On the one hand, San Francisco musicians have fewer places to rehearse and fewer places to play, especially venues that aren’t controlled by right-wing fundamentalists or anti-homeless vigilantes.
On the other, there’s Father/Daughter Records. The label, launched in 2010 by Jessi Frick, has built a formidable platform for local artists, and in 2018 it released an outsized amount of the city’s finest indie-rock records. A label showcase Thursday at The Independent attests to its banner year.
Headliner Pllush in May released Stranger to the Pain, a heaving, achingly gorgeous full-length debut that’s attracted praise from outlets including The Fader and NPR. Main support Rose Droll, an inventive multi-instrumentalist and agile singer, recently released Your Dog, which KQED dubbed one of the year’s best Bay Area albums. Rounding out the bill are the spirited, hook-laden rock outfits SOAR and Pardoner—both likely candidates for Father/Daughter releases in 2019.
Co-presented with Mission District internet radio station BFF.fm, the show partially benefits the nonprofit Sunset Youth Services, and the first 200 arrivals receive Father/Daughter holiday ornaments.