We’re gonna call the next seven days Oh-I-Didn’t-Realize-They-Were-Still-Around Week in SF. We’ve got more than a few acts coming through town who apparently still exist. To wit: 

Lil’ Kim, Monday, Mezzanine

Good Ol’ Lil’ Kim is still stirring up controversy like it’s 2002. In just one week, the former Notorious B.I.G. protégé called out Nicki Minaj and Foxy Brown and strutted her nil-clad figure down in West Hollywood. Her show tonight at the Mezzanine should be another exercise in spectacle.    

Collective Soul, Wednesday, The Fillmore

1999 was a looong time ago. Yet somehow, seems like it was even longer ago when Collective Soul tricked America into liking tepid pop rock, but alas, it wasn’t that long ago “Shine” dominated airwaves and elevators. Their 1999 album Dosage was pretty straight stuff, but also hugely popular. The band is currently touring in support of that 13-year-old album, playing it from start to finish, along with older and newer work. 

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Thursday, The Fillmore

Feeling young? Well consider that Psychocandy was released 27 years ago. Feeling old again? OK good. To be fair, TJAMC was way ahead of their time. The mix of pop (and shoegaze) with a punk ethos is one of the major themes that marked popular music since the mid-80’s, and the Jesus and Mary Chain played a huge role in the evolution of interesting rock music.

Digital Underground, Saturday, Yoshi’s (SF)

Were you a freak of the industry? Oh, you still are? Then you’ll want to be at Yoshi’s on Saturday when Oakland rap collective Digital Underground relives its glory days and beckons its audience to do the Humpty Dance one more time.

Nostalgia-Free Show of the Week:Japandroids, Thursday, The Independent

OK, wanna feel young again? This Vancouver duo gets heads banging and pits moshing–just the thing to turn your nostalgia into sweat. Their sophomore album, Celebration Rock, is a collection of anthems for every kid looking for trouble and meaning. Raise a beer in one hand and a fist with the other arm.