Pop Noise. n. 1. a sudden burst of sound, can be startling. Related entries: champagne bottles opening, bottle rockets, Cap-Gun He-Man.

Noise Pop n. 1. type of independent music that is not afraid to be loud, melodious and listener-friendly. Can be startling. Related entries: Noise Pop Chicago 2001.

As the story goes, one day in February 1993, a San Francisco man named Kevin Arnold decided to book a few local bands at a dive called the Kennel Club. The nonchalant gig turned into a frenzy; the crowd loved the driving melodies and crunching distortion on display. From this, the Noise Pop Festival was born.

Since then, San Francisco has hosted an annual Noise Pop festival, and last year the independent extravaganza expanded to Chicago. Each year the festivities get larger, and this year’s festival continues that tradition. Noise Pop sprawls across the city, performing at venues ranging from intimate bars like Schubas to the city’s premier mid-size locales, such as the Metro and the Vic Theatre.

The consistent improvement in the quality of the Noise Pop bands is a tribute to Arnold’s quintessential standard for the festival: independent-minded musicians who like to have fun. After few headliners take the prime performing slots, the rest of the schedule is devoted toward promoting local artists. In past years, Noise Pop has attracted top indie heroes like Guided By Voices, Frank Black and the Catholics, The Flaming Lips and, uh, Harvey Danger.

What sets Noise Pop apart from other indie festivals like South by Southwest or CMJ Music Marathon are both the absence of performances geared to impress labels and the rejection of elitist stigma. It strives to simply have fun. The concerts are geared toward both die-hard fans and open-minded listeners looking to have a good time. nyou