It seems like yesterday that a strapping Jello Biafra was harping about killing the poor, lynching his landlord and some dude named Pol Pot off in that lovely vacation destination known as Cambodia. Ah yes, the polemical former Dead Kennedys frontman turns 50 on June 17. And with it comes a bag of his old prankster tricks when he teams up with the Melvins and his new, still unnamed band for a two night stand June 16 and 17 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco to commemorate a half-century of civil disobedience. The Melvins will kick-off each night with an audio mauling as they rehash their 1983 Mangled Demos with King Buzzo on guitar, original drummer Mike Dillard and Dale Crover holding down the bass. Drunk Injuns and Los Olvidados will follow on the 16th with Triclops! and Akimbo on the 17th. Biafra will be playing sets with both the Melvins and his new band, which features Ralph Spight (Victims Family, Freak Accident) on guitar, Billy Gould (Faith No More) on bass and Jon Weiss (Sharkbait, Horsey) on drums. Don't expect a whole heck of a lot of Dead Kennedys songs however, as Biafra plans to focus on the present rather than eulogize his past 30 years of satirical songs, distributing harmful material to minors and the pangs of legal mumbo-jumbo. Tickets are $22 per night in advance or $40 for both nights with a free "gift-oid." These shows will sell out. www.gamhtickets.com
