Two opera houses, a jazz guitarist at SFJAZZ and a Moby set at the Civic Auditorium all fall inside the first five days of November, which makes this a week where the classical and the club sit closer together than usual.
Gnarls Barkley at the Masonic and Gilla Band at The Independent add some alternative edge to the mix.
Tip: code GTIX20 takes 20% off ticket prices on every event below — no minimum and no expiry.
San Francisco Opera: Manon at the War Memorial Opera House
Sun, Nov 1, 2:00 PM · War Memorial Opera House · from $206
Massenet’s tragic opera follows a young woman drawn from a convent into Paris society, and the War Memorial’s gilded hall is one of the best places in the country to hear it. Expect lush orchestral writing and a long, emotionally heavy afternoon.
John Scofield’s Electrospective at SFJAZZ Center
Sun, Nov 1, 7:00 PM · SFJAZZ Center – Miner Auditorium · from $177
Guitarist John Scofield is one of jazz’s most recognizable voices, moving between bluesy phrasing and funk-tinged grooves. The Miner Auditorium suits a set where the guitar is the story.
Moby at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 PM · Bill Graham Civic Auditorium · from $108
Moby is a long-running electronic and alternative figure, known for crossing genres from dance floors to film soundtracks. The Civic Auditorium gives the show room to sprawl.
Gnarls Barkley at the Masonic
Thu, Nov 5, 8:00 PM · The Masonic – San Francisco · from $24
The duo behind Crazy and St. Elsewhere blends soul, hip-hop and alternative rock into a sound that still feels distinct. The Masonic’s intimate-but-grand room is a good match for their sharp songwriting.
Billy Joel Legacy at the Curran Theatre
Thu, Nov 5, 7:30 PM · Curran Theatre · from $88
A tribute show built around the piano-driven hits of Billy Joel, performed in one of the city’s classic Theatre District houses. It is a good option for fans who want the songs in a seated, storytelling setting.
Gilla Band at The Independent
Tue, Nov 3, 8:00 PM · The Independent · from $46
The Dublin post-punk band is known for a noisy, propulsive sound that rewards a loud room. The Independent is a small venue where the energy tends to be close and direct.
Check dates and times on the listing before you go, and book early for the opera houses, which sell out faster than the smaller rooms.
