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,......

When we first mentioned Nicole Atkins, back in October, we genuinely loved her unique sound calling it "...an incredibly beautiful masterpiece of songwriting and story-telling." Almost six months later, we still agree with our initial reaction - if anything, it's grown on us even more. Our friends over at Noise: SFBG are totally into her as well. "There's always room for more melodrama in my life - just as long as it's strictly of......

Join us tonight at the Fillmore, where Sia (one of our favorites) will be headlining. We saw her at the end of last year and the show was definitely fantastic; we highly recommend checking out tonight's show. Her latest album, Some People Have Real Problems, is stellar and has garnered critical success jumping to #26 on the Billboard charts, selling more than 20,000 copies and finishing ahead of fellow press darling Kate Nash (all in......

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......

Each Tuesday we will feature new music that should (or whatever) be on your radar. Standouts: 1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend: We've been spouting praise about Vampire Weekend's newest release since early December, when we heard their album for the first time. Since then, we've seen them live at The Independent, put them on our "Albums We're Looking Forward To in 2008" list and finally featured them (once again) in "This Week in Le......

This week there's a recommendation every night at a different venue - talk about a great week of music. Starting with Monday, MGMT, the super-hyped duo from Brooklyn, will be playing Bottom of the Hill. MGMT is: Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, two psychic pilgrims whose paths first intersected in the green pastures of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, circa 2002. After a post-college "existential crisis" they decided to create their masterpiece, Oracular Spectacular, released......

If you haven't decided what you are doing to celebrate the New Year, it's okay - it seems that limited tickets are still available to tonight's biggest shows. We have a feeling they will go quick. If you don't like crowds, you can check out Radiohead's New Year's Eve bash on your couch with a bottle of booze. For the partiers, there are several options ranging from $8 at Hotel Utah to $100 at Cafe......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at The Independent. Zipcar, for renting cars by the hour or by the day. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. SF Dish, where AMEX cardmembers can dish about restaurants. Love is a......

San Francisco's musical offerings were bountiful Wednesday night ranging from Film School to Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings to The Thermals. It seems, though, that most of you made the correct choice: Vampire Weekend. Now we don't doubt that the other shows weren't amazing -- we were pretty miffed that there were so many choices on one night -- but clearly if you are anybody then you were wearing a blue pin-striped shirt, dark......

Kids, it's time to get rocking. (Especially before the "Private Party" dry spell that is coming on. Yikes.) This week, the San Francisco music gods are offering a vast array of newbies and veterans - something that we will graciously partake of any day of the week. Now that the bets are in (okay, so no one really cast any bets - how boring is that?), you can go to Cafe du Nord, tonight,......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at The Independent. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. SF Dish, where AMEX cardmembers can dish about restaurants. Stylized Sculpture, at the Asian Art Museum. Busted Tees, where they're selling 12 shirts......

Judging from the range of performers this week, there is something for everyone. Starting first, in our weekly recommendations, is New Zealand singer-songwriter, Brooke Fraser. Prior to this post, we knew nothing about this accomplished 19 year-old but a quick visit to her MySpace page and we were hooked. Tuesday, you can catch this gorgeous, pop-writing sensation at Cafe du Nord. If not, download her latest release, Albertine on iTunes. Wednesday, we are welcoming......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at The Independent. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. SF Dish, where AMEX cardmembers can dish about restaurants. Wristcutters, which is in theaters now. Stylized Sculpture, at the Asian Art Museum. Busted......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at The Independent. Truly CA, stories about California on KQED. Junkestra, a symphony played on junk and opening today! The California Wellness Foundation, presenting the winners of its 2007 California Peace Prize. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. SF Dish, where AMEX cardmembers can dish about restaurants.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on SFist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at The Independent. Truly CA, stories about California on KQED. Junkestra, a symphony played on junk and opening next Friday. SF Dish, where AMEX cardmembers can dish about restaurants. Wristcutters, which is in theaters now. Stylized Sculpture, at the Asian Art Museum. Busted Tees, where they've thrown their weight behind Hillary in '08.......

If you were down in the Castro last night or maybe just at home, then you missed Federico Aubele at The Independent. Lucky for all of us, he's playing there tonight as well. Live, Aubele will feature ESL Music newcomer, Natalia Clavier on vocals, keys and samples, with El Jon on percussion and beats, and Aubele on guitar, vocals, and loops. His latest effort, Panamericana, is named after the Pan-American Highway that stretches from......

Prints + good tunes = the Pipettes -- The Pipettes: This all-female, British, Phil-Spector-sounding band gains more and more popularity by the day. See them tonight so that by next year when they're too big for SF venues, you can say you saw them when. They perform with Social Studies and Monster Bobby (read our interview with him here!) -- the Ladybug Transistor, who were scheduled to go on, will not be appearing -- tonight......

Recently we featured The Kin in the weekly music column, New Tunes Tuesday #4. We did this for a reason - they've recently become one of my favorite bands. Just as we were impressed when we saw them for the first time at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia in June, we were equally impressed with their West Coast debut performance this week at The Independent. Instantly the audience responded positively to the well-blended vocals,......

-- Lust, Caution (2007): Ang Lee's new espionage flick is rated NC-17 (i.e., the pretentious thinking person's X). Hot. Oh, and it's actually really good -- at least we think so, anyway. Screens tonight at 8 p.m. and 9 at the Embarcadero Cinemas; $7.50-10. -- Shout Out Louds, Johnossi, Nico Vega, DJ Omar: Sweden band takes the stage tonight, along with three equally stellar aural outfits, starting at 8 p.m. at The Independent; $15.......

Being paralyzed by choice is pretty much the peril of music lovers in this town. If you didn’t see Beirut’s amazing show last night at the Herbst, you’re probably considering how to check them out tonight. On the other hand approximately half the population of Swedish rockers are performing at The Independent tonight. And well, Swedish bands are just so very hot. Headliners are the Shout Out Louds, whose new album we can’t say......

-- Magic Bullets: Along with Bonde do Role and JuiceBoxxx, this local outfit (heavy on the bass lines, rhythmic keyboards, and melancholic vocals) performs tonight at 9 p.m. at The Independent, 628 Divisadero; $13. -- Queen Christina (1933): Young Swedish queen ends up kissing another dame as well as a dashing John Gilbert. Greta Garbo stars in this classic starting at 9 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive Theater, 2575 Bancroft Way. -- Downy......

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......

Update!: We got the contest entry form working (we think) -- sorry about the mixup. Go on, enter now! San Francisco pop darlings Loquat are peeking their heads out from inside their studio tomorrow night to play a rare show at the Independent. They've been working on a new album with friends and producers the Rondo Brothers, who are also playing tomorrow night's show, along with Foxtail Somersault. They played a brief set back......

Avoiding the masses storming the theaters for Transformers? Here are a few things to keep you busy until the 4th... If you haven't been yet, stop by Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight to check out Back for Seconds, a diverse group show with 37 different artists. 1173 Sutter St, SF. Kick back with Castle Quiz at the Edinburgh Castle with seven rounds of questions about music, history and pop culture. Drink specials and cash prizes......

It's that time of the year again for San Francisco magazine's Best of the Bay party. The annual bash features lots of eats, drinks and chances to win prizes. Be prepared to fork over nearly a bill for your ticket here -- but as an added bonus it will also get you into the afterparty at Slide. San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St. Come watch contenders for the Air Guitar championship title......

SFist interviews Craig Billmeier aka Hot Lixx Hulahan, US air guitar champion. ...

SFist interviews Patrick Pentland from Sloan...

SFist Jenna sez....: Get your learn, dessert, dance and drink on at these Tuesday haps around the city: Reading & Book Signing: A.M Homes, (author of Safety of Objects, Music for Torching and The End of Alice) reading from and signing her latest book, The Mistress's Daughter, about her horrible biological parents, tonight at 7 pm. Booksmith,1644 Haight St. Get there a bit early to take advantage of the free cone day at Ben &......

Here's a listing for tonight's events...

In our ongoing effort to bring music to your ears, this week we're giving away two special prize packs from a long-standing Bay area band, The Mother Hips. Formed back in 1991, it's been six years since the band last released a full album. They're back with a new studio record on April 3rd called Kiss the Crystal Flake. Said singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm: "It is very different from anything we recorded in the past.......