Adult Joy. Noise Pop 2025.
"Look at the little ones," she points from the depths of CalAcademy as we stare up at plump fish swimming in rhythm to the DJ upstairs. Next to tuna they go unnoticed, but not to those full of wonder. "They are all different colors," she marvels, bright as a Pride flag, waving with as much grace.
A few years ago I wrote a series of articles from inside the experience of the Noise Pop music festival's 30th anniversary. It felt really important at the time that a rag tag festival that invites the biggest names of little known sub-genres had survived the 90s, let alone a full 30 years. [I'll link those stories in a blast next week]
Well if last night's opening of Noise Pop 2025 at CalAcademy was any indication, the experience of BEING AT this festival is more important than ever.
With all the extra work and stress that comes with participating in democracy and community safety right now, we need two things. To demonstrate viable alternatives of livings well to delete dot.com capitalism; and to take care of ourselves, to shake off what we can when we can.
That's why it was such a relief to step into the opening night festivities of Noise Pop hand-in-hand with my lady and find community.
More on the joy of being among independent adults at the CalAcademy below.
But First ... Words
In all my training — poststructualism, critical theory, systems thinking and organizational development — I have learned that I never really understand a thing until I have thought it out for myself. Let others give me a curious idea as a direction and the seeds to explore, then sort it out myself. Sometimes over years. In the head. That's how I do it at least, come to understand the way of things.
That usually means working to understand a word to unleash its unique power. Here's an example.
As an atheist, I've always had trouble understanding what could justify use of the word "should" in the sense of what it would be best for you to do. "Says 'who'?" demands my triggered inner hedonist? After all, should does not feel good. There's a little pit in the stomach filled with should for many people. It's the word repeated in your head with your parent's accent. I don't like it.
Here's what I came up with. "Would like."
Some might protest that sounds like do "whatever you want." I respond, ask yourself if that is really what YOU want, to do anything you want at any time? And just fuck off everything else?? I doubt it. We want to be our best, when we are integrated in our being, we thrive at it. When we are in crisis or less resilient, we long for the strength to be our best. People want to be at their best.
"I should clean the bathroom," comes with some hurt, points to a lack, "I should" but I haven't. Instant guilt.
So say it like this, "I would like to [be a person that]" cleans the toilets properly. Suddenly I am less guilty about remembering how my single working mother set a standard that I just can't meet. She worked to do her best; I would like to decide what in that example I strive to meet and what I let go of. This exercise helped me to be more that kind of person. I hope this reframe offers you something useful. And now ...
Let the Noise Pop
The whole festival is a vibe. Look, it's Gen X San Francisco so yeah, there are always a couple of people right up front with their arms folded across their chest. "Great show," they'll say on the way home. You're gonna have that. You also have a whole 10 days and 18 venues with ticket buyers who understand how great it is to have independent bands gather together and light up the landscape of this sometimes fractious city.
My buddy in the Mission calls Mexican hot dogs, "Mission hot dogs," with authority, like it'd be crazy to call them anything else, never mind that you get 'em all over the Bay Area. And in Mexico. I don't blame him, he loves his neighborhood. It's like that here, folks may get around most of the city, but they always favor their own neighborhood.
Which makes it extra warm and fuzzy that venues all over the city blossom in late winter with Noise Pop shows, using music to highlight their neighborhood's unique ecosystem of food, bookstores, and vibrator boutiques.
Now take that love of SF, warmth of favorite music, put it in your pocket and dance among armored catfish, California king snakes, and various glow in the dark specimens. All that and two cocktails.
That's what CalAcademy's monthly NightLife event is like and again this year it kicked off Noise Pop last night. I +1'd my lady.
"Look at the little ones," she points from the depths of CalAcademy as we stare up at plump fish swimming in rhythm to the DJ upstairs. Next to tuna they go unnoticed, but not to those full of wonder. "They are all different colors," she marvels, bright as a Pride flag, waving with as much grace.
After many visits to this museums with kids — sometimes lots of kids — we really appreciated the awe and joy evident on the faces of these adults. Without having to micro-manage anything more than a buzz, the whole museum, and especially the aquarium, was vibing ADULTS = FUN.
Consider getting out there, I don't think it can underestimated the importance of finding joy in your life right now. Hit CalAcademy NightLife and grab some Noise Pop tickets. JOY for YOU.
Speaking of California King snakes, the DāM-FunK got a real dance floor going, getting even the most skeptical Gen X'er to nod a head. And plenty of us were out there dancing, making sure to have a moment to swim together with others of our kind, humans in joy.
Tonight I'm going it alone, like a hardened criminal with something to prove. Catch me nestled between the Tenderloin and Union Square at August Hall for a nostalgia set of post-pop by Geographer — he's playing his whole first album, Animal Shapes — then down to the Mission's Gray Area for the electro-globalist Parra for Cuva, with whom I am infatuated. The human behind the grooves, Nicolas Demuth, says about his new tracks, "My sound is calmer, wiser." I like that vibe.
Noise Pop vibes through March 2. For upcoming shows click through to:
Check my latest article in the Marin Pacific Sun, "Noisy Neighbors" exploring neighborhood economic impact with Noise Pop Industries CEO Michelle Swing, plus a couple other articles of Noise Pop past.
Michael Giotis
Michael Giotis
Michael Giotis
