In the words of our potential new national anthem, “It’s the freakin’ weekend baby, I’m about to have me some fun.” Here are five ways to begin going about doing so:
Bang Data
In terms of sheer visibility, Bay Area rap-rock trio Bang Data’s big moment came when its song “Bang Data” was featured in an episode of AMC’s hit series Breaking Bad (it played during a scene in which a meth kingpin invites a slew of bikini girls out by the pool, right before a bloody shoot-out). But even without this dose of publicity, Bang Data organically grew a strong following for its ever-morphing mezclaof sounds influenced by rock, hip-hop, Latin, and dub reggae. When the trio recently performed a cover of Radiohead’s “Optimistic,” at a show at Rickshaw Stop that featured all Radiohead covers, it was easily the night’s most original reinterpretation: What started out as a loud, straightforward cover quickly transformed into a dub reggae groove with Spanish hooks, thick bass, and rap interludes; the charismatic showmanship of bilingual vocalist Deuce Eclipse reeled the audience in, and the expert musicianship of Juan Manuel Caipo and Dave Lopez kept them interested. Fall under Bang Data’s spell when it performs with Candelaria, Dos Four, and DJ Leydis at The New Parish on Saturday, Mar. 16. 9 p.m. $12, $15. TheNewParish.com — Lenika Cruz
Credits: Natasha Harden
- Natasha Harden
A Naked Lady Soiree
For women, vintage shopping can be synonymous with the girl-to-girl check-out: At all times, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be secretly or not-so-secretly eyeing your fellow customers’ duds, awe-inspired by the diverse shopping prowess of the women of the world. These good vibes are part of the inspiration behind the monthly clothing swap — dubbed “A Naked Lady Soiree” — happening on Sunday, Mar. 17, at Halmoni Vintage. The women-only swap was made to “promote a healthy approach to body consciousness and fashion,” all while attendees sip fancy cocktails, munch on hors d’oeuvres, and mingle with fellow lovers of vintage. Bring a bag of gently worn clothes, accessories, and shoes to swap, and then feel free to verbally ogle your fellow vintage-ladies’ styles. Fortunately, this time, everything’s up for grabs. 6-8 p.m., $5-$10 sliding scale. Halmoni.net/A-Naked-Lady-Soiree — Azeen Ghorayshi
