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DEC 14 - DEC 20
Whether you think Elvis was a hero or a thief, there's no denying his iconic bad-boy status. What's even more rebellious is recreating him as a Latino lounge crooner, á la El Vez. That's the kind of subversive shenanigans that defines the week's cultural offerings, as rebels and visionaries unveil renegade schemes, porn, and kink cast shadows over polite society, comets herald psychedelic explosions, and midnight marauders best corporate cool-hunters like panthers overtaking their prey in the unsilent night. Pop the collar on your leather jacket and spread it. |
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Q. When is a bottle of ABSOLUT RASPBERRI not a bottle of ABSOLUT RASPBERRI?
A. When it's 12 feet tall and being transformed by underground artists David Ellis and Kenji at ABSOLUT HALLOWEEN 2004. Check out the different ABSOLUT RASPBERRI incarnations below. |
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DISCUSSION
Rebels and Visionaries: The Impact of Counterculture
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| when: | Tue 12.14 (6:30pm) |
| where: | Commonwealth Club (595 Market St, 2nd Fl, 415.597.6700) |
| price: | $20 |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | Has the Bay Area's formerly in-your-face counterculture been replaced by passive, latte-sipping, khaki-clad clock-watchers? Or does the antiauthoritarian social justice
movement still have a strong hold here? The antiestablishment icons that Grotto Goddess Laura Fraser corrals this evening — Jello Biafra, Mondo 2000's Ken Goffman (aka R.U. Sirius), Burning Man founder Larry Harvey, and Wired's Louis Rossetto — share their thoughts about the relevance and impact of counterculture in an age of conservatism. (EC)
Note: A wine and hors d'oeuvres reception follows the panel.
  
 Who wrote the new wave classic "Rebel Yell?" The third person to tell us wins a pair of tickets to this event.
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| | Blessed to learn music in an environment open to innovation, Bay Area jazz impresario Charlie Hunter long ago custom-ordered an eight-string guitar that would shape his future — one that sees him slapping ground-shaking bass notes with his right thumb as his other digits forcefully glide through a complex terrain of widely spaced strings and frets. Through solo gigs, albums with his trio, and even forays with a quartet, Charlie Hunter drives the pulse of today's jazz guitar movement, tantalizing crowds with his inventive rhythms while always honoring his commitment to share the virtues and rich history of jazz with a new generation. (SNS)
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MUSIC: Electronic
Eats Tapes
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| when: | Tue 12.14 (10pm) |
| where: | Hemlock Tavern (1131 Polk St, 415.923.0923) |
| price: | $5 |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | The buzz building around SF-based tech-noise enthusiasts Eats Tapes makes good sense — with the city's recently renewed interest in all things techno, of course we're down for a hot set of live beats made on jury-rigged gear. Under the Eats Tapes guise, bandmates and love-doves Gregory Zifcak and Marijke Jorritsma give old drum machines and tone generators a freaky workout, and while such experiments may suggest Wolf Eyes-level sonic mayhem, your ears are safe — the dance floor will be the only thing taking a pounding tonight. Indie and electro-pop experimentalists Warbler, Yacht, and Secret Mommy open. (KT)
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| | It would be pleasure enough to witness the nimble fingers of DJ Craze at work in any venue. After all, his gymnastic feats on the decks, jumping from slamming hip-hop to drum 'n bass and back again, are what earned the man his three back-to-back DMC Championship wins. But when he's playing at a tiny dive like the Red Eye Lounge, promising to snap the ladies' panties with a flick of the fader for a paltry five bucks, then it's almost a civic duty to be there. In town for Knowledge magazine's ten-year anniversary tour, Craze teams up with Phuturo resident Juju, his partner in the rough-and-tumble production team and imprint Cartel. Plan to melt, along with the bass bins. (AB)
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| | Acclaimed pupils of the SF Circus Center's master teacher Lu Yi team up with members of the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe to present a unique New Pickle Circus production. Inspired by the industrial visions of Rube Goldberg and Diego Rivera, Birdhouse Factory takes place in a pre-war San Francisco factory, where once downtrodden workers delight in the creation of the perfect bird cage. Featuring four illustrious alumni of Cirque du Soleil, the show dumbfounds with such spectacles as a contortionist carried on a unicycle-powered turntable and an acrobat routine involving a German Wheel that controls an aerialist's hoop in the air high above. (SS)
Note: Birdhouse Factory runs through Sun 1.2.05.
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FILM
A Tenderloin Story: Foo-Foo Dust
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| when: | Thur 12.16 (7:30pm) |
| where: | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater (700 Howard St, 415.978.2787) |
| price: | $7 |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | San Francisco's Tenderloin district has carried its stigma for nearly as long as it has existed. (The zone supposedly got its name from the high-priced cuts of meat that the neighborhood's well-paid cops were afforded.) And while Foo-Foo Dust probably won't do a lot to dispel the stereotypes surrounding one of the city's most rough-around-the-edges zip codes, it provides a keen glimpse into the struggles of a 52-year-old Berkeley grad turned crack-addicted prostitute and her 22-year-old junkie son, as they face eviction from their SRO home. For added insight, filmmakers Gina Levy and Eric Johnson are on hand for a postshow Q&A. (KT)
What is the choicest cut of meat? Our two favorite answers each win a pair of tickets to the film.
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| | After a ten-year hiatus, local stalwarts American Music Club have returned with Love Songs for Patriots, a 13-track collection featuring the band's signature marriage of rustic and jazzy sounds. Tonight, Mark Eitzel and company, along with fellow local acts Laughingstock and Etienne de Rocher, lend their estimable musical talents to a benefit for Anthony Bonet, a musician, DJ, and all-around fixture of the local music scene who suffered an aneurysm in mid-October. Proceeds from the show go toward helping Bonet with his medical costs, making it a chance to support both local music and the folks who make it possible. (JS)
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PERFORMANCE
Stinky's Peepshow: Punk Rock Karaoke
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| when: | Thur 12.16 (10pm) |
| where: | Café Du Nord (2170 Market St, 415.861.5016) |
| price: | $12 |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | Screw American Idol. You always fancied yourself a bloody-knuckled punk rock icon rather than a sugary pop diva, anyway. Well, the time to live out your drunken CBGB dreams is now. For one night only, members of NOFX, Bad Religion, Circle Jerks, and Social Distortion are your back-up band, and you are the star of the show. Come on — you know the words to every pre-1983 seven-inch, and you always knew your 15 minutes of bottle-dodging fame were coming! (Make that two-and-a-half minutes, actually.) "Wan-choo-chree-faw!" Wait! Let Dead to Me and Backroom Peepshow finish their sets first. (KT)
Which punk rock classic are you best prepared to caterwaul, and why? Our two favorite answers each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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PERFORMANCE
The Shadow Circus Christmas Carol
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| when: | Fri 12.17 (9pm) |
| where: | Edinburgh Castle Pub (950 Geary St, 415.885.4074) |
| price: | $5 |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | If the makers of HR Pufnstuf became devoted to the Daily Show and cultivated an H.P. Lovecraft ambience, their creations might end up on the same bill as the Shadow Circus musical puppet troupe. Counting opening for the Dresden Dolls at Café Du Nord and performing a show at the Exotic Erotic Ball as highlights, Shadow Circus has entertained San Franciscans for the past five years with its debauched social parodies. Tonight, in Shadow Circus' take on A Christmas Carol, it's George W. Bush in the Scrooge role, having his happy White House holidays ruined by a trio of mysterious visitors. (EC)
What is the name of the Shadow Circus DJ? The fourth correct answer wins a pair of tickets to this event.
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DJ
Red Wine's 13th Annual Holiday Bash
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| when: | Fri 12.17 (9pm) |
| where: | 111 Minna Gallery (111 Minna St, 415.974.1719) |
| price: | $10 / $5 with invite before 11pm |
| links: |
Event Info |
| | The holiday season, as jaded consumers know, is not only a time of gizmos and gewgaws (Robosapien, anyone?) — it's also when parties get gimmicky, with bells, whistles, and gift bags galore. The antidote to all this puffery is Toph One's Red Wine Holiday Bash. The Paradise Boys hold it down onstage with a wink and a sneer, while DJs Doc Fu, Pause, Steady-P, Charlotte the Baroness, Consuelo Kevin, and, of course, the Bearded One himself rock the room with the deepest, dopest, dirtiest breaks, hip-hop, dancehall, and soul around. Nothing more — or less — than an intoxicating get-down of epic proportions. (PS)
What is your favorite red wine, and why? Our three favorite answers each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| | Like every other amphetamines-for-breakfast, Cap'n-Crunch-for-dinner psychedelic combo, Comets on Fire raise proud, bejeweled fists to legendary Detroit pre-punk outfit the MC5, aping their classic gorilla riffs to roars of feedback (in the studio) and loose women (at a gig). Yet, unlike their boogie-rockin' brethren, Comets on Fire also dig, dig, dig the Pink Fairies, a très outré Motor City freakout band fronted by a cultish figure named Twink. Which is to say, brothers and (especially!) sisters, that these California cats pack lug in their chug and strut in their butts. Mount up! (YS)
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| | Rather than Googling them, you may just want to trust our assertion that when the band once known as Men of Porn claim to give equal respect to Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and John Coltrane, they mean it. Comprised of Ritual Device's Tim Moss, metal producer extraordinaire Billy Anderson, and the Melvins' Dale Crover, Porn construct instrumentals that rely on heavy bass and drum layers, with jazzy, polyrhythmic guitar lines cutting through the low-end haze. With almost no notice, the sounds can melt into a psychedelic miasma of trebled fury, or fall back into slow, acidy metal grooves. Altamont and High Tone Son of a Bitch start things off. (KT)
Which Neil Young standard did Porn cover for the forthcoming compilation Sucking the Seventies? Second and ninth correct answers each win a pair of tickets to the show.
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ART
Witty Remarks
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| when: | Sat 12.18 (6pm-midnight) |
| where: | 1355 Bush St |
| price: | $5 donation |
| | Before Music City takes over this warehouse space, a group of 21 artists, ranging from muralists to urban street-styled painters, throws an eclectic exhibition with a musical vibe. The visual overload — provided by Bay Area and LA artists including Amanda Lynn, Vic Chapa, Retna, Grime, and Saber — is enhanced by DJ Ted Shred's original smash-up of rock and hip-hop, DJ Japson's mix of underground sounds, and a live performance from the eight-member strong Groove Ensemble. Infusing almost every genre of music from jazz, rock, and Afrobeat to electronica, funk, and soul into their inventive sonic forays, the band brings even more life to an already lively event. (EF)
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| | Not many folk singers find their work adopted by house DJs, but such is the broad appeal of Sean Hayes' stark Americana, which has inspired not only cover versions from peers including Jolie Holland, but also a remix by SF house legend Mark Farina, on his Air Farina album. On record, Hayes' rootsy, acoustic instrumentation is captivating, but ultimately it's merely a foil for his charmingly rickety voice, which swings and creaks like a screen door badly in need of a little oil — and is all the more charismatic for its rusty patches. (SK)
Which song on Alabama Chicken has the least amount of lyrics? Seventh and ninth correct answers each win a pair of tickets to the show.
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| | With such an evident penchant for live performance, it's not surprising that Kinky won their first record contract in a Latin Battle of the Bands back in 2000 — which ultimately landed them in the capable hands of Chris Allison, the brilliant producer behind releases from both Coldplay and the Beta Band. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the five-piece band incorporates disco percussion into traditional Latin folk rhythms to create high-energy electro-pop. While Kinky's sound projects a complex layering of jazz grooves, pop hooks, and rock beats, all knit with a distinctive electronic vibe, the end result is quite simple: irresistible dance music. (TC)
Who do you think is the kinkiest person in music? The two most eyebrow-raising answers each win a pair of tickets to the show.
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| | Fanatics' favorites can fall into any number of camps: artists who are purposely obtuse, artists unjustly ignored, artists who actively elude recognition, or those who just plain suck. Todd Sines, a New York-based DJ and producer, fits the first three of those classifications pretty darn well. Having co-founded the Ohio-based artist collective ele_mental in 1992, produced a slew of minimal techno records, and released a pair of platters on Planet E in 2002, Sines' musical journey next takes him to the Soda party, where he and residents Fresh Blend and flavorpill's own Philip Sherburne hold court tonight. (YS)
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| | Elvis Presley loved Christmas, so naturally El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, is also passionate about the yuletide cheer. His Mexi-Vegas live shows are already the stuff of legend, and attending his annual Christmas tour is practically a tradition among San Franciscans who have been both naughty and nice. Backed up by the stunning El Vettes, El Vez brings holiday classics like "Brown Christmas," "Feliz Navidad," and "¿Mamacita, Donde Está Santa Claus?" fabulously to (glam) life, complete with dance routines and flashy costume changes — all guaranteed to brighten your spirits. You ain't nothin' but a hound dog — er, Chihuahua? — if you miss this show! (NN)
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| | While we await the next flare-up in the Japanther/Panthers feud (NYC indie rock's own miniature Nas/Jay-Z war), this gig by one of the combatants could throw fuel on the dwindling fire. Brooklyn's Japanther come from the Load Records school of noise-rock (along with Lightning Bolt and Wolf Eyes), which deals in skronk and crunk rendered indistinguishable thanks to obscenely high volumes and fast tempos. Also guaranteed to singe your earplugs are SF's own So So Many White White Tigers, who start things off with their brand of trashy, thrashy garage metal. Don't expect anything in the way of subtlety tonight — just a good, old-fashioned bludgeoning. (YS)
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| | Unsilent Night returns to the spirit of a more revelatory, less commercial Christmas. As hundreds of people join in a procession, boom boxes play a selection of Phil Kline's sumptuous work at full volume, bells ring, voices come together, and a joyous ambient sound reaches up to the heavens, spreading joy through the Mission, Noe Valley, and Castro neighborhoods. Over a mile and 45 minutes later, the sound dissipates dreamily, providing one final chance for pause and reflection by the blissful revelers before a cheer of joy goes up and the madness of the city and season crash back in. (AD)
Note: Email Phil Kline in advance to get a tape made if you wish to use your own boom box in the performance. Non-boom box carriers are, of course, also welcome.
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ART
Den Gifts
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| when: | Now through Sun 12.26 (Tue-Sat: 12-6pm / Sun: 12-5pm) |
| where: | Den (849 Valencia St, 415.282.6646) |
| price: |  FREE |
| links: |
Den |
| | There comes a time in a hipster's life when IKEA just ain't fit to house those precious Serge Gainsbourg 45s anymore. When that day comes, Den will be waiting. This Mission art-gallery-cum-furnishings-boutique is akin to a fanciful garage sale held in Brigitte Bardot's rec room, offering a disjointed yet pleasing mix of new and vintage furniture, fine art by local up-and-comers, and assorted cool tchotchkes. The holiday season brings the Den Gifts show, a collection of smaller pieces by local names priced at gift-friendly levels (read: under $200). Standouts include beautifully surfaced CD nests and trays by David Brunicardi, and Lost Art's series of so-hideous-they're-fabulous paintings from the '20s to the '60s. Out-do Santa this year with these original, funky treasures. (AB)
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THEATRE
The Bright River
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| when: | Now through Sun 1.16.05 (schedule) |
| where: | Travelling Jewish Theater (470 Florida St, 415.285.8080) |
| price: | $12-35 / pay-what-you-can Wed and Thur nights |
| links: |
Event Info | Tim Barsky |
| | Historian, narrativist, and flute beatboxer Tim Barsky spins a tale of the afterlife in which even the dead still have to pay rent. Told as a traditional Jewish "wonder tale," the words drop atop the mesmerizing stew of the Everyday Ensemble — soulful cello, upright bass, and the percussive stylings of beatbox whiz Kid Beyond. This crew can sound like anything - Barsky's hereafter has a vivid feel (and a funky beat) as sketched through the sounds of whooshing trains, sqwawking birds, and brokenhearted lovers. From the explosions in Iraq to those in the kabbalistic story of creation, the characters describe the world in rhyme, slang, and through the heart-stoppingly fresh sounds of Barsky's beatbox flute. (SGL)
What are the five characteristics of a battle flutist? The seventh correct answer wins a pair of tickets to the show.
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| CD/DVD REVIEW: Wire, On The Box: 1979 |
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Pink Flag
Released October 2004
$20.99 (Insound)
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Wire's refusal to give the audience what they want (i.e. cheap nostalgia for nostalgia's sake) is virtually legendary; on a US tour a few years back they employed a cover band to play their older material because they couldn't be bothered. It's therefore surprising that they've issued a DVD/CD containing an entire concert from 1979, taped for the German TV show
Rockpalast. Focusing almost entirely on material from their seminal Chairs Missing and 154 albums, this terse and tension-filled performance finds Wire at the height of their powers — aggressive, challenging, and provocative. While some might gripe about the omissions in the set list (no "Outdoor Miner" or "Reuters"), most Wire fans should agree that this is an important document from one of punk's most essential bands. (KM)
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| SWAN SONG: Orthlorng Musork |
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We've been fans of San Francisco's Orthlorng Musork label ever since their first release, Timeblind's dancehall-inflected Bloatware EP. In five years of operation, Sue Costabile and Joshua Kit Clayton's resolutely DIY concern has proven far more influential than its size would suggest, introducing listeners to critically acclaimed artists like Blectum from Blectum, Gold Chains, and AGF, as well as providing a domestic home for adventurous European artists like Stephan Mathieu and Alejandra & Aeron. Lamentedly, the label has decided to call it quits, but there is an upside: for a limited time, Musork's web shop is offering a buy-one-get-one-free special on all their recordings. Snap'em up now, because when they're gone, they really are gone. (PS)
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| STREAMS: Fabric |
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Not content with providing DJs one of the world's best venues for forward-thinking dance music, Fabric's taken things a step further. Their record label features exclusive sets from the club's residents and from people who they think are pushing the envelope in mixing and/or production skills. There are no mandated play lists, no outside interference, just DJs with a box of tunes for your listening pleasure. Here we have the Freestylers' exclusive radio set previewing their urban breakbeat sounds, followed by Nitin Sawhney with his minimalist compositions. Finally, Jacques LuCont (of Les Rhythmes Digitales fame) throws down a playful party fusion of disco and electro. (CJN)
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| CREDITS |
| Header Design: |
| William Shakespeare | Jemma Gura | | |
| Editors: |
| Courtney Love | Jocelyn K Glei | | Martin Luther | Jake Lancaster | | Sid Vicious | Paul Laster | | John Constantine | Doug Levy | | Linton Kwesi Johnson | Sascha Lewis | | Han Solo | Mark Mangan | | James Dean | Colin J Nagy | | Leon Trotsky | Jonathan Schultz | | Subcomandante Marcos | Philip Sherburne | | Sojurner Truth | Peter D Stepek | | Che Guevara | Toby Warner | | |
ABOUT US
flavorpill SF is a free weekly mailer covering music, arts, and cultural events in San Francisco. All listings are researched and written based on what we think has flavor. As always, feel free to send in any and all feedback — comments, questions, ideas, or rants. Spread the flavor...
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Please send all interesting event information (press releases, links, etc.) to events. |
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| Contributors: |
| Harriet Tubman | Anna Balkrishna | | Coco Chanel | Erika Christiansen | | Pee-wee Herman | Peter P Clarke | | Marlon Brando | Todd Cohen | | Martin Luther King, Jr | Adam Davids | | Donnie Darko | Lauren Epstein | | Nat Turner | Ellisa Feinstein | | Linux | Josh C Forbes | | Janeane Garofalo | Menaka Gopinath | | Jean Genet | Christopher Hampton | | Arthur Rimbaud | Rebecca J Hill | | Dizzee Rascal | Sebastian Koch | | Toby Young | Ali Kops | | David Beckham | Sarah G Lefton | | Kevin Mitnick | Anli Liu | | John Cassavetes | Karl Meier |
| Chewbacca | Nish Nadaraja | | Robin Hood | Sam N Shah | | Emiliano Zapata | Sam Smith | | Josiah Wedgwood | Julian G Stewart | | Mad Mike Banks | Yancey Strickler | | Liz Phair | Sarah S Sung | | Thomas Clarkson | Cheryl Taruc | | Guy Fawkes | Ken Taylor | | Napster | Cyrus Wadia | | |
| Production: |
| David Bowie | Anjuli Ayer | | Pacers | Lucy Beach | | Pistons | David Morrow | | Lou Reed | Sebastian Rasp |
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MONTHLY BOOK REVIEW
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an unbiased monthly review of books — sent via email. The Year-end Issue is out now.
Only books worth reading. Click to subscribe.
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