HITS has been compared to classic pop/post-punk like Marine Girls, Oh OK and Dolly Mixture, as well as the ramshackle yet sublime groups that populated the early K and Flying Nun rosters. There’s some truth to it, although they consider themselves a “scrappy Oakland punk band” more than anything else. On their latest album, 2021’s Cielo Nublado, lead singer/guitarist Jen Weisberg crafts compelling songs that take all kinds of unexpected twists and turns. Her lyrics are generally concise and elegant, sometimes consisting of only one or two elliptical phrases. When it all comes together, like on opening track “Static Drizz,” the result feels like a glorious spring day after a long, difficult winter. My favorite is probably “Alan Vega,” an ode to Jen’s unreliable Subaru Forrester. As far as California car songs go, it’s far closer to Jonathan Richman’s “Dodge Veg-O-Matic” than your standard Beach Boys/Jan & Dean hot rod or Compton lowrider.

-Mike Appelstein

MARMALADE MOUNTAIN is long-time Oakland resident Zack Fischmann (now residing in LA). MM originally consisted of Dick Stusso on drums and Nate Mahan of Shannon and the Clams on bass. He's touring supporting his new album "Strange Angels".

THE SECRET BEACH is Micah Erenberg, often joined by Kacy Anderson from Kacy & Clayton. He's touring supporting his new album "Songs from the Secret Beach".

BLOOD OCEAN is Tyler and Trapper Piatt. They're currently finishing their first album, featuring Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers), and produced by Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear).