Weekend round-up: It's all here

From a not-so-secret show at Bottom of the Hill (which has been officially sold-out for weeks) to the up and coming punk bands taking the stage at Gilman, there are hundreds of reasons to get out and support live music in the Bay Area. This weekend we recommend checking out:

Thursday: Being skeptical of super big radio-hit bands who choose to play super-tiny venues is understandable. Let's face it, the whole thing tends to feel like a stunt for media attention, yet when monster hit makers FUN. announced they'd play Bottom of the Hill tonight we were intrigued. The show is officially sold out, but there is always a way (if you have the $$ and patience) to get in at the door, and we'd love to hear reports from readers on how it goes!

Also on Thursday, If buying into the FUN. hype isn't your thing, why not head over to the Hemlock Tavern for a night of local indie rock featuring Pony Fight, Broken Cities and Groundskeeper. Doors at 9PM, $6. Or for something ever-so-slightly less raging, check out Bay Area buskers turned indie up and comers The Ferocious Few at Great American Music Hall. Doors at 7:30, $13 general Admission, $37.95 for dinner+ admission to the show.

Friday: Punk is definitely not dead at 924 Gilman where Condemned?, 2nd Class Citizens (CD release event) FUKM, III Content, and War of Aggression take the stage for an early start (7PM) all ages show. $8 at the door. 

On Friday in SF:Synth-Pop with rock in its roots, Mini Mansions (featuring Michael Shuman of Queens of the Stone Age)  takes the stage at Cafe Du Nord with Maus Haus and White Cloud. Described by DuNord publicity peeps as " a mix of baroque-pop requiems, Motown eulogies, and Mersey-era break beats. Let's just say it's like The Zombies playing at ODB's funeral" this show is sure to surprise QOTSA fans. Doors at 8:30, $10.

Saturday: For budget-minded music fans,  The Shattuck Down Low in Berkeley is hosting a FREE SHOW with Ms. Chemist and the Claw plus 1/2 price drinks and djs after the show. Doors at 8PM. for more info go here.  

Also on Saturday and in the East Bay, Oakland's The Uptown hosts supergroup The Stripminers (featuring members of The Donnas, X and many others!). Doors at 9PM $12 tickets available on Ticketweb, check out the Stripminers video below.