Live Music, San Francisco

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Biscuits and Blues is an outstanding blues club. It offers quality live blues acts. It’s a great place to listen to music in an intimate setting. They also offer Southern cuisine for those who want to add dinner to an evening of entertainment. The dinner is optional, as you can watch the shows without stopping by for dinner. But with the dinner option, you get a good seat and table as well as some good Southern cooking. On weekends they usually offer two shows, with the early one starting around 8:00 p.m. Dinner is only available for the early show. If you are planning on having dinner, it is a good idea to call for reservations. The club is located in the Theater District, which falls in transition zone between Union Square and the Tenderloin Neighborhoods. It is public transit friendly, as it is close to the cable car lines and is within walking distance from the Powel Street BART Station. Their website shows the up-coming acts.

Tourists might nnot think about hte Richomd as a live msuic destination, but the Last Day Saloon is on a street chock a block with bars and restuarants and there's always tons of people around. It's a great spot to kick back and listen to live music....Upstairs, I've seen Stung- a Police Cover band and Zoostation- a U2 cover band, and it was fantastic. They also have non-cover bands as well, but most tend to be local. Come out and support your neighbors! Great sound, friendly folk, and right next door to the Dog's bollix (isn't that a great name??)

Dress Code: casual!

We had asked around for a chill place to go and catch some live music, with the condition that it was within walking distance or a short cab ride of Fisherman's Wharf.

Jazz at Pearls was the recommendation. We lucked out! The San Francisco Contemporary Jazz orchestra was playing, and we got a special treat when Jamie Davis got up from the audience and sang a few songs. There was a nice atmosphere, without being stuffy, and it was indeed a 5 dollar cab ride from the Wharf. We had a great time!

We only had drinks, but you can eat dinner there. They have a 8:00 and a 10:30 show. You likely need reservations on a busier night. We were there on a Monday.

Dress Code: Unsure

This cozy and intimate lounge has a nice blue decor, a pool table, and plenty of candles. If you don't want to sit at the bar, you can also go "upstairs" by the pool table where there are ample seats as well. There are live jazz and salsa bands on the weekends

Dress Code: Casual

I really like this spot. It's in the heart of the financial district so it's a popular spot after work.

It's very chic, hip and lively. There is a piano bar and lounge as you enter. The dining room is located behind the bar and lounge down a few steps. However the entertainment can be seen from the dining room as well.

The food is good and not too pricey.

I would suggest though that you order some appetizers, have a few drinks and enjoy the show in the lounge. The Mohito's are to die for.

Dress Code: No dress code.

Out looking for a place to have a couple drinks near Fisherman's Wharf, the music called us upstairs to Lou's.

They had a great Blues/Rock band! What a lot of fun! Considering there isn't much else happening near the Wharf after 10, this is a great place to check out.

Dress Code: None

If you're looking for some old school swing music or big band sounds, there's no place better than the Starlite Room. Sitting atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel off of Union Square, the Starlite room is like stepping back into the 1940s.

The waitress, all stunning, wear glamorous evening gowns and the seats are all little banquets. The music is great and the crowd is dressed to the nines, sometimes in period cloths from the 1940s.

Weather your 25 or 75, you'll have a great time at the Starlite room.

Dress Code: You'll be comfortable in slacks and a nice shirt (men and women), but get into the swing of things and dress for an old shool night on the town.

Last Day Saloon is one of the best underground live music venues in S.F. It has a great sound system, has some of the best local, and further afield bands filtering through every week, and has a great overall vibe.

Sat, April 24th Last Day Saloon's going to be filled with the soulful sounds of Hayley & the Vibe, Breakshop, and Funkanauts. Don't miss this night, Hayley & the Vibe's long awaited EP will be released and onsale. The music's going to be off the hook!

Dress Code: Anything goes, come on, this is San Francisco.

Before we left for San Francisco, we checked on-line to see if any bands we were interested in were playing while we were there. It turned out Kings of Leon were with Jet opening. Since I work in a record store, we got the promos and I had been listening to them, so I was anxious to see these bands live. Slim's was a great place to see them because the sound is awesome in there no matter where you're standing. The place was packed, so we had to stand in the back, but after Jet we got to move up closer for The Kings of Leon. They have full bars and some food. Get there early for a table in the balcony.

Dress Code: None

Slim's is a regular bar that also hosts live bands and dj's. Very popular with the brit-pop crowd and a regular haunt for local bay area music afficiandoes.

Dress Code: Depends on the band, but do put in a little effort and the rewards will be well worth your while.