Hear This

Bob: "Look, son, by the time I was your age I had already released a ton of records and toured the world a million times."

Jakob: "Yeah, Dad, but things are different now. I tried to follow in your footsteps, but I'm pretty sure my brand of pop confessionals died around the same time Better Than Ezra still made money."

Bob: "But you're a Dylan, for fuck's sake, get yourself together."

Jakob: "OK, I'll try. Hey, can I have five bucks?"

Bob: "No, son, if you want money go make another record."

Jakob: "But I need five bucks now! Even if I can muster enough gunk to relive the glory of 'One Headlight' and '6th Avenue Heartache,' I won't see any money until the new record comes out."

Bob: "So go do a tour, play all your old songs, and pretend you're still relevant!"

Jakob [sulking]: "Yes, Dad."
The Wallflowersperform on Friday, June 18, at the Great American Music Hall (885-0750, www.musichallsf.com) and on Saturday, June 19, at Slim's (255-0333, www.slims-sf.com).
-- Abigail Clouseau

Thank God Nick Drake's dead. There, I said it. If the English singer/songwriter were alive and 48 right now, he'd most likely be fat and fuzzy-headed, having gorged himself on Choco Tacos and lithium for the past 30 years. His gorgeous early songs would be overshadowed by attempts at country-rap and folktronica. Better we get "Hanging on a Star," the second annual tribute to the tragic folkie, wherein locals Loquat, Thee More Shallows, Ral Partha Vogelbacher, Odessa Chen, the Bother, and My Life Is on the Line (along with Seattle's Damien Jurado and Portland's Minmae) prove it's best to live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking back catalog.
The "Pink Moon" rises on Saturday, June 19, at Cafe Du Nord; call 861-5016 or go to www.cafedunord.com.
-- Dan Strachota