8 Days a Week

March 10-17, 2004

'TIS AN OUTSTANDING time to be a horror movie fan in San Francisco. This week heralds the inaugural Fearless Tales Genre Fest; later this month S.F. IndieFest lets rip with "Another Hole in the Head: Seven Nights of Unrelenting Terror" (go to www.sfhorror.com for information, and thank the ghoulish gods of cinematic scares that the two fests don't overlap). Fearless Tales opens with a roar, honoring Texas Chainsaw Massacre director Tobe Hooper with a Fearless Vision Award and screening his latest screamer, The Toolbox Murders. Hooper is on hand for a postfilm discussion, so Lifeforce fanatics (I know you're out there), Leatherface junkies, and believers in the Poltergeist curse can have a field day with trivia and anecdotes. The festival also salutes cult hero Jack Hill (director of Foxy Brown, Coffy, and Switchblade Sisters, to name a few) with a showing of his creepy classic Spider Baby and a chat with Creature Features guru John Stanley. Fearless Tales – which in addition to horror, includes sci-fi, fantasy, and noir-tinged works – also unspools five new features; some two dozen shorts; live performances by shock troupe Scabaret!; a panel on "Filmmaking in the Age of Terror" with Stanley, the Werepad's Jacques Boyreau, horror author Steven Jay Schneider, and others; and a handful of genre favorites, including Lamberto Bava's Demons, a blatantly '80s tale (cowritten and produced by Dario Argento) about a group of filmgoers unfortunate enough to witness a scary movie come to life before their eyes. See Rep Clock, in Film listings, for a schedule. Thurs/11-Sun/14, Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St., S.F. Most shows $10 (for prices of special events and festival passes, go to www.fearlesstales.com). (Cheryl Eddy)

March 10

Wednesday

Prog princes After receiving mixed reactions to their self-titled debut on Omnibus Records, San Francisco's Crime in Choir vowed not to be restrained by the criticism and moved forward. Their latest record, The Hoop (Frenetic), evokes something between nu-Yes and a Cocteau film; its mind-boggling jams are chockfull of sharper chops and wilier synths than their first effort. Joining them for their record-release party are infamous local noise progenitors Tarentel, playing new songs from their upcoming release (due this fall), and Access 'Em, featuring members of the Natural Dreamers. Tim Miller provides projections. 8 p.m., El Rio, 3158 Mission, S.F. $5. (415) 282-3325. (Ethan Goldwater)

Freeze frame During times the city'll never live down, Chet Helms's Family Dog was a mobile rock caravan that existed smack in the middle of the uproar and high living that was San Francisco. Helms is still meandering through the creative side of daily life – a walking library of local history (dressed, always it seems, in a white suit) and a multitasking artist. His latest venture is "Woman," a solo exhibition of original digital photography. It is about, well, women, and you can find it online (www.digfotos.com) and off- at Atelier of Famous Melissa and Co. See for yourself. Through March 28 (gallery hours Wed.-Sat., 1-6 p.m.), Atelier of Famous Melissa and Co., 545 Sutter, Suite 301, S.F. Free. (415) 788-1866. (J.H. Tompkins)

Look closer Despite their moniker, the Unseen are steadily raising their visibility in the punk scene, thanks to a rigorous touring schedule over the better part of the last decade and to a recently released album out on BYO Records, appropriately titled Explode. While the band doesn't break any new musical ground during the course of Explode's 12 tracks, they do have an immense amount of energy and attitude, and it comes through loud and clear. Cuts like "New World Order" and "False Hope" have all the elements of what make a great live punk tune: hyperactive rhythms, pissed-off lyrics, and choruses worthy of a fist-pumping sing-along at the edge of the pit. The Virus, Monster Squad, and Public Display of Aggression open tonight. 7 p.m., Pound-S.F., Pier 96, 100 Cargo Way, S.F. $10. (415) 826-5009. (Sean McCourt)

March 11

Thursday

20-20 hindsight I'm tempted to add a compound modifier – like "inventive business head" – to the already unwieldy description I put in front of drummer-dreamer-retro-visionary Pat O'Hearn's name (which isn't really his name – but that's another story). Unfortunately, small minds might damn him without understanding what he does, so I'll leave it alone. But the fact is O'Hearn has figured out a way to honor often-unsung musical geniuses from the past, make music with them, and make that music available to you and me. The result is his Mushroom project, which most recently had him covering Spencer Davis tunes with Gary Floyd on vocals, and now brings him together with '60s avant jazz trumpet player Eddie Gale. O'Hearn and company have taken a few chances and made some good music in the process. I'm so sick of the crap churned out by prepackaged adventurists these days that I'd drive all night to see these folks do their thing. Groove.Org also play. 9 p.m., Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway, Oakl. $5. (510) 763-1146. (Tompkins)

40 oz. to freedom Hey fella, good to see you. It's been a while. Heard about the breakup, man. That's rough. Ya get older, find different directions and ideas to chase, and then everything changes. One day you're killing it as local funk mob Boomshanka; next thing you know, you're a booze-drenched, front-porch country blues band. Well, you're handling it damn fine. Dove headfirst into that Four Year Bender – we all know how that goes. Lazy acoustic strumming, harmonica humming, some accordion here, upright bass there ... thing is, it all sounds so honest. Maybe it's your bristling, world-weary vocals. Maybe it's the sparse, understated production of your recent debut, Lucky (Greasy Spoon), or the rowdy, dedicated crowds that follow you boys all over town. Either way, the music makes a deep impression and takes the pain away like a good blues binge should. I'll be sure to see you playing tonight with the Mother Truckers and the Bellyachers. 8 p.m., Slim's, 333 11th St., S.F. $8. (415) 255-0333. (Jonathan Zwickel)

March 12

Friday

Above-average Joe I remember where I was when I first heard Joe Strummer had died. For those (and there are many) who have been entertained, influenced, and inspired by the music Strummer made with the Clash and later as a solo artist, a slew of local bands perform songs in tribute to the late bandleader who was so much more than just your average punk. The Bar Feeders (with Larry Boothroyd from Victim's Family), Black Furies, Teenage Harlets, Radio One, American Heartbreak, Mark Walshe, and Friday's Angels all lend their talents to this special event. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $8. (415) 621-4455. (McCourt)

Rainbow connections Bring your kazoos, ruby slippers, and magic wands: the opening night of 'Sing-a-long Wizard of Oz' has a little treat in store for audiences. That little treat is an appearance by 80-years-young Margaret Pellegrini, one of the munchkins in MGM's 1939 Technicolor classic; as a wise and powerful man might say, consider yourself lucky she's granting you an audience. Pellegrini is interviewed by Jan Wahl – and joined by "nationally reknowned Dorothy Gale interpreter" Elaine Horn – for tonight's Frameline benefit, while later performances will be hosted by S.F.'s queen of Judy-ism, Connie Champagne. (On March 18, aspiring "my pretty" 's are encouraged to bring their little dogs to take part in a Toto look-alike contest judged by representatives of the San Francisco SPCA and Pets Are Wonderful Support.) March 12-25, 7 p.m. (also Wed., Sat.-Sun., 1 p.m.), Castro Theatre, 429 Castro, S.F. $10-$22. (415) 863-0611 or 1-888-468-3399, www.ticketweb.com. (Johnny Ray Huston)

March 13

Saturday

Bring earplugs Check out three hot, hot new bands making their Bay Area premieres over the next two nights. Daughters! combine the shrieking, arrogant grindcore (and awful song titles) of the Locust and the willful dissonance of fellow Rhode Islanders Arab on Radar. Their 2003 debut, Canada Songs (Robotic Empire), is unstoppable – and at 11 minutes, possibly the shortest full-length CD ever released. Speaking of Arab on Radar, the Chinese Stars contain a couple of ex-AOR members, along with the bassist from defunct Providence noise rockers Six Finger Satellite. Their throwing star-shaped debut CD, Turbo Mattress (Skin Graft), shows them toning down the bed-wetting epilepsy rock of AOR in favor of something more rhythmically (if not mentally) stable. And speaking of the Locust, their bassist Justin Pearson appears as a member of all-star hardcore side project Some Girls. Tonight, All Bets Off and Paint Out of the Lights play; Sunday's Bands Against Bush show features openers Curse of the Birthmark and Wires on Fire. 8 p.m., 924 Gilman, Berk. $5. (510) 525-9926. (Also Sun/14, 8 p.m., Slim's, 333 11th St., S.F. $10. 415-255-0333.) (Will York)

Flesh will burn Let's take a look at some lyrics from bands in perhaps the best show lineup in San Francisco for the last decade: "I was launched from a cannon, into a maelstrom of whirling bullshit" is a perfect description of John Geek's stage presence. Geek and the rest of the Fleshies return to Thee Parkside with a new two-guitar lineup. "You live your life like a movie, I live mine like color TV" is my favorite line by Bottles and Skulls, a noisy, high-intensity Quinn Martin Productions-style rock band who can wear sunglasses inside and still look cool. Finally, as far as love songs go, "It's a time for Vietnam, it's a time for me and you" is pretty damned romantic: who needs roses when you've got napalm? And the Clorox Girls definitely got napalm. This all-male punk trio are poppy enough to pogo to but snotty enough to avoid being cutesy. The Bananas start it all off. Be there, or wait another decade for a lineup this cool to come together again. 10 p.m., Parkside, 1600 17th St., S.F. $7. (415) 503-0393. (Duncan Scott Davidson)

March 14

Sunday

Mu shu Those wacky technophiles at Konstrukt follow up their recent success with the Matthew Dear and Lusine show (techno on a Tuesday night? awww yeah!) by hosting the Planet Mu Tour. Pthalocyanine, Eight Frozen Modules, and Edit represent the lovely U.K. label from which one can always expect the unexpected, particularly if it includes densely programmed experimental music that hovers on the edge of the groove. Local analog abusers and digital dealers Mochipet (Trouble) and Comute (Merck, Konstrukt) make sure S.F. holds its own. 7 p.m.-midnight, Punch Gallery, 155 10th St., S.F. (415) 522-5555. $10. (Peter Nicholson)

March 15

Monday

Will power Noted for their highly original, all-female takes on Shakespeare, local theater company Woman's Will discards the Bard (for this show, anyway) and puts the pedal to the metal for its annual 24-Hour PlayFest. Here's how it works: At 10 p.m. on Sunday, seven female playwrights are given a shared theme (for example: the seven deadly sins) and sent straight to the typewriter. The next morning, the sleep-deprived authors turn in their short plays, and seven female directors and their (mixed-gender) casts immediately get to work rehearsing. Several boot camp-ish hours later, the spanking-new works are unveiled – for better or for worse, though past shows have almost always been for better – in front of a supportive audience. Sure, there's an element of risk involved, but Woman's Will aims to entertain, and it rarely disappoints. Proceeds from the performance, as well as a small silent auction of theater tickets and other items, benefit the company's upcoming season, including its free, outdoor production of As You Like It and an adaptation of Lord of the Flies. 8 p.m., Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College, Berk. $10-$25 sliding scale. (510) 420-0813, www.womanswill.org. (Cheryl Eddy)

March 16

Tuesday

Emerging greatness Wander into one of the big chain bookstores, or scan the best-seller list, and you'll no doubt be blinded by works designed to appeal to the masses (Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, John Grisham, etc.). Intersection for the Arts offers an antidote with a new literary series that pays tribute to small, local, independent presses. Feast on readings by writers from world- and American-lit publishers Mercury House, as well as American lit and Eastern European translation champions Watchword Press. The lineup includes Dale Pendall, Alfred Arteaga, Jenny Bitner, and Sam Tsitrin. 8 p.m., Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia, S.F. $5-$15 sliding scale. (415) 626-2787, www.theintersection.org. (Eddy)

March 17

Wednesday

In clover On St. Patrick's Days past, the San Francisco Center for the Book has hosted a "Pro-Am Bard-a-thon" that included, among other things, an award for best bad accent. This year the center's shaking things up with the first Irish Poetry Slam: bring your fave William Butler Yeats or Thomas Moore or, hey, Van Morrison to read, or share original, Emerald Isle-inspired verse. Best costume and best recitation get prizes; there's also green refreshments as well as letterpress print keepsakes for all who come dressed in the festive hue. 7 p.m., San Francisco Center for the Book, 300 De Haro, S.F. Free. (415) 565-0545, www.sfcb.org. (Eddy)