The rock is thick throughout this town Friday night, and I fear there are so many shows going on as usual, that damn if I’ll make it to 1/3rd of the ones I want to drop in on…

Here’s one I will definitely make…if just to see the inside an actual Elks Lodge...

Bawdy garage band The Poontones are a spurious retro rock combo comprised of pals like bassist / analog studio maven Kevin Ink, guitarist/songwriter/bartender dude Bone Cootes, Stinky Le Pew formerly of the late great Buck Naked & The Bar Bottom Boys, and on skins is former Tales of Terror/Pearl Harbour and Naysayers drummer Mike Hunter. They are playing a free event with saw enabled folky mountain man roots rockers Old Hangtown @ SF’s very own Elks Lodge within the Kensington Park Hotel.

The San Francisco Elks Lodge #3 itself dates back to 1873 when local actors and entertainers decided to organize an Elks Lodge, and inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. Now numbering over 2000 lodges coast to coast, the Elks remain humbly behind the scenes doing charitable work such as donating the first veterans’ hospital to the government. Join them at their classic 3rd floor home since 1925, The Lodge at Union Square, replete with circular bar featuring an enormous Elk etched mirror, smoking balconies overlooking Post St and the Elks’ Grand Ballroom, where dinner is served every Friday night. Be sure to stay for the 11 o’clock toast, which you can join in on with yer $2 vending machine purchased beer :

The Elks 11 O’Clock Toast

You have heard the tolling of 11 strokes.
This is to remind you that with Elks, the hour of 11 has a tender significance.
Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour tolls upon the dial of night, the great heart of Elkdom swells and throbs.
It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more.
Living or dead, an Elk is never forgotten, never forsaken.
Morning and noon may pass him by, the light of day sink heedlessly in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message,
“To our absent members.”

After the jump there are many more live lineups in the battle for mutant musical mindshare as the weekend starts up this Friday’s frenzied recreationally rawkin’ pace…

More Friday Night Rawk:

Metal Circus: A Husker Du tribute band at Thee Parkside featuring Bob Reed of Overwhelming Colorfast

An album release fiesta for”Viva La Juerga” from gringo gypsy flavanauts Diego’s Umbrella at 111 Minna

UK electro duo The Chemical Brothers take over the Concourse Exhibition Center (after party @ Mighty with LoveLee Burridge)

The Iguanas bring their tainted Tex Mex blend to The Great American Music Hall

Bofo Brazilian technoriffic terrors Bondo Do Role are at The Independent

Icelandic raver rockers The Klaxons are at The Fillmore

Retro junkie tweeker rawk from The Seahags at the revitalized Mabuhay at 443 Broadway

Down featuring Phil Anselmo of Pantera and Pepper Keenan of C.O.C at The Warfield