Dhamaal celebrates lucky number seven

Since moving to San Francisco in 2002, one-man-band the Genie (AKA Luis Monterrosa) has collaborated with like-minded, difficult-to-pin-down singers, DJs, MCs, and producers who blur the boundaries of rock, electronica, and hip hop. As a solo live performer, the Genie incorporates beat boxing, a portable amplifier, an effects box, and a trusty guitar, all of which he loops and layers on the spot. He also features a “scratch guitar,” which he uses to stutter out patterns and squelch (much like a DJ makes staccato beats by manipulating a turntable and crossfader). Listen carefully to spot melodies interpolated from artists like Blondie and the Cure; great licks any real hip-hop artist would nick. The Genie joins an eclectic bill on Thursday, April 27, at Studio Z at 9 p.m.; Admission is $5; call 252-7100 or visit www.studioz.tv for more info. —Tamara Palmer

Is bhangra the new reggaeton? Actually, the former stands on its own, as a hybridized culture, a mix of traditional Near Eastern (aka Hindustani) music and contemporary technology that, like reggaeton, takes many of its sonic cues from dancehall. There’s no bigger bhangra crew on the West Coast than Dhamaal Soundsystem, the SF-based group responsible for the ongoing “Dhamaal” and “Worldly” parties. And for its seventh anniversary, Dhamaal is going all out. Saturday, it fills all three of Club Six’s rooms with sound, melody, and trance-inducing flavor. Downstairs, in the Surya Vault, Janaka Selekta & Maneesh the Twister spin world beats and breaks with guest DJs, VJs, MCs, and live tabla players; upstairs, the Azaad Lounge welcomes Riffat Sultana, performing South Asian classical and folk; and in the Dark Room, superstar world beatnik Cheb I Sabbah entertains with dhol master Mitch Hyare. Best of all, the party goes until 3:30 a.m. It all starts Saturday, April 29, at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10-$15; call 861-1221 or visit www.dhamaalSF.com for more info. —Eric K. Arnold