Dr. Jones, Massive Attack, Firme, Bone Thugs & B-Movie Thrash

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UPCOMING

Sat. Sep. 23, 9pm Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 99 Grove St., San Francisco 415.978.5917 $40-$65 BUY TICKETS		2nd Annual SF Lovefest Parade After Party DAY OF THE DJ: San Francisco Lovefest Weekend is here and once again the beat heads at Spundae, ESDJco and Skills are hosting the official After Party at the Bill Graham Civic kicking from 9pm to 4am. Of course, the largest outdoor dance party and parade in the Bay Area will rock again, but don't wear yourself out because the turntable scientists and beat philosophers manning the decks at the After Party is a veritable who's who list of the trance, house and jungle sets. Paul Oakenfold headlines the trance room, with Junkie XL, Christopher Lawrence and others. DJ Dan, Bad Boy Bill, Donald Glaude and the hottest chick to put a needle to a record, DJ Rap, drop the deep and funky tracks in the house room, while also pulling double duty in the jungle room with a special drum and bass set. The jungle room also features MC Audio Angel, Aphrodite, DJ Fresh and a host of others firmly committed to bass heavy rhythms.

Wed. Sep. 20, 7pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $60-$75 BUY TICKETS

Guns N' Roses APPETITE FOR A NEW ALBUM: Born from the sludge heap of disenchanted, angst ridden youth at a time when pop and glam metal were dominating the charts, Guns N' Roses reclaimed hard driving rock and roll for the masses. But, as often the case with rock, over inflated egos, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, personality clashes and the general excesses of being rock superstars finally got the better of GN'R and sadly the grittiest band in America called it quits. Axl Rose is the sole survivor from the days of "Paradise City," "Mr. Brownstone" and "Night Train" and this is the new lineup's first tour in years--the last was a disastrous performance at the 2002 VMA's, full of Rose's now signature on-stage tantrums--but, hell, GN'R live is GN'R live.

Wed. Sep. 20, 7:30pm Bottom of the Hill 12331 17th St., San Francisco 415.621.4455 $10

The Lawrence Arms WINDY CITY POLITICAL PUNKS: Pure punk in all its beer guzzling, thrash riff, politically tinged, outspoken glory pretty much sums up The Lawrence Arms. Fresh off a tour with Lagwagon, the gritty trio from the lowest rent district of Chicago are back on the road again headlining smaller clubs where they're happy to play for free booze and some of those deliciously stale bar chips. The Draft, The Blackout Pact and Shinobu open up.

Thu. Sep. 21, Dusk St. James Park First & St. James Sts., San Jose 408.279.1775 Free

Raiders of the Lost Ark @ Cinema St. James THROW ME THE IDOL: Easily the best Indiana Jones adventure, Raiders of the Lost Ark plays Cinema St. James tonight. In paying homage to the adventure comics of the '30s, Lucas, Spielberg and Harrison Ford created an iconic legend and a genuine blockbuster of a movie that never gets dull--even after many, many repeated viewings. In today's cinematic world so heavily steeped in CGI, Raiders has more than withstood the test of time. Let's all hope and pray that Lucas and Spielberg have the guts and sense to leave it alone.

Thu. Sep. 21, 7pm Montalvo's Garden Theatre 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga 408.961.5858 $35-$65 BUY TICKETS

Bo Diddley ELECTRIC JOURNEYMAN: One of the best bluesmen to ever pick up a guitar, Bo Diddley brings his trademark square guitar and legendary rock status to the Montalvo stage tonight. While never as successful chart-wise as some other blues guitar slingers, Bo Diddley nevertheless took that instrument to places never thought possible and inspired legions of similar artists with his bump and grind, riff heavy sound and boasting lyrics. Even after performing for half a century, Bo Diddley can still rip out blazing blues licks.

Thu. Sep. 21, 9pm Club Cuccini 72 N. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.287.1737 Usual Cover

Allure @ Club Cuccini CLUB APPEAL: Newly kicking it every Thursday at Club Cuccini is the Allure party featuring the DJ stylings of Jose Melendez, DJ David Q and DJ Vicious spinning the dance track and club hits in the main room and the back patio. But, slick DJ science isn't all you're going to get because Cuccini is running drink specials all night long with an unprecedented half-off special until 11pm for the early birds.

Thu. Sep. 21, 7pm Bimbo's 365 Club 1025 Columbus Ave., San Francisco 415.474.0365 $18

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings BIG BAND OF FUNK: Reminiscent of funk soul legends from the '60s, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings are the contemporary real deal players of retro fueled, get down, sweaty and swingin' funk. Jones is correctly labeled as "The Queen of Funk" and like the other named "Queens" of yore, she has perfect and deserved reign with that title. The Dap Kings are a boiled down funk and soul outfit with a retro-swing bent sublimely complimenting the deep sultry soul vocals of Jones. Seriously, if you don't get up and dance to these guys, check your pulse.

Thu. Sep. 21, 9pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 $10 BUY TICKETS

Dimitris Mykonos SOUND ODYSSEY: World-renowned and a major player in the San Francisco house scene, Dimitris Mykonos rips up the decks tonight at Ruby Skye tonight for the monthly Avant Garde party. DJ Dimitris lays down his signature Euro-house beats, progressive house and trance with a distinct Iberian flavor--what he terms the Mykonos sound--full of elating sensations that has made him a mainstay DJ at the hottest dance clubs and parties in the world. SF turntable maestros Trevor Simpson and Joey V heat things up before Dimitris takes command of the decks.

Fri. Sep. 22, 9pm The Blank Club 44 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose 408.292.5256 $10

Firme AIN'T NO PARTY: Like the musical bastard son of a myriad of styles, Firme defies conventional classification, putting them all in the aural blender. Part ska/reggae, part salsa tinged jazz and all rock, Firme takes the stage eight strong and delivers a severe East Side San Jo elevating combo punch for the booty shakers on the dance floor followed with an uppercut to party music purists. Firme produces a get up and get down sound like few bands can even dream of. Drunken Starfighter and Mexican outfit, Fuga, open up.

Fri. Sep. 22, 8pm The Greek Theatre UC Berkeley Campus 510.642.4290 $45.50 BUY TICKETS

Massive Attack w/ DJ Shadow ACTION FLICK SOUNDTRACK: Trip-hoppers Massive Attack, harbingers of the Bristol sound, seamlessly weave such variant musical styles as jazz, punk, R&B, reggae and hip-hop to form a darkly hypnotic journey through dub land. Massive Attacks has almost a cinematic vision of sound so it's no wonder the group's dance floor anthems have been picked up for hard-hitting action sequences in The Matrix, Snatch and Unleashed-- but, don't don the shades and black pleather for the Greek Theatre show, it just wouldn't look right. Locally grown and world-renowned DJ Shadow lends his skills on the decks.

Fri. Sep. 22, 9pm Vault Ultra Lounge 81 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.298.1112 Usual Cover

Flossy @ The Vault DON'T CONSULT THE OED: You know The Vault Ultra Lounge goes off every weekend with A-list clubbers getting their serious groove on, well, kids, this Friday is no different. The Demolition Men will be on hand delivering the house, hip-hop and club hits plus the Bay Area mix tape kings Impereal and Devro will be laying down the tracks. Look up the party name itself in the Urban Dictionary for dress code guidelines.

Fri. Sep. 22, 8pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $37-$42 BUY TICKETS

David Lee Roth JUST AN OLD GIGOLO: We're all for aging rock stars hitting the stage again and Diamond Dave is back on the touring circuit and back to Nor Cal just a month or so removed from his, uh, blistering performance at the SJ Grand Prix. At least the ex-front man, self professed Taoist sage, actor and shock jock hasn't just been riding the couch in to obscurity or merely riding his own decades old coattails. Plus, we'd give just about anything to see Roth leap like the old days...without breaking a hip that is.

Fri. Sep. 22, 9pm Great American Music Hall 859 O'Farrell St., San Francisco 415.885.0750 $16

Andrew Bird SINGLE MAN JAM BAND: Witty, irreverent and a born musical performer, Andrew Bird is a modern day troubadour in the truest sense of the word. Classically trained on the violin, Bird now just adds it in as a sound weapon in his growing arsenal of instruments that include the guitar, the glockenspiel--yeah, the glockenspiel--his own voice and a sampler to immediately record the sounds an play them back for the audience while layering more sounds over the top. Seeing Bird live is reminiscent of those old Bugs Bunny cartoons where the wascally wabbit played the Seussian one man band instrument, but never quite got to the level of Andrew Bird and his six different rhymes for the word formaldehyde.

Fri. Sep. 22, 6pm The Wrec 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga 408.868.1272 $12

5606 RISING OUT OF THE VALLEY: San Jo gutter punks 5606 lead the hardcore assault at the Saratoga Community Center--one of the few remaining venues for all ages rock shows now that the unfortunate winds of nightclub change have claimed the Gaslighter. 5606 plays straight ahead pop-punk on the harder side and, even though, this trio is young their stage presence is fully developed as they drop punch you in the jaw lyrics over driving riffs. I Am Ghost, Undergone, Aquabox and Valux round out the bill.

Fri. Sep. 22, 9pm Taste Ultra Lounge 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose 408.885.1016 Usual Cover

Red Light District PUT ON THE: All right ya'll, it's once again time for the Red Light District party at Taste Ultra Lounge featuring the favorite DJ of the local scene Pat Allen along with the always, um, friendly Taste girls. The crew at Taste will also be rolling out drink specials courtesy of Bacardi with a special midnight liquor pour and coming in for an exclusive turn on the video remixer is DJ Roonie G. Hey, it's Friday, it's night; what else have you got to do?

Fri. Sep. 22, 9:30pm Boss Nightclub 750 Harrison St., San Francisco 415.882.4435 $25

Scooter & Lavelle 2x4 BEATDOWN: Masters of the four turntable sonic attack, DJs Scooter and Lavelle hit the Boss Nightclub tonight for a session of purely original house beats interlaced with scratches and loops that have made this dynamic duo the hot set for the dance floor crowds. Resident spinners at some of the biggest clubs, Lavelle throws down progressive house beats while Scooter mixes in scratches, loops and riffs to meld four different sounds into one danceable cut that never fails to get the clubbers moving.

Sat. Sep. 23, 9:30pm Moe's Alley 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831.479.1854 $14

The Mermen BIG WAVE KINGS: Fueled by high-octane surf guitar licks melding with '60s style futuristic psychedelia, The Mermen wholly distinguish themselves from other disciples of the legendary Dick Dale. The Mermen are fearless on stage redefining surf rock with a healthy dose of Sonic Youth style reverb and alt tinged lyrics. The Mermen play like they ride, if it's possible to shred a wave for over an hour, ripping out experimental surf-based sets more akin to the single-minded narrative concerts of Pink Floyd and The Who, but with the euphoria of the Nor-Cal surf culture.

Sat. Sep. 23, 7:30pm Agenda Lounge 399 S. First St., San Jose 408.287.3991 Usual Cover

Wally Schnalle Trio MASTER OF THE KIT: Venerable Bay Area drummer Wally Schnalle lays down some lightning fast licks with his slick stick work at the Agenda Lounge tonight. Schnalle, along with his trio of bop jazz fusionists, are a mainstay of jazz fests all over the West Coast and are always on point throwing down everything from straight ahead old-school jazz to experimental jazz fusion that always gets the crowds collective toes tapping. Agenda will throw in the Wally Schnalle Trio free with dinner.

Sat. Sep. 23, 9pm Buddha Lounge 251 Castro St., Mountain View 650.969.4847 $10

Flavor Fashion Show ROCKER CHICK STRUT: Presented by Bltchgear, the Flavor Fashion Show rolls into Mountain View's Buddha Lounge for an exclusive fashion show of the latest rawk girl attire. You'll have chicks rocking the "Wear Sin is In" subversive duds, bartenders pouring up some mind bending cocktails and DJs dropping beats, sounds like a great night to us in the otherwise sleepy corporate confines of MV. Plus Bltchgear is a steadfast Bay Area company, so get out and show some love.

Sat. Sep. 23, 9pm Johnny V's 31 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose 408.947.8470

Indie Rock Showcase @ Johnny V's RUNNING ON INDIE: College indie rock station KSCU presents the indie rock showcase tonight at Johnny V's tonight featuring Oceans of Fire, Montana, Man Versus and See It on the BBC ripping out two-minute anthems in protest against the corporate monkeys. Pop in to one of the remaining bars downtown that hosts live music, have a beer and a shot, and help keep rock firmly placed in the spirit in which it was conceived.

Sun. Sep. 24, 7pm The Warfield 982 Market St., San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $25 BUY TICKETS

Snow Patrol WHITE OUT: Fusing together alternative lyrical songwriting with straight ahead rock licks, Snow Patrol kicks out sounds that are firmly in the indie camp. A year removed from opening up for U2 on their European tour, Snow Patrol can now claim headlining duties due in no small part to rampant fan support that skyrocketed the bands 2004 release Final Straw to the top of the Euro charts. Their latest offering, Eyes Open drives Snow Patrol's current tour.

Sun. Sep. 24, 9pm Angel's Ultra Lounge 400 S. First St., San Jose 408.885.9588 $10

Donald Glaude WHIRLING DERVISH: The spinning definition of West Coast house, Donald Glaude makes the short trip down the freeway from the SF Lovefest all-day DJ party to drop some beats on Downtown San Jose. And if you've never caught a set of his far reaching and vibrant signature style--jumping up on the decks, pumping up the crowd, scratching with his tongue--hit Angels because the best way to experience a one of a kind DJ isn't over your I-pod.

Mon. Sep. 25, 8:30pm The Independent 628 Divisadero St., San Francisco 415.771.1422 $15

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult SEX ON WHEELS: Death rocker Rob Zombie gets most of the credit for mixing up strange tales of sex, gore, drugs, horror, necrophilia, murder and Satan with driving rock chords and industrial/ metal, but there was a little band from Chicagoland doing the same thing for just as long. Founding members Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann originally had aspirations of directorial B-movie fame until they discovered that neither one of them had a cinematographic eye, so they instead turned the their potential, but swiftly aborted, drive-in double feature blockbuster, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, into the name of their fledgling band. TKK's stage shows can best be described as an electro-industrial laced, psycho-delic, cracked out homage to Russ Meyer, John Waters and Tobe Hooper full of sex, blazing rock over club beats and trash that you can really get your dance on to...with a heavy dose of mescaline. Who knows, you might find yourself a nice cemetery girl to chat up and it beats out those lame Gyro haunted houses.

Mon. Sep. 25, 7pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $25 adv./ $29 door BUY TICKETS

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony BACK TO THE SCENE: One of the best selling rap groups of all time, known just as much for their fast-paced gangsta tinged stylings as for their harmonizing vocals, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony--after a tumultuous hiatus--are back aiming their quintet lyrical attack at anew gen of poseur MCs. After getting picked up by Swizz Beatz's Full Surface label, Bone Thugs are running the collaborative circuit, dropping dope rhymes and beats for Kanye West, Lil' Jon, Timbaland and Big Boi. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are taking on The Man again with Bone 4 Life, soliciting lyrics for new cuts from imprisoned member Flesh-N-Bone and enlisting miss whacked-out diva herself, Mariah Carey for some vocal work.

Tue. Sep. 26, 6:30pm The Catalyst 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz 831.423.1336 $18 adv./ $21 door BUY TICKETS

Good Charlotte ALMOST BROKE IT: In a time awash with the black eyeliner of the corporate alternative post-post-pop-punk emo movement, it's good to know that there's a band out there that can crank the amps when it counts--even if it's only a decibel or two over the chained down monkeys attached to the organ grinding record giants collective leashes. Good Charlotte takes its cues from the harder rocking punk outfits of yore, but, since the days of renegade music and anarchy labels has since passed to be a viable monetary outlet for bands, GC plays the game producing slightly subversive punk tinged anthems for the Hot Topic generation.

Tue. Sep. 26, 7pm The Fillmore 1805 Geary, San Francisco 408.998.TIXS $27.50 BUY TICKETS

Medeski, Martin and Wood EXPERIMENTAL TONIC: NY trio Medeski, Martin and Wood run improvisational groove based experimental jazz with the influential powers over fans of a jam band. These relentlessly innovative musicians have been pushing the aural envelope since breaking onto the scene in the early '90s while laying down their singularly unique groove with collaborations with the likes of Phish and the Sex Mob. During their spiraling jamming days, Medeski, Martin and Wood picked up an unofficial fourth member with the unlikely inclusion of DJ Logic during one of their "Shack Parties" at New York's Knitting Factory. We've caught these guys at various venues and they never cease to amaze; so kick back with a cocktail and prepare for a musical acid trip.

Tue. Sep. 26, 7pm The Greek Theatre UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley 408.998.TIXS $38.50 BUY TICKETS

Train COAST TO COAST ROUTE: San Francisco alt-rockers Train make a trip across the Bay for a show at the Greek tonight and, after years toiling away in coffeehouses, playing run down clubs and opening for the likes of Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows, the payoff has got to feel good. The Berkeley stop on their way back to the City is for their latest top-ten offering For Me It's You.

coming up

Thu. Sep. 28, 10pm 1015 Folsom 1015 Folsom, San Francisco 415.431.1200 $20

Q-Bert BETTER THAN THE GAME: DJ Q-Bert can be held almost solely responsible for reintroducing and reestablishing the DJ as a major force in the rap game. Determined to take turntablism into the future, DJ Q-Bert, along with his group the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, concerned themselves with technique and musicianship. Q-Bert himself branched out on a mission to basically teach the world to scratch, crossing genres to preach the gospel of the turntable. DJ Q-Bert, legend of the scratch and master of the breakbeat, hits 1015 for a little science lesson.

Fri. Sep. 29, 9pm Ruby Skye 420 Mason St., San Francisco 415.693.0777 $20 BUY TICKETS

The Crystal Method RAVERS RETURN: A force in the LA underground dance scene, The Crystal Method are still pumping out the rave inspired tracks that cemented the duo as America's answer to the Chemical Brothers. After the waning of the LA rave scene that was hampered by overbearing police pressure, completely out of style random violence and a price hike in MDMA, The Crystal Method did what any self-respecting techno, big beat, dance party directors would do--took the show on the road. Ruby Skye presents them in their natural habitat, a late-night, four-hour set.

--This week's newsletter by: RO, CT, MSG & DC

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