PARTY RADAR This one’s on the fly, I’m afraid, as I’m headed out to DJ a giant queer Appalachian techno campout that climaxes with Bezier and Josh from Dark Entries playing during Monday’s eclipse (how cool is that?).Â
But I’ve always got time to promote partying against fascism, so here are two events bringing the fabulous freaks out two Saturdays from now (August 26) to counter the “Patriot Prayer” aka ultra-conservative rally in Crissy Field that day. (There’s also a “Patriot Prayer” rally in Berkeley Sunday, August 27).Â
I’ll let you read the comments on the counter-protest event pages to see which one may be right for you and your dancing shoes, but both Unafraid and LovedUp seem solid, although Unafraid is more sparkly queer-confrontational, while LovedUp is a rave-up lovefest. There is also a pink flamingo picnic takeover of Dolores Park to protest, because San Francisco. AND THIS JUST IN: “Leave your dog poop on Crissy Field,” ostensibly to ruin some shiny little supremacist shoes.  Â
Nazi punks, as they say, please fuck off.Â
Need a car to get there? Rent one in your neighborhood on Getaround. Sign up today, and enjoy $50 off your first trip: http://get.co/48h. [Sponsored]
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
LOS VAN VAN I do not know about you, but dancing to some Cuban music from one of the world’s best bands sounds absolutely the tonic. Fri/18, 9pm, $39.50. Mezzanine, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
MØME You can’t get anymore “chill wave” than an Australian surfer making moody indie electronic music. That would be Møme, and he’s joined by Geotic aka gothy Baths in his kooky and lovely persona. A night of bliss curls. Fri/18, 10pm-3am, $12. 1015 Folsom, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
THE QUEEN IS DEAD This lovely monthly celebration of all musical things Smiths and their British ilk is moving on from its home of several years at Milk on Haight Street, to the exciting Bar Fluxus, which has really been ramping up its nightlife offerings. With DJs Mario Muse, Sheila Take A Bow, Nako. Fri/18. 10pm-2am,  Bar Fluxus, SF. Free with RSVP here.Â
DAMIAN LAZARUS For good or ill or ketamine, Damian Lazarus is the psychedelic “deep house” guru we unexpectedly were looking for. And here he is, taking a break from running giant labels and throwing huge festivals! He’s a dear. A portion of proceeds from this party — which took four major crews to put together and probably afford — goes to Compute for Cancer. Fri/18, 9pm-3am, $10-$20. Great Northern, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
CREATUREÂ Wild drag! Crazy music! An incredibly inventive crowd! The closest we come to an underground NYC club in the early ’90s, in fact. This month’s theme: Precious stones. Fri/18, 10pm-4am, $10. The Stud, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
MIXED FORMS WITH JASON KENDIGÂ Mixing it up (crowds, styles, venues) is what SF nightlife does best. Jeremy Bispo from the powerhouse As You Like It crew teams up with excellent DJ Jordee for a new monthly that brings underground techno’s queer and not-always-so-queer scenes together (this echoes Bispo’s incredible Oakland underground raves Rare Form that he organized with Nackt, aka Johnny Igaz, who perished in the Ghost Ship fire.) First guests: Honey Soundsystem’s Jason Kendig and incredible live techno wizard Christina Chatfield. Sat/19, 10pm-4am, $15 advance. The Stud, SF. Tickets and more info here. Â Â Â
ADAM X Industrial techno as dark, shiny, and tight as a black latex glove. With Orphx. Sat/19, 10pm-4am, $20 advance. Monarch, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
FRINGE Indie dance delights — with glow bracelets, even! This too-cute monthly party brings together a great crowd eager for 2000s sing-a-longs together at Madrone. With DJs Blondie K and subOctave. Sat/19, 9pm-2am, $5. Madrone, SF. More info here.
PROJECT NUNWAY 8: SINFINITYÂ Every year, the beloved Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence pair up with designers to create an eye-popping fashion show made from innovative and recycled material — for charity! This year’s theme: Sci-Fi. Goddess help us. Sat/19, 7pm-10pm, $25. SomARTS, SF. Tickets and more info here.Â
NOISE POP 20TH STREET BLOCK PARTYÂ This live, daytime indie fun-fest –with Neon Indian, Kilo Kish, Hoops, Sugar Candy Mountain, The Tambo Rays, High Sunn, Big Thursday, and more — also offers culinary delights and lots of people-watching. Sat/19, noon-6pm, $10 suggested donation. 20th Street and Bryant, SF. More info here. Â Â
TOUR DE FATÂ Or, if drinking beer in a carnival atmosphere all day is more your style, Fat Tire beer’s annual bike rally at Fort Mason is for you. There will be a Fire Leopard! I don’t know what that is! Wear a costume. Sat/19, noon-9pm, $2. Fort Mason, SF. Tickets and more info here.
MAKEOUT PARTY “Right in front of my salad?” is the theme for this monthly mouthful of love. (Yes, its an omnisexual makeup party — tongue it for the camera and get a free Jell-O shot!) Music? Oh yes, Le Fraicheur pops in from Berlin. Sat/19, 10pm-2am, $10. Eagle SF. More info here.Â
BEATPIG: “BANANAS” A swingin’ monthly gay joint with Walter Gomez, Juanita More, and the incredible DJ Stanley Frank — this month the theme is “bananas.”. Shenanigans! Banana shenanigans! Sat/19, 10pm-2m, $5 benefits Transgender Law Center. powerhouse, SF. More info here.Â
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
DISCO DADDY ROCKSÂ DJ Bus Station John’s Disco Daddy party takes a turn to the wild side, as it presents rock stars who’ve made classic dance tunes, danceable rock tunes, and covers of rock tunes in a disco mode. Party on! Sun/20, 7pm-2am, $5-$7. SF Eagle. More info here.
BRAZILIAN GIRLSÂ Stern Grove’s weekly programming this year has been impeccable — hardly a Sunday morning I could stay away. NYC dancefloor superstars Brazilian Girls join with openers the brass-powered Moon Hooch for an afternoon of grooooooves. Sun/20, 2pm-5pm, free. Stern Grove, SF. More info here.Â
SWAGGER LIKE USÂ The wondrous queer hip-hop-and-beyond party slips onto the Oasis roof for some “cool for the summer” vibes. Sun/20, 2pm-8pm, $5-$10. Oasis SF. More info here.Â
> Need a car to get there? Rent one in your neighborhood on Getaround. Sign up today, and enjoy $50 off your first trip: http://get.co/48h. [Sponsored]