Trust us, it's definitely worth the $7 BART ride to step inside the revamped Fox Theater in Oakland. The multi-million-dollar facelift of the gorgeous 1920s Deco movie house is finally complete. After decades of decay and slumber, the historic theater officially threw open its doors earlier this year, marking the end of a massive restoration project. Home to the Oakland School for the Arts by day, the Fox promises to be one of the Bay Area’s best music venues by night. And thanks to inking a deal with booking giants Another Planet Entertainment, the gilded palace is set to bolt out of the gate with a starting spring lineup so good you'll wish they made a season pass. Mark your calendars:
The Black Keys
With 2008’s Attack & Release, the sweaty blues-rock Midwestern duo long beloved but always slightly overshadowed by that other infamous garage-rock guitar n’ drums twosome from Detroit hit new sonic heights, thanks to a little help from producer pal Danger Mouse. White Stripes comparisons still abound, but there are far worse things in life. Watch out Jack and Meg! 4/18.
Bloc Party
The disco-beat bearing Brits celebrate their third album stateside. It's a guaranteed sweaty dance fest sure to make even the most jaded, shoe-gazing ex-Anglophile fall in love with merry old England and Britpop all over again. 4/20
The Shins
Remember the band Natalie Portman couldn’t get enough of in Garden State? Sorry let's back up a step, remember Garden State? While the offbeat indie romance flick that launched Zach Braff into the limelight may have settled snuggly into the back of the Netflix cue, the sounds of The Shins remain. The melodic pop pioneers turn out sugary tunes so sweet they'll make your heart ache for the Jersey shore -- the very same one you've sworn up and down since leaving for sunny California that you hate. 5/9
