food

How far will $10 an hour stretch in 2016?

Sasha Cuttler And Mary Magee
-
112

Earlier this week, just as media reports pointed out that America’s wealthiest 1 percent did better in 2012 than almost any other year in history, Gov. Jerry Brown came out in favor of a bill that would raise the state minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2016.

Last night, the Assembly approved the bill on a 51-25 vote, sending it onto the governor’s office. The development is almost certain to provoke howls from pro-business interests claiming it will wreak havoc on the economy. But what will it mean for minimum wage earners, whose take-home pay currently totals less than $300 a week for a full-time job?

Here are some statistics to put into perspective what it means to be a minimum wage earner in a world of rising costs and a widening gulf between top income earners and the rest.

  • The National Low Income Housing Coalition notes that a household must earn $25.78 per hour to afford fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment without spending 30 percent of their income. Couples earning California’s current $8 minimum wage can muster only a combined $16 an hour before taxes.
  • Based on this map illustrating San Francisco’s gaping rent affordability gap, a minimum-wage earner (making the 2012 minimum wage of $10.24 an hour) would have to hold down at least 3.4 full-time jobs to rent a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate – even in the city’s less expensive areas like the Bayview or the Excelsior.
  • Fast food workers around the country are aiming higher than the $10 per hour Californians may have to look forward to by 2016 – organized food service employees have been rallying to be paid $15 an hour, a rate they see as an actual livable wage. According to this nifty calculator created by the Daily Beast, using data from University of Massachusetts economists Jeanette Wicks-Lim and Robert Pollin, the cost of paying McDonald’s workers this much could be recovered by charging 22 cents more for a Big Mac.
  • Finally, it’s worth considering the growing wealth gap between the wealthiest one percent and the rest. From 2007 to 2009, average real income for the bottom 99 percent fell by 11.6 percent, the largest two-year decline since the Great Depression, according to to an analysis by UC Berkeley economist Emmanuel Saez. Meanwhile, the top 1 percent lost an even higher percentage in that time. But then, during the economic recovery from 2009 to 2011, the one percent saw their incomes increase by 11.2 percent, while incomes of the bottom 99 percent shrunk slightly. Then, in 2012, the top one percent scored a 19 percent increase, their collective earnings accounting for 22.5 percent of total U.S. income. As Matthew O’Brien writes in The Atlantic, “it’s the one percent’s economy, and we’re just living in it.”

The Selector: September 11-16, 2013

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
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0

WEDNESDAY 11

Jimmy Cliff

At age 65, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff is experiencing perhaps one of the greatest bursts of artistic productivity in all of his five-decade-long and counting career. He’s inspired countless other musicians over the years, including Bay Area punk rocker Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Operation Ivy, who was brought aboard to produce and perform on Cliff’s newest album, last year’s excellent Rebirth. The record includes an outstanding cover of the Clash’s “Guns of Brixton,” which references Cliff’s movie and song “The Harder They Come” in its lyrics — bringing the music full circle, as it were. Don’t miss the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer when he hits the Fillmore stage tonight. (Sean McCourt)

8pm, $39.50

Fillmore

1805 Geary, SF

(415) 346-6000

www.thefillmore.com

 

Chris Hardwick

In addition to appearing in a vast array of television (hello, Singled Out), film, radio, and online productions over the past 20 or so years, Chris Hardwick helped found Nerdist Industries, which has grown from one podcast in 2010 into a vast cross-medium mecca for all that proudly embrace their inner geek. Hardwick comes to the city this weekend with his hilarious stand-up act, and based on his guest spots at recent Wootstock events, he’s sure to riff on both his Nerdist loves, as well other awkward yet uproariously comedic facets of life. (McCourt)

Wed/11-Thu/12, 8pm; Fri/13, 8 and 10:15pm; Sat/14, 7:30 and 9:45pm, $25

Cobb’s Comedy Club

915 Columbus, SF

(415) 928-4320

www.cobbscomedyclub.com

 

THURSDAY 12

Secrets like These

While Enrico Labayen is a respected choreographer on his own terms, he also has a curious and generous spirit, opening his Labayen Dance Company to other dance makers. For this program, jam-packed with two of his own world premieres in addition to rep work, he invited Anandha Ray to present her new Quimera Project for which she’ll bring a chorus of up to 30 tribal belly dancers. Additionally, two company members will debut pieces. Laura Bernasconi’s Nourishment and Hunger will draw on ballet, classical Indian Odissi, and acro-yoga. For his new Secrets Like These, Victor Talledos is creating a narrative to music by Diana Krall. Labayen’s small company also offers performance opportunities to dancers from around the world: Daiane Lopes da Silva (Brazil), Sandrine Cassini (France), Talledos (Mexico). (Rita Felciano)

Through Sat/14, 8pm; Sun/15, 3pm, $20–$25.

ODC Theater,

3153, 17th St, SF

(415) 853-9834

www.odctheater.org

 

The Singularity

Back in March, when San Francisco filmmaker Doug Wolens was promoting his DIY iTunes hit The Singularity, he explained the meaning of the title: “the point in time when computers become smarter than people.” Some, including futurist Ray Kurzweil (one of the experts interviewed here), say it’s an inevitability — a thought-provoking idea, to say the least. Chat with Wolens in person at tonight’s screening of The Singularity as part of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ “Local Boy Makes Good: New Bay Area Film” series; he’ll also be in residence at the Castro Theatre next week with a trio of his films, rounded out by 2000 environmental-activist profile Butterfly and 1996’s toke-tastic doc Weed. (Cheryl Eddy)

7pm, $10

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

701 Mission, SF

Also Mon/16, screenings begin at noon, $11

Castro Theatre

429 Castro, SF

thesingularityfilm.com/screenings

 

FRIDAY 13

“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”

Thirty plays in 60 minutes — that might sound like too much even for the most attention span-challenged theatergoers among us. Fortunately, the raucous Neo-Futurists troupe has been putting on the surreal channel surf known as “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” for 25 years in its hometown Chicago, and for 10 in New York — where it’s won a celebrity cult following — so it’s got this thing down to an almost metaphysical science. A night of semi-improv performance (a timer is set and the audience yells out the titles of the plays to be performed from a “menu”) that whiplashes from affecting dramatic to absurdist comedy, with plenty of good-natured silliness thrown in, TMLMTBGB is like a strobe of emotions and situations — plates, buckets, ice cubes, wigs, and stuffed animals usually go flying, as do many preconceived notions of what theater ought to be. (Marke B.)

Through Sept. 29, 8pm, $15

Boxcar Theatre

505 Natoma, SF

(415) 967-2227

www.boxcartheatre.org

sfneofuturists.com

 

Death in June

Extremely depressing neofolk band Death in June is stopping by San Francisco for its long-awaited US tour. Initially starting as a post-punk, industrial project in the 1980s, the band shunned pretty-boy rock ideals, often donning ghoulish masks and costumes on stage. Death in June has given influence to plenty of contemporary bands such as metal band Agalloch and darkwave horde Faun, but the band isn’t without controversy of its own. It’s been known for using a skull, the totenkopf, synonymous with the Nazi movement. Often criticized for using SS insignia, the band has derided any and all accusations of fascism and white supremacy, being active in the British ’80s anti-fascist movement and playing in concerts such as “Rock Against Racism.” So back to the music: the group released Snow Bunker Tapes, guitar-backed versions of Peaceful Snow, on Neuropa this year. Get sad, get creepy, and slump over to the Mezzanine. (Erin Dage)

120 Minutes with oOoOO, DJ Omar, CHAUNCEY_CC

9pm, $30

Mezzanine

444 Jessie, SF

(415) 625-8880

www.mezzaninesf.com

 

SATURDAY 14

Autumn Moon Festival

This widely-attended cultural festival is the gold star of Chinatown events, filling its chaotic streets with even more buzz than normal and thousands of additional of people. A myriad of crafts, art, live music, dancers in costume, drumming groups, and curious attendees congregate for a fun and lively weekend each year. The Moon Festival, traditionally celebrated when the moon is said to be at its fullest and brightest of the year, gives families the opportunity to get together while enjoying great food and participating in the Lion and Dragon dances, both of which you don’t want to miss if you plan on attending. The whole weekend is an explosion of color and the perfect chance to learn a little more about Chinese culture. (Hillary Smith)

Through Sun/15, 11am-6pm, free

California and Grant, SF

www.moonfestival.org

 

Atheist Film Festival

The Atheist Film Festival, now in its fifth year, is cheeky enough to refer to itself as “a film festival you can believe in” — which bodes well for the sort of programming one can expect. The fest packs a lot into a single day, including a world premiere (doc Hug an Atheist, about what it means to be an atheist in America today) and acclaimed narratives The Magdalene Sisters (2002) and Creation (2009). Plus, a trio of docs: fake-guru experiment Kumaré (2011); fundamentalism-in-public-schools exposé Sophia Investigates the Good News Club; and The Revisionaries, which won the Best Doc jury prize at the 2013 SF IndieFest. The power of film compels you! (Eddy)

Noon, $12 (festival pass, $45)

Roxie Theater

3117 16th St, SF

www.sfatheistfilmfestival.org

 

Magic Trick

If there’s anything supernatural about the band Magic Trick, it’s in frontperson Tim Cohen’s seeming ability to be in several places at once. Between the Fresh & Onlys, solo projects, and work with other bands, his prolificacy makes you wonder. But more than witchcraft, magic tricks usually involve sleight of hand. With Cohen’s signature deep voice and romantic songwriting, Magic Trick at times directly echoes the Fresh & Onlys. Don’t be fooled: With three added band members and a minimalism that makes the music more contemplative and a little stranger, Magic Trick surprises. See what tricks lie up the record sleeve on the band’s new album, The Glad Birth of Love, which the Chapel will celebrate on Saturday. (Laura Kerry)

With the Range of Light Wilderness, Pure Bliss, Cool Ghouls

9pm, $12

Chapel

777 Valencia, SF

(415) 551-5157

www.thechapelsf.com

 

Rock The Bells

The country’s pre-eminent hip-hop festival will coming to the Bay Area this Saturday and Sunday, bringing a large and diverse crew of rap acts. There’s something for every kind of hip-hop head at this festival. For fans of weird rap, there’s Danny Brown, for fans of ratchet rap, there’s Juicy J, for the homers, there’s a E-40-Too $hort duet and IamSu!, and for fans of hologram rap there will be performances from hologram Eazy-E and ODB. For those you taking Caltrain from the city, remember that the train only runs once a hour and takes more than a hour to get to Mountain View. (George McIntire)

Also Sun/15, 11am, $65–$239

Shoreline Amphitheater

One Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View

(800) 745-3000

www.rockthebells.net

 

SUNDAY 15

Darwin Deez

Darwin Deez is known for nutty antics like bringing a head of cabbage out onto the stage (as a “symbol of frugalness”) and chucking it at the crowd to eat. And his wriggly, emo-pop second album Songs for Imaginative People proved that he hasn’t forgotten about his equally nutty fanbase. His half-joking-totally-serious approach to songwriting garners a very unique brand of follower, the kind of person who likes things weird. The tracks on Songs aren’t as easy to swallow as those on his debut, self-titled album Darwin Deez. Tracks swing by in a cacophony of synthy beats and buzzing electric riffs and Deez’s frequently deadpan voice undeniably weaves through them in a disjointed way — adding a disheveled tone to the album. But from the silly and unpredictable misfit whose greatest obsession may be breakfast food, who’d expect anything else? (Smith)

With Caged Animals, the Soonest

$15, 9pm

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

 

MONDAY 16

John Williams

Composer John Williams has written the scores for some of the most beloved films of all time — pieces of music that has become so interwoven with the onscreen narratives that it’s almost impossible to imagine the movies without them — Star Wars, JAWS, Indiana Jones, Superman, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, and many, many more. Tonight is a rare chance to see the maestro live and in person, conducting the San Francisco Symphony and leading them through some of his greatest works. Friend and frequent collaborator director Steven Spielberg will also appear for part of the program as a special guest host. (McCourt)

8pm, $15–$152

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Ave., SF

(415) 864-6000

www.sfsymphony.org

 

TUESDAY 17

The So So Glos

Did you want to spend a night pogo-ing around like the animal you are? The So So Glos, gritty DIY punks from Brooklyn, have just what the doctor ordered. Literally a band of brothers (the majority of the group is blood-related), the So So Glos lay testament to what hard work and determination can accomplish. Helping establish East Coast all-ages DIY venues such as Market Hotel and “Shea Stadium” (where the band also lives), the group is dedicated to keeping the proverbial DIY scene alive. Often compared to fellow Brooklynites Japanther, the So So Glos are hot off their newest release Blowout. The album has been described “in your face” and hi-fi! Also on the bill is unfortunately-named Diarrhea Planet, and Unstrung. Straight off Burger Records, the Tennessee-based Diarrhea Planet is Southern-fried Ramones worship while SF-based trio Unstrung goes for a more aggressive, punk route. (Dage)

9pm, $10

Brick and Mortar Music Hall

1710 Mission, SF

(415) 371-1631

www.brickandmortarmusic.com

Sammy Hagar runs through the hits at the America’s Cup Pavilion

Tony Robles
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6

Celebrating 40-plus years on the rock scene, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar hit the stage in San Francisco on Saturday night before a crowd of thousands of enthusiastic fans.
 
Playing the America’s Cup Pavilion, the Red Rocker blazed through a set spanning most of his career, starting out with Montrose songs, then on to his solo material, through his stint with Van Halen, and up through his current output.
 
Sporting his signature shaggy hair and shades look, Hagar kicked off his set with several tunes from his first successful band, the Bay Area-based Montrose, for whom he sang back in the early 1970s.
 
Taking to the stage with two of his former Montrose bandmates, Bill Church and Denny Carmassi, along Y&T guitarist Dave Meniketti, who was filling in for the late Ronnie Montrose, Hagar ran back and forth, pumping up the audience with classic cuts like “Rock Candy” and “Bad Motor Scooter.”
 
When his current backing group took over, Hagar wasted no time in getting to some of his early signature solo hits, running through “Red” and then “I Can’t Drive 55,” which got fans — many of whom looked to have been following him since the beginning — singing along and dancing around, much to the chagrin of the bouncers, who seemed intent on keeping people firmly planted in front of their assigned seats.
 
The seating situation was one of the drawbacks to the temporary venue, or at least how it was configured for this particular show; you could tell lots of fans wanted to dance around and let loose, which is hard to do when you’re surrounded a sea of metal folding chairs and security forces keeping a watchful eye on everything.
 
Otherwise, the outdoor amphitheater located along the city’s waterfront was an ideal location for the concert — it definitely helped that it was one of those great late summer/early fall days and nights in San Francisco, where the sun was out all day, and the fog held off rolling in until the show was nearly over.

Landmarks like the the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower provided a stunning backdrop to watching Hagar traverse the stage, at times bounding around and encouraging the crowd the yell or sing along, at others picking up a guitar and reminding concertgoers that he is also a formidable six string slinger in addition to being one of the best known singers in the realm of classic rock.
 
And that voice still sounds as strong as ever, belting out more hits such as “There’s Only One Way To Rock,” “Why Can’t This Be Love,” and “Heavy Metal” among others.
 
Hagar’s old cohort in Van Halen, Michael Anthony, joined in on bass for several tunes, eliciting a roar of approval when he appeared on stage and bantered back and forth with Hagar, who plied him with a bottle of liquor and tried to convince him to move out of LA to join him here in the Bay Area.
 
While playing one of Van Halen’s hits, “Right Now,” a video montage appeared on a giant screen behind the band, culling parts of the vintage video clip and adding a few newer additions. One said, “Right Now…People are hungry in San Francisco,” with the words “You Can Help” and shared the website for the San Francisco Food Bank — keeping with the fact that Hagar himself had previously announced that he would donate money to a couple of local charities when he made this tour stop.
 
Although it seemed he needed no extra help in winning over the crowd’s admiration, Hagar also scored some hometown points when he took a moment to tell everyone how he had “moved to San Francisco back in 1968 with a suitcase, a guitar, and about $5 in my pocket — and I’ve lived here ever since!”
 
He then added that in recent interviews everyone has been asking him, “When are you going to retire?” 

“I tell them I retired when I moved here and started playing music!”
 
 

The Selector

Sasha Cuttler
-
0

WEDNESDAY 9/11

 

Jimmy Cliff

At age 65, reggae legend Jimmy Cliff is experiencing perhaps one of the greatest bursts of artistic productivity in all of his five-decade-long and counting career. He’s inspired countless other musicians over the years, including Bay Area punk rocker Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Operation Ivy, who was brought aboard to produce and perform on Cliff’s newest album, last year’s excellent Rebirth. The record includes an outstanding cover of the Clash’s “Guns of Brixton,” which references Cliff’s movie and song “The Harder They Come” in its lyrics — bringing the music full circle, as it were. Don’t miss the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer when he hits the Fillmore stage tonight. (Sean McCourt)

8pm, $39.50

Fillmore

1805 Geary, SF

(415) 346-6000

www.thefillmore.com

WEDNESDAY 9/11

 

Chris Hardwick

In addition to appearing in a vast array of television (hello, Singled Out), film, radio, and online productions over the past 20 or so years, Chris Hardwick helped found Nerdist Industries, which has grown from one podcast in 2010 into a vast cross-medium mecca for all that proudly embrace their inner geek. Hardwick comes to the city this weekend with his hilarious stand-up act, and based on his guest spots at recent Wootstock events, he’s sure to riff on both his Nerdist loves, as well other awkward yet uproariously comedic facets of life. (McCourt)

Wed/11-Thu/12, 8pm; Fri/13, 8 and 10:15pm; Sat/14, 7:30 and 9:45pm, $25

Cobb’s Comedy Club

915 Columbus, SF

(415) 928-4320

www.cobbscomedyclub.com

THURSDAY 9/12

 

Secrets like These

While Enrico Labayen is a respected choreographer on his own terms, he also has a curious and generous spirit, opening his Labayen Dance Company to other dance makers. For this program, jam-packed with two of his own world premieres in addition to rep work, he invited Anandha Ray to present her new Quimera Project for which she’ll bring a chorus of up to 30 tribal belly dancers. Additionally, two company members will debut pieces. Laura Bernasconi’s Nourishment and Hunger will draw on ballet, classical Indian Odissi, and acro-yoga. For his new Secrets Like These, Victor Talledos is creating a narrative to music by Diana Krall. Labayen’s small company also offers performance opportunities to dancers from around the world: Daiane Lopes da Silva (Brazil), Sandrine Cassini (France), Talledos (Mexico). (Rita Felciano)

Through Sat/14, 8pm; Sun/15, 3pm, $20–$25.

ODC Theater,

3153, 17th St, SF

(415) 853-9834

www.odctheater.org

THURSDAY 9/12

 

The Singularity

Back in March, when San Francisco filmmaker Doug Wolens was promoting his DIY iTunes hit The Singularity, he explained the meaning of the title: “the point in time when computers become smarter than people.” Some, including futurist Ray Kurzweil (one of the experts interviewed here), say it’s an inevitability — a thought-provoking idea, to say the least. Chat with Wolens in person at tonight’s screening of The Singularity as part of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ “Local Boy Makes Good: New Bay Area Film” series; he’ll also be in residence at the Castro Theatre next week with a trio of his films, rounded out by 2000 environmental-activist profile Butterfly and 1996’s toke-tastic doc Weed. (Cheryl Eddy)

7pm, $10

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

701 Mission, SF

Also Mon/16, screenings begin at noon, $11

Castro Theatre

429 Castro, SF

thesingularityfilm.com/screenings

FRIDAY 9/13

 

“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”

Thirty plays in 60 minutes — that might sound like too much even for the most attention span-challenged theatergoers among us. Fortunately, the raucous Neo-Futurists troupe has been putting on the surreal channel surf known as “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” for 25 years in its hometown Chicago, and for 10 in New York — where it’s won a celebrity cult following — so it’s got this thing down to an almost metaphysical science. A night of semi-improv performance (a timer is set and the audience yells out the titles of the plays to be performed from a “menu”) that whiplashes from affecting dramatic to absurdist comedy, with plenty of good-natured silliness thrown in, TMLMTBGB is like a strobe of emotions and situations — plates, buckets, ice cubes, wigs, and stuffed animals usually go flying, as do many preconceived notions of what theater ought to be. (Marke B.)

Through Sept. 29, 8pm, $15

Boxcar Theatre

505 Natoma, SF

(415) 967-2227

www.boxcartheatre.org

sfneofuturists.com

FRIDAY 9/13

 

Death in June

Extremely depressing neofolk band Death in June is stopping by San Francisco for its long-awaited US tour. Initially starting as a post-punk, industrial project in the 1980s, the band shunned pretty-boy rock ideals, often donning ghoulish masks and costumes on stage. Death in June has given influence to plenty of contemporary bands such as metal band Agalloch and darkwave horde Faun, but the band isn’t without controversy of its own. It’s been known for using a skull, the totenkopf, synonymous with the Nazi movement. Often criticized for using SS insignia, the band has derided any and all accusations of fascism and white supremacy, being active in the British ’80s anti-fascist movement and playing in concerts such as “Rock Against Racism.” So back to the music: the group released Snow Bunker Tapes, guitar-backed versions of Peaceful Snow, on Neuropa this year. Get sad, get creepy, and slump over to the Mezzanine. (Erin Dage)

120 Minutes with oOoOO, DJ Omar, CHAUNCEY_CC

9pm, $30

Mezzanine

444 Jessie, SF

(415) 625-8880

www.mezzaninesf.com

SATURDAY 9/14

 

Autumn Moon Festival

This widely-attended cultural festival is the gold star of Chinatown events, filling its chaotic streets with even more buzz than normal and thousands of additional of people. A myriad of crafts, art, live music, dancers in costume, drumming groups, and curious attendees congregate for a fun and lively weekend each year. The Moon Festival, traditionally celebrated when the moon is said to be at its fullest and brightest of the year, gives families the opportunity to get together while enjoying great food and participating in the Lion and Dragon dances, both of which you don’t want to miss if you plan on attending. The whole weekend is an explosion of color and the perfect chance to learn a little more about Chinese culture. (Hillary Smith)

Through Sun/15, 11am-6pm, free

California and Grant, SF

www.moonfestival.org

SATURDAY 9/14

 

Atheist Film Festival

The Atheist Film Festival, now in its fifth year, is cheeky enough to refer to itself as “a film festival you can believe in” — which bodes well for the sort of programming one can expect. The fest packs a lot into a single day, including a world premiere (doc Hug an Atheist, about what it means to be an atheist in America today) and acclaimed narratives The Magdalene Sisters (2002) and Creation (2009). Plus, a trio of docs: fake-guru experiment Kumaré (2011); fundamentalism-in-public-schools exposé Sophia Investigates the Good News Club; and The Revisionaries, which won the Best Doc jury prize at the 2013 SF IndieFest. The power of film compels you! (Eddy)

Noon, $12 (festival pass, $45)

Roxie Theater

3117 16th St, SF

www.sfatheistfilmfestival.org

SATURDAY 9/14

 

Magic Trick

If there’s anything supernatural about the band Magic Trick, it’s in frontperson Tim Cohen’s seeming ability to be in several places at once. Between the Fresh & Onlys, solo projects, and work with other bands, his prolificacy makes you wonder. But more than witchcraft, magic tricks usually involve sleight of hand. With Cohen’s signature deep voice and romantic songwriting, Magic Trick at times directly echoes the Fresh & Onlys. Don’t be fooled: With three added band members and a minimalism that makes the music more contemplative and a little stranger, Magic Trick surprises. See what tricks lie up the record sleeve on the band’s new album, The Glad Birth of Love, which the Chapel will celebrate on Saturday. (Laura Kerry)

With the Range of Light Wilderness, Pure Bliss, Cool Ghouls

9pm, $12

Chapel

777 Valencia, SF

(415) 551-5157

www.thechapelsf.com

SATURDAY 9/14

 

Rock The Bells

The country’s pre-eminent hip-hop festival will coming to the Bay Area this Saturday and Sunday, bringing a large and diverse crew of rap acts. There’s something for every kind of hip-hop head at this festival. For fans of weird rap, there’s Danny Brown, for fans of ratchet rap, there’s Juicy J, for the homers, there’s a E-40-Too $hort duet and IamSu!, and for fans of hologram rap there will be performances from hologram Eazy-E and ODB. For those you taking Caltrain from the city, remember that the train only runs once a hour and takes more than a hour to get to Mountain View. (George McIntire)

Also Sun/15, 11am, $65–$239

Shoreline Amphitheater

One Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View

(800) 745-3000

www.rockthebells.net

SUNDAY 9/15

 

Darwin Deez

Darwin Deez is known for nutty antics like bringing a head of cabbage out onto the stage (as a “symbol of frugalness”) and chucking it at the crowd to eat. And his wriggly, emo-pop second album Songs for Imaginative People proved that he hasn’t forgotten about his equally nutty fanbase. His half-joking-totally-serious approach to songwriting garners a very unique brand of follower, the kind of person who likes things weird. The tracks on Songs aren’t as easy to swallow as those on his debut, self-titled album Darwin Deez. Tracks swing by in a cacophony of synthy beats and buzzing electric riffs and Deez’s frequently deadpan voice undeniably weaves through them in a disjointed way — adding a disheveled tone to the album. But from the silly and unpredictable misfit whose greatest obsession may be breakfast food, who’d expect anything else? (Smith)

With Caged Animals, the Soonest

$15, 9pm

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

MONDAY 9/16

 

John Williams

Composer John Williams has written the scores for some of the most beloved films of all time — pieces of music that has become so interwoven with the onscreen narratives that it’s almost impossible to imagine the movies without them — Star Wars, JAWS, Indiana Jones, Superman, E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, and many, many more. Tonight is a rare chance to see the maestro live and in person, conducting the San Francisco Symphony and leading them through some of his greatest works. Friend and frequent collaborator director Steven Spielberg will also appear for part of the program as a special guest host. (McCourt)

8pm, $15–$152

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness Ave., SF

(415) 864-6000

www.sfsymphony.org

TUESDAY 9/17

 

The So So Glos

Did you want to spend a night pogo-ing around like the animal you are? The So So Glos, gritty DIY punks from Brooklyn, have just what the doctor ordered. Literally a band of brothers (the majority of the group is blood-related), the So So Glos lay testament to what hard work and determination can accomplish. Helping establish East Coast all-ages DIY venues such as Market Hotel and “Shea Stadium” (where the band also lives), the group is dedicated to keeping the proverbial DIY scene alive. Often compared to fellow Brooklynites Japanther, the So So Glos are hot off their newest release Blowout. The album has been described “in your face” and hi-fi! Also on the bill is unfortunately-named Diarrhea Planet, and Unstrung. Straight off Burger Records, the Tennessee-based Diarrhea Planet is Southern-fried Ramones worship while SF-based trio Unstrung goes for a more aggressive, punk route. (Dage)

9pm, $10

Brick and Mortar Music Hall

1710 Mission, SF

(415) 371-1631

www.brickandmortarmusic.com

Stage listings

Sasha Cuttler
-
0

Stage listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Rita Felciano, and Nicole Gluckstern. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com.

THEATER

OPENING

Band Fags! New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, SF; www.nctcsf.org. $25-45. Opens Fri/13, 8pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Oct 13. New Conservatory Theatre Center performs the West Coast premiere of Frank Anthony Polito’s coming-of-age tale, set in 1980s Detroit.

“Bay One Acts Festival” Tides Theatre, 533 Sutter, SF; www.bayoneacts.org. $20-40. Opens Sat/14, 8pm. Programs One and Two run in repertory Wed-Sun, 8pm. Through Oct 5. The 2013 BOA fest presents the world premieres of 13 short plays in partnership with 13 Bay Area theater companies.

Buried Child Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Bldg D, Third Flr, SF; www.magictheatre.org. $20-60. Previews Wed/11-Sat/14, 8pm; Sun/15, 2:30pm; Mon/16, 7pm. Opens Tue/17, 8pm. Runs Tue, 7pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30. Through Oct 6. Magic Theatre performs a revival of Sam Shepard’s Pulitzer-winning classic.

The Golden Dragon ACT’s Costume Shop, 1117 Market, SF; www.doitliveproductions.com. $15. Opens Fri/13, 9:30pm. Runs Thu-Sat, 9:30pm. Through Sept 28. Do It Live! Productions presents Roland Schimmelpfennig’s tragicomic take on globalization, set in and around an Asian restaurant.

1776 ACT’s Geary Theater, 415 Geary, SF; www.act-sf.org. $20-160. Previews Wed/11-Sat/14 and Tue/17, 8pm (also Sat/14, 2pm); Sun/15, 7pm. Opens Thu/19, 8pm. Runs Tue-Sat, 8pm (also Wed and Sat, 2pm; Sept 24, show at 7pm); Sun, 2pm. Through Oct 6. American Conservatory Theater performs the West Coast premiere of Frank Galati’s new staging of the patriotic musical.

The Shakespeare Bug Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia, SF; www.killingmylobster.com. $15-30. Previews Thu/12-Fri/13, 8pm. Opens Sat/14, 8pm. Runs Thu-Sun, 8pm. Through Sept 29. Killing My Lobster in association with PlayGround perform Ken Slattery’s world-premiere comedy.

ONGOING

Acid Test: The Many Incarnations of Ram Dass Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Fri, 8pm; Sat, 8:30pm. Through Oct 12. Lynne Kaufman’s acclaimed play returns to the Marsh, with Warren David Keith reprising the titular role.

American Dream New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, SF; www.nctcsf.org. $35-45. Wed/11-Sat/14, 8pm; Sun/15, 2pm. A recently divorced and recently out architect falls in love with his Spanish teacher — and tries to bring him from Mexico to California — in this world premiere by Brad Erickson at the New Conservatory Theatre Center.

BoomerAging: From LSD to OMG Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Tue, 8pm. Extended through Oct 29. Will Durst’s hit solo show looks at baby boomers grappling with life in the 21st century.

Foodies! The Musical Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.foodiesthemusical.com. $30-34. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. AWAT Productions presents Morris Bobrow’s musical comedy revue all about food.

In Friendship: Stories By Zona Gale Z Below, 470 Florida, SF; www.zspace.org. $20-50. Wed/11-Thu/12, 7pm (also Wed/11, 3pm); Fri/13, 8pm. Word for Word performs Zona Gale’s “comedy of American manners.”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Boxcar Theatre, 505 Natoma, SF; www.boxcartheatre.org. $27-43. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. John Cameron Mitchell’s cult musical comes to life with director Nick A. Olivero’s ever-rotating cast.

Macbeth Fort Point, end of Marine Dr, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.weplayers.org. $30-60. Thu-Sun, 6pm. Through Oct 6. We Players perform the Shakespeare classic amid Fort Point’s Civil War-era fortress.

Macbeth Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.sfshakes.org. Free. Sat/14-Sun/15, 2pm. In its 31st season, Free Shakespeare in the Park also takes on one of the Bard’s major tragedies.

“San Francisco Fringe Festival” Exit Theatreplex, 156 Eddy, SF; www.sffringe.org. $12.99 or less (passes, $45-75). Through Sept 21. The 22nd SF Fringe presents 36 shows that explore the boundaries of theater and performance.

Sex and the City: LIVE! Rebel, 1760 Market, SF; trannyshack.com/sexandthecity. $25. Wed, 7 and 9pm. Open-ended. It seems a no-brainer. Not just the HBO series itself — that’s definitely missing some gray matter — but putting it onstage as a drag show. Mais naturellement! Why was Sex and the City not conceived of as a drag show in the first place? Making the sordid not exactly palatable but somehow, I don’t know, friendlier (and the canned a little cannier), Velvet Rage Productions mounts two verbatim episodes from the widely adored cable show, with Trannyshack’s Heklina in a smashing portrayal of SJP’s Carrie; D’Arcy Drollinger stealing much of the show as ever-randy Samantha (already more or less a gay man trapped in a woman’s body); Lady Bear as an endearingly out-to-lunch Miranda; and ever assured, quick-witted Trixxie Carr as pent-up Charlotte. There’s also a solid and enjoyable supporting cast courtesy of Cookie Dough, Jordan Wheeler, and Leigh Crow (as Mr. Big). That’s some heavyweight talent trodding the straining boards of bar Rebel’s tiny stage. The show’s still two-dimensional, even in 3D, but noticeably bigger than your 50″ plasma flat panel. (Avila)

BAY AREA

After the Revolution Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; www.auroratheatre.org. $32-60. Tue, 7pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Extended through Oct 6. Aurora Theatre opens its 22nd season with the Bay Area premiere of Amy Herzog’s family drama.

Can You Dig It? Back Down East 14th — the 60s and Beyond Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston, Berk; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Opens Sat/14, 8:30pm. Runs Sat, 8:30pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Oct 27. Don Reed’s new show offers more stories from his colorful upbringing in East Oakland in the 1960s and ’70s. More hilarious and heartfelt depictions of his exceptional parents, independent siblings, and his mostly African American but ethnically mixed working-class community — punctuated with period pop, Motown, and funk classics, to which Reed shimmies and spins with effortless grace. And of course there’s more too of the expert physical comedy and charm that made long-running hits of Reed’s last two solo shows, East 14th and The Kipling Hotel (both launched, like this newest, at the Marsh). Can You Dig It? reaches, for the most part, into the “early” early years, Reed’s grammar-school days, before the events depicted in East 14th or Kipling Hotel came to pass. But in nearly two hours of material, not all of it of equal value or impact, there’s inevitably some overlap and indeed some recycling. Reed, who also directs the show, may start whittling it down as the run continues. But, as is, there are at least 20 unnecessary minutes diluting the overall impact of the piece, which is thin on plot already — much more a series of often very enjoyable vignettes and some painful but largely unexplored observations, wrapped up at the end in a sentimental moral that, while sincere, feels rushed and inadequate. (Avila)

Ella, the Musical Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic, Walnut Creek; (925) 943-SHOW. $37-64. Wed, 7:30pm; Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sept 28 and Oct 12, 2:30pm); Sun, 2:30pm. Through Oct 12. Yvette Cason portrays the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in this Center REP presentation.

Good People Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller, Mill Valley; www.marintheatre.org. $37-58. Wed/11, 7:30pm; Thu/12-Sat/14, 8pm (also Sat/14, 2pm); Sun/15, 2 and 7pm. Marin Theatre Company performs the Bay Area premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Broadway triumph about class and poverty.

Orlando Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, Berk; www.theatrefirst.com. $10-30. Thu/12-Sat/14, 8pm; Sun/15, 5pm. TheatreFIRST performs Sarah Ruhl’s gender-shifting comedy, which takes place over a span of 300 years.

PERFORMANCE/DANCE

“Broadway Bingo” Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF; www.feinsteinssf.com. Wed, 7-9pm. Ongoing. Free. Countess Katya Smirnoff-Skyy and Joe Wicht host this Broadway-flavored night of games and performance.

Caroline Lugo and Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco Peña Pachamama, 1630 Powell, SF; www.carolinalugo.com. Sun/15, Sept 21, Oct 6, 12, 20, 26, 6:15pm. $15-19. Flamenco performance by the mother-daughter dance company, featuring live musicians.

“Dancing Poetry Festival” Florence Gould Theater, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave, F; (510) 235-0361. Sat/14, noon-4pm. $6-15. Now in its 20th year, this festival combines poetry and dance, with companies from across Northern California lending their talents.

“Faux Queen Pageant 2013: Sisters Grimm” Slim’s, 333 11th St, SF; www.slimspresents.com. Sat/14, 7pm. $20. “Drag Queens trapped in women’s bodies” compete for supremacy at this contest, a benefit for local charities including Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, SaveABunny, and Women Organized To Make Abuse Nonexistent, Inc.

“Here and Then” ODC Studio B, 351 Shotwell, SF; www.humanshakes.com. Sat/14-Sun/15, 8-9:30pm (no admission after 8:45pm). $17-20. Tim Rubel Human Shakes performs a dance installation dedicated to Harvey Milk and other human rights workers.

Kathleen Madigan Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore, SF; www.yoshis.com. Sat/14, 8 and 10pm. $45. The comedian performs.

“Maestros of the Movies” Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness, SF; www.sfsymphony.org. Mon/16, 8pm. $15-152. John Williams conducts SF Symphony for this tribute to his iconic film scores. Frequent collaborator Steven Spielberg co-hosts the performance.

“A Match Made in Hell” Bindlestiff Studio, 185 Sixth St, SF; www.matchmadeinhellmusical.com. Fri/13-Sat/14, 8pm. $15-20. Max Weinbach’s original musical follows a couple brought together by the Devil.

“Mission Position Live” Cinecave, 1034 Valencia, SF; www.missionpositionlive.com. Thu, 8pm. Ongoing. $10. Stand-up comedy with rotating performers.

“Monkey Gone to Heaven” CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission, SF; www.counterpulse.org. Fri/13-Sat/14 and Sept 19-21, 8pm; Sun/15 and Sept 22, 7pm. $20. EmSpace Dance performs the world premiere of a dance-theater work inspired by the relationship between primates and prayer.

“Okeanos Intimate” Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, SF; www.capacitor.org. Sat, 7pm. Through Sept 28. $20-30 (free aquarium ticket with show ticket). Choreographer Jodi Lomask and her company, Capacitor, revive 2012’s Okeanos — a cirque-dance piece exploring the wonder and fragility of our innate connection to the world’s oceans — in a special “intimate” version designed for the mid-size theater at Pier 39’s Aquarium of the Bay. The show, developed in collaboration with scientists and engineers, comes preceded by a short talk by a guest expert — for a recent Saturday performance it was a down-to-earth and truly fascinating local ecological history lesson by the Bay Institute’s Marc Holmes. In addition to its Cirque du Soleil-like blend of quasi-representational modern dance and circus acrobatics — powered by a synth-heavy blend of atmospheric pop music — Okeanos makes use of some stunning underwater photography and an intermittent narrative that includes testimonials from the likes of marine biologist and filmmaker Dr. Tierney Thys. The performers, including contortionists, also interact with some original physical properties hanging from the flies — a swirling vortex and a spherical shell — as they wrap and warp their bodies in a kind of metamorphic homage to the capacity and resiliency of evolution, the varied ingenuity of all life forms. If the movement vocabulary can seem limited at times, and too derivative, the show also feels a little cramped on the Aquarium Theater stage, whose proscenium arrangement does the piece few favors aesthetically. Nevertheless, the family-oriented Okeanos Intimate spurs a conversation with the ocean that is nothing if not urgent. (Avila)

“Signaling Arcana” Z Space, 450 Florida, SF; www.cimimarie.com. Thu/11-Sat/14, 8pm (also Sat/14, 2pm); Sun/15, 5pm. $25. Cinematic shadow theater with 3D effects and original music from director-inventor Christine Marie and composter Dan Cantrell.

“Swingin’ Back Home” Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF; www.ticketweb.com. Wed/11 and Fri/13, 8pm; Sat/14-Sun/15, 7pm. $30-65. Michael Feinstein performs his new tribute to popular songs. *

 

Pumped up

Sasha Cuttler
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Pumped up

marke@sfbg.com

ON THE MOVE The epic Pacific Crest Trail winds 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, through sun-roasted desert expanse and snow-covered mountain pass, past rushing waterfalls and over wildflower-studded Alpine plateau, roughly tracing the Sierras and Cascades, always out of sight of civilization. It takes most hikers roughly half a year to make the whole trip, an isolating, immersive communion with nature that foregrounds self-reliance, endurance, and more than a little ingenuity when it comes to where you’re going to sleep and what you’re going to eat.

On June 21, Alex Falcioni, a massage therapist and teacher, took to the 1,230-mile leg of the trail running from Tuolumne Meadow, Yosemite, to Portland. In high heels.

“I’d always dreamed of doing the trail — but the most I could take off would be three months, so I knew I couldn’t do the whole thing” he told me over a “beat-up” phone from Ashland, hitchhiking his way back to the Bay Area after completing his high-heeled hike on Aug. 31st at Cascade Locks, Ore. “And then I heard that my dear friend Sarah had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was having trouble covering her medical bills, so I decided to make the hike a fundraiser.

“I needed a gimmick, though, to draw attention. And that’s where the pumps came in — it really just came to me one day. I’d start in Yosemite, and wear the pumps to Portland. Mostly for the alliteration, ha ha.”

Falcioni’s project, Pumps 2 Portland, was partly inspired by Hiking26, a 2012 performance art piece by Ron Ulrich, who completed the entire PCT wearing 26 wedding dresses along the way. So far, Falcioni has managed to raise over $2,500. (Interested parties can still donate and read firsthand about Falcioni’s adventures at www.pumps2portland.com.)

The first obvious question: What kind of pumps were they? “Oh, a strappy white pair of size-12 slingbacks from a drag queen shoe store. They’re completely destroyed,” Falcioni said. “My toes look like little Vienna sausages. But my calves are rocks.”

The second obvious question: Come on, did he really wear high heels the whole time?

Falcioni laughs. “No way! There are ascents up to 10,000 feet and sometimes I felt afraid for my life in hiking shoes. Plus, often ‘trail’ is a relative word — it’s not like clicking down a paved sidewalk. But I wore them when I could, and I strapped them on my backpack for all the other hikers to see when I couldn’t.

“They were there to keep me inspired and add a little spark when the trail got so monotonous it was like sensory deprivation — like, ‘if I see another Ponderosa pine I’m going to go insane!'” With the heels it all became a outdoor runway.

“The pumps really opened doors, too,” Falcioni continued. “People I’d encounter on the trail would ask about them and that would help along a conversation. Or when I’d go into town… One of the ways you survive the trail is to mail food ahead for yourself. (You learn little tricks, like mixing spicy ramen with a spoonful of peanut butter equals Thai food!) So I’d have to go down into towns to pick that up, and I hadn’t bathed in a week — same shirt, same pants, covered in dirt and smoke. But showing off these huge pumps.

“That not only got the attention of the Trail Angels — people who dedicate themselves to opening their homes and helping out PCT hikers — but of random strangers, too. I made so many real friendships, had so many actual conversations about real things in these places of enormous beauty. Not to mention some free showers.

“It was an incredible experience to just put yourself out there at the mercy of nature, other people, and even yourself. I’d urge anyone to do it, giant man-heels or no.”

Nevertheless: Hey, Rupaul — I think we have your next location for Drag Race.

The Performant: Mean Streets and Matchsticks at the Vancouver Fringe

Sue Vaughan
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The Performant: Mean Streets and Matchsticks at the Vancouver Fringe

Here in Vancouver, the Fringe Festival has been in full swing since Sept. 5, and its early bustle has come as something of a welcome surprise. Shows have been selling out right and left, including those by the five-woman sketch comedy team Strapless, and the manic SNAFU Dance Theatre‘s survivalist romp Kitt & Jane. The buzz hangs as heavy in the air as the morning humidity. It’s interesting to compare the rowdy carnival atmosphere of the Edmonton Fringe, complete with sideshow attractions, tireless street performers, and mountains of cheap fried food and the people who eat it, with Vancouver’s more refined approach and oddience. The Vancouver Fringe is the biggest theater festival in town, I’m told, and therefore attracts a fairly large percentage of mainstream theater-goers.

But despite the fact that each show begins with an overly complicated spiel about sponsorship opportunities, the shows themselves have run the usual fringe-y gamut of content from heartfelt to hilarious, edgy to educational. Here are some of the standouts I’ve seen so far.

One of the bravest shows of the 2012 San Francisco Fringe was not actually a theatre piece at all, but an educational talk entitled The Revolution Will Not Be Circumcised, complete with video footage of infant (male) circumcisions that was decidedly not for the faint of heart. I see a lot of similarity in Tasha Diamant’s equally brave The Human Body Project, because when she takes the stage, naked and unscripted, the audience is immediately forced to examine their own reactions and assumptions around the act, the artist, and the body in general, leading to a tangibly cathartic yet thought-provoking collective experience.

Speaking of San Francisco Fringe, homegrown clown Summer Shapiro, whose Legs and All charmed at the festival in 2009, is here in Vancouver with a fun, interactive work, In the Boudoir; it’s a mostly silent comedy of a first date gone terribly awkward. In the same venue, the wry magic of Travis Barnhardt astounds in his mentalist routine Unpossible, during which he confesses several times that he hasn’t quite mastered the art before revealing that he clearly has.

Canadian storyteller Andrew Bailey, whose show Limbo I enjoyed in Edmonton, knocks one out of the metaphorical ballpark with his smart, compelling The Adversary. Matchstick, a two-person musical centered around a troubled, International love affair with political implications, impresses with its quick wit, inventive staging, and dynamic duo, despite some silly lyrics. Solo clown show Butt Kapinski follows a diminutive, speech-challenged “Pwivate Eye” down the mean streets and aisles of the small theater space, filled with cruel tenements, corrupt cops, and a bevy of working girls and murder victims (all unsuspecting oddience members), while the aforementioned Kitt & Jane wows with its energetic portrayals of a pair of angsty high school misfits who have one hour to save the world from itself.

Still looking forward to so much more, including Little Pussy, Model Wanted, Preacher Man, Kuwaiti Moonshine, Radio:30, The Cruelest Phone Book in the World, Against Gravity, Fools for Love, and 6 Guitars so I’d better get cracking. So little time. So many shows.

The Selector: September 4 – 10, 2013

Michael Redmond
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WEDNESDAY 4

The Zombies

When their single “Time of the Season” was released in 1968, the Zombies had already broken up and the album that featured the now-classic tune almost wasn’t released. Even if that seminal song hadn’t hit the airwaves, the band would still be considered one of the best groups of the 1960s based on the strength of its earlier hits such as “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No.” Original members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent have re-formed the group and are bringing back the classic sound — and catch opening band Et Tu Bruce, featuring Jamie White, son of Zombies’ founding member Chris White. (Sean McCourt)

8pm, $39–$60

Yoshi’s Oakland

510 Embarcadero West, Oakl.

 

Thu/5, 8pm, $39–$60

Yoshi’s SF

1330 Fillmore, SF

www.yoshis.com

 

FRIDAY 6

Everything is Terrible!

Everything Is Terrible! began as a blog compiling hilariously bizarre video clips, plucked from tapes rescued from garage sales, thrift stores, and wherever else VHS carcasses, particularly copies of 1996’s Jerry Maguire, go to die. The seven-member collective’s found-footage efforts soon spawned multiple viral sensations (including “So Your Cat Wants a Massage?”, which has over two million YouTube hits) and 2009’s Everything Is Terrible! The Movie! Now, there’s a live show to accompany a pair of new films: Comic Relief Zero! (“a comedy special that’s the opposite of special”) and EIT! Does The Hip-Hop!, which promises “white rappers promoting hamburgers,” among other delights. (Cheryl Eddy)

Fri/6, 9:30pm, $15

Roxie Theater

3117 16th St, SF

Sat/7, 8pm, $10

New Parkway

474 24th St, Oakl.

www.everythingisterrible.com

 

Agave Baroque

I’m throwing my yearly pitch for the fantastic concerts that take place regularly at Old First Church: an entrancing mélange of programs by seasoned and younger musicians that covers centuries of “classical” music — and an ocean of styles, too. (Sitting in the surprisingly comfy pews, I’ve enjoyed everything from contemporary Celtic-tango hybrids to Liberace-dramatic Brahms.) The lively, Bay Area-based Agave Baroque quartet — Aaron Westman, violin; Shirley Hunt, viola da gamba; Kevin Cooper, baroque guitar; JungHae Kim, harpsichord — takes us back, way back, to the 17th century, with selections from Bach, Biber, Buxtehude, and more. Intimate evening music in a gorgeous church — hard to beat it, Baroque or no. (Marke B.)

8pm, $17

Old First Church

1751 Sacramento

www.oldfirstconcerts.org

 

Traditions

Considering that Shiva, the god of dance and one of the most important figures in Hindu mythology, is represented as male, you’d think that Bharata Natyam, India’s most popular classical dance, would have produced male dancers galore. In fact, it hasn’t. Part of the reason is that Bharata Natyam originated with women temple dancers. Today, much as in the West, Indian parents apparently still discourage their sons to take up dance professionally. For Ganesh Vasudeva this was never an issue. Though the only boy in class when he started at age 10, he says that dancing makes him feel “like nothing else in his life.” For his one-night only Traditions program, he has researched “male oriented compositions” both within and outside the common practice. (Rita Felciano)

8pm, $20

CounterPULSE

1310 Mission St., SF

(415) 626-2060

www.counterpulse.org

 

The Shrine

This LA-based outfit’s aptly titled debut album Primitive Blast is a raw slice of seething thrasher rock that dares you to throw the devil horns up and head bang til dawn. Borrowing heavily from Black Sabbath, Black Flag, and maybe some black magic, the Shrine’s youthful fuzz and manic energy are the soundtrack to a Venice Beach endless summer. Born out of a Santa Monica high school and the discovery of a shared love for Thin Lizzy at a beach party (you can’t make this shit up) the Shrine has been steadily moving up the ranks, graduating from sweaty house shows to its current headlining tour. If you’re looking for good, dirty fun or a sweet logo to stencil onto your skate deck, this is your band. (Haley Zaremba)

With Hot Lunch, Carlton Melton

9pm, $12

Chapel

777 Valencia, SF

(415) 551-5157

www.thechapelsf.com

 

SATURDAY 7

Filmage

Milo Aukerman from the Descendents went to college, and got his “Suburban Home” with his “Silly Girl,” and now there’s a film about him and fellow bandmates and their efforts in achieving “ALL.” Tired Descendents puns aside, there’s cause for Bay Area fans of the band to rejoice again after its early August performance at America’s Cup Pavillion. Recently released Descendents-centric documentary, Filmage, serves as a love letter to the band as well as its offshoot group, ALL. As a two-year do-it-yourself effort by filmmakers Matt Riggle and Deedle LaCour, Filmage tells the story of the band with interviews from members of the group and through artists such as Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana, Mike Watt of Minutemen, and Keith Morris of early Black Flag and Circle Jerks fame. Making a one-day appearance, this will be the film’s SF premiere. (Erin Dage)

Sat/7, 12pm, $7.50

Roxie Theater

3117 16th St, SF

(415) 863-1087

www.roxie.com

 

Sammy Hagar

Celebrating a 40-year-plus music career, Sammy Hagar is back in the Bay Area this week, where he first came to prominence as a member of Montrose before heading out solo and eventually (controversially) joining Van Halen. The shaggy-haired Red Rocker is out on the road with a band featuring old cohorts, including ex-VH bassist Michael Anthony, ahead of the release of his new album, Sammy Hagar and Friends, which sees release later this month. And know that while you’re rocking out and having a blast, you’ll be helping along a good cause too — Hagar has announced he’ll give the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks $2,500 during the tour stop. (Sean McCourt)

7:30pm, $39.50–$85.

America’s Cup Pavilion

Piers 27/29, SF

www.livenation.com

 

SUNDAY 8

Total Burger Bub Showcase

If the Internet is any indicator of real world trends, cats are pretty in right now — and so is garage rock. So why not combine the two? Lil Bub, Burger Records, and Total Trash Booking are working together as a team to bring together a full day and night of unabashed camp, cats, and rock ‘n’ roll with the Total Burger Bub Showcase. Lil Bub, arguably one of the most famous smushed-face “perma-kittens” on the market right now, is coming to the Bay Area along with some garage rock friends. At the tender age of 2, she has reportedly penned a book, Lil Bub’s Lil Book, and invites you to see her live and get your copy of the book signed! She’ll be at the Rickshaw Stop from 3 to 7:30pm (and there’ll also be a screening of the Vice.tv doc film on her during that time). Shortly thereafter, at 8:30pm, garage rock artists such as pervy rabbit man Nobunny, Colleen Green, Monster Women, and the Shanghais will be playing at the same venue in honor of Lil Bub. If you’re interested, the price of admission to see Lil Bub is $12, and the rock show is $12, respectively. (Dage)

3pm, $12; 8pm, $12 Rickshaw Stop 155 Fell, SF (415) 861-2011

www.rickshawstop.com

 

Vikesh Kapoor

There’s something earnest and sweet about Vikesh Kapoor, who offers a refreshing take on acoustic songwriting. The musician’s simple finger-picking style carries his rough sing-talk vocals quite well, and rounds out the candid quality of his singing. Kapoor’s songwriting conveys something so basic and human, and his unkempt pipes are at times reminiscent of Bob Dylan (just wait till he brings out the harmonica). The young performer seems to have carved out a very specific niche of folk singing and songwriting, as shown in “I Dreamt Blues,” which Kapoor once described as a ballad about love, work, technology, government, and apathy. The ballad is the first track off his upcoming concept album The Ballad of Willy Robbins, out Oct. 15. Kapoor is bringing his enlightened sound to the Chapel very soon — just in time to make you a fan. (Hillary Smith)

With Alela Diane

9pm, $18

Chapel

777 Valencia, SF

(415) 551-5157

www.thechapelsf.com

 

Titus Andronicus

About nine months ago, I went to see Titus Andronicus at the Great American Music Hall. My expectations were high, since it’s one of my favorite bands, but I was totally unprepared for the onslaught of earnest rock ‘n’ roll, 500+ person gang vocals, and the entrancing vulnerability of frontperson Patrick Stickles. Titus Andronicus’ recorded work is extremely calculated. Its grandiose story arcs and complicated orchestration are both impressive and mind-blowingly neurotic in their attention to detail. (2010’s Civil War concept album The Monitor comes with a hefty “suggested further reading” list of historical texts.) However, the band still captures a raw energy and soulful sincerity that pushes it over the line into greatness. If you like high energy shows and high register lyricism, this is not a show to miss. (Zaremba)

With Lost Boy

8pm, $17

Great American Music Hall

859 O’Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.slimspresents.com

 

TUESDAY 10

Tab Benoit

This Louisiana native reminds me of the raw, electrifying power of a classic Fender. His wallowing vocals paired with bluesy guitar create a sound both soulful and unique. All of Tab Benoit’s songs include smooth, high-toned blues notes during which he seems to melt right into his guitar. His raspy, sometimes bleak vocals seem to hang in the air like a thick cloud of smoke. And with that voice, Benoit capitalizes on the ability of blues music to address those carnal feelings of lust, loss, and heartache, deep within us. His smoky sound has been sifting onto stages all over the West Coast this past month, and Brick and Mortar Music Hall is next. Check out the talented musician before he heads back out to the South. (Smith)

With Chris Cobb Band, Kris Lager Band

9pm,$25

Brick and Mortar Music Hall

1710 Mission, SF

(415) 800-8782

www.brickandmortarmusic.com

 

“Frederick Marx Documentary Series”

Though he’s traveled the world making films, Frederick Marx — best-known for co-producing, writing, and editing 1994 doc Hoop Dreams — lives in Oakland, and hometown venue New Parkway has programmed a three-part series with Marx (who now runs nonprofit Warrior Films) in person to introduce and discuss his work. Influential, critically-acclaimed basketball tale Hoop Dreams kicks things off tonight; future editions will showcase Marx’s short films, as well as 2010’s Richard Gere-narrated Journey From Zanskar, about youths who leave Tibet in an effort to preserve their culture. (Eddy)

Also Oct. 15 and Nov. 12

7pm, $10 (series pass, $25)

New Parkway

474 24th St, Oakl.

www.thenewparkway.com

 

Bleeding Rainbow

Bleeding Rainbow has seen several incarnations since its 2009 formation as Reading Rainbow. Its third album, Yeah Right, includes two added band members, a new name (allegedly provoked by a remark from Carrie Brownstein), and as one would expect with a move from “Reading Rainbow” to “Bleeding Rainbow,” added shades of something sinister. Despite the changes, though, its signature sound remains: Out of the fuzzy noise of reverb and distortion emerges sweet pop melodies from Sarah Everton. The band’s transformed, but between the noise, the darkness, and the pop, it still promises a good time. (Laura Kerry)

With the Love Language

8pm, $12

Rickshaw Stop

155 Fell, SF

(415) 861-2011 www.rickshawstop.com

Theater Listings: September 4 – 10, 2013

Michael Redmond
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Stage listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Rita Felciano, and Nicole Gluckstern. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com.

THEATER

OPENING

Acid Test: The Many Incarnations of Ram Dass Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Opens Fri/6, 8pm. Runs Fri, 8pm; Sat, 8:30pm. Through Oct 12. Lynne Kaufman’s acclaimed play returns to the Marsh, with Warren David Keith reprising the titular role.

“San Francisco Fringe Festival” Exit Theatreplex, 156 Eddy, SF; www.sffringe.org. $12.99 or less (passes, $45-75). Sept 6-21. The 22nd SF Fringe presents 36 shows that explore the boundaries of theater and performance.

BAY AREA

Ella, the Musical Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic, Walnut Creek; (925) 943-SHOW. $37-64. Previews Fri/6-Sat/7, 8pm; Sun/8, 2:30pm. Opens Tue/10, 7:30pm. Runs Wed, 7:30pm; Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sept 28 and Oct 12, 2:30pm); Sun, 2:30pm. Through Oct 12. Yvette Cason portrays the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in this Center REP presentation.

Woman in Black — A Ghost Play Douglas Morrison Theatre, 22311 N. Third St, Hayward; www.dmtonline.org. $10-29. Previews Thu/5, 8pm. Opens Fri/6, 8pm. Runs Fri-Sat and Sept 26, 8pm (also Sept 21, 2pm); Sun, 2pm. Through Sept 29. Douglas Morrison Theatre performs Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s spooky story.

ONGOING

American Dream New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, SF; www.nctcsf.org. $35-45. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Sept 15. A recently divorced and recently out architect falls in love with his Spanish teacher — and tries to bring him from Mexico to California — in this world premiere by Brad Erickson at the New Conservatory Theatre Center.

BoomerAging: From LSD to OMG Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Tue, 8pm. Extended through Oct 29. Will Durst’s hit solo show looks at baby boomers grappling with life in the 21st century.

Can You Dig It? Back Down East 14th — the 60s and Beyond Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Sat/7, 8:30pm; Sun/8, 7pm. (Runs Sept 14-Oct 27 at the Marsh Berkeley.) Don Reed’s new show offers more stories from his colorful upbringing in East Oakland in the 1960s and ’70s. More hilarious and heartfelt depictions of his exceptional parents, independent siblings, and his mostly African American but ethnically mixed working-class community — punctuated with period pop, Motown, and funk classics, to which Reed shimmies and spins with effortless grace. And of course there’s more too of the expert physical comedy and charm that made long-running hits of Reed’s last two solo shows, East 14th and The Kipling Hotel (both launched, like this newest, at the Marsh). Can You Dig It? reaches, for the most part, into the “early” early years, Reed’s grammar-school days, before the events depicted in East 14th or Kipling Hotel came to pass. But in nearly two hours of material, not all of it of equal value or impact, there’s inevitably some overlap and indeed some recycling. Reed, who also directs the show, may start whittling it down as the run continues. But, as is, there are at least 20 unnecessary minutes diluting the overall impact of the piece, which is thin on plot already — much more a series of often very enjoyable vignettes and some painful but largely unexplored observations, wrapped up at the end in a sentimental moral that, while sincere, feels rushed and inadequate. (Avila)

Foodies! The Musical Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.foodiesthemusical.com. $30-34. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. AWAT Productions presents Morris Bobrow’s musical comedy revue all about food.

In Friendship: Stories By Zona Gale Z Below, 470 Florida, SF; www.zspace.org. $20-50. Wed-Thu, 7pm (also Sept 11, 3pm); Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Extended through Sept 13. Word for Word performs Zona Gale’s “comedy of American manners.”

God of Carnage Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.sheltontheater.com. $26-38. Thu/5-Sat/7, 8pm. Shelton Theater performs Yasmina Reza’s award-winning play about class and parenting.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Boxcar Theatre, 505 Natoma, SF; www.boxcartheatre.org. $27-43. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. John Cameron Mitchell’s cult musical comes to life with director Nick A. Olivero’s ever-rotating cast.

Macbeth Fort Point, end of Marine Dr, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.weplayers.org. $30-60. Opens Thu/5, 6pm. Runs Thu-Sun, 6pm. Through Oct 6. We Players perform the Shakespeare classic amid Fort Point’s Civil War-era fortress.

Macbeth Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.sfshakes.org. Free. Sat-Sun, 2pm. Through Sept 15. In its 31st season, Free Shakespeare in the Park also takes on one of the Bard’s major tragedies.

Sex and the City: LIVE! Rebel, 1760 Market, SF; trannyshack.com/sexandthecity. $25. Wed, 7 and 9pm. Open-ended. It seems a no-brainer. Not just the HBO series itself — that’s definitely missing some gray matter — but putting it onstage as a drag show. Mais naturellement! Why was Sex and the City not conceived of as a drag show in the first place? Making the sordid not exactly palatable but somehow, I don’t know, friendlier (and the canned a little cannier), Velvet Rage Productions mounts two verbatim episodes from the widely adored cable show, with Trannyshack’s Heklina in a smashing portrayal of SJP’s Carrie; D’Arcy Drollinger stealing much of the show as ever-randy Samantha (already more or less a gay man trapped in a woman’s body); Lady Bear as an endearingly out-to-lunch Miranda; and ever assured, quick-witted Trixxie Carr as pent-up Charlotte. There’s also a solid and enjoyable supporting cast courtesy of Cookie Dough, Jordan Wheeler, and Leigh Crow (as Mr. Big). That’s some heavyweight talent trodding the straining boards of bar Rebel’s tiny stage. The show’s still two-dimensional, even in 3D, but noticeably bigger than your 50″ plasma flat panel. (Avila)

BAY AREA

After the Revolution Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; www.auroratheatre.org. $32-60. Previews Wed/4, 8pm. Opens Thu/5, 8pm. Runs Tue, 7pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 29. Aurora Theatre opens its 22nd season with the Bay Area premiere of Amy Herzog’s family drama.

All’s Well That Ends Well Forest Meadows Amphitheater, 890 Bella, Dominican University of California, San Rafael; www.marinshakespeare.org. $20-37.50. Presented in repertory Fri-Sun through Sept 28; visit website for performance schedule. Marin Shakespeare Company continues its outdoor season with the Bard’s classic romance.

A Comedy of Errors Forest Meadows Amphitheater, 890 Bella, Dominican University of California, San Rafael; www.marinshakespeare.org. $20-37.50. Presented in repertory Fri-Sun through Sept 29; visit website for performance schedule. Marin Shakespeare Company presents a cowboy-themed spin on the Bard’s classic.

Good People Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller, Mill Valley; www.marintheatre.org. $37-58. Tue and Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Thu/5, 1pm; Sept 14, 2pm); Wed, 7:30pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 15. Marin Theatre Company performs the Bay Area premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Broadway triumph about class and poverty.

Lady Windermere’s Fan Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda; www.calshakes.org. $35-62. Wed/4-Thu/5, 7:30pm; Fri/6-Sat/7, 8pm (also Sat/7, 2pm); Sun/8, 4pm. California Shakespeare Theater performs Oscar Wilde’s comedy.

Orlando Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, Berk; www.theatrefirst.com. $10-30. Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Through Sept 15. TheatreFIRST performs Sarah Ruhl’s gender-shifting comedy, which takes place over a span of 300 years.

Other Desert Cities Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro, Mtn View; www.theatreworks.org. $19-73. Tue-Wed, 7:30pm; Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 15. TheatreWorks performs Jon Robin Baitz’s family dramedy, a Broadway hit making its regional premiere here.

PERFORMANCE/DANCE

Caroline Lugo and Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco Peña Pachamama, 1630 Powell, SF; www.carolinalugo.com. Sat/7, Sept 15, 21, Oct 6, 12, 20, 26, 6:15pm. $15-19. Flamenco performance by the mother-daughter dance company, featuring live musicians.

Christine Ebersole Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF; www.ticketweb.com. Thu/5-Fri/6, 8pm; Sat/7, 7pm. $40-85. The two-time Tony winner performs classic standards and Broadway favorites.

“Mission Position Live” Cinecave, 1034 Valencia, SF; www.missionpositionlive.com. Thu, 8pm. Ongoing. $10. Stand-up comedy with rotating performers.

“Okeanos Intimate” Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, SF; www.capacitor.org. Sat, 7pm. Through Sept 28. $20-30 (free aquarium ticket with show ticket). Choreographer Jodi Lomask and her company, Capacitor, revive 2012’s Okeanos — a cirque-dance piece exploring the wonder and fragility of our innate connection to the world’s oceans — in a special “intimate” version designed for the mid-size theater at Pier 39’s Aquarium of the Bay. The show, developed in collaboration with scientists and engineers, comes preceded by a short talk by a guest expert — for a recent Saturday performance it was a down-to-earth and truly fascinating local ecological history lesson by the Bay Institute’s Marc Holmes. In addition to its Cirque du Soleil–like blend of quasi-representational modern dance and circus acrobatics — powered by a synth-heavy blend of atmospheric pop music — Okeanos makes use of some stunning underwater photography and an intermittent narrative that includes testimonials from the likes of marine biologist and filmmaker Dr. Tierney Thys. The performers, including contortionists, also interact with some original physical properties hanging from the flies — a swirling vortex and a spherical shell — as they wrap and warp their bodies in a kind of metamorphic homage to the capacity and resiliency of evolution, the varied ingenuity of all life forms. If the movement vocabulary can seem limited at times, and too derivative, the show also feels a little cramped on the Aquarium Theater stage, whose proscenium arrangement does the piece few favors aesthetically. Nevertheless, the family-oriented Okeanos Intimate spurs a conversation with the ocean that is nothing if not urgent. (Avila)

“Padme: The Lotus” CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission, SF; www.counterpulse.org. Sat/7, 8pm; Sun/8, 7pm. $15-25. The 25-member Vishwa Shanthi Dance Company, choreographed by Shreelata Suresh, explores the symbolism of the lotus via south Indian classical dance form Bharatantyam.

“Pandora Boxx: Lick This Boxx!” Rebel, 1760 Market, SF; www.brownpapertickets.com. Fri/6-Sun/8, 7:30 and 10pm. $22.50. The RuPaul’s Drag Race alum performs an evening of comedy, stories, and song.

“San Francisco Magic Parlor” Chancellor Hotel Union Square, 433 Powell, SF; www.sfmagicparlor.com. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Ongoing. $40. Magic vignettes with conjurer and storyteller Walt Anthony.

“Traditions” CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission, SF; www.counterpulse.org. Fri/6, 8pm. $20. Dancer Ganesh Vasudeva presents a solo exploration of south Indian classical dance form Bharatantyam.

“Union Square Live” Union Square, between Post, Geary, Powell, and Stockton, SF; www.unionsquarelive.org. Through Oct 9. Free. Music, dance, circus arts, film, and more; dates and times vary, so check website for the latest. *

 

On the Cheap: September 4 -10, 2013

Michael Redmond
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0

On the Cheap listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Selector.

WEDNESDAY 4

“The Neuroscience of Magic” SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St, SF; www.askascientistsf.com. 7pm, free. Buy yourself some tasty food-truck vittles, then settle in for Ask a Scientist’s lecture and demonstration with the brain-expanding duo of neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley and magician Robert Strong.

Mark Brennan Rosenberg Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The Single Life blogger shares his new memoir, Eating My Feelings: Tales of Overeating, Underperforming, and Coping with My Crazy Family.

THURSDAY 5

Michael Shea Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The author reads from his apocalyptic, Hollywood-tinged thriller Assault on Sunrise.

FRIDAY 6

“Word/Play” Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7pm, $10 (includes drinks). Two teams of writers (including Eric Berkowitz and Sarah Griff) do battle in “made-up games of literary ridiculata.”

SATURDAY 7

“Bone Brewfest and Street Fair” Pyramid Alehouse, 901 Gilman, Berk; bonebrewfest2013.eventbrite.com. Noon-4pm, free (beer-tasting tickets, $30). Pyramid Alehouse and 107.7 the Bone team up for this street fair featuring live music (Van Halen tribute band Hot for Teacher and Led Zeppelin tribute band Custard Pie), food trucks, beer tastings, and more.

Crucible Fall Open House Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakl; www.thecrucible.org. Noon-5pm, free. The industrial-arts space’s seasonal open house is themed “Tools to Table,” so you know what that means: fire meets food! In addition to the obligatory food trucks, look for flame workers crafting chopstick rests and swizzle sticks, “kinetic cocktail machines,” handmade dinnerware sets, an auction for a totally unique “Crucible Picnic Basket,” and more.

Bruce Neuburger Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 1pm, free. The author reads from his memoir and labor-movement commentary Lettuce Wars: Ten Years of Work and Struggle in the Fields of California.

“Urban Gardens and Heavy Metal: Keeping Lead off the Menu” Spiral Gardens, 2850 Sacramento, Berk; www.ecologycenter.org. 10am-noon, free. The Ecology Center hosts this lecture and demo on avoiding lead exposure for urban gardeners with Daniel Miller, executive director of Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project.

SUNDAY 8

Theron Humphrey Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 2pm, free. The author of Maddie On Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics presents a talk and slide show with the help of his Internet-famous dog, Maddie — who’ll be “pawtographing” copies of Humphrey’s book.

“KUSF’s Rock ‘N’ Swap Record Fair” McLaren Hall, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton, SF; www.kusf.org. 10am-3pm, $3 (USF students get in free; “early bird shopping special,” 6-10am, $10). Calling all collectors: this long-running event features vendors with rare vinyl, CDs, DVDs, posters, books, and more. You need it all!

“Sunday Streets” Western Addition, SF; www.sundaystreetssf.com. 11am-4pm, free. Portions of Fulton, Fillmore, Grove, and other nearby streets close down for this sprawling block party; there’ll be live music, an REI rock climbing wall, a “re-imagine Fulton Street” project, a “History of Wrestling” exhibit, pet activities, and more.

MONDAY 9

Lucy Corin Booksmith, 1644 Haight, SF; www.booksmith.com. 7:30pm, free. The author reads from One Hundred Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses, her latest collection of short stories.

TUESDAY 10

David Bacon Books Inc., 601 Van Ness, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The journalist and photographer discusses The Right to Stay Home, his new book about how economic politics and free trade agreements have affected Mexican immigrants.

Mitchell S. Jackson Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg, SF; www.bookpassage.com. 6pm, free. The African American author, who grew up in one of America’s whitest cities (Portland, Ore.), reads from his autobiographical novel, The Residue Years.

Laurie R. King Books Inc., 3515 California, SF; www.booksinc.net. 7pm, free. The New York Times best-selling author reads from her new thriller, The Bones of Paris.

“Poetry Tuesday” Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, 4th St at Mission, SF; www.ybgfestival.org. 12:30-1:30pm, free. The senior wordsmiths known as the TODCO Poets read works on romance, family, aging, politics, and more. *

 

The Selector: August 28-September 3, 2013

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
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0

WEDNESDAY 28

The Troublemaker

Hey, daddy-o! While other outdoor movie nights program known crowd pleasers (and hey, nothing wrong with that — who doesn’t love 1980’s Xanadu under the stars?), trust the Pacific Film Archive to dig a little deeper. Directed by Theodore J. Flicker (it was the perfectly-named filmmaker’s first feature; he was also an improv comedy pioneer and directed dozens of 1970s TV episodes) and co-written with Saturday Night Live stalwart Buck Henry, 1964’s The Troublemaker offers a bouncy throwback to the beatnik era. A chicken farmer dreams of opening a coffeehouse in Greenwich Village; the Mob doesn’t agree, but the finger-snapping cool cats have his back. Wear your beret and come early for the pre-film poetry reading. (Cheryl Eddy)

8:30pm, free

BAM/PFA Sculpture Garden

2575 Bancroft, Berk

www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

 

Resident Artist Workshop: Victor Talledos, Joy Prendergast, Rachel Elliot

A couple of years ago, Mexican-born and trained ballet dancer Victor Talledos landed in the Bay Area like a comet — fiery, fierce, and impossible to ignore. Joy Prendergast is part of a hotbed of budding women choreographers nourished by the SF Conservatory of Dance. Rachel Elliot, a recent graduate of the Dominican University/LINES Ballet program, spent her study abroad time traveling and watching dance in China. This trio of artists is the latest crop of choreographers showing work in progress they have developed at the Garage’s all essential RAW (Resident Artist Workshop) studio space — 12 weeks of four to six hours free rehearsal time with two scheduled performances.” Small is beautiful” was a mantra in the 1970s. It’s still valid. A little bit of support, consistently offered, can create wonders. (Rita Felciano)

Through Thu/29. 8pm. $10–$20.

Garage

715 Bryant, SF

www.brownpapertickets.com

 

“Root to Stalk Cooking” with Tara Duggan

Omnivore Books often outdoes itself with inventive workshops and tasty food contests. Still, “Root to Stalk Cooking: The Art of Using the Whole Vegetable” should truly be one for the books. Author Tara Duggan, a James Beard award-winning independent journalist and cookbook author, will talk trash. Well, technically, she’ll talk roots, stalks, tops, ribs, and other pieces of vegetables that tend to get scratched. And she’ll discuss recipes that included those too-often discarded veggie elements. The workshop is not only a unique opportunity to meet an insightful SF native author, but also to learn how to cook delicious meals while still being frugal. Stop wasting and start cooking. (Hillary Smith)

6-7:30 pm, free

Omnivore Books

3885a Cesar Chavez, SF

www.omnivorebooks.com

 

THURSDAY 29

Café Tacvba

There are parts of the world where ska music is still valued. “Las Flores” is a rude boy-baiting uptempo Café Tacvba song that seemed right at home in 1994, when lead singer Albarrán Ortega was sporting his Coolio-styled hair on an early episode of MTV Unplugged. But how does a song like that hold up almost 10 years later at an epicenter of up-and-coming sounds like Coachella? Well, the Coachella crowd’s enthusiasm for the ska tune spoke volumes about truly heartfelt and infectious rhythms shattering the limitations of what is currently considered cool in music. A lot of genres come and go, but groups like Café Tacvba, which has gone without member changes since its inception in 1989, will continue to motivate listeners with just about any style it plays. Expect the unexpected. (Ilan Moskowitz)

8pm, $37.50–$52.50

Warfield

982 Market, SF

(415) 673-4653

www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

 

FIDLAR

LA-based garage-punk band FIDLAR creates a mess of distortion-heavy guitar lines, scratchy vocals, and angry percussion, which makes for a wild show guaranteed to permit letting loose. And there may even be some reckless flailing of the arms, if you’re lucky. The group seems to attract more than the typical garage rock fan who simply loves to go batshit in the pit. Enthusiasts stalk their social media pages, pour over their every Tumblr post, and even tattoo themselves with the group’s name, all proving one thing — FIDLAR has made a serious mark in a brief amount of time. And with this almost cult-like following, the four young musicians are touring through the UK and the States until November, tearing up stages with their rambunctious, exhilarating performances. And the band’s relationship with its fans seems to be symbiotic. I suspect the fans are so die-hard and loyal because that’s exactly what the group puts out there on stage: a straightforward, honest, in-the-moment show. (Smith)

With Meat Market

9pm, $14

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St.,SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

 

FRIDAY 30

Macbeth

Witches, betrayals, violence, madness — no wonder Shakespeare’s Macbeth is so popular among both theater troupes and audiences. Case in point: two local companies are mounting adventurously staged versions of “the Scottish play” (does the curse count if your theater is outdoors?), opening on practically the same day, with lengthy runs and non-clashing show times that’ll make it possible for Bard diehards to catch both. Tonight, We Players — who did The Odyssey on Angel Island and Hamlet on Alcatraz — kicks off its production amid historic Fort Point’s foggy, windy, toil-and-trouble-friendly environs; tomorrow, another part of the Presidio, the Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, hosts Free Shakespeare in the Park’s production of the same. No doubt a drama-crazed town like SF has room for both. (Eddy)

We Players’ Macbeth

Through Oct 6

Previews Fri/30-Sun/1, 6pm; opens Sept 5, 6pm; runs Thu-Sun, 6pm, $30–$60

Fort Point, end of Marine Dr, Presidio, SF

www.weplayers.org

Free Shakespeare in the Park’s Macbeth

Through Sept 15

Opens Sat/31, 2pm; runs Sat-Sun and Mon/2, 2pm, free

Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, Presidio, SF

www.sfshakes.org

 

Hitcher

Hitcher, a movement play based off Jim Morrison’s original, unproduced screenplay, The Hitchhiker, is making its debut tonight. Hitcher combines cinema, movement, and new music from San Francisco bluegrass band dinnerwiththekids. In this production, writer and director Alex Peri tells the story of Billy, a hitchhiker accompanied by an imaginary trio of hobos making his way on the road to be reunited with a prostitute he fell in love with in Mexico. The cast features up-and-coming local artisans Derek Caplan, Michelle Hair, Earl Alfred Paus, Malia Rapisarda, and Kelly Sanchez. This should be of interest to people who worship at the altar of the “Lizard King” and those who enjoy theater and rock ‘n’ roll fusion. If you’re not able to attend its debut, there will be showings of Hitcher through Sept. 8. (Erin Dage)

THROUGH SEPT. 8, 

8PM, $15

THICK HOUSE

1695 18TH ST., SF

(415) 401-8081

WWW.THICKHOUSE.ORG

 

Handsome Hawk Valentine’s “The Hop”

You don’t need a DeLorean tricked out with a Flux Capacitor driven by Marty McFly to head back in time to the good ol’ 1950s tonight — just head down to the Mission where Handsome Hawk Valentine presents “The Hop,” a blast from the past party with a special “Ladies’ Night” theme. Featuring bands such as local favorites Thee Merry Widows and the Rumble Strippers, the fête also boasts burlesque performances, DJs, a “beefcake contest” sponsored by Bettie Page Clothing, along with free retro styling by Peter Thomas Hair, free photo sessions, and more. Slick back that pomp or strap on those stilettos and get going! (Sean McCourt)

9pm, $13

Elbo Room

647 Valencia, SF

(415) 552-7788

www.elbo.com

 

SATURDAY 31

Major Powers and the Lo-Fi Symphony

Major Powers and the Lo-Fi Symphony is a raucous, humorous, piano-driven trio that sound like Queen playing symphonic punk rock. Sort of like a light-hearted, more jangly Muse. I cannot recommend its album We Created Monsters enough. It is all free on its website and worth $10 to see live. Freddie Mercury would be proud. Hell, so would Andrew W.K. Not to say that headliner the Greening doesn’t have its own merits — it’ll even give you a free shirt and a bunch of other swag if you buy advanced tickets to this show — but when one of your opening acts sounds like a mix between Madness and Queen and the other is a Latin mod band that sings catchy, upbeat tunes about telenovelas, the star slot in the show is only a scheduling formality. (Moskowitz)

With the Greening, Dot Punto

8:30pm, $10

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

 

Duane Peters Gunfight

Legendary pro skateboarder and eternal punk rocker Duane Peters has rightfully earned his nickname “The Master of Disaster” — it was hard won over decades of pushing the limits on wheels and decks (not to mention his own battered and bruised body) and inventing a slew of tricks now considered an essential part of skate culture. He quickly approached playing music with the same anything-goes attitude, and has been slamming stages with several bands (U.S. Bombs and Die Hunns) ever since. He comes to the city tonight with Duane Peters Gunfight. Are you ready to drop into the bowl and the pit? (McCourt)

With White Barons, Rock Bottom, Dime Runner

9pm, $10

Thee Parkside

1600 17th St., SF

(415) 252-1330

www.theeparkside.com

 

SUNDAY 1

Oakland Pride

Yes, yes, “we are family.” But in that case, San Francisco Pride is that loud, messy, half-dressed, downright crazy family — kind of a Kardashians without the Porsches — while younger Oakland Pride hails more from plucky, hardy, loving Little House on the Prairie stock, but with a whole lot more people of color. Not that Oakland Pride’s out in the middle of nowhere, of course, but it’s a much more down-to-earth, self-produced affair that really feels like a family picnic. Everyone’s freaking out that ’90s R&B sensation En Vogue is performing, but don’t miss the big-big Mexican-Chicago sound of Grupo Montez de Durango or the high-energy drag king shenanigans of the Rebel Kings of Oakland. Did we mention that everyone at this thing is smokin’ hot? Not to judge by looks or anything, but whoo-wee. (Marke B)

11am-7pm, $10

20th Street and Broadway, Oakl.

www.oaklandpride.org

 

MONDAY 2

Ty Segall

If you want to beat a case of the Mondays: Bay Area Lo-fi favorite Ty Segall is playing the entirety of his new album, Sleeper, with experimental folk artist David Novick and that guy from Sic Alps — Mike Donovan. On his new album, Segall is deconstructing his typical sound and going for a more stripped-down approach. For this show (as well as the whole tour), Segall will only be playing Sleeper, and will have a decidedly different setup, featuring two acoustic guitars, electric bass, drums, and the occasional electric guitar. The show should be a great indicator of how fans receive Segall’s new album, and whether or not the old boy still has it. If you like raw, energetic live shows — this performance is not to be missed. (Dage)

With David Novick, Mike Donovan

8pm, $18

Great American Music Hall

859 O’Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.slimspresents.com

 

TUESDAY 3

Audra McDonald

What’s that you hear? It’s the sound of every Broadway maven, cabaret jazz aficionado, “Glee”-ful gay man, and fan of incredible music breaking piggy banks, shaking out gowns, and fluffing tuxes to glimpse the effervescent glory of show tune-blues soprano Audra McDonald at the SF Symphony Opening Gala. Singing selections from the American songbook like “Somewhere” and “I Could Have Danced All Night,” McDonald will highlight a jazzy night’s program, which includes George Antheil’s fracture-happy “A Jazz Symphony,” George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and tons of free drinks, treats, and people-watching. McDonald’s hilarious, house-rocking performance at the Tonys with Neil Patrick Harris this year brought a new generation of Audra acolytes into the fold; expect the same wattage to light up Davies Symphony Hall. (Marke B.)

7pm-11pm, $160

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness, SF.

(415) 864-6000

www.sfsymphony.com

The Selector: August 27 – September 3, 2013

Michael Redmond
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WEDNESDAY 8/28

 

The Troublemaker

Hey, daddy-o! While other outdoor movie nights program known crowd pleasers (and hey, nothing wrong with that — who doesn’t love 1980’s Xanadu under the stars?), trust the Pacific Film Archive to dig a little deeper. Directed by Theodore J. Flicker (it was the perfectly-named filmmaker’s first feature; he was also an improv comedy pioneer and directed dozens of 1970s TV episodes) and co-written with Saturday Night Live stalwart Buck Henry, 1964’s The Troublemaker offers a bouncy throwback to the beatnik era. A chicken farmer dreams of opening a coffeehouse in Greenwich Village; the Mob doesn’t agree, but the finger-snapping cool cats have his back. Wear your beret and come early for the pre-film poetry reading. (Cheryl Eddy)

8:30pm, free

BAM/PFA Sculpture Garden

2575 Bancroft, Berk

www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

WEDNESDAY 8/28

 

Resident Artist Workshop: Victor Talledos, Joy Prendergast, Rachel Elliot

A couple of years ago, Mexican-born and trained ballet dancer Victor Talledos landed in the Bay Area like a comet — fiery, fierce, and impossible to ignore. Joy Prendergast is part of a hotbed of budding women choreographers nourished by the SF Conservatory of Dance. Rachel Elliot, a recent graduate of the Dominican University/LINES Ballet program, spent her study abroad time traveling and watching dance in China. This trio of artists is the latest crop of choreographers showing work in progress they have developed at the Garage’s all essential RAW (Resident Artist Workshop) studio space — 12 weeks of four to six hours free rehearsal time with two scheduled performances.” Small is beautiful” was a mantra in the 1970s. It’s still valid. A little bit of support, consistently offered, can create wonders. (Rita Felciano)

Through Thu/29. 8pm. $10–$20.

Garage

715 Bryant, SF

www.brownpapertickets.com

WEDNESDAY 8/28

 

“Root to Stalk Cooking” with Tara Duggan

Omnivore Books often outdoes itself with inventive workshops and tasty food contests. Still, “Root to Stalk Cooking: The Art of Using the Whole Vegetable” should truly be one for the books. Author Tara Duggan, a James Beard award-winning independent journalist and cookbook author, will talk trash. Well, technically, she’ll talk roots, stalks, tops, ribs, and other pieces of vegetables that tend to get scratched. And she’ll discuss recipes that included those too-often discarded veggie elements. The workshop is not only a unique opportunity to meet an insightful SF native author, but also to learn how to cook delicious meals while still being frugal. Stop wasting and start cooking. (Hillary Smith)

6-7:30 pm, free

Omnivore Books

3885a Cesar Chavez, SF

www.omnivorebooks.com

THURSDAY 8/29

 

Café Tacvba

There are parts of the world where ska music is still valued. “Las Flores” is a rude boy-baiting uptempo Café Tacvba song that seemed right at home in 1994, when lead singer Albarrán Ortega was sporting his Coolio-styled hair on an early episode of MTV Unplugged. But how does a song like that hold up almost 10 years later at an epicenter of up-and-coming sounds like Coachella? Well, the Coachella crowd’s enthusiasm for the ska tune spoke volumes about truly heartfelt and infectious rhythms shattering the limitations of what is currently considered cool in music. A lot of genres come and go, but groups like Café Tacvba, which has gone without member changes since its inception in 1989, will continue to motivate listeners with just about any style it plays. Expect the unexpected. (Ilan Moskowitz)

8pm, $37.50–$52.50

Warfield

982 Market, SF

(415) 673-4653

www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

THURSDAY 8/29

 

FIDLAR

LA-based garage-punk band FIDLAR creates a mess of distortion-heavy guitar lines, scratchy vocals, and angry percussion, which makes for a wild show guaranteed to permit letting loose. And there may even be some reckless flailing of the arms, if you’re lucky. The group seems to attract more than the typical garage rock fan who simply loves to go batshit in the pit. Enthusiasts stalk their social media pages, pour over their every Tumblr post, and even tattoo themselves with the group’s name, all proving one thing — FIDLAR has made a serious mark in a brief amount of time. And with this almost cult-like following, the four young musicians are touring through the UK and the States until November, tearing up stages with their rambunctious, exhilarating performances. And the band’s relationship with its fans seems to be symbiotic. I suspect the fans are so die-hard and loyal because that’s exactly what the group puts out there on stage: a straightforward, honest, in-the-moment show. (Smith)

With Meat Market

9pm, $14

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St.,SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

FRIDAY 8/30

 

Macbeth

Witches, betrayals, violence, madness — no wonder Shakespeare’s Macbeth is so popular among both theater troupes and audiences. Case in point: two local companies are mounting adventurously staged versions of “the Scottish play” (does the curse count if your theater is outdoors?), opening on practically the same day, with lengthy runs and non-clashing show times that’ll make it possible for Bard diehards to catch both. Tonight, We Players — who did The Odyssey on Angel Island and Hamlet on Alcatraz — kicks off its production amid historic Fort Point’s foggy, windy, toil-and-trouble-friendly environs; tomorrow, another part of the Presidio, the Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, hosts Free Shakespeare in the Park’s production of the same. No doubt a drama-crazed town like SF has room for both. (Eddy)

We Players’ Macbeth

Through Oct 6

Previews Fri/30-Sun/1, 6pm; opens Sept 5, 6pm; runs Thu-Sun, 6pm, $30–$60

Fort Point, end of Marine Dr, Presidio, SF

www.weplayers.org

 

Free Shakespeare in the Park’s Macbeth

Through Sept 15

Opens Sat/31, 2pm; runs Sat-Sun and Mon/2, 2pm, free

Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, Presidio, SF

www.sfshakes.org

FRIDAY 8/30

 

Hitcher

Hitcher, a movement play based off Jim Morrison’s original, unproduced screenplay, The Hitchhiker, is making its debut tonight. Hitcher combines cinema, movement, and new music from San Francisco bluegrass band dinnerwiththekids. In this production, writer and director Alex Peri tells the story of Billy, a hitchhiker accompanied by an imaginary trio of hobos making his way on the road to be reunited with a prostitute he fell in love with in Mexico. The cast features up-and-coming local artisans Derek Caplan, Michelle Hair, Earl Alfred Paus, Malia Rapisarda, and Kelly Sanchez. This should be of interest to people who worship at the altar of the “Lizard King” and those who enjoy theater and rock ‘n’ roll fusion. If you’re not able to attend its debut, there will be showings of Hitcher through Sept. 8. (Erin Dage) THROUGH SEPT. 8, 8PM, $15 THICK HOUSE 1695 18TH ST., SF (415) 401-8081 WWW.THICKHOUSE.ORG

FRIDAY 8/30

 

Handsome Hawk Valentine’s “The Hop”

You don’t need a DeLorean tricked out with a Flux Capacitor driven by Marty McFly to head back in time to the good ol’ 1950s tonight — just head down to the Mission where Handsome Hawk Valentine presents “The Hop,” a blast from the past party with a special “Ladies’ Night” theme. Featuring bands such as local favorites Thee Merry Widows and the Rumble Strippers, the fête also boasts burlesque performances, DJs, a “beefcake contest” sponsored by Bettie Page Clothing, along with free retro styling by Peter Thomas Hair, free photo sessions, and more. Slick back that pomp or strap on those stilettos and get going! (Sean McCourt)

9pm, $13

Elbo Room

647 Valencia, SF

(415) 552-7788

www.elbo.com

SATURDAY 8/31

 

Major Powers and the Lo-Fi Symphony

Major Powers and the Lo-Fi Symphony is a raucous, humorous, piano-driven trio that sound like Queen playing symphonic punk rock. Sort of like a light-hearted, more jangly Muse. I cannot recommend its album We Created Monsters enough. It is all free on its website and worth $10 to see live. Freddie Mercury would be proud. Hell, so would Andrew W.K. Not to say that headliner the Greening doesn’t have its own merits — it’ll even give you a free shirt and a bunch of other swag if you buy advanced tickets to this show — but when one of your opening acts sounds like a mix between Madness and Queen and the other is a Latin mod band that sings catchy, upbeat tunes about telenovelas, the star slot in the show is only a scheduling formality. (Moskowitz)

With the Greening, Dot Punto

8:30pm, $10

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

SATURDAY 8/31

 

Duane Peters Gunfight

Legendary pro skateboarder and eternal punk rocker Duane Peters has rightfully earned his nickname “The Master of Disaster” — it was hard won over decades of pushing the limits on wheels and decks (not to mention his own battered and bruised body) and inventing a slew of tricks now considered an essential part of skate culture. He quickly approached playing music with the same anything-goes attitude, and has been slamming stages with several bands (U.S. Bombs and Die Hunns) ever since. He comes to the city tonight with Duane Peters Gunfight. Are you ready to drop into the bowl and the pit? (McCourt)

With White Barons, Rock Bottom, Dime Runner

9pm, $10

Thee Parkside

1600 17th St., SF

(415) 252-1330

www.theeparkside.com

SUNDAY 9/1

 

Oakland Pride

Yes, yes, “we are family.” But in that case, San Francisco Pride is that loud, messy, half-dressed, downright crazy family — kind of a Kardashians without the Porsches — while younger Oakland Pride hails more from plucky, hardy, loving Little House on the Prairie stock, but with a whole lot more people of color. Not that Oakland Pride’s out in the middle of nowhere, of course, but it’s a much more down-to-earth, self-produced affair that really feels like a family picnic. Everyone’s freaking out that ’90s R&B sensation En Vogue is performing, but don’t miss the big-big Mexican-Chicago sound of Grupo Montez de Durango or the high-energy drag king shenanigans of the Rebel Kings of Oakland. Did we mention that everyone at this thing is smokin’ hot? Not to judge by looks or anything, but whoo-wee. (Marke B)

11am-7pm, $10

20th Street and Broadway, Oakl.

www.oaklandpride.org

MONDAY 9/2

 

Ty Segall

If you want to beat a case of the Mondays: Bay Area Lo-fi favorite Ty Segall is playing the entirety of his new album, Sleeper, with experimental folk artist David Novick and that guy from Sic Alps — Mike Donovan. On his new album, Segall is deconstructing his typical sound and going for a more stripped-down approach. For this show (as well as the whole tour), Segall will only be playing Sleeper, and will have a decidedly different setup, featuring two acoustic guitars, electric bass, drums, and the occasional electric guitar. The show should be a great indicator of how fans receive Segall’s new album, and whether or not the old boy still has it. If you like raw, energetic live shows — this performance is not to be missed. (Dage)

With David Novick, Mike Donovan

8pm, $18

Great American Music Hall

859 O’Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.slimspresents.com

TUESDAY 9/3

 

Audra McDonald

What’s that you hear? It’s the sound of every Broadway maven, cabaret jazz aficionado, “Glee”-ful gay man, and fan of incredible music breaking piggy banks, shaking out gowns, and fluffing tuxes to glimpse the effervescent glory of show tune-blues soprano Audra McDonald at the SF Symphony Opening Gala. Singing selections from the American songbook like “Somewhere” and “I Could Have Danced All Night,” McDonald will highlight a jazzy night’s program, which includes George Antheil’s fracture-happy “A Jazz Symphony,” George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and tons of free drinks, treats, and people-watching. McDonald’s hilarious, house-rocking performance at the Tonys with Neil Patrick Harris this year brought a new generation of Audra acolytes into the fold; expect the same wattage to light up Davies Symphony Hall. (Marke B.)

7pm-11pm, $160

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness, SF.

(415) 864-6000

www.sfsymphony.com

Stage Listings: August 28 – September 3, 2013

Michael Redmond
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Stage listings are compiled by Guardian staff. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Rita Felciano, and Nicole Gluckstern. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com.

THEATER

OPENING

Macbeth Fort Point, end of Marine Dr, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.weplayers.org. $30-60. Previews Fri/30-Sun/1, 6pm. Opens Sept 5, 6pm. Runs Thu-Sun, 6pm. Through Oct 6. We Players perform the Shakespeare classic amid Fort Point’s Civil War-era fortress.

Macbeth Main Post Parade Ground Lawn, Presidio of San Francisco, SF; www.sfshakes.org. Free. Opens Sat/31, 2pm. Runs Sat-Sun and Mon/2, 2pm. Through Sept 15. In its 31st season, Free Shakespeare in the Park also takes on one of the Bard’s major tragedies.

BAY AREA

After the Revolution Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison, Berk; www.auroratheatre.org. $32-60. Previews Fri/30-Sat/31 and Sept 4, 8pm; Sun/1, 2pm; Tue/3, 7pm. Opens Sept 5, 8pm. Runs Tue, 7pm; Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 29. Aurora Theatre opens its 22nd season with the Bay Area premiere of Amy Herzog’s family drama.

ONGOING

American Dream New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness, SF; www.nctcsf.org. $35-45. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through Sept 15. A recently divorced and recently out architect falls in love with his Spanish teacher — and tries to bring him from Mexico to California — in this world premiere by Brad Erickson at the New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Can You Dig It? Back Down East 14th — the 60s and Beyond Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia, SF; www.themarsh.org. $15-50. Sat, 8:30pm; Sun, 7pm. Extended through Sept 8. (Runs Sept 14-Oct 27 at the Marsh Berkeley.) Don Reed’s new show offers more stories from his colorful upbringing in East Oakland in the 1960s and ’70s. More hilarious and heartfelt depictions of his exceptional parents, independent siblings, and his mostly African American but ethnically mixed working-class community — punctuated with period pop, Motown, and funk classics, to which Reed shimmies and spins with effortless grace. And of course there’s more too of the expert physical comedy and charm that made long-running hits of Reed’s last two solo shows, East 14th and The Kipling Hotel (both launched, like this newest, at the Marsh). Can You Dig It? reaches, for the most part, into the “early” early years, Reed’s grammar-school days, before the events depicted in East 14th or Kipling Hotel came to pass. But in nearly two hours of material, not all of it of equal value or impact, there’s inevitably some overlap and indeed some recycling. Reed, who also directs the show, may start whittling it down as the run continues. But, as is, there are at least 20 unnecessary minutes diluting the overall impact of the piece, which is thin on plot already — much more a series of often very enjoyable vignettes and some painful but largely unexplored observations, wrapped up at the end in a sentimental moral that, while sincere, feels rushed and inadequate. (Avila)

Foodies! The Musical Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.foodiesthemusical.com. $30-34. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. AWAT Productions presents Morris Bobrow’s musical comedy revue all about food.

In Friendship: Stories By Zona Gale Z Below, 470 Florida, SF; www.zspace.org. $20-50. Wed-Thu, 7pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through Sept 8. Word for Word performs Zona Gale’s “comedy of American manners.”

God of Carnage Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter, SF; www.sheltontheater.com. $26-38. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Through Sept 7. Shelton Theater performs Yasmina Reza’s award-winning play about class and parenting.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Boxcar Theatre, 505 Natoma, SF; www.boxcartheatre.org. $27-43. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Open-ended. John Cameron Mitchell’s cult musical comes to life with director Nick A. Olivero’s ever-rotating cast.

Oil and Water Dolores Park, 19th St at Dolores, SF; www.sfmt.org. Free (donations accepted). Mon/2, 2pm. It’s a rough year for mimes, or at any rate for the San Francisco Mime Troupe who, after presenting 53 seasons of free theater in the parks of San Francisco (and elsewhere), faced a financial crisis in April that threatened to shut down this season before it even started. The resultant show, funded by an influx of last-minute donations, is one cut considerably closer to the bone than in previous years. With a cast of just four actors and two musicians, plus a stage considerably less ornate then usual, even the play has shrunk in scale, from one two-hour musical to two loosely-connected one-acts riffing on general environmentalist themes. In Deal With the Devil, a surprisingly sympathetic (not to mention downright hawt) Devil (Velina Brown) shows up to help an uncertain president (Rotimi Agbabiaka) regain his conscience and win back his soul, while in Crude Intentions adorable, progressive, same-sex couple Gracie (Velina Brown) and Tomasa (Lisa Hori-Garcia) wind up catering a “benefit” shindig for the Keystone XL Pipeline giving them the opportunity to perpetrate a little guerrilla direct action on a bombastic David Koch (Hugo E Carbajal) with a “mole de petróleo” and a smartphone. Throughout, the performers remain upbeat if somewhat over-extended as they sing, dance, and slapstick their way to the sobering conclusion that the time to turn things around in the battles over global environmental protection is now — or never. (Gluckstern)

Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical SHN Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market, SF; www.shnsf.com. $45-210. Wed/28-Sat/31, 8pm (also Wed/28 and Fri/30-Sat/31, 2pm). The Aussie movie-turned-musical about road-tripping drag queens rolls into San Francisco for a limited engagement.

Sex and the City: LIVE! Rebel, 1760 Market, SF; trannyshack.com/sexandthecity. $25. Wed, 7 and 9pm. Open-ended. It seems a no-brainer. Not just the HBO series itself — that’s definitely missing some gray matter — but putting it onstage as a drag show. Mais naturellement! Why was Sex and the City not conceived of as a drag show in the first place? Making the sordid not exactly palatable but somehow, I don’t know, friendlier (and the canned a little cannier), Velvet Rage Productions mounts two verbatim episodes from the widely adored cable show, with Trannyshack’s Heklina in a smashing portrayal of SJP’s Carrie; D’Arcy Drollinger stealing much of the show as ever-randy Samantha (already more or less a gay man trapped in a woman’s body); Lady Bear as an endearingly out-to-lunch Miranda; and ever assured, quick-witted Trixxie Carr as pent-up Charlotte. There’s also a solid and enjoyable supporting cast courtesy of Cookie Dough, Jordan Wheeler, and Leigh Crow (as Mr. Big). That’s some heavyweight talent trodding the straining boards of bar Rebel’s tiny stage. The show’s still two-dimensional, even in 3D, but noticeably bigger than your 50″ plasma flat panel. (Avila)

BAY AREA

All’s Well That Ends Well Forest Meadows Amphitheater, 890 Bella, Dominican University of California, San Rafael; www.marinshakespeare.org. $20-37.50. Presented in repertory Fri-Sun through Sept 28; visit website for performance schedule. Marin Shakespeare Company continues its outdoor season with the Bard’s classic romance.

A Comedy of Errors Forest Meadows Amphitheater, 890 Bella, Dominican University of California, San Rafael; www.marinshakespeare.org. $20-37.50. Presented in repertory Fri-Sun through Sept 29; visit website for performance schedule. Marin Shakespeare Company presents a cowboy-themed spin on the Bard’s classic.

Good People Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller, Mill Valley; www.marintheatre.org. $37-58. Tue and Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sat/31 and Sept 14, 2pm; Sept 5, 1pm); Wed, 7:30pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 15. Marin Theatre Company performs the Bay Area premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Broadway triumph about class and poverty.

Lady Windermere’s Fan Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda; www.calshakes.org. $35-62. Tue-Thu, 7:30pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm (also Sept 7, 2pm); Sun, 4pm. Through Sept 8. California Shakespeare Theater performs Oscar Wilde’s comedy.

No Man’s Land Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison, Berk; www.berkeleyrep.org. $35-135. Wed/28, 2 and 7pm; Thu/29-Sat/31, 8pm (also Sat/31, 2pm). A rare night at the theater unfurls with a bare, elusive minimum of plot and a maximum of subtlety as Harold Pinter’s snaky 1975 drama receives something like a perfect production in the hands of director Sean Mathias and a cast comprised of internationally renowned stage (and film) veterans Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, flanked by theater stalwarts Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley. Stewart is Hirst — an initially laconic and feeble, later voluble and hearty poet and man of letters — famous, world weary, and looked after by two forbidding caretakers, the principal (played by Crudup) an aspiring poet himself. McKellen is Spooner, a down-at-heel but lithe and self-aggrandizing poet himself, whom Hirst as invited into his home for an indeterminate stay that is a source of unrelieved tension between all four characters. Through two fascinating acts, the desperation, power plays, and badinage ensuing among them imbues the strange semi-circular room they exclusively inhabit with a giddy, forlorn, fractious atmosphere. The physical and vocal command of the actors, meanwhile, gorgeously underscores the play’s perverse tacking across an ocean of discourse and questionable memory, passed fear and mutual antagonism, toward the outer limits of language, where some inner landscape looms marked by a steady state of numbing, narcotic emptiness. Hunting down a ticket for the Broadway-bound UK production, now up at Berkeley Rep, may be a challenge but it’s well worth the effort, since not often can one catch a production this sure of Pinter’s language and theatrical imagination. (Avila)

Orlando Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, Berk; www.theatrefirst.com. $10-30. Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Through Sept 15. TheatreFIRST performs Sarah Ruhl’s gender-shifting comedy, which takes place over a span of 300 years.

Other Desert Cities Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro, Mtn View; www.theatreworks.org. $19-73. Tue-Wed, 7:30pm; Thu-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sept 15. TheatreWorks performs Jon Robin Baitz’s family dramedy, a Broadway hit making its regional premiere here.

PERFORMANCE/DANCE

BATS Improv Bayfront Theater, B350 Fort Mason, SF; www.improv.org. Fri-Sat, 8pm. $20. The company’s 19th annual Summer Improv Festival continues with “Choose Your Own Adventure” (Fri/30-Sat/31).

Caroline Lugo and Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco Peña Pachamama, 1630 Powell, SF; www.carolinalugo.com. Sept 7, 15, 21, Oct 6, 12, 20, 26, 6:15pm. $15-19. Flamenco performance by the mother-daughter dance company, featuring live musicians.

“Dream Queens Revue” Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk, SF; www.dreamqueensrevue.com. Wed/28, 9:30-11:30pm. Free. Drag show with Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, and more.

“Mission Position Live” Cinecave, 1034 Valencia, SF; www.missionpositionlive.com. Thu, 8pm. Ongoing. $10. Stand-up comedy with rotating performers.

“Okeanos Intimate” Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, SF; www.capacitor.org. Sat, 7pm. Through Sept 28. $20-30 (free aquarium ticket with show ticket). Choreographer Jodi Lomask and her company, Capacitor, revive 2012’s Okeanos — a cirque-dance piece exploring the wonder and fragility of our innate connection to the world’s oceans — in a special “intimate” version designed for the mid-size theater at Pier 39’s Aquarium of the Bay. The show, developed in collaboration with scientists and engineers, comes preceded by a short talk by a guest expert — for a recent Saturday performance it was a down-to-earth and truly fascinating local ecological history lesson by the Bay Institute’s Marc Holmes. In addition to its Cirque du Soleil–like blend of quasi-representational modern dance and circus acrobatics — powered by a synth-heavy blend of atmospheric pop music — Okeanos makes use of some stunning underwater photography and an intermittent narrative that includes testimonials from the likes of marine biologist and filmmaker Dr. Tierney Thys. The performers, including contortionists, also interact with some original physical properties hanging from the flies — a swirling vortex and a spherical shell — as they wrap and warp their bodies in a kind of metamorphic homage to the capacity and resiliency of evolution, the varied ingenuity of all life forms. If the movement vocabulary can seem limited at times, and too derivative, the show also feels a little cramped on the Aquarium Theater stage, whose proscenium arrangement does the piece few favors aesthetically. Nevertheless, the family-oriented Okeanos Intimate spurs a conversation with the ocean that is nothing if not urgent. (Avila)

“The Romaine Event Comedy Show” Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St, SF; www.pacoromane.com. Wed/28, 8-10pm. $10. It’s an all-female line-up this time around, with stend-up by Mary-Alice McNab and Colleen Watson, sketch comedy by Monday Night Foreplays, and more.

“San Francisco Magic Parlor” Chancellor Hotel Union Square, 433 Powell, SF; www.sfmagicparlor.com. Thu-Sat, 8pm. Ongoing. $40. Magic vignettes with conjurer and storyteller Walt Anthony.

“Union Square Live” Union Square, between Post, Geary, Powell, and Stockton, SF; www.unionsquarelive.org. Through Oct 9. Free. Music, dance, circus arts, film, and more; dates and times vary, so check website for the latest.

BAY AREA

“Stealing the Leads” Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby, Berk; www.shotgunplayers.org. Mon/2, 8pm. $15. Shotgun Cabaret’s “First Person Singular” series presents this evening of women reading Glengarry Glen Ross. *

 

Fall fairs and festivals

Michael Redmond
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Listings are compiled by Guardian staff.

 

Sept. 14-15

Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival Ghirardelli Square, 900 North Point, SF; ghirardellisq.com/chocolate-festival. Noon-5pm, $25 for 15 chocolate tastings. Project Open Hand benefits from the 18th annual incarnation of this delectable festival. New for 2013, there’ll be a “Chocolate and Wine Pavilion” for guests over 21, plus the ever-popular hands-free ice cream eating contest; chef demos; and a talk by Ghirardelli’s “Chocolate Professor,” Steve Genzoli, on the art of chocolate-making.

 

Sept. 15

Comedy Day Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, SF; www.comedyday.com. Noon-5pm, free. The 33rd incarnation of this local tradition boasts “one stage, five hours, 40 comedians, and a million laughs!” Performers include Will Durst, Tom Ammiano, Natasha Muse, Johnny Steele, Tony Sparks, and more.

 

Sept. 20-22

Oktoberfest by the Bay Pier 48, SF; www.oktoberfestbythebay.com. Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, 11am-5pm and 6pm-midnight; Sun, 11am-6pm, $25-75 (kids 13-18, $5 for Saturday day session or Sunday only). “Tasty food, cold beer, and sizzling oompah music,” y’all. How do you say y’all in German? Anyway, if you have lederhosen, now’s your chance to wear it. The 21-piece Chico Bavarian Band headlines this annual sudsy bacchanal.

 

Sept. 21-22

Polk Street Blues Festival Polk between Pacific and Union, SF; www.polkstreetbluesfestival.com. 10am-6pm, free. Back for its fourth year, this up-and-coming fest boasts two music stages, arts and crafts vendors, and gourmet eats. Visit the website in the weeks before the event for updated performer information.

 

Sept. 27-29

Eat Real Festival Jack London Square, Oakl; www.eatrealfest.com. Fri, 1-9pm; Sat-Sun, 10:30am-5pm, free. No dish costs more than five bucks at this showcase of sustainable Bay Area cuisine (and local beer and wine, too). The fest also offers up DIY demos (“from home cheese making to backyard chickens”), live music, butchery contests, and more.

 

Sept. 28

Superhero Street Fair Waterfront Boardwalk Oasis overlooking Islais Creek, 1700 Indiana, SF; www.superherosf.com. 2pm-midnight, $20 ($10 in costume). Holding out for a hero? Why not just be one yourself at this fourth annual fiesta? Seven stages with 17 “sound camps” (dubstep, reggae, drum and bass, etc.) set the mood, plus there’ll be bands (including SF’s own pint-sized rockers Haunted By Heroes), robot dancers Anna and the Anadroids, exhibits by the Cartoon Art Museum and Mission Comics, a “Superhero Bootcamp,” and lots more heroic (and villainous!) fun.

 

Sept. 29

Folsom Street Fair Folsom between 7th and 12th Sts, SF; www.folsomstreetfair.com. 11am-6:30pm, free (gate donations benefit charity). In honor of Folsom’s 30th anniversary, the fest goes for 30 extra minutes this year. That means 30 extra minutes of kinky, leather-clad fun with an estimated 400,000 fellow revelers, plus over 200 exhibitor booths (selling gear for every fetish), multiple stages of live music and DJs, and naked butts as far as the eye can see.

 

Oct. 6

Castro Street Fair, Castro at Market, SF; www.castrostreetfair.org. 11am-6pm, free. Celebrating its landmark 40th anniversary, this popular gathering brings pop star Peaches to headline its main stage; her act includes a tribute to late disco legend Sylvester, who performed at the 1975 Castro Street Fair.

 

Oct. 11-19

Litquake Various venues, SF; www.litquake.org. San Francisco’s Literary Festival unfurls for over a week of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction author events, interactive activities, and more — including the insanely popular annual Lit Crawl. Check the website as the event approaches for info on special guests.

 

Oct. 12-13

Alternative Press Expo Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St, SF; comic-con.org/ape. Times and ticket prices TBD. For 20 years, APE has promoted alternative and self-published comics, and this year looks to be a stellar one: guests include Zippy the Pinhead creator Bill Griffith, and there’ll be another edition of “Comic Creator Connection,” helping writers and artists come together to make creative magic.

 

Oct. 19

Potrero Hill Festival 20th St between Wisconsin and Missouri, SF; www.potrerofestival.com. 11am-4pm, free. The 24th celebration of one of SF’s hilliest ‘hoods features local food vendors, historians, entertainment, artists, and more.

 

Oct. 26

Noe Valley Harvest Festival, 24th St between Church and Sanchez, SF; www.noevalleyharvestfestival.com. 10am-5pm, free. This fest offers old-fashioned family fun to kick off the holiday season, with a certain amount of Halloween flair to boot: there’ll be a pumpkin patch (and pumpkin decorating), costume contests for kids and dogs, a pie-eating contest, and more.

 

Nov. 9-10

Green Festival Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St, SF; www.greenfestivals.org. Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 11am-5pm, ticket price TBD. Presentations and panel discussions on sustainable living and other green issues, plus “the nation’s largest green marketplace for the conscious consumer” for all your eco-conscious gift-giving needs.

 

Nov. 23-Dec. 22

Great Dickens Christmas Faire Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva, SF; www.dickensfair.com. Nov 23-24, Nov 29-Dec 1, Dec 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22, 10am-7pm, ticket price TBD. Because it wouldn’t be Christmas in San Francisco without this long-running interactive, festively detailed dose of Victorian London. Roasted chestnuts for everyone!

“Refeeding” is prison authorities’ new word for force-feeding

Sasha Cuttler And Mary Magee
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“Refeeding” is prison authorities’ new word for force-feeding

The practice of force-feeding inmates has a branding problem.

The issue first came to light after a U.S. District Judge last week granted the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, or CDRC, the ability to feed inmates who are hunger striking even if they signed “Do Not Resuscitate” waivers, commonly known as DNR’s. The order called any DNR granted during the beginning of the hunger strike 50 days ago as invalid.

As the negotiations wind on, it’s looking more inevitable that the hunger strike holdouts will soon be near death. But when the prisons start force-feeding inmates, a whole new problem will arise: image.

The CDRC have given all the concessions they’re willing to give, they said, and if an inmate dies while fasting they’d become a martyr. At some point, the prisons may have to feed the inmates via liquid in an IV, or even via tubes.

The tubes are inserted through the nose and directly into their stomachs, and conjure images of alleged terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. 

In a video made by musician Mos Def, aka Yasiin Bey, Bey allowed himself to be force fed to bring attention to Guantanamo’s detainees. Bey is strapped to a chair, and a clear plastic tube is inserted through his nose as he screams, writhes, and begs for it to stop.

“The tube went in and the first part of it is not that bad, but then you get this burning,” he said in the video. “It starts to be like really unbearable, like something is reaching into the back of my brain…. I really couldn’t take it.”

For Mos Def, the feeding was brief. For inmates, the process can take two hours.

To address that issue the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has taken to calling force feeding “refeeding,” which is term that already has a definition: feeding someone who has recently ended a fast. It has medical significance because a whole host of ailments can occur when someone who is ending a fast is fed the wrong foods, or fed too quickly. They can even die. 

But now the CDCR has used the word “refeeding” to mean feeding inmates who have already signed DNRs and are fed to prevent death. The word was in every major news report on the court’s recent decision, from Democracy Now to Al Jazeera.

“Refeeding” is the new force-feeding. 

Joyce Hayhoe, legislative director of California Correctional Health Care Services, wanted to make it clear that no one has been force-fed yet, and that refeeding was not force feeding.

“What I would like to say is we’re not force-feeding anybody,” she told the Guardian. “When doctors do not have a valid DNR, in the absence of any other information, when we have an inmate we cannot communicate with, we’re going to save their lives.”

But the sticking point in her statement is the word “valid,” advocates say. What is a valid DNR? The health care providers allege that some inmates began the hunger strike because of intimidation by senior gang members in the jails. Hayhoe said one inmate hid food so his fellow hunger strikers would not know, and that “implied something” to her.

There were 12,000 inmates who started the hunger strike on July 8, according to counts by the prisons themselves. Of those, it’s entirely conceivable that a few were coerced, said Dr. Ronald Ahnen, a politics professor at Saint Mary’s College focusing on prison reform.

“Is it possible some prisoners were coerced,” due to the sheer number of inmates involved, he said in an interview. But, “if you read the call from the hunger strike forward, and you heard from the reps in Pelican Bay (Prison), they have always stated emphatically and clearly that the hunger strike is voluntary. They have said no one should continue with the hunger strike longer than they were willing or able to do.”

Now the number of inmates in the hunger strike is down to 92, according to the CDRC. Of those, 41 have been on a hunger strike continuously since it began on July 8.

Hayhoe said there are only a handful of strikers with DNRs left, but would not reveal specific numbers. 

Ahnen, who is affiliated with the hunger strikers as a reform advocate but did not speak as their spokesperson, said that though those numbers have dwindled, they’re still significant.

“What amazes me is, 41 people who have been without food for 50 days. I think the major media is missing the importance of that,” he said. “When you think of the Irish hunger strike that we all think of from 1980, that’s 23 individuals who all died. We now have 42, risking their lives to have humane conditions in their confinement. Its very, very historic.”

Lost in the debate over food are the actual reasons for striking. The inmates have five core issues which you can see at their website here, but mostly they revolve around quality of life in Segregated Housing Units, commonly referred to as the SHU. The prisoners say it is solitary confinement, and they can be thrown in there easily by being told they have affiliations with gangs.

“I’ve had prisoners tell me their investigators say they can use any evidence and implicate anyone (as a gang member),” Ahnen said.

And the inmates have little recourse once they’ve been labeled a gang member and thrown in the SHU. Toshio Meronek covered this for Bay Guardian last month (“Hungry for Reform,” 7/3/13), saying it would take nearly 20 years to conduct reviews of the over 10,000 inmates presently held in solitary confinement in California.

In a statement circulated shortly after the CDCR’s on Thursday, State Senator Mark Leno wrote, “I have concerns that this review process is moving too slowly and I would like to see it accelerated.”

The hunger strike is one of the inmate’s last tools to reform that system. Now, in a cell that strips away most all human freedoms, “refeeding” may take away an inmate’s choice to die.

The federal judge’s decision to strip away that right reverberated across the world. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez, issued a statement saying “it is not acceptable to use threats of forced feeding or other types of physical or psychological coercion against individuals who have opted for the extreme recourse of a hunger strike.”

Hayhoe, from the prison’s health services, said there is some wiggle room in having your request to not be resuscitated honored.

“If a person has signed a DNR during the hunger strike, the best thing they can do is start having discussions with his primary care physician and expressing their need,” she said. The inmates have been sustained on Gatorade and vitamins, she said, and are not yet at the point of needing resuscitation.

Ahnen also clarified that the violent method of force-feeding may not be used. Another way to do it, he said, is to feed patients through an IV should they lapse into unconsciousness.

“This is a more likely scenario,” he said, but it is still force-feeding. Hayhoe said she would contact a doctor to see when each method would be used, but did not have the information immediately available.

These inmates are close to dehydration, close to organ failure, and close to death for their principles, Ahnen said, and now their political stand won’t be honored. They’ll be force-fed, no matter what terminology is used to describe it.

“Make no mistake about it, if a prisoner is being fed against their will, this is force feeding,” he said.

And with the flip of a word, the inmates have lost their right to die.

To learn see future actions on the hunger strike, visit http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/take-action-2/ .

Music Listings: August 21-27

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
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WEDNESDAY 21
ROCK
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Bad Weather California, Sauna, Skating Polly, 9 p.m., $10.
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. The Silent Comedy, Leopold & His Fiction, The Tropics, 8 p.m., $12.
Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. Rue ‘66, The Hampton Wicks, The Gregors, DJ Sid Presley, 9 p.m., $7.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Origami Ghosts, Windham Flat, Modern Kicks, 8:30 p.m., $6.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Tender Buttons, Ppls Tmpl, Jake, 10 p.m., $6.
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. Emily & The Complexes, Settler, Amber Snider, DJ 2012, 8 p.m., $7.
DANCE
The Cafe: 2369 Market, San Francisco. “Sticky Wednesdays,” w/ DJ Mark Andrus, 8 p.m., free.
Cat Club: 1190 Folsom, San Francisco. “Bondage A Go Go,” w/ DJs Damon, Tomas Diablo, & guests, 9:30 p.m., $5-$10.
The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “Eye Candy Wednesdays,” 9 p.m., free.
Club X: 715 Harrison, San Francisco. “Electro Pop Rocks,” 18+ dance party with Audrey Napoleon, 9 p.m.
F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Housepitality,” w/ Max Essa, Cole, Mike Bee, Joel Conway, 9 p.m., $5-$10.
Harlot: 46 Minna, San Francisco. “Qoöl,” w/ SanedracHunter, Buckner, Dan Sherman, 5 p.m.
Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “Indulgence,” 10 p.m.
Lexington Club: 3464 19th St., San Francisco. “Friends of Dorothy,” w/ DJ Sissyslap, 9 p.m., free.
Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “What?,” w/ resident DJ Tisdale and guests, 7 p.m.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Rock the Spot,” 9 p.m., free.
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Burn Down the Disco,” w/ DJs 2shy-shy & Melt w/U, Third Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., free.
MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Innov8,” 8 p.m.
Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. “Yes, We Still Play Vinyl,” w/ Soul Clap, Lisbona, Vlad Sinko, 9 p.m., $10-$20.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Booty Call,” w/ Juanita More, Joshua J, guests, 9 p.m., $3.
Showdown: 10 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Nokturnal,” w/ DJs Coyle & Gonya, Third Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., free.
HIP-HOP
Double Dutch: 3192 16th St., San Francisco. “Cash IV Gold,” w/ DJs Kool Karlo, Roost Uno, and Sean G, 10 p.m., free.
Skylark Bar: 3089 16th St., San Francisco. “Mixtape Wednesday,” w/ resident DJs Strategy, Junot, Herb Digs, & guests, 9 p.m., $5.
ACOUSTIC
Cafe Divine: 1600 Stockton, San Francisco. Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod, 7 p.m., free.
Johnny Foley’s Irish House: 243 O’Farrell St., San Francisco. Terry Savastano, Every other Wednesday, 9 p.m., free.
Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Pat Hamilton, 9 p.m.
JAZZ
Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. Gaucho, Eric Garland’s Jazz Session, The Amnesiacs, 7 p.m., free.
Burritt Room: 417 Stockton St., San Francisco. Terry Disley’s Rocking Jazz Trio, 6 p.m., free.
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Patrick Wolff, Every other Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., free.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Charles Unger Experience, 7:30 p.m., free.
Le Colonial: 20 Cosmo, San Francisco. The Cosmo Alleycats featuring Ms. Emily Wade Adams, 7 p.m., free.
Oz Lounge: 260 Kearny, San Francisco. Hard Bop Collective, 6 p.m., free.
Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. “Cat’s Corner,” 9 p.m., $10.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Michael Parsons Trio, 8 p.m.
Top of the Mark: One Nob Hill, 999 California, San Francisco. Ricardo Scales, Wednesdays, 6:30-11:30 p.m., $5.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Suzanna Smith, 7:30 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. “Salsa-XS,” queer salsa night, 8 p.m.
Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. Timba Dance Party, w/ DJ WaltDigz, 10 p.m., $5.
Cafe Cocomo: 650 Indiana, San Francisco. “Bachatalicious,” w/ DJs Good Sho & Rodney, 7 p.m., $5-$10.
Pachamama Restaurant: 1630 Powell, San Francisco. “Cafe LatinoAmericano,” 8 p.m., $5.
REGGAE
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Rankin Scroo, 8 p.m., $15-$19.
BLUES
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. HowellDevine, 8 & 10 p.m., $15.
Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. Wendy DeWitt, 6 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Craig Horton, 9:30 p.m.
Union Square Park: 333 Post, San Francisco. Crosscut, 6 p.m., free.
COUNTRY
Union Square Park: 333 Post, San Francisco. Miko Marks, 12:30 p.m., free.
EXPERIMENTAL
Artists’ Television Access: 992 Valencia, San Francisco. Periwinkle Cinema: Sound and Image, The gay video series hosts a night of films and noises, including live soundtracks provided by Annah Anti-Palindrome, Nomy Lamm, Beastiary, and other soundmakers., 8:07 p.m., $7.
SOUL
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Soul Train Revival,” w/ “Ziek” McCarter, Third Wednesday of every month, 9:30 p.m., $5.
The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “Color Me Badd,” w/ DJ Matt Haze, Wednesdays, 5-9 p.m.
The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Freddie Hughes & Chris Burns, 7:30 p.m., free.

THURSDAY 22
ROCK
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Koobi Fora, Soul Pie, 9:30 p.m., $5 advance.
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Lemme Adams, Cool Ghouls, Black Cobra Vipers, 9 p.m., $10.
S.F. Eagle: 398 12th St., San Francisco. Thursday Nite Live: Scary Little Friends, Jail Weddings, Sweet Felony, 9 p.m., $8.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Greater Sirens, 8:30 p.m., $6.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Habibi, Dancer, Glitz, 10 p.m., $5.
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. Electric Shepherd, Brent Amaker & The Rodeo, Fox & The Law, The Electric Magpie, 8 p.m.
Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. The Hangover Brigade, Vela Eyes, Tall Sheep, Ultra Violent Rays, 8 p.m., $8.
Red Devil Lounge: 1695 Polk, San Francisco. Pharaohs, Sol Doc, The Shape, 8 p.m., $8-$10.
Slim’s: 333 11th St., San Francisco. Melvins, Honky, 9 p.m., $22.
DANCE
Abbey Tavern: 4100 Geary, San Francisco. DJ Schrobi-Girl, 10 p.m., free.
Audio Discotech: 316 11th St., San Francisco. “Phonic,” w/ EDX, G-Stav, 9:30 p.m.
Aunt Charlie’s Lounge: 133 Turk, San Francisco. “Tubesteak Connection,” w/ DJ Bus Station John, 9 p.m., $5-$7.
BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. “Jukebox,” w/ DJ Page Hodel, 9 p.m., $10.
The Cafe: 2369 Market, San Francisco. “¡Pan Dulce!,” 9 p.m., $5.
Cat Club: 1190 Folsom, San Francisco. “All ‘80s Thursdays,” w/ DJs Damon, Steve Washington, Dangerous Dan, and guests, 9 p.m., $6 (free before 9:30 p.m.).
The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “XO,” w/ DJs Astro & Rose, 10 p.m., $5.
Club X: 715 Harrison, San Francisco. “The Crib,” 9:30 p.m., $10, 18+.
Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “Afrolicious,” w/ DJs Pleasuremaker, Señor Oz, and live guests, 9:30 p.m., $5-$8.
The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. EDMSF Thursdays, 10 p.m., $10 (free before midnight).
Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “I Love Thursdays,” 10 p.m., $10.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Night Fever,” 9 p.m., $5 after 10 p.m.
MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Fusion,” w/ DJ Big Bad Bruce, 9 p.m., $5.
Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. Official Bay Area Pre-Party for the Symbiosis Gathering, w/ Amirali, Droog, Ana Sia, Stephan Jacobs, Tony Inorbit, Sugarpill, Jobot, Smokovich, 9 p.m., $15-$20.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Throwback Thursday,” w/ DJ Jay-R, 9 p.m., free.
Raven: 1151 Folsom St., San Francisco. “1999,” w/ VJ Mark Andrus, 8 p.m., free.
Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. “Popscene,” w/ Ghost Beach, Strange Talk, 9:30 p.m., $14-$16.
Ruby Skye: 420 Mason, San Francisco. “Awakening,” w/ GTA, Vicetone, 9 p.m., $15-$20 advance.
Slide: 430 Mason, San Francisco. “Twerk,” w/ Meikee Magnetic, Degai, Kepik, Billy Horn, 9 p.m.
The Stud: 399 Ninth St., San Francisco. “Get Tickled,” fundraiser for Tim Rubel Human Shakes dance company, 8 p.m., donation.
The Tunnel Top: 601 Bush, San Francisco. “Tunneltop,” DJs Avalon and Derek ease you into the weekend with a cool and relaxed selection of tunes spun on vinyl, 10 p.m., free.
Underground SF: 424 Haight, San Francisco. “Bubble,” 10 p.m., free.
Vessel: 85 Campton, San Francisco. “Base,” w/ Jesse Rose, 10 p.m., $5-$10.
HIP-HOP
50 Mason Social House: 50 Mason, San Francisco. DLRN, JB Nimble, Knowmatik Soulz, Big Vic, One Werd, Pete Feliciano, 10 p.m., $5.
Eastside West: 3154 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Throwback Thursdays,” w/ DJ Madison, 9 p.m., free.
John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “#Quattro,” w/ DJ Dino, Fourth Thursday of every month, 9 p.m.
Park 77 Sports Bar: 77 Cambon, San Francisco. “Slap N Tite,” w/ resident Cali King Crab DJs Sabotage Beats & Jason Awesome, free.
The Parlor: 2801 Leavenworth, San Francisco. “Locals Night Out,” w/ DJ Illy D, 9 p.m., free.
Skylark Bar: 3089 16th St., San Francisco. “Peaches,” w/lady DJs DeeAndroid, Lady Fingaz, That Girl, Umami, Inkfat, and Andre, 10 p.m., free.
ACOUSTIC
50 Mason Social House: 50 Mason, San Francisco. The Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase, w/ Russell Stafford & Chris Margolin, Bonnie Sun, Alex Jimenez, 7 p.m., free.
Atlas Cafe: 3049 20th St., San Francisco. JimBo Trout & The Fishpeople, 8 p.m., free.
The Lost Church: 65 Capp St., San Francisco. Sister Exister, Yard Sale, 8 p.m., $10.
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Firefall, 8 p.m., $23-$27.
JAZZ
Blush! Wine Bar: 476 Castro, San Francisco. Doug Martin’s Avatar Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., free.
Bottle Cap: 1707 Powell, San Francisco. The North Beach Sound with Ned Boynton, Jordan Samuels, and Tom Vickers, 7 p.m., free.
Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers, Bay Easy Brass Band, A Spirit Hustler, 9 p.m., $15-$20.
Cafe Claude: 7 Claude, San Francisco. Scott Larson Trio, 7:30 p.m., free.
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Michael Parsons, 8:30 p.m., free.
Le Colonial: 20 Cosmo, San Francisco. Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums, 7:30 p.m.
The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Chris Siebert, 7:30 p.m., free.
Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. Savanna Jazz Jam with Eddy Ramirez, 7:30 p.m., $5.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Gary Flores & Friends, 8 p.m.
Top of the Mark: One Nob Hill, 999 California, San Francisco. Stompy Jones, 7:30 p.m., $10.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Barbara Ochoa, 7:30 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. “Pa’Lante!,” w/ Juan G, El Kool Kyle, Mr. Lucky, 10 p.m., $5.
Pachamama Restaurant: 1630 Powell, San Francisco. “Jueves Flamencos,” 8 p.m., free.
Verdi Club: 2424 Mariposa, San Francisco. The Verdi Club Milonga, w/ Christy Coté, DJ Emilio Flores, guests, 9 p.m., $10-$15.
REGGAE
Pissed Off Pete’s: 4528 Mission St., San Francisco. Reggae Thursdays, w/ resident DJ Jah Yzer, 9 p.m., free.
BLUES
50 Mason Social House: 50 Mason, San Francisco. Bill Phillippe, 5:30 p.m., free.
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Frank Bey, 8 & 10 p.m., $15.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 7:30 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Freddie Roulette, 4 p.m.; Wendy DeWitt, 9:30 p.m.
Tupelo: 1337 Green St., San Francisco. G.G. Amos, 9:30 p.m., free.
EXPERIMENTAL
The Luggage Store: 1007 Market, San Francisco. Elements Saxophone Ntet, The Voice of the Octagon, 8 p.m., $6-$10.

FRIDAY 23
ROCK
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. The Go Ahead, The Shivers, CelloJoe, 9:30 p.m., $10-$12.
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Sunrunners, Curious Quail, Father President, 9:30 p.m., $10.
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Truth & Salvage Co., Song Preservation Society, Wes Sheffield, 9:30 p.m., $12.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Youthbitch, Cyclops, Primitive Hearts, Elvis Christ, Pookie & The Poodlez, Dancer, plus DJ sets by Phil In, Carl, Stef, and Joe Bank$, 6 p.m., $5.
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Billy Cramer & Share the Land, Delmarva, 7:30 p.m., $8.
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. The Swamees, The Horsmas, J.C. & The Loyal Groove, Huntinanny, 8:30 p.m., $10.
Neck of the Woods: 406 Clement St., San Francisco. The Chain Gang of 1974, Humans, Mighty Mouse, 9 p.m., $12-$15.
DANCE
1015 Folsom: 1015 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Re:Creation,” w/ Sons of the Morning (Teebs & Prefuse 73), The Underachievers, Kastle, Patrick Sexx, Astronautica, Co. Fee, more, 10 p.m., $20-$25.
4Fourteen: 414 Mason, San Francisco. “Helix 4th Fridays,” Progressive techno tunes spun by resident DJs Means+Function, David Gropper, Derek Ryan, and rotating guests, Fourth Friday of every month, 10 p.m., $20.
Audio Discotech: 316 11th St., San Francisco. DJ Nile, DJ Remeddy, 9:30 p.m.
BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. Stereogamous, Jason Kendig, Tatu Vuolteenaho, Mark Louque, Dr. Sleep, Trevor Sigler, 10 p.m., $5-$10.
Cafe Flore: 2298 Market, San Francisco. “Kinky Beats,” w/ DJ Sergio, 10 p.m., free.
The Cafe: 2369 Market, San Francisco. “Boy Bar,” w/ DJ Matt Consola, 9 p.m., $5.
Cat Club: 1190 Folsom, San Francisco. “Dark Shadows,” w/ resident DJs Daniel Skellington & Melting Girl, Fourth Friday of every month, 9:30 p.m., $7 ($3 before 10 p.m.).
The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “F.T.S.: For the Story,” 10 p.m.
DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. “Frequency 8,” w/ Scott Brown, Thomas Datt, Mars, Dyloot, Blix Cannon, Saphyre, Khromata, Chris the Junglist, Dr. Who, Adept, Anglerfish, more, 7 p.m., $15-$25.
Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “120 Minutes: 3-Year Anniversary,” w/ Salva, Santa Muerte, Chauncey CC, guests, 10 p.m., $10-$15.
The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Fever,” 10 p.m., free before midnight.
F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Vintage,” w/ DJ Toph One & guests, 5 p.m., free.
The Grand Nightclub: 520 4th St., San Francisco. “We Rock Fridays,” 9:30 p.m.
Harlot: 46 Minna, San Francisco. “Beat Connect,” w/ Miguel Migs, Mauricio Aviles, MFR, 9 p.m., $10-$15 advance.
Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “Escape Fridays,” 10 p.m., $20.
Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “HYSL,” 9 p.m., $3.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “I  the ‘90s,” w/ DJs Samala, Teo, Mr. Grant, & Sonny Phono, Fourth Friday of every month, 9 p.m., $5.
Manor West: 750 Harrison, San Francisco. “Fortune Fridays,” 10 p.m., free before 11 p.m. with RSVP.
MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “F-Style Fridays,” w/ DJ Jared-F, 9 p.m.
Mezzanine: 444 Jessie, San Francisco. “Lights Down Low,” w/ Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Curses!, Egyptrixx, Richie Panic, Sleazemore, 9 p.m., $15-$20.
Mighty: 119 Utah, San Francisco. “Forward,” w/ Wolf + Lamb, DJ Tennis, Adnad Sharif, Shiny Objects, Papa Lu, more, 9 p.m., $15-$25.
OMG: 43 6th St., San Francisco. “Release,” 9 p.m., free before 11 p.m.
Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. “Burner Bon Voyage,” w/ Nico Stojan, Uone, Mike Khoury, Nikita, 9 p.m., $5-$15.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Pump: Worq It Out Fridays,” w/ resident DJ Christopher B, 9 p.m., $3.
Ruby Skye: 420 Mason, San Francisco. Menno de Jong, DJ Taj, 9 p.m., $20 advance.
Sub-Mission Art Space (Balazo 18 Gallery): 2183 Mission, San Francisco. “Warm Leatherette,” w/ Chasms, plus DJs Justin Anastasi, Jason P, Dreamweapon, and Nihar, 10 p.m., $5.
Supperclub San Francisco: 657 Harrison, San Francisco. “The Shindig: Black & White,” w/ Jimmy Bell & Evie, Fortune Cookie, Jay Handles, Alchemind, 10 p.m., $10 advance.
Temple: 540 Howard, San Francisco. M.I.K.E., John Beaver, Niko Zografos, Bardia F, ThuyVu, Rishi K, Ray Kang, Fabian Campos, 10 p.m., $20.
Vessel: 85 Campton, San Francisco. “Night Lab,” w/ Feenixpawl, AndDrop!, 10 p.m., $10 advance.
Wish: 1539 Folsom, San Francisco. “Bridge the Gap,” w/ resident DJ Don Kainoa, Fridays, 6-10 p.m., free.
HIP-HOP
DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. Main Attrakionz, Friendzone, Chad Salty, 9 p.m., $10.
EZ5: 682 Commercial, San Francisco. “Decompression,” Fridays, 5-9 p.m.
John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “#Flow,” w/ The Whooligan & Mikos Da Gawd, Fourth Friday of every month, 10 p.m., free befoe 11 p.m.
Showdown: 10 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Fresh Greens,” w/ Doc Fu & Mr. Lucky, Fourth Friday of every month, 10 p.m., free.
ACOUSTIC
Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. “Sing Out of Darkness,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention benefit featuring She the Wolf, Bill Fried, Wesley Woo, Laynie Tzena, and host Julie Mayhew, 6:30 p.m.
The Chapel: 777 Valencia St., San Francisco. Rhett Miller, Nancarrow, 9 p.m., $20-$22.
The Independent: 628 Divisadero, San Francisco. Nahko & Medicine for the People, Saritah, 9 p.m., $15.
Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Savannah Blu, 9 p.m.
Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. Naked Soul, La Gente, Robin Applewood, Sang Matiz, 8 p.m., $9-$12.
The Sports Basement: 610 Old Mason, San Francisco. “Breakfast with Enzo,” w/ Enzo Garcia, 10 a.m., $5.
Thee Parkside: 1600 17th St., San Francisco. The Parmesans, Before the Brave, Garden Party, Greg Downing, 9 p.m., $10.
JAZZ
Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant: 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco. Johnny Smith, 8 p.m., free.
Bird & Beckett: 653 Chenery, San Francisco. Chuck Peterson Quintet, Fourth Friday of every month, 5:30 p.m.
Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers, Jazz Mafia, FatCat, 9 p.m., $15-$20.
Cafe Claude: 7 Claude, San Francisco. Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums, 7:30 p.m., free.
Cafe Royale: 800 Post, San Francisco. Robert Kennedy Organ Trio, 9 p.m.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Charles Unger Experience, 7:30 p.m., free.
Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. Jazz Gitan, 7 p.m., free.
The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Jules Broussard, Danny Armstrong, and Chris Siebert, 7:30 p.m., free.
Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. Carol Luckenbach, 7:30 p.m., $8.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Sebastian Parker Quartet, 9 p.m.
Top of the Mark: One Nob Hill, 999 California, San Francisco. Black Market Jazz Orchestra, 9 p.m., $10.
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Donald Byrd Acoustic & Electric Sessions featuring Gary Bartz, Nicholas Payton, and Kevin Toney 3, Aug. 23-24, 8 & 10 p.m., $26-$30.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Joyce Grant, 8 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. Baxtalo Drom, International shimmying for lovers of Balkan music, bellydancers, and burlesque., Fourth Friday of every month, 9 p.m., $5-$10.
Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. Trio Troubadour, Fourth Friday of every month, 7 p.m., free.
Cafe Cocomo: 650 Indiana, San Francisco. Taste Fridays, featuring local cuisine tastings, salsa bands, dance lessons, and more, 7:30 p.m., $15 (free entry to patio).
Cigar Bar & Grill: 850 Montgomery, San Francisco. Orquesta Borinquen, 8 p.m.
Little Baobab: 3388 19th St., San Francisco. “Paris-Dakar African Mix Coupe Decale,” 10 p.m.
Pachamama Restaurant: 1630 Powell, San Francisco. Cuban Night with Fito Reinoso, 7:30 & 9:15 p.m., $15-$18.
The Ramp: 855 Terry Francois, San Francisco. “Samba Soirée,” w/ Sambaxé, DJ Alfie1Bateria, 6 p.m.
Slate Bar: 2925 16th St., San Francisco. “Chevere: Jamaican Edition,” w/ DJs WaltDigz & Leydis, 10 p.m.
REGGAE
Gestalt Haus: 3159 16th St., San Francisco. “Music Like Dirt,” 7:30 p.m., free.
BLUES
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Mighty Mo Rodgers, 8 & 10 p.m., $22.
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Bill Phillippe, 6 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. West Coast Blues Revue, 4 p.m.; Mari Mack & Livin’ Like Kings, 9:30 p.m.
EXPERIMENTAL
Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. Miniatures for Reed Quintet and Electronics, w/ Jorrit Dijkstra, Phillip Greenlief, Frank Gratkowski, Jon Raskin, and Kyle Bruckmann, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Sutekh Hexen, Blue Sabbath Black Cheer, Eye of Nix, 9:30 p.m., $7.
FUNK
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Loose Joints,” w/ DJs Centipede, Damon Bell, & Tom Thump, 10 p.m., $5.
SOUL
Edinburgh Castle: 950 Geary, San Francisco. “Soul Crush,” w/ DJ Serious Leisure, 10 p.m., free.
El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Friday Live: The Kofy Brown Band, DJ Emotions, 10 p.m., free.
Underground SF: 424 Haight, San Francisco. “Sissy Strut,” w/ The Handsome Young Men (DJs Ponyboy, Lil MC, Katie Duck, & Durt), Fourth Friday of every month, 10 p.m., $3-$5.

SATURDAY 24
ROCK
Bender’s: 806 S. Van Ness, San Francisco. Owl, Crag Dweller, 10 p.m., $5.
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. O’Brother, Native, Daylight, 9:30 p.m., $12.
El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. The Loudmouths, Idiots, The Jack Saints, 10 p.m., $8.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. The Spyrals, Super 78!, 9:30 p.m., $8.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. “Shine On,” w/ Manatee, #1 Smash Hits, Nacho Business, DJs Jamie Jams & Josh Yule, 9 p.m., $7.
Mission Dispatch: 1975 Bryant St., San Francisco. “Dark Is the Night,” Official after-party of the 20th Street Block Party with The Glass Decade, OK FWY, Hot Einstein, 6 p.m., $5.
Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. Majical Cloudz, Moon King, Some Ember, 9 p.m., $10-$12.
Thee Parkside: 1600 17th St., San Francisco. MDC, Nihilist Cunt, Bum City Saints, The Judas Bunch, 9 p.m., $10.
DANCE
111 Minna Gallery: 111 Minna St., San Francisco. “Barracuda,” 10 p.m., $10.
Audio Discotech: 316 11th St., San Francisco. Traviswild, Tech Minds, 9:30 p.m.
BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. “I Just Wanna F*ckin Dance: 2-Year Anniversary Ball,” 10 p.m.
Cafe Flore: 2298 Market, San Francisco. “Bistrotheque,” w/ DJ Ken Vulsion, 8 p.m., free.
Cat Club: 1190 Folsom, San Francisco. “Villainy: The Dance Club with a Dark Side,” w/ DJs Tomas Diablo, MyKill, Starr, Melting Girl, and Low-Life, 9:30 p.m., $5-$8.
DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. “Bootie S.F.,” w/ Smash-Up Derby; DJ Freddy, King of Pants; DJ Tripp; DJ Dada; Gordo Cabeza; Timoteo Gigante; John!John!; more, 9 p.m., $10-$15.
S.F. Eagle: 398 12th St., San Francisco. “Sadistic Saturdays,” Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.
The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Shangri-La: Sailors & Seamen Cruise,” w/ DJs Byron Bonsall & Jack Rojo, 10 p.m., $20 (free before 11 p.m.).
F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Trap City,” w/ Antiserum, Nebakaneza, Johnny5, UltraViolet, Napsty, Thizz Markie, WolfBitch, Lé Swndle, Teleport, 10 p.m., $15 advance.
Harlot: 46 Minna, San Francisco. Le Youth, Tropicool, Pacific Disco, 9 p.m.
Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “Set,” Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $20.
Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “Bounce!,” 9 p.m., $3.
Mezzanine: 444 Jessie, San Francisco. Flume, Touch Sensitive, 8:30 p.m., $20.
Mighty: 119 Utah, San Francisco. Verdugo Brothers, Revonoc, DJ Reflecta, 10 p.m., $10 advance.
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. “Spilt Milk,” w/ Sepehr, Mountaincount, Taylor Fife, Mother DJs, Etcher/Engrave, 9 p.m., $5.
Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. Bill Patrick, 10 p.m., $10-$15.
Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. “Resonate,” w/ Benito, Dailon, The Hellas, DJ Pound, Gypsy Mamba, Ruff Draft, Mophono, Bdot, Citizen Ten, Tone, Muddbird (in the OddJob Loft), 9 p.m., $5-$10.
Ruby Skye: 420 Mason, San Francisco. Donald Glaude, 9 p.m., $20 advance.
Supperclub San Francisco: 657 Harrison, San Francisco. “Sunglasses at Night,” w/ Rokrida, Mikey Tan, Misha, Ks Thant, French Kiss, Travis, Tall Sasha, 10 p.m.
Temple: 540 Howard, San Francisco. “Life,” w/ Robot De Niro, El Cool J, Halloran, D.K. Watts, Ruby Valeros, Glade Luco, A2D, 10 p.m., $20.
Vessel: 85 Campton, San Francisco. Chris Garcia, John Beaver, 10 p.m., $10-$30.
HIP-HOP
Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. Masta Ace, Wordsworth, BPos, Otayo Dubb, Rebel Allianz, 9 p.m., $10-$15.
John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “Nice,” w/ DJ Apollo, Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $5.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “House Party,” w/ DJs Spank Bank & Ma Yeah, 9 p.m., $5.
Slate Bar: 2925 16th St., San Francisco. “So Fresh,” w/ DJs Twin Spin & Miles Green, 10 p.m.
ACOUSTIC
Atlas Cafe: 3049 20th St., San Francisco. Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod, Saturdays, 4-6 p.m., free.
Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. The Hill People, 7 p.m.
Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Andrew Belle, Grizfolk, 8 p.m., $10-$12.
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Slow Motion Cowboys, Secret Town, The Silver Threads, Hang Jones, 9 p.m., $10-$12.
The Lost Church: 65 Capp St., San Francisco. Tin & Tambourine: Rockers Shout Out About Bullying, Cash Rogers Emergency Fund benefit with music by He Who Cannot Be Named, The Unfortunate Bastard, Jackie Strano, StormMiguel Florez, Kimberly Kenny, and more., 7:30 p.m., $15 advance.
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Mica Lee Williams, Joel Murach & The Low Rollers, 7:30 p.m., $8.
Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. The Barren Vines, 10 p.m., free.
Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Steve Taylor-Ramírez Band, 9 p.m., $6.
JAZZ
Cafe Claude: 7 Claude, San Francisco. Nova Jazz, 7:30 p.m., free.
Cafe Royale: 800 Post, San Francisco. Anna Estrada, 9 p.m.
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Saturday Afternoon Jazz, w/ Danny Brown, Danny Grewen, Eugene Warren, & Beth Goodfellow, 4:30 p.m., free.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Bill “Doc” Webster & Jazz Nostalgia, 7:30 p.m., free.
The Rite Spot Cafe: 2099 Folsom, San Francisco. Mr. Lucky & The Cocktail Party, 9 p.m., free.
The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Jules Broussard, Danny Armstrong, and Chris Siebert, 7:30 p.m., free.
Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. Kelly Park Presents, 7:30 p.m., $8.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. The Robert Stewart Experience, 9 p.m.
Verdi Club: 2424 Mariposa, San Francisco. Slim Jenkins, 29th Street Swingtet, Cole Walker & His Rhythm, 8 p.m., $10.
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Donald Byrd Acoustic & Electric Sessions featuring Gary Bartz, Nicholas Payton, and Kevin Toney 3, Aug. 23-24, 8 & 10 p.m., $26-$30.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Lisa Lindsley, 8 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
1015 Folsom: 1015 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Pura,” 9 p.m., $20.
The Chapel: 777 Valencia St., San Francisco. Sila, SambaDá, DJ Mpenzi, 9 p.m., $16-$18.
Cigar Bar & Grill: 850 Montgomery, San Francisco. Candela, 8 p.m.
El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. “Mango,” Fourth Saturday of every month, 3 p.m., $8-$10.
Little Baobab: 3388 19th St., San Francisco. “Paris-Dakar African Mix Coupe Decale,” 10 p.m.
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “El SuperRitmo,” Latin dance party with DJs Roger Mas & El Kool Kyle, 10 p.m., $5.
Pachamama Restaurant: 1630 Powell, San Francisco. Peña Eddy Navia & Pachamama Band, 8 p.m., free.
Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. “Non Stop Bhangra,” w/ DJ Jimmy Love, Pavit Deol, DJ Amar, Dholrhythms dance troupe, 9 p.m., $10-$15.
BLUES
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Chris Cain, 7:30 & 10 p.m., $20.
The Riptide: 3639 Taraval, San Francisco. Mr. Chin’s Hot Sauce, 9 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Dave Workman, Fourth Saturday of every month, 4 p.m.; Ron Thompson, 9:30 p.m.
SOUL
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Otis featuring Jesse Wagner, 9:30 p.m., $12 advance.
Edinburgh Castle: 950 Geary, San Francisco. “Nightbeat,” w/ DJs Primo, Lucky, and Dr. Scott, Fourth Saturday of every month, 9 p.m., $3.

SUNDAY 25
ROCK
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Fever Charm, Dangermaker, Koruscant Weekend, 9 p.m., $10.
Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Black Hole Oscillators, Jeffertiti’s Nile, Down Dirty Shake, DJ Neil Martinson, 8 p.m., $7-$10.
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Little Comets, Oceanography, Sea Knight, 7:30 p.m., $10-$12.
DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. Wintersun, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arsis, Starkill, DJ Rob Metal, 6 p.m., $22-$25.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Destruction Unit, Wax Idols, 8:30 p.m., $8.
Thee Parkside: 1600 17th St., San Francisco. Indie Mart DIY, Design, and Music Festival, At the latest installment of this popular hipster bazaar, homemade fashion and crafts vendors sell their wares on Wisconsin Street while bands like Doe Eye, Picture Atlantic, Hungry Skinny, Major Powers & The Lo-Fi Symphony, Cannons & Clouds, and the S.F. Rock Project take over the stage inside the club., noon, $3.
DANCE
440 Castro: 440 Castro, San Francisco. “Sunday Furry Sunday,” Last Sunday of every month, 4-10 p.m., $1.
The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “Replay Sundays,” 9 p.m., free.
The Edge: 4149 18th St., San Francisco. “’80s at 8,” w/ DJ MC2, 8 p.m.
Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “Dub Mission,” w/ Citizen Zain, DJ Sep, Ludichris, 9 p.m., $6 (free before 9:30 p.m.).
The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. “T.Dance,” 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; “Local Love,” w/ DJ Taj, Kevin Kind, DJ Mes, Lyndsay, Hil Huerta, Pheeko Dubfunk, 8 p.m.
F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Stamina Sundays,” w/ DJs Lukeino, Jamal, and guests, 10 p.m., free.
Holy Cow: 1535 Folsom, San Francisco. “Honey Sundays,” w/ Honey Soundsystem & guests, 9 p.m., $5.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. “Sweater Funk,” 10 p.m., free.
Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “Jock,” Sundays, 3-8 p.m., $2.
Mezzanine: 444 Jessie, San Francisco. Escort, Magic Touch, DJ Derrick Love, 8 p.m., $15-$18.
Otis: 25 Maiden, San Francisco. “What’s the Werd?,” w/ resident DJs Nick Williams, Kevin Knapp, Maxwell Dub, and guests, 9 p.m., $5 (free before 11 p.m.).
The Parlor: 2801 Leavenworth, San Francisco. DJ Marc deVasconcelos, 10 p.m., free.
Phoenix Hotel: 601 Eddy, San Francisco. Sunday Summer Series, w/ Mark Farina, 1-7 p.m., $10 advance.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Gigante,” 8 p.m., free.
The Stud: 399 Ninth St., San Francisco. “Cognitive Dissonance,” Fourth Sunday of every month, 6 p.m.
Temple: 540 Howard, San Francisco. “Sunset Arcade,” 18+ dance party with bar games and video arcade, 7 p.m., $5.
HIP-HOP
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Return of the Cypher,” 9:30 p.m., free.
Slim’s: 333 11th St., San Francisco. Shwayze, Paul Couture, 8 p.m., $15-$18.
SOMA StrEat Food Park: 428 11th St., San Francisco. “The Beat Down: Summer Beats & Eats,” w/ resident DJ Mr. E, Last Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. continues through Oct. 27, free.
ACOUSTIC
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Musical Mayhem with the Dimestore Dandy, 5:30 p.m., free.
The Lucky Horseshoe: 453 Cortland, San Francisco. Sunday Bluegrass Jam, 4 p.m., free.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Spike’s Mic Night,” Sundays, 4-8 p.m., free.
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Sylvie Simmons’ I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen Paperback Book Release Party, The S.F.-based music writer presents a night of Leonard Cohen history, home movies, and musical tributes by Ryan Auffenberg, Justin Frahm, Tom Heyman, Jeffrey Luck Lucas, Sarah Bethe Nelson, Hélène Renaut, Chris von Sneidern, Misisipi Mike Wolf, Michael Zapruder, and more., 7:30 p.m., $8.
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. John Roy Zat & The Don’t Look Back String Band, Sauce Piquante, 4 p.m., free.
Neck of the Woods: 406 Clement St., San Francisco. “iPlay,” open mic with featured weekly artists, 6:30 p.m., free.
Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Seisiún with Marla Fibish, 9 p.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: 1755 Clay, San Francisco. “Sunday Night Mic,” w/ Roem Baur, 5 p.m., free.
JAZZ
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Roberta Donnay, 7 & 9 p.m., $15.
Cafe Divine: 1600 Stockton, San Francisco. Mario Guarneri, Last Sunday of every month, 7 p.m.
Chez Hanny: 1300 Silver, San Francisco. Jazz Guitar Summit with John Stowell, Bill Moio, Rick Vandivier, and Ryan Meagher, 4 p.m., $20 suggested donation.
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Jay Johnson, 9 p.m., free.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Bill “Doc” Webster & Jazz Nostalgia, 7:30 p.m., free.
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Sunday Sessions,” 10 p.m., free.
Old First Presbyterian Church: 1751 Sacramento, San Francisco. Resonance Jazz Ensemble, 4 p.m., $17.
Revolution Cafe: 3248 22nd St., San Francisco. Jazz Revolution, 4 p.m., free/donation.
The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Lavay Smith & Chris Siebert, 7:30 p.m., free.
Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. Vocal Jam with Eric Tillman, 7 p.m., $5.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Kitt Weagant, 7:30 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
Atmosphere: 447 Broadway, San Francisco. “Hot Bachata Nights,” w/ DJ El Guapo, 5:30 p.m., $10 ($15-$20 with dance lessons).
Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. “Brazil & Beyond,” 6:30 p.m., free.
El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. “Salsa Sundays,” Second and Fourth Sunday of every month, 3 p.m., $8-$10.
Oasis Bar & Grill: 401 California Ave., San Francisco. “El Vacilón,” 4 p.m., $10.
The Ramp: 855 Terry Francois, San Francisco. Rolando Morales, 5:30 p.m.
St. Gregory’s Church: 500 De Haro, San Francisco. One Tribe, 6 p.m., $50.
Thirsty Bear Brewing Company: 661 Howard, San Francisco. “The Flamenco Room,” 7:30 & 8:30 p.m.
Union Square Park: 333 Post, San Francisco. Trio Garufa, 2 p.m., free.
REGGAE
Il Pirata: 2007 16th St., San Francisco. “Ragga Ragga,” w/ DJs Vinny Ras, Kure All, & Theory, Last Sunday of every month, 7 p.m., free.
Jane Warner Plaza: Market, San Francisco. The Rudicals, 1 p.m., free.
BLUES
Revolution Cafe: 3248 22nd St., San Francisco. HowellDevine, 8:30 p.m., free/donation.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Blues Power, 4 p.m.; The Door Slammers, 9:30 p.m.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 9 p.m., free.
COUNTRY
Tupelo: 1337 Green St., San Francisco. “Twang Sunday,” w/ The Country Casanovas, 4 p.m., free.
EXPERIMENTAL
Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. Addleds Sound Laboratory #1, w/ Horaflora, Bran(…)Pos, Addleds, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10.
The Lab: 2948 16th St., San Francisco. “Godwaffle Noise Pancakes,” w/ Tim Perkis, Mom, Daniel Blomquist, Black Thread, Cut, 7:30 p.m., $10.
SOUL
The Chapel: 777 Valencia St., San Francisco. “Mission Soul Sundays,” musical brunch with M.O.M. DJs Gordo Cabeza & Timoteo Gigante, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., free (food extra).
Delirium Cocktails: 3139 16th St., San Francisco. “Heart & Soul,” w/ DJ Lovely Lesage, 10 p.m., free.
The Independent: 628 Divisadero, San Francisco. Selah Sue, Bushwalla, 8 p.m., $15.
Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. Feelosophy, 5 p.m., free.
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Swamp Dogg, 7 & 9 p.m., $19-$23.

MONDAY 26
DANCE
DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. “Death Guild,” 18+ dance party with DJs Decay, Joe Radio, Melting Girl, & guests, 9:30 p.m., $3-$5.
The Independent: 628 Divisadero, San Francisco. How to Dress Well, 8 p.m., $15.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Wanted,” w/ DJs Key&Kite and Richie Panic, 9 p.m., free.
Underground SF: 424 Haight, San Francisco. “Vienetta Discotheque,” w/ DJs Stanley Frank and Robert Jeffrey, 10 p.m., free.
ACOUSTIC
Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. The Pick Bluegrass Jam, Fourth Monday of every month, 6 p.m., free; The Earl Brothers, Fourth Monday of every month, 9 p.m., free.
The Chieftain: 198 Fifth St., San Francisco. The Wrenboys, 7 p.m., free.
Fiddler’s Green: 1333 Columbus, San Francisco. Terry Savastano, 9:30 p.m., free/donation.
Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. Open mic with Brendan Getzell, 8 p.m., free.
Osteria: 3277 Sacramento, San Francisco. “Acoustic Bistro,” 7 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Peter Lindman, 4 p.m.
JAZZ
Le Colonial: 20 Cosmo, San Francisco. Le Jazz Hot, 7 p.m., free.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Eric Wiley, 8 p.m.
The Union Room at Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. The Session: A Monday Night Jazz Series, pro jazz jam with Mike Olmos, 7:30 p.m., $12.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Nora Maki, 7:30 p.m., free.
REGGAE
Skylark Bar: 3089 16th St., San Francisco. “Skylarking,” w/ I&I Vibration, 10 p.m., free.
BLUES
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 7:30 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. The Bachelors, 9:30 p.m.
FUNK
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. “Soul Bingo,” w/ Afrolicious, DJ I-Cue, 7:30 p.m., $5-$10.
SOUL
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “M.O.M. (Motown on Mondays),” w/ DJ Gordo Cabeza & Timoteo Gigante, 8 p.m., free.

TUESDAY 27
ROCK
Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Bad Bad, Nasty Christmas, 1906, 9 p.m., $8.
El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Brent Amaker & The Rodeo, Fox & The Law, Thundercult, 7 p.m., $5.
Grant & Green Saloon: 1371 Grant, San Francisco. The West, Amalgamation, 9 p.m.
Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Sun Foot, Mike Donovan, Franklin’s Mint, 8:30 p.m., $7.
The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Tony Molina, Synthetic ID, Violent Change, Love Devotion, DJs Ack Ack Ack & Mike Harkin, 9:30 p.m., $7.
Sub-Mission Art Space (Balazo 18 Gallery): 2183 Mission, San Francisco. Global Affront, Moovalya, INFM, Elegant Trash, 8 p.m., $5.
DANCE
Aunt Charlie’s Lounge: 133 Turk, San Francisco. “High Fantasy,” w/ DJ Viv, Myles Cooper, & guests, 10 p.m., $2.
MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “TRL,” w/ DJ Big Bad Bruce, 10 p.m.
Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. “Soundpieces,” 10 p.m., free-$10.
Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Switch,” w/ DJs Jenna Riot & Andre, 9 p.m., $3.
Underground SF: 424 Haight, San Francisco. “Shelter,” 10 p.m., free.
Wish: 1539 Folsom, San Francisco. “Tight,” w/ resident DJs Michael May & Lito, 8 p.m., free.
HIP-HOP
Double Dutch: 3192 16th St., San Francisco. “Takin’ It Back Tuesdays,” w/ DJs Mr. Murdock and Roman Nunez, Fourth Tuesday of every month, 10 p.m., free.
Skylark Bar: 3089 16th St., San Francisco. “True Skool Tuesdays,” w/ DJ Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist, 10 p.m., free.
ACOUSTIC
Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. Kacey Johansing, Sandy’s, Bill Baird, 9:15 p.m., $7.
Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. Songwriter-in-Residence: Wilson Wong, 7 p.m. continues through.
Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Open Mic with K.C. Turner, 7 p.m., $5.
Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Song session with Cormac Gannon, Last Tuesday of every month, 9 p.m.
The Rite Spot Cafe: 2099 Folsom, San Francisco. Toshio Hirano, 8:30 p.m., free.
JAZZ
Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant: 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco. Gerry Grosz Jazz Jam, 7 p.m.
Blush! Wine Bar: 476 Castro, San Francisco. Kally Price & Rob Reich, 7 p.m., free.
Burritt Room: 417 Stockton St., San Francisco. Terry Disley’s Rocking Jazz Trio, 6 p.m., free.
Cafe Divine: 1600 Stockton, San Francisco. Chris Amberger, 7 p.m.
Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Eugene Warren Trio, 8:30 p.m., free.
Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. M.B. Hanif & The Sound Voyagers, 7:30 p.m., free.
Oz Lounge: 260 Kearny, San Francisco. Emily Hayes & Mark Holzinger, 6 p.m., free.
Revolution Cafe: 3248 22nd St., San Francisco. West Side Jazz Club, 5 p.m., free.
Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Michael Parsons, 8 p.m.
Verdi Club: 2424 Mariposa, San Francisco. “Tuesday Night Jump,” w/ Stompy Jones, 9 p.m., $10-$12.
Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Tommy Igoe Big Band, 8 p.m., $22.
Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Amanda King, 7:30 p.m., free.
INTERNATIONAL
The Cosmo Bar & Lounge: 440 Broadway, San Francisco. “Conga Tuesdays,” 8 p.m., $7-$10.
F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Underground Nomads,” w/ rotating resident DJs Cheb i Sabbah, Amar, Sep, and Dulce Vita, plus guests, 9 p.m., $5 (free before 9:30 p.m.).
REGGAE
Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. “Bless Up,” w/ Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi, 10 p.m.
BLUES
Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Tia Carroll & Hard Work, 8 & 10 p.m., $15.
Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Dr. Mojo, 9:30 p.m., free.
The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Powell Street Blues Band, 9:30 p.m.
EXPERIMENTAL
Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. sfSoundSalonSeries, w/ Seth Cluett, sfSoundGroup, 7:49 p.m., $7-$10.
FUNK
Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Boogaloo Tuesday,” w/ Oscar Myers & Steppin’, 9:30 p.m., free.
SOUL
Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Lost & Found,” w/ DJs Primo, Lucky, and guests, 9:30 p.m., free.

Activists say a pair of Spades could beat culture and small business in the Mission

Sasha Cuttler
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[UPDATE: The Board of Appeals last night voted to 3-2 that Jack Spade should be considered a formula retail business, short of the four-vote supermajority that activists needed to sustain their appeal.]

Progressive activists and small business owners in the Mission are trying to draw the line against the creep the of corporate chain stores — with their homegeneity and tendency to drive up commercial rents — and they’re drawing that line at the old Adobe Bookstore where the Jack Spade corporate clothing chain was trying to quietly sneak in.

“I’m strongly opposed because of its potential to destroy the culture of this area,” Michael Katz, owner of Katz Bagels across 16th Street from the site, told the Guardian. “If they start allowing chains to come, it will be one chain store after another.”

Katz has already been experiencing the flipside of these economic boom times, recently forced to close his shop on Mission Street near 2nd in SoMa because of rising rents and competition from both food trucks and corporate-backed competitors. Now, he’s fighting to defend his Mission District turf against deep-pocketed competitors.

“This will change the special personality of the 16th and Valencia corridors,” Katz said. “It’s turning it into a commodity.”

Katz is among the dozens of people planning to show up tomorrow for the San Francisco Board of Appeals’ hearing (Wed/21, 5:00 PM, City Hall Room 416) on the Jack Spade store. The Valencia Corridor Merchants’ Association is organizing the challenge to the legal standing of a building permit issued to Jack Spade by the Planning Department in June.

Last week, that same group of activists experienced a minor setback when the Board of Appeals denied a late filing request. Tomorrow, however, they’ll get the opportunity they were seeking to argue that the store is “formula retail” and needs to submit to a public hearing before being sanctioned by the Zoning Administrator to open a new Mission location.

Mission resident Kyle Smeallie has been working with the VCMA to oppose the mens’ clothier’s advances on 16th street. In the case of Jack Spade, the Planning Department has enforced only the narrowest definition of “formula retail” as a business with 11 or more locations, while failing to defend the broader spirit of the law.

Since Jack Spade is owned by Fifth & Pacific (aka Liz Claiborne), according to Smeallie, it is a corporate chain store. Though it indeed has only 10 locations, Jack Spade “has a complete imbalance of power and resources, which is exactly what the formula retail legislation aimed to remedy in the first place,” said Smeallie.

Fifth and Pacific also makes clear on its website the Jack Spade is an expanding chain: “Under Fifth & Pacific, Jack Spade has begun to spread its wings and is now poised for broader expansion. Although management would not disclose a precise volume breakdown, Fifth & Pacific’s CEO William L. McComb said on an earnings call last year that Jack Spade ‘can be a $100 million men’s business with very high margins.’”

That’s “margins” as in profit margins, meaning that this corporate chain can has an economies of scale that allows it to buy goods for cheap and sell them for whatever people will pay, which is an ever-increasing amount in the rapidly gentrifying Mission.  

Experts have advised the activists that their best approach is to argue that Kate Spade and Jack Spade are essentially the same store, with well over 11 locations nationwide, since corporate parentage is not explicitly prohibited in the formula retail legislation approved by voters in 2006.

“We’re going to make the case that, since it’s named Spade, it has benefitted from the association with Kate Spade,” Smeallie explained. “Legally, we have a case to say a Spade is Spade and they should be considered one and same.”

In the past, this strategy was successful in thwarting an effort by “Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers” to open a neighborhood location by claiming that it was, effectively, just another Brooks Brothers. In that case, however, the full name of the large-scale retailer was present in the subsidiary’s label.

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