The Scene: Free Live Music in San Francisco

Tuesday, June 8th, unwind from a stressful mid-term Election Day with some rockin’ local bands at Cafe Royale. Here’s the skinny:

Artist/Event:  Songwriters’ Circle
Venue:  Cafe Royale, 800 Post Street (@ Leavenworth)
Genre:  Acoustic/Americana/Folk/Pop/Rock/Singer-Songwriter
Time:  8:00 p.m.
Anything Else?:  The featured artists are David Luning, KC Turner, Wish Inflicted, and Jeff Campbell. If you’re a fan of singer/songwriter music, complete with catchy guitar riffs and pop-flavored lyrics, this is your show!  Plus, check out these artists’ pages; there’s some serious eye candy action goin’ on here! And, if you’re lucky, Jeff Campbell will sing “Thank You” — his awesome acoustic cover of Led Zeppelin’s gorgeous, soulful tune that I just can’t get enough of these days! True, the venue doesn’t exactly have great parking anywhere nearby, so public transportation is highly recommended, and no fewer than five Muni bus lines stop within two blocks of the place (altho’ BART is — yikes! — eight blocks away). This’ll be a great, foot-stompin’, American beer-swillin’ kind of night. Who knows? You might run into The Scene while you’re there! (You never know; it could happen.) One more nice thing to note: the venue is a bar AND a cafe, so all ages are welcome!

Tomorrow night, there’s a ridiculous number of Not Quite Free shows that are going to be nothing short of awesomeness personified. I couldn’t choose just one, so I chose three. Y’gotcher punk, y’gotcher americana, and y’gotcher Brazilian soul. What more could you ask for? Also, in a not-really-live-music-but-too-freakin’-cool-not-to-mention vein, the Museum of Performance and Design right now has this kick-ass exhibit going on through August 28th, and it’s called “Somethin’s Happening Here: Bay Area Rock ‘n’ Roll 1963-73.” Technically, admission is free, but they do have a suggested donation of $5, which ain’t so bad! Here’s an excerpt from the exhibit’s web page:

MPD charts the magic time in the Bay Area rock scene from the folk-infused early ‘60s to the last days of the Fillmore West an unprecedented, in-depth examination of this incredibly diverse era—charting its trajectory, identifying its causes and effects, dispelling its myths, and offering a fresh look at this well-known subject.

[...]

Seminal local bands like The Beau Brummels, The Charlatans, Country Joe and the Fish, and Quicksilver Messenger Service receive their due alongside better-known Bay Area names like The Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Grateful Dead and Sly and the Family Stone. Above all, the show celebrates the timeless appeal of this signal moment in 20th-century popular culture, enveloping visitors in a blaze of sight and sound.

How cool does this sound? I mean, seriously! So, get your pretty little behind down there and check it out. Oh, and here’s a link to the exhibit’s web page, where you’ll find lots more cool info on what exactly is on display.

O.K., enough with the pleasantries; let’s get down to business. Here are my picks for live music in our beautiful city for Wednesday, February 24th:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24th:

LIVE:
Artist/Event: JimBo Trout and the Fishpeople
Genre: Americana/Bluegrass/Western Swing
Venue: Johnny Foley’s Irish House
Location: 243 O’Farrell St. (between Cyril Magnin & Powell Sts.)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: Our buddy, Jimmy Sweetwater of The Mission Three, also plays with this ensemble. What might that mean? Oh, baby, it means it’s gonna be kick-ass music, stompin’ feet, and a good time had by all! Keep in mind, though, that this venue ain’t y’mama’s dive bar, so expect to spend a little more than you may have originally hoped to.

DJ:
Artist/Event: DJ Deathstar
Genre: Electronic
Venue: Beauty Bar
Location: 2299 Mission St. (between 18th & 19th Sts.)
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: Nope!

NOT QUITE FREE:
Artist/Event: Boca do Rio
Genre: Brazilian Soul
Venue: Boom Boom Room
Location: 1601 Fillmore St. (at Geary Blvd.)
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Anything Else?: Cover is $7. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 9:30 p.m.

Artist/Event: Left Alone, Bum City Saints, Hounds and Harlots
Genre: Punk/Rock/Ska
Venue: Thee Parkside
Location: 1601 Fillmore St. (at Geary Blvd.)
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: Cover is $8. Please note that this is an all-ages show.

Artist/Event:  Sioux City Kid & The Revolutionary Ramblers, Vandella, Thee Landlords
Genre: Americana/Folk/Indie/Rock
Venue: Red Devil Lounge
Location: 1695 Polk St. (at Clay St.)
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: Cover is $5 in advance or $8 at the door. Please note that you MUST have your ID with you to gain entry; they’re very particular at this venue!

So, just so you know, there’s a ton of music happening right now in the city! Tomorrow night (Tuesday) is the official opening night for Noise Pop 2010, which is, oh, I dunno — awesome! There are going to be so many bands in the area, it’s a live music lover’s wet dream. All of that being said, there’s plenty of non-festival shows to go around — trust me! So here’s a few for your listening pleasure:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd:

LIVE:
Artist/Event: West Coast Songwriters Competition (S.F. Division)
Genre: Singer-Songwriter/Blues/Roots/Americana/Rock/Folk
Venue: Cafe Royale
Location: 800 PostStreet (between Hyde & Leavenworth Streets)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Anything Else?: Every month, the West Coast Songwriters organization holds ten songwriting competitions up and down the West Coast. Performers pay $5, but audience members get in for free — what a deal!

Artist/Event: Graham Connah
Genre: Jazz
Venue: Revolution Cafe
Location: 3248 22nd Street (between Bartlett & Mission Streets)
Time: 8:45 p.m. — 11:30 p.m.
Anything Else?: Graham Connah is actually a pretty hugely accomplished artist, and it’s kind of amazing that he’s playing this free show. Go. See. This. Show.

DJ:
Artist/Event: “Brazilian Wax” (DJs Carioca & Fausto Sousa)
Genre: Bossa Nova/International/Latin/Samba
Venue: KoKo Cocktails
Location: 1060 Geary Street (between Polk Street & Van Ness Avenue)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: $5 Sagatiba Cachaca specials all night!

NOT QUITE FREE:
Artist/Event: Benvenue, Audiodub, Hello Monster
Genre: Alternative/Metal/Pop/Reggae/Rock/Ska
Venue: Bottom of the Hill
Location: 1233 17th Street (between Texas & Missouri Streets)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Anything Else?: Cover is $8, and there’s plenty of street parking in this area. Also, if you buy your tickets in advance online, you can pick them up at the will call window. (Doors open at 8:30 p.m.)

Hey, gang! So, as some of you no doubt already know, the annual San Francisco Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival is happening right now! True, many of the events do carry a cover charge, but there’s a ton of venues where admission is free! Plus, for those of you who are not in the city proper, this festival is happening all over the East Bay and Marin County, too — so you have no excuse to stay homebound for the next week! Get out, kick up your heels, and getcher fiddle and ukelele on!

Here is listing of some of the FREE shows hosted by the Festival this week:

Monday, Feb. 15th
Taco Jam at Baja Taqueria in Oakland.

Tuesday, Feb. 16th
Fiddle Tunes Jam at SoCha Cafe in the Mission, S.F.

Wednesday, Feb. 17th
The Whiskey Brothers at the Albatross Pub in Berkeley.

Thursday, Feb. 18th
High Country Bluegrass and Dark Hollow at the Atlas Cafe in the Mission, S.F.

Friday, Feb. 19th
Paul Knight and Friends at the Station House Cafe in Point Reyes.

Saturday, Feb. 20th
Oops, no free shows listed for Saturday! But there’s a couple of Not Quite Free events, including a children’s show at the Randall Museum in the city center of S.F., featuring Gayle Schmitt & the Toodala Ramblers (adults $9, kids $6); and the “Bluegrass & Old-Time Revue” at the Swedish American Hall in the Castro, S.F. ($5, all ages).

Sunday, Feb. 21st
“Fabulous Duos” at the Velo Rouge Cafe in the Inner Richmond, S.F.

Once again, we have managed to travel past the middle of the week, and it is now time to dust off our toe-tappers and make plans to go see some of the glorious free live music that this variegated city has to offer! Here are some of The Scene’s picks for this weekend (and pay special attention to Saturday’s killer line-up at Pissed Off Pete’s, and then Sunday’s one-of-a-kind pedal steel extravaganza at The Riptide): 

Friday, January 8th

Who: Kally Price
What: Vintage Blues, Vintage Jazz
Where: Revolution Cafe, 3248 22nd Street (between Bartlett & Mission Streets)
When: 8:45 p.m. — ?
Anything Else?: Kally Price hails from Oakland, and is known for her vintage blues and jazz vocal stylings.

Who: Jimmy Ryan Quintet
What: Jazz
Where: Bird & Beckett Books, 653 Chenery Street (between Carrie & Diamond Streets)
When: 5:30 p.m. — 8 p.m.
Anything Else?: This is part of Bird & Beckett’s “Jazz in the Bookshop” series.

Saturday, January 9th

Who: Lighter Thieves / Rottencore / Of The Other
What: Rock, Punk, Alternative
Where: Thee Parkside, 1600 17th Street (between Carolina & Wisconsin Streets)
When: 3 p.m. — ?
Anything Else?: This is Thee Parkside’s regular Saturday Happy Hour show, which is all ages, and features drink specials; later that night (at 9 p.m., to be exact) will be their “Dinner and a Movie” event, where they’ll be screening The Hangover, and will have $5 burgers and $2 PBRs!

Who: Lucabrazzi / The Jibbers / Capp Street Girls / Bite
What: Industrial, Punk, Rock, Blues, Garage, Southern Rock, Glam
Where: Pissed Off Pete’s Bar and Grill, 4528 Mission Street (between Harrington Street & Santa Rosa Avenue)
When: 9 p.m. — ?
Anything Else?: This is part of “Danny Dee’s Birthday Bash,” and I, unfortunately, have no idea who that is. Maybe he’s one of the owners or a manager?

Sunday, January 10th

Who: Instrumental Dynamic Duo Crack Spackle
What: Rock, Experimental
Where: El Rio, 3158 Mission Street (between Powers & Precita Avenues)
When: 5 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Anything Else?: El Rio is a gay-friendly bar; the band will be playing in the front room; band members are Dawn Richardson (who is also a member of local band Dolorata, and who recently toured as a member of Tracy Chapman‘s band in Europe) and Joe Gore (who is a local composer/musician/producer that has worked with an impressive array of musicians, including Tom Waits, Aimee Mann, the Eels, and PJ Harvey).

Who: Joe Goldmark and the Seducers
What: Pedal Steel Guitar, Americana, Country, Rock, Roots
Where: The Riptide, 3639 Taraval Street (between 46th & 47th Avenues)
When: 7 p.m. — 10 p.m.
Anything Else?: You should know that Joe Goldmark is considered to be an expert at the pedal steel guitar; this is by far a golden opportunity to hear a master at his best!

O.K., kiddies, need to blow off some steam in preparation for next week’s festivities? Dreading the proposition of spending several hours with — gasp! — your family and need a little palate cleanser beforehand? Then here are some live music shows that will be sure to pump you up and put you in the party mood:

Friday, December 18th

Who: The Younger Lovers, The Butts, Fast Love
Where: BrainWash Cafe & Laundromat
When: 8 p.m. — ?
What: Rock/Garage/Indie/Punk/Power Pop
Anything Else?: Note that this is an all-ages show.

Who: KFJC 50th Anniversary Party
Where: Cafe du Nord
When: 7 p.m. — ?
What: Rock/Indie/Psychedelic/Freestyle/Progressive/Experimental/Punk
Anything Else?: Bands slated to perform include Al Qaeda, Pink Mountain, T.I.T.S., and Arrington de Dionyso, among others.

Who: Bayonics
Where: Rockit Room
When: 9 p.m. — ?
What: Hip-Hop/Funk/Latin
Anything Else?: This is a big-ass group of musicians, with a live horn section and all!

Saturday, December 19th

Who: Maniacal Rejects, Bullet 66, United Defiance
Where: Thee Parkside
When: 3 p.m. — 8 p.m.
What: Rock
Anything Else?: Please note that this is a happy hour concert, and is all-ages. Also, the venue’s Web site says that United Defiance is playing, but the event flyer says that War of Aggression is playing. Guess we’ll find out!

Who: EpiscoDisco
Where: Grace Cathedral
When: 7 p.m. — ?
What: Gothic/Americana/Folk
Anything Else?: This is a sort of art/cultural event featuring a multi-media installation and a performance by Pale Hoarse.

Who: Doni Harvey
Where: Skip’s Tavern
When: 9:30 p.m. — 1 a.m.
What: Blues
Anything Else?: Nope!

Sunday, December 20th

Who: Sunday Sessions w/Wil Blades
Where: Madrone Lounge
When: 6 p.m. — 12 a.m.
What: Jazz/Jam Session
Anything Else?: The first set is a performance by the band, and then the second set opens up as a jazz jam session for all levels of musicians. Note that you must be 21 or older!

Who: Twang Sunday w/The Poontones
Where: Thee Parkside
When: 4 p.m. — ?
What: Acoustic/Americana
Anything Else?: This is an all-ages benefit show with proceeds going to breast cancer charities; there’s a $5 BBQ.

Who: Singin’ Sundays w/Roger Niner Karaoke Extravaganza
Where: Butter
When: 9 p.m. — ?
What: Karaoke
Anything Else?: I know, I know — karaoke! Still, sometimes a person just needs to get sloshed and stand in front of a few dozen strangers and belt out “I Will Survive” before heading home for the holidays. Just sayin’…