Yes, there is life after the Super Bowl. And it's a very good life if you can get yourself a ticket to one of these buzzed-about Bay Area shows:
R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet Sing Along, Rickshaw Stop, Tuesday
The first line of the promo blurb for R. Kelly’s he-says-she-says-he-says-she-says-ad-nauseum “Trapped in the Closet Musical Sing-Along” says it all: “In Trapped In The Closet, R. Kelly’s classic hip hopera, Kels takes on the role of Sylvester, who has a simple one-night stand with a preacher’s wife and then ends up in a web of preposterous lies and a series of outlandish plot twists ranging from used rubbers on his bed to an asthmatic midget male stripper who likes to hang out with a white chick named Bridget.” Enough said. Be there, and bring your R&B swagger. And don’t forget to do your homework.
Jackson Browne, Nob Hill Masonic Center Auditorium, Wednesday
At 64 years old, Jackson Browne and his army of custom acoustic guitars remain one of America’s finest musical treasures. His hits have shaped the canon of Americana: “Somebody’s Baby,” “Running on Empty” and “Doctory My Eyes” will be enjoyed for years and decades to come, but it’s really his entire body of work that forms the troubadour’s identity. His ~2 ½ hour live shows offer ample opportunity to familiarize one’s self with one man’s vision of country with heart, soul and grit.
Well that was quick. fun.(owners of a nearly-impossible-to-type-in-Microsoft Word band name) went from indie rock grinders to ubiquitous pop band seemingly overnight in 2012. The reason: Some Nights, an absurdly catchy collection of power pop anthems. The album earned the band six Grammy nominations and gigs at America’s finest concert halls (and a spot at the freakin’ President’s Inaugural Ball). Their ascension to the heights of mainstream stardom has been all but confirmed with this recent bit of OMG gossip: fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff is currently romantically involved with Lena Dunham, protagonist of the HBO hit Girls. America’s publicists are nodding with approval.
The Wailers, The Independent, Thursday
Bob Marley’s spirit and ideology march onward. And we have the Wailers to thank, along with Marley’s sizable progeny. The world is better for it, really. The iconic reggae band is currently celebrating one of the most politically important albums in the Bob Marley & The Wailers catalogue, 1979’s Survival. The album still stands up today as a manifesto on human rights and fighting for a people’s freedom. In the album, Marley calls for the unification of Africans, among other causes. Progress has been made, sure, but the messages remain relevant and vital.
For good measure, here's Bob Marley playing "Wake Up" in 1979 at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Wow.
Tanlines, Rickshaw Stop, Friday
Tanlines are becoming one of the more reliable names local indie rock obsessives can expect to see on a near-seasonal basis. The Brooklyn electropoppers have made San Francisco one of its homes away from home over the past year or so. Recent gigs at Rickshaw and Outside Lands Music Festival were met with devoted acclaim, and the duo continues to ride a wave of momentum. If you like a little edge and smirking in your dance pop, Tanlines are a safe bet.
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