This is a busy, busy week for SF show goers… Lotsa stuff to go to! Enjoy your last week of summer vacation! Here’s how:
Thursday, August 26th
Volbeat, Dommin, A New Revolution at The Independent
Volbeat is what Danzig should have been. They are a precise synthesis of old school punk, heavy metal, and rockabilly, and their singer’s vocal abilities resembles Mr. Danzig’s in many ways, but they are so much more interesting than what Danzig’s namesake band has become.
Rondo Brothers featuring Foreign Globester, Oona, King Midas in Reverse, Matthew Hansen at Slim’s
Lazer Sword, Rainbow Arabia, Religious Girls, Sister Crayon at Rickshaw Stop
Wallpaper., The Downer Party at California Academy Of Sciences
Friday, August 27th
Trainwreck Riders, Pinebox Boys, The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, Virgil Shaw at Great American Music Hall
Many, many years ago, there was an amazing rock scene at 16th St/Mission BART. We had a slew of absolutely amazing bands that brought a DYI/punk sensibility to various different musical forms, and they all played fast and furious through a borrowed generator, and they played as much as they could before the cops showed up. This was 2003, and, amazingly enough, many of these bands are still doing their thing, only they’ve managed to make it to the big leagues (Read: Legal Shows)! One of the best bands from this scene was Trainwreck Riders, and their delirious cow-punk always makes for a great live show. Check them out at their biggest hometown gig yet!
Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae at The Greek Theater – UC Berkeley
Saturday, August 27th
From Monument To Masses, Judgment Day, Silian Rail at Great American Music Hall
If this isn’t reason enough for you to go to this show, then how about this?
Extra Action Marching Band, Edmund Welles, Freakhead at Uptown Nightclub
The Chemical Brothers, Freq Nasty at The Fox Theater – Oakland
Sunday, August 29th
Fleshies, Imperial Can, Bobby Joe Ebola & The Chicken MacNuggits, Pillowfights, Street Eaters at 924 Gilman
This is a great week for locals in the bay. The Fleshies are one of the byest of the classic East Bay punk bands, and it’s always great to see them play the perennial East Bay punk venue, 924 Gilman.
Slash, Taking Dawn at The Warfield
Monday, August 30th
Mazel Tov, Mis Amigos at Yoshi’s – San Francisco
There are two things that sound better on paper than reality: Super Groups and Full Album Shows. The weight of the stars or the material tends to crush the performance under it’s own weight. This show, as far as one can expect, will be flourish. Mostly because it’s too weird an idea to be bad. The record in question is Mazel Tov, Mis Amigos: Yiddish Favorites in a Latin Tempo. The band features legendary Fania All Stars leader & part time The Mars Volta collaborator Larry Harlow, Ozomatli bassist Wil-Dog, Ethan Miller of Santa Cruz, CA-based experimental rockers Comets On Fire, and Rose & Evelyn from the legendary vocal group, The Burton Sisters recreating this amazing and strange piece of work. This is a one-time only affair, and I’m pretty sure that if you miss it, your ears will punish you forever.
Note: This is a different ensemble recreating a work from this recording
Tuesday, August 31st
Slayer, Megadeth, Testament at The Cow Palace
A lot of people talk some pretty serious trash about The Cow Palace, and I really don’t understand why. It’s an under-utilized venue that has great sightlines, and is perfect for metal. Which brings me to the show, which is the perfect metal bill. All I’ve got to say as that there is no better feeling than Slayer live.
Wednesday, September 1st
Gram Rabbit, Chambers, Part Time at Rickshaw Stop
Remember Rednex? The “Cotton-Eyed Joe” band? They attempted to fuse together electronic music with traditional country & western and totally blew it. Gram Rabbit get it right. In all of the most surreal ways. Also note: Don’t miss Chambers, either.
