The Way To The Market Station

The San Fransisco scene as was told by our contributor, Ryan.

It’s funny coz I never listen to The Beach Boys “Caroline, No” as often as I used to, but everytime I listen to it, it’s like listening to it for the first time. I am still amazed by each striking chord, and the melody still haunts me… great melodies are here to stay. Like those melodies I hear not faraway from the place I live.

The bay area was home for legendary indiepop acts like Tiger Trap, ..Poundsign.., Henry’s Dress, The Softies, and a lot more. I’d say the early 90s would have been the best time to live in the San Fransisco area. With all those bands around, what more you could ask for? It was probably the peak of indiepop madness in the city.

San Fransisco plays host to the once-every-two years Popfest! A Pop fantasy that features indiepop bands from almost around the world. It was also the festival where you could meet familiar indiepoplist subscribers and you’d be surprised to find out where all those people came from. The 2003 popfest was memorable. It was held at The Bottom of the hill at 17th St in San Fran and featured bands like The Lucksmiths, The Radio Dept., Pipas, The Free Loan Investments just to name a few. It was the best fest that I’ve ever been in. Other notable clubs for good indie night fix are The Rickshaw Stop at Fell St, Edinburgh Castle at Geary, and Café Du Nord near Market Street. Parking is horrible in the city so you might as well catch the train to Market Station.

A “Popkid” from the bay area isn’t as different as a normal person as you may think. Some wore band shirts and their chuck t’s to go to a gig. Some wore Sweaters and a backpack full of badges hanging out. Some drank and smoke, some don’t. Some looked like mod revivalists wearing thick glasses, some looked like they just get out of bed and needed a shower. It could be deceiving sometimes. I once saw a lady in her fifties (maybe sixties!!) at a Jens Lekman show, so you’ll never know what you’re gonna see.

Now Berkeley, a few miles East from San Fransisco and approximately 10 miles away from where I live was home to a notable record label named Slumberland Records (now based in Oakland – also home to a very sophisticated and stylish indie label called Radio Khartoum). A punk label called Lookout! could also be found in Berkeley. Some people may remember Lookout! as Greenday’s early record label before they hit it big.

Berkeley in the east bay is a great hang out spot. Particularly Telegraph Ave. Amoeba Records is like heaven to me. Cheap and great stuff. You could find all types or records there and spend hours without noticing how many hours you’ve wasted. Everything is in Berkeley, whatever you fancy. You even meet all kinds of weird people. Walk a few blocks away and you’ll find a great Record store called mod Lang.

When all’s well, after a night on driving the way to Market Station, or even a train back to Richmond from Berkeley, melodies get stuck in my head. Sometimes I dream about these melodies. Singing them when I wake up. Haunting me in a not-so-scary-kind of way. You know what I mean.

Ryan
Richmond, Ca –Jan 2006