Wednesday, January 26, 2011
books Feb. 1: Karen Abbott at Book Passage
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 10:57 AM
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It was the Great Depression that gave rise to the careers of the country’s most notorious strippers, and here we are in what we’re still hesitating to call a depression, and what’s flourishing? Burlesque! Amid all our steampunkery and broke-assery, a little skin turns out to be yet another recycling from the tin-can ’30s. For a brief window, no one owned the bump ’n’ grind more than Gypsy Rose Lee. In her new book, American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee, author Karen Abbott uses too many colons while crafting the story of the girl born Rose Louise Havoc, her sister, June, and her overbearing, torturous stage mother. Abbott reads from the book on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7pm. Free. 415.927.0960.
music Jan. 28: Devotionals at Arlene Francis Theatre
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 10:48 AM
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And so it seems that the late great Two Gallants have finally called it a day. Deflating all the world’s tired drummer jokes is Tyson Vogel, the skin-pounder from said San Francisco indie duo who’s leading, on the guitar, a new group called Devotionals. Ripping the Nick Drake and John Fahey chapters from the Two Gallants’ inspiration book and adding cello and violin, Devotionals’ instrumental atmospheres have a reverence living up to the group’s name while hanging just diagonally enough on the ear to garner repeat listening. Those wanted something a little more ragged will miss Vogel’s former band, but expect the crowd to be silenced when Devotionals play with Moony Thicket, Poor Bailey, the Crux and the Spindles on Friday, Jan. 28, at the Arlene Francis Theatre. 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa. 7pm. $5–$10. 707.528.3009.
music Jan. 28: Ill Niño at the Last Day Saloon
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 10:46 AM
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Releasing their debut album the week after Sept. 11, 2001, the Latin-metal band Ill Niño burst onto the nu-metal scene amid a landscape of Limp Bizkit, Korn and Slipknot leftovers. But the New Jersey group stuck out from the pack, namely in intent; their first album, Revolution Revolución, is as much as a call to action as a fierce dose of heavy riffs and loud drums. They’ve covered everyone from Faith No More to Nirvana to Peter Gabriel, they’ve been around the world on countless tours and they’ve jumped ship from Roadrunner Records to Victory Records, keeping the tight songwriting and radio-perfect vocals of Christian Machado at the forefront. They’ve gone into semi-hibernation in the past, but return with the “Restore the Insanity” tour when they play this Friday, Jan. 28, at the Last Day Saloon. 120 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 9pm. $18–$20. 707.545.2343.
music Jan. 27: Breakestra at the Juke Joint
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 10:41 AM
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Around 10 years ago, when the Breakestra were opening shows weekly for Jurassic 5 and Blackalicious, the band could play classic funk breaks for hours. In fact, anyone in need of a primer on classic hip-hop samples need look no further than The Live Mix, Vol. 1 and 2, which has the L.A.-based band recreating timeless riffs in a Brainfreeze-like blend. Led by Miles Tackett—son of Little Feat’s Fred Tackett—and buoyed by the vocals of Mixmaster Wolf, the Breakestra have since found a calling in writing their own material, all of which is some seriously tight dance music. Get down with your bad self when they headline the Juke Joint on Thursday, Jan. 27, at the Hopmonk Tavern. 230 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 9pm. $15. 707.829.7300.
music Across the Bridge: Jan. 26-Feb.1
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Blowfly
Crazed sex funkster born Clarence Reid relives ’70s stag glory.
Jan 26 at Yoshi’s SF.Phil Manley
Chicago multi-instrumentalist and Trans Am founder plays free in-store.
Jan 27 at Amoeba SF.Forgetters
Blake Schwarzenbach’s new band, sounding more Jawbreaker than Jets.
Jan 27 at Bottom of the Hill.Ween
Dean and Gene out to spoof the entire musical scene on a lean machine.
Jan 28 at the Fox Theater.Deerhoof
Beautifully twisted band celebrates new album; with Fred Frith.
Jan 28 at the Great American Music Hall.Das Racist
Williamsburg hip-hop trio making waves in mixtape blog circles.
Feb 2 at the Independent.
More San Francisco events at www.sfstation.com.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
music Jan. 22-24: Sharon Isbin at the Wells Fargo Center
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 10:23 AM
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Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez is one of those pieces so captivating that it can stop listeners dead in their tracks if they haven’t heard it before. Whether in the hands of jazz legend Miles Davis, nouveau flamenco duo Rodrigo y Gabriela or even pop-opera singer Andrea Bocelli, the timeless melody is a skin-creeper, which explains why the Santa Rosa Symphony has presented it several times in the past decade. This weekend, playing the piece is Grammy-winning guitar phenomenon Sharon Isbin, who has performed everywhere from the Academy Awards to the Obama White House. Catch her in a program including works by Piazzolla and Chávez on Saturday–Monday, Jan. 22–24, at the Wells Fargo Center. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. Saturday and Monday at 8pm; Sunday at 3pm. $28–$55. 707.546.8742.
music Jan. 22: Too Short at 19 Broadway Niteclub
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 10:14 AM
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On star power alone, it’s a minor miracle that the recent collaboration between 50 Cent, E-40 and Too Short didn’t hit the Billboard Top 10—although naming the single “Bitch” probably didn’t help get airplay. Nevertheless, the track plays just about every hour on 106.1 KMEL-FM, because after all, Too Short pretty much is Bay Area rap, even if he moved to Atlanta over a decade ago. The simple-minded rapper pops up in large theaters often, but this weekend brings classics like “Life Is Too Short,” “Freaky Tales” and quite possibly his verse on R. Kelly’s “I’m in Love with a Stripper” to a tiny nightclub on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 19 Broadway Niteclub. 19 Broadway, Fairfax. 10pm. $25. 415.459.1091.
music Jan. 22: Trebuchet at Bloom Salon
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 10:05 AM
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Bloom Salon in Napa, owned by Leilani Slack, might have just been another downtown hairstyling joint in an old building with a great reputation. But with the help of husband Paul, who plays in the Napa band Planets, the two have turned the Main Street salon into an after-hours venue for art and music in the center of Napa’s artistic scene. Bloom has been no secret to Napa for years, but this weekend, Sonoma County’s newest indie bands hop over the mountain to discover the place. Trebuchet, consisting of members of Not to Reason Why, and Odd Bird, with the Velvet Teen’s Judah Nagler, play with opener Rachel Sculley on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Bloom Salon, 1146 Main St., Napa. 8pm. Free. 707.251.8461.
books Jan. 19: Pitchapalooza at Book Passage
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 9:56 AM
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It’s hard enough sitting down and writing a 300-page novel. As for getting it published? If you don’t have the right connections (or if it’s not about vampires), forget about it. Or should you? The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It . . . Successfully is the latest book by agents / authors Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, and in their appearance this week called Pitchapalooza, they ask for your book pitches, with the winner getting connected with an appropriate agent in New York. Likewise, anyone who buys their book gets a free consultation on their story idea when the authors appear on Wednesday, Jan. 19, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7pm. Free. 415.927.0960.
music Across the Bridge: Jan. 19-25
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Roy Hargrove
Jazz trumpet master leads a versatile, award-winning quintet.
Jan 19-22 at Yoshi’s SF.The Wailers
Bob Marley’s backup band plays “Uprising” in its entirety.
Jan 20 at the Independent.Faith Evans
R&B singer and widow of Notorious B.I.G. plays intimate club.
Jan 20 at the Mezzanine.Old 97’s
The woeful, smart love songs of Rhett Miller, serial lady killer.
Jan 22 at the Fillmore.Itzhak Perlman
One of the world’s greatest violinists of all time in recital.
Jan 23 at Davies Symphony Hall.Barn Owl
Atmospheric guitar-based instrumental band with new album.
Jan 25 at the Hemlock Tavern.
More San Francisco events at www.sfstation.com.
