Thursday, June 23, 2011
music Across the Bridge: June 22-29
Posted by Gabe Meline on Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Okkervil River
Literate and feisty indie-rock rabblers with new album, “I Am Very Far”’ Jun 22 at the Fox Theater.Panic! at the Disco
After half the band left, Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith soldier on, with exclamation point. Jun 22 at the Warfield.Peter Murphy
Incomparable Bauhaus frontman plays free in-store in advance of sold-out show. Jun 23 at Amoeba SF.Ana Moura
Popular Portuguese fado singer counts Prince among her many fans. June 25 at Herbst Theatre.Sondre Lerche
Boyish French idol crafts sweeping pop in a diversity of settings. Jun 28 at the Great American Music Hall.More San Francisco events by subscribing to the email letter at www.sfstation.com.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
books June 21: Sally Wade at Book Passage
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 9:35 AM
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“Never argue during a circus.” That’s sound advice for any relationship, but for George Carlin, it held an extra significance: all of life often was a circus anyway. This and other relationship axioms, like “Compliment and flatter Sally all day long,” are found in the new book by Carlin’s wife Sally Wade, The George Carlin Letters: The Permanent Courtship of Sally Wade. For the last 10 years of his life, Carlin sent his wife love notes: some goofy, some profane, all very romantic in their own way. Wade reads and discusses the book on Tuesday, June 21, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7pm. Free. 415.927.0960.
film June 21: The Cove at the Smith Rafael Film Center
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 9:31 AM
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Readers of the Bohemian’s Green Zone column will recall the recent story of Schuyler Schwartz, who founded the Imagination Film Festival after watching a moving documentary about dolphin fishermen, ‘The Cove.’ The film screens this week in San Rafael, but it’s no regular showing: filmmakers Ric O’Barry and Louis Psihoyos will be on hand to discuss the plight of the dolphin population in Japan, and the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, who was similarly moved into action by the film, will perform a set of music. It’s all happening Tuesday, June 21, at the Smith Rafael Film Center. 1118 Fourth St., San Rafael. 7pm. $40. 415.454.1222.
music June 19: Mary Chapin Carpenter at the Uptown Theatre
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 9:26 AM
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Some country stars turn into reality show contestants, some turn into bluegrass icons and still others go on television to sell toothpaste. Mary Chapin Carpenter has done none of these things. Instead, the singer who’s still defined by the early crossover smash album Come On Come On turned to print media, writing a column for the Washington Times. Since the tepid reaction to her 2001 album Time*Sex*Love, Carpenter has had nothing left to lose, carrying a stark honesty about love, music and politics. She plays on Sunday, June 19, at the Uptown Theatre. 1350 Third St., Napa. 7:30pm. $40–$50. 707.259.0123.
June 17-19: Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 9:24 AM
Being a festival regular in Northern California is a lot like being a golf fan. Just like the Masters opens the season as the first major golf tournament, the Harmony Festival, held last weekend, kicks off a string of long-running annual festivals: the Kate Wolf Memorial Festival (June 24–26), Reggae on the River (July 16–17), the Gaia Festival (Aug. 5–7) and Earthdance (Sept. 23–25). This weekend, it’s the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (June 17–19), with Toots & the Maytals, Ozomatli, Steel Pulse, Rebelution, Anthony B and others. Friday–Sunday, June 17–19, at Mendocino County Fairgrounds. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. $60–$70 per day. www.snwmf.com.
music Across the Bridge: June 15-22
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Bobby Bland
If you only buy one blues album, you’ll be in good hands with ‘Two Steps From the Blues.’ Jun 18 at Yoshi’s SF.Matt & Kim
The most gleeful batch of jubilation to hit the stage since Up With People. Jun 18 at the Fox Theater.Mountain Goats
John Darnielle and fellow erudite tunesmiths patiently perform amid shouts for “No Children.” Jun 20 at the Fillmore.Odd Future
Tyler, Hodgy, Syd and the rest of this year’s darlings lay waste to all common sense. Jun 21 at the Regency Ballroom.Jaga Jazzist
Norwegian electro-jazz 10-piece makes rare appearance in the States. Jun 22 at Great American Music Hall.
More San Francisco events by subscribing to the email letter at www.sfstation.com.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
music June 12: Carolyn Cooke at Book Passage
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 9:07 AM
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As an O. Henry Award winner in 1997 and ’98, and with work anthologized in Best American Short Stories, Carolyn Cooke might be content to rest on her laurels. But the Point Arena author has hit another one out of the park with Daughters of the Revolution, the short-story writer’s first novel. Using the backdrop of a New England prep school in the throes of the social, political and sexual upheaval of the 1960s, Cooke demonstrates that the skill behind her first collection, The Bostons, is still in fine health in the long form. Cooke reads from Daughters of the Revolution on Sunday, June 12, at Book Passage. 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 7pm. Free. 415.927.0960.
music June 10-12: Harmony Festival at Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 9:01 AM
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In recent years, thanks to excellent lineups and more community involvement than ever, the teeming Harmony Festival has been vastly more populated than just about any other event at the fairgrounds—including the fair itself. This year should continue the trend, with headliners the Flaming Lips, Primus, Michael Franti, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Ghostland Observatory and others. A skateboard zone returns, and artists from the Handcar Regatta add a new feature this year with the “Steampunk Garage.” Be there Friday–Saturday, June 10–12, at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. $45 per day or night; multi-day passes available. www.harmonyfestival.com.
music Through June 12: Healdsburg Jazz Festival
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 8:57 AM
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Truly one of the great cultural treasures in the region, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival continues this year with a stellar lineup for its second weekend. Just as the absurd firing of founder Jessica Felix and a proposed change in direction by the festival’s former board of directors last year couldn’t take hold—the community reacted with understandable ire, Felix was reinstated, the board resigned and jazz won—the festival persevered against last weekend’s rain by moving outdoor events inside. This weekend sees Charles Lloyd, Charlie Haden, Bobby Hutcherson, Geri Allen, George Cables, Denny Zeitlin and many others. The festival runs through June 12; its full schedule is found at www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org.style="margin: 0pt 10px 5px 0pt;"
music June 8: John Prine at the Uptown Theatre in Napa
Posted by Gabe Meline on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 8:53 AM
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In the years since John Prine inadvertently defined Americana in 1974 with his debut album, which showcased insightful, poetic storytelling in songs like “Sam Stone” and “Hello in There,” his stature has only risen. Like Dylan’s, even Prine’s minor albums harbor worthwhile chestnuts, but lately they’ve been all gold. Fair & Square, his last of original songs, won a Grammy, an award everyone knew was partially retroactive for his heavily influential back catalogue. Live, Prine plays with only a bassist and guitarist, and his stunning poetry and wry demeanor turn the hardest hearts into lifelong fans. He plays Wednesday, June 8, at the Uptown Theatre. 1350 Third St., Napa. 7:30pm. $55–$65. 707.259.0333.
