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 J. Byrnes |
Cultural Stimuli in SF
Issue 166: mischievous flavor
There's something hardwired into the collective psyche of our city that encourages people to break a few rules. The reputation is built more on fact than fable — around here, Italian track bikes take over the streets, girls marry girls, and weekends are divided equally between solid parties, a few drinks, and good old-fashioned civil disobedience. If your antics get out of hand, never give up the right to remain silent, don't reveal the location of all the goodies you won in our new Flavorpack Contest, and maintain the freedom to spread it.
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flavorpill is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art, and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.
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Jeremy Blake: Winchester, on view at SFMOMA, was inspired by heiress Sarah Winchester and her Winchester Mystery House — the bizarre Victorian mansion she built to defend herself from the ghosts of those killed by the rifles that made her family famous. Employing hand-painted imagery, film footage, vector graphics, and sound, Blake's visually opulent works offer an empathetic experience of Winchester's madness. |
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| FILM |
Istituto Italiano di Cultura Film Series: Il pesce innamorato (1999)
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Italophiles and devotees of Argentine-born Spanish/Lebanese supermodel Yamila Diaz should rejoice in this rare American screening of actor/writer/director Leonardo Pieraccioni's Il pesce innamorato (The Fish in Love). Pieraccioni, a former cabaret performer who has made some of Italy's most popular movies in recent years, plays Arturo Vannino, a newly famous novelist who retreats from the limelight after spending a night with the lovely, but married, Matilde (Diaz). Arturo seems content in his rural solitude until, about nine months later, Matilde shows up with a small, drooling surprise. Be sure to brush up on your Italian beforehand: this screening is without subtitles. (JK)
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| MUSIC: Sister Act |
Last of the Blacksmiths w/ the Chapin Sisters and Dame Satan
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The one virtue LA trio the Chapin Sisters shares with classic sister acts of old becomes apparent when they sing together: that shiver of spotless, familial unity that makes every syllable woundingly poignant. Never mind that the material itself is hardly so timeless — the girls do morbid indie-folk remakes of everything from Britney to the Cure — when the harmonies kick in it doesn't matter what they're singing about; it's pure heartache. Their July residence at LA's Spaceland might bring a brighter spotlight to the group, but tonight's gig with Dame Satan and Last of the Blacksmiths is a delightfully low-key affair. (NVB)
 Why did Zeus throw Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, out of Mount Olympus? The second and fifth correct answers each win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| MUSIC: Shoegazing |
Tomihira w/ Anaura and the Turn-Ups
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Melancholy popsters Tomihira lead an evening of promising local acts tonight at the Bottom of the Hill. While giving nods to such brooding luminaries as Joy Division and Interpol, vocalist Dean Tomihira's delivery is uncommonly sincere. The band mines '90s-era shoegaze with a distinctively acoustic touch, such as during a standout rendition of the Cure's "2 Late." Tomihira's atypical "Californian" sound is bound to make waves outside of San Francisco in the not-too-distant future. They are accompanied by moody allies Anaura and the notably more chipper power pop of the Turn-Ups. (JH)
Q. When did Tomihira start playing live? First two correct
answers win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| ART: Opening |
Psyche Wall and Django Chapel
| when: |
Thur 7.7 (6-8pm) |
| where: |
New Langton Arts (1246 Folsom St, 415.626.5416) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Jacob Hartman's Psyche Wall and Jarrett Mitchell and Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough's Django Chapel use digital manipulation and sculptural installation to confuse distinctions between the viewer and the art itself. Psyche Wall digitally records vistors to the gallery and projects them onto the piece in real time. Mitchell and Yarbrough's Django Chapel consists of a set-like installation that hints at Giotto's Arena Chapel as well as a shack from the 1966 spaghetti western Django. Viewers are invited to sit inside the piece where an edited version of the film is playing. Hartman and Yarbrough are on hand to guide you through these meta-narratives dealing with sacrifice and martyrdom. (RS)
Note: This exhibition continues through Sat 8.6 (Tue-Sat: 12-6pm).
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| COMEDY |
Patton Oswalt
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What comedian Patton Oswalt lacks in fame, he makes up for in funny. Oswalt, co-star of the criminally underrated (no, really!) CBS sitcom King of Queens has developed something of a cult following with his hilarious musings on everything from humorless liberals to "engagement swords." Even discerning tastemakers bow down to Oswalt's comedic prowess — Dave Eggers recently shared the stage with him at Stanford, as they both offered their own takes on post-election America. Don't miss this chance to have spasms of laughter wrack your body, already weakened by the two-drink minimum. (LE)
Note: Oswalt also performs on Fri 7.8 and Sat 7.9 (8 and 10:15pm).
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| MUSIC: Techno Punk |
Let's Lazer Tag Sometime presents Shy Child
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Dance rock comes as cheap and plentiful as cans of PBR these days, but it's a very special band that can induce San Franciscans to move their notoriously reluctant tootsies. Luckily, dance floor dysfunction is demolished tonight courtesy of Shy Child, a Brooklyn-based duo that sends music journalists scrambling for synonyms for the word "infectious." Drummer Nate Smith and keyboardist Pete Cafarella (from Supersystem, formerly El Guapo) churn out a hyperactive amalgam of Detroit techlectro and punk, rocking so hard it's easy to forget that these guys — gasp — don't even use guitars. With local vinyl support from Philip Sherburne, playing a special "goodbye SF" DJ set! (AB)
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| ALSO ON THUR |
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FUNDRAISER
Benefit for the Chiapas Support Committee
Thur 7.7 (8pm) 21 Grand (416 25th St, Oakland, 510.444.7263) map $5-10 sliding scale
Event Info |
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Tonight's benefit for the Chiapas Support Committee brings together a group of DJs, musicians, and spoken word performers. Acid jazz and deep groove sets by the EK (Entartete Kunst) collective own the night. (NVB)
 
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| MUSIC: ESL Pop |
Dungen w/ Faun Fables
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When a non-English-speaking band strikes a chord in the states — and it's not Sigur Rós — you best take note. Scandinavian psych-rockers Dungen swallow whole the vibe of the Zombies, the Hollies, the Creation, and anything Eric Burdon could dish up, only to flip the folk back fresher than ever. They plunge headlong into mind-expanding jamming only to emerge moments later with melodies so catchy, you'll think you momentarily learned Swedish. They left all New York's downtown hipsters panting for more last year, so don't miss the boat. (JCF)
Note: The Lonelyhearts also open.
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| FILM |
San Francisco Silent Film Festival
| when: |
Fri 7.8 - Sun 7.10 (schedule) |
| where: |
Castro Theatre (429 Castro St, 415.621.6120) map |
| price: |
$8.50 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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The first sound intoned by a "talkie" — the moment when the so-called "silent curtain" came down — was a death knell for the golden era of silent cinema. Most of the period's great stars saw their careers evaporate with brutal irony, their expressive but non-vocal talents now rendered totally mute. King Vidor's famed epic The Big Parade is considered the first "realistic" war drama and, as one of the last silent films, became an unexpected box-office rainmaker for the newly-formed MGM Studios. The film is thought to be the most profitable silent film ever, and as the crown jewel of the SF Silent Film Festival, testifies to the timelessness of great art. (NVB)
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| DJ |
Geoff White
| when: |
Fri 7.8 (10pm-2am) |
| where: |
Rx Gallery (132 Eddy St, 415.474.RXSF) map |
| price: |
$10 / $5 advance |
| links: |
Event Info | Geoff White |
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A specter is haunting San Francisco, and it's Ghostly. Recent months have seen visits from the Ann Arbor label's in-house DJ, Ryan Elliott (celebrating the release of sublabel Spectral's first compilation), and its hottest property, Matthew Dear, as well as the many acts appearing at the monthly Pop party at Rx, run by local affiliates Broker/Dealer. Tonight's apparition comes courtesy of Geoff White, a former Ohio resident who packed up and moved to Barcelona to pursue his brand of minimalist electro-techno and minimalist hip-hop. Armed with a laptop loaded with granulated funk and shimmering tones, White makes his presence felt like a bump in the night — subtle, and not a little spooky. (PS)
Tell us your best ghost story. The two stories that scare us the most in 50 words or less each win a pair of tickets to this event.
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| MUSIC: Furious |
2 a.m. Orchestra w/ And a Few to Break
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We first encountered And a Few to Break at Edinburgh Castle some months ago when the scrappy quintet knocked us on our asses with mathed-up hardcore, screeching intensity, and — just when we needed it — a rush of glorious guitarmonies. That sweaty, deafening night was like a time warp taking us back to the brilliant, politicized hardcore of the early '90s. In the months since, the band's been aflutter with activity: a session at Tiny Telephone and one furious gig after another. Tonight's engagement at the Castle puts them in the same place we found them, but this time we know to bring wildly high expectations. (NC)
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| MUSIC: Bluegrass |
The David Grisman Quintet
| when: |
Sat 7.9 (7pm) |
| where: |
Osher Marin Jewish Community Center (200 N San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 415.444.8000) map |
| price: |
$30 / $15 students |
| links: |
Event Info | David Grisman |
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Since 1975, David Grisman and various incarnations of his quintet have pioneered a blend of bluegrass, jazz, and folk (coined "dawg music") that continues to evolve by filtering swing, Latin American, and other world elements through the virtuoso talents of each member. Argentine guitarist Enrique Coria, like every player in the quintet, can croon as well as sizzle, engaging music heads and first-time listeners alike. Dodge the fog as it rolls in over the Golden Gate and head to sunny Marin for a proper serenade at sunset with these masters. (JH)
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| MUSIC: Jazz |
Don Friedman Trio
| when: |
Sat 7.9 (8pm) |
| where: |
Campbell Recital Hall, Stanford University (541 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, 650.725.2787) map |
| price: |
$28 |
| links: |
Event Info | Don Friedman |
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We certainly don't advocate alarmist claims like "jazz is dead," but there's no denying that few musicians remain from that fertile period in the '60s when the avant-garde and the mainstream truly melded. As such, we recommend this homecoming performance by pianist Don Friedman, a San Francisco native who played with Dexter Gordon and Chet Baker before heading to New York to forge his own style, which combines the relaxed, classical lyricism of his hero, Bill Evans, with the wilder and freer sounds of the experimental vanguard. A talk entitled "The Art of the Piano Trio" precedes the performance. (JK)
Which musical genre is truly dead? The two most convincing answers in 50 words or less each win a pair of tickets to this concert.
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| MUSIC: Tropical Lounge |
Brazilian Girls
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Brazilian Girls' globetrotting blend of dub, tropicalia, lounge and electro pop offers strong testament to the transportive power of music. But where the New York-based four piece intends to send listeners is left alluringly undefined. It could be Serge Gainsbourg's Paris; it could be Gotan Project's Buenos Aires; or it could be simply — as multilingual vocalist Sabina Sciubba suggests in her languid alto on the Girls' self-titled debut LP — "to the park to get some ice cream." The band's live show, all swaying hips and liberally flowing sweat, puts the audience at the confluence of a million sonic flight patterns. Get ready to feel sexy, and pack your passport. (JAS)
Why did veterans of the Algerian War of Independence make death threats against Serge Gainsbourg? The fifth correct answer wins a pair of tickets to this show.
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| DJ: Tropical Hip-Hop |
Full of Flava Tropical Edition
| when: |
Sat 7.9 (10pm-4am) |
| where: |
Club Six (60 6th St, 415.863.1221) map |
| price: |
$10 / $5 before 11pm |
| links: |
Event Info | Jah Yzer |
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It's easy to pass by Wisdom Records without even noticing; the brightly colored jumble above 30th St swallows up the remote Outer Mission record shop. But for fans of dub, the revered locale is more than just a store; it's the training ground for premier local sound clash warriors DJ Iver and Jah Yzer. Together the two are the brains and brawn of Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi, a crew that has nabbed five Bay Area Sound Clash Championships due to their deft instincts and impeccable taste behind the decks. Tonight's Tropical Edition of Full of Flava finds Jah Yzer amongst friends and in his element: offering late-night cuts of deep dub and dancehall. (NC)
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| ALSO ON SAT |
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FUNDRAISER
Writers With Drinks
Sat 7.9 (7:30-9:30pm) The Make-Out Room (3225 22nd St, 415.647.2888) map $3-5 sliding scale
Event Info | Other Magazine |
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Benefiting Other Magazine, tonight's literary variety show brings together a typically intriguing bunch: erotica editor Susie Bright, El Salvadoran poet Jorge Argueta, poet/activist Judy Grahn, novelist Andre Hewitt, and others. (NC)
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| DANCE |
Nishikawa School of Japanese Classical Dance
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With San Francisco's famously gloomy summer weather rolling in and taking hold, this performance by the Nishikawa School of Japanese Classical Dance seems like a godsend. According to legend, nihon buyo (Japanese classical dance) was born when the goddess Amenouzume no Mikoto's movements lured the sun goddess from a cave and returned light to the world. The traditional dance of the Nishikawa School is slightly more elaborate, with costumes and style similar to the theater style kabuki. It's unlikely that the performance will lift the fog here, but for those in the Herbst Theatre, it won't matter. (JK)
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| ALSO ON SUN |
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MUSIC: Opera
Stars of Merola Opera in Yerba Buena Gardens
Sun 7.10 (2-4pm) Yerba Buena Gardens (Mission St & 4th St, 415.561.7686) map FREE
Event Info |
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What could be more peaceful than lounging in a garden while listening to The Abduction from the Seraglio? The Merola Opera Program performs excerpts from this and other operas. (JK)
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| MUSIC: Rock |
The Holy Kiss w/ Lion Fever and Bellmer Dolls
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It's hard not to notice a band with a name like the Holy Kiss — the moniker is taken from scripture that describes greetings between snake-handling priests. Appropriately, the band dishes out gothic punk sermons (think Ink and Dagger without the vampire fixation) and blues-amped rock that grew out of the ashes of members' well-noted former projects, Birthday Party and Black Heart Procession. Frontman Matty Rue Morgue yowls in a good imitation of Nick Cave's despondence, which contrasts with the group's theatrical high-octane bash. They're loud, chaotic, and rarely anything less than spectacular on stage. (NVB)
The Holy Kiss' latest 7" was released on which label? Third and sixth correct answers win a pair of tickets to this show.
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| FILM |
Mana: Beyond Belief (2004)
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Named after the Polynesian word that roughly translates as "the power of things" and shot in high definition video across five continents, the narration-free Mana: Beyond Belief gracefully glides through different cultures and traditions. From the Shroud of Turin to Elvis' guitar, from Burma to Bangalore, this visually stunning movie from award-winning filmmakers Peter Friedman and Roger Manley takes viewers on a globetrotting adventure that offers a unique opportunity to ponder faith as edified through objects. Juxtaposing striking imagery from around the world, the film reveals the various ways in which people behave in the presence of these "power objects." (SN)
Note: Co-directors Roger Manley and Peter Friedman appear for a Q&A following evening screenings on Fri 7.8 and Sat 7.9.
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| ART |
The Diorama Show
| when: |
Now through Sat 7.16 (Tue-Fri: 3-6pm / Sat: 2-5pm) |
| where: |
Mission 17 (2111 Mission St, Ste 401, 415.336.2349) map |
| price: |
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Event Info |
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In an interesting treatment of a medium formerly reserved for grade schoolers, The Diorama Show transports us through a mix of shoebox subjects that go well beyond a miniaturized seagull scene from James and the Giant Peach. Over 50 creations by grown-up artists are on display, and with the variety of media and subjects employed — resulting in such tableaus as a feathery conveyor belt, tiny bubbles filled with even tinier people, and a bathtub drain impossibly clogged with a disco ball, blinking lights, and hair — it's hard not to become enamored of this charming collection. (RS)
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| THEATRE |
A Boy and His Soul
| when: |
Now through Sun 7.31 (Thur-Sat: 8pm / Sun: 5pm) |
| where: |
Thick House (1695 18th St, 415.401.8081) map |
| price: |
$15-25 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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It's the voice of Colman Domingo that makes this autobiographical trip through '70s Philadelphia a truly remarkable one-man show. Domingo's rich tenor belts out soul tunes with explosive vitality, and the stories he tells about his conflicted childhood are interesting, if less engaging, liner notes. The material for the show was culled from a string of readings at New York's 55 Bar (where Domingo worked behind the bar) during the summer of 2004. After the sneak-preview performance at SF's Thick House earlier this year, Domingo's account of his life in music has truly found its voice. (NVB)
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GOOD COME-ONS: Mapping Sex in America |
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The Museum of Sex wants you to strip — but before you start taking your socks off, let us explain. They're looking for people all across the country to shed the layers of their carnal affairs for a new Internet project, Mapping Sex in America. Perhaps you know something of the Works Progress Administration of the '30s or the StoryCorps project, which records people's stories for the National Archive; or you may have heard of Alfred Kinsey, the famed sex researcher who was the subject of a biopic last year — the Museum's project follows along the same vein. To participate, just go to the project website, select the city of your sexual exploits, and recount your sins. (MB)
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CD REVIEW: Jamie Lidell, Multiply |
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Warp
Released June 2005
$13.99 (Amazon)
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If not for its subtle, tech-y undertones and Jamie Lidell's decidedly Caucasian face on the cover, you could be forgiven for assuming Multiply is a lost compilation mining Otis, Marvin, and Stevie. A far cry from Lidell's techno-crooner work with Cristian Vogel as Super_Collider and the psychotic avant-garde collage of his 2000 solo debut, Multiply's stirring soul maintains the vintage warmth of its predecessors while emphasizing Lidell's shockingly authentic, virtuosic vocals and deft melodicism. Rhythms are intricately nuanced and, despite occasional studio trickery — such as the DJ Screw-style effects on "A Little Bit More" — the tastefully uncluttered production here perfectly compliments the advanced tunesmithing. Not just a glowing tribute to American soul and R&B, Multiply is an earnest move into the future: one hand on a Hammond, the other on a laptop. (JCF)
 Which two instruments did Lidell first learn to play back in the day? The eighth correct answer wins a copy of Multiply.
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DOWNLOADS: Gomma |
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In addition to ranking among the best labels in Germany (check out WhoMadeWho's new The Loop 12-inch and the 2004 Munk LP Aperitivo for proof), Gomma sports a website containing quite a bit of media for your viewing and listening pleasure. This week, there's the "Kick out the Chairs" video featuring LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy on vocals, as well as a series of brand new DJ mixes. Highlights include a springtime electro-pop Munk set from Berlin's F.U.N. club, a disco, dub and funk affair from Hiltmeyer Inc., and a mix from Gomma friend DJ Kaos. (CJN)
To access the downloadable mixes from Gomma's homepage, click on "mixtapes/videos (games)" in the left-hand navigation, then on "dj-mix". The featured MP3 mixes will appear on the right side of your screen. Click to download.
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Munk: Total XX (Electro-pop)
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Hiltmeyer Inc.: A Tape for my Girlfriends! (Dub/disco)
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DJ Kaos: A Livemix (Big beat/soul)
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| Header Design: |
| Bad check | J. Byrnes |
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| Editors: |
| Jumping turnstiles | Nate Cavalieri | | Speeding | Jocelyn K Glei | | Little white lies | Jake Lancaster | | Littering | Paul Laster | | Cheat sheet | Doug Levy | | Public nuisance | Sascha Lewis | | Keying cars | Gerry Mak | | Fake ID | Mark Mangan | | Cheating | Colin J Nagy | | Expired visa | Philip Sherburne | | Sneaking around | Claire Smith | | Indecent exposure | Peter D Stepek | | Wandering eyes | Toby Warner |
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| ABOUT US |
| flavorpill SF is a free weekly email magazine covering music, arts, and cultural events in San Francisco. All listings are pure editorial, never paid advertisements — no money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us, and spread it... |
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| FEEDBACK |
As always, feel free to send in any and all feedback — comments, questions, ideas, or rants. Spread the flavor...
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| EVENT SUBMISSIONS |
| Please send all interesting event information (press releases, links, etc.) to events. |
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| Contributors: |
| PDA | Anna Balkrishna | | Leaving seat up | Mindy Bond | | Impersonating officer | Nick Van Buskirk | | Aiding and abetting | Erika Christiansen | | Borrowing wireless | Lauren Epstein | | Bribing an officer | Josh C Forbes | | Scalping tickets | Krista Freibaum | | Reckless driving | Joe Hayes | | Desecrating holy site | Jonathan Knapp | | Open container | Steve Nalepa | | Taking last cookie | Sam N Shah | | Corruption | Randy Shelton | | War crimes | Jonathan A Schultz | | Arson | Sam Smith | | Lambada | Yancey Strickler |
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Production: |
| Disorderly conduct | Anjuli Ayer | | Trespassing | Sander-Martijn Milks | | Insufficient funds | David Morrow | | Faking sick | Sameer Shah |
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A twice-monthly, insider view on fashion trends breaking in Paris, London, New York, and around the world
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© 2005 Flavorpill Productions LLC. All rights reserved.
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