Mission Mission

Oakland-based musician Michael Zapruder‘s new album, Pink Thunder, is quite the creative feat. The album itself, six years in the making, transforms poems by 23 poets into “indie-rock free-verse songs” in collaboration with 36 musicians, and is accompanied by a book of photographs and hand-lettered renderings of the poems involved. Zapruder has also created a series of portmanteaus, found object sculptures with built-in music players (engineered by our friend Mark Allen-Piccolo!). Each portmanteau plays one song from the album.

Pink Thunder’s release party and gallery opening is tomorrow, October 18th at the Curiosity Shoppe, and the portmanteaus will be showing through November 18.

[Thanks, Melody!]

Here’s the deal:

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!
Wednesday, October 17th at Beauty Bar
6pm-2am

Join Ruby White, The Biz, and The Whiz while we spin 60s soul clappers, the sassiest girl groups, garage, surf, r&b, sweet sugary pop, bubblegum, and more!

We’ve invited our favorite female DJs to join us: Jackie Sugarlumps, H-bomb, Amy A, Cassandra, Wam Bam Ashleyanne, and Tylawave.

Besides NINE babes ruling your Wednesday night, we’ll have cake, drink specials, and a vintage sale from 6pm-10pm.

As always our night is FREEEEEEE FREEE FREEEE!!!

xoxoxoxox

Treasure Island has long been my favorite local music festival (Hardly Strictly is amazing, but there are just a few two many fiddles; Outside Lands is great, but there are just a few too many Foo Fighters) so I’m excited it’s that time of year again. Temperatures are supposed to get as high as 77 over the weekend, so it’ll be nice out on the island.

Oh and tickets are still available! And if you can’t make it, maybe you check out one of the night shows.

Now let’s rock out to this sexy-ass new Matthew Dear video:

Inclement weather bumming you out?  Don’t worry, it’s just a diversion.  Don’t think for one second that our Indian summer is over with!  Trust me, there’s plenty more where that came from, and what better way to enjoy it than by imbibing a margarita on El Rio’s sunny patio while a bunch of rad bands belt out the jamz?  Throw in some tasty BBQ and you’ve got all the makings of a fantastic Saturday afternoon!  And what a lineup!  Let’s see, we’ve got local faves Terry Malts, Sweat Lodge featuring Rocky whose Frybread continues to kill it, Big Drag with Josh Cobos of Bad Blood fame, and the just-added Broonies!

Check out all the details plus RSVP and invite your friends here.

California Sunshine resurfaces every once in a while with something amazing. Here is the latest:

First of all, if you don’t know Dawn Penn, she is the singer on this classic reggae scorcher (which uses the tritone to great effect):

She’s playing in Oakland at the Uptown (not to be confused with the bar on Capp St.) tomorrow night, backed by the bay’s own ska rocksteady group Franco Nero.

There’s a pre-party tonight from 10pm-2am the Makeout Room, with the always boss DJs from SF Vintage Reggae Society and Revival Soundsystem. Blackwell rum is sponsoring it with rum tastings, if you’re into the two drinks that can be made with rum.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band second line yesterday was a great time. Marching through a crowded Mission street sidewalk seemed to make the cops nervous, but things went off without a hitch and there were nothing but smiles all around from drivers and locals alike. Some familiar local musicians joined in on the jam.

Here’s a quick video:

The parade ended inside the actual Preservation Hall West (AKA “the Chapel”) where we were greeted by some confused-looking construction workers. The bartenders served up some drinks and everyone walked around the venue, checking it out.

One of the employees said that this weekend is just a preview opening for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. The actual opening date is still up in the air. From the look of it, there was quite a bit of construction to go.

Still, the place looks great. The main concert hall is in the chapel (hence the AKA, “the Chapel”). There are at least 4 bars. One in the concert hall, one in the balcony, one in the front, and yet another in a side room.

Booking will be overseen by by the folks behind Slim’s, so you can expect that vibe to carry over to the Chapel.

Hey non-day-job-having Mission people: you don’t want to miss this. At 1:30pm today, a New Orleans-style second line parade will be led by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They will march from Revolution Cafe to the forthcoming Preservation Hall West location:

Dear San Franciscans. Anyone want to parade with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Friday (10/5)? A New Orleans’ style Second Line will be held with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for the opening of Preservation Hall West at The Chapel, Friday at 1:30pm. The parade will start on Bartlett & 22nd st. and will run to Preservation Hall West at 777 Valencia st. Musicians, support the band by bringing your instruments! Everyone else, sport your New Orleans gear and noisemakers for this historical event

Grab your banjos and head on down!

I somehow managed to get tipped off about this from a well-informed friend in Chicago. Go figure.

[via Preservation Hall]

A.) Ashleyanne is the best, B.) This seems like a chill opportunity to check out Slate and suss out whether or not it will truly be “The Mission’s newest hangout…” Here’s some info:

Incredible booze selection! Fun bartenders! Lots of room for dancing! Pool table! And sweet, sweet jams!

2925 16th Street
(A block from BART)

Expect rare 45′s filled with FUNK movers, rare SOUL screamers, and R&B groovers all night long for your dancing pleasure.

RSVP and invite your friends!

If that poster doesn’t already have you frothing at the mouth for a Saturday night of classic electronic dance music, this month’s edition of the Haçeteria Podcast sounds like it might do the trick:

Haceteria DJs Tristes Tropiques and Nihar sat down with Marc Kate and talked to him about his project Never Knows, as well as meditations on technology, nightlife, and dance music. We cover everything from proto-techno to post-techno. Never Knows performs live at Haceteria on Saturday, October 6 at the Deco Lounge in San Francisco.

Here it is:

Alright? Now RSVP and invite you friends!