When The Lights Go Down In The City
We've got two contests this week, one to celebrate over a decade of experimentation and the other to to support some stalwart locals.
Giveaway #1! On Monday and Tuesday, Blonde Redhead make their gorgeous art rock at Bimbo's with openers Annuals. Annuals weave intricate melodies with ambitious sounds while still giving you hooks to hold onto (and remind us a little of the wonderful Aloha in the meantime.) One winner will get a pair of tickets to the show of their choice, and another winner will win a signed Annuals limited edition 7" (courtesy of Ace Fu) and a Blonde Redhead 7" (courtesy of 4AD.) Download Annual's song "Brother" and enter to win either a pair of tickets or some great vinyl.
Giveaway #2! Bellavista celebrate the release of their self-titled record on Wednesday at the Rickshaw Stop for only $5! Formed from the ashes of Vue (who spent time on Sub Pop, RCA and San Francisco radio airwaves) this trio fashions feedback and guitar fuzz into echoing, epic rock. We're giving away two spots on the guest list to see this show. Download Bellavista's "Temptation By Your Side" and "Put It On" and enter to win.
In some somber news, one of SF's local musicians was the victim of an assault outside Mezzanine last Friday. According to a post on Audrye Sessions' MySpace page, Ryan Karazija was mugged by "an unidentified crackhead" just outside the Mezzanine and found unconcsious in a pool of blood by a passerby/good samaritan. He remained in the hospital for two nights and two days, suffering a fractured skull, broken nose, 3 missing teeth and a real good shiner. Fortunately Ryan is on the mend, but you can help him out by attending a benefit show on Friday at the Independent, when Trainwreck Riders headline with Pine Box Boys, Poor Bailey and The Jitters. As a special treat Two Gallants' forthcoming EP, The Scenery of Farewell will be spun between sets, and a portion of the show's proceeds will go to cover Ryan's hospital bills.
Listen to Trainwreck Riders and download free tracks from Daytrotter
And now for the rest of this week's show recommendations! Tonight Iggy and the Stooges defy both age and gravity at the Warfield, and they also play on Sunday. (Check out some great photos of Iggy during SXSW from friend of SFist Julie Schuchard). At 330 Ritch, Popscene presents War Tapes from LA plus a record release party for The Noisettes' album What's The Time Mini Wolf which was recorded here in the bay area. P.A.F. play their careening folk with Hiss Golden Messenger at Bottom of the Hill. We saw Hiss Golden Messenger frontman M.C. Taylor open for Charlie Louvin last Friday, and it earned a spot in our top 10 shows of '07.
Listen to:
War Tapes
P.A.F.
Hiss Golden Messenger
On Friday at Club Six, Slap Skateboard Magazine presents 15 Years Of SLAP with special guest Mike Watt. He'll perform with his current band The Missingmen as well as with his pals in The Blacktop Project featuring Tommy Guerrero, and who's betting on a cameo by fellow Stooge Iggy Pop? Over at Hemlock, sign up for some melodic and adventurous noise pop with The Heavenly States and Social Studies.
Listen to Social Studies
The Green Apple Music Festival is happening throughout the weekend at various venues. There are a ton of shows listed on their lineup but there aren't all-festival passes you can buy or any opening or closing night parties. There is one big Earth Day concert at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park on Sunday at 11AM with Bob Weir and Ratdog, Stephen Marley featuring Junior Gong, The Greyboy Allstars and Martin Sexton.
Wind down your Sunday afternoon with some great music. Smoosh and Lou Lou and the Guitarfish start at 4:30pm at Cafe Du Nord. At 5pm take advantage of Amoeba's stellar in-stores by seeing Blonde Redhead for free in support of their new album 23. Later that night you can reach into the grab bag of Xiu Xiu's offerings at Bottom of the Hill for two nights with openers Sunset Rubdown and Katie Eastburn. Electric Six is the Independent without our friend John R. Dequindre, which makes us sad.
On Monday catch an early show at Hemlock with kooky Brooklyn-based chanteuses Rio en Medio (signed to Devendra Banhart's indie label) and Pepi Ginsberg. On Tuesday, take a seat at Great American for a show with troubadors Grant Lee Phillips and Patrick Park. On Wednesday, don't forget the Take Root Record Release Party for Bellavista with openers Pop Noir and DJ Baron Von Luxxury at Rickshaw Stop. Rufus Wainwright gets grand at the Palace of Fine Arts, and The Decemberists fill up the Warfield. The Hotel Utah has some dirty folk by Austin's own Scott H. Biram.
Listen to:
Rio en Medio
Pepi Ginsberg
Scott H. Biram
Watch Scott H. Biram perform "Hit The Road":