Arist:She and Him

Hails From: LA, CA/Portland, OR

Musical Style: Retro/Folk/Pop

For Fans Of: Patsy Cline, Jenny Lewis, M. Ward

Thieves

Why You Should Check Them Out:

While the simple pronouns of She and Him may be misleadingly nondescript, just one glance at the corresponding names behind the moniker is enough to make any indie pop minded heart flutter.

Background Check:

She and Him’s Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward first began working together in 2007 when director Martin Hynes united the two for a cover of “When I Get to the Border” for the film The Go-Getter starring Deschanel. Much to the surprise of both M. Ward and music critics alike, Dechanel not only had a great taste for vintage albums and dresses, but had spent years writing an arsenal of pop and country influenced songs primed for M. Ward’s renowned folk rock embellishments. With musical chemistry abound, She and Him went to work on their debut, Volume One, an album soaked in Deschanel’s sweet and wistful retro pop vocals complete with Ward’s supporting folk instrumentation and production expertise.

Backed by the overwhelming success of Volume One, She and Him returned to the studio for their just released, and aptly titled followup Volume Two. Ranging from country ballads with slide guitar to upbeat songs like “In the Sun” that are pretty much made for summer, She and Him’s newest plays like a mix of bittersweet lyrics and vintage sounds you can sway to. If Volume One was an album that showed that Deschanel’s talent isn’t limited to the big screen, Volume Two is clearly an album that situates She and Him as a free standing musical force among indie pop contemporaries.

–Anne Ostrowski

Where You Can Find Them in Cyberspace:

myspace

sheandhim.com

On tour:

jambase

artist: Sonny and the Sunsets

hails from: San Francisco, CA

musical style: Doo Wop, Garage-Pop, Folk Rock

for fans of: The Kinks, Beach Boys, Everly Brothers

Death Cream

why you should check them out:

Sonny and the Sunsets are creating a sound that aims for the middle ground between nostalgic surf-pop and lo-fi garage rock. Think Beach Boys meets The Kingsmen. It’s a common sound trend amongst many buzzed-up blog bands, however this San Francisco quartet have managed to produce an honest and witty sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries.

background check:

The leader singer and songwriter of the group Sonny Smith grew up in San Francisco before moving onto the rockier pastures of Gunninson Colorado. In Colorado he worked as a professional musician playing piano in local bars and clubs around town. After some time there he moved to Costa Rica, but eventually found his way back to Northern California. He began releasing solo records in early 2000 and started to make a name for himself  – even touring with Neko Case.

However in 2007 he decided to change his approach and put his sound in front of an ensemble he dubbed Sonny and the Sunsets. The band’s debut was released on Soft Abuse in 2009 and has created quite a stir in the burgeoning San Francisco underground rock scene. Several SF all stars make guest appearances on the album, including Kelly Stoltz, Tim Cohen (of The Fresh and Only’s), and Heidi Alexander (of The Sandwitches). The songwriting balances on the Sonny’s humorous and creative lyrics, along with the catchy surf sounds of sugary guitar melodies. It’s a perfect summer record, so make sure you get acquainted with it as soon as you can.

–Dawson Ludwig

where you can find them in cyberspace:

myspace

sonnysmith.com

on tour:

sonnysmith.com

Artist: Leopold and his Fiction

Hails From: San Francisco, CA

Musical Stye: Rock, Folk, Country

For Fans of: The Raconteurs, The Black Keys, Dr. Dog

The Sun’s Only Promise

Why you should check them out:

With a knack for vintage sound and vintage gear, San Francisco’s Leopold and His Fiction provide expansive lo-fi rock and roll with varying shades of country and blues.

Background check

The story of Leopold and His Fiction begins as the story of singer and songwriter Daniel James. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, it wasn’t until James moved to California that he began to toy with the idea of writing music of his own. Named after the reoccurring character James created in his college writing class, Leopold and his Fiction began as a project between James and drummer Ben Cook as a stripped down ode to ’70s rock and roll. Rather than continue with the sound carved by their gritty 2006 self-titled debut, James took Cook’s 2008 departure as an opportunity to refocus and reorganize the band with the addition of multi-instrumentalists Micayla Grace and Jon Sortland.

As a newly formed trio, Leopold and His Fiction returned to the studio and released Ain’t No Surprise in 2009, followed by their most recent, Golden Friends, which dropped just this past March. Although maintaining the energy and frankness of their previous albums, the progress into more cohesive and dynamic territory in Golden Friends is undeniable. Songs like “Miss Manipulation” serve as a subtle narrative full of slide guitar and a distinct folk country feel, while the album’s titular track stands out as a soulful blend of sultry vocals and pulsating rhythms. Where Leopold and His Fiction’s intricacies take a prominent hold on recordings, the trio’s sound merges into an energetic fury when played on the dark stages of the venues they frequent–earning them the status as of one of San Francisco’s most coveted new bands.

Where you can find them in cyberspace

Myspace
leopoldandhisfiction.com

On tour

jambase