8 Days a Week

Sept. 21-28, 2005

LIEBE WETZEL'S LUNATIQUE Fantastique has been blowing minds since 2000 with its brand of found-object puppet theater, coaxing subtlety and emotional complexity out of everyday items. It makes for great theater. Maybe you didn't catch Lunatique Fantastique's latest performance, Executive Order 9066, at SF's The Marsh theater, because you forgot, or maybe since you live in the East Bay, you thought it was too much of a hassle to commute. Fine. Here's your second chance: EO 9066 makes its way to The Marsh Berkeley. Lucky for you. The show's title refers to Franklin Roosevelt's order, which on February 19, 1942, led to the forced removal of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans from their homes on the West Coast to internment camps. Lunatique Fantastique's performance tells the story of one family's removal from their Berkeley home to a camp in Topaz, Utah, and their return at the end of the war. Using puppets and sets made from suitcases, a tea set, sand, brown paper, and other household items, this poignant production should not be missed – you've got no excuses this time. Sept. 22-Oct. 21, Thurs.-Sat., 7 p.m. (no shows Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 7), The Marsh Berkeley, Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way, Berk. $15-$22 sliding scale (Sat., $22). (415) 826-5750, www.themarsh.org. (Lydia Brawner)

Sept. 21

Wednesday

Breaking the mold I can only imagine how difficult it is to be the only female amongst a bunch of sweaty, tattooed dudebros at a hardcore show. As a matter of fact, the metal scene is 85 percent sausagefest and 15 percent testament to the lack of female representation. Hell, there's so much dick in hardcore that it's nearly impossible for a female to stand out and be heard. But as lead growler in Light This City, Laura Nichol successfully bridges the gap between passive listener and extremely active participant. On their latest full-length, Remains of the Gods, Light This City take a unique stance in their composition, infusing classic thrash intensities with punishing guitar licks that undeniably redefine the modern metal stereotype. Ion Dissonance, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Red Death, and Summer's End also play. 8:30 p.m., Pound SF, 100 Cargo, SF. $20. (415) 826-5009. (Justin Yu)

Sept. 22

Thursday

Sunlight baptism "Universe," a 12-hour-long traveling concert, is the christening act of the Rambler, a soundstage custom-built onto the back of a truck dreamed up by local musician Tina Gordan. "Universe" is structured around the intensity of sunlight, gradually accelerating the tempo of the performances, beginning at 6 a.m., reaching its fastest tempo around noon, and then petering out toward dusk. Throughout the day, the Rambler will move across the city to mirror the sun's passage across the sky. Participating musicians include Neurosis, Six Organs of Admittance, Comets on Fire, Acid King, Hightower, Night After Night, and others. "Universe" is mystical, psychedelic, epic, and free. The audience is encouraged to follow the Rambler on bikes (meet at MacArthur BART Station at 5:40 a.m.). 6 a.m.-sunset, Tire Beach, 24th and 3rd Sts. (6-10 a.m.); Twin Peaks (11 a.m.-1 p.m.); Ocean Beach at Noriega (3 p.m.-sunset). Free. (510) 282-8043. (Sean Maylone)

Sept. 23

Friday

Beyond one Tokyo's Mono have successively been honing their craft with each new release; every album draws tighter and closer to the inside of the listener. Last October's Walking Cloud and Deep Red Sky, Flag Fluttered and the Sun Shined (Temporary Residence) continued the trend, adding piano and strings into the compositions. Working with songs in the tradition of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, they weave droning, sad tones that tumble into apocalyptic cataclysm just to twist and turn and lay dormant through long, ambient silences. Using a standard rock quartet, Mono produces a sound full beyond its means that can grow into real walls of noise, the kind that eventually part to reveal the band covered in sweat and leaving the crowd with a huge, dull euphoria. Bellini – sounding like the Jesus Lizard with a female vocalist – and Tarentel side project the Drift also play. 10 p.m., Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. $10. (Maylone)

Defenders of earth On February 18, 2005, behind closed doors in Washington, DC, a council of the five remaining members of the quintrological galaxies discussed what would ultimately become the aural reincarnation of Belgian jazz legend Django Reinhardt. The Zegnotronic Rocket Society was born out of a love for minor sixth chords and San Francisco's own one-man army, Frank Chu. However, the music of ZRS does not conjure images of alphatronic rockifications and chemical war crimes, as one would expect from a band that borrows their name from Chu's unintelligible ramblings. ZRS combines intricate gypsy-style chord rhythms with a level of improvisational talent that becomes a consistent variable throughout each of their chromatic works. Rosin Coven and Barbez round out the evening, with a possible band introduction from Chu. 9 p.m., 12 Galaxies, 2565 Mission, SF. $10. (415) 970-9777. (Yu)

Sept. 24

Saturday

Opposites attract New wave plus bossa nova equals Nouvelle Vague, the understatedly sexy project of French producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux. Taking their favorite tunes from the post-punk period between 1978 and 1981, Collin and Libaux rearranged them as bossa nova songs and brought in eight young singers (six French, one Brazilian, and one New Yorker) who had never heard of acts like Dead Kennedys or Joy Division. Sidestepping ironic novelty, the two seasoned producers brought out the indulgent, melancholy sound that made both genres rebellious for their time, and Nouvelle Vague's self-titled debut (Luaka Bop/V2) makes a compelling case for bringing these strange musical bedfellows together. One never knows just which of the Nouvelle Vague chanteuses will show up to perform with Collin and Libaux, and this is just part of the project's mysterious charm. Scrabbel also plays. 9 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, SF. $16. (415) 474-0365. (Mirissa Neff)

Postpubescent post-rock Portland, Ore.'s unsigned post-rockers Adelaide blend instrumental rock with computer beats, sampling, and synthesizers into a calm sound that changes texture subtly as it tracks through each piece's landscape. Although he doesn't play any instruments, R yan Jeffries is unmistakably a part of the band, presenting film collages from two 16mm projectors during their shows. As the even-tempered rhythms and pensive melodies merge with the overlapping film loops – the brightest thing in the dark of the hall – Adelaide drops you deep into an abstract, half-dreaming trance like a neon wrestler slamming you onto the surrealist mat. San Diego electronica instrumental band Roots of Orchis headline. 8 p.m., Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., SF. $7. (Maylone)

Sept. 25

Sunday

We will eat you! Orange-clad Korean unification demonstrators marching down Mission Street don't usually inspire a group of kids to start a noise-rock band, but for the members of Death Sentence: Panda! the message was clear. The trio – whose debut release, Puppy Kitty or Both (Special B), was produced by Weasel Walter – uses impromptu cultic chants, erratic drum fills, and enough vocal sass to send Peaches, Karen O, and Kathleen Hanna into a hissy fit. While other experimentalists are desperately trying to find that perfect field sample, scatological clarinetist Paul Costuros keeps busy blasting breakbeats while the rest of the band focus on their live-show delinquency. Wet Confetti and Hustler White complete the bill. 9:30 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, SF. $5. (415) 923-0923. (Yu)

The Wright stuff Very few people have the capacity to sound like seasoned pros when playing live on college radio, but singer-songwriter Corbi Wright does. Blessed with an angelic voice that brings to mind both the folky harmony of Joni Mitchell and the husky jazz of Norah Jones, she doesn't need much to keep an audience mesmerized. Accompanied mainly by acoustic guitar or the string instruments of her friends, Wright pens songs that are simple yet lovely ballads that evoke the kind of wintry, I-just-got-back-from-the-cold-and-want-to snuggle-with-someone-here-for-a-while type of imagery. But don't just take my word for it. Tonight is Wright's first solo CD release party, and she plays with an army of friends: Jefre Cantu, Tony Cross, Donal Moser, Colter Jacobson, Tomo Yasuda, and Cary Penwarden. 8 p.m., Adobe Books, 1366 16th St., SF. Free. (415) 864-3936. (Stephanie Laemoa)

Sept. 26

Monday

Punks care In the grand tradition of combining something really important with having a good time, Punks Protect Kids hosts the Punk Rock Video Film Festival. Held at Zeitgeist, the fest features videos by 400 Blows, Bar Feeders, Crosstops, Dwarves, RKL, Slender, Texas Thieves, and others. Proceeds benefit the National Association to Protect Children, an organization that recently worked to support the California legislature's passing of the Circle of Trust Bill, an act that closed loopholes in California's sex offender laws. So, punk videos, good times at a beer garden under the stars, and the satisfaction that you helped raise money and awareness for a cause you care about. A 10-dollar donation gets you access to beer kegs. 8 p.m., Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia, SF. Free, $10 keg access. www.protect.org, www.punksprotectkids.org, lookoutliver@hotmail.com. (Brawner)

Straight out of Rio Long before he was introduced to international audiences as City of God's Knockout Ned, Seu Jorge was well versed in the world depicted in the film. Growing up homeless on the streets of Rio's favelas (slums), Jorge taught himself guitar and eventually became involved with theater. He formed the samba pop group Farofa Carioca, which dominated Brazilian airwaves in the late-'90s, and his most recent cinematic turn, in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, showcased a talent for reinterpreting David Bowie songs in Portuguese. Yet Jorge's cred as a malandro (Brazilian bad boy) permeates his music and theater projects with an authenticity straight out of Rio's mean streets. In town to promote his latest album, Cru (Wrasse Records), Brazil's favorite renaissance man will bring his roughly sweet style to Bimbo's. 8 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, SF. $20. (415) 474-0365. (Neff)

Sept. 27

Tuesday

Literary make-out Punk elder-statesman and fashion-icon-cum-literati Richard Hell is in town for readings and signing of his new book, Godlike: A Novel, at the Make-Out Room and City Lights Bookstore. Godlike is a mostly Rimbaud/Verlaine kind of affair set in New York's downtown punk scene of the early '70s. (That should set certain hipster pulses quickening.) A follow-up to GoNow, his semiautobiographical first novel, Godlike, like its predecessor, is damn good. And even better, I would imagine, at a cozy late-night Make-Out Room reading with a Manhattan in your hand. 10 p.m., Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., SF. $7, (415) 647-2888 (also Thurs/29, 7 p.m., City Lights, 261 Columbus, SF. Free. (415) 362-8193. (Brawner)

Sept. 28

Wednesday

Forever de Young It's been five years since the de Young Museum shut its doors, tore down its walls, and started anew from scratch. For most of those years, construction progress was hidden from view by gates and trees, but we're finally beginning to see evidence of a majestic new museum and its surrounding grounds. Created by renowned Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the new building is massive – a perforated, copper-paneled modern masterpiece. The de Young doesn't reopen until October 15, but those fixing for a preview to this momentous event can attend a slide lecture by Harry S. Parker, director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, about the museum's return. At 'A Golden Phoenix Rises: The 21st Century de Young Museum,' Parker discusses the new de Young, inside and out. 5:45 p.m., USF Lone Mountain Campus, Room 101, 2800 Turk Blvd, SF. Free; reservations recommended. (415) 422-6828. (Sarah Han) The Bay Guardian listings deadline is two weeks prior to our Wednesday publication date. To submit an item for consideration, please include the title of the event, a brief description of the event, date and time, venue name, street address (listing cross streets only isn't sufficient), city, telephone number readers can call for more information, telephone number for media, and admission costs. Send information to Listings, the Bay Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi St., SF, CA 94107; fax to (415) 487-2506; or e-mail (paste press release into e-mail body – no text attachments, please) to listings@sfbg.com. We cannot guarantee the return of photos, but enclosing an SASE helps. Digital photos may be submitted in jpeg format; the image must be at least 240 dpi and four inches by six inches in size. We regret we cannot accept listings over the phone.