Live This Month: October 2011

While the Treasure Island Music Festival is this month’s biggest draw, there are plenty of great shows this month. Girls cap a national tour with two big hometown shows, while The War on Drugs brings an acclaimed new album to SF. Meanwhile, EMA and Hooray for Earth return to the City, while locals The Soft Moon and Garrett Pierce have release shows for new EPs. Those are just a handful of the dozen-plus great bands highlighted this month.

About the bands:

Calgary singer-songwriter Chad VanGaalen (“Peace on the Rise”) is touring behind his fourth album, Diaper Island, which is out now. VanGaalen performs with Gary War at Cafe Du Nord on October 11.

Nobunny (“Blow Dumb”) is teaming with Ty Segall for a Halloween weekend show on October 28 at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall. The fuzz pop talent will also be MCing and performing “Budget Rock Hits of the 90s” at Bottom of the Hill on October 21.

Melted Toys (“Rose Again”) will be performing at “Buried Treasure,” our free Treasure Island Music Festival Popup Concert and Mixtape Exchange, taking place on October 7 at the San Franpsycho Store (1314 Grant Avenue, San Francisco). ChuCha Santamaria Y Usted also performs, and there will be a DJ set by Elephant and Castle.

Santa Barbara’s Gardens & Villa (“Star Fire Power”) have crafted a sharp indie pop sound blending electronic and acoustic instrumentation. On October 13, the band headlines Bottom of the Hill, with Young Man and Waterstrider.

Megafaun (“These Words”) is a psych-folk band from Durham, North Carolina, with a new self-titled double LP. See the trio at Cafe Du Nord on October 7 with Jessica Pratt and Doug Paisley.

Garrett Pierce (“Everybody Breaks”) is one of our favorite singer-songwriters, and his new EP, Everybody Breaks, comes out this month. He’s performing at the Hemlock Tavern with Himalayan Bear on October 25.

The War On Drugs (“Baby Missiles”) is a Philadelphia band led by Adam Granduciel. Slave Ambient is the name of the group’s new LP, available on Secretly Canadian, and they’ll perform with Purling Hiss and Carter Tanton at The Independent on October 23.

In their first local show since Outside Lands, The Fresh & Onlys (“I Would Not Know the Devil”) will be at the Great American Music Hall on October 7. SF/LA band Tamaryn co-headlines, with locals Wax Idols opening.

Girls (“Vomit”) return to SF for two homecoming shows in support of the band’s new album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Catch them and Sonny and the Sunsets at the Great American Music Hall on October 8 and 9.

Pure X (“Dry Ice”), from Austin, bring their shoegazey rock to the Brick and Mortar Music Hall on October 13. SF’s moonbell opens the show.

Erika Anderson of Gowns now performs as EMA (“Milkman”), and her debut album, Past Life Martyred Saints, is one of 2011’s many highlights. Sister Crayon and Alexis perform with Anderson on October 12 at The Independent.

SF post-punkers The Soft Moon (“Total Decay”) have a new EP called Total Decay, and they are headlining a Halloween night show at The Independent. Led Er Est and DJs Michael Stock (Part-time Punks LA) and Josh Cheon (Dark Entries Records SF) will join them.

True Loves is the highly recommended first LP from NYC synth-pop band Hooray For Earth (“No Love”). Tourmates Cymbals Eat Guitars and local band The Dandelion War also perform at Bottom of the Hill on October 8.