Cy and David's Picks: Lucero, Body Music, 'Disgraced,' and More

Friday, Nov. 20: Lucero at the Fillmore. With a voice made by whiskey and cigarettes, Ben Nichols is one of the pioneers of country-punk. The band’s new album is full of heartache –plus a cover of Big Star’s “I’m In Love With a Girl.” Details here. 

Saturday, Nov. 21: Francesca Blanchard (opening for Yuna) at Slim’s. This bilingual singer hails from southern France, Ethiopia, and more lately Vermont — and plenty of international influences find their way into her songs, which are helped by a Norah Jones-esque voice. She opens for the Malaysian-born Yuna. Details here. 

Saturday, Nov. 21: The International Body Music MiniFest at Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse. The Bay Area’s own body rhythm king, Keith Terry, has organized a festival of music made with the body alone, featuring classes for kids and adults. Performers include Molodi Live, a stepping group from Las Vegas; and the Zapateado group Cascada de Flores. Details here. 

Opening Saturday, Nov. 21 (through Dec. 6): The SF Opera Presents ‘Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg.’ Tenor Brandon Jovanovich plays the lead in Wagner’s only comedy — one that takes five hours to perform. Details here. 

Now through Dec. 27: ‘Disgraced’ at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play tackles Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, cultural appropriation, intermarriage…and how nasty New York lawyers can be. Each performance is followed by a talkback with the cast and staff of the Berkeley Rep. Details here. 

David: Tim Flannery, former third base coach for the San Francisco Giants, plays the Freight and Salvage this Sunday, Nov. 22 with his band the Lunatic Fringe. Details here. 

Cy: And I’m shouting it out for ‘Salvage’ — a little punk circus show at Kinetic Arts in West Oakland with exceptional acrobatics and clowning that runs through Dec. 20. Details here.