The Flaming Lips perform at BottleRock Napa Valley on May 10, 2013. OAKLAND — There’s a feeling you get on hallucinogenic drugs that’s a little like an astronaut in a space capsule reentering the atmosphere: a fear that grips you as you’re traveling at tremendous speeds, hurtling through the thin…

Courtesy: Brantley Gutierrez From the redwoods on Northern California’s coast to fields of daisies in Crested Butte, Colorado, folky pop band Magic Giant returns with  In The Wind, an album as musically diverse as the locales in which it was recorded. Magic Giant, Armors 9 p.m., Friday Popscene at…

Great narratives often tell a unique perspective or feature uncommon characters. Jonathan Coulton‘s songs meet the criteria. Aimee Mann, Jonathan Coulton 9 p.m., Friday The Fillmore Tickets: $35. The web programmer-turned-musician writes songs about monsters or creatures that most would not consider emotive. On his latest album, Solid State, he explores…

Fate, it seems, wants Angel Snow to be a musician. After three years in Nashville pursuing a career in music, Snow was considering changing direction. She had signed up for a program to teach English in South Korea and was well underway in the preparations. “When I met Alison…

Kevin Garcia, one of the founding members of Central Valley indie band Grandaddy, passed away Tuesday after a massive stroke. Kevin Garcia GoFundMe account The family of Kevin Garcia has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs. To donate, click here. “We are absolutely shattered to say that…

When Joe Goddard hits the stage at Public Works next week, Hot Chip fans can expect a wholly different show. The band’s longtime frontman just released his solo album, Electric Lines, which we called “dance music from his heart.” As high energy as ever, Goddard’s solo show focuses more on…

Photos: Gary Chancer SAN FRANCISCO — Sondre Lerche brought a dance party, as well as his charm, to the Independent on Tuesday. The Norwegian-born, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter is currently out on tour for Pleasure, a companion piece to 2014’s Please. He emphasized the pleasure, ready for a dance party and to let…

Folky Vancouver, B.C. band Current Swell spent its first 12 years and five albums making breezy reggae-tinged pop tracks about carefree travels and youthful living. This makes their latest, When To Talk and When To Listen, either an anomaly or a distinct change of direction. Current Swell 9 p.m.,…

Photos: Gary Chancer SAN FRANCISCO — The 1975 took the stage to an near-thundering collective scream of fans, many of whom had created a line several blocks long outside the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. They brought flowers and other gifts for frontman Matthew Healy, the object of affection for…

Fast Romantics combine strings, horns and indie rock, although you wouldn’t get that impression by talking to lead songwriter Matthew Angus. Angus doesn’t think in terms of genres or terminology, but in terms of what sound he’s looking for. Fast Romantics have an alternative rock core, but add various chamber instrumentation…