Mezzanine

The Mezzanine is a small often overlooked venue right at: 444 Jessie Street @ Mint
SF – Mint Plaza, if you know. If not; then the corner of 5th and Mission if you walk towards 6th or Market their is an alley that connects to Jessie st. You can’t miss it with the lights and shouldn’t. A decent space venue that brings in a good number of names with a wide variety of music range.

After arriving 40 minutes after door opens nothing was happening. Did a  quick walk around and head to bar. Crowded kinda normal and over priced naturally. There’s a large selection of hard liquor and slim selection of soft beers and wine. Warning: Pay cash because cards are charged 20%.

Then when the show starts the crowd takes over the empty floor. Music blaring like its a stadium, the feedback getting to my head. In some ways it is great because its loud and you really feel everything. Yet I am starting to feel my age, EEK!

The club is way protective on its VIP seating areas. Everywhere else lacks sorely for a place to chill and sit. This is not a pleasant scenario, worse when there is an hour wait between sets. Really?! An HOUR… and the DJ in between was not great. Getting cranky here.

November Electro/Techno Line-up.

After I wrote my concert list(https://jumpinsfbay.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/upcoming-concert-list-nov-jan/), I realize that there was a gap in this music list…. Electro/Techno. I love it just as much as I love rock or world.

So I started hunting, looking for events to check out too. Even when I find the ones that are good priced and many are around $10 and tons under $20. The ones that are over… well really turned my head (this is true for the concert list too). It is impossible to go to them all even if I could afford all of them, hope you find something good in here.

The Line-up:

11/12

– Hi Tek Soul Starring Derrick May & Kevin Saunderson 10PM to 3:30AM  >  $12/$15/$17

Not that excited about it.

11/17

– Dial Up Welcomes Jonah Sharp at Public Works  9 p.m. — 2 a.m.  More Info   >  $5

I am probably going to go to this. I have heard good things about Public Works and the price cannot be beat.

– Nadia Ali at Ruby Skye

Probably a great set to dance too, but also very expensive night. I have never loved the venue either.

11/18 

– MAD DECENT // VIBRATE :: WITH PAUL DEVRO, DJ SABO, & SPECIAL GUEST

$5 before 11 RSVP: VIBRATESF@GMAIL.COM | $10 after

Decent deal, seems feasible for a good time.

– “Renegade Rockers 28th Anniversary Pre Party” DJs 330 Ritch SF 9pm to 2am | 21+ | $10
JULIUS PAPP (NeoDisco Music) PATRICK WILSON (Movement) MIQUEL (KNT DJ)
FOXXEE (Your Mama’s House)   JAYVI VELASCO (AfterAfterHours SF)
If you love the names worth it, otherwise… go to the one above.

11/19

This is a hard day to choose, look at this line up and tell me what you where would you go?

– Crystal Method at Vessel  http://tcmvessel.eventbrite.com/ – Love them! This will be “sick”.

– Afrolicious  at the Mezzanine 9pm $22 – Great group! It will be a good show.

– Electro Techno Disco Blackout at the Factory San Francisco CA $35, $45, then $55 – Looks like a wicked good time!

Black Rock Arts Foundation ARTumnal Gathering will take place at the Bently Reserve – Burning Man crowd is always fun.

So what to choose? I really have no clue!

11/20

– Thread party… AKA fashion, clothes, and music! $5 with RSVP http://www.threadshow.com/show_info.php?show_id=125&show=rsvp

I am there! This looks like a chill time.

11/23

– Dax presents — Robert Babicz, Oliver $, Justin Martin, Christian Martin

More Info   >  $10 pre-sale or before 11pm with “attending” RSVP on Facebook / $20 at the door

Feasible. Nothing is really “Wow” about it though.

11/26

– Boys Noize 10pm at Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA http://bnsf-efbevent.eventbrite.com

Ohh this could be a blast!

My recommendation:

Opel recommends Opulent Temple’s annual post playa fundraiser : Sacred Dust : the ‘Giving Thanks’ edition. This year we do it Thanksgiving weekend for those of you in town ready to work off some calories the 2nd best way we know how ; ). Featuring special guest DJ Three (New York) + OT rezzies : Dutch, Drew Drop, Billy Seal, Dulce Vita, DJ Brian Williams, Jonboy, ELiKi and more tba. Only $10 all night long. New 2011 recordings available on CD at this party. Ye-ez. Public Works : 161 Erie Street, (@ Mission), SF, 21+

More Info

It is where I will be.

After compiling this list and thinking about my concert list… I find myself thankful to be in the SF

Bottlecap Review

A new place is always popping up and so did Bottlecap. It is a stop in North Beach, which is a favorite neighborhood of mine.

The place is low key with a southern charm.  There is a long wooden bar and men hard at work behind it.
It is spacious. Lots of room to dine in though the place is still decorating I hope.  The drinks were OK I like the one called bees knees.

The food was not what I had hoped for. It was pretty standard fare. The dinner menu was definitely overpriced.  If the dinner is incredible then it might make a great date spot.

Like any good party there were a number of tapas floating around. From shrimp, to chicken thighs (above) and more. My favorite is the crackers with Gouda and with a pear purée just a bit dry. The major plus side is the attentive staff, they know their dishes and in a good humor.

The music was a nice touch, really kept it intimate; plus added to the southern charm feel. Over all the crowd was good and has potential to be a neighborhood spot.

Sale!

For all the shoppers out there… Bloomingdale’s starts Friends and Family tomorrow. This means everyone gets the employee discount of 20% off. This is on top of the sale price! This means some darn good deals and early holiday outfit planning. Goes on through Sunday. Enjoy!

Halloween Recap.

With the first weekend of November starting, I cannot help think back to “Halloween Weekend”. The girls night ended up being lo-key but great bonding time as you know. Saturday was my parents anniversary dinner, (They were brilliant and got married on Halloween) after was a private party we going to. Thus we opt out of the potential ones we had.

The private party was winding down by the time we got there. Kinda funny, with a bunch of random and quirky typical SF people. My friends where there with their night flying high. It was chill but funny. The after party was pretty hot. We were on a boat. It was old and like a fisherman’s boat where people lived too. It was funky the music old school and all kinda rocking.

Take-out ready to rock out

Sunday was very lo-key because Monday were the tickets for Carl Cox at Vessel. I forgot how small and cramped the place is! Here we are listening to a so-so warm up DJ waiting for the real one to come one. The place is industrial posh and already cramped. If you do not have bottle service there is no place to sit. Everyone is getting all up in your business. When Cox does finally get on we are starting to dance and rock out a bit.

Tight quarters!

Yet it was not that fun to hang out in one safe spot and chill. By midnight we were a bit bored, specially since Cox is OK but not OMG. After a bunch of bumping from random strangers was getting annoying we went home. I found myself wishing there was a way to combined Saturday night with friends and Monday with a good music together.

Upcoming Concert List: Nov – Jan

November 6th

Weird Al Yankovic @ Fox Theater – Oakland for $45

If you like him go and laugh a lot.

November 8^th

The Bangles @ The Fillmore – SF for $27-$40

Old school classic rock but pop really. Kinda worth it, specially if you are an oldies freak.

November 9th

Lykke Li @ Fox Theater – Oakland for $35

Art Deco to the max

She is a bit of pop and indie rock. I was excited to go see her but a friend said they were disappointed with her performance. Otherwise I would have said worth it.

November 11th

Mary J. Blige @ Fox Theater – Oakland for $60-$120

Way over priced and she is an OK but I am not going.

GWAR @ The Regency Ballroom – SF for $23

Small and intimate

This is always a fun performance if you like heavy death metal. The Regency is going to get trashed though. Quiet reasonably priced for the band and small venue. I’d consider it. It is a great experience… Heck I Peachy Puffed one of their concerts.

November 12th

They Might Be Giants @ The Fillmore – SF $30

This is an indie rock band with a really funky sound. It is quite reasonable though and should be a great show.

November 14th

Feist @The Warfield – SF $42

An old opera house

An indie punk sound with a new vibe. It has potential for a great show.

November 16th

New Found Glory @ The Regency Ballroom – SF for $22-$24

Pop punk rock, which for the price and the place could be fun.

Enrique Bunbury & Zoe – Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium – SF for $40-110

November 21st

Katy Perry @ Oracle Arena – Oakland for $39.50-$49.50

Really people? POP! Yet people love her… to say we saw her, I guess. Reasonable price but huge venue which means tiny view and everything else over priced.

Noah & the Whale  with Niki Lane @ Great American Music Hall – SF for $21

A cheap show that could be a lot of fun. I don’t know much about them but the venue has good taste.

GAMH always seems to have a good pulse on music

November 26st

Orgone w/Allen Stone @ Great American Music Hall – SF for $16

Again don’t know them much but the Venue is worth checking out for the price.

Dec 2nd

Sting: Back To Bass @ Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium – SF for $51-$150

So private!

Sting no more to be said if you love him go for it. It is a small venue so you will enjoy. A bit pricy so decide well.

My Morning Jacket @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – SF for $45

It is HUGE! They will be tiny.

If you love them go but it is a big venue and seems over priced.

Los Lobos @ The Fillmore – SF for $42-55

Rock band, old school but some great guitars. Love the location, OK price a bit up there.

December 7th

Puscifer w/ Carina Round @ Palace of Fine Arts – SF $55

Serentity about to be disturbed

Seems over priced but much just be funny enough to go. I mean a hard core metal band in this venue?! Hmm

December 13th

NOW 99.7 Triple Ho Show 2.0 w/ Jessie & the Toy Boys, Breathe Carolina, Taio Cruz, Selena Gomez, Gym Class Heroes, LMFAO, Pitbull @ HP Pavilion – San Jose for $34.50-$143

It’s a mad bundle mix with some good names and bad names and all dependent on if you like the music. The cheap prices have nose bleed in the seats to spending a lot to be one of many. I would pass.

December 23rd

Infected Mushroom @ The Fillmore – SF for $47

A great DJ group that does trance with lots of instrumentals. It seems seriously pricey but they are well know and very good. Yet no room really to dance.

2012

Janurary 20th & 21st

NOFX with No Use For A Name, Old Man Markley & Guests @ The Fillmore – SF for $25-35

A old school punk band which I am considering going! If for no other reason than to say I saw them. It’s not that pricey.

Small dance but very small venue

January 28th

O.A.R. @ The Fillmore – SF for $32-45

A country rock band that has a feel good vibe most of the time. Its a good show.. decent priced. I would be in for this.

Halloween Weekend Events!

Let your imagination fly and dress up!

Halloween is my favorite time of year. It is a holiday just for fun. One that reminds everyone to be a kid again and not take life so seriously. You can be anyone if only for a night and to let your inhibitions down. A time people play pretend and actually find fun again.

Thus the  month of October, I lay low to do up the weekend of Halloween right. People always ask me where I get my info. Well, my best source is:www.sfstation.com ; They really have a comprehensive list. It’s a great site!

My short list:

Friday Oct. 28^th

• 1015 (Folsom)– 103 Harriet:  Dark, sounds of a Salem Dj Set FREE all night RSVP: http://bit.ly/qy1QRM – I’M GOING
• Manor West – 750 Harrison: Snob by DJ Trevor Simpson & Playboi: Guest list RSVP: http://www.venuedriverfiles.com/manorwestsf/guestlist.php – I’M GOING
• Noble – 600 Polk St.:  Chills and Thrills, G.A.: $10 ; VIP: $50 http://chillsandthrills2011.eventbrite.com/
• Harlot – 46 Minna St.:  Cowboys vs. Aliens w/Dirty Vegas!!! $30 http://dirtyvegasharlot.eventbrite.com/ – I WISH

This is one of my girl’s birthday so we will probably have a good group with us. This means we need to keep it cheap and will probably do the first two.

Saturday Oct. 29^th

• Beauty Bar – 2299Mission: Monster Bash is FREE!!! – MIGHT GO
• Mezzanine –444 Jessie St @Mint: Halloween Boootie $20-$30 http://halloweenbooootie.eventbrite.com/– MIGHT GO
• Mighty – 119 Utah St (15^th): Opel Night of the Living Bass $28 http://opelhalloween.eventbrite.com/
• Bill Graham Civic Auditorium: Deadmau5 is $50-$110 http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C004705E7627EA9?&camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_songkick – I WISH

Working till 9 so far, I keep trying to get it of so I can go to my parents Anniversary dinner. Yes they got married on Halloween, very smart people in my book. I have a lot to  do this night so it is still all in the air.

Sunday Oct. 30^th

• Supperclub – 657 Harrison: Breakfast in Bed G.A $10 VIP (Bed for 4) $100 http://fla.vor.us/wafform.aspx?_act=eventview&_pky=109426 – MIGHT GO
• DNA Lounge – 375 11^th St.: All Hallows Eve $16  https://cart.dnalounge.com/order/ – MIGHT GO

Is an easier night than Saturday for me, funny huh? Nothing cemented yet.  Thinking Supperclub honestly.

Monday Oct 31^st

• MILK – 1840 Haight St.: Breath is FREE https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198248250226294&ref=notif&notif_t=event_name_change
• 1015 (Folsom) – Mad Hatter’s Ball $20 http://madhattersball-promo.eventbrite.com/
• Vessel – 85 Campton Pl: Carl Cox is $30 https://ticketdriver.com/vessel/buy/tickets/event/34385 – I AM GOING

I already bought my ticket, I am seeing one good show this weekend. It is Carl Cox! I like him more than the other  concerts for this weekend. Plus I have never seen him before. I am so excited! Now all you have to do is: decided…

How will you be spending Halloween Weekend?