It's difficult to contemplate music absent of pop structure or influences in the age of genre-revivalism and commercialized indie. Difficult, but not impossible. Just ask Media Jeweler.

Formed in 2013 from three members of the now-defunct Moon Pearl, an “8+ piece tidal wave of uncomfortable party music” based in Irvine, the avant garde Media Jeweler has ties to Irvine's DIY arm Acrobatics Everyday, and two of the members simultaneously create musical/sexual tension as part of Santa Ana post-hardcore band Windy. Self-described as free rock, i.e. "not grunge, not punk, not alt, not anything," Media Jeweler have confused listeners (in a good way) playing convention-defying music across California venues with freaky local acts like So Many Wizards, Roman Candles, and most recently Girlpool. In time these musical entrepreneurs hope to establish a travel agency, produce a cooking show, and create a Media Jeweler smartphone app with the end-goal of making millions by playing popular rock music. Fingers crossed.

Media Jeweler’s debut album $99 R/T Hawaii will "come out" sometime this summer. Expect to see their 7” debut single “Looking Back” in June, a song about “the feeling of thinking about the stuff you did before the moment that you are in at that moment. It has no words but that is the sort of feeling you are supposed to feel when you listen to the song.”

They'll be playing a string of shows in San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles this week to support touring band Ava Luna and Young Lovers. Watch their album teaser below. - Ryan Mo

Experimental noise rock and other platitudes won't really convey just how invasive Moon Pearl's sound is; yet that is precisely what makes their first two records a treat for anyone with a taste for over-the-top distortion, and I guess... torture for everyone else. Strictly speaking, the sum of harsh strings, smashing cymbals, random yaps and worrying howls hardly qualifies as anyone's comfort zone. But what you hear, if you let yourself get pulled into the frenzy as it gets denser, and slowly builds up to chaos one instrument at a time, is a youthful urge to play; it's light-hearted, heavy-handed DIY nonsense, carefully crafted and served with the highest energy by up to ELEVEN experienced noisemakers. Who will, as it goes, be shaking up The Echo on July 25th (recommended to those who like loud, messy music and real live fun!).- Tracy Mamoun

 

Are you one of those SF music snobs who is always talking about the underground art scene in the East Bay, but rarely over there? Me too. Hop on BART tonight for a show at new Oakland venue Hearts and Palms. 

Oakland's dreamy, noisy Starskate will headline, but be sure to get there early enough for Moon Pearl, visiting from Orange County, plus Dash Jacket and A White Hunter. More details here.

--Whitney Phaneuf