Mission Mission

Here’s your daily dose of enthnomusisnobbery. Those guys walking around the Mission with guitars? Not Mariachi. Mariachis wear the Three Amigos getups and feature violins as the lead instrument (not just trumpets), according to this informative video:

It goes on to point out that if you want the real thing, you gotta go to San Jose or LA.

Use that on your next date at Cava 22 to impress. Here’s some sample copy: “Actually, this doesn’t quite fall under the Mariachi idiom.” Be sure to use an extra nasal and high-pitched voice when you say “actually”.

The Bay Bridged this week published a big report about how cool Thao and Mirah’s new recordings are (see video above) and how cool their tour is going to be.

What they failed to mention is that RIGHT NOW they’re kicking off said tour with an unannounced (I guess that’s why they didn’t announce it, huh) show at Valencia Street vintage typewriter purveyor Viracocha. Omw!

Tonight at The Secret Alley.

I’m not trying to hate or anything. You gotta do what you gotta do. But, I just don’t get it. Don’t you ever just want to put the camera down and enjoy the music without worrying about framing or battery life?

Now, I’ll admit, I have taken video at shows. But only a couple times, and only a song or two, not a whole set. Just so that I could give my friends back home a brief taste of what they were missing. And I make sure to stand in the back. And if there was even a chance of someone being behind me, I kept the camera down at chest level so as not to obstruct any sight lines.

But again, I’m not here to judge. I just don’t get it. Doesn’t your arm get tired holding an iPhone above your head for 55 minutes? Isn’t your girlfriend embarrassed to be standing next to you while you’re making these elaborate camera movements like you’re shooting a car commercial or something? Don’t you think maybe you’re bumming the band out a little?

Lettuce know.

It’s been a while since we heard from California Sunshine. Their epic single “Cover Me in Diamonds” was one of our picks for Summer Jamz 2010, but to my knowledge they performed in the neighborhood since their debut early last year. (They did make a brief appearance over winter break explaining why the holidays are great.)

Well, now they’re back. Last night, Mission Mission on Tumblr premiered a new California Sunshine song, calling it “an understated new party jam.” And that it is. I suspect we’ll be hearing a lot of it all summer, as parties wind down and couples start pairing off. Without further ado, here is “Whatever it Takes”:

WHATEVER IT TAKES – California Sunshine

Killer cut! Can’t wait to see how it looks live — California Sunshine is headlining a show this Sunday at the Knockout! Show at 10pm, also starring Pamela and Will Ivy. RSVP and invite your friends here.

[Photo courtesy of California Sunshine]

Last time, he was just walking around taking cellphone pics. This time, it looks like he’s decided to leave his mark:

Nice work, Leonard!

[Photo by reader Brian P.]

Night Fog Reader (written by Kitsch Gallery insiders) has the scoop:

Kitsch Gallery (at 17th and Capp Street) will shut down at the end of May. The skinny is that the owner won’t renew the collective’s lease. Negotiations were held regarding the timing of the lease, but an agreeable situation was out of the question. We are all saddened by this outcome, but the good news is that Kitsch will not quietly disappear. The month of May will be very special. Planned are four final events to share with our friends and community.

Well, that’s somewhat heartening I suppose, but where are we all gonna hang out come the end of May? Read on.

This week master-class Karaoke MC DJ Purple lit up the stage at the Make-Out Room with a pulse-pounding rendition of ‘Careless Whisper’ that could have sent Sexy Sax Man packing. He’ll be kicking off another edition of Ultimate Karaoke Dance Party tonight at 10pm at Jack’s Club, so if you’ve been perfecting your George Michael croon head on down and he’ll kick it up to 11.

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Let’s all play this Hot Chip song and look at some pictures:

It started out chill. You could just wander out onto the floor and trip out on the fog and lasers. And then the soundtrack kept getting more and more irresistible.

With a no-rules dance party, you run the risk of your playlist being too messy, too all-over-the-place — not cohesive. Not the case here. These guys covered a lot of musical ground, across numerous decades, but everything went together seamlessly.

So, Fog and Laser turned into a rager:

Can’t wait for the next one. Or for more laser portraits:

[All photos via Fog and Laser]

We’ve mentioned this guy a couples times. First because he shot a video at Homestead, second because he was rad at SXSW. I bet he’s killer at the Rickshaw Stop too.

Here’s a video I made down in Austin. I still can’t get over his stage manner:

Advance tickets are here.