emilysavage@sfbg.com
FALLS ARTS The official last day of fall is Dec. 20 (seems really late, doesn’t it?). In between now and then, and in these brisk summer days leading up to the official seasonal shift, there’s a wide array of noise, just waiting to burst your eardrums ’till they bleed with joy.
Here’s a mnemonic device to help you remember some noteworthy upcoming shows and a few general SF music factoids. Read aloud:
A is for Apogee Sound Club, the local disjointed scrap rock band playing the Knockout, Sept. 4. www.theknockoutsf.com.
B is for Bimbo’s, Bottom of the Hill, Brick and Mortar Music Hall, and the Boom Boom Room, which are all venues you should be frequenting in the city.
C is for Chromatics, driving into Mezzanine, Aug. 31. www.mezzaninesf.com.
D is for Desaparecidos, Connor Obert’s reunited early Aughts post-hardcore band, hitting Bottom of the Hill, Aug. 28 and the Regency Ballroom, Aug. 29. www.regencyballroom.com
E is for 8-bit, the video game music made by acts such as Crashfaster, Minusbaby, and Awkward Terrible, who all play DNA Lounge, Aug. 26. www.dnalounge.com.
F is for festivals. Still up this fall: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (Oct. 5-7) and Treasure Island (Oct. 13-14). www.strictlybluegrass.com
G is for Gibbard, Ben. The Death Cab For Cutie/Postal Service frontperson travels solo to the Palace of Fine Arts, Nov. 13. www.palaceoffinearts.org.
H is for Hunx and His Punx, the local bubble-gum garage pop band that just released new album, Hunx. Facebook: Hunxandhispunx.
I is for Bay Area bred torch song writer Chris Isaak, bringing croonership to the Masonic Dec. 13. www.masonicauditorium.com.
J is for Justice, the French duo returns Nov. 4 to the Warfield. www.thewarfieldtheatre.com.
K is for KUSF — still in exile; and for KALX, celebrating 50 years on air with events beginning Sept. 7. at the Rock Paper Scissors Collective. kalx.berkeley.edu.
L is for Lightning Bolt at the Rickshaw Stop, Sept. 4. www.rickshawstop.com
M is for Major Lazer’s spectacle stage-show, Oct. 19 at the Fox Theater. www.thefoxoakland.com.
N is for Noothgrush, playing with New Orleans sludge band Eyehategod at Oakland Metro Opera House, Aug. 31. www.oaklandmetro.org.
O is for British electro-dance duo Orbital, at the Regency Ballroom, Sept. 24. www.theregencyballroom.com.
P is for PrankFest 4, hosted by San Francisco’s punk-hardcore label, Prank Records, with Citizen’s Arrest at Oakland Metro, Sept. 1 and Dropdead at Thee Parkside, Sept. 2. www.theeparkside.com.
Q is for bumping queer parties, such as Honey Soundsystem and Daytime Realness. www.honeysoundsystem.com.
R is for Red Fang; the Portland, Oreg. stoner-metal band plays Slim’s, Oct. 27. www.slimspresents.com.
S is for Six Organs of Admittance, hitting Bottom of the Hill, Sept. 22. www.bottomofthehill.com.
T is for Tiny Telephone, the San Francisco studio where so many Bay Area bands hope to record with local legend John Vanderslice. www.tinytelephone.com.
U is for Under the Central Freeway, Public Works’ live music fest with both Kelley Stoltz, and food trucks in the parking lot (which is located under the freeway, natch), Sept. 30. www.publicsf.com.
V is for guitar legend Steve Vai, playing the Regency Ballroom, Oct. 9. www.theregencyballroom.com.
W is for Watt, Mike. The former Minutemen leader hits the New Parish, Nov. 8. www.thenewparish.com.
X is for the xx, headlining Treasure Island this fall. treasureislandfestival.com.
Y is for Yoshi’s, celebrating 40 years of classy and experimental jazz superstars. www.yoshis.com.
Z is for Zeros, the iconic punk band plays Brick and Mortar Music Hall, Sept. 14. www.brickandmortarmusic.com.
Note: Since club life is unpredictable, it’s a good idea to call ahead or check the venue’s website to confirm bookings and hours.