Feb 27

Feb 27 Photos, Show Review: White Reaper Bring Life to San Francisco with Noise Pop Set

White Reaper
w/ Narrow Head, Taipei Houston
August Hall
San Francisco, CA
February 22nd, 2023

Photos by Jaime Schultz
Review by Jaime Schultz

On Wednesday evening, the Bay Area’s annual Noise Pop Festival kept things rolling along with a show at August Hall headlined by none other than garage punk five-piece White Reaper. With a lineup rounded out by the enigmatic stylings of Narrow Head and the energetic duo from newcomers Taipei Houston, Wednesday’s performance proved to be one of the bigger hits of the festival, which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Taipei Houston kicked off the show with a set that felt heavily influenced by the musicianship of 70s rock acts while melding in the raw energy of acts like The Stooges. The duo – comprised of Myles and Lane Ulrich – are based in the San Francisco Bay Area, noting to the crowd how happy they were to be playing back home. With just a drum set, bass guitar, and infectious liveliness, Taipei Houston started the evening in the best way possible.

Next up, Narrow Head took the stage with one of the most progressive acts of the evening, weaving in and out of genres ranging from indie, alternative, punk, and even post-hardcore. Narrow Head’s set evolved from slower, mellowed-out tracks into a heavier performance that sparked interest amongst those in the crowd.

White Reaper took the stage and closed things out with an impressive and fun performance. In a live setting, the focal point of this band lies within keyboardist Ryan Hater, engaging with the audience and uses as much of the stage as possible to elevate the performance. The fifteen-song performance treads the line between melodic indie rock hooks and vibrant alt-rock choruses.

People often talk about how rock is dying out, but it seems more alive than ever, with a new wave of acts like these three carrying the torch for the new generation. White Reaper’s Noise Pop show was a great addition to the festival’s ever-evolving lineup and not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening in the city.

The tour will resume on Thursday, March 2nd at Summit Music Hall in Denver, CO. The band just announced that they will be supporting Weezer on an upcoming North American tour this summer, which will stop at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre on Thursday, August 24th. For more ticketing information, click here.

White Reaper Set List
Bozo
Asking For A Ride
Real Long Time
Make Me Wanna Die
I Don’t Think She Cares
Raw
Pink Slip
Might Be Right
Little Silver Cross
Fog Machine
Funny Farm
Sheila
Ring
Pages
Conspirator
Judy French