Riff Raff

Scream III Just in time for the season of ghouls, Chris Cobb and fellow San Francisco Art Institute student Paul Quinones offer up "All the Screaming You Will Ever Need." Cobb, the 28-year-old interdisciplinary artist who brought us the subtly tuneful "Living Streets" project -- which transplanted sounds from quiet neighborhoods onto bustling downtown street corners -- believes the new project is as much a sociology experiment as an art piece. For $10, screamers are given a small room in which to scream and a DAT machine to record it. Each contributor will be given credit on the upcoming CD and a copy once the disc has been pressed. "I like to think about how people communicate," says Cobb, "how people express themselves, how they repress themselves. Expressing anger is very important. Some of these recording sessions have been very cathartic." While Cobb first required only one scream per participant, he has since agreed to let each session take its own course. "Some folks want to talk or cry beforehand," says Cobb. "Some scream a lot. I'll edit it down later." Cobb and Quinones hope samples from the CD will be used by DJs or other sound artists in the future. Sadly, the CD will not be ready in time to give ambience to local haunted houses. Screamers interested in letting it out can contact Cobb at 576-9440, or Quinones at (510) 835-4437. (S.T.)

Another Week, Another essence Trading Card Riff Raff introduced readers to the equally celebrated and lowercased singer/songwriter essence with a striking pictorial of her brandishing a heavy-duty harpoon back in February. And then we closely examined the photos of her subsequent transformation into a post-Morissette twentysomething diva. We even uncovered her Madonna-like talent for appropriating feminist iconography just a few months ago. Just last week, right after the singer/songwriter played her final show of the year, we began our most serious, comprehensive essence project to date. Riff Raff is compensating for her sabbatical with a new line of trading cards, culled from photo shoots long forgotten. In this week's image essence proves that she's flirted with the trashy, post-coital pout since her early days as a pinup princess. We remind you to make sure your clip-and-save scissors are handy every time you pick up the Weekly. (J.S.)

Dubbed The spirit of the Voodoo Lounge -- the club known for creating downbeat-driven soundscapes with dub-infused hip hop -- is back with the return of "Hedquarters." The weekly event began in 1997 when DJs Markus and Tomas set up shop in the bar of the Phoenix Hotel. The club became a place for beat experimentation as well as a showcase for the convergence of art and music that incorporates visual images, spoken word, and turntablist performances. The club proved short-lived because of the awkward setup -- the bar and dance floor were practically one and the same -- and shut its doors a mere six months later. Clubbers can find the new "Hedquarters" on Monday night at Storyville at Fulton and Masonic. (R.A.)

More Than a Party Culture By all accounts, the "Paraffin" DJ showcase -- held a couple of weeks ago at the Phoenix Hotel -- was a swell event for hanging out and catching performances by an international roster of spinners. From noon until midnight DJs traded sets of drum 'n' bass, techno, and downtempo, while attendees sipped cocktails or danced by the pool. This week's "Scratching Below the Surface" at the Headlands Center for the Arts in Marin promises a similar focus with a headier niche. On Sunday, Nov. 1, four experimental music composers/performers will talk about creating electronic sounds. Carl Stone, Tim Perkis, and DJs Sage and UFO will also demonstrate some of the tricks, both analog and digital, of their trade. The speakers know what they're talking about: Stone composes new music and edits the Open Minds Web site; Perkis, who is probably a huge Kraftwerk fan, uses electronics and computers to examine issues of social relationships between man and machine; DJs Sage and UFO are both members of the jungle collective Phunckateck. Headlands Center is keeping the admission at an affordable $5 and patrons or well-heeled traveling DJs can easily afford an extra $10 for a family-style dinner in the mess hall. (J.D.P.)

Free Ink As reported last week, the Stork Club needs help covering moving expenses. Fans of the 48-year-old East Bay venue are throwing a benefit concert on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Cocodrie in San Francisco. The proceeds will help owner Micki Chittock -- sorry about the misspelling last week -- adapt the new space to accommodate live music and move the year-round Christmas tree, as well as allow her to inform the public of the new address, at 2330 Telegraph. Featured performers include Rah Bra's, Fall of Olive, Bite Size, Vida, Kirby Grips, Yusakata, and Daisyburn. (J.D.P.)

The Lit Beat Writer Janice Eidus reads from her new book Urban Bliss at the second "Outloud" shindig, thrown by the wonderful and erudite Speak magazine. Beth Lisick Ordeal and DJ Polywog join her at the CoCo Club on Thursday, Oct. 29. (J.D.P.)

Riff Raff riffraff: Robert Arriaga (R.A.), Johnny DiPaola (J.D.P.), Jeff Stark (J.S.), Silke Tudor (S.T.), and Heather Wisner (H.W.). Send Bay Area music news, band stories, or petty gripes to jstark@sfweekly.com, or mail it to Riff Raff, c/o SF Weekly.