Gentleman and Scholar

Adam Kimmel SS09 Collection: To Almost Die For Suits

2009-07-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

Designer Adam Kimmel outfitted Noah Sakamoto and Patrick Rizzo(both sponsored by Sector9) with suits from his Spring.Summer '09 collection and...well..they went hill bombing in Claremont, CA. Enjoy.

To Almost Die For Suits

GentandScholar

Paul Rodriguez for Nike

2009-07-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

Nike chose right with Paul Rodriguez, for the new Nike SB ads, shot throughout LA. Kobe and Ice Cube cameo...naturally.

A few versions follow...

GentandScholar

'Captured' West Coast Premiere Screenings

2009-07-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

'Captured' is a film based on the life work of Clayton Patterson, and his documentation of New York City's Lower East Side from 1979 on.

"...a neighborhood famed for art, music and revolutionary minds. Traversing the outside edge he's recorded a dark and colorful society, from drag to hardcore, heroin, homelessness, political chaos and ultimately gentrification."

Clayton Patterson and all three of the producers will be present for Q&A following the screening.

LA- 7.9 @Alife Hollywood

SF- 7.12 @ Socha Cafe

GentandScholar

'Death of Autotune' . Jay-Z

2009-06-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

In February I posted about Rap, Hip.Hop...about how many horrible, horrible artists right now are ending up, somehow, successful. About Kanye, Sean Kingston, Akon(who I believe is 38 now), T-PAIN(gets a heart-warming mention during the following song), and wayy too many other artists using a Vocoder or Autotune to turn crap into a popular, track...?

Anyway, here is a heavy new video from Jay-Z...great cameo by Harvey Keitel.

Jay-Z - Death of Autotune

GentandScholar

"White" is the new "The"

2009-06-18T17:10:00.000-07:00

White Rabbits - Independent - 6.20

White Rabbits - 'Percussion Gun'

White Denim - 'I start to Run'

White Flight - Deathhands

Directed by Brendan Costello, who works for TurnPike TV out of Lawrence, KS.

GentandScholar

Little Joy ~ The Independent ~ 8pm

2009-06-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Little Joy, a trio currently living in LA who I wrote about a while back(here) along with Dent May, are playing at The Independent tonight.

Great venue for this show.

GentandScholar

I Met the Walrus - Lennon 1969

2009-06-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

Really nice 5minute clip from 14year-old Jerry Levitan, who snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in 1969 while in Toronto, and scored an interview.

Phenomenal pen & computer illustration makes it extremely enjoyable to watch/listen/soak up the intended words/meanings.

GentandScholar

Bunker 77

2009-05-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Watch the trailer for Bunker77.

"When he was 21 he inherited 50 million dollars which he withdrew from the bank in cash in an armored car. When he was 25 and in a bizarre move that has became an inspired one, he hired a photographer and film maker to document his every move. "

At 27, he died of 'natural' causes.
A stellar overview of the surfer/playboy Bunker Spreckles and the film can be read here.

Also: Bunker Spreckels: Surfing's Divine Prince of Decadence

GentandScholar

Empire Of The Sun

2009-05-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Empire Of The Sun is an(other) Aussie duo, formed in 2007, one member coming from PNAU.

Check them out, as well as this customized PNAU version of Snood, playing tracks from their recent album. Good for killing time.

The following song 'Walking On A Dream' has recently been released as a free MP3 download.

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream

GentandScholar

Alice in Wonderland

2009-05-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

The following song is done by Aussie artist Pogo, and is 90% composed using samples from the film 'Alice in Wonderland." Amazing work and video. He has a full album mixing hip-hop, ambient, electronic, minimal, trip-hop, downtempo beats and most importantly he samples amazing clips from an array of sources.

Check out this site for a separate variation of the video.

The following video is for the track 'Alohamora' using samples from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

A final track/video by Pogo. Enjoy.

GentandScholar

The Rum Diary

2009-05-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

Having read The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson an un-recollected number of times (the first & first copy w/great thanks to Maxwell Rankin Wood), I have followed the rumors of this literature reworked into a film medium since...2004?

Finally.

The following are recent, on-set production photos of The Rum Diary, in SJ. Excited with the cast, at least the list IMDB currently presents.

Excluding the fact that Nick Nolte is absent...and it appears there will be no Yeoman..?

GentandScholar

Vega for the weekend. (plus: College.Anoraak.Van She)

2009-05-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

Vega (from Austin, TX) has released a fan-made video using footage of the 1986 film Trashin, (staring Josh Brolin), for their new track 'No Reasons'.

Mid-to-High 70's for the next two weeks. Get bronzed this weekend.

The following are videos/DLs from College, Anoraak (both on the Valerie Label out of France), and Van She.

MP3: [Sneaky Sound System - When We Were Young (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) download 320kbs]
MP3: Van She - Kelly (Breakbot Remix)

(via Musiquemagnifique)

Anoraak - Nightdrive with you

College - Teenage Color

The Bird and I at the College & Anoraak show in SF a few months back.

GentandScholar

Take a Letter Mrs. Kanye, if you please...

2009-05-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Name the Jazz great this post's title comes from, yes?

GentandScholar

Beyond Closet, out of Japan

2009-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Beyond Closet is a great, new line of Japanese menswear, by Tae Young.
If you have time check out his presentation of S/S '09 collection, do so.

GentandScholar

John Dear Letter

2009-05-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

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The Oliver Twists

2009-05-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Oliver Twists is an unsigned, four-piece Indie-Rock band from Chicago, just formed in 2007.

"Rock revivalists The Oliver Twists take their name from Batman, their look from an ever-changing Midwestern climate, and their inspiration from jazz, blues, and 1960s rock and roll. Their style, on the other hand, is all their own.
Sonically, the band resembles the 1st wave of the British Invasion on a "Pet Sounds" kick - a mixture of jangle-pop, moody piano, and 3 part harmony. "

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Icarus dicarus dock

2009-05-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

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Tigercity

2009-05-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Tigercity is, '...echoes of the Bee Gees, Prince and Roxy Music, Tigercity's funky, electro-driven indie-pop was born of a desire to avoid what Gillim calls the "scratchy post-punk guitar sound" New York bands have been milking for the past few years. The group's earliest tracks relied heavily on synthesizers and computerized beats, but their move to New York brought the addition of drummer Aynsley Powell and guitarist Andrew Brady, and with them a progressively refined combination of New Wave's mechanized sheen and funk's organic grooves. '

Tigercity =

Listen to 'Fake Gold' on their Myspace. I couldnt find a Video or DL of it anywhere.
Enjoy!

via RS

GentandScholar

America - Hwy 5

2009-05-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

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Vegas a few weeks back

2009-05-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

All photos courtesy of I Hate Your Fashion.

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Patrick Cleandenim

2009-05-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Patrick Cleandenim

NYC

Pop/Glam/Disco

Go to this link and listen to 'Telephone Song'.

GentandScholar

Foreign Born in SF

2009-05-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Foreign Born is coming here to SF...hurrah.
From San Francisco and relocating to LA, Foreign Born is an American Folk/Rock band which has toured with Cold War Kids(YES), Rogue Wave, and We Are Scientists, and are returning to SF this month.

The Independent
May 22nd

Read an interview w/them from Stereo Subversion.
Download the tracks Union Hall & Vacationing People, both from RCRDLBL.

GentandScholar

Hey Champ & The Sounds

2009-05-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Champ is an Indie/Electro/Rock group from Chicago putting out some fairly clean dance tracks, which is nice with the overflow of gritty Justice-esque tunes everyone seems to be producing/remixing.

Hey Champ is currently touring with The Sounds from Sweden. A New Wave/Pop-Synth/Blondie-ish band fronted by female lead singer Maja Ivarsson. The Sounds have been around for a while(1999) touring with Mstrkft, Digitalism, The Bravery, a ton of European Fests, and will be a special guest opening for No Doubt on their upcoming tour. They have a new album 'Crossing The Rubicon’ coming out June 2nd.

Hey Champ & The Sounds
Bottleneck . Lawrence, KS
May 12th

GentandScholar

Keanu Reeves (dot .dot. dot)

2009-04-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

"Point Break LIVE!, the Brechtian blockbuster which garnered a "Seattle P-I Best of Seattle 2004" award, as well as rave reviews across the nation, tells the story of former college football star Johnny Utah -- Keanu Reeves in the film -- who goes in pursuit of the surfing, bankrobbing, skydiving, bare-hand-fighting adrenaline-junkie-cum-Zen-master Bodhi Sattva. The show features armed robbery, big-wave surfing, car chases, explosions, and no less than two extended skydiving sequences.
Best of all, the starring role of Keanu will be selected at random from the audience each night, with the lucky winner reading their entire script off of cue-cards. This method manages to capture the rawness of a Keanu Reeves performance even from those who generally think themselves incapable of acting."

Amazing review.

Keanu's acting is on the same plane as Brendan Fraser's...lifeless.

If you think you'd enjoy, go here for details/tickets.

If you enjoy the theatre (real theatre) (the night I had back in February)please check out the Brava Theater off 24th and York, and speak with Jack.

GentandScholar

Talking Heads

2009-04-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Stop Making Sense is a 1984 film which follows Talking Heads on stage over three nights in 1983. David Byrne can show up anyone's dance moves while performing...the following is the original trailer, and a portion of the film of Talking Heads peforming 'Once In A Lifetime'.

Enjoy.

GentandScholar

Monkey Fish Frog Flu Pandemic

2009-04-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Read the full article about the Swine Flu Pandemic at Gizmodo.
Or stay up-to-date with Google here...

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

GentandScholar

Passion Pit returns to SF

2009-04-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

Passion Pit returns to San Francisco next Tuesday, playing at an amazing venue in North Beach, Bimbo's 365.
First time seeing Passion Pit live they opened for Yelle...it was a bunch of kids (half of which were in their boxers) dancing around....I know I know, SO ARTSY..SO INDIE..SO RAW!!
Roooiighttt...anyways, the video following seems as though they can produce more than one hit single ('Sleepy Head').

If you haven't seen a show here, please do...a favorite in SF.

Bimbo's(with too many rumors as to how it got it's name) is smaller in size than most, creating a super intimate feel anywhere you decided to stand, while never feeling packed-in even during a sold out show. Amazing sound throughout, stiff drinks served from a classy, respectful staff in white formal jackets, an elevated seating area with full dinner service available...nothing about this could be better...except for exiting into the Chad-filled North Beach bar scene following the show.

First experience here was Yeasayer(also was a Coachella hopeful of mine) and again, I couldn't have asked for a better venue for this band.

If you can't make the Passsion Pit show, check out one of the following:

She Wants Revenge 6.12

Au Revoir Simone 6.13

GentandScholar

Normal...?

2009-04-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Japan Pays Foreign Workers to Go Home
By HIROKO TABUCHI
Published: April 23, 2009
Latin Americans who have lost their jobs are being offered money to return to their home countries.
Read the full article here.

GentandScholar

'TriggerStreet TV: Episode 58' review of Pineapple Express...Agreed.

2009-04-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

Please watch, or just fast-foward to 6min 40seconds...when they discuss Pineapple Express...

I walked out of this movie...easily worse than Charlie Bartlett which is the only other movie I have walked out off over the last 3-5 years.

Click here to view episode.

GentandScholar

Oakland 2010 = Robocop?

2009-04-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

With the city of Oakland already acting out an episode of The Wire(pretty good show) a few years ago by shutting down it's Police Academy to fund government raises, I think Oakland has now taken a step towards becoming a present day Robocop by turning over law-enforcement duties to private armed guards.

Read the full article here.

-$15 Million passed by the Oakland Mayor, ruled to have been spent illegally.

GentandScholar

Happy 97* Monday

2009-04-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

GentandScholar

New Music Monday: Hockey

2009-04-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hockey

Hockey is a 'new wave' band from Portland, which reminds me of Bloc Party, the Strokes, Space Hog, and the Arctic Monkeys.
First single(following video) 'Too Fake' was released March 16th... enjoy.

Black Lips

2009-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Black Lips - April 30th - Great American Music Hall

Black Lips - Short Fuse

GentandScholar

Ashton Kutcher, a twat? Agreed.

2009-04-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

" While today might be a huge day in Twitter world with CEO Evan Williams set to appear on Oprah alongside Twitter’s first million follower man, Ashton Kutcher, CNN’s audience apparently still largely has no idea what the service is all about.
Today’s poll on the main page of CNN.com asks “Do you use Twitter?” With better than 80,000 votes cast, only 6 percent of users say “Yes,” while 64 percent say “No,” and 30 percent say “What’s Twitter?” At first glance, these numbers are surprisingly low given the air time the network has devoted to the service, especially in recent days with the Ashton vs CNN battle to reach one million followers. "
Read more from Mashable

Ashton Kutcher in Nikon commercial

GentandScholar

To a funky, righteous, sunfilled weekend

2009-04-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

in flagranti: brash & vulgar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tqySv_z-Sw

Brendan Canning - Love Is New

GentandScholar

Kitsune Tabloid by Phoenix

2009-04-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Tracklist
1. Kiss – Love Theme From Kiss

2. Dirty Projectors – Rise Above

3. The Red Crayola – Victory Garden

4. The Impressions - I’ve Been Trying

5. Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos

6. Roxy Music – Pyjamarama

7. The 13th Floor Elevators – I Had To Tell You

8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Shipbuilding

9. D’Angelo – Send It On

10. Tangerine Dream – Love On A Real Train

11. Urge Overkill - Stull (Part 1)

12. Lô Borges – Aos Barões

13. Iggy Pop & James Williamson - Master Charge

14. Dennis Wilson – Lady (Falling in Love)

15. Irma Thomas – It’s Raining

16. Ritchie Valens - In A Turkish Town

17. Dusty Springfield - I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today

18. Lou Reed - Street Hassle

"With Kitsuné’s milking of the Digitalism cow for all it’s worth becoming quite tiresome, Gildas and Masaya has bucked up their ideas of late.

Licensing a two year old In Flagranti release last year turned into a mutually beneficial exercise in the back scratch. The Brooklyn duo’s profile was helped no end by the popularity of Business Acumen last year (despite that rotten You Love Her Coz Shes Dead remix) and Kitsuné were generally happy to see their release in so many DJ charts. " - Read more here-

Pretty good interview about the album at Dazed Digital.

GentandScholar

If I were a hammer...

2009-04-15T12:13:00.000-07:00

“ It is only natural that the relationship between human and avian mirror that of canine and ottoman ” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Erotic Falconry -- " That word. Perversion. Makes my skin crawl, my stomach turn and my scrotum contract. Where’s the perversion in loving another one of God’s creatures? Where’s the deviance in wanting to pull feathers rather than blond hair? What’s abnormal about wanting to see your wife take a three-inch beak instead of a 10-inch African American phallus or a silicon, injection-molded forearm? "

GentandScholar

My name is Fransisco

2009-04-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

Mylo - Drop The Pressure

The dance moves in this clip remind me of a sweet 80's move called the 'Crakatowe', or 'Scrakatowe', as some call it...
I couldn't find a clip of said dance move on the net(weird...) so the following is a compilation of Tracy Morgan's part from the film Totally Awesome...where the move is from.
Enjoy, happy Tuesday.

DENT MAY...LITTLE JOY...Good Friday off...hurrah hurrah

2009-04-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

EVERYONE in Kansas City, you MUST go to the Jackpot Salon in Lawrence on May 17th to see Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele .

He is amazing. One of my first posts was about how much I missed KC and my buddy Johnny always with his guitar...Dent May 'isn’t exactly screaming at the gates of hell while swooning groupies pump syringes into his arm. Instead, his music is a positive invocation to grab a pipe, some slippers, and pull a blanket over your legs as you lull back and forth in your favorite rocking chair. An unlikely addition to Animal Collective’s Paw Tracks roster, May’s songs are humorous, unabashedly retro and likely to grate on repeat listens.'

Little Joy is an LA based band (2/3 of the members born in Rio) with Fabrizio Moretti (Strokes drummer), Binki Shapiro, and Rodrigo Amarante (sound tech for David Hasselhoff).
A beachy, 50's-60's, whimsical tropical vibe...you will be happy with their first (self titled)album...esp this weekend...good weather all around (even in KC on opening day).

The Love Language, Jackpot Salon, April 16th

2009-04-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

I have today off, (thanks go to Uncle Rup for giving us at FOX, Good Friday off this year) and decided to go do some searching for a new bike, photog equipment, and going through my usual daily sites at Cafe Royale (the best Internet cafe in the city...live jazz, a new (cheap) breakfast menu, free WiFi, not even two blocks away...you understand), I met a few of the the seven(I think it was seven) members of 'The Love Language', a band from NC, on a US tour who are playing at the Jackpot Salon in Lawrence on April 16th.

OH, this old man, clearly a regular at Royale just said, "Ya, I call this the neighborhood living room..it just has that feel to it."

Three day weeekend? Haapppy...HAAppy..haapppyy

2009-04-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

With a bit of idle time at work recently (thank you economy), I am attempting to (finally) do a bit of cleaning out/up the old iPod/iTunes…something I have thought about(and nothing further) doing since receiving my first iRiver way back when.

Finally tossing out a nice portion of the shitty blogged music I DL’d during my ‘100 songs-a-day' frenzy I was able to do for quite sometime..actually, a good while..I have a lot of music...anyways, it feels good. There is no long four separate naming conventions for 'Kings of Leon' (kingsof Leon, kings leon, kingsofleon...again, thanks goes to blogs for this).

Through this process, even as it just starts, I have found, for better or worse, a great number of songs I completely forgot about...

LMAFO- I’m in Miami Bitch….?...rly?

Tegan and Sarah & Hearts on Fire -Vocal Remix....what?

My annoyance only grows...

2009-04-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I flipped through a buddies magazine with non other than Kanye West as...half(?) the cover? Good job defining yourself with a flippable magazine Complex...

Regardless, I hate Kanye (see Grammy post) and from the title of the article, to the few BOLD quotes Noah Callahan-Bever chose to highlight just add to said hate...

"Kanye West created his own destiny by envisioning a perfect existence. Us? We're just living in it."

What the fuck is this Noah? You are now speaking for all of man kind after writing your single book, 50 X 50 50 Cent in His Own Words...riight....and for the quotes...

"How the hell is a 29-year-old grown-ass man acting like a little bitch and getting all emotional? How spoiled can I get?"

"...I only surround myself with geniuses."

I was oh SOOoo happy to wake and see this little clip...

Thank you South Park, I'm gooing hoome....no really, we have Good Friday off hurray for FOX.

Wanda Productions

2009-04-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

Wanda is a top production company based in France that has fully caught my eye. Wanda focuses mainly on commercials, music videos, animation, and web content.
They have some amazing adverts and films on their siteto check out. Pepsi Max to Audi...filming with a live Grizzly bear...a downhill skier sliding throughout SF...they know how to do things right.

Wanda, spend some time here...?

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-04-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

After a failed attempt to adapt the Maurice Sendak's classic by Disney in the 80's...

...it seems the story could finally make it to the big-screen as soon as 10.16.2009...

"The film concerns the imaginary adventures of a young boy named Max, who is angry when his mother, Connie, invites her boyfriend over. After causing one mischievous antic after another, he is sent to his room without supper. Feeling angry and unloved, he then creates a forest bordering a massive ocean, and sails away to an island inhabited by many large imaginary monsters called the Wild Things, who crown him as their ruler. During his time on the island, he befriends the wild thing Carol, who teaches him the meaning of love."

Watch the real trailer, I'm excited....very...

(A 1996 stage production of Where the Wild Things Are in Lafayette, USA)

SF to Long Beach

2009-04-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Jet Blue is currently having $14 one way flights from SFO to Long Beach...

...snaggle is, tickets must be purchased today only, they will sell out, and travel must be between 4.2 - 4.8.

Still-mation

2009-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Sydney artist Keith Loutit, changing the world 10,000 stills at a time...

Animation done by Tomas Nilsson.

Economy is rough...

2009-03-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Photos from work over the past few weeks...

Guy behind the Guy..behind the Guy.

2009-03-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Boss's boss was here this week...motivated me to move from upbeat music to some calming/unwinding tunes...as follows...
I have also taken great liking to weirdly framed/filmed groups...(also, as follows)...enjoy.
This is an amazing series of performances...hope you indulge as I did...although it might take away half your day...(What is, 'Rhyme Tyme'?)

Foreign Affairs

2009-03-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

MOSCOW, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - A bizarre best-mistress competition held by a local tycoon in eastern China ended with one of the women driving him and her four rivals off a cliff, the Shanghai Daily said on Tuesday. Read More.

"The film stars Michael Fassbender as Bobby Sands, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) (Bobby Sands was not a member of the IRA he was a member of the Irish National Liberation Army but acted with the IRA as part of a broader Irish Republican movement within the Long Kesh prison where this movie occurs) member who led the 1981 Irish hunger strike and participated in the no wash protest (led by Brendan "The Dark" Hughes) in which Republican prisoners tried to win political status. It dramatises events in the Maze prison in the six weeks prior to Sands death."

"We were all feeling a bit shagged and fagged and fashed, it being a night of no small expenditure. "

2009-03-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Easily one of the best films seen in years...please watch. La Haine (Hate or Hated) is a French black-white film following the lives of three friends in the projects outside Paris. Riots. Racism. Drugs. Police Brutality. Revenge. France. "La haine attire la haine!"

Justice 'Stress'

Aesop Rock 'Pigs'

Ross Kemp is an English actor turned journalist (what we all wish someone like Kevin Bacon would've done...what?) who has won a slew of British awards throughout his career(Villain of the Year...rly?) and most recently a British Award for Best Hard Investigatory Documentary Series...something of that nature. None-the-less, an award I would much rather be honored with than anything Kanye could possibly win.

The following is a clip from his series, 'Ross Kemp on Gangs: Moscow' in which he follows Neo-Nazi gangs (even joining them in intense training) to learn about current racism, and who is leading the attacks.

Welcome to Frisco Disco

2009-03-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

Boys Noize . This Evening. Vessel

Cut Copy, Matt and Kim. The Fillmore. March 12th
Cut Copy (DJ set), Miami Horror Afterparty. 330 Ritch St. March 12th

Shout out out out out . March 13th. Mezz

The Twelves. March 14th. 103 Harriet

Simian Mobile Disco. March 15th. Mezz

Boy 8-Bit. March 18th. Vessel

MSTRKRFT. March 19th. The Independent

Busy P. March 20th. Mezz

Booka Shade. March 22nd. The Independent

Razor Light . March 24. Independent

Ratatat . April 1st and 2nd. The Fillmore

Kid Sister. April 1st. Rickshaw Stop

Lily Allen & Natalie Portman's Shaved Head. April 4th. The Warfield

Treasure Fingers. April 11th. Club Six

Fleet Foxes w/ Blitzen Trapper. April 14th. The Fillmore

Crookers w/ Bloody Beetroots. April 15. Mezz

Bag Raiders. April 15th. Vessel

Presets. April 16th. Mezz

Band of Horses. April 17th. Fox Theater Oakland

Sebastien Tellier & Chairlift. April 17th. The Independent

**********

Gone for Coachella

**********

Bloc Party. April 20th. Fox Theater Oakland

Atmosphere. April 20th. The Warfield

Fleet Foxes w/ Blitzen Trapper. April 21st. Fox Theater Oakland

Surkin. April 22nd. Vessel

Jokers of the Scene. April 29th. Vessel

Ladytron, The Faint, Figo. April 29th & 30th. The Fillmore

The Kills, The Horrors. May 19th. The Fillmore

The Decemberists. May 20th. Fox Theater Oakland

TV On the Radio. May 22nd. Fox Theater Oakland

Animal Collective. May 26th. Fox Theater Oakland

M83. May 27th. Mezz

What do Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, and Val Kilmer all have in common...?

2009-03-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

Channel 66.
Uunivisiiooon has easily been a favorite of mine over the past year and a half of SF living. Playing international futbol, a vulgar version of the old Jenny McCarthy 'Blind Date' show (which the bird hates...rightfully so...), the always classic Spanish Soaps, and movies ranging from 'Airborne' to 'Cliffhanger', to just this weekend showing a stacked line-up with Invasion USA, staring Chuck Norris.

'The Real McCoy' was next (Tagline: '20 guards. 30 tons of steel. A security system second to none. They said there wasn't a man on earth who could pull off a bank job like this. They were right.' And a Plot Line from IMDB of: 'Knee In Groin Ex Convict Burglary Beautiful Woman Car Trouble' - You HAVE to love movies from the '80s/early '90s) with Kim Basinger and Val Kilmer as J.T. Barker.

Val Kilmer has always been a favorite of mine (while playing a specific drugged, delirious,ecentric role) from Salton Sea, the Doors, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Willow (Yes, Willow), Wonderland, and his star appearance as a...as THE Sherpa in Season One of Entourage.
From Entourage:

The Sherpa: [takes a very long drag from a hooka] The Earth is moving. Did you feel that? Everything. All the time. Dimensions we can't even see. Everything is evolving. Turtle, you're a dove.
Turtle: That's cool. Can I hit that, Sherp? Thanks.

Eric: You afraid of getting busted?

The Sherpa: Busted? I'm entrusted, man. I don't steal. I heal. We're not getting stoned. We're getting honed. My probation officer's one of my best customers. I'm a prisoner. I'm a prisoner of, uh, war. War on drugs. It's all so negative, man. I mean, the Man's most positive positive-tive is a nega-tive. It's a mega-nega-tive. Right? [shouts]

The Sherpa: Viking Quest! Let them be low. We are getting *high*. We're not getting fucked down. We're getting fuck up.

Cyborg ended the trio of cinematic glory, staring the best of action/army/martial arts 90's actors, Jean-Claude Van Damme. (A sort of fight for survival mixing 'Escape from New York' and the 'Road Warrior' with a Plot of: Plague Future Cyborg New York City Low Budget Film).

Check out the 'Muscles from Brussels' newest film JCVD directed by Mabrouk el Mechri (shown here with Jean-Claude).

The film includes a 7min unedited breakdown scene, which I've heard is to Van Damme as the Wrestler to Mickey Rourke.

I hate Macs...but am buying this

2009-03-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

A blog for the kids, by the kids...

2009-03-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

A photo: Pikachu is in fact, a female...

A website: I am better than your kids.

A Video:

Animals

2009-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is it, what?

2009-03-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Camp Lo - 'Luchini' (Uptown Saturday Night 1997)

Plaza Sesamo..

2009-02-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke to the soothing clanking/unloading of 40+ helium tanks being replaced down the street at SF Party.

(This is about where the truck parks every time...this is also my average Monday thru...Monday)
Wanting to sleep in a touch on my Saturday after(another) workweek filled with late late nights, I flipped on the tube (lucky the remote was on another pillow) to try and drown out the noise. I have become somewhat accustomed & at ease with the subtle morning tings, even enjoying it a few times...but the morning after a 3am, the ting was more like a highschooler learning how to use a gong...on repeat.
I am one of those horrible, constant, flipper addicts (of channels...) and always seem to turn off the TV, or engage in a conversation leaving on a foreign stations (they make up half of the grand 19 stations I actually receive).
This morning however I was lucky enough to wake to Plaza Sesamo!

This picture alone shows the strange differences between what I grew up on and the Spanish equivalent..not to mention the 38yr old men with greasy slicked back hair throughout the actual program...
Here is a list of recurring characters unique to Plaza Sésamo:

Abelardo Montoya, the equivalent of Big Bird from Sesame Street, with green and red feathers (Mexico's national colors) and a short, orange beak shaped like that of a parrot. Played by Héctor Loeza. Abelardo's original name was Serapio Montoya, but it was later changed to Abelardo Montoya in honor of his orange dragon equivalent of early seasons.
Lola, a joyful young Muppet who loves to play the harmonica, and make silly sounds with her voice. Lola is the equivalent of Elmo, often referring to herself in third-person. She is related to Pancho, and is Abelardo's best friend. Played by Rocío Lara.
Pancho, Pancho Contreras, blue-colored monster, an equivalent of America's Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street: a grouch who doesn't like to be bothered. Played by Odín Dupeyrón.
Elefancio, Pancho's pet elephant. Only his trunk is ever seen. Played by Marcia Coutiño.
Cuernos (Horns), a red monster with a characteristic couple of horns and vicious teeth.
Multimonstruos, Red Anything Monsters that appear as babies, pirates, etc.
Multimuppets, Brown Anything Muppets.
Rosita, Female Purple Puppet (would later also be seen on the English-language Sesame Street.
El Barón Púrpura (The Purple Baron), a Muppet portraying a lackluster air pilot. A satire of The Red Baron.
Paco, a parrot.
Abelardo, a red dragon.
Bodoque, a grouch that lives in boxes.
Four recurring birds.
A macaw.
Poco Loco.
A penguin.
A chicken.
Stuckweed.
A watermelon.

Additionally, characters from the English-language Sesame Street occasionally appear in some segments:

Beto y Enrique: same as Bert and Ernie.
"René" (Rene the Frog): same as Kermit the Frog.
Archibaldo: same as Grover.
Greñaldo: same as Herry Monster.
Lucas, el monstruo comegalletas (Lucas, the Cookie-Eating Monster): same as Cookie Monster.
El Conde Contar, same as Count von Count.

A short clip of Beto y Enrique:

Youngest Jonas brothers...?

2009-02-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

Sooo...my good friend working in ;the industry' down in LA sent me a demo of the newest Jonas brother. I guess they are only bringing him out for a select number of US Tour stops, but aren't releasing which lucky cities they will be..
Oddly enough, he actually DOES sound just like the trio....awesome....

40ft Stripper Poles....

2009-02-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Last evening, my buddy Jack invited me to a performance at the theatre he works at a few days a week, the Brava Theatre in the Mission . I was described the show as follows: "Should be pretty interesting...a couple 40ft stripper poles, some girl who had something to do with Warhol, also an actress in the the 70's, 10 strippers...Again, I'm not really sure, but you should check it out. Should be righteous"

So I decided I must finally hold true and attend one of the invites as it was a Wednesday evening, I have an empty apt(while the Bird is away in Canadia country), and free beer and any sort of theatre are always welcomed warmly.

I showed up 15min before call-time, grabbed a beer and walked in...immediately I threw on a huge smile, as it was a bit unsure as to what I had entered into...Flipping open the play-bill trying not to look too lost, I soon found out who this was based on, and who (all of) the dancers were. The show was done by/about Penny Arcade who was in the 1971 Warhol film 'Women In Revolt'(at 19), a writer, activist, actress(read about her here, too much to list)...

I continued to look around at the 10 dancers rotating between the main stage with two 40ft stripper poles(which one of the dancers proceeded to climb about 20-25ft up, twice) and on one of three platforms throughout the theatre hall.

I opened the play-bill, and was happy to find the Name, and Bio of all 10 dancers...my favorite being Cinnamon, Lusty Cheecks(or was it Sweet Cheecks from the Lusty Lady...hmm) Tigger(The ORIGINAL Mr. Exotic World...scroll to the bottom...please!), Amber Ray, and a handful of other stripper ridden names. (Michael Highdrive, ya know first name and street name you grew up on, I always thought could be used if necessary.)

So my buddy Jack was able to give up his boxoffice post and come in to enjoy the show(wiitthh a few replacement beers) shortly before curtains, which was nice as I hopping to ask him a few questions to help prepare for the coming show.

"Soo Jack, after reading the Bios, is this going to be sort of spoken word deal, only with strippers all around the whole time?"

"Ughh, it could be. Sort of sounds like it, yes."

"Is it mainly about her life?"
"Ughh, sure. Look at that one climbing the pole", as Tiger climbs the 40ft pole higher than half way.

"This is going to be weird isnt it?"

"I think it's going to be righteous, YAY AMBER RAY!"

The show turned out to be just a bit off, a bit preachy, a bit ad-libbed(word? Sure), which was interesting as most of the audience was press or friends of everyone involved. It went in and out of different phases of her life, acting out a specific scene, then talking about everything around her at the time, with the dancers complementing said era. This back and forth ended with eveyone on stage dancing to some Castro-loved tunes. I enjoy a good dance. I was up there.

The tickets Jack had for us were 'combo' tickets to the show, as well as the official After Party of: "Penny Arcade’s BITCH! DYKE! FAGHAG! WHORE! (Regional Premiere)" at Cafe Du Nord.

After the show, we grabbed a Super Kaysodilla at a late night Taquerria off 24th and Treat, and stopped by Ruby and Niko's (Yay)for a few drinks before the Tingle Tangle's after party. That's about all I was told regarding the after party (much like the performance itself), "Ugh, should be pretty interesting...hosted by the Tingle Tangles,...some club kids from the 90's" all said under an almost made-up sounding, unsure tone(didn't help).

We bought some pints of Jim, walked downstairs and the lady/man/performer was Flawless Sabrina

There were a dozen of club kids, all seated on the floor, or flouncing around all graceful like, dressed like characters from Alice & Wonderland, with Green Man def. catching my eye.(Check out It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

They were all seated with little sketch comedy acts going on, with this Flawless Sabrina mc'ing the whole deal...weird weird weird... The final act I viewed was a lady (a naked lady...of course she was)who came out dressed in a Afro, a mask, and an afro g-strig(you figure that part out). She proceeded to pull out a tub top, a skirt, bracelets, sun glasses, and a purse from her afro to which she put on..only followed by two 5ft pieces of panty hose, one out the front of the smaller shaped afro, one out the rear of her..herself...make sense? Again, figure it out...

The show was fucking weird...everyone was in shock&awe of these performers (Penny Arcade, Fab Sabrina, the acts, club kids, etc)...we made sure to say hello to all of the 'known' acts present, to have full club cred. in case it was ever necessary.

It's weird to think that the entire venue, packed to the stairs, was into this...this was THEIR SCENE. This is what they paid $30 to experience...beyond me...

Yet another night here in eSeF, where one could say, "This could only happen in San Francisco."

I want to find...

2009-02-26T17:36:00.000-08:00

I have made it a goal to find my secret, sunny, fort-like, grassy nook before the weather heats...a mix of these:

...located somewhere in the city between my Apt. in Tenderloin Heights...

(from my roof looking West)

...and GG Bridge...

Weekend Warriors

2009-02-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hopefully the weather returns to this...so we can return to Dolores...

A few other tracks to dance to this weekend:

Local SF Resdient Andy Caldwell monthly at Vessel (hands-down my favorite SF venue):

Andy Caldwell - Funk Nasty ft Gramma Funk (Wolfgang Gartner Remix).mp3

I was tossed this through my buddy David Jedd, who def. has the East Coast connection when it comes to music. A remix done by (TADT) The American Dream Team:

Trouble Andrew - Super (The American Dream Team Remix).mp3

A track from Moby...it's Moby, DL and listen:

Moby - I Love to Move in Here (Seamus Haji Edit).mp3

A Yuksek remix (many more remixs from him to come) of the track by Caribbean Sea, Montserrat native Tommy Sparks:

Tommy Sparks - I'm a Rope (Yuksek Remix).mp3

Hometown Glory

2009-02-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

Adele simply blew me away with her performance at the Grammys.
Her subtle yet confident mannerisms, her 1940's vocal sway...reminds me of a sound that I grew up on. Here is my Grandmother, Emma Lou Welch, on the Best of Benny Goodman Capitol Years singing, 'You Turn the Tables on Me'.
Benny Goodman w/ Emma Lou Welch - You Turned the Tables on Me.mp3

Adele performing 'Cold Shoulder' at Bimbo's here in SF:

Adele performing Hometown Glory:

Since the three day weekend is upon us, I follow with a remix of 'Hometown Glory', which happens to be one of my favorite Axwell tracks (from the Swedish House Mafia)...enjoy, yes?

Adele - Hometown Glory (Axwell Remix).mp3

Back to Basics

2009-02-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

A photo and some tuunneesss mannn (Hippie South Park Episode anyone)
To aid in the Friday restlessness of getting off-work (for those of us lucky enough to currently have an employer)...

I take you with me to Kiwi Isle by way of 'Second Chance' by Liam Finn (a kiwi...obvi) and some like-photos.

Kansas City Love

2009-02-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

One thing I dearly miss about Kansas City, is the constant strumming from my good friend Johnny Ashner. In thought of him, Kansas City and quality finger-picking, I give you the following...
Country Club Plaza (Dec '08)- Kansas City, Missouri

Laura ConyersSmith Municipal Rose Garden within Loose Park - Kansas City, Missouri

Barn is on my parent's property, as well as my their business: Broadmore Kennels. 'Five star luxury for your furry family members. Deluxe accommodations provide the comforts and love of home in a country-like setting in Johnson County on 7+ privately owned acres.'

*Speak with Patrick and mention me (Michael) to receive discounts on doggy daycare and overnight stays

Johnny Ashner playing the theme to Mario Bros 2:

'Blue Smoke' originally written in the '50s by Merle Travis, re-written & performed by a young kid:

1990 Now

2009-02-11T22:30:00.000-08:00

I have recently learned from 'TriggandTrig' that 90's is now considered 'Vintage', so today I share with you my favorite track from the first and most fought for (vintage) hip-hop cassette tape my parents ever tried to hide from me.

'I got a man' - Positive K off The Skillz That Pay The Billz (1992). (Lyrics)

2009 Coachella Lineup

2009-02-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

I am stoked on the line-up for this years Coachella Music Festival, having listened to or previously seen in concert artists dipping into even the 8th line.
This year they have implemented a few payment options, eliminating the one-time payment of $300, allowing everyone to continue eating Corn Nuts.

A few bands I hope get added (with many more to come):

Au Revour Simone

Paris_Friendly Fires (Aeroplane Remix ft Au Revoir Simone).mp3

Bumblebeez

Bumblebeez - Dr Love (Tizzy Remix).mp3

......Meeew-siiick....?

2009-02-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Grammy Awards: Proving just how, lame(?) mainstream music has become.
This kid on drugs following a dentist appointment...

...yells with better intonation than the three brothers who took the stage to collaborate with Stevie Wonder...
I could take the Washington Posts yearly neologisms , this guy dancing and singing, and create better lyrics/music than 90% of rap coming out right now...really?
When did using Auto Tune(or a vocoder) turn utter crap (T-Pain: 'Buy a drink, I drink it, get drunk, that's how I know she thinks I'm coo-oo-ol) into popular, searched for, sellable music...?
Kanye, why have you followed this trend...? Why have you continued to whine like you're out of purple drank, when not getting what you want?
Not only have you complained on your blog to 'Just let me be great!", but during your presentation of Best New Artist' at the Grammys you actually said, "I don't get why neither of us were nominated for this award."
Question: What year were you nominated for 8 Grammys?
Answer: 2005
It's possible that I have been too deep in the vast blog-world finding new music over the past few years, but I hope all artists on MTV and the Rolling Stone's 'Tops' list (shite!) aren't soon to follow suit.

Coachella Hopefulls...

2009-01-12T17:05:00.000-08:00

Department of Eagles - No One Does it Like you.mp3

https://dl-web.getdropbox.com/get/07.Bon%20Iver%20-%20Flume%20%28live%20in%20the%20MOKB%20studio%204-4-08%29.mp3?w=a44ec936