Music

Finding "Fame" at a karaoke bar

By Tamara Palmer 

There's perhaps nothing shadier than a bunch of brazen amateurs trying to mimic their favorite rap artist in performance mode. Add alcohol to the mix and the scene has the potential to descend into one of the world's greatest shames. But at new monthly party "Fame," where hip-hop karaoke with fun and familiar rap tunes is the order of the night, such behavior is not only encouraged, it's almost required for a smashing time. Here, participants are encouraged to "release your inner Biggie," although that might be a little bit painful. Hector Preciado hosts, while DJ White Castle provides the instrumentals for your humble rap flow on Friday, July 28 (and the last Friday of every month), at BOCA at 9 p.m. Admission is $5; call 777-4278 or visit www.sfboca.com for more info.

Imagineer Nick Catchdubs — associate editor at The Fader by day, mixmaster/producer/graphic designer by night — helped dream up a party that is one of Milk's most popular club nights. "Superfriends" takes place every Thursday as well as one Saturday night each month — Saturdays often include special guests like New Yorker Catchdubs, a DJ whose emphasis is on getting the crowd moving no matter how wide he needs to reach into his record collection. This approach is mirrored in his productions; a recent 12-inch single for Brooklyn's The Rub finds Catchdubs making sweet music out of Too $hort and the Bangles. Playing live, Alameda's Trackademicks (a regular Superfriends fan making a name for his remixes and original songs) will help create a veritable Justice League of a lineup on Saturday, July 29, at Milk at 10 p.m. Admission is $5 (before 11/$10 after); call 387-6455 or visit www.milksf.com for more info.