BeatBox

Through 10 years and almost as many different locations, "Club Dread"has been rockin' steady as the Bay Area's oldest reggae music weekly. In its latest incarnation at Studio Z, the night delivers a dose of dancehall, roots, and dub reggae to San Francisco's dreaded massive. Local soundsystems (i.e., reggae DJ crews) like TNT, Sound Station, Jah Warrior Shelter, and Club Dread promoters Jah Love Universal Sounds battle it out for sonic supremacy while seasoned selectors like Jahyzer, Doogie, Common Sense, and Ivier serve up tasty dub plates. Inhale the incense, smoke a doobie, and get in touch with your Jamaican side at Club Dread's 10 Year Anniversary Party happening on Friday, March 12, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Studio Z, 314 Eleventh St. (at Folsom), S.F. Admission is $10; call 284-6331 for more info or visit www.studioz.tv.
-- Anna Klafter

Philadelphia-based Dieselboy(aka Damian Higgins) is one of the best-selling drum 'n' bass DJs in the US. It's likely that when he comes to town, he'll be road-testing brand-new songs from his forthcoming album The Dungeonmaster's Guide, which he'll release at the beginning of the summer on his own record label HUMAN. Dieselboy's turntable antics will be guided both by the enthusiasm of the crowd and his partner-in-crime, the quick-witted MC J-Messinian. In addition to Dieselboy and fellow drum 'n' bass DJs Kaos, Method One, Genome & 4Real, Greg J, and MC Duh, "Quality" also features a breakbeat room. There, the local crew Breakthru hosts several DJs including special guest Ms. E, back for a visit from her new home in LA. There's also a hip hop and '80s lounge. "Quality" goes down on Friday, March 12 from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at Space 550, 550 Barneveld (at Dorman), S.F. Tickets are $10 advance, $12 before 11 p.m., and $15 after. For more information, go to www.breakthrusf.net/quality.
-- Tamara Palmer

"Booty, Breaks, and Balaclavas" is the memorable name given to the outdoor DJ area of the Kitchen, which will host the "Anarchist Café," an event benefiting the annual Anarchist Bookfair as well as Sherman Austin, a Webmaster jailed under a California anti-terrorism law for linking to a site that provides information about explosives. The event gets underway with a vegan dinner and a video beginning at 6:30 p.m. and then busts a move at 9 p.m. as DJs Tomkat, J. Clang, and Morse Code drop techno, breakbeat, and booty bass to get the juices flowing. After all, even anarchists appreciate bumping their junk in the trunk to the beat. The Kitchen is located at 225 Potrero (at 16th St.), S.F. A $5-15 donation is requested (no one turned away for lack of funds). For more information, call 431-8355 or e-mail anarchistcafe2004@yahoo.com.
-- Tamara Palmer