7/20/2005: Pro [Musical] Choice

Let's face it, it's easy to be pro-choice in San
Francisco.

EXCEPT when it comes to the tough musical choices of
our time. To get an idea of what I'm talking about,
scroll down to the FRIDAY listings. I mean God damn,
how ridiculous is that?

Well my friends, yer Uncle Showy is hear to make it
simple. Here's what you need to do (or is it what I
need to do?):

Catch the open jazz jam at Amnesia tonight (Wed). Then
head to 12 Galaxies for Dan Bern on Thursday night.
After that you just HAVE to catch the funky powerhouse
of Porter/Batiste/Stoltz at the Independent on Friday.
And once you've made it to Saturday you should
probably rock on down to Tea Leaf Green at the Great
American Music Hall. Bored on Sunday? You won't be if
you join me for the Funk Brothers and the Broun
Fellinis at beautiful Stern Grove. Got it?

Oh yeah, NEXT WEEK IS NORTH BEACH JAZZ FEST!!! Don't
miss the kick-off night (Wednesday 7/27) with over a
dozen FREE shows in and around Grant St. Yeeeehawww!

|||||| WEDNESDAY 7/20 ||||||

Jazz Jam @ Amnesia $FREE?
I’m headin’ down, drop me a line. From what I’ve been
hearing, the open jazz jam at Amnesia on Wednesday
nights has been getting really hot later in the night
(maybe 11ish…) To get an idea of just how hot, I hear
Roy Hargrove has been known to drop by. How cool is
that? I don’t know if there is a cover or not.

|||||| THURSDAY 7/21 ||||||

Dan Bern | Garrin Benfield @ 12 Galaxies $10
This is his last show of the residency and I’m there
for sure. Not being in the know, I have to take
several people’s word that Dan Bern is a guy that’s
not to be missed. He’s a singer/songwriter that is
described as being everything from ‘wistful’ to
‘joyously obscene.’ And Garrin Benfield is one of my
local heroes, also a singer/songwriter (and sometimes
a live-looper) whose authenticity is just as great as
his skills.
http://www.danbern.com/

Jessica Lurie Ensemble @ Connecticut Yankee $10
SAXy Jessica will be a hell of a treat to see at the
cozy CT Yankee. She rips it up on her horn with
inventive funky jazz compositions that are exciting
and dynamic. The singing component of her show doesn’t
completely thrill me, but her kick-ass sax playin’
more than makes up for it in my book.
http://jessicalurie.com/

Cabaret Diosa | Aphrodesia | Blue Turtle Seduction @
Independent $12
10-Piece mambo rock is the description for this
festive crew. I’ve been wondering what they sound like
ever since I started seeing their name everywhere, and
this would be a good night to find out. The two
openers are superb! Aphrodesia is big funky SF
Afrobeat all the way, and they’re fronted by two
ass-kickin’ chicks. Blue Turtle from Tahoe was one of
my High Sierra faves, a tasty rootsy mix of bluegrass
pickin’ and jamband rockin’.
http://www.cabaretdiosa.com/

|||||| FRIDAY 7/22 ||||||

Cyclomatic Trio Happy Hour @ House of Shields $FREE
These happy hour gigs (courtesy of funky drummer Adam
Willis) are a damn good time. And it’s FREE, FREE I
tell you!

Porter/Batiste/Stoltz @ Independent $22
I’m soooooo there! These New Orleans cats are three
of the four original Funky Meters (significance: they
helped INVENT funk). Word is they’re jamming harder
than ever, mixing up some serious rock and roll with
their funky compositions. This is a unique opportunity
to see the best funk musicians in the land, and even
though there are lot of great shows on Friday, this is
really the one to catch. Easy, right? Brown Baggin’
opens up.
http://www.porterbatistestoltz.com/

Tea Leaf Green @ Great American Music Hall $15
Friday & Saturday shows! It’s pretty much solidified
at this point, TLG is the best jamband in the Bay
Area. They just keep getting better from the all-out
guitar attack of Josh Clark to the soulful ballads of
Trevor Garrod. It’s a rockin’ good time.
http://www.tealeafgreen.com/high.html

Earl Thomas @ Boom Boom Room $10
Having recently seen this man completely solo I can
honestly say I’ve never heard more SOUL in one voice
ever before. His passion and ‘realness’ is
electrifying, it gives you chills. He does funky
old-school rhythm & blues in a classic soul-singin’
style and will be backed up by a funky band for this
Boom Boom gig.
http://www.earlthomasmusic.com/

Alkaline Trio @ the Warfield $19
Maybe the punk band I’m most excited about right now,
Alkaline Trio totally rocks. Their music is melodic
but not boring, slightly pop-ish (great vocals) but
not cheesy, just kick-ass, quality, listenable punk.
Listen to the streaming music on the website, you’ll
see what I mean. They’re freakin’ great. Rise Against
and Death by Stereo open up.
http://www.alkalinetrio.com/crimson_site/crimson.htm

Home at Last @ Connecticut Yankee $5
Soon to be the next ALO or Tea Leaf Green, Home at
Last (what is it with these 3-word names?) is a great
local jamband that is definitely on the rise. Their
tunes are dynamic in their intensity and these four
cats are all tight, professional players.
http://www.halband.com/

|||||| SATURDAY 7/23 ||||||

Tea Leaf Green @ Great American Music Hall $15
Friday & Saturday shows! See above.
http://www.tealeafgreen.com/high.html

Bat Makumba @ Independent $14 (benefit)
A Samba good time is goin’ down at the Indy this
weekend. A benefit for alternative fuel, Bat Makumba
plays their Brazilian Samba intensely with influences
of ska, funk, punk, and rock n’ roll. A hell of a
party is guaranteed. Hyim & the Fat Foakland Orchestra
opens it up.
http://www.batmakumba.com/

Adam Willis & Swoop Unit Lite @ Jupiter (Berkeley)
$FREE
Catch some tasty brews and tasty grooves with these
funky cats. They’ll be playing the outdoor beer garden
for no cover 8-11. Yummers.
http://www.nbjazzfest.com/

Jessica Lurie Ensemble @ Starry Plough (Berkeley) $10
Jessica’s second Bay Area show. See above.
http://jessicalurie.com/

|||||| SUNDAY 7/24 ||||||

Funk Brothers | Broun Fellinis @ Stern Grove $FREE
I’m getting’ there early for this one! The Funk
Brothers are the backing band behind virtually EVERY
Motown hit ever recorded. They literally have more
hits than Elvis, the Beatles, the Stones, etc. And
they will probably never come through town again
because let’s face it, they ain’t getting any younger.
One of my favorite funky soul-jazz SF bands the Broun
Fellinis open up.
http://www.sterngrove.org/index.php?template=2&page=7

|||||| WEDNESDAY 7/27 ||||||

JAZZ ON GRANT $FREE (kick off night of North Beach
Jazz Festival)
Absolutely, positively one of the most unique and
amazing nights of music that San Francisco has to
offer! For one wild night North Beach FILLS UP with
musicians. There are FREE shows in over a dozen venues
on and around Grant St. Walk down Grant and music
pours out of every club, every bar, every café, every
church… you get the picture. This year the kick-off is
a 90-minute set from the stellar Realistic Orchestra
at the Italian American Athletic Club. Other
performers in the neighborhood include: Urban Quintet
(feat. Adam Willis), Dan Lebowitz (ALO), Will Bernard,
The Push, Hyim, Boca Do Rio, etc etc. I never miss
this night, so c’mon out to North Beach and gimme a
shout!
http://www.nbjazzfest.com/

Femi Kuti @ Fillmore $28.50
Son of Afrobeat originator Fela Kuti, this man lives
up to his heritage and we’re lucky to have him pass
through town. His music will fill you with the soul
and rhythm of African drumming, rich vocals, and layer
upon layer of funky horns. It KILLS me that he’s
playing the same night as Jazz on Grant. Why God, WHY?
http://www.femikutimusic.com/

Albino @ Boom Boom Room $7
If Femi Kuti isn’t enough Afrobeat for one night, head
across the street to the Boom Boom! Albino is a band
I’ve been dying to see, a 14-piece Afrobeat funky
explosion. I’ve heard recordings and they bust a mean
groove. All this great music opposite Jazz on Grant is
driving me NUTS!
http://www.albinoband.com/

Bucky Fuck in Dent @ Madrone Lounge $5
With players from funky bands like Top Four Flights,
Roy G. Biv, and Free Peoples plus lyrics and
beatboxing by Radioactive (from Spearhead), this
should be a sweet five-buck gig.
http://www.madronelounge.com/calendar.php