Two words: Marquee. Moon.
Tuesday: Son Lux at The Independent
For a guy whose work under the moniker Son Lux sounds nothing at all like anything you’d classify as traditional, composer/keyboardist/vocalist Ryan Lott has taken a somewhat straightforward path to a music career. He studied composition and piano at Indiana University, received an arts grant, moved to New York City, worked as a commercial composer, collaborated with a dance group...then made one of the craziest albums you’ve ever heard. 2013’s Lanterns was hailed as an exemplary, arresting exercise in modern compositional detail. Drowned in Sound called it a prism refracting light onto the spectrum of change, which is basically how we should define beautiful, forward-thinking music. And his 2015 follow-up, Bones, is worthy of its predecessor. Learn it.
Tuesday: Television at The Fillmore
Two words: Marquee. Moon.
If you haven’t heard the seminal album (and the utterly epic title track), click the YouTube link below and bask in rock forefather brilliance. It’s simply astonishing how well the album holds up over time, how its hooks, solos, drum fills and lyrical turns still manage to slap you unexpectedly in the face, how you can seemingly trace indie rock history over the course of a ten-minute song. To say Television at The Fillmore is a considerable opportunity for diehard alternative rock fans is a gargantuan understatement.
Thursday: Afrolicious at The Chapel
Afrolicious, welcome home. Kind of. The Mission is a completely different animal since the Bay Area hip-hop maestro frequented the Elbo room circa 2006. The venue actually inspired his name, and there’s little doubt the Mission helped inspired his sound and identity.
Friday: Andrew W.K. at 1015 Folsom
PARTY RAWR RAWR RAWR PARTY PARTY. EAT PIZZA RAWR RAWR PARTY. EAT PIZZA. PARTY MORE RAWR YUM YUM YUM PARTY. That’s basically how Friday night will go when Andrew W.K. descends on the fun factory that is 1015 Folsom. Andrew W.K. events are always parties. But this is not just any party. THIS IS A PIZZA PARTY PEOPLE. It’s also a DJ set, so yeah.
Saturday: Juan Wauters at Eli's Mile High Club
Juan Wauters, spirit animal sibling to adored local psych-pop band Sonny and the Sunsets, will capture your attention much quicker than you’d expect. The opening riff on their single “Sanity or Not” melts your heart and mind with a barnstormin' strummin-clappin-yelpin kinda vibe, and "Todo Termino" is easy-smooth-quirky listening for any occasion. Get lost in these simple yet lush ditties at one of the most under-celebrated venues in the Bay Area, Eli's.
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