8 Days a Week

July 30-Aug. 6, 2003

SMART WOMEN PLAN smartly. Former San Francisco Ballet dancer and blossoming choreographer Julia Adam is one of them. Adams grew up in Canada, where she began dancing at her mother's ballet school, and has gone on to work with an impressive number of professional companies. Inspired by the optimism and energy of young dancers, she leaped at the chance to create a work for the advanced students of Marin Ballet's summer program. Along with her former mentor and current Marin Ballet artistic director, Cynthia Lucas, she launched a three-year project to create an evening-length version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. One of the hardest things for young choreographers to learn is how to create a trajectory that lasts through an entire evening. Adam, smart as she is, is taking it in stages. For the time being, she is leaving the framing story out, choreographing only the scenes in the midsummer wood. Sat/2, 2 and 7 p.m., College of Marin Fine Arts Theater, 835 College, Kentfield. $14-$22. (415) 721-9622. (Rita Felciano)

July 30

Wednesday

Girls night out Though the beloved Lusty Lady is full of lovelies, women are rarely on the other side of the glass. Well, the new, improved, and now employee-owned strip joint is out to change all of that with the first-ever Lusty Lady Ladies Night. Every last Wednesday of the month, ladies and their transguy friends have free reign of the North Beach club. Intrepid women of all persuasions can cruise and play in a safe environment. With hot peep shows, lady-made porn, a one-on-one fantasy booth, and (conveniently) safe-sex supplies and toys at the ready, there are plenty of possibilities for solo and group adventures. Hostesses are also on hand to show Lusty virgins around the club. 9 p.m.-3 a.m., Lusty Lady, 1033 Kearny, S.F. Free for women, trans, and men accompanied by a woman; $10 for men unaccompanied by a woman. (415) 391-3126. (Alissa Chadburn)

Solitary man A good solo act is like a Greek tragedy: there's something about watching a musician alone onstage that invites sympathy. This is especially true of Onelinedrawing, as Jonah Matranga creates songs of only the most personal nature. The former Far frontperson's side project is quintessentially singer-songwriter, straight down to its bedroom-recorded full length, Visitor (Jade Tree). Matranga consciously tries to narrow the gulf between performer and fan, and his fragile, introspective ballads have attracted a large following – handling the merchandising himself, Matranga has sold more than 30,000 records on his Web site and at concerts. Although he is known for playing shows in living rooms, his performance at Pound-SF, with Kevin Seconds, Lessick, and Acceptance, promises to be just as intimate. 7 p.m., Pound-SF, Pier 96, 100 Cargo, S.F. $8. (415) 826-9202. (Phil Herrick)

Sky lark Tania May-Bowers, alias Via Tania, makes music for trip-hoppy bohos who daydream to a different drummer. Her recent Chocolate Industries debut, Under a Different Sky, provides the perfect sound track for those listeners during the fading days of summer, offering jazzily erratic beats and a drowsy dapple of dub. Throughout, May-Bowers's breathy vocals slip around contributions by Prefuse 73, Giant Sand's Howe Gelb, Come's Chris Brokaw, and Tortoise's John Herndon like those of a less malevolent Beth Gibbons or a more menacing Dot Allison. The vocalist's hubbie and producer, Casey Rice, may have once played with Liz Phair, but you'd never be able to tell from this atmospheric collection – despite her company, May-Bowers is clearly a cabaret crooner far afield from Guyville. Via Tania performs in-store at Amoeba Music, and later at Bottom of the Hill with Tim Kinsella and Caseworker. 6 p.m., Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, S.F. Free. (415) 831-1200; 9:30 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $7. (415) 474-0365. (Kimberly Chun)

I am the resurrection Drag out those giant flares and stuffed-animal backpacks: it's time to relive the heyday of dance music with Sorted. Promising to take all who've been down since day one back to the glory of their misspent youth, DJs Solar, Method One, Medhi, and Mikebee plan to plunder the golden years of 1988 through 1993 for forgotten gems of acid house, rave, Madchester, and so on. With an appropriately affordable cover, aspiring Bezs should have plenty left over to fuel nostalgic foolishness. 9 p.m., Milk, 1840 Haight, S.F. $3, free before 10 p.m. (415) 387-6455. (Peter Nicholson)

July 31

Thursday

They'll be back With the recent release of T3: Rise of the Machines, it's no surprise that Bay Area band Arnocorps would storm the stage again with an all-out sonic attack. The six-member battalion sing tributes to "Ah-nald" movies in which the buff Austrian kicks major ass. So don't expect to hear a ballad about fighting to get a Turbo Man in time for Christmas, à la Jingle All the Way. This being their third show this month in the Bay Area, Arnocorps will be sure to have their art perfected to a tee. The Grannies and Blue Period open. 9 p.m., Red Devil Lounge, 1695 Polk, S.F. $6. (415) 921-1695, www.arnocorps.com. (Sarah Han)

From the top The death of bassist Matthew Sperry, who was hit and killed by a truck June 5 while riding his bike, broke as many hearts as had been lifted over the years by the warm, caring, outgoing musician. He was a one-of-a-kind person whose impact can be measured by the sheer number of people he touched – he had more friends than any 10 people I know combined. If he had the chance, he no doubt would've asked his friends to watch over his daughter, Lila, and wife, Stacia, who will benefit from the proceeds of the Matthew Sperry Tribute Concert. Performing are Stephen Trask, the San Francisco cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the Pauline Oliveros Quartet, Orchesperry, and the Red Hot Chachkas. It promises to be the kind of event that Sperry would light up like a fire. The music could be better only if he were on hand to participate. 7:30 p.m., Victoria Theater, 2961 16th St., S.F. $30-$100. (415) 863-7576. (J.H. Tompkins)

Aug. 1

Friday

Alone together During its 10 years of existence, Afro Solo Arts Festival has presented so many artists – Ruby Dee, June Jordan, Mavis Staples, and dozens of other talented solo performers – and such an enormous variety of art that it's impossible to generalize about what the central feature has been, other than to say that its performers have reached inside and delivered rich, contradictory, hopeful, angry slices of themselves looking out at the world beyond. This year the festival takes place over six weeks and presents its most ambitious programming to date. You'll be able to find theater, dance, music, spoken word, multimedia performance, comedy, photography, and community forums featuring artists including the Marcus Shelby Big Band, Donald E. Lacy Jr., Will Power, and Omar Sosa. Go. Through Sept. 16. Various times and locations. Call (415) 771-AFRO or go to www.afrosolo.org for a complete schedule. (Tompkins)

Boys on the side Tonight, in the intimate basement space of the Twin Peaks-ish Li Po Lounge in Chinatown, you can find some serious arena rock. With anthemic songs such as "Potfinger" and "Stank on the Halo," Boyjazz play something like modern indie hard rock, minus the lame bits and plus a sense of humor. Bafflingly enough, the band is a franchise as well, with both southern and northern California versions and an East Coast one on the way. Boyjazz may soon be the Krispy Kreme of indie arena rock; better buy stock now or at least catch this particular bout of (literally) underground rock goodness. Seattle's Free Verse and Oakland's Shevel Knievel open. 10 p.m., Li Po Lounge, 916 Grant, S.F. $5. (415) 986-4382. (Conan Neutron)

Chet's doggy dog Back in the '60s there was an institution called the Family Dog, which was an all-purpose safe house for the counterculture hosted by Chet Helms, held mainly at the Avalon Ballroom. At a time when a generation sorely needed shelter from the storm, the Family Dog was that: a genuine part of the community that was more than just a place to hear music – although Helms threw some of the best parties with the best bands you could find anywhere. Helms has never strayed far from his roots, and his birthday bash has become an annual event. The official day is Aug. 2, and the celebration is the day before; I'm not sure how old he is, but I know that as a genuine real-deal hippie O.G., Helms was born at the right time. There will be music by Essence, the Lynn Bobby Band, and the Flying Other Brothers, with special guest Country Joe McDonald. For those interested in more Helms, check out his exhibit of digital photographs of counterculture icons like Bob Weir, James Brown, Joan Baez, Stanley Mouse, Bonnie Raitt, Country Joe McDonald, and Merl Saunders. See what you missed and talk to some who were on the scene. Don't take the brown acid. Birthday party: 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. $20 donation. (415) 885-0750. Art show: Through Sept. 28. Daily, 1 p.m.-2 a.m., Cresta's 2211 Club, 2211 Polk, S.F. Free. (415) 673-2211. See "Best Send-Off for a 1960s Rock-Poster Icon," page 66, for more on Helms. (Tompkins)

Aug 2

Saturday

Under the stars Sadly, for most of us, drive-in movies are a thing of the past. The last few existing outdoor movie lots are far away from city-dwellin' folks. But the Hell's Belles Car Club, San Francisco's only all-girl classic car organization, brings an old-fashioned drive-in movie event to the city proper in celebration of its third anniversary. At 'Hell-Raiser III: Belles Gone Wild,' the car-lovin' gals play classic flicks, including American Graffiti and one or two surprise B-movie favorites, serve up popcorn and candy, and conduct a raffle to benefit the Larkin Street Youth Center. All are invited to come (motocyclists, scooter riders, and even the carless!), but make sure to bring a lawnchair 'cuz you'll be competing for space with all of those huge hoopdees. 8 p.m., 1067 Revere, S.F. $5 for walk-ins, carloads, and motorcycles/scooters. (415) 260-9973, www.hellsbellescarclub.com. (Han)

Aug. 3

Sunday

Bedtime stories Like all good things, it started with a boy, a dream, and a handmade clock with a horse on it. Assembled by someone known only as Gabe, San Diego's Red Pony Clock formed two years ago to write songs that told the tale of the red pony, a painted character on the child's clock Gabe bought in a thrift store. Since then they still haven't turned out any pony songs, but they have self-released a gaggle of records, CD-Rs, and cassettes in an endearingly DIY fashion. Using melodicas, Moogs, horns, xylophones, and more, the band shambles through storybook melodies with so much gusto they end up sounding like drinking songs for the kindergarten set. Regardless, their impish charm might make you feel guilty for ordering a beer. Dear Nora and the Snow Fairies also play. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $6. (415) 923-0923. (Anup Pradhan)

Aug. 4

Monday

Text and the city Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, Carrie Bradshaw and the girls of Candace Bushnell's literary creation Sex and the City are household names. New York Observer columnist and Vogue contributing editor Bushnell brings to life new characters to criticize or care for in Four Blondes and her latest novel, Trading Up. The author makes two San Francisco appearances, with a noontime reading and signing at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books and an evening reading and a question-and-answer session at the Commonwealth Club of California. Hopefully for Bushnell, Mr. Winkle will not be sharing the spotlight at these author appearances. Noon, A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, 601 Van Ness, S.F. Free. (415) 441-6670. 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market, second floor, S.F. $15 (reservations required). (415) 597-6705 or (415) 597-6706. (Han)

Aug. 5

Tuesday

Everyday world The mundane is often the meatiest fodder to inspire an artist. Such is the case with Harvey Pekar, whose American Splendor, a comic book series with text by Pekar and drawings by other artists, represented his everyday life working in a veteran's hospital. Started in 1976, the underground series garnered fans from among the general public and Pekar's contemporaries, including Robert Crumb. In the Cartoon Art Museum's latest exhibit, 'From off the Streets of Cleveland Comes American Splendor,' Pekar and his works are celebrated with a showcase of illustrated scripts by five artists who brought his witty and frank words to life: Crumb, Gary Dumm, Gerry Shamray, Joe Zabel, and Frank Stack. Be sure to check out this amazing exhibit before the biographical movie American Splendor makes it to theaters this month. Through Nov. 23. Tues.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cartoon Art Museum, 655 Mission, S.F. $6, $4 students and seniors, $2 ages 6-12, free for children under six. (415) CAR-TOON, www.cartoonart.org. (Han)

Aug. 6

Wednesday

Sticks out Remember the late '90s, when all of the punks and indie rockers started suddenly getting into krautrock and drum 'n' bass and free jazz? If so, then you probably remember drummer William Hooker, who, along with fellow New York free jazzers William Parker, Matthew Shipp, and David S. Ware, was a big beneficiary of that new demographic. But Hooker was around way before then – he released his first album in 1978 – and he's still around today. His open-ended music combines the surging energy of late-period John Coltrane with the volume and physicality of rock 'n' roll. He's had good luck with the Bay Area in the past – he recorded one of his best albums, Mindfulness (Knitting Factory), at Slim's with saxophonist Glenn Spearman and turntablist DJ Olive in 1997 – but on his last trip out, his only show was a barely publicized duet with saxophonist Marco Eneidi in Sausalito. This show features Eneidi, as well as guitarist Henry Kaiser. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $10. (415) 923-0923. (Will York)