Mission Mission

If you were the type of kid that had a White Out checkerboard pattern on your Jansport backpack in the 90s (guilty, here) you’ll probably recognize Karina Denike from her early gig as a lead singer for the Dance Hall Crashers.

Since then, she has been hanging out in San Francisco playing less-skankable tunes with groups like Mr. Lonesome and the Bluebelles, the Cottontails, and Eight Legged Monster. In my humble opinion, she’s probably got one of the most powerful, virtuosic voices around and a vocal delivery that’s JUST SEXY. You really have to see her live to know what I mean.

Ms. Denike also writes her own pop-y, quirky, singer-songwritery stuff, which is what she’ll be performing on Sunday at the Rite Spot Cafe on 17th and Folsom. She will be joined by her band, her harmonium, and the also insanely talented Lily Taylor. Show starts at 8pm.

If you can’t make that, Karina will also be singing with the Cottontails at Revolution Cafe Saturday night from 9-12ish.

(By the way, she loooves talking about the Dance Hall Crashers and is not embarrassed by it in the slightest.)

Chasing the Moon continues doing their wonderful work with their latest podcast featuring Ramon & Jessica, a lovely duo featuring members whose names are neither Ramon nor Jessica.

I think the interview at the end sums it up really well: they write really unusual music that is musically complex but manages to have an undeniable pop familiarity. I really love the A Capella + beatbox tune they do as the second track. Accordion babe Marie Abe joins them on the 3rd song.

Also, check out their video shot in the Mission last year:

Celebrate the birthday of your favorite eccentric, Jehova’s witnessing, conspiracy theorizing, pop musical genius with the Jazz Mafia. Tonight will be their 4th annual Prince birthday tribute at Coda Lounge, featuring the 20-piece hip hop jazz orchestra Realistic Orchestra.

It’s definitely going to be crowded so I highly recommend you get there early (and stay away from those chemtrails).

[photo by thebaytaper]

Fact: hot women who play music are, um, really hot. Bonus points if they aren’t just strumming on a folk guitar singing about boys the’ve broken up with. Give me a cello, accordion, and mandolin over that any time.

La Gaîté is on tour from Amsterdam and they will be playing at Revolution Cafe tomorrow night (Saturday, June 5) starting at 9pm. This is somehow appropriate since all the stoners who hang out on the patio of the Rev make it the closest thing to Amsterdam that we’ve got.

Check out this video of them demonstrating their musicianship to great effect (while wearing French maid outfits):

If you miss ‘em, you can also catch them at Armando’s Sunday night, but that would require going to Martinez, and I’m not entirely sure I know where that is. They will also be playing the big gypsy jazz fest in Mill Valley next week.

Happy Memorial Day, everybody! Now that it’s officially summer, we thought we’d take this opportunity to remind you that the OFFICIAL SUMMER JAMZ OF 2010 are:

Gonna Find Boyfriends Today by Myles Cooper USA (right)

and

Cover Me In Diamonds by California Sunshine (left)

The former is a straight-up SEXY SUMMER JAM. The latter is more of a come-down song, for the sexy after the barbecue. Both are BONA FIDE HITZZ! Rock them all summer long if u want!!!!

Previously:

Interview With Myles Cooper

California Sunshine Live in Concert

Probably my favorite bay area band, The California Honeydrops, just got back from touring the Netherlands and are playing at Revolution Cafe tonight. Rev has their alcohol serving privileges restored, for now… so it’s safe to go back.

Go listen to some infectious rhythm and blues, ask them about the Dutch, and try to figure out what those chest-high curvy things are supposed to be used for new parklet installation. The ‘drops drop at 8pm and will be playing ’til 11pm. There’s no cover charge, so be sure to tip.

[photo by mhwing]

Previously:

The California Honeydrops Talk BART Busking

That is, if one particular NIMBY neighbor has his or her way.  The Attic has endured as one of the best places in the Mission to get a cheap drink and sweat the night away while dancing to frenetic DJs who know their shit.  It’s also one of the best places to get so hammered that you black out and wake up the next morning in a room full of exquisite hats, but that’s a story for another time.

Unfortunately, one neighbor is so fed up with the hot tunes that he is resorting to a lawsuit in order to squelch all the fun.  He is suing the Attic for personal damages because he can’t sleep at night, focusing on the technicality that the bar is not allowed to play any music since it doesn’t have a cabaret license.   Without a cabaret license, the Attic is on the hook for a $1000 fine should the cops deign to show up for a noise complaint. 

Since it doesn’t appear that an amicable solution can be reached without the NIMBY in question moving out of the Mission to quieter digs (ask Ike’s about that one), it seems that only a legal battle will ultimately determine the fate of DJs at the Attic.

So, should you get the opportunity, contribute to the Attic legal defense fund by stopping by to swig some Racer 5.

[Photo by flatsol]

Previously:

Indie Slash at the ATTIC tonight!!!

The Attic and Clooney’s: San Francisco’s Best Dives

Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution Early Evening Rooftop Concert at 24th and Mission

Want to see a bunch of bands (some legendary, some soon to be legendary) play on Sunday afternoon in the backyard of a Roadhouse-style roadhouse in the Sacramento Valley? With burgers and beer and sun and fun? Then grab some friends and carpool up to Operation: Restore Maximum Freedom 9 near Davis.

Above are pictures I took at last May’s edition of the semi-regular festival. That’s Thee Oh Sees up top, maybe Mayyors in the middle, and a bunch of legs on the bottom.

Here’s this edition’s awesome lineup:

X (Australia)
A-Frames (Seattle)
Moon Duo (SF)
Jacuzzi Boys (Miami)
Foot Village (SF)
Robedoor (LA)
Delorean (Sac)
Rank/Xerox (SF)
Chelsea Wolfe (Sac)
Mucky the Ducky (Davis)
UC Davis Gamelan Ensemble (Davis)
English Singles (Sac)

And here’s this edition’s awesome commemorative t-shirt:

Does anybody know the words to “Mission Mission”?