Didn't I? - Darondo
On your mark, get set, go! The holiday party season is off and running. If you can't get invites to the Yelp party at the Exploratorium or the SF Weekly gig at the Aquarium, here's some other ideas.
Tuesday
The Sea and Cake's albums can be measured much in the same way as baseball: in inches. Meaning that each of the Chicago band's discs sound incrementally different from each other. Their latest Thrill Jockey release, Car Alarm, may be their most straightforward rock record since The Biz, with narry a gauzy synth part or breezy acoustic melody in sight. That said, the songs do all blend together after a while -- meaning the band will sound better in concert, when they can play material from all their albums.
The Sea and Cake, The Uglysuit @ Great American Music Hall; doors 7 p.m., tickets $20.
Wednesday
You couldn't ask for a cuter local pop show this week than this one. I've enjoyed the Botticellis' surfy orchestral-pop and the Old-Fashioned Way's Magnetic Fields-ian epics for ages now, but I'm intrigued by the chance to see My First Earthquake for the first time. The latter's adorable boy-girl vocal interplay and dorky keyboard bleeting give the band a goofy '80s vibe, with silly lyrics mentioning new england chowder, teleprompters, and designer boyfriends adding to the fun vibe.
The Botticellis, The Old-Fashioned Way, My First Earthquake @ Bottom of the Hill; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $8.
Thursday
After releasing an entire album devoted to the heady topic of Politics, Sebastien Tellier decided to focus on a more southerly inspired subject. On his new disc Sexuality, the French producer offers gauzy, late night soundtracks in the same vein as Georgio Moroder (even providing a gasping Donna Summer-ish vocal on one track). As sex goes, this is pretty playful stuff -- one song is called "Sexual Sportswear" -- which hopefully means it'll go down as smooth as velour when played live.
Sebastien Tellier, Hearts Revolution, Lilofee, Safety Scissors @ Mezzanine; 9 p.m., $15 advance.
Friday
Back in the '70s, Darondo released three stunningly good soul singles, none of which were successful. He dropped out of sight, working as a cable TV show, a physical therapist, and, as rumor has it, a pimp. Ubiquity Records reissued the local artist's singles last year, and he's been playing live ever since, usually supported by local soul stoner Nino Moschella. Darondo may not be as spry onstage as he used to be, but he sure does put on a sartorial display -- and his pipes sound as rough and raggedly soulful as ever.
Darondo, Wallpaper, Nino Moschella @ Slims; doors 9 p.m., tickets $16 adv/$21 door.
Saturday
Local trio the Devil Makes Three plays both kinds of music: country and folk. Okay, that's not quite exact enough. The guitar-and-bass-and-guitar ensemble makes a kind of traditional music that's fit for dancing like a hippie chick -- spinning and dipping and doing the chicken dance. It's like the Grateful Dead without either of the drummers, or a bucket of greasy, good tastin' fried chicken without the vegetables. Stripped down and down home, foot stomping and whiskey drinking tunes.
The Devil Makes Three, The Brothers Comatose @ Starry Plough, Berkeley; doors 9 p.m., tickets $15.75.
Sunday
I've been waiting for a DJ night like Shuckin' & Jivin' forever. Every first Sunday, DJs Oran and Dr. Scott turn the Knockout into an old-time jukejoint, playing original 78s of late '40s and '50 jump blues, gritty R&B, and stomping jazz. Big Maybelle, Chuck Willis, Etta James, Hadda Brooks, BB King will all be there, and you should be too.
Shuckin' & Jivin' @ the Knockout; doors 9 p.m., free!
The Sea and Cake's albums can be measured much in the same way as baseball: in inches. Meaning that each of the Chicago band's discs sound incrementally different from each other. Their latest Thrill Jockey release, Car Alarm, may be their most straightforward rock record since The Biz, with narry a gauzy synth part or breezy acoustic melody in sight. That said, the songs do all blend together after a while -- meaning the band will sound better in concert, when they can play material from all their albums.
The Sea and Cake, The Uglysuit @ Great American Music Hall; doors 7 p.m., tickets $20.
Wednesday
You couldn't ask for a cuter local pop show this week than this one. I've enjoyed the Botticellis' surfy orchestral-pop and the Old-Fashioned Way's Magnetic Fields-ian epics for ages now, but I'm intrigued by the chance to see My First Earthquake for the first time. The latter's adorable boy-girl vocal interplay and dorky keyboard bleeting give the band a goofy '80s vibe, with silly lyrics mentioning new england chowder, teleprompters, and designer boyfriends adding to the fun vibe.
The Botticellis, The Old-Fashioned Way, My First Earthquake @ Bottom of the Hill; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $8.
Thursday
After releasing an entire album devoted to the heady topic of Politics, Sebastien Tellier decided to focus on a more southerly inspired subject. On his new disc Sexuality, the French producer offers gauzy, late night soundtracks in the same vein as Georgio Moroder (even providing a gasping Donna Summer-ish vocal on one track). As sex goes, this is pretty playful stuff -- one song is called "Sexual Sportswear" -- which hopefully means it'll go down as smooth as velour when played live.
Sebastien Tellier, Hearts Revolution, Lilofee, Safety Scissors @ Mezzanine; 9 p.m., $15 advance.
Friday
Back in the '70s, Darondo released three stunningly good soul singles, none of which were successful. He dropped out of sight, working as a cable TV show, a physical therapist, and, as rumor has it, a pimp. Ubiquity Records reissued the local artist's singles last year, and he's been playing live ever since, usually supported by local soul stoner Nino Moschella. Darondo may not be as spry onstage as he used to be, but he sure does put on a sartorial display -- and his pipes sound as rough and raggedly soulful as ever.
Darondo, Wallpaper, Nino Moschella @ Slims; doors 9 p.m., tickets $16 adv/$21 door.
Saturday
Local trio the Devil Makes Three plays both kinds of music: country and folk. Okay, that's not quite exact enough. The guitar-and-bass-and-guitar ensemble makes a kind of traditional music that's fit for dancing like a hippie chick -- spinning and dipping and doing the chicken dance. It's like the Grateful Dead without either of the drummers, or a bucket of greasy, good tastin' fried chicken without the vegetables. Stripped down and down home, foot stomping and whiskey drinking tunes.
The Devil Makes Three, The Brothers Comatose @ Starry Plough, Berkeley; doors 9 p.m., tickets $15.75.
Sunday
I've been waiting for a DJ night like Shuckin' & Jivin' forever. Every first Sunday, DJs Oran and Dr. Scott turn the Knockout into an old-time jukejoint, playing original 78s of late '40s and '50 jump blues, gritty R&B, and stomping jazz. Big Maybelle, Chuck Willis, Etta James, Hadda Brooks, BB King will all be there, and you should be too.
Shuckin' & Jivin' @ the Knockout; doors 9 p.m., free!
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