When The Lights Go Down In The City
Our live music picks for the week of 3/3-3/9.
We're sad that Noise Pop has ended, but glad to report that a regular ol' week in San Francisco still brings the noise, the funk, and the freaks out to play.
Tonight's the night to get out and support local music. Bottom of the Hill has the angular, shoegazer sounds of Xiu Xiu, The Dead Science and The Rum Diary. Pep Love from Hieroglyphics hosts Fusion, a free flowing jam session with DJ Definate, Trick or Treat, and live hip-hop from Wide Hive Records' Plate Fork Knife Spoon at Red Devil Lounge. SFist Jackson recommends the indie post-pop punk goodness of Pomeranian, compellingly self-described as "THE THRIFT-ROCK EXPLOSION! GLORIOUS SWEATY MONO! HEAT FROM THE BELOW-FI SPAZ BEAT!" Catch the excitement down at Kimo's, Pom! Pom! Pow!
Open your mind to a different kind of singer-songwriter experience on Friday night at Great American with Antony and the Johnsons and CocoRosie. Antony's new record I'm a Bird was just released on Secretly Canadian, and features his underwater vibratto and Tim Buckley-esque voice plus guest appearances by Devendra Banhart and Rufus Wainwright. Some call this genre "freak folk," but we prefer the kinder, gentler label of "kook folk." Sister duo CocoRosie opens the show. When we say that their music sounds like cats singing in a Parisian lounge, we mean that in the best possible way. Fans of Ms. Newsom will enjoy CocoRosie's feline folk. If you're more in the mood for straight up raw Americana folk punk, check out Rube Waddell at 12 Galaxies. If you're feeling exotic, travel to Cafe Du Nord to see Brazilian Girls do their thing. A mesmerizing mix of electronica, world, dance and dub provides the musical background for multilingual singer Sabina's velvety voice. (Incidentally, Brazilian Girls are neither Brazilian, nor all girls. Discuss.)
It's time to get back to your roots on Saturday night, be they country-Americana or old school hip-hop. The Red Devil Lounge presents a DVD screening of The MC, a documentary featuring performances by Jay-Z, Slick Rick, Kanye West, and more, followed by a live performance by KRS-One. A whole slew of artists will be at Great American for the 6th Annual Sleepless Nights Gram Parsons Tribute Concert. Parchman Farm's Eric Shea is the organizer, and he's invited headliners Red Meat, Chuck Prophet & Stephanie Finch, Fairechilde, Mike Therieau Band, A. J. Roach, Foxgloves Family, and the High Deserters to pay their respect.
The latest intallment of The Independent's Cinema Drafthouse on Monday features Metallica's Some Kind of Monster. It shouldn't be hard to meet your two drink minimum during the free screening of this flick. The Warfield will be teeming with tweens on Tuesday, presumably with a few parents in tow, for The WB's "One Tree Hill" Tour. That's right, this is a concert in honor of a television show. If that concept doesn't bother you, then you might enjoy the inoffensive sounds of Gavin DeGraw and The Wreckers featuring mom-to-be Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp. If you prefer to hear about your rock stars from books rather than television, then head to Cafe Du Nord on Wednesday when Thistle kicks out the jams. Thistle is creatively fueled by J.T. Leroy, acclaimed author of Sarah and The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things.
Photo of CocoRosie from Decorporated's website. Photo of The Wreckers from MichelleBranch.com