The global spectacle of the Olympics is through for now (see you in Russia 2014!); the local frenzy of Outside Lands 2012 has passed. So what’s there to do and see this week? Well, there’s Twin Shadow, Sam Flax, Three Mile Pilot, Midnight Magic, and two free shows: Flosstradamus with Riff Raff and Floating Points, and afternoon with the San Francisco Opera (separate outings).
Here are your must-see Bay Area concerts this week/end:
Sam Flax
Sam Flax has a visionary vibe – out of the noisy norm, beyond genre, new, colorful, and electric. It’s a quality shared with the other acts on this bill. The event – dubbed “An Anthology of Savage illusions,” and hosted by Mashi Mashi – also includes Maus Haus, Seventeen Evergreen, Michael Stasis, Mohani, Warm Leatherette DJs and art (instillations, illustrations, and sculptures) by Carlos A. Etcheverry, Edmundo de Marchena, Slenna DaFonseca.
Thu/16, 7pm, $7-$15
CELLspace
2050 Bryant, SF
Facebook: Mashi Mashi presents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTVY9K3NkFo
Twin Shadow
Stylish 1980s-repping R&B/dark new wave crooner Twin Shadow returns to the Great American for a set of headlining shows, this time on the heels of sophomore album, Confess, which saw a proper release July 10 on 4AD. He’s basically Prince in Purple Rain during the video for “Confess,” the titular first single off the album.
Thu/16-Fri/17, 9pm, $21
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
(415) 885-0750
www.slimspresents.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiC9XNQSxFQ
Flosstradamus, Riff Raff, Floating Points
This is like the Internet IRL. British electronic musician Floating Points programs the quality background, Chicago DJ duo Flosstradamus brings the flash, and reality celebrity/royal mess rapper Riff Raff uses MS Paint to spray-paint dicks, dollar signs, and marijuana leafs all over the site. Plus it’s free, and there’ll be opening sets by DJs and producers Ghosts on Tape, Debase vs. Popscene, Dibiase, Groundislava, Elephant & Castle, Richie Panic, Marco De La Vega, DJ Dials, KM/FM, Moziac, D33J, and Tyrell Williams. That’s a lot of pages to bookmark.
Fri/17, 10pm, free
1015 Folsom, SF
www.1015folsom.com
do415.com/event/2012/08/17/scene-unseen
Three Mile Pilot
More than 20 years after its influential San Diego inception, Three Mile Pilot (the emotional lo-fi indie band that spawned Pinback and Black Heart Procession, among others) still knows how to make a guts-pummeling album. 3MP proved this with 2010’s The Inevitable Past Is The Future Forgotten, the first release after 13 years of radio silence, and again this summer with new EP, Maps.
Sat/18, 10pm, $20
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., SF
(415) 621-4455
www.bottomofthehill.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7UeBxHFhK4
Midnight Magic
“It’s become apparent that the PR agents have discovered the trick to getting my attention: listing the name of a band next to the words “ex-mems of LCD Soundsystem,” thereby exploiting the hole left in one of my bodily organs by that now defunct group. The connection here is a bit tenuous, referring to former members of Hercules and Love Affair (quite a good name drop on its own) enlisted to play backup at LCD’s last shows. Moving beyond the past, the nine piece disco outfit’s releases so far — “Drop Me a Line” and “Beam Me Up” — have a promising, lively romanticism that’s doing all the influences justice.” — Ryan Prendiville
With Tron Jeremy, Brother Sister, hosted by Ava Berlin and Andy Vague
Sat/18, 10pm, $10-$15
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell, SF
(415) 861-2011
www.rickshawstop.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EaYwmv7hcA
San Francisco Opera
A grand yearly tradition that gives us peons (a.k.a those of us who cannot afford top-shelf liquor or a fancy night out) a shot of upper-crust culture. The program, with conductor Giuseppe Finzi, features soprano Leah Crocetto, tenor Michael Fabiano, and more soloists performing “a selection of operatic favorites.” Pack some cheese and wine, something classy.
Sun/19, 2pm, free
Stern Grove
19th Avenue at Sloat, SF
(415) 252-6252
www.sterngrove.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3nJW5GzB8
Nashville Pussy
Deep-fried Southern rock meets heavy metal band Nashville Pussy stops by Oakland in between slots on a much higher priced ZZ Top tour.
With Fang, Turbonegra
Sun/19, 8pm, $12-$15
Uptown
1928 Telegraph, Oakl.
www.uptownnightclub.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyd8pO1Lfc