Local Love: iconic venues keep the music alive in San Francisco

Punk Rock legends The Dwarves at Bottom of the Hill on Friday/Image: Dwarves.com

From folk-singing hippies, to hardcore punks, to R&B superstars, San Francisco has been home to countless influential musicians over the decades.  It is impossible to know exactly what draws the musically minded to our fair city, but we'd like to think it's partially do to the many legendary venues within the 7 by 7 that week after week make it possible for young and established acts from all genres to get their start on San Francisco Stages.  In honor of these venues, and the often downtrodden owners who are keeping live music alive in the bay area we are rounding up the Only-in-SF shows that shouldn't be missed this weekend including:

Friday:

Anyone who has ever been in a band, or been a bandgirlfriend has spent many an evening at Bottom of the Hill. So this is the place we recommend getting your weekend going with a rock/post punk/indie/power pop show like no other featuring legendary (and currently SF based) punk band  The Dwarves,(!) with The Radishes, and The Pleasure Kills. Doors at 8:30, show at 10:00, ALL AGES, $15. Considering the lack of true punk shows in the Bay Area, the crowd for this show is sure to be big, get there early if you plan on getting in. 

Or, for those looking for something a little more, shall we say mellow, check out London based, Noah and the Whale at  The Independent with Bahamas and DJ Nanko.  A Special event presented by Popscene, the Noah and the Whale show is part of an ongoing tour for the band in support of their latest release, Last Night On Earth. Doors at 8:30, show at 9PM. Tickets are $18 in advance, or $20 at the door.

Saturday: 

Sometimes maligned by recent transplants desperate to seem 'local' as a "bridge and tunnel club' San Francisco's Ruby Skye has been a major force hosting dance and electronica shows in the Bay Area for over a decade. Tonight the massive club celebrates its 11th anniversary with a special one night event, featuring Fat Boy Slim with Thomas Gandey and DJ Foley. 9pm, tickets are $50 in advance here, 21 and over only.

Sunday:

Past and present gothlings rejoice! The melodically haunting  Johnny Indovina (previously of Human Drama) is back, and headlining an acoustic show at  Cafe Du Nord with the equally exquisite Damien Youth and Michael Berg. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 

Monday:

While we are on the subject, it goes without saying that the longest continually running Gothic/Industrial dance club in the country, DEATH GUILD deserves a mention. The club, which still runs every Monday night from 9:30-the very small hours is currently hosted at the equally iconic DNA Lounge, which has not only been one of the city's most prominent venues for over 40 years, but has also lead the fight in the legal-defense of live music in the SOMA neighborhood.