Popscene is a long-running San Francisco indie dance night featuring DJs spinning the best in Britpop, mod, new wave, and electronica, along with a couple of up-and-coming live bands mixed into the late night party. Think of it as a sort of Hipster-palooza where the cool kids get to see what very well may be the “next big thing” in an intimate venue.
The folks who put together these events really do a fantastic job. This is the second one I have been to, and the first since it moved from 330 Ritch over to the Rickshaw Stop. My mission was to see the headlining band Hey Champ, of which I am a major fan, but I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived early and caught the end of the set from up-and-comers Frank + Derol.
Frank + Derol, the duo of Brandi Cyrus (yes, the older sister of Miley) and Codi Caraco recently signed to Interscope Records and released an EP. I had never heard of these two before entering the club that night, but they were spectacular live. Super catchy, upbeat, fun, retro synth pop that is light years ahead of the manufactured cookie cutter songs that grace the airwaves of the major pop stations across the country.
I see a very bright future for these two, but I think the duo’s name just really throws people off. In the fast-moving world of social media and the importance it plays in making or breaking musicians these days, one would assume a new artist would choose a name with a bit more pizazz, or at the very least one that doesn’t sound like a failed sitcom. Maybe I’m missing something.
Regardless, I walked in and they blew me away. I purchased their EP, simply titled, you guessed it, Frank + Derol, and I have been playing it non-stop. It has seriously the best hipster pop/synth songs I have heard in years. Clear the radio waves and the dance floors for their soon-to-be-released full-length debut, as I believe it’s going to dominate. (And that’s coming from a metal fan.)
Local DJ Aaron Axelson (who also happens to be the music director at Live 105 here in SF) did a fantastic job setting the stage for both bands. A pretty killer mix of old and new retro with a touch of Brit-pop and a familiar track or two sprinkled in between.
The headliner of the night was the Chicago trio Hey Champ, which to my surprise performed as duo. Saam Hagshenas (vocals, guitar) and Jonathan Marks (drums) were recently tagged by Spin magazine as the “best discovery at Lollapalooza.”
I discovered this band a year or so ago and have been a major fan ever since hearing their incredibly diverse debut album Star. Imagine Cheap Trick crossed with The Killers—that’s the best way to describe the songwriting. These guys make the type of synth-pop that has just enough of a rock element to crossover, and they blend the genres effortlessly.
Chances are you have heard their song “Cold Dust Girl” as it has been a minor hit and featured on a reality show or two. The band’s debut album Star was released in 2010, followed up by last year’s three-song EP titled Anything at All. Produced by Eliot James (Two Door Cinema Club, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs), it signaled a slightly new direction for the band, pushing the synth angle a bit more, but it works, and I was super excited to see how they pulled off the sound live with only two musicians.
Popscene has a reputation for introducing local hipsters to new music, and Hey Champ had an overwhelmingly warm reception. The crowd instantly cleared the dance floor and ran over to line up in front of the stage as the band took electro-rock-synth-pop to another level.
Hey Champ has a new record on the horizon, along with a new label and new management. It’s going to be incredibly exciting to see what 2013 has in store for these guys. From the new songs that the band debuted at Popscene, I can tell that the word “epic” was thrown around after their set.
Were you at Popscene for this amazing show last week? Are you a fan of either Frank + Derol or Hey Champ? Have any predictions for these two artists in 2013? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
