It is a feast of local music playing in San Francisco this week. Here are five of our favorite shows to destroy your eardrums at.
FIDLAR, Wednesday, Bottom of the Hill.
Fresh from a wildly successful East Coast tour with The Hives, Los Angeles-based rockers, FIDLAR are heading back West and bringing their raucous surf-rock tunes with them. They released a new 7” to rave reviews earlier this year before heading off to SXSW. The first single “No Waves” is a youthful, grungy summer anthem that is definitely worth sweating along to, and the catchy “No Ass” definitely follows a similar formula. Oakland post punk outfit Meat Market will support.
Booker T. Jones, Friday, Yoshi’s
Feeling in the mood for some blues this Friday? Music legend, Booker T Jones is bringing his formidable talent to Yoshi’s. Legendary Hammond B3 organ master and composer of organ anthem, "Green Onions”, Jones has had a rich career. He’s collaborated with artists as diverse as Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, and Neil Young as well as produced classic albums such as Willie Nelson’s triple platinum hit Stardust. His latest album, The Road from Memphis, is a soulful return to the classic Memphis sound.
Icky Boyfriends and Wounded Lion, Hemlock
I love a lead singer who knows how to scream. Jonathan Swift from The Icky Boyfriends definitely knows how to do that. A much-loved, much-hated band from the Bay Area in the late 1980s and mid '90s, the Ickys were already playing tight avant-garde, garage rock, and punk, while most other bands were either aping around or setting the pace for the grunge movement. Back for two shows only this weekend, you'd be foolish to miss seeing them. They’re being supported by Wounded Lion, an LA-based quintet who artfully blend crunchy guitar and caveman thud with buoyant pop melody.
Monoshock, Lamps, and More Saturday, Hemlock
Following Icky Boyfriends the night before, Monoshock are playing a one-off show on Saturday. With the raw power of the Stooges, the improvisational debauchery of the Velvet Underground, and the schizophrenic swagger of Pere Ubu, Monoshock are another Bay Area gem from the early 90s that are well worth your time. With enough feedback to knock you off your feet, complemented by screeching vocals, this won’t be a show for the faint hearted. Supported by the eclectic LA outfit Lamps, who play snarling art punk, as well as the Icky Boyfriends (again) and Wounded Lion, this is a night not to miss.
Aesop Rock Sunday, The Fillmore
Having just released his new album, Skelethon, SF native, Aesop Rock is about to embark on a nationwide tour. Ian Bavitz, known on stage as Aesop Rock, took a career break in 2007. He is finally back with arguably some of his darkest yet most accessible material yet. The single “Zero Dark Thirty” sets an early template: Distorted drums clanging around the mix; pinpricks of synthesizers and noir-ish samplings. Supported by Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, it is definitely worth the $32 asking price.
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