Go to shows! Everybody go to shows!
Thursday, April 4th
San Cisco, Chaos Chaos at Rickshaw Stop
Ever hear those amazing stories about seeing Pulp play their first American shows at an instore? Or seeing The Killers at Popscene? Well, this is Australia’s San Cisco’s big moment. It’s their first show in the Bay Area, and if you want to be have an “I saw them way back then” story, this is a good night to inspire one.
Esben & The Witch, Heliotropes at Brick & Mortar Social Club
Friday, April 5th
Thee Oh Sees, Sonny & The Sunsets, Future Twin, Assateauge at Verdi Club
Thee Oh Sees recently packed in two nights at The Independent so intensely that the fire marshal had to show up to control the crowd. So, this show at the much more intimate Verdi Club is going to be extra special. You won’t see them this up close and personal ever again. Plus, it’s a benefit to restore The Roxie, which is the oldest operational movie theater in San Francisco. So, yeah- a good cause and some better rock & roll!
The Mallard, Freddie & The Aztecs, The Spyrals, Steel Cranes at The Uptown Nightclub
Saturday, April 6th
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky at HP Pavilion
Facts: Rihanna has released 7 records in 8 years. Each of those seven records are full of sugary pop confections that stick on your head for weeks. In addition to averaging 1 record per year, she’s managed to tour each of those albums, too. And, in those 8 years on the road, she’s managed to hone her live show into what is the finest pop show currently touring. That’s also how she’s managed to attain a certain amount of indie cred in the mainstream pop world.
Angel Olsen, Villages, Kacey Johansing at Rickshaw Stop
Monday, April 8th
W Kamau Bell at The New Parish
Returning from his FX TV show gig in NYC, WKB will hold forth witheringly on X, Y, and Z as seen by him. (Christopher Rogers)
Tuesday, April 9th
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Sharon Van Etten at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Finally, after 40 years in the business, Mr Nick Cave is finally headlining an arena show. That means the world has finally embraced one of the greatest songwriters in music history. I feel this way, and I am about as un-goth-like as you can get.
Sparks at The Chapel
Wednesday, April 10th
The Postal Service, Baths at Mondavi Center
The Postal Service put out one amazing record in 2003. They had a very brief tour and one huge hit. Then they never were heard from again. Lead singer Ben Gibbard’s other band, Death Cab For Cutie had a hugely successful decade, and instrumentalist Jimmy Tamborello had a successful career under the name Dntel. However, I never thought they’d do it again. Well, since no band every stays broken up, The Postal Service is back, and they are playing their first show in a decade tonight in Davis.
Jeff Mangum at The Phoenix Theater
Jeff Mangum’s music is built on the conviction that he believes/ed that he can save the ones he loves through the power of song. The power of his abject conviction spouting almost uncontrollably out of a frail-seeming gentle anxious man can be terrifying. He believes in his song with everything that he is and was. Everyone who has ever howled along with their friends to “Holland, 1945,” Oh Comely” and “Ghost” in a fast-moving car can feel that ineffable intent in their very body. Now imagine doing that in a theatre with Jeff there. (Hi Susanna!) (Christopher Rogers)
