Rock & Pop Search
Dead Bundy and The Neat Neats
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 7 p.m.Marianas Trench
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 7:30 p.m.415-522-0333
Detach Dolls
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m.Joey Cape
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m.415-252-1330
Rich DeWilde
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m.415-546-6300
Sea Wolf
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m.415-885-0750
Torche
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m.510-763-1146
Not to be confused with the LA indie-rock trio Torches or the LA synth-pop outfit Touché, the Miami/Gainesville/Atlanta band Torche (pronounced "Torch") has reached its own rock-pop apex, but not in the way you might imagine. What began as "doom-pop" (down-tuned, sludgy open notes and plodding tempos, but with soaring harmonies) has evolved into a highly caffeinated alt-metal/pop-sludge sound. The band hasn't always found its niche commercially or critically, despite the success of its 2008 release, Meanderthal: It's been oddly billed with mainstream alt-rock bands, and was criticized in 2009 by The Village Voice for being part of a decidedly "un-metal" scene of "dunderheaded critical darlings with banal commercialist tastes." But I doubt the writer of that critique had seen Torche live, because this band absolutely levels audiences. Call it metal, or pop, or whatever you want -- just see the band at the Oakland Metro Operahouse (630 3rd St., Oakland) on Tuesday, May 21. 8 p.m., $14. OaklandMetro.org
$143 Leafs
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8:30 p.m.415-923-0923
The Union Trade
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 9 p.m.415-621-4455
The Utmost Something
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 9 p.m.510-444-6174
Boris
Rock & Pop Tue., May 21, 8 p.m. and Wed., May 22, 8 p.m.415-861-2011
Diego's Umbrella
Rock & Pop, World, Latin, Reggae, & Reggaetón Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.415-386-8439
DJ Wasty
DJ & Dance, Rock & Pop Tuesdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.510-523-4700
