8 Days a Week

April 21-28, 2004

BACK WHEN I was an impressionable college kid, I became obsessed with The State, an MTV sketch comedy show that always seemed to be playing whenever I should have been doing my astronomy homework. Today I can barely pick the Big Dipper out of the sky – but I'm still fluent in State catchphrase-ese ("Chicken sandwich, Carl!"). By all rights, the guys (and one gal) who performed together on that show should be running the universe by now, and they do pop up with reassuring frequency: Comedy Central shows like Reno 911 and the late, great Viva Variety feature alums, as did the criminally ignored summer-camp movie parody Wet Hot American Summer. Three of The State's MVPs come to town with their alternative comedy show, Stella, a popular, ever evolving New York City fixture since 1997: Michael Ian Black (he costarred on Ed, is the former voice of the Pets.com sock puppet, and can be seen pulling in mad deadpan yuks on VH-1's I Love the 70s and I Love the 80s); State fan fave Michael "Doug" Showalter ("I'm outta heeeere!"), note-perfect as Summer's lovelorn, geeky counselor Coop; and Summer's director and cowriter (with Showalter), David Wain. Even if you never saw The State, rest assured these guys are all hilarious and smart and extremely more in the vein of Mr. Show than, say, Everybody Loves Raymond. Saturday, show Stella the love so they'll make San Francisco a permanent fixture on their touring schedule. Sat/24, 9 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. $16. www.ticketweb.com, www.stellacomedy.com. (Cheryl Eddy)

April 21

Wednesday

Split personality It's difficult to correlate the deafening live performances of Melt Banana to their illustrious recorded history. I mean, in any one of their six LPs, folks might spend hours mining arrays of dismantled classic punk and avant noise from their ultra-condensed, percussion-driven, no-wave structures. But when you witness Yasuko O. fearlessly shrieking over the bloody riffage Agata's guitar spews above the perpetually explosive rhythm section, you're in a world of sound that's all encompassing. They open for longtime compadre Mike Patton, who fronts the metal-crunching, weirdo theme-based supergroup known as Fantomas. Bring your own ADD meds. End also play. 8 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary, S.F. $20. (415) 346-6000. (Ethan Goldwater)

April 22

Thursday

Rare aire Cannibal Ox graduate Vast Aire rolls into SoMa tonight, and if the results are anything like his brand-new solo joint, Look Mom, No Hands (Chocolate Industries), this show is not to be missed. Though a passel of producers gives the album a somewhat uneven feel, Vast Aire's solid rhymes, smooth flow, and serious subject matter keep everything on an even keel. When he's on the mic and heads like Madlib or RJD2 are behind the mixing board, the results are truly stratospheric. Tonight's in-store performance at Amoeba Music features Brother Ali (Rhymesayers), and the show at DNA Lounge includes Brother Ali, GZA (Wu Tang Clan), and Joe Quixx (Strongarm). 6 p.m., Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, S.F. Free. (415) 831-1200. (Also 9 p.m., DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., S.F. $20. 415-626-1409.) (Peter Nicholson)

April 23

Friday

Dance fever You practically have to ask for a week off to take in all that this year's Bay Area Celebrates National Dance Week has to offer. And even if you can get out of work, you'll also need to defy physics in order to be in several places at the same time. The number of classes (free to take or just observe), workshops, lecture-demos, open houses, and performances (some free) is simply staggering. Today alone you can choose between capoeira, belly dance, yoga, body consciousness, hip-hop, samba, merengue, and salsa – in addition, of course, to modern of every stripe, and ballet. In the evening, ODC Theater presents a marathon of Bay Area choreographers. If after that you still have enough energy, go farther down 17th Street to the swing party and lesson at the Metronome Ballroom. The best way to find out who does what with whom and when is to consult the Web site; hard copies of schedules should also be available at your local dance hangout. Through May 2. Various venues. (415) 561-1433, www.bacndw.org. (Rita Felciano)

April 24

Saturday

Sow 'em on the mountain Traditional American musicians Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin have earned critical praise (and a Grammy nomination) for their gorgeous harmonies, not to mention their skills on the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. Married two years after they began performing together in 1985, the folk-bluegrass-country artists have released albums paying tribute to personal influences like the Carter family and, most recently, Utah Phillips; that disc, Heart Songs (Rounder), was dubbed "miraculous" by Phillips. The veteran duo work their magic tonight at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House. 8 p.m., Freight and Salvage Coffee House, 1111 Addison, Berk. $18.50. (510) 548-1761. (Cheryl Eddy)

Ancient mariners beware The 11 songs on An Albatross's We Are the Lazer Viking (Ace Fu) clock in at a grand total of eight minutes, but there are more musical ideas at work on this disc than any full-length album on the Top 40 chart. The Philadelphia sextet's succinct tunes are mini-symphonies built out of colliding spazz-metal riffs, Devo-style robotic dance beats, and a dual-keyboard overload reminiscent of Mr. Bungle's Disco Volante. All the while, vocalist Edward B. Gieda III shrieks like an idiot with his pants on fire. Some folks have tried to dismiss the band as copycats of the Locust, but An Albatross's songs are catchier, more diverse, and generally more fun. Yes, fun. I've listened to Lazer Viking all the way through twice in the process of trying to type this preview, and I'm going to listen to it again now. Tonight An Albatross play with Replicator, Greenlight the Bombers, Yellow Press, and Tenebre. On Sunday they open for Totimoshi. 8 p.m., 924 Gilman, Berk. $5. (510) 525-9926. (Also Sun/25, 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $6. 415-923-0923.) (Will York)

First served Residencies in the AIRspace program at the Jon Sims Center for the Arts used to be restricted to queer artists, but no longer: the venue has expanded its focus. What hasn't changed is that artists are encouraged to take risks for work that might not easily fly anywhere else, and they have to be willing to share pieces that are still works in progress. 'Catch Up: An Evening of Contemporary Dance' is an alumni show curated by Alma Esperanza Cunningham. These are the people whom she wanted us to see: Stephen Pelton Dance Theater in an excerpt of September for Sale, which premieres next week; Tara Brandel in her Love Duet; and Sue Roginsky and Christy Funsch in a duet that premiered in its final form at Dance Mission Theater. The artists welcome postperformance feedback. 8 p.m., Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission, S.F. $15-$25 sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds). (415) 554-0402, www.jonsimsctr.org. (Felciano)

Suds appeal Since the bay has yet to reach a comfortable enough temperature to take a dip in it, I suggest a visit to the 21st annual International Beer Festival. You'll be able to give real-life meaning to the idea of drowning your sorrows until they're drowned, in which case you might consider reviving them and trying it all over again. Because for the price of a ticket, you get to drink as much as you want to. Leave the car at home, think good thoughts, and spend a few bucks for a good cause: the Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School. 7-10 p.m., Fort Mason Center, Festival Pavilion, Marina at Laguna, S.F. $55. (415) 820-3905, www.ticketmaster.com, www.sfbeerfest.com. (J.H. Tompkins)

April 25

Sunday

Satanic panic After hearing the booze-stained lyrics and American roots-influenced sound of the Devil Makes Three, you may think that good ol' Mr. Johnson wasn't the only one who sold his soul to the Prince of Darkness down at the crossroads. This Santa Cruz trio blend classic country, ragtime, bluegrass, and folk with their own fiery attitude and a sincere approach that create the sound and feel of a dusty old 78, but with an immediacy that's unforgettable. Acoustic guitar, upright bass, and banjo weave with tightly knit vocal harmonies in songs that'll have you tapping your foot and humming uncontrollably – particularly "The Bullet," "Graveyard," and "Old No. 7," which Jack Daniel's should use as its jingle. Real Sippin' Whiskeys also play. 5 p.m., Parkside, 1600 17th St., S.F. Free. (415) 503-0393. (Sean McCourt)

April 26

Monday

Snake charmer Dr. Douglas J. Long is definitely a dream dinner party guest. Long, the collections manager for the California Academy of Sciences' Department of Ornithology and Mammology, has traveled to more than 35 countries on six continents; his close encounters with great white sharks, Central Intelligence Agency operatives, an array of poisonous reptiles (as well as flesh-eating snails!), and the one and only Nancy Sinatra are no doubt fodder for fascinating stories galore. This Indiana Jones meets Jeff Corwin once held a Tentacle Sessions crowd spellbound; tonight he delivers the lecture 'Killer Animals: Fears, Facts, Statistics, and Reality' as part of the Ask a Scientist series. E-mail fourquarts@mindspring.com if you plan to attend. 7-9 p.m., Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California, S.F. Free. (415) 751-5376, www.gallindesign.com/science. (Eddy)

April 27

Tuesday

Heavenly crimes Led by veteran musician Tony Mattioli, San Francisco rock-soul-blues-groove outfit Stolen Bibles have just self-released a new collection of their musical sermons, preaching not only to the converted but also to anyone who gives a listen to the tunes on the Medicine Show. "Iridescent El Dorado," "Hold You Again," and the Sunday drivin' "I'm Wrong" ought to make you see the light – or at least dance till the end of the night. 9 p.m., Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore, S.F. $4. (415) 673-8000. (McCourt)

April 28

Wednesday

Soul goggles The longtime secret weapon of Michael Franti, Radio Active has elevated a whole slew of Bay Area bands since moving here from Boston back in '98. His latest project, New Clear Vision, finds the beatboxing heavyweight and MC teaming up with some of the city's most virtuoso musicians: Broun Fellinis' Kevin Carnes (drums) and David Boyce (sax) and Top Four Flights' residents Johnny Downer (guitar) and Mike Dipirro (bass). This quintet lit up the Boom Boom Room a month ago; not only was Radio's bottomless charisma totally infectious and his musical versatility impressive, but the band also laid down some absolutely impenetrable grooves that had the capacity crowd pinned to the dance floor. Tonight the groovy train pulls back into the station, taking passengers for a block-rocking ride through the peaks and valleys of Afrobeat, jazz, and hip-hop. With a funky conductor like Radio Active at the helm, it's going to be full steam ahead. 9:30 p.m., Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore, S.F. $7. (415) 673-8000. (Jonathan Zwickel)