So I was driving home from Berkeley the other day, it was around sunset so I decided to take the scenic route through the Oakland Hills, a state park to my left and a sheer drop overlooking the bay area as far as the eye can see. All of this around sunset, blasting a band I love from Germany, Ahab. They Play what they call Nautical Funeral Doom. It was a very beautiful drive and and some good music. Just wanted to share that moment with you. On to the concert updates.
may 6 - thu
Brutal SFX Festival #68: Aesop Dekker (Agalloch/Ludicra) and Sean McGrath (Impaled/Ghoul/Engorged) play with Bran (...) Pos and Rubber (O) Cement; also Sabreteeth, Elf Ass, Coagulator (3 puece), Soup Purse (OR) (goes metal) at the Lab, S.F. 8pm-10:30pm. Ok so finding info on this one was difficult at best, but it appears to be a noise festival of sorts. Some big names in experimental and noise so this should be a pretty cool underground show.
Kevin Seconds, Street Eaters, Little Boy Blue, Ryan Banks at 924 Gilman Berkeley a/a $5-$10 sliding scale 7pm. punk of acoustic and electric varieties, a bluesy musician, and a hip hop artist, should be an interesting show.
Tussle, Javelin, Bronze, O.K. Hole DJs at the Rickshaw Stop, S.F. $10/$12 8pm-2am. Hip hop blended with electronica. Sounds like a fun show, especially if you like the dancing.
Reckless Kelly, The Brothers Comatose at Slim's a/a $16 8pm/9pm (KPIG) A little folk, some country, and all americana this show is for those that think wearing a 10 gallon hat and a pair of shit kickers is common place.
Tatsuya Nakatani, Vogel/Greenlief/Bennett trio at the Luggage Store Gallery, S.F. This appears to be an experimental percussion show. Weird and elaborate music that really sets a tone and a bit jazzy.
Dosh, White Hinterland at the Bottom Of the Hill 21+ $12 9pm. Poppy indie music, but in a very refreshing and innovative manner. These bands show great expertise and promise in their craft.
Mariee Sioux, Dead Western, Aaron Ross at the Hemlock 21+ $8 9pm. This is like a folk extravaganza, but not your daddy or your grand daddies folk. This is the kind of music that is made by artists that not only want to make music that furthers the genre rather than letting it remain stagnant and stale.
may 7 - fri
Laetitia Sonami at the Berkeley Art Museum 7:30pm. So of all the odd artsy sound and noise shows that happen in the bay area on a weekly basis, this proves to be pretty interesting. An art show that is a sound installation piece. Worth checking out for sure.
Merauder, Crucified, Ruckus, Rule Of Thumb, Grace Alley, Foreign Nature at 924 Gilman a/a $10 7:30pm. Hardcore in a venue that will be sure to make the little hatebreed fan in you happy.Phillip Greenlief/Tatsuya Nakatani, Lisa Mezzacappa/Noah Phillips at the Meridian Gallery, S.F. 8pm. Refer to Thursdays Tatsuya Nakatani details. Or Look above 
Red Sparowes at the Great American Music Hall (all acoustic). atmospheric and almost ambient music that sounds pretty good, not sure how an acoustic show will sound honestly but the idea is definitely intriguing.
The Mumlers at the Uptown, Oakland 21+ free 9pm. Have kind of a jazzy motown kind of thing going for them. A nice smooth band at the right price.
may 8 - sat
Mono (Japan), The Twilight Sad at Slim's. Japan has a knack for producing avant guard droning bands that have songs that are more of a journey than just some notes strewn together. Mono has become almost an instant legend amongst the crazy little subculture these bands have started in America, this is a great show.
La Urss (Spain), N/N (member of los crudoz, ex-la plebe) at Bender's Bar & Grill, S.F. 21+ $5 9:30pm (alcoholocaust)
Face To Face (10pm), Circle Jerks (8:30pm), The Ataris, la Plebe, Adolescents (4pm), Hightower (on skate ramp before skate finals) at City Underground a/a $20 10am (amateur skate contest starts 11am - music starts 4pm -tattoos onsite). So if you're like me you might have done a double take on this one, the Circle Jerks are absolutely classic. This should be an awesome punk party to attend and have a great day at.
The Missing Link, Mastodon, Between the Buried And Me, High On Fire, Baroness, Priestess, Valient Thorr, Black Cobra, Bison B.C. at the Fox Theater, Oakland $35 4pm. You would think I would be all over this show, doom/stoner metal at some of it's finest points and a while slough of them rocking out. But sadly I don't make enough to afford that high a ticket price. But I urge anyone interested in heavy slow music to give this show a good ole looksee. The bands are really great.
Drive By Truckers at the Fillmore a/a $25 8pm/9pm. So these guys play a very nice form of bluesy rock and roll sure to invigorate your need for good music.
$15/$18 8pm/9pm(KPIG). Bluegrass music for all you barefoot hippies YAY.
Extra Action Marching Band at the New Parish 21+ $10/$12. No joke this is a marching band. . . band. for novelty alone this is awesome.
Hands Of Time, 6AM, Analog Soul at thee Parkside a/a free 3pm til 8pm. Rock and roll courses through my soul kind of music here tonight
Weltschmerz, WC Von der Berc's Cabaret at Thrillhouse Records, 3422 Mission St., S.F. 7:30pm. Kinda gothy new wave music. But it sounds good and comes with a Cabaret. . . how can you lose with a show like that I ask you?
may 9 - sun
Whisky Pills Fiasco, Whispering Chingaderos at thee Parkside a/a free 4pm til 7pm. A good old rockabilly show, upright bass, lots of booze, and a rollicking good time.Fucked Up (Canada) at the Rickshaw Stop, S.F. Hardcore punk, sounds like they can play their instruments better than most, but their singer is still definitely a hardcore singer.
