Mission Mission

I first stumbled upon The Karaoke Underground doing a Google search for “replacements can’t hardly wait karaoke,” because no karaoke place seems to have that song even though it’s like the best song.

As I scrolled through their songbook, seeing songs by Jay Reatard and Cock Sparrer and the Detroit Cobras and the Thermals and NOFX, I was stupefied. I was sure it was some kind of prank, that it was too good to be true.

But it’s true.

A few months later I dragged a couple of my best friends to Austin to see for ourselves, and I had one of the best nights of my life, singing “Always Wanting More,” “Take ‘Em All,” “Pillar of Salt,” “Bad Girl,” and “Lori Meyers” — each and every one a song I’d never in my wildest dreams dreamed I’d get to sing at karaoke.

And it’s not just some jerk playing YouTube videos. Creators and hosts Kaleb and Hannah have made every single one of their 900+ karaoke tracks from scratch, and they’ve even gotten the blessings of certain punk rock superstars along the way. It’s a labor of love and it shows, and it will probably be one of the best nights of your life too.

One month from today, on Sunday, April 12th, 2015, KU is coming to SF for the very first time. And it’s at Rickshaw Stop, so you get to perform on a stage the actual Thermals performed on! And THE SONICS performed there last year for goodness sake! I’m gonna pass out.

Browse the (completely mind-blowing) songbook and then RSVP and invite your friends.

(I’m helping out with some promo and logistics, and I’m tremendously excited about it, so don’t be surprised if I write about it a bunch more in the coming weeks.)

I’ve been writing this blog every day
For a little over eight years
I’ve met heaps of interesting people
And conquered a lot of fears

But I’m getting older
And the neighborhood is a-changin’
And it’s starting to feel a bit like
The masthead could use some rearrangin’

I still love the Mission
And I still love this blog
I just need a little bit o’ help
A-rustlin’ up this hog

This thing’s never made a lot of money
So you couldn’t expect to get rich
But if a creative outlet and a lot of fun is what you’re after
Please continue a-listenin’ to my pitch

If you love this place
And you reckon your blogging abilities are the bomb
Please drop me a line
At allanhough@gmail.com

[Vintage staff photo via our Facebook account]

Looks like last night someone set about giving this neighborhood what it really needs, a ball pit.

Can't wait for the Capp Street ball pit! RT @Johnfpor: Capp is getting playful pic.twitter.com/wtyXEWqwVA

— Capp Street Crap (@cappstreetcrap) March 11, 2015

But then things got a little too messy and they had to take care of it.

Cleanest street in the #mission #SF pic.twitter.com/yxeHuPAWCb

— Abby Ayckbourn (@achyabby) March 11, 2015

These are by Patrick Joust, a photographer from Baltimore.

Lots more here.

[via Big Old Goofy World]

[via Kat]

See what we have in store this week at POPS BAR. Be sure not to miss out on DJs Six & Candy, headliner DJs for SF Pride 2015′s popular Indie Oasis Stage, spinning at Pops on Saturday at Get Lucky! “I think to say the vibe at the Indie Oasis stage is infectious is really an understatement. It is a gathering of friends, family, and fans of awesome indie dance music. As a DJ, to look out and see full city blocks of people freaking out to your music is something truly special. We have just as much fun as the crowd; if not more. It’s a magical combination of all walks of life having an absolute blast.” – DJ Candy. Come sample the magic at Pops!

3/9/15 MONDAY

BLUES HAPPY HOUR 6-9PM with U9Lift & Timo

MOM at POPS:

Motown on Mondays

It’s only Monday if you treat it like one.

M.O.M

9PM START, 1:30AM end

The most talked about night in town.

Hey!

Check out my

M.O.M.

Mondays at Pops

DJ GORDO CABEZA, TIMOTEO GIGANTE, THE CAPTAIN AND WEEKLY GUESTS

PLAY ORIGINALS, EXCLUSIVE REMIXES

AND CLOSE RELATIVES OF YOUR FAVORITE

MOTOWN SONGS…

3/10/15 TUESDAY

Tropicana Tuesdays

“Quality Latin BASS”

Every Tuesday at POPS BAR

Music: FREE (Local BayArea DJ`s)

Salsa Lesson: FREE (Instructor La Muerte)

Time: 9pm – 2am

Tropicana is BACK in town! Every TUESDAY night for the WINTER season. Bringing “Quality Latin BASS”, by playing some of the latest – up to date latino music genres.. of course respecting the classics…

With Tropicana Nights, our purpose is to create space for cultural diversity and environmental awareness. Community and music can do a lot of great positive impact in society.

Music by local BayArea DJ`s, such as Stepwise, El Kool Kyle, Mr. Lucky, Mr. E, J Boogie and more…

Salsa I LatinHouse I Latin HipHop I Moombahton I DubCumbia I Merengue I Bachata I Dancehall I LatinReggae I and more…

3/11/15 WEDNESDAY

Happy Hour Entertainment 6-9PM

Rude Awakenings

Forgotten underground classics of the 60s, 70s, and 80s with DJ Cathy 2-Tone & Scooter Stalin.

Wu Tang Wednesdays

9PM-1:30AM

Every Wednesday Night at POPS BAR

Razor Sharp Sounds sliced by DJ Kevvy Kev

Classic 90s Hip Hop

No Cover

3/12/15 THURSDAY

6-9PM Happy Hour Entertainment

Drew Smith, singer/songwriter plays popular songs from the 70s-00s with a few originals. Your favorite beach campfire jams whll have you singing along in no time!

BFF.FM Night

9PM-1:30AM

Rotating DJs from BFF.fm radio! This week: Steve Foxx & NITEPPL. Best of all, you’re supporting community radio!

No Cover!

3/13/15 FRIDAY

Happy Hour Entertainment 6-9pm with Kid Gorgeous: Rare Grooves, Deep Cuts; Soul, Funk, Psychedelic, Cumbia, Reggae and Beyond with Your Boy Kid Gorgeous!

24 & YORK

A new dance party for the neighborhood! Music from Shane King.

9pm-1:30am / free

3/14/15 SATURDAY

GET LUCKY!

DJs Six & Candy spinning indie dance & electro music videos.

Dance to the underground!

9pm-1:30am / No Cover

3/15/15 SUNDAY

Bushman’s Bash Open Jam

Join us for an open Jam at Pop’s!

6-10PM

No Cover

POPS BAR

2800 24th Street @ York

San Francisco, CA 94110

www.popssf.com

[via Rain and Lizzy]

3D City is a year long stereoscopic photography project by Doctor Popular

The beaches of Bermuda. From a recent trip filled with fish chowder, Cuban cigars, and overly sweetened rum drinks. Our local bar even had some dusty old bottles of Fernet on hand.

(more…)

The cement is curing on the first court in the US built from scratch specifically for bike polo.

After years of being run out of nearly every court with lights, the San Francisco Bike Polo (SFBP) club will finally have a place to play without the threat of being ticketed. SFBP met with both the mayors office and the Park Director after being kicked out of Dolores Park in 2011. “This allowed for some frank discussions about the need and what to do with us” explained Bikeman Ben, one the SFBP organizers.

“Once we heard about the park renovation, we as a group, attended all of the planning meetings and made sure that the parks department knew that there was a demand” Ben continued. “SFBP is the reason the court is being built.”

When asked why a vacant basketball court wasn’t sufficient, Ben detailed three main factors:

1. Safety – Posts and poles are a danger to the riders.
2. Flow – Keeping the ball in play – Walls (at least 2’ high) surrounding the court.
3. Size – Bigger than tennis or basketball. Smaller than hockey.

“We are happy to be able to play anywhere, but being able to design the court to our specifications has made San Francisco the envy of the international polo community” Ben added.

SFBP members include national and world champions, among others considered top players in the sport. Ben continues “more players are moving to San Francisco just because of the talent and the new court. It is a quality fraternal sport that is welcoming to all who love the sport.”

Until the new court opens, you’ll find bike polo being played nearly every night of the week at the Corondo Playground on 21st. Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM is newcomer night.

Previously

• Dolores Park Bike Polo Crackdown