San Francisco Music

It's really nice to see a band play on T.V or to a crowd of 10,000 people at some big festival knowing that you've seen them in a much smaller, intimate setting. I've only had two experiences like that.

One was in 2005 right after Green Day played SBC park (which I had tickets too, but had to pass up cause I was sick). Two weeks later I found out about a secret show they were doing at The Warfield. Of course tickets were gone within seconds and I totally wasn't expecting to get in. My friend Jake ended up winning tickets off Live 105 that morning and ended up taking me. Not only did I get to see Green Day for free (people were selling their liver for this show), but I also got to see The Network (Green Day's secret band) open up for them, which will probably never happen again. The set consisted of the whole American Idiot album and following that was a THREE HOUR encore filled with old school stuff such as "Hitchin' A Ride", "Maria", "2000 Light Years Away" and anything else that the crowd wanted to hear. It was amazing to be in third row, close enough to get hit with Mike Dirnt's sweat. SBC Park? Missing that one didn't matter at all anymore. The Warfield was my new best friend.

The second time was in April of 2006 when AFI decided to play a secret show at none other than Slims. We all know that isn't gonna happen again!

That night was of course amazing. Once again Jake went with me and ended up getting two black eyes before AFI even came on. The opening bands were taken straight out of The Gilman and were the most hardcore thing I've seen in my life up to date. This was also the first and last time I got to sing along to "Miseria Cantare" off Sing The Sorrow instead of "Prelude 12/21" which is now the opening from Decemberunderground. The setlist had songs that no one has heard since. "Rizzo in a Box", "This Secret Ninja", "Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37"...your ears will never get to hear any of these again! It was truly amazing to be in crowd of people who knew this band since day one and not twelve year olds who came to hear "Miss Murder". That was my first AFI show and will remain my favorite forever. Funny to think back to the time when I cried because I didn't have a ride to San Jose Event Center back in 2003. None of that matters anymore. Slims, you did well.

So let's go beyond the Civic Centers, SBC Parks, BFDs, Download Fests and the Long Beach Arenas where these bands play sold out shows and remember those nights in smaller venues here in San Francisco...anyone?

i was at that warfield show too. it was a fucking genius performance for sure. It was also at the time my friend Mike was playing 4th guitar in Green Day. while getting a beer we ran into eachother and hung out a bit before Green Day went on. it was pretty sweet seeing my buddy on stage with em,

I thought it was some guy named Jason on guitar. Do they keep switching them?

Mmmm, Faith No More at the Warfield. Very nice, even thought the Warfield isn't quite intimate as it were. Combustible Edison at Bimbo's. Bimbo's 365 is one of the best smaller venues in SF imho. GC and the P-Funk there, many years ago, one of my most memorable first dates ; )...and the stunning Stevie Wonder made an unannounced guest appearance. THAT was a double take.

Jonathan Richman at the Rickshaw. I totally appreciate how he books four shows at a time, always a small venue, hardly advertises, and busts it out. Jonathan is magical.

Mr. Bungle and the Rova Saxophone Quartet many years ago at Yoshi's. Very very intimate and utterly amazing.

Whatever happened to the hole in the wall clubs in SF?

Man I wish I could see Faith No More live... never did. The floor at the Warfield is alright, but both times I've sat in the balcony there the sound was crap and the panning/bobbing fancy stage lights kept blinding me... really annoying. I agree about Bimbo's, one of the best by far... love that place.

There are still great super-local shows at places like Cafe du Nord (pretty intimate, but not quite "hole in the wall" status anymore), Hotel Utah (the stage is quite literally a hole in the wall, but lots of great bands like Hot Challenge play amazing sets here before moving onto places like the GAMH), and then there's super hole in the wall places like El Rincon (which has awesome burritos, so even if the band sucks, you don't feel like you totally wasted your evening).

...one of the reasons I love Popscene so very much, even if the experience there is of bands on the rise instead of those who have "made it" in that obscenely successful sense of the term. Seeing Spoon play there last year (and being able to bring my camera rig in) was a special treat.

I turned on Live105 on my drive home last night and caught a live broadcast of The Bravery playing at Bottom of the Hill. That would have been pretty rad to see, but the sound kinda sucked, honestly.

I'm a big fan of small, intimate venues regardless. I won't even go to a big venue to see a band anymore. I'll go for the party, but not for the music. Anything bigger than Warfield or Fillmore is just too big. Maybe BGCC... maybe.

Keeping with the Green Day theme, I remember seeing them at Berkeley Sqaure (RIP) in May of '93 before Dookie dropped. I was there mainly to see the support band, Wax (drummer Loomis is the referee jersey wearing dude in Johnny Knoxville's Jackass), and I think Tilt was opening. Either way, it was a ridiculous time. 18 years old, front row, covered in sweat, climbing on stage to sing along with a dozen people (small stage) at the end of the set. Good times.

quote: cameron obscura

...one of the reasons I love Popscene so very much, even if the experience there is of bands on the rise instead of those who have "made it" in that obscenely successful sense of the term. Seeing Spoon play there last year (and being able to bring my camera rig in) was a special treat.

My friend saw The Killers at Pop last year and she said it was weird sounding and that she liked them more in a festival setting.

I wish I could have seen Blaqk Audio there in August, cause now I have to settle for seeing the two boys at Bamboozle...aka fighting my way to the front of the ignorant people.

Faith No More. God how I miss them. They performed "Easy (Like a Sunday Morning)" at that show for an encore. : )

We recently caught Tool at the BGCC and that was interesting...the balcony was weird, both in vibe and very steep, so we went down to the floor and stationed in front of the sound board, which was okay...but the flatness and distance created a peek a boo effect. The light show was AWESOME and Jello Biafra came out for an encore and did Holiday in Cambodia!

Of course, world's greatest was four night of the Moz father at the Fillmore last year. Dreams do come true.

quote: DJ Otterpop

Of course, world's greatest was four night of the Moz father at the Fillmore last year. Dreams do come true.

oh and the unforgettable stories that came with it...

... you mean like Alkaline Trio at Cafe du Nord? Yea, that's rad.

what? really? no way!

Alkaline Trio played at Gilman several years ago and that was amazing!! I had to stand with my friend doing sound up in the booth just to see and it was soooo good. Can't wait for du Nord!

How bout... Matt Skibba playing an acoustic show in the back room of The Cat Club (Bondage-a-go-go) best ever. I waited in line for 2 hours in the rain but, hell it was well worth it. I guess that show is now being referred to as "The Fire Show" Those who were there will never forget that. Those who got stuck outside wished they didn't remember.

quote: Erin Toddy

Alkaline Trio played at Gilman several years ago and that was amazing!! I had to stand with my friend doing sound up in the booth just to see and it was soooo good. Can't wait for du Nord!

I was at that show!!!!! Awesome. With Dashboard, right? I was the guy screaming for Chris Carabba to quit complaining about the sound and get off the stage. I wanted ALK 3!!!! Did that asshole know where he was? It's The Gilman.... the sound is supposed to be shitty!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a sad one: The Ataris at Slim's last year. They used to be stadium status, then Kris starts selling his stuff on eBay to pay rent. It was intimate and humbling at the same time...

speaking of... did anyone manage to get tickets for the Raconteurs at Bimbo's? they were gone by the time i found out about them.

.. the downside of big bands in small venues, i guess.

quote: Hnomad

speaking of... did anyone manage to get tickets for the Raconteurs at Bimbo's? they were gone by the time i found out about them.

.. the downside of big bands in small venues, i guess.

I heard about this.
Speaking of Bimbo's, I saw Stars there in November. It was awesome.

quote: Hnomad

speaking of... did anyone manage to get tickets for the Raconteurs at Bimbo's? they were gone by the time i found out about them.

.. the downside of big bands in small venues, i guess.

muahahaha! yes! :)

haha yeah i ended up going to that green day secret show too...it was pretty awesome....Moz kicked ass at the fillmore..but he also played in a small venue in stockton...which was great!!!

I actually saw the deftones in stockton... back in 98', and they opened for RHCP....that was the BEST:)

Ok, well now we can all discuss Alkaline Trio at DuNord. I thought it was excellent.

you?

Yes I guess its time to talk about Cafe Du Nord. It was definatley one of the greatest shows I've seen to date, it's definitely up there with my most memorable moments. They sounded wonderful, it was like listening to the albums! The crowd was much better than I had anticipated, much more laid back than what I'm used to. I only wish they could have played "I Was A Prayer" to see that live in concert would have been amazing. But having two new songs played before the new album drops was fun. Only downside, not enough songs! But I think every fan thinks that after a concert. I'm just happy I got in.

However Blaqk Audio's debut at Popscene is still my top performance where small venues stand. Stroke of luck on my part, found out five minutes prior to when the tickets went on sale.

Smaller venues do have a nicer appeal, less noise to take away from the appreciation of the music, more intimate setting. No mosh pit. They really are enjoyable and for big bands to show at them, it makes the experience that much more memorable in my opinion.

the mars volta at the phoenix in petaluma would be right up there for me.. (and looks like i might make it to that raconteurs show afterall, yay)

i love it every time 311 plays the castalyst in santa cruz. great venue, cool staff.

Did anyone go to that Raconteurs show last night @ Bimbo's?! how was it?!!!

I think it is awesome seeing a big band at a smaller venue .I got to see Dredg open for Coheed and Cambria back in 2005 at the Roseland in Portland Oregon. That was a great show, but then I just got to see Dredg again here in Fresno, CA., at a really small place called The Exit. It seemed like there were only about 350-400 people there, and the stage was very small. It rocked!!!

quote: effzio

i love it every time 311 plays the castalyst in santa cruz. great venue, cool staff.

I have to agree. I've seen them there twice, but they always rock the shit out of everyone, no matter what venue they're at. Did you go to any of the shows when they played the Fillmore a few nights in a row a few years ago? That was pretty awesome.

I just saw John Butler play a solo show there for Earth Day. He and Mama Kin, his opener, kept saying how people all over the world dream of playing that place,. Its famous for having a great crowd. Not only do the musicians rock, but we in the audience rock them as well.

the independent

I saw it up towards the top but Faith No More at the Warfield was awesome. In addition:
Tool at the Warfield
Marilyn Manson at the Edge
Bad Religion at the Edge
Pennywise at the Edge
Rancid at the Edge

Damn, the Edge kicked fucking ass

And lastly, I saw AFI at the Cubberley Community Center in Mt View. It was after they put out there 2nd album, "So Proud of Ya" and anything after Black Sails is not worth my time.

I think that is it for big bands at small venues, that is unless you count Voodoo Glow Skulls at The Cactus Club in San Jose. But they are not really a big band. This post has made me realize that the Bay Area has lost many great venues and it FUCKING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

when Velvet Revolver first came out I saw them at a small club in DC called 9:30 Club. It holds about 1200 people and I scored 2 VIP tix for myself and a friend. Seeing Scott Weiland, Slash, Duff and Dave that close up was fantastic. So much energy. They played a bunch of G&R and STP which really got the crowd going. Big Bands & Small Clubs... me likey.

The Edge! I miss that place. I saw Papa Roach and Linkin Park there.

I saw modest mouse in 98 at bottom of the hill. Thats was great. I think the first song was lounge and he just ran around in the crowd telling everyone to dance