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Tip sheet
Upcoming
Bay Area shows.
April 3
Blackalicious Gift of Gab and Xcel get Black(-alicious) to the basics at this benefit for Youth Speaks, a worthy respite from work on their next CD, which should solidify the hold they've had on critics' imaginations – no thanks to the random songs that have appeared in the last year on soundtracks for Brown Sugar and Biker Boyz. Zion I also perform. 9 p.m., Bimbo's 365 Club, 1025 Columbus, S.F. $25-$30. (415) 474-0365.
April 4 and 5
Modey Lemon Pretty boys playing revved-up blues-rock will always get certain fiends out of the garage. On their self-titled AF debut, Pittsburgh duo Modey Lemon come across as being as fresh-faced and evil-minded as any red-blooded rat fink daddy, squealing about body snatchers, fresh corpses, and everyone's decadent role model, Caligula. With Super Bees and SLA April 4, 9 p.m., Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St., S.F. Call for price. (415) 503-0393. With Killer's Kiss and Jack Saints April 5, 9:30 p.m., Tempest, 431 Natoma, S.F. $5. (415) 495-1863.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band The sacred steel master with the style of Snoop Dogg and the spirit of the Campbell Brothers (Chuck Campbell bought him his first lap steel) will convert newcomers to the form, long chronicled by the Bay Area's Arhoolie Records. Last year's Live at the Wetlands will also whet one's appetite for the hot instrumental foursome. Someone can say "hallelujah" now. North Mississippi Allstars and Malaze also play. 8:30 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary, S.F. $22.50. (415) 421-TIXS or (415) 346-6000.
April 6
Al Larsen Love or hate him – Some Velvet Sidewalk's accomplished, if not better, half breaks from recording his latest album with Steve Fisk, doffs such pseudonyms as Sandy Dirt and Melting Igloo, and latches on to his given name at this solo acoustic performance. Jibz Cameron's Dynasty Handbag also performs. 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $5. (415) 923-0923.
April 8
Arab Strap Glasgow's seamiest find beauty – and beats – in tepid tap beer, sordid sorties in the sack, and morose mornings after. Judging from their last San Francisco performance two years ago, they also cotton to heavy volume and even heavier ennui. Singer Aidan Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton toss some bagpipes, massive drums, eerie answering machine-cribbed gab, and much high drama on their latest Matador disc, Monday at the Hug and Pint, and at this Bright Eyes show, team up with album contributors Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis. Paperback also perform. 8 p.m. Fillmore, 1805 Geary, S.F. $17.50. (415) 421-TIXS or (415) 346-6000.
April 8
French Toast James Canty – Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty's brother, former Make Up and Ted Leo guitarist, ex-Nation of Ulysses skin slapper, and occasional All Scars and Garland of Hours player – gets with Jerry Busher, a Fugazi roadie and occasional drummer, for French Toast. The duo recently released The Bugman EP on Canty and Ben Adams's Washington, D.C., label. Hello Noisy and Black Plastics also play. 9 p.m. Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., S.F. $7. (415) 474-0365.
April 9
Longwave A bit Doves, a bit U2, and a bit Interpol, Longwave actually sound dreamier and more engaged by their trainers than any of the above. Just take in the sound of their new album, The Strangest Things, produced by Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann. After paying their dues in the space-pop ghetto, the four-year-old New York City band found favor with the Strokes after a series of opening dates and now seem poised for much rock revivalist hype. The Decoration also performs. 9 p.m. Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $8. (415) 861-5016.
April 9 and 11
Chris Brokaw Onetime Come and Codeine cohort and current Consonant guitarist Chris Brokaw plans to follow up his 2002 solo album, Red Cities, with a solo acoustic album, now being polished and spit shined, on Normal Records. This week the former GG Allin backer supports Bettie Serveert on a West Coast tour. With The Red Thread and Sunshine Club April 9, 10 p.m., Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk, S.F. $6. (415) 923-0923. With Bettie Serveert and Black Hazard April 11, 9 p.m., Slim's, 333 11th St., S.F. $13. (415) 522-0333.
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