Noise Pop 2020: Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020

Last year the electro-pop duo Bag Raiders released Horizons, their second album to date since their self titled, 2010 debut. The last time the LA transplants from Australia were in SF was in 2015 when they played at The Rickshaw Stop. 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020

photo by Marc Fong

They brought their party to The Independent for the closing weekend of the 28th Annual Noise Pop Festival on Friday, February 28th. 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong 

Their  headlining show was sold-out but there was room to wiggle even as the opening act came to end. Presumably, space was held for Noise Pop badge holders to sneak a peek of the high demand show. 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong 

It was a later show as far as SF shows go,  it's fair to say the crowd was ready to for Bag Raiders to start once they hit the stage around 11:00. Jack Glass and Chris Stracey were accompanied by a third, making their duo a trio on stage. And, they were all wearing matching, white bucket hats (yes, they are trendy again). 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong

Excited to show off new, jazzy, disco synths they jumped right in with "Lightning". As squeaky synths, pulsating beats and shimmering melodies flowed from the stage, dreamy almost psychedelic   lighting accentuated their infectious, spirit lifting vibe. Glass and Stracey harmonized falsettos on "Breakdown" and mixed things up by slowing things down with "Wild A Heart". 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong

The band found their groove and comfortably jammed out to new, unique sounds like those found on Horizons' "Medicine" as well as throw back bangers like "Sunlight".
Fans dug the drum solo mid set, ceasing that time to take a breather before the show ramped back up with danceable, indielectro Bag Raiders are known for. 

"Shooting Stars" is easily the epitome of Bag Raiders' signature sound with it's inescapable, dazzling layers of synths. There's really no better song that they could end a show with and they danced along with fans as they played their biggest hit, ending the night on a high note with "Shooting Stars". 

Bag Raiders @ The Independent 2/28/2020 

photo by Marc Fong

There's no doubt about it, Bag Raiders' show at The Independent was a great way to kick off the closing weekend of San Francisco's long running, city wide, indie music festival.