What is this crazy lil' magikal thing called Elf Power?
San Francisco, you're just too much. And that goes for you too, Oakland and San Jose. There's just far too much to do in the Bay Area - more than we have pages for. But well hell, that's what Sonic Reducer Overage is fer, ain't it. Check out all the fun you maybe oughta be checking out.
BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES
These southern raspies do the blues-rock duo their own nasty, hard-ass way. With Or, the Whale and Low Red Land. Thurs/17, 9:30 p.m., $7. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, SF. (415) 923-0923.
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY
Pigtail fever! Who knew this Austin, Texas, electro-synth-soul-pop twosome would be blowing up as massively as they have. Expect 'em to break out the Cylon with the release of Robotique Majestique (Trashy Moped). With the Villains. Thurs/17, 9 p.m., $20. Mezzanine, 444 Jessie, SF. (415) 820-9669.
IAN FAYS
The SF-by-way-of-Humboldt-County Ian Fays like it sweet and soft, judging by the tender sounds coursing out of their new CD, The Damon Lessons (Homesleep). With Catholic Comb and Here Here. Thurs/17, 9 p.m., $8. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. (415) 621-4455.
INSTANT MESSENGERS AND DJ LAZER SWORD
The Bay Area party rappers get rambunctious with the realization of their just-released disc, Slammers, while the SF DJ brings a folded and spindled sensibility to the cracked beats (behold his remix of 50 Cent's "I Get Money," above). With Toy Soldiers and All Teeth and Knuckles. Thurs/17, 8 p.m., $8. Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell, SF. (415) 861-2011.
ELF POWER
The Athens combo whoops it up with the release of their new In a Cave album - girds their elfin loins for a fall collabo and tour with Vic Chesnutt on the fab Orange Twin Records. With Two Sheds. Fri/18, 10 p.m., $10. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., SF. (415) 621-4455.
TRICLOPS!
Rock without the rock - nah, I can't go for that. I think Hall and Oates would agree that our punk rock phenom of choice is the smart 'n' oh-so-raucous Triclops! Out and about and bringing the mayhem - see for yourself in the video above - with Out of Africa, their new Alternative Tentacles disc. Fri/18, 8 p.m., $8. Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St., SF. (415) 503-0393. Sat/19, 3 p.m. Last Record Store, 1899a Mendocino, Santa Rosa. (707) 525-1963. April 25, 6 p.m., free. Amoeba Music, 1855 Haight, SF. (415) 831-1200.
DIEGO'S UMBRELLA
Good times, Latin surf, Balkan beach bums - could it be SF's Diego's Umbrella? With Dogman Joe, La Gente, and Outpost. Sat/19, 9:30 p.m., $10. Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, SF. (415) 861-5016.
TELEPHONE JIM JESUS AND CHANGE!
Anticon stable-dweller, producer, and sometime Restiform Bodies bodkin, Telephone Jim Jesus matches wits with Aaron McEvoy's dulcimer-dappled, folkadelic Change! With The. Sat/19, 9:30 p.m., $7. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk St., SF. (415) 923-0923.
KANYE WEST
It's glow time! At least it is for Kanye West when his Glow in the Dark tour rolls into le Shark Tanque with the slick lineup of Rihanna, NERD, and Lupe Fiasco. You know you're addicted to the tunes - so you'll just have to adjust to the altitude in the few remaining seats. Sat/19, 7 p.m., $39.50-$75. HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara, San Jose. (415) 421-TIXS.
JAY-Z AND MARY J. BLIGE
Mary is sporting a blond wedge-cut these days, but her passion is no less dampened down by the Reese Witherspoon color job. Expect early faves from both MJ and Jigga and a duet as both descend a massive spiral staircase before a cityscape backdrop. Sun/20, 7:30 p.m., $60-$151. Oracle Arena, Oakl. (415) 421-TIXS.
JOHN BUTLER
Aussie guitar virtuoso and roots/jam fave John Butler and his trio can't stay away from San Fran for long. With Mama Kin. Tues/22, 8 p.m., $27.90. Fillmore, 1805 Geary, SF. (415) 346-6000.
OLD HAUNTS
Ex-Bikini Kill-er Tobi Vail beats the skins for Olympia, Wash., combo Old Haunts - last heard evoking ghosts of the Northwest's garage past on their Poisonous Times (Kill Rock Stars).
With Floating Corpses and Vaults. Tues/22, 9:30 p.m., $6. Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, SF. (415) 923-0923.
TEENAGERS
Pop sass, synthetic flash, and cheesy trash-culture fixations (above) are all part of the formula for this Paris-London combo. They waxes larger than life on Reality Check (Merok) while reveling in their own juvenilia. With Frail and LoveLikeFire. Tues/22, 8 p.m., $16. Independent, 628 Divisadero, S.F. (415) 771-1422.
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