Fridays Can Be Hella Good for Dancing

Well, folks, I have to apologize for a measly showing this week, but I've been sick and busy. So I'm keeping it short and sweet. I didn't want those of you that check up on my blog to go without. And I certainly don't want people not going out and seeing music just because I've been sick.

Thursday, December 15, 2005
Fred Frith, Larry Ochs and Scott Amendola
21 Grand (Oakland)
$10

I, for one, was super bummed I didn't make it to see Fred Frith's solo performance a few weeks ago at Hemlock. I didn't have any good reason not to go, except that it was a $15 show, and that doesn't usually stop me. I just wasn't feeling it that night, which was weird because I was really excited about the show since Frith plays guitar or bass on many of the CDs I've purchased recently due to my obsession with avant-garde musician John Zorn. Well, I may have missed the show, but in my bummed-ness I did a little research on Mr. Frith and discovered that he teaches composition at Mills College in Oakland. Which means more crazy improvisation shows like this one: Frith, who played in the renowned avant-garde groups Massacre and Naked City; Larry Ochs, founding member of Rova Saxophone Quartet; and Scott Amendola, a highly respected young drummer.

Friday, December 16, 2005
Future Primitive 10 Year Anniversary With Z-Trip & Radar + Strings, Faust & Shortee, Romanowski and more
Mighty
$20

Future Primitve has been bringing us cutting edge DJ music for 10 years and they're celebrating it with the reunion of the Bombshelter DJs who brought us the classic mash-up turntablism CD, Live at the Future Primitive Soundsession, Volume Two. Oh, and apparently they will also be featuring a live string section. And Faust & Shortee will be spinning. Plus a whole bunch of listed guests and surprise DJs and MCs. Oh, and there's audio stimulation with live graffiti from Doze and live video as well. Should be an event.

Friday, December 16, 2005
Breakestra and Cut Chemist
DNA Lounge
$15 advance/$20 door

Basically a live breaks band, Breakestra plays classic funk/soul/r&b tracks that we all know and know and love because they have become classic hip hop sampling material. I have heard that the Meters have gone soft in their old age, but at least we can see some shake-your-ass funk this Friday in the form of Breakestra. And let's not forget Cut Chemist, the DJ from Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli, whose been known to bust out more than a little hot funk on his own.

Friday, December 16, 2005
Dead Prez
1015
$15 pre-sale/$? at the door

Florida-based rap duo Sticman and M-1 have been making politically charged, social activist hip hop for half a decade now, and they show no signs of slowing down, with a constant touring schedule and repeated appearances in the Bay. Lyrically, Dead Prez question and challenge the system that keeps blacks down. Heavy stuff, but the truth often is. Dead Prez songs like "They Schools" certainly ring true. But in addition to being lyrically heavy, the beats are too and they will make you want to get your bounce on. Also, the event is being filmed as part of a documentary about the burgeoning politically conscious hip hop movement.

Friday, December 16, 2005
Tussle
Hotel Utah
$7

The cheapest of my Friday picks and a band I've mentioned numerous times in my postings/emails, Tussle plays instrumental disco-punk-cum-dub that will, like all of the above, make you want to dance.

Monday, December 19, 2005
Hella
Bottom of the Hill
$10

Fresh off of arena tours opening for System of a Down, The Mars Volta and Les Claypool, NorCal duo Hella are hella tough to pin down. They play some sort of rock, but what kind of a rock is up for debate. Indie, prog, spazz, metal, electronica, jazz, noise, classical, and a whole lot more are all at work in Hella's music, but the end result of the guitar/drums duo just sounds, well, "right." At times a little crazy, but right. Hella right.

Indie Hip Hop Superstars, Freestyle Champions, Grime Princesses and... God. That's Right, God.

Thursday, December 8, 2005 and Friday, December 9, 2005
MF Doom
The Independent
$25

Daniel Dumile, a.k.a. MF Doom a.k.a. Fingers a.k.a. King Geedorah a.k.a. Viktor Vaughn, has been very busy the last few years. Busy hooking up with hot-shit producers (i.e., Danger Mouse, Madlib and Rjd2) and dropping some of the best in independent hip hop (i.e., Vaudeville Villain, Madvillainy and The Mouse and the Mask). He’s treated us to all sorts of story raps, enigmatic disses and just plain wild wordplay, all with his oh-so smooth flow and oh-so deep voice. He will be performing incognito, spitting through his Metal Face, as he always does and, even if you don’t get all of his lyrics, he’ll make it sound so good it won’t matter. Pigeon John and Willow the Gaslamp Killer open.

Friday, December 9, 2005
Supernatural
Amoeba Records, Haight Street
Free

Honestly, I’ve never heard Supernatural. I’ve heard about him though. He’s arguably the best freestyler. Ever. I’m sure that Amoeba isn’t the best place to see this kind of thing (it never is), but its free. Although, if you’re anything like me, there is no such thing as a free show at Amoeba Records.

Saturday, December 10, 2005
Lady Sovereign
Amoeba Records, Haight Street
Free

From the moment I heard her first single, “Cha Ching,” I was sold. The 5’1” 18 year old British MC, recent Def Jam signee and self-dubbed “multitalented munchkin” spits like the crowned princess of the UK grime scene. Witty rhymes, wicked flow. What more do you want? Check her out yourself here, then check her out at Amoeba Records. If you’re feeling like your wallet’s a little thicker and you want to see her in a place with decent sound, you could check her out for a mere $12 at Live 105’s Not So Silent Night Afterparty at Club Six on Friday, where she will be headlining.

Sunday, December 11, 2005
Immortal Lee County Killers
Bottom of the Hill
$10

Perhaps the loudest of this decade's major blues-based rock duos, the Immortal Lee County Killers come on like the Black Keys if they were into Charles Manson and the Sex Pistols. Not only do they manage to successfully fuse Chicago Mississippi Delta blues, punk and garage, but their live show just oozes with the aura of violence without any violence actually taking place. At least it did when I saw them a couple of years ago. Very rawk.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Yellow Swans, WORLD, Axolotl & Inca Ore and God
Hemlock Tavern
$7

Oh, sweet, sweet noise. Oakland duo Yellow Swans make it. Of the industrial, grinding variety. With lots of electronic devices (enough to fill two large tables worth of space when I saw them at Bottom of the Hill). There is a beauty in it that not everyone can appreciate, evident on their 2004 LP Bring the Neon War Home, that I find difficult to describe. I have read other people's writing about them and those that feel the same way I do describe it as something akin to finding the calm at the eye of the storm. Works for me. Other highlights: WORLD (don't know anything about them other than they feature members of essential experimental outfit Jackie-O Motherfucker). Collaboration between punk-drone vocalist Inca Ore and electro-organic noise/drone duo Axolotl. And God is playing. We'll probably be subjected to some serious Wrath going down since the Supreme Being got stuck with the opening, opening, opening slot. A shower of frogs or the death of all first-borns in San Francisco should cover the $7 admission.

If You Aren't Into Dancing, What About Gardening?

I heard about this on KUSF and it sounds like it should be interesting, if you're into this sort of thing. Shoot me a message if you're thinking in going. I'm planning on registering for it tomorrow. If you can't make it, but think it sounds interesting, you should check out the website of Garden for the Environment at www.gardenfortheenvironment.org. Looks like there are a lot of useful classes for the horticulturally challenged, such as myself.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 - PERENNIAL VEGGIES & UNUSUAL CROPS THAT GROW WELL IN SAN FRANCISCO
Grow something yummy that your neighbor has never heard of! There are many edible plants that are grown as food crops in other parts of the world that do perfectly well in the Bay Area climate. Learn some of these secrets, as well a few easy herbs & greens that will keep your salad bowl brimming all year. Long live permaculture! Recipes, samplings, seeds, & starts provided.

Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave. at Lawton Street. 10am – 12noon. Pre-registration required. $15. Please call 731-5627 to pre-register or for more information.

Care to Dance? Here Are A Few Options

Thursday, December 1, 2005
Mighty's 2 Year Anniversary Party
Club Mighty
Free

DJs Brad Robinson & Mancub, Murphstar & Brett Pinkin, Shissler & Smoove, Russ & Derek, Samira & Aaron Jay, Syd & Laird, and Aaron Pope & Melyss spinning. Although I recognize a few names, I don't really know anything about these DJs. My guess is that you can expect a mélange of electronic styles, including the mainstays such as house, trance, breaks, d'n'b plus all the popular current styles such as baile funk, miami bass and grime. And I would bet on some mash ups too. Besides being free, this party features an OPEN BAR for 2 hours, from 10 to midnight. And that's why I'm sharing it with you.

Friday, December 2, 2005
No-Neck Blues Band
Bottom of the Hill
$10

Large ensemble of anonymous multi-instrumental musicians that performs what I would describe generally as free folk, but incorporates elements of countless experimental musical styles (drone, noise, avant-garde, free jazz). At all interested? Well, definitely go, because NNCK mostly play lofts, rooftops and various public spaces in NYC and your chances to see them are few and far between. They are touring in support of their recent release on 5RC, Qvaris. Although I haven't picked it up yet, its on my shortlist of desired albums and, from what I've heard and read, is a haunting affair. Show begins with one act featuring members of local gypsy punk group Full Moon Partisans and The Alps, featuring members of local experimental rock/noise outfit Tarentel and disco-punk/dub/dance-rock group Tussle.

Friday night
Friday, December 2, 2005
Amon Tobin
Mezzanine
$15

Native Brazilian/UK resident Amon Tobin has been one of my favorites since I discovered him back in college. Starting off as a drum'n'bass DJ with a penchant for sampling jazz, Amon Tobin's music quickly evolved into something difficult to describe succinctly, as he leaps back and forth between so many genres of electronic music. I won't let that stop me from getting you thinking about what to expect: Drum'n'bass beats, jazz samples, big-beat, orchestral samples, ambient electronica, traditional Japanese instrumentation, cut'n'paste hip hop. What is clear is that he is a top-notch producer. As far as the live show, I have seen him do sets with turntables and sets with only a laptop. Audio-visual sets focusing on his ambient soundscape material and straight-ahead d'n'b sets. Oh, and the time when he rocked the crowd as hard as anything I've ever seen at Scala in London with an old-school Metallica riff/heavy d'n'b mash-up. Highly recommended.

Saturday, December 3, 2005
The Earlies
Bottom of the Hill
$8

I have only heard one track and a mixtape that The Earlies have on their website (http://www.theearlies.com), but I love it. Its an across-the-pond collaboration, with half the band from West Texas and half from Manchester, England. It started off in Postal Service/Foreign Exchange fashion with DAT tapes going back and forth. Going on the little I've heard its indie-psych rock with electronic influences. And I've also heard from sources in Austin that they put on a great show. Bring The Byrds to the 21st century, sign them to Secretly Canadian, give them a sampler, and let the substance ingesting commence!!! P.S. Local acts Habitforming and Henry Miller Sextet open.

Sunday, December 4, 2005
Rjd2 and Lyrics Born
Pauly Ballroom (Berkeley)
$???

Alright, this one is a shot in the dark. Its posted on various websites, but I can't get any legit information on it. Rjd2 and Amon Tobin in town the same weekend. Unbelievable (and perhaps not happening). Rjd2 is Def Jux's answer to DJ Shadow, dropping an unbelievably good debut (Deadringer) and producing some amazing tracks that ensure Def Jux will have some funky production and won't slip too far into noise-hop or whatever you want to call the lovely post-modern production that EL-P often puts out (check out Cannibal Ox). Lyrics Born is blowing up right now, from what I understand. I haven't heard anything of his for a while, so I'm going to refrain from embarrassing myself and trying to talk about him, but I know he's been getting radio play and TV commercial lovin'. But he's on Quannum after all, so to those who fear mainstream hip hop: Don't. And I can tell you he's got great flow. I'd appreciate any help confirming this one. Not that I'm necessarily going to trek to the East Bay on Sunday with Friday and Saturday looking so hot, but I might.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005
!!!
Mezzanine
$12

Bay Area to NYC disco punk/dance rock outfit !!! (pronounced most commonly as "chk chk chk" but any monosyllabic word x3 will do) will do their damnedest make sure that everyone in the club is shaking his or her ass - due in no small part to singer Nic Offer's energy on the mic and incessant dancing as he stammers and shouts. The disco/speed-dub bass, angular guitar and trance-inducing drumming combine with percussion, horns and electronics and give !!! what they need to become Gang of Four on the disco floor. I seriously dare you to try and stand still at this show. SF's fellow dance rock bands Von Iva and Tussle open.