This weekend, The Independent will play host to several of Noise Pop’s marquee events, including sold-out shows by Giraffage and Cathedrals. Which is perhaps fitting, since Noise Pop, the annual festival of music, film, and art, began in 1993 at The Kennel Club, a previous venue at 628 Divisadero, which is now home to The Independent.
The Kennel Club was a crusty punk and metal club in the late '80s and early '90s, hosting everyone from Dinosaur Jr., Superchunk, The Flaming Lips, and Nirvana to Neurosis, GWAR, and Melvins. Back in 1993, Noise Pop tickets went for $5 a pop, and the event had a more modest outreach effort:
Photo: Dave Hunter/Facebook
The Kennel Club became The Justice League in the early '90s, which featured mostly rap and hip hop acts. It was reopened as The Independent in 2004—and the first band to play the new venue was I Am Spoonbender, playing as part of that year's Noise Pop festival.
Hoodline interviewed Dawson Ludwig, general manager of Noise Pop, earlier this month and it was clear that The Independent was a key venue for him personally as well as for the festival. When speaking about what makes him proud to do the work he does, Ludwig mentioned giving local bands like Geographer—and now Giraffage and Cathedrals—a shot to headline The Independent and make a big leap in their respective careers.
Now, after talking to Eric Thomas Barleen, the talent buyer at Another Planet Entertainment who is responsible for booking The Independent, it’s clear that the love is mutual.
“I have always felt like Noise Pop kicks off the concert year here in San Francisco — it lights a fire in the music community that lasts through May,” Barleen says. “I look forward to bouncing around to multiple shows in one night and seeing a lot of familiar faces throughout the week.”
Like Ludwig, Barleen points to supporting the local music scene as one of the perks of his job. In that regard, he also cites Geographer’s headlining set in 2011 as a highlight, and adds The Stone Foxes sold-out Noise Pop show in 2011 to the list. “It’s an incredible feeling to help elevate bands like Geographer and The Stone Foxes,” Barleen says. He’s also quite happy with the fact that his job entails “exposing other locals to sold out crowds with now major headlining acts like The National or Real Estate.”
(As part of Hoodline's ongoing coverage of Noise Pop, we'll be posting interviews with Geographer, Giraffage, and Cathedrals later this week, as well as photos from their shows, so stay tuned.)
Barleen, it turns out, has a long list of highlights from Noise Pop and The Independent’s years-long collaboration, which he was happy to run down for us. “Two nights of Real Estate in 2014, two nights of Toro y Moi in 2013, Wye Oak in 2012, Surfer Blood/The Drums in 2012, Four Tet in 2010, Mountain Goats in 2008, The National in 2006.”
But Barleen, who grew up in the East Bay, is not just a booker—he’s also a fan who has been attending Noise Pop since 2006. What are some of his personal favorite memories?
“Looking back at seeing the National at The Independent was pretty incredible given they played two Greek Theatre shows this past summer. Being a big Pavement fan, a personal favorite was seeing Stephen Malkmus at [the Great American Music Hall] in 2009. He only brought one acoustic guitar and broke a string which created classic Malk awkwardness.”
And what shows is he looking forward to at this year’s fest? “Jessica Pratt/ Kevin Morby, Tony Molina/ Nude Beach, Cathedrals (I’m DJing on 2/27 as Turf-Yard), Dan Deacon and Caribou,” says Barleen.
In the end, as much as he is proud of the work he does to support the Bay Area’s music scene, Barleen says he and the rest of the folks who work for The Independent are just happy to be a part of it.
“We feel honored to be held in the same respects with historic venues like Bottom of the Hill, the Great American Music Hall and the Fillmore that have helped play a major role in shaping San Francisco’s music community.”
All of the Noise Pop shows at The Independent are sold out, but there are still tickets available to a variety of great shows at other venues around the city. Check out the schedule for more info.
