Noise Pop Festival 2009: Top 5 Bands to Watch

If you haven’t snagged your ticket for San Francisco’s 17th Annual Noise Pop Festival Feb. 24 – March 1, do so before January 12th, or you are going to regret it. If you wait too much longer, you’ll miss the early bird price of $150 which is a fantastic deal. You know that you’ll end up going, your inevitable growing desire to attend possibly one of the greatest (legal) music and arts festivals of recent times will win over. So get a good deal while you still can!

Long story short: This kind of festival separates the true music fans from the apathetic posers. If you really love music, find a way, any way (within modest boundaries) to get there. It’s gonna be awesome. Although the full line up has not been announced, here are my top five picks to look out for:

• Antony and the Johnsons, Feb. 24 @ Nob Hill Masonic Center: Their haunting melodies and mellow compositions will put you at you ease for the coming week. Don’t miss this show on opening night!
• Deer and the Headlights, Feb. 27 @ Bottom of the Hill: If you haven’t hit up a legitimate dance-rock party by this 4th day, these guys will get you movin’.
• Goblin Cock, Feb. 26 @ The Rickshaw Stop: Hooded robes. Themes of impending doom. Metal meets The New Pornographers. For all of these in one place, check out San Diego’s Goblin Cock, led by Pinback‘s Rob Crow.
• Ra Ra Riot, Feb. 27 @ The Independent: Get your fix of unbelievably catchy indie rock at one of San Francisco’s more intimate venues.
• Stephen Malkmus, Feb. 25 @ Great American Music Hall: Stephen Malkmus’s success with Pavement, Silver Jews and other notable indie bands is a legacy to be reckoned with. Don’t miss his first ever solo show in the Bay Area.

Ticket prices will go up after Jan. 12, so don’t do something you might regret, like forgetting to grab them early. For those who don’t take good advice for granted, I’ll see you there!

The full music line-up (so far), schedule and other information, can be found at the Noise Pop 2009 Web site.

Photos available via MySpace.