8 Days a Week

July 24-30, 2002

AS HARSH TIMES would seem to beg for harsh music, 21 Grand Gallery presents the sonic antidote of the future with today's Oakland Harsh Noise Festival. Of course, noise is always a few steps ahead: at its best, it cuts to the chase of musical enjoyment, serving simultaneously as aesthetic purification and metamusic. The festival, curated by Tyler Cox (Saint of Killers, the Mass), promises such sublime listening. Cox has included numerous perspectives on difficult music, bringing together jazz, metal, techno, academic-experimental, and industrial practitioners for an evening of sublime sounds. Sound designer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Dimuzio brings his diverse music background to his live performances, using studio tools in improvisations. Uberkunst, a 12-piece black-clad noise-performance troupe, pound metal and hurl machines and dolls at listeners. Saint of Killers bash out metal-free jazz assaults, their drums, bass, and vocals augmented by saxophones and additional bass. Also performing are XOME, Bob Scott's frenetic, abrasive computer- and synthesizer-based solo project; Compromicro Dexall, a duo who trample the boundaries between improvisation and composition with a blend of free jazz, punk, grindcore, and noise; and Stimbox, who create a wall of industrial-style sonic overload. Sat/27, 6 p.m., 21 Grand, 449B 23rd St., Oakl. $5. (510) 444-7263, www.21grand.org. (Elizabeth Lobsenz)

July 24

Wednesday

BYOTP If you've wrung every amusement from www.ratemypoo.com or are longing for further enlightenment in the realm of toilet-themed art, check out 'Sight Unseen,' a reading and video-screening event that dares venture behind the outhouse door. On the bill: author (and former Bay Guardian intern) Anhoni Patel reading from her work-in-progress novel All Good Things Die in L.A., a tale of three SoCal dreamers whose pursuits of sex and drugs lead to quality time spent in the W.C.; a poetic take on fecal and other matters by slam poet Rupert Estanislao; a film by Kat Asharya that promotes bathrooms as hiding places; and Julie Gaw's "Shit: The Movie," a howl-inducing 30-minute investigation of poop and the people who love it. Flush yeah! 8 p.m., Locus 1640, 1640 Post, S.F. $5. www.locusarts.org. (Cheryl Eddy)

Fuse factor Algerian-born, French-raised singer Rachid Taha comes by his mix of sounds and styles honestly. He's been working professionally since the early '80s, and over the years he seems to have borrowed something from nearly every musical style in existence. The backbone of his 2001 album, Made in Medina, is North African melodies and rhythms, but his work is aimed at the global dance floor – which might bother purists but works like a charm in a nightclub. DJ Sep opens. 9 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, S.F. $20. (415) 474-0365. (J.H. Tompkins)

July 25

Thursday

Mali high Calling the Super Rail Band the group that started the world beat fusion of ancient acoustic and modern electric sounds may be a slight exaggeration. But the legendary aggregation – launched in the 1950s with a subsidy from the government of Mali – did pioneer the blending of traditional folk idioms, such as Mandingo griot and hunting songs, into a popular music that was further shaped by American rock and Afro-Cuban influences. They assumed the early name Rail Band du Mali in the '70s, when they played for the railway administration at the Bamako station. Like Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the United States, the Super Rail have produced superstars, including Salif Keita and Mory Kante. But under the longtime leadership of guitarist-singer Djelimady Tounkara, the exciting ensemble have persevered through boom and bust times in the competitive music scene and continue to attract new fans (including Bonnie Raitt) and sell out U.S. venues. 9 p.m., Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo, Berk. $18. (510) 525-5054. (Derk Richardson)

July 26

Friday

Panel discussion Moviegoers have long appreciated the mind-twisting originality of tales drawn from comic books. But there's much more to the medium than fast-food tie-ins, and with 'Fantastic! The Art of Comics and Illusion' the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts attempts to expand awareness of contemporary comics, reaching beyond the mainstream and highlighting works that are galaxies away from the Sunday funny pages. The multipart exhibit includes "Raw, Boiled and Cooked," a display of prints, comic pages, toys, animations, and other works inspired by RAW, a publication cofounded by Pulitzer winner Art Spiegelman (Maus: A Survivor's Tale) to champion underground artists; "Widescreen," a group show featuring Chynna Clugston-Major (Blue Monday), Rafael Navarro (Sonambulo), and other high-energy comics creators; and "Bay Area Blast!," with works by local luminaries Judd Winick and Dan Clowes, among others. Tonight, be among the first to view "Fantastic!" when the YBC hosts a special preview and party, with film and video screenings and live performances. Die-hard genre fans will also want to check out "Zap, Crash and Burn: Underground Comix and the Bay Area," a related exhibit opening tomorrow at the nearby Cartoon Art Museum. Party 8-11 p.m., exhibit July 27-Oct. 13, Tues.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (first Thurs., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.), Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, S.F. Party $10-$12, exhibit $3-$6 (free first Tues.). (415) 978-2787. (Also "Zap, Crash and Burn," July 27-Sept. 29, Tues.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, S.F. $2-$5. 415-CAR-TOON.) (Adam Wadenius)

Piece by piece Why wait till fall to see what's new at ODC Theater? Check out 'Inter-actions,' a special preview showing of multiple works in progress by African American artists working in a variety of genres. Quilt maker Faith Ringgold's work – sparked by James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time – is the inspiration behind The Quilt Project, a performance event slated to premiere in November with an original score by composer Wayne Wallace, an ODC Theater artist in residence. An exploration of the devastating effects of racism that offers the healing promise of salvation, Quilt carries an important message, as well as some respected talent (collaborators include choreographers Laura Elaine Ellis, Aisha Jenkins, Robert Moses, and Robert Henry Johnson, plus spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph). Also appearing in "Inter-actions" are dancer-choreographer Kendra Kimbrough, spoken word artist Aya de Leon, and experimental musician Pamela Z. Through Sat/27. 8 p.m., ODC Theater, 3153 17th St., S.F. $7-$10. (415) 863-9834. (Eddy)

Bon appétit! If past years are any indication, you're gonna need a full month to prepare for this year's Mr./Miss Golden Gate pageant – an outdoor drag-stravanganza of glamorous performances, down-home picnicking, and Olympic-caliber events such as scooter races and an obstacle-course run. The actual pageant commences Aug. 25, so tonight's 'Official Kick-Off Party,' sponsored by the Imperial Council of San Francisco and monarchs Emperor Berlin and Empress Barbie, aims to encourage potential participants to take the plunge. Pick up an application, learn more about the competition, and get in the picnic spirit when the Til Friday cast (including Cockatelia, Gypsy Calabrese, Sonfondaboyz, Manley Lennox, and Karen Kill) takes the stage for "Eatcha Din Din: Food for Thought," a cuisine-themed drag show that's rumored to feature a flying-tortilla routine. 9 p.m., Club Rendez-Vous, 1312 Polk, S.F. Free. (415) 309-CLUB, www.clubrendez-vous.com. (Eddy)

July 27

Saturday

More is more Get set for the blast of noise and energy that'll shoot through tonight's stop on the Freedom from Summer Tour. From Detroit come whirly-twirly noise rock duo Neon Hunk and solo boogie band Mammal – both promise to get your teeth grinding and your butt shaking. Lexington, Ky.'s Hair Police rock out with legendary vigor, and amazing electronic act Hans Grüsel's Kränkenkabinet, from the Black Forest of Germany, brings an entourage of musical mushrooms and giant gingerbread people wearing cuckoo-clock heads. Artic Universe blow in from Minnesota and Murder Murder represent the local scene. 9 p.m., Kimo's, 1351 Polk, S.F. $5. (415) 885-4535. (Angie Edwards)

United they stand If VH1 did a "100 Most Shocking Post-Sept. 11 Rock Moments" countdown, I Am the World Trade Center's moniker, chosen long before the tragedy, would make number three, trailing the Coup's eerie Party Music album cover, and Sir Paul McCartney's all-star tribute jam. The Brooklyn laptop duo kept their name and noncontroversial dance pop, then sensitively donated a portion of the proceeds from sales of their first album, Out of the Loop (Kindercore), to a Sept. 11 relief fund. Tonight they open for Smokey and Miho, unarguably this year's Antonio Carlos and Astrud. He's Smokey Hormel, guitarist for Beck, Tom Waits, John Doe, and the Blasters. She's Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Gorillaz. They both love bossa nova, and they craft new classics in English, Portuguese, Japanese, and Angolan, all filtered through Hatori's charming phonetic intonations. 20 Minute Loop also play. 10 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $12. (415) 621-4455. (Katje Richstatter)

July 28

Sunday

After the gold rush Almost 10 years ago Santa Cruz band Nuzzle earned a rabid West Coast following for their melodic, oddly loping take on hardcore: long, melancholy musical phrases stretched between sharp percussive jolts. Now reformed as the Dying Californian, they've gathered those emotive, country-influenced strands into a moodily shimmering debut EP. Their songs follow long, rangy paths that never quite end where you'd expect. The group play tonight at Hemlock Tavern, along with San Diego's Gogogo Airheart, who top their catchy, dub- and funk-inflected art punk à la Pop Group with Gary Wilson-ish soul anxiety. San Francisco's menacing goth heroes the Vanishing open. The Dying Californian also play the Bottom of the Hill Tues/30 with the Enemies and White Mice. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $6. (415) 923-0923. (Also Tues/30, 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $5. 415-621-4455). (Elizabeth Lobsenz)

Calling the house nation DJs aren't the only ones who built San Francisco's dance music scene. There's also people like Wert Terry, original old-school raver, long-time Wicked promoter, ubiquitous underground party man, dreadlocked lawyer, eternal dog lover, and good-vibed dancer with a constant grin on his face. And not too long ago, our friend was diagnosed with cancer, which may explain why you haven't seen him and his dog out like you used to. This Sunday the original rockers of the San Francisco scene gather at the Cocomo to help raise money to pay his medical bills and to help start a fund to support his five-month-old daughter. Fittingly, the tag-team lineup is top notch: Doc Martin, Dubtribe, Garth, Markie, Jenö, Harry Who, Rick Preston, Kevin Jenkins (Bulletproof), Adnan, Fabuliz, Tracy, Soultstice's Gina Renee, Travis, and reggae act Natural Elements, to name a few. The event was pulled together by Wert's pals Neil Harris, Garth, and Charlotte Tregoning. Even if you don't know Wert, rest assured that you're coming down to support a fine, fine man. Noon-2 a.m., Cafe Cocomo, 650 Indiana, S.F. $20 donation. (415) 824-6910, funkanova2002@yahoo.com. (Amanda Nowinski)

July 29

Monday

Space-age sounds Throw yourself into diversion tonight with a tetrad of sound mutations. Elders of Zion kick out dangerous, spaced-out, no-wave jams – a soundtrack for speeding your hovercraft through the night sky of a Blade Runner set. Masmelo are a bizarre act featuring members of Lo-fi Neisans and Ass Baboons of Venus. Leavenworth play free punk, jazz noise, and "terror blues." Lastly and ghastly, Rubber O Cement are a fly-eyed peek into a zero-tech future performed by musical mutants. A. Gene Rak plays his patented bass javelin, backed by his sidekick, the Cinemavox, a super(cardboard)-computer that squeaks and bleeps out messages from the not-so-distant future. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $6. (415) 621-4455. (Edwards)

July 30

Tuesday

Noteworthy Anyone who's been to a local rep house in the past few years has no doubt heard of Genghis Blues. Roko Belic's 2000 Oscar-nominated doc tells the story of blind San Francisco blues musician Paul Peña, who traveled to Tuva to better embrace the truly unique throat-singing techniques (you try singing more than one note at a time) of the Asian country's nomadic natives. Catch this worthy film again, or for the first time, at a special screening hosted by Kids Make Music to benefit Music in Schools Today, a nonprofit that brings instruments to local public schools. Women's vocal group Kitka also performs. 6:30 and 9:15 p.m., Parkway Theater, 1834 Park, Oakl. $8. (510) 814-2400. (Eddy)

July 31

Wednesday