Monday, July 31, 2006

Loads of Shows

Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Hot Chip
The Independent
$15

Just found out this show is sold out, which has its pros and cons. In addition to the nuisance factor of trying to score a ticket for a sold-out show, this means that the show is going to be packed and you won’t have much in the way of personal space. Of course, since Hot Chip’s high energy indie-pop-hip-hop-soul-tronica is the kind of music feeds off of the crowd, a sold-out show could be a blessing if you decide to try and snag a ticket at the door. Before I saw Hot Chip open for Stereolab, I wasn’t sure quite what to expect. As much as I enjoyed their first album, I wasn’t sure how the music would translate live, as many of the numbers on the first album seemed like they might fail to satisfy live. Plus, as with all electronica artists that venture into rock , hip-hop, etc. terrain, it is unclear how they will fill in the blanks that remain or whether they will perform with just a laptop. Needless to say, since I’m plugging it here, the live show was excellent. Although Hot Chip is comprised of two Englishmen, the touring band had 6 or 7 people, most of which were standing in front of laptops and various electronic devices. The songs from the first album took on a much more dance-rock feel, a la LCD Soundsystem, and were given a lot more energy. The new album, The Warning, is much more upbeat and more in line with the live show. Maybe in some San Franciscans will dance!!!


Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Guardian Best of the Bay Party
Club 6
$10

While “Best of the Bay” is obviously somewhat subjective, there’s no arguing with the fact this year’s party has some top notch local entertainment lined up: Conscious hip-hop from Zion I, punk brass band action from the Extra Action Marching Band, electro-rock from Numbers. That’s just a few of the acts that are playing in the three rooms at Club 6 on Wednesday. At only $10, it’s a great chance to see a heaping helping of local talent for a pittance.


Thursday, August 3, 2006
Extra Action Marching Band
12 Galaxies
$10

If you don’t get to see them at the Guardian party on Wednesday, you’re in luck. The EAMB is playing 12 Galaxies, and promises lots of skin and second line action. If my word isn’t enough for you, David Byrne of the Talking Heads had these lads and lasses opening for him on his tour last year. Is that slightly more credibility?


Thursday, August 3, 2006
KUSF DJ Night
Lucky 13 (2140 Market St. near Church)
Free

First Thursday of every month brings us a KUSF DJ night at Lucky 13. Each month, three DJs will take turns spinning records for the general public. What kind of DJ would I be if I didn’t plug this? Or if I didn’t do my damnedest to make it over there.? With a huge bar, a shit ton of beers on tap and even some cheap options for the more frugal among you (I think PBRs are $2.00 or $2.50), it’s a great way to kick off the rapidly approaching weekend. While the first installment last month featured mostly punk DJs, this week features Irwin, Stevil and Chris Cook. I listen to Irwin and Chris’s shows regularly at work, and Stevil comes on after me on Tuesdays, so my guess is that we will be doing a great deal of border and genre hopping throughout the night. Expect the eclectic and come out and show your support for KUSF and hang out with yours truly.


Thursday, August 3, 2006
Mammatus
Café Du Nord
$7

I believe I’ve plugged this Corralitos band before, so I’ll make it short: Psychedelic stoner rock. Somewhere in between the folkier, softer numbers and the long drawn out heavy jams, your brain will float away on a cloud or get snatched up by a dragon. No bong required (but, then again, it might not hurt).


Friday, August 4, 2006
Bloc Party, Broken Social Scene, Mew & Two Gallants
Greek Theater (Berkeley)
$???

I’m not looking up the price on this because I know it’s more than I care to spend. If someone offers me a free ticket, I’ll totally go though.


Friday August 4, 2006
The Beatnuts
Red Devil Lounge
$20

If this show from these hip-hoppers were half the price, I’d totally go.



Friday, August 4, 2006
Blue Cheer
Café Du Nord
$20

Late ‘60s loud blues jammers Blue Cheer took their name from a popular type of LSD. They are back. And from what I heard from my friend who manages the Black Angels and saw them when the Angels were opening for them in Texas this July, they have still got it. Did I mention they are from SF? So it’s the homecoming show. Ooh la la.


Friday, August 4, 2006
Xavier Rudd, Wood Bros. & Ane Brun
The Fillmore
$20

Don’t know jack about Xavier Rudd, except that the picture on the Fillmore’s website seems to have him playing a didgeridoo. The real highlights here are the Wood Bros. and Ane Brun. The Wood Brothers are Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin and Wood and, well, his brother. Ane Brun is a Norwegian singer/songwriter who crafts stripped-down, minimal ballads that haunt well after the CD is over. Hell, she gets play on Loads of Lenode: The KUSF Show, so she must be good.


Friday, August
Sneaker Pimps 1000 Shoe Tour
Mighty
$10

Last time the Sneaker Pimps tour came through San Francisco, it brought us Mix Master Mike. This time we get Dan the Automotor (Dr. Octagon, Handsome Boy Modelling School, Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, to name a few) and Kid Koala (Deltron 3030, Bullfrog, to name a couple). Dan the Automator and Kid Koala… If only Del would show up for a surprise Deltron 3030 set, you might get to see me cry. Or at least jump around.


Friday, August 4, 2006 and Saturday, August 5, 2006
Dragon Smoke
Boom Boom Room
$25

This one is taking me back to New Orleans just thinking about it. Stanton Moore (drummer for Galactic), Ivan Neville (keys/vocals for the Neville Brothers and his own band Dumpstaphunk), Eric Lindell (guitarist/vocalist who is quite popular down in NOLA) and Robert Mercurio (bassist for Galactic). Don’t forget the inevitable special guests and you’ve got yourself a recipe for some Southern funk that’ll keep you shaking your ass til the sun comes up. Well, 2:00 a.m. This is, after all, SF, not NOLA. Does anyone else miss the all night funk fest? I know I do. Coming out of a club and seeing the sun is such a lovely feeling.


Saturday, August 5, 2006
Six Organs of Admittance & Citay
Bottom of the Hill
$10

Six Organs… is Ben Chasney’s (of Comets on Fire) folk project, and he makes some dark, beautiful music. Citay is a band I seem to be plugging endlessly on here because they play all the damn time.


Sunday, August 6, 2006
Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Ska Cubano
Stern Grove
Free

Don’t know much about these folks, but this show comes highly recommended. I’m going to check it out. Perhaps you should as well. It’ll round out your weekend nicely, I’m sure.

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