SAN FRANCISCO -- It was clear this wasn't just another night for 764-Hero

singer John Atkins.

Rather, as he saw it, this was the biggest night of his band's tour.

"We planned our whole West Coast tour around this night," said Atkins, 25, as he stood

drenched in sweat and smiling at the close of his band's set Thursday. "I've been looking

forward to it."

It was the third night of the seventh annual Noise Pop Festival, which touched down at

the Bottom of the Hill. In addition to 764-Hero, the show featured a diverse lineup of

up-and-coming indie-rock stars -- Fiver, the Aislers Set and Red Stars Theory.

The diversity made the show. The four bands performed everything from chirpy pop

songs to dark, soundtrack-quality instrumental pieces. The thrift-store-chic crowd,

sporting lots of cardigans and heavy-framed glasses, rolled with it all, giving the varied

groups a warm response.

But headliners 764-Hero stole the show, beginning with an unforgettable entrance that

saw Atkins emitting screams reminiscent of noise-pop pioneer Black Francis (a.k.a.

Frank Black) of the Pixies. With his aggressive vocals stretched over slow tempos and

melodic guitar lines, the three-piece created a dynamic, full sound despite its spare

setup.

Reacting to the nervous energy in the songs, the sold-out crowd bounced around as if on

pogo sticks.

Fiver, a five-piece from Modesto, Calif., opened the show with a smooth mix of keyboards

and guitars. Though loud at times, the band never overpowered singer Dave Woody's

voice as it swerved between languid, spacious pop and fuzzed-out rock.

The bandmembers said they were happy to get the chance to show their stuff. "The

crowd was really nice to us, even though most people here probably haven't heard us

before," said Woody, 25. "It was great."

San Francisco's own the Aislers Set certainly had no trouble winning people over --

though clearly the audience was packed with their fans. The band, fronted by guitarist

Amy Linton, mixed Velvet Underground-style noise guitar and organ drones with classic

girl-group harmonizing. It manifested itself as a crashing mix of catchy sing-along pop

that had many in the audience scrambling for a spot to dance.

The band drew big cheers for songs such as "My Boyfriend (Could Be a Spanish Man)"

from its debut album, Terrible Things Happen. The group, which was celebrating

the release of a new single, heads to Japan for a tour in March.

After hopping around to the Aislers Set's songs, the crowd swayed through Olympia,

Wash.'s Red Stars Theory's dark, moody, atmospheric pieces. Although singer James

Bertram stepped up to the microphone occasionally, the band squarely emphasized the

music, not the lyrics.

The five-piece, including a violin player and two guitarists, created lengthy, cinematic

songs, anchored by the drumming of Modest Mouse's Jeremiah Green.

Marissa Mandel, 19, of Sacramento, Calif., said she really liked the variety and got the

impression those around her did as well.

"Aislers Set were poppy and got people jumping around, and then Red Stars Theory

came in and just blew people away," she said. "I think a lot of people were impressed."

The Noise Pop Festival, a six-day, 37-band celebration of catchy, scrappy pop-rock,

continues through Sunday with performances by Creeper Lagoon, Guided by Voices,

the Fastbacks and Rocket from the Crypt.