Remember John Stuart Mill? Is it still true that, while all conservatives aren’t stupid, most stupid people are conservatives? Johnny and Tim discuss the relevance of the 19th Century philosopher’s wisdom to today’s Republican Party. You can listen after the jump.
Radio
SFBG Radio: Religion and Dr. Laura
Today Johnny and Tim take a break from Meg Whitman and talk about why the Republicans are really upset about the Islamic center at ground zero — and why Dr. Laura isn’t a victim of censorship.
sfbgradio8/20/2010 by jangellwSFBG Radio: Oil companies, Prop. 23 and Whitman’s decline
Today Johnny and Tim talk discuss the oil companies’ attempts to derail California’s Green Law and express gratitude to Meg Whitman for burning the public out on political ads. You can listen after the jump.
sfbgradio8/19/2010 by jangellwThe more Whitman spends, the more people hate her
Johnny Angel and I have been talking about this trend for months, and now there’s evidence to support our conclusion: Meg Whitman’s massive blitz of campaign ads is doing her more harm than good.
From Calitics:
Jerry Brown’s campaign manager, Steve Glazer, took to the campaign’s blog today to offer his thoughts on the state of the race. In that post, Glazer offered this fascinating nugget of information:
A survey we completed three days ago found most people who have seen a Whitman ad don’t believe her claims are true. When we asked whether these ads have improved or worsened their opinions of the candidates for Governor, the results were as follows:
Attorney General Jerry Brown: 6% improved; 4% worsened; 58% unchanged
Meg Whitman: 8% improved; 27% worsened; 31% unchanged
In more than 30 years of working on campaigns, I have never seen a candidate’s ads have such a negative effect on that same candidate.
Amazing, but it makes sense. The ads are becoming annoying — you can’t turn on the radio or TV in California without being assaulted by Meg, Meg, Meg — and her mesage is so flat and lacking in credibility that the voters can apparently see through it.
There’s an interesting possibility that Whitman will lose and Prop. 23 will lose, and combined with PG&E losing on Prop. 16 this spring, the notion that money alone can buy a California election may be changing. A little.
Just a snack?
arts@sfbg.com
MUSIC If “California Gurls” is the dirge of pop music, the arrival of Bethany Cosentino ought to make you consider calling off the funeral. That’s not to say her music is pop, exactly. It has pop potential but it’s not a “radio-ready” sound … yet. Her debut album, made with Bobb Bruno under the moniker Best Coast, is rife with short, sweet hooks and infectious choruses untouched by excessive production and studio intervention.
The lo-fi, almost low-effort sensibility yields roughly-hewn, simple melodies as catchy as any summer anthem. Cosentino could easily be transformed into a pop princess if she was up for it. But I don’t think she is. As per indie music’s backward-gazing tendencies this year, Best Coast on its debut LP Crazy For You (Mexican Summer) builds the scaffold of a promising pop record.
Best Coast’s pedigree of influences includes the Ronettes, the Shangri-Las, and the Crystals, as well as more contemporary groups like Wavves (frontman Nathan Williams is her boyfriend) and Vivian Girls (drummer Ali Koehler joined the band post-Crazy).
On 13 tracks, Cosentino displays emotional candor and a half-assed style of playing akin to Liz Phair when she left cassette-land for 1993’s Exile in Guyville. Here, Best Coast stages a response to 1960s beach pop, just as Phair responded to phallocentric rock music. This time, the homage isn’t an attempt to redo and revise, but almost to idolize a certain vintage style. There’s also a little bit of Hole — sans Courtney Love’s analgesic rawness — in Cosentino’s woozy, whiney vocals. Imagine Love doing a cover of “Leader of the Pack.”
Crazy For You is as much a testament to laziness as it is a tribute to ’60s girl bands. With lyrics like “I can’t get myself off the couch/ Nothing makes me happy/ Not even TV or a bunch of weed,” Best Coast’s “Goodbye” makes a bid for broken heart song of the year. In a summer of looooong albums (like Joanna Newsom’s three-disc Have One on Me, or more recently, Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs ), it’s refreshing to hear short songs — the longest track, “Honey,” clocks in at three minutes and two seconds — that come and go without ever repeating a chorus for too long. In less than two minutes, “Bratty B” provides one of the album’s sunniest and most memorable moments.
In a phone interview, Cosentino opens up about her humble beginnings with guitar. “I was probably in the seventh grade,” she says, a time when she listened to Blink-182 and Green Day in her formative years of listening. “I started playing pop punk and power chords. I took lessons for a year or two but I didn’t ever practice, so I didn’t become too great of a guitar player.”
In other words, she isn’t a guitar virtuoso. That’s where Bruno comes in. Cosentino doesn’t always seem to know where she’s going on Crazy For You, but she gets there with a little TLC. “I write the songs and send a demo version to Bobb and I’ll say, ‘Here’s this song, here’s the vibe I’m looking for,'” Cosentino explains. “Bobb has this way of making it sound the way I envision. He fills in the gaps and does what I can’t do. I really only know how to play power chords. Bobb comes in with the surf-y aspects and does all the lead guitar solos, which I can do, but only on one string so they often don’t sound as great as Bobb makes them sound.”
Though Best Coast is a product of West Coast adoration, it wouldn’t have happened if Cosentino hadn’t moved to New York for college. But the journey east, where she spent one semester at the New School, took too far out of her element. “Obviously I would never have started this band had I stayed in L.A.,” she says. “Leaving really changed me as a person,” Her romanticized vision of New York — born from Seinfeld and Woody Allen movies — ushered her into a concrete love affair that was ultimately unrequited.
A song like Crazy For You‘s opening track “Boyfriend,” with its pining lyrics that border on obsession, sounds like the work of someone desperate. But Cosentino denies this. “I don’t write songs about boys because I’m needy. I’m in a relationship. I’m not a sad girl,” she says. “I write about guys because it’s something I’m influenced by. A lot of people have been saying, ‘Oh she’s so needy, she needs a boyfriend.’ That’s not it at all.”
Like any rising celebrity, Cosentino of course has hobbies, and they often involve smoking weed. Or sometimes they involve deepening her Internet footprint. She maintains a Twitter account (www.twitter.com/bestycoastyy) that is a curio of hilarious tangents plus a blog with Ali Koehler where they rate and discuss the showers in their hotels on tour.
Cosentino also has a Twitter account for her cat, Snacks, who modeled for the album cover of Crazy For You. She’s loathe to dwell too much on Snacks in interviews. Still, it’s part of the ever-growing Cosentino mythos. “I feel like my cat gets talked about in my interviews more than music,” she says. “But I’m happy about that because he deserves it.”
Best Coast is a testament to how bands are favored and, conversely, dampened by the Internet and the hype it creates. All the meme-momentum built up for Best Coast, dating back to its early demos, might not benefit the band in the long run, but it sure is fun for now.
Crazy For You arrives at a perfect time in music, since retro-bedroom rock is the style du jour. But Best Coast is like your summer romance. Once September hits and you’ve had your kicks, you’ll be ready to say goodbye and end things in a peaceful way. Yet your old flame, since she’s a little Crazy, might try and stick around longer than you’d like.
BEST COAST
October 26, 9 p.m., $15
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
(888) 233-0449
www.gamh.com
Music Listings
Music listings are compiled by Paula Connelly and Cheryl Eddy. Since club life is unpredictable, it’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm bookings and hours. Prices are listed when provided to us. Submit items at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Picks.
WEDNESDAY 18
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Black Francis, Roy Zimmerman Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $21.
Bodeans, Dan Navarro Independent. 8pm, $20.
Brothers Comatose, Escalator Hill, We Is Shore Determined Hotel Utah. 9pm, $6.
Casiokids, Light Pollution, K. Flay, Einar Stokka Café Du Nord. 9pm, $10.
Greg Davis, Aures, Mololy-Nagy Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $7.
Ha Ha Tonka, Red Light Mind, Buxter Hoot’n Elbo Room. 9pm, $8.
Craig Horton Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
Brian McKnight Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8 and 10pm, $35-45.
Rantouls, Lateenos, Larry and the Angriest Generation, Jinxes Thee Parkside. 8pm, $8.
Wavves Amoeba, 1855 Haight, SF; www.amoeba.com. 6pm, free.
Wavves Rickshaw Stop. 7:30pm, $14.
Woven Bones, Sandwitches, Splinters Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.
DANCE CLUBS
Booty Call Q-Bar, 456 Castro, SF; www.bootycallwednesdays.com. 9pm. Juanita Moore hosts this dance party, featuring DJ Robot Hustle.
Breezin Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 9:30pm, free. With DJs Amy A and Brynnie Mac spinning rock and 70s.
45 Club Knockout. 9pm, $6. Rock n’ soul with Honey, Blasted Canyons, and DJs dX the Funky Granpaw, Dirty Dishes, and English Steve.
Hands Down! Bar on Church. 9pm, free. With DJs Claksaarb, Mykill, and guests spinning indie, electro, house, and bangers.
Jam Fresh Wednesdays Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; (415) 433-8585. 9:30pm, free. With DJs Slick D, Chris Clouse, Rich Era, Don Lynch, and more spinning top40, mashups, hip hop, and remixes.
Mary-Go-Round Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 10pm, $5. A weekly drag show with hosts Cookie Dough, Pollo Del Mar, and Suppositori Spelling.
RedWine Social Dalva. 9pm-2am, free. DJ TophOne and guests spin outernational funk and get drunk.
Respect Wednesdays End Up. 10pm, $5. Rotating DJs Daddy Rolo, Young Fyah, Irie Dole, I-Vier, Sake One, Serg, and more spinning reggae, dancehall, roots, lovers rock, and mash ups.
Synchronize Il Pirata, 2007 16th St, SF; (415) 626-2626. 10pm, free. Psychedelic dance music with DJs Helios, Gatto Matto, Psy Lotus, Intergalactoid, and guests.
THURSDAY 19
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Abriel, Imperfect Deity, To Memory and Me DNA Lounge. 5:30pm, $12. With the Light Iris, Our Living Memory, Falling to Pieces, Mirros, Apothesary, and A Moment of Clarity.
Catholic Radio, Smile Brigade, Spiral Agnew Kimo’s. 9pm.
Clipd Beaks, Moccretro, Hollow Hearth, Hans Keller Café Du Nord. 9pm, $10.
Darker My Love, Sonny and the Sunsets Independent. 8pm, $14.
Brandon Flowers Slim’s. 9pm, $27.50.
Grand Lodge, Lijie Hotel Utah. 8pm, $7.
Hot Hot Heat, 22-20s, Hey Rosetta! Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $15.
Hunx and His Punx, Shannon and the Clams, Okmoniks, Goochi Boiz, Miss Chain and the Broken Heels Thee Parkside. 9pm, $10.
Ida, Michael Hurley, Westwood and Willow Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.
Lickets, Odd Owl, Tied to the Branches Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $7.
Brian McKnight Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8 and 10pm, $35-45.
Darrell Scott, Elliot Randall Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $21.
Wild Things, Lens, Greg Ashley Knockout. 9:30pm, $7.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Estamos Ensemble New Frequencies, YBCA Sculpture Court, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787. 8pm, $25
Hot Club of Cowtown, Whiskey Richards, B Stars Amnesia. 8:30pm, $10.
Claudio Santomé and Marcello Puig Red Poppy Art House. 8pm, $12-15.
Steel Pulse Fillmore. 9pm, $35.
Tipsy House Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Afrolicious Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $5-7. DJs Pleasuremaker and Señor Oz spin Afro-tropical, samba, and funk.
Caribbean Connection Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $3. DJ Stevie B and guests spin reggae, soca, zouk, reggaetón, and more.
Club Jammies Edinburgh Castle. 10pm, free. DJs EBERrad and White Mice spinning reggae, punk, dub, and post punk.
Drop the Pressure Underground SF. 6-10pm, free. Electro, house, and datafunk highlight this weekly happy hour.
Electric Feel Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 9pm, $2. With DJs subOctave and Blondie K spinning indie music videos.
Good Foot Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. With DJs spinning R&B, Hip hop, classics, and soul.
Jivin’ Dirty Disco Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 8pm, free. With DJs spinning disco, funk, and classics.
Koko Puffs Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. Dubby roots reggae and Jamaican funk from rotating DJs.
Mestiza Bollywood Café, 3376 19th St, SF; (415) 970-0362. 10pm, free. Showcasing progressive Latin and global beats with DJ Juan Data.
Nightvision Harlot, 46 Minna, SF; (415) 777-1077. 9:30pm, $10. DJs Danny Daze, Franky Boissy, and more spinning house, electro, hip hop, funk, and more.
Peaches Skylark, 10pm, free. With an all female DJ line up featuring Deeandroid, Lady Fingaz, That Girl, and Umami spinning hip hop.
Popscene 330 Rich. 10pm, $10. Rotating DJs spinning indie, Britpop, electro, new wave, and post-punk.
SOL Club 525, 525 Harrison, SF; www.sol2010.eventbrite.com. 9pm, $15. With DJs Andy P., Skander and Sohrab, Rhetoric, Sepehr, and more spinning house, tech, and tribal.
Solid Thursdays Club Six. 9pm, free. With DJs Daddy Rolo and Tesfa spinning roots, reggae, dancehall, soca, and mashups.
Tropicana Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, $5. With DJs Don Bustamante, Apocolypto, Sr. Saenz and guests spinning salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, and merengue.
FRIDAY 20
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Blisses B, Be Brave Bold Robot, Grownup Noise Kimo’s. 9pm.
Crooked Still, Jesse DeNatale Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $16.
Excuses for Skipping, Cliks, Killola, Hunter Valentine Milk. 8:30pm, $10.
Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Personal and the Pizzas, Barreracudas, Wrong Words, Meercaz Thee Parkside. 9pm, $10.
Ghostland Observatory Warfield. 9pm, $25.
Jogger, We Are the World, Shlohmo, Matthewdavid Rickshaw Stop. 8:30pm, $12.
Morlocks, Hot Lunch Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $10.
New Orleans Bingo! Show, Kim Boekbinder Independent. 9pm, $15.
Persephone’s Bees, Soft White Sixties, Angel Island, DJ Omar Café Du Nord. 9:30pm, $12.
Pinkerton, Hot Toddies, As A People Bottom of the Hill. 10pm, $10.
Polkacide, Khi Darag, Loop Station, Space Blaster Blue Macaw, 2565 Mission, SF; (415) 920-0577. 9pm, $10.
Johnny Rawls Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Still Time, Shamblers, John Howland Slim’s. 9pm, $15.
Ttotals, Diego Gonzalez Hemlock Tavern. 6pm, $5.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Black Market Jazz Orchestra Top of the Mark. 9pm, $10.
David Belove Trio Art Tap, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org. 6pm, free.
Eleven Eyes Coda. 10pm, $10.
Jacqui Naylor Quartet Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF; www.therrazzroom.com. 9pm, $35.
Lisa Engelken Band Red Poppy Art House. 9pm, $12-20.
Marlena Teich and group Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $8.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Charanga Habanera Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8 and 10pm, $20-26.
“Cuba Afro Rock Revolution” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787. 8pm, $28-$50. With X Alfonso, Osamu, and special guest Pedro Calvo.
Toshio Hirano Mercury Café, 201 Octavia, SF; (415) 252-7855. 7:30pm, free.
Hot Club of Cowtown, Lady A and the Heel Draggers, Betty Soo Amnesia. 9pm, $10.
Lagos Roots Afrobeat Ensemble Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $12. With DJ Shawna, Tribal Fusion Bellydance, and Deb Rubin.
Summer Samba Party Il Pirata, 2007 16th St., SF; (415) 626-2626. 10pm, $10. With Pagode de Mesa, Jorge Alabe, Claudinho Sorriso, Brian Moran, and guests.
Bucky Walters, Snap Jackson, The Knock on Wood Players Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Afrobeat No Go Die Madrone Art Bar. 9:30pm, $5. With DJs Jeremiah and the Afrobeat Nation and Jose Rivera.
Club Dragon Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 9pm, $8. A gay Asian paradise. Featuring two dance floors playing dance and hip hop, smoking patio, and 2 for 1 drinks before 10pm.
Dirty Bird Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, SF; (415) 625-8880. 9pm, $20. With DJs Claude Von Stroke, Juston Martin, Christian Martin, and Worthy.
Dirty Rotten Dance Party Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, $5. With DJs Morale, Kap10 Harris, and Shane King spinning electro, bootybass, crunk, swampy breaks, hyphy, rap, and party classics.
Episco Disco Grace Cathedral, 1100 California, SF; (415) 869-7817. 7pm, free. With live music by Coconut, Paradise Now, and Aero-Mic’d and art by Land and Sea and Sean McFarland.
Exhale, Fridays Project One Gallery, 251 Rhode Island, SF; (415) 465-2129. 5pm, $5. Happy hour with art, fine food, and music with Vin Sol, King Most, DJ Centipede, and Shane King.
Fat Stack Fridays Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. With rotating DJs B-Cause, Vinnie Esparza, Mr. Robinson, Toph One, and Slopoke.
Fubar Fridays Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5. With DJs spinning retro mashup remixes.
Good Life Fridays Apartment 24, 440 Broadway, SF; (415) 989-3434. 10pm, $10. With DJ Brian spinning hip hop, mashups, and top 40.
Hot Chocolate Milk. 9pm, $5. With DJs Big Fat Frog, Chardmo, DuseRock, and more spinning old and new school funk.
Oldies Night Knockout. 9pm, $2-4. One-hit wonders and scratchy soul with DJs Primo, Daniel, and Lost Cat.
Radioactivity 222 Hyde, SF; (415) 440-0222. 6pm. Synth sounds of the cold war era.
Rockabilly Fridays Jay N Bee Club, 2736 20th St, SF; (415) 824-4190. 9pm, free. With DJs Rockin’ Raul, Oakie Oran, Sergio Iglesias, and Tanoa “Samoa Boy” spinning 50s and 60s Doo Wop, Rockabilly, Bop, Jive, and more.
“SF Drag King Contest” DNA Lounge. 9pm, $25-35. With MCs Fudgie Frottage and Sister Roma, plus special guest Jane Wiedlin.
Sisters of the Underground Club Six. 9pm, $5. With DJs Shortee, Lady Fingaz, Pony P, Celskii and Deeandroid, and many more spinning hip hop.
Some Thing The Stud. 10pm, $7. VivvyAnne Forevermore, Glamamore, and DJ Down-E give you fierce drag shows and afterhours dancing.
SATURDAY 21
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Chris Cain Band Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Cool Water Canyon, Vintage Music Collective Independent. 9pm, $15.
Hepcat, Inciters, Selecter DJ Kirk Slim’s. 9pm, $23.
“Joe Strummer Tribute” Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10. With Armagideons, Hooks, Monkey, Sistas in the Pit, Stigma 13, and Interecords.
Man/Miracle, Slang Chickens, Yellow Dress Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $7.
No Alternative, VKTMS Bender’s, 806 S. Van Ness, SF; www.bendersbar.com. 10pm, $5. Benefit for the Haight Ashbury Homeless Youth Alliance.
Nobunny, Mean Jeans, Anomalys, Charlie and the Moonhearts Thee Parkside. 9pm, $10.
Return to Mono, Foreign Cinema, Sentinel, Bring the Tiger Red Devil Lounge. 8pm, $10.
Sons of Doug, Steve Pile Band, Jeremy D. Antonio Hotel Utah. 9pm, $7.
Sputterdoll, Pedro Gil, Skyflakes, Rocking Kids Sing-A-Long, Keenwild Thee Parkside. 3pm, free.
Tussle, Sword and Sandals, ASSS Amnesia. 9pm, $5.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Ensemble Mik Nawooj Red Poppy Art House. 9pm, $15-20.
Eric Kurtzrock Trio Ana Mandara, Ghirardelli Square, 891 Beach, SF; (415) 771-6800. 8pm, free.
Giovenco Project Coda. 7pm, free.
Jacqui Naylor Quartet Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF; www.therrazzroom.com. 9pm, $35.
Lucky Stars, B Stars Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa, SF; www.oldtimey.net. 9:30pm, $12.
Suzanna Smith and group Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $8.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Charanga Habanera Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8 and 10pm, $20-26.
“Cuba Afro Rock Revolution” Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787. 8pm, $28-$50. With X Alfonso, Osamu, and special guest Pedro Calvo.
Maurice Tani, Jenn Courtney, 77 El Deora, Misispi Rider Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez, SF; (415) 454-5238. 8:15pm, $17.
Tito Garcia y su Orquesta Internacional The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois, SF; (415) 621-2378. 5pm.
Tornotics Plough and Stars. 9pm, $6-$10 sliding scale.
Craig Ventresco and Meredith Axelrod Atlas Café. 4pm, free.
DANCE CLUBS
Bar on Church 9pm. Rotating DJs Foxxee, Joseph Lee, Zhaldee, Mark Andrus, and Nuxx.
Bootie DNA Lounge. 9pm, $6-12. Mash-ups with DJ Ajax vs. Ryan Lendt, plus residents Adrian and Mysterious D.
Booty Bassment Knockout. 10pm, $5. Hip-hop with DJs Ryan Poulsen and Dimitri Dickenson.
Club 1994 Paradise Lounge. 10pm, $10. Presented by Jeffery Paradise and Ava Berlin, featuring 90’s music, themed photo booth, fashion show, and more.
Cock Fight Underground SF. 9pm, $7. Gay locker room antics galore with electro-spinning DJ Earworm.
Fire Corner Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 9:30pm, free. Rare and outrageous ska, rocksteady, and reggae vinyl with Revival Sound System and guests.
Fringe Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, $5. With DJs Blondie K and subOctave spinning indie music videos.
Full House Gravity, 3505 Scott, SF; (415) 776-1928. 9pm, $10. With DJs Roost Uno and Pony P spinning dirty hip hop.
HYP Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 10pm, free. Gay and lesbian hip hop party, featuring DJs spinning the newest in the top 40s hip hop and hyphy.
Non Stop Bhangra Rickshaw Stop. 9pm, $15. Bhangra beats with Dholrhythms Dance Troupe.
Paint Factory Club Six. 9pm, $5. With DJs Romanowski, Centipede, and Mr. Robinson spinning house, downtempo, and hip hop and live painting by Nome Edonna and Ian Ross.
Prince vs. Michael Madrone Art Bar. 8pm, $5. With DJs Dave Paul and Jeff Harris battling it out on the turntables with album cuts, remixes, rare tracks, and classics.
Rock City Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5 after 10pm. With DJs spinning party rock.
Saturday Night Soul Party Elbo Room. 10pm-2am, $5. DJs Lucky, Paul Paul, and Phengren Oswald spin butt-shakin’ ’60s soul.
Spirit Fingers Sessions 330 Ritch. 9pm, free. With DJ Morse Code and live guest performances.
Wet and Wild Club 8, 1151 Folsom, SF; (415) 431-1151. 10pm, $8. With DJs Techminds and Kipp Glass.
SUNDAY 22
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
“Battle of the Bands” DNA Lounge. 5:30pm, $12. With Boondock Squad, Thanks for Leaving, Out for Blood, and more.
“Bay Vibes Summer Musicfest 3” Café Cocomo. Noon-2am, $35. Two stages of music with Isabella, Native Elements, Dogman Joe, My Peoples, Afrolicious, and more.
Butlers, Only Sons, Burnt House Bottom of the Hill. 5:30pm, $8.
Mike Coykendall and the Golden Shag, Brian Belknap, Tom Heyman Make-Out Room. 8pm, $8.
Horde and the Harem, Aimless Never Miss, Buttercream Gang, And I Was Like, What? Rickshaw Stop. 7pm, $10.
Sarah Jaffe, Glassines, Kristy Kruger Hemlock Tavern. 8pm, $8.
Lazy Loper, Con Brio, Shake Well Amnesia. 9:30pm, $8-10.
Moonlight Orchestra, Stormy California Thee Parkside. 8pm, $7.
“Rock Make Street Festival” Treat and 18th St, SF; www.rockmake.com. 11am-6pm, free. With Tartufi, AB and the Sea, Still Flyin’, Leopold and His Fiction, and more.
Summer Twins, Twinks, Danger Babes, Omni, DJ Neil Martinson Knockout. 9pm.
They Might Be Giants, Rogue Wave Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave at Sloat, SF; www.sterngrove.org. 2pm, free.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Ernie Small Memorial Big Band Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $5.
Sunday Sessions Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. With organist Will Blades leading a jazz jam session.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTY
Annete A. Aguilar and Stringbeans Coda. 8pm, $10.
Back 40, Carburetors Thee Parkside. 4pm, free.
Charanga Habanera Yoshi’s San Francisco. 6 and 8pm, $20.
Charity and the JAMband, Elizabeth Mitchell Park Chalet, 1000 Great Highway, SF; (415) 386-8439. 3pm, free. An outdoor family concert.
Crow Quail Night Owls Amnesia. 6-9pm, $8-10.
Gente do Samba The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois, SF; (415) 621-2378. 5pm.
Queen Makedah Café Cocomo. 5pm, $25-$60.
John Sherry, Kyle Thayer and friends Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
DiscoFunk Mashups Cat Club. 10pm, free. House and 70’s music.
Dub Mission Elbo Room. 9pm, $6. Dub, roots, and classic dancehall with DJs Sep, Ludachris, and guest Bella.
Gloss Sundays Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 7pm. With DJ Hawthorne spinning house, funk, soul, retro, and disco.
Honey Soundsystem Paradise Lounge. 8pm-2am. “Dance floor for dancers – sound system for lovers.” Got that?
Jock! Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 3pm, $2. This high-energy party raises money for LGBT sports teams.
Kick It Bar on Church. 9pm. Hip-hop with DJ Zax.
Lowbrow Sunday Delirium. 1pm, free. DJ Roost Uno and guests spinning club hip hop, indie, and top 40s.
Religion Bar on Church. 3pm. With DJ Nikita.
Stag AsiaSF. 6pm, $5. Gay bachelor parties are the target demo of this weekly erotic tea dance.
Swing Out Sundays Rock-It Room. 7pm, free (dance lessons $15). DJ BeBop Burnie spins 20s through 50s swing, jive, and more.
MONDAY 23
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Crowded House, Lawrence Arabia Warfield. 8pm, $45-62.50.
Decapitated, Faceless, All Shall Parish, Red Chord, Veil of Maya, Cephanic Carnage Fillmore. 3:30pm, $25. With Decrepit Death, Carnifex, Animals as Leaders, and Vital Remains.
Girl in a Coma, Gringo Star, Agent Ribbons Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.
DANCE CLUBS
Black Gold Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm-2am, free. Senator Soul spins Detroit soul, Motown, New Orleans R&B, and more — all on 45!
Death Guild DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $3-5. Gothic, industrial, and synthpop with Decay, Joe Radio, and Melting Girl.
Karaoke Killed the Cat Elbo Room. 9pm, $5. Karaoke.
Krazy Mondays Beauty Bar. 10pm, free. With DJs Ant-1, $ir-Tipp, Ruby Red I, Lo, and Gelo spinning hip hop.
M.O.M. Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. With DJ Gordo Cabeza and guests playing all Motown every Monday.
Manic Mondays Bar on Church. 9pm. Drink 80-cent cosmos with Djs Mark Andrus and Dangerous Dan.
Musik for Your Teeth Revolution Café, 3248 22nd St., SF; (415) 642-0474. 5pm, free. Soul cookin’ happy hour tunes with DJ Antonino Musco.
Network Mondays Azul Lounge, One Tillman Pl, SF; www.inhousetalent.com. 9pm, $5. Hip-hop, R&B, and spoken word open mic, plus featured performers.
Skylarking Skylark. 10pm, free. With resident DJs I & I Vibration, Beatnok, and Mr. Lucky and weekly guest DJs.
TUESDAY 24
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Alvon Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
Audacity, Todd C and the Clown Sound, Mill Valley’s Most Honest Men Hemlock Tavern. 6pm, $5.
Bad Brains, Broun Fellinis Slim’s. 9pm, $26.
La Corde, Cat Party, Dadfag, DJs Deadbeat and Yule Be Sorry Knockout. 9:30pm, $5.
Eastern Conference Champs, Voxhaul Broadcast Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6. Grand Lake, It’s for Free Grace, Sean Smith and the Present Moment, James and Evander Café Du Nord. 9pm, $10. Psalm One, Open Mike Eagle, League510 Elbo Room. 9pm, $8. Scene of Action, Paper Sons, Pebble Theory Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $8. Shaimus, Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs Hotel Utah. 8pm, $8. Something Corporate Warfield. 8:30pm, $30. DANCE CLUBS Alcoholocaust Presents Argus Lounge. 9pm, free. With DJ D-runk and D. Jake. Eclectic Company Skylark, 9pm, free. DJs Tones and Jaybee spin old school hip hop, bass, dub, glitch, and electro. Share the Love Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 5pm, free. With DJ Pam Hubbuck spinning house. Womanizer Bar on Church. 9pm. With DJ Nuxx
SFBG Radio: Meg’s poll slide and Jerry’s green plan
In today’s episode, Johnny and Tim talk about Meg Whitman’s poll slide, Jerry Brown’s green-jobs plan — and why affordable housing is key to the city’s future as a center for cutting-edge arts. You can listen after the jump.
SFBG Radio: A glorious future without PG&E
In this week’s episode, Johnny and Johnny talk asinine budget impasse, Americans suckered into voting against their interests and a glorious future without PG&E.
The 5000 faces of Lil B
By Willy Staley
Meeting people you know only from the Internet is a bizarre experience. I share my tedious thoughts with people on Twitter all day, and I read theirs, and yet I don’t know the first thing about them as a person, and they know nothing about me. There are precious few opportunities to actually meet these people, and I like it that way. Lil B the Based God‘s sold-out late July show at Santos Party House in Lower Manhattan would not be one of those nights. Lil B without the Internet is inconceivable. In some ways, he is Internet hip-hop culture personified, embodying both its great potential, and its childish shortcomings. A lot of Internet people would be in attendance, I learned, from both my Tumblr and Twitter feeds.
Wesleyan-grad duo Das Racist opened the show by giving the audience a taste of how this Internet-meets-real-life show might play out. Before they started performing, Hima paused to tweet about the fact that they were performing, while explaining to the audience exactly what he was doing. He stopped mid-performance to do this again. While more obnoxious than funny — though not as obnoxious as the “30-second vibe-out” that almost got them booed off stage — it was in line with the theme of the night: what happens when you put the Internet into a room?
Initially, it seemed this might make for an awkward meeting. Das Racist’s highbrow-meets-lowbrow shtick is great to listen to on the subway, and perfect for Internet popularity, but referencing Camus and Cam’ron in the same line just doesn’t play well onstage, especially when it turned out that despite the duo’s home field advantage, virtually everyone was there to see Lil B.
Shortly after Das Racist’s set closed, The Based God walked through the crowd and onto the stage amid chants of his ad-libs “Swag!” and “Woo!” He hardly needed to warm up the New York crowd, but he did. B opened by rapping a verse over Rick Ross’ “Blowin’ Money Fast” instrumental, which you might think is the only song on the radio in New York. He worked the crowd, taking breaks to thank everyone for coming out, talk about how much he loves New York, and how much he really doesn’t “give a fuck.”
But it was clear from his performance that he does give a fuck; like anyone who spends too much time online, he’s just a bit scatterbrained. He had the crowd in a frenzy for his YouTube hit “Like a Martian” — everyone knew all the words. But he cut it off before hitting the best part of the hook — the part where he says “Martian” over and over again – in order to have another chat with the audience.
The crowd didn’t seem to mind these long asides. After all, Lil B’s appeal isn’t just in his music, it’s his whole online persona. He has a prolific Twitter account, more than 100 MySpace accounts, a self-published book on positive living, and dozens of hastily-made music videos on YouTube. Most of the top comments on his YouTube videos are from B himself, and he leaves comments on blog posts about himself with a Blogger account, Tropical Doves. Some of the best and funniest moments of the show, like when B said he feels like Mel Gibson (a claim which has now become a song), took place during these interludes.
And like Das Racist before him, Lil B’s status as an internet star was apparent as soon as he stepped on the stage — dozens of cameras (and one spatula) went up in the air to record or TwitPic the performance, obscuring the view of the Based God for anyone unfortunate enough to be towards the back of the room, but making footage of the performance available to anyone foolish enough to miss it. At one point, B stopped rapping, and started asking for people in the audience by their Twitter handle. He batted .500 — one of the two he asked for hadn’t shown up. The one who had was ecstatic. At another point, DJ Wookie was taking so long to start playing the track B had requested, my friend joked that Wookie was making sure the YouTube clip had loaded completely.
And his interaction with his audience stayed as constant and bizarre in real life as it is online, even during his performance. “What should I do in New York?,” he asked the crowd halfway through his set. Once he got an onslaught of suggestions, he admitted that he couldn’t make them out. There is, after all, a difference between checking your “@ replies” and trying to understand a screaming audience.
Still, watching the Based God interact with his fan base in the flesh instead of cyberspace was anything but awkward. His charisma, and his fan’s enthusiasm for his music, and excitement — I think — to find that there are plenty others like them made the feeling at the show both communal and electric. These are hundreds of thousands of downloads, comments, and YouTube hits embodied; it was the collective discovery that, no, you are not the only person who watches “Suck My Dick Ho” on YouTube every other day, even though you feel like you are (a side note: the crowd probably knew the words to “Suck My Dick Ho” better than Lil B did).
The only person not having a blast was the stoic security guard on stage, who B used like a mic stand at times. He was noticeably less happy when B invited a few “cooks” onstage to perform his patented, viral “cooking” dance. B trusted the audience a bit too much; predictably, the stage got rushed. But he finished out strong, performing “Birth of Rap” and “I’m God” – two of his higher-minded, less-oral-sex-driven songs – in a crush of Twitter followers and YouTube friends.
After the show ended, as people were milling about, some dude came up to me and asked if my name was Willy. He introduced himself using both his Twitter name and his real name; we’re friends on there, and both read each other’s blogs. Corny, sure. But lame as it sounds, he and his friends joined me and my real-life friends for beers at a seedy, smelly karaoke bar down the street from Central Booking in Chinatown. We shot the shit about rap and the concert over some overpriced bottles of Bud, and generally had a good time. It wasn’t weird at all.
Music listings
Music listings are compiled by Paula Connelly and Cheryl Eddy. Since club life is unpredictable, it’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm bookings and hours. Prices are listed when provided to us. Submit items at listings@sfbg.com.
WEDNESDAY 11
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Autolux, This Will Destroy You Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $18.
*Carla Bozulich’s Evangelista, Common Eider King Eider Café du Nord. 9:30pm, $14.
Pancho-san, Dinosaur Feathers, Lonnie Walker Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.
Porcupine Tree Warfield. 8pm, $30-35.
Sex Worker, Jason Urick Hemlock Tavern. 6pm, $5.
Superstitions, Impediments, Cum Stain, Trmrs Thee Parkside. 8pm, $5.
Thralls, Sunbeam Rd, Ghost Animal, Rangers Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $7.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
"Buck Owens Birthday Tribute" Elbo Room. 8pm, $12. With Dave Gonzalez, Mike Barkield and the Stone River Boys, Maurice Tani, Jenn Courtney, and more.
Charles Lee Gardner Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Booty Call Q-Bar, 456 Castro, SF; www.bootycallwednesdays.com. 9pm. Juanita Moore hosts this dance party, featuring DJ Robot Hustle.
Hands Down! Bar on Church. 9pm, free. With DJs Claksaarb, Mykill, and guests spinning indie, electro, house, and bangers.
Jam Fresh Wednesdays Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; (415) 433-8585. 9:30pm, free. With DJs Slick D, Chris Clouse, Rich Era, Don Lynch, and more spinning top40, mashups, hip hop, and remixes.
Mary-Go-Round Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 10pm, $5. A weekly drag show with hosts Cookie Dough, Pollo Del Mar, and Suppositori Spelling.
Nerd Nite Rickshaw Stop. 7:30pm, $8. With DJ Alpha Bravo.
Open Mic Night 330 Ritch. 9pm, $7.
RedWine Social Dalva. 9pm-2am, free. DJ TophOne and guests spin outernational funk and get drunk.
Respect Wednesdays End Up. 10pm, $5. Rotating DJs Daddy Rolo, Young Fyah, Irie Dole, I-Vier, Sake One, Serg, and more spinning reggae, dancehall, roots, lovers rock, and mash ups.
Synchronize Il Pirata, 2007 16th St, SF; (415) 626-2626. 10pm, free. Psychedelic dance music with DJs Helios, Gatto Matto, Psy Lotus, Intergalactoid, and guests.
THURSDAY 12
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Delta Nove, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band Boom Boom Room. 9:30pm.
Donkeys, TV Mike and the Scarecrowes, Horns of Happiness Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $10.
50 Million, Thee Headliners, Street Eaters, Fugitive Kind Thee Parkside. 9pm, $5.
*Reverend Horton Heat, Hillstomp Fillmore. 9pm, $25.
Laurie Morvan Band Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
Or, The Whale, These United States, Winter’s Fall Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.
Outshined, Jordan and the Hashemites, Acousma DNA Lounge. 5:30pm, $12. With Neon Anyway, Socialized, Kavarzee, Skyway View, More, and Amply Hostile.
Chuck Ragan, Garrin Benfield Café du Nord. 9pm, $10.
Teen Daze, Gobble Gobble, Blackbird Blackbird, Sail High Milk. 8pm.
Keeley Valentino, Natalie Metcalf, Whitney Nichole Hotel Utah. 8pm, $10.
White Hills, Carlton Melton, Headless Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $8.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Ajal Esplanade at Yerba Buena Gardens, 760 Howard, SF; (415) 664-2200. 12:30pm, free.
East Bay Grass Atlas Café. 8pm, free.
Shannon Céilí Band Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Afrolicious Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $5-7. DJs Pleasuremaker and Señor Oz spin Afro-tropical, samba, and funk.
CakeMIX SF Wish, 1539 Folsom, SF; www.wishsf.com. 10pm, free. DJ Carey Kopp spinning funk, soul, and hip hop.
Caribbean Connection Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $3. DJ Stevie B and guests spin reggae, soca, zouk, reggaetón, and more.
Drop the Pressure Underground SF. 6-10pm, free. Electro, house, and datafunk highlight this weekly happy hour.
Good Foot Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. With DJs spinning R&B, Hip hop, classics, and soul.
Gymnasium Matador, 10 Sixth St, SF; (415) 863-4629. 9pm, free. With DJ Violent Vickie and guests spinning electro, hip hop, and disco.
Jivin’ Dirty Disco Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 8pm, free. With DJs spinning disco, funk, and classics.
Kissing Booth Make-Out Room. 9pm, free. DJs Jory, Commodore 69, and more spinning indie dance, disco, 80’s, and electro.
Koko Puffs Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. Dubby roots reggae and Jamaican funk from rotating DJs.
Mestiza Bollywood Café, 3376 19th St, SF; (415) 970-0362. 10pm, free. Showcasing progressive Latin and global beats with DJ Juan Data.
Motion Sickness Vertigo, 1160 Polk, SF; (415) 674-1278. 10pm, free. Genre-bending dance party with DJs Sneaky P, Public Frenemy, and D_Ro Cyclist.
Nacht Musik Knockout. 10:30pm, $4. Dark, minimal, and electronic with Omar, Josh, and Justin.
Peaches Skylark, 10pm, free. With an all female DJ line up featuring Deeandroid, Lady Fingaz, That Girl, and Umami spinning hip hop.
Popscene 330 Rich. 10pm, $10. Rotating DJs spinning indie, Britpop, electro, new wave, and post-punk.
Solid Thursdays Club Six. 9pm, free. With DJs Daddy Rolo and Tesfa spinning roots, reggae, dancehall, soca, and mashups.
FRIDAY 13
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Apache, Hammered Velvet, Death By Doll, Mustang Knockout. 9pm, $7.
Aratic, Domeshots, Calling Doctor Howard, Brooks Was Here Slim’s. 8pm, $15.
Cotton Jones, Parson Red Heads, Roadside Graves Bottom of the Hill. 9:30pm, $12.
*Deceased, Rumplestiltskin Grinder, Embryonic Devourment, Deadly Remains, DJ Rob Metal Thee Parkside. 9pm, $10-12.
Disgust of Us, Rademacher, Santiago Submission, 2183 Mission, SF; (415) 425-6137. 8pm, $8.
Notorious, Stung Bimbo’s 365 Club. 9pm, $20.
Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $22.
Leslie Stevens and the Badgers, Charlie Wadham, Amy Blaschke Hotel Utah. 9:30pm, $10.
Vacation Dad, Birthdays, DJ Danny White, DJ Rance Brown Amnesia. 9pm, $3-5.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Black Market Jazz Orchestra Top of the Mark. 9pm, $10.
Betty Buckley Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $32.
Nice Guy Trio Art Tap, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org. 6pm, free.
Colm Ó Riain and friends Red Poppy Art House. 9pm, $15.
Alice Russell Yoshi’s San Francisco. 10:30pm, $22.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Pocket Full of Rye with Brandon Carroll and Caroline Alegre Dolores Park Café. 7pm, $4.
Eliza Rickman, Lily Taylor, Sara Payan Amnesia. 6pm, $8-10.
Santeroband, DJ Jeremiah and the Afrobeat Nation, Chiefboima Café du Nord. 9:30pm, $12.
Te Vaka Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $26.
Whiskey Richards Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Bearracuda DNA Lounge. 9pm, $10. House with DJs Rotten Robbie and Boyshapedbox.
Exhale, Fridays Project One Gallery, 251 Rhode Island, SF; (415) 465-2129. 5pm, $5. Happy hour with art, fine food, and music with Vin Sol, King Most, DJ Centipede, and Shane King.
Fat Stack Fridays Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. With rotating DJs B-Cause, Vinnie Esparza, Mr. Robinson, Toph One, and Slopoke.
Fo’ Sho! Fridays Madrone Art Bar. 10pm, $5. DJs Kung Fu Chris and Makossa spin rare grooves, soul, funk, and hip-hop classics.
Friday the 13: Tales from the Hood Som. 9pm, $5. With DJs Tap 10, Ant-1, Ruby Red I, and Lo.
Fubar Fridays Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5. With DJs spinning retro mashup remixes.
Club Dragon Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 9pm, $8. A gay Asian paradise. Featuring two dance floors playing dance and hip hop, smoking patio, and 2 for 1 drinks before 10pm.
Good Life Fridays Apartment 24, 440 Broadway, SF; (415) 989-3434. 10pm, $10. With DJ Brian spinning hip hop, mashups, and top 40.
Heartical Roots Bollywood Café. 9pm, $5. Recession friendly reggae.
Hot Chocolate Milk. 9pm, $5. With DJs Big Fat Frog, Chardmo, DuseRock, and more spinning old and new school funk.
Rockabilly Fridays Jay N Bee Club, 2736 20th St, SF; (415) 824-4190. 9pm, free. With DJs Rockin’ Raul, Oakie Oran, Sergio Iglesias, and Tanoa "Samoa Boy" spinning 50s and 60s Doo Wop, Rockabilly, Bop, Jive, and more.
Some Thing The Stud. 10pm, $7. VivvyAnne Forevermore, Glamamore, and DJ Down-E give you fierce drag shows and afterhours dancing.
Strictly Video 111 Minna. 9pm, $10. With VDJs Shortkut, Swift Rock, GoldenChyld, and Satva spinning rap, 80s, R&B, and Dancehall.
Them Jeans, Chris Harnett, Richie Panic Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; (415) 433-8585. 7pm, $15. Beginning with an art reception for "Between serene and ridiculous."
Treat Em Right Elbo Room. 10pm, $5. Hip-hop, funk, and reggae with DJs Vinnie Esparza, B-Cause, and guest DJ Proof.
SATURDAY 14
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys, Amy Cook Bimbo’s 365 Club. 9pm, $25.
American Steel, Ghost and the City, Rattlesnakes! Bottom of the Hill. 10pm, $12.
Apples and Lemons Café du Nord. 9:30pm, $12.
Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo Bay School of Medicine, La Plebe Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $15.
*Malevolent Creation, Arise Elbo Room. 5pm, $12.
Os Beaches, Blank Tapes, Apache Thunderbolt Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $7.
"Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival" Golden Gate Park; www.apeconcerts.com. Noon, $140.
Pie Rats, Rotton Core, Goolog Thee Parkside. 3pm, free.
Slang Chickens, Splinters, Sam Flax and the Higher Color, Spooks Amnesia. 9pm, $7.
Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Toys That Kill, Songs for Moms, Reaction, Kung Fu USA, Frozen Embryos Thee Parkside. 9pm, $5.
Carolyn Wonderland, Mother Truckers, Stone River Boys Slim’s. 9pm, $15.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Betty Buckley Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $32.
Eric Kurtzrock Trio Ana Mandara, Ghirardelli Square, 891 Beach, SF; (415) 771-6800. 8pm, free.
Horace-Scope Amoeba San Francisco, 1855 Haight, SF; (415) 831-1200. 2pm, free.
Colm Ó Riain and friends Red Poppy Art House. 9pm, $15.
Rova Saxophone Quartet Community Music Center, Capp Street Concert Hall, 544 Capp, SF; (415) 647-6015. 8pm, $15.
Alice Russell Yoshi’s San Francisco. 10:30pm, $22.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Wrenboys Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Bar on Church 9pm. Rotating DJs Foxxee, Joseph Lee, Zhaldee, Mark Andrus, and Nuxx.
Bootie DNA Lounge. 9pm, $10-15. Special 7 year anniversary celebration with mash-ups with Go Home Productions, Adrian and Mysterious D, and Dada.
Cockblock Rickshaw Stop. 10pm, $7. Homolicious dance party with a variety of music.
Electricity Knockout. 10pm, $4. Eighties with DJs Deadbeat and Yule Be Sorry, and guest Ryan Poulsen.
Frolic Stud. 9pm, $3-7. DJs Dragn’Fly, NeonBunny, and Ikkuma spin at this celebration of anthropomorphic costume and dance. Animal outfits encouraged.
Gemini Disco Underground SF. 10pm, $5. Disco with DJ Derrick Love and Nicky B. spinning deep disco.
HYP Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 10pm, free. Gay and lesbian hip hop party, featuring DJs spinning the newest in the top 40s hip hop and hyphy.
Rock City Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5 after 10pm. With DJs spinning party rock.
Same Sex Salsa and Swing Magnet, 4122 18th St, SF; (415) 305-8242. 7pm, free.
Spirit Fingers Sessions 330 Ritch. 9pm, free. With DJ Morse Code and live guest performances.
Spotlight Siberia, 314 11th St, SF; (415) 552-2100. 10pm. With DJs Slowpoke, Double Impact, and Moe1.
Tormenta Tropical Elbo Room. 10pm, $5-10. Electro cumbia with DJs Disco Shawn and Oro 11.
SUNDAY 15
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
*Black Cobra, Howl, Lions of Tsavo Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $12.
Counter Clockwise, Death Alley Motor Cult, Devil Himself DNA Lounge. 7pm, $15. With White Minorities, Wild Wood Willy, and Thirty9 Fingers.
Nick Moss and the Flip Tops Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $18.
"Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival" Golden Gate Park; www.apeconcerts.com. Noon, $140.
*Maceo Parker, Darondo Sigmund Stern Grove, 19th Ave at Sloat, SF; www.sterngrove.org. 2pm, free.
Rasputina, Larkin Grimm Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $16.
*Dan Sartain, Leopold and His Fiction, Twinks Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $8.
Shellshag, Rvivr, Dirty Marquee Thee Parkside. 8pm, $5.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTY
Kitchen Fire Thee Parkside. 4pm, free.
Marla Fibish and Friends Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Afterglow Nickies, 466 Haight, SF; (415) 255-0300. An evening of mellow electronics with resident DJs Matt Wilder, Mike Perry, Greg Bird, and guests.
DiscoFunk Mashups Cat Club. 10pm, free. House and 70’s music.
Dub Mission Elbo Room. 9pm, $6. Dub, roots, and classic dancehall with DJs Sep, Vinnie Esparza, and guest DJ Jah Yzer.
Gloss Sundays Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 7pm. With DJ Hawthorne spinning house, funk, soul, retro, and disco.
Honey Soundsystem Paradise Lounge. 8pm-2am. "Dance floor for dancers – sound system for lovers." Got that?
Jock! Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 3pm, $2. This high-energy party raises money for LGBT sports teams.
Kick It Bar on Church. 9pm. Hip-hop with DJ Zax.
Lowbrow Sunday Delirium. 1pm, free. DJ Roost Uno and guests spinning club hip hop, indie, and top 40s.
Religion Bar on Church. 3pm. With DJ Nikita.
Stag AsiaSF. 6pm, $5. Gay bachelor parties are the target demo of this weekly erotic tea dance.
Swing Out Sundays Rock-It Room. 7pm, free (dance lessons $15). DJ BeBop Burnie spins 20s through 50s swing, jive, and more.
MONDAY 16
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Dezarie, Reggae Angels Independent. 9pm, $27.
Upsidedown, Harderships!, Stomacher, 1776 Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.
DANCE CLUBS
Black Gold Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm-2am, free. Senator Soul spins Detroit soul, Motown, New Orleans R&B, and more — all on 45!
Death Guild DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $3-5. Gothic, industrial, and synthpop with Decay, Joe Radio, and Melting Girl.
Krazy Mondays Beauty Bar. 10pm, free. With DJs Ant-1, $ir-Tipp, Ruby Red I, Lo, and Gelo spinning hip hop.
M.O.M. Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. With DJ Gordo Cabeza and guests playing all Motown every Monday.
Manic Mondays Bar on Church. 9pm. Drink 80-cent cosmos with Djs Mark Andrus and Dangerous Dan.
Musik for Your Teeth Revolution Café, 3248 22nd St., SF; (415) 642-0474. 5pm, free. Soul cookin’ happy hour tunes with DJ Antonino Musco.
Network Mondays Azul Lounge, One Tillman Pl, SF; www.inhousetalent.com. 9pm, $5. Hip-hop, R&B, and spoken word open mic, plus featured performers.
Skylarking Skylark. 10pm, free. With resident DJs I & I Vibration, Beatnok, and Mr. Lucky and weekly guest DJs.
TUESDAY 17
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Blank Tapes, Ash Reiter, Pat Hull Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $8.
*Enthroned, Destroyer 666, Pathology, Estuary, Necrite DNA Lounge. 7:30pm, $20.
Fat Tuesday Band Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
*Fracas, Hashshashin Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $5.
Billy Idol Fillmore. 9pm, $59.50.
Sonny Pete, Night Genes, Ricky Lee Robinson Hotel Utah. 8pm, $8.
Dave Smallen, Scott Allbright, Man and the Bearded Ladies Thee Parkside. 8pm, $5.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Autumn Rhodes, Darcy Noonan, George Grasso and friends Plough and Stars. 9pm.
DANCE CLUBS
Alcoholocaust Presents Argus Lounge. 9pm, free. With DJ Denim Yeti and DJ Classic Bar Music.
Brazilian Wax Elbo Room. 9pm, $7. Samba with DJs Carioca and Fautso Sousa.
Eclectic Company Skylark, 9pm, free. DJs Tones and Jaybee spin old school hip hop, bass, dub, glitch, and electro.
Rock Out Karaoke! Amnesia. 7:30pm. With Glenny Kravitz.
Share the Love Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 5pm, free. With DJ Pam Hubbuck spinning house.
Womanizer Bar on Church. 9pm. With DJ Nuxx.
SFBG Radio: Net neutrality
In today’s epidsode, Johnny and Johnny talk about the most crucial under-reported issue of the day–net neutrality–plus Hurd’s fall at HP and Jerry’s Green jobs.
Music listings
Music listings are compiled by Paula Connelly and Cheryl Eddy. Since club life is unpredictable, it’s a good idea to call ahead to confirm bookings and hours. Prices are listed when provided to us. Submit items at listings@sfbg.com.
WEDNESDAY 4
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Apollo Sunshine, Big Light, Alexi and Botticellis Independent. 8pm, $14.
Elvin Bishop Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $35.
*Blondie, Gorevette Fillmore. 8pm, $55.
D’espairsRay Slim’s. 8pm, $26.
Last Gun Shop, Justin Ancheta, Stephanie Barrak Hemlock Tavern. 8pm, $6.
Mondo Generator, Tweak Bird, It’s Casual Elbo Room. 9pm, $12.
Parties, Bye Bye Blackbird, Lotus Moons Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.
*Personal and the Pizzas, Slippery Slopes, Spencey Dude and the Doodles Knockout. 9pm,
$5.
Penelope[s], Planet Booty, Dylan Trees Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $12.
Samvega, Shimmies, Maera Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $8.
DANCE CLUBS
Booty Call Q-Bar, 456 Castro, SF; www.bootycallwednesdays.com. 9pm. Juanita Moore hosts this dance party, featuring DJ Robot Hustle.
Hands Down! Bar on Church. 9pm, free. With DJs Claksaarb, Mykill, and guests spinning indie, electro, house, and bangers.
Infatuation Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; (415) 433-8585. 9:30pm, $10-$15. With DJs Digitalism, Sleazemore, and Jim-E Stack.
Jam Fresh Wednesdays Vessel, 85 Campton, SF; (415) 433-8585. 9:30pm, free. With DJs Slick D, Chris Clouse, Rich Era, Don Lynch, and more spinning top40, mashups, hip hop, and remixes.
Mary-Go-Round Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 10pm, $5. A weekly drag show with hosts Cookie Dough, Pollo Del Mar, and Suppositori Spelling.
*Psychedelic Bicycle Ride Club Six. 5pm, $10-$20. A day-long art and music event featuring DJs Logic, Abstract Rude, Citizen Ten, Sleepyhead, Coop D Ville, and Kaptain Harris.
RedWine Social Dalva. 9pm-2am, free. DJ TophOne and guests spin outernational funk and get drunk.
Respect Wednesdays End Up. 10pm, $5. Rotating DJs Daddy Rolo, Young Fyah, Irie Dole, I-Vier, Sake One, Serg, and more spinning reggae, dancehall, roots, lovers rock, and mash ups.
Synchronize Il Pirata, 2007 16th St, SF; (415) 626-2626. 10pm, free. Psychedelic dance music with DJs Helios, Gatto Matto, Psy Lotus, Intergalactoid, and guests.
THURSDAY 5
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
*Best of the Bay Rock Party Mezzanine. 9pm, free. Celebrate the Bay Guardian and San Francisco values with performances by Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express, Stephanie Finch and the Company Men, Bitter Honeys, performances by the Freeze, and DJ Ome.
Heather Combs, Stewart Lewis, Chi McClean, Austin Wallacy Hotel Utah. 8pm, $8.
William Fitzsimmons, Rosi Golan Independent. 8pm, $18.
Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
McRad, Hot Lunch, Vanishing Breed Thee Parkside. 9pm, $6.
My First Earthquake, Little Red Radio, Elissa P. Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $8.
Shannon and the Clams, White Mystery, Glitter Wizard Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $7.
Tremor, El Remolon, Chancha vis Circuito, El G, Ghosts on Tape, DJ Disco Shawn Rickshaw Stop. 9pm, $12.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Saddlecats Atlas Café. 8pm, free.
Tremor, El Remolon, Chancha Via Circuito, El-G Rickshaw Stop. 9pm, $10.
DANCE CLUBS
Afrolicious Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $5-7. DJs Pleasuremaker and Señor Oz spin Afro-tropical, samba, and funk.
Caribbean Connection Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $3. DJ Stevie B and guests spin reggae, soca, zouk, reggaetón, and more.
Club Jammies Edinburgh Castle. 10pm, free. DJs EBERrad and White Mice spinning reggae, punk, dub, and post punk.
Drop the Pressure Underground SF. 6-10pm, free. Electro, house, and datafunk highlight this weekly happy hour.
Electric Feel Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 9pm, $2. With DJs subOctave and Blondie K spinning indie music videos.
Fritemare The Showdown, 10 6th St., SF; www.fritemare.tumblr.com. 10pm, free. With DJs H.U.D., Epcot, and Comma spinning future bass and mutant dance.
Good Foot Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. With DJs spinning R&B, Hip hop, classics, and soul.
Holy Thursday Underground SF. 10pm, $5. Bay Area electronic hip hop producers showcase their cutting edge styles monthly.
Koko Puffs Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. Dubby roots reggae and Jamaican funk from rotating DJs.
Lacquer Beauty Bar. 10pm-2am, free. DJs Mario Muse and Miss Margo bring the electro.
Mestiza Bollywood Café, 3376 19th St, SF; (415) 970-0362. 10pm, free. Showcasing progressive Latin and global beats with DJ Juan Data.
Peaches Skylark, 10pm, free. Celebrate the one year anniversary of this all female hip hop DJ dance party featuring Deeandroid, Lady Fingaz, That Girl, Similak Chyld, and Umami spinning hip hop with MCs TOAST.
Popscene 330 Rich. 10pm, $10. Rotating DJs spinning indie, Britpop, electro, new wave, and post-punk.
Solid Thursdays Club Six. 9pm, free. With DJs Daddy Rolo and Tesfa spinning roots, reggae, dancehall, soca, and mashups.
Studio SF Triple Crown. 9pm, $5. Keeping the Disco vibe alive with authentic 70’s, 80’s, and current disco with DJs White Girl Lust, Ken Vulsion, and Sergio.
"Thunderdome: Burning Man Fundraiser" DNA Lounge. 8pm, $10-25. With DJs Decay, Melting Girl, and Mz Samantha, plus belly dance and burlesque performers, and more.
FRIDAY 6
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Seth Augustus Revolution Café, 3248 22nd St., SF; (415) 642-0474. 8:45pm, free.
Chali2na Yoshi’s San Francisco. 10:30pm, $22.
Devotionals, Kacey Johansing Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.
Impaled, Funerot, Population Reduction, Man Among Wolves, DJ Rob Metal Thee Parkside. 9pm, $10.
Todd Morgan and the Emblems Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Orgone, Fitz and the Tantrums Independent. 9pm, $15.
"Party Corps Benefit for At the Crossroads" Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $20. With Michipet with Joey Mousepad and Freddie Future, Raashan Ahmad, and Alma the Dreamer.
Phenomenauts, Struts, Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children Macnuggits Café du Nord. 9:30pm, $13.
"Phish After Party" Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $25. With Bill Kreutzmann, Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard with George Porter Jr., and Moonalice.
Annie Sajdera Art Tap, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, SF; (415) 978-2787, www.ybca.org. 6pm, free.
Scraping for Change, Solid State Logic, Roosevelt Radio, Five Minutes to Freedom Slim’s. 8pm, $16.
Zeros, Gorevette, Primitivas Elbo Room. 10pm, $14.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Black Market Jazz Orchestra Top of the Mark. 9pm, $10.
Peter White Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $30.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Camila Fillmore. 8pm, $47.50.
DANCE CLUBS
Afrobeat Lab Elbo Room. 10pm, $10. Featuring a live performance by ALBINO! with DJs Señor Oz and guests.
Braza! Som., 2925 16th St., SF; (415) 558-8521.10pm, $10.
Deeper 222 Hyde, 222 Hyde, SF; (415) 345-8222. 9pm, $10. With rotating DJs spinning dubstep and techno.
Dirty Rotten Dance Party Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, $5. With DJs Morale, Kap10 Harris, and Shane King spinning electro, bootybass, crunk, swampy breaks, hyphy, rap, and party classics.
Exhale, Fridays Project One Gallery, 251 Rhode Island, SF; (415) 465-2129. 5pm, $5. Happy hour with art, fine food, and music with Vin Sol, King Most, DJ Centipede, and Shane King.
Fat Stack Fridays Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm, free. With rotating DJs Romanowski, B-Love, Tomas, Toph One, and Vinnie Esparza.
Fubar Fridays Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5. With DJs spinning retro mashup remixes.
Club Dragon Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 9pm, $8. A gay Asian paradise. Featuring two dance floors playing dance and hip hop, smoking patio, and 2 for 1 drinks before 10pm.
Good Life Fridays Apartment 24, 440 Broadway, SF; (415) 989-3434. 10pm, $10. With DJ Brian spinning hip hop, mashups, and top 40.
Hot Chocolate Milk. 9pm, $5. With DJs Big Fat Frog, Chardmo, DuseRock, and more spinning old and new school funk.
Hubba Hubba Revue DNA Lounge. 9pm, $10-15. Burlesque with a fairy tale theme.
Matthew Dear, Nikola Baytala, Shoddy Lynn, Blu Farm Mighty. 10pm, $12.
Oldies Night Knockout. 9pm, $2-4. Doo wop, one-hit wonders, and soul with DJ Primo, Daniel, and Lost Cat.
Rockabilly Fridays Jay N Bee Club, 2736 20th St, SF; (415) 824-4190. 9pm, free. With DJs Rockin’ Raul, Oakie Oran, Sergio Iglesias, and Tanoa "Samoa Boy" spinning 50s and 60s Doo Wop, Rockabilly, Bop, Jive, and more.
Some Thing The Stud. 10pm, $7. VivvyAnne Forevermore, Glamamore, and DJ Down-E give you fierce drag shows and afterhours dancing.
SATURDAY 7
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Clorox Girls, Complaints, Midnite Snaxxx Thee Parkside. 8pm, $10. Chiselers Car Show First Annual Blowout.
*Freestyle Fellowship Yoshi’s San Francisco. 10:30pm, $25.
*Hank IV, White Mystery, Nothing People, Uzi Rash El Rio. 9pm, $7.
Man in Space, Young the Giant, Finish Ticket, Fever Charm Bottom of the Hill. 8:30pm, $10.
Gino Matteo and Family Phunk Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Phenomenauts, Classics of Love, Kepi Ghoulie Electric Café du Nord. 9:30pm, $13.
"Phish After Party" Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $25. With Bill Kreutzmann, Papa Mali and Matt Hubbard with George Porter Jr., and Big Chief Monk Bodreaux and Mardi Gras Indians.
Pop Rocks, Petty Theft Red Devil Lounge. 9pm, $10.
Rabbles, Reaction, Sweet Bones Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $6.
*Ramshackle Romeos Thee Parkside. 4pm, free. Chiselers Car Show First Annual Blowout.
Social Studies, Maus Haus, 50 Watt Kid, Montra Rickshaw Stop. 8pm, $12.
"Soul Bingo" Stud. 9pm, $10-15. Soul food, bingo, and live music by Ferocious Few, North Fork, and Negative Trend, plus DJ Nature Boy.
*Thee Oh Sees, Yellow Fever, Bare Wires Independent. 9pm, $15.
We Are Scientists, Rewards Slim’s. 9pm, $18.
JAZZ/NEW MUSIC
Audium 9 1616 Bush, SF; (415) 771-1616. 8:30pm, $15.
Brian Charette Coda. 10pm, $5.
Eric Kurtzrock Trio Ana Mandara, Ghirardelli Square, 891 Beach, SF; (415) 771-6800. 8pm, free.
Michael Parsons Revolution Café, 3248 22nd St., SF; (415) 642-0474. 8:45pm, free.
Peter White Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $30.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Small Gas Engine Plough and Stars. 9:30pm, $6-$10 sliding scale.
DANCE CLUBS
Bar on Church 9pm. Rotating DJs Foxxee, Joseph Lee, Zhaldee, Mark Andrus, and Nuxx.
*Debaser Knockout. 9pm, $5. Wear a flannel (and arrive by 11pm) and you’ll get in free to this alt-90s dance party with Jamie Jams and Emdee.
Everlasting Bass 330 Ritch. 10pm, $5-10. Bay Area Sistah Sound presents this party, with DJs Zita and Pam the Funkstress spinning hip-hop, soul, funk, reggae, dancehall, and club classics.
Fire Corner Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 9:30pm, free. Rare and outrageous ska, rocksteady, and reggae vinyl with Revival Sound System and guests.
Foundation Som., 2925 16th St., SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm.
Gemini Disco Underground SF. 10pm, $5. Disco with DJ Derrick Love and Nicky B. spinning deep disco.
HYP Club Eight, 1151 Folsom, SF; www.eightsf.com. 10pm, free. Gay and lesbian hip hop party, featuring DJs spinning the newest in the top 40s hip hop and hyphy.
Kontrol Endup. 10pm, $20. With resident DJs Alland Byallo, Craig Kuna, Sammy D, and Nikola Baytala spinning minimal techno and avant house.
Leisure Paradise Lounge. 10pm, $7. DJs Omar, Aaron, and Jet Set James spinning classic britpop, mod, 60s soul, and 90s indie.
New Wave City DNA Lounge. 9pm, $7-12. Skip and Shindog spin at this Siousxie and the Banshees tribute.
Rock City Butter, 354 11th St., SF; (415) 863-5964. 6pm, $5 after 10pm. With DJs spinning party rock.
Saturday Night Soul Party Elbo Room. 10pm, $10. DJs Lucky, Phengren Oswald, and Paul Paul spin 60s soul on 45s.
Souf Club Six. 9pm, $7. With DJs Jeanine Da Feen, Motive, and Bozak spinning southern crunk, bounce, hip hop, and reggaeton.
Soundscape Vortex Room, 1082 Howard, SF; www.myspace.com/thevortexroom. With DJs C3PLOS, Brighton Russ, and Nick Waterhouse spinning Soul jazz, boogaloo, hammond grooves, and more.
Spirit Fingers Sessions 330 Ritch. 9pm, free. With DJ Morse Code and live guest performances.
SUNDAY 8
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Calm Palm Vapor, Change! Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.
Zac Harman Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.
Ludachris Slim’s. 9pm, $45.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller, True Margit, Family Crest Bottom of the Hill. 3pm, $8.
Jim Messina, Rob Laufter Café du Nord. 8pm, $25.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTY
Rachel Efron, Robert Temple, Kelly Love Jones Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $7.
Songwriters Unplugged Yoshi’s San Francisco. 8pm, $7.
DANCE CLUBS
DiscoFunk Mashups Cat Club. 10pm, free. House and 70’s music.
Dub Mission Elbo Room. 9pm, $6. Dub, roots, and classic dancehall with DJs Sep, J Boogie, and guest DJ Jimmy Love.
Gloss Sundays Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 7pm. With DJ Hawthorne spinning house, funk, soul, retro, and disco.
Honey Soundsystem Paradise Lounge. 8pm-2am. "Dance floor for dancers – sound system for lovers." Got that?
Jock! Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; (415) 431-0306. 3pm, $2. This high-energy party raises money for LGBT sports teams.
Kick It Bar on Church. 9pm. Hip-hop with DJ Zax.
Lowbrow Sunday Delirium. 1pm, free. DJ Roost Uno and guests spinning club hip hop, indie, and top 40s.
Religion Bar on Church. 3pm. With DJ Nikita.
Stag AsiaSF. 6pm, $5. Gay bachelor parties are the target demo of this weekly erotic tea dance.
Swing Out Sundays Rock-It Room. 7pm, free (dance lessons $15). DJ BeBop Burnie spins 20s through 50s swing, jive, and more.
MONDAY 9
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Michael Burks Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
Frazey Ford, Bhi Bhiman Independent. 8pm, $17.
Don McGlashan, Rob Laufer Café du Nord. 8pm, $18.
Psalm One, Open Mike Eagle, Moe Green Elbo Room. 9pm, $8.
DANCE CLUBS
Black Gold Koko Cocktails, 1060 Geary, SF; (415) 885-4788. 10pm-2am, free. Senator Soul spins Detroit soul, Motown, New Orleans R&B, and more — all on 45!
Death Guild DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $3-5. Gothic, industrial, and synthpop with Decay, Joe Radio, and Melting Girl.
Krazy Mondays Beauty Bar. 10pm, free. With DJs Ant-1, $ir-Tipp, Ruby Red I, Lo, and Gelo spinning hip hop.
M.O.M. Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. With DJ Gordo Cabeza and guests playing all Motown every Monday.
Manic Mondays Bar on Church. 9pm. Drink 80-cent cosmos with Djs Mark Andrus and Dangerous Dan.
Musik for Your Teeth Revolution Café, 3248 22nd St., SF; (415) 642-0474. 5pm, free. Soul cookin’ happy hour tunes with DJ Antonino Musco.
Network Mondays Azul Lounge, One Tillman Pl, SF; www.inhousetalent.com. 9pm, $5. Hip-hop, R&B, and spoken word open mic, plus featured performers.
Skylarking Skylark. 10pm, free. With resident DJs I & I Vibration, Beatnok, and Mr. Lucky and weekly guest DJs.
TUESDAY 10
ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP
Joan Armatrading, Jamie McLean Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon, SF; www.slimstickets.com. 7:30pm, $45-100.
Michael Burks Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.
CCR Headcleaner, Puffy Areolas, Arms and Legs, Mike Donovan Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.
*Corrosion of Conformity, Goatsnake, Black Breath, Eagle Twin, Righteous Fool DNA Lounge. 7pm, $25.
*Devildriver, Kataklysm, Skeletonwitch, Saviours Slim’s. 7:30pm, $23.
Teri Falini, Blair Hansen, Black Balloon Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.
Hightower, Natur, Space Vacation Knockout. 9:30pm, free.
Codany Holiday Coda. 9pm, $7.
Kitten Elbo Room. 9pm, $7.
Lower Class Brats, Stagger and Fall, Kicker, Poison Control Thee Parkside. 8:30pm, $8.
Overnight Lows, Bad Assets Hemlock Tavern. 6pm, $5.
FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY
Seu Jorge and Almaz Regency Ballroom. 8pm, $38.
DANCE CLUBS
Alcoholocaust Presents Argus Lounge. 9pm, free. With DJs Kate Waste and Trashed Tracy.
Eclectic Company Skylark, 9pm, free. DJs Tones and Jaybee spin old school hip hop, bass, dub, glitch, and electro.
Rock Out Karaoke! Amnesia. 7:30pm. With Glenny Kravitz.
Share the Love Trigger, 2344 Market, SF; (415) 551-CLUB. 5pm, free. With DJ Pam Hubbuck spinning house.
Womanizer Bar on Church. 9pm. With DJ Nuxx.
SFBG Radio: Why Meg isn’t Ike
In today’s episode, Johnny and Tim talk about why Meg Whitman isn’t Dwight Eisenhower (or Nelson Rockefeller), and lots of other fun and related topics. You can listen and join the fun after the jump
SFBG Radio: The Arizona ruling and the right wing
In today’s episode, Johnny and Tim celebrate the court ruling on Arizona’s immigration law — and talk about how the right wing is going to respond. You can listen in and join the fun after the jump.
Best of the Bay 2010 Readers Poll: City Living
2010 READERS POLL WINNERS:
CITY LIVING
BEST LOCAL BLOG
SFist
BEST LOCAL WEBSITE
Funcheap SF
BEST ONLINE PERSONALS
Craigslist
BEST POLITICIAN
Gavin Newsom
BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT
GLBT Historical Society
657 Mission, SF. (415) 777-5455, www.glbthistory.org
BEST TV NEWSCASTER
Dana King, CBS 5
BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED TV SHOW
Distortion 2 Static
www.distortion2static.ning.com
BEST RADIO STATION
KFOG, 104.5 FM
BEST RADIO DJ OR SHOW
DJ Deevice, Gridlock
BEST STREET FAIR
Folsom Street Fair
BEST HOTEL
Hotel Whitcomb
1231 Market, SF. (415) 626-8000, www.hotelwhitcomb.com
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION
Golden Gate Bridge
BEST PLACE TO GET A TATTOO
Black and Blue Tattoo
381 Guerrero, SF. (415) 626-0770, www.blackandbluetattoo.com
BEST TATTOO ARTIST
Idexa at Black and Blue
BEST LOCAL ANIMAL RESCUE
Rocket Dog Rescue
BEST DOG-WALKING SERVICE
Dog Tales Walking and Sitting Service
(415) 948-3840, www.dogtalesunleashed.com
BEST PET GROOMER
VIP Grooming
4299 24th St., SF. (415) 282-1393
BEST VETERINARIAN
Mission Pet Hospital
720 Valencia, SF. (415) 552-1969, www.missionpet.com
BEST DENTIST
Paul Y. Lin, DDS
82 Townsend, SF. (415) 543-6882, www.paulylindds.com
BEST DOCTOR
Erika Horowitz, ND
(415) 643-6600, www.sfnatmed.com
BEST PLUMBER
Heise’s Plumbing
260 Ocean, SF. (415) 333-0704
BEST ELECTRICIAN
Ike’s Electric
3546 19th St., SF. (415) 861-6417, www.ikeselectric.com
BEST MOVING SERVICE
Delancey Street Moving and Trucking
600 Embarcadero, SF. (415) 512-5110, www.delanceystreetfoundation.org
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Joshua Alexander, CMT
(415) 691-4076, www.joshuaalexandercmt.com
BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALING
Immune Enhancement Project
3450 16th St., SF. (415) 252-8711, www.iepclinic.com
BEST COUPLES COUNSELOR
Marriage Prep 101
417 Spruce, SF. (415) 905-8830, www.marriageprep101.com
BEST CAR MECHANICS
Pat’s Garage
1090 26th St., SF, (415) 647-4500, www.patsgarage.com
BEST MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS
Werkstatt
3248 17th St., SF. (415) 552-8115, www.werkstattsf.com
BEST BICYCLE MECHANICS
Box Dog Bikes
494 14th St., SF. (415) 431-9627, www.boxdogbikes.com
BEST SALON
Public Barber Salon
571 Geary, SF. (415) 441-8599, www.publicbarbersalon.com
BEST MASSAGE
In-Symmetry
2221 26th St., SF. (415) 294-5004, www.insymmetry.com
BEST DAY SPA
Blue Turtle
57 West Portal Ave., SF. 170 Columbus, SF. (415) 699-8494, www.blueturtlespa.com
BEST SHOE REPAIR
Anthony’s Shoe Service
30 Geary, SF. (415) 781-1338
BEST TAILOR
Cable Car Tailors
200 O’Farrell, SF. (415) 781-4636
BEST LAUNDROMAT
Brain Wash
1122 Folsom, SF. (415) 431-9274, www.brainwash.com
BEST GYM
Mission Cliffs
2295 Harrison, SF. (415) 550-0515, www.touchstoneclimbing.com
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Xavier McClinton, Body by X
5768 Paradise, Corte Madera. (415) 945-9778, www.bodybyxonline.com
BEST YOGA STUDIO
Monkey Yoga Shala
3215 Lakeshore, Oakl. (510) 908-1694, www.monkeyyoga.com
BEST PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE
Tim Lincecum
BEST AMATEUR SPORTS TEAM
Fog Rugby
BEST PUBLIC SPORTS FACILITY
Kezar Stadium
755 Stanyan, SF.
BEST PUBLIC POOL
Mission Pool
1 Linda, SF. (415) 641-2841
BEST BEACH
Baker Beach
BEST PARK
Golden Gate Park
BEST NATURE SPOT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Muir Woods
BEST CAMPGROUND
Angel Island
BEST CAMP FOR KIDS
Tree Frog Treks
BEST PARK FOR DOGS
Fort Funston
BEST SKATE SPOT
Potrero Del Sol
BEST SURF SPOT
Ocean Beach
Best of the Bay 2010 Editors Picks: Arts and Nightlife
Best of the Bay 2010 Editors Picks: Arts and Nightlife
BEST DANCE FLOOR TRANSCENDENCE
Diehard club kids always call their favorite club “church” — there’s something sacred and comforting about returning to a certain dance floor regularly to commune with your friends and the music. But what if your favorite club really is a church? Not a former church like New York’s storied Limelight — an actual frickin’ functioning Episcopal cathedral? The Young Rev. Bertie Pearson, a staple of the SF club scene, made it his mission to transform Grace Cathedral into one of the hottest club venues in town with his monthly EpiscoDisco extravaganzas. Live bands, underground DJs, and thought-provoking art installations curated by Paradise Now draw an eclectic, forwardly-dressed crowd and fill the incredible, cavernous location with evening energy and the sounds of now. Pearson’s not out to convert anyone — “We just want to open up this amazing space and have a great party,” he tells us — but you’ll get lifted by EpiscoDisco’s transcendent spirit all the same.
Third Fridays, 7 p.m.–10 p.m., free. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California, SF. www.episcodisco.com
BEST WHORE FOR SATAN
If you go to local metal shows, you know Shawn Phillips. He’s the tall guy with the long ponytail, inevitably found either helping a band load its gear in or out of the venue or standing on the sidewalk by the exit, handing out flyers containing one or more examples of bands who use that totally illegible, totally evil font for their logos. Phillips means business, but he’s also good-natured enough to name his apparently one-man promo machine Whore for Satan Productions. Recent shows under the Whore for Satan banner have included big names like Pentagram and Saint Vitus at the DNA Lounge, as well as showcases for smaller, up-and-coming outfits like Zoroaster at Thee Parkside. This is a guy who really loves metal. And that’s why we love him. And Satan.
BEST POLKA IN YOUR PUNKY PANTS
Ein, zwei, drei, polka! Don your lederhosen, grab your freundin, and get ready to party with Polkacide. This beloved San Francisco punk rock polka band is 25 years young, and still as gloriously frenetic as a baby gorilla on an overdose of moonpies. Whatever you call it — polka, pulka, galop — Polkacide offers a crash course on accordion- and horn-driven global dance sounds. Its peppy repertoire includes such perennial crowd-pleasers as the “Chicken Dance,” the “Pennsylvania Polka,” and the “Weiner Dog Polka,” along with favorites from afar such as “Frailich,” “Viva Seguin,” and “Zosia.” A typical Polkacide show attracts an esoteric consortium of punkers, polkers, porn clowns, damsels, and dandies — colliding cheerfully like so many carnival bumper cars on the dance floor. Punk rock and polka: two great tastes that taste great together. With beer.
BEST REASON TO DITCH NETFLIX
Spending another Saturday evening stuck in front of your ipadkindleplasmascreentivo-thing? Not if Artist’s Television Access can help it. A stronghold of experimental film, outsider art, and the musical underground for 26 years, the ATA space has weathered many an economic storm to bring rabble-rousing, cerebral cortex-corrupting, and ocular spectaculars to the huddled masses (the ones with their feet up on the backs of the chairs and brown paper bags clutched in their hands). Modern-day homesteaders, historians, pranksters, activists, indie bands, burners, bicyclists, brainiacs, cosmonauts, communists, and absurdists are all given their moments to shine on the screen and off it, while cheap booze, obscure tunes, and easy camaraderie flow. Also host to some of the most intriguing window art and festival lineups in town, the occasional “Neighborhood Public Radio” project, a weekly cable access show, and open-submission screenings, ATA is an invaluable community resource in every possible way.
992 Valencia, SF. (415) 824-3890, www.atasite.org
BEST PODER TO THE PEOPLE
Photo by Neil Motteram
In a city full of high-minded “concept bands” that often fall flat when it comes to actual musicianship, La Plebe, a tightly-knit ensemble playing the sickest, slickest ska-punk around, is a sonic gem. That alone would elicit major props from nosotros, but what we also love about La Plebe are its unapologetically leftist leanings. Singing multilingual songs about border politics, class, race, and general injustice with sharply infectious rhythm, humor, and panache, the Plebes make anarchy fun again. Sweaty, happy chaos always reigns supreme at their shows. One of the hardest working ska bands in town, you can catch La Plebe several times a month in various Bay venues, not to mention Eastern Europe and Mexico. Oh yes, it’s still possible to rock with conscience and not suck.
BEST CLUB FOR THE FEINT AT HEART
In a building slathered with blue and white graphic prints of feints and lunges, one hardly expects to find nuanced classes in an antique art. But that’s exactly what’s going down at the Halberstadt Fencer’s Club, where young épée-wielding athletes go from portly to Porthos, zero to Zorro … We could go on, but the fact of the matter is that at Halberstadt, fencing is practiced by those who hunger for more than just a postmodern post as a swashbuckling musketeer. Here, fencing is an art prized for its purity of form, noble vigor, and character building qualities. Children and adults alike spar on hardwood floors beneath vintage posters from competitions past, and the truly sabre-riffic have been known to rise to the ranks of national champs, following in the footwork of club founder, Olympian Hans Halberstadt.
621 South Van Ness, SF. (415) 863-3838, www.halberstadtfc.com
BEST UNDERCOVER RUM RUNNERS
Bring on the kitschy maritime decor behind a nondescript storefront’s tinted windows. Add plentiful fruity (but never too sweet) cocktails, featuring a stellar, connoisseur’s-dream rum selection served by some of the city’s best bartenders. Now cue up the exotic music in this enchanting three-level spot. It’s tiki heaven! It’s Smuggler’s Cove, brought to us by tiki mastermind — yes, they exist — Martin Cate. The hype was heavy surrounding its December opening and waits to get in can still be painful at certain hours. But the Cove rules a unique San Francisco niche, offering refinement, experience, and an exquisite dedication to Polynesian, Caribbean, and Cuban traditions. Cocktail-wise, our love rummeth over for the Chadburn, a complex mix of private reserve rum, tawny port, pear liqueur, and a dash of chocolate mole bitters. Or dive into the Cove’s banana daiquiri, the best you’ll ever sip. Watch out, though — it’ll sneak up on you.
650 Gough, SF. (415) 869-1900, www.smugglerscovesf.com
BEST SKY-HIGH IRIE
Sometimes a weekend comes along that doesn’t quite cut it. But if your two days off didn’t cushion the blow of Monday sufficiently, why worry? You have the sky-high Skylarking joint to smooth away the rough edges. For years, this DJ-run reggae party has been rocking Skylark’s sleeker version of a Mission bar on the other side of Sunday. Beatnok and Mr. Lucky’s jams always seem to attract a diverse, happy crowd eager to extend their irie past Sunday. Stoners and stylists, hipsters and hoppers — everyone loves Jah love, right? At least, that’s the case here, where if you can part the clouds of smoke, you’ll find a bangin’ dance floor that lasts well into the night. And, oh hi, free.
Mondays, 10 p.m.–2 a.m., free. 3089 16th St., SF. (415) 621-9294, www.skylarkbar.com
BEST PRESS PLAY
Throwing your iPod on shuffle in your living room might get the party started, but it’s not exactly an art. Wu-Tang Clan transitioning to Joan Baez, then fading into live AC/DC? That’s not a statement: that’s just random (and a bit nausea-inducing). When it comes to reviving the comfy character and craft of old-school cassette mix culture, the San Francisco Mixtape Society has its finger firmly pressed on “play.” Once every three months, Mixtape Society members meet at the Make-Out Room to trade lovingly sequenced tapes, CDs, or MP3 collections which combine a lovelorn eighth-grader’s DIY work ethic with the philosophy of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity. Mixtapes are submitted beforehand for judging in multiple categories, compilations are swapped in a spirited raffle (you must bring one of your own to leave with someone else’s), and brainy themes sweeten the reels. A Mixtape night is equal parts social outing and music seminar for those who view handwritten playlists as transmissions from the heart.
BEST STREET-LEVEL KARAOKE
Karaoke takes place in all kinds of settings with different crowds. You can rent a karaoke room with friends and party at Do Re Mi Music Studio. You can enjoy live accompaniment on saxophone at the Bar on Church’s Karaoke Mondays. You can steel yourself and step to the mic in between the polished regulars at the Mint. But there’s only one place that takes karaoke to the streets: Nap’s 3. The microphone at this little bar is right by the front door, and the front door opens onto a well-traveled block of Mission Street, which means you’re going to serenade passersby as well as regulars with your version of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” or “Gypsy.” Nap’s 3’s block of the Mission hasn’t been hipsterized to death yet, and the Nap’s crowd keeps it fast and loose — so don’t stay uptight and out of sight (unless you’re attempting to channel Stevie Wonder).
3152 Mission, SF. (415) 648-1226
BEST IRON MAIDENS IN LEGWARMERS
When it comes to aerobics, it’s no secret that Jane Fonda was the original twisted sister. So why not soundtrack her 1980s-defining workout with some classic hair metal? Workout instructor Donnelle Malnick and the folks at Workshop have slipped on their unitards and hopped aboard that crazy train already, offering a weekly Heavy Metal Aerobics class that will rock you like a hurricane (and incorporates yoga and weight-training). Your heart couldn’t beat any faster if you just ran out of the cellar with your balls to the wall. After you’re slippery when wet, check out Workshop’s myriad other class offerings, from beginning screen-printing to Mad Men-style mixology. Headed by Indie Mart pioneer Kelly Malone, the collective is cooler than the ace of spades in Panama.
Tuesdays, 7 p.m., $10. 1798 McAllister, SF. 415-874-9186, www.workshopsf.org
BEST BAY BRAWLER
Sporting a deadly mixture of beauty and beast, boxing phenomenon Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton has punched her way to becoming the Bay Area’s most notable rising sports star. Julaton has blazed a wide trail in the last year for women’s boxing, making her name and standing her ground in a field more commonly celebrated for its gloved males. Employing a precision technique with dazzling speed, Julaton has attained two championship belts in unprecedented time. Her Filipino background matched with her knockout prowess has caused many to compare her to fellow countryman and boxing superstar Manny Pacquaio. Shaping up to be America’s first female boxing gold medallist in the next Olympics, Julaton’s future is bright — even as she delivers lights out.
BEST MIDWESTERN FLASHBACK
It’s a Wisconsin dive bar to a tee: the draft beer (including Moose Drool) is plentiful and served in Mason jars, antlers and animal heads adorn the wood-paneled walls, and the pool table always has a line of quarters on it. Stepping inside is a bittersweet moment for any Minnesota or Dakota transplant, immediately calling up memories of string cheese, snow days, and grandma’s favorite flannel. But the true sign of Bloodhound‘s Middle America roots: Big Buck Hunter, the video game that transports you and your digital rifle back to the homeland for a simulated hunt. While the fashion may be a bit more, er, refined than Bloodhound’s actual Midwest counterparts — no blaze orange or Carhartt to be found here — there’s a laid-back attitude and post-ironic appreciation for the backcountry. Oh, and your dog is welcome to join you for a frosty one, don’t ya know.
1145 Folsom, SF. (415) 863-2840, www.bloodhoundsf.com
BEST SUNSET RISING STAR
Sonny Smith once seemed like the most avid self-promoter in town, sending out about a jillion copies of his 2002 CD, This Is My Story, This Is My Song and pestering music writers about town to sing his praises. But instead of evaporating with the hype, Smith has followed through on the promise of his early work, casting his creative nets far and wide: in film, theater, journalism, and visual art (this year, Smith exhibited “100 Records,” which combined imaginary band bios and songs with 100 artists’ images). Maybe Smith just needed to get some distance from his beloved Mission — now that he’s moved to the Sunset, he appears to have hit his stride with a genuinely fabulous, rotating, rock ’n’ roll supergroup, Sonny and the Sunsets, which includes such local lights as Kelley Stoltz, John Dwyer, Tim Cohen, and Tahlia Harbour. (Pitchfork raved about S&S 2010 debut, Tomorrow Is Alright). Now, Smith looks likely to become the smash sensation he was always meant to be. No hype.
www.myspace.com/sonnythesunsets
BEST CHIRPS OFF THE NOISE BLOCK
Clipd Beaks can’t decide if it’s local or not. Since the combo relocated from the Midwest, members have flitted south to warmer climes in L.A., then back. Are they the best of California — or simply sonic channelers of the general zeitgeist? Regardless, the trio managed to get it together long enough to fly in this year’s damn intriguing, daring long-player, To Realize — a post-punk drone monkey of a recording that enjoys smashing its sonic bananas into the sidewalk, or grinding bassy bottom-feeder figures against a cage of clattering, thrumming reverb damage. Clipd Beaks sound like a band caught in the same glittered labyrinth as global-dance electronic-folk experimentalists Gang Gang Dance and Psychic Ills. All concerned seem like wide, avid listeners, driven by the wantonly diffuse reinterpretations of the ghostly funk they hear in their heads.
BEST HAPKIDO HEROES
Don’t let the small size of its Ocean Avenue storefront location fool you: the Korean Martial Arts Center houses some mighty big kicks. Leading one of the best known and most successful training schools in Northern California, Grandmaster M. W. Jung and his staff have trained some of the top martial artists in the country. The center specializes in judo, taekwondo, and, especially, hapkido, the noble Korean fighting practice that fuses a variety of skill styles. Beginners and youngsters are welcome. Even if you can barely make a fist, you get to work with Jung and the other top-ranked instructors. Traditional training, including weapon combat and tai chi, emphasizes respect and humility. Still, the grandmaster’s got a chokehold on the wisecracks: while he makes the kids work hard, he also makes them laugh.
1414 Ocean, SF. (415) 333-1050, www.koreanmartialarts.com
BEST TRIBAL TRIBUTE
As much as we love Native American art, the spirit of the crafts are largely lost when displayed as alien relics in a museum’s sterilizing vitrines. Not to mention the sticky subject of how items like burial jewelry and ceremonial objects have traditionally been “gathered” for such display. (As Yaqui-Mescalero-Apache-Zuni artist Michael Horse says, “I don’t go into some of the cemeteries here and dig up Grandma because I want to see what pearls she wore.”) This complex context is what led Horse and wife Pennie Opal Plant, both longtime Native activists, to create Gathering Tribes gallery. The work of contemporary indigenous craftspeople from all over the western hemisphere is showcased in a respectful manner, and a visit to the space might reveal Horse working on one of his beautiful ledger painting, in which he recreates scenes from our nation’s past on historical documents. Here, Native American can breathe — and rest — easy.
1412 Solano, Albany. (510) 528-9038, www.gatheringtribes.com
BEST GAZETTE REFRESH
In this glorious age of ubiquitous streams, shares, tweets, and TiVos, what does it mean to be truly “live”? To create a unique moment in the presence of others that cannot be repeated, duplicated, or fast-forwarded through to the naughty bits? Pop Up Magazine headily explores this notion while blowing good-natured raspberries at media old and new. For Pop Up Magazine is not a magazine at all. It’s a regular installment of performance spots in which journalists, artists, historians, and innovators present short, informative segments of nonfiction works in progress that cover a broad range of subjects, using photography, video, live music, interviews, and more. This is a news feed of a different sort, ephemeral yet vital. No photos or broadcasts are allowed — each “magazine” is a unique experience shared between cutting-edge presenters and information-hungry crowd, preserved through memory alone. Even though the organizers promote Pop Up by word-of-mouth only, the events usually sell out in less than 30 minutes to drooling masses scanning their Facebook and Twitter threads. Guess we can’t shake the virtual after all, but this is the kind of live worth refreshing for.
BEST YOUNG PUNK EXPLOSION
It’s hard out there for a punk. And harder still for the too young to vote crowd, not because of the voting part — duh — but because of the real dearth of all-ages music venues in the city. Despite efforts on the part of showcases such as Thee Parkside’s Club Feral, Parlez Vous Rock and Roll at the Knockout, and Club Sandwich’s online rundowns to fill that void, there just isn’t a lot out there for the truly young, as opposed to the merely young at heart. Happily for youthful lovers of loud, the Latino-run Sub-Mission (formerly Balazo 18) books a plethora of all-ages shows, from monthly Maximum Rock and Sounds of Rebellion nights to heavy metal, local psychedelia, roots vinyl, art shows, activist benefit shows, and more. And while Sub-Mission’s sonic sensibilities may skew toward the generally chaotic, its newly remodeled interior’s low-rider aesthetic is pura Mission.
2183 Mission, SF. (415) 225-7227, www.sf-submission.com
BEST HOME TURFERS
Sorry New York and L.A. The Bay Area’s where it’s at in terms of street dance. If the hyphy movement wasn’t enough to convince everyone that the YAY AREAAA reigns supreme, the newest generation of SF and Oakland turf dancers definitely will. Combining elements from hip-hop, popping, locking, gliding, and more, turf dance — turf stands for “taking up room on the floor” — is inspiring some versatile swagger. Because there is so much talent out there, it was impossible to choose just one “best” crew. Some of the most prominent names in the turf scene right now? The dancers of Best Alive and Turf Feinz have achieved local and national recognition with the help of media companies like Get Wet Entertainment, which organizes and hosts dance battles, and Yak Films, which not only films battles but helps lead the media literacy and production program out of East Oakland’s Youth Uprising. What better way to empower youth than through dance?
BEST FLOCKING COCKTAILS
It’s bar time — which is any time at all for you, really. But you want to hit somewhere that’s stylish yet laid back, hip but not so hip you need to squeeze yourself into a $300 pair of gray acid wash peg-legs to feel accepted and completely devoid of the gay-straight segregation that plagues many of the city’s watering holes. Spread your thirsty wings and heed the call of Blackbird, the new hotspot from up-and-coming bar impresario Shawn Vergara. Picky drinkers will shake their tail feathers in appreciation at Blackbird’s impressively crafted cocktail menu (the bar even hand-infuses the fig-balsamic vinegar used in its luscious, grapefruit-and-Aperol granita, for flock’s sake). And socialites who get ruffled by stodgy categories can alight among fellow revelers of all orientational stripes. An impeccable wine list, sweet staff, and cutting-edge wall art round out this genial night-bird nest.
2124 Market, SF. (415) 503-0630, www.blackbirdbar.com
BEST DOORSLAMMIN’ BLUES
The Saloon is a gritty neighborhood bar that serves up stiff drinks and release seven nights a week. Established in 1861, this ex-brothel — and the oldest bar in the city — allegedly survived the 1906 earthquake and ensuing fires because the firefighters made sure to always protect the working girls. Now, a century later, the saloon provides a place to drown your sorrows, minus the ill repute and a watchful madam’s eye. The Saloon also has established itself as one of the city’s classic live blues spots, with swinging bands and searing guitar licks sound tracking the North Beach night. When you’re feeling like “one of the roughs,” grab a shot and rock with the no-nonsense, freewheeling staff and crowd. The bands are on fire (especially honorary house band Johnny Nitro and the Doorslammers), dancing is always an option, and pretty soon daily troubles melt away like panhandlers’ gold.
1232 Grant, SF. (415) 989-7666, www.sfblues.net/Saloon.html
BEST MONEY SHOT OF LOVE
When it comes to sex on film, few have been the reels that blur narrative romance and straight-up thrusting. But crossovers like Behind the Green Door and Shortbus have shown that sometimes filmgoers like a little carnal reality to their storyline and a little storyline with their money shot. In this, director Travis Mathews’ gay cuddles-and-cocks film short feature I Want Your Love doesn’t disappoint. (A full-length version arrives later this year.) Mathews has says his aim was to capture a candid honesty conspicuously absent in most porn. Realistic? Perhaps not in a conventional sense — but in an SF sense, yeah probably. Less a frenzied sex marathon between two larger-than-life, gym-stretched Olympians and more an intimate (and sometimes wince-inducing) recording of the playful fumblings of two fuzzy friends straight from Dolores Park central casting, IWYL presents the viewer with something beyond mere breathless five-minute satisfaction.
BEST TECHNO HULA
There are three sides to the island dance magic of Nā Lei Hulu I Ka Wēki, the 25-year-old, internationally renowned hula school and performance troupe headed by powerhouse director Patrick Makuakāne. There is the classic side emphasizing picture-postcard-perfect tiki dreams of pretty girls in grass skirts and Hawaiian-shirted men dancing sensuously beneath the moon to wistful ukulele hits of the 1950s. Then there’s the kickass ancient cultural side, from a time before the arrival of stringed instruments and European settlers, set to heavy percussive beats and heart-pumping primal chants. And finally there’s the contemporary — and controversial — side, where Nā Lei Hulu’s enthusiastic and graceful members throw everything you know about hula to the warm breezes, kicking up their bare heels to some good ol’ techno and house hits. Superbly choreographed, and with enough cheeky humor to keep the audience gleefully engaged (yes, there are drag queens involved), this last side is its truly San Franciscan one. But when all three come together in the troupe’s many local performances, the spirit of Hawaii comes alive.
BEST COMMUNITY CUT-UPS
Circus Bella wants to entertain you. Abigail Munn and David Hunt, the creators of this nonprofit circus, saw a gaping hole in the Bay Area’s center ring back in 2008. Simply put, the area didn’t have enough of them. The performance art had been overtaken by heady, Cirque du Soleil-type cerulean orbs and over-reaching narratives. As Hunt asks, “What the hell is wrong with just a ring?” So the two set out to create a circus troupe in the traditional, ring-centric mold, with juggling clowns, bendy contortionists, dazzling slack-wire and aerial acts, a live band, and those epauleted, spangly costumes we all remember from the tents of our youth. Moreover, they wanted the action accessible to all. Circus Bella can be seen wowing ’em wildly at street fairs and public parks, bringing laughter to children of all ages — most of the time for the low, low price of free.
BEST SOME THING
After Trannyshack loosened its goo-spattered grip on the weekly alternative drag club scene, many amazing gender clown romps sprang up to claim its tawdry tiara. But only one combined taste-bending theatrics and questionable musical choices with a high sense of style and an eye toward reviving commedia dell’arte drag traditions. This was Some Thing, Friday nights at the Stud, which has drawn overflowing crowds with a taste for avant-garde performance and ribald humor. Hell, there are even some flawlessly performed non-ironic Broadway show tune numbers! Some Thing’s proprietors, Glamamore, VivvyAnne Forevermore, and Downey Friend know exactly what they’re doing: the numbers they book for their stage walk a fine line between jawdrop and sunbeam that just feels right for this drag moment. Better, they incorporate some of the Bay’s best DJs into the party, insuring the DIY delirium lasts all night.
Fridays, 10 p.m.–late. The Stud, 399 Ninth St., SF. www.studsf.com
BEST TWIT LIT
Publishing an entire novel on Twitter may seem a dubious achievement — even the author admits the medium is a “terrible way to read my book or any book” — but local scribe Matt Stewart did it first, so there. Stewart’s bawdy debut, The French Revolution, which zanily reimagines the events of its title through the contemporary intergenerational exploits of pastry chef Esmerelda Van Twinkle and her twins Robespierre and Marat, started hitting the global feed on Bastille Day last year. Some 3,700 tweets and a ton of press coverage later, Stewart (whose background in PR certainly paid off) found himself in the midst of a full-on media phenomenon. For meatspace diehards, a paperback version of The French Revolution has just been released on Soft Skull Press. For everyone else, mais oui, there’s a Revolution-ary phone app.
BEST BASS-MENT
Fans of small-batch, big-boom nightlife, rejoice: 222 Hyde will energize you almost every night of the week. When owner Emilio Giraubit took over the already bangin’ location last year, he made sure to keep the intimate feel of the club while amping up the wattage. Navigating through the long, thin bar area upstairs can get tricky, especially with friendly bartenders and scrumptious pizzas to derail you. But once you descend to the tiny basement, all cares are blasted off by the superb Turbosound system and the stellar array of local and international DJs. 222’s adventurous sonic palette embraces everything from Afrohouse to purple dubstep, post-minimal techno to UK Funky — it’s a dance music connoisseur’s dream come true. Experiencing the latest tracks while rubbing shoulders with other bass fanatics is the icing on 222’s too-too-too fab cake.
222 Hyde, SF. (415) 345-8222, www.222hyde.com
BEST EYES ON THE CITY
“As a group, we’re not taking Hallmark postcard pictures. This is the San Francisco we live in. It’s not a sunset at Crissy Field or the Painted Ladies,” says Julie Michelle, one quarter of rapaciously keen-eyed photography collective Caliber. Michelle and equally excellent fellow lensers Stuart Dixon, Travis Jensen, and Troy Holden formed Caliber after admiring each other’s work on Flickr, with the goal of “promoting photography in the city while acknowledging the present as well as the past, in whichever form it may show itself.” The spine-tingling results, posted on Caliber’s website encompass the amazing architectural and personal diversity of San Francisco — everything from candidly-snapped SoMa street kids flashing wadded up $1 bills to splendiferous sepia-toned upshots of the Shell Building’s façade. Caliber also leads overlooked-detail-seeking photo walks of various city neighborhoods for amateurs of all skill levels and shutterbug meet-up nights to spread the light-sensor love.
BEST BOOGIE-LICIOUS
For three years, DJs (and brothers) Señor Oz and Pleasuremaker have unleashed a weekly dose of get-down at the Elbo Room called Afrolicious. A beautiful crowd of global-eared dance fans rushes to the floor for the addictive Afrolicious sound — Afro-tropi-electro-funk-disco-house, the brothers call it, but we just call it soul-fantastic. Live percussion, bass, and horns often fill out the tunes, as Oz and Pleasuremaker’s sets range far a wide, to Africa, South America, Asia, and beyond. It’s an aural map of the world, combining the classic with the new to transcendent effect. James Brown to Zombie Disco Squad, Jali Bakary Conteh to Una Mas Trio, rollerskate jams to cumbia: the sonic sky miles rack up mighty quickly. “We’re connecting the dots from funk, blues, and jazz to afrobeat, Latin, and newer electronic sounds,” Oz says. “We run the gamut. We don’t stand still.” Neither do their eager fans.
Thursdays, 9:30 p.m., $7. Elbo Room, 647 Valencia, SF. afroliciousoriginal.blogspot.com
BEST (ACTUALLY) BUDDING ART GALLERY
With all the bad news about the economy, it’s a testament to SF’s deep love of art that new small galleries continue to sprout all over the city. One of the most vital ones is Lake Gallery, thanks to the curating by local musician and artist Dan Johnson Lake. And because it’s next to and practically within the hydroponic wonderland that is Plant’it Earth, you can also have the earthy smells (and views) of at least some forms of greenery than make art appreciation a little livelier. There’s a unique pleasure to art juxtaposed with nature in the heart of the city, and that’s one of the pleasures you’ll discover on a trip to the Lake, where the music of Dinosaur Jr. grew into a group show and local artists such as Ryan Coffey and Naoki Onodera have flowered and flourished.
661 Divisadero, SF. www.lakegallery.com
BEST MISSION MUSIC EVANGELISTS
Perhaps tapping in to the locavore zeitgeist, there has been a lot of recent attention paid to local, homegrown music. And what better scene to tune in to for organic-yet-edgy vibes than that of the small but ever-morphing Mission music revival? Right place, right time, perhaps, but the fledgling Porto Franco Records has stepped in to document — and more important — support a whole slew of local musicians and artists. Torn-hearted troubadour Mark Growden, acoustic groove-goddess Meklit Hadero, and psychedelic time-traveler Mark Matos all call Porto Franco (“free port”) home, and the label’s list of signed local talent just keeps growing. Though Russian father-and-son team Peter and Sergei Varshavsky seem at first glance unlikely advocates of these diverse sonic strands of Californicana, they are clearly embracing their role in this resurgence. In turn, their featured artists are being embraced by concert-goers from as far as Santa Fe, N.M., and as near as Stern Grove.
BEST BLACKBOX SEASON
Times are tough and money’s still tight, even for the biggest theatres in the Bay Area. That makes it doubly amazing that this tiny company should be closing a record-busting 10-show season of “reimagined” classics with its most ambitious project to date — a three-play repertory schedule of Tennessee Williams that runs through Aug. 28th. But the Boxcar Theatre troupe is used to exceeding expectations from its very first performance, “21/One,” which won a Best of the Fringe award for Best New Company in 2005, to its successful occupation and transformation of the previously rundown venue at 505 Natoma St., all within five short years. (Word on the street is that Boxcar just signed on to expand into a second space.) With a reputation for risk-taking, a sense of historical imperative and community involvement, and an emphasis on access — including at least one completely free, site-specific production per season — the Boxcar children have rapidly matured into a theatrical establishment that ranks among the very best SF has to offer.
505 Natoma, SF. (415) 776-1747, www.boxcartheatre.org
BEST KICK IN THE EARS
Local all-ages punk shows are always a hoot, but for those of us whose Mohawks have grown a bit, uh, dusty, they can often feel a bit uncomfortable. Who wants to come off as the moshin’ grandma? The awesomely inclusive Thursday Night Live at the Eagle Tavern may be full of freewheeling, bar-aged young things — programmer Doug Hilsinger has managed to crowd the classic gay biker bar with punk and rock fans of all persuasions — but there are always a few OG punks to balance it out. All categorical divisions melt away once the stellar lineups of fresh-faced screamers and experienced thrashers take to the Eagle’s tiny stage, conveying a true underground spirit. TNL doesn’t confine itself solely to punkish strains — crazy country drag crooners, bearish electronic experimentalists, and rockabilly porn stars always have a place here. But the result’s the same: a weekly a kick in the ears that makes you feel alive.
Thursdays, 10 p.m., $5. Eagle Tavern, 398 12th St., SF. (415) 626-0880, www.sfeagle.com
BEST FIGHTERS FOR OUR RIGHT TO PARTY
For the last several years, we at the Guardian have been on an often lonely crusade to highlight and repel the various assaults on nightlife, special events, and the urban culture of San Francisco, from the “Death of fun” (5/24/06) to the “New war on fun” (3/2/10). The attacks come from intolerant neighbors, aggressive cops, grandstanding politicians, and persnickety bureaucrats, and they’ve succeeded in shutting down events (such as Halloween in the Castro), clubs (Caliente), and private parties. But party people have finally organized and fought back, this year forming the well-funded and widely supported California Music and Culture Association to advocate for keeping the fun flowing and give the party purveyors the advice, support, and allies they need to maintain San Francisco as a world class city that isn’t afraid to throw great parties. The association also functions as a network of promoters, club owners, and DJs who aren’t afraid to speak out for the right to shut up and dance.
Best of the Bay 2010 Editors Picks: City Living
Best of the Bay 2010 Editors Picks: City Living
BEST SMACKDOWN FROM THE MOUND
You can’t script ’em this good. Upstart A’s pitcher Dallas Braden gives New York Yankee peacock Alex Rodriguez an earful after A-Rod breaks an unspoken code of the baseball diamond by trotting across the pitching mound on his way back to first base. It’s not the first time A-Rod has disregarded one of these rules (see Toronto series, May 2007), and Braden doesn’t stand for it. A-Rod, and New York sports radio, quickly respond by belittling Braden as a smaller-timer. Lo, the Yankees eat their words a few weeks later when Braden pitches a perfect game — effectively putting himself in the company of baseball’s Hall of Fame immortals. But that’s not even the best part. Having lost his mother at a young age, Braden pitched his masterpiece on Mother’s Day … with the grandmother that raised him in attendance. It was a sports story for the ages. And after all that has and will be said about this feat, it was Braden’s grandma who summed it up best in a post game interview: “Stick it, A-Rod.”
BEST OPEN SOURCE PLAYPEN
Perhaps you are a geek. Or perhaps you just wish you were. Maybe you think all geeks are geniuses with mandatory Mensa memberships and haven’t tapped into your inner geek for fear of failure. Hie thee to Noisebridge, where dyed-in-the-wool geeks and their wannabe compatriots come together to explore technology and gaming in a nonscary, mostly noncompetitive environment. Want to learn how to circuit hack, program in Python, create apps for your overpriced cellular device — or speak a foreign language, play Go, pick locks, tie knots, and take over the world? Noisebridge is the place to test your skills, acquire new ones, and maybe pass along your own skills to the life hack community, which is growing by the week. The roomy warehouse space (formerly a clothing sweatshop) is large enough to fit a small herd of quasi-geniuses at one time, and the vibe is welcoming and smart.
2169 Mission, SF. (415) 425-3264, www.noisebridge.net
BEST BOTTLED BEAUTY
The haters didn’t think she’d make it out of the Bay. After all, she is made of trash. Well, not quite — Plastiki, the boat brainchild of David Rothschild and his Adventure Ecology team, was built from recycled plastics. A hull fashioned from 12,500 discarded plastic bottles was one of her more notable attributes, as were the vertical kitchen garden that twines about her mast and a bicycle-powered energy generator. The craft was fashioned as an apt calling card for Rothschild and crew’s planned visit to the North Pacific Gyre, the neighborhood where the Pacific Trash Vortex (or if you like, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch) dismayingly swirls. Plastiki’s launch three months ago from Sausalito began a journey of nearly 8,000 miles to the pole of pollution (at an average speed that barely rivals that of your mom’s morning jog). She made it to Sydney on July 19, slightly worse for wear but having raised many an eyebrow and consciousness regarding our disastrous penchant for plastics.
BEST FOUR-ON-FOUR BALLIN’
Still got a mad case of World Cup fever? There’s a lot of time between now and Brazil’s hosting gig in 2014, but there’s no reason to let your newfound love of football — er, soccer — dwindle. Why not try hitting the pitch yourself? All abilities and ages are welcome at SoccerFours, a four-on-four league that meets weekly at various SF and East Bay fields. The “games” are more like training workshops: there’s no scoreboard, ergo no hooligan-style competitiveness. Instead, players are encouraged to work on their moves in a supportive (and fun!) environment. SoccerFours’ website — which declares the program’s focus to be on “fitness, teamwork, and skills” — lists currently available sessions ($7 for a single game; multi-session passes are also available). How else are you gonna discover that you have an inner Lionel Messi waiting to break out?
BEST ON-RAMP TO OVERALLS
Photo by Caitlin Donohue
Pop quiz: which is better for an inner city neighborhood: a freeway or a farm? The answer’s a no-brainer for the volunteers at Hayes Valley Farm, which occupies the area on and around an unused on-ramp damaged in the Loma Prieta quake and abandoned since 1989. Those volunteers have already put thousands of hours into the new urban farming oasis. From the fava beans planted to purge the exhausted soil of the petrochemicals that once spewed from passing cars to the hundreds of fruit trees that now occupy the still-there on-ramp’s ascent to blue sky (“the biggest garden patio in the city,” as volunteers have dubbed its leafy lanes), the farm is providing an educational opportunity for all those who thought they forsook their farmer fantasies when they chose to live here. Now offering kids’ classes, permaculture boot camp for the uninitiated, and environmental movie nights for all comers, Hayes Valley has planted a seed in the ‘hood for food security.
450 Laguna, SF. (415) 763-7645, www.hayesvalleyfarm.com
BEST AIRBORNE ASHTANGA
A good yoga class often makes your body feel light as a feather — but Oakland’s new Flying Yoga Shala is all about making your practice feather-like in a more literal fashion. Jump, stretch, dance, cartwheel off your mat’s restrictive rectangle, and levitate your way to transcendent meditation. This airborne Temescal spot offers classes in acrobatic circuit training, aerial yoga, dance, and even some traditional basics — but nothing ordinary whatsoever, and definitely nothing even close to boring. Break the yoga mold and shape your body into a ridiculously sexy form with a range of thrill-seeking instructors, including the incredible Laura Camp, the studio’s owner and director who part-times as a circus aerialist and writer. While there are multiple classes with a not-so-beginner curriculum, the studio does offer options for every level. Just wear something airy and be prepared to soar.
4308 Telegraph, Oakl. www.flyingyogashala.com
BEST FEE FOR BIG QI
Perhaps in the battle over health care, we’d do well to consider the preventive approach of Eastern medicine: regularly maintain your health and therefore avoid the health care industry altogether. It’s a perspective that is keenly addressed at Bu Tong Acupuncture. Run by Julie Baumhoffer, a graduate of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Potrero Hill, this community wellness center offers an array of affordable holistic options for self-health as a priority rather than a burden. In addition to acupuncture, Bu Tong offers massage therapy, nutritional counseling, and creative arts psychotherapy in a sort of one-stop shopping for your physical well-being. And with beginning acupuncture rates starting as low as $10 per session, you can probably afford to stick it to Big Pharma.
2390 Mission, SF. (415) 282-7246, www.butongacupuncture.com
BEST STAND AGAINST SIT/LIE
Photo by Julian Davis
Andy Blue has been a stalwart political activist on a variety of progressive San Francisco campaigns for years, doing whatever needed to be done in big election races from Matt Gonzalez’s 2003 mayoral run to this year’s underdog effort to defeat the PG&E-funded Proposition 16. But it was when cops and NIMBYs started pushing for a sit/lie ordinance to criminalize the simple act of kicking it on a San Francisco sidewalk that Andy’s creativity, leadership abilities, and tireless advocacy really shone. He organized and promoted the Stand Against Sit/Lie campaign that encouraged dozens of small protests and events on sidewalks throughout the city, an effort that shifted the momentum of the debate and helped lead to the defeat of the ordinance. Although Mayor Gavin Newsom has placed the measure on the November ballot, Blue and his crew plan to keep fighting it — and anyone who tries to score cheap political points in pushing it.
BEST LOCAL LOQUAT LOCATORS
Well, what do you know. San Francisco really is the land of fruits and nuts. Our hedgerows are bustling with bounty, our byways bursting with ripe Meyer lemons, Marina strawberries, olives, apples, loquats, almonds, and figs. Where? All around — if you know where to look. Juicy online guide Neighborhood Fruit will tell you exactly where to find fresh, seasonal goodies right in your own or your neighbor’s backyard. Led by founders Kaytea Petro and Oriana Sarac, the Neighborhood Fruit team has registered thousands of wild fruit trees ripe for the picking. Got more yummy yield than you can possibly can? Sign up to let other fruit fiends knock on your door and pick those extraneous plums with aplomb. It’s the most delicious kind of community bonding.
BEST SOARING PROSE
Sling a bookmark any direction in the city and you’ll hit a cache of literary history. Nowhere more so than on the fertile inking grounds of North Beach, where the ghosts of Kerouac, Ginsberg, et al. can easily be convinced to grab a beer or 12 with you at Vesuvio. After carousing with those ruminative spirits, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the sight of 23 glowing books floating above the intersection of Broadway and Columbus as mere Beat-stricken hallucination. But hark, mad one, to the call of those illuminated manuscripts: Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn’s “Language of the Birds” art installation is solid as flesh. The tomes are part of the Department of Public Works’ 2008 Broadway streetscape improvement project, helping to make your pedestrian carousing a better-lit and therefore safer one. But enough about the earthly machinations. Dance like a dervish ‘neath the flashing pages and check under your toes for lines they’ve left behind.
Broadway and Columbus, SF
BEST PLACE TO PARK YOUR DINGY
The Guardian’s giving a Best of the Bay award … to a boat club? Blistering barnacles! You knew we’d sell out one of these days, right? Just. Kidding. See, the Bayview Boat Club isn’t your typical, exclusive “golden epaulet and waxed mustache” kind of operation, looking down at you from a platinum prow. (Wait a minute — waxed mustaches are actually kind of cool these days.) Since 1961, its China Basin doors have been open to membership applications from anyone with two member sponsors and at least a one-quarter interest in a seafaring vehicle — although its definition of “boat” is flexible. The BVBC also is well known for its giddy annual Beer Can Races and good time-bar times in the members-only clubhouse once the schooners ease into their slips. Live music, nautical-themed movies, art openings, and strong drinks are standard issue for its sailors. Shiver our timbers, you could be one of them.
489 Terry A Francois Blvd, SF. (415) 495-9500, www.bayviewboatclub.org
BEST SLOW GAME PINCH HITTERS
The pitcher adjusts his cap. The batter steps out of the box. The infielders huddle at the mound. Then six fastballs get fouled into the seats. Damn, baseball is exciting. At least in the AT&T Park bleachers you’ve got options (pretty girls, big cups of booze, Baywatch). But Giants fans at home must rely on the sportscasters for entertainment during the many lulls. So bully for you if you’re tuned in to the best in the business, Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper of KNBR 680/1050 AM and CSN Bay Area TV. Mirthfully striding the base line that separates fill-time prattle from full-on provocation, the two banter like old pals, cracking wise about their combined 24 seasons in the majors and drawing on those years for pithy insights about the game at hand. When “America’s game” starts to sag, Kruk and Kuip happily resort to their second favorite pastime: using the tele-scribbler to “eliminate” people wearing Dodgers gear.
BEST POLITICAL SHIT-SIFTERS
Political websites are full of crap. Cranks, crooks, straight up sensationalism … We love it all, of course. But when we want to know what’s really going on in the down and dirty, smoke-filled backrooms of California politics, we click our way to progressive open source news site Calitics.com. East Bay keyboard-clackers Brian Leubitz and Robert Cruikshank stay well abreast of Sacramento’s whiz-bang wool-pulling, and you can get a bead on the biggest stories all around the state from the site’s open threads and links. Yet Calitics offers a lot more than shit-sifting: these folks understand what the news really means. Their analyses and interpretations are far more acute than those of the state’s lumbering daily newspapers. And Cruikshank is one of the few writers of any political slant who actually understands economics. Now, can they please work on getting some visuals up there? Photos, people, photos!
BEST ROYAL SCRUBDOWN
For spa-lovers seeking a simple, clean, quiet place for relaxation (with a lovely red clay sauna that “removes toxic superannuation”), it’s time to take a royal journey — to Imperial Spa. Hidden in a strip mall, also near Japan Center, Imperial also offers a rough touch: intense, full-body scrubs sure to remove all of the dead skin from your carcass. The masseuses here don’t play — their Korean massage passes the threshold of mere exfoliation to revive circulation and concludes with a combination of cucumber, yogurt, and milk that leaves you feeling shiny and new. Imperial Spa has separate men’s and women’s facilities, which means that it’s open to two genders seven days a week.
1875 Geary, SF. (415) 771-1114, www.imperialdayspa.com
BEST CHECK (ONE-TWO, ONE-TWO) ON YOUTH POVERTY
We’ve all heard the stereotypes about East Oakland. The drugs, the gangs — the future media superstars? Fearmongers aside, this neighborhood has some serious bright spots. Launched in 1997 in a colorful building next to Castlemont High School at the behest of students sick of violence in their schools, Youth Uprising infuses the lives of young people with the skills they need to get to where they want to go. On-the-job training programs that hook kids onto college tracks? Check. Top-of-the-line media arts center that teaches video production, music recording, and web design? Check. Dance studio, art classes, holistic health care center, and a staff who has walked — successfully — the same streets as YU’s members? You bet. The mic is set, can you hear them now?
877 MacArthur, Oakl. (510) 777-9909, www.youthuprising.org
BEST MURALS FOR DREAMERS
The way artist-appropriated, color-covered walls keep popping up in SF, it can be hard to pull your out-of-town friends indoors, even for some shut-eye. But book them a room at Hotel Des Arts. and they can revel in our city’s Technicolor bubble letters and moody characters, even in their dreams. That’s because Des Arts has tapped street art luminaries Chor Boogie, Sam Flores, Brian Barneclo, Tricia Choi (see above), Shepard Fairey, and others to make regular hotel décor look as lame as, well, regular hotel décor. It’s a dream collection of underground art. All four walls in each of the hotel’s painted rooms — even the bathrooms are tagged up — feature art work by the greats themselves. It’s the perfect spot to stash a buddy from abroad who can’t get enough of these city streets.
447 Bush, SF. (800) 956-4322, www.sfhoteldesarts.com
BEST MINI MEDITATION
Labyrinth lover Janet Scheuer had a dream to “create a quiet, restful spot” for people in San Francisco. The realization of her dream, the 23-foot wide Scott Street Labyrinth at Duboce Park, is just right for some brief lunchtime meditation, without the tourist crowds at Grace Cathedral’s marble behemoth or the somewhat harrowing journey through the Marin Headlands to reach the one at Eagle’s Point. A little avocado sandwich from Courtney’s up the street, a little ambulatory journey through the metaphor of life … What could be more perfectly serene? The jury’s still out on the recent refurbishment of the park in general — too much asphalt, not enough foliage, enormous cost — but this added gem puts an ingratiatingly spiritual polish on the whole project. There’s even a raised scale model to finger-trace for the sight-impaired or for those who want some practice before embarking on their brief-but-invigorating spiral contemplation cycle.
Scott Street between Duboce and Waller, SF
BEST WAG ‘N’ WASH
Photo by Ben Hopfer
Take it from Jules Winnfield, Samuel Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction: “I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy, but they definitely dirty.” And when it’s bath time, pooches can turn any home into a wet, hairy, muddy nightmare. Avoid this by taking them to Pawtrero Bathhouse and Feed Company. The front of the Potrero Hill location looks like a typical pet store, but the back room is doggie-bath heaven. The floor is concrete, with a drain. Two large stainless steel baths cover one wall. You can walk your doggie up a ramp, close the door, throw on a complimentary rubber smock, and unleash a powerful warm-water hose on your sloppy Snoopy. Pawtrero offers a wide selection of organic, skin-sensitive soaps and shampoos to leave your mutt looking and smelling squeaky clean. Use the free towels to dry the beast off, put the smock back on the hook, and you’re out of there — for just $15.
199 Mississippi, SF. (415) 863-7279 and 199 Brannan, SF. (415) 882-7297, www.pawtrero.com
BEST SLIP ‘N’ SLIDES
For two years, Hamilton Recreation Center had been closed for renovations, depriving Western Addition residents of a public space to gather, get down, and, yes, exercise. But it reopened in March, tickling West Addys pink with a grade-A public place to play. We’re totally digging on the sparkling new b-ball courts, the vast acreage of tennis pitches and playground, the free-use cardio workout room, and the glorious pool. But alongside that pool is something that really churns our butterfly stroke: Hamilton Recreation Center’s water slides. That’s right — there are two of those slip ‘n’ slide babies, fit to dump squealing future Thorpedoes into the water with a great big splash. Pick your poison, spiral yellow or L-curve orange, and launch into the lanes below. Forget Six Flags, there are wet and wild times to be had closer to home. All ages welcome. (Alas, no coolers of ice-cold brewskis allowed.)
1900 Geary, SF. (415) 292-2008, www.sf-recpark.org
BEST ONLINE TIMESINKERS
Farmville. Fishville. Frontierville. Mafia Wars. Treasure Isle. Here you’ve gone through all the trouble of locating your old classmates and ex-coworkers on Facebook, and the only regular updates you receive from them are about the last virtual person they iced or how some orphan cow wandered onto their digital acreage. Moo! Blame the insidious explosion of social network gaming on SF’s own Zynga, the up-and-coming tech company founded by Mark Pincus and named after his bulldog, with a nod to an African warrior queen. Dedicated to “connecting people through games” (although in many cases disconnecting them as well) Zynga’s many addictive timesinks have claimed the afternoons of millions who should know better but just. Can’t. Stop. Collecting. Pixelated. Piranhas. Fine, we admit it, us too. That’s OK, feel free to hide our streams. But first, can you spare a bushel of virtual corn?
BEST DIRTY WORK IN THE WILD
As lovely as Golden Gate Park is to us city slickers, wilderness it’s not. That is, 96 percent of it isn’t. But the remaining 4 percent does qualify as “natural area,” which the San Francisco Natural Areas Program defines as spots where our little peninsula is preserved in all its original, biodiverse beauty. The organization should know — SFNAP is in charge of keeping these corners (which comprise some 500 acres in 35 parks including Bernal Hill, Corona Heights, and Glen Canyon Park) healthy and species-wealthy. The organization relies on the work of thousands of volunteers who get dirty in the name of preventing erosion, planting food for wildlife, pulling invasive species, and other saintly duties. The city is a jungle? Maybe not — but it is a salt marsh, desert, grassland, and woodland, and SFNAP means to keep it that way.
BEST CITY HALL CROONER
A regular fixture at City Hall, Walter Paulson, a.k.a. “the singing guy,” stands out for his creative use of the two minutes allotted for public comment at board and commission sessions. He serenades supervisors with his own original a cappella ditties, taking full advantage of the mic and acoustics in the majestic board chambers without ever wandering off topic. His songs have been known to introduce comic relief to tense meetings, forcing even the most serious-minded supes to crack a smile and occasionally drawing a smattering of applause. Paulson proves that inspiration can be derived from even the driest, wonkiest policy discussions. And as he belts out melodies about planning documents or salary ordinances, he infuses something distinctly San Franciscan into the public record.
BEST KINKY ARROYO
An open secret: a freshwater creek flows freely through the Mission, albeit entombed beneath layers of concrete and asphalt. Water shortages and ground stabilization concerns have the city contemplating daylighting this ancient arroyo, but for now it remains hidden from view. Well, sort of. When the National Guard decided to build a new Armory at the intersection of Mission and 14th streets after the 1906 earthquake destroyed the old one, it kept a wee bit of creek exposed in the basement, just in case it might need an independent water source if the populace grew restless. (Good call on its part: the Armory served as a retreat when the guard shot strikers on Bloody Thursday in 1934.) The Armory has a new owner, of course, one that specializes in a more extreme form of militaristic fetishism and wet exposure. But you can still get a glimpse of that mossy bit of Mission Creek in Kink.com’s basement if you snag a spot on one of the BDSM adult film company’s tours of its jaw-dropping headquarters — and ask (beg?) nicely.
1800 Mission, SF. www.sfarmory.com, www.kink.com
Tours: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/120429
BEST HARD-BOILED PEREGRINATION
There’s been more than one Sam Spade — Dashiell Hammett’s prototypical The Maltese Falcon character was adapted many times from that hard-boiled 1930 novel, most famously by Bogart himself. But there’s only one Don Herron, author and intrepid creator of the Dashiell Hammett Tour. Meet the snap-brimmed Herron in the Civic Center (possibly with your favorite femme fatale in tow) for a fog-shrouded journey through Hammett’s San Franciscan haunts. The guide has been stalking these means streets since 1977, and he’ll gladly enumerate and elucidate the back alleys and byways where Hammett set his much-beloved private eye paperbacks. With Herron, you’re in good hands. So cinch that trench coat a notch tighter, keep ’em peeled for clues, and, please, beware of heavily lipsticked knockouts with an ax to grind.
BEST EMERALD TRAILS
“Every time I get on the green, it’s like a sigh of relief.” No, we didn’t just impel Renée Rivera, executive director of SF Bike Coalition, to get real about Proposition 19. She’s talking about the new protected green bike lanes on Market Street, one of the most exciting steps taken in the last year toward making our streets safer for cruisers of the two-wheel variety. The green lanes, which extend from Eighth Street to Gough, are partitioned from cars by waist-high, safe-hit white posts. And a movement is afoot to stretch the lanes further afield: the Bike Coalition got a commitment from the mayor to extend the verdant zone as far as the Ferry Building and is in talks to put similar lanes on Oak, Fell, Townsend, San Jose, and the Embarcadero.
Market between Eighth and Gough, SF
BEST SAND DUNE SLEUTHS
It’s been a wild world out in the western neighborhoods of San Francisco. Before the sidewalks came, the Richmond, Sunset, and other oceanside districts were a wonderland of sand dunes and historical curiosities. What was it like? Lack of information about the area’s past proved primo ponder fodder for Woody LaBounty, and inspired him to launch the Western Neighborhoods Project. Today the curious need only to partake in one of the group’s history walks, or look to its spectacularly detailed Outside Lands blog to benefit from the project’s insightful research on the bygone days of the avenues. Western wonderings have turned up tales that will hold even those on the other side of Twin Peaks rapt. LaBounty’s recently released book Carville-by-the-Sea excavates the intriguing bohemian vacation town of retired streetcars that cropped up on Ocean Beach back at the turn of the 20th century.
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD CANOODLING
Despite immediate proximity, rarely do the leaders of North Beach and Chinatown collaborate on an event, or do the residents of the two neighborhoods gather together in celebration of their shared heritage. What could break the ice more than a steaming heap of that Asian-Italian delicacy — noodles? This year the Chinatown Community Development Center and North Beach Merchants Association got together in the most delicious way possible: Noodlefest took Grant Avenue by storm, placing restaurant pasta powerfuls from both neighborhoods streetside in honor of the almighty macaroni and mein. The slurping multitudes — tasting tickets, which entitled purchasers to six hefty mini-meals, sold out in hours — dove into massive piles of (chow) fun and fettuccine. Besides the romantic appeal of reenacting that scene from Lady and the Tramp beneath decorative Chinese lanterns, this hopefully yearly event provided a warm, slippy bridge between these two intercontinental culinary titans.
www.chinatowncdc.org, www.northbeachmerchants.com
BEST OLD-FASHIONED SUMMER CAMP
Remember when summer camp was all about wandering around the woods, catching bugs, getting wet and muddy in the stream, roasting marshmallows, and doing stupid skits that involved cracking eggs on your head? Well, even in this city of fancy arts camps, computer camps, and other high-end sources of academic and personal growth for the urban child, there’s still a chance to be a kid. Right in town. And it’s cheap. More than 2,000 San Francisco kids make their way every summer to Glen Canyon Park, where Silver Tree Camp, run by SF Recreation and Park Department, eschews classroom lessons, electronic equipment, and intensive instruction of any kind. There are hikes, arts and crafts, and songs and skits in one of the few places in the big city that feels like wilderness. But a lot of the time, particularly in the before and after-care programs, is unstructured: the kids play outside. Like kids.
BEST ‘DO FOR YOUR “I DO”
Weddings: they’re all fun and games and exorbitant expenses and heterosexual privilege — until the bride’s hair falls. Then? Disaster! Avoid any potential Bridezilla moments by calling upon the wizardly hair (and makeup) skills of one Armando Sarabia. His mobile beauty service, Get Your Do Up, brings the look to you, with on-location consultations and makeovers sure to guarantee love, honor, and obedience. He’ll take you through it all in style, from initial makeup color palette consultation to frisky honeymoon runway takeoff look. Sarabia’s talents aren’t just reserved for romantic matrimonials, either: girls’ nights out, media appearances, boudoir photography sessions, holiday gatherings, and just general cuts, colors, and styling all benefit from a good dose of Get Your Do Up glamour.
BEST GOON SQUAD
SF native Mark Barbeau lives thousands of miles from the home stadium of his beloved Arsenal F.C. soccer team, a.k.a. the Gunners, in Islington, England. It could have been a lonely life had he not hit upon the idea to pull together some local Gunner goodwill. And thus was born the Bay Area Gooners, a ragtag bunch who gather in a North Beach Irish pub to pint their way through those early morning (time zone differences can’t stop this soccer spirit) footie matches between the “greatest team of all time” and whosoever dares to challenge them. Arsenal love runs strong in this group: during a recent power outage that affected the Gooners’ regular game-day perch at Maggie McGarry’s, Barbeau offered up his apartment’s living room to his Gunner-lovin’ brethren. Oh to be, oh to be, oh to be a Gooner!
BEST PEOPLE POWER VS. CORPORATE POWER
When Pacific Gas and Electric Co. decided to put a measure on the California ballot that would effectively outlaw public power in the state, the situation looked bleak. PG&E set aside $30 million to spend pushing the measure, a total that later rose to more than $45 million. And yet, against some of the worst odds in American political history, a grassroots crew defeated one of the nation’s largest private utilities. The No on 16 campaign managed to line up almost every newspaper in the state against PG&E. It created and posted Web ads. It lobbied local government agencies to pass resolutions against the measure. Sup. Ross Mirkarimi led the effort in San Francisco, pushing other officials in the state to organize against it. Assembly Member Tom Ammiano and Sen. Mark Leno helped raise money and led the fight in Sacramento. Campaign consultant Gale Kaufman coordinated the effort. Matt Freedman, Mindy Spatt, and Mark Toney of the Utility Reform Network hosted meetings and handled campaign affairs that elected officials couldn’t. Volunteer public power activists including Eric Brooks, Bruce Wolfe, and Paul Fenn contributed time and effort, and Ben Zolno produced the campaign videos. And they saved public power in California.
SFBG Radio: Lies, truth and Meg Whitman
In today’s episode, Johnny and Tim talk about fact, fiction, reality – -and Meg Whitman. You can listen and join the fun after the jump.
SFBG Radio: Who’s afraid of the right-wing nuts?
In today’s episode, Johnny and Tim talk about news fabrication — and why anybody still respects Andrew Brietbart. You can listen after the jump.
sfbgradio7/23/2010 by johnnywangelThe king is dead, love live SF Theater Pub
SF Theater Pub’s one-night-only presentation of Alfred Jarry’s bawdy classic Ubu Roi this past Monday felt like nothing so much as a group of dedicated friends putting on a show because they thought it just might turn out awesome. The staged reading took place at SF lounge Café Royale, a pleasant venue with couches and balcony seats as well as standing room that rendered the production all the more intimate.
The play is a deliberately sick-and-twisted piss-take on Macbeth, eviscerated of all its pathos and stuffed full of crap, and the Theater Pub performers, as well as director Bennett Fisher’s new translation, seemed entirely tuned in to its irreverence. Greedy, grubby protagonist Pere Ubu was played with alternating witlessness and pomposity by Sam Leichter, but the most successful comic performer on display was Catherine Lardas, who delivered a positively Oliver Hardy-esque Mere Ubu. The herald Pile (Warden Lawlor) stood above the other actors on the balcony, reciting increasingly complicated titles for Pere Ubu as he continued to murder and annex the positions of several other noblemen.
Music and sound effects from DJ Wait What were evocative of old radio plays, and the minimal use of props such as a giant plastic sword generated a few laughs. The show certainly felt like a one-off event, with all the actors reading their lines from music stands, but this only added to the sense of comeraderie and fun.
Besides the fact that SF Theater Pub’s events are free (a donation at the door will get you a raffle ticket!), their most attractive feature is their apparent modernist sensibility when selecting plays. They’ve already put on Václav Havel’s Audience and an assortment of Greek tragedies. They’re following up Ubu with a collection of short local plays under the heading “The Pint Sized Plays.” Their blog then announces a series of Beckett shorts for September, though on Monday night they claimed September would hold some Oscar Wilde performances.
Most fascinatingly to this reporter, they’ll be celebrating Halloween with a series of radio play-style adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft stories. There’s nothing I love more than hearing people say “eldritch” and “gibbous” out loud, so those should be jolly good fun. This diverse roster of plays, as well as a genuine sense of joy, means SF Theater Pub are ones to watch in the coming months. Especially since watching them is totally free!