Noise Pop to Vinyl Dreams: 6 local can’t-miss music streams

From Kim Gordon viewing Instagram as a performative space and Kenya Barris using Netflix as a platform to distill the messy politics of honestly critiquing Black art, to those damn Troll movies threatening to wipe out the entire AMC Theater chain: We are fully engaged in streaming culture.

Flawlessly, it’s all somehow designed for the COVID stay-your-ass-home, Zoom-chat-in-your-Lou-Drawls, ramen-for-three-meals-crisis. Understand, this train is a-chuggin’ along with speed, cocktail bar and D-Nice bumping JOINTS beaming to your heart emoji delight. So we have some musical suggestions for your home consumption. San Francisco Bay Area things. Designed to keep those toes a-tapping. Keep streaming ffolkes, wash your hands, and buy Netflix stock.

NOISE POP: NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Noise Pop begins its free live-streaming series, aptly titled “No Place Like Home” on Tue/5. It’s a virtual benefit for the Bay Area independent live music community, and the headlining performers throughout include some longtime favorites. Tune in Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 pm PST to catch sets, conversation, and other hijinks from three local artists highlighting a favorite local venue. Catch Grammy-nominated, genre-bending K.Flay with Finish Ticket and Zelma Stone benefitting Bottom of the Hill on Tuesday, May 5th. Then, gear up for indie rock vets Rogue Wave with Spooky Mansion and Meernaa benefitting Cafe du Nord on Thursday, May 7th. And the week after, don’t miss Geographer x Rickshaw Stop (5/12) and Built to Spill x Slim’s, RIP (5/14).

These events are being held in partnership with independent music artists and venues to raise funds for those heavily affected by COVID-19, and promote awareness of their vital cultural contributions. All funds raised will be shared between the co-promoting venue, artists, and Noise Pop’s Staff Relief Fund. More info here. 

VINYL DREAMS LIVE DJ SETS
Vinyl Dreams is a record shop in Lower Haight that specializes in San Francisco-based vinyl. Located in a sacred spot for DJ culture in the city, dating back to 1991, when Tweekin Records first inhabited the space, Vinyl Dreams is the spot for top-notch records that local and international DJ talent want. Period. The Vinyl Dreams YouTube page, comprised of DJ sets previously broadcast from the store, is a reflection of the assorted genres they sell—while serving as an ever-evolving document to whom may just pop up and drop THAT set, you can’t shake loose for days. Try UFO! with French DJ legend Mehdi lurking in the back.

(48 Hills’ Marke B just ran into Vinyl Dreams founder Mike B—no relation—on Haight Street, who told us they are keeping busy with orders, although like every other record store they are definitely suffering. Order some records from your local shop!) Stream sets here. 

SFJAZZ FRIDAYS AT FIVE
Tune in each Friday at 5pm for the latest concert (well, from the voluminous SFJAZZ performance archives). Make it a regular date. Bring a glass of wine and cozy up: SFJazz thinks you will discover that digital technology can show new dimensions of musical performance. May’s lineup features heavy-hitters like Bill Frisell, Wayne Shorter, Kamasi Washington, Chucho Valdés, Marilyn Crispell, and Monsieur Perriné. The concerts help raise funds for this essential local institution (they ask you to become a member to view).  Tune in here. 

METALLICA MONDAYS
On the side of the musical spectrum, the Bay Area-based Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and metal legends are streaming concerts from the band’s archives during Metallica Mondays, which become available at 5pm and remain online for a week. Bang your head here.

HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS
Worried this little global pandemic may scratch your free, outdoor October ritual? Take in a priceless John Prine performance from 2017, just in case, and relive the genius of one COVID’s huge losses. You can see more sets on the HSB webcast page, and relive last year’s fest in this 48 Hills photo set.

COACHELLA: 20 YEARS IN THE DESERT
OK this isn’t exactly Bay Area, but considering that the massive concert in the desert sucks up a good chunk of our population (and the fest’s restrictive radius clause determines much of the year’s performance schedule), it counts. If you’re missing your April weekends under the sun, the documentary Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert should bring back plenty of memories. The YouTube film features interviews with performers and clips of such now-legendary performances as Beyoncé’s 2018 show. You can see it here.