Cyclists: Let the Backlash Begin (or Not)
Verizon Droid: Big Deal? Or Just Another Late Arrival Rival?
Car Thief Steals Vehicle To Get To Auto-Theft Trial
3rd Annual California Dreaming Same-Sex Ballroom Dancing Competition
Photo du Jour 501
Did you miss us last week? Here are our excuses: we caught a cold, had a birthday, and were up to here with work at our dayjob, for real. We're back now and anxiously awaiting a copy of Or, the Whale's brand new CD Light Poles and Pines to arrive in our mailbox. The few songs we've previewed on their site offer up banjo, steel guitar, and a chorus of male and female vocals that make us nostalgic, melancholy and hopeful all at once (we consider this is a good thing). The band's celebrating the release of their CD this weekend with a free show at Amoeba on Saturday afternoon followed by a performance at Cafe Du Nord on Sunday. We're giving away a copy of Light Poles and Pines to one lucky winner! (Contest ends 5/23; winner will be notified via email.)
The Mission Creek Music Festival is still going strong and shows continue through Sunday. Although MCMF's press folks hadn't ever heard of SFist ("Is this a radio station? We're only giving tickets to radio stations.") we're big fans of this festival that's presenting tons of great music over ten days, much of which is from our best local artists. We salute founder Jeff Ray for keeping it going into its eleventh year.
On to this week's show recommendations: Tonight we're really excited to see Birds & Batteries at the Hotel Utah. Their album Selections from Nature vs. Nature has been on heavy rotation for us, and we can't wait to hear the new record they've been working on. They play tonight with Sky Pilots, Low Red Land and Conrad Ford. Over at 330 Ritch, Popscene presents Midnight Movies followed by Popscene prom at midnight. Mission Creek presents a show with the velvety vocals of Petracovich at Make-Out Room. Petracovich's Jessica Peters reminds us a bit of The Cardigans' Nina Persson's gentler, folkier moments.
Download Petracovich's "Telephone" and "Summer Trees"
On Friday, Death Cab's Ben Gibbard, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan and Johnathan Rice strip songs down to their bare essentials at the Fillmore. On Saturday at 2pm head to Amoeba to see a free show by San Francisco's Or, the Whale. That night, we recommend either of these two great Mission Creek shows: Lavender Diamond and The Watson Twins with Winter Flowers at the Independent, or over at the Hemlock catch King Kong and Port O'Brien. We'll be at Great American to see our friends in The Knitters.
Watch The Knitters perform "Burnin' House of Love" on Letterman.
Also on Saturday, Mission Creek presents RRIICCEE featuring Vincent Gallo, Cory Lee Granet and Eric Erlandson at Cafe Du Nord. We're not sure what to think of Vincent Gallo. Glean what you will from his films, his website, and yes, his music, but he remains impossible to categorize. We met him last summer in Los Angeles and he was civilized, sober, interesting to talk to, and, sure, quite easy on the eyes. Although our encounter was without major incident, we did notice it: that glint in his eye that made him seem wholly unpredictable. So we have no idea what to expect from this live performance. If you go, tell us about it in the comments!
On Sunday Mission Creek presents two great shows. Start things off at the free all-ages afternoon closing party for the fest at Thee Parkside. The show kicks off at 1pm and includes our beloved Birds & Batteries plus Pillows, The Old-Fashioned Way, Miguel Z. and Merch. ('Merch' as a band name totally makes us laugh.) Later that night, head to Cafe Du Nord for an amazing lineup of folk and front porch country with Last of the Blacksmiths, The Finches and that CD release celebration with Or, the Whale.
Download Or, the Whale's "Isn't She Awful"
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Loved birds and batteries last night - thanks for the tip! it was top!
Love Birds and Batteries last night. Thanks for the tip. It was top!