Friday Funtime: San Franciscan Nights

I spent much of the past two weeks in San Francisco, my former home and eventual home again someday. Said goodbye to one dear friend (R.I.P. Angela Welch) and hello to numerous others - some former co-workers and happy-hour revelers, some fellow music fanatics. Saw many of my favorite former haunts - neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, shops - and a few new ones too. Made my usual pilgrimage to Amoeba Music, the world's greatest record store, where I am incapable of spending under $50 once I get going. And attended the annual Bridge School Benefit concert, Neil Young's annual undertaking to raise funds for the Bridge School, which aids children with speech and physical impairments to learn and express themselves.

Here are some highlights from the Bridge show, plus a few of the things I bought at Amoeba.

1. Adam Sandler (!) and Neil Young, "Powderfinger"
2. Chris Martin, "Viva La Vida"
3. No Doubt, "Simple Kind of Life"
4. Wolfmother, "Woman"
5. Gavin Rossdale, "Comedown"
6. Monsters of Folk, "Man Named Truth"
7. Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, "Baby Blue"
8. XTC, "King for a Day"
9. Pet Shop Boys, "Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend"
10. Neil Young, "Comes a Time"