Mission Mission

Our buddy Jennifer Maerz over at Spin closes her 12 Best Moments of Treasure Island Music Fest list with this astute appreciation of Surfer Blood:

The Pavement song “Box Elder” is a quintessential slacker kiss-off tune, especially when it comes to the peppy refrain, “I’ve got a lot of good things coming my way, and I’m afraid to say that you’re not one of them.” In the hands of Surfer Blood, though, the single went from wryly tough to dramatically sincere. Then again, the Florida boys’ entire set was nothing if not earnest. Frontman John Paul Pitts opened the group’s performance Sunday by asking if anyone was excited as he was to see headliner Belle & Sebastian later, and when fans sang along to Surfer Blood’s big hit “Swim,” Pitts responded by saying in all seriousness, “Hey, you guys know that song!” When the band closed out by paying homage to Pavement, Paul’s theatrical quiver added gravitas to a song that’s usually packed with wisecracks.

Yes it did. And before all that, J.P. also performed an epic stage dive, pictured above. Surfer Blood rules.

Previously:

Surfer Blood and Pavement at the Pitchfork Music Festival

What do you suppose might happen if, as has been suggested, popular Mint Plaza boutique ice water purveyor House of Ice Water were to move to open an ice-water cart in Dolores Park?

Previously:

Blue Bottle the Next American Apparel?

I always try to look cool by hanging my paw out the window like that, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work as good as this.

Photo by kinesisfilms.

Missed Connections brings us a cautionary tale of feet and socks and couches at cafes:

Quick etiquette tips to the cafe goer (mission district)

• Do not remove your shoes in a cafe.
• Do not then wind those sweaty-ass feet under you on the couch.
• Especially don’t do that when your fucking socks LOOK LIKE THIS.

Seriously. It’s fucking gross.

Seriously.

Now can we determine which cafe this is so we can all stay the hell off that couch?

Reader Keith B. sent this in saying, “local fixie riders need to practice!” And I wasn’t gonna post it because this video is like a year old or more, but then I watched it.

This video is exponentially more exciting than anything by Macaframa. And their outfits are way better. Watch it now:

But could they do it on hills, in traffic? That would be the pinnacle of human achievement. Now where can I see some bloopers?

I wrote about these guys last year, after I’d heard the sad news that we’d lost their leader. (And I stand by everything I said.) Yesterday, I learned of the existence of this recently uploaded terrible but wonderful video of them rocking the Purple Onion some 17 years ago.

Now go buy their record. It is as real a classic as you’re ever gonna find.

It’s real vintage, handmade-looking, felty. Small though, so you’ve gotta have a pretty small head.

For sale now at Afterlife on Valencia.

Oh, and there’s only one.

Okay, this picture doesn’t do it justice, but what picture possibly could? (Well, Todd Lappin might do a decent job.)

In any case, this dude came barreling down Market Street at top speed on a fully loaded shopping cart, squeaking through the Octavia intersection right as the light turned yellow. How’d he time it just right like that? I can’t even seem to get it right on a bike, with brakes and speeds — and steering!

What an athlete!!

Photo by Zoë Banks.

Previously:

Stuart Murdoch Says, “Go Giants!”

“Go Giants!” in the Parking Lot

“Go Giants!” on BART

Obama Says, “Go Giants!”

Orange you glad we here in the USA take the time to dispose of a dead whale in an orderly and cleanly fashion?

They’re not so diligent in Europe I guess, where Girls Girls Girls spotted this grim tableau.