10/28/2008: Be a Mafia Anniversary Accomplice Tonight (and Halloweeny Stuff too)

Howdy strangers-

You look great! Been workin' out? Well it shows, keep it up gorgeous.

Any apologies for my lack of communication are probably just falling on deaf ears at this point, so I won't even bother with that crap. Let's just get down to business. Appropriately enough, there is a SCARY amount of music ahead on our horizon:

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones will be doing a SUPER rare run of shows at Yoshi's here in SF next month. I'm still trying to figure out which night I'm going, your input is welcome. Medeski Martin and Wood are coming to the Fillmore, Old Crow Medicine Show (who I STILL haven't seen), ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, the list goes on...

But all that jazz is on the horizon. Tonight I'll be swingin' over to Bruno's to catch the 5th anniversary party for the Shotgun Wedding Quintet. They'll have all the troublemakers in attendance along with a full string section packed into the little room that could. Join me for a rad night of hip-hop and smokin' jazz.

And then of course there are a slew of fantastic choices in funky live music for your Halloween. I've listed a few below in brief, and any one of 'em would be a hell of a way to ring in the evening. Whatever trouble you end up getting into on Halloween, or the night after (http://www.spacecowboys.org/articles/2008/10/09/ghostship-dia-de-los-muertos-on-treasure-island), just make sure to get enough sleep afterwards to crawl outta bed and vote in one of the most important elections in recent history. Even though a California vote may not matter too much for the prez, there are certainly some crucial ballot issues that require your input this time around.

And me? I'm voting for the Taste We Can all Believe In of course: http://www.zazzle.com/donuts_and_bacon_taste_we_can_believe_in_blue_shirt-235503205979919999

|||||| TUESDAY 10/28 ||||||

TONIGHT! Shotgun Wedding Hip Hop Symphony 5-Year Anniversary @ Bruno's - $10
Join me for some room rockin' tonight as the boys and girls celebrate five years at the top of their game. Along with 14-piece live hip-hop jazz Shotgun Wedding insanity, local hero Dublin will be debuting his solo project in 10pm slot with some backing help from the Shotgun rhythm section. This'll be a funk of a party kids. Bring it.
http://www.jazzmafia.com/

|||||| FRIDAY 10/31 ||||||

Lunch is over and I've gotta be brief...

Umphrey's McGee | the New Deal @ the Fillmore - $24
This should be awesome! Supercharged electronica crazies the New Deal, which we don't see around here EVER, opening a Halloween gig for the most high-energy prog-influenced band in the jam world? Party time kids. Party time. With Umphrey's being known for some of the wildest covers of any band this side of Phish, they'll be mashing shit up all night long. They've even got a mash-up theme costume contest, dig it:
http://blog.umphreys.com/cs/blogs/thefloor/archive/2008/08/18/halloween-mash-up.aspx

Morris Day and the Time | Nino Moschella @ the Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center - $44
Jungle Looooove, Oh-Ee-Oh-Ee-Oh! What an old-school funk trip! I had no idea these dudes were around, but with a gig this big, and the seriously talented and soulful Nino Moschella opening up, I'll bet they're gonna bring a pretty serious good time to the Grand.
http://www.morrisdayandthetime.com/

Albino! | Toubab Krewe @ the Independent - $16
You all know Albino! as the horn-driven Afrobeat band from my birthday 2 years back and from numerous gigs around the city. They're great, always a super funky good time, and Toubab I remember being very impressed with at High Sierra a while back. Percussion driven world beaty party music if ever there was some.
http://albinoband.com/

|||||| SATURDAY 11/1 ||||||

Umphrey's McGee @ Slim's - $28
How these dudes are surviving another night of music is beyond me...
http://www.umphreys.com/