Our favorite album so far this year is “Re-Arrange Us” by husband and wife duo Mates of State. Beginning with the first single, “Get Better”, the album is a consistently enjoyable pop album. Mates of State are playing at Slim’s tomorrow and we’ve got a pair of tickets for one lucky SFist reader.......

Nicole Atkins starts this week off strong with some soulful tunes from the Jersey shore over at The Independent, starting at 8pm. She's crazy-cool and has a voice of gold. If you're more of a rocker, than get to Cafe du Nord early to see Cold Hot Crash and Filter play. It looks like the only way you can buy tickets is at the door and there's not too many of them. A Fine Frenzy,......

Shit. It's Valentine's Day this Thursday and by the looks of it most of you have already planned your perfect date. Three shows are already completely sold-out: The Kills at Rickshaw Stop, Slightly Stoopid at The Independent and Common at Mezzanine. While there are still several shows you can chance Thursday night, it might be wise to stay home and wait till the weekend to take your crush out. We are. Friday, the local music......

Let's Get Lost (1988): Bruce Weber followed around jazz trumpeter and heroin addict Chet Baker on a year-long excursion, "from the West Coast, to the East Coast, to Europe--including a stop at the Cannes Film Festival--with interviews with Chet, colleagues and friends, including dueling insights from his third wife, a former British show girl, and three children in Oklahoma, and from old flame Ruth Young, a sardonically throaty torch singer." Screens tonight at 7......

Wow, one show on Monday and twelve on Friday. This week we definitely start off a bit slow, but by the end of the week, we have a ton of choices. Wednesday, there is the sold-out Ingrid Michaelson show that had to be moved from Cafe du Nord to Slim's because apparently everyone is into "librarian chic" right now. Though it's sold-out, you can still find tickets on craigslist; the prices aren't too inflated, yet.......

Tickets, tickets, anyone want some tickets? We have two tickets to Friday's concert at Slim's featuring: Until June, Matt White and Melee. We've already told you that you don't want to be late to this show, because all three bands are equally as good. Until June, from sunny Phoenix, traveled to Los Angeles in hopes of a record deal. Obviously, at first, they got lost in the mix, but promised themselves that if they didn't......

Back in December, The Lovemakers, a glam-rock outfit from Oakland, decided to stay put and forego their national tour to record their next full-length album entitled "Love is Dead." (For a band called "The Lovemakers," that's quite a title!) According to their blog, they've also decided to "be a 3-piece [band] again for the next while live. Scott, Lisa and Michael Urbano on drums. Back to basics. Very cool. Very fun." What we didn't......

No Single Left Behind: Depressed at the thought of being single for the rest of your life? Then, go get a cat or eight. Sheesh. Or, better yet, attend this seminar where,according to the SFBG, "Rich Gosse, the keynote speaker at this gathering of nervous ex-spinsters-to-be, guarantees you'll get married in 2008 after hearing his pithy spouse-harpooning tips." What's more, the event's press release informs us that Mr. Gosse will touch upon the following......

Oakland Interfaith Gospel Ensemble: This awe-inspiring gospel ensemble from "the other side of the Bay," noted for its "interfaith, multi-racial, and multi-cultural" makeup -- will get you in the mood. The Christmas-y mood, that is. And if you can't handle all of the holiday joy abounding, there are plenty of bars around the neighborhood where you can get your joy on, booze-wise. The singing starts at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Slim's; $15.Midnight......

This week we want to focus on the local music scene even though it seems that Portland natives' Blitzen Trapper and Stephen Malkmus have captured San Franciscan's hearts - Wednesday's show is sold out. (There aren't even any tickets available on Craigslist!) Friday night you'll want to head over to Slim's to catch six bands: Perfect Machines, Fyre Away, High Like Five, the Paper Sons, Punch Face and Bob Hill Band. We're most excited about......

-- Doug Benson: How he didn't win the last season of Last Comic Standing is above and beyond all logic. Then again, competitive reality TV makes little sense at times. (See: Banks, Tyra) Benson managed to make it on LCS not once, but twice. And with good reason: he's downright hilarious. Nikki Glaser and Mo Mandel open for the Benson. Show starts at 8 p.m. (and continues until Saturday) at the Punch Line; $15.......

-- Roller Boogie (1979): '70s campfest about brightly colored roller skaters trying to keep their roller skating rink open should be fun, we think. For some reason older folks seem to have a higher tolerance for prolonged '70s-era camp like this, so younger movie watchers might get bored, but it's worth it to see Linda Blair in a non-possession role. (We always wished her career has gone a bit farther than it did. Alas.)......

Each Tuesday we will feature new music that should (or whatever) be on your radar. Standouts: 1. Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead: With his newest single, "Empty Walls," System of the Down's front man sings a passionate protest against the war. He cleverly sets his newest video in a daycare juxtaposing the violence of day-to-day objects such as silly-string, bubbles, helmets, doll houses and even a fun-dome filled with hundreds of plastic balls. His......

Augie March, looking a bit haggard - maybe a little drunk, performed their second set of the day - earlier they made an appearance at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate Park. This didn't stop the Melbourne based band from rocking out their eclectic mix of music at Slim's on Friday night. Their music ranges from pop in "One Crowded Hour" to folk in "Bottle Baby" then jumps head first into the......

-- Augie March: Australia band, crooners of the catchy "One Crowded Hour," will be playing at 8:30 p.m. at Slim's; $15. -- The Go-Go's: Saccharine '80s LA girl rock. Gravy Train!!! opens. Music starts at 9 p.m. at the Independent; $65. -- Poetry & Pizza: D.A. Powell & Ryan Courtwright highlight this first-of-the-month poetry reading pizza party. Escape from New York Pizza, 333 Bush; benefits Larkin Street Project.......

-- Lez Zeppelin and Dolorata: Lesbian-y Led Zepplin cover band and indie-rock band perform in SOMA. Doors open at 8 p.m. at Slim's, 333 - 11th Street (at Folsom); $18. -- Jeff Garlin: Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm! We heart you ever so! And your total bitch of a wife! (On the show, that is.) He does stand-up tonight along with Rick Overton and Marc Herson at 8 p.m. at Cobb's Comedy Club, 915......

-- The Exorcist: Linda Blair, pea soup, 360-degree head turn, Satan, "the power of Christ compels you...," blah, blah -- whatever, it's still a great movie. And besides, it stars Ellen Burstyn, who is practically perfect in every way. Part of the Castro Theatre's William Friedkin Series, it screens tonight at 7 p.m.; $6-$9. -- The Turn of the Screw: Henry James' complicated Gothic tale about a governess in a haunted house gets the......

There are no less than three fantastic music festivals all taking place over the weekend of September 14-16. What gives? And how do we choose? Since we live in the bay area, perhaps our decision has been made for us: we're heading to the inaugural Treasure Island Music Festival presented by the fine folks at Noise Pop and Another Planet. The two day festival features 14 bands each day on two stages with mostly hip......

-- The Cribs, Sean Na Na, and the Hugs: popscene presents a surprisingly not-so-greasy group of Britrockers, the Cribs, performing along with Sean Na Na and the Hugs. (Aw.) Show starts at 8 p.m. at Slim's, 333 11th St.; admission is $13. -- Improv Slam Music Jam: All-singing show presented by local improv troupe tries to delight you with their off-the-cuffness. Audience participation is rumored to happen, so you’ve been warned. Show starts at......

It is a cavalcade of giving these days at SFist! Today's present to our faithful readers: tickets for you and a friend to see new alternaband the Cribs. They're three brothers (two twins) from England, they sound kind of like Interpol, their new album "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever" was produced by the singer from Franz Ferdinand, and they're at Lollapalooza in Chicago in August. But before they do that, the Cribs are playing......

Prolific, ornery, talented, unpredictable, easy on the eyes, genius, bastard - there are many ways to try and describe Ryan Adams, but at this point if you've heard of him, you've probably formed some sort of opinion. In his new single "Two" he sings: "I got a really good heart, I just can't catch a break." Whether or not you buy that, we're still loving his new CD. Easy Tiger is built on the......

-- Joan Osbourne: She's famous (or just known for) her one-hit confection "One of Us," but her first effort was an overall amazing album. At least as far as the Liz Phairian ouvre goes, we think. She performs with Victoria George at 8 p.m. at Slim's, 333 11th St. (at Folsom); $26. -- Natural Born Hooker: The all-caps happy counterPULSE Theatre brings us the in's and the out's of one man's ten-year journey as......

Based on a Brothers Grimm tale,The Robber Bridegroom is a musical fable is full of puppetry, murder and curses. Put on by the Stars and Garters Theatre Co., the show runs through the 15th at the Voice Factory. 1519 Mission St. Tickets are available on a sliding scale, from $12-$20. Show starts at 8pm. Considered to be the largest underground hip-hop event in America, Scribble Jam kicks off at 9pm at Slim's. Come check......

Our top 5 moments at Feist's Fillmore show on Tuesday, June 26th:      5. Hearing a cash register clang at the back of the venue in the middle of the set, and realizing that the sold-out crowd was perfectly silent. San Francisco concertgoers can really take their music seriously. You stay classy.      4. Instead of playing to the crowd, Feist literally played the crowd by dividing us into three sections (by type of shoe......

This week's shows have an equal emphasis on the old and the new. Mix things up a little by seeing an up-and-comer followed by a living legend or two; it's just the kind of eclectic variety that San Francisco's concert venues have to offer. On Friday we're delighted about the opportunity to see 80 year old living legend Charlie Louvin play an early show at the Swedish American Hall. The Louvin Brothers had their heyday......

We missed SXSW last week, but some of our friends were down there covering the mayhem and brought back some great photos. You can see local photographer and friend of SFist Julie Schuchard get up close and personal with Iggy Pop and The Stooges in this slideshow and see tons of SXSW photos taken by DJ Ted of BAGeL Radio. Also check out a bunch of coverage from our friends at Austinist. Since all......

This week's giveaway comes from The Finches, a local duo who play endearing folk pop. The songs are refreshingly gentle and Carolyn's voice rings with a true sincerity. See them Saturday afternoon at 2pm when they play a free in-store at Amoeba, or celebrate their CD release at Cafe Du Nord on Wednesday night with The Moore Brothers, Colossal Yes and The Mantles. We're giving away a copy of their brand new CD Human......

When compiling my "Year in Review" in my head, I thought, "Hey, I do get out of the house sometimes!" This year was a year of firsts for me. I saw some awe-inspiring bands, took some fun Bay Area trips, and became a regular at some tasty restaurants....

What? This isn't Thursday? OK, all this holiday brouhaha has made us a day late from our usual posting schedule but we just know you'll forgive us. To make it up to you, we want to share a brand new video from Trainwreck Riders. According to our buddy Nat, last week the band hit the streets with a super 8 camera and a bag full of costumes that they dug up from their basements. They......

There's something for everyone in the city tonight. If you want to hear pop rhymes from a new UK export, Popscene presents Lily Allen with Guest DJ Mark Ronson at 330 Ritch. For some glam-cabaret, see The Dresden Dolls and The Red Paintings at Bimbo's for the first of two nights. The National play grim indie rock at Great American. The naughty locals in Luxxury have a sultry CD release at Bottom of the hill......