It’s a packed week with Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park and Alternative Press Expo in San Jose.
Coming up we have concerts by old people, young old people, and very old people who don’t much age. Let’s preview!
• Thursday, October 1
Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band at The Masonic, San Francisco
A concert by the guy who Wally Pipp-ed the drums of The Beatles from Pete Best.
Scorpions, Queensryche at The Shark Tank, San Jose
Big ol’ cheesy arena rock anthems 4-EVA.
Soulfly, Soilwork (Sweden), Decapitated (Poland), Shattered Sun (TX) at The Regency Ballroom, San Francisco
Reconstituted from Sepultura‘s schism, Soulfly have continued Max Cavalera‘s Brazilian metal path. Expect primal drumming, raw-throated bellowing, and an enthralled pit.
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams at the Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga
Emmylou‘s in town for Hardly Strictly. She’ll be headlining the night before down in the Saratoga.
• Friday, October 2
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park. Day 1 of 3.
Saves The Day, Hard Girls, She Things at Slim’s, San Francisco
Some things don’t age as well as other things. Let’s see how Saves The Day‘s emo-rock holds up.
Phil Lesh And Anders Osborne at Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael
Deadheads – unite, and carpool.
• Saturday, October 3
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park. Day 2 of 3.
Conor Oberst, M. Ward, The Felice Brothers at The Fillmore, San Francisco
Nebraska’s finest songman snaps and snarls and soothes his way through his songs.
• Sunday, October 4
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park. Day 3 of 3.
Kinky, Aterciopelados, Mexican Institute Of Sound, dj Afro at The Fox Theater, Oakland
Kinky are raucous poly-rhythmic hip-shaking multi-lingual pop rock.
Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, RaeLynn at Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View
When the blood-drenched ghost of Johnny Cash walks the earth, these guys have some frantic explaining to do.
• Monday, October 5
Don Henley, Shawn Colvin at The Masonic, San Francisco
“Hotel California,” no. “Boys Of Summer,” yes.
• Tuesday, October 6
Shawn Colvin at The Raven Theater, Healdsburg
If you don’t want to have to see Don, you can see Shawn headlining her own show in Healdsburg the next night.
• Wednesday, October 7
Garbage, Torres at The Fox Theater, Oakland
Speaking of things aging, the unabashed pop-rock keening of Garbage still elicits a headbob.
