Now, with even less advance notice (Afrobeat tonight)

In my never-ending quest to bring you live music selections with as little advance notice as possible, I give you this. Happy Friday!

|||||| FRIDAY 5/22 ||||||

NOMO @ Bottom of the Hill - $12
A tip from someone I trust (thanks Wendy!) has me convinced this is where I need to be tonight. And by 'I' I mean 'you' of course. Nomo is a full horn and percussion Afrobeat crew out of the Midwest that has a unique electronic influence and an innovative, concept-driven approach to their compositions. Word on the street is that they completely destroyed a room in Seattle earlier this week, and with tonight looking like the only chance to catch them in SF in the foreseeable future, I'm gonna go dig 'em. There are two openers that sound interesting too..
http://www.myspace.com/nomomusic

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives @ Great American Music Hall - $25
If I weren't going to go see NOMO, this is DEFINITELY where I'd be. After hearing a live album from Marty I can say his music is some of the sweetest, most authentic, most genuinely delicious bluegrass I've heard in quite some time. His latest album has him teaming up with Johnny Cash, Lester Flatt, Steve Earle, and Old Crow Medicine Show, and if that doesn't give you an idea of the man's chops, I don't know what will.
http://www.martystuart.net/

Realistic Orchestra Stevie Wonder vs. James Brown Tribute @ Shattuck Down Low (Berkeley) - $10
This was absolutely incredible at the Independent, so all you East Bay cats get out to the show tonight! I heard more than once last week that this was the best night some folks had ever seen from the Jazz Mafia, and with their caliber of musicianship, that's sayin' something. It's a 30-piece ensemble (with several amazing vocalists) blasting out insanely tight and rockin' renditions of the music of perhaps the two greatest men that funk has ever known. A force to be reckoned with, and a show not to miss.
http://www.jazzmafia.com/


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

5/25 - Flight of the Conchords @ Berkeley Community Theater
5/25 - Jazz Mafia Miles Davis 'Birth of the Cool' Birthday Tribute @ Yoshi's SF
5/29 - Garaj Mahal @ Cafe du Nord
5/30-5/31 - Moe. @ Fillmore
6/5 - Del Tha Funky Homosapien @ Fillmore
6/12 - Skerik, Wil Blades, Will Bernard, Scott Amendola @ Starry Plough, Berkeley
6/17 - Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey @ Elbo Room
6/18 - Zap Mama @ Bimbo's 365 Club