The brain of Dakin Hardwick, our managing editor, looks like this right now: Sketchfest, Sketchfest, Sketchfest. So when he sat down to write our weekly guide to Bay Area Concerts, he just wrote “Sketchfest” next to everything. Now, I’m going to deny that you should be going to lots of Sketchfest events (and then reading about them here on Spinning Platters), but there are a few concerts worth mentioning this week. And if I mention a Sketchfest event, too, well …
Thursday, January 26
Vicky Cryer at The Rickshaw Stop
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of this band’s music, but I’m a huge fan of this band’s lineup. They don’t have too much material, but they have huge names on stage together, so expect the show to go in all sorts of entertaining directions. You’ll be as close to Mark Stoermer of The Killers as you’ve been since they played Popscene in 2004; and even more exciting to me, you’ll be as close to Dominic Howard, the drummer of Muse, as you’ve been since Muse played Popscene in 2004.
Fitz and the Tantrums with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and American Tomahawk (Also Friday, January 27) at The Regency Ballroom
Friday, January 27
Fitz and the Tantrums with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and American Tomahawk (Also Thursday, January 26) at The Regency Ballroom
A couple of years ago, I saw one show at SXSW that included Ozomatli, Fanfarlo, Fitz and the Tantrums and Miike Snow. What an awesome show that was! I don’t know if I’ll ever see a better lineup. What’s that? I missed Fitz and the Tantrums because I was watching Rose Pipette’s uninspiring solo performance in the next room? Darn. I sure did. And I’ve been sad ever since. There’s buzz bands, and there’s BUZZ bands. You’re running out of chances to see Fitz before it’s no longer “cool” to know them.
httvp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3WRXYYBwRA
Saturday, January 28
Wilco with White Denim at San Jose Civic Arena (SOLD OUT)
A lot of Wilco this week; a lot of sold out shows. Go see one anyway. Get there early. Put your finger in the air. Get a ticket. Enjoy a Wilco show. Go to sleep. Repeat. By the end of the week, you will have seen three Wilco shows. That’s three better than no Wilco shows.
And three White Denim shows, too.
Sunday, January 29
The Alan Parsons Live Project with David Pack (of Ambrosia) at Yoshi’s San Francisco
Where are my soft prog nerds at? This is either a dream soft prog double bill (David Pack opening) or dream soft prog team-up (David Pack singing with the Alan Parsons Project). Either way, you’re going to hear “Eye in the Sky” and “Games People Play” but also likely “Nice, Nice, Very Nice” (ok maybe not likely) and “How Much I Feel,” which probably won’t convince you that Ambrosia is proggy. But I’ll take you to “Nice, Nice, Very Nice,” one of the great forgotten ’70s soft-prog … anthems?
Wilco with White Denim at The Warfield (SOLD OUT)
Monday, January 30
Fujiya & Miyagi with The Frail at The Independent
Hate DJs but love to dance? This is the show for you. Seriously, you’ll never stop moving. (Just in case you’re fan of South African screamos, The Frail, this is NOT THEM.)
Tuesday, January 31
Wilco with White Denim at The Fox Oakland (SOLD OUT)
I hope you’re on your third Wilco and White Denim show by now. If not, why not?
Wednesday, February 1
Reggie Watts with Garfunkel & Oates at The Mezzanine
A little bit of Sketchfest got into this because Reggie Watts is just the coolest, most talented guy ever, and he’s doing a residency of sorts during the festival. He’s doing two music shows, one at each Yoshi’s, and then this comedy show at The Mezzanine. Except his guests here are the musical comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates. When I analyzed Dakin’s Sketchfest-filled brain, I saw pictures of this bill, so I listed it for him here. I think it’ll be a brilliant night. Don’t bring the kids. Not just because it’s a 21+ venue, but also because of this:
Ghost with Blood Ceremony and Ancient Wisdom at Bottom of the Hill (SOLD OUT)
I had a ticket to this show, but it turns out I’m going to be in Utah sorting baseball cards today (you think I could make THAT up?), so I gave the ticket to a friend of a friend. Luckily for all of us, since it’s sold out, I hear Ghost is coming back through soon on a package with Opeth and Mastodon. Holy crap. That’s gonna be awesome. And there will apparently be some tickets at the door, so get there early and see this band in a club while you still can.
