The Noise Pop Festival descends upon San Francisco and Oakland starting this Friday, February 20th, for its 23rd year of awesomeness. For the next 11 days, venues throughout town will be hosting world class live music, films that “explore the intersection between music and art,” themed happy hours, and more.

Noise Pop has put together a smashing lineup of can’t miss bands, both local and beyond. The film screenings are equally intriguing and we might even have a hand in one of those themed happy hours to tell you about. With that, we bring you The Bold Italic picks for the best events at Noise Pop.

Hardcore DEVO Live at Roxie Theater

Fri 2/20

“Whip it!” DEVO is an iconic American band with a storied history that spans the course of five decades. Hardcore DEVO is a documentary about a 10-show tour in 2014, where the band played early experimental songs recorded in the mid-'70s and paid tribute to founding member Bob Casale, who passed away shortly before. Get a taste of Noise Pop’s film series and stay for a Q&A with DEVO’s Gerry Casale after the show.

Christopher Willits Presents OPENING: Film & Live Scoring at Swedish American Hall

Sun 2/22

The newly renovated and now Noise Pop-operated Swedish American Hall is gorgeous and it’ll serve as the festival’s HQ for the week.  For this event, Ambient electronic producer & Tycho collaborator Christopher Willits will be live scoring his visual album, OPENING. It’s a sweeping journey through soundscapes, images, and footage taken by Willits as he journeyed through multiple countries.

Stop Making Sense at The Independent

Mon 2/23 FREE with RSVP!

Find me someone who doesn’t like the Talking Heads and I’ll show you a liar. Stop Making Sense is a legendary rock film, documenting a unique Talking Heads performance at the Pantages Theater in LA in 1983 and the glorious eccentricity of David Byrne. This is about as good as it gets for a free Monday night event.

The Bold Italic Happy Hour at Swedish American Hall

Tue 2/24, FREE with RSVP!

So yeah, come visit us as The Bold Italic hosts the first open-to-the-public event at the new Swedish American Hall! There’ll be delicious drinks made by The Bon Vivants (the good peeps behind one of America’s Top 50 Bars, Trick Dog) and more.

Flight Facilities at The Regency Ballroom

Tue 2/24 with Touch Sensitive

Do you like dance music? How bout funk & soul? What about music that just flat-out makes you happy? Ok ... now roll all of those into one, and you’ve got Australian electro-pop group Flight Facilities. Their 2014 album Down To Earth boasts high marks in repeatability and all-around-awesomeness and this is the clubhouse favorite for best dance party of Noise Pop. You’re welcome.

Monster Rally at Brick & Mortar Music Hall

Weds 2/25 with TV Girl (headliner), Yalls, and RZN8R

Monster Rally is making some of the most interesting music and accompanying art out there. The midwest-born, LA-based producer samples classic tropical music records from forgotten artists like “this Jimmy Buffet knock-off guy” and weaves them into a soothing opus. He creates a collage for each release and his art is just as captivating as his music.

Song Exploder Sessions at Swedish American Hall

2/26 with Toro y Moi

2/28 with How To Dress Well

Ok podcast heads. You’re gonna wanna remember this one: Song Exploder. Each episode invites a notable artist to break down the ins and outs of one of their songs to bring depth and context to the music. Berkeley-based chill-waver Toro y Moi and neo R&B singer How To Dress Well will each be recording a live episode at Swedish American Hall. And yes, FREE with RSVP!

National Poster Retrospecticus at Swedish American Hall

Fri 2/27 

It’s truly a SF rite of passage to get a free poster when you leave a show at The Fillmore and put it up in your living room. The National Poster Retrospecticus is a collection of over 350 of the best hand-printed concert posters from across the country. Stop in to check out some musical art — and did we mention free drinks and entry with RSVP?

Geographer and K.Flay at Fox Theater

Fri 2/27 with Empires and Bells Atlas

Geographer is a SF cult favorite with its fiery style of indie electro. The type of band who grabs you with their energy from the first listen, Geographer is about to drop its third LP, Ghost Modern. The group will be headlining at the Fox with velvety SF rapper K.Flay, who has a unique style incorporating electronic elements and a total absence of bullshit.

Cathedrals at The Independent

Fri 2/27 with The Tropics, Crashing Hotels & DJ Turf-Yard

Sat 2/28 with Silver Swans, Waterstrider & Dj Aaron Axelsen

Cathedrals are of the most promising new bands to surface in the SF music scene in the last year. We introduced you to their fantastic video for “Unbound” back in September and that's merely a sample of the music and art meld contained within their debut Cathedrals EP. They’ll be accompanied by a bunch of talented local acts, highlighted by Oakland’s Waterstrider, who just announced the impending release of its debut LP, Nowhere Now and SF band The Tropics, who might never leave your speakers once you put em on.

Caribou and Koreless at The Fillmore

Sun 3/1 and Mon 3/2

Here it is, our big shabing-shabang of the fest. Caribou’s 2014 album, Our Love, garnered rave reviews across the globe and was at the top of many well-respected year end lists. Dan Snaith’s project comes across like electronic music for grownups. Tickets are sold out, but the Craigslist market, or that friend who says “I have an extra!” is here for you. At the very least, listen to “Can’t Do Without You” and make your life just a little bit better.

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Christopher Willits photo by Scott Hansen