When The Lights Go Down In The City

"Because tonight, tonight, tonight - oh. Gonna make it right, tonight, tonight, tonight - oh." In the immortal words of Phil Collins, we're referring to our SFist shindig down at Milk, which everyone within the sight of these words should be attending tonight. Because the Iron and Wine show at Slim's is sold out anyway, you aren't a big enough old school GNR fan to see Adler's Appetite at Pound SF, and you're dying to find out if us SFists are as toothsome in person as our clever words make us out to be. Afterwards, you can stay at Milk for the Future Primitive Sound event with D Sharp, Derrick D, Similak Chyld and special guests or you could head down to Popscene to check out West Indian Girl and Phoenix, who have a happy French pop thing going on, not unlike Tahiti 80.

There's no excuse not to be out this Friday night, taking advantage of the many musical selections across the city. There's the techno twist on traditional Latin music of the Nortec Collective at Elbo Room, or the Latin roots rock of Los Lobos at the Fillmore. Fans of GRAMMY nominated hipster rock will be at Live 105's sold out Not So Silent Night at the Bill Graham Auditorium, watching Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Interpol, Muse, Taking Back Sunday, the winner of the Soundcheck Local Band Competition Poor Bailey, plus Dan the Automator spinning between sets. We suspect the after party at Club Six will be packed as well, with Afrika Bambaataa and DJ sets by many of the performing bands. If you're in the mood for some sophisticated Manhattan singer-songwriters, you'll be at Slim's to see Joseph Arthur and Joan As Police Woman, a.k.a ex-Dambuilders frontwoman Joan Wasser. Lo-fi fans should line up at Bottom of the Hill for Panty Lions, Built Like Alaska and Fuck. (Can we write that here? We just did.) If you're hankering for some epic, danceable jazz-funk, join SFist Jackson at Boom Boom Room for Topaz. Says Jackson about Topaz: "Somehow he got associated with the jam band circuit, so lots of Phishheads usually show up, which means if you're looking for 23 year old girls from UC Davis with blonde dreadlocks, you shouldn't miss this show."

Then the weekend becomes eclectic. Saturday night offers up the Hives at the Warfield with The Bronx, the Queercore Blitz's tour stop at 924 Gilman St in Berkeley, or recent SFist interviewee TophOne shaking the End-Up with DJ Smash, HenRoc and Pam the Funkstress. Sunday's offerings include the School of Rock All Stars peforming at Slim's, celebrating the opening of an SF branch of the school. Alternatively, you could join Future Primitive Sound and XLR8R for the 8th Annue Big Booty Bass Bowling Invitational hosted by Lyrics Born. The "Invitational" part of the name means you can't get in on any of the actual bowling action, but that can't stop you from getting funkier than rented bowling shoes down at Serra Bowl.

If you've played your Grandaddy and Elliot Smith records into the ground, then give a listen to the new Earlimart record Treble and Tremble. Better yet, see them live on Monday at Bottom of the Hill and buy the record from the band directly, because the CDs are cheaper and bands usually take home more money that way. Speaking of supporting bands, on Tuesday night there's a benefit at 12 Galaxies for Tartufi's debut full length album. The mp3's we heard on their website are good, but we really like the idea of throwing your own benefit to record an album. It shows moxie.

On Wednesday night, you'd be doing well for yourself to be hanging out in Potrero Hill. Catch the melodic rock of The Damnwells and the Verve-esque shimmer of The Shore at Bottom of the Hill before they either get bigger or never tour again. If you're even more cutting edge, you'll be at Thee Parkside for Devil in the Woods Magazine's Hanukkah Christmas party. Devil in the Woods is one of indie rock's best kept secrets; not only is their music coverage fresh and their writers whip-smart, but much of the staff is also based in the bay area. The Heavenly States are playing as well, and you know how we feel about them.