Trying to Keep It Free in the City by the Bay
I’m probably as sick of apologizing for the infrequent nature of my posts recently as you are sick of hearing about it. So, I’m not apologizing this time. I’ve been busy. Busy writing my first articles that are going to be published in print (previews of Austin bands playing during South by Southwest for one of my friend’s publications). Busy seeing kick ass shows. Like the amazing Orthrelm show I saw on Monday. At least 45 minutes of insane riffing and drumming without a single pause for applause, a drink of water, a sniff of coke, or anything else. I say “at least 45 minutes” because they put me into a trance and that’s my best guess. I really have no idea though. Could have been five minutes. Could have been two hours. Couldn’t have been much better. I lied though. Because I am going to apologize. Because I feel bad when I don’t do my darnedest to keep everyone informed.
There's so much going on this weekend I'm not even sure where to start. This post is all about the free gigs. I know SF can be so expensive, so I tries to keep it real. Before I get to down to business, I wanted to give you a heads up on a couple of shows that were just announced. Frank Black of Pixies fame is playing a couple of solo gigs at super-intimate Café Du Nord on March 14 and 15. Cover is $20. It will sell out quickly, so I suggest that you get those tickets now. Its not too often you’ll get a chance to see Black Francis in such a small joint.
Thursday, March 2, 2006
3rd Annual Dhamaal Sights & Sounds Opening Party
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Free
Dhamaal is back from a world tour and their gearing up for a bunch of events as part of their 3rd Annual Sights and Sounds Festival. This Thursday night is the free kick-off party at Yerba Buena. If you’ve got something better to do for a couple of hours after you get off work, by all means do it. The party features the all-female Nrityagram Dance Ensemble Showcase performing contemporary interpretations of classical Indian dance. On the Dhamaal front, we’ve got Maneesh the Twister on the wheels of steel, Ferhan Qureshi on the tabla, Skip Intro on visuals & Samba Guisse doing the MC thing. I can’t promise that I will embarrass myself attempting classical Indian dance this time like I did last Saturday at Dhamaal’s monthly party at Club 6, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out either.
Friday, March 3, 2006
Mix Master Mike vs. DJ Swamp
Club 6
9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Free
OK. Beastie Boys. Invisibl Skratch Piklz. Michael Scwartz hardly needs an introduction, after all nobody can do it like he can do it. DJ Swamp might be a little more obscure, but he’s got some heavyweight DJ battles under his belt. And he’s Beck’s DJ, so obscure hardly seems appropriate. And they’re battling each other. From what I’ve gathered, this is a Camel sponsored event, and that’s why it’s free. So, maybe they don’t come on until late (the event is only scheduled to go until 2:00 a.m., so that’s not really late for a Friday night at Club 6), maybe they only play for an hour, maybe even just half an hour, maybe they only half-ass it on the decks. It’ll still be worth the $0 you paid to get into see two of the worlds top DJs spinning together. And, please, if you want to get in, arrive relatively early. Free Mix Master Mike vs. DJ Swamp shows on weekend nights don’t come around all that often.
Friday, March 3, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
Independent
$10 advance/$12 door
Friday, March 3, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
Amoeba
6:00 p.m.
Free
Saturday, March 4, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
First Congregational Church in Oakland
???
Confession: I inexcusably managed to make it through four years in New Orleans without seeing the New Orleans Klezmer All Stars. That doesn’t mean that I won’t try and catch some of their free set at Amoeba, because I will. And it certainly doesn’t mean that I won’t plug them, because I will. Over the years, I’ve heard great things about their NOLA-inspired takes on traditional Yiddish music, incorporating Dixieland jazz, funk, modern jazz and more. I’ve seen many of the musicians who play with them in different groups over the years. Rob Wagner, who plays clarinet, was one of the best sax players I saw in the Crescent City and the first sax player I saw bust out the two-saxes-at-once trick. Sax player Ben Ellman and Willie Green III (or “Mean Willie Green” as most know him) are probably the most notorious of the bunch, given that Ellman plays in Galactic and Green has been the drummer for the Neville Brothers for 14 years. Guitarist Jonathon Frielich was one of the best jazz guiatrists I saw in my time in New Orleans. With everything that’s happened in their city over the past six months, I certainly can’t imagine who exactly will be playing on this tour, but I can imagine that it’s going to be great. Hmmmm… Which show to go to? There’s the free show at Amoeba, the show at the Independent and the mysterious show at the 1st Congregational Church in Oakland. I left a voicemail at the church trying to get some details for you, the reader, in case you’re interested. I’ll keep you posted. I have to confess that I’ll be at the sold-out Stereolab/Hot Chip show at the Fillmore on Saturday night. So, here’s to praying that the show at the church is in the afternoon. Praying for it to be free couldn’t hurt either.
There's so much going on this weekend I'm not even sure where to start. This post is all about the free gigs. I know SF can be so expensive, so I tries to keep it real. Before I get to down to business, I wanted to give you a heads up on a couple of shows that were just announced. Frank Black of Pixies fame is playing a couple of solo gigs at super-intimate Café Du Nord on March 14 and 15. Cover is $20. It will sell out quickly, so I suggest that you get those tickets now. Its not too often you’ll get a chance to see Black Francis in such a small joint.
Thursday, March 2, 2006
3rd Annual Dhamaal Sights & Sounds Opening Party
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Free
Dhamaal is back from a world tour and their gearing up for a bunch of events as part of their 3rd Annual Sights and Sounds Festival. This Thursday night is the free kick-off party at Yerba Buena. If you’ve got something better to do for a couple of hours after you get off work, by all means do it. The party features the all-female Nrityagram Dance Ensemble Showcase performing contemporary interpretations of classical Indian dance. On the Dhamaal front, we’ve got Maneesh the Twister on the wheels of steel, Ferhan Qureshi on the tabla, Skip Intro on visuals & Samba Guisse doing the MC thing. I can’t promise that I will embarrass myself attempting classical Indian dance this time like I did last Saturday at Dhamaal’s monthly party at Club 6, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out either.
Friday, March 3, 2006
Mix Master Mike vs. DJ Swamp
Club 6
9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Free
OK. Beastie Boys. Invisibl Skratch Piklz. Michael Scwartz hardly needs an introduction, after all nobody can do it like he can do it. DJ Swamp might be a little more obscure, but he’s got some heavyweight DJ battles under his belt. And he’s Beck’s DJ, so obscure hardly seems appropriate. And they’re battling each other. From what I’ve gathered, this is a Camel sponsored event, and that’s why it’s free. So, maybe they don’t come on until late (the event is only scheduled to go until 2:00 a.m., so that’s not really late for a Friday night at Club 6), maybe they only play for an hour, maybe even just half an hour, maybe they only half-ass it on the decks. It’ll still be worth the $0 you paid to get into see two of the worlds top DJs spinning together. And, please, if you want to get in, arrive relatively early. Free Mix Master Mike vs. DJ Swamp shows on weekend nights don’t come around all that often.
Friday, March 3, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
Independent
$10 advance/$12 door
Friday, March 3, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
Amoeba
6:00 p.m.
Free
Saturday, March 4, 2006
New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
First Congregational Church in Oakland
???
Confession: I inexcusably managed to make it through four years in New Orleans without seeing the New Orleans Klezmer All Stars. That doesn’t mean that I won’t try and catch some of their free set at Amoeba, because I will. And it certainly doesn’t mean that I won’t plug them, because I will. Over the years, I’ve heard great things about their NOLA-inspired takes on traditional Yiddish music, incorporating Dixieland jazz, funk, modern jazz and more. I’ve seen many of the musicians who play with them in different groups over the years. Rob Wagner, who plays clarinet, was one of the best sax players I saw in the Crescent City and the first sax player I saw bust out the two-saxes-at-once trick. Sax player Ben Ellman and Willie Green III (or “Mean Willie Green” as most know him) are probably the most notorious of the bunch, given that Ellman plays in Galactic and Green has been the drummer for the Neville Brothers for 14 years. Guitarist Jonathon Frielich was one of the best jazz guiatrists I saw in my time in New Orleans. With everything that’s happened in their city over the past six months, I certainly can’t imagine who exactly will be playing on this tour, but I can imagine that it’s going to be great. Hmmmm… Which show to go to? There’s the free show at Amoeba, the show at the Independent and the mysterious show at the 1st Congregational Church in Oakland. I left a voicemail at the church trying to get some details for you, the reader, in case you’re interested. I’ll keep you posted. I have to confess that I’ll be at the sold-out Stereolab/Hot Chip show at the Fillmore on Saturday night. So, here’s to praying that the show at the church is in the afternoon. Praying for it to be free couldn’t hurt either.
posted by Lenode at 1:55 PM
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