As I look out my window, I see a beautiful spring day, where there’s nothing but business people running home from work in the rain. Hopefully they are hustling home to change clothes & go to a show.
Thursday, May 20th
Roky Erickson & Okkervil River at The Fillmore
Roky Erikson was the lead singer of the 13th Floor Elevators, possibly the greatest band of the psychedelic era. Okkervil River are one of the most interesting bands from the alt.country movement. Put them together, and you have a legendary musician teaching a bunch of kids how to rock out harder than they ever did before.
Man/Miracle, Baths, The Splinters, Sister Crayon at MILK
Friday, May 21st
Kaki King, An Horse at The Fillmore
When Kaki King first burst on to the scene, she was considered to be the heir apparent to Leo Kottke’s finger picking throne. As time progressed, she started to embrace the electric guitar, and has became a brutal shredder that leaves no face unmelted in the crowd.
Dredg, Facing New York, The Trophy Fire at Great American Music Hall
South Bay prog/metal icons Dredg are taking a short trip around the state with Wallpaper. right now, but 2 cities instead get Ricky Reed’s alter ego, Eric Frederic, doing Facing New York, a rare treat for the good people of San Francisco & Los Angeles.
Saturday, May 22nd
Evelyn Evelyn, Sxip Shirley at Great American Music Hall
This is Dresden Doll’s Amanda Palmer’s new band with her conjoined twin brother, Jason Webley, proving that Neil Gaiman will put up with an awful lot for the love of a woman. (Also 5/23)
Sunday, May 23rd
The Deconstruction Orchestra at Flux 53
The Deconstruction Orchestra is sax player Josh Allen doing all sorts of experimental, improvisational wackiness with whatever drummer he can round up that day. At this show, he’s bringing along William Winant, a man that has spent time trying to keep up with John Zorn, so we can pretty much expect a glorious noise to be heard on this Sunday evening.
Monday, May 24th
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek), UNI at The Fillmore
One of the smartest MC’s in the business gets with one of the most tasteful producers in hip-hop, and you have one of the richest collaborations on musical history. The latest Reflection Eternal record is chock full of some of the best story telling in the history of hip-hop, and unlike most hip hop acts, these two really know how to hold it together live.
Caribou, Toro Y Moi at The Indepedent
X (Australia), A-Frames, Hank IV at Hemlock Tavern
Tuesday, May 25th
Nas & Damien Marley, Nneka at The Fox Theater – Oakland
Sometimes collaborations from legends of different genres fall a bit flat. This is not one of those times… Nas & Damien, when they get together, pure magic ensues that is greater then the some of their parts. This show will be fantastic!
Barenaked Ladies, Serena Ryder at The Wells Fargo Center For The Arts
Sometimes, when a band loses a primary member, they fall apart, seemingly chasing what they once had but never actually finding it again. And, other times, they just start over. Resurrect themselves in a new and interesting way. Barenaked Ladies have managed to move from being the silly folk pop group with killer harmonies to a much darker, much more serious band. I don’t know if this live show will have the same silly energy that the band had in it’s heyday, but you will get a great set from some accomplished musicians, doing what they love. And when has that ever been a bad thing?
Wednesday, May 26th
OK Go, Earl Greyhound, Grand Lake at The Fillmore
For such an incredibly accessible sounding band, OKGo have pretty much had to do everything themselves to get heard. They spent nearly a decade under EMI’s wing, doing exactly as they were told, only to find the most success when they went against their bosses wishes. Now that they are totally independent, we have the most talented marketing men in power pop finally doing everything their own way, and no doubt that they will only get bigger with time.
Minus The Bear, Everest, Young Giant at The Regency Ballroom
