Party Radar: Catching up, falling out

PARTY RADAR The real news is always so terrible — and that’s not fake. HOWEVER, there’s some heartening nightlife news out there for us denizens of the alternative universes, so let’s tune into Channel Party Radar and turn those frowny emojis into upside-downy emojis.

4AM HERE WE COME It still has a few more legislative hurdles to leap, but State Senator Scott Wiener (yes, yes, but he’s actually great on nightlife issues) has managed what once seemed impossible: He’s guided his legislation to allow cities to let bars and clubs serve alcohol until 4am through the full state senate, which just voted ‘yes.’ It’s part of his Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night Act, which sounds like a problem with uncomfortable communal undergarments, but there you have it. According to a 2012 commissioned report, nightlife was a billion-dollar business in San Francisco (add in restaurants and you’re up to $4.2 billion), so this would probably really benefit the local economy, despite hilarious hand-wringing about “ungodliness” from the likes of the Chron.   

GHOST SHIP FUNDS The incredible Josette Melchor and her Gray Area Foundation for the Arts raised over a million dollars for victims and families of the Ghost Ship Fire. I watched it happen live on social media: immediately the fire, acting out of stricken instinct, Josette set up a GoFundMe and the money began pouring in. Unfortunately, this selfless act turned out to be a lesson i how complicated these kinds of too-successful things could be: red tape, issues of fraudulent claims (ugh), and administrative complexities tied up the money for a while, but last month, the last bits of the fund were finally being distributed. Here’s a complete breakdown of the effort. Another bit of good news to come out of this awful tragedy: In honor of Donna Kellogg, one of the Ghost Ship victims, the college she was attending, Baumann College, has established the Donna Kellogg Scholarship Program in Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. “The scholarship will aim to support individuals who would like to apply nutrition education to rehab/recovery programs targeting at-risk and marginalized populations,” Baumann said in a statement. Finally on this subject, Sam “Peaches” Maxwell, the last person to make it out of Ghost Ship, is still facing a hard recovery. Please donate to him and his family for medical expenses if you can! 

HURRAY FOR CHRISTIAN SCOTT Do you like the idea of heady-groovy electronically-influenced, politically outspoken jazz from a young genius and his young genius band? Even if you can’t envision it, you must hear it: Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and his band’s album Stretch Music has worn out my laptop (shame so many awesome contemporary jazz albums can’t afford to be on vinyl!) the past year, and his live performances are absolute fire, pausing to incorporate Scott’s searing stories of black life in America today. He’s essential, and he’s performing live at Yoshi’s this Thursday and Friday. Go!  

BEBE’S DARKSIDE One of my favorite people on the scene and beyond, experimental performer and musician Bebe Huxley, has just released her new “Darkside” video and it’s actually a quite lovely pop moment. “For me, the ‘Darkside’ is a state of questioning—a challenge to rethink my behaviors I’ve learned from my assigned gender,” Bebe told OUT Magazine. “Wearing a cockpiece in performance changed my understanding of myself as a woman in a body and initiated my journey into queer self-discovery.” Check it out, and then let’s party: 

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

MOTOWN ON MONDAY (ON FRIDAY) 8-YEAR ANNIVERSARY Motown on Mondays, weekly at Madrone Art Bar, has grown into one of our most successful current nightlife franchises, spawning parties all around the world (33 cities!!) that preach the gospel of the Motor City Sound to ecstatic dancers. This blowout at the Chapel features the MOM DJs plus an incredible roster of DJs from hip-hop and beyond. Fri/2, 6pm-2am, $10-$25. The Chapel, SF. Tickets and more info here.   

VAGUE TERRAIN Experimental, unbounded electronic hijinx in the Lower Haight? Dissolve me into aural pleasure. With YNV, Elexos Park, and CZ. Fri/2, 10pm, $5. Underground SF. More info here. 

DOC MARTIN The rave legend — and one of the sweetest people ever — returns for a night of big room boom at Great Northern. Fri/2, 9:30pm-3am, $10-$20. Great Northern, SF. Tickets and more info here. 

MOUNT KIMBIE I’ve adored this duo’s sculptural electronic funk since 2011’s monumental “Maybes.” The new stuff sounds pretty rad, too (anyone who scores a guest spot by Micachu is sure to make me smile). Fri/2, 10pm-3am, $20. 1015 Folsom, SF. Tickets and more info here.

STEVE BUG Berlin’s “Gentleman of Techno” always brings news of further developments in the underground realm, tempered with his classy style and bubbling presence behind the decks. With Powel and Ramona Wouters. Fri/2, 9:30pm-3:30am, $17. Public Works, SF. Tickets and more info here.   

DESPERATE LIVING A queer punk party featuring a live band? OK! With the wonderful and wacky Club Meds and a host of lovelies. Fri/2, 10pm-3am, $10. the Stud, SF. More info here.

SATURDAY, JUNE 3

HARD FRENCH FINALE For seven years, this wondrous queer soul patio party has been one of the absolute best times in SF — seriously, I ask visitors to plan their trips around it. Now it is wrapping up its monthly affair (although there are great things on the horizon, like a Pride party with Ronnie Spector!) Come out and cry, cry, cry farewell. Sat/3, 2pm-8pm, $10. El Rio, SF. More info here.

GO BANG! 100 The best monthly disco party in all the land celebrates 100 parties! With the fantastic Carrie Morrison and Rich King on the decks, and a dance floor of appreciative cuties. Sat/3, 9pm-4am, $5-$10. The Stud, SF. Tickets and more info here. 

GUY J I was not a fan of “progressive house” the first time around, although I did dip in at legendary clubs like Sugar at The Stud. It was to predictable and repetitive for me — circuit music for straight people. However, what’s being called “contemporary progressive” now has me enthralled. It’s artier, with some smart ideas about genre, and showcases, over it’s chugging-beat canvas, the advantages of new mixing and sampling technologies. My favorite of the new crop is Israel’s Guy J, who wows me with his prowess. Sat/3, 10pm-6am, $10-$20. Halcyon, SF. Tickets and more info here. 

STUDIO 5’4″ I kid you not, this is a very fun gay party for guys who like their men, er, more portable … as they say, at this party, “Love is never out of reach.” Sat/3, 9pm, $5. Lone Star, SF. More info here.  

KYLE HALL, JOHN TEJADA, GUNNAR HASLAM Three very impressive players with different styles come together for the opening of the Patchwork party/club at the Midway. I’ve seen all three several times and cannot wait to see how their sounds ride out together through the night. Sat/3, 9pm-4am, $17. Midway, SF. Tickets and more info here. 

POWERBLOUSE What happens when a prominent nightlife who has never done drag before gets a fantasy makeover from reigning queens Juanita More and Glamamore? Come find out, as they unleash their powers on vogue prince Jacques Whitfield. Music by the great DJ Rolo. Sat/3, 10pm, $5. Powerhouse, SF. More info here. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

RACHEL TORRO A quintessential SF DJ who’s been appearing here far-to-infrequently of late, Torro is back at the Werd party for some perfect Sunday night vibes. Sun/4, 9pm, $5 advance. Monarch, SF. Tickets and more info here. 

AFTERNOON DELIGHT Get thee to the New Parish for this lovely Oakland patio dance party, this month featuring house legend Ruben Mancias and cuddly Kevin O’Connor. Sun/4, 3pm-8pm, $10. New Parish, Oakland. More info here. 

SWAGGER LIKE US Another fab patio party, this time on the colorful queer hip-hop tip and featuring special guest La Favi. Sun/4, 2am-8pm, $10. El Rio, SF. Tickets and more info here.