Mission Mission

Indulge us for a moment as we pay tribute to one of the greatest elements of the percussive world: The Cowbell. Many successful Indie Dance Songs feature steady, driving beats influenced from either from rock or from dance music. DJ Blondie K from Fringe says that “the ones that really move people on the dance floor are the tracks that mix steady beats with looser percussion elements. The push and pull of the rhythms is what makes people want to get out there and dance.”

DFA recording artists like LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture took this technique to great success with songs like “House of Jealous Lovers”, which feature cowbell and other dance percussion mixed with punk rock grooves. Remixes of songs by the Twelves, MSTRKRFT and RAC use live percussion to transform straight ahead songs by artists like the Two Door Cinema Club and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs into dance floor favorites.

DJ subOctave who was been a drummer long before becoming a DJ says, “We love all percussion but there is something about the cowbell that can cut through a mix and has a attitude that is edgy and fun. ”

Fringe DJs Blondie K & subOctave will be playing an indie rock tribute to the Cowbell and percussion based grooves this Saturday January 30th at Pops Bar. Check out the promo video:

Check out this week’s full entertainment line up at Pops Bar:

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I’m thinking stare at this picture and listen to this song:

[via Camille]

When we were contacted about reviewing the Curran’s last show of their “Under Construction” series we hesitated because Brittany was going to be in DC for work. However, I thought if this show has even half the entertainment value, innovation and beauty of the previous show we saw at this venue…I really needed to be there! So while Brittany was being snowed in, I took my reoccurring stand in Garrett Lamb and we powered through the rain and headed downtown.

Taylor Mac at the Curran: Under Construction (c) Jim Norrena

Katie: Wow. I have few words…still processing. All I can say is that was really impressive. I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without experiencing, as Taylor Mac (the writer, performer, and co-director) called it, a “radical faerie realist ritual”. So, what did you think?

Garrett: I don’t know, but I think I liked it. The format was unique. Sort of a storytelling/musical/drag show/concert. And of course the venue was unique too!

K: Hell yeah! How cool was it to be on the stage of the Curran and be looking out towards the orchestra!

G: Totally. But thinking about the show, some of it didn’t make sense, and wasn’t very polished. Like when they handed out a pamphlet on “Equality of the Sexes” and didn’t really refer to it, or use it with the audience. Or when he wanted us to be eating apples but his “dandy minions” hadn’t given them to us yet. But I guess Taylor did mention this was a workshop in progress. That said, everything else was on point and very moving and entertaining.

K: Agreed. For a performance art piece, this is the one of the best I’ve ever seen. I mean, to be able to command the room like that for three hours was really special. Plus, the idea of doing a 24 hour concert later this year in New York is super intriguing. But I can’t lie, I was really distracted by the fact that Nancy Pelosi was sitting in our row!

G: Me too! That was amazing, I’m glad Nancy was into it. I wonder what she thought when Taylor stripped down to only a golden thong, and then gave her husband a lap dance!

The Verdict: It doesn’t matter if you like or don’t like performance art, drag shows, or musicals. This is a very special experience that should be had by all. Taylor Mac’s performance was provocative, present, raw, hilarious, honest, beautiful, uncomfortable, comforting all the while very philosophical.

The Drama Talk: I’m not going to lie, when I saw that this show was 3 hours long without an intermission I thought twice about going, but the time went by so fast it was crazy. From the venue, to the ridiculously amazing costumes, down to the talented band there is so much to see and hear, there is never a moment you are daydreaming about your instagram feed. I do think time went by so fast because the show has interactive moments where you will be asked to participate. I usually don’t like to participate at the theater but the way it was done in this piece really enhanced Taylor’s theme of “imperfection fostering community”. That night we were a community and this was more than a show, it was a profound shared experience. Go in with an open mind and you will leave with a heart full of love for how art can change lives.

The Drinks: There is a bar on the stage. So get there a little early and grab a drink. And don’t worry, even though the show is 3 hours with no intermission there are little breaks where Taylor changes costumes and you can run down to the bathroom.

A 24-Decade History of Popular Music runs through January 30th at the Curran. You can purchase tickets on Curran’s website for $50.

I had a couple hours to kill after a dentist appointment, so I hopped the Powell-Hyde cable car out to the end of the line and it was really fun. It’d been several years I guess since I’d done that, which I think is too long.

Anyway, just a reminder: take a cable car somewhere every now and then.

We haven’t had a Singin’ & Pingin’ since Halloween 2014 at Verdi Club, man. Time to make up for lost time! Here’s the invite:

Would you believe SINGIN’ & PINGIN’ has been on hiatus since 2014??? It’s true!!! Here’s what’s in store for *****the first can’t-miss party of 2016*****…

• Singin’ with DANCE KARAOKE
• Pingin’ with BERLIN-STYLE PING PONG
• Rockin’ out to DJ Purple’s SAXOPHONE SOLOS
• Dancin’ with YOUR FRIENDS
• Makin’ some NEW FRIENDS
• Drinkin’ BEER
• Drinkin’ WHISKEY GINGERS
• Drinkin’ CHAMPAGNE IN A CAN
• Drinkin’ WHATEVER YOU WANT
• Partyin’ ALL DAMN NIGHT

Check out DJ Purple’s songbook here.

Read about the history of Berlin-style ping pong in San Francisco here.

RSVP and invite your friends!

(And big thanks to Singin’ & Pingin’ for being our sponsor all month long!)

First there was the new song by Still Flyin’, and now there’s this:

The full Still Flyin’ album came out on Friday and it is tiiiight through and through fyi, and Ben Pearce (with drummer Nate Brown) has a record release show at Brick & Mortar Music Hall here in the Mission on Wednesday evening.

Just close your eyes and pretend it’s summer!

[via The Bay Bridged]

[via Christy]

Been waiting a long time for The Perennial! Here’s the blurb:

Developed by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Anthony Myint and Karen Leibowitz (Mission Street Food, Mission Chinese Food, Commonwealth, etc), The Perennial was designed to lead the restaurant industry toward greater sustainability and deeper engagement with the most pressing issue of our time: climate change. We wanted to build a restaurant that prioritized the environment without sacrificing our culinary values–and then we went ahead and added a sustainable bar!

And check out about the bar:

Bar Director Jennifer Colliau (Small Hand Foods, founder; The Interval) will be using the cocktail program as a way to showcase environmental innovations including rethinking ice use to conserve water and energy. Jennifer will also turn to careful sourcing and in-house production to minimize the bar’s carbon footprint and food waste. For example, she is using a water still to create hydrosols and essential oils from citrus peels, and finding innovative bar-related uses for kitchen scraps.

Sample menus and reservations on the website!

[via Julia]

Porous Walker is a genius.

[via Porous Walker on Tumblr]

Now please enjoy this long list of Porous-related links, dating way back to ’09…