San Fran Voice

I haven’t been to that many live music venues in San Francisco, but all of the ones that I’ve made my way to have impressed me in one way or another.  The Independent did not fail to live up to that personal trend when I finally made it there last night.  The venue, which has been a part of San Francisco’s live music life for over 30 years, offers good sound, great lighting and room to dance without decreasing the intimacy of a small venue.

The show was Toby Lightman opening for Carbon Leaf.  Toby’s a New York songstress who was unfamiliar to me prior to last night and whose music is currently emanating from the speakers of my laptop.  Her bouyant energy filled The Independent with youthfulness but her voice ricocheted from out of another era.  Blending influences from various genres including indie folk, alt country, jazz and grrrl rock, she offered one of those performances that makes folks who came just to see the headliner glad that they arrived early and caught the opening act.

And Carbon Leaf …  What can I say about Carbon Leaf?  The Virginia-based band has been together long enough to have that seamless semblance of a group whose members enhance each others’ sound.  Using different songs to highlight the strengths of each of the five performers, the band blended original songs with uniquely-chosen covers to display the range of their folk rock / aterna-root music.  Incorporating flute sounds, accordion and various shakers and beats, Carbon Leaf also brought a historic other-era sound to the modern stage.

The lead singer’s performance style was like something out of a movie about a musician (enhanced by the fact that he reminded me of Kitten from Breakfast on Pluto), which was odd at first and then became entirely enchanting.  The band offered an encore sans amplification which worked impressively well in the high-ceilinged, comfortably-spaced venue.

Hear more from Carbon Leaf on MySpace.  Hear more from Toby Lightman here.

San Fran Voice “Last Night’s Show” sneak preview: Crystal and the Wolves and Firebug performing Friday at Kimo’s.

Should you be donning your favorite outfit and hitting the hottest of clubs this week?  Will you lose your heart somewhere in the city as you wander around in search of adventure?  Or is this week the week for catching up on SF news from your computer at work or at home?  Check out the horoscopes below to find out.  San Francisco horoscopes are updated every Sunday so set your calendar to checking them out.

Pisces (February 20 – March 20):  It may not be quite ready to rain, but the moisture is in the San Francisco air and it suits your daydreaming personality.  Put yourself even closer to water; spend some time walking along Ocean Beach or go sit out at the ledge of Hyde St. Pier.  You need to indulge your fantasies this week.

Aries (March 21 – April 20):  Hey firecracker – you’ve been hanging out alone too much lately.  Let your social butterfly out.  Head to a concert at The Independent, talk to the conductor of the cable car or indulge in a passionate affair out in the public eye.

Taurus (April 21 – May 21):  You are meant to be outdoors.  As soon as you see the sun come out, get yourself over to Golden Gate Park for a day of fun.  Get lost in the botanical gardens.  Take photos of flowers by the windmill.  Or sip tea at the Japanese gardens.  You need to be outside to be yourself this week.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21):  Your dual nature is revving up full force and you need to make sure to treat all sides of yourself equally.  Expect to find that one minute you want to be alone in the library and the next you want to be the life of the party at the Castro bars.

Cancer (June 22-July 22):  It’s okay to be a bit of a homebody this week, Cancer Kid.  But don’t get entirely out of touch with the city around you.  Catch up on local news, browse MySpace or YouTube for some info on local people, and read the Bay Area Craigslist posts to keep yourself entertained and aware of your world.

Leo (July 23 – August 23):  Your week is going to be filled with adventure.  Live music, sports games at the local bars and even parties could dot your social calendar.  Party hard but don’t forget to pay attention to those around you who might need your attention.

Virgo (August 22 – September 22):  You absolutely love to plan everything don’t you?  San Francisco is a city filled with wonder.  Open yourself up to the possibilities that happen with spontaneity this week.  Head to a neighborhood you don’t usually spend time in, whether that’s North Beach, Marina, SoMA or somewhere else and see what surprises are in store for you there.

Libra (September 24 – October 23):  Your generous lifestyle is catching up with you.  Sure, it’s nice to pick up the tab at your favorite restaurants and it’s great that you want to buy rounds for the bar, but San Francisco is not a cheap city and you’re going to run yourself out of town if you keep it up.

Scorpio (October 24 – November 22):  San Francisco is a city meant for passion and Scorpios are a sign that love every minute of it.  Don’t let your tendency towards moodiness get in the way of indulging your passions.  It’s a great week for doing those things that might be regrettable but will be oh-so-fun.

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 21):  C’mon Sag, you’ve been down-spirited for way too long.  Snap yourself out of it by spoiling yourself silly.  See a movie at the Red Vic.  Meet a stranger for a drink at Vino Venue.  Go somewhere that you don’t usually go and bring excitement back to your life.  Idol isn’t everything, you know.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 20):  Your responsible nature will benefit your travels and the travels of others.  You’re the one who will remember to book the ferry tickets to Alcatraz, to put the helmets on the kids before the bike rental trip and to check out the discounts at Bay Area Tix and it’ll make all of the fun of San Francisco that much better for everyone.

Aquarius (January 21 – February 19):  Sad to say, Aquarius, but this week is all about buckling down and getting the job done.  Don’t fight it.  Instead, use your lunch hours to network in the Financial District and use your happy hours to unwind as far away from work as possible.