Oct. 20-27, 2004

JUST IN TIME for the election, Indymedia's Un-Embedded Film Series comes to the Victoria Theatre. The festival's 14 programs (most screened on multiple nights) tackle controversial subjects the corporate media are afraid to touch: the war in Iraq ("Shocking and Awful," The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror), election shenanigans (Spin, Republican National Unconvention), and the war on the poor (Poverty Outlaw). Video Activist Network's We Interrupt This Empire lends local color with a dose of civil unrest, San Francisco-style. End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream questions the sustainability of the white-picket-fence fantasy as the world's fossil fuel supply dwindles, and Sweden's award-winning Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers attacks (literally) the greedy ethos behind worldwide consumerism. Mardi Gras: Made in China addresses the vicious cycle that sustains said consumerism through the misery of foreign factory workers. Rounded out by the protest-focused shorts of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign Program, the Un-Embedded Film Series promises 11 days of media monopoly-busting fun. Through Oct. 31. Thurs/21-Sat/23 and Oct. 25-30, 7 p.m.; Sun/24 and Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St., S.F. $5-$9 (festival pass $35). (415) 863-7576, www.victoriatheatre.org. (Leah Freeman)

Oct. 20

Wednesday

Fry, daddy, fry Comic art fans will find more than a dab of Ralph Steadman's slashing grotesques – and a raging slab of Francis Bacon's morbid expressionism – in award-winning editorial cartoonist-illustrator Steve Brodner's work. Rendered with the eye of an ace draftsperson, the ferocity of a particularly outraged activist, and the eloquence of a political commentator (appearing on PBS's Frontline), Brodner has lent his pen and imagination to numerous illustrations, caricatures, cartoons, strips, and pieces of illustrated reportage for Esquire, the New Yorker, and Mother Jones, among other pubs. Freedom Fries: The Political Art of Steve Brodner (Fantagraphics) gathers his images from the past 30 years covering U.S. politics. The handsome, wide-ranging volume also gives Brodner a chance to have his say, tell stories, and unveil some images that never made it to print. In addition, he gets his props from Harper's Magazine editor in chief Lewis Lapham, who calls Broder a "born arsonist" in a long line of satirical firebugs like Mark Twain and Goya, and from Steadman, who describes him as "a vital part of the American psyche and its conscience." The illustrator talks with author Ted Rall at this event. 7:30 p.m., Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia, S.F. Free. (415) 282-9246. (Kimberly Chun)

Musique concrete Three's a charm – that was the case when a trio of Stockholm women decided to pick up some instruments and solidified into a band, the Concretes. The results are decidedly less rockist than Swedish all-girlies like Sahara Hot Nights, even with the addition of a boy or two or five. Starting where "Pale Blue Eyes" and other sweet, sodden art-blues youths left off, the eight-piece spin sighing, distortion-wracked ballads that show a reverence for lo-fi values as well as classic '60s pop ranging from Roy Orbison to the Supremes. Will they ever live down song titles like "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Diana Ross" on their self-titled Astralwerks debut, even if vocalist Victoria Bergsman sounds more like a pathos-laden, 'luded-out Shangri-La than a triumphant Motor City diva? Hard hearts might crumble. Skygreen Leopards open. 8 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. $15. (415) 885-0750. (Chun)

Oct. 21

Thursday

Punk pariahs Legendary obsessed horror-movie fans turned psychotic punk rockers, the Misfits started their fiendish musical experiment back in 1977, and now have attained the same cult icon status as many of the B-movies they were influenced by. Resurrected by founding member and bassist Jerry Only, the Misfits lineup features Marky Ramone on drums and Black Flag's Dez Cadena on guitar. Their newest release, Project 1950 (Misfit), finds the band covering classic '50s rock tracks in the blistering yet melodic style they made their trademark a generation ago with songs such as "Skulls," "I Turned into a Martian," and "Die Die My Darling." The Misfits play with Thee Merry Widows, Memphis Murder Men, and Love Equals Death. 8:30 p.m., Pound-S.F., 100 Cargo Way, Pier 96, S.F. $20. (415) 826-5009. (Sean McCourt)

Arsenic cocktail The words musical performer blur the line between musician and actor, and some of these performers not only create music but also live the part. The Slow Poisoners are one band that use such a label to their advantage. Members Andrew "Poisoner" Goldfarb (vocals and guitar) and Rich "Foxx" Trott (drums and percussion) play quirky rock 'n' roll mixed with Spanish trumpets, cartoonish superhero skits, vaudeville piano, and falsetto vocals that fit in nicely with their offbeat image. Trott is often photographed wearing goggles and a swim cap, and in 1999 Goldfarb wasn't shy about testifying against the banning of show flyers before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors wearing nothing but flyers, thus adding leverage to the group's hope of "spreading happy weirdness." The Cubby Creatures also play. 8:30 p.m., Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., S.F. $6. (415) 647-2888. (Stephanie Laemoa)

'Grass guys Hold the cows, plows, and sows. Batman, Coors Light, and daddy's BMW get name-checked instead by Split Lip Rayfield in "Redneck Tailgate Dream." Nonetheless, it's the crazed, fleet-fingered picking that'll really have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. Grounded by Jeff Eaton's one-string bass fashioned from a gas tank, and propelled by Wayne Gottstine's jittery banjo, the Wichita, Kan., quartet pull off sing-along joke songs like "A Little More Cocaine Please" with the rambunctious attitude and irrefutable skills that have won them spots playing alongside Del McCoury and Nashville Pussy. And you thought never the twain would meet – here they do-si-do and kick ass at the same time. Drive-by Truckers and Centro-matic also play. 8 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell, S.F. $15. (415) 885-0750. (Chun)

Oct. 22

Friday

Sonic boom With albums by Sigur Rós, Mogwai, and Godspeed You Black Emperor! collecting dust on record shelves the world over, epic post-rock can hardly be called the new kid on indie rock's block. And yet the style seems somehow reborn when Austin, Texas-based gunslingers Explosions in the Sky launch into one of their monumental dirges. The young quartet shred the rock instrumental's reputation for indulgence with an impeccable sense of balance. Their music is grace and raw power: a godsend to those of us who have always enjoyed being washed over by a lilting melody. Explosions in the Sky are a band that understand volume and, thus, understand live performance. Cafe du Nord's small floor is sure to surrender to their majesty. Lazarus and Eluvium also play. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $10. (415) 861-5016. (Max Goldberg)

RJD18 Def Jux just keeps coming at ya with solid hip-hop. Labelmates RJD2 and Hangar 18 attack the problem of boring backpack hip-hop from different angles, with RJ manning the decks to craft a rollicking pastiche of styles owing as much to blues and rock as to his beat-based forebears. Meanwhile, the Hangar trio tackle the mics to deliver flurries of lyrics that fluster with their flippancy and ferocity. As if that's not enough, Organized Konfusion alumnus Prince Po (Lex Records) is also in the house. 9 p.m., Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. $17. (415) 771-1421. (Peter Nicholson)

Say you want a revolution The revolution might not be televised, but it will be propelled forth and immortalized by the music, words, and creations of artists driven to speak up. The revolution will also, hopefully, be documented by independent filmmakers like Jessica Dorfman and Jen Gilomen. With chutzpah and a video camera, the two young women have for the past few years been chronicling the efforts of six politically inspired artists – including Michael Franti, Boots Riley, and Diskarte Namin – to get people's butts in gear for some positive upheaval. In their documentary 'Just Say It: A Revolution in the Making,' Dorfman and Gilomen explore what it means to wield a political-artistic voice during these screwed-up times. The doc also celebrates the filmmakers' own participation, as socially conscious media artists, in the culture their subjects continually create. Join the filmmakers for a fundraising screening of their work. Samsara, Namin, Nellie Wong, and Burlesque-Esque perform. 7 p.m., New College Theater, 777 Valencia, S.F. $10. www.forwardfilms.org. (Laurie Koh)

Oct. 23

Saturday

They're crafty San Francisco's latest museum pays homage to the many craftspeople of the Bay Area – and one collector and creator in particular – with its first show. When the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design opens its doors today, the public can peek into an idiosyncratic collection of a lifetime, namely that of Alameda furniture maker Garry Knox Bennett and his wife, Sylvia, in Dovetailing Art and Life: The Bennett Collection. Chairs and benches are the couple's passion (and professional interest), so check selections designed by John Coonan, Wendell Castle, Sam Maloof, Wendy Maruyama, and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as well as some surreal pieces by Bennett himself. Also on exhibit are a 1931 bronze by Jacques Schnier, a 1959 vessel by Charles Fisk, and a 1988 watercolor by Mel Ramos. I can just picture David Gilhooly's 1969 Guardian Frog in my foyer. The Bennetts give a talk Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Museum hours Tues.-Wed. and Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m., San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design, 550 Sutter, S.F. Free through 2004. (415) 773-0303. (Chun)

DJ savior You know him as the father of electrofunk and the pioneering DJ behind "Planet Rock," but did you know Afrika Bambaataa was once a gang leader? Back in the early 1970s he was known as Kevin Donovan, and he ruled the Bronx's infamous Black Spades. A life-altering visit to Africa inspired him to change his name and shift his posse's focus from community violence to community vibrancy. The Zulu Nation was born, comprising DJs, rappers, dancers, and graffiti writers, and in that moment Bambaataa (the name means "Affectionate Leader") established the hip-hop culture that would grow to be the most influential movement of the late 20th century. If that ain't enough, he's a master of the decks and a fully functioning musical encyclopedia – his sets span hip-hop, techno, soca, rock, pop, and funk. Also on the bill are a who's who of Bay Area hip-hop DJs, including Coop D'Ville, J Boogie, Platurn, and Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist. 9 p.m., DNA Lounge, 375 11th St., S.F. $15. (415) 626-1409. (Jonathan Zwickel)

Oct. 24

Sunday

Hard hat Dudes still wanna make your ears bleed, sorta. The loudest, and perhaps artiest, of the grunge-era Amphetamine Reptile pack, Helmet return with Size Matters (Interscope) – though judging from their deafening early shows, you'd think they would have called the disc Volume Matters. It's unfortunate, then, that they rely too often on the grunting, flailing devices of subpar Metallica and that band's many '90s and '00s offspring. Does brawn win out over Helmet's brains – and why else would you title your opening track "Smart"? Still, if you want to experience the legendary power of Page Hamilton and company, you get a chance to tonight, after a bit of on-again, off-again, maybe-we-will-, maybe-we-won't action. Instruction and Totimoshi open. 8 p.m., Slim's, 333 11th St., S.F. $16. (415) 522-0333. (Chun)

Oct. 25

Monday

Chow time You heard it here first: one day Chow Nasty are gonna rule the world. Sure, it's a wild prediction, but there's no reason everyone and their little sister won't fall under the funky smell – I mean, spell – of this horndog power trio. Their infectiously goofy, balls-out shows come off like some kind of underage, oversexed punk b-boy Rolling Stones revival. Jittery drum machine beats, raunchy harmonica, poke-you-in-the-eye guitar, and a seriously throbbing bass line are apparently all you need to froth up the hormones. Add in chant-along lyrics about tight jeans, Hostess snacks, and Coca-Cola, and you start to see why everyone with a pulse should be able to relate to these nice 'n' nasty boys. Soledad Brothers and the Mothballs also play. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $10. (415) 621-4455. (Zwickel)

Oct. 26

Tuesday

Punch drunk love Skulls crack, gravity is defied, and knees and elbows fly with machine-gun speed in Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. Prachya Pinkaew's action yarn – a huge hit in Thailand – has earned serious buzz for its no-holds-barred martial arts sequences, played out old school-style with no CG or wires. The skimpy plot follows a kid from the country (Tony Jaa) on a quest to retrieve the head of a Buddha statue that was stolen from his village. And since he also happens to be an expert Muay Thai boxer, asses are kicked in the streets of Bangkok, at an underground brawl, in a traditional ring, and amid fireballs, among other settings. Yes, please! Ong-Bak wraps up NAATA's Fall Asian Film Showcase – a juicy three-parter that also included a Vietnamese ghost story (Spirits) and a cuisine-themed doc exploring the Chinese diaspora (Chinese Restaurants: On the Islands). Here's hoping there's a winter edition in the works. 7:30 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission, S.F. $7-$8. (415) 978-ARTS, www.ybca.org. (Cheryl Eddy)

Oct. 27

Wednesday

You will dismember this What happens when a Dismemberment Plan-ner breaks away and goes solo? Palo Alto native, son of lefty journalists, and proud Sagittarius Travis Morrison shape-shifts with stylish aplomb on his new album, Travistan (Barsuk), probing some painful politics, personal but mainly global. Backed by well-behaved beats and recorded partially at San Francisco's Tiny Telephone by producers Chris Walla and Don Zientara, Morrison is as liable to sing from the perspective of a petty dictator who likes his nations in constant revolution and his booty white ("People Die"), as he is to coolly croon about trapped critters like the orca at Sea World and the gator caged roadside in Florida. Morrison's teeth are bared, but the dude keeps his head with a certain outraged, brainy detachment. Ben Lee and Pony Up also perform. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $8. (415) 621-4455. (Chun)

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