Back in the day – before the attack of the portable electronic devices but after the attack of the basement-dwelling bloodsuckers – Stephen King used to toss around a theory about the problematic nature of the “reveal” in horror literature.
The theory went something like this: horror stories traditionally follow an arc from an early atrocity to a final comeuppance. The villain remains “masked” for the majority of that arc; we see him in fragments; he is described tangentially. Since our imaginations are exponentially more chromatic than anything the average writer can muster, that masking is what lends weight to the story.
Eventually, the writer must come to terms with the villain. He must “unmask” the antagonist, and expose its fundamental nature and identity, so the plot can be resolved. And this, King wrote, is where the whole thing goes to shit: a Revelation, robbed of suspense, is never as vivid as the Build-Up. (Similarly, sayeth Hugh Hefner: A naked Playgirl is never as interesting as one wearing half an American flag T-shirt or one off-blue cowboy boot.)
Earlier in the month we reported that Jazz at Pearl's would be closing right about now. But now tablehopper tells us that Kim Nalley - now separated from Steve Sheraton, who she co-owned the club with - got Pearl's in the divorce settlement and found some money to keep it going.
"JAZZ AT PEARL'S IS REMAINING OPEN!!!" crows the venue's website, and while we noted a month ago that shows were only lined up through April 27, we now see shows scheduled through May.--Janine Kahn
Former Pink Floyd band mate Roger Waters lost an inflatable prop pig at the Coachella festival last weekend, only to find out that the plastic remains were strewn about in a nearby Southern California neighborhood. Poor Roger. I know how easy it is to lose track of your inflatable over-sized pig when you're partying in the desert while listening to Dark Side of the Moon. Wait, no I don't. Sorry, no sympathy here. --Oscar Pascual
Now that GTA IV is out, time to look forward to another title. Check out the video interview above to find out more about the upcoming Ghostbusters game, which promises voice acting from the original cast. It'll be worth the wait and the price tag, if only to hear brand new snappy one-liners from Bill Murray. --Oscar Pascual
From our clubs editor's (John Graham's) desk: The list of nominees for DJ Times magazine's America's Best DJ contest has a number of locals, including: DJ Theo; Gabriel & Dresden; Kaskade, DJ Shadow; Mark Farina; DJ Qbert; DJ Behrouz; Bassnectar; Claude VonStroke; Miguel Migs; and DJ Garth. Full contest starts May 1, and you can vote both online and in person at select clubs like Ruby Skye. -- Jennifer Maerz
Wanna see Nick "After 20 beers my teets are queer" Swardson at the Warfield Friday night? First three to respond with valid e-mail addys each get a pair and can pick 'em up at the Weekly's receptionist table on Thursday. --Janine Kahn
"Bedrooms," SF photographer Andrew Conway-McClintock's new one-man exhibit, opens May 2nd at the Bluesix Acoustic Room in the Mission. The show reveals a series of eighteen 20x20 color portraits taken in the bedrooms of people he describes as “artist/alternative youth.” Unlike similarly-themed images by (for example) photographer Adrienne Salinger, whose work has sometimes been branded as exploitative, Conway-McClintock portrays his subjects in an almost reverential light. “I give them respect and let them own the space,” he explains, “it’s more about the interaction between us...the actual shoot is an experience in itself... a conversation.”
These pictures are intriguing for the subjects alone, but also for how their 'stuff' reflects or is in contrast to the face they show the world. The first poignant portrait is of Brittney Lee Murphy, a lovely tow-headed performance artist, filmmaker and photographer - and to whom the book of the photos is dedicated - who overdosed at 21.
Spend a warm San Francisco night sweating to some of Bloc Party's rockin' electro-synth jams. The boys pay a visit to the Fillmore on July 30, so start praying for all that grace and dancing feet right now. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, May 4. --Oscar Pascual
Since you can't get enough of those quirky New Zealanders, Flight of the Conchords has scheduled an additional show, two days after they perform at Nob Hill Masonic Center. From PR:
Second Show Added Due To Popular Demand!
New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Davies Symphony Hall (401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco)
Thursday, May 29, Doors 7:00PM/ Show 8:00PM
Tickets are $32.50 for reserved seating plus applicable service charges
Four-ticket limit
If you've got some free time around 7 p.m. tonight, Keith Gessen will be reading at Booksmith up on Haight Street. He got a glowing profile in the NY Times on Sunday, although the article dug into his controversial stand in the writing community -- he's taken on our local Bay Area icons Dave Eggers and McSweeney's, among other beloved writing stars. The n + 1 editor reads from his new book, All the Sad Young Literary Men. And look, even moms like him (scroll down for his name). -- Jennifer Maerz
Nicoletta Ceccoli "Angelica"
Nicoletta has been shown on these list before, she was even in my top 10 list for 2007. Well she has a new print available from Munky King. It's a beautiful sepia-toned lithograph showcasing her amazing style. The print is even framed for you, so all you have to do is put it on the wall. The print is in an edition of 50. I really dig the dreamy look her work has. Get It Here
Crappy big-budget movie director Uwe Boll (House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, BloodRayne) has challenged slightly less crappy big-budget movie director Michael Bay (Transformers, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon) to a fight! No, not some sort of drunken back-alley brawl, but an all-out pay-per-view slugfest in Vegas. Watch the video to see Boll put Bay on blast. Now that's entertainment! --Oscar Pascual
Can you feel it? That's Grand Theft Auto fever, and it's spreading. UPS drivers are stealing copies, droves of nerds are lining up until midnight for it, and the press has everything GTAIV covered. Feeling left out? You too can be part of the hysteria. Just head out to participating Best Buy or GameStop stores tonight at midnight and secure your very own copy of a video game that's bigger than the Beatles, Jesus, and breast implants combined. --Oscar Pascual
Mission Indie Mart, once a backyard shopping party, has blossomed into a major event. The last Sunday of every month vendors and shoppers pack into 12 Galaxies to drink, dance and shop for the best of local crafts and designs. Yesterday Indie Mart celebrated their one year anniversary. Congrats, guys! These are some of the designers bringing street style to SF:
Kelly McVitcker of deadBEATsister does green and adorable screen printing on a myriad of different wearables. Using the DIY printmaking process she and Angie Needles use non toxic water based inks and other environmentally friendly products like soy based cleaners. Their products are stylish, fun and fresh. If you didn't grab one of their shirts at Indie Mart you can also find them at Lower Haters, Still Life Clothing and Needles & Pens.
As predicted, Outside Lands Festival has broken down their package ticket sales ($225.50 a pop) into single-day tickets ($85.00), a much more manageable fee given the shitty economic times in which us music lovers live. As of May 1, both the single and the three day passes will be on sale. The promoters also announced a fuller list of acts performing the three day August event, names that range from Tom Petty, Radiohead, and Jack Johnson to Liars and Lupe Fiasco. They'll perform on stages spread around Golden Gate Park August 22-24. Full schedule after the jump... -- Jennifer Maerz
(Click here for more photos from "Bedrooms.")
If you've got some free time around 7 p.m. tonight, Keith Gessen will be reading at 
