When The Lights Go Down In The City
Our concert picks for the week of 3/24 - 3/30.
We've often lamented about the burden of too many choices, last week's trip to Austin being an extreme example. Looks like a goodly amount of those choices followed us back to San Francisco. Last night's excursion to see The Sights (White Stripes' pared-down Detroit bombast + Allman Bros.' noodle-y soul) and The Kills (doomy and captivating, but we'd still prefer a live drummer) was just a sign of more, and more, music to come. So for any of you who missed out on SXSW, you can relive it here by seeing as many great bands as possible over the next few days. Just withdraw about $150 (the cost of a SXSW wristband) to spend on concert tickets and prepare to run around the city like it's Spring Break all over again.
Ben Lee and Har Mar Superstar rub elbows with the rich and famous, but tonight they commandeer the Independent to perform for us commonfolk. Ben might move you to tears with his sensitive pop stylings, and Har Mar won't relent until he moves one or more of your body parts. Louis XIV bring their handclaps and hip-shakes to Slim's with openers Deathray Davies. London's Bloc Party and Oakland's Erase Errata play a not-yet sold out show at Popscene's 330 Ritch. The singer of Bloc Party is named Kele Okereke, which is such a beautiful name to look at, we wish we knew how to pronounce it. M. Ward's raspy croon and finger-picked guitar somehow sound like they're scratching through a Victrola. He warms the hearts of lucky ticketholders at Great American.
We guarantee Tegan and Sara's performance at the Independent Friday night will be much more animated than last night's rendition of "Walking With A Ghost" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. LA's The Ditty Bops open the show in Andrews Sisters-style with their washboard, violin, two-part harmonies and dapper dress. The Actionslacks check into the Hotel Utah with their catchy, clever late-90's alt-pop. A $10 ticket is a bargain to see Pretty Girls Make Graves and Dios Malos at Cafe Du Nord on Friday or Saturday.
The rest of the week's shows, and sweeping proclamations about the future of rock, after the jump.
If you're not being serenaded by a sultry siren on Saturday night, then you're in the wrong city. Marianne Faithfull spookily creaks through songs off her rocking new record Before the Poison (that's PJ on backing vocals) at the Fillmore. Gothamist faves Asobi Seksu rock like Sonic Youth in Japanese and in English at the Hotel Utah. Shonen Knife do the same, but in a completely different way, at Slim's with The Forty Fives and The Gore Gore Girls. SF's own No Condom? Whatever! (formerly No Condom Required) release their insanity (for the last time ever?) at Rickshaw Stop. Autolux, featuring former members of Ednaswap, play their disaffected rock before Ambulance LTD at the Independent. Celebrate the genius of Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts when their artists Feist, Apostle of Hustle and Stars play at Bimbo's. Watch for their albums to be on many top 10 lists by the end of the year. (With razor sharp A&R ears, incestuous collaborations and an unfairly high concentration of talent amongst a tight-knit group of musician friends, we boldly predict that Arts & Crafts is the new Saddle Creek.)
On Sunday you must rest. You deserve it.
The indie rock rears its head again on Monday when Popscene presents Death From Above 1979 at the Independent. The band's name is inexplicably cool, but never ceases to be a headscratcher. Penniless hipsters take note: The Bravery will play a free in-store at Amoeba on Tuesday at 5pm before their set at Slim's later that night. Also on Tuesday, Birdman Record's Summer At Shatter Creek plays at 12 Galaxies, and Cafe Du Nord has the sophisticated folk of Ed Harcourt and brilliantly potty-mouthed thoroughbred chanteuse Martha Wainwright. Low and Pedro the Lion play Tuesday and Wednesday at Great American. Save some energy to see Nedelle's CD release party at Cafe Du Nord on Wednesday. Her lovely new record From The Lion's Mouth is out on Kill Rock Stars.
In honor of our column's title, we'd like to inform you that Journey is at the Record Plant recording their 13th studio album, due out this summer in time for a major US tour.
Photo of Tegan and Sara from their website Photo of Martha Wainwright from her website.