Keep an eye out for our Noise Pop coverage! If you're in the Bay Area, stop by SomaFM/Indie Pop Rocks' Happy Hour tomorrow.

Are you headed to SXSW? Consider stopping by the Bay Area Take Over party! Details below.

We're sponsoring a party during SXSW next month called "The Bay Area Takeover" on Thursday, March 19th, from Noon-6pm at The Beauty Bar in downtown Austin.

Featuring live performances by video mashup artist Mike Relm, Vetiver, The Morning Benders, Sholi, Thee Oh Sees, The Heavenly States, Wallpaper., The Frail, Two Sheds, The Union Trade, French Miami, Lilofee, The Red Verse.

DJ sets from SomaFM's Elise Nordling as well as Omar, Miles, and Jacob Fury.

Here's the full details. RSVP to get free, priority admission:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=63075021592

As promised, Elise picked all of her favorite shows for next weeks Festival of Musical Awesomeness a.k.a. Noise Pop. Here are her faves:

Tuesday
Opening night at Mezzanine with Deerhunter and Lilofee
Lilofee is one of San Francisco's newest electro-pop bands, and with an all-star DJ lineup between bands (Aaron Axelson, Omar from Popscene, as well as Jimmy Tamborello (the non-Ben Gibbard half of Postal Service), it's going to rock.

Wesdnesday
Lower Class Revolt Happy Hour at Bender's, featuring the Aimless Never Miss and Sleepover Disaster, two local bands loved by indie pop rocks. Sleepover Disaster have a great new record out (available here: http://www.devilinthewoodsrecords.com/)!

Mountain Goats (John Solo) at Swedish American Music Hall, with Papercuts, both long-time IPR favorites. It'll be acoustic and mellow, with wine and beer available at the venue thanks to SomaFM friends The Bay Bridged.

Stephen Malkmus with Kelley Stoltz at Great American Music Hall with Goh Nakamura opening (Goh also plays in IPR favorite the Invisible Cities), this will be a great night of singer-songwriter awesomeness.

French Kicks with Broken West at the Independent
also featuring Here Here and the Dont's, this is a perfect night of indie pop goodness.

Thursday
Indie Pop Rocks/SomaFM happy hour at Bender's (duh)! featuring IPR favorites Scissors for Lefty, Picture Atlantic, and Man/Miracle, this FREE show will also be a great chance to meet everyone from SomaFM!

Thao Nguyen at the Swedish American Music Hall
with sometimes-San Francisco resident Dave Dondero opening, a perfectly mellow evening of story-telling songs.

Friday
Happy Hour at Bender's, presented by the Bay Bridged, featuring IPR favorites Maus Haus, Sugar & Gold, and Tempo No Tempo, a perfect lineup, and FREE. Who doesn't love free?

St. Vincent at Great American Music Hall
This lovely singer formerly of the collective known as the Polyphonic Spree has really gorgeous songs.

The Morning Benders & the Submarines at Slim's
with the Mumlers and Rademacher opening, this will be another perfect evening of indie pop goodness.

Port O'Brien at Cafe du Nord with Afternoons opening (featuring members of irving), not to be missed.

Saturday
Happy Hour at Bender's, presented by local record label Three Ring Records, featuring Music For Animals, Aim Low Kid, and Audio Out Send (who played SomaFM's happy hour last year), and FREE. Great bands, again. The happy hours are so amazing this year!

Matinee show at Bottom of the Hill
with the Matches, Dizzy Balloon, and the Ex-Boyfriends.
Indie pop-rock in the afternoon with a beer in your hand, the perfect combo. Dizzy Balloon are one of the Bay Area's most promising new bands, be sure to check them out.

Bob Mould and Mark Eitzel at the Swedish American Music Hall. Two classic indie singer-songwriters in one evening? Holy crap.

AC Newman at the Independent
The New Pornographer's frontman's new record is stunning, and this show is sure to rock. Dent May and his Magnificent Ukelele are opening, who's been getting critical acclaim all over.

Sholi at Bottom of the Hill
Another Bay Area favorite, Sholi has a brand-spanking-new awesome record out. indie pop goodness.


Sunday
Les Savy Fav at the Mezzanine
has to be seen to be believed. After a long haitus, this band finally started playing out again last year. They put on such a great show, complete entertainment.

Check out Noise Pop's line up here!

Everyone here at the SomaFM office is really excited about upcoming Noise Pop fun. We got Elise to pick her favorites from the line up and we'll be posting those soon, so keep an eye out for them!

Also, Elise and I got the chance to hang out with Obi Best and the Bird and the Bee at their recent sold-out show at the Independent. I'll be posting my interview with Obi Best in a couple of days so check out the interviews section here!

JWZ just send us this: I just noticed that in the giant PSP ad on the outside of the Sony store at Metreon, the PSP is listening to Soma FM!

Not the greatest quality, but considering I shot it with my point and shoot camera (Canon SD870is) abd we were back in front of the sound board, it looks pretty good!