Mission Mission

Scott Soriano’s Crud Crud today takes a look back at an early-’80s San Francisco band called Harvey:

Harvey were a San Francisco band made up of the three Harvey brothers – Doni, Regi, and Chris. They were responsible for on 45 and one 12″ ep. Both are solid records – Blue Oyster Cult/Thin Lizzy-influenced hard rock, with punk energy and compactness. Listen to this song and guess why no major label took a chance on them: Three brothers with a great hard rock sound. Now consider this: The Harvey brothers are Black and being a Black rock & roll band in the 1980s was considered marketable. Was this an example of racism in the music industry? Perhaps a bit, but remember, Arista took a chance on the Bus Boys and, despite heavy marketing and a lot of media, they never really took off. The industry figured, they tried and people weren’t ready. And, to be fair, they were probably right. Black rock & roll bands were so uncommon – in the mainstream – that they weren’t a novelty; they were a rarity. And outside of a few major cities, it was rare to see African Americans at rock concert, as fans.

Read on for more history and a free mp3.

You go first.

Jojo Brandel of Please Quiet Ourselves fame (you might remember him and them from one of the best locally produced music videos of 2010) returns this week with a brand-new project. It’s a band called Moe Meguro (Moe is pronounced the Japanese way as they’re named after Japanese Olympic curler Moe Meguro), and they just finished recording their debut album at the Mission’s own Tiny Telephone.

Here’s the startling video for the first single, “Goya Health and Wellness”:

If you like that, maybe you’ll like contributing to the band’s Kickstarter campaign. $10 gets you a digital download of the album, $25 gets you a vinyl LP and a digital download, and for $100 the band will write a song about you (or take you on a date). There are a few other options too. They’re almost to their goal (at which point they’ll be able to press the records and distribute them or whatever), but every little bit helps, and the thing closes in just a couple days.

Prom pictures from last Friday’s summer soul bash at the Verdi Club are up on Facebook. I think you have to “like” Dusty Stax Presents in order to view the whole album (but that’s good because then you’ll be more likely to be made aware of future events such as this).

In any case, there are a handful of highlights after the jump, and a summer soul classic to listen to while you ogle them:

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Friday night’s dance gala at the Verdi Club was a blast. Events there are few and far between, so try not to miss out next time, alright?

More pics after the jump:

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I’m a little late to the game with the whole Kreayshawn kreayze, but that hasn’t stopped other notables from weighing in (“Godawful. Another white girl from the ‘burbs trying to act hard. Kesha with a bluntwrap”).  Nor has it stopped Kreay-Kreay from venturing out of Oakland to hang out in our hip little Mission district for the obligatory Thrift Town rack dive and jaunt through Clarion Alley.  Did she buy the same rainbow-vomit sweater you sold there last week?

Link.

[Thanks J-man!]

This video was shot at some festival in Canada a couple weeks back. You have to look and listen pretty closely to see and hear what’s different. New second drummer doesn’t seem to have any cymbals, but maybe that’s okay. Can’t wait to see this new lineup live when the band makes its return to the Bay Area later this month.

Tour dates here.

If you dare, attend 2 Men Will Move You tonight:

2 Men, one crazy party – every 2nd Saturday of the month at Amnesia, San Francisco.

Primo & Jordan play disco, boogie, house, new wave, italo, and other music for your dancing pleasure.

RSVP and invite your friends here.

[via Primo]

Do you have the tightest skillz this side of Bernal Hill(z)? Well it’s your lucky day, because these $2000 rap contest flyers have been popping up everywhere lately. Just call or text 415 484 5368 for the details, we guess. I don’t know about you, but the Tartine Bakery does seem like good place to scout for the next Jay-Z:

Sucka MCs hear me and be all, “God-damn!” My style is tasty like this Croque-Madame

(Note: all comments must take the form of raps)

The previous edition of Smithsfits was disrupted by massive power outages (but they still had some fun). Here’s hoping this Saturday’s goes off without a hitch.

RSVP and invite your friends here.