River's Edge

A homegrown music fest

Danny Plotnick

Up a Creek: Gil Ray and his Loud Family are featured at Friday's music video showcase.

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More About

• Buddy Holly
• Jeff Ray
• Jane Tunks
• Music Festivals
• Musicals

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ONGOING 5/26-6/5

The Mission's underbelly goes much further than late-night taquerias, 99-cent stores, and a raging bar scene. Beneath the asphalt jungle lies a network of subterranean waterways, and with his annual Mission Creek Music Festival, local musician Jeff Ray pays homage to the city's true underground. Ray organized the first festival eight years ago with a one-night lineup anchored by his experimental art band Zmrzlina. What started as a personal quest to bring together the local music scene has since expanded into an 11-day behemoth featuring more than 100 independent-minded bands from San Francisco and beyond. The musical mayhem gets going on Wednesday with the Lab's opening party, with prank-phone-call master Neil Hamburger MCing between sets from the Paradise Boys and Safety Scissors.

The edgy fest also goes beyond crunchy guitars and plinking electronica. On Friday the Film Arts Foundation's Danny Plotnick curates a music video festival with an all-locals lineup, from world-renowned DJ Dan the Automator to folkster Jonathan Richman. Vintage reels from the Residents and MX 80 are also screening. The Mission Creek Music Festival continues through June 5 at various San Francisco venues. Admission is free-$15; visit www.mcmf.org for a complete schedule.
By Jane Tunks

Not Fade Away

You don't know Buddy

TUES 6/1

Despite Buddy Holly's oddball appearance, unconventional lifestyle (during the Pat Boone era, he married a Latina, lived in Greenwich Village, and made ripping rock 'n' roll), and dramatic death, modern iconic status has evaded the bespectacled guitar god. There are even those who consider him square. Which is sad, considering that Holly and his band, the Crickets, made some of the best early rock songs, from the plaintive wail of "Everyday" to the straight-up rocker "Rave On." Relive Holly's music -- and review his rise and untimely demise -- when the musical Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story previews tonight at 8 (it runs through July 11) at the Post Street Theatre, 450 Post (at Mason), S.F. Admission is $25-63; call 321-2900 or visit www.buddyrocks.com.
By Joyce Slaton