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Brave HeART Andrew. Urban Guide Listings to plan your week by Andrew W.K. Make no mistake, you'll not know a braver heart than this. Andrew W.K. was born and built (like a fuckin' tank) to rock you. He only wants to be happy in life, by making you happy, the only way he knows how. On his major label debut I Get Wet (Island/Def Jam), the Motor City man-o-lith belts out ass-kickin' industrial-pop-metal anthems that glean high-art sophistication thru maximum retardation. "Let's get a party goin' / Let's get a party goin' / Let's get a party goin' / When it's time to party we will always party ha-rrr-d / partyhardpartyhardpartyhardpartyhard ...." You see, Andrew just wants to get high -- on life. And he's found that lots and lots of other people want to get high on life, too (gay as it may sound, that's kind of the point) and the more people that come in, the higher we can get. So he writes these supremely boneheaded songs about feeling really fuckin' good and winning and living in the moment. Shit like that. And he really fucking means it -- like Gino Vanelli meets Danzig. His live performances drive him and the audience collectively into a full-on frenzy, gathering up maniacal, positive energy like a high school pep rally tweaked on crystal meth, and everybody's got God, or something. But better. Sincerity rules here, and if you're not into it we couldn't care fucking less. As his US tour goes barrelin' home to New York City this weekend, Andrew W.K. makes his first major television appearance on Saturday Nite Live. So stay home for the party of your life and watch as this provocative young artist captures the country's imagination and lays pavement to a new horizon. Sat/13, 11:30pm. NYC via NBC. (KE) Fresh, not frozen. Kenny Garrett Quartet Unlike his more mediagenic and ready-for-prime-time peers, Kenny Garrett has a knack for paying homage to his heroes without freeze drying their artistry. This talented alto saxophonist, who recorded and toured with the late Miles Davis, among other legends, has been hailed as one of the potential greats of jazz. At a time when most other major label jazz artists have drifted into pop-oriented territory, Garrett's new CD Happy People (Warner Bros.) is accessible without pandering to radio (okay, the opening track is a major concession), delivering challenging reflections on Monk, Miles, and Trane. His quartet features Vicente Archer on bass, Chris Dave on drums, and Vernell Brown on piano. Don't miss 'em. Thurs/11-Sun/14. Thurs-Sat, 8 and 10pm; Sun, 2 and 8pm. Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakl. $5-$22. 238.9200. (GC) And the Reverend provides the soundtrack. Fire and Light Storm Warning There are few things in life as sweet as the combination of unlimited beer and watching stuff light on fire. This weekend, the Fire and Light Storm Warning at the Golden Pacific Brewery will be a celebration of these very indulgences. Artist groups Therm, LightFantastic, Sun Brothers, and many others will be burning their art this weekend to raise money for their appearances at the upcoming desert extravaganza, Burning Man. The two-night event will serve as a venue for sculptural works that explore the creative elements of fire as well as live music by master slide guitarist Reverend Screaming Fingers and DJ Vordo. One of the many pieces to be seen, constructed by an artist named Kellick, is a Tesla Coil surrounded by six different fire works. It is one of the few coils in the world created by a woman. Powerful. Can't make it to Burning Man this summer? No worries. The Fire and Light Storm Warning will provide more booming, continuous fireworks than one person can handle, plus you get to drink beer. Fri/12-Sat/13, 8pm-2am. Golden Pacific Brewery, 1404 Fourth St., Berk. $20 (includes beer). Contact Eccentric Design Group for info at 848.9400. (AL) Bob Schoen and his Jazz Quintet Billie Holiday once said, "All I ever wanted was a little place where I could serve good food and sing whenever I felt like it." With those words Anna's Bistro has set out to be a quaint and mellow establishment that provides great tunes and a jazzy menu. Since Berkeley is the city that always sleeps, Anna's is a relief to night owls -- there is music every evening. And for those that desire a simple yet tasty meal, Anna's provides everything from Gumbo in traditional roux over rice to maple donut pudding. On Wednesday nights Bob Schoen and his Jazz Quintet can often be found relaxing patrons with their mixture of sounds. Their music includes popular stan-dards, bossa nova, Latin melodies, klezmer tunes, and Schoen's original songs. Plus Cheryl McBride performs vocals not only in English, but also in Spanish, Portuguese, and Yiddish. So take a mid-week break and relax in Anna's cozy hideaway. Wednesdays, 8pm. Anna's Bistro, 1801 University, Berk. 849.2662; www.annasbistro.com. (GS) Picks by Greg Cahill (GC), Kelly Eginton (KE), Aimee Le Duc (AL), and Gabriel Serpa (GS). [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]