KFOG KaBoom!

Huge fireworks festival with live music from Los Lobos, Collective Soul

Saturday, May 10th, 4pm - $15 adv / $20 door

Over 30,000 are expected for this annual music festival and fireworks show which takes place at Pier 30/32 which is just south of the Bay Bridge. The 2008 ‘KFOG KaBoom!’ features live music from legendary East LA rockers Los Lobos, the bittersweet but groovy post-grunge rockers Collective Soul, and impressive 12-string guitar player and pop songwriter Matt Nathanson. There’s lots of food & drink stalls, and tons of events for families.

It’s all capped off at 9pm with California’s biggest fireworks display [watch video of the 2007 fireworks show] over the SF Bay exploding synchronized to music broadcast on KFOG (104.5 FM), so bring a radio. Is seven-and-a-half tons of explosives enough for you?

About the Contest: Funcheap has two pair of hard tickets that must either be mailed to the winner or picked up at the funcheapSF offices in the Financial District during normal business hours.

Pier 30/32 - Embarcadero and Brannan (Just south of the Bay Bridge) - South of Market

(Muni: N, T, 12) - or you can easily walk from Embarcadero Station or Caltrain Depot

Exclusive Discount: Get the 2008 Green Zebra guide for only $15

Normally $25, a coupon book, directory and local resource for living a more sustainable life in San Francisco

$15 (buy online - use organization code “FUN222″ normally it’s $25)

No book giveaway this week, but the good people at Green Zebra are offering an exclusive price discount for us. Normally $25 (we think even that’s a great price) but Green Zebra will sell their guide for only $15 to funcheapers! You’ll probably save that much with the first coupon from the book that you use. The FUN222 code sadly expires on May 13, 2008 but that should give you plenty of time to see if you like this book and to find out there’s no cheaper way to buy it. Go ahead and google and try. Even with the sales tax and shipping cost (which is a very reasonable $2.95) this is by far the best deal out there right now, otherwise you know Johnny Funcheap wouldn’t waste your time.

About the Green Zebra guide: This nifty little book has over 275 exclusive offers, coupons and discounts totaling up to about $10,000 in savings from local environmentally-conscious and community-oriented businesses, organic restaurants and markets, eco-friendly retailers, yoga studios, spas, bike shops, museums, indie bookstores and more. Plus this well-laid-out book is loaded with easy-to-read tips and suggestions on how to make simple changes in your life that have a big effect on the planet. Even better, proceeds benefit the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance.

Over 275 Exclusive coupons and discounts including: Books Inc., Cole Hardware, a free Bento Box lunch at Medicine Eat Station, Complimentary breakfast at Seller’s Market, 15% off Sports Basement, Zipcar, Andronico’s plus many new additions for 2008 including Aveda, Esurance, Farmer Brown, Mission Beach Cafe, Planet Organics, Ritual Coffee Roasters and more. New for 2008, Green Zebra produces three separate editions: San Francisco, Marin County and the Peninsula.

“A different stripe - Green Zebra coupon book hopes to clip environmental waste, raise awareness” - San Francisco Chronicle

Pink Martini performing with Napa Valley Symphony

Vintage latin, lounge and jazz band performed with a full orchestra

Friday, May 9th, 8pm - $35 adv / door

Pink Martini augments their eclectic, wistful, lush, and playful sounds with a complete orchestra during a two-night-only wine country residence. Described as somewhere between a 1930’s Cuban dance orchestra and a classical chamber musical ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band and Japanese film noir, Pink Martini has a reputation for making audiences swoon.
Since their sound is steeped in a cross pollination of genres and styles that ranges from classical music, film soundtracks and torch songs to soft rock stylings, ethnically-tinged anthems and the odd rumba, samba or cha cha cha thrown in for sexy good measure, they’re never better than when appearing with the Napa Valley Symphony; a full orchestra complete with string section.
Pink Martini’s music has appeared in music compilations like the influential Hotel Costes series; films and television include Nurse Betty, The Sopranos, The West Wing, Desperate Housewives, and The L Word.
“jet set, vintage chic… suggests an alternate pop universe untouched by the influence of rock’n'roll or R&B” – New York Times
Lincoln Theater - 100 California Drive (off Hwy 29), Yountville - Napa Valley

Lonely Planet: Choose a National Parks Guide

Brand new updates to Lonely Planet’s guide to national parks.

Available at most bookstores in the Bay Area - $21.99 [purchase online] Use Promo Code LPBOOKS for an additional 20% off your order

Lonely Planet has relaunched of its National Parks series with four North American gems:

This week, win a copy of your choice of any one of the four new books:

Yosemite, Sequoia & King’s Canyon National Parks,

Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Parks

Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks Guide

Each of the books weighs in at nearly 300 pages and includes a new full-color highlights section shows the best of the park at a glance with detailed itineraries and dozens hikes with topographical hiking maps. There are opinionated descriptions of campgrounds large and small, modern and primitive, plus trustworthy reviews of other accommodations, restaurants and sights in or near the parks

“Fascinating history section along with detailed maps” –Chicago Tribune
Lonely Planet, based in Oakland, has 250 authors and publishes over 600 different travel-related titles giving travelers trustworthy information and comprehensive travel content from all over the world. Johnny is personally a big fan and owns many titles

Iron Comic

Five great comedians battle to the death after getting 10 minutes to come up with a brand new routine.

Monday, May 12th, 8pm - $10 door (2 drink minimum)

Iron Comic is live gameshow where five comedians must scramble to write a routine in 10 minutes from topics provided by the audience. At the end of the night an Iron comic will be chosen. Inspired by Iron Chef each comic is forced to craft jokes while the clock is ticking…

Normally at the Make Out Room in the Mission District, this month’s Iron Comic moves to the big time, the Punchline Comedy Club in the financial District with a near all-star lineup. Battling in Joke Arena will be Brent Weinbach, (pictured) a local favorite who toured with the Comedians of Comedy. Moshe Kasher, co-creator of underground comedy phenomenon Smug Shift. Kevin Avery is a semi-finalist in the SF Comedy Competition, and was called “amazing” by the SF Chronicle. Randall Park has appeared on Reno 911, and Brendan Lynch. Also performing during downtime will be Ali Wong, the host of The Onion Comedy Series and sketch group Rice & Beans. Kevin Camia as seen on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and Jason Wheeler.

Punchline Comedy Club - 444 Battery Street (btwn Washington and Clay upstairs in Maritime Plaza) - Financial District

(Muni: 1, 10, 20, 41)

Funny Girlz: A Smorgasbord of Women Comedians

Six diverse comediennes in a benefit show for The Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Center

Saturday, May 10th, 8pm - $25 adv / door

This day-before-Mother’s Day comedy show benefits The Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Center. and features: Phranc (your typical All American Jewish lesbian folksinger), Diane Amos (The Pine Sol Lady), Gina Yashere pictured (Last Comic Standing via the UK), Samantha Chanse (local favorite), Matthew “Peggy Lee” Martin (drag personality extraordinaire), and Lisa Geduldig (Kung Pao Kosher Comedy producer). Funny Girlz features a diverse line-up of internationally, nationally, and locally known funny female comedians and humorists — British/Nigerian, African American, Asian American, Jewish, lesbian, straight, a drag queen… Producer Lisa Geduldig created Funny Girlz to celebrate and showcase the plethora of funny women on the comedy circuit.

The Herbst Theatre - War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave (@ McAllister) - Civic Center

(BART: Civic Center) (Muni: 5, 19, 21, 31 47, 49)

Tributes to Journey & The Go-Go’s

Evolution and Beauty & the Beat bring you back to the 80s

Saturday, May 10th, 9pm - $13 adv / $15 door

Named “Best Tribute Band in Northern California” by 98.5 KFOX, The Journey tribute band Evolution was featured on that radio station’s “Last Band Standing” doing live morning sessions on the radio with Greg Kihn. Their music is tight, and the voice of the lead singer matches Steve Perry’s nearly note-for-note in reaching those high notes you thought only dogs could hear. (Watch video of live performance of “Send Her My Love”)

Beauty & The Beat are an all-girl Go-Go’s tribute band made off of castaways from various SF rock bands including Thunderpussy, Death Before Dishes, and (our favorite band name of all time) Inspect Her Gadget. Expect to hear Vacation, This Town, Head over Heels and a few lesser known album tracks like Beatnick Beach.
Red Devil Lounge - 1695 Polk Street (at Clay) - Polk Gulch

(Muni: 1, 12, 27, 19, 47, 49, 76, California Street Cable Car)

Hey Willpower & The Invisible Cities

It’s like seeing Scissor Sisters with Tegan and Sara, but for $7

Thursday, May 15th, 9:30pm - $7 door

Half Michael Jackson, half Justin Timberlake, half Beyonce, Hey Willpower (pictured) are one of SF’s most fun synth/electro/dance pop bands. The band, featuring Will from Imperial Teen and Tomo of Tussle, will most likely warm your inner-robot if you’re a fan of the Scissor Sisters. Listen: Hundredaire (.mp3)

The Invisible Cities is a San Francisco-based band that makes incandescent rough-around- the-edges sometimes-quiet sometimes loud rock’n'roll pop music with wiry guitars and boy/girl harmonies. Their sound varies from introspective shoegazing like Yo La Tengo, to the sparse & quirky “Lost In Translation” (which sounds like - but actually preceded - Tegan and Sara’s “So Jealous”) to peppy indie rock like with twangy guitar jabs and harmonies on “Tentacle,” which should be on everyone’s iPod.

Hemlock Tavern - 1131 Polk St. (@ Post) - Polk Gulch

(Muni: 2, 3, 4, 19, 38, 47, 49)

Miguel Gutierrez and The Powerful People

The final weekend of the “Dancers Debate the Body Politic” dance festival

Thursday-Saturday, May 8-10th 8pm - $20 adv / $25 door ($18 students)

Miguel Gutierrez and The Powerful People in from New York for the first time ever. The evening uses an urban and sexually bold aesthetic to look at the politics of the body and examine the desire of a performer to not only be liked, but be loved by an audience –a desire incidentally, that also motivates many politicians. The New York Times said about Miguel in 2007, “At a time when so much art lacks a heartbeat, Mister Gutierrez’s chest pounds.”

For the Record; Dancers Debate the Body Politic is a dance/performance festival spread out over three weekends that scrutinizes the politics of government and history, the environment, and of course, the body.

Project Theater Artaud - 450 Florida Street (btwn 17th St. & Mariposa) - Potrero Hill

(Muni: 12, 27, 33, 53)

Port O’Brien

Ace triple bill of indie pop and folk rock

Wednesday, May 14th, 8pm - $10 adv / $12 door

Port O’Brien, an Oakland band whose new album, All We Could Do Was Sing, is due out May 13th, is a sort of folk/indie/acoustic band with shades of the yelping loosey-goosey exuberance of The Arcade Fire. We love both the name and the sound of the indie-pop support band, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, of whom Spin Magazine wrote, “could succeed the Shins as the band that will change your life.” Opening are Girls, with their garagey indie-rock combining the Ohsees and the Dodos.

Port O’Brien Audio Sample: My Eyes Won’t Shut (.mp3)

Rickshaw Stop - 155 Fell (just west of Van Ness) - Civic Center

(Bart: Civic Center) (Metro: Van Ness) (Muni: F, 6, 7, 9, ,21, 26, 47, 49, 66, 71)

Cheap City… The Show

Part stand-up, part slideshow, but all about living on the cheap in San Francisco.

Thursday, May 8th, 8pm - $10 adv / $12 door

‘Cheap City… The Show’ — is part stand up and part slideshow— and offers creative advice for getting by on a budget and solving social ills and cheap solutions and quick fixes for life. Comedian Michael Capozzola, cartoonist of the San Francisco Chronicle’s ‘Cheap City’ (each week in 96 Hours) is bringing back his one-man show for one-night after a sold out performance this past winter in the comedy festival SketchFest.

FUNCHEAP DISCOUNT: Funcheapers get 2 for 1 admission

- Bring a print out of this email, or mention “Funcheap” at the door, and get two people in for $12!

La Peña Cultural Center - 3105 Shattuck Ave. (@ Prince St.)- Berkeley

(BART: Ashby)

Stateless

Part live theater, part film, - a performance on the Jewish experience

Sunday, May 11th 8p - $15 adv / door ($10 students)

In this work of hip hop theater, Dan Wolf, the great grand nephew of Ludwig Wolf (writer of Hamburg, Germany’s most famous song, Een echt Hamborger Jung), returns to Hamburg to make a film about his family. Using tatter found in his grandmother’s basement - a picture of two dockworkers, a costume, a long letter from his grandfather - Wolf links his Jewish past with his present search for self. Through a pastiche of rhyme, dialogue, and song we are led from Hamburg to Shanghai, New York and San Francisco through anti-Semitism, the assimilation of Jewish culture, and the rediscovery of an artistic legacy.

The JCC’s performance mixes select scenes from the play with excerpt from the film, providing a unique cross-medium journey that is not to be missed. A Q&A will follow the show.

Jewish Community Center of the East Bay - 1414 Walnut Ave. (@ Rose) - Berkeley

(Nearest Bart: Downtown Berkeley) (AC Transit: 7, 9, 18)