Critic's Choice for the week of February 7-13, 2007
Mighty reggae, hot V-Day loved ones, and the sounds of Spanish Harlem.
Red Up Reggae
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Dem no like me/Me hyphy hyphy hyphy, exclaimed Capleton in his 2006 hit "Toppa Tings," establishing his ideological solidarity with the energy — if not the message — of the bay's youth-led insurgency. The Rasta dancehall icon, who's been a consistent presence on the reggae scene since the early '90s, has gone from salacious hits like "Lotion Man" to more righteous fare like "Jah Jah City" and "Dis the Trinity," but he's probably best known for 1994's "Tour," on which he says if slackness a de sickness, den culture is the cure. He'll red-, gold-, and greenify club Mighty this week, backed by a full band, in what could be the reggae show of the year. Selectas Jah Kno, Young Fiyah, and I-Vier warm up the session. Thursday, February 8. 9 p.m., $30. Mighty119.com (Eric K. Arnold)
Love to Love Them
It's been a while since they've been an official band, but Oakland's the Loved Ones haven't lost their affection for the occasional reunion show. And there's no better day than Valentine's for the affair. Even if you're cruising the single lane, Bart Davenport, Xan McCurdy, Mike Therieau, and John Kent's smoking 1960s' R&B will make your juices hot. With DJ C3PLOS at Annie's Social Club. Wednesday, February 14. 9 p.m., $10. AnniesSocialClub.com (Kathleen Richards)
Latin Groove Kings
Spanish Harlem Orchestra's new-millennium salsa is built on the foundation of the masters — Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria — and full of irresistible beats. You could question the wisdom of putting the self-proclaimed world's hottest salsa dance band into a sit-down concert hall, but who says you have to stay seated when the band takes over Zellerbach Hall on Saturday? Using Buena Vista Social Club-era instrumentation in the more modern New York salsa style, the orchestra headlined the Montreal Music Festival before touring the world, driving audiences wild with its Latin grooves. It received a Grammy nomination for its 2003 debut Un Gran Dia en el Barrio, and picked up a Grammy Award for its 2005 album Across 110th Street. Saturday, February 10. 8 p.m., $22-$42. CalPerfs.berkeley.edu (Larry Kelp)
Looping Feat
Sometimes, having restrictions can lead to greater exertion. For San Francisco's indie-noise-rock, guitar-drum duo Tartufi, that meant learning the ways of the loop pedal. With delicate flourishes, Lynne Angel captures snippets of her guitar and vocals, layers them, and, with drummer and bassist Brian Gorman, builds them to impressive heights. An especially gripping feat when performed live. Uke-tamer Tippy Canoe opens, with folk-duo Pillows softening the blow in between. Friday, February 9 at the Starry Plough. 9:30 p.m., $7. StarryPloughPub.com (K.R.)
Erudite Indie
For the past four years, self-professed music snob Ted Leibowitz has supplied indie rock fans with an alternative to the preprogrammed "rock" fed by corporate radio. His San Francisco-based Internet station, BAGeL Radio, streams on Live365, iTunes, and, most recently, Lala.com, allowing more fans to tune in to bands like the Shins, Jesus & Mary Chain, Rogue Wave, and Cat Power. To boot, Leibowitz touts Bay Area favorites alongside the staples. For the station's fourth anniversary blowout, Birdmonster, Division Day, and Two Seconds will profess their gratitude. So should you. Thursday, February 8 at Bottom of the Hill in SF. 9 p.m., $10BottomoftheHill.com. (K.R.)
Ear Knows the Throat
Huun Huur Tu, Tuva's leading band of performing folklorists, introduced the eerie sound of Tuvan throat singing — a vocal technique whereby singers can produce two notes and numerous overtones at the same time — to the West. Ten years ago they gathered Tuva's best younger singers to create Chirgilchin, a quartet carving out its own niche on the international stage. Listening to the band on CD does nothing to prepare you for its amazing live performance, which you can catch at Ashkenaz on Wednesday. Coincidentally, Tyva Kyzy, the first all-female group of throat singers, also plays SF's Great American Music Hall this week. Chirgilchin: Wednesday, February 14, 8:30 p.m., $17/$15. Ashkenaz.com; Tyva Kyzy: Sunday, February 11, 8 p.m., $21. MusicHallSF.com (j. poet)
Beethoven as It Was
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra takes a step into the classical era this weekend, as award-winning violinist Viktoria Mullova performs Beethoven's great Violin Concerto on her 1723 Stradivarius. Conductor Nicholas McGegan, who first worked with Mullova earlier this year, calls her "one of the finest violinists I have ever heard." Haydn's London Symphony and Weber's Second round out the First Congo program. Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11. 7:30 p.m., $29-$67. Philharmonia.org (Jason Victor Serinus)
Great American Songbooked
Some Small Dive writer Mark Robinson shoots for effortless vocal jazz á la Sinatra and Bennett, and a background studying classical voice and musical theory helps. Elegant and refined — expect a show based on standards like Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, plus some Elvis Costello in the mix. The Mark Robinson Quartet includes Danny Berthiaume on piano, Chuck Bennett on bass, and Rob Gibson on drums. At Anna's Jazz Island, Thursday, February 8. 8 p.m., $10. AnnasJazzIsland.com (D2)
