Rocktober is already in full swing this year. Early Rocktober is starting with a lot of folk music and a two rare public appearances by groundbreaking 80’s bands. It’s gonna be a good one!
Thursday, October 3rd
Father John Misty, Kate Berlant at Slim’s
I bloody love Kate Berlant. She is one of the wittiest women working in comedy today! I know there’s some super big rock star slumming it as the headliner, and he’s going to play all those pretty songs that make all the girls swoon. However, I’m going to push up front and center so I can swoon over the pretty girl telling the really funny jokes.
Happy Fangs, LI XI, Mornings at Rickshaw Stop
Friday, October 4th
Annabella Lwin, Unfortunate Bastard, Castle In Spain at DNA Lounge
Bow Wow Wow were one of the most underrated bands of the post punk era. Everyone remembers their cover of “I Want Candy.” However, most people missed the fact that they released several amazing records littered with speedy surf guitar and some of the most complex rhythms ever heard in western music. All of this was complimented by the amazing voice and spunk of then-teenaged frontwoman Annabella Lwin. Although we we never get a true Bow Wow Wow reunion, as original guitarist Matthew Ashman past away in the mid 90’s, and drummer David Barbarossa just doesn’t seem to be interested in playing music anymore. So the best we will get is Lwin performing with a solo band at DNA Lounge.
JoJo, Leah Labelle at Grand Live – Oakland
Saturday, October 5th
Travis, Rathborne at The Regency Ballroom
Sure, Belle & Sebastian are the hippest band from Scotland. Snow Patrol are the most popular. However, few bands put on a show as entertaining as Travis. They play some fantastic pop songs, and lead singer Fran Healy is one of the funniest frontmen I have ever seen. Sure, it’s been a few years since they’ve had a hit, however, they are still one of the best live bands you’ll ever see.
Jewdriver, The Meat Sluts, Bloody Hell at Bender’s
Sunday, October 6th
Steve Earle, Justin Townes Earle at The Chapel
Sometimes you just get lucky living in San Francisco. Sure, you can try to withstand the holy cluster of an event that’s known as “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,” or you can pay $30 to see the greatest father and son pair of songwriters alive today at one of the most beautiful and acoustically perfect venues in SF.
Filter, Red, Otherwise, We Are Human at The Regency Ballroom
Monday, October 7th
EV Kain, Fever The Ghost, Clear Plastic at Cafe du Nord
EV Kain are one of the few young bands that are actually doing math rock. They are such a technically proficient band, doing some of the most deliciously complex rock music being made these days.
Tuesday, October 8th
Fiona Apple & Blake Mills at Zellerbach Hall
Who would have thought that Fiona Apple’s return would last this long. After doing some amazing full band shows last year, she’s returning to town to perform a stripped down set. This will be just her and guitarist Blake Mills doing a set of some of the best melodramatic pop music ever.
Fucked Up, Terror, Power Trip, Code Orange Kids at Oakland Metro Operahouse
Wednesday, October 9th
Book Of Love at DNA Lounge
Zedd, Oliver, Alex Metric at The Fox Theater – Oakland
