MARCH 1–7, 2006SPACE IS THE PLACEBy Johnny Ray Huston› johnny@sfbg.com It's the start of the month — time for gallery openings here, there, and everywhere. One compelling pairing is at Gallery Paule Anglim, where code-based digital work by Shirley Shor debuts next to paintings by Keith Hale. Fusing sculpture and projection, using vivid colors as tools for more than simple pleasure, Shor's past work has made potent use of sand as land in an exploration of mapped territory, for example. Hale shares an interest in landscape and space, but his approach seems comparatively playful: 2005's Landscape with Chorus presents a terrific, funny image of Texas cowboy heads floating against a lunar plane. ARTIST RECEPTION Thurs/2, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Gallery Paule Anglim 14 Geary, SF Most of us would rather shove a fistful of happy bucks through a drive-through window and pledge allegiance to Ronald McDonald, because consumer culture says it's okay to scarf down a piping hot burger without feeling guilty. LOCAL ARTIST: Jill Storthz TITLE OF PIECE: Untitled THE STORY: San Francisco artist Jill Storthz uses a reductive carving method on a single piece of Shina plywood for her woodcut prints. CONTACT: jesthz@yahoo.com WEDNESDAY MARCH 1 MUSIC RademacherClose your eyes and imagine Steven Malkmus's crooning in Pavement. Now imagine Jack White's whining in the White Stripes. Now conjure up Karen O, Julian Casablancas, and Tom Waits all happily coexisting, swinging on a porch swing in the sun or sliding down a slide, whatever. Got 'em all floating around in your head? 'Kay, you can open your eyes now. Open your ears too, and go out and hear Rademacher. Lead singer Malcolm Sosa borrows a bit of each of the aforementioned vocalists' musical styles and pulls it off damn well. This Fresno-based quartet is full of tight melodies, gritty-smooth vocals, staccato guitar rhythms, and wide-open drumbeats. Tonight's show is presented by Club Debutante. (Eliana Fiore) With Chase Frank and DJs Rye in the Sky, Biggs, J-Roc, and Rua 10 p.m.–2 a.m. The Knockout 3223 Mission, SF $4 (415) 550-6994 www.rademachermusic.com THURSDAY MARCH 2 ART "Eat Me: Emerging Artists on Consumption"As feebleminded Americans, we live in a lightning-paced society in which we allow pop culture and constant advances in technology to devour our sense of willpower. Most of us would rather shove a fistful of happy bucks through a drive-through window and pledge allegiance to Ronald McDonald, because consumer culture says it's okay to scarf down a piping hot burger without feeling guilty. "Eat Me: Emerging Artists on Consumption" is the brainchild of five young artists exemplifying through visual art how food, advertising, sex, and politics have directly affected them. The participating artists use a wide variety of materials to express their messages, including condoms, lunch bags, and interactive digital media. More than $7,000 worth of their artworks will be raffled off to guests at the reception. (Chris Sabbath) Through April 15 Tues.–Sun., 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Reception tonight, 6 p.m. Frey Norris Gallery 456 Geary, SF Free (415) 346-7812 www.freynorris.com FILM BENEFIT "Maggotfest"Maggots and Men is not just another homoerotic, genderqueer sailor flick dressed up in sexy Eisensteinian montage. In many ways, the locally made film, which depicts the 1921 Kronstadt uprising against the increasingly totalitarian Soviet Union, parallels themes prevalent in today's queer community. The story speaks to the value of camaraderie in these turbulent times of transformation and to the importance of gymnastics in the park on warm, halcyon days. Director Oakie Treadwell and director of photography Ilona Berger, cowriters of the script, got all comrades on deck tonight for "Maggotfest," a benefit to help them finish their multifaceted film. Gary Fembot screens his Mondo Bottomless shorty-short film; Martin Sorrondeguy, of Limpwrist and Los Crudos, presents slides from his years in and at homo and hardcore shows; Justin Kelley unveils his new video for Veronica Lipgloss; Hey Willpower puts the uh-uh-uh on the dance floor; and members of neo-post-punk constructivist act Full Moon Partisans reemerge as a new band called Gavin Newsom. And that's just the tip of the hull! (Deborah Giattina) 9 p.m. Eagle Tavern 398 12th St., SF $6 (415) 626-0880 www.maggotsandmen.com FRIDAY MARCH 3 MUSIC The Gourds"Bitches in the living room ..." I remember you. The Gourds earned their first 15 minutes of fame with their 2001 rendition of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice," a song that gained popularity on Napster when it was mislabeled as a Phish song, and which was later released on Shinebox (Sugar Hill). Snoop claims it to be his fave cover, and the frenetic fingerpicking and revamped vocal twang have since made it a jam standard in the old-time and bluegrass scene. Gonzo grass, hyper hick-hop — it's hard to define this Austin, Texas–based quintet and their seventh album, Heavy Ornamentals (Eleven Thirty Records). Bellowing vocalists and dueling songwriters Kevin Russell and Jimmy Smith stole Max Johnston from Uncle Tupelo and drummer Keith Langford from every other alt-country band in Texas. With Claude Bernard's accordion fertilizing their soul-rock-country sound, the Gourds are starting to bloom in zydeco territory. (Amanda Witherell) With the Mammals 9 p.m. Great American Music Hall 859 O'Farrell, SF $15 (415) 885-0750 www.musichallsf.com ART "You Build It, We Burn It"The definition of eco-terrorism is in and of itself contentious. Some people believe that eco-terrorist tactics are violent acts of sabotage or vandalism in the name of environmental activism, while others argue that eco-terrorism is a method of peacefully protesting harmful actions against the environment. It follows, then, that art inspired by eco-terrorism would be equally controversial. Ben Peterson's new exhibit, "You Build It, We Burn It," offers a critical perspective on hypercapitalism and the tendency to substitute real environmental activism with good old-fashioned American consumerism. Peterson emphasizes how consumers are so overwhelmed by choices that simply choosing to make the more "environmentally friendly" purchase is often misconstrued as a form of activism. Peterson's works have also been in exhibitions at Mary Goldman gallery, in Los Angeles, and Cohan and Leslie gallery, in New York. (Jenny Miyasaki) Through April 9 Sun., noon–5 p.m., and by appt. Reception tonight, 6–8 p.m. Ratio 3 903 Guerrero, SF Free (415) 821-3371 www.ratio3.org SATURDAY MARCH 4 MUSIC PolysicsI grew up in Ohio, not too far away from Devo-nation, and I must say, it wasn't comforting. All those funny red hats and bright yellow jumpsuits catapulted me into a state of utter paranoia, and I spent many sleepless nights hoping the rock 'n' roll capital would be remembered as more than just a home to those computer dorks. On the other hand, the Polysics couldn't be any happier, embracing the synth-charged quirkiness of their Rubber City heroes while freaking out in ADD-laced blasts of robo-dance punk and surf rock. The Tokyo quartet's "technicolor pogo punk" is sung in Japanese, English, and their own "space language," and their live shows are just as intense as a 40-something Mark Mothersbaugh sweating bullets while doing the robot. The band released their new album, Now Is the Time! (Tofu), last month and will tour the West Coast this week before heading to Austin, Texas, to perform at SXSW. (Sabbath) With Los Abandoned 9 p.m. Cafe du Nord 2170 Market, SF $12 (415) 861-5016 www.cafedunord.com SUNDAY MARCH 5 MUSIC ALARM WILL SOUND The explosive new 20-piece music ensemble Alarm Will Sound performs "Composer Portraits: John Adams," a tribute to the internationally renowned composer, presented by Cal Performances. Adams's works span four decades and have been performed by leading orchestras and chamber ensembles nationally. Alarm Will Sound, a band committed to innovative performances and recordings of new music, are artists-in-residence at Pennsylvania's Dickinson College and have mastered works by everyone from Aphex Twin and Frank Zappa to Augusta Read Thomas and Steve Reich. The concert features "Scratchband" (1996), a work for mixed acoustic and electronic instruments; "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" (1986); a minimalist, solo piano work; and "Chamber Symphony" (1992), which blends the early-20th-century 12-tone style of Arnold Schoenberg with cartoon music, among other influences. Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear Adams's works live! (Fiore) 3 p.m. Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley, College at Bancroft, Berk. $32 (510) 642-9988 www.calperfs.berkeley.edu MONDAY MARCH 6 MUSIC Minus the Bear, Appleseed Cast, Rocky Votolato, Crystal SkullsUC Berkeley offers the most bang for the buck you are likely to catch this year: four bands signed to three indie record labels in two festivals on one stage for zero dollars. Sneak a peek at this year's Noise Pop Festival and Coachella Valley Music Festival as Minus the Bear tops tonight's bill in support of their latest effort, Menos el Oso (Suicide Squeeze), best described as rock infused with both the dance sensibility of Bloc Party and the emo sensitivity of animal-kingdom cohort Pedro the Lion. The Appleseed Cast, Rocky Votolato, and the Crystal Skulls round out the lineup, guaranteeing something for every musical palette — especially when that palette loves the taste of free. All four bands are touring in support of brand-new albums that have been released, or will soon be, so this is the perfect opportunity for you to be able to say, "I saw them way back when ..." (Miyasaki) 5 p.m. Lower Sproul Plaza, UC Berkeley, Berk Free (510) 642-7477 superb.berkeley.edu TUESDAY MARCH 7 MUSIC Die! Die! Die!, Cortina, Mikaela's Feind, K.I.T.Continuing Artists' Television Access's streak of quietly hosting some of the best all-ages events in SF, tonight's show features two acts from New Zealand: Auckland's angular associates of Steve Albini — Die! Die! Die! — touring in support of their well-received self-titled EP on Capital Recordings, and the uncloying dance punk of Cortina. Both bands are working their way down the West Coast to Austin, Texas's SXSW festival. Rounding out the show are underage Seattle duo Mikaela's Fiend (also headed to Austin) and Oakland's favorite good-time band, K.I.T., featuring members of Boxleitner, Lil' Pocketknife, and XBXRX (including Guardian contributor George Chen). And if everything goes right, there'll be a shit ton of really psyched high school students. (Lydia Brawner) 8 p.m. Artists' Television Access 992 Valencia, SF $5 (415) 824-3890 www.atasite.org The 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. 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