Don’t overlook Dada!

If you work in the city, then you probably on the hunt for cool spots to unwind after work. We all have our favorites and for different reasons. Sometimes its the view or to impress other times the vibe is critical.

When its for atmosphere, one of my favorites is Dadá on 2nd. It is easy to get to, right between Market and Mission.. just look for the blue paint and the neon orange sign above. You can walk right buy it as you would not think it was a bar. Don’t! Check it out and you are in for a treat. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) its a bit of a secret spot and I always hear, “How long has this been here?” The answer, about 5 years!

They have a great happy hour, with long hours, strong drinks for reasonable prices.  What more can a person ask for? Oh yeah; art, lighting, good music (a bit loud)…all of which are good to go. It has art pieces strung around and really filling the place.  Lights dimmed and changing slowly between red, green and blue.

The bartender is usually a one man show so you do have to wait a bit but that’s OK. Gets really crowded on Thursday and Friday, thus I go earlier on in the week. Where I can enjoy and drink a$7 martinis? No where half as cool, yet people would just walk by it thinking ill. Trust me, it is not a dive but you would think it is from the outside.

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.

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.