When The Lights Go Down In The City
Has everyone gotten into the holiday spirit, or are we all just hopped up on eggnog? Either way, there are some festive fetes, punk rock riots and buzzworthy delights coming to our neck o' the woods this week.
Hold on to your knickers -- it looks like Tom Jones kicks off a three night stint at the Fillmore this evening! Actually, in that case you should take your knickers off and throw them at him. Speaking of throwing things, tonight you can get your punk on when Stinky's Peepshow presents Punk Rock Karaoke at Cafe du Nord. Don your best studded belt and patched denim vest, and choose your favorite pre-1983 Punk Rock classic, because you too can have 2 1/2 minutes of glory fronting a band featuring members of NOFX, Bad Religion, The Adolescents, Social Distortion, Circle Jerks, and more. Those of you who are lacking the requisite punk rock angst should bring your warm hearts to Bottom of the Hill for the Anthony Bonet benefit, featuring American Music Club, Laughing Stock and Etienne De Rocher. This is a local lovefest, where you can support local music and help towards Bonet's medical bills. Here's wishing him a speedy recovery. Another way to support the locals is to check out the soothing singer-songwriter sounds of Vienna Teng, David Hopkins and Odessa Chen at the Independent. If you're in the market for bragging rights, head down to Popscene to catch Louis the XIV's set.
If you don't want to hear your hipster friends gloating about Louis XIV's Popscene appearance, head them off at the pass by getting a ticket to their show on Friday night at Cafe du Nord. Von Iva is also playing, so you score extra for being on the local buzz. Friday also brings SF's Punk Rock Orchestra to Slim's. Yes, it's just what it sounds like: a 50+ piece orchestra playing Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Suicidal Tendencies favorites on classical instruments. The SF Weekly cover-tots in $lotmachine open the all ages show, emphasis on the all ages, kiddies! If you're looking to party with your beer-swilling peers, head down to local band Parchman Farm's record release at Bottom of the Hill and stay for a blistering set by their sonic brethren Comets On Fire. Did I mention Parchman Farm believes in cowbell? If you're in the mood for a different kind of nostalgia, join SFist Rita at the Dead Hensons show, and let us know if any of the band members resemble Dr. Teeth or Janice.
The madness continues Saturday night at the Independent with a show by Kinky, five hombres who've come all the way from Monterrey, Mexico, to move you with their genre-bending dance-pop-world-rock groove. If you prefer listening to music in a seated position, head to the Swedish American Hall where Sean Hayes (the musician, not "Jack") will serenade you with stark Americana that has garnered covers by Jolie Holland and remixes by Mark Farina. Check out some other fine locals downstairs at Cafe du Nord, when Playing in Fog presents Film School, E-Zee Tiger and The Otherside.
This Sunday is not an occasion for you to rest; you have way too many holiday parties to prepare for and show tickets to buy. We already told you to buy your Arcade Fire tickets early, but in case you didn't listen to us the first time, you have another chance to buy tickets on Sunday. Yes, Great American Music Hall is adding a third Arcade Fire show. Let's get with the program, lest anyone starts to suspect you might be living under a rock. With tickets safely reserved, you can show your face at the SF_Indie List party that night at 12 Galaxies, featuring sets by The Red Thread and Citizens Here and Abroad. If you're planning on making it an early night, catch some local singer-songwriters at Bazaar Cafe's CD release party for their "Music Stew, Vol. 2" compilation. If you're truly in the partying mood, stumble down to Keith Richard's Birthday Celebration at Slim's to see your favorite locals like The Mother Hips and Kelley Stoltz doing their best Keith impression. Let's hope no one needs to get their stomach pumped. If you're feeling festive, celebrate with El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, down at Cafe du Nord. You can shimmy with the Elvettes and sing along to "Feliz Navidad" Sunday night and Monday night.
Everything falls apart, or comes together, next week as your friends start leaving town and bars and clubs start shutting down. We'll be at the Birdman Records Christmas Party on Monday night at 12 Galaxies to have a drink with the Birdman boys and catch music by Greg Ashley of Gris Gris and Paula Frazer. Join us on Tuesday night at Cafe du Nord for the gentle genius of M. Ward and John Doe. We know that you punks have had a big week of events, but X won't be here til January. Be prepared for a stellar solo set by Doe, and cross your fingers that he'll play some of the new songs he spent part of this year recording. M. Ward closes the show with an intimate, husky-voiced set that'll make you feel like he's telling you all his secrets.