This weekend we have a brand new festival opening up at Potrero del Sol Park. It’s going to be awesome, but there are many other wonderful things to do. Just like these:
Thursday, July 14th
Nellie McKay at Yoshi’s – SF
The great Nellie McKay came onto the scene as a 19 year old pianist that was hyped as “Doris Day meets Eminem.” That odd label spawned by an exec at Sony was sort of accurate, but as time goes on, she gets more creative and edgier as time goes by. This time, she’s on tour debuting her piece “I Want To Live!”, a comedic looks at the life of Barbara Graham, the 3rd woman get sentenced to death in the state of California. And what’s funnier than capital punishment?
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KpqPk-NonVc
and here’s a classic
The E Family: Pete Escovedo, Sheila E, Juan Escovedo, Peter Michael Escovedo at Yoshi’s – Oakland
Friday, July 15th
Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, Rodeo Ruby Love, The Maxies at The Regency Ballroom
Skankin Pickle, Save Ferris, Buck O Nine, Let’s Go Bowling… The list can go on and on of great classic 3rd wave ska bands that I miss rather dearly. It blows my mind that Reel Big Fish have managed to stick around. They had some hard times, coping with addiction and health problems and coming out on top. They still put out great records, and it’s nice to get your skank on in a way that wasn’t vulgar for a few years.
Dirty Vegas, The Frail, Polaris at Noon at The Independent
Saturday, July 16th
Aesop Rock, Mirah, Man/Miracle, Magik Magik Orchestra, Religious Girls, Appetite at Potrero Del Sol Park
Our good friends at The Bay Bridged have put together a free music festival called “Phono del Sol” and it’s a pretty amazing array of local talent, headlined by two Spinning Platters favorites, Aesop Rock & Mirah. So, back a lunch and head out to the vastly underrated Potrero del Sol bandstand.
Alkaline Trio, Smoking Popes, Dead Country at Slim’s
Sunday, July 17th
Sarah Mclachlan and Friends at Mountain Winery
Monday, July 18th
Really, not a whole lot is going on this day. So let’s listen to a Ska version of Black & Yellow:
Tuesday, July 19th
INXS, Berlin at Mountain Winery
Yeah, the fake INXS isn’t so great without Michael Hutchence, but we Berlin are far too awesome to not go see. So, yeah, go see Berlin and leave early because Beck & St Vincent do INXS better than JD Fortune.
Jimmy Scott at Yoshi’s – Oakland
Wednesday, July 20th
The Avett Brothers, The David Mayfield Parade at The Fox Theater – Oakland
Every hipsters favorite folk grass harmony trio is playing everyone’s favorite art deco hipster venue.
