Emily Savage

Vinyl party: Record Store Day is almost here

Tony Robles
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Records nerds take heed: limited record releases from the Flaming Lips, Neon Indian, Jack White, Mark Sultan, Xiu Xiu with Dirty Beaches, and more await thee. If you’re a lover/supporter of independent music, you’ll be celebrating Record Store Day this weekend with the rest of us. Err…that is, buying up some new vinyl.

And why not? The US-wide event, which began in 2007, keeps getting bigger and better, with even more releases, and even weirder vinyl variations (liquid, colored, etched, can Laffy Taffy grooves be that far away?).

And, as often noted, the Record Store Day releases are available only at physical, independent shops. Real, brick and mortar stores lined with dusty squares. Stay offline all day.

And, as many of the Record Story Day releases are limited, it’s important to keep in mind that all stores may not order all release. It’s first come, first serve, and all that. Show up early, support your local vendor.

Bay Area participating stores include Recycled Records, Groove Merchant Records, Amoeba Music in San Francisco and Berkeley, Black Pancake Records, Streetlight Records, Grooves, aQuarius recOrds, the Explorist International, The Music Store, Creative Music Emporium, MusicESP, Fats Music, Mill Valley Music, Donnie’s Records, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, Down Home Music, Down Home Music Store, Rasputin Music and DVDs, Mod Lang, Red Devil Records, Bedrock Music & Video.

Here’s just a small sampling of the audio-treats available to you this Saturday, April 21 (walk in to local stores for availability):

The Flaming Lips, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends. The exclusive Record Store Day release will be pressed on two multi-color vinyl discs in separate custom art jackets and poly bagged together. No two discs will look exactly alike. Once it’s gone, it will not be repressed again making. It includes musical contributions from  Yoko Ono, Nick Cave, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Bon Iver, Ke$ha and more.

Mastodon /Feist, A Commotion/Black Tongue seven-inch. A RSD exclusive featuring Mastodon covering Feist’s song “A Commotion,” and Feist covering Mastodon’s “Black Tongue.”

Mark Sultan, The War On Rock’n’Roll. A live, one-take album put out on In the Red Records.

Jack White, Sixteen Saltines. A 12-inch single of Jack White’s “Sixteen Saltines” featuring a playable etching of the Third Man logo in its B-side. “The grooves of the record play through the image, making it the world’s first-ever playable etched record ®.” There’s an even more limited version of the Sixteen Saltines etched 12-inch that’s pressed on clear vinyl and filled with psychedelic blue liquid.

Xiu Xiu/Dirty Beaches split seven-inch. Limited to 200 copies, Side A is Xiu Xiu covering Erasure’s “Always”, Side B is Dirty Beaches covering Francoise Hardy’s “Tu Ne Dis Rien.”

David Lynch Foundation,  Music That Changes the World. A deluxe, four-volume vinyl collection featuring 34 exclusive tracks by artists such as Donovan & Iggy Pop, Peter Gabriel, Moby, Maroon 5, and Ozomatli and several others. The collection also includes a previously unreleased bonus track from The Ghost of Saber Tooth Tiger along with a download code for a bonus digital track from Julio Iglesias Jr.

of Montreal/Deerhoof, Stygian x} Bisection. It’s an exclusive RSD seven-inch on Polyvinyl. The seven-inch features “A Filthy Fifth” on the A-side, of Montreal’s cover of Deerhoof’s song “Secret Mobilization.” The B-side is the first studio recording released of “Feminine Effects.”

The Mynabirds, Generals seven-inch single. From their upcoming album Generals, to be released June 5, the Record Store Day seven-inch includes one non-album track “Fallen Doves” and features silk screens covers, hand stray painted and numbered by band leader Laura Burhenn. Limited to 1,000 copies on black vinyl.

Battles, Dross Glop 4. RSD limited run. Final 12-inch of the Dross Glop series. Features remixes from Gang Gang Dance, Hudson Mohawke, Patrick Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), Dennis McNany.

Neon Indian, Hex Girlfriend 10-inch. An exclusive RSD release, with the album version of the track on Side A, and a Twin Shadow remix on Side B. It’s limited to 500 copies and will only be available April 21. 200 of those will be pressed on translucent green vinyl, and 200 will have an opaque blue swirl.

Again, remember that these are independent stores and not every Bay Area record shop will sell every RSD release. Plan accordingly.

Record Store Day
Sat/21, business hours
Independent record shops, Bay Area and beyond
www.recordstoreday.com

Get your hands up: Wild Flag at Fillmore

Tony Robles
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Get your hands up: Wild Flag at Fillmore

San Franciscans faced a sort of litmus test Wednesday night: which popular band would they see live when given copious quality options, what does that say about their whole being, and who among us chose best? Thanks to Coachella and just lucky circumstance, there were major acts playing sold out or close-to-it shows all around town last night: Godspeed, Gotye, Refused, and Wild Flag.

So the city split open. Shows were carefully chosen based on sound, legacy, fun-factor, and proximity. Massive carved doors swung open, and venues were crowded on this refreshingly warmish midweek night. We’ll have more on the other offerings about town. But here’s what went down at the Fillmore.

Top 15 moments during Wild Flag and EMA’s Fillmore appearance:

1. EMA’s stylish ’80s dancing-with-myself movement techniques and matching ’80s ensemble (billowy T-shirt, tights with shorts)

2. EMA’s fiddler. Electro-pop begs for more violin.

3. Janet Weiss’ showy drum solo during “Glass Tambourine.” Had there been such an item, it would’ve shattered into tiny glittery bits.

4. More glitter: the matchy-not matchy sparkle-accented red, black, and white ensembles on all four Wild Flag ladies.

5. A proggy new song with Carrie Brownstein’s vocals sublimely echoing into the deep effects abyss.

6. The song “Racehorse” played before “Romance,” and being about not being able to love another. “You can’t love no one/you don’t love know one.”

7. “None of those other songs were about love, but this one is” — the introduction to final pre-encore song and fan favorite, “Romance.”

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

8. The awesome, yet expected, but still very welcome close interplay and noodling interactions between the four Wild Flag members, particularly Brownstein and Mary Timony.

9. Timony’s feedback fetish, and the moments when she crumbled to her knees in showmanship.

10. Brownstein holding her guitar straight up in the air, in another statement on instrument worship.

11. The David Cross-alike in the crowd’s not-as-stylish interpretative dance techniques, with awkward shoulder jerks and fluttering hands matching Wild Flag’s riffs.

12. The Fillmore’s chandeliers timed to match the aforementioned hard riffs. Light ’em up big.

13. The DC/Portland based band again using its encore for awesome covers, including Television and Fugazi. Though no Misfits this time unless I missed it. Did I miss it?

14. The feeling that this band will undoubtedly go down in history as shattering preconceived notions of femininity, musicianship, and rock’n’roll, just as its predecessors Sleater-Kinney and Helium.

15. Supposedly, Fred Armisen was there, which make sense as he and his Portlandia co-star, Brownstein, were at a 826 Valencia benefit earlier in the day. 


SF’s Loquat releases new music video

Tony Robles
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Longtime San Francisco indie pop act Loquat released a video for the song “Time Bending” off brand new album We Could Be Arsonists late last week. A bare bones look at a classic act, the video follows the band setting up in the studio and recording the song surrounded by smiling onlookers, welcoming them back into the fold.

The band plays its record release show next Friday, April 27 at the Independent.

Music Listings

Andrew Lam
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Since club life is unpredictable, it’s a good idea to call ahead or check the venue’s website to confirm bookings and hours. Prices are listed when provided to us. Visit www.sfbg.com/venue-guide for venue information. Submit items for the listings at listings@sfbg.com. For further information on how to submit items for the listings, see Picks.

WEDNESDAY 18

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Rome Balestrieri vs Troy Neihardt Johnny Foley’s Dueling Pianos. 9:30pm.

Branden Daniel and the Chics, Cellar Doors, Dig-Its Elbo Room. 9pm, $6.

Dear Hunter, Native Thieves Bottom of the Hill. 8pm, $15.

First Aid Kit Slim’s. 9pm, $16-$19.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pierced Arrows Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $21.

Gotye, Missy Higgins Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove, SF; www.apeconcerts.com. 8pm, $39.50.

High & Tight, Cryptics, Blank Spots Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.

Katchafire Mezzanine. 9pm, $27.

No Lovely Thing, Happy Idiot El Rio. 9pm, $5.

Pro Blues Jam with Tommy Castro Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $15.

Eddie Roberts’ Roughneck Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $7-$10.

Terry Savastano Johnny Foley’s. 9pm, free.

Soul Train Revival Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $10.

Suzanne Vega & Duncan Sheik Yoshi’s. 8pm, $35; 10pm, $25.

Wild Flag, EMA Fillmore. 8pm, $20.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Cat’s Corner with Nathan Dias Savanna Jazz. 9pm, $10.

Chris Amberger Trio & Jazz Jam Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30 and 9:30pm.

Cosmo AlleyCats Le Colonial, 20 Cosmo Place, SF; www.lecolonialsf.com. 7-10pm.

Dink Dink Dink, Gaucho, Michael Abraham Amnesia. 7pm, free.

Varla Jean Merman Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35-$40.

Ricardo Scales Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 6:30pm, $5.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Dan Coyle Coffee Adventures, 1331 Columbus, SF; www.dancoyle.com. 11am-1pm, free.

DANCE CLUBS

Booty Call Q-Bar, 456 Castro, SF; www.bootycallwednesdays.com. 9pm. Juanita MORE! and Joshua J host this dance party.

Coo-Yah! Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. DJs Daneekah and Green B spin reggae and dancehall with weekly guests.

Dark Sparkle Cafe Du Nord. 9:30pm, $5.

Mary Go Round Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; www.lookoutsf.com. 10pm, $5. Drag with Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro, and Ginger Snap.

Megatallica Fiddler’s Green, 1333 Columbus, SF; www.megatallica.com. 7pm, free. Heavy metal hangout.

Spilt Milk Milk Bar. 9pm, free. With Bobby Browser, Mountaincount, Shaky Premise, and Taylor Fife.

THURSDAY 19

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Black Elk, Totimoshi, Minot Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.

Cat Empire, Stripes and Lines Slim’s. 9pm, $26.

Control-R, Tremor Low, Meddling Kids El Rio. 8pm, $5.

Escape the Fate, Attack Attack!, World Alive, Secrets, Mest Regency Ballroom. 6:30pm, $22.

Fitz and the Tantrums California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse, SF; www.calacademy.org. Big Bang After Dark event with J Boogie.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pierced Arrows Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $21.

Guitar Wizards From the Future, Dic Stusso and the Boy Toys, Creepy Marbles Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $6.

“Heartless World Showcase Vol. IV” Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10. With Moe Green, G-Mo, and more.

Height, Rio Rio, Great American Cities Thee Parkside. 9pm, $7.

Housse De Racket, Spector, popscene DJs Rickshaw Stop. 9:30pm, $12.

Madness, DJ Harry Duncan Warfield. 8pm, $35-$42.50.

Troy Neihardt vs Rome Balestrieri Johnny Foley’s Dueling Pianos. 9:30pm.

Paranoids, Siddhartha, Foreign Cinema Knockout. 9:30pm, $6.

Real Nasty Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $7.

Curtis Salgado Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $18.

Sonny and the Sunsets, Range of Light Wilderness, Nightgowns Amnesia. 9pm, $8-$10.

Stan Erhart Band Johnny Foley’s. 9pm, free.

Squeeze Fillmore. 8pm, $35.

Tokyo Raid Blue Macaw, 2565 Mission, SF; www.thebluemacawsf.com. 9pm.

Wild Beasts, Superhumanoids Independent. 8pm, $20.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Big Band and Jazz Combos San Francisco State University, Knuth Hall, SF; creativearts.sfsu.edu. 7pm, free.

Kenny G Yoshi’s. 8pm, $46; 10pm, $40.

Stompy Jones Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 7:30pm, $10.

Varla Jean Merman Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35-$40.

Naje Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30pm.

Ned Boyton Trio Bottle Cap, 1707 Powell, SF; www.bottlecapsf.com. 7-10pm, free.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Black Crown String Band Atlas Cafe, 3049 20th St, SF; www.atlascafe.net. 8-10pm, free.

Savanna Jazz Jam with Nora Maki Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $5.

Anoushka Shankar Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, SF; www.sfjazz.org. 7:30pm, $25-$60.

Twang! Honky Tonk Fiddler’s Green, 1330 Columbus, SF; www.twanghonkytonk.com. 5pm. Live country music, dancing, and giveaways.

DANCE CLUBS

Afrolicious Elbo Room. 9:30pm, $5. DJ/host Pleasuremaker spins Afrobeat, Tropicália, electro, samba, and funk.

Arcade Lookout. 9pm, free. Indie dance party.

Generations SOM. 10pm, $5.With DJs Platurn, Theory, Matthew Africa, and Franchise.

Get Low Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521. 10pm, free. Jerry Nice and Ant-1 spin Hip-Hop, 80’s and Soul with weekly guests.

Thursdays at the Cat Club Cat Club. 9pm, $6 (free before 9:30pm). The best of the 80s with DJ’s Damon, Steve Washington, and Dangerous Dan.

Tropicana Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, free. Salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton with DJs Don Bustamante, Apocolypto, Sr. Saen, Santero, and Mr. E.

 

FRIDAY 20

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Rome Balestrieri, Troy Neihardt, Jason Marion Johnny Foley’s Dueling Pianos. 9pm.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Pierced Arrows Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $21.

Goldenboy, Adios Amigo, Genius and the Thieves Thee Parkside. 9pm, $8.

Lea Grant Lost Church, 65 Capp, SF; www.thelostchurch.com. 8pm, $10.

Infamous Stringdusters, Dead Winter Carpenters Independent. 9pm, $22.

“KUSF-in-Exile Blown Out, Blowout Benefit Show” Bender’s, 806 Van Ness, SF; www.savekusf.org. 9pm, $5. With Uzi Rash, Cool Ghouls, Chen Santa Maria.

Les Sans Culottes, Cyclub, Fact on File Hemlock Tavern. 9:30pm, $8.

Los Rakas, Kaz Kyzah Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $15-$20.

Moonalice Slim’s. 9pm, $4.20.

OV7 Fillmore. 9pm, $30.

Phenomenauts, La Plebe, Custom Kicks Bottom of the Hill. 10pm, $12.

School of Seven Bells, Exitmusic Rickshaw Stop. 9pm, $15.

Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.

Ticket To Ride Johnny Foley’s. 9pm, free.

Kerry Wing, Jonny Cat and the Coo Coo Birds Cafe Du Nord. 9pm, $10.

Zeds Dead, Araabmusic, XI Regency Ballroom. 9pm, $30.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Audium 1616 Bush, SF; www.audium.org. 8:30pm, $20. Theater of sound-sculptured space.

Benn Bacot Savanna Jazz. 7:30pm, $8.

Black Market Jazz Orchestra Top of the Mark, 999 California, SF; www.topofthemark.com. 9pm, $10.

Terry Disely Bottle Cap, 1707 Powell, SF; www.bottlecapsf.com. 5:30-8:30pm, free.

Finisterra Piano Trio Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento, SF; www.oldfirstconcerts.com. 8pm, $14-$17.

Kenny G Yoshi’s. 8pm, $48; 10pm, $44.

Varla Jean Merman Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35-$40.

Kate McGarry Swedish American Hall. 8pm, $25.

Ways & Means Committee Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30pm.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Bluegrass Bonanza Plough and Stars. 9:30pm, $6-$10.

Eric John Kaiser Alliance Francaise, 1345 Bush, SF; www.ericjohnkaiser.com. 7pm, $10-$15.

Taste Fridays 650 Indiana, SF; www.tastefridays.com. 8pm, $18. Salsa and bachata dance lessons, live music.

DANCE CLUBS

Fix Your Hair Elbo Room. 10pm, $7. Queer dance party with DJs Andre and Jenna Riot.

Hella Tight Amnesia.10pm, $5.

JackHammer Disco Public Works. 9pm, $10-$15. With Joey Negro + Jeno, Conor and Chris Orr.

Joe Lookout, 3600 16th St.,SF; www.lookoutsf.com. 9pm. Rotating DJs, shirt-off drink specials.

Oldies Night Knockout. 9pm, $2-$4.With DJs Primo and Daniel B.

Old School JAMZ El Rio. 9pm. Fruit Stand DJs spinning old school funk, hip-hop, and R&B.

Paris to Dakar Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $5. Afro and world music with rotating DJs including Stepwise, Steve, Claude, Santero, and Elembe.

Pledge: Fraternal Lookout. 9pm, $3-$13. Benefiting LGBT and nonprofit organizations. DJ Christopher B and DJ Brian Maier.

RIS Labs: 7 Years of Parties Public Works Oddjob Loft. 10pm, $5. With DJs Fame, Eric Sharp, Reilly Steel, and Jr Waikiki.

Trannyshack: David Bowie Tribute DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $15.

Vinyl, Soul Pie, DJ K-Os Boom Boom Room. 9pm, $15.

SATURDAY 21

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Birds & Batteries, Mwahaha, Ownership Bottom of the Hill. 9:30pm, $12.

Dedvolt, Swillerz Thee Parkside. 3pm, free.

Judea Eden Band, Amy Meyers Band, Bill Burnor & the Bad Ass Boots El Rio. 3pm, $8.

Katdelic Boom Boom Room. 9pm, $15.

Lotus, NVO Fillmore. 9pm, $25.

Mix Master Mike, DJ Shortkut Mighty. 9pm.

Naked and Famous, Vacationer, Now Now Regency Ballroom. 9pm, $27.

Troy Neihardt, Jason Marion, Rome Balestrieri Johnny Foley’s Dueling Pianos. 9pm.

John Nemeth Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $20.

Poor Man’s Whiskey, Jugtown Pirates Great American Music Hall. 9pm, $20-$23.

Chuck Ragan, Nathaniel Rateliff, Cory Branan Slim’s. 9pm, $17.

Frankie Rose, Dive Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10-$12.

Top Secret Band Johnny Foley’s. 9pm, free.

Uni and her Ukulele Amnesia. 6-10pm, $7-$10.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Audium 1616 Bush, SF; www.audium.org. 8:30pm, $20. Theater of sound-sculptured space.

Kenny G Yoshi’s. 8pm, $48; 10pm, $44.

Michael LaMacchia Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30pm.

Varla Jean Merman Rrazz Room. 8pm, $35-$40.

Jon Raskin & Carla Harryman, Pamela Z Cyperian’s, 2097 Turk, SF; www.noevaleyymusicseries.com. 8pm, $18.

Suzanna Smith Savanna Jazz. 7pm, $8.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Go Van Gough Revolution Cafe, 3248 22 St, SF; (415) 642-0474. 9pm.

Julio Bravo y Orquesta Salsabor Ramp Restaurant, 855 Terry Francois, SF; (415) 621-2378. 5:30-8:30pm.

Johannes Moller Green Room, 401 Van Ness, SF; www.sfwmpac.org. 8-10pm, $34.

Sistema Bomb Make-Out Room. 10pm, $5.

Craig Ventresco & Meredith Axelrod Atlas Cafe, 3049 20th St, SF; www.atlascafe.net. 4-6pm, free.

DANCE CLUBS

Bootie SF: Bootchella DNA Lounge. 9pm, $10-$20. With DJ Tyme & Nathan Scot, Smash-Up Derby, Italian Robot, Cowboy Girls, and more.

Booty Bassment Knockout. 9pm, $5. With DJs Ryan Poulsen and Dimitri Dickenson.

Fringe Madrone Art Bar. 9pm, $5. Indie music video dance party with DJ Blondie K and subOctave.

OK Hole Amnesia. 9pm. Live music, DJs, visuals.

Jeff Mills, Terrence Parker, Drumcell Public Works. 9pm, $20-$25.

M.O.M. SF Anniversary Cafe Du Nord. 9pm, $12-$15. Motown dance party with Hitsville Soul Sisters, and more.

Octave (live), David Javate, Max Gardner, Zenith Monarch, 101 Sixth St., SF; www.monarchsf.com. 9pm, $20.

Paris to Dakar Little Baobab, 3388 19th St, SF; (415) 643-3558. 10pm, $5. Afro and world music with rotating DJs including Stepwise, Steve, Claude, Santero, and Elembe.

Saturday Night Soul Party Elbo Room. 10pm, $5-$10. DJs Lucky, Paul Paul, and Phengren Oswald spin ’60s soul 45s.

Smiths Night SF Rock-It Room. 9pm, free. Revel in 80s music from the Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, and more.

Radio Franco Bissap, 3372 19th St, SF; (415) 826 9287. 6 pm. Rock, Chanson Francaise, Blues.

Wild Nights Kok BarSF, 1225 Folsom, SF; www.kokbarsf.com. 9pm, $3. With DJ Frank Wild.

SUNDAY 22

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Careless Hearts, Court & Spark, Hooks, Paula Frazer Bottom of the Hill. 2:30pm, $8. Celebrating Corie Woods.

Easy Leaves, Bob Harp, Harkenbacks Amnesia. 8pm, $7-$10.

Kevorkian Death Cycle, Hex RX, Scar Tissue DNA Lounge. 9pm, $13.

Noh Mercy, Erase Errata Cafe Du Nord. 7:30pm, $12.

Taurus, Wild Hunt, Lady of the Lake Elbo Room. 4-8pm, $6.

Daniel Whittington Showdown, Sixth St., SF; www.showdownsf.com. 8pm, free.

Yellow Boyz, Lyricks, Manifest Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $10-$13.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Charles Lloyd New Quartet Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness, SF; www.sfjazz.org. 7pm, $30-$70.

Kenny G Yoshi’s. 7pm, $44; 9pm, $38.

Gaucho Gypsy Jazz Bliss Bar, 2086 24 St, SF; www.blissbar.com. 4:30pm, $10.

Varla Jean Merman Rrazz Room. 7pm, $35-$40.

Jennifer Muhawi Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter, SF; www.jennifermuhawi.com. 6pm, free.

Noertker’s Moxie Quintet Cafe Royale, 800 Post, SF; www.caferoyale-sf.com. 7pm, free.

Raquel Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30pm.

Savanna Jazz Jam Savanna Jazz. 7pm, $5.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Bay Area Youth Harp Ensemble San Francisco Public Montessori School, 2340 Jackson, SF; sfpmearthday.webs.com. 2pm, $5-$15.

Salsa Sundays El Rio. 3pm, 8-$10. With Danilo y Orquesta Universal.

Twang Sunday Thee Parkside. 4pm, free. With Maurice Tani, 77 Deora & Friends.

DANCE CLUBS

Batcave Club 93, 93 9th St, SF 10pm, $5. Death rock, goth, and post-punk with Steeplerot, XChrisT, Necromos and c_death.

Dub Mission Elbo Room. 9pm, $6. Dub, dubstep, and roots with DJs Sep, Ludichris, and Ripley.

Jock Lookout, 3600 16th St, SF; www.lookoutsf.com. 3pm, $2. Raise money for LGBT sports teams while enjoying DJs and drink specials.

La Pachanga Blue Macaw, 2565 Mission, SF; www.thebluemacawsf.com. 6pm, $10. Salsa dance party with live Afro-Cuban salsa bands.

MONDAY 23

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

All Tiny Creatures, Minor Kingdom, Kill Moi Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.

Behemoth, Watain, Devil’s Blood, In Solitude Slim’s. 7:30pm, $26.

Facts on File, Sasha Bell, Parlour Suite, Karina Denike Knockout. 9pm, $8.

Falling Still, New Position, Spyrals El Rio. 7pm, free.

Japanther, Boys Who Say No Sub-Mission. 8pm

John Mceuen and Sons Jonathan and Nathan Cafe Du Nord. 9pm, $15.

“Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs live with Buster Keaton Shorts” Castro Theatre, 429 Castro, SF; festival.sffs.org. 8pm, $20-$25.

Monkeys in Space, American Economy, Dogfood Elbo Room. 9pm, $6.

Nick Moss and the Flip Tops Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $18.

Our Lady Peace Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $25.

Welcome Matt Osteria, 3277 Sacramento, SF; www.osteriasf.com. 7pm, free.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Bossa Nova Tunnel Top, 601 Bush, SF; (415) 722-6620. 8-11:30pm, free. Live acoustic Bossa Nova.

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Big Band Yoshi’s. 8pm, $10-$15. With Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Jazz Orchestra Australia.

“Yoshi’s Jazz Supper Club” Yoshi’s Lounge. 6:30pm. With David Correa and Cascada.

FOLK/WORLD/COUNTRY

Earl Brothers Amnesia. 6pm.

DANCE CLUBS

Death Guild DNA Lounge. 9:30pm, $3-5. Gothic, industrial, and synthpop with Joe Radio, Decay, and Melting Girl.

Krazy Mondays Beauty Bar, 2299 Mission, SF; www.thebeautybar.com. 10pm, free. Hip-hop and other stuff.

M.O.M. Madrone Art Bar. 6pm, free. DJs Timoteo Gigante, Gordo Cabeza, and Chris Phlek playing all Motown every Monday.

Vibes’N’Stuff El Amigo Bar, 3355 Mission, SF; (415) 852-0092. 10pm, free. Conscious jazz and hip-hop from 1960s-early ’90s with DJs Luce Lucy, Vinnie Esparza, and more.

TUESDAY 24

ROCK/BLUES/HIP-HOP

Buffalo Tooth, Wild Moth, Creepers, Havarti Elbo Room. 9pm, $5.

Caveman Brick and Mortar Music Hall. 9pm, $9-$12.

Flatliners, Heartsounds, Civil War Rust Thee Parkside. 8pm, $10.

Japanther, Hightower, Boys Who Say No Hemlock Tavern. 9pm, $7.

Midnite Independent. 9pm, $30.

Nick Moss and the Flip Tops Biscuits and Blues. 8 and 10pm, $18.

Neon Indian, Lemonade Fillmore. 8pm, $25.

Real Estate, Twerps, Melted Toys Great American Music Hall. 8pm, $17-$19.

Rocketship Rocketship, Aloha Screwdriver Knockout. 10pm, $5.

Screaming Females, Audacity, Street Eaters Bottom of the Hill. 9pm, $10.

Shannon & the Clams, Natural Child, Chuckleberries El Rio. 7pm, $7.

Stan Erhart Band Johnny Foley’s. 9pm, free.

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio Yoshi’s Lounge. 8pm, $22

Marty Eggers Pier 23, Embarcadero, SF; (415) 362-5125. 5-8pm.

Gaucho Bottle Cap, 1707 Powell, SF; www.bottlecapsf.com. 7-10pm, free.

Men of Endurance Rrazz Room. 8pm, $25.

DANCE CLUBS

Eclectic Company Skylark, 9pm, free. DJs Tones and Jaybee spin old school hip hop, bass, dub, glitch, and electro.

F*ck Yeah Boom Boom Room. 8pm, $5. Live electronica with Secret Slayers, Slayers Club.

Post-Dubstep Tuesdays Som., 2925 16th St, SF; (415) 558-8521.10pm, free. DJs Dnae Beats, Epcot, Footwerks spin UK Funky, Bass Music. Study Hall John Colins Lounge, 138 Minna, SF; www.johncolins.com. 9pm. Hip-hop, dancehall, and Bay slaps with DJ Left Lane.

Summer camp on wheels

Jesse Hawthorne Ficks
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1
Summer camp on wheels

emilysavage@sfbg.com

MUSIC While Rupa Marya of Rupa & the April Fishes and Gabe Dominguez of Shake Your Peace are crossing their fingers for cloudless, sunny days ahead during their joint week-long bicycle trek around the Bay Area, in some ways, they were brought together by a storm.

It was a storm both physical and figurative: the scattered downpours during their first encounter at the now-dispersed Occupy SF campsite at Justin Herman Plaza last November (11.11.11) during the Occupy Music Festival — where both bands played — and, the subsequent storm of ideas that lead to the bike tour agreement.

“So it was kind of like the perfect storm,” says Dominguez, sitting next to Marya in the Nervous Dog Coffee cafe on Mission Street in early April. “It was an auspicious day,” Marya later adds. “Oh my god, what a day.”

The fruit of that brainstorm, the Bay Rising Tour, will kick off tomorrow at Stanford University, with the ragtag bicycle caravan of around 15 core riders heading counterclockwise around the Bay, stopping in nine cities over 10 days, playing both conventional music venues and guerillas art spaces. The musicians on bikes piled high with gear will turn their final corner on to Divisadero to play the Independent April 28.

Marya and Dominguez had walked into the Nervous Dog that afternoon smiling, bubbling with expectations of the impending tour. The two are clearly platonically smitten with another other’s passion for social justice, global music, and good old-fashioned bike fun.

As Marya nibbles an empanada from the cafe, Dominguez continues their story. “We made the connection that both of our bands make multicultural dance rebel music, rock music for the ecotopian revolution. Bicycles, bioregionalism, now being the time — it all just coalesced.”

One key difference that’s soon to evaporate: Shake Your Peace has done many bike tours, but this will be Rupa & the April Fishes’ first (though they’ve done some trial runs in preparation).

Along with leading Shake Your Peace, and playing in Tiny Home with his girlfriend, Sonya Cotton, Dominguez is a co-founder of the yearly Bicycle Music Festival (since 2007) with Paul Freedman, who too plays a role in the Bay Rising Tour.

Freedman’s company is Rock the Bike, which built the pedal-powered audio system the groups will use in the open space and outdoor venues — San Jose Bike Party, Fremont Earth Day Grounds, Keller Beach Park.

Along with those mentioned, the tour will roll to A Place for Sustainable Living in Oakland for an Earth Day party (with food cooked by Marya’s urban farmer brother), a Beaver Liberation show in Martinez, and a Glen Cove ceremony by Ohlone Leaders in Vallejo.

Out on the road between venues, the caravan has three transportation strategies: people carrying their own instruments on bicycles, those packing larger instruments like guitars on Xtracycles — an Oakland company that sells an extension for the back of the bike — and lastly, a few riders on electric-hybrid bikes carrying six-to-eight foot trailers.

They also are encouraging other cyclists and Bay Area residents to come along for the day rides between shows — to help map out the flattest routes. There’s a real community effort feel to the plan.

“In the wake of where we find ourselves right now, economically, sociopolitically, we can’t wait for someone to hand us the reality we want. We have to build it, we have to create it. And that’s what’s so exciting about this way of touring,” Marya says.

She adds, “it’s not asking for permission, it’s just doing what you do as a musician, which is to mobilize yourselves…bring people on your journey, have a chance to interact with them in another way, which is so different than get on the tour bus, be isolated, be backstage. We’re going to create the stage, we’re going to create the experience.”

Both bands make the kind of music that invites interaction and discussion, so an interactive tour, flipping the tradition of a clear separation between artist and audience, seems the right direction.

Rupa & the April Fishes — now wrapping up their third studio album, Build — have long been fixtures on the global music scene, a Bossa nova bumping mix of Brazilian, Indian, Latin, and French influences, sung in three languages. While based out of San Francisco, they’re often out exploring the world, most recently Chiapas, Mexico; Amsterdam; and Athens, Greece.

Shake Your Peace started out in New York as folk trio, but now “Shake Your Peace 2.0” makes a style of music that Dominguez has dubbed “whup” — a melding of Afro-Latin beats with bluegrass instruments such as fiddle, and gospel harmonies.

“W-H-U-P, it’s a celebratory spirit with a philosophy, a political approach,” Dominguez explains excitedly. “We’re not just fighting for better wages, we’re fighting for life. It’s the spirit of your heart kicking. The scream when you come out of the womb. Life, yaow!”

He appears equally amped on the Bay Rising tour itself, adding again that others should join the rides with the bands — “they’re welcome to experience this rolling summer camp with us.” And they’ll both be Tweeting their locations along the way for the day rides.

As the effusive conversation in Nervous Dog comes to a close, Dominguez and Marya are still talking about the logistics of the trip, including where they’ll crash at night, and the importance of gathering tarps to cover all their gear, just in case of bad weather. 

BAY RISING TOUR

With Rupa & the April Fishes, Shake Your Peace

Thu/19-Sat/28

Various venues, Bay Area

www.theaprilfishes.com

 

Localized Appreesh: Grandma’s Boyfriend

Tony Robles
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1

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Not only does San Francisco punk act Grandma’s Boyfriend have the best name ever, but the group took it upon itself to add its own questions to the Localized Appreesh survey. Truly, a band after my own heart.

While it doesn’t have any shows this week (check back in early May for a house show in Oakland, and a show June 7 at Knockout, plus July 3 at El Rio), Grandma’s Boyfriend is celebrating a milestone: the release of brand new six-song seven-inch EP on Loglady Records, which can be downloaded here.

It’s agile power pop/snot-punk joy, the Romantics meet FYP, with darker lyrical themes straddling anxiety, fear, love, and redemption. Check out the EP, then check out their answers below.  Just make sure to hide the octogenarians.

Year and location of origin: Grandma’s Boyfriend (originally RubberThumbFoolAroundRachelSweat) formed in San Francisco in October 2009. George joined summer 2010. Thea joined in February 2012. We are all San Francisco natives.

Band name origin: While visiting a friend of ours’ parents, that said friend asked us if we’d met her grandma’s boyfriend. We said “no.”

Band motto: “Fuck if I know.” That’s what it is.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Rock ‘n’ roll sensori.

Instrumentation: Mike: rhythm guitar and vox; Malcolm: drums; George: bass and vox; Thea: lead guitar

Most recent release: Our self-titled seven-inch. For some reason a lot of them are about getting killed and lost love and girls that just take things too far. It’s being released on Loglady Records later this month (pre-orders up now!!!).

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: The fog.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Bands that form in San Francisco and then move to New York and still try to claim SF.
Interesting tour story: While touring in Japan two summers ago, we arranged to take an overnight bus from Yokohama to Kobe. One of the bands we just played with in Yokohama took us out for “all you can drink” at some restaurant. After drinking and eating for two hours, we were in a rush to get to our bus before it left. Our new friends kept assuring us there was a bathroom on board. There wasn’t. We tried to sleep it off because we weren’t sure when we’d get to a rest stop. I remember waking up in the back row of the bus in the pouring rain to George pissing into a water bottle between Malcolm and myself.

First album ever purchased: Mike: It’s Time to See Who’s Who, Conflict; Malcolm: Rocket to Russia, Ramones; George: Bad Hair Day, Weird Al; Thea: Nevermind, Nirvana

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Mike: Slave to Love, Symbolick Jews; Malcolm: I vacuumed the floor at Recycled Records for a Smashing Pumpkins tape; George: A copy of Born in the USA Mike found in a box of tapes; Thea: Received a mixtape from a friend of Reigning Sound, True Widow, and the Parting Gifts

What do you see when you look in the mirror?: Mike: Catholic guilt; Malcolm: I’m not answering this. This is question is dumb; George: Fuck if I know; Thea: Solitude, tranquility and balance

Favorite local eatery and dish: Mike: Golden Era – everything; Malcolm: El Castillito on Church & Duboce – burrito; George: Brother’s Pizza – pizza; Thea: El Toro – baby super prawn burrito, no lettuce, no tomato!

Outside Lands 2012 announced: Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Jack White

Tony Robles
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0
Outside Lands 2012 announced: Stevie Wonder, Metallica, Jack White

Holy cow, the Outside Lands lineup is out and it is packed full of major, big name acts. How long ’till San Francisco festival season? More thoughts on this to come. But for now, confirmed Outside Lands 2012 lineup is below:

 
Stevie Wonder
Metallica
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Jack White
Foo Fighters
Beck
Skrillex
Sigur Ros
Justice
Norah Jones
Dispatch
The Kills
Regina Spektor
Passion Pit
Andrew Bird
Grandaddy
Big Boi
Bloc Party
Explosions In The Sky
Franz Ferdinand
Mstrkrft
Rebelution
Die Antwoord
Fitz and The Tantrums
Portugal. The Man
Amadou & Mariam
Wolfgang Gartner
Fun.
Dr. Dog
The Walkmen
Washed Out
City and Colour
Two Gallants
Of Monsters and Men
Mimosa
Alabama Shakes
Reggie Watts
Trampled By Turtles
Tame Impala
Jovanotti
The Be Good Tanyas
Geographer
Sharon Van Etten
Yacht
Sean Hayes
Bomba Estereo
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Big Gigantic
Thee Oh Sees
Wallpaper
Tennis
Zola Jesus
White Denim
Allen Stone
The M Machine
Michael Kiwanuka
Tanlines
Father John Misty
Electric Guest
Caveman
Yellow Ostrich
Papa
Honey Island Swamp Band
Animal Kingdom
 
Even more bands will be announced in the coming weeks.

The festival takes place Aug. 10-12, 2012. Three-day $195-$225 tickets (and $495 VIPs) go on sale this Thu/19 (April 19) at noon PST.

Heads Up: 7 must-see concerts this week

Tony Robles
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0

Lots of big name, sold-out shows this week. Swedish indie folk sister duo First Aid Kid at Slim’s is officially out of tickets, as expected. As is Pulp and Refused (separate shows) at the Warfield, and Childish Gambino and Danny Brown (same show) at the Fox. SBTRKT at the Independent, M83 at the Fillmore, Bon Iver, and the following day, Wiz Khalifa with A$AP Rocky, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium are all full – and sure to be packed, sticky houses.

Though you do still have a chance to see awkwardly sincere Peter Gabriel-Sting lovechild Gotye, who whispered through the first half of “Somebody That I Used To Know” on Saturday Night Live this weekend and starred in one of the few funny sketches (albeit, a digital short, most endearing thanks to Terran Killam’s cherubic painted cheeks). He’s also at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium this week.

So that pretty much wraps up the megawatts, old and new. In the still available, and mighty worthwhile, must-sees column I’m leaning pretty heavy on the punk this time around, along with the somewhat arbitrary legend/icon status, but that’s the way the vegan cookie crumbles. (In my fantasy world, all cookies are vegan and all bands have a punk icon at the helm.)

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

Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Okay it’s true; half of these shows are also sold out (sorry), but Canadian post-rock legends Godspeed (tiresome masters of the long-slow crescendo) and GAMH prepared for that by booking nearly a week of nightmarish classical explosions.
Tue/17-Fri/20, 8pm, $21
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
(415) 885-0750
www.slimspresents.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8kgu6rf0Ek

Wanda Jackson
The fact that this 74-year-old rockabilly queen – who more than a few times bedded greased pomp heyday Elvis Presley – is still making titillating new music (This Party Ain’t Over with Jack White) and touring off it is reason enough to check in on her fiery live show.
With Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside
Tues/17, 8pm, $30-$40
Regency Ballroom
1300 Van Ness, SF
(415) 673-5716
www.theregencyballroom.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdNIatMbhOk

Wild Flag
Led by the Sleater-Kinney/Portlandia powerhouse Carrie Brownstein out front – truly wailing on guitar, high-kicking past your shoulders, and noodling sexily with Helium’s Mary Timony – the quartet bleeds down dirty rock’n’roll “Romance.”
With EMA
Wed/18, 8pm, $20
Fillmore
1805 Geary, SF
www.livenation.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olFRhgpeVRQ

Sonny & the Sunsets
The big news here isn’t so much that local garage rock icon/visual artist/man-about-town Sonny Smith is playing, it’s that his band is playing the relatively intimate stage at Amnesia. Should make for a very San Francisco evening.
With Range of Light Wilderness, Nightgowns
Thurs/19, 8pm, $8-$10
Amnesia
853 Valencia, SF
(415) 970-0012
www.amnesiathebar.com

Buzzcocks
Do I really need to explain influential British ‘70s power-punk, “Orgasm Addict”-s, Buzzcocks, to you? I didn’t think so, so let’s all save some brain cells. Just listen for the moans.
With Images, Emily’s Army
Fri/20, 9pm, $35
Uptown
1928 Telegraph, Oakl.
www.uptownnightclub.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwAtifCoB3I

Birds & Batteries
This experimental local indie pop act (part synth, part folk) should be riding high on the release of indescribably sublime new EP Unfold. Get into it. Not legendary –  yet.
With Mwahaha, oWNERSHIP
Sat/21, 9:30pm, $12
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., SF
(415) 621-4455
www.bottomofthehill.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csbVoyIvr98

Noh Mercy
To celebrate the release of new LP, Noh Mercy’s Esmeralda and Tony Hotel will play their first show together in more than 30 years, which makes this show a rather rare opportunity. And the minimalist punk duo, which often performed at influential, long-gone SF venue Mabuhay Gardens, was once know for its intense bursts of costumed energy.
With Erase Errata
Sun/22, 7:30pm, $12
Cafe Du Nord
2170 Market, SF
(415) 861-5016
www.cafedunord.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBfTDRzn-VM

Even more King Buzzo

Tony Robles
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0
Even more King Buzzo

Punk icon King Buzzo of the Melvins is an amusing conversationalist. Veering toward the inane, he adds quirk to the boring, everyday topics, and clearly has the years of experience to casually offer words of wisdom without the inherent bitterness so often boiling in the belly of longtime touring musicians.

With such a propensity for fun chatter, naturally the maximum word count limit for the print article on Buzzo in this week’s issue had to leave some things out. Below are a few lost gems from a conversation last week:

SFBG: After living here for seven years before moving to LA, does [San Francisco] feel totally different when you visit?
Buzz Osborne: I’m not really sentimental along those lines, I’m not too much of a ‘good old days’ type of person, I’m more of a ‘what have you done lately’ type of person. So, I liked living there but I’ve moved on. I like California! I don’t hate LA, people hate LA. I always find that interesting. Nobody in LA hates anybody else! People don’t talk about how much they hate New York or San Francisco, that’s just crazy. Plenty of people talking shit about LA, but I can’t figure it out.

But I like San Francisco, don’t get me wrong. Like I said, if my wife didn’t live here, I probably would’ve stayed there.

SFBG: Speaking of what-have-you-done-lately, what does the title of [your upcoming LP] ‘Freak Puke’ mean?
BO: What does it mean? I don’t know what it means. Freak puke! Freaky puking. It’s a freak that pukes. It’s a freakish puke. It’s puke that becomes freaky. It just sounds good together. FREAK. PUKE. They work great.

I’m not sure where it came from? I write down stuff all the time that I hear, and like. It could’ve come from a wide variety of sources. Let’s say, let me make something up. Let’s say it came from a Bob Dylan poem I read. It’s not true, but we’ll say it is for today.

We’ll start the rumor! Bob Dylan.

SFBG: Huge proponent of freak puke.

BO: He was speaking of it when he was speaking in terms of protest songs, how about that? And I thought it was great. And I love to protest. If there’s one thing I love doing, it’s protesting. I’ll protest about anything you got. There. That sounds good, right?

SFBG: Yep, sounds punk.
BO: Yeah punk, it’s all about punk. And since now that you can buy our t-shirts at Hot Topic…

SFBG: Is that true?
BO: At least they sell them on their website.

SFBG: Does that not go through you?
BO: The guy that makes our shirts sells them to a wide variety of places, Hot Topic is just one of them. I’m fine with that. I think our stuff belongs in malls! Absolutely. I think everyone should own all of our records, [ages] 8 to 80. We make our music for the masses, not for the elite few. Just because the masses don’t like, it doesn’t mean it’s not made for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZxK5iP-5q8&feature=related

SFBG: Have you found any good new local bands in LA?
BO: Yes. My favorite band in LA, other than Big Business of course, is this band called Tweak Bird. 

We did some work with the singer recently, [that’s] going to come out at some point so…more and more stuff! It never ends. We did some recordings that are coming out but I don’t really want to tell you what they are because I don’t want anyone to know the secret!

It’s very mysterious. It’s not that big of a deal. We worked with a wide variety of people but I’m not going to tell you who they are.

Weird me out

Andrew Lam
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0
Weird me out

emilysavage@sfbg.com

MUSIC Here is a partial list of not quite idioms, butchered sayings, and quasi heartfelt beliefs the Melvins’ Buzz “King Buzzo” Osborne peppered throughout a conversation during a phone call last week from his home in Hollywood.

“We can’t be lion tamers all the time.” “You can accuse me of a lot of things, being lazy isn’t one of them.” “When in fear, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” “Treat me right, I’ll be your best friend. Treat me wrong, you don’t exist.”

At least one of those deserves to be crocheted on a throw pillow. Or screenprinted on a Melvins backpatch.

“WE CAN’T BE LION TAMERS ALL THE TIME.”

Singer-guitarist Osborne met his longtime collaborator, drummer Dale Crover, in 1984, Aberdeen, Wash., one year after the Melvins had formed and were performing mostly Cream covers. Crover was also in a bad cover band, but Osborne knew he could play well, so he invited him to join his band.

“There’s a fine line between genius and stupidity for both of us. I like playing with him, one way or another,” Osborne says of their continued relationship. “And it seems to work, no reason to quit — until he gives me a reason, then that will be it.” Osborne’s speech patterns raise often with sarcasm; in person that signature fuzzy grey ‘fro of his is likely shaking, punctuating each joke.

After that first shaky year, the Melvins got an early foothold in the blending of punk and metal, influenced by first round Black Flag (The band would go on to influence scores of musicians itself, recently, Mastodon).

“Somehow I realized even then that I needed to work on writing my own music, not relying on playing cover songs — even though we love to play cover songs, and we still do. But I started writing music pretty quickly. Sometimes we still play those first songs I ever wrote.”

“YOU CAN ACCUSE ME OF A LOT OF THINGS, BEING LAZY ISN’T ONE OF THEM.”

In the past some 29 years, the Melvins — which is made up of a rotating lineup, save for Osborne and Crover — have recorded 19 full-length albums, and that’s not counting countless other releases (singles, EPs, comps).

Since the end of December, the band recorded more than 50 songs, Osborne notes proudly as his Jack Russell Terriers scream in the background. Included in that batch is The Bulls & the Bees EP, released for free download through Scion last month and the Freak Puke LP, which will be out in June on Ipecac.

“WHEN IN FEAR, OR IN DOUBT, RUN IN CIRCLES, SCREAM AND SHOUT.”

The head bang-worthy The Bulls & the Bees is five classic Melvins cuts, thundering drums, doomy guitar, and Osborne’s low octave howl, it’s drum-happy sludge rounded out by frequent Melvins players Jared Warren and Coady Willis from stoney LA band Big Business.

Up next, there’s the upcoming Freak Puke, which is being touted as Melvins Lite. In this record, the band is a trio: Osborne, Crover, and Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle and Fantomas fame on stand-up bass.

Freak Puke is similarly dense and dark, so that’s not the reason for the ‘Lite’ attached to the name. Is it? Osborne explains: “You be the judge. We’ve always done lighter stuff. I’ll just say it’s Melvins lighter in weight, as in, our weight is less with three guys in it, as opposed to four. That record just has a different vibe.”

He’s, of course, right, it’s more the vibe of the record that sets it apart. The frenzied plucking of strings that kick off “Baby, Won’t You Weird Me Out” take the Melvins even further down the strange hybrid wormhole they’ve long been building out of mud — yet not so far that we can’t recognize their inimitable sound.

“TREAT ME RIGHT, I’LL BE YOUR BEST FRIEND. TREAT ME WRONG, YOU DON’T EXIST.”

After Osborne moved from Aberdeen, but before his trek to LA to be with his wife (and now, their many dogs), he lived for seven years in the Richmond District of San Francisco, near the Presidio. And while he claims to not be sentimental about the past (“I’m more of a ‘what have you done lately’ type of person”) he mentions that he remains loyal to the promoters at Slim’s and Great American Music Hall, where the Melvins four-piece/non-lite will be performing all the tracks off the new EP later this week. “As long as those people want to continue doing shows with us, we’re there.” 

MELVINS

With Unsane

Thu/12, 9pm, sold out

Great American Music Hall

859 O’Farrell, SF

(415) 885-0750

www.slimspresents.com

Localized Appreesh: The Buttercream Gang

Tony Robles
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5
Localized Appreesh: The Buttercream Gang

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The Buttercream Gang is pretty much based on good deeds. That is, the San Francisco-based, Napa-born group initially formed as a loosely defined do-gooder crew (read all about that below) and this week, it does another mitzvah: the band will play a benefit for the San Francisco Food Bank at CELLspace.

The Gang’s music is feel-good as well, a playful mix of upbeat sun-soaked California indie pop with jangly guitar, jumpy African inspired percussion, and multi-part harmonies. There’s even some sax in there – the ultimate party instrument, at least, according to ’80s movies. Sonically, it’s somewhat in line with pals (and fellow Localized Appreesh-ers) Waterstrider, and has gained a few worthy comparisons to the likes of Vampire Weekend and others leading the celebrated Afro-pop charge.

So now that you’re versed, lick the sugary frosting off your lips, because it’s Buttercream Gang time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKE1VQYrCWM

Year and location of origin: We formed in a garage in Napa in 2003. We had a different name then and were just a cover band. About a year and a half later we were writing original music and changed our name (for better or for worse) to The Buttercream Gang. Our first show was on New Years, we played Devo’s “Whip It”.

Band name origin: The Buttercream Gang was a movie that our group of friends thought was really funny in high school. We formed our own real life version of The Buttercream Gang and did a couple half-assed good deeds, in imitation of the protagonists of the film. We decided on The Buttercream Gang because, in a weird way, we see playing music as the good deed that we supply to listeners.

Band motto: We make ya move an twist with the flick of a wrist.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Infantile adults dancing aimlessly to the sounds of the world.

Instrumentation: Pete Davies, Bobby Renz, Robinson Kuntz, and added to the band in 2011 for our album release were Max Bonick and Alex Garcia. We are all multi-instrumentalists and rotate around drums, guitars, bass, organ, keys, percussion, vocals, saxophone.

Most recent release: Our third full length album, Polite Men. Working towards releasing new material by the end of summer.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: There are many good bands to be inspired by.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Getting noticed amongst so many good bands.

First album ever purchased: Pete: Kris Kross – Totally Krossed Out; Bob: Green Day – Dookie cassette tape; Robinson: MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em; Max – Beastie Boys – License to Ill.
Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Pete: Tanlines – Mixed Emotions; Bob: Chantells – Waiting in the Park ; Rob: Wye Oak – Civilian ; Max: Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Rip, Rig, Panic.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Pete: French Laundry; Bob & Robinson: San Tung’s Dry Fried Chicken Wings; Max: The pastor burritos from Tacos Labamba in Sonoma
 
Vupes, Vulpes – a Silverfox Concert for Good
With the Buttercream Gang, Mahgeetah, Sun Life
Thu/12, 7pm, Use the code “SFBG” for $20 entry (50% off), includes open bar
CELLspace
2050 Bryant, SF
vulpesvulpes.eventbrite.com

And just for kicks, here’s some clips from the direct-to-video movie that inspired the band name:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOWW-r0AWr8

Heads Up: 6 must-see concerts this week

Tony Robles
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0
Heads Up: 6 must-see concerts this week

In the days leading up to veritable sweaty behemoth Coachella, many national acts are cooling their jets, taking breathers, stretching their hamstrings before the big back-to-back weekend shows.

Those in the Bay Area smart enough to avoid that desert feather clusterfuck are to be rewarded this week with some mighty fine local and touring acts; musicians preferring to opt out of the chaos (or those that are simply stopping by on their way to the fest).

In that latter mix – bands dropping in before plopping down in the desert sun – a few ’90s big sellers and underground giants of the same era are indeed here this week, but their shows are, naturally, already long sold-out or too damn near it to call (Jeff Mangum, Mazzy Star, Radiohead, fIREHOSE). But if you already have tickets, mazel tov!

With that, I present your must-see (and might actually have the chance to catch) Bay Area concerts this week/end:

Emily Jane White
The gloomy finger-picking folk songstress just returned from a tour with fellow local Jolie Holland (the two kicked it off during Noise Pop with an enchanting night at the Swedish American); and she’ll likely play new tunes of her equally enchanting new release, Ode To Sentience, out June 12 on Antenna Farm.
With Foxtails Brigade, Paula Frazer
Wed/11, 9:30pm, $10
Cafe Du Nord
2170 Market, SF
(415) 861-5016
www.cafedunord.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-fJcO52LFw

Sepultura
Playing a pummeling, hardcore-influenced mix of thrash and death metal, Sepultura put Brazil on the metal map with a run of vaunted albums that culminated in 1996’s sublime Roots. (Ben Richardson)
With Havok
Wed/11, 7:30 p.m., $25
DNA Lounge
375 11th St., SF
415-626-2532
www.dnalounge.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oRsw1wuhaA

Trust, with Blood Orange
Buoyed by rolling dark wave synth, pulsating ’80s beats, and danceable rhythm, Trust’s debut full-length, TRST, is both beautiful and eerie – much like the music of Toronto contemporary Austra (which shares member Maya Postepski). The band opens for that soulful burst of flavor, Blood Orange (aka Lightspeed Champion, aka Dev Hynes).
Thu/12, 9:30pm, $12
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell, SF
(415) 861-2011
www.rickshawstop.com
Trust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tc1xj7Nblc
Blood Orange
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ew9nwn1HY

Festival of Resistance
Psychedelic farmageddon witchcraft act Future Twin (also a featured On the Rise band), Apogee Sound Club, Black Swans, and the Rabbles play this daytime benefit for the 99 Cent Print Committee – a group of writers, musicians, and artists who support activism through print. While a good cause, it’s also your last chance to see Future Twin for the next few months as it’s about to embark on a national tour.
Sat/14, 3-8pm, $5-$10
El Rio
3158 Mission, SF
(415) 282-3325
www.elriosf.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFH4Ehi74d0

Art Beat Bazaar
Presented by the nonprofit Art Beat Foundation, it’s a pop-up indie craft mart set to the twist-worthy ’60s beat of Francophone Brooklyn-based pop act Les Sans Culottes (“Allo Allo”), and local all-girl garage rock band Female Trouble.
Sun/15, 3-7pm, free
Starry Plough
3101 Shattuck, Berk.
(510) 841-2082
www.starryploughpub.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fb5uxIWPfg

Ximena Sariñana
Sariñana is a sweetly-piped, Mexican singer-songwriter who bounces between exuberant youthful pop and crisp jazz standards. She made a handful of those requisite SXSW who-to-know-now lists in various pop culture publications this year – and for good reason.
Sun/15, 8:30pm, $18
New Parish
579 18th St., Oakl.
(510) 444-7474
www.thenewparish.com

Cosmic Japanese punk band Peelander-Z announces tour

Tony Robles
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The weird and wonderful comic Japanese punk band Peelander-Z announced a tour on Brooklyn Vegan this week; and yes, those dates include a visit to the Bay Area. The futuristic cosmic space Teletubbies (who live in NYC) will be in SF on May 6 at the DNA Lounge.

In the meantime, take a “four-minute vacation” as a commenter aptly described this newish video for the band’s song, “Star Bowling.” What just happened?

By the way, color-coded band’s eighth spazztastic full-length, Space Vacation, falls from the sky April 10.

Localized Appreesh: Love Songs

Tony Robles
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Localized Appreesh: Love Songs

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

Love Songs, a long-running SF band with high-five worthy metal riffs, is party punk at its funnest. Here, the wailing guitars meet lead singer Craig Ums’ (also of What Happens Next?) classic pop punk holler a la Descendents’ Milo with a mildly Jello Biafra-ish flair for live theatrics.

The whole package is loud, spazzy skate-the-pool, fuck-the-rules backyard/basement thrills (see: “Thrillhouse” lyrics “We belong in the basement”).  See also: the band’s 2007 seven-inch single “Hot Buns,” said to be the “sequel to the theme of the sequel to Top Gun.” See? It’s long been destined for good things.

And yet Love Songs has had a sparse couple of years (with guitarist Jackson splitting, and the band playing just a few shows in in 2011). But it’s back, with a brand new addition, (Frank, who they describe as “a shredder and a super nice guy”) and ready to split open the Knockout tonight. It should be a night of firsts: the unveiling of the formidable Frank, the first time you read this column and head directly to a bar, perhaps your first ice cream sandwich of the week? I don’t know you, I don’t know what you’re getting into.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0hF6g6awPI

Year and location of origin: Born in 1999 on unincorporated land in the hills separating the east bay from even east-er bay. Also, down the street from Jason Newstead.

Band name origin: Why not just warn people out of the gates that they’re about to get motherfucking lite-rocked?

Band motto: Hard and soft.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: We dig bands starting with D – Descendents, Dickies, Damned, DEVO…

Instrumentation: drums, bass, 2 guitars, “singing.”

Most recent release: Time Off – a 5-song EP with lots of guitar solos but fewer scatological references than usual. Available through www.thelovesongs.com.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: We’re in good company and there are always shows to play/go to.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Having to compete with so many good shows all the time.

First album ever purchased: Midnight Star No Parking On My Dancefloor.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Weird Al Yankovic Alpocalypse.

Favorite local eatery and dish: Zachary’s deep dish pizza with jalapenos and pineapple.

Love Songs
With People’s Temple, Tall Timbers
Tue/3, 8:30pm, $6
Knockout
3223 Mission, SF
www.theknockoutsf.com

Hot Snakes reunion thrills

Tony Robles
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Right out of the gate, late ’90s San Diego post-hardcore supergroup Hot Snakes kicked off its reunion show at Bottom of the Hill Friday with “I Hate the Kids” (Suicide Invoice, 2002).

The chant-able anthem (“I hate the kids/I hate the kids”)  roared with the group’s likable energy and set the tone for a crystalline night of electrifying fan favorites. (And the show was packed and sweaty with a very specific type of fan in fact, but I’ll get to that later.) The hour-and-some-change set thundered, roared, and titillated.

It felt like the band never left. Though it dispersed in 2005, Hot Snakes’ founding members — thrilling, quick-fingered guitarist John Reis and smokers holler expert/lead vocalist-guitarist Rick Froberg, both formerly of Drive Like Jehu — have continued steady careers in underground acts like the Night Marchers and Obits, and this is likely why the band sounded so tight, so pre-expiration date meaty fresh.

It left many in the crowd wondering, ‘”where are the new bands like this today?” Where is all the restless, shouting pain matched with unquestionable musicianship now? And how does Froberg not lose his voice after every show?

There were many explosive moments, perhaps too many to recall. Particular standouts of absolute shred and matching audience reaction include “Braintrust” and “LAX.” After quickly ripping through tracks off 2000’s Automatic Midnight (“No Hands” stood out) Suicide Invoice, and Audit in Progress (2004) — with in-between banter kept to a bare minimum — the quartet, which switched out drummers mid-set, ended the official pre-encore set with another killer chant-along, “Plenty for All” (off Audit in Progress).

During that pre-encore finale, the cheery guitar line mixed with reminiscent, tongue-in-cheek lyrics of Southern California glitter and jabs at all-that-glitters-is-not-gold consumerism left a crowd of relocators (*that’s what this particular fan group felt like to me, 25-45-year-old Southern California transplants to the Bay Area, of varying degrees of cool, rockabilly, punk, still living for the thrill of live fast rock’n’roll) singing another ode to days of yore: “Southern California/Let’s go!/There’s room for us all.” And it felt like home.

Heads Up: 8 must-see concerts this week

Tony Robles
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This week, most of the crucial shows are hella local (as is that faux pas slang). What can you do? We’re all cogs in the Bay Area machine. And we happen to have a lot of impressive musicians within spitting distance. There are cheap shows spread across the hyper-local map starring Religious Girls, French Cassettes, Midnite Snaxxx, Thee Oh Sees, and Il Gato.

A few non-locals made the list too, we can’t all be #based here, of course – where would the fun be in that? Visiting out-of-towners Polyphonic Spree, Caroline Chocolate Drops, and more, remind us that bands like to tour here too. Give them your hard-earned cash to support the ubiquitous hard-wrought traveling musician travails.

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

Polyphonic Spree
Reach for the light with the colorful, cultish goodness of joy-poppers Polyphonic Spree, still spreading that spaced out cheer.
With New Fumes
Tue/3, 8pm, $20.
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
www.slimspresents.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHJo_klmPcA

Il Gato
Baroque pop excellence returns — for those playing along at home, Il Gato graced the cover of the Guardian’s fall preview way back in 2011. Now the band is hard at work on its next album, and it recently set up a Kickstarter campaign to help ease the costs.
With Passenger & Pilot, Red Weather, Drew Victor
Thu/5, 8pm, $10
Cafe Du Nord
2170 Market, SF
(415) 861-5016
www.cafedunord.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvquZoRE5hY

Religious Girls, Mister Loveless, B Hamilton, French Cassettes
Not only are these all delectable Oakland acts (save for French Cassettes: SF) – including returning GOLDIES champs/tribal percussionists/weirdo synthsters Religious Girls – but this show is an Art Murmur freebie. Show up early to catch all the acts, and remember to tip your bartenders.
Fri/6, 6pm, free
Uptown
1928 Telegraph, Oakl.
(510) 451-8100
www.uptownnightclub.com

Thrones
Thrones is just one dude: Seattle’s Joe Preston, the metal-grinding doom bassist/Moog-enthusiast who’s spent time on tastemaker labels Kill Rock Stars and Southern Lord, and played alongside Earth, the Melvins, and High on Fire.
With Helms Alee, Grayceon
Fri/6, 9:30pm, $10
Hemlock
1131 Polk, SF
(415) 923-0923
www.hemlocktavern.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XacI2AknauM

ALL THE CHILDREN SING: Adobe Books Benefit Concert with Thee Oh Sees
Psych-garage rock experts/locals Thee Oh Sees swoop in to support Adobe Books — the event is a fundraiser for the beloved shop suffering an imminent rent increase. The benefit also includes more real live rockers, a silent art auction, and stand-up comedy by local comedians George Chen (whose own experimental noise band, Chen Santa Maria, plays Bottom of the Hill Mon/9) and Anna Seregina.
With Sonny and the Sunsets, the Mallard
Sat/7, 8:30pm, $10-$20 sliding scale
Lab
2948 16th St., SF
Facebook: All The Children Sing
adobebooksbackroomgallery.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bHddYhtDw

Carolina Chocolate Drops
This Grammy Award-having old-time string band from North Carolina just released its seventh joyous, foot-stomping blues album (Leaving Eden) and has a song (“Daughter’s Lament”) on the lauded Hunger Games soundtrack.
Sat/7, 8pm, $20
Slim’s
333 11th St., SF
(415) 255-0333
www.slimspresents.com
Check this killer banjo-and-fiddle cover of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTXJUYiAT4

Bear in Heaven
“In the kaleidoscopic video for the album’s charming lead single, “The Reflection of You,” cameras zoom in and out on [Jon] Philpot, guitarist Adam Wills, and drummer Joe Stickney at a rapid pace as strobe lights flash beneath them. It’s a hyper-stimulating, entirely accurate depiction of the band’s sound; once the rollercoaster ride is over, you can think of nothing but jumping back in line and doing it all over again.” (Frances Capell).
See Frances’ full story in this week’s issue.
With Blouse, Doldrums
Sun/8, 8pm, $15
Independent
628 Divisadero, SF
(415) 771-1421
www.theindependentsf.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjW5rkXiQdc

Midnite Snaxxx
Oakland’s favorite punky, lo-fi garage rockers, Midnite Snaxx — featuring Trashwomen’s Tina Lucchesi, and the Guardian’s Dulcinea Gonzalez, formerly of Loudmouths — return to the cavernous inner Knockout sanctum.
With White Murder, Glitz
Sun/8, 9pm
Knockout
3223 Mission, SF
(415) 550-6994
www.theknockoutsf.com

Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum adds Great American Music Hall show

Tony Robles
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1

The elusive Jeff Mangum – he of reverentially adored experimental folk act Neutral Milk Hotel – rarely  tours. This, compounded by his strangely personal and dream-provoking lyrics, has caused a boiling fervor over the singer-songwriter that’s rarely seen outside of Morrissey and teen pop stars.

In a recent AV Club article (that also mentions Morrissey and teen pop stars), an author who is somewhat lukewarm on the band, but nonetheless attends a show on this recent tour – to see what all the fuss is about –  describes NMH fans as believing the band’s 1998 album Aeroplane Over the Sea is “the sacred masterpiece or apex of ’90s indie-rock” (For the record, it’s both, thanks.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUd9uDREHcs&feature=related

For the counterpoint, the other author in the article sums up the obsession from the start: “This Jeff Mangum tour wasn’t meant for you, the casual fan. It was meant for the diehards who snapped up all the tickets immediately when they went on sale, who fell deeply in love with a record over the years and never thought they’d get the chance to see any of its songs performed live, because its creator was notoriously reticent about performing.”

That said, Mangum has had a double set of shows locked down at the Fox Theater for months now, and yes, most of those tickets are now snapped up (see Picks this week).

And yet, as of this morning, there is a brand new show added to this tour: this Sunday, April 8 at Great American Music Hall. Tickets go on sale today (Mon/2) at 3pm. That’s right, after all that waiting, all that obsessed fan countdown, you’ll now also have the chance to see him in San Francisco proper, at a stunning venue half the size.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1irjRAvy9c

Jeff Mangum
With Andrew, Scott & Laura (members of Elf Power & The Gerbils)
Sun/8, 8pm, $36
Great American Music Hall
859 O’Farrell, SF
(415) 885-0750
www.gamhtickets.com

Marathon of sound

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Marathon of sound

emilysavage@sfbg.com

MUSIC There is just no easy way to define longtime Oakland band, Faun Fables. But here goes: send a classically-trained dark folk duo into the brush and bramble of a snow-tipped forest as part of a nefarious fairy tale, then ask them to sing for their supper. See? It’s difficult.

That’s precisely why the band (Dawn McCarthy and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum’s Nils Frykdahl) was chosen as one of the headliners for the fifth annual Switchboard Music Festival — the eight-hour-long marathon of fearless composers and bands making music that doesn’t fit neatly anywhere elsewhere in the Bay. “The idea with the programming is that a lot of this music doesn’t really have a home because it doesn’t fall easily into one genre or another, so Switchboard is trying to be that home for these groups,” explains co-organizer Ryan Brown.

The day will include 13 dizzying sets: some at just 15 minutes, most at 30 minutes, and two headliners at 45 minutes. Along with Faun Fables, the other headliner is Volti, an a capella chamber choir. “They do this incredible modern music for choir with all these extended vocal techniques and different sounds from around the world,” says Brown. “We’ll have them together on stage [with Faun Fables] for a song or two as well — that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

Other acts this year include Dominique Leon, Cornelius Boots, Ramon and Jessica, Mercury Falls, Jeff Anderle, Beep, the Hurd Ensemble, and Grains. The SF Conservatory Guitar Ensemble will play a piece composed by Brown on six classical guitars, electric guitar, electric bass, and percussion.

“The sets are short enough that… you hear things back to back and you can sort of start to make these connections between different genres and styles that you might not otherwise make if you were exploring on your own,” says Brown.

Now completing their PhDs in music composition at Princeton, Brown and pal Jonathan Russell first came up with the Switchboard concept shortly after receiving their masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The two hung around the school after graduating — teaching and working in the box office — and routinely ate lunch together, which is where they discussed a desire to showcase the musicians they’d met. Jeff Anderle, a clarinetist at the school, came in to the discussion and the three came up with Switchboard.

“We wanted to do something that brought together all the amazing musicians, different scenes, and genre-blending zeitgeist that that seemed to be happening in the city,” says Brown. “Genre lines were being deliberately broken down, things were being mixed in strange ways.”

That first year the three organizers just made a list of people they knew who were breaking down those barriers and programmed the event. The first three years the event was held at the Dance Mission Theater, capacity 135, and last year it jumped to Brava Theater, which can house around 350 people. “The sound there is incredible, it’s just a really cool space and size,” Brown says.

And in that space there will be nearly 100 musicians milling about, both in the proper concert room where bands will be playing, and out in the lobby, where there will be merch, food and drink, and a projection of the live music. Attendees will be given wristbands, so they may also mill about during the eight-hour stretch.

As in years past, nearly every band playing the festival is from the Bay Area. It’s been a deliberate choice, as Brown and his co-organizers feel the region doesn’t get the attention it deserves for having such an innovative music scene. And, they feel like they’re filling a niche in that scene.

“There are other festivals here that are doing what they do really well,” says Brown. “Outside Lands, showcasing a certain type of rock music, Other Minds, showcasing a certain type of contemporary music, the jazz festival — but what about the music that doesn’t fit into any of these distinctions?” 

SWITCHBOARD MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sun/1, 2-10 p.m., $15

Brava Theater

2781 24 St., SF

(415) 641-7657

www.switchboardmusic.com

 

Extra points

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Extra points

emilysavage@sfbg.com

MUSIC If the triumphant theme to 1986-released video game The Legend of Zelda sends a knowing shiver down your spine; if you’ve ever spent hours obsessively clicking homemade remixes and covers of the soundtrack on Youtube (oh hey Deadmau5); there’s finally a highbrow spot for you among the upper crust: “The Legend of Zelda™: Symphony of the Goddesses Tour” is making its exultant, geeked out way to Davies Symphony Hall this week.

It features two hours of the theme from that first game — originally created by legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo — and themes from subsequent games in the Zelda franchise, up through 2011’s Skyward Sword for Wii, in a complete four-movement symphony, orchestrated and arranged by Chad Seiter.

Back to lowbrow YouTube for a moment. This comment on Zelda perfectly sums it up: “There is only ONE tune,? ONE game that unites all other gamers together and defines who we are. Here we have the pinnacle version of that tune.” Hyperbolic? Certainly, but you get the point. People freak out about the music of Zelda.

The inspiration for this momentous high-low culture mashup sprang from the 25th anniversary of the Zelda franchise and a longtime gamer/producer. Jason Michael Paul had been producing video game-inspired concerts since the early Aughts, including “Dear Friends — Music from Final Fantasy” in 2004, and “Play! A Video Game Symphony” in 2006.

Nintendo, for its part, was planning some unique releases to coincide with both the anniversary and the Skyward Sword release — anniversary concerts and a symphonic CD.

Music director Seiter took the short motifs and expanded the themes for the orchestra. Throughout the symphony, video projections of Princess Zelda and Link flash behind the classical musicians, matching up with key orchestral moments and providing the full live Zelda experience. Fans should be jumping in their seats.

“THE LEGEND OF ZELDA™: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES TOUR”

Weds/28, 8 p.m., $45–$125

Davies Symphony Hall

201 Van Ness , SF

www.zelda-symphony.com

www.sfwmpac.org

Localized Appreesh: Bang Data

Tony Robles
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0
Localized Appreesh: Bang Data

Localized Appreesh is our weekly thank-you column to the musicians that make the Bay. To be considered, contact emilysavage@sfbg.com.

The duo behind Bang Data has long been moving and shaking in the Bay Area music scene: MC Deuce Eclipse has worked with Oakland hip-hop act Zion I, while musician-producer Juan Manuel Caipo is engulfed in the local Latin alternative music scene.

So then it comes as a surprise to find that newest release, La Sopa, is actually Bang Data’s debut full-length. The album – which blends a hyper, thrilling mix of samba, hip-hop, and ska with Latin beats – was released digitally March 13, and the hard copy dropped today.

Perhaps even more thrilling – and totally fitting – the single “Bang Data” (also the band’s EP, Maldito Carnaval) was featured on pulse-quickening meth drama, Breaking Bad. To celebrate all this, after years of hard work, the band will play an album release party at Elbo Room this week. Get shaking.

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

Year and location of origin: 2008 Bay Area.

Band name origin: It came from describing our sound: hard hitting music with a message.

Band motto: Think out of the box.

Description of sound in 10 words or less: Like a soup of styles – Latin, Alternative, Hip Hop, Afro Electro.

Instrumentation: Drums, Beats, Guitar, Synths, Trumpet, Bass, Vocals – it could be anything.

Most recent release: La Sopa.

Best part about life as a Bay Area band: Living in the Bay Area.

Worst part about life as a Bay Area band: Not enough spots for live music.

First album ever purchased: Deuce: Fat Boys; Caipo: Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Most recent album purchased/downloaded: Black Keys: El Camino & Canteca de Macao (Spain)

Favorite local eatery and dish: Deuce: Los Toros in the East Bay (Soup); Caipo: El Perol/Limon Rotisserrie (Lomo Saltado, Chicken).

Bang Data
With Non Stop Bhangra
Fri/30, 10pm, $10
Elbo Room
647 Valencia, SF
(415) 552-7788
www.elbo.com

Pop-Up Magazine is back with issue six

Tony Robles
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Pop-Up Magazine is back with issue six

There are so many creative concepts and winning events every week in San Francisco, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Let me make this easy for your muddled brain waves: you should go to Pop-Up Magazine. The organizers just now tweeted the date of the sixth issue – April 25, at Davies Symphony Hall – and the date tickets go on sale, which is next Tuesday, April 3.

For those who’ve yet to attend, it’s a live format feature magazine that pops up for one night and includes different writers and artists presenting totally new ideas and concepts in creative presentations. And it was a Best of the Bay winner in 2010, an Editor’s Pick for “Best Gazette Refresher.”

The event – which happens a couple of times a year in San Francisco – is a must for anyone interested in media, arts, writing, film, photography, and/or radio. It features a rotating, shifting mix of contributors to The New Yorker, This American Life,  All Things Considered, Mother Jones, Wired, and National Geographic, and more.

With so much documentation going on in our everyday lives, and in particular at large Bay Area events, it’s a refreshing change of pace (especially for me) – there are no audience cameras allowed inside, you may not record, do not press play. Just sit back and enjoy.

Over the course of several of the events I’ve learned weird new facts and been enthralled with earnest stories about turkey vultures, crazed sports fanatics, mapping infographics, sign spinners, ping-pong, surfers, Asian fetishists, fake bellies for expectant pops, and a teenage message in a bottle (love you, Starlee Kine).

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