Dead to Me

San Francisco's Dead to Me is known to most discerning punkers via the pedigree of its frontman, the golden-throated Jack Dalrymple, who previously did time in beloved Bay Area punk act One Man Army. So when news spread that Dalrymple was to become a father and planned to leave the punk world behind, most assumed the band would break up or at least regroup under a different moniker. Instead, it morphed into a trio, led by both guitarist/vocalist Nathan Grice and bassist/vocalist Chicken. (With that kind of a first name, is a last name really needed?) The new, Dalrymple-less Dead to Me released African Elephants, its first music since the lineup shift, late last year to mixed reviews: For every bit of catchy buzz-saw punk, the album also dabbled in listless dub and poor Nirvana ripoffs. It's clear Dead to Me is still finding its new voice — lucky for the band, its fans' voices will surely fill in for Dalrymple tonight, even if it's only from the pit.