Beatropolis: Oh joy! Beatropolis has returned! (Not that they really went anywhere, but it always feels like forever when they're not around.) Anyway, Beatropolis' special brand of dance rock, live drum 'n' bass, and futuristic space pop will have you up until the wee hours of the morning. The Toy Soldiers (a heady nu-electrorawk mix of Flaming Lips, Justin Timberlake, and Hot Chip) and the Buttercream Gang (a local indie/post-punk/afro-beat band) also perform starting......

-- Barefoot Nellies: "The Bay Area's finest all-gal bluegrass band" headline at one of the Bay Area's finest bars, Amnesia, starting at 8:30 p.m., 853 Valencia; free. -- Killer of Sheep (1977): Charles Burnett's masterwork about a slaughterhouse worker/father and his family living in Watts, LA screens tonight at 7:15 p.m. 9:15 at The Red Vic, 1727 Haight (at Cole). -- Ryan Auffenberg: Local, tender singer-songwriter performs in the Mission. So does Clare Burson.......

All the shows we told you about last time are stil running, so if you haven't hit them yet, get on it! In addition, we have a one-time-only event for you for this Friday: Red Ink Studios (52 9th Street between Market and Mission) Picture Progress: a silent art auction benefit Friday March 31, 2006 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Don't miss the The League of Young Voters second annual silent art auction, Picture Progress, on......

Bill Swerboski records a recent John Brown's Body show at the Warfield, in case you missed it. Eddie Codel munch on liquid-nitrogen cooled vittles prepared by Marc Powell at Dorkbot. And Jen Maiser just got back from the Eco-Farm Conference, and links to an article by an enterprising farmer-gardener in Watts of all places. Ann Harrison and friends go to greet maligned medical marijuana activist Steve Kubby at the airport, only to find him......