforementioned stupid shirt. Seem like a lot to ask? Well then maybe you don’t deserve to see the musical stylings of Ron-Jeremy-esque R&B stripper, Har Mar Superstar. 21+, 5-8pm.
Wednesday 2/24: Happy Hour @ Benders, this time sans t-shirt shenanigans. See Love is Chemicals, The Ian Fays, and Mist and Mast. 21+, 5-8pm.
Thursday 2/25: Head over to Hotel Biron for the photography exhibit Outside the Crowd, then to Benders for Happy Hour with Social Studies, The Old Fashioned Way, and Shark Toys (both events 21+, 5-8pm). Or head over to Viz Cinema for the Noise Pop Film Reception (free), and stay to watch a documentary about Maynard James Keenan, the frontman of Tool winemaker. All Ages, $10, 5:30pm.
Friday 2/26: Tonight at Benders see Hunx and His Punx, Spencey Dude and the Doodles, and Weekend take on happy hour from 5-8pm. Then cruise over to Mini Bar for the Big Light listening party at 7pm. Both shows 21+.
Saturday 2/27: Spend the afternoon at the Verdi Club where Noise Pop’s Pop’N’Shop will be in full swing. Admission is free, but the cute local wares are not. All ages, 12-5pm. Then get your happy hour on at Benders with Odawas, The Baths, and That Ghost @ 4pm.
