9/29/2004: What goes with Hamsa Lila... red or white?

Helloooooo!

Holy crap, it's Wednesday and I've got less than a day
left until I hit the quarter-century mark. Well, I
reckon it's about time to retire... I've had a good
run. Besides, the junior execs here at Showy Inc. have
usurped all of my power in favor of 'new directions,'
whatever that means (beats, I fear). I'm just a
figurehead at this point... time to call it quits.

Well, maybe one... more... week... of music...

This one is going to be completely out of control.
There is a TON of shit going on. And it all starts
with you, and me, and a little party on Thursday:

|||||| THURSDAY 9/30 ||||||

Get on up and party down!
Watch me get completely sloshed on a weeknight,
woo-hoo! The pre-show SWIG (Sophisticated Winos
Inebriation Group) gathering is at Kate's house in
Cole Valley (868 Schrader @ Frederick, 6-9:30ish) Of
course you're all invited. I hear talk of desserts
with frosting although this may only be a rumor...
THEN it's off to an incredible show:
Hamsa Lila @ Independent $15
An amazing and rare thing to see, this 11-piece band
uses resonant, grooving african drumming and earthy
bass to create lush soundscapes with intricate horn
and flute and amazing vocals. Garrin Benfield opens.
http://www.hamsalila.com/hi_index.html

|||||| FRIDAY 10/1 ||||||

Aphrodesia @ Bruno's $10
Man, this band is playing around a lot! It's a good
thing too because they are dancealicious with their
funky 10-piece Afro-beat grooves.
http://www.aphrodesia.org/

Rosin Coven @ Cafe du Nord $12
Wow. A 9-piece "pagan lounge music" band with brass
and strings and costumes to match. Sounds wild.
Apparently some veteran Burning Man folks here putting
on one hell of a whacky show. Check it out:
http://www.rosincoven.com/

|||||| SATURDAY 10/2 ||||||

Strictly Bluegrass Festival @ Golden Gate Park $FREE
YeeeeeeHaaaaaa! I love this festival! It's two days of
some of the best bluegrass acts in the country on
three stages at once! All at Speedway Meadow, all
FREE! Catch Del McCoury, Emmylou Harris, Drew Emmitt,
etc etc... Let's go let's go let's go!
http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/

Reggae in the Park @ Golden Gate Park $27 (benefit)
A must for the wookies (dreadlock kids), the lineup is
jam-packed with reggae legends (hence the price). It's
in Sharon Meadow in GGP from noon-6, Sat & Sun.
http://www.eventswestca.com/reghome.html

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra @ Great American Music
Hall $18
Sweeeeeet! Finally a Great reason to go the the Great
American! Antibalas is authentic Fela Kuti-style funky
funky afrobeat. You'll be hard-pressed to find a band
that does it better...
http://www.antibalas.com/

Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) @ 12 Galaxies $12
Leftover's lead singer/mandolin
player/guitarist/flautist/fiddler is doing his own gig
at 12 Galaxies. I'll bet this will rock- he's a
powerhouse bluegrass man especially in such a small
room. Jimbo Trout & the Fish People open.
http://www.compassrecords.com/artists_emmitt.html

Leo Nocentelli & Funky Krew @ Boom Boom Room $15
Southern-fried 'Nawlins funk served up by Meters'
guitarist Nocentelli.
http://www.nocentelli.com/

|||||| SUNDAY 10/3 ||||||

Strictly Bluegrass Festival @ Golden Gate Park $FREE
YeeeeeeHaaaaaa! I love this festival! It's two days of
some of the best bluegrass acts in the country on
three stages at once! All at Speedway Meadow, all
FREE! Catch Del McCoury, Emmylou Harris, Drew Emmitt,
etc etc... Let's go let's go let's go!
http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/

Reggae in the Park @ Golden Gate Park $27 (benefit)
A must for all the wookies (dreadlock kids), the
lineup is jam-packed with reggae legends (hence the
price). It's in Sharon Meadow in GGP from noon-6, Sat
& Sun.
http://www.eventswestca.com/reghome.html

Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) @ Sweetwater in Mill
Valley $12
Leftover's lead singer/mandolin
player/guitarist/flautist/fiddler is doing his own gig
again at Sweetwater.
http://www.compassrecords.com/artists_emmitt.html

|||||| TUESDAY 10/5 ||||||

Realistic Orchestra @ Bruno's $7
Yeah! The big huge band is gonna blow the roof off
that little tiny room once again! In case it hasn't
sunken in yet, this sonic marvel combines the Jazz
Mafia crew with a cast of the city's finest all star
players to make an 18+ piece live drum &
bass/breakbeat/hip-hop jazz band. It's just amazing to
see and the $2 Stella won't hurt ya either!
http://www.realisticsf.com/

The Vowel Movement @ Studio Z $5-15 (sliding)
Have to catch this some day. It's our beatboxin' MAN
Kid Beyond with a whole crew of 6-10 beatbox fools
throwin' down with the mouth-sound.
http://www.thevowelmovement.com/

|||||| UPCOMING ||||||

10/8 Garaj Mahal & Hot Buttered Rum @ Independent
10/6-10/10 John Scofield Trio @ Yoshi's
10/15-10/16 Soulive @ Independent
10/23 Realistic Orchestra @ Elbo Room

Ha haaaa, look at that shit coming up! So much amazing
music... so little time! What's a Showy to do? I'll
see you on Thursday for the 'ol quarter-century
throwdown ya'll!