marke@sfbg.com
FALL ARTS PREVIEW Don’t leaf me alone, pumpkin, let’s get equinoxious. When it comes to dancefloor domination in the fall (or, as we San Franciscans call it, “actual summer”), I’m totally an autumn bottom. Meet me at the following harvest balls or come a cropper. Puns! (And click here for even more great parties happening this weekend, yikes.)
I Love Cochina Tonga’s Those vertiginously dizzying creative club kids, the House of Salad, are taking over the Castro’s Lookout bar every fourth Thursday and transforming it into a koo-koo cabana tropicana for the freakily inclined. Come to the sure-hoot debut and see if they’re invited back. Music by Taco Tuesdays and Stanley Frank. Drag mess = Ambrosia Salad. Thu/25, 9 p.m., free. The Lookout, 3600 16th St., SF. Facebook: Cochina Tonga’s
Starkey Weekly dubstep party Ritual goes big at Temple with a multi-room, ragga-influenced blowout featuring one of my favorite producers, Philly-based Starkey, with Dread Foxx, Roommate, and more. Thu/25, 9 p.m.-3 a.m., 18+, $10. Temple,540 Howard, SF. www.templesf.com
Silkie More huuuge dubstep shenanigans (get the good stuff before it’s overexposed at Burning Man), this time courtesy of smart West Londoner Silkie, backed up by a host of bass luminaries, like Number Nin6, SPL, Bounce Brigade, and Kastle. Fri/26, 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m., $20. 103 Harriet, SF. www.1015.com
Bilal The baby-faced, neo-soul Soulquarian crooner has recently embarked on a trippy trip with future bass god Flying Lotus and the results are cosmic in an alien Erykah Badu way. Sat/27, 9 p.m., $20. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, SF. www.mezzaninesf.com
Go Bang! Marke B.’s Birthday Help me celebrate my 211st birthday at this crazy-fun disco and funky raw cuts monthly party, this time around with hot-hot re-editor Allen Craig of Yerba Buena Discos joining Sergio, Steve Fabus, and Stanley Franks on deck. Come spank me! Sat/27, 9 p.m.-3 a.m., $5. Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin, SF. www.decosf.com
Glass Candy This Portland duo’s fractured electric disco is a sure hit, and support from Drop the Lime and Classixx at this huge Blowup party will totally jazz the hardcore electro kids. But the real news is the debut appearances of sultry, acid-tinged act Poolside (Filip Nikolic and Jeffrey Paradise) and super soulful DJ duo Amen Brother (Vin Sol and 5kinAndBone5). Sat/27, 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m., 18+, $20/$24. Factory, 525 Harrison, SF. www.blowupsf.com
Peaches DJ set She’s sexy nuts, goofily brilliant, not afraid to be herself, sometimes a bit too much — why wouldn’t you want a peek inside electroclash performance artist Peaches’ record collection? Fierce Dominicana rapper Maluca opens. Thursday, September 1, 9 p.m., $20. Mezzanine, 444 jessie, SF. www.mezzaninesf.com
Identity Festival This travelling electronic dance music circus is so big it kind of scares me (and for a techno fest called “Identity” there sure are an awful lot of white dudes), but if you cut through the mainstream hypes there’s much of value here, including Booka Shade, Holy Ghost!, Hercules and Love Affair, Pretty Lights, Le Castle Vania, and, yes, Pete Tong and Crystal Method. Local surfer dude Kaskade headlines in a triumphant homecoming of sorts. Saturday, September 3, 1 p.m.-11:30 p.m., $60. Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View. www.idfestival.com
Optimo If you are at all interested in how a bonkers pair of Scottish geniuses can mix retro rock and old school jams from all genres into a seamless set of utterly surprising, utterly danceable, shiver-inducing glory, then you need to be here. If not, then I pity you and your Celine Dion CDs. With Mi Ami, Solar, Conor, Pickpocket, and Ryan P. Saturday, September 3, 9 p.m.-4 a.m., $10 advance. Public Works, 161 Erie, SF. www.publicsf.com
Doin’ It in the Park The massive SF daytime hip-hop and funk tradition is back at Golden Gate Park, a positivity picnic with a roster of local all-stars like Chuy Gomez, Shortkut, J. Boogie, Apollo, Mr. E, the Whooligan, and King Most. Bring the kids! (Then hit the afterparty with Triple Threat at Mighty.) Sunday, September 4, noon-6 p.m., free. Marx Meadows, Golden Gate Park. Facebook: Doin’ It in the park
The Afterburn After spending a week with these people in the desert, who the heck would want to be packed with them on a basement dancefloor? Those Burners who aren’t quite ready yet to let go of the love, of course, and anyone into the dastardly decks hijinks of Ooah of Glitch Mob, my secret acid crunk crush An-Ten-Nae (performing live with a drummer), and tons more. Friday, September 9, 9 p.m.-5 a.m., $20–$25. 103 Harriet, SF. www.1015.com
Barem The minimal techno mindblower on M-Nus Records is a master of live atmospherics and teased gratification. He rolls into town with a posse of excitements including John Tejada, Geddes, Matt Tolfrey, Antacid, and our own local techno success story of the moment, Pillow Talk, for a deep-yet-eclectic evening. Saturday, September 10, 9 p.m.-5 a.m., $10–$18. Public Works, 161 Erie, SF. www.publicsf.com
Bring Your Own Queer 2011The big daytime BYOQ shindig is back this year, with oodles of local queer talent staking a claim to Golden Gate Park. Dance, prance, and parting glance with Juanita More!, Honey Soundsystem, la Chica Boom, Bay Area Derby Girls, and an entire “Fashion Forest” to get lost in! Saturday, September 17, 12 p.m.-6 a.m., free. Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, SF. www.byoq.org
Earthdance Get global-spiritual at this enriching three-day festival, showcasing a bundle of Burn-step acts in the “Electronica Temple” like Tipper, Mimosa, Gaudi, Sub Swara, and Ill-Esha, plus I’m sure an eye-popping host of flaming poi twirlers. September 23-25, $45–$195. Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo. www.earthdancelive.com
Deviants Anything goes at Folsom Street Fair, of course, but what if you just want to dance around for a bit after you’ve been righteously whipped? get your extra kicks (and slaps) at Deviants, the 11-hour post-fair block party for those with a little wiggle left in their post-fair chaps. Party rulers Honey Soundsystem, Hard French, and Some Thing give it all to you, plus special live performances and guests. Sunday, September 25, 4 p..m.-3 a.m., $15–$30. Outside and inside Public Works, 161 Erie, SF. www.publicsf.com
Amon Tobin: ISAM Live The glitch-samba pioneer has taken an awesome left turn into mega-technological WTF with this enormous live spectacle that includes one of the biggest moving electronic music stages to go on tour. Basically, the visuals will take you over while the music lures you in. October 1 and 2, 8 p.m., $30–$40. Warfield Theatre, 982 Market, SF. www.blasthaus.com
Rebel Rave The Crosstown Rebels label is known for its smartly intricate and smoothly funky house productions, but its roster of talent can certainly whip a crowd into a rave-like frenzy, too. The Rebel Rave parties give you the hot dogging and the bun — this installment features Damian Lazarus, former Red Circle radio duo Art Department, Droog, and local stunner Dead Seal. Good stuff all round. Friday, October 1, 10 p..m.-4 a.m., check website for price.
For more electronic music festivals, check out our fall fairs and festivals guide