8 days a week

Dec. 12-19, 2001

YOU KNOW HIM as the author of Tiger on Beat, since 1997 a Bay Guardian column that concentrates on Asian films screening around San Francisco. Now Patrick Macias has written a book that film fans and underground-culture junkies will take to like body snatchers to a morgue: TokyoScope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion, a volume crammed with monsters, sinister gangsters, ghosts, sex slaves, and tattooed hit men. No mere Maltin's guide, the eye-popping TokyoScope is filled with reviews of salaciously titled films (Escaped Murderer from Hiroshima Prison, The 99th Virgin) that you'll have to go beyond Blockbuster to track down – and after reading about them here, you'll want to make the effort. Macias's book also features profiles of notable actors, directors, and movie moguls; a special Sonny Chiba section (including a breakdown of Sonny's best screen kills); a discussion of the making of the 1980 cult classic Shogun Assassin, composed of interviews with those who were there; and features on directors Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) and Takashi Miike (Audition), who penned TokyoScope's foreword and afterword, respectively. Put on your kung fu pants and cruise to Japantown for what's sure to be a memorable reading. Sun/16, 1 p.m., Kinokuniya Bookstore, 1581 Webster, S.F. Free. (415) 567-7625. (Cheryl Eddy)

Dec. 12

Wednesday

Jangled up Slowdance Records sent three West Coast art rock, neo-emo-pop, "we don't need your stinkin' genres" bands on tour to prove that electronic roots can run sweet. The Bay Area's Velvet Teen pull off unironic love songs and catchy melodic pop with equal sincerity. Judah Nagler's angelic lead vocals float like Jeremy Enigk's solo work or a less operatic Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think) but are tethered by solid harmonies, Casio lines, and jangly guitars. San Francisco's sweet and tangy Loquat – electronic ephemera that's grown, not manufactured – join them for a one-night stand; Roots of Orchis and Even Johansen also perform. 9 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $7. (415) 861-5016. (Katje Richstatter)

Animal noises Who said looping know-how and keyboard chemistry couldn't be sexy? Once a duo, now a trio, Wolf Eyes are in town for the first time to put a flame under the butt of experimental electronic music and get you real hot down there. The three Michigan boys plunge a heavy and crude metal sword into early '80s industrial dance music with a sludgy guitar and everything else (tape manipulations, vocals, electronics, horns) distorted to the extreme. They'll be dominating the Bay Area club scene all week with many of their live cassettes in tow, so check it! Tonight they play with Burmese, Omnivorous Sencillium, Hans Grüsel's Krankenkabinet, and DJ Deuce. 9 p.m., Covered Wagon Saloon, 911 Folsom, S.F. $6. (415) 974-1585. (Also Thurs/13, 5 p.m., with the Lo-Fi Niesans and Chiara Giovando, Galia, 2565 Mission, S.F. $5. 415-970-9777; and Fri/14, 9 p.m., with Crack: We Are Rock, Strategy, Numbers, and Randall Jones, Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph, Oakl. $7. 510-444-6174.) (Deborah Giattina)

Dec. 13

Thursday

Art therapy Recently, whenever director Kevin Humbert got together with his Art Chat group, all anyone wanted to talk about was the war. So after listening to everybody from journalists to politicians to academics express their opinions, Humbert and his circle felt it was time the artistic community voiced its views. The result was 'Nine One One,' a series of performances compiled by more than 30 Bay Area writers, directors, dancers, actors, and visual artists, including a docu-theater piece by Unconditional Theatre's John Warren that explores flag waving in Anna Deavere Smith fashion: by conducting interviews with locals and turning the conversations into a script. On the lighter side, comedy-dance luminary Rebecca Salzer examines survival instincts in the style of a National Geographic special. Proceeds benefit Global Exchange. Through Sat/15. 8 p.m., Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy, S.F. Free (donations accepted). (415) 437-5527. (Nancy Einhart)

Dec. 14

Friday

Satan Claus As the war machine keeps turning, 'tis the season to add your voice to a joyous choir singing Black Sabbath at 'A Very Ozzy Christmas (A Child is Osbourne).' Though the legendary bat-chomper scuttled the original name of his tour – "Black Christmas" was deemed inappropriate in the current climate – tonight's tribute show gives you plenty of excuses to mix Yule tidings with devil horns. Headliners Bride of Ozzy unleash holy hell with Sabbath covers; other highlights include a gift-giving "Hebrew Santa," dancers Beyond Bitch, a miracle pageant, and more. Who needs the Messiah when a "War Pigs" sing-along is on the bill? Oh lord, yeah! 10 p.m., Spanganga, 3376 19th St., S.F. $5. (415) 821-1102. (Cheryl Eddy)

The edge The Bluff (Mr. Lady), Sarah Dougher's new album, finds her continuing the work she began with her previous two long players: the mapping out of love. The resulting illustrations are more detailed and expansive, and sometimes they excavate dark places. "Little Thing" stares down someone's all-too-familiar lies, while the title track turns those lies into a vantage point to journey away from; both have spiraling melodies that effortlessly pull you deeper and deeper into the drama. Then there's the cover of Irma Thomas's "It's Raining," which – perhaps by happy accident – has a Double Fantasy sound. Dougher performs with Dear Nora and Songs for a Cat. 7 p.m., Bearded Lady Truckstop Cafe, 485 14th St., S.F. $5. (415) 626-2805. (Johnny Ray Huston)

Dec. 15

Saturday

Holiday hodgepodge You think you're p.c. because your greeting cards say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"? Head to Fruitvale for some serious diversity. At Peralta Hacienda's holiday open house, festivities encompass Kwanzaa, Noche Buena, the Laotian lighted-boats festival, the Chinese solstice, and, oh yeah, Christmas. Atop tables throughout Peralta House, paper boats are illuminated with candles in honor of a traditional Buddhist festival held in November along the Mekong River. Learn about the lives of Oakland community members in the storytelling room and at the "Faces of Fruitvale" exhibit, which presents personal stories and mementos of more than 60 locals – from an African American middle schooler to the Oakland City Council president and a Yemeni storekeeper. A gospel ensemble and Latin American guitarist Rafael Manriquez will also be on hand. Noon-3 p.m., Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakl. Free. (510) 525-0712 or (510) 532-9142. (Einhart)

Sword in rock After impressing the Fillmore's audience when they opened for Steven Malkmus last spring, the Swords Project make their second appearance in the Bay Area. The mostly instrumental chamber rock orchestra's self-titled EP on Absolutely Kosher is lush and otherworldly, much like the city from which the band hails: Portland, Ore. This mystical, rainy community has managed to steal away many a Bay Area musician, including Paul Gonzenbach of the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up. Just listen to the lyrics on the JYPU's It's Winter Here (Absolutely Kosher) and you'll know why. Jefre Cantu of Tarentel goes on first. Don't let him out of your sight. 10 p.m., Cafe du Nord, 2170 Market, S.F. $8. (415) 861-5016. (Giattina)

Dec. 16

Sunday

Born to ride Calling all cyclists (and all would-be cyclists looking for a good party): the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's sixth annual WinterFest promises to be this holiday season's best shindig on two wheels. Boasting free food and free beer, courtesy of Sierra Nevada, and live performances from multiple local bands, the fest presents an opportunity to let loose with hundreds of local bike enthusiasts while supporting the SFBC's goal of making San Francisco the nation's most bike-friendly city. Adding to the festivities are the annual live and silent auctions; the growing list of auction items includes bike-related goodies (bikes, parts, accessories, and clothing), as well as tickets to local cultural events, dinners with local celebs, art, a snowboard, and more. 5-10 p.m., SomArts, 934 Brannan, S.F. $20 (includes membership to the coalition). (415) 431-BIKE, www.sfbike.org. (Meryl Cohen)

Dec. 17

Monday

Dandy like candy Are those stale Christmas carols giving you the holiday blues? Treat yourself to a night of sweet, melancholic country folk music performed by the harmonious duo of Sheila Schat and Dan Olmsted, known as Dandeline. After a decade of playing together in various bands, including Tiny, New EZ Devils, and the Violets, the longtime pals decided to turn off their amplifiers and stretch their talents into the land of unplugged opportunities. Olmsted dug out his old acoustic guitar, while Schat uncovered her cello and violin. Schat's background in old-time, folk, and country music blends naturally with Olmsted's rock and blues influences; together, the two combine their melodic voices to produce a Neil Young-ish sound. The twosome are currently working on their first album, to be released next spring. Jesse De Natale opens and 86 headlines. 8:30 p.m., Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., S.F. $6. (415) 647-2888. (Heidi Smith)

Dec. 18

Tuesday

Renaissance man Over his 25-year career he's gotten plenty of work doing commercial voice-overs for Ford, Chevy, Oldsmobile, and McDonald's. He's also been a staff writer for Warner/Chappell and even managed some face time as an actor, but Dallas Wayne is just starting to find an audience as a musician. An old-school country crooner with a baritone that recalls Dale Watson and George Jones, Wayne has shot to the top of the critics' short list of favorite honky-tonk troubadours. On his second disc, Here I Am in Dallas (HighTone), the Bakersfield twang of Buck Owens meets head-on the early-'70s insurgent country of Billy Joe Shaver and Merle Haggard. From barroom weepers to roadhouse stompers, Wayne delivers the type of real-deal hardcore country that Music Row gave up on 25 years ago. Tonight he anchors Brokedown Opry's benefit for KPFA-FM, alongside Dave Gleason's Wasted Days, A.J. Roach, Wayde Blair, Jeffrey "Luck" Lucas, and the Jivens Boys. 7 p.m., Kimo's, 1351 Polk, S.F. $5. (415) 855-4535. (John O'Neill)

Across the border I think learning more about the struggle between Israel and Palestine is as to the point as anything these days. Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg, and Carlos Bolado add Promises to the mix. Their film deals with seven Palestinian and Israeli children as they look at themselves and one another with the decades-long war as a backdrop. The kids' insights sometime cut through years of hackneyed journalism and propaganda, and the filmmakers do a decent job of remaining clear-eyed all the while. Children can't solve world crisis (although they can do a lot as they begin to get older), but they can let you know why crisis is worth dealing with seriously. 10 p.m., KQED, channel 9; www.pbs.org. (J.H. Tompkins)

Dec. 19

Wednesday