8 Days a Week

April 7-14, 2004

REACHING THE QUARTER -century mark is a milestone for any organization, but when you're talking about a group of folks who've made their name staging highly creative, explosive shows built around an elaborate array of heavy machinery, it's time to ladle on some serious praise and admiration. Survival Research Laboratories calls what it does "violent machine performance art, or Machine Opera" – and the fat lady shows no sign of singing for this thriving collective of fearless artists and technical wizards. Not for the faint of heart, SRL shows aim to arouse (and/or abrade) all the senses, as well as challenge the mind by incorporating sociopolitical themes into each work. In honor of SRL's 25th anniversary, RE/Search Publications and the Lab host the group's very first comprehensive retrospective, featuring a hugely packed evening of video screenings (captured on tape: a November 2003 performance at UC Berkeley sparked up by artist Kevin Binkert's Flame Tornado device); 2,500 feet of large-scale photographs; poster art; a panel discussion with SRL founder Mark Pauline, Sup. Matt Gonzalez, and RE/Search founder V. Vale; personal appearances by SRL machines; a performance by the Extra Action Marching Band; and much more. Fri/9, 7 p.m.-midnight, Lab, 2984 16th St., S.F. $5-$10 sliding scale. (415) 864-8855 or (415) 362-1465. (Cheryl Eddy)

April 7

Wednesday

Waiting to inhale Troubled marriages have supplied ripe material for many a drama – but there's more to spouses who don't get along than, say, The Little Foxes. The darkest of comedy colors Michele Lowe's Smell of the Kill, a tale of three women hitched to three excessively unappealing former frat brothers. The cranky couples gather for monthly dinner parties; when the food's eaten, the wives talk trash in the kitchen while the husbands (who're never seen, only heard as offstage voices) practice their golf putts. One fateful night all the menfolk are accidentally trapped in one household's basement meat locker. Should the ladies let them out? Well, of course they should, but will they? Suspense builds, one-liners fly, and the satire cuts sharper than a serrated bread knife. S.F. Playhouse presents this Bay Area premiere, with Playhouse cofounder Bill English directing. Through May 15. Previews tonight and Thurs/8, 8 p.m. Opens Fri/9, 8 p.m. Runs Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m. (also April 17, 24, and May 1, 3 p.m.), Playhouse, 536 Sutter, S.F. $30 (previews $15; opening night $50). (415) 677-9596, www.sfplayhouse.org. (Cheryl Eddy)

April 8

Thursday

Bird up At landmark Berkeley watering hole the Albatross Pub, the thirsty can find friendly canines, a selection of games (darts, pool, Connect Four, etc., not to mention weekly pub quizzes), acoustic music, endless bowls of popcorn, and – most important – a huge menu of domestic and international beers and liquors. The diverse clientele makes for a laid-back, friendly atmosphere – no snooty "scene" here, just cool folks and good times. Raise your glass in honor of the Albatross's 40th anniversary at tonight's shindig, which features live music by the Bluegrass Intentions, a buffet, free dart and pool games, prize drawings, drink specials, and more. 7-10 p.m., Albatross Pub, 1822 San Pablo, Berk. Free. (510) 843-2473, www.albatrosspub.com. (Eddy)

Best served cold Remember that coworker who pissed you off? And that jerk in the BMW who nearly ran you down in the crosswalk? How about that asshole who sat behind you in your high school Spanish class? Well, we all have our own Plans for Revenge, don't we? This San Jose six-piece could very easily fall into the generic emo-hardcore category but don't, thanks in part to three – yup, that's right, three – guitar players and the resulting complex and engaging musical arrangements. Forget the usual connotations of the emo scene (you know, schmucks staring at their Converses and whining into a mic); these guys do it with a passion that comes through loud and clear, hard-hitting and enthralling, and driving it home where it counts. Spitshine Syndicate open. 9 p.m., Last Day Saloon, 406 Clement, S.F. $5. (415) 387-6343. (Sean McCourt)

April 9

Friday

Match game Brothers Ron Mael and Russell Mael, also known as Sparks, are underappreciated rock 'n' roll heroes. Their 30-plus-year career has seen them morph from playing operatic glam rock in the early '70s to Giorgio Moroder-produced disco in the late '70s to hyperactive new wave, synth pop, and beyond in the '80s and '90s. Whatever the stylistic guise, their flamboyant "are they gay or straight?" stamp is always looming, topped off by some of the smartest, cruelest, funniest rock lyrics ever written. Sure, they've had so-so albums – even last year's acclaimed Lil' Beethoven (Palm Pictures) only had two really good songs – but luckily for them, none of the bad stuff has ever turned into a one-off, career-derailing fluke hit, a curse of many veteran bands (Meat Puppets, anyone?). Plus, no one has ever copied them successfully, so when you listen to albums like their 1975 post-glam potpourri, Indiscreet (Island), it still sounds disturbingly modern. Who knows what their current live show is like – will they play "Tits"? "The Girl from Germany"? "Tips for Teens"? This rare appearance is a must for worshippers of these one-of-a-kind, should-be legends. Lili Haydn opens. 9 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. $25. (415) 771-1420. (Will York)

Everybody knows Adobe Books hosts the best parties in the Mission District, and 'Hot Flashes, Forced Exposure!,' an evening of reading and singing presented by Watchword Press, should be another fine example. A local nonprofit literary magazine, Watchword has gained a name for publishing emerging North American writers and translations of Eastern European work, as well as for its gorgeous cover art. Tonight the magazine celebrates the completion of issue five with readings by contributors Chaim Bertman (a Bay Guardian contributing writer), Jamie Berger, Amanda Eicher, and Evan Rehill. It must also be noted that musical entertainment comes in the form of a 15-member men's chorus called the Conspiracy of Beards, who do great honor to the songs of Leonard Cohen by performing them in three-part harmony. Did I mention that Adobe Books hosts the best parties in the Mission? Adobe Books, 3166 16th St., S.F. Free. (415) 407-2952, www.watchwordpress.org. (Lynn Rapoport)

Bend and blend Six years ago – before critics hailed the latest dance revolution – Go Go Go Airheart seamlessly blended Wire-y rhythms and post-punk eclecticism on their third LP, Love My Life, Hate My Friends (Vinyl Communications). On 2002's Exitheuxa (GSL) they ventured onward, melting dub breaks, pop hooks, and spazzy trumpets into their ever shifty grooves. Currently they're finishing up the recording of their next GSL full-length, which should be out next fall. Spacey Los Angeles new-wavers Moving Units headline. 10 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $10. (415) 621-4455. (Ethan Goldwater)

April 10

Saturday

Tropical punch Brazilian rhythms have been percolating through the club scene for years now, but artists are still finding plenty of inspiration in batucada breaks and bossa beats. Local aficionados Hakobo (Fresco) and DJ Soulsalaam (Divination) host visiting Ubiquity Records heavyweights John Beltran and John Arnold for some subtropical sway at Echoes of Rio. However, given both producers' close ties to Detroit, there will undoubtedly be more going on (look for some funky techno in Arnold's set) than sunny melodies and caipirinha-fueled percussion. Carlos Araiza (Om Records) provides live flute and percussion. 9 p.m.-4 a.m., Club Six, 60 Sixth St., S.F. $10. (415) 863-1221. (Peter Nicholson)

Pastie retreat It's a fact: the poor punters hanging out at a nudie joint reek of feverish desperation, while the lucky swells attending the Velvet Hammer Burlesque sparkle with suave sophistication. Both ogle sweet skin and racy moves, but where one's throwing sawbucks on a sticky stage, the other relaxes with a highball and a grin. Velvet Hammer's latest spectacle, Illuminata, revives the artistry, imagination, and innuendo of a bygone era for today's hepcats and -kittens. Credited with instigating the burlesque revival of recent years, Velvet Hammer director Michelle Carr is a punk rock auteur who trolled the skin clubs of Los Angeles to gather her foxy minions. Each strips and teases to the scandalous sounds of the Millionaire and His Bad Bad Men, making for an eye-popping variety show bound by a common sensual thread. With more than 40 performers – including band, DJ, MC, actors, comedians, and dancers – and elaborate costume and stage design, Velvet Hammer's full-frontal sensory overload arouses your intellect and your passion. 7 and 10 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. $25. (415) 389-TIXX, www.sunsettickets.com. (Jonathan Zwickel)

April 11

Sunday

Living legend alert Before you find yourself walking nonchalantly past yet another Carol Channing impersonator with nary a take, double or otherwise, know that this week there's a strong chance it's actually the real deal: musical comedy's most preferred blond, the original material girl, whose signature "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" (from 1949's star-making Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) reverberated in the careers of no less than Marilyn Monroe and Madonna. Imagine too Broadway's original Dolly of 1964 "back where she belongs," in the city of her childhood, a spry 83, recently hitched, with a new best-selling memoir and on the heels of last November's rapturously regarded appearance in the Singular Sensations series at Manhattan's Village Theater. You'll find all this and more as American Conservatory Theater hosts two exceptional nostalgia-filled evenings of song and story with the living icon of Hollywood and Broadway. Following the Singular Sensations format, veteran composer-producer Glen Roven accompanies Channing on piano while plying the irrepressible wit and raconteuse with questions regarding a fabled if bumpy life and career, crowded with memories of the biggest names in showbiz history. Also Mon/12. 8 p.m., Geary Theater, 415 Geary, S.F. $20-$70. (415) 749-2228, www.act-sf.org. (Robert Avila)

April 12

Monday

On target Current world events and national politics being what they are, it's sometimes awfully hard to get in a good mood these days. After all, The Daily Show is not yet a 24-hour, CNN-style operation (hey, we can dream, can't we?). Take steps to alleviate the pain (and annoyance and disgust) this week with two events featuring Bill Hartung, author of the excellently titled How Much Are You Making on the War, Daddy? A Quick and Dirty Guide to War Profiteering in the Bush Administration. Tonight he signs and reads at Modern Times Bookstore; on April 14 he and singer-songwriter Robert Temple head up "Disarming Humor: How to Stop Worrying about Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld and Start Laughing Them out of Office," a night of comedy sponsored by the War Resisters League's "Stop the Merchants of Death" campaign against corporations like Halliburton and Bechtel that are currently enjoying financial gains thanks to the war in Iraq. 7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 282-9246. (Also April 14, 7 p.m., Kitchen, 225 Potrero, S.F. $5-$15, no one turned away for lack of funds. 415-282-6580, wrlwest@riseup.net.) (Eddy)

April 13

Tuesday

No-boxer rebellion I don't know if their name refers to the short blasts of '77-influenced punk that make up their songs, or a certain kind of underwear, but the Briefs should hold your attention for more than, well, a brief moment. Rapid-fire vocals, buzz-saw guitars, and an attitude that is (to paraphrase the Dead Boys) young, loud, and snotty make this up-and-coming band well worth a listen – especially on tunes such as "Silver Bullet," where an opening riff that could have come straight off the Ramones' Road to Ruin leads into a hilarious sing-along chorus of "Kill Bob Seger right now!" Having recently signed with BYO Records (which was founded back in the early '80s by the guys in Youth Brigade – remember the doc Another State of Mind?), these guys shouldn't be going anywhere but up, so make sure you don't miss them on the rise. Radio Reelers open; the Real McKenzies headline. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $8. (415) 621-4455. (McCourt)

Bad meaning good They may refer to the well-worn blueprint of the jazz piano trio, but even with traditional tools the Bad Plus build a dramatic musical edifice. Columbia Records has shown miraculous dedication to these Manhattan-via-Minnesota youngsters and recently released Give, an album of moody atmospheres and restless, thrilling dynamics. Known for their intense live performances, the Bad Plus apply pop's hook-driven approach to the regal, explosive grandeur of improvisational jazz. Pianist Ethan Iverson is lyrical and consistently inventive; bassist Reid Anderson plays the upright with the elegant reserve and measured balance the instrument demands. On drums, David King rattles off break beats and polyrhythms with equal dexterity. Their covers of epic rock tunes – Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" – render them accessible to casual listeners, but their unbridled virtuosity magnetizes the serious jazzbos and adds the Bad Plus to the new jazz equation. Through April 14. 8 and 10 p.m., Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakl. $7-$14. (510) 238-9200. (Zwickel)

April 14

Wednesday

Direct effect The lineup for tonight's benefit for the Bay Area Theater of the Oppressed Collective boasts diverse, innovative artists: political clown act Czechs Underground, improv vocalists Tonal Chaos, queer theater group Outrage Performance Project, singer-songwriter Brenna Sabatjian, an array of local spoken word artists, and the Conscious Sound Collective, who spin break beats and electronica. The event, aimed at raising funds for BATO Collective (who are also on the bill) and their upcoming Theater for Social Change Conference – featuring renowned political theater director Augusto Boal, it takes place April 25 to 27 – looks to be an enjoyable night of performance perfectly tailored to a worthy cause. 8 p.m.-midnight, El Rio, 3158 Mission, S.F. $15-$20 sliding scale. (415) 282-3325, www.batocollective.org. (Eddy)