5. Golden Void @ Hemlock Tavern, Friday, Nov. 23
Behold San Francisco, where the threads of psych-rock never wear out. The latest arrival on the local scene is Golden Void, a supergroup of sorts featuring members of Earthless, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, and Eyes. Regular fans of mind-expanding rock will find plenty of good stuff here: lush canyons of riffs that rise up into searing climaxes, blazing bluesy guitar solos, and lots of those panoramic, sweeping melodies that loose, guitar-driven bands issue better than anyone. This week Golden Void celebrates the release of its debut album on Thrill Jockey, a Chicago label that has long nurtured the Bay Area's trippiest rockers. -- Ian S. Port
4. MC Hopie @ Brick and Mortar Music Hall, Wendesday, Nov. 21
There are lots of ambitious, up-and-coming rappers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Few of them were born in the Phillippines, can play a host of musical instruments, and wield a law degree from U.C Hastings. So local MC Hopie would stand out even if she weren't laying thoughtful, nimble rhymes over beats by some of the best local producers. Hopie's tracks vary in quality, but the best ones have an inventive flow and a willingness to confront issues like the lack of female MCs in the game. This week sees Hopie's last local show before her new album arrives in March.-- Ian S. Port
3. The English Beat @ Bimbo's 365 Club, Friday, Nov. 23
At its core, the 2 Tone ska scene in 1980s England championed diversity, tenacity, and smarts, and none of its bands combined those traits as seamlessly as the English Beat. When rude boys started using the Birmingham-bred band's concerts as battlegrounds, the Beat commissioned artist Hunt Emerson to design the "Beat Girl," a logo of a young, conservatively dressed female ska aficionado. After employing this insignia, the band saw more women at its shows, which calmed the fighting. Really, though, ska fans of all backgrounds had reason to adore the Beat, as its instrumentation found an agreeable sweet spot between reggae, punk, and pop rock -- and Dave Wakeling had a knack for sharp, self-aware lyricism. After going kaput in 1983 at the peak of its success, the band regrouped in 2003, only to split apart again. Today, the Beat exists concurrently in two separate incarnations; the Los Angeles-based Wakeling oversees the version stopping in S.F. this week. -- Reyan Ali
2. New Found Glory @ Bottom of the Hill (Friday, Nov. 23) and Slim's (Saturday, Nov. 24)
New Found Glory emerged in the early 2000s, right at the point where most of the world thought pop-punk was on the verge of permanent death, and almost singlehandedly revived the entire genre. Going on to throw elements of hardcore and emo into its irresistibly sweet mix, the Florida quintet has managed to maintain a rabid fanbase far longer than many naysayers would've predicted. As such, getting into Bottom of the Hill on Friday or Slim's on Saturday will be tough. But if you're willing to beg, borrow, or steal, we recommend Friday's smaller Bottom of the Hill show. Especially since the much buzzed-about Emily's Army -- whose drummer is none other than Joey "Son of Green Day's Billie Joe" Armstrong -- is supporting. It's sure to be a pop-punk night to remember. -- Rae Alexandra
1. Tamaryn @ The Independent, Saturday, Nov. 24
Tamaryn's roster of residences includes New Zealand, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles (the latter her current home), but the way she sings makes you think she's forever trapped on some galactic strata between heaven and Earth, with cooing and moaning the only respite from her strange prison. In 2000, the vocalist met her musical soulmate in guitarist Rex John Shelverton. Eight years later, the pair began generating delightfully lush shoegaze together, using Tamaryn's name as their moniker. The video for "The Garden," off the duo's second and latest album Tender New Signs, focuses on just what makes this project alluring. First, Shelverton's opulent, feedback-coated melodies and Tamaryn's gravity-defying vocals set a mystical scene. Then, the clip's saturated, erratic footage of flowers and the singer herself complete the psychedelic feel. No narcotics are necessary for this trip. -- Reyan Ali
