SFBG: Noise

Sonic Reducer Overage: Sir Richard Bishop, Hospitals, David Dondero, Hightower, and more

2009-07-03T22:39:05Z

By Kimberly Chun

Yes, you had to work like a dog for that Fourth of July hot dog - and to get ready for the long weekend. Wasn’t it worth it? Now’s the time to get out and get into trouble.

Sir Richard Bishop and His Freak of Araby Ensemble
The Sun City Girls son and Oakland resident also rises, this time in SF, with Oaxacan as his backing ensemble, on the closing show of his tour. For more on Bishop, go to this edition of Sonic Reducer. With Oaxacan and Rubber O Cement. Fri/3, 10 p.m., $10. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. (415) 621-4455.

Extreme Animals
The Pittsburgh-San Diego booty melters flaunt it at this light-show-bedazzled happening. With Nero's Day at Disneyland, Bulbs, and Teengirl Fantasy. Fri/3, 8 p.m., $6. Lobot Gallery, 1800 Campbell, Oakl. www.lobotgallery.com

Hospitals
The raging Adam Stonehouse project recently got a lotta love from UK’s Wire. With Photobooth and Baths. Fri/3, 9:30 p.m., $6. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. (415) 923-0923.

Marcel Dettmann and Marcel Fengler
Kontrol goes Fourth, welcoming the minimalist techno Teutonic Marcel wave. With Sasha Braverman, Craig Kuna, Nikola Baytala, Sammy D, and Alland Byallo. Sat/4, 10 p.m.-6 a.m., free before 11 p.m., $15 after 11 p.m. The Endup, 401 Sixth St., SF. www.kontrolsf.com

David Dondero
The longtime local - and perpetual proponent of literary songcraft - kicks off a series of solo performances with this early show. With Milk Milk Lemonade, Mon/6, 7 p.m., $6. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. (415) 621-4455.

Miniature Tigers
Lauded as “one of the 25 best bands on MySpace” by Rolling Stone, the Phoenix, Ariz., indie poppers tell it to volcano. With Farewell Typewriter. Tues/7, 8 p.m., $10. Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. (415) 861-5016.

Hightower
**Tower to the People** - true dat. The skaters push out a new self-released long-player. With Fucking Wrath, Young Livers, and Gang of Forty. Tues/7, 9 p.m., free. Knockout, 3223 Mission, SF. (415) 550-6994.

SCENE: Céu shines through

2009-07-01T01:19:49Z

Interview by Mirissa Neff, photo by Caroline Bittencourt, location São Paulo Botanical Gardens, clothing by Farm. From SCENE: The Guardian Guide to Nightlife and Glamour, published in last week's issue.

Just when it seemed Brazil had maxed out its production of sexy songstresses, along comes Céu. This girl from São Paulo (or Paulistana) seems the antithesis of her polluted, overpopulated hometown: Céu means sky — a rare sight in Brazil's megalopolis — and the songs on Vagarosa, her new album coming out on Six Degrees Records, revel in a sensual world of languor. Her debut CD was a cafe staple that garnered Grammy and Latin Grammy noms, yet Céu's artful blend of samba, soul, jazz, and electronica has helped her earn her keep on São Paulo's underground scene. Her music embodies that city's contradictions: it's at once cosmopolitan, gritty, earthy, and languid. A breath of fresh air in the concrete jungle, indeed.

About a decade ago every boutique and lounge had the "new" Brazilian sound on heavy rotation, but what was once new now sounds dated — over-produced and digitally heavy-handed. Bucking that trend, Céu has cultivated an organic sound that combines acoustic elements with breezy, tasteful electronic embellishments. Collaborating with the likes of Curumin and Nação Zumbi, her path has subtly turned toward roots music, paying homage to the past while forging into the future. In that respect, Céu is spearheading a leisurely Brazilian music revolution ... it may not be televised, but you'll gladly sip a caipirinha to it.

CÉU
Saturday, July 18, 8 p.m., $25–$70
Herbst Theater
401 Van Ness Ave., SF
www.sfjazz.org
www.sixdegreesrecords.com

SFBG What was it like growing up in São Paulo?
Céu I was born in a neighborhood called Vila Nova Conceição that was founded by a Portuguese community. Back then, it used to be a very calm place, like a little countryside town. Today it's totally different and urban.

SFBG Brazilians are known for their beautifully mixed ethnic roots, with elements from the Amazon, to Europe, and on to Africa. What's your family's heritage?
Céu My family is definitely mixed, but it's hard to say what's what. Mainly Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, native Brazilian, and even American.

SFBG You spent a year in New York City when you were 18. How did that experience affect what was to come for you musically?
Céu It was a very special year, I love New York. It inspired me to write my own music, something I thought impossible until then. It was good to distance myself from Brazil, to feel homesick and write about it.

SFBG What's it been like for you to perform your music in the U.S.?
Céu It's always challenging to convey the feeling of my music without the help of lyrics. But it's all good, sometimes I get a looser audience, sometimes not so much. The crowds are never as noisy as in Brazil, but American audiences are more attentive to artists.

SFBG How do you translate your new album's title, Vagarosa?
Céu "Vagarosa" means slow. Because the world is moving too fast, I felt a little laziness was in order. Maybe if we weren't so needy, we could appreciate the simple things more. Besides, I got pregnant while producing the record, which greatly influenced the process. It's more organic than the first one.

SFBG Brazilian musicians seem to have a knack for collaboration.
Céu Here in São Paulo we collaborate a lot! I play with Curumin, the guys from Nação Zumbi, Instituto, and so forth. There is a great music scene here, which makes me very proud!

Mission Creek Lineup!

2009-06-30T23:52:35Z

The 13th Annual Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival is nearing blastoff. It includes a pair of experimental music and performance series, Collision and Convergence MMIX, and an outdoor concert at McLaren Park's Jerry Garcia Amphitheater. L.A. women are in the house, thanks to Carla Bozulich's Evangelista and Ann Magnuson, but the SF boys will be bringing the noise, too, led by the likes of Ty Segall and Kelley Stoltz. Behold what's to come:

MISSION CREEK MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL LINEUP
All shows 21+ unless noted.

FRIDAY, JULY 10
The Knockout
SMiLE! presents
Benefit for Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival
9 p.m., $7
Featuring:
Trust
EFFT
Jeepster

SATURDAY, JULY 11
Rooz Cafe
1 p.m. – 11 p.m., $10 suggested donation
Grand Lake
Make Me
White Clouds
Blank Tapes
Colossal Yes
The Splinters:
Ghost in the City (Oakland)
Dashing Suns (Oakland)
Double U

SUNDAY, JULY 12
21 Grand, Oakland www.21grand.org
8 p.m., $7 suggested donation
Djun Djun Drum Heroes
Zoo
Ryder Cooley

MONDAY, JULY 13
Rooz Cafe
Flexions
Young Savage

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
The Knockout
9 p.m.–2 a.m., $7
The Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival and SMiLE! present
The Aerosols
Dreamdate
My First Earthquake
Sonny & The Sunsets

Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
The Double U
Top Critters
The Why Because
Bocal Lobotomy

Ty Segall takes a dip in Mission Creek

El Rio
Colossal Yes
The Love Dimension
123 Picnic
Nick Jaina

THURSDAY, JULY 16
Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
Brandon Nickell
Al Qaeda
Horseflesh
Weird Habit

Cafe du Nord www.cafedunord.com
9 p.m., $10 Adv-$12 Door
The Lumerians
Graveyard (Sweden)
Citadelle

The Eagle
The Oh Sees
Meth Teeth (Portland, OR)
Buzzer
Ty Segall

Kimo’s
9 p.m. – 2 a.m., $7
Schande
Excuses for Skipping

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Adobe Books
Free
Art opening 7 p.m.
Subversive Cursive 8-9 p.m.
Readings by Leigh Gallagher, Chaim Bertman, and Gravity Goldberg
Music by Jessica Pratt

Kimo’s
9 p.m.-2 a.m., $7
Casey & Brian (7-inch release)
Unicorn Basement
Kitten Forever
Elle Nino

The Eagle www.sfeagle.com/
8 p.m., $10
Carla Bozulich/Evangelista
Oaxacan
Brandon Nickell
Orhima David Lim, Jay Korber on drums, Jake "Bran Pos" Rodriguez on vocals
Limousine
Brandon Nickell
Braden Diotte
Art Lessing & The Flower Vato

Carla Bozulich

SATURDAY, JULY 18
McLaren Park, Jerry Garcia Amphitheater
11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., free, all ages
The Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival,
Kymberli's Music Box & SMiLE! present
Dead Meadow (LA)
Kelley Stoltz
Persephone's Bees
The Rubies
Bart Davenport
Xoel Lopez (Spain)
Leopold & His Fiction
Devon Williams (LA)
The Moore Brothers
Brian Glaze & The Night Shift
Coatsie & Mellows
DJ Neil Martinson & Vikki V., & Special Guests
Music - Food - Arts – Fun

Bottom of the Hill
10 p.m., $10 Adv/$12 Door, 18+
Three Mile Pilot
Optiganally Yours

SUNDAY, JULY 19
Bambuddah Lounge & Phoenix Hotel
A&R Party/SOMA Release party
3 p.m. – 8 p.m., free
Fashion show
Craig Ventresco
Xoel Lopez (Spain)
DJ Neil Martinson & Vikki V.

Bottom of the Hill
9 p.m., $10 Adv / $12 Door, all ages
Judgement Day
Triclops
The Definite Articles

Kimo’s
Performer Magazine Showcase
Fauna Valetta
Branden Daniel & Everybody Gets Laid (Seattle)
The Old Stoic
Mode

MONDAY, JULY 20
Cafe du Nord
8 p.m., $10 Adv / $12 Door
Miranda Lee Richards (LA)
Emily Jane White
Helene Renaut
Chloe Makes Music

TUESDAY, JULY 21
Cafe du Nord
8 p.m., $10 Adv/$12 Door
Birds & Batteries
Sam Flaxx Keener
Sean Smith & the Present Moment
17 Evergreen or Assemble Head and the Sunburst Sound
Chris Lacey

The Knockout
9 p.m.–2 a.m., $7
Hot Lunch
Paula Frazer
Casual Fog (Nevada City)
Jeff Ramuno (La)

Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
Inca Ore
The Sarees
Ora Cogan
Black Bow

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
Shy Grape
The Slaves
Kwisp
Temptation
NVH

The Knockout
9 p.m.-2 a.m., $7
Warpaint (LA)
Xoel Lopez
White Music
Moonrats (LA)

El Rio
9 p.m., $5
3 Leafs
Long Legged Woman
Jaws
Sex Worker
DJ Tristes Tropiques

THURSDAY, JULY 23
The Knockout
9 p.m.-2 a.m., $7
The Botticellis
Gravid Wives (featuring Hans Dobbratz & Antonette Goroch)
Family Trea

The Eagle
9 p.m., $10
Extra Action Marching Band
Jessie Evans
Bronze
The Something Experience

Hemlock Tavern
9 p.m., $7
"Awesome Vistas"
Sic Alps
Linda Hagood
Tom Greenwood
Dragging an Ox Through Water

Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
kkn
Jason Grier
Kid Alice

FRIDAY, JULY 24
Argus Lounge
9 p.m., $5
The Drums
Wendy Farina & Bianca Sparta (from T.I.T.S. & Erase Errata respectively)
Improv trio with William Winant
Weasel Walter
& Moe! Staiano
Jason Gonzales

The Knockout
9 p.m.-2 a.m., $7
Hard Place (LA)
Harry Merry (Netherlands)
Agent Ribbons (Sacramento)
Franklin's Mint

El Rio
10 p.m., $7
Hunx & His Punx
Icy Lytes
Myles

Adobe Books
Free
SHIMOMITSU
Softserv

SATURDAY, JULY 25
Bottom of the Hill
9:30 p.m., $10, 18+
Maus Haus
Rainbow Arabia
Pierre Le Robot

Ms. Dynasty Handbag, if you're nasty

Area 51
9 p.m., $10
T.I.T.S.
KIT
The Amazements
White Pee

FILM SERIES, JULY 16-19, AT ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS

SATURDAY, JULY 18
5 p.m., $5
"Glam-o-Rama"
Get out your amethyst-encrusted platform boots & primp your fuschia mullet for a program of rare & lost television appearances, documentaries, videos & live performances from the giants of glam rock: Bowie, Roxie Music, Slade, T Rex, Sweet & many more!

7 p.m., $5
Faust: Nobody Knows if It Ever Happened + Krautrock smorgasbord
A striking document of the ‘90s reunion of legendary Krautrock band Faust, captured live in all their post-industrial glory at the legendary 1996 Faust Garage concert. Program will also feature rare performance footage & interviews from the giants of Krautrock: Kraftwerk, Neu, Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, & many more.

SUNDAY, JULY 19
7 p.m., $5
Arthur co-presents Invasion of the Thunderbolt Pagoda + Paradise Now
Take an alchemical journey with Ira Cohen's Invasion of the Thunderbolt Pagoda, a mythosphere filtered through Mylar and worthy of Kenneth Anger's most lysergic moments, with ritual music provided by ex-Velvet Undergrounder Angus Maclise. Also on the program is Marty Topp's Paradise Now: The Living Theatre in Amerika. "Life, revolution and theater are three words for the same thing: an unconditional NO to the present society" - Julian Beck.

COLLISION LINEUP

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
MAG (Magdalena Ågren)(Sweden)
Nim (Alexander Berman)(Sweden)
darwinsbitch
Oth (Jaqueline and Rose)
DJ Christian Pallin (Koloni)(Sweden)

THURSDAY, JULY 16
Ryder Cooley
Christine Shields
Hora Flora

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Ann Magnuson
Dynasty Handbag
Curly Lou (Clara Gustavsson) (Sweden)

SATURDAY, JULY 18
Zachary Watkins
Jim Haynes
The Toilet (Dennis)(Sweden)

CONVERGENCE MIX MASTER LINEUP

WEDNDESDAY, JULY 15
Peña Pachamama
8 p.m. doors, $12, all ages, world beat
Freddy Clarke (USA)

THURSDAY, JULY 16
Peña Pachamama
8 p.m. doors, $12, all ages, flamenco
Carola Zertuche (Spain/USA)

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Oakland Metro Opera House
8:30 p.m., $15, all ages, post-punk/indie
Inkblots (USA)
Con Of Man (USA)
Dezu (USA)
Los Valenberg (USA)
Sagaval (USA)
Tierra & Fuego (USA)
Qodice (USA)

SATURDAY, JULY 18
Boabab Village (formerly Bollyhood Café)
screenings from 7-10 p.m., free
Rhythmic Uprising pre-party preview (Brazil/USA)

Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival Benefit
Blue Macaw
9 p.m.,$15 Adv/$20 Door, Latin, alternative, electronic, pop
Juan Son (Mexico)
Nacotheque (Mexico/USA)
Pop Noir (USA)
Dj Fancy Guey (Mexico/USA)

THURSDAY, JULY 23
Blue Macaw
8:30 p.m., $10, Latin, alternative, surf rock
The Cuban Cowboys (Cuba/USA)
The Grave Brothers Deluxe (USA)
Carne Cruda (USA)

SATURDAY, JULY 25
Mission Cultural Center For Latino Arts
3:30 p.m., $7, all ages, documentary film
Rhythmic Uprising (Brazil/USA) premier screening

Pics: Pink Martini brings it with SF Symphony

2009-06-30T21:24:31Z

Text and photos by Ariel Soto

Any show that ends with a bunch of people in a conga line has to be great. This past weekend, Pink Martini, a twelve-piece band hailing from Portland Oregon, joined the San Francisco Symphony for an electrifying performance that covered everything from classical concertos to foot stomping Brazilian street music. The range in styles of music this ensemble covers makes a single night at one of their concerts seem like twenty different musical experiences and then some. Being part Puerto Rican, I'm drawn to their more Latin based songs, like "Donde Estas Yolanda" and "Andalucia" but there's really no way not to love all their music, especially when they get a little help for our very own San Francisco Symphony.

Phoenix cancels its Spectrum Fest appearance

2009-06-28T04:08:50Z

French rock band Phoenix has canceled its Spectrum Festival headling performance tonight, June 27, due to illness: word has it vocalist Thomas Mars has a virus. Still, the Spectrum Fest sallies forth - the artists on the bill will continue to perform.

Phoenix's publicists report that all tickets will either be refunded or honored for the band’s next show in San Francisco (ticket holders should see their point of purchase for details). And according to Joan Rosenberg at Goldenvoice, Phoenix's next in SF will be at the Warfield Sept. 18.

Spectrum Festival
Sat/27, 9 p.m., $27.50-$70
Regency Ballroom
Van Ness and Sutter, SF
www.goldenvoice.com

Remember the Time: MJ Mixtape brings it back

2009-06-26T20:30:37Z

By Michael Krimper

If you're having trouble getting through the day after yesterday's great loss, then I got some medicine for you. Listening to Michael Jackson's amazing catalog might just be the most therapeutic way to lift yourself out of your sorrows. I'm currently rocking J Period's excellent mix-tape aptly titled, "The Man Or The Music", blending seamlessly MJ's hits, classics, and demos. Behind the fragmented mirror of his music and troubled life, you can hear a man unsure of himself. MJ's songs are at the heart powerfully uplifting and incandescent in spirit, but they evoke a darker side as well, a deep yearning for love, friendship and a lost innocence stolen away by America's celebrity-making machinery.

Listen to J Period's "Man Or The Music" A Tribute To Michael Jackson. (ZIP file)

Tracklisting:

Workin Day & Night (Demo Version)
Workin Day & Night
P.Y.T. (Re-Edit)
Wanna be Startin Somethin
Mama Say/Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (Interlude)
Don't Stop Til You Get Enough (Demo Version)
Let's Dance (Shake Your Body Down to the Ground)
Dancing Machine
Billy Jean (Demo Version)
Can You Feel It?
Off the Wall
Rock With You
Say Say Say
Smooth Criminal
In the Closet
Remember the Time
I Wanna Be Where You Are
It's Great to be Here (Remix)
Can't Help It
Ah One Two
Heartbreak Hotel
I'll Be There
Right Here Interlude
Human Nature

Nite Trax: Afrominimal "Sun of Gao"

2009-06-26T00:13:36Z

By Marke B

Have to admit I'm more blown away than I thought I wuld be by the new "Sun of Gao" joint by Mr. Raoul K. on local Afro-house wiz DJ Said's recently revived Fatsouls label. It's truly an Afrominimal journey that seems perfectly of the moment. The gently expanding elements never exactly build to a climax (a hallmark of current dance music production) but they flow over you like smiling waves ....

Mr. Raoul K., "Sun of Gao (City Mix) by elpuma70

Said will be virtuosically throwing this and other choice cuts from his stable this Friday at Otis. If you missed it, here's what I wrote in my last Super Ego clubs column (with a couple corrections -- hey I was blazin' at the time). This one's not to be missed for everyone who takes an interest in the growing effervescent confluence of traditional and electronic sounds.

DJ SAID
A decade ago, when the Internet was still booming, Said Adelekan brought some serious dance floor spirit to that oft-soulless go-go period with his local Afro-House movement, his Fatsouls label, and his lovely Atmosphere parties. I'm absolutely delighted that he and Fatsouls have resurfaced — goddess knows we could use a little more Afro-injection — to release a new Fatsouls single called "Sun of Gao" by Mr. Raoul K. Joining Said (and many familiar friendly faces from those days, I hope) will be the luminous DJ Dedan of the great Brothers and Sisters party in Oakland. Expect everything deeply felt, from Afrobeat to minimal techno — oh, and Nigerian legend Rasaki Aladokun on the talking drum.

Friday, June 26, 10 p.m., free. Otis, 25 Maiden Lane, SF. www.otissf.com

Sonic Reducer Overage: Wilco, the Hunches, Chelsea Handler, Lazer Sword, and more

2009-06-25T21:41:27Z

By Kimberly Chun

I’m a music lover... get me out of the house! Guess what, help has arrived - in more forms than we could fit into print.

Sugar and Gold\
The Bay dance fiends refuses to drown in their own shit. With Music for Animals and Castledoor. Thurs/25, 8 p.m., $10. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell, SF. (415) 861-2011.

The Hunches
Knuckling down for a freaked-out, “Disease Free” frenzy, the Portland, Ore.-Bay Area garage oddballs slough into the sunset with a series of farewell shows. With Long Legged Woman and Blimp. Fri/26, 9:30 p.m., $8. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. (415) 923-0923.

Lazer Sword
Watch the Gucci sweats when the locals snip it up at Blow Up. With DJ Dials. Fri/26, 10 p.m., $10-$15. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell, SF. (415) 861-2011.

Extra Action Marching Band
Brassy, sassy, and fronted by lassies, the extra-large Bay Area collective gets down at this after-party, following an appearance with David Byrne at the Greek. With Khi Darag and Brian Kenny Fresno. Fri/26, 9 p.m., $12. Uptown, 1928 Telegraph, Oakl. (510) 451-8100.

Chelsea Handler
Are you there tequila? It’s her, Chelsea, host of Chelsea Lately, in wisecracking repose at the leafy, luxe Saratoga venue. Sat/27, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$99.50. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce, Saratoga. (415) 421-8497.

Wilco
Midtempo rockers, dulcet harmonies, and an is-that-all-there-is title – Wilco (Nonesuch) reaches for the comfort-first equivalent of mac and cheese and Monday Night Football. Fri/26, 7:30 p.m., $39.50. Mountain Winery, Saratoga. Sat/27, 7:30 p.m., $39.50. Greek Theater, UC Berkeley, Berk. (415) 421-8497.

Geographer
Map it out: creamy SF indie pop finds itself strafed by synths and strings. With Jered Mees and Photons. Tues/30, 9 p.m., $6. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. (415) 923-0923.

SCENE: Pacific Sound takes it outside

2009-06-25T19:27:34Z

Interview by Marke B. Photo by Alex Warnow. From our summer SCENE: The Guardian Guide to Nightlife and Glamour -- on stands in the Guardian now.

For 15 years, the much-loved and lovable warm-weather Sunset parties have shaken various hills, isles, parks, patios, and boats with funky, techy house sounds. Launched by underground hero DJ Galen in 1994 (has it really been that long?), the outdoor Sunset gigs have amassed a huge following of excited party newbies and familiar old-school faces — and now their kids! Early on in the game, Galen was joined by fellow Bay favorite DJs Solar and J-Bird, and the three — collectively known as Pacific Sound (www.pacificsound.net) — have kept the vibe strong ever since. This year saw a remarkable expansion on the Sunset fan base: attendance at the season opener at Stafford Lake reached almost 4,000, and Pacific Sound just launched an annual — and truly moving — party on Treasure Island that had multiple generations putting their hands in the air. "The vision was to take electronic music out of the dirty warehouses, away from the dodgy promoters, and into the sunshine," says J-Bird. Summer's just begun, and Pacific Sound, with several gangbuster parties lined up, keeps delivering.

SFBG You guys have been a major part of the party scene here for a while. What do you think of it right now?

Pacific Sound There's a foundation for creativity in San Francisco — that is something that will never change. Also, there definitely is quite a bit more international talent coming here than 10 years ago. It's this constant exposure to musical stylings from around the world that will facilitate a thriving scene. The recent crackdowns by the SFPD and ABC may be dampening some spirits, but it will never stop our creative heritage.

SFBG You mean all the pressure on venues lately ...

Pacific Sound Yes. In a city that has such a creative past, where so much musical talent has emerged, it's strange that there's such a strong force trying stifle it. It's hard to understand when SF has trouble keeping a handle on violent crimes and nightlife is such a draw for tourists and revenue for the city.

SFBG You guys are OK, though, right?

Pacific Sound We used to be more renegade and take more chances on locations, but we've always had a good rapport with the authorities. At this point we get permits for all our events.

SFBG Do you worry about the scene's future?

Pacific Sound There is a ton of potential here. Until recently there was a healthy underground party scene. If things are forced back into the clubs there have to be better venues. We are talking about medium size, 300 to 500 people, clubs with state-of-the-art sound systems. Right now there's no club that focuses on sound quality, caters to an underground urban crowd, and is geared toward house and techno. Any club that has that now usually caters to the dress-up or bridge-and-tunnel crowd. But San Francisco could easily re-emerge as the pinnacle place in the western hemisphere for dance music labels, artists, and parties — as it once was in the '90s.

SFBG Share some favorite Sunset memories.

Pacific Sound For the first two years we did the party every Sunday in the Berkeley Marina for free. Everyone would run up the hill right before sunset to watch the view, dance, and then scream and run down the hill back to the dance area for more. Our two-year anniversary party was on the spring equinox, right on the water at Point Molate in Richmond. We set up three turntables. At the actual sunset, there was a lunar eclipse on one side of sky, and the Hale-Bop comet on the other side. Magical!

SUNSET INDEPENDANCE W/ OCTAVE ONE

Saturday, July 4, 4 p.m.–2 a.m., $10–$20

Jelly's

295 Terry Francois Blvd, SF

www.jellyscafe.com

SUNSET CAMPOUT 2009

Friday, July 17–Sunday, July 19, $65–$95

Belden, CA

www.pacificsound.net

SCENE: Deeandroid and Celskiii put the needle on

2009-06-25T01:02:43Z

Interview by Billy Jam. Photo by Leo Herrera. From SCENE: The Guardian Guide to Nightlife and Glamour -- on stands in the Guardian this week.

Like so much music and art these days, turntablism is easier to find online than in a public space. A turntablist can easily record their scratch practice session, upload it to YouTube, and sit back and wait for feedback to show up on their screen. But for sheer enjoyment, creative interaction, and advancement of the art form, turntable pyrotechnics really need to be experienced in the live, raw setting of DJ battles or sessions. That's why Bay Area turntablist duo Deeandroid and Celskiii recently decided to revive their hands-on scratch DJ club night, Skratchpad. Bay Area turntable fiends, missing the party's lively conviviality since it shut down earlier in the decade, were getting antsy.

The super-skilled, Vallejo-born female scratch duo who've toured with the likes of KRS-One now tears it up twice monthly at the Cellar in San Francisco. There, DJs from the aspiring to the established (Swift Rock, Shortkut, and Teeko have each turned in memorable sets) join the two and others like Winst-One and Bizibeats to carry on the sacred Bay scratch tradition. Skratchpad boasts two rooms, one with open tables for guest beat-juggling and the other for just plain getting down, and takes mighty inspiration from legendary late-1990s hip-hop joint Beat Lounge, where Deeandroid and Celskiii — and many others on the scene — got their start. Skratchpad even hosts the occasional DJ Q&A session, but all answers must be phrased in the form of turntable pyrotechnics only.

SFBG Why revive Skratchpad now?

Celskiii If we want to keep the music and culture alive, then we have to pass it on. A lot of younger cats didn't grow up during that raw '90s era, but that doesn't mean they can't experience what we were so lucky to have been exposed to.

SFBG How exactly does the open turntable policy work?

Deeandroid You must bring your own needles, headphones, and records, sign up on the list, and wait your turn for the MC host of the night to call the DJ names. We have seven turntables and five mixers usually for the open turn session. DJs rotate after they do their thing twice or we tell them to switch.

SFBG Is it ever a problem with some DJ hogging the turns?

Deeandroid Yes, there'll always be some who forget their DJ etiquette or need to learn it. (Laughs.) So Skratchpad is a great spot to learn how to jam and interact with others, and in front of a crowd.

Celskiii Hmmm, maybe we should do something like the Project Blowed sessions where they say "Pass the mic!"

Deeandroid Plus DJs are sometimes drunk and can't keep track of it, which is why we have an MC join us in hosting. So far we've had Bas One, BBoy Profo, and Johnny Krush of Masterplan help out.

SFBG Can people dance to scratching?

Celskiii I remember the first party, a group of friends came into the scratch room and they were getting hyphy! That was dope to see! But then they left and went to dance in the other room.

Deeandroid People can dance to it. B-boys and B-girls show up and do their thang. It's totally danceable. But the general public really doesn't get to see scratching at all so usually they're just in awe. But as [Skratchpad resident] DJ Bern says, "Cut some rug or cut some wax!"

SFBG Skratchpad is free, so that means it's all for the love, right?

Celskiii Yeah, a lot of us are doing this out of love. We aren't making any money. We're still trying to get enough so we can print flyers from the 10 percent at the bar. (Laughs).

SKRATCHPAD

First and third Tuesdays, 10 p.m., free

The Cellar

685 Sutter Street, SF.

www.myspace.com/celskiiianddeeandroid

Interview: Billy Jam
Photography: Leo Herrera

SCENE: Jah Warrior Shelter Hi Fi lights up

2009-06-24T20:39:17Z

Interview by Marke B. Photography by Keeney + Law. From our Summer SCENE: The Guardian Guide to Nightlfe and Glamour. On stands in the Guardian now!

Reggae: still fresh? Yes. A lot of stereotypes have attached themselves to reggae over the years, not all of them good or true. But this is the Bay, a blazing nexus for the sound, and a spirit of liveliness and innovation can always be found here — especially if members of the classic Jah Warrior Shelter Hi Fi sound system are twisting it. Since 1988, the crew has been rocksteady on the roots scene — and hardly a evening goes by that you won't find Rocker T, Jah Yzer, I-vier, or Irie Dole lighting up the decks or the mic with his unique approach somewhere. Serious with that: besides Jah Warrior Shelter's weekly Bless Up joint at Milk every Tuesday (celebrating its five-year anniversary July 14) and Toppa Top blast at Club Six every Thursday night, the crew brings the fire to EndUp, Laszlo, Luka's, Pier 23, Oasis, Jelly's ... I-Vier co-helms KPFA's Reggae Express show with Spliff Skankin, the sound system has snagged numerous soundclash competition titles, and Jah Warrior Shelter mixtapes flow like rolling verbiage throughout the scene. Check out their mad productivity at www.jahwarriorshelter.com.

SFBG Why do you think reggae has found such a home here?

Irie Dole San Francisco has always been a hub for reggae music and performers. The hippie movement's peace and love vibration naturally attracted Rastas — foundation artists Jacob Miller and Hugh Mundell were known to be around the city quite a bit. With San Francisco's beautiful landscape, healthy food, and lax weed laws, reggae just fell into place with a lot of people of our generation. California is the ganja capital of the world, the Bay Area is the reggae capitol of California — San Francisco is the place to be.

SFBG Have you seen the scene evolve at all?

Irie Dole It has definitely evolved over my short career — there used to be more Caribbean folks here who fed the scene with personal and social interests and raised the demand for events and goods. Without the core Caribbean [being so] massive anymore, and the city cracking down on the nightlife, central venues like Maritime Hall and events like Reggae in the Park have fallen by the wayside. But the reggae community is always there, always younger folks who have been brought up on the One Love mentality, with motivation to make things better.

I-Vier It's good and growing. I'm always surprised by how many people are in tune with Jamaican and reggae dancehall out here. It seems as though every day there's a new person that connects. It's all about the youth, because they are obviously the future. One of my favorite things is to hear friends say that their little brother, sister, and even students borrow/steal one of our mix CDs. It's good to know that positive music is reaching Bay Area youth.

SFBG What do you think of dubstep, which has its roots in reggae and dub music?

Irie Dole Reggae has spawned so many variations that I wasn't shocked when I heard about dubstep — but I was surprised when I heard how unique it is. Someone really stretched the boundaries with that one.
I-Vier Dubstep is a newer subgenre of reggae that is gaining huge momentum.
I think of it as wicked hardcore steppers-style infused with house. Definitely influenced by roots reggae, but there's also lots of classic and current dancehall dubstep remixes too.

SFBG Your events are more lively than some expect ...

Irie Dole Our parties our always high energy and positive. We pride ourselves on pleasing the crowd — they come first. People also check us out to hear what's new or what's poppin'. Jah Yzer keeps it nicer, mixing all the classics just right, I-Vier busts the newest tunes, and Irie Dole makes sure the party never stops.
I-Vier What sets us apart from a lot of other reggae and dancehall DJs is our ability to read crowds and mix new with old. You can find us playing all kinds parties from dub to hardcore dancehall, hip-hop, even salsa.
Jah Yzer We mix with the fire. People know when they come see us, they're gonna dance.

BLESS UP
Tuesdays, 9 p.m., $7
Milk
1840 Haight, SF.
www.milksf.com

TOPPA TOP
Thursdays, 9 p.m., $5
Club Six
66 Sixth St., SF.
www.clubsix1.com

Super Ego: Grab your Ongina, it's Pride

2009-06-23T00:34:03Z

By Marke B.

We all love drag gadabout Monistat -- even if we want to pinch her little chubby cheeks to death for sending us 20 texts a week demanding to be on the Guardian cover. Love! Now, she's making up for all her cray-cray by starting a weekly Tuesday night affair called Chaser, which offers a safe haven at EndUp for transgender people on the prowl, and dishes up some fierce drag performances to boot (recent theme nights: "The Aporkalypse: Swine Flu vs Avian Flu" and "Steampunk Circus.") Basically, it's almost beloved Trannyshack all over again. And Monistat possesses some real talent.

To kick off Pride -- or continue kicking off, if, like me, you went to far too many Pride kickoffs this past weekend (Kick it already, Lucy!) -- she's bringing in someone, someone apparently big, from RuPaul's Drag Race to make us all a bit fiercer, if perhaps also more amateur-fabulous. This person is named Ongina.

I think she's gonna do a few numbers? According to her bio: From one of the thousands of tiny islands in the Philippines comes a mighty, powerful force called Ongina! She's a mighty wind!

Chaser with Ongina
Tue/23, 10 p.m., $10
The EndUp
401 Sixth St., SF
www.theendup.com

Sonic Reducer Overage II: Elvis Costello, Starfucker, Nihlotep

2009-06-22T19:57:44Z

By Kimberly Chun

Get out and lend an ear - it’ll be returned, perhaps changed. Here are more intriguing shows that didn’t make it to print.

Elvis Costello
Certified rock genius - up in the house! No secrets here: in true diehard music lover form, Declan MacManus gives back to music emporiums with his one-day “Amoeba Music Tour” performances here in the Haight and then at Amoeba Hollywood. Expect him to play acoustic versions of tunes from his new Secret, Profane and Sugarcane (Hear Music) alongside Jim Lauderdale, and to sign copies of the CD (copies purchased at Amoeba come with a poster silkscreened for the event). Mon/22, noon, free. Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, SF. (415) 831-1200.

Nihlotep performing Mosaic and studio clip

Nihlotep
Drink in the unearthly screeches and high-drama doom metal sturm und drang from the San Jose group. With Vesterian and Condemned to Live. Tues/23, 9 p.m., $6. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, SF. (415) 923-0923.

Starfucker
The Portland, Ore., combo with the oh-so-naughty moniker has somewhat innocuous origins: Josh Hodges started out with just a borrowed drum set, loop pedal, and a mic - one-off, one-man entertainment for a house party. Now, with the addition of three bandmates, Starfucker is busy reproducing the 8-bit electro pop-dance punk off its mini-album, Jupiter (Badman).
With Atole and White Cloud. Tues/23, 9 p.m., $10. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. (415) 621-4455.

Latin Project's slick, sulty "Musica De La Noche"

2009-06-20T21:21:40Z

By Michael Krimper

I’m bumping the Latin Project’s second full length record, Musica De La Noche, in my headphones right now. The signature Latin-Electronica blended sound is the brainchild of British producers, Jez Colin and Matt Cooper, who now call Los Angeles home. Listening to the music transports me to the surreal place of one of those Hollywood film sequences where the slick talker dude walks into the smoky (not cigarette smokey, but fog-machine smokey) disco ball club where epileptic lights flash all over the sweaty dance floor. All of a sudden, a sultry red light shines on a sexy maroon lipped lady, and the eyes of our two protagonists lock in a moment of tidal crashing bass. Magnetism.

Latin Project, "Musica De La Noche" by elpuma70

For this release, the Latin Project produce a finely polished fusion of house, broken beat, Afro-beat inspired polyrhythms, Latin grooves and vibes, with an occasional sprinkle of buttered hip-hop lyricism. The bass hits hard in that clean type of way and the jazzy horn sections uplift the mood, crafting easy going, dance friendly grooves. Some of the remixes venture into more experimental electronic territory, hinting towards a fresh Latin sound with coarser curves and layered intricacy. But most of the night music lives comfortably in a world without ghosts or werewolves or any other eerie spirits lurking around the corner, where your problems disappear in the heat of dance floor and your feet take you away.

Renegade Rockers Hold Down 26 Years of SF Breakdancing

2009-06-19T00:16:48Z

By Michael Krimper

Renegade Rockers in action.

When a breakdance battle erupts -- whether in a club or gym, or on the block or Youtube -- heads heed and take note. In a swirling cypher, b-boys and b-girls display their skills on the floor in a back and forth rhythm, showcasing commando techniques and more daring, original styles to the appraisal of the crowd and their fellow crew members, and of course for themselves.

The electric dance style has come a long way since its formative years in the boroughs of 1970’s New York. The West Coast, and in particular the San Francisco Bay Area, has been at the center of many of the innovations contributing to the dynamic evolution of breakdancing. One of the legendary local crews still active, the Renegade Rockers, have been breaking boundaries since their founding at SF City College in 1983.

That longstanding history informs Renegades’ consistent dedication to the culture. In their upcoming 26th anniversary event, the crew plans to showcase the skills which keep them competitive with the top players of the worldwide breakdance community. “Organizing the Renegade Rockers anniversary events encourages the dance scene to keep pushing the limits and inspires new generations to come,” team captain Wicket tells me. Beyond the high energy battle competitions, the crew plans to spread the love by hosting a series of panel discussions on the history of street dance and workshops covering the basics, from foundational breaking to popping, locking, and rocking.

Not enough of a breakdance extravaganza for your weekend? Well, the all female collective of youth outreach coordinators and dynamite B-girl locals, Sisterz of the Underground, will celebrate its eighth anniversary as the official opener to the Renegade events.

Sisterz opening party
Fri/19, 9 p.m., $5
Club Six
60 Sixth St., SF
(415) 863-1221

Press Day
Sat/20, noon, $10 ($25, two-day pass)
Richmond Recreation Center
251 18th Ave., SF
(415) 666-7020

Competitions
Sun/21, noon, $20 ($25, two-day pass)
715 Harrison, SF
www.myspace.com/aintdatatripplethreat

Renegades after parties
Sat/20-Sun/21, 9 p.m., $5
Element Lounge
1695 Polk St., SF
(415) 440-1125