8 Days a Week


July 13-20, 2005

HOT SPOT

photo by Juan Carlos Pometta Liberty is provocative: Local performance group Rococo Risqué presents "Liberties Taken."
POLITICAL SATIRE, live music, wacky costumes, and cabaret: Throw all these factors together, add a sassy hostess in fishnet tights and plenty of cocktails, and you've got 'Liberties Taken,' the USO-style cabaret performance by local favorite Rococo Risqué. This burgeoning ensemble has won over San Francisco audiences with its tongue-in-cheek version of performance art, combining old-school vaudeville, burlesque, and Italian carnival theater traditions with a provocative, contemporary edge. The form of "Liberties Taken" may be rooted in traditional theatrical conventions, but the content proves to be relevant to the current political climate, and the universal theme of war withstands the test of time. The troupe combines the spontaneity of improvisation with hilarious moments of scripted dialogue to present a different kind of theater experience. The audience is invited to sing along, laugh out loud, kick back, and have some fun. This is not the stuffy theater of the past – no stiff formalities here. Instead, "Liberties Taken" stays true to the notion of theater as pure entertainment by infusing nostalgic elements with a modern spin that is witty, sharp, insightful, and funny. Through July 30. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m., Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., SF. $15-$20. (415) 641-7657. (Morae Kim)

July 13, Wednesday

Ladies first The Arab Women Film Festival presents two short features tonight as part of its three-week showcase of films and documentaries by Arab women directors and artists. Hollywood Harems explores images of Arab women as depicted in American cinema since the 1920s, providing an intriguing look at the Western fascination with the East as manifested through the eroticizing of Eastern women. Director Tania-Kamal Eldin creates a dynamic collage using footage from dozens of feature films leading up to the present, providing a disturbing look at Hollywood's persistent use of negative stereotypes based on historically rooted, politically fueled racist and sexist conceptualizations of Middle Easterners. The program also includes Benaat Chicago: Growing up Arab and Female in Chicago, a documentary chronicling the lives of Arab American teenagers on Chicago's southwest side. Directors Jennifer Canar and Mary Zerkel spent a year working with the girls featured in the film, providing an insightful, touching look at young women struggling with their cultural identity as they embark on womanhood. 7:30 p.m., La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berk. $5 suggested donation. (510) 849-2568. (Morae Kim)

July 14, Thursday

The postgraduate Olive is a twentysomething hapa woman mired in postgraduation malaise. Wandering through halfhearted job interviews only to be greeted by rejection letters stymieing her writing career, she finds solace in card tricks. Will the return of her long-lost and idolized brother shake her from her postgrad funk? Or will scheming friends and lovers pull her in other directions for their own agendas? Sleeper (A Chronicle of the Return of the Remarkable) – written by Samantha Chanse, program director of the Kearny Street Workshop, and directed by Oliver Saria, drummer for indie-pop locals the Skyflakes – is brimming with Asian American arts-community goodness. Topping it off are two Asian American arts-scene heavyweights – Filipino arts group Bindlestiff Studio and the 32-year-old Asian American Theater Company – which join forces for the first time to coproduce the show. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7:30 p.m., Bindlestiff Studio, 505 Natoma, SF. $9-$25 sliding scale. (415) 255-0440. (Lisa Wong Macabasco)

Atlantic crossing Now that all the fireworks, barbecues, and general hullabaloo surrounding the Fourth of July is fading from memory, maybe freedom fries can once again be called french fries. And for those of you desiring more to sate your Franco-American tastes, the Arizona-based Amor come to town, with namesake and Paris transplant Naim Amor on guitar and vocals, Mike Bagesse on baritone guitar, Dimitri Manos on drums, and Ryan Eggleston on bass. Their sound often juxtaposes the primitive tom-based beats and the sometimes-jangly, occasionally fuzzy guitar of the Velvet Underground with the cosmopolitan, musical sophistication of Serge Gainsbourg, making them the aural equivalent of paintings by Edouard Manet. The Boxcar Saints and Parker Street Cinema also play. 9 p.m., Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 Fourth St., SF. $7. (415) 546-6300. (Alex K. Fong)

Sip and tell: Broke-Ass Stuart shares his knowledge of living on the cheap.
Good deal hunting Locals and tourists alike can benefit from the words of Broke-Ass Stuart, a zine writer whose no-bullshit, I-tried-it-myself approach makes his Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco a fun read for anyone on a budget. The first installment of Stuart's guide is divided into neighborhoods (on North Beach: "Unfortunately, due to the amount of shirt-tucking Marina people who invade it every weekend, North Beach does not feel as bohemian as it might have been at one time") and incorporates an impressive number of restaurant, nightlife, and entertainment reviews in its 33 black-and-white pages (note to out-of-towners: map not included). Though his grammar may not always be tip-top, Stuart's advice is both amusing and wise ("You don't find the Tamale Lady. She finds you"). Volume one sold more than 1,000 copies; an updated second volume is feted with a release party at Balazo Gallery, featuring live music by Hippie Grenade, Kelli Rudick, Lost and Found Generation, and DJs, plus food by Pasta Pomodoro. 9 p.m., Balazo Gallery, 2183 Mission, SF. $1. (415) 430-7091. (Cheryl Eddy)

Up in front Homegrown rock trio Sistas in the Pit are taking the local scene by storm. This collaboration between three musically gifted black women combines internationally renowned DJ Anita "Pa" Lofton's grunge- and funk-inspired guitar riffs with hip-hop and soul artist Kofy Brown's thumping bass lines. Drummer Ieela Grant keeps the Sistas in the pocket and flowing smooth, which is exactly what can be said about their new self-released The Missing Piece, a raw and gritty album with an emotional appeal that makes these rock musicians rock stars. Jen Scafidi and ay-ay-ay also perform. 9 p.m., Last Day Saloon, 406 Clement, SF. $5. (415) 387-6343. (Jana Rogers)

July 15, Friday

Look back Anyone who has lived long enough in San Francisco (or any other major city for that matter) may have witnessed the birth of a new neighborhood, marked by the bestowal of a catchy nickname and requisite band of scenesters. But the inevitable changes that transform an ethnic community into hipster central may not be so apparent to those of us who only know the neighborhood in its present state of trendiness. And no San Francisco locale embodies this better than the Mission District. 'Imagine the Mission: Photography Exhibition II' ties together the past 35 years of the Mission through photos by, for, and about the people, places, and history that make up the Latino neighborhood so many have called home. The exhibit comprises a dynamic collaboration between two institutions of cultural preservation, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and El Tecolote newspaper. History and art combine, allowing a rare glimpse at the transformation of a neighborhood constantly struggling with change. Through Aug. 22. Reception tonight, 7-9 p.m.; gallery hours Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, 2868 Mission, SF. Reception $5. (415) 821-1155. (Kim)

July 16, Saturday

photo by Daniela Dacorso Three’s company: Bossacucanova and an eight-piece backing band bring their contemporary Brazilian sounds to the Great American Music Hall.
Bossa supernova While plenty of electronic producers have turned to South America for ethnic garnish on their beat stew, Bossacucanova flip the script, turning to electronics for rhythmic and production spice in their mélange of classic and contemporary Brazilian musical styles. In support of their third album, Una Batida Differente (Six Degrees), the core trio of DJ Marcelinho DaLua, bassist Márcio Menescal, and keyboardist Alexandre Moreira are joined for the first time in North America by their full eight-piece band. It may be winter back home for Bossacucanova, but their solid mix of sultry melodies and break beats should keep things hot here. 9 p.m., Great American Music Hall, 859 O' Farrell, SF. $25. (415) 885-0750. (Peter Nicholson)

Photo By Trisha Gum Where’s the terry underwear? Portland, Ore.’s Stars of Track and Field play at Mezzanine.
Twinkle, twinkle Remember the late, great local indie rock contenders of Trackstar? One can only wring one's paws in dismay that their well-crafted pop never garnered the audience it might have deserved. Well, the race is still on for Stars of Track and Field: The Portland, Ore., trio are still dreaming with gently spiraling, shoegaze-ish guitar jangle, throwing dusty, quiet electronic beats over Kevin Calaba's choirboy vocals, unobtrusive samples, and some prettily teased-out piano notes. Is it Memorex, or is it Coldplay? Or is it what they call "digital pop," audible on the group's new EP, You Came Here for Sunset Last Year, produced by Tony Lash and Jeff Saltzman (who have worked with Elliott Smith and Stephen Malkmus, respectively). Catholic Comb and Maypole also perform; King of France and Lane Rider spin DJ sets. 9 p.m., Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, SF. $10. Presale tickets available at www.ticketweb.com. (415) 625-8880. (Kimberly Chun)


July 17, Sunday

Indian summer George Harrison once traveled to India to soak up the country's culture and to study the sitar with Ravi Shankar, but Bay Area residents without lots of money and free time have an alternative in nearby San Rafael. The second annual free Outdoor Indian Classical Music Festival features live music, musical demonstrations, and booths with Indian merchandise, henna painting, and ethnic foods and sweets. Notable events include an opening demonstration and performance by Ali Akbar College of Music founder and namesake Maestro Ali Akbar Khan, who plays the fretless 25-string sarode – an instrument with a goatskin belly and a steel fingerboard. Festivities close with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri on solo tabla. 1-8 p.m., Albert Park, Albert Park Lane and B St., San Rafael. Free. (415) 454-6264, www.aacm.org. (Fong)

July 18, Monday

Waiting for the sun With the government's persistent quest to find, drain, and sell oil no matter where it's found or do whatever it takes by passing energy bills, privatizing power, and waging a war (all in a day's work, apparently) comes the growing resentment of those not only opposed to the violence that ensues when bullies start shit on the playground over who called dibs on which oil-rich little country, but also the frustration that comes with the obvious realization: Oil don't grow on trees, folks. At some point, maybe far enough in the future so that it's not our problem, there will be no more oil left – at all. Enter the Solar Living Institute and its alternative plan to harness the awesome energy of the sun. Ah yes, the mighty sun. It is time. And to help it along is CC's Acoustic Underground Showcase, a concert featuring everything from Afro-pop and reggae to folk and blues to benefit the organization and its cause. The show includes local favorites Alex Degrassi, Mokai, and members of Aphrodesia. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. $7. (415) 522-6644. (Kim)

Blues to the bone Sometimes there's just not much to do on a Monday evening, but the Musashi Trio bring a high-energy booty-shaking party that is sure to make any night rock. Musashi "Moose" Lethridge (Hebro and Critical Mass) knew his electrifying vocals and guitar chops would be the perfect match for the banging bass chords of Ken "Big Poppa" Rousel (Otis Goodnight). His intuition was on point, and the two (who are currently looking for a new drummer) have been funkin' it up ever since. A guest percussionist joins them at this rare Monday-night Boom Boom Room show. There ain't no party like a funky blues-rock party. Members of Raw Deluxe and the Jazz Mafia support. 9:30 p.m., Boom Boom Room, 1601 Fillmore, SF. Free. (415) 673-8000. (Rogers)

Art and anarchy Noam Chomsky. Slavoj Zizek. Those familiar with Weird War, the band once known as the Scene Creamers, won't be surprised by any comparison to the aforementioned authors of works of dissent and art criticism, since manifestos and independent thinking have always lurked beneath the avant-garage surface of this quartet. Weird War's new Drag City release, Illuminated by the Light, features the alternately literate and simpleminded sneers of singer Ian Svenonius over the shambolic '60s sound of the 13th Floor Elevators, combined with the cold, repetitious veneer of Krautrock. Join Svenonius, bassist Michelle Mae, guitarist Alex Minoff, and drummer Sebastian Thomson as they play in support of their new record. Mixel Pixel and Dirty Eagles also perform. 9 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. $8. (415) 621-4455. (Fong)

July 19, Tuesday

Still waters At this time of year, stagnant waters mean only one thing: bug breeding grounds that'll make you wish you hadn't gotten so carried away at that REI camping sale. But Abandoned Pools aren't about creepy-crawly procreation; they're more about reinterpreting rock. Fronted by Tommy Walter (a former member of the Eels), the Pools are a cross between dark, moody pop and, well ... dark, moody rock. The band's latest release, The Reverb EP (Universal), which will be followed by a full-length album, is the outfit's first offering since 2001's Humanistic (Warner Bros). With Reverb, however, the trio seem to have taken the more grown-up road, favoring the bleak, mod aesthetic over the Something Corporate/Incubus/[insert any high schooler's favorite rock band here] sound they seemed to elicit in the past. Don't worry, there's still plenty of angst to go around, but with grunge covers of Björk's "Army of Me," the Pools seem to have matured (for a rock band, that is). Be sure to catch opening act Gram Rabbit. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. $8. (415) 861- 5016. (Elisa Jacobs)

July 20, Wednesday

Cheerleaders Drop any other plans you have tonight and head on over to Bimbo's for English sextet Go! Team. This group of brilliant musicians have discovered the much sought-after secret to alchemy. Their debut album, last year's Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Memphis Industries), features the perfect mixture of early hip-hop, funk, electronic, and pop sounds. "Junior Kickstart" sounds awfully like a TV theme song from the '70s or '80s (think CHiPS), and "The Power Is On!" is reminiscent of the earlier hip-hop sounds of the Beastie Boys. Tussle opens. 9 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, SF. $14. (415) 474-0365. (Yenie Ra)

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