When The Lights Go Down In The City
Did anyone go see G n F'n R last night? Guns N' Roses, we mean. Apparently they're rocking the Warfield for two nights with opener Sebastian Bach. Our younger self is dying inside because this was our dream concert about 12 years ago, and here we are writing about music and somehow we don't have tickets. If you went, please tell us about the show in the comments so that we can all live vicariously.
On Friday, Metric's artfully erratic frontwoman Emily Haines brings her new subdued solo project to Cafe Du Nord. Her debut solo record, Knives Don't Have Your Back, is a grower, requiring patience and multiple listens. On it her voice is more smoky than in-your-face, accompanied by piano, sparse arrangements and her always evocative lyrics. She's currently on a three-date tour to promote the record, and San Francisco is lucky enough to get two shows on Friday night, an early (sold out) one followed by a midnight show at Cafe Du Nord. One of you lucky readers will win a pair of tickets to the early show. (Contest ends Friday at noon; winner will be notified via email.) Download the "Doctor Blind" MP3
Tonight Noise Pop presents Serena-Maneesh, Midnight Movies and Woven Hand at Bottom of the Hill. If you don't get transported by Serena-Maneesh's distorted odyssey, they're definitely fun to watch. At any rate, just showing up will increase your indie cred, you don't even have to enjoy it. If you can't see Ms. Haines on Friday, our good friends in the The Heavenly States take their power pop freakout to Bottom of the Hill. Or check out Two Sheds at Hotel Utah. We've only heard a few songs of theirs online, but we like what we heard so far.
More concert picks, after the jump.
On Saturday you could douse yourself in glitter and dance down Market Street at the San Francisco Lovefest (f.k.a. The Love Parade). Or you could support your grrrls at the 4th Annual Girlstock Art & Music Festival at Elbo Room. That night Tussle stirs it up at the Hemlock. Singer songwriters Nina Nastasia, Jeffrey Luck Lucas and Tom Brousseau are at 12 Galaxies.
On Sunday Ben Kweller plays with Canadian folk rock heroes Sam Roberts Band at Fillmore. On Monday Mastodon stomp and roar like the prehistoric tusked beasts they're named after. They're at Slim's for two nights, with openers Converge and The Bronx. On Tuesday Kaki King plays the Independent. Check out songs from her new record "...Until We Felt Red" here and marvel at how much she looks like Hilary Swank in those photos. Also that night at Bottom of the Hill are The Damnwells with Army of Me.
Photo of Sam Roberts by Wenda Atkin from canadajams.ca.
