Mission Mission

Hey guys, I know your bummed about the weather, but these guys play some killer gypsy jazz that should warm you right up. Gonzalo Bergara Quartet are from LA and they absolutely killed at Revolution Cafe last night. They play a mix of Django Reinhardt tunes and original compositions. They SHRED. I doubt you’ll be seeing virtuosic guitar or clarinet playing like this for a while. See the video for proof:

Also, Gonzalo hella looks like Jesus. I don’t know if  he’ll be among the other Jesii today at the competition, but I think he would definitely have a shot at taking the crown (of thorns).

Blue Six Acoustic Room, 24th and Treat, 8:30pm, $10 suggested donation

One of my favorite photographers is this dude Jaime Martínez who takes a lot of low-res 3D pics and turns them into mesmerizing GIF animations. A couple weeks ago, Jaime attended MtyMx, a sort of anti-SXSW in Monterrey, and he’s been posting rad pictures ever since, including this shot of a Monterrey band called Mockinpott.

Mockinpott rules. They have kind of a Lost Sounds thing going on, and their label is giving away free digital downloads of all their records! Happy Easter!

Previously:

MM@SXSW

Come help Noelle & Shawn end AIDS by biking a really long distance. Dance with My First Earthquake, Total B.S. (Bob Seeger cover band), Sir Salvatore and DJ Jackie Sugarlumps.

Check it out here.

The Secret Alley is at 180 Capp Street near 17th.

This happens tonight. Saturday. April 3rd. 8 pm.

The SF Mixtape Society is hosting their second event at the Makeout Room this Sunday, April 4th. The theme is “Fools Rush In”. No mixtape required to attend, but if you want to leave with one you gotta bring one. There will be prizes for the best track listing and artwork.

Get to work! You only have four days to comb through Thrift Town for a casette recorder and figure out how to cleverly work in Da Brat’s Funkafied into the mix.

• The Makeout Room on 22nd b/t Mission and Valencia
• Sunday, April 4th, 4-6pm
• No cover

Previously:

Mortified by Mixtapes

This is the video for the hit song “Bone Jam” by Jeff the Brotherhood. Don’t know much about them, but they ruled in Austin last week, this song rules, the video rules, and they are playing at the Eagle TONIGHT. Lucky you!

Oh and some dude named Ty Seagall is headlining.

And don’t forget to see Surfer Blood for free at Amoeba.

(Thanks, SFist’s Bay Area Concerts!)

Over at RCRD LBL right now, you can listen to and download yourself a copy of “Stay Soft,” a dancefloor shatterer of a single if ever there was one. It’s off Sugar & Gold‘s forthcoming second LP, due April 27th. Do it to it!

P.S. It’s right up there with LCD Soundsystem’s latest.

Quinn DeVeaux and the Bluebeat Revue bring you back to the time when no one would take your seriously unless you had three hot chicks with long gloves singing backup and pantomiming lyrics. Singer Viola Viola, in particular, has a serious case of high-on-life. You’ll know exactly who I’m talking about when you see her. Revolution Cafe, 22nd and Bartlett. 9pm, no cover, tip lots.

The Nice Guy Trio will be playing their own arrangements of tunes by local composers and songwriters of all genres, including Marcus Shelby, Meklit Hadero, Aaron Novik, Dina Maccabee, and Dave Ricketts. The Red Poppy Art House on 23rd and Folsom. 8pm, $10-15 cover.

Everyone’s favorite yodelin’ Japanese-immigrant cowboy Toshio Hirano will be performing his monthly gig at the Rite Spot Cafe on 17th and Folsom. Ask him about how much he loves Jimmie Rodgers, and be prepared to have your ass charmed off. 9-12am, no cover, tip the man.

Aw hell, why am I even bothering to post today? You are all probably on your way to the park with a Rhea’s sandwich and a six pack of blue-ribbon-winning beer.

Mission-based, Ethiopian-born, singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero‘s new video for “Leaving Soon” debuted yesterday:

Between this and her recent NPR appearance, Meklit has been kicking ass lately. Her new album will be released on Porto Franco on April 10. Stay tuned for a record release party in the area. I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy and not only is the music fantastic and excellently produced, it features an all-star cast musicians that I see kicking around the Mission scene. In many ways, it serves as a culmination of those talents that I feel grateful for here every day.

I don’t know Meklit personally but that’s not because we haven’t run into each other. She stays closely involved the local arts and music scene through her performance space the Red Poppy Art House and is one of those intimidatingly talented and multi-faceted people that makes you immediately want to run home to re-think your life.

See Andrew W.K. in concert if you haven’t already. It is fuuun!

(This concludes Mission Mission’s SXSW coverage. You’re welcome!)

Actually, maybe he was trying to swipe my RAZR. You can see why, right?

P.S. He was dancing around on an outdoor stage in his underwear in near-freezing weather. AND he put a cup of ice down his drawers! That’s Fucked Up!