It’s Friday! Here’s your weekend, all planned out and ready:
Vir
The East Bay has no shortage of shoegaze acts, but one of the scene’s most talented bands is, in fact, transplanted from the other half of the globe — the southern half, that is. Vir is a trio of fantastically noisy New Zealand natives who churn out the best kind of delay- and loop-heavy, atmospheric ear-storms reminiscent of Sonic Youth and newer acts like A Place to Bury Strangers. But this moodier sound, as heard on the band’s excellent 2012 record, Engineers, may be on its way out, as Vir gets set to release its still-untitled album later this year. According to guitarist and vocalist Sam Sloane, the band’s next album is already “sounding quite dark and sultry, but a little poppier and less experimental than Engineers.” In a spate of upcoming shows, including one on Friday, Apr. 19, at The Night Light, the band will be testing out some new material songs. Hear them, along with Spider Meow, Vague Choir, and Space Ape. 9:30 p.m., $7. TheNightLightOakland.com — Lenika Cruz
Credits: Stephen Loewinsohn Credits: Stephen Loewinsohn
Pretty Penny Anniversary
In the battle for most-beloved East Bay vintage store, Pretty Penny sweeps the competition. From its impeccably curated selection of men’s and women’s vintage and locally designed duds down to its quaint, two-story Rockridge store (recently revamped to impossibly cuter proportions), Pretty Penny is, well, pretty perfect. And owner Sarah Dunbar has an impressive vintage resume to boot: She worked at Telegraph Avenue’s quirky-retro Mars Mercantile and Williamsburg staple Beacon’s Closet before deciding to open a store filled with her own selections. On Friday, Apr. 19, join Dunbar and the Pretty Penny community at the store for its seven-year anniversary party, featuring free food and drinks, a photobooth, live music, a pop-up vintage store, and all the clothing you can afford to carry home. 5-10 p.m., free. 510-594-9219 or PrettyPennyClothing.com — Azeen Ghorayshi
