Achtung! Danger! Listen the fuck up!
Just when you thought it was safe to attempt a full night of sleep, a perfect storm of monstrous musicality has been spotted on the horizon. And we're DIRECTLY in its path. Yeah. Yikes. Batten down those Goddamn hatches kids, the next couple of weeks are gonna have you clinging to the deck rail and beggin' for musical mercy. Your author is shakin' in his dancin' shoes.
The madness starts tonight (Thursday) with a CD release party for our boys Swoop Unit. If you caught them playing in the backyard of McShow HQ a few weeks back, you know what's what. Their new album is a rockin' slice of instrumental jazz-funk, with artwork designed by someone very close to you and me. The gig is in the big music room at the back of Rassela's on Fillmore, there will be a huge crowd of friendly folks in attendance, and you should definitely join me for some funky good times.
Then the weekend will drop on us one of my very favorite bands, Lettuce, throwin' down Friday and Saturday nights at the Independent. I'll be there Saturday for this rare treat. They're one of the most kick-ass, hard-hittin' funk bands you'll ever rock out to. Seriously folks, we never get to see this band 'cause they're all in other successful projects, and if you miss it I sure can't be held accountable for your sleepness nights of regret.
Sunday night marks the start of North Beach Jazz Fest shows, and what a way to kick this shit off. Virtuoso sax-a-maniac Skerik will be doing three nights with Mike Clark and Paul Jackson, two of the most bad ass members of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. Sunday through Tuesday at Mojito in North Beach, that shit will be ILL, SON. Overlapping this absudity will be a visit from Hammond Organ master Robert Walter (of Greyboy Allstars) with his trio on Tuesday and Wednesday out at Yoshi's in Oaktown.
As of right now I'm leanin' towards Skerik on Monday and Robert Walter on Tuesday...
Remember how I said this was gonna be a marathon? Well the action continues on Wednesday with one of the BEST MUSIC NIGHTS of the year in San Francisco. It's the North Beach Jazz Fest's Jazz on Grant. With over 20 FREE shows all over North Beach, it's a night that makes our town feel like New Orleans with music streaming out of every bar and club you walk by. I'll give you a report on all things North Beach Jazz next week, but you might want to start some kind of training regimine in the meantime
Can I breathe now? Please?
|||||| THURSDAY 7/16 ||||||
Swoop Unit CD Release Party @ Rassela's Jazz Club (on Fillmore) - $FREE
7pm–11pm Show, so get on up in there early-like. Funky drummer Adam Willis and Swoop Unit have cut one hell of a great album, and now it's time to celebrate! They'll be rockin' the crap out of the big music room in the back of Rassela's, with an army of fun folks in attendance. School night, schmool night, I'll see ya there.
http://www.evite.com/pages/
|||||| FRIDAY 7/17 ||||||
Lettuce | Trombone Shorty @ the Independent - $20
Friday and Saturday shows (I'll be there Saturday). Don't hem, don't haw, just go. Seriously. Lettuce is absolutely ridiculous. The band that gave the start to most of Soulive, and with heroes from John Scofield's best band, there really isn't a better funk show coming through our humble little town anytime soon. And these cats are so busy that Lettuce basically never happens these days. In fact, it's been at least four years since they've been here. They'll have you jumpin', jivin', shakin', and whatever the hell else you're inclined to do when you can't control yourself at all. Oh, and Trombone Shorty (opening) is a certified New Orleans funky sensation, just in case you needed another reason. GO. And get advance tickets too.
http://www.lettucefunk.com/
|||||| SATURDAY 7/18 ||||||
Lettuce | Trombone Shorty @ the Independent - $20
I'm SO there. See above.
|||||| SUNDAY 7/19 ||||||
Headhunting (Skerik, Mike Clark, Paul Jackson) @ Mojito - $15
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday shows (I'm leaning towards Monday). This should be outta control. There simply is no saxophone player like Skerik. None. The intensity, the sheer creativity of this madman, is utterly unique. You've seen him do his evil thing with Garage a Trois, Critters Buggin', and about 80 or 90 other nasty bands. Mike Clark and Paul Jackson are the drummer and bassist from Herbie Hancock's Headhunters among other really dope bands. I was lucky enough to see them with Herbie and I can tell ya they're both montrous musicians in their own right. I can't think of anyone better to back up that whacko on sax. Get advance tickets for this one too, and lemme know if ya do. It'll be wicked.
http://www.sunsettickets.com/
|||||| MONDAY 7/20 ||||||
Headhunting (Skerik, Mike Clark, Paul Jackson) @ Mojito - $15
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday shows (I'm leaning towards Monday).
http://www.sunsettickets.com/
|||||| TUESDAY 7/21 ||||||
Headhunting (Skerik, Mike Clark, Paul Jackson) @ Mojito - $15
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday shows (I'm leaning towards Monday).
http://www.sunsettickets.com/
Robert Walter Trio @ Yoshi's Oakland - $10-16
8pm and 10pm shows, Tues and Weds. I'm thinkin' 'bout Tuesday. I loooooves me some Robert Walter. This man just wrecks the Hammond organ in the funkiest, most soulful ways. When he's not killin' it with the Greyboy Allstars, you can find him tooling around New Orleans looking for trouble. And with powerhouse Crescent City legends Johnny Vidacovich (drums) and James Singleton (bass) sharing the Yoshi's stage, this will be a stellar night of music well worth crossin' the bridge for. Take it to the bridge y'all, take it to the bridge.
http://robertwalter.com/
|||||| WEDNESDAY 7/22 ||||||
Robert Walter Trio @ Yoshi's Oakland - $10-16
8pm and 10pm shows, Tues and Weds. I'm thinkin' 'bout Tuesday.
http://robertwalter.com/
North Beach Jazz Fest: Jazz on Grant @ All over North Beach - $FREE
DO NOT miss this ridiculous night of music. I'll have a full North Beach Jazz report for y'all next week, but pencil, no pen, no marker, no spray paint this night all over that planner of yours. Trust yer Uncle Showy on this.
No comments:
Post a Comment