8pm doors, 9pm show. $10/12. Adv. tickets now on sale.
Tony Molina Band
West Bay native Tony Molina has been following a fascinating trajectory on his recent string of releases. Early entries like the “6 Songs EP” and “Dissed And Dismissed” LP combined the best bits of Weezer/Teenage Fanclub-style power-pop with Tony’s smart, touching songs, shredding guitar pyrotechnics and ironclad DIY HC roots.
Now Tony is back with his brilliant, long-awaited album “Kill The Lights.” The ten songs on “Kill The Lights” continue in his evolution towards stripping the songs back to reveal each one’s emotional and melodic core. But where “Confront The Truth” was mostly acoustic, “Kill The Lights” adds back some full band arrangements to brilliant effect. Album opener “Nothing I Can Say” is a lovely 12-string pop tune that would sit snugly in The Byrds’ songbook – it’s that good. “Wrong Town” is gentle and subtly wrenching, recalling prime Elliott Smith in its simple truth. “Afraid To Go Outside” expands on some of the pastoral early Bee Gees/Kaleidoscope/Tomorrow flavor revealed on “Confront,” aided by some great organ lines. “Now That She’s Gone” features some gorgeous guitar finger-picking, while “Jasper’s Theme” is a rootsy mid-tempo groover that leans towards Gram-era Byrds.
Everywhere on “Kill The Lights” we hear Tony synthesizing his influences with great skill and intention; these classic folk and pop styles are being employed in the service of stellar songs and universal lyrical truths rather than just as aesthetic filigree.
The Reds, Pinks & Purples
DIY pop project featuring Glenn Donaldson (Skygreen Leopards, Art Museums etc).
The Umbrellas
4-piece indie pop band from SF (featuring members of Toyota) that just released their EP titled “Maritime” on discontinuous innovations inc.