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Monday, July 26, 2010
All Three Bands - Last Thursday at Hemlock
I skipped one night of Jonathan Richman's shows to check out Human Toys, an electro-psychobilly band from Paris. They were excellent, but what shocked me the most about this night at the Hemlock, was I'm never really excited about all three bands when I go to a show. There's usually one or two I get into, and a third where I'm a little relieved that they suck and grab some food or talk with friends in another room.
The Graves Brothers Deluxe
Juanita and the Rabbit were the first band. There's a preview of them from an earlier Off The Record here. It's a husband and wife duo who play great indie rock. They smiled at each other and nothing felt posed. When they sang to each other I felt a little jealous because it's exactly what I would want in a relationship.
The Graves Brothers Deluxe were the highlight of the night. The trio has added another member, a lady who plays keyboards and other electronic gadgets. The lead singer, Stoo Odom, played upright bass, and the band busted out their poetic grooves. Then he'd switch to a regular bass and it was time to rock. During the set Odom introduced a Spanish song by insulting the crowd in Spanish. Spanish swear words are pretty much all I know...note to self, learn more Spanish. Then the band went right into a song that sounded like something I'd hear at 3 a.m. at El Farlito, I found myself salivating for carne asada.
I missed one night of Jonathan Richman for this? Yes, it was the right choice and I still went to two of the three Jonathan Richman shows at the Swedish American Hall.
| Jul 26 at 07:13 PM
Friday, July 23, 2010
Local Shows - Wake Up Early, Get Outside
Jonathan Richman, Friday @ Swedish American Hall. $15. 8 p.m.
This is the last night of a three night run. Go here for my review of Wednesday night's show.
The Phenomenauts
Last Sundays Fest, Sunday @ Telegraph and Haste St., Free. Noon - 7 p.m.
Smack on some suntan lotion and venture out into the sun to see a stellar line-up of bands. Judgement Day, Phenomenauts, Club Crasherz and Space Monkey Gangstas.
The Tidal Wave Festival, Saturday and Sunday at Jerry Garcia Ampitheatre. Free. Noon - 6ish.
It's a free outdoor metal festival at Jerry Garcia Ampitheatre, 25 John F. Shelly Dr. in John McLaren Park. Here's a link to directions.
Day 1: Raven, Anvil Chorus, Giant Squid, Stone Vengeance, Abysmal Dawn and Desecrater.
Day 2: Amber Asylum, Elk Vastum, Witchaven, Blind Illusion and Go Like This.
Amber Asylum is a must see act. They're a cross between easy listening and metal. Heavy use of strings and beautiful, haunting vocals. The festival would be worth it to just witness their set that will have you more on the verge of a blast of emotional tears than fist pumping.
| Jul 23 at 11:39 AM
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Jonathan Richman - Swedish American Hall
Jonathan and his drummer Tommy perform tonight and Friday at Swedish American Hall. 8 p.m. $15.
Jonathan Richman
Wednesday was the first of the three night stand. It was as brilliant as every other Jonathan Richman show I've seen. Jonathan came out with his drummer Tommy and strummed his guitar, giving the audience his sad and lonely eyes. Early into the set he walked into the crowd, doing his disco dance moves and everyone cheered. The audience stayed seated on the floor until about 40 minutes into his one hour set when he finally asked everyone to get up and dance.
Stand out songs were Pablo Picasso and a song about Keith Richards. Jonathan strummed his guitar and at one point looked to Tommy and said, do you know what song is up next, and Tommy shook his head. It was a moment that showed that Tommy knows how to keep up percussion with Jonathan's loose style.
I'm still learning about sex at 59 years old, Jonathan confided in between songs.
Jonathan put the shows together so he could perform with Olof Arnalds, a singer from Iceland, who has obviously impressed him. She was stunning, and of course I bought her CD. But most of us were there because we're Jonathan junkies.
And we'll be there again tonight and Friday.
| Jul 22 at 05:17 PM
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Famous - Should Be Famous
All of a sudden local bands are sending me some great videos.
The Famous
Of course, the music needs to be amazing, since I'm more of a recommend-er than a critic....but adding a great video to the mix is oh so sweet.
The Famous have an outstanding song, Come Home To Me, which has such power and emotion, it's right up there with a track you'd find on a Tom Waits or Nick Cave record. Yeah, they're that good.
The video represents the song well, and band members wear fedoras (extra credit), so I'm excited to get this up on SFGate.
The Famous are the first band on Sunday at Bottom of the Hill, opening for Toadies. $16. 9 p.m.
| Jul 20 at 11:08 PM
Monday, July 19, 2010
Jimmy Sweetwater - Farewell Master Musician
Over twenty years strong in the San Francisco music scene, Jimmy Sweetwater is the king of scrubin' the washboard and blowin' mouth harp.
Jimmy Sweetwater
He's a bluesy guy and his musical talent can be heard on releases by Chuck Prophet, Bone Cootes & the Living Wrecks, Gayle Schmitt, Poor Man's Whiskey and many more.
He's moving to New Orleans and performing one last blast of a celebration at the Great American Music Hall. Expect a crowd of other local legends saying goodbye to a San Francisco music scene hero.
Jimmy, it's sad to see you go. Thank you for what you do and here's to your future success.
Thursday, July 22nd @ Great American Music Hall. 8 p.m. $14.
Jimmy Sweetwater's Washboards.
| Jul 19 at 11:09 PM
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Juanita and the Rabbit - Hopping Into The Hemlock
A man and woman, a duo, great San Francisco indie rock....that is Juanita and the Rabbit.
They perform on Thursday, July 22nd at the Hemlock with an amazing showcase that includes The Graves Brothers Deluxe, San Francisco bad asses with a soulful, southern rock vibe. Headling are Human Toys from Paris who perform "electrobilly", an electronica slash rockabilly project.
Check out music and more video of Juanita and the Rabbit here.
Juanita
photo: Neil Kavanagh
| Jul 18 at 10:33 PM
Friday, July 16, 2010
Local Shows - Indulge Your Ears
The Stone Foxes, Saturday at Cafe du Nord. 9:30 p.m. $10/$12.
The Stone Foxes are an excellent rock band. They have those shake it, bluesy guitar licks and they're a band you'd expect to hear blasting out of a '70s era Trans Am with an eagle on the hood. Extra credit: This show is a celebration of their latest release Bears & Bulls.
The Stone Foxes
Howlin Rain, Saturday at El Rio. 10 p.m. $7.
It's shaping up to be a rock 'n' roll Saturday night with Howlin Rain across the City. Check out their psych influenced '70s rock. This is part of the Mission Creek Music Festival.
The Actors, Sunday at Bottom of the Hill. 9 p.m. $10.
After your rock overdose, get unrocked by The Actors. Groovy synth-pop pulling influences from Depeche Mode to Kajagoogoo with a sprinkle of Tears for Fears. Maybe less Kajagoogoo, I just wanted to say Kajagoogoo. The Actors are lots of fun.
| Jul 16 at 07:03 PM
Collecting Hand Stamps, 3100 - 3200 Blocks of Mission
Just south of Cesar Chavez on Mission Street there's a sweet spot for venues within a few blocks of each other. Their optimal days for live shows are Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Howlin Rain
Let's take this upcoming Saturday as an example. I haven't checked the calendars yet, so we're playing along together.
El Rio is presenting a showcase that's part of the Mission Creek Music Featival featuring Howlin Rain (www.myspace.com/howlinrain), Sean Smith & the Present Moment (www.myspace.com/seansmithlives) and 3 Leafs (www.myspace.com/3leafs).
El Rio is at 3158 Mission St.
The Knockout is presenting Booty Basement. "A night of Booty Shaking Hip Hop." I went once to this dance night and really didn't like it. But, The Knockout is one of my favorite live venues in town because I'll always walk out of their shows with one or two bands that really wow me.
We're doing this together, so let me check out another Saturday this month. Boom! 400 Blows are playing on July 31st, a very heavy rock band from Los Angeles who always rock. My July 31st is now booked. And, at El Rio are The Hooks and Mongoloid, a Devo cover band. Yum, yum.
The Knockout is at 3223 Mission St.
Argus Lounge tends more towards very cool DJ nights and does throw in a few shows here an there. The atmosphere is friendly and if all the bands are sucking at El Rio and The Knockout it's a great place to chill out and play pool.
Argus Lounge is at 3187 Mission St.
Both El Rio and The Knockout shows tend to be $7. The Argus tends to be free but I've paid $2 once when a band was playing.
There's something great about living in San Francisco and having three club stamps on your hand and beyond the 3000 block of Mission you can indulge in your ADHD, popping back and forth wherever your whim moves you.
| Jul 16 at 12:22 AM
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
San Francisco Stripping Bee - Take It Off
Show your spelling intellect or show some skin at Stripping Bee, Saturday at the Center for Sex and Culture. 7:30 p.m.
buzz, buzz, buzz
Tommy Salami and Daphne Gottlieb host this event that looks to be fun and revealing.
It's a spelling bee, but played like strip poker in front of an audience. There won't be full nudity, but contestants who get three strikes will strip down to their underwear.
Start Saturday off right by learning how to spell difficult words and seeing some skin.
Me as a contestant? Yeah, um, I haven't been to yoga in a while, I have body perfection issues from my childhood and glossy magazines telling me how to look....give me a few months and I'll bring it to the next Stripping Bee.
Center For Sex & Culture
1519 Mission St.
| Jul 14 at 12:40 PM
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Bite - Kimo's Show Review
Bite performed at Kimo's on July 9th. Fronted by Chelsea Rose who wore a very sexy mesh shirt and a couple of well placed stickers on her nipples.
Bite
Her and the band tore up the stage with their straight ahead rock. Fast and spectacular....they have culled their sound from bands like The Stooges, Dead Boys and New York Dolls.
Their set ended with Search and Destroy and the Dead Boys' anthem, Sonic Reducer.
"We're about playin' fast, loud, sexy, trashy down and dirty punk and roll."
| Jul 11 at 09:35 PM
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