I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya - Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs
Here's a few ideas on how to gear up for -- and wind down from -- this week's turkey devouring.
Tuesday
It seems like the local underground rock scene moves in phases, and the latest might be dubbed Hail the Blowing Hawkwind. The Lumerians are a great example of the recent trend towards mind-expanding keyboards, speaker-erupting guitars, and expansive, Mitch Mitchell-esque (RIP) drums. The local quarter (which also gives a loving nod to Krautrock pioneers like Can) are here joined by fellow travelers Nudity (an Olympia outfit featuring ex-members of Tight Bros From Way Back When) and Oakland's snarling blues cheerers Freeball and Lightning.
Lumerians, Nudity, Freeball and Lightning @ Hemlock Tavern; doors 9 p.m., tickets $6.
Wednesday
While Lyrics Born may not be better than sex and drugs, as he suggests on his recent Everywhere at Once disc (his first outside the Quannum circle), the Bay Area MC's raps do go down as easy as an elevator. That said, the production on his new disc is mighty slick, as if he were taking tips from '80s Debarge or late-period Funkadelic. If that's your kind of "thang" (or if you really wish there were more songs pointing out how women take too long getting dressed), you'll be in hog heaven here.
Lyrics Born, Raashan Ahmad, Mavrik @ the Independent; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $25.
The '80s will never go away, which is lucky if you, too, aren't going away for the holiday this week. "New Wave City" and "popscene" have put together the 1st annual SF Thanksgiving Orphans Ball, featuring DJs from both long-running parties spinning '80s hits in between live sets by '80s minded acts the Lovemakers (synth rock), Hottub (grrl rap), and Wallpaper (vocoder R&B). Skinny ties a must.
The 1st annual SF Thanksgiving Orphans Ball w/ The Lovemakers, Hottub, Wallpaper @ Mezzanine; doors 9 p.m., advanced tickets $10.
Friday
At this point, Holly Golightly has released 19 records, most of which are like toads: You can't tell the difference unless you lick them. The one-time Headcoatee's latest, Dirt Don't Hurt, is a duo effort with her hubbie, Lawyer Dave (who, most likely got that name from bar tending rather than passing the bar). The disc finds her ploughing the old-timey country and blues idioms of her last few efforts, offering more of stripped down, traditional vibe than the garage and girl-groups of early recordings. Not as great to these ears, but she still has a lovely voice full of whiskey, menace, and regret.
Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs, Sassy!!!, Delaney Davidson @ Bottom of the Hill; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $12.
Saturday
Of all the '80s altrockers, Bob Mould seemed the least likely to go the DJ route. Husker Du, Sugar, and his solo stuff couldn't be farther from the oonce-oonce of house and techno. However, a move to Washington, DC, Mould hooked up with musician Rich Morel, and the pair soon started their regular dance party "Blowoff." His following has been mostly gay in DC, but it expands when he tours, as does the duo's playlist, digging into everything from indie-rock remixes of MGMT to the gauzy synth-pop of M83 to the disco-house of Hercules & Love Affair. And maybe "If I Can't Change Your Mind," done up as techno, if we're lucky.
"Blowoff" @ Slims; doors 10 p.m., tickets $15.
Sunday
England seems to have developed into one big soul factory of late. Even acts like London's Herbaliser, which has been making jazzy hip-hop since 1995, have become converts. On their new disc, Same As It Never Was, the large ensemble adds soul belter Jessica Darling and beefs up their horn section, coming off like a British version of Sharon Jones. This band should've scored the new James Bond film.
The Herbaliser, DJ Shortkut @ the Independent; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $15.
Monday
People are always combining folk and electronica, but few ever attempt to stick country in their peanut butter, er, synthesizers. Which just makes Birds & Batteries stand out that much more. The local quartet places organ buzz right alongside cicadas, applying plaintive pedal steel atop pitter-pattering drum beats, as leader Mike Sempert croons in a sweet, sad voice. Mmm, tastes good.
Birds & Batteries, Strip Mall Architecture, Junior Panthers, DJ Elise @ Cafe Du Nord; doors 7 p.m., tickets $10.
It seems like the local underground rock scene moves in phases, and the latest might be dubbed Hail the Blowing Hawkwind. The Lumerians are a great example of the recent trend towards mind-expanding keyboards, speaker-erupting guitars, and expansive, Mitch Mitchell-esque (RIP) drums. The local quarter (which also gives a loving nod to Krautrock pioneers like Can) are here joined by fellow travelers Nudity (an Olympia outfit featuring ex-members of Tight Bros From Way Back When) and Oakland's snarling blues cheerers Freeball and Lightning.
Lumerians, Nudity, Freeball and Lightning @ Hemlock Tavern; doors 9 p.m., tickets $6.
Wednesday
While Lyrics Born may not be better than sex and drugs, as he suggests on his recent Everywhere at Once disc (his first outside the Quannum circle), the Bay Area MC's raps do go down as easy as an elevator. That said, the production on his new disc is mighty slick, as if he were taking tips from '80s Debarge or late-period Funkadelic. If that's your kind of "thang" (or if you really wish there were more songs pointing out how women take too long getting dressed), you'll be in hog heaven here.
Lyrics Born, Raashan Ahmad, Mavrik @ the Independent; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $25.
The '80s will never go away, which is lucky if you, too, aren't going away for the holiday this week. "New Wave City" and "popscene" have put together the 1st annual SF Thanksgiving Orphans Ball, featuring DJs from both long-running parties spinning '80s hits in between live sets by '80s minded acts the Lovemakers (synth rock), Hottub (grrl rap), and Wallpaper (vocoder R&B). Skinny ties a must.
The 1st annual SF Thanksgiving Orphans Ball w/ The Lovemakers, Hottub, Wallpaper @ Mezzanine; doors 9 p.m., advanced tickets $10.
Friday
At this point, Holly Golightly has released 19 records, most of which are like toads: You can't tell the difference unless you lick them. The one-time Headcoatee's latest, Dirt Don't Hurt, is a duo effort with her hubbie, Lawyer Dave (who, most likely got that name from bar tending rather than passing the bar). The disc finds her ploughing the old-timey country and blues idioms of her last few efforts, offering more of stripped down, traditional vibe than the garage and girl-groups of early recordings. Not as great to these ears, but she still has a lovely voice full of whiskey, menace, and regret.
Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs, Sassy!!!, Delaney Davidson @ Bottom of the Hill; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $12.
Saturday
Of all the '80s altrockers, Bob Mould seemed the least likely to go the DJ route. Husker Du, Sugar, and his solo stuff couldn't be farther from the oonce-oonce of house and techno. However, a move to Washington, DC, Mould hooked up with musician Rich Morel, and the pair soon started their regular dance party "Blowoff." His following has been mostly gay in DC, but it expands when he tours, as does the duo's playlist, digging into everything from indie-rock remixes of MGMT to the gauzy synth-pop of M83 to the disco-house of Hercules & Love Affair. And maybe "If I Can't Change Your Mind," done up as techno, if we're lucky.
"Blowoff" @ Slims; doors 10 p.m., tickets $15.
Sunday
England seems to have developed into one big soul factory of late. Even acts like London's Herbaliser, which has been making jazzy hip-hop since 1995, have become converts. On their new disc, Same As It Never Was, the large ensemble adds soul belter Jessica Darling and beefs up their horn section, coming off like a British version of Sharon Jones. This band should've scored the new James Bond film.
The Herbaliser, DJ Shortkut @ the Independent; doors 8:30 p.m., tickets $15.
Monday
People are always combining folk and electronica, but few ever attempt to stick country in their peanut butter, er, synthesizers. Which just makes Birds & Batteries stand out that much more. The local quartet places organ buzz right alongside cicadas, applying plaintive pedal steel atop pitter-pattering drum beats, as leader Mike Sempert croons in a sweet, sad voice. Mmm, tastes good.
Birds & Batteries, Strip Mall Architecture, Junior Panthers, DJ Elise @ Cafe Du Nord; doors 7 p.m., tickets $10.
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