Convincing one another to skip university, BRAIDS stayed in the garage all year and practiced obsessively, even while their fingers froze during the cold prairie winters. Then, at only 18 years old, they took the bold step of moving across the country together to Montreal, where they began crafting their self recorded/self produced debut album Native Speaker

The Album Leaf is the solo project of Jimmy LaValle, a San Diego-based songwriter who began recording solo material one year after forming the post-rock band Tristeza. Inspired by a number of genres -- classical, jazz, and post-rock among them -- LaValle constructed his own songs in a similarly eclectic manner, utilizing everything from ambient noise to field recordings to radio transmissions. An Orchestrated Rise to Fall introduced the resulting sound in 1999. An EP (In an Off White Room) preceded the release of LaValle's second full-length album, One Day I'll Be on Time, which was released by Tiger Style in March 2001. The Album Leaf's profile blossomed as a result of those recordings, and LaValle found himself opening shows for Sigur Rós' first American tour that fall. By the time he began recording his third album, he'd also secured the services of Sigur Rós' Iceland studios, along with the participation of several of that band's members. The resulting album, In a Safe Place, appeared on the Sub Pop label in June 2004. The Seal Beach EP, originally issued in 2003 in Spain, appeared stateside in early 2005, and LaValle's next album, Into the Blue Again, followed in September 2006. The Album Leaf toured sporadically throughout the remainder of the decade, performing in multiple continents and opening for Devendra Banhart at the Hollywood Bowl in 2008. Two years later, LaValle returned with his fifth full-length album, A Chorus of Storytellers. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide

Sloan was one of the most successful Canadian bands of the '90s, which was both a blessing and a curse. While they were well known in their homeland, where their Beatlesque power pop became a radio staple, they had a difficult time breaking into the American market, especially after their label, DGC, decided not to market their hooky pop in the wake of grunge. After spending several years fighting the label, and nearly breaking up, Sloan re-emerged in 1996 with One Chord to Another, a record that became an instant success in Canada and a critical sensation in the U.S. upon its American release in 1997, establishing the group as one of the leaders of the new wave of power pop groups in the late '90s.

Japandroids (JPNDRDS) is a two piece band from Vancouver, BC. This ‘band’ started in 2006 as a creative outlet for the post-teenage angst of Brian King and David Prowse. Originally intending to be a trio, the boys decided to forgo the logistical nightmare of having a ‘lead singer’ and do it themselves. As a consequence, Japandroids are 1 guitar, 1 set of drums, and 2 vocalizers. They call it garage rock. They don’t care what you call it, as long as it’s not minimal. Japandroids are maximal – a two piece band trying to sound like a five piece band.

Secret Chiefs 3 with Fat 32 and Cleric

18+ O’Death are an American Gothic Country band from New York. Borrowing their band name from a traditional American folk song that comes out of Western North Carolina, O’Death draws on traditional folk, bluegrass, punk, gypsy music, metal, swing and jazz stylings. Originally formed in 2003 while the members attended SUNY Purchase, the band played a series of shows at the now defunct Apocalypse Lounge in NYC, and quickly began building a fanbase with their reverently twisted take on Americana filtered through a wealth of musical influences as divergent as Bill Monroe, Prince, Neil Young, The Microphones, and The Misfits.

Smoke Fairies are one of England’s hottest up-and-coming folk acts, who’ve been praised by everyone from Jack White and Richard Hawley to new wave pioneer Gary Numan and art-rockers Rasputina. The whimsical duo — Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies — have released just a handful of singles, including the White-produced 7-inch “Gastown.” – Spin Doors @ 8pm Show @ 830pm 18+ TICKETS: $10/advance $10/day of

Boston dream-folk artist, Marissa Nadler takes off independently with the release of her fifth full-length album and the first to be released on her very own label Box of Cedar Records. Produced by Brian McTear, the self-titled LP is set for a June 14th release. Marissa proclaims, ‘It’s the most honest, natural record I’ve ever written.” Making music for nearly a decade and creating art for a lifetime her ethereal songwriting remains rich with imagery and beautiful textures. “I’m no longer hiding,” She admits. “The mystery still exists in the music as an aesthetic tool, but the songs cut harder because of the vocal mix, with more varied colors than my other records.” Doors @ 9pm Show @ 10pm 18+ TICKETS: $10/advance $10/day of