THE SOUNDS & STORIES OF SAN FRANCISCO SFSOUNDS SEPTEMBER 2015 SFSOUNDS.ROCKS VOL. 1 • NO. 1 • FREE

rint may be fading but we’re here to put ink back in your hands with this LIVE MUSIC in THE CITY first issue ofSF Sounds, covering what we think Pyour ears need to hear. SF’s music scene still rocks We’re mostly into the smaller clubs, the “Hey, let’s see who’s play- — you just need to know where to look. ing tonight at [that spot down the street]” kind of places. That’s not to say the bigger stuff that rolls through our little internationally renowned city is to be overlooked; we just want to help spread the spotlight beyond the concerts you already get weekly spam emails about. We also want to use this as a medium to explore what allows (or doesn’t allow) music to happen in our city. Why do we keep hearing about how different the city’s mu- sic scene was in the 80s and 90s? What politics are involved (e.g., can we blame the tech boom for ev- erything)? Every few pages we might get a little synesthetic and drift away from music as we throw a comic your way or ramble about beer a bit. But it sits well with us since, honestly, who doesn’t like the sound of “Wanna grab a beer?” So sit back, relax and enjoy the next ten or so pages highlighting the amazing diversity of sounds emerging from every corner of your Le Butcherettes beautiful city. Photo: Sargent House – Chris Weir, Editor in Chief

BAY HIP-HOP MEETS NEW ORLEANS SAVE OUR SCENE THE BREW REVIEW LYRICS BORN: NEW ALBUM, ALL-STAR BAND Page 3 EDITORIAL Page 4 A TASTE OF SF’S CRAFT BEER SCENE Page 5

SFSOUNDS SF Sounds is your guide to San Francisco’s music and entertainment scene. Editor Chris Weir Our goal is to shine a spotlight on some of the most talented artists the city has Art Director Matt Fleming to offer. As an independent, locally owned newspaper, we strive to give a voice to Advertising [email protected] the communtiy and to do our best in developing stories that make a difference.

Contact [email protected] Want to contribute to SF Sounds? Submit album reviews, show reviews, comics, Cover Photo Le Butcherettes by Sargent House editorials, and missed connections to [email protected] Website sfsounds.rocks

2 SEPTEMBER 2015 Lyrics Born New album performed by a live all-star band By Jesse Calton DENSITY

SF CLOTHING FOR MEN AND WOMEN

593 VALENCIA STREET SAN FRANCISCO CA 94110

Lyrics Born Photo: Dylan Maddux DENSITYSF.COM om Shimura, the emcee ceeded to rock the mic, because known as Lyrics Born, that’s essentially what he did. will celebrate his 43rd As suggested by its title, Real birthday this year. At People is music of, by and for the that age in hip-hop years, people. LB touches on the high Tyou’re practically headed for the times of celebration and pleasure, legacy circuit, close to becom- but not without acknowledging ing a relic of times past, hardly life’s tough breaks, mourning lit- a thing for any self-respecting eral and symbolic broken levees. rap artist to celebrate. But With the help of Trombone even if you think 40 is the new Shorty and Living Colour’s Cory 30, or that hip-hop belongs to Glover, LB ends the record on a the youth, our man Lyrics Born redemptive note. In spite of our shows no signs of slowing down. personal failures and society’s In his latest release, Real Peo- shortcomings, the final track ple, LB delves deep into New Or- encourages us to get together leans culture. While he is a Bay and let ourselves have a good Area native, he vibes with the time. If there’s one thing New New Orleans sound as if he grew Orleans can teach the world, up on a steady diet of seafood it’s precisely this. Where else in gumbo and second-line parades. America do people mourn death Among those featured on the by celebrating life with a parade? record are New Orleans heavy- On October 9th, we real peo- weights Ivan Neville, Trombone ple will be having a celebration Shorty and Galactic to throw of life at the New Parish in Oak- their own flavor on the tracks. land’s uptown district. Our em- Deviating from the electroni- cee will be none other than Lyrics cally synthesized sounds of hip- Born, featuring supreme instru- hop’s past, Real People channels mental talents from the album. If the live backing band sound pio- you’re going to be anywhere that A craft beer establishment with 36 rotating handles neered by groups like The Roots. night, come kick it with the com- Each track feels as if LB jumped munity. Young or old, it doesn’t and small bites from an eclectic kitchen. up on stage with a local New matter. All we ask is you bring 1700 MISSION ST. SAN FRANCISCO CA 94103 PHONE 415.416.6602 • CRAFTYFOXSF.COM Orleans house band and pro- your real self. See you there. • 1700 MISSION ST. SAN FRANCISCO CA 94103 PHONE 415.416.6602 • CRAFTYFOXSF.COM SFSOUNDS.ROCK 3 ment Commission, whose stated Nord have been dismantled by ris- cious lack of any record of 1800 purpose is to “regulate, promote ing rents and sound complaints— Mission St. (The Armory) or 333 The Selling of and enhance entertainment and complaints often initiated by the 14th St. (Drill Court) in the EC’s nightlife in the city of San Fran- commission’s own investigators. public hearings since 2013, Au- cisco.” The EC seems to have be- Meanwhile the EC has allowed drey Joseph’s Armory has been Our Cultural Soul come much more a regulator of large corporations such as Live permitted to host events that Editorial: Saving San Francisco events not personally connected Nation to open huge venues in- span way beyond their initial to members of the EC than a pro- cluding the Armory and the Ma- stated purpose: to host “book fairs, from Corruption moter and enhancer of the city’s sonic Auditorium without pause. theaters, farmer market [sic].” diverse sources of entertainment. The Armory’s “Community Amnesia, a long-time small n July 26th, the world’s Instead the EC has become an Center,” or Drill Court, was grant- club on Valencia, was subjected to largest concert promot- eager partner of the huge corpo- ed its Place of Entertainment Per- a two hour hearing for a change er (Live Nation) hosted in ownership on August 18th just The Chemical Broth- to keep its Entertainment Per- ers for 4500 fans in The cost of commissioners profiting from their authority is mit. But as for the 4500 seat Ar- Othe heart of the Mission District allowing corporate-run venues to dominate SF. mory and the 3300 seat Masonic? at the historic SF Armory—and “Nothing to see here folks” and no one was happier than Audrey The loss of our small venues means the loss of thousands no public hearing needed, espe- Joseph. Joseph, as both a paid and thousands of gigs for local musicians. cially if your name is Live Na- member of the Entertainment tion and your friend-via-check is Commission and the paid Direc- an Entertainment Commissioner. tor of Events at the Armory, prof- rations that dominate the nation- mit in 2013, although the zoning The cost of commission- ited most from the Armory’s quick wide concert business, protecting and planning requirements are ers profiting from their author- hop over regulatory and public their interests while allowing not clear regarding the location ity is allowing corporate-run hearing rules to be converted smaller, locally-run clubs to die. for public assembly. Despite the venues to dominate SF. The into a massive music venue in The EC has stood idly by while barrage of neighborhood protests loss of our small venues means the city’s busiest neighborhood. SF clubs that provided thousands since the public announcement of the loss of thousands and thou- This blatant conflict of inter- of gigs to SF musicians like Vira- the acquisition of the Armory by sands of gigs for local musicians. est is typical of the Entertain- cocha, The Elbo Room and Cafe du Kink.com in 2007, and the suspi- – Continued on page 11.

4 SEPTEMBER 2015 Missed Connection: To the cute gender-bendery punk drinking a tall can on the fire escape on Mission between 20th and 21st last Wednesday. I’m not sure if that was your apartment or not, Gettin’ Crafty in the City A taste of SF’s craft beer scene By Nico Simonian

e sit over a couple of cherry and orange peel and defi- pale ales from Berke- nitely was reminiscent of the clas- ley’s Fieldwork and sic cocktail. take in the scene. This made us consider going The draft board is to Harmonic next, but unfortu- Wdominated by Northern Califor- nately they were closed for the nia breweries, from Altamont in night (which made sense since Livermore to Berryessa in Win- their whole brew team seemed ters. The kitchen serves New to be making friends with their American Bar Fare, from which new neighbors about town, win- we had a green goddess salad with ning them over with free beer. vibrant seasonal veggies, suc- Who doesn’t like free beer?), so we enough, transformed into a dark the much-larger Smokestack lo- culent bacon cheeseburgers and stuck with our original plan and and very low alcohol beer that we cation in the Dogpatch, featuring fries, oven-baked beef poutine. made our way over to Magnolia. now call Dark Mild. Both of these all their beers as well as a full bar We’re at The Crafty Fox on Mis- One of the SF breweries you styles are eminently drinkable, and a whole lot of BBQ. sion and Dubose, and chatting up can find on tap at The Crafty and you can have many a pint The night just went to show Barry Smyth, the founder, man- Fox is Magnolia, an English- without (necessarily) stumbling us that just when we thought we ager, and our bartender tonight. beer-meets-Haight-personality home as a result. knew where we were headed for Barry tells us that, from the brewery. It’s probably one of the Make sure to check out both of the next good pint, another might start, he wanted this to have the few places in the world to drink Magnolia’s locations: the original (literally) walk in on us at a spot casual friendliness of an Irish a faithful 3% English dark mild Haight spot described here, and like The Crafty Fox. • pub, and it looks like he suc- while listening to the Grateful ceeded. The bar is packed, which Dead. We at the Lagunitas Brewing Co. hope you enjoy these genuinely handmade ales. A lot of hard work and seems to encourage people get Magnolia brews a large selec- enthusiasm go into every aspect of brewing this Mondo Ultra Mega Super Premium Ale. From building the brewery itself to putting the cap on each and every bottle, virtually every step was done by hand. up, change seats and join differ- tion of low alcohol content styles Thanks for your trust, and as always: Think Globally, Drink Locally!... “And you’re full of ragwater bitters and blue ruin and you’re spilling out over the edge to anyone who’ll listen.” These are the words of our favorite Sonoma songsmith. They describe a cocktail of romantic despair wrapped in red flock wall paper ent groups rather than hang their like pales, bitters, and milds, as and marinated in a soulful yearning. On the rocks. With a twist. We’ve all been there. The beer in this bottle, however, is none of that. So maybe Ragwater is a crappy name for the beer but we liked it, and heads over their drinks by them- well as a kolsch, a porter, and a so whatever. It’s always better to be happy than right. Mostly, anyways. Whatever. Forget it. Never mind... Anyway, we were going out to, uh, the, uh, you know, thing, and all, and when we got there, well, selves. The back two rooms are few IPAs. These beers are perfect uh, the dude was like-“whoa man! I mean, and we were all, uh, you know- whoa! And stuff, and when I said to him, like you know, hey man and all, they, I mean he, was all “what?” and stuff- and I just told filled with larger groups chatting for engaging in the English tradi- him what you said and all, and they were all man- “not cool dude”, but whatever- so uh, we split and went back to my lair and just hung out and whatever, but the whole thing was, like, just Such a bummer and eating at the semi-communal tion of sessions: drinking a lot of and all but you know, it was cool and stuff, but you just gotta, you know, about the dude and all, like, it’s cool and you know, but what’s up with the “blah blah blah”? Whatzit got to do with beer and all? I mean, tables. low alcohol beer over many hours. really, dude, whatever… It has been broughten to our attrition that they're have been numberous spelling errors on hour various lables. From the cureous (as in 'steet') too the sublime (as in 'redemp- This isn’t a bar where you’ll Magnolia specializes in two tion'). As a soulution to this problem we have retrained an imminent linguist from Stanford and have invested in a spel checker computter utilitiy. For now however, the thing I want to know is: Who are these find the brew from Chicago that styles of beer that are relatively werd police? Anyway? Who is the boss, ewe or the words? Huh? And besides, what dew words, let alone speling, have to do with beer anyway. I mean, who ever herd of some namby pamby pale lexiphile curling everyone is hyping on BeerAdvo- hard to find in America, even dur- up buy a warm fire with a good book and a cold beer. This hole bussiness has gone plenty far enouph, don't you think?... Like Adam and Eve, Issac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious, Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as cate. It’s a place with a refined ing this craft beer boom: Dark can be. Still we must love each for who they are, separately but equally, with liberty, and justice for all. Cheers!... Those among you who have visited a brewery already know. Those who have not can not beer selection that is representa- Mild and Bitter. Dark Mild and imagine. It is said that it takes a lot of beer to make great wine. What then does it take a lot of to make great beer? Answer: Human flesh, and lots of it. Not in the beer, of course, but on the blisteringly hot tive of the diversity of Northern Bitter have ancestry in early 19th sides of the whirlpool tank, or on the spinning shaft of a pump head. If you should see one of our club footed, three-fingered, cycloptic albino brewers on the street, you might be inclined to give them a California breweries, while also century Britain. Back then, beers quarter. But don't! These individuals are highly paid professionals. Masters of their craft, and committed to their trade with little or no regard for their own personal safety or physical appearance. Beer is a cruel somehow works in hip Edison were extremely hoppy and very master. Masters are cruel, and beer is no exception. Just don't picture their twisted forms as you enjoy their fine ales...I drive mostly back roads far from the lights in the part of the night just ahead of the bulbs and makes it feel unpreten- strong. IPAs were even more bit- dawn. It is a world between worlds, maybe the upper or maybe the lower world. You could argue about which is which, but for me, the intersection of a back road and three a.m. is a sanctuary. A vector where tious and inviting. ter than some examples today, no God rules and a man can move freely. Just like this morning, far from the visual stench of eastbay refineries and gas station lasers, I saw the new comet low in the northeastern sky, pure and alone. It had Just as we were about to and a style called “Strong Mild” stolen the sky from lesser stars that for centuries had only too carelessly occupied the spot. I drive on through this scene and later past four baby skunks who are following a parent into traffic. Past the leave, the brewers from Harmon- was crystal clear, pale amber, and deer-like street folk caught for a moment in my headlights, past dark houses and blinding semi's. Through all of this stuff I am driving, and although I am tired of driving, I keep my eyes on the road. The tank is on empty, but I never stop to refill. Maybe I'll pull over and rest, if I can just get over this hill. ic, a new San Francisco brewery ranged from 7–12% alcohol. I'm sick and tired of driving. When, after you roll past the detritus of some poor son-of -bitch's bad judg-ment in the fast lane, in the dark, alone with the man, and bleeding to death in red and blue in the Dogpatch, stopped by with By the turn of the century, moonbeams, don't you have to wonder if the repo-man from the movie was right when he said that 'the more you drive, the stupider you become'? So how is it now that we're all out here together, dedicated a growler to share with everyone however, tastes had changed to- road warriors, driving, jockeying for the whole-shot, and no one is certain where to or where from. Grinding down the sharp edge of our I.Q.'s like the disintegrated retreads we dodge in the lanes. Until I in the room. It was their Rye Old wards subtlety. IPAs gave birth hear different, I'll meet you in the number one lane when I have to, and on the narrow back roads when LI can. OutAGUNITAS here, far from the lights... Well, well, well. The head brewer stood opposite the massive Fashioned, which is intended to to Bitter, a low alcohol, slightly brewing vessels that were his to command. His mind raced through the possibilities. What is the BREWINGtemperature of the malt in the grist case overhead? COMPANY Was the hot liquor tank up to temp? Would the emulate an old fashioned cock- malty beer that showcased bal- ambient temperature affect the final mash temperature? Should he compensate for the delta temp by running a little higher mash-in temperature? A single degree in either direction would have a life tail. It had some of the sweetness ance and the complexities of Eng- PchangingETALUMA, effect on both the brewer CALIF.and the brewee. The & beer CHICAGO, could be too sweet if a degree high,ILL. or too mild and dry if a niggling degree too low. The character of the future beer that this batch would be hung of a winter warmer, with notes of lish hops. Strong Mild, strangely www.LAGUNITAS.comin the balance. The brewer drew a bead on the temp-probe, the mash tun waited, and the world held its breath... but I’ll be back this this week to see if you’re there… SFSOUNDS.ROCK 5 SFSOUNDS Soltrón • Sept. 9

The Califronia Honeydrops • Sept. 11 and 12 Photo: Josh Miller Snarky Puppy • Sept. 23 Le Butcherettes • Sept. 21

FRIDAY FRI & SAT SATURDAY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 11 & 12 SEPTEMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 23 Soltrón: La Palenga En La Missión The California Honeydrops Snarky Puppy Lætitia Sadier Born out of the rich arts commu- That band that used to busk in 2014 Grammy award winning French musician best known as nity of La Misión, SF, Soltrón’s BART stations is playing the musical collective from New York. the singer of the band Stereolab. sound blends latin-jazz, chicano Fillmore? For two nights? That’s Kamasi Washington will be the York. Brick & Mortar Music Hall rock, and samba batucada with right. And they’re celebrating by performing the opening set. 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 strains of hip-hop and electronic dropping their 5th album. Honey The Warfield music. Their music addresses Soul Review on Friday and Char- 982 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102 gentrification, displaced youth lie Hunter on Saturday. and building community. The Fillmore WEDNESDAY Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1805 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94115 SEPTEMBER 23 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21 Best Coast with Lovely Bad Things Best Coast, we’ve been friends for THURSDAY FRIDAY Le Butcherettes with Sister Crayon a long, long time… You drive me SEPTEMBER 10 SEPTEMBER 18 Politically-charged garage punk crazy, but I love you. Your sound’s from Guadalajara, Mexico? Uh, changed a bit since your 7” days The Haunted Windchimes Natural Child hell yes. Plus Sister Crayon killer. but I guess that’s way bands are <3 Amnesia Brick & Mortar Music Hall The Fillmore The Fillmore 853 Valencia S. San Francisco, CA 94110 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 1805 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94115 1805 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94115 6 SEPTEMBER 2015 FALLPREVIEW Thelma and the Sleaze • Sept. 27 Hiatus Kaiyote • Oct. 6 AlunaGeorge • Oct. 14

Kermit Ruffins • Sept. 25 Photo: Erika Goldring

FRIDAY TUESDAY FRIDAY SAT & SUN SEPTEMBER 25 OCTOBER 6 OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER 17 & 18 Kermit Ruffins Hiatus Kaiyote Kopecky with Boom Forest Treasure Island Music Festival New Orleans trumpeter and Fronted by vocalist/goddess Nai Brick & Mortar Music Hall The guy who was featured on co-founded of the Rebirth Brass Palm, this power-quartet from the 1710 Mission St, San Francisco. CA 94103 the best song on the most recent Band. far away planet known as Austra- Daft Punk album will be there. Brick & Mortar Music Hall lia makes “Multi-Dimensional, WEDNESDAY No, it’s not Pharrell. Also Run the 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Polyrhythmic Gangster Shit.” Jewels, Father John Misty, Cash- The Fillmore OCTOBER 14 mere Cat, Deerhunter, and José 1805 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94115 AlunaGeorge González, if you’re into that sort of thing. This London synthpop duo recent- Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA SUNDAY ly slinked their way into the EDM SEPTEMBER 27 fRIDAY scene working with the likes of OCTOBER 9 Skrillex, Diplo, Disclosure, and Thelma and the Sleaze (most recently) DJ Snake, who SATURDAY An all-you-can-eat sludge-fest Lyrics Born bumped them into the Top 40 OCTOBER 17 sure to make The Melvins at least Bay Area hip hop + New Orleans with his remix of their hit “You a little jealous. Or turned on. Or own Robert Mecurio, Ben Ellman Know You Like It.” Catch ’em Henry Butler both. Anyway, we’ll be there. and Corey Henry. See page 5 while they’re hot. Jazz/Blues from New Orleans. Brick & Mortar Music Hall The New Parish Mezzanine Brick & Mortar Music Hall 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 579 18th St. Oakland, CA 94612 444 Jessie St. San Francisco, CA 94103 1710 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 SFSOUNDS.ROCK 7 Raw-G Appearing live at The Fillmore on​​​​​​​​​​ September 10TH By Raquel Reichard

orn and raised in Guada- Spanish,” the 32-year-old po- lajara, Mexico, Gina Ma- et-turned-rapper told Latina. drid, aka Raw-G, learned Today, Madrid, who moved to English by translating the U.S. in 1999 to give her son, hip-hop lyrics from Pub- Hugo, a better life, is an Oakland- Blic Enemy, The Fugees and Tupac based rapper and promoter pro- from English to Spanish. “I didn’t ducing music not unlike her ear- know what they were saying, liest influencers. The rapera, a but some- founding thing about member the music, “The voices of women are important in of Gua- Raw-G Photo: CDAVISIONS the way every career and field, even in hip-hop. dalajara’s they were all-wom- experiences relevant to Guadala- When did you first get into hip-hop? express- We have a valuable perspective and en pio- jara and west-central California. ing them- story to share with people.” – Raw-G neering With her new EP, titled Esper- I started in Mexico. At 12, I was selves, reso- hip-hop anza, out, Madrid talked with writing poetry, mostly about nated with crews, Latina about being a Latina in the political issues that were me. I wanted to know, so when Mujeres Trabajando, tackles top- hip-hop, why she raps on social surrounding me. By 15, I mi- I translated it, I realized they ics of state violence, immigration, justice issues and her message grated from poems to raps, were rapping in English what racism and sexism, among other to mujeres hoping to make it in with my biggest influence being I was writing poems about in socially conscious issues and raw male-dominated fields. La Otra Escoria, a local group.

8 SEPTEMBER 2015 Missed Connection: Dear girl with the dress at Zeitgeist last Friday, I saw you as you waited patiently for your cider at the bar. I hate cider but I thought that was cool. Hit me up if you see this. I’ll be When I started, I didn’t know You just dropped your latest EP, hip-hop was a culture or a Esperanza. Tell us about that movement; I was just passion- and your favorite tracks. ate about it. I clearly wasn’t the person that “belonged,” but hip- Esperanza, which is Spanish for hop made me realize it was good hope, is a project of hope to im- to be different. It allowed me migrants and people of color in speak my mind in a creative way. underserving communities. Like my other work, it features dis- Why do socially conscious rap? tinct cross-cultural, multi-lin- gual and politically charged hip- In Mexico, we know that our gov- hop. It’s aggressive, it’s raw and ernment is corrupt. So for me to the people are really responding grow up in Mexico, my mental- to it. Hip-hop has a history of ity was: “Why is this happening? relegating women to video vix- Why are we ens, not artists. going through this? Why What was it isn’t this being like for you solved?” That’s pursuing rap what inspired as a woman, me to write. a Latina, a re- We need to see cent immigrant what’s going and a mother? on around the world, so we This needs can solve these to change. The problems and voices of women reveal things are important being hidden. Esperanza Photo: Becky Jaffe in every career By express- and field, even ing that through lyrics, through in hip-hop. We have a valuable song, I’m doing my part as an perspective and story to share artist, an activist and a person. with people. But barriers still do Music talks to people, young and exist, and these circumstances old; they listen more when you’re have made it hard for me. It’s doing it in an artistic way. so much more difficult for me to put out a studio album or to You’ve rapped with some pretty perform. When booking shows, incredible emcees, people like they’ll shut you down without KRS-One, Mobb Deep, Ghost- a manager. I had to become my living in a closet with my son centered with yourself and your face Killah, Blackalicious, Ana own manager and create my own and my partner, so my mentality dream, and nothing will stop you. Tijoux and La Mala Rodriguez, company, Steelo Entertainment, was: I have to get out of this. He’s among others. Tell me what that in order to market myself and be why, after work and after taking And Raw-G practices what she was like for you. taken seriously. I’ve had to force care of him, I’d write rhymes and raps about. All profits from her doors open when they were try- make singles. EP Esperanza go to Oakland In- I grew up listening to KRS-One, ing to be slammed in my face. I ternational High School, an edu- so when I was on stage next to was doing all of this while being What is your message to other cational institution that targets him, I remember looking at the a mother, while working 9-to-5 at Latinas struggling to make it in newly arrived immigrants. • crowd and thinking that’s where my job, while trying to maintain male-dominated fields? I was supposed to be, on the oth- that job despite being discrimi- er side of the stage. It was a trip. nated against, being forced to do Never stop following your The whole thing was so unreal. more work than my colleagues dreams. There is always a possi- Raw-G will be opening for When you’re working so hard, and without health insurance. bility for everything you want to Blackalicious at The Fillmore on th you don’t see the changes. But But I feel like my son gave achieve. It’s a matter of not giving September 10 . then something like that hap- me the strength that I needed to up. Don’t take me wrong, people From Latina Magazine – latina.com pens and you’re forced to see it, do everything. He inspired me to will want to shut you down, but that the hard work is paying off. push beyond the obstacles. I was that’s life. You just need to stay back there this Friday sometime between 6 and 10. SFSOUNDS.ROCK 9 like what we saw from bands like FEAR, The Damned and The De- Radkey scendants. I was reminded of why I wanted to play in a band as a Live at Leo’s Music Club kid. It wasn’t for the musician- September 18TH ship, the attention, the girls or even the rebellion. It was just to By Terry Ashkinos play. “We don’t drink, we don’t do drugs, we don’t have chicks, we first saw Radkey at SXSW in just do music. It doesn’t sound 2013. It was early and scorch- very rock ’n’ roll but it’s fun,” ing hot, and here were plenty frontman Dee Radke told the New of bearded cap wearing Austin York Times. hipsters mixed in with music Radkey plays hard-driving Iindustry haircuts typing away on rock and pop-punk, with hooky their cell phones. and intricate guitar and bass Radkey Photo: Andy Hughes Suddenly three young kids— riffs. They write songs about teen- who I assumed had lost their age angst, racism and even their bend genres to create a sound all dence that only comes from artists parents and were looking for love of manga and anime. their own. who create, not for the audience, them in the crowd—climbed You can hear the solid riffs of I was lucky enough to catch but for themselves and espe- onto the stage. But they grabbed Nirvana, the pace of the Ramones Radkey last year in San Francis- cially for the music. The band’s the instruments and within sec- and the dark baritone vocals of co at Brick and Mortar as well. At most recent project involved Ross onds transformed into rock gods the Misfits. You’ll be tempted to sound check they were unassum- Orten (Artic Monkeys) on their pounding away with the force of compare them to Bad Brains or ing and just thrilled to be playing single “Feed My Brain” off their Pete Townshend and the swagger DEATH, not simply because they (or to be in a bar for that matter); just released debut album Dark of Glen Danzig. are three Black teenagers playing yet when they took the stage they Black Makeup. Catch ‘em while The crowd was overwhelmed. fast punk rock that is sometimes owned it. they’re still young at Leo’s on This was an authentic punk show political, but because of how they They have the kind of confi- September 18th. •

10 SEPTEMBER 2015 Missed Connection: I was smoking outside of Molotov’s last Saturday, maybe you noticed me? I thought it was hella cool that you waited till your head was outside of your Uber to throw up. Saving the City from Itself that is actually detrimental to its own private security firm whose certainly relevant to the U.S. At- Editorial stated purpose is nothing new in 32 clients were all under his ju- torney who forced Granelli to re- Continued from page 4. San Francisco. Today’s Entertain- risdiction at the EC, Kane de- sign (or face federal prosecution) ment Commission is reminiscent of fended Granelli’s blatant conflict over this jaw-dropping conflict. Longtime Jazz Mafia leader the politics of the Redevelopment of the city’s laws saying Granelli’s Our local entertainment dol- Adam Theis shared his concern Agency of the 1960s, which prom- connection to Yojimbo Protective lars are being diverted to these via Facebook, saying, “I fear that ised Fillmore residents a revival of Services were not an issue for large national corporations to with the ‘new’ culture shift in their neighborhood. Instead it be- the nightclubs being persecuted. mostly benefit non-local musicians SF, folks aren’t supporting local and out of town patrons. Our own shows and are mainly going to tax dollars are thus funding the these larger shows, run by mega Unfortunately, a commission that is actually detrimental to its very thing we fear for our arts companies, supporting bands that stated purpose is nothing new in San Francisco. culture: a loss of identity that de- aren’t from here.” Commissioner fines our city as San Francisco. Joseph seems to support this no- Being exempted from term limits has allowed corruption and Jocelyn Kane and Audrey Jo- tion when she bragged to the SF seph have both served since the Chronicle about the Armory be- conflicts of interest to flourish without any fear of oversight. Entertainment Commission’s in- ing “large enough to accommo- San Franciscans deserve better. ception 14 years ago, and here lies date a well-known touring band.” the problem: Being exempted from But hey, not you, local musicians. term limits has allowed corruption Joseph went on to say, “[The Ar- came the neighborhood’s agent of Kane even went as far as being and conflicts of interest to flour- mory’s] the kind of creative venue destruction as a one-stop-shop for quoted in the SF Bay Guardian ish without any fear of oversight. the city needs. There’s nothing else powerful developers. The EC is the saying, “I’m not suggesting he’s San Franciscans deserve bet- like it.” She’s right. There aren’t modern day version of this traves- not affiliated, I’m just saying it’s ter — we deserve a commission a ton of other venues that have ty for local musicians and artists. not relevant.” Well, it certain- who doesn’t mock our conflict of in- enough money to open without any Jocelyn Kane, the entrenched ly was relevant to the 32 clubs terest laws and serves the commu- flack from the EC. Or many other head of the Entertainment Com- forced to pay Inspector Granelli nity of San Francisco rather than venues that also directly employ mission, is no stranger to con- $64/hour to stay open and out sells out our arts culture. Maybe an Entertainment Commissioner. troversy herself. When Kane’s of trouble with the Entertain- SF deserves no “Entertainment Unfortunately, a commission Inspector Varaj Granelli ran his ment Commission. And it was Commission” at all. •

ASK AN AGENT MISS MUSIC MANNERS By Cal Ender – [email protected] By Debbie Fierce

Hi Cal, My band has an I’m not from SF but I just heard awesome following but it most- about the Hardly Strictly Blue- ly consists of friends. How do I grass Festival! How do I get the get more people to my shows? most of it being from out of town? What do you think I should bring? You should hire a really slut- Frank U., 29, Notfromhere, CA ty, outgoing and outrageously hot front person. However, don’t tell your current singer that you re- Hi Frank, placed them and figure out a way First, park in an adjacent neigh- to “surprise fire” them on stage. borhood, ideally in front of a drive- cakeandcomix.tumblr.com way. The neighbors love that. Just Hey Cal, play guitar (Gibson consider your parking ticket as ad- SG Custom and an Orange amp, so mission to the free festival. my tone is out of this world). Every time I join a band, they only keep me Definitely bring a picnic blanket, on for a month or so. Any advice? foldable chairs, a cooler and set up I think you are compensating camp in front of one of the main for something with all this gear stages a few hours before the first obsession. Maybe try stuffing a band. That way if someone like sock down your pants at your next Gogol Bordello comes through show, put a leg up on the monitor this year and there’s a mosh pit, and see how the ladies react. Who the crowd will have your stuff to can ax a dude who brings in all the throw at you for taking up space that isn’t yours. Have fun! • ladies? • Cake and Comic by Mel Most people aren’t that considerate. If you see this, I’ll be back at Molotov’s this Saturday night playing pinball at 4. SFSOUNDS.ROCK 11 SFSOUNDS.ROCKS LAUNCH PARTY SFSOUNDS WOOD SHOPPE - A FREE MONTHLY LIVE PERFORMANCES BY TUESDAY UPCOMING SHOWS CRASHING HOTELS SEPT. 1ST THE ELECTRIC JIMMYS SAY SAY AND EMILY NEVEU SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5 BRICK & MORTAR MUSIC HALL ANUHEA 1710 MISSION ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 Kimie Hawaii Lior Ben-Hur BRICKANDMORTARMUSIC.COM SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12 BROKEN RODEO Garrett Gray & The Reincarnated SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19 HONEYHONEY DragonDeer WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23 DIEGO'S UMBRELLA SATURDAY OCTOBER 17 LODGE, MUSIC VENUE, RESTAURANT, BAR & WEDDING/PRIVATE EVENT SPACE RESTLESS ONES TOUR 103 MAIN STREET CALPINE CALIFORNIA 96124 HEARTLESS BASTARDS PH 530.562.7051 • SIERRAVALLEYLODGE.NET FRIDAY OCTOBER 23

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SEPTEMBER 2015 SFSOUNDS.ROCKS