Today is too hot for me to come up with something witty to say… Go see some shows!
Thursday, July 15th
Tippy Canoe & The Paddlemen, Olivia Mancini, AntonetteG at The Hemlock Tavern
Tippy Canoe was once the drummer of the sadly departed The Kirby Grips, although her side project, now main project, might actually be slightly more baddass than her punk rock project. Tippy Canoe is her alias for when she does 40s & 50’s style pop music on Uke, and it’s pretty much the perfect accompaniment to this rare blistering Summer day in San Francisco.
Battlehooch, Cash Pony, Wise Wives at Bottom Of The Hill
Friday, July 16th
Maria Taylor & Andy Lemaster, Foolproof Four, Morgan Negler (Whispertown 2000) at Cafe du Nord
Pitch perfect vocals, intelligent lyrics, and great songwriting. I know you’ve heard all of those things bandied about in relation to many musicians, but with Maria Taylor, I’m not lying. She’s debuting tracks of her “in progress” collaboration with Now It’s Overhead’s Andy Lemaster, so I really don’t quite know what to expect out of this show, but I have faith that it will be good. And if I’m wrong, I will buy you a cookie. (Only if you attend and it sucks does this cookie offer apply. Not valid if the performance is good but crowd/security/bartenders/muni/sound engineer cause the suckiness.)
Michael Franti & Spearhead, Brett Dennen at The Greek Theater – UC Berkeley
You’ll change your mind about hippie shows after you see Spearhead live. Enough said.
Die Antwoord, Jeffery Paradise at Rickshaw Stop
I have no idea as to why I like this group so much.
Saturday, July 17th
Igor & The Red Elvises, The Gun & Doll Show at Slim’s
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Ben Taylor, Katie Herzig at Bimbo’s
Rob Halford, Cylinder at Regency Ballroom
Sunday, August 18th
PRIMUS at Great American Music Hall
I love this band. I have loved them nearly my entirely life. And I don’t have a ticket to this show. I was too late to buy them. It’s kind of crazy to hear that this band is playing Great American Music Hall, because I saw them at the Oracle Arena back when it was Oakland Arena. This show will be bloody crazy, and I wish I was there. Lucky.
The New Pornographers, The Dodos, Imaad Waasif at The Fox Theater – Oakland
Monday, July 19th
James Taylor & Carole King at Oracle Arena
Carole King’s Tapestry is one of the greatest records ever written, and she also wrote about 70% of the greatest pop songs of the 60’s and 70’s. James Taylor was one of the few artists signed to Apple Records, and, although hasn’t amassed quite the catalog the Carole King has under her belt, but neither has McCartney/Lennon, Stevie Wonder, and Holland-Dozier-Holland combined. This is one of the very few tours that are actually selling tickets this year, which is something that no psychic would have ever predicted. This is the 2nd to last date of this tour, and it really is an event that must be seen. This also a rare “in the round” show, which means that everyone is a little bit closer to the stage, and makes it a much more intimate version of the arena concert.
Tuesday, July 20th
Barenaked Ladies, Kris Allen, Angel Taylor at Wente Vineyards
This band had one super huge hit in the late 90’s, and that has pretty much ruined them in the eyes of most of the world. [Editor’s note: They commented on this themselves in the song “Box Set,” which was recorded years before it came true.] The few people in the know understand that they are one of the greatest and most consistent live acts in the world, and although singer Steven Page has taken a leave from the band, I’m still speculating that this will be a killer live show. (Also playing the much more intimate Regency Ballroom on July 21st)
Parno Grazst at Freight & Salvage
Happy Birthday, Residual Echoes, Young Prisms at Rickshaw Stop
Wednesday, July 21st
Jonathan Richman, Olof Arnolds at Swedish American Hall
The man is super clever, super intelligent, and can dance like nobody’s business. The guy just needs his guitar, and maybe his sidekick drummer, and the party will be brought. He made the Velvet Underground happy, gave David Bowie the gift of humility, and helped Ben Stiller get the girl before Justin Timberlake could take her away. Jonathan Richman is a the man that everybody wishes to be. (Also playing July 22nd & 23rd)
Bombtracks n Cognacs w/ Andre Nickatina, Smoov-E (8 PM Show), T-Mills (8 PM Show), Bizzy Bone (11 PM Show), Glasses Malone (11 PM Show) at Slim’s
