San Francisco Bay Guardian - Essential Bay Area News, Politics, Arts, and Culture

Whither indie?

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:40:16 +0000

As Noise Pop turns 20, tracing sound from Overwhelming Colorfast to Young Prisms

Indie upstarts Young Prisms

MUSIC How does one trace the warp and woof of Bay Area indie rock's silky, sick, multihued tapestry — with ticket stubs to long-ago shows, holey concert T's, or grainy snapshots of sweat-swathed guitar players, red eyes gleaming in a haze of smoke machine emissions? Perhaps one way is to chart SF indie's course from the first Noise Pop to the latest 20th anniversary edition, teasing out the tenuous connections between the first fest's headliner Overwhelming Colorfast, reunited this year, and newish local poobah Young Prisms.

The pinging, ringing unifier might be found in the cascades of distortion, the buzzsaw guitars, used to drastically different ends. Fighting it out, too, beneath Overwhelming Colorfast's fleet-footed crunch and Young Prisms' smoggy overhang of echo-chamber shoegaze are clearly discernible, sensitive hearts, pulsing through the dulcet vocal lines and delivered with perfectly imperfect, threadbare falsettos. You can hear the ties that bind the two bands in the tide of romanticism and even sentimentality running under OC's onslaught, YP's haze.

Back in their 1991 to '96 day, I confess I lost track of Overwhelming Colorfast: I don't think I even saw them during their brief lifetime, although the music-snob friends respectfully granted that OC were kind of OK. So it feels thoroughly weird to play catch up with the most praised recording, Moonlight and Castanets (Headhunter/Cargo, 1996), by Antioch's finest. Just as Overwhelming Colorfast was breaking up (only to reassemble, in time, as Oranger), Moonlight came along. Sprawling and ambitious with a bit of everything, it evokes the exploding mind of a particularly imaginative punk/rock fan, stuck in the suburbs and succored on chicken-fried '70s and '80s FM rock and moshpit-ready Amerindie hardcore bands that could be your life.

Of course, much like Young Prisms, accusations of derivativeness dogged Overwhelming Colorfast, whose inspiration and albatross was Hüsker Dü. Founding vocalist-guitarist Bob Reed couldn't help it — he had clearly ingested far too much SST, with a very special emphasis on 1984's Zen Arcade and Double Nickels on a Dime and 1985's I Don't Want to Grow Up. But listening to Moonlight now —particularly its forward-thrust first side — those snap dismissals and facile comparisons seem unfair.

The side starts "Starcrunch" with its heavy-outta-the-gate guitars that match Bob Mould and J. Mascis lick for lick, moves through "Mickey's Lament," which goes Weezer one better with its smart-kid, enjambed vocal delivery, rhythm guitar chug, and Stooges-y impaired piano drone, and closes the tender, breathy "Last Song" with a back-and-forth guitar line that captures the indecision as Reed sings, "Got a stupid note here / It's from me to you. It's all I could do / Thought I might just toss it / But it took so long. Tell me if it's wrong." Eventually a way-too-exuberant fusillade of guitars busts in, attempting to obliterate uncertainty: it's as if Reed peered into the overwhelming darkness— wondering whether he should hold this awkward note and whether Colorfast could last—then decided, "Fuck it."

The precarious, ground-shifting nature of SF indie — so often fielding copy-cat accusations, so far from the so-called music industry centers — also touches Young Prisms, also reared in SF's bedroom communities yet looking to influences further afield, across the Atlantic, in the form of My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Like Colorfast, the outfit has also coped with its share of membership switcheroos: the title of debut Friends For Now might have foretold the departure of guitarist Jason Hendardy and the arrival of vocalist-guitarist Ashley Thomas, whose vocals along with vocalist-keyboardist Stephanie Hodapp's, pushes Prisms further toward the vaguely feminized, sonically diffuse space of the Cocteau Twins.

Songs like "Gone," off YP's upcoming second LP, In Between (Kanine), hinge on nursery rhyme-like vocal lines and a fluid wall of rhythm guitars against which a singular New Order-like guitar line dances. Guitars are used as pretty, pointillistic devices, seamlessly incorporated with washes of synth. People come and go, but here, sonic elements coexist in a more generalized, less personalized harmony, where lyrics are obscured and vocals are used as effects, rejecting the jolts — and listen-to-me force — of Reed's more intimate, ungainly urgency. Do the Prisms reflect a kind of indie progressiveness — an evolution from the punky and individualistic to the ambient and collective? For answers, revisit In Between in 15 years.

YOUNG PRISMS

With Melted Toys, Tambo Rays, Preteen

Weds/22, 7 p.m., $14

Cafe Du Nord

2170 Market, SF

(415) 861-5016

2012.noisepop.com

OVERWHELMING COLORFAST

With Oranger, Slouching Stars, Peppercorn

Sat/25, 8 p.m., $12

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 621-4455

2012.noisepop.com

The 'ruination' of Peter Gleick

tim — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:43:51 +0000

Oooh, sfgate has dropped climate scientist Peter Gleick's column on the City Brights section of the site. Harsh, man; I guess that's enough to "damage, if not ruin" the reputation of one of the world's leading authorities on climate change. Fired by City Brights; I bet he feels as if he's been unfriended by Garrison Keillor.

I continue to be amazed at the ethics of the San Francisco Chronicle, which can't tolerate Gleick but still allows Willie Brown to write a column in the news section of the paper.

And I'm amazed at all the handwringing over this incident. I means, what, exactly did Gleick do that is going to destory his scientific reputation after years of unimpeachable work? Here's what he did: He contacted the nuts at the Heartland Institute and asked them to send him some material. Oh, and he didn't give his real name.

It doesn't appear that he broke into the Heartland office, or hacked into the Heartland server, or went in under false pretenses and made a bogus video. In fact, I'd argue that, whatever the Chron's legal sources say, it's pretty hard to call this "stealing."

Look, if my phone rang and the person on the line said his name was Warren Buffet and he asked me to send him confidential Guardian business information because he was thinking about investing $1 billion in the alternative press, I'd make a coupla phone calls first -- wouldn't you? If I ran a right-wing nonprofit and somebody called and said she was a board member and could you please send a package of sensitive internal documents to an address in Oakland, California, I'd call back at the number I had for her and ask if she'd move to crazyland -- wouldn't you? Who on Earth sends that kind of material out without making sure it's going where it's supposed to go -- unless the vast majority of what Heartland sent Gleick was in fact the same sort of stuff that the loonies there regularly ship out to other loonies who they think might agree that Al Gore was born a thetan and is secretly plotting the United Nations takeover of the planet so that nobody can have round light bulbs any more.

I'm not condoning this sort of behavior -- although the history of journalism (sometimes excellent, important journalism) is filled with examples of reporters using what some would call dubious methods to get through what Robert Scheer used to call "the palace guard." But compared to shit the right wing pulls routinely, as a matter of practice, this is hardly a major crime. And you have to put some of the blame on whatever fool at the Heartland Institute mailed the company secrets off without checking where they were going.

And isn't it good that we now know how the oil industry is trying to create a K-12 curriculum that denies climate change?

Spanning time with the Flaming Lips

emily — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:42:37 +0000

I ran into a temporal anomaly while driving. My first warning sign was the police cruiser with one headline flashing its sirens behind me. Wrong place at the wrong time? Well, I was getting pulled over in Sebastopol on the way to Richmond from SF, but when the cop told me I was doing 78 in a 55, it suggested one thing —speeding.

And speeding isn’t spatial — location is irrelevant — you are precisely where you should be, just too fucking soon. The cop seemed hopeful that he could help me, but as he took my papers and ran back to his car I knew he had abandoned me to the crush of an impending temporal singularity, as time began to move in slow motion.

Slow motion. Some refer to it as time dilation. The sensation that a certain duration last longer than it should. The Flaming Lips have a song about it, called, obviously, “Slow Motion.” It goes like this:

Hey, come on over.

You know the day is going slower.

It takes a year, to make a day.

And I’m feeling like a float in the Macy’s Day parade.

Or like a boat, out on the ocean.  I’m drifting round in slow motion.

LSD and other narcotics aside, time generally doesn’t work that way. Compared to your life so far, each additional day is a smaller proportion. Time telescopes, you speed up, it goes faster. Slowing down is the opposite, unnatural. Sitting in a car waiting for the cop to come back (Is he going to search me?) or laying on a couch with friends trying not to cry — whenever time slows down — it’s unnerving.

You only know this much about “Slow Motion” — an alternate track from The Soft Bulletin not released in the US — because you saw the Flaming Lips play it once. But which time? Not at that fair in Santa Rosa. That one had a rave after. Not at the Fox Theater. That was the one where you slow danced with your girlfriend (at the time) until the staff asked you to leave. At Sasquatch, there in the Gorge? They did play The Soft Bulletin then, but it was rushed. That guy stood behind you — when Wayne Coyne was recounting Steven Drozd almost losing his hand and Michael Ivins being in a car crash — screaming “Play-a-song!” No, there just hadn’t been time.

And time, for the Flaming Lips, is important. Because as a band — one that has been through all sorts of well documented shit — the Flaming Lips know the value of time (particularly borrowed) and have made it their work to not just create music but get into the complete manufacture of moments. Which is a tricky business, because moments are bastards. Take all the pictures you want of the blinding lights, the beautiful costumed kids, the confetti cannons or all the other individual weapons that the Flaming Lips use to wage musical psychedelic war on time, and the moment still might not fit in a shutter, no matter how you slice a second.

It was at Bimbo’s. Not the time they played Noise Pop a few years back, but more recently. They were playing The Soft Bulletin, and taking their time. Hitting every single track from every single version of the album. Not quite slow motion, but close. When was that?

It was the night after the couch. When you were watching Blade Runner on TV, just the end part. Where the maniac with white hair is running around, trying to knock some sense into the other idiot character, who hardly even realizes he’s alive most of the time. And it starts getting heavy. Meaningless inevitability; the crushing force of time. Fucking tears in the rain. Before you know it, you’re happy it’s basic cable, because sometimes a commercial interruption is all that’s keeping you from crying.  It was the night after that. The Lips were going slower for sure, but still way too fast. The moments going by before you’re ready. Before you know it, they are on to other songs, and “Slow Motion” is somewhere in the past, back there with your best friends on the couch, never to return.

The band is getting ready to play something else, Steven readying both miraculous hands on another instrument while Michael stands ready, as ever, on the bass. You want to reach into your bag to take the camera out again, but you resist the urge. It won’t capture the cold press of the air canisters at your back anyway. Or, for that matter, the hookah scented from the smoke machines. And anyway, if you’re taking pictures during “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate,” you’re probably irretrievably lost.

And suddenly, everything has changed. The cop comes back to the car. Tells me my record is clear, that he just marked 65 on the ticket, because I was didn’t know where I was. He gives me some directions, regarding the roads. I don’t really listen (but do thank him and let him know about his broken headlight.) I drive forward, knowing exactly where I am. I was at a Flaming Lips show, and now I’m driving home.

Krushin' on

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:17:08 +0000

Party time with DJ Krush, Red Baraat, Black Rock Roller Disco benefit, Forest Green, and more

Roller Disco your heart out on Thu/23 to benefit the Godfather of Skate

SUPER EGO I've only a wee bit of space this week before I rush off back into the Mardi Gras of my mind, but I've got to three times diagonal-snap for local fashion designer Jeanette Au (jeanetteau.carbonmade.com) who tore it up for SF on the NY Fashion Week runways last week with her debut collection of 3-D knit fantasias. Ruling!

RED BARAAT

The Non Stop Bhangra (www.nonstopbhangra.com) monthly party's return two weeks ago was beautiful-insane — if you missed it, or must fulfill your yearning for incredible Indian-inspired dance music sounds before the next installment, check out this live act featuring irrepressible bandleader Sunny Jain on the dhol drum, backed by a high-stepping nine-piece brass band. Bollywood meets Mardi Gras is the shorthand, but the ringing grooves transcend categorization.

Thu/23, 7:30 p.m., $12–$15, all ages. Slim's, 333 11th St., www.slimspresents.com

ROLLER DISCO

Oh man, David Miles Jr., our patron saint of skate — "The Godfather of Skate," actually, who founded the essential Black Rock Roller Disco and keeps peeps rollin' from the Embarcadero to Golden Gate Park — lost everything in a tragic fire. He and his family are OK, but here's a great event to help get them back on their (wheeled) feet. Skate rental available: Lots of good DJs.

Thu/23, 9 p.m., donations at the door. Mighty, 119 Utah, SF. www.mighty119.com

CUTE FANGS 4EVER!

It's no secret that hyper-productive tech-breaks player and Cute Fang label owner Forest Green is one of my favorite people. It's hard not to leave her parties with a smile plastered on your face — partly from the room-wobbling beats, partly from her pure positivity transmission. This is her two-room blowout birthday party, with a slew of bonkers local guests like DJ Denise, Dragn'fly, Raydeus, Tek 9, and Base Hed. And it will be cute!

Fri/24, 9 p.m.-4 a.m., $5 before 10 p.m., $10 after. Icon, 1192 Folsom, SF. www.forestgreen.org

SITUATION

Part of the reason door fees have risen so much in San Francisco is our insistence on relying on foreign or guest DJs to bring something interesting to the table. Flights are expensive, cover rises. Well here comes Situation, a free party deliberately designed to showcase local talent and some snappy grooves: "the new disco sound of New York, bangin' house joints, 12-inch dance versions, and more than a few non-sequitors to keep things interesting," quoth host DJ (along with Eug and Ash Williams) Derek Opperman, my nightlife critic counterpart at the Weekly, who's basically an adorable human Shazam. Move out, yazoo.

Fri/24, 10 p.m., free. 222 Hyde, SF. www.222hyde.com

DJ KRUSH

Let's just admit that future bass was the trip-hop revival, OK? And while Flying Lotus et al. took the sound to unfathomable new highs/lows (and old hands like Amon Tobin sizzled retinae with his ISAM stage-show comeback), there's sometimes no beating the originals. After 20 years, Tokyoite chill-wizard DJ Krush can still gently ride those intelli-stoned waves into the stratosphere: a three-hour set should do you quite solid.

Sat/25, 9 p.m., $17.50 advance. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, SF. www.blasthaus.com

Campaign cash roundup and questions about our sleeping watchdog

steven — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:10:59 +0000

Money still talks in San Francisco elections, where third-party cash is playing an increasingly influential role.

Oliver Luby – the last true public-spirited employee at the Ethics Commission (a campaign lapdog when it should be a watchdog) before being forced out in 2010 – has written an insightful and comprehensive analysis of spending by candidates and outside groups during last year's election. It's published by CitiReport.

Among his findings are that the largely unregulated spending by supposedly independent third-party groups totaled $3.6 million, with $1.4 million of that going to support Mayor Ed Lee, and much of it coming so late in the race that voters weren't able to factor its sources into their decisions.

Those outside groups spent almost as much to elect Lee as the campaign itself raised, which was almost $1.6 million. When those two figures are combined, and one subtracts the $419,891 in independent expenditure (IE) spending in opposition to Lee, the appointed mayor and his supporters spent $33.87 for each first place vote he received, or about 2.5-times that of second-place finisher John Avalos, whose $757,327 in “supportive financing” works out to $13.25 per vote.

Luby has long called for Ethics to get tougher on violators of campaign finance law, playing whistleblower at several key points in his career, starting in 2004 when he and then-staffer Kevin DeLiban exposed notorious campaign attorney Jim Sutton's alleged scheme to illegally launder unregulated funds being collected for then-Mayor Gavin Newsom's inauguration into paying off some of his $550,000 campaign debt.

In his latest piece, Luby again calls out his old bosses at Ethics for ignoring local laws against maxing out donations to many candidates in order to buy influence at City Hall. Donors are limited to an “overall contribution limit” that equals the maximum individual donation of $500 times the number of offices open, which was three in this election. It allows the city recoup from the campaigns money collected in excess of that, which Luby said totals $29,111 in this election.

“The SF Ethics Commission does not enforce this law. Supervisor Scott Wiener wants to help them get rid of it,” Luby wrote. Ethics Commission Executive Director John St. Croix was out of the office and hasn't returned a Guardian call for comment.

Among those whose excessive contributions would be diverted to city coffers are Planning Commissioner Michael Antonini (perhaps the city's most powerful Republican), PR powerhouse Sam Singer, medical marijuana activist Kevin Reed, political fundraiser Wade Randlett, city staffer-turned-developer Michael Cohen, moderate Democrat Mary Jung, and Coalition for Responsible Growth (a pro-development group) President Rodrigo Santo. Not surprisingly, they all contributed to Lee, whose campaign would be on the hook for the most in givebacks, $7,725, followed by David Chiu's mayoral campaign at $4,700.

Finally, for all their talk about fiscal responsibility, Lee and his supporters couldn't seem to live within their means in this election. Lee's campaign finished about $275,000 in debt, while two of the pro-Lee IEs also finished in the red: SF Neighbor Alliance ($11,338) and Progress for All ($35,890), the ethically challenged creators of the “Run Ed Run” campaign that purported to talk Lee out of his pledge not to run for a full term in the office he'd been appointed to.

These are just some of the findings in Luby's voluminous reporting, so check it.

Occupy 4 Prisoners hits San Quentin

yael — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:10:50 +0000

The crowd marches at Occupy San Quentin

IMAGE VIA OCCUPYSF MEDIA

About 800 protesters marched to San Quentin’s East Gate in a day to protest what they called inhumane conditions in prison Feb. 20

Protesters called for an end to the practice of trying children as adults, three strikes laws, life sentences, life without the possibility of parole, and the death penalty.They did not call for the dismantling of the prison system or an end to the practice of incarceration, as Chip Johnson implies here.

In San Quentin-- and in prisons across the country—inmates are subjected to solitary confinement, sometimes for decades. Kids as young as 13 are tried as adults and sometimes sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. In three-strikes states, people are sentenced to decades in prison for non-violent crimes that sometimes amount to less than a couple hundred dollars in damages. And in death penalty states, state-sponsored execution means that lives, sometimes innocent, are thrown away.

Twenty-four US states do not have three strikes laws, many countries cap prison sentences at 15 years regardless of the severity of the crime, and only one European country- Belarus- continues to impose the death penalty. The United States incarcerates its citizens at a rate that far surpasses any other country in the world; second on the list in Rwanda.

Conditions and laws like these have spurred decades of prison reform and prison abolition activism, both from inmates and supporters on the outside. Feb. 20, this movement joined with Occupy Oakland to protest outside San Quentin prison and demand that these issues be addressed.

As protesters arrived, organizers blasted music, hoping to reach the ears of prisoners. Dozens of prison guards and representatives from the Marin County sheriff’s department were stationed in front of the prison gate, and well as on hills looking down on the protest group.

The loud music continued with a performance from the Brass Liberation Orchestra, and subsequently a drumming ritual.

“As First Nations people, we’re no strangers to occupation. We’re also no strangers to prison. The first prisons were the reservation and the slave plantation,” said George Galvis, Executive Director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.

“We have post-colonial stress disorder in our communities,” added Galvis.

Author, film producer (Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story) and 2006 California gubernatorial candidate Barbara Becnel helped facilitate the event.

In her opening statements, Becnel praised the crowd, packed with Occupy activists, family members of incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people, and others.

“We should really be proud of ourselves today. Because today, we are history makers. We have merged the prison rights movement with the Occupy movement,” said Becnel to an eruption of applause.

Throughout the program, speakers read solidarity statements addressed to Occupy Oakland from prisoners across the country, including Mumia Abu Jamal, Leanard Peltier, Kevin Cooper, and group statements from Pelican Bay human rights organizers, and those involved in state-wide prison strikes in Georgia.

A movement has coalesced around the claim that Cooper, a death row inmate at San Quentin since 1985, is innocent. Cooper was denied an appeal in 2009 in a ninth-circuit court case in which five judges dissented, declaring that, “the state of California may be about to execute an innocent man.” Their 103-page dissent statement includes descriptions of evidence tampering leading to Cooper’s conviction.

Cooper helped call for the Occupy 4 Prisoners day of action.

Speakers at the rally called for Cooper’s freedom, and for the end of death row entirely.

Becnel related a story about some prisoners, charged with life without the possibility of parole, that she had met while campaigning against the death sentence for Stan "Tookie" Williams.

The men, Becnel said, told her: "We only leave here in a casket also. We are also dead men walking."

Speakers also decried the use of solitary confinement as a punishment in prisons.

Sarah Shourd, known for her imprisonment in Iran after accidentally crossing the border during a hike, spoke along with fellow imprisoned hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer.

Shourd, who was held in solitary confinement for 14 months, related her experiences.

“After just two months my mind began to slip. I would spend large portions of my day crouched down by a small slot in my door, listening for any sounds from the outside that might distract me from the sheer terror of my isolation.”

A statement from a Texas prisoner, read by an Occupy Wall Street organizer, also addressed solitary confinement.

“We tend to think of man as a collection of individuals, each complete in himself, who just happen to come together to satisfy certain needs. Actually, however, there is nothing distinctly human that can be exhibited by an individual in isolation,” said the philosophical letter.

The Pelican Bay Hunger Strike last year highlighted solitary confinement, and prisoners demanded an end to the practice, in which inmates are held in isolated rooms with no sunlight for 23 hours a day, often for years on end. Some inmates at Pelican Bay have been held in these conditions for over 30 years.

Organizers of the hunger strike called it off when the California Department of Corrections promised to investigate the issue, but started to strike again several months later when no changes had been made to any of the conditions that they were protesting.

Kelly Turner, 42, who was sentenced to 25 years to life for writing a bad check for $146.16 in 1997, was also placed in solitary confinement for one year. However, she focused her speech at the rally on California’s three strikes law, the legislation that turned what would have been a three-year sentence for forgery into a possible life sentence for Turner. Turner said she was lucky that good pro bono lawyers defended her, and would likely still be in prison had they not; she now owns her own business.

Turner, who advocates for Families to Amend California Three Strikes (FACTS), urged the crowd to vote for an initiative to amend the law that is slated to appear on the California ballot this November.

In her speech, Turner described meeting women in the Central California Women’s Facility is Chowchilla that were also serving decades-long sentences after having been charged with a third strike.

“I am here today for the woman that was on my dorm that had 27 years to life for drinking a 99 cent lemon line soda out of a store. Or the woman who stole a jar of Vaseline, a bottle of vitamins, two pairs of boxers,” said Turner.

Tatiana, a young prisoners rights advocate who spent time in juvenile hall, read a statement from incarcerated youth Veronica Hernandez.

Hernandez, 20, has been imprisoned since age 16.

She was tried as an adult, an outcome that she attributes to a public defender who did not do his best to fight for her.

"There are no law libraries or legal services at juvenile hall, so a juvenile, for better or for worse, is entirely dependent on his or her court-appointed attorney, and must trust that he or she will lead them in the right direction. Unfortunately for me, that direction was to adult court. I now face a life sentence should I be convicted," said Hernandez in her statement.

No speaker argued for the dismantling of the prison system, instead focusing on what they saw as unjust sentencing and inhumane treatment in prisons.

In a statement calling for Occupy 4 Prisoners, Kevin Cooper connected a call to end the death penalty with struggle for correct racial and economic justice and an end police brutality:

“America has a deep-seeded philosophy in which it only allows for the execution of its poorest people. These seeds have taken root and have grown in such a way that no person who this system sees as a ‘have-not’ is safe from the death machine. Whether they are within (San Quentin) or on a BART platform.”

Bauer also expressed the importance of tying prison rights to the Occupy movement, saying, “This Occupy movement needs to permeate the prisons. God forbid one day some people here will be on the other side of this fence. But when movements get strong, people start getting locked up. We should know this. This happens in every country. Prisons are places where movements are killed. But at the same time, when movements successfully permeate prisons, a space built to break people down, the movement is at its strongest. This is true all over the world.”

Occupy Oakland organizers have already been hit with bizarre and seemingly invalid charges, such as “lyching,” “bike,” “boat,” and umbrella. In one of the most extreme cases, Khali, an Occupy Oakland protester, may face life in prison after being arrested for a allegedly taking a blanket out of a garbage can. Advocates for Khali say that he was denied prescription medications in jail for ten days before allegedly assaulting a police officer; his third strike.

Well-known prison rights advocate and former Black Panther Elaine Brown ended the program. After remarking that “there aren’t enough songs in this movement,” she sang Oh, Freedom as the crowd peacefully exited the site, as several volunteers picked up any trash that was left behind.

“Before I’ll be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave, and go home to my comrades and be free,” sang Brown.

Ice Cream Bar's soda fountain revives the '30s jerk

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:16:22 +0000

GUARDIAN PHOTO BY VIRGINIA MILLER

In this week's Appetite food and drink column in the paper, I relished the opportunity to return to a time of delicious handmade fountain drinks at Cole Valley's new Ice Cream Bar (albeit with some innovative contemporary flavor twists). In between sips of wild cherry phosphate, I got to talk to Russell Davis, the bartender who developed the fantastic soda fountain program, about the soda jerk revival -- and got him to share some of his sassafras secrets.

SFBG Why is Ice Cream Bar different from other soda fountain revival spots in the US?

Russell Davis There are a few spots in the country supporting the "revival" of the soda fountain and its lost drinks, but none take it to the extent and level that we do at Ice Cream Bar. From top to bottom, our menu is not just based on using quality ingredients and refined processes, but also on its inherent historical value. Our syrups are all fresh, cold agitated and our ice is all hand cut. Even our floats are built to the same specifications as they would have made them in 1894 Chicago. We are not playing around.

SFBG What connection do you see between classic and creative cocktails, the world you come from, and old fashioned soda fountain drinks?

RD Many bartenders who didn't flee the country during Prohibition to practice their craft became soda jerks. There was a beautiful way of mixing that was refined during this period. Also, the techniques that we apply to soda fountain drinks can, and I believe will, be used in the crafting of a refined cocktail. What I've noticed as the biggest difference between mixology and soda jerking is that whereas bartenders focus on using fresh fruits and other seasonal ingredients, soda jerks try to capture flavors (in a tincture or extract)....

SFBG Tell me about the sassafras root beer featured at ice Cream Bar. How is this different from other homemade root beers?

RD First, it's made using fresh sassafras and a house built sassafras extract, something that you do not find in mass-produced root beer because, by USDA standards, it is illegal due to its slightly carcinogenic properties. But, there is nothing to be afraid of: it's about as dangerous as cinnamon or nutmeg. Most people use wintergreen, spearmint, and licorice or anise to replicate that sassafras flavor that was in the original old school recipes of root beer, but nothing compares to the flavor of the true stuff. Next, I use black and jasmine tea as a base combined with a variety of other herbs, then cold brew it with ground marshmallow root to create a thick creamy texture and give it head. Lastly, I add a little bit of St John's Wort in so, hopefully, it will put you in a good mood as well.

SFBG Given more than 75 tincture options and house-made extracts, what crazy concoction would you order if you wanted something unusual?

RD [Laughs] You'll just have to wait and see when the next menu comes out!

Subscribe to Virgina's twice-monthly newsletter, The Perfect Spot, www.theperfectspotsf.com

Snap Sounds: Young Magic

emily — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:26:31 +0000

YOUNG MAGIC
MELT
(CARPARK)

Hearing a band being described as "tribal electronic" gives me a headache, but Young Magic actually pulls it off on its debut full-length, Melt. This New York-via-Australia trio works irregular drum machine beats, swirling synths, and haunting vocals into dark, psychedelic pop songs. The sluggish, heavily reverbed "Night In The Ocean" is sensual and explosive. With its fluttering synths and repeated "I found love with you" vocals, "Jam Karet" is catchy and almost chant-like. "The Dancer" opens with a few creepy music box notes, and features what sounds like a shrieking tropical bird.

There are a lot of playful juxtapositions of ambient nature sounds and electronic elements on Melt, creating a feeling of these tracks being played on a MPC in some distant, secluded cave. Supposedly, the album was recorded all over the world, in Germany, Iceland, and Australia. These songs sound vaguely exotic and, as the band's name suggests, snugly rooted in the occult.

The video for "Night in the Ocean" is equally sexy:

Kicky kitty

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:05:38 +0000

Storming the field -- and tasting the rainbow at Haltun

le.chicken.farmer@gmail.com

CHEAP EATS There was a soccer game on TV. There was a cat on the pitch. It was running around, stopping, staring, licking, looking not-at-all confused and very much in every way like a cat. Except that millions of people were watching it, tens of thousands of them right there: laughing, clapping, and carrying on.

And who were all these sweaty men in striped shirts and high socks?

None of the players tried to help with the corralling of the cat. They appreciated the chance to catch their breath, I guess, while stadium officials and trained cat-corralling professionals did their bit. Or tried to. Let the record show: in its own sweet time, the cat trotted off the field the same way it had trotted on: of its own volition. And play resumed.

The stadium was not in our country. The television was. It was in my new favorite restaurant, Haltun, which is on 21st and Treat, just around the corner from the Mission Rec Center, where Hedgehog and me play our racquetball.

I love cats. I love soccer. I am a drooling idiot in the glow of any television set no matter what's on, no matter how far away. Thus, I found it hard to undividedly pay attention to my dining companions, but did manage to catch a conversation between Coach and Hedgehog in which it was posited (by Coach) that I was the least queer person in the world (because I move in mostly-straight circles) and counter-posited (by Hedgehog) that I was the most queer person in the world (because I move in straight circles, and queer ones, and have slept with every kind of person there is including both flavors of trans ones, including gay men and now straight ones, and straight women and now gay ones).

"Bisexual isn't less queer than homosexual," argued my homosexual girlfriend. "It's arguably queerer."

"Yeah, but declaring yourself bisexual plays into the binary. What about genderqueers?"

"Oh, I've slept with them too," I interjected, without looking away from the TV because someone (a human being, not a cat) was making a beautiful run. And: "Goaaaaalllll!!!!"

Here's my rant: You can't even watch TV with just an antenna anymore! TV antennas are exactly as obsolete as black-and-white. But did you know that every program used to broadcast separate signals for black-and-white and color TVs?

As I understand it.

They had to do a color "Get Smart" and a black-and-white "Get Smart," and sling them both out over the treetops, I guess, or twist them both through one cable at the same exact time — and that all ended just two, three years ago, so I could as easily have said "Cheers," or "Friends," or, I don't know, "Arrested Development." By the way.

Probably I have this wrong.

But there are seven colors in a rainbow flag. My skirt has more colors than that! And, though there are a gazillion shades of gray, there is also black, and there is white. No doubt, gender — even genitalia — is a spectrum. Yet: There would appear to be penises. And vaginas! And, as hormonally altered trans people (not-always-willing poster children for in-betweenitude) can attest without even opening our mouths, testosterone and estrogen are two different things.

If you can, without saying a word, both refute and support the exact same argument ... I'm not saying it's queerer or less queer. The word I would use is bacon. It's bacon.

Now, cochinita pibil is pork — just pork! — in a greasy red broth, with a flap of banana leaf hanging over it. What the hell am I supposed to do with that? Well, it came with tortillas, which the server took great care to point out were "hand made" — and I'm sure they were, but they didn't taste very special.

Hedgehog had something with turkey meat and a disk of pork meatloaf afloat, with an egg, in a nice broth. Simple, and exotic. At the same time!

Coach had a sampler plate of all things vegetarian. Come to think of it, her meal did have the most variety and color to it, so ...

There's that.

HALTUN

Daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

2948 21st St., SF.

(415) 643-6411

MC/V

Beer & Wine

Compressing the press

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:03:32 +0000

What would a Bay Citizen merger with Center for Investigative Reporting mean for local journalism?

Journalism in the Bay Area has been in decline for many years, with corporate consolidations, shrinking newsrooms, declining print readership, and struggles with how to pay full-time reporters when content is offered free-of-charge on the Internet. And with its waning institutional strength, the Fourth Estate has lost some of its ability to watchdog the powerful, creating a dangerous situation in a country founded on the belief that a free press is an essential safeguard of liberty and fairness.

One countervailing trend during this time was the creation of robust nonprofit newsrooms, with the two largest ones in the Bay Area being the Berkeley-based Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and the Bay Citizen in San Francisco. But now those two entities have announced that they're in merger talks — and that the combined newsrooms would be led by Phil Bronstein, who presided over the decline of San Francisco's two major daily newspapers.

Whether this merger bodes well or ill for a journalistic resurgence remains unclear. Both entities have their strengths and flaws, and both of their boards are in the middle of a 30-day review period to determine whether the merger makes sense and what the combined operations would look like.

As the exclusive Bay Area content provider for The New York Times, Bay Citizen made a big splash when it was launched with $5 million in seed money from billionaire financier Warren Hellman in late 2009. As Hellman (who died in December) told me at the time, he was seeking to create an independent, local, public interest alternative to the San Francisco Chronicle, which was being gutted by its New York-based owners, Hearst Corp., and even threatened with closure if its unions hindered the downsizing.

Many were skeptical that a newsroom funded and overseen by Hellman and other uber-wealthy San Franciscans would deliver the kind of public interest journalism that the city needed, but under the leadership of veteran Editor Jonathan Weber, it produced many strong stories, starting on launch day with an investigation of how the richest home owners in the city avoid paying property taxes the city once relied on. And last year, Bay Citizen broke some important stories and created valuable databases on campaign contributions and danger spots for bicyclists, for which it recently won a Society of Professional Journalists award for computer-assisted reporting.

Acting CEO Brian Kelley told us the Bay Citizen has succeeded in creating a strong "three-legged stool" balancing solid journalism, a sustainable business model, and technological innovation. After raising about $17 million in three years, ranging from small donations to the $6 million Hellman contributed, "we're in a very healthy state from a financial standpoint."

But sources say the operation has had some tough internal divisions, some of it propagated by an out-of-touch board and an overpaid CEO, Lisa Frazier, who took a reported $457,000 salary to run an operation that she had served as Hellman's consultant in launching. They say Frazier clashed with Weber and the reporting staff, particularly after it voted to unionize last year, and then with Weber's successor, Steve Fainaru. Both Weber and Fainaru resigned in the last month, creating a leadership vacuum that was one of the factors that triggered the merger talks.

Meanwhile, CIR has experienced the most dynamic growth period in its 30-year history since 2008, when veteran editor Robert Rosenthal took over as executive director after leaving the Chronicle, where he served directly under Bronstein, who also later left the Chronicle and now serves as president of CIR's board.

CIR has traditionally had a small staff working on a shoestring budget to produce a handful of big investigative journalism projects per year, including award-winning broadcast segments for "Frontline" and "60 Minutes." But Rosenthal focused on securing millions of dollars in foundation funding and creating collaborations with media outlets around the state (such as KQED), launching California Watch to beef up coverage of statewide issues, as he describes in his 24-page essay "Reinventing Journalism: An unexpected journey from journalist to publisher" (www.californiawatch.org/project/reinventing-journalism).

"I was deeply frustrated by a lack of vision, ambition, and passion on the business side that was throttling creativity and undermining the crucial role that journalism, and especially investigative reporting, play in our democracy," Rosenthal wrote in the report that was requested by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, one of three foundations that provided more than $1.2 million each to launch California Watch (the others are Irvine and Hewlett foundations).

The Guardian has long raised questions about the trend of foundations increasingly stepping in to fill journalism's funding voids, arguing that it can compromise journalistic independence and allow wealthy interests to determine what issues get investigative scrutiny (see "Buying the news: How private foundations are quietly underwriting — and shaping — local news coverage of major issues," 10/8/97).

But in an era when most California newspapers are clinging to life, Rosenthal had used the funding to augment CIR's investigative reporting staff and get impactful, award-winning stories to run simultaneously in outlets around the state, challenging old journalistic norms about competition and exclusivity.

Rosenthal admits the model has its shortcomings, including the unreliability and often-narrow focus of foundation funding and how CIR's successes have done little to backfill the loss of local beat reporting (such as covering City Hall or keeping the cops and local power brokers in check), but he thinks the merger might help in those areas.

"It's exciting for us to be able to address what has been a vacuum in San Francisco for a long time," Rosenthal told us about reviving local coverage. And on the funding model, he said, "If we can do this right, it's about creating a local base of people who believe in accountability journalism to give small donations."

Bronstein told us that many of the shortcomings at his old newspapers were the result of business decisions Hearst made and general trends in the industry. But he acknowledged people's concerns about whether someone with such a long local history is the best person to turn things around: "I don't know that I'm the best person to take it over. That's something other people should determine, not me."

Both admit that the Chronicle under their tenure could have better covered the consolidation of wealth and power and other economic justice issues, long a Guardian focus and one that the Occupy movement helped highlight. "The Bay Area media could have been a lot more effective on those issues," Rosenthal said.

But Bronstein said he's committed to supporting more accountability journalism in the Bay Area, supporting the work of the Bay Citizen, and supplementing work done at papers like the Guardian: "The weeklies do a fine job of writing some in-depth stories and we need more of that, providing context."

Both said that even if the merger takes place, Bay Citizen would continue to provide local coverage under the brand and model it's developed, although the New York Times has not yet determined whether it would continue to run its content if it's not exclusive. The two newsrooms wouldn't initially be merged, although Bronstein has said that achieving savings of up to $1.9 million is one of his goals, something he'd try to accomplish without reducing journalistic content or quality.

The two entities have slightly different cultures and areas of focus, so the question now is whether they're compatible. Bay Citizen's Kelley said he thinks they are: "I personally feel they are very complimentary."

Guardian editorial: The DA and mayoral corruption

bruce — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:20:49 +0000

EDITORIAL The indictments of two executives of an airport shuttle company on charges of laundering campaign money are, in themselves, a rarity and something to celebrate: the district attorney of San Francisco is actually attempting to enforce the laws against political corruption. That's unusual in this city, and worthy of note.

But at this point, the entire sum total of prosecutions involving the scandal-ridden campaign of Mayor Ed Lee amounts to a pair of cases against people who made what appear to be illegal contributions. As of today, the message that's being sent is that nobody in the Lee campaign did anything wrong. And that seems a little bit curious.

Lee's late entry into the race — after he'd promised for months not to run — and his refusal to abide by the rules of public financing forced his supporters to raise a large amount of money very quickly. There were so-called independent expenditure committees collecting donations and running parallel campaigns that, by law, should have been entirely distinct from Lee and his official effort. We've always been dubious about the supposed lack of coordination.

Then there were the well-documented instances of irregularities serious enough that every other candidate in the race asked for state and federal monitors to watch the election. Several eyewitnesses told local reporters that they saw volunteers for one of the supposedly independent groups filling out absentee ballots for voters, using a special template that ensured the votes would go for Lee. Some said they saw ballots being collected at a makeshift voting booth. In a video provided by the campaign of State Sen. Leland Yee, it appears that volunteers were both filling out ballots and placing them in bags — both clear violations of law.

Gascon's announced investigations of all the allegations — but more than three months later, nothing has come of it. His office won't confirm or deny whether investigations are ongoing or whether any further indictments may be forthcoming. But at the Chinese New Year Parade, Chinatown powerbroker and Lee ally Rose Pak announced that she had heard Gascon was investigating her.

There's been plenty of time to collect evidence, and Gascon has a responsibility to let the public know, as quickly as possible, what's happened to the rest of the allegations. If everyone in the Lee campaign is really innocent, and none of the independent groups supporting the mayor did anything wrong, he should say that, and present the evidence.

It doesn't help Lee, the city, or the integrity of the voting process to have these cases drag out. Gascon needs to conclude them, expeditiously.

Rep Clock

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:08:08 +0000

Schedules are for Wed/22-Tues/28 except where noted. Director and year are given when available. Double features are marked with a •. All times p.m. unless otherwise specified.

ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS 992 Valencia, SF; www.atasite.org. $6-10. "Mad Dance," films by Nina Fonoroff, Ken Paul Rosenthal, and Lewis Klahr, Sat, 8. "Short Sharp Shock: 3rd I International Shorts," Sun, 1:30.

BAY THEATER Aquarium of the Bay, Embarcadero at Beach, SF; www.aquariumofthebay.org. $10-20. "An Evening of Sailing Films," Fri, 6.

CASTRO 429 Castro, SF; (415) 621-6120, www.castrotheatre.com. $7.50-10. "Two Sides of a Coin: Kirk Douglas:" •Paths of Glory (Kubrick, 1957), Wed, 3, 7; Ace in the Hole (Wilder, 1951), Wed, 4:45, 8:45. Melancholia (von Trier, 2011), Thurs, 2:30, 5:15, 8. Fantasia (Walt Disney Productions, 1940), Fri-Sun, 2, 5, 8.

CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER 1118 Fourth St, San Rafael; (415) 454-1222, www.cafilm.org. $6.75-10.25. "Rafael Film Club" with guest Ruthe Stein, Thurs, 1. Chico and Rita (Trueba, 2010), call for dates and times. "2012 Oscar Nominated Short Films," narrative and documentary (separate admission), call for dates and times.

HERBST THEATRE 301 Van Ness, SF; www.sfopera.com. Free (advance registration requested at www.sfopera.com/girlmovie). The Girl of the Golden West — The Movie!, performed by the San Francisco Opera (2010), Sat-Sun, 1:30, 3:30.

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE EAST BAY 1414 Walnut, Berk; (510) 848-0237. $6-8. Joanna (Falk, 2010), Thurs, 7:30.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE 57 Post, SF; (415) 393-0100, rsvp@milibrary.org. $10. "CinemaLit Film Series: Hollywood Dames: Beauty and Brains:" The Barefoot Contessa (Mankiewicz, 1954), Fri, 6.

"NOISE POP FILM SERIES" Artists' Television Access, 992 Valencia, SF; 2012.noisepop.com/film. $8-10. Bob and the Monster (Bahruth, 2011), Wed, 7; Hit So Hard (Ebersole, 2011), Wed, 9; Blank City (Danhier, 2010), Thurs, 7; N.A.S.A.: The Spirit of Apollo (Garon and Spiegel, 2009), Thurs, 9. Also AMC Loews Metreon 16, Fourth St at Mission, SF. $11.50. Re: Generation Music Project (Bar-Lev, 2011), Thurs, 8. Also Roxie, 3117 16th St, SF. $10. Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story (Bralver and Ferino, 2011), Fri, 7; Andrew Bird: Fever Year (Aranda, 2011), Fri, 9; Upside Down: The Creation Records Story (O'Connor, 2010), Sat, 7; Dragonslayer (Petterson, 2011), Sat, 9:15.

PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE 2575 Bancroft, Berk; (510) 642-5249, bampfa.berkeley.edu. $5.50-9.50. "Documentary Voices:" ""Making It (Un)Real: Animated Documentary Shorts," Wed, 7. "Dizzy Heights: Silent Cinema and Life in the Air:" A Trip to Mars (Holger-Madsen, 1918), Thurs, 7; High Treason (Elvey, 1929), Fri, 7; The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower (Duvivier, 1927), Sat, 6; "Fantasies of Flight: Animation and Comedy Shorts," Sun, 2. "Howard Hawks: The Measure of Man:" Barbary Coast (1935), Fri, 8:45; His Girl Friday (1940), Tues, 7. "Austere Perfectionism: The Films of Robert Bresson:" L'argent (1983), Sat, 8:35.

ROXIE 3117 and 3125 16th St, SF; (415) 863-1087, www.roxie.com. $6.50-10. SF IndieFest, Wed-Thurs. Visit www.sfindie.com for complete schedule. Straight Outta Hunters Point 2 (Epps, 2012), Feb 24-March 1, 7, 8:45 (also Sat-Sun, 3:15, 5). "Up the Oscars!", Academy Awards viewing party, Sun, 3:45. This event, $15.

SF FILM SOCIETY CINEMA 1746 Post, SF; www.sffs.org. $10-11. Margaret (Lonergan, 2011), Wed-Thurs, 2, 5:30, 8:30. Roadie (Cuesta, 2011), Feb 24-March 1, 2:30, 5, 7, 9:15.

VORTEX ROOM 1082 Howard, SF; www.myspace.com/thevortexroom. $7 donation. "The Second Coming of the Vortex Room:" Privilege (Watkins, 1967), and The Devils (Russell, 1971), Thurs, 8.

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org. $6-8. "Bros Before Hos: Sex in the Shadows," presented by Albert Steg, Thurs, 7:30.

Psychic Dream Astrology, Feb. 22-28

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:01:25 +0000

Feb. 22-28

ARIES

March 21-April 19

Stop looking outside of yourself for answers, and look instead inside your own self to see the roots of your current problems. You didn't create your troubles on purpose, of course, but you've been a participant in them. Focus on changing yourself instead of others should for best results.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Don't try to control the direction or outcome of things, Taurus. This week invest in building things solidly instead of quickly. You need to keep moving at a pace that you can sustain, which is slow and steady, good buddy. More will be revealed to you with time, so focus only on what you know now.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Your relationships need you to be present and accountable to them, even when things get rough. Stay aware of how you play in the game of give and take so that you can be balanced and fair to all involved. Be sensitive to what you give and what you allow yourself to receive for best results.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Even if you can doesn't mean that you should, Cancer. This week you must learn about the cost of doing more than you can handle, and you can learn the hard way or the easy way. Know your limits so that they don't have to limit you! Seek mindfulness and balance as you handle your business.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

When you overwhelm yourself with other people's energies you can quickly loose track of your own. Gather up your strength and call your boundaries, because you run the risk of shutting down for no good reason. You could use a minute to recharge alone, so take it before you need to.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Your past is a great guide when trying to navigate what is reasonable to expect from yourself in the present. Use your discretion and take your time when evaluating your options this week. Be certain that you can get behind what you're doing in the now to protect what's in front of you.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Don't let fearfulness turn you on the defensive, Libra. This week you need to nurture your insecurities into a place of security with tender loving care. Reach out for help when you need to lick your wounds clean. You are totally capable; just follow through with self-care, even when ya wanna give up.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

You need to set some limits and prioritize what needs to get handled, STAT. There is a Scorpio shaped hole in the wall in the shape of your own damn head, so instead of continuing to try to break through to the other side, why don't you change strategies? Participate differently for different results.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Things aren't totally as you want them to be and instead of lamenting that fact it's time to bet decisive about what to do next. Get pragmatic as you strive to execute changes that improve the big picture of your life, and not just your immediate problems. Pursue purposeful action.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

It's hard to know what's bumming you out when you don't even know what's driving you anymore. You have gotten off track of what you need in pursuit of what you want. Realign with your goals and you will be that much closer to regaining balance and feeling swell again.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Nurture your feelings by giving them the attention and kindness they deserve, Aquarius. You need to open your heart up to whatever is going on in your world, even if it doesn't feel great. Be present with what's real for you so that you can get support where you need it and enjoy the rest.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Taking risks on the wings of your intuition is your birth right as a Pisces, so you might as well go for gold with it this week. Stay clear about your aspirations so you can tell a good opportunity from a bad one, but do dare to try something new! Actively participate in the changes of your life. *

Jessica Lanyadoo has been a Psychic Dreamer for 17 years. Check out her website at www.lovelanyadoo.com or contact her for an astrology or intuitive reading at (415) 336-8354 or dreamyastrology@gmail.com

Our Weekly Picks: February 22-27

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:55:33 +0000

WEDNESDAY 22

Way Behind the Music

Famous rockers may have a way with riffs, but their grammar and syntax can often prove cringe-worthy. And yet, their inflated egos and turmoil-filled musings within literary efforts provide insight into worlds otherwise unknown. This, my friends, is the perfect set-up for an evening of music obsessed over-sharing. At the return of Litquake and Noise Pop's collaborative event, Way Behind the Music, a collection of esteemed local musicians and writers will read from the autobiographies of Ozzy Osbourne, Sammy Hagar, Jewel, Slash, Ted Nugent, Marianne Faithfull, Angela Bowie, Jim Hutton (boyfriend of Freddie Mercury), and Christopher Ciccone (brother of Madonna). The group on stage — which includes Penelope Houston, Carletta Sue Kay, Jennifer Maerz, and more — will extract tales of Olympic-level drug use, epic bands fights, and rock star trials and tribulations, giving the audience just a taste of that wild ride to infamy. (Emily Savage)

7 p.m., $15

Make-Out Room

3225 22nd St., SF

(415) 647-2888

www.makeoutroom.com

THURSDAY 23

Big Black Delta

Big Black Delta is the solo project of Los Angeles maestro Jonathan Bates, lead singer of lo-fi rock band Mellowdrone. Legend has it Bates launched BBD after buying a used laptop off frequent Nine Inch Nails collaborator Alessandro Cortini and using it to create electronic soundscapes. Good thing too, because BBDLP1 is a crafty compilation made up of equal parts power and panache. "Huggin & Kissin" sounds so aggressive, it's as if Depeche Mode's synths decided to take steroids and beat up little kids. On the flip side, "Dreary Moon" with Morgan Kibby (the Romanovs, M83) has all the ethereal, vocal playfulness of an Air track. Bates brings in dueling drummers Mahsa Zargaran and Amy Wood for the live show. (Kevin Lee)

With New Diplomat, Aaron Axelsen & Nako 9 p.m., $10–<\d>$12 Rickshaw Stop 155 Fell, SF (415) 861-2011 www.rickshawstop.com

FRIDAY 24

"More Light"

If you're up for a dose of reifying pessimism, check out "More Light" —a joint exhibition featuring new works by Francesco Deiana and Lafe Harley Eaves. In an effort to explore how society diverts humans from primordial joys, Deiana creates ballpoint pen drawings and images on photographic paper that juxtapose society's adulterating tendencies with natural beauty (e.g. a drawing of an impenetrable brick wall flushed with a photograph of the ocean). Eaves, who's said he views the world as "one dark joke after another," makes line and pattern narratives that delve into the occult, religion, and the psychedelic. He also focuses on illustrating human duality and the uncertainty of relationships. (Mia Sullivan)

7 p.m. opening reception, free

Park Life

220 Clement, SF

(415) 386-7275

www.parklifestore.com

Image Comic Expo

With San Francisco's WonderCon moving to Anaheim while Moscone Center South undergoes renovation, Image Comic Expo in Oakland is the primary destination for Bay Area comic book nerdery this season. Instead of focusing on Marvel and DC — the comics industry's "Big Two" — the Expo bills itself as a "celebration of creator-owned comics." Exhibitors include a number of independent publishers besides Berkeley-based Image Comics. Guests include Image luminaries Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, and Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), plus fan favorites Jonathan Hickman (FF, Pax Romana), Joe Casey (Gødland), Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, ABC's Lost) and Blair Butler. (Sam Stander)

Fri/24, 3-8 p.m.; Sat/25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun/26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $20–$150

Oakland Convention Center 550 10th St., Oakl.

www.imagecomicexpo.com

Dave Holland Overtone Quartet

English bassist Dave Holland came to the United States at the request of the legendary Miles Davis and became part of music lore as part of the quartet that birthed jazz fusion and its opus, Bitches Brew (Columbia). Holland has since worked with a number of jazz masters including Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk and Chick Corea. When Holland was coming into his own as a musician in the 1970s, the rest of the Overtone Quartet were just entering into the world. But saxophonist Chris Potter (a frequent Holland collaborator), drummer Eric Harland (a SFJazz Collective performer) and pianist Jason Moran (a MacArthur Fellowship "Genius") have established themselves as potent forces in their own right. (Lee)

8 p.m., $25–$65

Palace of Fine Arts

3301 Lyon, SF

(415) 567-6642

www.sfjazz.org

"Oracle and Enigma"

For a while, thanks to a series of festivals organized by producer Brechin Flournoy, San Francisco was the place in the country to see Butoh. The excitement and puzzlement surrounding the art has died down as it has simply become another form of international dance. So it should be good to again see one of its original practitioners, the Kyoto-born Katsura Kan who in 1997 moved to Thailand and has since become one of those peripatetic choreographer-dancers who takes inspiration from wherever he alights. As part of his winter residency at CounterPULSE, Kan and Shoshana Green will present "Oracle and Enigma" which they describe as "a journey towards the celestial horizon". Sounds like Butoh . (Rita Felciano)

Fri/24-Sat/25, 8 p.m., $18–<\d>$20

CounterPULSE

1310 Mission, SF

(800) 350-8850

www.counterpulse.org

SATURDAY 25

Monster Jam

A stampede of horsepower comes thundering into the Bay Area today with the Monster Jam series of monster truck races and events, featuring 16 ground-shaking custom creations such as the long-running fan favorite "Grave Digger," which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Fans can get up close and personal with the burly behemoths during the afternoon "Party In The Pits" before the night's main events, where the 10,000 pound muscle machines will fly through the air at distances up to 130 feet, reach heights up to 35 feet in the air, and of course, gloriously smash a series a puny regular cars. (Sean McCourt)

3-6 p.m. pit party, 7 p.m. main event; $12.50–<\d>$32, $125 for total access pass

O.co Coliseum

7000 Coliseum Way, Oakl.

(800) 745-3000

www.monsterjam.com

"Cum and Glitter: A Live Sex Show"

Perhaps you're one of those people — that yes, do exist — left nonplussed by your standard strip club experience. Let's face it, fried chicken buffets and atrocious choreography amplified by glitter platform heels don't do it for us all. For you, then, queer pornographer Maxine Holloway's new monthly sex show. Holloway, a vintage-loving local coquette, has bolstered her sex industry chops heading Madison Young's women's only POV website and used her connections to line up a crack cast for Cum and Glitter's opening night: Kitty Stryker, Courtney Trouble, and Annika Amour among other superlative sex workers. Live cello music. Specialty cocktails named after the performers. Class. (Caitlin Donohue)

9 p.m., $30–$55 individuals, $50 couples

RSVP for location

www.cumandglitter.com

SUNDAY 26

"Up the Oscars!"

For a particular breed of movie fiend, the Academy Awards are more like a sporting event than a glamorous celebration of Hollywood. You know the type: catcalling the screen like they're giving a blind ref the business (2006 flashback: "Crash? Are you fucking kidding me? Brokeback Mountain forever!") This year's ceremony will no doubt evoke its own array of passionate responses to awkward presenters and awkward gowns, omissions from the Tribute to the Dead, faux-surprised winners who unfurl pre-scripted lists of people to thank ("My agent! My masseuse!"), etc. The Roxie's annual "Up the Oscars!" bash is aimed squarely at those who enjoy cheering and jeering the gold man in equal measure. D.I.Y. drinking games optional. (Cheryl Eddy)

3:45 p.m., $15

Roxie Theater

3117 16th St., SF

www.roxie.com

Stardust Sunday

Cover band? Try cover cult. The First Church of the Sacred Silversexual takes all the Christ allusions David Bowie made with The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and The Man Who Fell to Earth, exorcising one little bit — Jesus. The resulting mass is a blasphemous celebration of the 65-year-young rock God's music. With as many members as Bowie has personas, all fully embracing their deity's love of costume, the Church's service has the campy theatricality of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and all the sparkle of a Ken Russell movie. (Ryan Prendiville)

With Space Cowboys DJs Mancub and 8Ball

8 p.m., $5

Public Works

161 Erie, SF

(415) 932-0955

www.publicsf.com

The Dodos

Listening to the Dodos kind of makes you feel like you're part of a drum march that's heading down a sunny country road via Brooklyn. Logan Kroeber, who's been known to play a drum kit sans bass and to tape a tambourine to his foot, creates catchy rhythms that compel you to dance frenetically (really, it's unavoidable), while lead vocalist Meric Long finger-picks an acoustic guitar and traverses the octaves with deep, introspective lyrics you can't help Googling. This San Francisco-based indie folk duo most recently released fourth album, No Color (Frenchkiss) last year, and is closing out Noise Pop this year with what will likely be a memorable performance. (Sullivan)

With Au, Cannons and Clouds, Here Here

7 p.m., $20

Great American Music Hall

859 O'Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.gamh.com

MONDAY 27

Leslie and the LY's

Long known for her 1980s-esque minimal dance-pop numbers encased in stretchy gold lame (referred to in "Gold Pants"), and even longer for her extensive bejeweled sweater collection (ahem, "Gem Sweater"), Leslie of Leslie and the LY's boasts a newish additional talent to add to the mix: wedding officiant. The Ames, IA-based confetti-puke performance artist began officiating weddings when Iowa voted yes on gay marriage in 2009. The weddings she oversees are said to twinkle with her typical megawatt star quality — there's even a documentary about one affair called Married in Spandex — and Mother Gem performs a personalized dance number for each lucky couple. While she may not be hosting any impromptu weddings during her appearance at Rickshaw this week, the world just feels more glamorous knowing that she could (for this, we listen to "Power Cuddle"). (Savage)

With Pennyhawk, Ramona & the Swimsuits

8 p.m., $13

Rickshaw Stop

(415) 861-2011

155 Fell, SF

www.rickshawstop.com

TUESDAY 28

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

Following 2010's high profile Pavement reunion tour — which gave fans of the '90s alternative rockers a chance to see the group live for the first or last time (as well as reportedly giving some of the members funds to pay off some financial debts) — leader Stephen Malkmus returned to the studio with his band the Jicks to record an album with Beck on board as producer. The result, Mirror Traffic, carries over the tour's energy, and is the closest thing to a Terror Twilight follow-up to date. And as showcased by the Jicks's all-too-short performance at the last Treasure Island Music Festival, Malkmus remains the slacker king of the nonchalant guitar solo. (Prendiville)

With Nurses

8 p.m., $20

Slim's

333 11th St., SF

(415) 255-0333

www.slimspresents.com

The Guardian listings deadline is two weeks prior to our Wednesday publication date. To submit an item for consideration, please include the title of the event, a brief description of the event, date and time, venue name, street address (listing cross streets only isn't sufficient), city, telephone number readers can call for more information, telephone number for media, and admission costs. Send information to Listings, the Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi St., SF, CA 94107; fax to (415) 487-2506; or e-mail (paste press release into e-mail body — no text attachments, please) to listings@sfbg.com. Digital photos may be submitted in jpeg format; the image must be at least 240 dpi and four inches by six inches in size. We regret we cannot accept listings over the phone.

Music Listings

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:50:57 +0000

Music listings are compiled by Emily Savage. Since club life is unpredictable, it's a good idea to call ahead or check the venue's website to confirm bookings and hours. Prices are listed when provided to us. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Picks.

WEDNESDAY 22

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Autumn Electric, Johnny Unicorn Coffee Adventures, 1331 Columbus, SF; myspace.com/coffeeadventures. 11am-1pm, free.

Body Swap, Meridians, Metacomet Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.

Cursive, Ume, Virgin Islands, Taxes Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $19-$21.

Fresh & Onlys, Disappears, Talkdemonic, Churches Bottom of the Hill. 8pm, $12.

Matt Kearney, Robert Francis Warfield. 8pm, $27.

Papercuts, Sonny and the Sunsets, Princeton, Tortured Genies Independent. 8pm, $15.

JC Rockit vs. Nathan Temby Johnny Foley's Dueling Pianos. 9:30pm.

Terry Savastano Johnny Foley's. 9pm, free.

Soft Swells Bender's, 806 South Van Ness, SF; www.bendersbar.com. 5pm, free.

Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Pacific Dub Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10-$13.

Victor & Penny Madrone Art Bar.7-9pm.

Mitch Woods Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.

Young Prisms, Melted Toys, Tambo Rays Cafe Du Nord. 8pm, $12-$14.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Cat's Corner with Nathan Dias Savanna Jazz. 9pm, $10.

Chris Amberger Trio & Jazz Jam Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

Cosmo AlleyCats Le Colonial, 20 Cosmo Place, SF; www.lecolonialsf.com; 7-10pm.

Dink Dink Dink, Gaucho, Michael Abraham Amnesia. 7pm, free.

Greg Gotelli Quartet Medjool, 2522 Mission, SF; www.medjoolsf.com. 6-9pm, free.

Ricardo Scales Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 6:30pm, $5.

Keith Sweat Yoshi's. 8 and 10pm, $45.

Zapp Band & Shirley Murdock Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35.

DANCE CLUBS

Booty Call Q-Bar, 456 Castro, SF; www.bootycallwednesdays.com. 9pm. Juanita MORE! and Joshua J host this dance party.

Coo-Yah! Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. DJs Daneekah and Green B spin reggae and dancehall with weekly guests.

Club Shutter Elbo Room. 10pm, $5. With DJs Nako, Omar, and Justin.

Full-Step! Tunnel Top. 10pm, free. Hip-hop, reggae, soul, and funk with DJs Kung Fu Chris and Bizzi Wonda.

Mary Go Round Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; www.lookoutsf.com. 10pm, $5. Drag with Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro, and Ginger Snap.

Megatallica Fiddler's Green, 1333 Columbus, SF; www.megatallica.com. 7pm, free. Heavy metal hangout.

Vespa Beat Bliss Bar, 4026 24th St., SF; www.blissbarsf.com. 9pm, free. MSK.fm spins raregrooves, electroswing, and boogie.

THURSDAY 23

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Big Black Delta, New Diplomat, popscene DJs Rickshaw Stop. 9pm, $10-$12.

Budos Band, Allah-Las, Pickwick, Big Tree Independent. 8pm, $20.

Dirty Ghosts, Bare Wires, Chapter 24 Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10-$12.

Dirty Names, Emma Hill Amnesia. 9pm, $7-$10.

John Lawton Trio Johnny Foley's. 9pm, free.

Mac McCaughan, Sun Foot Swedish American Hall. pm, $15-$17.

Moonlight Orchestra, Talky Tina Thee Parkside. 9pm, $7.

Motet: Funk is Dead Yoshi's. 11pm, $20.

Myonics, Ape Machine, Tiger Honey Pot Milk Bar. 9pm, $6.

Red Baraat Slim's. 8pm, $13-$16.

Soft Pack, Shannon & the Clams, Fidlar Cafe Du Nord. 8pm, $12-$14.

Nathan Temby vs. Rags Tuttle Johnny Foley's Dueling Pianos. 9:30pm.

Thao, John Vanderslice, Garrett Pierce Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $20.

Justin Vivian Bond, Whoa Nellies Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $26.

Junior Watson Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $18.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Blues organ party Royal Cuckoo, 3202 Mission, SF; www.royalcuckoo.com. 7:30pm, free.

Stompy Jones Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 7:30pm, $10.

Tom Lander & Friends Medjool, 2522 Mission, SF; www.medjoolsf.com. 6-9pm, free.

Savanna Jazz Jam with Nora Maki Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $5.

Sophisticated Ladies Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

Zapp Band & Shirley Murdock Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Twang! Honky Tonk Fiddler's Green, 1330 Columbus, SF; www.twanghonkytonk.com. 5pm. Live country music, dancing, and giveaways.

DANCE CLUBS

Afrolicious Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $5. With DJ/host Snor Oz spinning Afrobeat, Tropicália, electro, samba, and funk, plus DJ Babbidge and Afrolicious Drums.

BASE: EDX (On the Edge) Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; www.vesselsf.com. 10pm, $10. House/techno.

Get Low Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. Jerry Nice and Ant-1 spin Hip-Hop, 80's and Soul with weekly guests.

KUSF In Exile Hemlock Tavern. 6-9pm. With DJ Carolyn.

Thursdays at the Cat Club Cat Club. 9pm, $6 (free before 9:30pm). Two dance floors bumpin' with the best of 80s mainstream and underground with DJ's Damon, Steve Washington, Dangerous Dan, and guests.

Tropicana Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, free. Salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, and more with DJs Don Bustamante, Apocolypto, Sr. Saen, Santero, and Mr. E.

FRIDAY 24

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Baxtalo Drum Amnesia. 9pm, $7-$10.

Boombox Temple SF, 540 Howard, SF; www.templesf.com. 8pm, $5-$20.

Bootcuts, Heel Draggers, Slow Motion Cowboys, Creak Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $15.

Bronze, Dangerous Boys El Rio. 9:30pm, free.

Concrete Blonde, Jim Bianco Bimbo's. 9pm, $30.

Matthew Dear Public Works. 8pm, $18.

Death Angel, Hammers of Misfortune, Anvil Chorus Midnight Chaser Slim's. 9pm, $21-$23.

G. Love & Special Sauce, Scott H. Biram Fillmore. 9pm, $25.

Growlers San Francisco State University, 1650 Holloway, SF, C-134; facebook.com/thedepotsf. 7:30pm, free.

Hairy Apes BMX Connecticut Yankee, 100 Connecticut, SF; www.theyankee.com. 10pm, $15.

Paula Harris Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.

Jolie Holland, Will Sprott of the Mumlers, Dreams, Emily Jane White Cafe Du Nord. 8pm, $16.50-$18.50.

Malone Brothers, Buxter Hoot'n, Cryin' Shame Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $15-$20.

Jason Marion, Randy, Nathan Temby Johnny Foley's Dueling Pianos. 9pm.

Bob Mould, Fake Your Own Death, Distortion+ Bottom of the Hill. 8pm, $20.

Jonas Reinhart, Magic Touch, Three Leafs Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $8.

Vonda Shepard Rrazz Room. 8pm, $45.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra Clift Hotel, 495 Geary, SF. 9pm, free with RSVP to morganshotelgroup.com/rsvp/clift-sessions.html.

Veronica Falls, Bleached, Brilliant Colors, Lilac Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $12-$14.

X-Static Johnny Foley's. 9pm, free.

Z-man & Fist Fam, Grand Invincible, Rec-League, Foul Mouth Jerk Elbo Room. 9pm, $10.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Audium 1616 Bush, SF; www.audium.org. 8:30pm, $20. Theater of sound-sculptured space.

Black Market Jazz Orchestra Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 9pm, $10.

Dave Holland Overtone Quartet Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon, SF; www.sfjazz.com. 8Pm, $25-$65.

Hubert Laws Yoshi's. 8pm, $30; 10pm, $26.

Carol Luckenbach Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $8.

Ways & Means Committee Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Zej & Calen, Lea Grant Dolores Park Cafe, 501 Dolores, SF; www.doloresparkcafe.com . 7:30pm, free.

DANCE CLUBS

Blow Up: Plastic Plates DNA Lounge.10pm, $20. With live performances by Plastic Plates, Eric Sharp, Tropicool, and DJ Jeffrey Paradise.

DJ Spinna & DJ Shortkut Mighty.10pm.

Juno What? Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $15. Soul, disco, electro, and funk with DJ K-Os.

Old School JAMZ El Rio. 9pm. Fruit Stand DJs spinning old school funk, hip-hop, and R&B.

Paris to Dakar Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $5. Afro and world music with rotating DJs including Stepwise, Steve, Claude, Santero, and Elembe.

Pledge: Fraternal Lookout. 9pm, $3-$13. Benefiting LGBT and nonprofit organizations. Bottomless kegger cups and paddling booth with DJ Christopher B and DJ Brian Maier.

SATURDAY 25

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

ALO, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers Fillmore. 9pm, $22.50.

Archers of Loaf, Big Sleep, Hospitality, Built Like Alaska Great American Music Hall. 7:30pm, $26.

Bats in the Belfree, Hate Crime Thee Parkside. 3pm, free.

Big Freedia Public Works. 9pm, $16.

Brass Menazeri Amnesia. 9pm, $7-$10.

Christie Front Drive, Jonah Matranga, Young Mammals, Great Apes Cafe Du Nord. 8pm, $15.

DJ Audio1 SOM.11pm, $10.

Green & Wood, Hazzard's Cure, Wild Hunt Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $7.

Imperial Teen Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, SF; www.amoeba.com. 2pm, free.

Overwhelming Colorfast, Oranger, Slouching Stars, Peppercorn Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.

Randy, Nathan Temby, Jason Marion Johnny Foley's Dueling Pianos. 9pm.

Vonda Shepard Rrazz Room. 8pm, $45.

Sic Alps, Asabov Sobelo, No Boss, Patrick Mullins Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10-$12.

Earl Thomas & the Blues Ambassadors Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $22.

Ticket to Ride Johnny Foley's. 9pm, free.

Laura Veirs & the Hall of Flames, Foxtails Brigade, Carlos Forster, Tyler Lyle Swedish American Hall. 8pm, $16.

Laura Veirs & the Tumble Bees Swedish American Music Hall. 3pm, $18.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Audium 1616 Bush, SF; www.audium.org. 8:30pm, $20. Theater of sound-sculptured space.

"Back to the Roots of Jazz" Savanna Jazz. 7;30pm, $15. With special guests and African dancers.

John Cavellini with Tom Shaw Trio Martuni's, 4 Valencia, SF; (415) 241-0205. 7pm, $7.

Bill Kwan Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Saturday Night Salsa Ramp, 855 Francois, SF; www.facebook.com/therampsf. 5:30pm, $10.

DANCE CLUBS

Blowoff: Hosted and DJ'd by Bob Mould Slim's. 10pm, $15.

Bootie SF: Katy Perry Night DNA Lounge. 9pm, $10-$15. With resident DJs Adrian and Mysterious D, Smash-Up Derby, Dada, Cookie Dough, and more.

Debaser Elbo Room. 10pm, $5. Four-year anniversary party with DJs Jamie Jams, Emdee, and Stab Master Arson spinning classic 90s alternative and hip-hop.

Frankie Knuckles Mighty. 10pm.

Go Bang! Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin, SF; www.decosf.com. 9pm, $5, free before 10pm. Atomic dancfloor disco action with Michael Serafini, Allen Craig, Steve Fabus, and Sergio Fedasz.

Juno What? Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $15. Soul, disco, electro, and funk with DJ K-Os.

Night Moves Monarch, 101 Sixth, SF; www.monarchsf.com. 9pm, $5-$10. With residents J Boogie and DJ Theory, and guests Jimmy Edgar and B. Bravo.

Paris to Dakar Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $5. Afro and world music with rotating DJs including Stepwise, Steve, Claude, Santero, and Elembe.

Rocket Rickshaw Stop. 10pm, $7. Deep space dancing with the Rocket Collective resident DJs Trevor Sigler, David Sternesky, and more.

SUNDAY 26

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Antechamber, Deep Dimension, Buttons Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $5-$8.

Dodos, AU, Cannons & Clouds, Here Here Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $20.

Drone Church, Jozef van Wissem, Chuck Johnson, Diego Gonzalez Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, 1661 15th SF, SF; www.saintjohnsf.org. 8pm.

Carletta Sue Kay, Helene Renaut, Karina Denike Hemlock Tavern. 6pm, $5.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Dima and Grant Levin Bliss Bar, 4026 24 St., SF; www.blissbar.com. 4:30-7:30pm, $10.

"Harriet Tubman and Jazz" Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater, 4705 Third, SF; www.urbanmusicpresents.com. 3pm, $20. With Marcus Shelby Quartet featuring Faye Carol.

Justin & Matthias Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

John Pizzarelli Fairmont, Venetian Room, 950 Mason, SF; www.bayareacabaret.org. 2:30 and 5pm, $45.

Savanna Jazz Jam Savanna Jazz. 7pm, $5.

Leah Tyrese Yoshi's. 7pm, $20.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Sunday Night Salsa Ramp, 855 Francois, SF; www.facebook.com/therampsf. 5:30pm, $10.

KC Turner St Luke's Episcopal Church, 1790 Van Ness, SF; (415) 673-7327. 5pm, free.

Twang Sundays Thee Parkside. 4pm, free. With Muddy Roses, Wounded Men.

DANCE CLUBS

Batcave Club 93, 93 9th St, SF 10pm, $5. Death rock, goth, and post-punk with Steeplerot, XChrisT, Necromos and c_death.

Dub Mission Elbo Room. 9pm, $6. Dub, dubstep, roots, and dancehall with DJ Sep, Maneesh the Twister, and Vinnie Esparza.

Jock Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; www.lookoutsf.com. 3pm, $2. Raise money for LGBT sports teams while enjoying DJs and drink specials.

La Pachanga Blue Macaw, 2565 Mission, SF; www.thebluemacawsf.com. 6pm, $10. Salsa dance party with live Afro-Cuban salsa bands.

MONDAY 27

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Elephant Listening Project Elbo Room. 9pm, free.

Fatlip, Cee Knowledge Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $15-$20.

Jealous Sound, Books On Tape, Please Do Not Fight Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.

Leslie & the Ly's, Pennyhawk, Ramona & the Swimsuits Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $13.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Bossa Nova Tunnel Top, 601 Bush, SF; (415) 722-6620. 8-11:30pm, free. Live acoustic Bossa Nova.

Claudia Quintet feat. Theo Bleckmann Yoshi's. 8pm, $20.

Hermann Lara and His Jazz Nexus Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

DANCE CLUBS

Death Guild DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $3-5. Gothic, industrial, and synthpop with Joe Radio, Decay, and Melting Girl.

Krazy Mondays Beauty Bar, 2299 Mission, SF; www.thebeautybar.com. 10pm, free. Hip-hop and other stuff.

M.O.M. Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. DJs Timoteo Gigante, Gordo Cabeza, and Chris Phlek playing all Motown every Monday.

Sausage Party Rosamunde Sausage Grill, 2832 Mission, SF; (415) 970-9015. 6:30-9:30pm, free. DJ Dandy Dixon spins vintage rock, R&B, global beats, funk, and disco at this happy hour sausage-shack gig.

TUESDAY 28

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Alvon Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.

John Lawton Trio Johnny Foley's. 9pm, free.

Neurovoltaic Orchestra Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $5. Soul, disco, electro, and funk with DJ K-Os.

Two Cow Garage Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.

Jenny Owen Youngs, Little Hurricane, Terese Taylor Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Nellie McKay: I Want to Live! Rrazz Room. 8Pm, $30.

Rastrelli Quartet Yoshi's. 8pm, $18.

Raquel Yoshi's Lounge. 6:30-11pm, free.

DANCE CLUBS

Eclectic Company Skylark, 9pm, free. DJs Tones and Jaybee spin old school hip hop, bass, dub, glitch, and electro.

Post-Dubstep Tuesdays Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521.10pm, free. DJs Dnae Beats, Epcot, Footwerks spin UK Funky, Bass Music.