OUTSIDE LANDS Archives — Page 2 of 6 — San Francisco Bay Guardian Archive 1966

Visitors flock to the Bay Area for its enchanting sights, of course. But if you’ve lived here for a while, you know the actual sounds of San Francisco and its neighbors weave the true spell that binds us. Cable car clang and fog horn blast, “ding-ding” of bike bells and cries of wild parrots. The wave organ and the Audium, the BART station busker and the underground dance floor, the protest and the crackdown, the echoes of the Beats and the roar of the stadium crowd.

Jazz and hip-hop floating through the Fillmore. Paleta carts and acoustic guitars ringing in Dolores Park. Pretty French tourists asking directions downtown. (Or maybe they’re Croatian?) “Woo!” girls partying in the Marina. Robyn pumping from Castro cars.

Free bluegrass, fine reggae, geeky ringtones, player pianos, new operas, earnest indie, sick bass. “I Left My Heart…,” “San Francisco, Open Your…,” “If You’re Going To….” Paul McCartney leading 50,000 people in a “Hey, Jude” singalong at Outside Lands. Everybody make some noise!

(Outside your window, just before dawn, a couple argues halfheartedly, and a nearby walk sign chirps.)

Even that golden moment every late sunny afternoon when, no matter what’s going on, a lovely hush falls across the city, as if in preparation for the soon-incoming fog.

This is the local wall of sound we honor in this edition of Best of the Bay, our 39th annual celebration of the people, places, and things that make living here such a great experience.

More than 15,000 of our readers voted in our Best of the Bay Readers Poll this year for their local, independent favorites in more than 200 categories like Best Burrito, Best Band, Best Strip Club, Best Shoe Store, Best Place to Watch the Sunset, Best Drag Queen, and beyond. You’ll find the results inside — as well as 150 Best of the Bay Editors Picks highlighting some Guardian favorites, old and new, that we think deserve some special recognition for brightening our lives this year. Rest assured, there’s a whole lot to love in the Bay.

In 1974, Esquire magazine asked us for ideas for its Best of the USA issue, which led us to publish the original Best of the Bay. Thirty-nine years later — and 47 years after we opened our doors — we’re still going strong, powered by our readers and the idea that the strength of our community can make the world a better place.

Editing this year’s issue was a hoot. I shower grateful smooches on all my fabulous collaborators, especially creative ace Brooke Ginnard; the awesome Guardian editorial, sales, and production staff; and the ever-supportive Hunky Beau, my own personal Best of the Bay.

But most of all we thank you, dear reader, for your generous participation, for making the Bay Area such an astounding place to live, and for turning us on to great new things this year. Enjoy the celebration on the pages that follow. But first close your eyes for a minute, and listen to this audaciously beautiful place we call home.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Robert Trujillo is a visual artist and father who employs the use of illustration, storytelling, and public art to tell tales. These tales manifest in a variety of forms and they reflect the artist’s cultural background, dreams, and political and personal beliefs. “My motivation to do what I do is to be a positive and nurturing influence on my son,” he says. “It is to honor my ancestors and my family by passing on our visual art traditions, to give, to learn, to challenge the educational system both public and private, and to make sure more artwork that fuses ethnic studies, political commentary, personal history, and dynamic visual styles using a variety of media is prominent, loud, unapologetic — and just what some of us need.”

BEST OF THE BAY STAFF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

BROOKE GINNARD

EDITOR

MARKE B.

ILLUSTRATOR

ROBERT TRUJILLO

COPY EDITOR

STEWART APPLIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

REBECCA BOWE, CAITLIN DONOHUE, CHERYL EDDY, NICOLE GLUCKSTERN, STEVE JONES, JOE FITZGERALD RODRIGUEZ,, EMILY SAVAGE, AMBER SCHADEWALD, DAVID SCHNUR

PHOTOGRAPHER

EVAN DUCHARME

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

MOSHEN CHAN, SHAWN CONNOLLY, MOLLY DECOUDREAUX, MARIA DEL RIO, TYLER DRISCOLL, NICOLE GLUCKSTERN, TIM GRIFFITHS, BETH LABERGE, AMANDA RHOADES, WES ROWE, TABLEHOPPER

Frankenkeg

Michael Redmond

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September 17, 2013

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emilysavage@sfbg.com

BEER + WINE It seemed to just appear one day, lurking around the corner of the kitchen entryway. It was huge, buzzing, rectangular, and nearly five feet tall. Its glossy belly gurgled with homemade California Common brown ale, a slightly off concoction, similar to a typical Anchor Steam beer, that nevertheless tasted quite fresh, and spewed forth from the newly attached tap.

And that’s when I learned to love the scrappy new project in my kitchen: the Frankenkeg. It’s a bulky, DIY kegerator pieced together by my husband, Marcus, over the past few months, after a homebrewing obsession that began a little over three years ago. And although it’s a work in progress, it’s a real beauty in the way you’ll always love the rescued dog you taught new tricks. Plus, with three taps, it churns out a pretty constant stream of the good stuff.

The whole homebrewing thing started off far more inauspiciously, after a few friends in the East Bay and Outer Richmond area began their own homebrew experiments.

“I just always thought it was too difficult, but once I saw [my friends] doing it, I was like, ‘okay, I can do this,'” says Marcus, a GIS specialist for an environmental nonprofit in the East Bay. “And you know, I always need a hobby, and this one involves making stuff. You get to make something and watch it grow.”

He began where many budding homebrewers in the Bay Area start: Brewcraft, a devoted homebrew shop in the Richmond district, led by brewmaster Gregory William Miller the Thirdstein, aka Griz. Griz, who also teaches free classes at the shop, was once quoted on KAWL as saying, “I learned how to brew out of the back of a Field and Stream magazine.” From my limited interactions with him at Brewcraft, it’s clear he knows a whole lot about the craft of beer.

Marcus learned through Griz’s store and also by going to San Francisco Homebrewers Guild events, like a recent one at Cervecería de Mateveza at 18th and Church, where the brewers crafted a Dulce de Leche imperial stout. The San Francisco Homebrewers Guild is a combination of two groups that merged in January 2013, in which there are 140 dues-paying members and nearly 500 in the Meetup group. The founder and president is Chris Cohen. Group VP Kevin Inglin says the experience level in the group is wide-ranging, “We have several brewers who have been at it for a decade or more and a large group of people new to the hobby.” Inglin, an Army officer who is working to open his own nano brewery with his wife in the city, started homebrewing in 1996 with an ingredient kit he bought from a display set up in the corner of a German bar, while living in the South. He’s since homebrewed in Tennessee, Alabama, Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, Germany, and California.

Marcus first picked up his kit from Brewcraft, which included a big glass fermenting jug. His initial recipes, cooked up on our stove in a huge boiling pot, were all from Griz. He’s since learned to switch up ingredients to form his own concoctions by listening to podcasts like The Jamil Show, and visiting websites including Home Brew Talk, the Homebrewers Association Forum, and the homebrewing subreddit.

And Marcus enters his beers onto online recipe toolkit, Brewtoad. The site helps keep a batch within the style and tells you how it will taste with all the ingredients because, “to me it’s a little bit abstract: you throw all this stuff in there; I know this thing will do that, but I don’t know how much of each. So it will tell you, if you add this much crystal 40 — a grain that adds color and sugars — this is what the final color will be, and if it’s within the style you’re trying to make.”

In the past few years, Marcus has made batches of Imperial stout, IPA, cider, black ale, and a hibiscus saison inspired by Pacific Brewing Laboratory, which we sipped at Outside Lands.

The kegerator idea came in when he realized he was spending entire evenings cleaning out old bottles, only to use the same bottles for the next batch of homebrews, usually enjoyed in our own apartment with friends, or at the park.

He started with the smallest piece of the equation, hence why I was so surprised by the final, monstrous outcome. At first, it was just the miniature gift box-sized temperature controller, which he got the idea for off a homebrew forum. The STC1000 is the part he got off Amazon.com, which is just the switch and the temperature probe. He attached that to a plastic project box, which he got at a hardware store.

Gathering up parts for the eventual kegerator, he found a deal online for four Cornelius (Corny) kegs on a homebrewing site. His kegs have the pinlock type of closure, and were originally used as syrup containers by the Coca-Cola company, likely at a fast food restaurant.

Next came the beast itself: the chest freezer, which would eventually hold the Corny kegs, a 20-pound CO2 tank, and that little temperature box attached to the outside, controlling the temp of the beer fermenting inside.

He picked up the chest freezer from another hobbyist on Craigslist, who lived in Oakley, near Antioch. The man raised pitbulls for show, had a garage full of fishing lures, and also raised pigeons — which explained why there was bird shit all over the chest freezer at first. It’s since been vigorously scrubbed down and lacquered with appliance paint then spray painted white.

On a sweltering weekend afternoon a few months back, our friends in Oakland helped us build a wood collar, which sits between the lid and the body of the chest freezer to give it extra height. It makes it roomier for the Corny Kegs and that oversized CO2 tank — which will likely fill around 20 to 30 kegs before it needs to be refilled. They also helped drill holes to attach the taps, because how else are we going to transform our apartment into a brewlab?

The beast was trucked to our third-story walkup and dragged into the kitchen with the help of those same friends. And now it sits, all seven cubic feet of it, chilling and cleansing two brand new batches of homebrew.

We cooked up both in the past week, one a pale ale and one an IPA. I used “we” liberally here, as I’m more of a sous chef, holding up pots and stirring when needed. The pale ale is a typical West Coast ale, in which we used Chinook bittering hops and cascade, and newer hop Amarillo, which “supposedly has a pineapple flavor.”

The IPA also includes a lot of Amarillo, along with simcoe for bittering, and citra at the end. The husband fears the IPA might be a bit too bitter for most palates, hence the more balanced pale ale, which will be ready to spill forth from the first tap come next month. The IPA might take slightly longer, as fermentation processes vary, and can take anywhere from a few days to months.

And to answer your question: yes, you’re all invited to the next tasting party.

For more information on the San Francisco Homebrewers Guild, see our Q&A.

Gary Numan: dark music done right at the Oakland Metro

Tony Robles

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September 9, 2013

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From Metallica to This Mortal Coil, there’s a sense of canned melodrama about most “dark” music that I’ve long found goofy and unconvincing. On that note, Massive Attack’s Mezzanine has always struck me as dark music done right, leaving the angsty ostentation behind, in favor of casually luring the listener downward into its imposing dungeon of groove.

As Gary Numan took the stage in Oakland last Tuesday night, the British artist displayed a similarly nuanced sensibility of what makes dark music work, delivering a relentlessly groove-based set of songs that brooded and seethed with total conviction.

Setting foot inside the Oakland Metro Operahouse (a dimly-lit, converted warehouse with the vibe of a joint operation between the Addams Family and a pack of steampunk welders) I felt the same tinge of skepticism that I did before Nine Inch Nails took the stage at Outside Lands last month; does Numan really have a purpose at this point in his career, aside from reliving old times and peddling out the reliable hit(s)? Surely enough, Numan took the stage with disarming panache, writhing up and down the stage with deft control as he treated the crowd to a stunning 90 minutes of punishing industrial rock.

Despite Numan’s one-hit-wonder status (his 1979 single “Cars” topped the charts in both the UK and the US) the British artist is revered in smaller circles for bridging many seemingly isolated developments in the pop world, from Kraftwerk’s stiff electronic propulsions, to Prince’s new-wave synthpop experiments, to Nine Inch Nails’ consolidation of industrial music with the rock mainstream.

Those mainly familiar with Numan’s early, synth-driven work, though, might’ve been taken aback by the physicality of Tuesday night’s set, in its commitment to the guitar-heavy, riff-based, Trent Reznor-indebted approach he initiated on records like Exile (1997) and Pure (2000).

Dressed in black, head to toe, like a sizable chunk of the enraptured audience, Numan and his four-piece backing band delivered forceful renditions of some recent tracks, namely “Haunted,” “The Fall,” and “Everything Comes Down to This,” dominated by relentlessly fuzzed-out guitars, as those reliably frosty synths provided rich textures and filled in the empty spaces.

“I Am Dust,” from the forthcoming LP Splinter (Songs From a Broken Mind) fit seamlessly into the surrounding material, making a strong case for Numan’s creative future, while beefed-up, modernized variations of older songs, like “Films,” and “Down in the Park,” were impressive in their unpredictability and ambition, refusing to merely replicate their studio counterparts.

Numan’s career has taken many twists and turns, from prickly, proto-synthpop, to industrial filth-rock, yet his touring band refracted it all through their single-minded, distortion-laden aesthetic, intuitively connecting the old and the new.

Numan might be 55 now, with nearly 20 albums under his belt, but his stage presence and vocal delivery were remarkably vitalic, never once suggesting the washed-up burnout illustrated by those VH1-hit-wonder specials. Few AARP qualifiers can rock eyeliner and spiky black hair convincingly, yet Numan completely pulled it off, prancing across the stage with yogic control, and a glammy flair for presentation.

More importantly, his vocal ability hasn’t diminished in the slightest since the late ’70s, as he hit all the high notes on “Cars,” and “Are ‘Friends’ Electric,” without hesitation.

Numan’s voice, strongly reminiscent of David Bowie’s, fit harmoniously with the backing instrumentals, letting the band do most of the heavy lifting, as he deftly avoided the whiny/screamy/growly vocal contrivances that end up derailing so much “dark” music into self-parody mode.

The restraint of Numan’s vocals, combined with the dubby, trip-hoppy, disco-inflected headiness of his backing band’s grooves, resulted in a tightly controlled balancing act; much like Massive Attack’s Mezzanine, Numan’s set succeeded by keeping things at a constant simmer, yet never boiling over. Dark music done right, indeed.

Judging by his seasoned stage presence, and his undeniable influence on the greater music world, it seems that in an alternate universe, Numan could’ve become one of those Prince-y household names, shaping pop culture as well as the music within.

Yet, unlike Prince, who’s lately found himself grasping beyond his reach in hopes of channeling past glories, or countless other new wavers who were relegated to novelty status long ago, Numan has maintained his relevance by powering forward creatively, and smartly avoiding any attempts to relive the ’70s and ’80s over again.

It might’ve been reasonable to expect a phoned-in performance this deep into his career, yet as Numan authoritatively proved on Tuesday night, his icy grooves remain as fresh and involving as ever.

Outside Lands 2013 winners (Paul McCartney, Chic, Bombino) and losers

Tony Robles

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August 14, 2013

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Hall & Oates, or Trombone Shorty? Willie Nelson, or Vampire Weekend? This year’s Outside Lands presented its 65,000 attendees with some perplexing choices, resulting in what might’ve been the festival’s most eclectic lineup of its now six-year run. As always, Golden Gate Park was a most picturesque venue, with patches of sunlight punctuating the heavy fog, great nighttime atmosphere provided by the purply-lit trees, and a generous smattering of what Grizzly Bear’s Edward Droste called, “the bougiest food stands I’ve ever seen at a festival.”

Now, without further adieu, here’s a rundown of several acts that’ve left me beaming in the days since Outside Lands came to a close:

BEST OF THE BEST:

Paul McCartney
“How many people have learned to play that one on guitar?” Paul McCartney asked his enraptured audience after a beautiful solo performance of “Blackbird.” (A sea of hands went up, of course.) Watching the crowd’s reactions to McCartney’s most indelible songs, ranging from ecstatic to reflective, it was obvious: this music really means things to people.

Much like Stevie Wonder last year, Sir Paul delivered an unrelenting hit parade on Friday night, delving into the Beatles and Wings back-catalogues for three hours (!) of immediately recognizable songs, pulled directly from the audience’s collective consciousness, and relayed back again. Sure, McCartney’s stadium-ready backing band has largely sterilized the exploratory wildness of the Beatles’ post-mop-top sound, but what a joy it was to be serenaded by the elder statesman of rock ‘n’ roll, giving it his all at the ripe old age of 71.

McCartney was shrewd to forgo his newer material (honestly, who came to hear that anyway?), in favor of Beatles and Wings songs, ranging from black-tie pop ditties like “Eight Days a Week,” and “Paperback Writer,” (performed on the very guitar he wrote it on), to the explosive, technicolor invention of “Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” and “Magical Mystery Tour,” to wistful ballads like “Yesterday,” (which featured the Kronos Quartet on strings, no less) to the giddy excess of “Helter Skelter” and “Live and Let Die.”

It was surreal to be in the presence of such a towering cultural figure, especially as he rattled off casual anecdotes about hanging with Hendrix and Clapton. Despite his stature, though, McCartney’s stage presence was utterly charming, and the rousing singalong he initiated to his ultimate anthem, “Hey Jude,” was the festival’s most communal moment.

Chic
Faced with the unenviable task of filling a D’Angelo sized void (the neo-soul comeback king cancelled his Friday night appearance at the last minute for unspecified health reasons), Chic hopped onstage with an arsenal of disco-funk party jams, and drove the crowd wild. On any Outside Lands bill before this one, Chic might’ve been disregarded as a throwback novelty act, but considering bandleader Nile Rodgers’ high-profile rhythm guitar work on “Get Lucky,” Daft Punk’s “anthem of the summer,” the entire crowd, young and old, had something to be excited about.

Dressed in white, head to toe, Rodgers’ impeccably tight backing band ripped through a number of Chic originals (“Good Times,” “Le Freak”) as well as a handful of his productions for other artists: most notably Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Rodgers’ ultra-syncopated rhythm guitar cut through the fabric of each song, and fascinatingly, the looming shadow of “Get Lucky” seemed to place his ever-modular approach to the instrument in a new, fashionable context.

Bombino
Much like Tinariwen, another group from the Tuareg region of West Africa that’s garnered intercontinental attention, Bombino of Niger injects the skipping rhythms and flickering melodies of their homeland’s folk music with a dose of unmistakably Western groove: namely, psychedelic rock and American blues. Bandleader Omara Mochtar hardly spoke a word to the audience, but his lively, smiley stage presence was endearing, especially as he delivered flaming guitar licks that would perk up Hendrix’s ears.

While Bombino’s hooks and melodies were certainly involving, the real magic was in those woozy, hypnotic grooves, often suggestive of the Grateful Dead at its most transportive. Dressed in traditional garb, and reveling in the power of extended jams, Bombino’s set was a welcome departure from the indie rock/EDM same-yness Outside Lands is prone to suffer from.

Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor is totally buff now. He looks like the kind of gym-rat who might bully the creator of Pretty Hate Machine for his lunch money. But more notably, he’s sober, happily married, and seems invigorated by the prospect of revisiting his ’90s project that introduced industrial music to the pop mainstream. Reznor and Co. took the stage with great conviction on Saturday night, making an assertive case for NIN 2.0’s relevance in the restructured music world of 2013.

Sure, Reznor’s dream-team touring lineup didn’t quite materialize (King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew and Eric Avery, the bassist of Jane’s Addiction dropped out early on, citing creative differences), yet his backing band was airtight and incredibly versatile, folding marimbas and even Chinese violins into the usual rock band instrumentation, and resulting in some of the most compelling sonics of the whole weekend. With computer guru Josh Eustis (formerly of Telefon Tel Aviv) on board, NIN’s electronics were richer in detail than ever.

The band’s forceful renditions of bangers such as “Head Like a Hole,” “The Hand That Feeds,” and “Closer” channeled the catharsis that runs through Reznor’s music like a freight train. “Something I Can Never Have,” was the subdued ballad of the night: dramatic and moodily lit, but never contrived or unintentionally goofy. “Hurt,” put the entire audience in singalong mode, suggesting a twisted spin on Pink Floyd’s communal anthem, “Wish You Were Here.” New songs, “Copy of A” and “Come Back Haunted,” were engaging and strong, portraying a band too inspired to lean on its past achievements.

As far as spectacle goes, NIN trounced any and all competition. Constantly wheeling instruments and projection screens around, the band utilized the depth of the stage unlike any festival band I’ve ever seen.

It’s always inspiring to see a band return to form with such strength of purpose; between the fantastic visuals, the band’s versatility, and Reznor’s newfound vigor, NIN initiated an astounding return on Saturday night, maybe even turning a new generation of EDM kids on to their brand of industrial menace.

RUNNERS UP:

Jurassic 5 made an explosive comeback after more than five years off the radar. Rappers Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, and Mark 7even laid down verses that bounced effortlessly off each other, with DJs Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist providing a thick, but minimal, backbone. The LA-based group delivered one of the most downright fun sets of the entire festival, filling Outside Lands’ glaring hip-hop void with boundless energy.

Willie Nelson was warm and welcoming as ever, with his family band in tow, and a rasp to his Lou Reed-ish speak-singing delivery that’s only grown more endearing with age. “Always On My Mind,” was especially tender, and made me want to give the ponytailed icon a big hug.

Grizzly Bear has a tendency to take the stage with an off-putting sense of self-importance, like the fastidious pastel-wearers their critics accuse them of sounding like. Unlike their uptight performance at the Fox Theater in Oakland last year, the Brooklyn quartet seemed to let loose in the festival environment. The results were fiery, especially on Shields’ dynamic closer, “Sun In Your Eyes.”

Hall & Oates took the stage authoritatively with their signature brand of agreeable soft rock, but more interesting was the crowd’s reaction: many older audience members seemed to take their music at face value, while younger attendees seemed torn between sincere and ironic appreciation.

Jessie Ware‘s vocal prowess, and the quality of her nu-R&B productions, suggest a self-serious performer, but her jokey, self-deprecating stage persona resulted in a disarming, hugely engaging set. A cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You,” thrown in the middle of her groove-laden “No To Love” was an especially nice surprise.

COMPLAINTS:

The National delivered some heartfelt ballads on rust-belt hopelessness, and alcoholism, among other things, and went so far as to bring the Kronos Quartet and Bob Weir on stage. While their set might’ve been incredibly involving in a smaller, indoor venue, something about the band’s intimate songs being performed in the social-media-playground environment of the Lands End stage felt very off.

Vampire Weekend has noticeably beefed up its sound, and grown less insufferably twee since debuting in 2009, but the cutesy, Ivy-League preppiness that continues to draw fans to Ezra Koenig and his Columbia brethren still repels me. Like this year’s much lauded LP Modern Vampires of the City, their set wasn’t exactly “bad,” but that’s the most I have to say for it.

Rudimental surely meant well. The nine-piece, UK based, drum ‘n’ bass-inflected pop ensemble brought infectious energy to the stage, but the result was overwrought and heavy-handed, resembling a busy plate of fusion food with too many sparring elements to result in anything coherent.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs aren’t a low quality band by any means, and songs like “Heads Will Roll” and “Maps” were smartly written, and well delivered, but vocalist Karen O’s incendiary presence made her backing musicians come across as expendable, by comparison.

Red Hot Chili Peppers certainly amped the audience up with their signature Cali vibes, but my overall impression was of a band whose brand-name status has far surpassed its creative potency. Chad Smith and Flea provided a blistering funk-punk rhythm section, especially on bangers like “Higher Ground,” their iconic Stevie Wonder cover, but vocalist Anthony Kedis looked withdrawn, and not quite stoked to be doing his job. The band can certainly fill stadiums in 2013 (and hey, more power to ’em), but at this point, the Chili Pep empire seems to have lapsed into the zone of diminishing returns.

Music Listings: August 7-13, 2013

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks

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August 7, 2013

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WEDNESDAY 7

ROCK

Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Nothington, Masked Intruder, Elway, Sam Russo, 9 p.m., $10-$12.

DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. White Wizzard, Hysteria, Midnight Chaser, 8 p.m., $10-$13.

El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Andalusia Rose, Magic Fight, Zigtbera, 8th Grader, 8 p.m., $5.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. International Pop Overthrow – Day 1, w/ Chris von Sneidern, Northern Son, Lannie Flowers, The Last Out, Hot Nun, Blake Jones & The Trike Shop, 7:30 p.m., $10.

The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. The Mystery Men?, RocketShip RocketShip, Buzzy Frets, 9:30 p.m., $7.

Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. White Fence, Jessica Pratt, Jonathan Rado, 8 p.m., $12.

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 Eptic, Jays One, Sound It Out, Tywrex, SwitchBlade, Brandon Lee Marble, Shane Fontane, Chris Gonzalez, Juan Beatz, Vyruz, Liquid Abyss, Robo7food, 9 p.m., $15-$20.

F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Housepitality,” w/ Claude Young, Tyrel Williams, Kawa, Bai-ee, 9 p.m., $5-$10.

Harlot: 46 Minna, San Francisco. “Qoöl,” 5 p.m.

Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “Indulgence,” 10 p.m.

Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “What?,” 7 p.m.

MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Innov8,” 8 p.m.

Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. “Soul Phunktion,” w/ resident DJs Kimmy Le Funk, Primo, and M3, 9 p.m.

Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Booty Call,” w/ Juanita More, Joshua J, guests, 9 p.m., $3.

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.

John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. BPos, Dublin, Melina Jones, Orukusaki, Gigio, 9 p.m., $10.

Skylark Bar: 3089 16th St., San Francisco. “Mixtape Wednesday,” w/ resident DJs Strategy, Junot, Herb Digs, & guests, 9 p.m., $5.

ACOUSTIC

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Mountain Standard Time, 6 p.m., free.

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. Jeanie & Chuck’s Bluegrass Country Jam, First Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., free.

Union Square Park: 333 Post, San Francisco. The Easy Leaves, 12:30 p.m., free.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Don Ross, 8 p.m., $21-$25.

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.

Rasselas Ethiopian Cuisine & Jazz Club: 1534 Fillmore, San Francisco. M.B. Hanif & The Sound Voyagers, 8 p.m.

Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. “Cat’s Corner,” 9 p.m., $10.

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. Brenda Reed, 7:30 p.m., free.

INTERNATIONAL

Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. Timba Dance Party, w/ DJ WaltDigz, 10 p.m., $5.

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Cha-Ching, First Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., $5.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. The Garifuna Collective with Danny Michel, Razteria, DJ Juan Data, 9 p.m., $15-$18.

Cafe Cocomo: 650 Indiana, San Francisco. “Bachatalicious,” w/ DJs Good Sho & Rodney, 7 p.m., $5-$10.

Cigar Bar & Grill: 850 Montgomery, San Francisco. Bamba 5, 8 p.m.

Pachamama Restaurant: 1630 Powell, San Francisco. “Cafe LatinoAmericano,” 8 p.m., $5.

Union Square Park: 333 Post, San Francisco. LaTiDo, 6 p.m., free.

BLUES

Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Samuel James & Kevin So, 8 & 10 p.m., $15.

SOUL

The Cellar: 685 Sutter, San Francisco. “Color Me Badd,” w/ DJ Matt Haze, Wednesdays, 5-9 p.m.

Lexington Club: 3464 19th St., San Francisco. “Secret Lovers,” w/ DJs Ponyboy, Lil MC, Katie Duck, and Durt, First Wednesday of every month, 9 p.m., free.

The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Freddie Hughes & Chris Burns, 7:30 p.m., free.

THURSDAY 8

ROCK

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Outside Lands Night Show: Smith Westerns, Wampire, Social Studies, 8 p.m., $20 (Outside Lands festival ticket required).

California Academy of Sciences: 55 Music Concourse, San Francisco. Outside Lands NightLife: Outside Lands Night Show with The Growlers, Houndmouth, DJ Andy Cabic, 6 p.m., $12 (Outside Lands festival ticket not required).

S.F. Eagle: 398 12th St., San Francisco. Thursday Nite Live: Icky Boyfriends, Wet Illustrated, Violent Change, 9 p.m., $8.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. International Pop Overthrow – Day 2, w/ French Boutik, Preoccupied Pipers, Hope Chest, The Corner Laughers, The Clarences, Sea Dramas, 7:30 p.m., $10.

The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Glitter Wizard, Creepers, Wild Honey, 10 p.m., $7.

Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. Inferno of Joy, My New Vice, Flexx Bronco, Bite, 8 p.m.

Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. “Popscene,” w/ Smallpools, Savoir Adore, Cloud Control, 9 p.m., $12-$14.

DANCE

Abbey Tavern: 4100 Geary, San Francisco. DJ Schrobi-Girl, 10 p.m., free.

Amoeba Music: 1855 Haight, San Francisco. Pretty Lights (DJ set), 4 p.m., free.

Aunt Charlie’s Lounge: 133 Turk, San Francisco. “Tubesteak Connection,” w/ DJ Bus Station John, 9 p.m., $5-$7.

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+.

Danzhaus: 1275 Connecticut, San Francisco. “Alt.Dance,” Second Thursday of every month, 7 p.m., $7, 18+.

DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. “8bitSF,” w/ Space Town Savior, Slime Girls, 1000 Needles, Adonisaurus, DJ La Facé, 9 p.m., $8-$11.

Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “Afrolicious,” w/ DJs Pleasuremaker, Señor Oz, and live guests, 9:30 p.m., $5-$7.

The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. EDMSF Thursdays, 10 p.m., $10 (free before midnight).

F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Black Rock Big Bottom: A Burning Man Fundraiser for the Janky Barge,” w/ NVO, Matt Haze, Shouts!, Absurge, Ma Yeah, Gordo Cabeza, Phleck, Spank Bank, Lobo, $5-$10.

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.

Mezzanine: 444 Jessie, San Francisco. “Fools in the Night,” w/ Lifelike, The Aston Shuffle, The Schmidt, 9 p.m., $10-$15.

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.

Ruby Skye: 420 Mason, San Francisco. “Awakening,” w/ Project 46, KhoMha, 9 p.m., $15-$20 advance.

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/ Fur Coat, 10 p.m., $5-$10.

HIP-HOP

Eastside West: 3154 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Throwback Thursdays,” w/ DJ Madison, 9 p.m., free.

John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “Party with Friends,” w/ resident DJs IllEfect, GeektotheBeat, Merrick, and Delrokz, Second Thursday of every month, 9 p.m., free.

Neck of the Woods: 406 Clement St., San Francisco. “Skratchpad,” Second Thursday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

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

Atlas Cafe: 3049 20th St., San Francisco. The Kentucky Twisters, 8 p.m., free.

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Antoine Dufour, Craig D’Andrea, Adrian Bellue, 9:30 p.m., $10.

Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Goodnight, Texas; Fox & Woman; Vandella, 8 p.m., $10.

Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Emperor Norton Céilí Band, 9 p.m.

Thee Parkside: 1600 17th St., San Francisco. Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants, Rod Melancon, Misisipi Mike Wolf, 9 p.m., $10.

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.

The Chapel: 777 Valencia St., San Francisco. Ralph Carney’s Serious Jass Project, 8:30 p.m., free.

Cigar Bar & Grill: 850 Montgomery, San Francisco. Jimmy Grant Quartet, 7 p.m., free.

Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Michael Parsons, 8:30 p.m., free.

Feinstein’s at the Nikko: 222 Mason St., San Francisco. Ariana Savalas, 8 p.m.

Le Colonial: 20 Cosmo, San Francisco. Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums, 7:30 p.m.

Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. Primavera, 7 p.m., free.

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.

Top of the Mark: One Nob Hill, 999 California, San Francisco. Stompy Jones, 7:30 p.m., $10.

Yerba Buena Gardens: Fourth St. & Mission, San Francisco. Kally Price Old Blues & Jazz Band, 12:30 p.m., free.

Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Anya Malkiel, 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.

Rasselas Ethiopian Cuisine & Jazz Club: 1534 Fillmore, San Francisco. Latin Breeze, 8 p.m.

Verdi Club: 2424 Mariposa, San Francisco. The Verdi Club Milonga, w/ Christy Coté, DJ Emilio Flores, guests, 9 p.m., $10-$15.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. The Gypsy Allstars, 8 p.m., $26-$30.

REGGAE

50 Mason Social House: 50 Mason, San Francisco. The Steady 45s, 9 p.m., free.

Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Festival ‘68,” w/ Revival Sound System, Second Thursday of every month, 9:30 p.m., free.

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. Dave Keller & Kevin So, Aug. 8-9, 7:45 & 10 p.m., $20.

Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 7:30 p.m., free.

COUNTRY

Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. The Goddamn Gallows, The Calamity Cubes, Kountry Kittens, 9 p.m., $10-$12.

EXPERIMENTAL

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Headboggle, Marielle Jakobsons, Good Willsmith, Black Hat, 8 p.m., $7.

The Luggage Store: 1007 Market, San Francisco. Jim Kaiser, Matt Davignon, Toaster, 8 p.m., $6-$10.

FRIDAY 9

ROCK

50 Mason Social House: 50 Mason, San Francisco. Black Crystal Wolf Kids, Electric Sheep, Thrillouette, 9 p.m., $10.

America’s Cup Pavilion: 27 Pier, San Francisco. The Trims, 3:30 p.m., free.

Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Daikon, Worth Taking, Upstairs Downstairs, 9:30 p.m., $10.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. North American Scum; Tall Fires; Devon McClive & Sons; Gamble, Gamble, Die; Ben Davila & The Spectacles, 8 p.m., $10.

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Burnt Ones, The Hussy, POW!, 9:30 p.m., $7.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. International Pop Overthrow – Day 3, w/ Stormy Strong, The Relatives, Agony Aunts, The Bobbleheads, Butch Berry, Sean O’Brien & His Dirty Hands, Sarah Petrella, 7:30 p.m., $10.

Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. Dirty Ghosts, The Tambo Rays, DJ Russell Quan, 8 p.m., $5.

Neck of the Woods: 406 Clement St., San Francisco. Body Parts, Maston, on the downstairs stage, 9 p.m., $5.

Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. Outside Lands Night Show: Milo Greene, Wild Belle, 10 p.m., $16 (Outside Lands festival ticket required).

Sub-Mission Art Space (Balazo 18 Gallery): 2183 Mission, San Francisco. Free Marissa Alexander: A Benefit Show & Call for Action, Fundraiser for the Marissa Alexander Legal Defense Fund with music by Heart of Orion, Betaray, and Allana Muhammad, plus art by Malik and Marissa Arterberry., 6-11 p.m., $10.

DANCE

1015 Folsom: 1015 Folsom St., San Francisco. Alice Glass, Jupiter Keyes, Sango, Marco de la Vega, DJ Dials, DJ Primo, Chauncey CC, 10 p.m., $17.50 advance.

Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. “Indie Slash,” w/ resident DJs Danny White & Rance, 10 p.m., $5.

BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. “Bears in the Dark,” w/ DJ John LePage, 9 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: Immortal,” w/ DJs Daniel Skellington, Panic, Melting Girl, and Tomas Diablo, 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.

Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “Last Nite: A 2000s Indie Dance Party,” w/ DJs EmDee & Jamie Jams, Second Friday of every month, 10 p.m., $5-$10.

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.

Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “Escape Fridays,” 10 p.m., $20.

Lone Star Saloon: 1354 Harrison, San Francisco. “Cubcake,” w/ DJ Medic, Second Friday of every month, 9 p.m.

Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “HYSL,” 9 p.m., $3.

MatrixFillmore: 3138 Fillmore, San Francisco. “F-Style Fridays,” w/ DJ Jared-F, 9 p.m.

Mezzanine: 444 Jessie, San Francisco. Glass Candy, DJ Omar, Stanley Frank, Bus Station John, 9 p.m., $20.

Mighty: 119 Utah, San Francisco. “As You Like It + No Way Back,” w/ Metro Area, Christina Chatfield, Conor, Solar, Mossmoss, Carlos Souffront, Sassmouth, Rich Korach, Tyrel Williams, 9 p.m., $10-$20.

Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. Stanton Warriors, All Good Funk Alliance, Gene Hunt, Sharon Buck, 9 p.m., $10.

Neck of the Woods: 406 Clement St., San Francisco. Viceroy, Plastic Plates, Bit Funk, on the upstairs stage, 9 p.m., $10-$12.

Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. “Heart Deco: Ignite – Final Pre-Burn Heart Phoenix Fundraiser,” w/ Troy Pierce, Lazaro Casanova, Dax Lee, Atish, Josh Vincent, Derek Hena, Jen Woolfe, Vitamindevo, Jaybee, Jive, more, 9 p.m., $10-$20.

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. Eddie Halliwell, 9 p.m., $20-$25 advance.

Showdown: 10 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Electric WKND,” w/ The Certain People Crew, Second Friday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

Slide: 430 Mason, San Francisco. “E2F,” Second Friday of every month, 9 p.m.

Supperclub San Francisco: 657 Harrison, San Francisco. “Beach Party,” w/ DJs Playdoughboy, Pollux, Taj, Kyoto, and Telshak, 10 p.m., free if wearing flippers.

Temple: 540 Howard, San Francisco. “Trap City: Summer Gold,” w/ Gents & Jawns, Clicks & Whistles, Djunya, UltraViolet, Napsty, Ben Seagren, Dean Samaras, Matt Kramer, Darren Grayson, DJ Tone, DJ Von, 10 p.m., $15-$25.

Vessel: 85 Campton, San Francisco. Bart B More, KonMan, 10 p.m., $10-$30.

Wish: 1539 Folsom, San Francisco. “Bridge the Gap,” w/ resident DJ Don Kainoa, Fridays, 6-10 p.m., free.

HIP-HOP

EZ5: 682 Commercial, San Francisco. “Decompression,” Fridays, 5-9 p.m.

John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “Heartbeat,” w/ resident DJ Strategy, Second Friday of every month, 9 p.m., $5 (free before 11 p.m).

Slate Bar: 2925 16th St., San Francisco. “The Hustle,” w/ DJs Sake One & Sean G, Second Friday of every month, 9 p.m.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Ras Kass, 10:30 p.m., $23-$26.

ACOUSTIC

Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. “Sing Out of Darkness,” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention benefit featuring Obstacle Course, David Whitaker, Michael Vincent, Johnny Lawrie, and host Julie Mayhew, 6:30 p.m.

Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. The GoldDiggers, Josephine Johnson, 9 p.m.

Slim’s: 333 11th St., San Francisco. The Big Ass Hillbilly Show, w/ The Trespassers, Emily Bonn & The Vivants, The Muddy Roses, Shani Chabansky, 9 p.m., $15.

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. Whiskey Shivers, Wild Child, Grow & Twine, 9 p.m., $10.

Velo Rouge Cafe: 798 Arguello, San Francisco. Hannah & Maggie, 7 p.m., free.

JAZZ

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant: 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco. Johnny Smith, 8 p.m., free.

Bird & Beckett: 653 Chenery, San Francisco. Jimmy Ryan Quintet, Second Friday of every month, 5:30 p.m., free.

Cafe Royale: 800 Post, San Francisco. The Glasses, 9 p.m.

Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. Glass Brick Boulevard, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15.

The Emerald Tablet: 80 Fresno St., San Francisco. Glen Pearson, 8 p.m., $5-$10.

Jazz Bistro At Les Joulins: 44 Ellis, San Francisco. Charles Unger Experience, 7:30 p.m., free.

Pier 23 Cafe: Pier 23, San Francisco. Legends & Friends, 8 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. Jim Butler Quartet, Aug. 9-10, 7:30 p.m., $8.

Top of the Mark: One Nob Hill, 999 California, San Francisco. Black Market Jazz Orchestra, 9 p.m., $10.

Yerba Buena Gardens: Fourth St. & Mission, San Francisco. Chelle! & Friends, 11 a.m. & 12:15 p.m., free.

Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Joyce Grant, 8 p.m., free.

INTERNATIONAL

Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. “Makossa West,” w/ The Latin Soul Brothers (Wonway Posibul & Joe Quixx), Second Friday of every month, 10 p.m., $5.

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. Montuno Swing, 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.

REGGAE

Gestalt Haus: 3159 16th St., San Francisco. “Music Like Dirt,” 7:30 p.m., free.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Mystic Roots, 8 p.m., $16-$19.

BLUES

Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Dave Keller & Kevin So, Aug. 8-9, 7:45 & 10 p.m., $20.

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Bill Phillippe, 6 p.m., free.

Lou’s Fish Shack: 300 Jefferson St., San Francisco. Nat Bolden, 8:30 p.m.

FUNK

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Katdelic with Angelo Moore, Keno Mapp, and Eric McFadden, 9:30 p.m., $15 advance.

Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Loose Joints,” w/ DJs Centipede, Damon Bell, & Tom Thump, 10 p.m., $5.

SOUL

Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. The Inciters, French Boutik, The Slippery Slope, 9:30 p.m., $10.

Edinburgh Castle: 950 Geary, San Francisco. “Soul Crush,” w/ DJ Serious Leisure, 10 p.m., free.

El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Friday Live: Queer Oldies Soul Review, 10 p.m., free.

The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. “Nightbeat,” w/ DJs Primo, Lucky, and Dr. Scott, Second Friday of every month, 10 p.m., $4.

Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Yo Momma: M.O.M. Weekend Edition,” w/ DJ Gordo Cabeza, Second Friday of every month, 9 p.m., $5 (free before 10 p.m.).

The Ramp: 855 Terry Francois, San Francisco. “Soul Soirée,” w/ Myxx Elements Band, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY 10

ROCK

Bender’s: 806 S. Van Ness, San Francisco. Rum Rebellion, Absinthe Rose, The Pot House Shindies, 10 p.m., $5.

Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Tomihira, Space Waves, In Letter Form, 9:30 p.m., $10.

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Outside Lands Night Show: King Tuff, The Men, Twin Peaks, 10 p.m., $20 (Outside Lands festival ticket required).

Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Igor & Red Elvises, The Custom Kicks, 9:30 p.m., $20.

The Chapel: 777 Valencia St., San Francisco. MarchFourth Marching Band, DJ Shotnez, 9 p.m., $20-$25.

El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Burn River Burn, Chris James & The Showdowns, The Messiah Complex, Eric Friedmann & The Lucky Rubes, 3 p.m., $10.

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Rotfest IV, w/ 3 Stoned Men, Icky Boyfriends, Cameltoe, UKE Band, Junior Executives, Pineapple Princess, We Could Be Friends, The Peddlers, 5 p.m., $10.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. International Pop Overthrow – Day 4, w/ Talk Tonight, Eric Friedmann & The Lucky Rubes, The Connies, The Bottle Kids, Zero Pop, The Whitehalls, David Brookings, 7:30 p.m., $10.

The Lab: 2948 16th St., San Francisco. “Replicant: Part III,” w/ Grayceon, Wreck & Reference, Botanist, Red Light, 9 p.m., $5-$8.

Live Worms Gallery: 1345 Grant, San Francisco. Sad Tires, Sweet Water, Kiwi Time, DJ Nasty Nettles, 7 p.m., $8.

Milk Bar: 1840 Haight, San Francisco. Zodiac Death Valley, Cannons & Clouds, DJ Vin Sol, 8:30 p.m., $5.

Slim’s: 333 11th St., San Francisco. Evolution, Powerage, 9 p.m., $15.

DANCE

Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. “2 Men Will Move You,” w/ DJs Primo & Jordan, Second Saturday of every month, 9 p.m.

BeatBox: 314 11th St., San Francisco. “Chaos,” w/ DJ Guy Scheiman, 10 p.m., $20 ($5 before 11 p.m.).

Cafe Flore: 2298 Market, San Francisco. “Bistrotheque,” w/ DJ Ken Vulsion, 8 p.m., free.

Cat Club: 1190 Folsom, San Francisco. “Club Gossip: Madonna vs. Tears for Fears,” w/ DJs Damon, Shon, Low-Life, Melting Girl, and Daniel Skellington, 9 p.m., $5-$8 (free before 9:30 p.m.).

DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. “Bootie S.F.,” w/ More Cowbell, DJ MyKill, DJ Entyme, Spencer4hire, Mr. Washington, Myster C, more, 9 p.m., $10-$15.

S.F. Eagle: 398 12th St., San Francisco. “Dark Days,” w/ Lady Bear, DJ Le Perv, guests, Second Saturday of every month, 3 p.m.; “Sadistic Saturdays,” Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

The EndUp: 401 Sixth St., San Francisco. “Eclectricity,” Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m.

Harlot: 46 Minna, San Francisco. DJ Pierre, Gene Farris, DJ Rooz, Brother Board, 9 p.m., $10 advance.

The Hot Spot: 1414 Market, San Francisco. “Love Will Fix It,” w/ DJ Bus Station John, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $5.

Infusion Lounge: 124 Ellis, San Francisco. “One Way Ticket Saturdays,” w/ Eric D-Lux, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $20.

The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. “Galaxy Radio,” w/ DJs Lel Ephant, Smac, Emils, PlaZa, and Holly B, 9 p.m., free.

Lookout: 3600 16th St., San Francisco. “Bounce!,” 9 p.m., $3.

Madrone Art Bar: 500 Divisadero, San Francisco. “Music Video Night,” w/ DJs Satva & 4AM, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $5.

Mighty: 119 Utah, San Francisco. “Salted,” w/ Danny Krivit, Miguel Migs, Julius Papp, DJ Gray, 10 p.m., $10 advance.

Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. “Lights Down Low,” w/ Baio, Twin Shadow (DJ set), DJ M3, Richie Panic, Sleazemore, 10 p.m., $10-$15.

Public Works: 161 Erie, San Francisco. Plump DJs, Krafty Kuts, Motion Potion, Syd Gris, Mancub, Murphstar, Ding Dong, 10 p.m., $17.50-$20.

Rickshaw Stop: 155 Fell, San Francisco. “Cockblock,” w/ DJ Natalie Nuxx & guests, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., $5-$10.

Ruby Skye: 420 Mason, San Francisco. “Summer Love: The 10-Year Anniversary Celebration,” w/ DJ Donovan, Dimitris Mykonos, Frenchy Le Freak, DJ Nile, Hector Garza, 9 p.m., $20-$30 advance.

Slate Bar: 2925 16th St., San Francisco. “The KissGroove S.F.,” w/ DJ Vinroc & The Whooligan, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

Slide: 430 Mason, San Francisco. “Lemonade,” w/ Mike Attack, Trevor Simpson, 9 p.m.

The Stud: 399 Ninth St., San Francisco. “Frolic: A Celebration of Costume & Dance,” w/ resident DJ NeonBunny, Second Saturday of every month, 8 p.m., $8 ($4 in costume).

Vessel: 85 Campton, San Francisco. Tristan Garner, Tech Minds, Kid Alien, 10 p.m., $10-$30.

Wish: 1539 Folsom, San Francisco. “All Styles & Smiles,” w/ DJ Tom Thump, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

HIP-HOP

111 Minna Gallery: 111 Minna St., San Francisco. “Back to the ‘90s,” Second Saturday of every month, 9:30 p.m., $10.

Double Dutch: 3192 16th St., San Francisco. “Cash IV Gold,” w/ DJs Kool Karlo, Roost Uno, and Sean G, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. “Second Saturdays,” w/ resident DJ Matt Cali, Second Saturday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

ACOUSTIC

Atlas Cafe: 3049 20th St., San Francisco. Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod, Saturdays, 4-6 p.m., free.

Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Max’s Midnight Kitchen, 9 p.m.

The Riptide: 3639 Taraval, San Francisco. Trainwreck Riders, 9 p.m., free.

JAZZ

Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, 7:30 & 10 p.m., $20.

Cafe Royale: 800 Post, San Francisco. Noel Jewkes Band, 9 p.m.

Cigar Bar & Grill: 850 Montgomery, San Francisco. Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble, 8 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.

Rasselas Ethiopian Cuisine & Jazz Club: 1534 Fillmore, San Francisco. The Robert Stewart Experience, 9 p.m., $7.

The Royal Cuckoo: 3202 Mission, San Francisco. Steve Lucky & Carmen Getit, 7:30 p.m., free.

Savanna Jazz Club: 2937 Mission, San Francisco. Jim Butler Quartet, Aug. 9-10, 7:30 p.m., $8.

Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Amanda King, 8 p.m., free.

INTERNATIONAL

1015 Folsom: 1015 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Pura,” 9 p.m., $20.

Bissap Baobab: 3372 19th St., San Francisco. Misión Flamenca, Monthly live music and dance performances., Second Saturday of every month, 7:30 p.m.

Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. Zoco Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15.

Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. “Tormenta Tropical,” w/ El G, Benzona, Michele Maturo, Oro11, DJ Theory, 10 p.m., $5-$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/ resident DJ Jimmy Love, Dholrhythms dance troupe, more (in the main room), Second Saturday of every month, 9 p.m., $10-$15.

The Ramp: 855 Terry Francois, San Francisco. N’Rumba, 5:30 p.m.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Wil Campa y Su Gran Union, 8 & 10 p.m., $21-$25.

BLUES

Lou’s Fish Shack: 300 Jefferson St., San Francisco. Robert “Hollywood” Jenkins, 8:30 p.m.

The Saloon: 1232 Grant, San Francisco. Dave Workman, Second Saturday of every month, 4 p.m.

FUNK

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. Eddie Roberts’ West Coast Sounds with Ivan Neville, Eric McFadden, Tony Hall, and Nikki Glaspie, 9:30 p.m., $20-$25.

SOUL

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Lyfe Jennings, in Yoshi’s lounge, 10:30 p.m., $30-$45.

SUNDAY 11

ROCK

Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Elliot Schneider, Silke Berlinn & The Addictions, 7:30 p.m., $12.

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Moses, Bottom Feeder, Ladybird, Uzala, 4 p.m., $8.

DANCE

Cafe Cocomo: 650 Indiana, San Francisco. “2nd Sunday,” w/ DJ Dan, Gene Hunt, DJ Mes, Kevin Kind, Bryan Boogie, DJ Rooz, Roger Moorehouse, Sean B, Bardia F, ThuyVu, Hector Garza, noon, $15 advance.

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/ DJ Sep & J-Boogie, 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.; “Sunday Sessions,” 8 p.m.; “The Rhythm Room,” Second Sunday of every month, 8 p.m.

F8: 1192 Folsom St., San Francisco. “Stamina Sundays,” w/ Total Science, Lukeino, Jamal, 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.

Otis: 25 Maiden, San Francisco. “What’s the Werd?,” w/ resident DJs Nick Williams, Kevin Knapp, Maxwell Dub, and g

The Parlor: 2801 Leavenworth, San Francisco. DJ Marc deVasconcelos, 10 p.m., free.

Q Bar: 456 Castro, San Francisco. “Gigante,” 8 p.m., free.

Temple: 540 Howard, San Francisco. “Sunset Arcade,” 18+ dance party with bar games and video arcade, 7 p.m., $5.

ACOUSTIC

Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. Cello Bazaar, hosted by Sam Bass, 8 p.m.

Club Deluxe: 1511 Haight, San Francisco. Musical Mayhem with the Dimestore Dandy, 5:30 p.m., free.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. Adam Zwig, Adam Marsland, Leisure McCorkle, 8 p.m., $8-$10.

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.

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 Darcy Noonan, Richard Mandel, and Jack Gilder, 9 p.m.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: 1755 Clay, San Francisco. “Sunday Night Mic,” w/ Roem Baur, 5 p.m., free.

JAZZ

Amnesia: 853 Valencia, San Francisco. Slim Jenkins, Second Sunday of every month, 9 p.m., $7-$10.

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.

Martuni’s: 4 Valencia, San Francisco. Madame Jo Trio, second Sunday of every month, 4-6 p.m., free.

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 Benn Bacot, 7 p.m., $5.

Yoshi’s San Francisco: 1330 Fillmore, San Francisco. Rondi Charleston & Her All-Star Band, 7 p.m., $20.

Zingari: 501 Post, San Francisco. Lisa Lindsley, 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. BrazilVox, 5:30 p.m.

Thirsty Bear Brewing Company: 661 Howard, San Francisco. “The Flamenco Room,” 7:30 & 8:30 p.m.

BLUES

Biscuits and Blues: 401 Mason, San Francisco. Eddie Neon, 7 & 9 p.m., $15.

Lou’s Fish Shack: 300 Jefferson St., San Francisco. Jo Jo Diamond, 4 p.m.

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.

Sheba Piano Lounge: 1419 Fillmore, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 9 p.m., free.

COUNTRY

The Riptide: 3639 Taraval, San Francisco. Joe Goldmark & The Seducers, Second Sunday of every month, 7 p.m., free.

Tupelo: 1337 Green St., San Francisco. “Twang Sunday,” 4 p.m., free.

FUNK

The Independent: 628 Divisadero, San Francisco. Outside Lands Night Show: Superjam, Featuring Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk with Jon Cleary and John Oates. 100 percent of ticket sales benefit San Francisco Recreation and Parks., 10 p.m., $40 (Outside Lands festival ticket required).

SOUL

Boom Boom Room: 1601 Fillmore, San Francisco. “Deep Fried Soul,” w/ DJs Boombostic & Soul Sauce, 9:30 p.m., $5.

Delirium Cocktails: 3139 16th St., San Francisco. “Heart & Soul,” w/ DJ Lovely Lesage, 10 p.m., free.

MONDAY 12

ROCK

DNA Lounge: 375 11th St., San Francisco. Davey Suicide, The Bunny The Bear, The Defiled, 7 p.m., $10-$13.

Elbo Room: 647 Valencia, San Francisco. Black Irish Texas, Tiger Honey Pot, Sweetwater Black, 9 p.m., $7.

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Hornss, Wounded Giant, The Pilgrim, 6 p.m., $6.

Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Jonathan Richman with Tommy Larkins, Aug. 12-15, 7 p.m., $15.

Monarch: 101 6th St., San Francisco. Fake Your Own Death, I Am Animal, The Fashion Slaves, 9 p.m., $8.

Slim’s: 333 11th St., San Francisco. San Cisco, Smallpools, 8 p.m., $15.

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.

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, Second Monday of every month, 6 p.m., free; Toshio Hirano, Second 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.

JAZZ

Le Colonial: 20 Cosmo, San Francisco. Le Jazz Hot, 7 p.m., free.

Rasselas Ethiopian Cuisine & Jazz Club: 1534 Fillmore, San Francisco. Open Mic Jazz Jam with Tod Dickow, 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.

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 13

ROCK

Bottom of the Hill: 1233 17th St., San Francisco. Sean Bonnette, Jeff Rosenstock, Hard Girls, Dog Party, 9 p.m., $10.

Cafe Du Nord: 2170 Market, San Francisco. Jamie N Commons, Sasha Dobson with Joel Hamilton, 8 p.m., $12.

El Rio: 3158 Mission, San Francisco. Love Axe, Little Heart, Haesemeyer, 7 p.m., $3-$10.

Hemlock Tavern: 1131 Polk, San Francisco. Zebroids, Dirty Few, 8:30 p.m., $6.

Hotel Utah: 500 Fourth St., San Francisco. Mansion, Threads, Bitter Loa, 8 p.m., $6.

The Knockout: 3223 Mission, San Francisco. Buffalo Tooth, Obliterations, Wild Eyes, DJ Denim Yeti, 9:30 p.m., $7.

Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. Jonathan Richman with Tommy Larkins, Aug. 12-15, 7 p.m., $15.

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, Second Tuesday of every month, 10 p.m., free.

John Colins: 138 Minna, San Francisco. John Colins 8-Year Anniversary Party, w/ Bayonics, The Whooligan, 9 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. Split Screens, Sandy’s, Assateague, 9:15 p.m., $7.

Bazaar Cafe: 5927 California, San Francisco. Songwriter-in-Residence: Wilson Wong, 7 p.m. continues through Aug. 27.

Cafe Royale: 800 Post, San Francisco. Hunters, 9 p.m.

Plough & Stars: 116 Clement, San Francisco. Seisiún with Barry O’Connell & Vinnie Cronin, 9 p.m.

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.

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. Sherri Roberts, 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. Alvon Johnson, 8 & 10 p.m., $15.

Rasselas Ethiopian Cuisine & Jazz Club: 1534 Fillmore, San Francisco. Bohemian Knuckleboogie, 8 p.m., free.

EXPERIMENTAL

Center for New Music: 55 Taylor St., San Francisco. sfSoundSalonSeries, w/ Séverine Ballon, Dan Joseph, Andrea Williams, 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

Brick & Mortar Music Hall: 1710 Mission, San Francisco. Derrick Hodge, The Congress, DJ HeyLove, 9 p.m., $17-$20.

Make-Out Room: 3225 22nd St., San Francisco. “Lost & Found,” w/ DJs Primo, Lucky, and guests, 9:30 p.m., free.

The Selector: August 7 -13, 2013

Michael Redmond

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August 6, 2013

0

WEDNESDAY 7

White Fence

Listen to White Fence’s psych-folk track “To The Boy I Jumped In The Hemlock Alley,” off the spring-released full-length Cyclops Reap, and it may renew your faith in classic songwriting. Or at least make you feel like you’re listening to the Beatles for the first time on acid. The woozy tune has a consistently mellow flow sliced through with glistening pysch riffs that sound like a flaming saw singeing through campfire wood. The album picks up quicker elsewhere, in blistering, boiling Nuggets-fashion on electrifying “Pink Gorilla.” But this much is now expected from LA/SF songwriter-guitarist Tim Presley — he’s the main force of White Fence — a consistently compelling and inventive musician, and frequent collaborator with the likes of Ty Segall. The show tonight includes essential openers like local singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt and Foxygen’s Bob Dylan-esque singer Jonathan Rado performing his solo work, Law and Order. (Emily Savage)

8pm, $12

Rickshaw Stop

155 Fell, SF

(415) 861-2011

www.rickshawstop.com

THURSDAY 8

Goodnight, Texas

Having blown up in the past year, San Francisco’s Goodnight, Texas has gotten the opportunity to make its pleasantly earnest vocals, foot-stomping banjo riffs, and catchy melodies quite public. Frontperson Avi Vinocur conveys a nostalgic realness in his voice so immediate that it’s almost impossible not to get pulled away into one of the group’s old-time, dust-and-bones, gritty country blues stories. Something real and excitably beautiful translates in the group’s music. Listen to the pure vocals alongside pleasant acoustic melodies and simply try not to believe everything Vinocur is singing — it’s damn hard. (Smith)

With Fox and Woman,and Vandella

8pm, $10

Cafe Du Nord

2170 Market,SF

(415) 861-5016

www.cafedunord.com

casebolt and smith

Very charming, very chatty Los Angeles-based duet dance theater company casebolt and smith (comprised of Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith) visits San Francisco with O(h) — “a title that makes no sense,” the group muses in a YouTube clip of the work. Also contained therein: an energetic, rollin’-like-Ike-and-Tina riff on “Proud Mary;” a deadpan conversation about breakdancing (“I’ve taken, like, two classes”), underpants-clad flailing; and show-tune crooning, with a sudden nervous pause to wonder if the singer maybe should be singing in a lower register. In other words, it’s not your typical night of dance, but neither is it entirely goofy — all those self-deprecating jokes and pop-culture references are worked into a sly commentary on the dancemaking process. (Cheryl Eddy)

Through Sat/10, 8pm, $28

ODC Theater

3153 17th St, SF

www.odctheater.org

The Calamity Cubes

They’re an unexpected group, and the Calamity Cubes’ take on country music is unpredictable. Instead of the lonesome, lovesick ramblings of a cowboy, the group creates a vibe more like that of a cowpoke who just fell off his horse. They play harder than country, calling their style “thrashicana.” The twangy tugs of banjo, upright bass, and acoustic guitar teeter on bluegrass only to be played with such force and speed that punk wouldn’t be a far off description either. The trio may be rough around the edges, but its sound is anything but. Extremely versatile, the group’s tunes go from a basic country number with howling vocals to an electrified thrash of a song with energy that can’t be ignored. (Hillary Smith)

With the Goddamn Gallows, Kountry Kittens

9pm, $12

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-445

www.bottomofthehill.com

FRIDAY 9

Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival

Under the leadership of artistic director Antoine Hunter, who’s also among the performers with his Urban Jazz Dance Company, the first-ever Bay Area Deaf Dance Festival aims to “showcase the contributions of the deaf community to the arts, raise deaf awareness in non-deaf populations, and encourage artistic expression in Bay Area residents.” The three-day event features collaborations between deaf and hearing-impaired artists with hearing artists in both the performing and visual arts realms. Participants include Half-N-Half, composed of children of deaf adults who incorporate ASL storytelling into their act; Beethoven’s Nightmare, a musical group whose name pays tribute to the famously deaf composer; the National Deaf Dance Theater; the all-male, all-deaf troupe Wild Zappers; dance-physical theater group Lux Aeterna Dance Company, and more. (Eddy)

Through Sun/11, 7:30pm, $20

Dance Mission Theater

3316 24th St, SF

www.dancemission.com

Jessye Norman

The last time we saw grand opera diva Jessye Norman, she was typing out a French love letter on the SF Symphony stage in a stunning Issey Miyake gown, before tasting a fruit smoothie made by conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. It was all part of John Cage’s brilliantly random 1970 Song Books composition, which moved the crowd to tears of joy. A longtime traveler through many musical realms, the regal Norman is game for anything. This time with the Symphony she’ll be giving a recital of another songbook, the American one, with selections from Gershwin, Arlen, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. (She’ll be coming directly from Washington, DC, where she’ll take part in a 50th commemoration of the March on Washington by slipping into the shoes of the great Marian Anderson.) There won’t be any smoothies this time, but the music will be fresh and light. (Marke B.)

Fri/9, $15–$115

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness, SF.

(415) 864-6000

www.sfsymphony.org

Glass Candy

The synth-heavy, electro-punk group that is Glass Candy returns to San Francisco this weekend, fresh off a jarring slot at that oh-so-hip Pitchfork Music Festival. The broader crowds still, after all these years, seem not quite sure what to make of the amorphous, experimental, and ever-evolving duo. And that’s precisely what keeps it interesting. Producer Johnny Jewel (also of Chromatics, and co-owner of dance label Italians Do It Better) and casual, Nico-esque vocalist Ida No have been doing this whole Glass Candy gig since ’96, yet each tour, each new release (2003’s Love Love Love, 2007’s B/E/A/T/B/O/X) brings some different flavor of stimulating Italo-disco glitter cut with speed and Kraut. This is also why those who’ve fallen in line behind the duo have long been itching for a new record, the promised Body Work, which is purportedly coming out soon, after a teaser single of “Halloween” released on Oct. 31, 2011. (Savage)

With Omar Perez, Stanley Frank, Bus Station John

9pm, $20

Mezzanine

444 Jessie, SF

(415) 625-8800

www.mezzaninesf.com

SATURDAY 8/10

Pistahan Parade and Festival

The Bay Area is home to a robust Filipino American population, which means Filipino American Arts Exposition’s annual Pistahan Parade and Festival — now in its 20th year — offers authentic tastes, sounds, and sights for all who attend. Highlights include the energetic parade (today, 11am, begins at Civic Center and ends near Yerba Buena Gardens), which offers prizes for the best costume, best choreography, and best overall contingent. Plus: a Culinary Pavilion (whose adobo will conquer the competition? Who will gobble the most balut?); a Martial Arts Pavilion (with kids battling it out for stick-fighting supremacy); and a generous array of entertainment on multiple stages, including youth dance crews, traditional dance and music performances, comedian Rex Navarette, and a pair of reality stars (X Factor Philippines winner KZ Tandingan, and American Idol semi-finalist Jordan Segundo). (Eddy)

Through Sun/11, 11am-5pm, free

Yerba Buena Gardens

Mission at Third St, SF

www.pistahan.net

Cheech and Chong

“Dave’s not here man!” But the original dynamic duo of dope, Cheech and Chong, is indeed going to be in the city tonight to light up the comedy scene in the way that only it can do. Once again bringing their marijuana-laced humor and stoned stage show to their fans around the world, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong may be older, but the humor of their act remains ageless. The two pontiffs of pot recently released an animated film, using clips from many of their records and skits — here’s your chance relive those classic bits live (and high) in person — get your tickets now before they all go up in smoke! (Sean McCourt)

7:30pm, $35–$79.50

America’s Cup Pavilion

Piers 27/29, SF

www.livenation.com

King Tuff

King Tuff, the man, the myth, the guy with the “sun medallion” is coming along with his pals and bandmates to play at Brick and Mortar Music Hall the day before his Outside Lands performance. Mixing glam and garage rock, King Tuff crafts music that makes you want to shuffle on the dance floor. He’s come into success with career milestones such as being added to the lineup at OSL — he’s usually known for playing smaller fests like Burger Record’s Burgerama

and 1-2-3-4 Go! Records’ Go! Go! Fest. The artist has also reached #8 in Billboard’s Heatseeker Albums with Was Dead, after its late May reissue on Burger Records. In short, come see this animal before it disappears into the vast expanse known as Golden Gate Park (for Outside Lands, duh)! (Erin Dage)

With the Men, Twin Peaks

10pm, $20

Brick and Mortar Music Hall

1710 Mission, SF

(415) 371-1631

www.brickandmortarmusic.com

SUNDAY 8/11

King Kong vs Godzilla

With Pacific Rim still hanging in there at the box office, what better time than now to revisit one of the original massive monster mash ups? As part of Will Viharo’s awesome “Thrillville” series of film events, August Ragone — award-winning author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters, which looked at the life of the Japanese special effects legend — will host King Kong vs Godzilla, the 1962 romp that pitted the two titanic creatures against each other in a no-holds-barred, city-smashing smackdown. Hear about the making of the movie, see behind the scenes photos, then grab some beers and get ready to rumble! (McCourt)

6pm, $6

New Parkway

474 24th St., Oakl.

www.thenewparkway.com

TUESDAY 8/13

Jeff Rosenstock (of Bomb the Music Industry!)

Blistering, honest punk rock from a man and his laptop: Jeff Rosenstock manages to take the stripped-down guitar and computer layout of a minimal Beck set and flip it on its ear with DIY punk rockness. Doing so, he creates unexpectedly intricate, yet rambling, song structures. Basically, he’s a room-galvanizing force of singalongs, like with the track “Amen” from his new album I Look Like Shit, which asks “So what’s the difference if the bombs fall from the sky? So what’s the difference if you like being alive?” Rosenstock, who previously sung about an unending purgatory of watered-down all-ages shows clashing with his dreams of maturing as a musician, will be playing with labelmates Dog Party, teenage sisters representing the age bracket of most of Rosenstock’s fans. Also that guy from Andrew Jackson Jihad whom everyone’s always talking about (Sean Bonnette) and Hard Girls, who write songs about the movie Major Payne. (Ilan Moskowitz)

8:30pm, $10

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th Street, SF (415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

Pre-park quickies

Michael Redmond

-

August 6, 2013

0

arts@sfbg.com

MUSIC Unless you’ve been living under a gemstone, you know that Outside Lands is this weekend, Fri/9-Sun/11 in Golden Gate Park (www.sfoutsidelands.com). And Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, and Phoenix are headlining, but there are a great many smaller acts filling up those days as well.

These Q&As were compiled from an ongoing interview series with the other bands — a few groups you should check out at the fest. To see the full interviews and our post-show coverage of the event, visit SFBG.com/Noise.

MIDI MATILDA: FRI/9, 12:45PM, TWIN PEAKS STAGE

SF Bay Guardian What was the last great live show you went to?

Skyler Kilborn of Midi Matilda In Sacramento at a place called Ace of Spades we saw Gold Fields, it was really awesome. I think the crowd was engaged the entire time. They got off stage, danced around, got on the bar and kicked over somebody’s drink.

Logan Grime of Midi Matilda We’ve done a number of shows with guys from Capital Cities, it’s awesome to see how they’ve progressed over time, how much bigger their following has become. It was inspiring to see them.

SFBG What separates your performances from that of other artists?

Logan Grime of Midi Matilda A lot of people tell us they really enjoy the energy we bring to the stage. Our show has a lot of electronic elements to it; we don’t have people playing on stage. We both love to DJ and just make it a unique experience that’s different from a lot of the things we’ve seen. We’re trying to push it in a new direction. We’re not DJs, or a full live band either. We’re trying something new and it’s working out so far.

SFBG Are you guys looking forward to Outside Lands, are there any artists you’re definitely not going to miss?

Logan Grime of Midi Matilda The lineup this year is pretty amazing compared to some of the other years. This year’s strong in every day’s lineup. I know that no matter what I will not miss Paul McCartney. I’m excited to see so many bands.

Skyler Kilborn of Midi Matilda I’ve been fantasizing about playing the festival since the first time I went in 2009. A group I actually love is Vampire Weekend. I have not seen them perform but I’ve listened to their music quite a bit and would love to see how they do it.

WAVVES: FRI/9, 6:15PM, PANHANDLE STAGE

SF Bay Guardian What was the last thing you did just to mess with someone?

Nathan Williams of Wavves I put my drummer’s phone number on my Twitter.

SFBG What was one of the most bizarre experiences you have ever had while under the influence (of anything), why was it so odd?

Stephen Pope of Wavves The first time I ever did mushrooms when I was a teenager, my friends and I broke onto a train bridge that ran across the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tenn. and Arkansas. We brought road flares and Roman candles, dangled off the edge, and had a fireworks party a few hundred feet above the river. When the mushrooms really started to take effect I got a little nervous about dangling off the side of the bridge, and climbed through the train stopped on the tracks to get to a more stable part. As I was climbing through the train, it started moving suddenly and I was carried a few hundred yards down the track standing between the two rail cars while tripping. I finally jumped and luckily didn’t fall to my death or get crushed by the train.

SFBG What was the last song you wrote about?

Nathan Williams of Wavves Dying.

Stephen Pope of Wavves How everyday life brings about extreme anxiety and how I always think I’m dying of something. Geez.

SFBG Who’s your musical guy crush?

Nathan Williams of Wavves Gunplay.

Stephen Pope of WavvesWeird Al x 1,000.

YOUTH LAGOON: SAT/10, 3:40PM, TWIN PEAKS STAGE

SFBG What’s the best concert you have ever been to and why?

Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon Art Garfunkel — it was my first concert and I was a little boy with an afro.

SFBG Could you talk a little bit about the meaning of your song “Pelican Man”?

Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon Pelicans have a lot of history for spiritual significance. There are legends that say when a pelican’s babies are starving, the mother will stab her own breast with her beak to draw blood that her children can then drink. She’ll bleed out so her babies can drink her up, giving her life for theirs. A sacrifice similar to that of Jesus. Lyrically, that idea is contrasted with one of murder and serial killing. Violence out of ultimate love juxtaposed with violence out of complete hate.

SFBG Are there any artists at Outside Lands you’re looking forward to seeing?

Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon I’m actually not sure who is playing so I’ll have to look up the schedule tonight and start getting my planning on. I will wear my new camouflage jumpsuit.

EASY LEAVES: SUN/11, 12PM, SUTRO STAGE

SFBG What’s the best show you’ve ever been to?

Sage Fifield of the Easy Leaves I’m just going to reach to something relatively recent within the last few years. I went to an Avett Brothers show in South Carolina, it was not too many years after Kevin and I started playing. We got tickets and went to it. It was one of those shows where you’re transfixed by the performance itself, just the energy of it. The energy was just hot the whole night, I just literally stood almost in one spot the entire show. I think they’re great.

SFBG Favorite song to perform live, cover or otherwise?

Sage Fifield of the Easy Leaves Right now I’ve really been enjoying playing some of our more traditional country-type tunes like one that jumps to mind is called “Since You’ve Gone,” it’s not on any albums. It’s a really straightforward country song. We almost always play it. When you play a song that much it almost becomes more than muscle memory, almost like the song plays itself. When that happens you can really relax into it in a way. For me “Get Down” got to that point. Of course, after saying this I’ll probably totally blow off the bridge.

SFBG Any groups you’re for sure not going to miss at Outside Lands?

Kevin Carducci of the Easy Leaves We’re so bummed we can’t go on Saturday because we have a wedding that whole day. At the top of the list for Sunday is Hall and Oats and Willie Nelson.

Heads Up: 7 must-see concerts this week

Tony Robles

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August 6, 2013

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Yes, Outside Lands is back this weekend in Golden Gate Park. So that’s a given, especially if you’ve already got tickets to the sold-out festival. But there’s also night shows plus unrelated evenings out with White Fence, King Tuff, Glass Candy, Icky Boyfriends, Paige & the Thousand, and Lightning Dust with Louise Burns and Spells. So be sure to check those out as well, you over-committers.

Also this week, the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass guess-the-lineup game came buzzing back to the web. Listen here to make your guesses.

Here are your must-see Bay Area concerts this week/end:

Lightning Dust, Louise Burns, and Spells
There seems to be an uptick in occult fascination lately, or am I just now really paying attention? This whole lineup — a free show through Wood Shoppe — has the witchy vibe, with Vancouver’s Lightning Dust and Louise Burns, and SF’s own Spells. Lightning Dust’s Amber Webber (of Black Mountain) and Josh Wells began as a whispery folk duo in 2007. However, their spooky third LP, June’s Fantasy (Jagjaguwar), is said to be inspired more by “skeletal synth pop, modern R&B beats, the films of John Carpenter and…absolute minimalism.” Louise Burns has that chilled ’80s darkwave thing down. And Spells, the newest project from songwriter Jennifer Marie, incorporates synth and vintage organs into eerie, lovely nightmarescapes (check locally appropriate “Fog”).
Tue/6, 8pm, free
Brick and Mortar Music Hall
1710 Mission, SF
www.brickandmortarmusic.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWdd2j5XrE

MC Chris
“MC Chris marches to the beat of his own drum machine. The pint-sized Chicago-area rapper is technically a hip-hop artist, but this is likely not the kind of hip-hop you’ve heard before. In his characteristic chipmunk chirp, MC Chris raps about Star Wars, DQ Blizzards, and lots of computer geek nerdiness. In addition to being the world’s unlikeliest rapper, he has also worked as an animator, voice actor, and songwriter for a handful of Cartoon Network Adult Swim shows, including Aqua Teen Hunger Force. In his free time (ha) MC Chris is working on a recently Kickstarted comic and acts as an advocate for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He and his hyper-dedicated fans have raised over $100,000 for the cause.” — Haley Zaremba
With Dr. Awkward, Jesse Dangerously, Tribe One
Tue/6, 8pm, $15
Slim’s
333 11th St., SF
(415)-255-0333
www.slimspresents.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0BIazf-7j4

White Fence
Listen to White Fence’s psych-folk track “To The Boy I Jumped In The Hemlock Alley,” off the spring-released full-length Cyclops Reap, and it may renew your faith in classic songwriting. Or at least make you feel like you’re listening to the Beatles for the first time on acid. The woozy tune has a consistently mellow flow sliced through with glistening pysch riffs that sound like a flaming saw singeing through campfire wood. The album picks up quicker elsewhere, in blistering, boiling Nuggets-fashion on electrifying “Pink Gorilla.” But this much is now expected from LA/SF songwriter-guitarist Tim Presley — he’s the main force of White Fence — a consistently compelling and inventive musician, and frequent collaborator with the likes of Ty Segall. The show tonight includes essential openers like local singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt and Foxygen’s Bob Dylan-esque singer Jonathan Rado performing his solo work, Law and Order.
Wed/7, 8pm, $12
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell, SF
(415) 861-2011
www.rickshawstop.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YjfsFfnN9A

Icky Boyfriends
Ew, gross, Icky Boyfriends are back. JK, each successive grave-rise from the trashy ’90s-born Bay Area “noisefuck” band is worth mentioning because the local band is just that entertaining live. To get the full lo-fi freakout inherent in the Icky Boyfriends experience, listen to 2005’s 61-track career retrospective A Love Obscene, which features tracks such as “Burrito,” “Passion Assassin,” “Kids in Fresno,” and “King of Zeitgeist.” You might also note the band features current Hemlock booker/guitarist-singer of Hank IV, Anthony Bedard, on drums. Also, I’ve recently uncovered the fact that Bedard and burlesque legend Dixie Evans once went on the talk show Maury, for the episode “My Sexy Lover Is My Complete Opposite.” YouTube it, immediately.
With Wet Illustrated, Violent Change
Thu/8, 9pm, $8
Eagle Tavern
3981 12th St., SF
www.sf-eagle.com

Rotfest IV with 3 Stoned Men, Cameltoe, UKE Band
Sat/10, 5pm, $10
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
www.hemlocktavern.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRfbBUn8nX8

Paige & the Thousand
Paige & the Thousand has roots similar to Lindsay Paige Garfield’s previous seven-piece band Or, the Whale but now solo, she also travels to different offshoots of twangy folk, country, and Americana, even dipping into Celtic traditions, and showing similar chord progressions to her own rich history of Jewish music, which she long ago sang in synagogue choir as a child. (For more on Paige & the Thousand, see this week’s paper.)
With Robb Benson & the Shelk, EarlyBizrd & the Bees
Fri/9, 8pm, $7
Awaken Café
1429 Broadway, Oakl.
www.awakencafe.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1kA8J7LdTM

Glass Candy
The synth-heavy, electro-punk group that is Glass Candy returns to San Francisco this weekend, fresh off a jarring slot at that oh-so-hip Pitchfork Music Festival. The broader crowds still, after all these years, seem not quite sure what to make of the amorphous, experimental, and ever-evolving duo. And that’s precisely what keeps it interesting. Producer Johnny Jewel (also of Chromatics, and co-owner of dance label Italians Do It Better) and casual, Nico-esque vocalist Ida No have been doing this whole Glass Candy gig since ’96, yet each tour, each new release (2003’s Love Love Love, 2007’s B/E/A/T/B/O/X) brings some different flavor of stimulating Italo-disco glitter cut with speed and Kraut. This is also why those who’ve fallen in line behind the duo have long been itching for a new record, the promised Body Work, which is purportedly coming out soon, after a teaser single of “Halloween” released on Oct. 31, 2011.
With Omar Perez, Stanley Frank, Bus Station John
Fri/9, 9pm, $20
Mezzanine
444 Jessie, SF
(415) 625-8800
www.mezzaninesf.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akjt-RuNc6U

King Tuff
“King Tuff, the man, the myth, the guy with the “sun medallion” is coming along with his pals and bandmates to play at Brick and Mortar Music Hall the day before his Outside Lands performance. Mixing glam and garage rock, King Tuff crafts music that makes you want to shuffle on the dance floor. He’s come into success with career milestones such as being added to the lineup at OSL — he’s usually known for playing smaller fests like Burger Record’s Burgerama and 1-2-3-4 Go! Records’ Go! Go! Fest. The artist has also reached #8 in Billboard’s Heatseeker Albums with Was Dead, after its late May reissue on Burger Records. In short, come see this animal before it disappears into the vast expanse known as Golden Gate Park (for Outside Lands, duh)!” — Erin Dage
With the Men, Twin Peaks
Sat/10, 10pm, $20
Brick and Mortar Music Hall
1710 Mission, SF
(415) 371-1631
www.brickandmortarmusic.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hnMDx0PIo

With a rising profile, King Tuff still prefers music that sounds like it came out of a trashcan

Tony Robles

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August 6, 2013

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Garage rock troubadour King Tuff is no stranger to playing outdoor venues like Golden Gate Park for Outside Lands.

“One time I played in my parents backyard — another time I played in a shed in Massachusetts, called the Shed, that could literally fit only three people,” says Kyle Thomas, the man, the figurehead behind King Tuff.

But this will be a little different than his parents backyard or a shed in Massachusetts. Outside Lands is a decidedly bigger event — already sold out for 2013, and attracting 65,000 people alone in 2012.

King Tuff — who claims he represents rock n’ roll, freedom, sex, and magic — will bring an entirely different flavor to the festival, whose major headliners include folks like a legendary former Beatle, NIN, and Daryl Hall and John Oates.

“I feel great about it,” Thomas says, punctuated with a giggle. “I’m just excited to play with Paul McCartney and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Every answer from him ends in a giggle.

Though one may glean that the King Tuff sound gets its influences from classic glam and garage rock, Thomas says he’s influenced by genres across the board.

“Pretty much everything, there’s not just one band I really want to sound like,” Thomas said. “There’s so much music going into my head that it’s hard to decipher everything.”

Suffice to say, King Tuff is most known for his release, Was Dead, which reached #8 on Billboard’s Heatseekers in June upon its late May reissue. Also in his arsenal is his self-titled album, released May 2012 by Sub Pop and a seven-inch dubbed Screaming Skull, released October 2012.

But one thing Thomas has had to deal with upon the success of Was Dead rising to popularity in 2008, is talking about it. Constantly.

“Oh god, I just hate to talk in general,” Thomas says. “I don’t mind talking about it, it just gets tiring coming up with answers to the same questions that I get asked over and over again.”
Noted.

Many things have changed since Southern California garage rock label, Burger Records, put out its cassette issue of Was Dead five years ago. As the sixteenth cassette released, the record label has gone on to add dozens of bands to its roster and put out hundreds more cassettes.

“It’s been quite a few years since that was released and it’s definitely blossomed a lot into what it is now,” Thomas says. “There’s a lot of good bands on Burger Records now, but I just want to hear something that sounds like it actually came from a garage.”

Thomas would like to a see a grittier approach to garage rock, in terms of presentation and recording quality.

“Like, with some dudes with some missing teeth that are playing in a garage and sing about yard sales,” Thomas says. “A lot of music is produced on a laptop, and I want to hear something that sounds like it came out of a trashcan.”

Known for having gold teeth, Thomas may just want to have validation of some sort. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

King Tuff, gold teeth and all, will be taking his own personal brand of music and flair to a town near you later this year. Starting in late September, King Tuff will hit the road with Wavves and Jacuzzi Boys, touring the US for a few weeks.

Other than ample tour dates, can we expect anything new from King Tuff? Maybe.

“I got a lot of stuff in the works,” Thomas says, noncommittally. “It’s just all sort of invisible, in my head.”

In the end, if Kyle Thomas wasn’t King Tuff, a guy venturing throughout the country spreading garage rock gospel, he would take on a more lax occupation. As some sort of mutant “frog man.”

“If I wasn’t King Tuff I would be a frog man, that’s how I feel, I feel like a frog man,” Thomas said. “I just like chilling out on a lily pad, sticking my tongue out and watching the fruit flies.”

Though Outside Lands may be sold out, you can see King Tuff, or just the frog man, here:

King Tuff
With the Men, Twin Peaks
Sat/10, 10pm, $20
Brick and Mortar Music Hall
1710 Mission, SF
www.brickandmortarmusic.com

Before Outside Lands: Midi Matilda on its favorite live shows and OSL fantasies

Tony Robles

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August 1, 2013

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San Francisco based duo Midi Matilda has managed to worm its way into a corner of electro-pop music that is highly accessible. As the musicians put it, they aren’t DJs and they aren’t a live band either.

Whatever they are, they seem to be catching. After an early spring tour with Shiny Toy Guns, the pair released a cover of the Temptations “Just My Imagination,” in June which garnered close to 30,000 views in just two days. Plus, Midi Matilda’s debut EP Red Light District has acquired similar mass attention on YouTube.

As Midi Matilda’s Skyler Kilborn and Logan Grime are also set to play Outside Lands next week (Aug. 9-11 in Golden Gate Park), I chatted with them about live shows, the songwriting process, and their can’t-miss Outside Lands recommendations:

San Francisco Bay Guardian What was the last great live show you went to?

Skyler Kilborn In Sacramento at a place called Ace of Spades we saw Gold Fields, it was really awesome. The crowd [seemed] engaged the entire time. They got off stage, danced around, got on the bar, and kicked over somebody’s drink.

Logan Grime We’ve done a number of shows with guys from Capital Cities, it’s awesome to see how they’ve progressed over time, how much bigger their following has become. It was inspiring to see them.

SFBG What separates your performances from that of other artists?

LG A lot of people tell us they really enjoy the energy we bring to the stage. Our show has a lot of electronic elements to it; we don’t have people playing on stage. We both love to DJ and just make it a unique experience that‘s different from a lot of the things we’ve seen. We’re trying to push it in a new direction. We’re not DJs, or a full live band either. We’re trying something new and it’s working out so far.

SFBG What would you say is the best show you’ve performed this year, or any that really stick out?

LG For me it was headlining a show in San Francisco. We had played a lot more shows than we ever had in a year so far just in this year alone and so we were put in front of a lot of audiences that didn’t know who we were. After all that, playing a sold out show at a venue we really like in front of a lot of people.

SK It felt like the tour we just finished we played so many shows it got our performance to a new level. That show is a good example of us bringing ourselves to a level we hadn’t really achieved before, and the tour was a good way for us to practice.

SFBG Could you talk a little bit about song “Red Light District”? It’s also your EP title so it seems to have some significance.

SK It’s a very introspective tune, not really about the Red Light District. It can be if you want it to be, but it’s more about a state of mind. Bringing yourself up as opposed to bringing yourself down. Red Light District is a metaphor for bringing yourself down. It’s about connecting in a place where it’s better to bring yourself up than bring yourself down. Songwriting, at least for myself, it’s always about something I’m going through at the time. I think it’s important to access something real to you, at least as foundation for the idea. But I also think it’s fun to be a little more poetic and bring people directly to the point. Leading them there, but also giving them the opportunity to meet it at their level, wherever that is.

SFBG Are you guys looking forward to Outside Lands, are there any artists you’re definitely not going to miss?

LG The lineup this year is pretty amazing compared to some of the other years. This year’s strong in every day’s lineup. I know that no matter what I will not miss Paul McCartney. I’m excited to see so many bands.

SK I’ve been fantasizing about playing the festival since the first time I went in 2009. A group I actually love is Vampire Weekend. I have not seen them perform but I’ve listened to their music quite a bit and would love to see how they do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVJqevdtaZQ

Before Outside Lands: the Easy Leaves prep for summer fests, hope to catch Willie Nelson

Tony Robles

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July 23, 2013

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Kevin Carducci and Sage Fifield of the Easy Leaves really are pretty easy-going. But take away their opportunity to do what they love and you might have a problem. Luckily, they’re currently living their dream. And lucky for us, it makes for some well-crafted, enjoyably smooth folk tunes.

The Sonoma County duo recently played at the Independent with Langhorne Slim and the Law and will be playing the Petaluma Music Festival, and Outside Lands next month (Aug. 9-11 in Golden Gate Park).

I talked to the Easy Leaves about the power of folk, musical inspirations, and their love of performing:

SF Bay Guardian How does it feel to be playing with Langhorne Slim at the Independent?

Kevin Carducci Really excited about it. I actually know Langhorne from way back West. I saw him when I went out West. When I moved out here, it was one of the first shows I went to. One of the problems of being in music is we never get to go to shows because we’re always playing them. But I’ve been a really big fan of his for a long time. It feels like a full circle thing to play with him. One of those cool moments, feels like a little milestone.

Sage Fifield I love that stuff; it’s super exciting. Every person you get to play with always feels like an honor. To be on the same bill with him it’s genuinely exciting, like in a big way. I’ve actually listen to one of his early albums a lot of times, one of the albums Kevin introduced me to.

SFBG What’s the best show you’ve ever been to?

SF I’m just going to reach to something relatively recent within the last few years. I went to an Avett Brothes show in South Carolina, it was not too many years after Kevin and I started playing. We got tickets and went to it. It was one of those shows where you’re transfixed by the performance itself, just the energy of it. The energy was just hot the whole night, I just literally stood almost in one spot the entire show. I think they’re great.

KC I think I maybe have seen them more than any other band. I think I’ve seen the Avett Brothers 12 or more times, they’re a huge inspiration for me. Back when they were just touring up and down the East Coast, the energy they brought every time. Me and my friends would drive hundreds of miles just to see them perform. They would just transform crowds. The energy would be so powerful, a big sweaty dance party. Certain fans would just stop and stare and be sucked into it. They’re such engaging performers. They were working their asses off, you could see it in the lines in their faces – that hardworking attitude that really resonated.

SFBG What drew you to making folk music?

SF To really give an honest answer, for me it’s become the culmination of everything that I’ve wanted to do with my time here. It’s sort of like on a bigger level, to be able to perform things that you’ve created, it’s just really amazing. And so I just think it’s like a lifestyle thing, I love performing, it’s fun. When the energy’s right, it can be the best thing – very enjoyable.

KC Collaborative energy with crowd, that’s a defining factor that goes back to roots about what the music’s all about. Country music and folk music is just about passing on stories and connecting with folks, sitting around and playing songs. We started this band just sitting around the fire sharing songs with each other and eventually it became something.

Ideally we’d have a crowd of folks who sing along. That’s the thing that just makes the shows that much more exciting for us, when we’re playing to have folks on board and something they can connect with. We feel lucky people feel that way about our music.

SFBG Favorite song to perform live, cover or otherwise?

SF Right now I’ve really been enjoy playing some of our more traditional country-type tunes like one that jumps to mind is called “Since You Gone,” it’s not on any albums. It’s a really straightforward country song. We almost always play it. When you play a song that much it almost becomes more than muscle memory, almost like the song plays itself. When that happen you can really relax into it in a way. For me “Get Down” got to that point. Of course, after saying this I’ll probably totally blow off the bridge.

KC I agree with what Sage said. Constantly changing tunes like “Get Down”. Another one is “Purgatory,” which I like because I get to sing lead. We’ve been playing it for so long; it’s become a fan favorite. And “Get Down,” we’ve gotten really tight on it. You have room, you get to play around and take chanced you wouldn’t take on a new song.

SFBG Any groups you’re for sure not going to miss at Outside Lands?

KC We’re so bummed we can’t go on Saturday because we have a wedding that whole day. At the top of the list for Sunday is Hall and Oats and Willie Nelson.

SF Same here, Willie Nelson. I’ve never seen [him]. I’m always excited to see someone for the first time because you’re on the same bill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4la8cvsUZD0

Before Outside Lands: Youth Lagoon on Art Garfunkel, the spiritual significance of pelicans

Tony Robles

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June 28, 2013

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Youth Lagoon, the aloof youth that is Trevor Powers, has explored new land in latest album Wondrous Bughouse (Fat Possum). Revealing, yet withholding, the album proved his ability to not just create cosmic bliss, but deliver a few deep messages while doing it.

With the album, the 24-year-old Idaho native takes us through the fires of temptation in song “Mute,” dances with death on “Raspberry Cane” and paints an immensely disturbing and bloody image of love and sacrifice in “Pelican Man.”

Currently on tour in Europe, Powers will be here in SF to perform at Outside Lands this Aug. 9-11 (he plays Saturday, Aug. 10).The professional effects tinkerer and melody craftsman talked with me about his afro days, his penchant for destroy-and-create-again style of making music, and how bloody violence can really be sweet:

San Francisco Bay Guardian Most of the songs on Wondrous Bughouse sound melancholic, pensive, or a bit glum. Would you say this was a reflection of where your mind was at when recording this album or have you simply felt more compelled to write songs of this nature?

Trevor Powers I always feel pulled different ways at different times, so what I write is always a reflection of where I am at the moment. I stay in certain obsessions for long periods of time so when I write for months at a time, usually those blocks of time show a type of consistency with whatever I’m working on.

I’ll have periods where I hate melody or how it’s portrayed, and other times where I go back to it and take the music and rip it into pieces mentally to see how I can put it back together. With this record, I wanted to go a deeper with the melancholy.

SFBG You have said before that you’re getting more into heavy expressive sounds lately and in Wondrous Bughouse,’is there something this specific style of music does for you that maybe straight rock or grunge doesn’t?

TP I guess I don’t usually think of music in styles like a lot of people. I just hear sounds being used in altered ways. Maybe I’m just desensitized to it all by now. Everybody hears sounds differently. Something I find relatable or exciting that I show to someone else could make the other person cringe, and vice versa. So it really has nothing to do with musical styles, but with speaking through sounds and noise, and that never looks the same.

SFBG What’s the best concert you have ever been to and why?

TP Art Garfunkel — it was my first concert and I was a little boy with an afro.

SFBG Could you talk a little bit about the meaning of song “Pelican Man”?

TP Pelicans have a lot of history for spiritual significance. There are legends that say when a pelican’s babies are starving, the mother will stab her own breast with her beak to draw blood that her children can then drink. She’ll bleed out so her babies can drink her up, giving her life for theirs. A sacrifice similar to that of Jesus. Lyrically, that idea is contrasted with one of murder and serial killing. Violence out of ultimate love juxtaposed with violence out of complete hate.

SFBG Are there any artists at Outside Lands you’re looking forward to seeing?

TP I’m actually not sure who is playing so I’ll have to look up the schedule tonight and start getting my planning on. I will wear my new camouflage jumpsuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvWDUN57Cko

Before Outside Lands: death and train-tripping with Wavves

Tony Robles

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June 12, 2013

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As we collectively await Outside Lands 2013 (August 9-11, Golden Gate Park) and attempt to enjoy summer — the sun’s actually here, in the city! — I decided to get productive. This year’s lineup for the festival is again a juxtaposition of big names like Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Vampire Weekend and kick-ass local artists like the Easy Leaves and Midi Matilda. Oh yeah, and there are, of course, tons more acts in between, which you can check out here.

Wanting to check in on bands during the pre-festival festivities, I’m kicking off this series with a quick and dirty email interview with San Diego-based garage rock group, Wavves. Given the indie band’s track record with journalists, it seems I was pretty lucky to have received a reply. Frontperson Nathan Williams talks practical jokes and dying while bassist Stephen Pope recounts a horrific mushrooms experience (never trip on a train) and explains why he doesn’t mess with people.

SF Bay Guardian What was the last thing you did just to mess with someone?

Nathan Williams I put my drummer’s phone number on my Twitter.

Stephen Pope I don’t like to “mess” with people. That’s mean.

(Ed. note: Don’t worry, stealing drugs from a dealer and throwing high heels at him doesn’t count as “messing” with someone, right?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8HCFQa3OQ

SFBG What was the last song you wrote about?

NW Dying.

SP How everyday life brings about extreme anxiety and how I always think I’m dying of something. Geez.

SFBG If your life was a cartoon which would it be, why?

NW The Critic, not for any particular reasons other than I weirdly relate to Jay Sherman.

SP Hmm, I’m going to pick Home Movies because even though I’m not an 8-year-old aspiring director being raised by a single mom, I still feel like I really connect with Brendon. He’s kind of a loser, but he has friends that he does creative things with…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfPNbZB6PvM

SFBG What was one of the most bizarre experiences you have ever had while under the influence (of anything), why was it so odd?

NW Ummmm…

SP The first time I ever did mushrooms when I was a teenager, my friends and I broke onto a train bridge that ran across the Mississippi River between Memphis, Tenn. and Arkansas. We brought road flares and Roman candles, dangled off the edge, and had a fireworks party a few hundred feet above the river. When the mushrooms really started to take effect I got a little nervous about dangling off the side of the bridge, and climbed through the train stopped on the tracks to get to a more stable part. As I was climbing through the train, it started moving suddenly and I was carried a few hundred yards down the track standing between the two rail cars while tripping. I finally jumped and luckily didn’t fall to my death or get crushed by the train.

SFBG Who’s your musical guy crush?

NW Gunplay.

SP Weird Al x 1,000.

New NIN sounds like old NIN, and it’s coming to Outside Lands

Tony Robles

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June 6, 2013

2

Admit it, there was a time when a Nine Inch Nails album was the hardest music in your CD collection. You slipped your Downward Spiral disc in to drown out — or perhaps embolden — the bitter angst seething within. That was likely in the 1990s and you got way more hardcore following elementary school.

More recent decades have not been as kind to Trent Reznor and Company, as a unit. (Although, Rezner has achieved solo success elsewhere, scoring little films like The Social Network and so forth.) But the band? It seemed to have lost its way. NIN’s most recent album was ’08 misfire, The Slip, appropriately titled.

But the band will tour this fall with Explosions in the Sky, and before that plays Outside Lands in SF; and now it all makes sense: NIN will release metal-grinding new full-length Hesitation Marks on Sept. 3.

As Stereogum precisely points out, the first single – “Came Back Haunted” – is “a ferocious return to the ‘classic’ NIN style.” Perhaps this ‘90s nostalgia thing will indeed play out a little longer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgwrxcO48N8

Reminder: Outside Lands is Aug. 9-11 in Golden Gate Park. Tickets are available here. Regular three-day passes are $249.

Get festy: Burger Boogaloo, BottleRock, and nachos

Tony Robles

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May 7, 2013

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Get festy: Burger Boogaloo, BottleRock, and nachos

Flop, flop, flop. Can you hear that? It could be a burger flipping. Or maybe that’s the sound of your tanned, bloated belly landing between crisp white sheets after long stretches of outdoor music-listening, dirt(y) dancing, craft beer-imbibing, and gourmet food stand-patronizing. It’s festival season, and there’ve been some tasty developments in the past couple of weeks.

Burger Boogaloo (July 6-7) excited Oaklanders and beyond by releasing its delictable lineup full of icons and punks, Outside Lands (Aug. 9-11) announced its even fancier food lineup, and hey, BottleRock is this weekend (May 9-12)

BottleRock Napa (May 9-12)
So BottleRock is a bit of a trek — it’s out in Napa Valley, but it’s a four-day-long fest in a real pretty location (that’s bound to get more unclouded sun than SF). It kicks off this Thu/9 with live music, food, comedy and yes, beer and wine. The top billing on the lineup is a bit ho-hum, with broadly appealing rock’n’roll, blues rock, and folk acts like Kings of Leon, the Black Keys, and Zac Brown Band, but there’s also the Flaming Lips, the Shins, and the thunderous Alabama Shakes. And for a certain breed of ‘90s kid: Primus and Cake.

There’s a safe, solid comedy showing too, with Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Tig Notaro, Rob Delaney, and Daily Show alums Wyatt Cenac, Kristen Schaal, and Aasif Mandvi (not appearing together).

Tickets: www.bottlerocknapavalley.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svZNjhsk2ys

Burger Boogaloo (July 6-7)
Here’s the one to watch. Burger Records just keeps outdoing itself. It has fests around the country (including a recent biggie on its home turf of Orange County, Burgerama II) and brings together an elite mix of sloppy, legendary, and up-and-coming surf, garage, fun punk, and slack doo-wop acts. Burger Boogaloo is even more special because it brings Burger together with our own local slop heroes Total Trash Booking, for a mega-fest created by two equally appealing masters. Plus, the Boogaloo is in a park, so things could get steamy.

Everyone is talking about the disparate headliners early LA punk band Red Kross and Modern Lover/singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman — and rightfully so, they are incredible — but can we also take a minute to thank satan for the Trashwomen addition to the lineup? Epic. For those somehow unaware, the Trashwomen are Bay Area noisy surf-punk royalty, born of the ‘90s, and featuring Tina Lucchesi (of every band ever), Danielle Pimm, and Elka Zolot (Kreayshawn’s hot mama).

Add to that Ty Segall’s early trio Traditional Fools, Audacity, Guantanamo Baywatch (listen to thumping “Barbacoa” now, please), and Pangea. And, with the addition of NY Night Train’s Jonathan Toubin, there will be a Mosswood Park soul clap dance off.

I can hardly wait to kick off these smelly sneakers.

Tickets: www.burgerboogaloo.com.

Outside Lands (Aug. 9-11)
The crème de le crème of foodie-meets-rocker outdoor fêtes, Outside Lands knows what its fan base wants. So with nearly as much fanfare as its band lineup (which this year includes Paul McCartney, Phoenix, D’Angelo, Foals, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and around 20 or so others), the fest also releases its noted food vendor roundup.

There are 75 food stuff sellers at Outside Lands’ “A Taste of the Bay Area” 2013 including “returning favorites” like massive pizza truck Del Popolo, carnival fare brick-and-mortar business Straw, 4505 Meats, American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, and Pacific Catch. Newbies this year include newish SF favorite Wise Sons Deli, Rich Table, 1300 on Fillmore, Blue Bottle Coffee Co., and Nopa offshoot, Nopalito. And worry not, my personal favorite from last year (besides Metallica), Azalina’s, will be back with the Malaysian nachos that stole my blackened heart.

The vendors are usually placed in two distinct sections, with somewhat close proximity to the main stages, plus there’s the Wine Lands circus tent, Beer Lands, and Chocolate Lands. So much better than overcooked hot dogs and stale keg beer, right?

Tickets: www.sfoutsidelands.com.

Heads Up: 7 must-see concerts this week

Tony Robles

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April 16, 2013

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Macca, Hall and Oates, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails – what is this, 1976, or ’99? I kid; the Outside Lands 2013 lineup is again a meaty mix of nostalgic, revived, and shiny new acts. There’s the initial punch of a former Beatle slotted alongside NIN, RHCP, plus Jurassic 5, and Willie Nelson, then French synth-pop Phoenix, classic indie darlings Grizzly Bear, the National, Vampire Weekend, and up-and-comers King Tuff, Surfer Blood, the Growlers, along with inspired picks like D’Angelo and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Tickets are on sale Thu/18 here.

While the release of the lineup is exciting news, that fest isn’t ’till the end of foggy summer (Aug. 9-11); so focus on the sunny days ahead, the bands that are here now: a reunited King Khan and BBQ Show, the Bay Area debut of both Savages and Lady, plus Night Beats, the 2 Bears, and locals Life Coach and Dreamdate’s Anna Hillburg.

Also, a non sequitur reminder that Record Store Day is this Sat/20. Check a list of supporting shops here. And don’t forget to patronize your local brick and mortar vinyl vendors year-round.

Here are your must-see Bay Area concerts this week/end:

Night Beats
“Seattle’s Night Beats has all of the fixings of a good psych-garage act; the lo-fi recordings, the raspy vocals with punctuated yelps, and the noisily manipulated guitar. But the band, which takes its name from Sam Cooke’s best record, has a direct link to the more soulful breeds of music the title suggests, such as R&B. “Dial 666” is simple, 12-bar blues, “High Noon Blues” borrows sentiment and structure from that genre, and “Puppet on a String” seems to call for some old-fashioned dance moves.” — Laura Kerry
With Cool Ghouls, Primitive Hearts, Big Drag
Wed/17, 9pm, $10
Brick and Mortar
1710 Mission, SF
(415) 800-8782
www.brickandmortarmusic.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=545oNrQqgNY

The 2 Bears
“I don’t need caffeine. My computer just starts playing “Work” by the 2 Bears at 7am, complete with rising organ, a pulsing groove, and motivational chorus: “We’ve got to work harder, for the future, my love we got to work.” It might not even be the best song on Be Strong from the 2 Bears (Hot Chips’s Joe Goddard and the Raf Daddy), as it faces stiff competition from hilarious, cuddly club anthem “Bear Hug” and the uplifting, romantic space dub on “Church.” But, it does the job of getting me moving, and by the time the disco queen vocals kick in I’m likely showered and downstairs having breakfast.” — Ryan Prendiville
With Sleazemore, Richie Panic (Lights Down Low)
Wed/17, 10pm, $15 presale
1015 Folsom, SF
www.1015.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxI8QliBOKs

Savages
When all-female British post-punk group Savages hit the East Coast last year for the annual CMJ conference, the word spread quickly to the West: this blistering quartet is one to watch. All these anxious months later, this headlining show will be Savages’ first SF appearance, on the heels of a “spine-tingling” Coachella appearance with “heavy vocals and a fast-paced set that had the crowd cheering in appreciation.”
Thu/18, 8pm, $15
Independent
628 Divisadero, SF
www.theindependentsf.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y-cVzbBBQ8

Anna Hillburg
You may already know Anna Hillburg’s sonic touch, without knowing you know her. The Bay Area trumpet player has guested on Dodos and Fresh and Onlys records, and she’s one-third of power-pop girl group, Dreamdate. As she puts it, she’s hella local. Get to know her more intimately on her new self-titled solo album — released on vinyl, March 25 on California Clap. Left to her own devices, the songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hops genre barriers and eras over the course of 13 tracks, mixing classic ’60s pop with girl group harmonies, cry-ing-over-you ballads and dreamy whispers to forlorn lovers, with hat tips to fuzzy ’70s folk, Joni Mitchell, and the like. The only constant is Hillburg’s pleasant and confident crooning. Also, can we talk about this album cover? Perfection.
With Luke Sweeney, Garrett Pierce.
Thu/18, 9pm, $10
Eagle Tavern
398 12th St., SF
Facebook: SFEagle

King Khan and BBQ Show
And they said it wouldn’t happen. Remember all the way back in ’10, when sloppy doo-wop masters King Khan (Arish Khan) and BBQ Show (Mark Sultan) imploded over a series of on-stage arguments on an ill-fated tour? The Canadian garage punk duo has since mended,and has been patching things up with fresh songs and a few short tours. This is Khan and Sultan’s first time back in SF together since the break.
With Sir Lord Von Raven, Wild Eyes SF.
Fri/19, 9pm, $16
Slim’s
333 11th St., SF
www.slimspresents.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ellItasoK2s

Life Coach
Phil Manley was a founding member of influential DC post-rock trio Trans Am, and has played with the Fucking Champs and Oneida. He’s produced albums for Wooden Shjips, Grass Widow, Date Palms, and Golden Void. And most recently, he released a textured, guitar-heavy drone rock album called Alphawaves (April 16, Thrill Jockey) with his new band, Life Coach. The release show for which is tonight.
Sat/20, 9:30pm, $8
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk, SF
www.hemlocktavern.com
http://vimeo.com/63207718

Lady
Yet another SF debut tonight – this one from super-smooth vocalists Terri Walker and Nicole Wrap, a.k.a., the soul duo known as Lady. The London and Atlanta based singers have individually performed alongside the likes of Mos Def, Q-Tip, Missy Elliot, the Black Keys, and Kid Cudi. They paired up over a love vintage soul, recorded an album that’s also called Lady for Truth and Soul Records, and are currently on tour opening for funky R&B-blues headliners Lee Fields and the Expressions.
Sun/21, 8pm, $25
Bimbo’s
1025 Columbus , SF
www.bimbos365club.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3IMPYJ7MiY

Mike Shine’s “Flotsam’s Harvest” at White Walls

Sue Vaughan

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March 26, 2013

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Mike Shine’s “Flotsam’s Harvest” at White Walls

By Molly Champlain

A promise that all our ailments will disappear and our wildest dreams will come true … for a small price. Or for the price of your soul? Dr. Flotsam and his self-described “crew of carny bastards,” sprung from the wild mind of San Francisco artist Mike Shine, ask us the worth of that exchange. The question is scattered through the paintings, performance, and graphic novel of his show, “Flotsam’s Harvest,” up now through April 6 at White Walls.

According to the show’s press release:

“‘Flotsam’s Harvest’ will be a sweeping installation of street art, paintings, films, a medicine show performance and the launching of Shine’s graphic novella. Each aspect of the show will provide different coded tips and hints, offered to help viewers solve the dark ‘World Riddle’ posed by Friedrich Nietzsche in his book, Thus Spake Zarathustra.”

Intrigued? The opening at White Walls Sat/16 had enough stimulation to dissolve even the hardest anti-consumerist into clapping, grinning, and Irish drinking-song singing. But the mystical “Hell Brew” the medicine show promoted wasn’t for sale. Whether it was ploy to sell the art or vice versa is still up for debate.

Shine’s devilish paintings of animals and figures fuse illustration and graffiti styles. Their rustic colors are blockish and thickly lined like cartoons, while the dripping paint, stray marks, collaged tickets, and spray paint give an urban art feel. These hip but simple paintings are enhanced by frames carved with animal figures and hung on walls painted with radiating text that’s as inscrutable as gang tags. Similar murals are also painted around in the city with Banksy-esque portraits of the “carny bastards.” But despite how cool they are, the artworks were not the selling point for me.

Shine’s opening night performance (similar to those he has done at Outside Lands and SFMOMA), was equally as rich and cryptic. It began in some form of Gaelic or Old English with subtitles on cards and continued with Dr. Flotsam selling his mystical tonic in a thick, comical accent. We all knew the audience volunteer selected to test the brew was a plant (in the form of YouTube dance star takesomecrime): he hobbled on stage but was “cured” after swigging from Dr. Flotsam’s flask, and began shuffling to electro swing by Skewiff.

This wildly entertaining evening can’t be isolated as the meat of what Shine has made either, but it began to make sense of what was going on. The sense of irony was ripe when Dr. Flotsam noted that the government doesn’t permit medicine shows because they “lie to you.” (This sense of danger in the promise was deepened in his disclaimer that you can have your widest dreams come true, if you’re willing to part with your soul.)

A similar theme emerges in the accompanying graphic novel, in which Dr. Flotsam intervenes in the lives of people who have notably impacted history, like the caveman who made fire, Jesus, or the inventor of penicillin. But each one pays a heavy price for the advice they receive. The conflation of good and bad creates a wild sense of anarchy which gives reason for, and holds the key to, the intense and scattered information Shine draws upon for his work.

In a culture where added dimension in art and immersive stimulation in film are often confused with creative quality, Shine has created a show which uses both to convey his meaning. But after the whole experience puzzling out the riddle, I was left wanting. The entertaining trail of information ended in a simple answer, but opened up a number of new questions: was it about merging the body and soul by processing his art in order to gain a stronger sense of identity? Or about how commodities are sold with flair and gusto, but in their mass production fail to truly appeal to the individual? Or is Shine just trying to fuck with people? Maybe you should take a look at the riddle and figure it out for yourself.

Mike Shine, “Flotsam’s Harvest”

Through April 6

White Walls Gallery

886 Geary, SF

www.whitewallssf.com

Spring into arts

Andrew Lam

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March 19, 2013

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It’s true that San Francisco doesn’t really have seasons, per se. We don’t have a snow thaw, or a sudden riot of cherry blossoms, or even a perceptible change in the weather to mark calendar shifts. So grab that lightweight jacket you’ve been wearing since October, and use our selective guide to what music shows to see (dude … Sparks is coming!), gallery and museum shows to hit up, films to catch, and can’t-miss theater and dance performances — including, yep, a fresh take on The Rite of Spring.

MUSIC: SOUL, SPARKS, AND SEVENTIES LEGENDS

“Soul Clap and Dance-Off” (March 30, Rickshaw Stop, SF) After a freak accident in late 2011 (a car plowed into his hotel room), revered New York Night Train DJ Jonathan Toubin is back with his feverish ’60s soul freak out party. The winner of the dance-off gets 100 bones, the guest selector is DJ Primo, and full disclosure, I’m one of the contest judges this time around. www.rickshawstop.com

“Rock See! A Benefit Concert for the Roxie Theater” (April 5, Verdi Club, SF) Support the Roxie by taking in a fundraiser show that’s bursting with local talent, including live sets by John Dwyer’s garage rock superstars Thee Oh Sees, Sonny and the Sunsets, Future Twin, and Assateauge, along with video projections by Barry Jenkins, Jim Granato, and more. www.roxie.com

Sparks (April 9-10, The Chapel, SF) Influential new wave-glam pop duo Sparks hits SF the weekend before Coachella for two intimate concerts, pulling experimental cuts from its 20-plus back catalog of music insider-worshiped albums. www.thechapelsf.com

“CubaCaribe Festival” (April 12-14, Dance Mission Theater, SF; April 19, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF; April 26-28, Laney College Theater, Oakl.) The ninth CubaCaribe Festival offers music and dance performances, lectures, and master classes all based in rich Caribbean traditions. Check out Afro-Cuban modern dance company Teatro de la Danza del Caribe’s first US appearance, Brazilian inspired music and dance company Sambaxé, a lecture by popular local percussionist John Santos, and plenty more. www.cubacaribe.org

Lou Reed (April 14, Warfield, SF) Legendary Velvet Underground songwriter and pioneering solo artist in his own right, Lou “Walk on the Wild Side” Reed pays SF a visit, with memories of his contentious collaboration with Metallica on the Lulu (2011) album (thankfully) fading into the past. www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

Savages (April 18, Independent, SF) When all-female British post-punk group Savages hit the East Coast last year for the annual CMJ conference, the word spread quickly to the West: this blistering quartet is one to watch. All these anxious months later, this headlining show will be Savages’ first SF appearance. www.theindependentsf.com

Big Boi (May 16, Mezzanine, SF) After a disastrous non-set at Outside Lands a few years back (DJ technical issues), rapper-producer Big Boi, a.k.a. one-half of Outkast, returned triumphantly in 2012 with an explosive, quick-tongued performance. Now’s your chance to catch him in a far smaller space in 2013. www.mezzaninesf.com

Fleetwood Mac (May 22, HP Pavilion, San Jose) It’s been 35 years since the release of Rumours. Sure, you can go your own way, but never forget how you got there: after years of touring as solo artists, that classic Fleetwood Mac dynamic (everyone but Christine McVie) is back together, or at least, on tour this spring. (Emily Savage)

VISUAL ART: MUSEUMS

“Lebbeus Woods, Architect” and “Garry Winogrand” (Both through June 2 at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) Both are getting lots of attention. Postmodern architect Woods, who just passed away, gets the full retrospective treatment; documentary-style photographer Winograd hasn’t had a retrospective in a couple decades. www.sfmoma.org

“Revisiting the South: Richard Misrach’s Cancer Alley” (March 27-June 16 at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University) Misrach is known for his pristine photographs of blasted and abused environments. The juxtaposition is usually pretty jarring, and I’m a big fan. museum.stanford.edu

“Richard Diebenkorn” (June 22-Sept. 29 at the de Young Museum) New show focusing on abstract paintings from his Berkeley period. deyoung.famsf.org (Matt Fisher)

VISUAL ART: GALLERIES

“Teo González: Recent Paintings” (Through April 20 at Brian Gross) González makes intricate, fastidious paintings, which isn’t such a novelty anymore, except that his match process with subject matter better than most. The show at Brian Gross promises to feature González’s night sky paintings, applying his signature miniscule brushwork to themes of transcendence and chaos. www.briangrossfineart.com

“Evan Nesbit: Light Farming/Heavy Gardening” (March 23-April 26 at Ever Gold) I’m recommending this one based on the overall strength of Ever Gold’s program, which I think it one of the most adventurous in the city — and the fact that Nesbit as an alum of the Yale painting program, which is almost certainly the best in the country. His paintings incorporate real-world woven knits (reminiscent of seat covers, crocheted things, those puffy drawer linings) as the substrate for abstract paintings that manage to combine grid painting, color field painting, and a soft kind of blunt expressionism. www.evergoldgallery.com

“John Millei: Recent Paintings” (March 28-May 11 at George Lawson) Millei is one of Los Angeles’ most virtuosic abstract painters; he usually composes heroic-scaled paintings and projects. His most recent body of work shown at LA’s ACE was from a decade-long project of 200-plus small paintings based on Giotto and Giorgio Morandi. When Millei does historical references, it’s not in the appropriative way that many do, copping motifs and moody lighting effects — it’s in methodically and microscopically breaking down both image and process to reestablish both the image’s dynamic and the role of the artist. For George Lawson, he’s making new works for the tiny Tenderloin space. For my money, Millei is one of the most romantic of living abstractionists. www.georgelawsongallery.com (Fisher)

DANCE: PREMIERES WITH MUSIC, PREMIERES WITH PLANTS

Mago (April 12-14, CounterPULSE) Dohee Lee is that rare creature steeped by inclination and training in a traditional culture — but who is also a completely contemporary artist. She is a singer, a dancer, and a Korean-style Taiko drummer. But she also knows how to weave these abilities into storytelling and ritualized theatrical creations. For Mago, her exploration of the Korean goddess associated with the creation and care of the earth, she adds animation and custom-made instruments to her skills box; it’s a work that integrates her theatrical practice with ritual and Korean shamanism. www.counterpulse.org

Failure of the Sign is the Sign (May 3-5, ODC Theater) The sixth season of Hope Mohr Dance continues what Mohr does so very well: presenting her own very smart choreography but also, through her Bridge Project, bringing in colleagues whose work she admires. This year, it’s Alpert Awards winner Susan Rethorst with the West Coast premiere of her intricate and much-praised Behold Bold Sam Dog. Mohr’s own new work, Failure of the Sign is the Sign, is an installation around the connection between acquiring language and a sense of self. www.odcdance.org

“Ojai North 2013” (June 12-15, Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley) The world premiere of Mark Morris’ Rite of Spring just might be the season’s hottest ticket. In many ways it’s an outrageous idea to rework one of the most famous 20th century scores for piano, bass, drums. Bu that’s exactly what the three jazz musicians of the Bad Plus did. Never mind that 100 years ago at its world premiere, Stravinsky had an orchestra of 110 musicians — not including strings — at his disposal. Morris, a musically sophisticated choreographer, apparently loved it, and is setting it on his Mark Morris Dance Group. He’s been choreographing for over 30 years, and he still manages to surprise us. calperfs.berkeley.edu

Botany’s Breath (July 10-13, Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park) For Botany’s Breath, Kim Epifano works with nine professional dancers as well as a dozen community performers. The piece honors the natural world in dance, music, song, and video and pays tribute to the historically significant Conservatory of Flowers. Collaborating with her are instrument builder Peter Whitehead, musician Norman Rutherford, and videographer Ellen Bromberg. You can expect the show to spill out of the quaint Victorian structure into the surrounding environment. www.epiphanydance.org (Rita Felciano)

FILM: FESTIVALS, REP HOUSES … AND A GIANT-ROBOT FLICK

With Hollywood committed to an array of sequels, prequels, and do-overs (like, how many hangovers, Spocks, fast/furious drivers, Supermen, Iron Men, Wolverines, and Gatsbys do we need, really?), your best bet is to focus on film festivals and rep houses this summer. (Maybe take time out for Guillermo del Toro’s aliens vs. giant robots epic Pacific Rim, due July 12 — now that seems worthy of massive popcorn consumption.)

San Francisco’s spring-summer film fest season includes heavy-hitters like the San Francisco International Film Festival (April 5-May 29; www.sffs.org); the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (June 20-30, www.frameline.org); the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (July 18-21; www.silentfilm.org); and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (July 25-Aug. 12; www.sfjff.org).

Elsewhere, the Pacific Film Archive unspools “The Spanish Mirth: The Comedic Films of Luis García Berlanga” (March 29-April 17; bampfa.berkeley.edu); the Vortex Room’s latest weekly double-feature extravaganza, “Assault on Vortex 13,” chock full o’ 1970s and ’80s action flicks, kicks off April 4 (Facebook: The Vortex Room); the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts scores with “Thai Dreams: The Films of Pen-ek Ratanaruang,” with an in-person visit from the groundbreaking artist (April 4-21; www.ybca.org); cult-movie series Thrillville celebrates its 16th anniversary with an April 14 screening of This Island Earth (www.thenewparkway.com); and the best documentary about movie obsession ever, Room 237, opens April 19 at the Roxie (www.roxie.com).

Plus! Contribute at least $40 to the San Francisco Cinematheque’s Kickstarter campaign in support of the group’s experimental and avant-garde Crossroads Film Festival (April 5-7; www.sfcinematheque.org), and get a tote bag featuring naughty ‘n’ nice artwork by the late, great George Kuchar — guaranteed to never go out of style. (Cheryl Eddy)

THEATER: VINTAGE COCKETTES, NEW KUSHNER

Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma (March 28-June 1, Hypnodrome, SF) Making good on a promising trend that began gloriously in 2009 with smash hit Pearls over Shanghai, Thrillpeddlers continues its Theatre of the Ridiculous Revival series with more musical-comedy mayhem from the Cockettes, San Francisco’s own tripping glitter-bearded drag queens of legend. With the full-length restored version of 1971’s Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma, the company really pulls out the stops — while stuffing in 14 new songs and roping in, as collaborators and cast members, three original Cockettes: Scrumbly Koldewyn, Rumi Missabu, and “Sweet Pam” Tent. www.thrillpeddlers.com

The Bereaved (April 4-27, Thick House, SF) For several years now my friend John and I have been simultaneously enjoying Thomas Bradshaw’s devilishly smart plays (Purity; Dawn; Strom Thurmond Is Not a Racist; etc.) and wondering when someone in the Bay Area would get around to mounting one. In a West Coast premiere, Crowded Fire essays Bradshaw’s scathingly all-American comedy about a family of fevered New York go-getters — gleefully “inappropriate” enough in its wanton send-up of what passes for normal life to be considered a refreshing provocation amid the usual theater fare. www.crowdedfire.org

Storm and Titania (April 7, Noh Space, SF) This one-night-only engagement, co-presented by foolsFURY, offers the Bay Area its first-ever look at the work of Moon Fool, an innovative physical theater ensemble led by UK-based director-actor-musician Anna-Helena McLean, herself a former lead actor with famous Polish experimental theater company Gardzienice. The evening includes Titania, a widely lauded adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream constructed as a solo cabaret; and a work-in-progress showing of Storm, a new immersive, site-specific spectacle based on The Tempest. www.foolsfury.org

The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures (May 16-July 7, Roda Theatre, Berk.) It sounded from its initial reviews like something of a hot mess, but it’s apparently been trimmed and fine-tuned, and anyway there’s no missing the West Coast premiere of a new Tony Kushner play — especially one whose title invokes the decidedly odd coupling of George Bernard Shaw and Mary Baker Eddy. Set in Brooklyn amid the extended family of a lefty Italian American longshoreman, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide promises a fulgurant night of political-philosophical conversation from the stage, bound to stimulate a lot more conversation afterward. www.berkeleyrep.org (Robert Avila)

Our 50 favorite San Francisco bars — all on one page!

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February 26, 2013

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Our 50 favorite San Francisco bars — all on one page!

From splashy dives to upscale classics (and everything in between) — our favorite spots to grab a drink

This week’s cover story in the paper highlights 50 great bars we love (along with 30 honorable mentions and 10 East Bay favorites). That’s a lot of pages on the Internet! here it all is on one handy page — grab a drink and scroll with us to watering hole bliss. (You can also flip through the digital edition of the paper here.)

PS For this list we concentrated specifically on bars (including those at restaurants and hotels), leaving you to judge the cocktails at music venues and dance clubs on their own merits.

PRICE RANGE KEY:

$ (cocktails generally under $10)

$$ (cocktails generally $10-14)

$$$ (cocktails generally $15 and above)

NOTABLE KEY:

Cocktail Destination: Noteworthy cocktails

Spirits Selection: Extensive or well-curated spirits selection

Memorable Atmosphere: Worth drinking here for the atmosphere

Wine Sanctuary: Exceptional wine list

Beer Haven: Exceptional beer list

Gourmet Bites: Notable food

Dive: Classic, standout dive bar

Classic: An SF staple, standard-setter

Mellow: Particularly laid back, good for conversation

Music: Live music destination

15 ROMOLO

North Beach, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

Consistently one of SF’s best cocktail bars, 15 Romolo commands an uphill alley in North Beach with some of the most balanced and inventive drinks in town. The laidback, dim space (with fab jukebox), reflects pre-Prohibition spirit but isn’t obnoxiously theme-y. Many of our city’s top bartenders started here, going on to launch other bars. Romolo’s brunch — boozy waffle shots! — and food menu rank among the most satisfying bar food in existence. Hello, peanut butter bacon burgers!

15 Romolo, SF. (415) 398-1359, www.15romolo.com

ALEMBIC

Upper Haight, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

As Alembic currently faces significant changes (bar manager Daniel Hyatt’s exit after nearly seven years, expansion into the Red Vic space next door), time will tell if it remains the iconic bar it has been for the past 7 years. Still serving impeccable New Orleans classic cocktails, Hyatt’s unique, forward-thinking cocktails, and underrated, gourmet food, Alembic’s spirits collection, particularly American whiskey, has been one of its key strengths since day one.

1725 Haight, SF. (415) 666-0822, www.alembicbar.com

AQ

SoMa, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection, Memorable Atmosphere, Wine Sanctuary

AQ’s lovely brick-walled, high ceiling restaurant evolves its decor with the season, while the bar changes vintage glassware and bar top: burnt copper for fall, marble in winter. Seasonal cocktail classics are infused with subtle twists while original cocktails are incredibly creative, unusual. The wine list is extensive, heavy on the Loire Valley but offering an international range.

1085 Mission, SF. (415) 341-9000, www.aq-sf.com

AUB ZAM ZAM

Upper Haight, $

Classic, Dive

Faded 1930s Arabian Nights theme and legendarily grumpy bartenders have set this boozy cocktail den apart for decades. This piece of cocktail history birthed countless stories of now deceased Bruno, who would kick people out for ordering a vodka martini — or for any reason that suited him. It’s friendlier now, thank goodness. And there’s been no upgrades to decor, the jukebox still belts out Tony Bennett and Tom Waits, drinks remain stiff, and there’s almost always a seat waiting for you. It’s nice knowing just a few places remain averse to change.

1633 Haight, SF. (415) 861-2545

AUNT CHARLIE’S LOUNGE

Tenderloin, $

Classic, Dive, Memorable Atmosphere

Everything you thought about gay bars was wrong — or else exactly right. This wonderfully worn-in, carpeted little cave in the Tenderloin is bursting with character and crazy seasonal decor. Grittily glamorous Hotboxxx Girls drag shows on Friday and Saturday evenings are a must for the too-hip and the just-visiting alike.

133 Turk, SF. (415) 441-2922, www.auntcharlieslounge.com

BAR AGRICOLE

SoMa, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Good luck getting a bar seat in this ultra-cool, eco-chic bar-restaurant, minimalist yet dramatic under shimmering light installations, serving forward-thinking food. Reserve a table in the front garden, arrive early, or just wait your turn at the bar and you’ll be blessed with impeccable rum and rhum agricole cocktails alongside a range of pristinely-executed classics from Thad Vogler and crew.

355 11th St., SF. (415) 355-9400, www.baragricole.com

BENDER’S

Mission, $

Beer Haven, Dive

A stalwart favorite of fixie riders, rock mavens, and those weary of fighting for space a Zeitgeist — or hey, folks just looking for a good, stiff drink in a mercifully concept-free atmosphere with room to sit down. Bender’s stands out with a tasty beer selection and tater tots and tacos to die for.

806 Van Ness, SF. (415) 824-1800, www.bendersbar.com

BIG

TenderNob, $$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere

Truly tiny under red velvet-draped ceiling, the ironically named Big fills up quickly, but overcrowding is somehow kept at bay, making it, at times, an intimate spot for a cocktail. Though pricey, the menu-less bar is about seeing what house syrups have been made that day (mirepoix, corn?), what spirit you might be in the mood for, and what two talented bartenders can craft on the spot.

761 Post, SF.

THE BIG 4

Nob Hill, $$$

Classic, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere, Mellow, Musical

May rumors of the Huntington Hotel’s new owners doing away with this fantastic, historic bar — the jewel of Nob Hill — be untrue. For decades, the Big 4, named for the Central Pacific Railroad’s “big fiour” tycoons, has been the archetypal old school bar in a restaurant. Its dark wood setting and fireplace evoking an ur-capitalist gentleman’s club and martini lounge set to the nightly, live piano strains of Michael Parsons (Sundays it’s Steve Klawiter).

1075 California, SF. (415) 771-1140, www.big4restaurant.com

BIX

Financial District, $$

Classic, Cocktail Destination, Musical

One of the more dazzling dining rooms in town. You enter thick curtains off a downtown alley into Bix’s dramatic space — like walking into a Thin Man movie. Live jazz and beautiful Negronis confirm you’ve entered another, jazzier era, one Bix has faithfully preserved since 1988. Here’s to many more decades.

56 Gold, SF. (415) 433-6300, www.bixrestaurant.com

BLACKBIRD

Castro, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

The Castro is one of the most social neighborhoods in SF, rife with numerous watering holes and gathering places. But not until Blackbird was there a cocktailian’s haven, serving elegant drinks — with a well-curated wine ist to match — utilizing house made pistachio orgeat, hibiscus-infused brandy, and other handcrafter ingredients.

2124 Market, SF. (415) 503-0630, www.blackbirdbar.com

BOURBON AND BRANCH

Tenderloin, $$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere, Mellow, Spirits Selection,

Love or hate the new speakeasy bars, Bourbon and Branch, now eight years old, was one of the earliest progenitors of the theme outside of NYC. And despite owner Future Bars’ notable other bars (Tradition, Local Edition), B&B remains the best. Rarely is a bar this transporting: ring a doorbell next to an unmarked door and enter the 1920s. This reservations-only hideaway guarantees a seat, a romantic escape for conversation and quality drink. Its bar-within-a-bar, Wilson and Wilson, is likewise one of SF’s best, digging even deeper into housemade ingredients and unusual combinations. Consider it the impressive place to take out-of-towners for a drink.

501 Jones, SF. (415) 346-1735, www.bourbonandbranch.com

BROKEN RECORD

Excelsior, $

Spirits Selection, Dive, Gourmet Bites

This dive in the outer reaches of SF draws whiskey fans from afar. With every chef who sets up shop in Broken Record’s back room, kick-ass bar food (Southern BBQ, elevated burgers) results. From pool table to patio, it’s everything you want in a dive bar and more, including laid back bartenders, a genuine vibe, and more than 250 whiskies at reasonable prices.

1166 Geneva, SF. (415) 963-1713, www.facebook.com/brokenrecordsf

CANTINA

Union Square, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

Pioneering South and Central American cocktails, Cantina has been keeping it real for years with refreshing drinks highlighting tequila, mezcal, cachaca, and pisco (owner Duggan McDonnell is also one of the creators of Campo Encanto Pisco). Cantina’s basement hosts all kinds of events, a community gathering place.

580 Sutter, SF. (415) 398-0193, www.cantinasf.com

CHURCH KEY

North Beach, $–$$

Beer Haven, Mellow

Church Key is a breath of fresh air amid the party bars, classic dives, strip clubs, and cocktail spots of North Beach. With cozy upstairs mezzanine, it’s a beer lovers dream of revolving drafts and bottles in an unpretentious setting where one can actually talk with friends.

1402 Grant, SF. (415) 963-1713

CLUB DELUXE

Upper Haight, $

Music, Gourmet Bites

Blonde wood walls, black and white tile, red booths, dim lighting — an environment virtually unchanged for decades. These are reasons to love Club Deluxe but supreme is multiple nightly sets of some of the best live jazz in SF, from bossa nova to bepop and blues. You don’t come here for the drinks but recent addition of Chef Thomas Martinez offers fantastic food. One can comfortably linger over a shot of whiskey, jazz, and gourmet plates.

1511 Haight, SF. (415) 552-6949, www.sfclubdeluxe.com

COMSTOCK SALOON

North Beach, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere, Spirits Selection

Showcasing SF’s Barbary Coast era with vintage ceiling fans, Victorian couch sidling up to a pot belly stove, and the original trough (ahem, to piss in back in the day) lining a dramatic wood bar, “Saloon Keepers” Jeff Hollinger and Jonny Raglin honor the history of Comstock’s gorgeous, two-room, 1907 space. It’s a memorable a date night and a casual, neighborhood hangout. Whether cozy in a bar booth or at a table in the wainscoted dining room, food from Chef Carlos Espina is as thoughtful as the classic cocktails.

155 Columbus, SF. (415) 617-0071, www.comstocksaloon.com

DOSA

Mission, Fillmore, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Besides serving some of the best upscale South Indian food anywhere, Dosa’s two locations also craft a unique cocktail menu unlike any, heavy on Indian spices and flavor profiles, including its own house gin produced by local distiller Old World Spirits: cardamom-rich Blade Gin.

Dosa on Fillmore: 1700 Fillmore, SF. (415) 441-3672

Dosa on Valencia: 995 Valencia, SF. (415) 642-3672, www.dosasf.com

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Tenderloin, $

Classic, Dive

This quintessential SF dive bar has been around for years, akin to classic British pubs, occasionally rowdy, generally low key, ever-ready with a pint. In that spirit, its serves fish and chips in newspaper and facilitates offbeat community with readings, ’60s dance club nights, and legendary trivia quizzes.

950 Geary, SF. (415) 885-4074, www.castlenews.com

ELIXIR

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

When partying or sports-loving crowds descend, the already small bar gets cramped, in a space dating back to 1858. Boasting an impressive whiskey collection, Elixir is run by cocktail pioneer H. Joseph Ehrmann, and talented bar managing duo Shea Shawnson and Nick DesEnfants. The cocktail menu is a mix of 1800s saloon classics, Elixir favorites like H.’s Celery Cup No. 1, and rotating seasonal drinks.

3200 16th St., SF. (415) 552-1633, www.elixirsf.com

FAT ANGEL

Fillmore, $–$$

Beer Haven, Wine Sanctuary, Gourmet Bites

Part romantic European café, part comfortable neighborhood pub, Fat Angel manages to be dream neighborhood beer and wine bar in one. Above average bar bites, friendly staff, and changing draft beers and wines listed on a large chalkboard under dramatic chandelier ensure you’ll want to linger for hours.

1740 O’Farrell, SF. (415) 525-3013 www.fatangelsf.com

GITANE

Financial District, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Just about the sexiest bar and setting in the city, Gitane has been strong on spirits collection, wine list, and cocktails from day one, with upscale regional Spanish cuisine making it a real date night. 6 Claude Lane, SF. (415) 788-6686, www.gitanerestaurant.com

HEAVEN’S DOG

SoMa, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

Undergoing a significant overhaul, Heaven’s Dog showcases the cocktail expertise of one of our great barmen, Erik Adkins. The bar at Asian-influenced Heaven’s Dog restaurant has been tended by some of SF’s top bartenders, most recently supervised by Ethan Terry (of AQ, 15 Romolo, Comstock). One of the best places for classic Charles H. Baker cocktails anywhere, its latest incarnation will focus on original creations alongside Charles Phan’s cuisine (of Slanted Door fame).

1148 Mission, SF. (415) 863-6008, www.heavensdog.com

THE HIDEOUT

Mission, $

Cocktail Destination

Through longtime Mission favorite Dalva is a hidden back room, The Hideout, a getaway for cocktail geeks who disdain pretension. With guest bartending appearances by local and visiting drink masters, bar staff display an adept hand at elegant but never fussy cocktails, shaken or stirred to loud, classic tunes of the ’70s and ’80s.

3121 16th St., SF. (415) 252-7740

HI TOPS

Castro, $–$$

Memorable Atmosphere, Gourmet Bites

It’s a new gay sports bar — a recent shot in Sports Illustrated featuring two men in 49ers jerseys kissing toppled barriers. But why stop there? The vintage ’60s gym decor, eclectic atmosphere, and twists on game night bites have upped the sports bar game. And yes, there’s a cocktail with Muscle Milk as base.

2247 Market, SF. (415) 551-2500, www.hitopssf.com

HOG & ROCKS

Mission, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Hog & Rocks has been a popular watering hole for American whiskey and unfussy cocktails lovers, happy over platters of oysters and ham. Once the bar was commandeered by Michael Lazar consulting with Scott Beattie, it became a special place for bracing cask strength Old Fashioneds, or tall rocks refreshers accented by garden fresh and preserved fruits and herbs. Lazar and Beattie (who also put together the drink menu at the new Hi Lo across the street) have made it a casual yet festive cocktail destination.

3431 19th St., SF. (415) 550-8627, www.hogandrocks.com

HOTEL BIRON

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Wine Sanctuary, Mellow

Hotel Biron is an intimate, romantic wine bar drawing people to a nondescript alley near busy Market Street for years, featuring monthly rotating local artists in a candlelit, narrow space. Grab a couch or bistro chair with friends in this late night sanctuary for French and Californian wines.

45 Rose, SF. (415) 703-0403, www.hotelbiron.com

JASPER’S CORNER TAP

Union Square, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Need a meet-up location with friends or colleagues near Union Square? One open all day, that’ll please the beer geek, the wine lover, the cocktail aficionado? Oh, and that serves reasonably priced, tasty gastropub food? Not too tall an order, since Jasper’s came along. Thanks to bar manager Kevin Diedrich, one of our city’s great bartenders, some of the most thoughtful, fun cocktails in the city are here.

401 Taylor, SF. (415) 775-7979, www.jasperscornertap.com

LITTLE SHAMROCK

Inner Sunset, $

Dive, Pub, Classic, Mellow

Though there’s no shortage of Irish pubs in town, Little Shamrock stands out, going strong since 1894. Just off Golden Gate Park, this is garage sale, eclectic comfort expressed in a hodgepodge of couches, chairs, tables, inviting one to linger over Guinness on tap, board games, backgammon, warm fireplace, and free popcorn.

807 Lincoln Way, SF. (415) 661-0060

MAGNOLIA BREWERY

Upper Haight, $–$$

Beer Haven, Gourmet Bites

Operating as a busy gastropub, Magnolia arguably crafts the best local SF beer (not bottled) since 1997. Beermaster and restaurateur, Dave McLean, who also owns Alembic and an upcoming Dogpatch brewery, is behind the world-class brews. Serving cask-conditioned ales long before it was trendy, experimenting in a range of styles and categories, he makes sure there’s a beer for everyone. McLean is a key figure in furthering SF and California beers from his roles in the SF Brewers Guild and Outside Lands’ Beer Lands.

1398 Haight, SF. (415) 1398 Haight, SF. www.magnoliapub.com

MARTUNI’S

Soma, $$

Classic, Memorable Atmosphere, Music

Who doesn’t love a piano bar? Characters belt out showtunes in the back of this velvet-draped classic, while spiffy bartenders shake or stir some killer martinis upfront. It’s a little bit classy, a little bit seedy, and all San Francisco.

4 Valencia, SF. (415) 241-0205, martunis.ypguides.net

MAVEN

Lower Haight, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Kate Bolton brought a deft hand with cocktails (formed at fine dinging bars like Michael Mina) when she became bar manager at Maven, Lower Haight’s best new cocktail outpost. Elegant yet unfussy drinks and an equally strong food menu — with helpful, adventurous beer pairings — make it a winning, all-around stop.

598 Haight, SF. (415) 829-7982. www.maven-sf.com

MONK’S KETTLE, ABBOT’S CELLAR

Mission, $–$$

Beer Haven, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Opened by the same team, these temples to beer feature proper glassware, storing temperatures, and impeccable selections (bottle and draft) of rare beers from around the globe. Both are strong restaurants, whether the always-crowded, gastropub-like Monk’s, which has been one of our city’s best beer bars for years, or the newer, more upscale Abbot’s Cellar.

Monk’s: 3141 16th St., SF. (415) 865-9523, www.monkskettle.com

Abbot’s: 742 Valencia, SF. (415) 626-8700, www.abbotscellar.com

MOSTO

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Spirits Selection

An agave spirits collection of more than 300 bottles is reason enough to visit Mosto. A generous list of tequila and mezcal cocktails, neighboring Tacolicious restaurant’s guac and queso and laid back, urban cantina feel confirm it’s a top tequila bar.

741 Valencia, SF. www.mostosf.com

OCCIDENTAL CIGAR BAR

Financial District, $–$$

Classic, Mellow

Since 2001, cozy Occidental is a rare smoking bar and our pick for top cigar bar. Besides a strong spirits list heavy on the whiskies, its historical connection goes back to the 1860s in the space’s former incarnation as the Occidental Hotel, where Professor Jerry Thomas, who helped established bartending as a craft, is purported to have once bartended. Woodcut etchings of his groundbreaking Bon Vivants Companion cocktail book line smoke-tinged walls of the bar where you can bring in your own cigars or choose from the humidor collection.

471 Pine, SF. (415) 834-0485, www.occidentalcigarclub.com

PRESS CLUB

Downtown, $$

Wine Sanctuary, Memorable Atmosphere

Press Club’s subterranean setting right off Market Street downtown is an unusual one. With a vast space in which to find a quiet corner or celebrate with a crowd, consider it the chic lounge of wine bars, serving a changing list of international wines, flights (like “Italy vs. USA”), beers, and bites, featuring monthly vintners and brewers with focused tastings. It’s a central, notable place to meet up with out-of-towners and colleagues.

20 Yerba Buena Lane, SF. (415) 744-5000, www.pressclubsf.com

RANGE

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

A drink and dining stalwart from the early days when Brooke Arthur ran the small bar, to current manager Jeff Lyon’s touch, which has kept the intimate bar in Range’s restaurant on the drink lover’s map. Spirit-heavy or seasonal drinks (like an Ojo del Tigre with blood orange and tequila) are delicious and impeccably crafted.

842 Valencia, SF. (415) 282-8283

RICH TABLE

Hayes Valley, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Besides being one of the top new restaurants in the city (and country), Rich Table opened with a short but sharp cocktail list showcasing herbs and spirits. Once Jason “Buffalo” LoGrasso was brought on as bar manager, the cocktail list, including unforgettable dessert cocktails, grew, becoming a special drink outpost… if you can snag a seat at the bar.

199 Gough, SF. (415) 355-9085, www.richtablesf.com

RIO GRANDE

Tenderloin, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere

From the Bon Vivants, this urban cantina-meets-roadhouse pours cheap, canned beers and skillful cocktails, heavy on tequila and whiskey, under glistening walls and stripper poles. A live music stage and cowhide confirm the roadhouse vibe, while the bar livens up a seedy stretch of Market Street.

1108 Market, SF.

ROYAL CUCKOO

Outer Mission, $–$$

Memorable Atmosphere, Music

Dimly lit, sexy Royal Cuckoo is a hodgepodge of mid-century thrift store lamps, paintings, and furniture accented with shades of red. A strong small batch spirits selection and in-house Hammond organ star in a space reminiscent of great New Orleans bars: no cover for excellent live music (all centered around the Hammond). All for the cost of a stiff drink… and there always seems to be a seat.

3202 Mission, SF. (415) 550-8667, www.royalcuckoo.com

RYE

Tenderloin, $

Cocktail Destination

With smoking “cage” patio out front and center-of-Tenderloin locale, Rye has been churning out quality cocktails — and some of the city’s best bartenders — long before many current upstarts were even in planning stages. Masterminds Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren (who also opened 15 Romolo, Rye on the Road, Rosewood) ensure Rye remains an unpretentious neighborhood hangout serving drinkable cocktails, like that ever-popular basil gimlet.

688 Geary, SF. (415) 474-4448, www.ryesf.com

SMUGGLER’S COVE

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere, Spirits Selection

This tri-level tropical escape, from owner Martin Cate, launched many a copycat. Smuggler’s Cove upped the game for Tiki bars, with playful reverence to Tiki history and, yes, kitschy décor. The extensive cocktail menu covers everything from pre-Castro Havana to original Don the Beachcomber creations. We’ve traveled to rum bars in other cities who tell us they were inspired to curate their rum collection based on Smuggler’s incredible, 200+ rums in every style and category.

650 Gough, SF. (415) 869-1900, www.smugglerscovesf.com

SPECS TWELVE ADLER MUSEUM

North Beach, $

Classic, Dive, Mellow

An ode to SF history filled with colorful locals and eye-popping knickknacks, this dive is an institution tucked away off busy Columbus Ave. For decades, Specs encourages conversation and community with cheap drinks and a warm welcome, treating everyone like regulars.

12 Saroyan Pl., SF. (415) 421-4112

TOMMY’S

Outer Richmond, $–$$

Dive, Classic, Spirits Selection

Since 1965, Tommy’s has stocked the most extensive collection of 100% agave tequila outside of Mexico. Julio Bermejo, like his father Tommy and mother Elmy before him, stays true to the familial roots of this old school Mexican restaurant, virtually unchanged since the ’60s. Tommy’s famed classic margarita, dusty, rare bottles of tequila stacked under the bar, Tommy’s Tequila Masters club, a divey-perfect back bar… all explain why Tommy’s is an SF institution. Watch for the release of Julio’s own long-anticipated tequila. There’s only one Tommy’s.

5929 Geary Blvd, SF. (415) 387-4747, www.tommystequila.com

TORONADO

Lower Haight, $

Beer Haven, Classic, Dive, Gourmet Bites

One of SF’s best beer bars since it opened more than 20 years ago, Toronado has stayed true to its dive-y roots. Sometimes-gruff bartenders can be overlooked for an ever-impressive selection of dozens of beers on tap from around the globe. Toronado launched a rarity: a Barleywine Festival, featuring over 50 draft barleywines every February. Paired with Rosamunde’s sausages from next door, the killer duo is an SF institution.

547 Haight, SF. (415) 863-2267, www.toronado.com

TOSCA

North Beach, $

Classic, Memorable Atmosphere

What would North Beach be without Tosca? Surviving Prohibition with its “house cappuccinos” (brandy and hot chocolate), Tosca’s Italian-only jukebox and elegantly faded decor have worn the better part of a century with grace. Saved from tragically closing, it will be given new life at the hands of NY chef April Bloomfield. Here’s praying Tosca’s one-of-a-kind space, sacred celebrity back room, and espresso machine remain as is, though food and new-and-improved cocktail menu are predicted to be part of Bloomfield’s take-over.

242 Columbus, SF. (415) 986-9651, www.toscacafesf.com

TRICK DOG

Mission, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

The new kid on the Mission block feels like it has been around awhile, both from the years anticipating its opening and the crew behind it: SF’s great barmen, The Bon Vivants. Fan through a Pantone color swatch menu of original cocktails, impeccably made, and chow on Chester Watson’s winning food (Peruvian popcorn or Fernet ice cream?) Just get there at early if you want to avoid the crowds.

3010 20th St., SF. (415) 471-2999, www.trickdogbar.com

TWO SISTERS BAR & BOOKS

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Mellow

Like the ultimate European neighborhood bar, two actual sisters modeled this spot after all day café-bars from their European travels. Closet-sized and lined with books, there’s always jazz playing on the stereo and a warm greeting. Affordable, homey food is as lovely as the cocktails featuring local and small batch spirits.

579 Hayes, SF. (415) 863-3655, www.2sistersbarandbooks.com

VESUVIO

North Beach, $

Classic, Dive, Memorable Atmosphere

Beat poet hangout, eclectic mishmash of creaky wood booths, nooks, knick-knacks and colorful personalities, Vesuvio is not so much about the drinks as the character. Just like Tosca and Specs across the street (three completely different vibes), Vesuvio has been around for decades, drawing longtimers and tourists alike. It maintains a bar personality all its own, a historical landmark that remains alive and vibrant today.

255 Columbus, SF. (415) 362-3370 www.vesuvio.com

ZEITGEIST

Mission, $

Beer Haven, Dive

Service can be downright gruff. Lines can snake down the block. Just to enter a biker-friendly dive mobbed with bike messengers, black-clad rockers, and scruffy hipsters? Hell, yes. The punk-spirited biergarten out back is one of SF’s legendary gathering places where locals and visitors alike assemble around communal picnic tables over Bloody Marys, basic burgers, brats, and beers.

199 Valencia, SF. (415) 255-7505, www.zeitgeistsf.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS

83 Proof, SoMa

Bar 888, SoMa

Barrel Room, Union Square

Barrique, Financial District

Beretta, Mission

Casanova, Mission

City Beer Store, SoMa

Connecticut Yankee, Potrero Hill

Green’s Sports Bar, Russian Hill

Harry Denton’s, Union Square

Hidden Vine, Financial District

Horseshoe Tavern, Marina

Iron & Gold, Bernal Heights

La Mar, Embarcadero

La Trappe, North Beach

Li Po, Chinatown

Napper Tandy, Mission

Noc Noc, Lower Haight

Nopa, Western Addition

Pause Wine Bar, Hayes Valley

Pisco Latin Lounge, Mission

Riptide, Outer Sunset

Rock Bar, Outer Mission

Quince, Financial District

Slanted Door, Embarcadero

St. Vincent, Mission

The Page, Lower Haight

Tony Nik’s, North Beach

Upcider, Polk Gulch

Yield Wine Bar, Dogpatch

EAST BAY TOP 10

Forbidden Island

Honor Kitchen & Cocktails

Prizefighter

New Easy

Bar Three Fifty-Five

Heinold’s First & Last Chance Saloon

The Trappist

Beer Revolution

Hotsty Totsy

Flora

The G50: San Francisco’s top bars

-

February 26, 2013

5

virginia@bayguardian.com

Choosing 50 best bars in this city of ours is no easy feat. Historically one of the groundbreaking drinking towns, in the 1800s we nurtured wild Barbary Coast saloons and Professor Jerry Thomas (the first and ultimate bartender to elevate and publicize the craft), and were the first to import and bring pisco to fame. American wine, craft beer (Anchor Steam), and craft spirits first entered public consciousness in our region. Breathtaking views, a legacy of boundary-pushing entrepreneurs, avant-garde cultures, and a pioneering food movement decades old — how could we not be a drinking town? Whether you long to hit the town old school like Nick & Nora, play tunes on the jukebox with rounds of beers, taste the latest in cocktail experimentation, compare wine flights, or linger over conversation with friends… SF has something to suit every mood. Out of hundreds, these 50 have set standards, become beloved favorites, shaped city culture, or just serve a damn good drink.

PS For this list we concentrated specifically on bars (including those at restaurants and hotels), leaving you to judge the cocktails at music venues and dance clubs on their own merits.

>>SEE THIS LIST ON ONE PAGE

PRICE RANGE KEY:

$ (cocktails generally under $10)

$$ (cocktails generally $10-14)

$$$ (cocktails generally $15 and above)

NOTABLE KEY:

Cocktail Destination: Noteworthy cocktails

Spirits Selection: Extensive or well-curated spirits selection

Memorable Atmosphere: Worth drinking here for the atmosphere

Wine Sanctuary: Exceptional wine list

Beer Haven: Exceptional beer list

Gourmet Bites: Notable food

Dive: Classic, standout dive bar

Classic: An SF staple, standard-setter

Mellow: Particularly laid back, good for conversation

Music: Live music destination

15 ROMOLO

North Beach, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

Consistently one of SF’s best cocktail bars, 15 Romolo commands an uphill alley in North Beach with some of the most balanced and inventive drinks in town. The laidback, dim space (with fab jukebox), reflects pre-Prohibition spirit but isn’t obnoxiously theme-y. Many of our city’s top bartenders started here, going on to launch other bars. Romolo’s brunch — boozy waffle shots! — and food menu rank among the most satisfying bar food in existence. Hello, peanut butter bacon burgers!

15 Romolo, SF. (415) 398-1359, www.15romolo.com

ALEMBIC

Upper Haight, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

As Alembic currently faces significant changes (bar manager Daniel Hyatt’s exit after nearly seven years, expansion into the Red Vic space next door), time will tell if it remains the iconic bar it has been for the past 7 years. Still serving impeccable New Orleans classic cocktails, Hyatt’s unique, forward-thinking cocktails, and underrated, gourmet food, Alembic’s spirits collection, particularly American whiskey, has been one of its key strengths since day one.

1725 Haight, SF. (415) 666-0822, www.alembicbar.com

AQ

SoMa, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection, Memorable Atmosphere, Wine Sanctuary

AQ’s lovely brick-walled, high ceiling restaurant evolves its decor with the season, while the bar changes vintage glassware and bar top: burnt copper for fall, marble in winter. Seasonal cocktail classics are infused with subtle twists while original cocktails are incredibly creative, unusual. The wine list is extensive, heavy on the Loire Valley but offering an international range.

1085 Mission, SF. (415) 341-9000, www.aq-sf.com

AUB ZAM ZAM

Upper Haight, $

Classic, Dive

Faded 1930s Arabian Nights theme and legendarily grumpy bartenders have set this boozy cocktail den apart for decades. This piece of cocktail history birthed countless stories of now deceased Bruno, who would kick people out for ordering a vodka martini — or for any reason that suited him. It’s friendlier now, thank goodness. And there’s been no upgrades to decor, the jukebox still belts out Tony Bennett and Tom Waits, drinks remain stiff, and there’s almost always a seat waiting for you. It’s nice knowing just a few places remain averse to change.

1633 Haight, SF. (415) 861-2545

AUNT CHARLIE’S LOUNGE

Tenderloin, $

Classic, Dive, Memorable Atmosphere

Everything you thought about gay bars was wrong — or else exactly right. This wonderfully worn-in, carpeted little cave in the Tenderloin is bursting with character and crazy seasonal decor. Grittily glamorous Hotboxxx Girls drag shows on Friday and Saturday evenings are a must for the too-hip and the just-visiting alike.

133 Turk, SF. (415) 441-2922, www.auntcharlieslounge.com

BAR AGRICOLE

SoMa, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Good luck getting a bar seat in this ultra-cool, eco-chic bar-restaurant, minimalist yet dramatic under shimmering light installations, serving forward-thinking food. Reserve a table in the front garden, arrive early, or just wait your turn at the bar and you’ll be blessed with impeccable rum and rhum agricole cocktails alongside a range of pristinely-executed classics from Thad Vogler and crew.

355 11th St., SF. (415) 355-9400, www.baragricole.com

BENDER’S

Mission, $

Beer Haven, Dive

A stalwart favorite of fixie riders, rock mavens, and those weary of fighting for space a Zeitgeist — or hey, folks just looking for a good, stiff drink in a mercifully concept-free atmosphere with room to sit down. Bender’s stands out with a tasty beer selection and tater tots and tacos to die for.

806 Van Ness, SF. (415) 824-1800, www.bendersbar.com

BIG

TenderNob, $$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere

Truly tiny under red velvet-draped ceiling, the ironically named Big fills up quickly, but overcrowding is somehow kept at bay, making it, at times, an intimate spot for a cocktail. Though pricey, the menu-less bar is about seeing what house syrups have been made that day (mirepoix, corn?), what spirit you might be in the mood for, and what two talented bartenders can craft on the spot.

761 Post, SF.

THE BIG 4

Nob Hill, $$$

Classic, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere, Mellow, Musical

May rumors of the Huntington Hotel’s new owners doing away with this fantastic, historic bar — the jewel of Nob Hill — be untrue. For decades, the Big 4, named for the Central Pacific Railroad’s “big fiour” tycoons, has been the archetypal old school bar in a restaurant. Its dark wood setting and fireplace evoking an ur-capitalist gentleman’s club and martini lounge set to the nightly, live piano strains of Michael Parsons (Sundays it’s Steve Klawiter).

1075 California, SF. (415) 771-1140, www.big4restaurant.com

BIX

Financial District, $$

Classic, Cocktail Destination, Musical

One of the more dazzling dining rooms in town. You enter thick curtains off a downtown alley into Bix’s dramatic space — like walking into a Thin Man movie. Live jazz and beautiful Negronis confirm you’ve entered another, jazzier era, one Bix has faithfully preserved since 1988. Here’s to many more decades.

56 Gold, SF. (415) 433-6300, www.bixrestaurant.com

BLACKBIRD

Castro, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

The Castro is one of the most social neighborhoods in SF, rife with numerous watering holes and gathering places. But not until Blackbird was there a cocktailian’s haven, serving elegant drinks — with a well-curated wine ist to match — utilizing house made pistachio orgeat, hibiscus-infused brandy, and other handcrafter ingredients.

2124 Market, SF. (415) 503-0630, www.blackbirdbar.com

BOURBON AND BRANCH

Tenderloin, $$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere, Mellow, Spirits Selection,

Love or hate the new speakeasy bars, Bourbon and Branch, now eight years old, was one of the earliest progenitors of the theme outside of NYC. And despite owner Future Bars’ notable other bars (Tradition, Local Edition), B&B remains the best. Rarely is a bar this transporting: ring a doorbell next to an unmarked door and enter the 1920s. This reservations-only hideaway guarantees a seat, a romantic escape for conversation and quality drink. Its bar-within-a-bar, Wilson and Wilson, is likewise one of SF’s best, digging even deeper into housemade ingredients and unusual combinations. Consider it the impressive place to take out-of-towners for a drink.

501 Jones, SF. (415) 346-1735, www.bourbonandbranch.com

BROKEN RECORD

Excelsior, $

Spirits Selection, Dive, Gourmet Bites

This dive in the outer reaches of SF draws whiskey fans from afar. With every chef who sets up shop in Broken Record’s back room, kick-ass bar food (Southern BBQ, elevated burgers) results. From pool table to patio, it’s everything you want in a dive bar and more, including laid back bartenders, a genuine vibe, and more than 250 whiskies at reasonable prices.

1166 Geneva, SF. (415) 963-1713, www.facebook.com/brokenrecordsf

CANTINA

Union Square, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

Pioneering South and Central American cocktails, Cantina has been keeping it real for years with refreshing drinks highlighting tequila, mezcal, cachaca, and pisco (owner Duggan McDonnell is also one of the creators of Campo Encanto Pisco). Cantina’s basement hosts all kinds of events, a community gathering place.

580 Sutter, SF. (415) 398-0193, www.cantinasf.com

CHURCH KEY

North Beach, $–$$

Beer Haven, Mellow

Church Key is a breath of fresh air amid the party bars, classic dives, strip clubs, and cocktail spots of North Beach. With cozy upstairs mezzanine, it’s a beer lovers dream of revolving drafts and bottles in an unpretentious setting where one can actually talk with friends.

1402 Grant, SF. (415) 963-1713

CLUB DELUXE

Upper Haight, $

Music, Gourmet Bites

Blonde wood walls, black and white tile, red booths, dim lighting — an environment virtually unchanged for decades. These are reasons to love Club Deluxe but supreme is multiple nightly sets of some of the best live jazz in SF, from bossa nova to bepop and blues. You don’t come here for the drinks but recent addition of Chef Thomas Martinez offers fantastic food. One can comfortably linger over a shot of whiskey, jazz, and gourmet plates.

1511 Haight, SF. (415) 552-6949, www.sfclubdeluxe.com

COMSTOCK SALOON

North Beach, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere, Spirits Selection

Showcasing SF’s Barbary Coast era with vintage ceiling fans, Victorian couch sidling up to a pot belly stove, and the original trough (ahem, to piss in back in the day) lining a dramatic wood bar, “Saloon Keepers” Jeff Hollinger and Jonny Raglin honor the history of Comstock’s gorgeous, two-room, 1907 space. It’s a memorable a date night and a casual, neighborhood hangout. Whether cozy in a bar booth or at a table in the wainscoted dining room, food from Chef Carlos Espina is as thoughtful as the classic cocktails.

155 Columbus, SF. (415) 617-0071, www.comstocksaloon.com

DOSA

Mission, Fillmore, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Besides serving some of the best upscale South Indian food anywhere, Dosa’s two locations also craft a unique cocktail menu unlike any, heavy on Indian spices and flavor profiles, including its own house gin produced by local distiller Old World Spirits: cardamom-rich Blade Gin.

Dosa on Fillmore: 1700 Fillmore, SF. (415) 441-3672

Dosa on Valencia: 995 Valencia, SF. (415) 642-3672, www.dosasf.com

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Tenderloin, $

Classic, Dive

This quintessential SF dive bar has been around for years, akin to classic British pubs, occasionally rowdy, generally low key, ever-ready with a pint. In that spirit, its serves fish and chips in newspaper and facilitates offbeat community with readings, ’60s dance club nights, and legendary trivia quizzes.

950 Geary, SF. (415) 885-4074, www.castlenews.com

ELIXIR

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination

When partying or sports-loving crowds descend, the already small bar gets cramped, in a space dating back to 1858. Boasting an impressive whiskey collection, Elixir is run by cocktail pioneer H. Joseph Ehrmann, and talented bar managing duo Shea Shawnson and Nick DesEnfants. The cocktail menu is a mix of 1800s saloon classics, Elixir favorites like H.’s Celery Cup No. 1, and rotating seasonal drinks.

3200 16th St., SF. (415) 552-1633, www.elixirsf.com

FAT ANGEL

Fillmore, $–$$

Beer Haven, Wine Sanctuary, Gourmet Bites

Part romantic European café, part comfortable neighborhood pub, Fat Angel manages to be dream neighborhood beer and wine bar in one. Above average bar bites, friendly staff, and changing draft beers and wines listed on a large chalkboard under dramatic chandelier ensure you’ll want to linger for hours.

1740 O’Farrell, SF. (415) 525-3013 www.fatangelsf.com

GITANE

Financial District, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Just about the sexiest bar and setting in the city, Gitane has been strong on spirits collection, wine list, and cocktails from day one, with upscale regional Spanish cuisine making it a real date night. 6 Claude Lane, SF. (415) 788-6686, www.gitanerestaurant.com

HEAVEN’S DOG

SoMa, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Spirits Selection

Undergoing a significant overhaul, Heaven’s Dog showcases the cocktail expertise of one of our great barmen, Erik Adkins. The bar at Asian-influenced Heaven’s Dog restaurant has been tended by some of SF’s top bartenders, most recently supervised by Ethan Terry (of AQ, 15 Romolo, Comstock). One of the best places for classic Charles H. Baker cocktails anywhere, its latest incarnation will focus on original creations alongside Charles Phan’s cuisine (of Slanted Door fame).

1148 Mission, SF. (415) 863-6008, www.heavensdog.com

THE HIDEOUT

Mission, $

Cocktail Destination

Through longtime Mission favorite Dalva is a hidden back room, The Hideout, a getaway for cocktail geeks who disdain pretension. With guest bartending appearances by local and visiting drink masters, bar staff display an adept hand at elegant but never fussy cocktails, shaken or stirred to loud, classic tunes of the ’70s and ’80s.

3121 16th St., SF. (415) 252-7740

HI TOPS

Castro, $–$$

Memorable Atmosphere, Gourmet Bites

It’s a new gay sports bar — a recent shot in Sports Illustrated featuring two men in 49ers jerseys kissing toppled barriers. But why stop there? The vintage ’60s gym decor, eclectic atmosphere, and twists on game night bites have upped the sports bar game. And yes, there’s a cocktail with Muscle Milk as base.

2247 Market, SF. (415) 551-2500, www.hitopssf.com

HOG & ROCKS

Mission, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Hog & Rocks has been a popular watering hole for American whiskey and unfussy cocktails lovers, happy over platters of oysters and ham. Once the bar was commandeered by Michael Lazar consulting with Scott Beattie, it became a special place for bracing cask strength Old Fashioneds, or tall rocks refreshers accented by garden fresh and preserved fruits and herbs. Lazar and Beattie (who also put together the drink menu at the new Hi Lo across the street) have made it a casual yet festive cocktail destination.

3431 19th St., SF. (415) 550-8627, www.hogandrocks.com

HOTEL BIRON

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Wine Sanctuary, Mellow

Hotel Biron is an intimate, romantic wine bar drawing people to a nondescript alley near busy Market Street for years, featuring monthly rotating local artists in a candlelit, narrow space. Grab a couch or bistro chair with friends in this late night sanctuary for French and Californian wines.

45 Rose, SF. (415) 703-0403, www.hotelbiron.com

JASPER’S CORNER TAP

Union Square, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Need a meet-up location with friends or colleagues near Union Square? One open all day, that’ll please the beer geek, the wine lover, the cocktail aficionado? Oh, and that serves reasonably priced, tasty gastropub food? Not too tall an order, since Jasper’s came along. Thanks to bar manager Kevin Diedrich, one of our city’s great bartenders, some of the most thoughtful, fun cocktails in the city are here.

401 Taylor, SF. (415) 775-7979, www.jasperscornertap.com

LITTLE SHAMROCK

Inner Sunset, $

Dive, Pub, Classic, Mellow

Though there’s no shortage of Irish pubs in town, Little Shamrock stands out, going strong since 1894. Just off Golden Gate Park, this is garage sale, eclectic comfort expressed in a hodgepodge of couches, chairs, tables, inviting one to linger over Guinness on tap, board games, backgammon, warm fireplace, and free popcorn.

807 Lincoln Way, SF. (415) 661-0060

MAGNOLIA BREWERY

Upper Haight, $–$$

Beer Haven, Gourmet Bites

Operating as a busy gastropub, Magnolia arguably crafts the best local SF beer (not bottled) since 1997. Beermaster and restaurateur, Dave McLean, who also owns Alembic and an upcoming Dogpatch brewery, is behind the world-class brews. Serving cask-conditioned ales long before it was trendy, experimenting in a range of styles and categories, he makes sure there’s a beer for everyone. McLean is a key figure in furthering SF and California beers from his roles in the SF Brewers Guild and Outside Lands’ Beer Lands.

1398 Haight, SF. (415) 1398 Haight, SF. www.magnoliapub.com

MARTUNI’S

Soma, $$

Classic, Memorable Atmosphere, Music

Who doesn’t love a piano bar? Characters belt out showtunes in the back of this velvet-draped classic, while spiffy bartenders shake or stir some killer martinis upfront. It’s a little bit classy, a little bit seedy, and all San Francisco.

4 Valencia, SF. (415) 241-0205, martunis.ypguides.net

MAVEN

Lower Haight, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

Kate Bolton brought a deft hand with cocktails (formed at fine dinging bars like Michael Mina) when she became bar manager at Maven, Lower Haight’s best new cocktail outpost. Elegant yet unfussy drinks and an equally strong food menu — with helpful, adventurous beer pairings — make it a winning, all-around stop.

598 Haight, SF. (415) 829-7982. www.maven-sf.com

MONK’S KETTLE, ABBOT’S CELLAR

Mission, $–$$

Beer Haven, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Opened by the same team, these temples to beer feature proper glassware, storing temperatures, and impeccable selections (bottle and draft) of rare beers from around the globe. Both are strong restaurants, whether the always-crowded, gastropub-like Monk’s, which has been one of our city’s best beer bars for years, or the newer, more upscale Abbot’s Cellar.

Monk’s: 3141 16th St., SF. (415) 865-9523, www.monkskettle.com

Abbot’s: 742 Valencia, SF. (415) 626-8700, www.abbotscellar.com

MOSTO

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Spirits Selection

An agave spirits collection of more than 300 bottles is reason enough to visit Mosto. A generous list of tequila and mezcal cocktails, neighboring Tacolicious restaurant’s guac and queso and laid back, urban cantina feel confirm it’s a top tequila bar.

741 Valencia, SF. www.mostosf.com

OCCIDENTAL CIGAR BAR

Financial District, $–$$

Classic, Mellow

Since 2001, cozy Occidental is a rare smoking bar and our pick for top cigar bar. Besides a strong spirits list heavy on the whiskies, its historical connection goes back to the 1860s in the space’s former incarnation as the Occidental Hotel, where Professor Jerry Thomas, who helped established bartending as a craft, is purported to have once bartended. Woodcut etchings of his groundbreaking Bon Vivants Companion cocktail book line smoke-tinged walls of the bar where you can bring in your own cigars or choose from the humidor collection.

471 Pine, SF. (415) 834-0485, www.occidentalcigarclub.com

PRESS CLUB

Downtown, $$

Wine Sanctuary, Memorable Atmosphere

Press Club’s subterranean setting right off Market Street downtown is an unusual one. With a vast space in which to find a quiet corner or celebrate with a crowd, consider it the chic lounge of wine bars, serving a changing list of international wines, flights (like “Italy vs. USA”), beers, and bites, featuring monthly vintners and brewers with focused tastings. It’s a central, notable place to meet up with out-of-towners and colleagues.

20 Yerba Buena Lane, SF. (415) 744-5000, www.pressclubsf.com

RANGE

Mission, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites

A drink and dining stalwart from the early days when Brooke Arthur ran the small bar, to current manager Jeff Lyon’s touch, which has kept the intimate bar in Range’s restaurant on the drink lover’s map. Spirit-heavy or seasonal drinks (like an Ojo del Tigre with blood orange and tequila) are delicious and impeccably crafted.

842 Valencia, SF. (415) 282-8283

RICH TABLE

Hayes Valley, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

Besides being one of the top new restaurants in the city (and country), Rich Table opened with a short but sharp cocktail list showcasing herbs and spirits. Once Jason “Buffalo” LoGrasso was brought on as bar manager, the cocktail list, including unforgettable dessert cocktails, grew, becoming a special drink outpost… if you can snag a seat at the bar.

199 Gough, SF. (415) 355-9085, www.richtablesf.com

RIO GRANDE

Tenderloin, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere

From the Bon Vivants, this urban cantina-meets-roadhouse pours cheap, canned beers and skillful cocktails, heavy on tequila and whiskey, under glistening walls and stripper poles. A live music stage and cowhide confirm the roadhouse vibe, while the bar livens up a seedy stretch of Market Street.

1108 Market, SF.

ROYAL CUCKOO

Outer Mission, $–$$

Memorable Atmosphere, Music

Dimly lit, sexy Royal Cuckoo is a hodgepodge of mid-century thrift store lamps, paintings, and furniture accented with shades of red. A strong small batch spirits selection and in-house Hammond organ star in a space reminiscent of great New Orleans bars: no cover for excellent live music (all centered around the Hammond). All for the cost of a stiff drink… and there always seems to be a seat.

3202 Mission, SF. (415) 550-8667, www.royalcuckoo.com

RYE

Tenderloin, $

Cocktail Destination

With smoking “cage” patio out front and center-of-Tenderloin locale, Rye has been churning out quality cocktails — and some of the city’s best bartenders — long before many current upstarts were even in planning stages. Masterminds Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren (who also opened 15 Romolo, Rye on the Road, Rosewood) ensure Rye remains an unpretentious neighborhood hangout serving drinkable cocktails, like that ever-popular basil gimlet.

688 Geary, SF. (415) 474-4448, www.ryesf.com

SMUGGLER’S COVE

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Memorable Atmosphere, Spirits Selection

This tri-level tropical escape, from owner Martin Cate, launched many a copycat. Smuggler’s Cove upped the game for Tiki bars, with playful reverence to Tiki history and, yes, kitschy décor. The extensive cocktail menu covers everything from pre-Castro Havana to original Don the Beachcomber creations. We’ve traveled to rum bars in other cities who tell us they were inspired to curate their rum collection based on Smuggler’s incredible, 200+ rums in every style and category.

650 Gough, SF. (415) 869-1900, www.smugglerscovesf.com

SPECS TWELVE ADLER MUSEUM

North Beach, $

Classic, Dive, Mellow

An ode to SF history filled with colorful locals and eye-popping knickknacks, this dive is an institution tucked away off busy Columbus Ave. For decades, Specs encourages conversation and community with cheap drinks and a warm welcome, treating everyone like regulars.

12 Saroyan Pl., SF. (415) 421-4112

TOMMY’S

Outer Richmond, $–$$

Dive, Classic, Spirits Selection

Since 1965, Tommy’s has stocked the most extensive collection of 100% agave tequila outside of Mexico. Julio Bermejo, like his father Tommy and mother Elmy before him, stays true to the familial roots of this old school Mexican restaurant, virtually unchanged since the ’60s. Tommy’s famed classic margarita, dusty, rare bottles of tequila stacked under the bar, Tommy’s Tequila Masters club, a divey-perfect back bar… all explain why Tommy’s is an SF institution. Watch for the release of Julio’s own long-anticipated tequila. There’s only one Tommy’s.

5929 Geary Blvd, SF. (415) 387-4747, www.tommystequila.com

TORONADO

Lower Haight, $

Beer Haven, Classic, Dive, Gourmet Bites

One of SF’s best beer bars since it opened more than 20 years ago, Toronado has stayed true to its dive-y roots. Sometimes-gruff bartenders can be overlooked for an ever-impressive selection of dozens of beers on tap from around the globe. Toronado launched a rarity: a Barleywine Festival, featuring over 50 draft barleywines every February. Paired with Rosamunde’s sausages from next door, the killer duo is an SF institution.

547 Haight, SF. (415) 863-2267, www.toronado.com

TOSCA

North Beach, $

Classic, Memorable Atmosphere

What would North Beach be without Tosca? Surviving Prohibition with its “house cappuccinos” (brandy and hot chocolate), Tosca’s Italian-only jukebox and elegantly faded decor have worn the better part of a century with grace. Saved from tragically closing, it will be given new life at the hands of NY chef April Bloomfield. Here’s praying Tosca’s one-of-a-kind space, sacred celebrity back room, and espresso machine remain as is, though food and new-and-improved cocktail menu are predicted to be part of Bloomfield’s take-over.

242 Columbus, SF. (415) 986-9651, www.toscacafesf.com

TRICK DOG

Mission, $$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Memorable Atmosphere

The new kid on the Mission block feels like it has been around awhile, both from the years anticipating its opening and the crew behind it: SF’s great barmen, The Bon Vivants. Fan through a Pantone color swatch menu of original cocktails, impeccably made, and chow on Chester Watson’s winning food (Peruvian popcorn or Fernet ice cream?) Just get there at early if you want to avoid the crowds.

3010 20th St., SF. (415) 471-2999, www.trickdogbar.com

TWO SISTERS BAR & BOOKS

Hayes Valley, $–$$

Cocktail Destination, Gourmet Bites, Mellow

Like the ultimate European neighborhood bar, two actual sisters modeled this spot after all day café-bars from their European travels. Closet-sized and lined with books, there’s always jazz playing on the stereo and a warm greeting. Affordable, homey food is as lovely as the cocktails featuring local and small batch spirits.

579 Hayes, SF. (415) 863-3655, www.2sistersbarandbooks.com

VESUVIO

North Beach, $

Classic, Dive, Memorable Atmosphere

Beat poet hangout, eclectic mishmash of creaky wood booths, nooks, knick-knacks and colorful personalities, Vesuvio is not so much about the drinks as the character. Just like Tosca and Specs across the street (three completely different vibes), Vesuvio has been around for decades, drawing longtimers and tourists alike. It maintains a bar personality all its own, a historical landmark that remains alive and vibrant today.

255 Columbus, SF. (415) 362-3370 www.vesuvio.com

ZEITGEIST

Mission, $

Beer Haven, Dive

Service can be downright gruff. Lines can snake down the block. Just to enter a biker-friendly dive mobbed with bike messengers, black-clad rockers, and scruffy hipsters? Hell, yes. The punk-spirited biergarten out back is one of SF’s legendary gathering places where locals and visitors alike assemble around communal picnic tables over Bloody Marys, basic burgers, brats, and beers.

199 Valencia, SF. (415) 255-7505, www.zeitgeistsf.com

HONORABLE MENTIONS

83 Proof, SoMa

Bar 888, SoMa

Barrel Room, Union Square

Barrique, Financial District

Beretta, Mission

Casanova, Mission

City Beer Store, SoMa

Connecticut Yankee, Potrero Hill

Green’s Sports Bar, Russian Hill

Harry Denton’s, Union Square

Hidden Vine, Financial District

Horseshoe Tavern, Marina

Iron & Gold, Bernal Heights

La Mar, Embarcadero

La Trappe, North Beach

Li Po, Chinatown

Napper Tandy, Mission

Noc Noc, Lower Haight

Nopa, Western Addition

Pause Wine Bar, Hayes Valley

Pisco Latin Lounge, Mission

Riptide, Outer Sunset

Rock Bar, Outer Mission

Quince, Financial District

Slanted Door, Embarcadero

St. Vincent, Mission

The Page, Lower Haight

Tony Nik’s, North Beach

Upcider, Polk Gulch

Yield Wine Bar, Dogpatch

EAST BAY TOP 10

Forbidden Island

Honor Kitchen & Cocktails

Prizefighter

New Easy

Bar Three Fifty-Five

Heinold’s First & Last Chance Saloon

The Trappist

Beer Revolution

Hotsty Totsy

Flora

SF Sketchfest founders reminisce (and look ahead) on the eve of their 12th event

Sue Vaughan

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January 23, 2013

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The first SF Sketchfest, in 2002, was a good excuse to find a stage and some quality time for its organizers’ own sketch comedy troupe, Totally False People, but it has since become an annual comedy conclave of the first order. SF Sketchfest founders David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney talk about the growth and philosophy of their annual comedy extravaganza and the humble beginnings that gave it rise.

San Francisco Bay Guardian Is SF Sketchfest a full time job by now?

David Owen Yeah, I think it is. It definitely gets more intense a few months out, but we’re always working on it, we’re always percolating ideas, as well as trying to do events throughout the year. We had a presence at Outside Lands this past year. We’re always trying to do stuff. But this time of year especially, from fall on, is beyond full-time for us.

SFBG Has it had to change a lot structurally as it has grown, or are you still pretty much running it as you always have?

Janet Varney We earned some pretty simple lessons along the way, including Cole, Dave, and I not driving every single headliner to and from the airport, and sell tickets at the box office, and sell our concessions, which is what we were doing the first few years.

DO The growth has been gradual. Over 12 years it’s been a little bit like a snowball, each year we add a little bit more. There are more performers, more shows, there’s more logistics, more general stuff to deal with. Twelve years in, it’s grown to a place none of us ever imagined. We never imagined we’d even get to the second or third year and have one Kid in the Hall, let alone have all the Kids in the Hall and all these comedy legends, who are our heroes. You said humble beginnings, that’s absolutely right. It was a local festival, just for us to perform at, and 12 years later we’re still surprised that it’s so many shows, with so many people that we like.

SFBG Have you gained a new perspective on comedy that you didn’t have before?

DO When we started, we were just fresh out of college and we wanted to write our stuff and perform it. Cole is still performing, he can speak to that, but from my point of view, just seeing it as a producer now, I think our first couple of years we thought, “Oh, there might be an audience in the Bay Area for this kind of comedy.” And now it’s clear that there is. There’s a big appetite for it, because we keep adding shows and people keep coming.

We’ve learned that laughter is important, that people really want to get out of the house, and in the dead of winter, to come to a comedy club or a theater and experience something with a group of people where they’re all laughing. There’s nothing else like that. I have to say that I’ve really learned that getting out and laughing is important for people. It’s a fun thing that people like to do. Hopefully we’re providing something that’s unique and different from other festivals or other shows.

JV We’re so proud of San Francisco and the way San Francisco receives the comedy we bring to the table. Cole and I live in Los Angeles now, Dave is still in the city, but we all have this fierce love of San Francisco. It’s such a wonderful way for us to interact with the people in the city that we love. We feel like they back us up every year by being the most savvy, enthusiastic, great, smart audiences. That’s why performers come back here year after year as well, they love performing for San Francisco audiences. The festival couldn’t be what it is if we didn’t have those kind of people, as Dave said, showing up to laugh together.

Cole Stratton What made our festival a little different form the start was, you know, we started as performers, we came at it from that vantage point — it’s about the comedy; it’s about making it as artist and performer friendly as we can. I think why a lot of people embraced it early on was that it wasn’t about doing work that there’s a lot of pressure on. It was come have fun with each other, try some stuff — let’s have fun and really celebrate comedy.

The audiences in the Bay Area totally get that too. There’s been this tremendous energy at all our shows. Everyone feels a part of something that’s really fun, unique, and different. That’s been the spirit of the festival year after year.

SFBG Is the social or political significance of comedy something you guys think about?

JV Absolutely. I think the three of us respond to comedians who are brave in that way. Who are willing to hold a mirror up, to what happens to us in society and what happens to us as humans, but who are willing to get really personal. We love silly comedy, comedy that isn’t necessarily about anything; we love the absurd, we love lighthearted, sort of childlike comedy. But we also respond really strongly to people who are unafraid to say, hey, this is me, are you like this? This is ridiculous.

Obviously those comedians become beloved because they are humbling themselves and they’re also reminding everybody in the audience that it’s ok to be a human being.

DO It can be cathartic, to come away from a show where someone has talked about mortality or heartbreak or environmental problems in the world — and all the things that trouble us — it can be cathartic to come from a comedy show and you’ve laughed about it, you’ve thought about it, you’ve learned a little bit about it. But I want to add that in our programming there isn’t an agenda — like, ok, we need to have ten socially conscious comedians, and we need to have five absurd ones.

Our only agenda is: Does it make the three of us laugh? That’s how we decide what’s going to be in the festival. We don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about what’s going to make the most number of people laugh? We just hope people like our taste. Our taste, as Janet said, it really runs the gamut from infantile, silly, ridiculous stuff, stupid stuff, all the way up to really smart, socially aware, critical comedy. We like all of that stuff. As long as it’s funny. That’s what matters.

SFBG Are people approaching you more than the other way around at this point?

JV It’s still both. We’re very lucky because we’ve had wonderful experiences with people we sort of chased down and invited in the beginning. We have a lot of returning guests year after year that we’re still excited to welcome back, and audiences are excited about. People like David Wain, who want to come here year after year and are always thinking ahead as to what kind of new, interesting show they can bring to the table so that they’re keeping it fresh but still returning to the festival multiple times.

We still have our wish list. We still have our people that we like to chase down, and cross our fingers and hope for the best. The comedy community, luckily it can be kind of close. We’re really lucky in that we have this amazing pool of references. But we still write letters with our fingers crossed, and hope for the best, as much as people reach out to us and ask to come back, or we have agents calling us whereas before we might not get our phone calls returned.

SFBG The podcast has really become a major new platform for comedy, as the lineup this year reflects. Are you searching out new outlets as well as new shows?

DO The three of us all spend a lot of time scouting and looking around and trying to keep our finger on the pulse, just seeing as much as we can, whether it’s in person or online. We try to stay clicked in to what’s going on out there. But we’re also looking for something that’s new. What can we do that is a totally new format? We love standup and sketch and improv and film stuff, but we also like doing things like game shows, or live talk shows.

This year we have a walking tour of the Asian Art Museum led by Canadians, or we have a show that mixes comedians and musicians, or Reggie Watts with a dance troupe. We try to see how we can do something at this festival that you’re really not going to see anywhere else. Not just something that’s on tour or that you’ve seen on TV. What can we debut at the festival, premiere as a brand new idea or a brand new concept or format? Those are things we think about and try to pursue.

SFBG Is the tour of the Asian Art Museum by Canadians an example of an original idea?

DO That one, no. That was a show that existed in New York. They did it at the Metropolitan. They’re going to be doing it in San Francisco for the first time, but that specific show was not our idea. We do come up with concepts that we think might be good for somebody, and we’ll pitch them, and if the artist is into it then it might come to fruition.

[For example,] we’re doing a show called Yacht Rock Heroes. Mustache Harbor is this amazing San Francisco band that does covers of ’70s and ’80s soft rock classics, Toto and Hall & Oates and those kinds of things. We thought it would be fun to have comedians come out and cover the song with the band as kind of a mash up. Mustache Harbor liked the idea, and we found comedians who were into it, so we kind of put it together from there.

SFBG How did you all first meet?

DO Cole and I were in the same floor in the dorms at SF State as freshmen. He was on one side and I was on the other. Everyone else on the floor was either a jock or a party animal…

JV [Laughing] That’s the first time I’ve heard someone say “party animal” in a serious way. I just love that that happened.

DO Yeah. There was a nerd on one side, and a nerd on the other. We were both into comedy and movies and music. And everyone else was into, like, swimming.

CS I lived in the dorms for like a year or whatever. I remember it was time to push on when — there was one communal restroom and I had to walk all the way down to it in the middle of the night, and there was a party going on, and I looked down. Someone had thrown a starfish into the hall. Like pulled it out of an aquarium and threw it into the hall. I was like, “Ok, someone just murdered a starfish on my floor. I think it’s time to go anywhere else.”

DO And then we became roommates, and we were working at the same video store and were roommates for, god, how many years? Three or four years. Five maybe. And then Janet — Janet, where did we first meet, at the Castro Theatre?

JV Yeah, I think we met at the Talking Heads show, Stop Making Sense. It was the anniversary screening. Actually, we love this story because Dave and I met and — Cole, you were there too, yeah? I don’t know why I only remember Dave. Cole, we met before this interview, right? We all went to an anniversary screening of Stop Making Sense with David Byrne in attendance. He actually was sitting right in front of us. We love that everything came full circle, and that we ended up doing a screening of True Stories at the Castro Theatre with David Byrne.

DO Cole and I had a mutual friend — this didn’t happen right away but not long after we all met, this guy wanted to start a sketch comedy group. We were all theater and film majors, and we were putting on plays or making little films. And this guy wanted to start in comedy. We were all into it. There was about maybe six or seven of us who started meeting up, trying to write sketches. One by one people sort of fell away, and then there was four, the three of us and Gabriel Diani. And that’s how Totally False People started.

SFBG Where was your first gig? Where would you perform at the beginning?

JV We started doing shorts at a couple of the comedy clubs, and I think, was Rooster T. Feathers the first gig?

CS That was the very first show, Rooster T. Feathers in, Sunnyvale? Yeah. Our thinking was let’s make sure we’re at least 45 minutes outside the city limits if it doesn’t go well.

JV We went up on a stand-up, kind of a showcase night. We did a few different shows there. On one occasion someone called and left a voicemail after we performed saying that they didn’t enjoy our, quote, play-acting. We were trying to do sketch on this standup comedy stage and apparently people did not know what to do with us. We were going up there with like costumes and wigs…

DO That was our first review: “Did not enjoy the play-acting.”

CS And we thought, let’s start a festival!

SF Sketchfest: The San Francisco Comedy Festival
Jan 24-Feb 10, prices vary
Various venues, SF
www.sfsketchfest.com

Our Weekly Picks: January 16-22

Andrew Lam

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January 15, 2013

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WEDNESDAY 16

Michael Hurley

Musicians often look to roots for inspiration, but I don’t think any have interacted as deeply with their musical ancestors as those in the freak-folk genre. Animal Collective recorded a companion piece to Sung Tongs with Vashti Bunyan, inspiring her cult revival, and, in similar fashion, Devendra Banhart’s label has been releasing Michael Hurley’s wonderfully weird folk, endorsed by Julian Lynch, Cat Power and more. His simple guitar plucking and vocals feel different from his contemporaries; he’s more intent on creating imaginative, often nonsensical, stories than being a folk artist. The show will connect past and present, he says, as a new experience for the nightlife crowd rather than for those anthropologically interested in “the sociological impact of Doc Snock” (his ’70s pseudonym). (Molly Champlin)

With Cass McCombs and Jessica Pratt

8pm, $15

Great American Music Hall

859 O’Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.slimspresents.com

THURSDAY 17

Trampled By Turtles

Steadily building a following since forming 10 years back in Duluth, Minn., bluegrass rockers Trampled By Turtles kicked off a banner year in 2012 by releasing their newest album, Stars and Satellites (BanjoDad Records) last April, and making their first national television appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. In August, they were one of the standout acts at Outside Lands, packing in the Sutro side stage with their infectious brand of Americana and folk-tinged tunes. Newly minted fans from that gig are in for a special treat at tonight’s headlining show at the Fillmore: a chance to see them up close and personal, and with a much-deserved longer set time. (Sean McCourt)

8pm, $25

Fillmore

1805 Geary, SF

(415) 346-6000

www.thefillmore.com

FRIDAY 18

Taraneh Hemami Resistance

From the blue vinyl and neon-lit window piece you might have seen at the Yerba Buena Center, to the most-wanted terrorists poster recreated with beads at Intersection for the Arts, it’s clear that Taraneh Hemami’s output chooses its own medium. Originally from Iran, her work looks at the relationship between Persian and American cultures, particularly in terms of personal freedom. Her work is humble and precise, yet manages to convey a deep message — creating much needed space for conversations on international relations and race. Her latest show, “Resistance,” (opening at the Mission School hot spot, the Luggage Store Gallery) features banned and censored print matter belonging to the Iranian Students Association of Northern California and should be a rich, informative experience. (Champlin)

Through Feb. 16

Opening tonight, 6pm, free

Luggage Store Gallery

1007 Market, SF

(415) 255-5971

www.luggagestoregallery.org

Bianca Mendoza and Project Thrust

Even if you know the artists, when you catch them at one of the Garage’s RAW (resident artist workshops) performances, they will surprise you, because what you see is “in progress”, i.e. an unfinished product. The choreographers want feedback; the audience can enter into the process. It’s fun and a good deal for both. This week two very different dance makers are pairing up. What they have in common is a fascination with the power of the female body. Bianca Mendoza, sensually theatrical in her athleticism, has spent a major part of her career in Los Angeles. Malinda LaVelle — with a ballet background — started her Project Thrust at the SF Conservatory of Dance, but the company has been ready for a while to step into the wider Bay Area limelight. (Rita Felciano)

Also Sat/19, 8pm, $10–$20

Garage

715 Bryant, SF

(415) 518-1517

www.brownpapertickets.com

FIDLAR

“Coke! Meth! And Cheap Beer!” are the cries of the Los Angeles-based garage rock band that manages to stay catchy and offensive at the same time. The band’s skater phrase name stands for, “Fuck it Dog; Life’s a Risk” and sums up their deep life philosophy of not giving a fuck. Yes, theses musicians like drugs, girls, and Mexican food; and what, everyone in the band has a hip-hop side project? Between its personality, experimentation, and serious talent, it’s clear why the band has gotten the attention and love it has — and not just in its Southern California home. Its sweaty, drunk, and high-speed traveling punk show should feel right at home in San Francisco, where the band will be stopping Friday, touring on its new and (and hotly anticipated) self-titled EP. (Champlin)

With Pangea, Meat Market

9pm, $10

Bottom of the Hill

1233 17th St., SF

(415) 626-4455

www.bottomofthehill.com

SATURDAY 19

Moon Eater

Springing to life just down the coast in Santa Cruz, Moon Eater has quickly made a name for itself with hard-charging, incendiary garage and punk-fueled rock’n’roll. Formed in 2011 by longtime veterans of the South Bay rock scene — members have played in bands including Riff Raff, Yaphet Kotto, and Time Spent Driving — the frenetic four-piece self-released its excellent self-titled debut album last November, which was produced by John Reis of Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes fame. Moon Eater comes to the city tonight to play a benefit for the American Red Cross and the Equilibrium Institute, alongside Edge City Ruins, Leviathan, and more. (McCourt)

7pm, $10–$15

Sub-Mission Art Space

2183 Mission, SF

www.sf-submission.com

Pinback

Some things never go out of style. Blue jeans, hamburgers, a good, thoughtful ballad — you know, the stuff America’s made of. San Diego’s Pinback has made itself into an indie rock staple by consistently and quietly churning out solid, un-tarnishable pop songs for several decades now, and managing to remain charmingly under the radar all the while. Seemingly impervious to cultural peaks and valleys as well as a revolving-door lineup, Rob Crow and Zach Smith have been tightening their songwriting and musicianship since the late ’90s. Their fifth studio album, Information Retrieved, is the worthwhile result, an ode to the fundamentals: earnest lyrics, consistent flow, and a good hook. (Haley Zaremba)

With Judgment Day

9pm, $25

Bimbo’s 365

1025 Columbus, SF

(415) 474-0365

www.bimbos365club.com

Kowloon Walled City

Despite being named for an enclave in Hong Kong, Kowloon Walled City is San Francisco through and through. The local inspiration behind albums such as Turk Street and Gambling On The Richter Scale is obvious. With new offering Container Ships, the allusion is more oblique, but if you listen to the band’s inimitable down-tuned guitars, they evoke the album’s title, groaning and churning like a 40,000-ton behemoth on its way into the Port of Oakland. This week, the noisy, sludgy outfit disembarks for a record release show. (Ben Richardson)

With Golden Void, Minot

10pm, $8

Hemlock Tavern

1131 Polk, SF

(415) 923-0923

www.hemlocktavern.com

Midnight Movies at the Clay Theatre

Do any two words go together better than “midnight” and “movie”? Once the strict territory of cult horror, the phrase now encompasses any great film that’s made even better by late-night viewing — and made even even better by sharing the experience with a theater full of like-minded, similarly-caffeinated fans. The Clay kicked off another round of midnight screenings a few weeks back, but there are still plenty of gems on the schedule. Tonight is The Princess Bride (1989); future dates include multiple showings of 1975’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show (with live performance by the Bawdy Caste) and 2003’s The Room (bring spoons!); 1968’s Night of the Living Dead; 1971’s Harold and Maude; and 2007’s Black Devil Doll. No sleep for you! (Cheryl Eddy)

Fri.-Sat. (some films Fri. or Sat. only), midnight, $9–$10

Clay Theatre

2261 Fillmore, SF

www.landmarktheatres.com

SUNDAY 20

Brothers of Brutality Tour feat. Whitechapel and Emmure

Death metalheads’ wildest wet dreams are about to come true as hardcore heavyweights Whitechapel and Emmure team up to melt faces in this extreme tour de brutality. Whitechapel’s Knoxville-flavored, highly focused intensity (the band’s Facebook page lists their only interest as “being heavy”) will be matched up against the hardened ruthlessness of Queens-bred Emmure’s unrelenting sonic assault to create a metal experience that is certain to give you whiplash. Both bands have extremely dedicated fan bases that promise to make this the hardcore event of the year. Even if you have to drag out your old hockey pads to face the pit, you won’t want to miss it. (Zaremba)

With Unearth, Obey the Brave, The Plot in You

6pm, $20

Oakland Metro Opera House

630 Third St., Oakl.

(510) 763-1146

www.oaklandmetro.org

MONDAY 21

Quicksand

As a much-beloved rock crusader of the ’90s post-hardcore movement, Quicksand was sorely missed when internal tensions caused the tragically short-lived band to dissolve in 1999. When the group reunited for a one-off show in 2012, it re-ignited a post-hardcore spark in a very arid musical landscape. In a world saturated with dubstep breakdowns, Bieber-related headlines, and certain reprehensible, abusive R&B stars that just won’t go away no matter how baffling their cultural stronghold becomes, the people cried out for something — anything! — harder, better, faster, and stronger. Quicksand, despite its age and lengthy hiatus, delivered. Its awesome, razor-edged sound (think Fugazi meets Jane’s Addiction) provided a much needed honesty, angst, and edge in an EDM world. (Zaremba)

With Title Fight

8pm, $28

Regency Ballroom

1300 Van Ness, SF

(415) 673-5716

www.theregencyballroom.com

TUESDAY 22

“Doc Night at the New Parkway”

Every Tuesday, the New Parkway Theater is serving up true stories alongside its regular menu of pizza, burgers, and beer. Tonight’s pick, last year’s Chasing Ice, investigates climate change via the stunning, grimly revealing work of glacier photographer James Balog. Upcoming notables from 2012 also include Brooklyn Castle, about a junior high school chess team, and Ken Burns’ The Central Park Five, a sobering look at a famous New York City rape case and the men who were wrongfully convicted of the crime. Titles are still being added to this promising series, so check out the New Parkway’s website for updates. (Eddy)

New Parkway Theater

474 24th St, Oakl.

(510) 658-7900

www.thenewparkway.com

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Balkan brass blowup

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December 18, 2012

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emilysavage@sfbg.com

Tofu and Whiskey If you’re going to book a Balkan-influenced band, don’t expect the crowd to stay put. The Bay Area’s Inspector Gadje, an offshoot of the Brass Liberation Orchestra, usually packs in around 15 players, including 12 on horns and three percussionists. When the raucous group came marching through the wilderness (read: Golden Gate Park) during Outside Lands, it filled in crevices between trees, and created an instant party atmosphere between the main stages. Those fast-walking through the thoroughfare of Choco Lands stopped in their tracks, surrounded the group, and started dancing, against everyone’s better judgment. It all happened in the blink of a dirt-lodged eye.

“A lot of Balkan music has a great ‘party’ feel to it…even when the music includes moments or textures that might have a darker feel, the music is played with an undeniable exuberance,” says Oakland’s David Murray. “The rhythms of the Balkans; Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, etc., include many unusual time signatures that are compelling and especially attractive to musicians.”

Murray, a graphic designer by trade, is one of those musicians — he’s been playing bouzouki in Greek Rebetika band Disciples of Markos since 2004, and also plays fiddle in the Squirrelly Stringband, which is the house band for the North Oakland square dance (a “monthly underground hillbilly dance party,” as he describes it). As a combination of his art and music backgrounds, he also produces and designs albums for the Dust-to-Digital record label, which specializes in reissuing obscure folk and world music.

His newest project, however, is all about the music of the Balkans. He began the Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal (berkeleybalkanbacchanal.com) music series at Berkeley’s Starry Plough in October 2011. He got the idea after meeting like-minded acts in the Bay Area, with affinities for Southeastern European styles of music. In the past year or so, the monthly Balkan showcase has seen performances by Murray’s band, along with Inspector Gadje, Zoyres, Veretski Pass, Janam, Gadjitos, and a dozen or so more.

The last Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal of 2012 takes place this week, with Fanfare Zambaleta, “Middle Eastern marching band” MWE, and Helm, a group that specializes in Turkish classical and pop music (Thu/20, 8pm. Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck, Berk. www.starryploughpub.com). Murray says MWE, which includes three or four horns and the wailing Turkish reed (zurna), is known to play in the middle of the dancefloor with the crowd dancing around them. See? Instant party music.

I asked Murray if it’s been challenging to track down acts for this series, as it has such specific influences but he shut that down quick: “No, it hasn’t been difficult at all. There are a lot of great bands around here that fit into the theme of our series. At one point there were no less than three Balkan brass bands in town…And because we don’t mind pushing the boundaries of the Balkans to include neighboring influences, we’ve been able to feature bands that play Algerian music, Persian, and more.”

He added in some historical links, for good measure: “The Bay Area has a very vibrant Balkan music scene, which has some interesting origins in the 1960s, with bands like Kaleidoscope. The early California Renaissance Fairs provided an early outlet for many Balkan musicians, and music camps, such as Lark Camp in Mendocino, have been inspiring and teaching musicians for generations.”

As a novice listener, I’ve (admittedly) grown interested in Balkan sounds via more mainstream bands that have remote influences from the regions, acts like Balkan Beat Box and early Beirut, which typically blend sounds and instruments from a variety of places with pop and folk influences; but also thanks to Gogol Bordello and, more recently, Inspector Gadje, which is more purely influenced by the Balkan style.

“I tend to avoid bands that are actively ‘fusion,’ it doesn’t interest me much, especially bands that combine many styles,” Murray says. “It seems, to me, to usually dilute the very thing that makes the music interesting to begin with. But I’m sure there’s a wide range of opinions on this subject among the various bands and audience members.”

He says he’s more interested in bands that dig deep into the music they play, understanding the history and playing it in an authentic style. He brings up local bands such as Veretski Pass, which plays klezmer with accordion, fiddle, and bass, but also has studied the Jewish music of the Carpathian mountains, noting that the band will be back to the Starry Plough Jan. 17 for an all-klezmer night with the Gonifs.

But Murray points out that this doesn’t mean the acts of the Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal are rigid. “…that’s not to say that these bands are stuffy academics or that they don’t play with styles to some degree. On the contrary, most of the players are young and bring the music to life in a vibrant way that gets heads bobbing and feet dancing.”

“A great example is the Mano Cherga band, which played in September, and sounds like a Serbian party band you’d hear at a drunken wedding bash.”

Bring on the brass and vodka.

A VERY CASTLE FACE CHRISTMAS

There are a number of reasons why A Very Castle Face Christmas is an obvious choice. There’s performances by Thee Oh Sees, Blasted Canyons, Warm Soda, and recent GOLDIES winner the Mallard. Plus, it’s a benefit for the Coalition on Homelessness in SF, a very worthy cause. There’s also the added bonus of the venue itself. I just this week finally made it to a show at newish Mission venue the Chapel, and it was, frankly, charming — from the dark-wood high beam arched ceiling, to the multiple bars (three), to the band-watching angles (you can see from the main room, the balcony, and the soon-to-be-restaurant, plus there are flatscreens linked to cameras fixed on the stage). Win-win-win. Thu/20, 8:30pm, $15. Chapel, 777 Valencia, SF; www.thechapelsf.com.

HIGH ON FIRE

Following front person Matt Pike’s treatment for alcohol addiction, Oakland’s beloved stoner metal act High on Fire is back. Well, technically, the band has been back for about a month, touring the country on most recent release De Vermis Mysteriis. But this will be it’s first big show back in the Bay, where it belongs. With Goatwhore, Lo-Pan. Sat/22, 9pm, $21. Slim’s, 333 11th St., SF. www.slimspresents.com.

CHURCHES

Remember this summer, when distortion-loving East Bay act CHURCHES was Kickstarting a record written for the pro-marriage equality cause? The band — led by Caleb Nichols of Port O’Brien and Grand Lake, Pat Spurgeon of Rogue Wave, and Dominic East — exceeded its goal, and that seven-inch (LOVELIFE) will see release at Bottom of the Hill this week. The trio also released a music video in conjunction with the record: interspersed with the band playing is a classic family portrait set-up with scenes of smiling families, and CHURCHES with their friends and loved ones, including Nichol’s fiance, Grand Lake drummer John Pomeroy. With Tijuana Panthers, Toshio Hirano. Sat/22, 9pm, $12. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF; www.bottomofthehill.com