Guardian contributor and Battleship playa Gene Bae wants to sing the praises of the band Little Claw:

Rock ’n' roll used to be dangerous. To engage in it at all was to be an outsider, a rebel unfit for genteel society. These days, however, rock ain't much more than nostalgia - and the biggest danger is possibly throwing one's back out lifting an amplifier. That's why Little Claw are such a relief. A trio from Hamtramck, a little Polish American village just outside Detroit, Little Claw make rock ’n' roll that's once again unhinged.

Drummer Hendrik sounds more interested in beating up his kit than laying down beats. Kilynn's and Heath's guitars spew dissonant chord progressions and riffs too retarded to even call garage. The space between sounds is cavernous. Into this emptiness, Kilynn fearlessly wails. Lyrics such as "I killed my father<\!s>/ I wear his head like a crown" might make one think of Jim Morrison. But you get the feeling Little Claw's psychedelic visions would probably make that poseur wet his leather pants.

Bands this volatile don't come along too often or last too long. With only a few hard-to-find releases to its name - and with another coming on Ecstatic Peace - its three-show swing through the Bay Area is not to be missed.

Little Claw play Thursday, April 5, 9 p.m., $6. Knockout SF, 3223 Mission, SF. (415) 550-6994. Also Saturday, April 7, 6 p.m. (early show!), $5. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, SF. Also Saturday, April 7, 10 p.m., call for price. Peacock Lounge, 552 Haight, SF. (415) 621-9850

Ex-16 Horsepower member David Eugene Edwards conjures an eerie blend of banjo, concertina, piano, and Biblical references - unequal parts Gira 'n' Cave - via his latest project WovenHand, which has a new, third album out, Mosaic, on Daniel Smith's Sounds Familyre label. More quality Christianity-tinged music-making from that Clarksboro, NJ, imprint.

WovenHand weaves its way through the Bay with shows tonight, April 4, at 12 Galaxies, SF; Thursday, April 5, at the 750 Club, Stanford; Friday, April 6, at the Attic, Santa Cruz; Saturday, April 7, at Starry Plough, Berk.

Three words: Ukranian drag queen. In the Eurovision Song Contest, on May 12.

Her name is Verka Serdjuchka and she's awesome .... babushka power! (You can get better quality -- Ukranian TV? Forget it -- at the Eurovision site.

You want more?

And another for the great and apparently tranny-infested Eurovision Song Contest! This one's called DQ (which used to mean something pretty scandalous in the Midwestern gay underground) and the song is ..... DRAMA QUEEN

Dana International has really opened doors! And speaking of Passover ....

Ah, it's here again - that little breather from the workday world.... What you say, you don't work? I'll just have to ignore that, idle rich kid. Anyway, there's plenty of music to see and hear this weekend - starting right up top with Oakland's own punk heroes: XBXRX.

Dudes caused quite a ruckus at Monday's Lobot Gallery show, opening for Lightning Bolt. They have a brutal lil' new album, War (Polyvinyl), an exploration of frenzied guitar, lengthier songs, and metallic textures. Check opening song, Center Where Sight, for a good loud whiff. For a longer earful, go on over to their record release partah Saturday, April 14, at Hemlock Tavern, SF, with the Mall, Robin Williams on Fire, and the Show Is the Rainbow. It all starts at 9 p.m. and costs 8 bucks.

And y'know if you're not up for noise stars Deerhunter and garage mavens Ponys at 12 Galaxies tonight, April 13, then you might want to keep it at the Hemlock for Mon Cousin Belge's cabaret shenanigans, Nudity's heavy-hanging booty psych, and Society of Rockets' primo pop.

Elsewhere you'll have a chance to get your ya-ya's out and dance like a cracked-out '80s spazz-bot when Love of Diagrams bring their electro-pop to Slim's, opening for the always dynamite Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Saturday, April 14. (9 p.m., $16). If we could bottle this kinda energy, our midnight Jolt runs might be a thing of the past.

Speaking of power, across town, the elderly Charlie Louvin kicks out that "Great Atomic Power" at Swedish American Hall, tonight, April 13. (7:30 p.m., $20-$25) I had to crane my neck but bad during SXSW to get a glimpse of the country music legend. The man is elderly, but he's still alive, unlike his bro Ira, so make a beeline. Court and Spark's MC Taylor opens.

Don't bottom out there - indie rock faves Appleseed Cast break the mold headlining Friday, April 13, at Bottom of the Hill (10 p.m., $12), playing with the Life and Times and the Moanin Dove. Later on Sunday, April 15, a certain Seattle indie band bids you reach out and touch the woman that's expecting a big fat something come Mother's Day: Say Hi to Your Mom.

And if sweet sounds are your poison, maybe hightail it over to 12 Galaxies Saturday, April 14, for Kelley Stoltz and Essex Green - magnifico indie all! If Brazilian is more your beat, then talented hottie CeU will be making her stand tonight, April 13, with a self-titled Six Degrees debut in hand, at Independent (9 p.m., $15). Bay soul sister Ledisi comes through the following night, April 14, and then Aereogramme lands with Glasgow indie to spare on Sunday, April 15 (8 p.m., $12-$14).

Pant, pant, OK, so hit your marks and report back Monday, if there's anything left of you...

by Amanda Witherell

We just got a letter from Tim Westergren, one of the founders of Pandora, the supercool website that builds you a radio station by tracing the musical genes of song or musician you like and connecting it to others with similar aural DNA.

Tim says Washington's cracking down and wants to hike licensing fees for internet radio sites to unfair and scary levels for this little Oakland-based music genome project. He's worked up a petition and needs some signatures. A word from Tim to all rabble-rousers, after the jump...

The first time I heard Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, I imagined a huge 30s style musical with hundreds of dancing girls surrounding one man - Dick Cheese himself – who would be standing in a tux at a glistening grand piano. Professional lighting, gorgeous sequined costumes, a dramatic set. And the Nine Inch Nails lyrics “I want to fuck you like an animal” drifting from an old-fashioned microphone towards the audience over the staccato beats of tap shoes.

Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton is something of a renowned rock god and raconteur of note - the 5-foot-11, blue-eyed Cancer certainly knows how to roll with the punches and spin a tale, even briefly, when not in the shadow of the still great, astonishingly limber Iggy Pop.

The original model of the Stooges, circa 1969: Scott Asheton (from left), Ron Asheton, Dave Alexander, and Iggy Pop.

Me and Duncan Scott Davidson went off on our fave band in print this week; here's more of an interview with him, on the phone from the family home he once shared with his bro, Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The last three standing Stooges these days: Ron Asheton (from left), Iggy Pop, and Scott Asheton.

Guardian: How does it feel to be on the road now with the fully reunited Stooges?

Ron Asheton: We played in the states before, but only spotty jobs here and there -- Jones Beach and some benefit in Manhattan and Roseland. We did All Tomorrow's Parties in Long Beach but this is the frist time we're going out here. I know that the Europeans are great -- I always say that "I wanna Be Your Dog" is the NEW French national anthem. Because the French love the Stooges so much. We go there so much.

Sadly jazz legend Andrew Hill has passed - after playing a stellar show for SFJAZZ last year and being serenaded by present and past Bay Area players like Nels Cline and Guardian contributor Devin Hoff. Here's the statement from Hill's label, Blue Note.

The Blue Note Records Family is very saddened to announce the passing of the great pianist and composer Andrew Hill. Andrew passed away early this morning, April 20, 2007, after battling lung cancer for several years. He was 75 years old.

Andrew was considered “the next Thelonious Monk” by Blue Note founder Alfred Lion, and over a 44 year association with the label, beginning with his debut in 1963, he made what will forever stand as some of the most groundbreaking recordings in jazz history, including such classics as Point of Departure, Black Fire, Judgment!, Passing Ships, and Time Lines, his triumphant 2006 return to the label that was named the no. 1 album of the year by Ben Ratliff of The New York Times, who described it as “a master’s record, quiet, daring and magnificent.”

Our hearts go out to his wife Joanne, and the countless musicians, friends and fans that his music and spirit touched over the course of his remarkable life.

By G.W. Schulz

Fuck, people. Buddyhead still destroys, as much as I wanted to be over it. For the uninitiated, Buddyhead's gossip section was a force to be reckoned with for its savage assaults on the worst of the popular music industry delivered in a relentless barrage long before blogs seriously took hold. (They go back at least six years.)

By Molly Freedenberg

I've just discovered my new favorite SF band, French Miami. Yes, the lead singer/guitarist/keyboard-player is a friend of friends, but that's not why I'm so enthusiastic. It's because the band, who played at Fat City last night, plays kickass rock-n-roll with a punkrock edge that kept me dancing (and jumping up and down) the whole set. (Which, by the way, was a relief. Because I hate that avoiding-them-so-you-don't-have-to-lie-and-say-they-were-good thing.) And the drummer, who looks like he's having more fun than you ever will, played some of the most interesting and suprrising beats I've heard in a long time -- and certainly from a local band. So go visit them at their website, and tell them to play more often, damnit.

Lil Mama -- I love you and your gloss. Baby Pride!

If I can score an interview with her, I'll totally freak out. I'll get lip gloss all on the receiver. L'Oreal! MAC! Watermelon Crush!

Trans Am, dude. Powerful, proggy, electro, rockin' - what don't these guys do? Once based in DC, now living all over the place, all over your face, Trans Am rev up their tour tonight, April 21, at Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF; (415) 621-4455. Zombi and Black Taj open the all-ages Green Apple Music Festival-sponsored show; the music starts at 10:00 p.m. Lay $14 down.

No doubt the venue is all-too-familiar sight for Trans Am-er Phil Manley, who might be found behind the mixing board on occasion. Manley moved to San Francisco a few years ago, and he took a little time out while tooling round South Carolina to chat recently. The friendly 33-year-old musician and audio engineer inquired about my recent car break-in, which scuttled our first attempt at an interview, and revealed that he too lives in the city's Western Addition district. "I used to live in the Mission but there's too many fixed gear bikes," he said jokingly. "It actually doesn't bug me, but I did see a funny bumper the other day - 'One less fixie.' Kinda hilarious and kinda harsh."

Someone had a real good time the other night. Stooges fans Mark Breshears and David Bernstein write in with their experiences at the Warfield on Saturday, April 21. Love the black and silver balloon drop in honor of Iggy Pop's 60th b-day that night (most memorable salutation from the crowd - "Happy birthday, you fuck!").

Our man in the scene is...somewhere up there.
Photos by Kimberly Chun.

Mark Breshears: So I saw the Stooges last night and it totally rocked. Iggy was on fire, and it was great to see Mike Watt play bass with him. It was a dream come true. A two-'fer-one. The old songs were great to hear, especially "Dirt." I've seen Iggy many times (seven) and have probably seen most of the songs performed last night live at least once (besides the new ones, of course). I've never seen him do "Dirt" before, one of my favorites songs ever, and it was excellent. The songs held up and more so.

It was Iggy's 60th birthday, and we all sang Happy Birthday to him two-thirds of the way through. It was great to see the Asheton brothers playing with him like the old days. I loved and adored the Stooges records growing up and looked up to Ron as a guitar hero. That being said, I think Watt, another hero of mine, kept the band tight and rockin' like no one else. Without him, or Iggy of course, this thing would not have been as good.

Dare you to look away from the Igg-meister.

The highlight: Iggy, during "Down on the Street" (I think - I was wasted), asked people to come up and join him. I've seen the clips on the Internet of this and knew that he was inviting people onto the stage. Without hesitation I was bumping and pushing people out of the way as I made my way onto the stage. There were a few in front of me getting up, but I knew I'd make it. I raised myself up with others pushing up on me making it easy to get on stage. I danced and jumped and acting crazy during the song. I heard it winding down.

I thought, "I need to get to Iggy."

Yes, they're taking it to the steets again: John Benson's bus will set up show at 17th and Treat streets, SF, on May 5. Let's guesstimate the start time at around 8 or 9 p.m.

Some dirty rat busted a window right before this show. All photos by Kimberly Chun.

Who's gonna get it up inside? Fuck Wolf, Reagan's Memory, Brown Um (Randy Lee), and Saberteeth. Crunch!

I know you hate to bellyache but apparently the moment is here for nostalgic baby ravers. Happy Mondays dancing fellah Bez was stopped at the border and won't be fronting the band at the group's first US performance in 15 years at Coachella Sunday, April 29. Read the statement from their reps and weep:

Due to tightening immigration and working visa legislation, Bez was not, unfortunately, able to secure a visa to perform at Coachella this weekend.

Bez will however be appearing in the UK in May with Happy Mondays on their sold-out UK tour.

Happy Mondays apologies to all their US fans that they will not, on this occasion, be able to enjoy the spectacle of Bez shaking his stuff for them at Coachella.

As legendary for their lifestyle as their unique collision of rave beats, indie rock and street poetry, the biggest surprise is probably that the band members have even survived this long. But they have, and Shaun Ryder, Bez, and Gaz Whelan have a brand new album tucked under their arms. The biggest question on most peoples’ lips is, probably, why now?