Bluegrass Vs. Crowds

It's my favorite time of year - Hardly Strictly time!! I am grappling with whether or not I have it in my to brave the crowds both days. I spent last weekend in the park as well...so still undecided on whether I'm going to check out both days of the festival. Last year I had the sweet friends and family hookup, but seeing as that's not happening this year I'm just going to have to brave the crowds like a commoner. Ugh.

Sat or Sun? Tough choice. On Saturday, there's Gillian Welch and Steve Earle (who I love seeing every year), Nicke Lowe, Old 97s and Richie Havens. Sunday's lineup includes Emmylou, The Knitters, Marianne Faithfull, Aimee Mann, Dr. Dog and Neko Case. Still on the fence. Help me decide!

http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/

This just in from papa bear, "Yes, I remember the Bluegrass festival, and the drugged out zombies that had the pit bulls, etc. Be careful … not everyone is a nice person! Watch out for thieves and pickpockets too." I love my dad.

The Expo for Independent Arts 10th Anniversary!

Hola kiddies. It's been quite some time since I've updated this here blog, so my apologies. Work is crazy as always, and let's face it - when you stare at a computer screen for 10 hours a day you don't quite like to continue that in your free time. At least I don't. Give me a book over a computer screen any day. Along those same lines, since moving in with Shane we have bid adieu to television altogether. While that's nothing unfamiliar to me, I have to say that living without baseball was quite a shock to my system. I don't miss much else (OK - maybe Mad Men), but having to pay $ to sit in a bar to watch my baseball was none too enjoyable. We shall see how long this lasts.

This is going to be a busy weekend. Hoping to make it to the Big Book Sale after work, but if that doesn't happen it will just have to wait 'til Sunday. I am going to *try* and limit myself to spending no more than $100. RRRRRIIIGGGHT.

Tomorrow is the 10th annual Independent Arts & Media Expo - happening this time around in golden gate park. Even if juggling and swing dancing isn't your thing, the expo is going to be jam-backed with exhibitors ranging from Alternative Tentacles Records to The Women's Audio Mission. This is Arts & Media's largest fund-raising event of the year, so get on out and support them dammit!



Did I mention that tour de fat is also happening in the park tomorrow? Hop on your bike, have a few beers and then peruse the expo. Not a bad afternoon if you ask me.



Lastly, leaving you with my favorite flickr set of the week (thanks MeFi).

Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend's Too Stupid to Know About

I think this will be the first Memorial Day weekend since I was a teenager in which I won't be taking off for the mountains. Seems a little strange - I must admit. I did receive a last minute invite to join some of my lady friends for relaxing along the Yuba River, but I politely declined. That's not to say that I wouldn't love to spend 8 hours in my river rat with a beer in my hand, but I'm actually really looking forward to an abandoned San Francisco. I feel the same around Christmas time. There's something quite enjoyable about wandering through what are typically crowded streets. Also - it will give me a good chance to tackle some of the house projects I've got lined up without my usual distractions. Time to paint my hideous kitchen cabinets and do some serious weeding in my new backyard.

I will however still go out - because lord knows I will go stir crazy if I don't see my fair share of live music. I'm in luck this weekend, because turns out there's a Popfest going on. I don't normally dig on all things bubblegum or twee, but there's defintely a special place in my heart for the band Tullycraft. The super twee group, which hails from my hometown will be at the Rickshaw on Saturday night as part of SF Popfest.




SF Popfest


Rumor has it this is going to be Tullycraft's last live performance. I've heard bands say that before. While I don't believe that for a second, it has been about 10 years since I've seen the band. I received many a mix tapes in high school which were chock full of Tullycraft gems. My favorites were always "Sweet," "Superboy & Supergirl" and of course - "Pop Songs You're New Boyfriend's Too Stupid to Know About." I can't wait to TOTALLY nerd out!

Pop Songs

More Noir Means Happy Lizy

I had a chance to check out more noir at last night's screening of The Story of Molly X, which is part of a B Noir series going on this week and next at the Roxie. It was my first time at the Roxie (which I thought was strange), but turns out that while the seats aren't so comfy and the screen is tiny, the popcorn's cheap.

I WAKE UP DREAMING: The Haunted World of the B Film Noir

And here I thought I had to wait til the return of Noir City! A former Roxie staff member, Elliot Lavine recently finished a book on television and film noir titled TV NOIR: I WAKE UP DREAMING and to celebrate his soon to be published novel on the topic he was invited to curate the series.


Seems as though I'll be taking a break from baseball this week.

Last night's movie had all the right ingredients for me. A female crime boss. Check. Prison fight scenes. Check. Charles McGraw (albeit a very minor role). Check. San Francisco in general (I'm a sucker for all things local). Check.

In the film, the widow of a murdered crime boss decides to rally her former hubby's henchmen to form a gang of her own in San Francisco. Once out west, a jewelry heist doesn't go according to plan and "Molly X," gets locked up and shipped off to a woman's prison.

While the film left a lot to be desired there were some fantastic shots of San Francisco and an amazingly hilarious prison-yard fight scene. The moral of this story - apparently women can be 'reformed' with just the right amount of sewing lessons!

The boys and and I didn't stick around for the double feature, as we opted to hop across the street to get our drink on, but you can bet I'll be back this week for more. Lavine said there were a lot of films he wanted to include, but couldn't squeeze into the series...so we can expect more noir nights to come. I love it.

Bring on the Noise

Just found out about a fun noise show happening on Friday. Wolf Eyes, Black Dice and Sic Alps. Time to have my face melted off. I haven't seen Black Dice or Wolf Eyes in years....it will be like I'm at a Boston house show all over again, but this time in some SOMA warehouse. I didn't end up making it to the Mayyors show last weeked in Davis, so now's my chance to act like a kid (err - aging spazz).



Friday, May 29th
OCD Warehouse
758 Natoma (@ 9TH)

5 Dollar Cover

I just got word from one of my labels that a new MTV faux-reality show set in Memphis, TN will center around young struggling musicians trying to make a go of it. Via MTV - "$5 Cover is a rough-and-tumble show set in the clubs, bars, and all-night cafes of present-day Memphis. The series follows a cast of young musicians as they fight for love, inspiration, and money to pay the rent."

The promo for the series features Jack Oblivian and as it turns out he, along with Harlan T Bobo will be among the cast members. WTF. I don't know if I think this is amazing or super creepy. Maybe a little of both. Check out all the Hi-Tone shots (and Goner T-shirts) in the promo video below.

MTV Shows

http://www.mtv.com/fivedollarcover/
http://blog.fivedollarcover.com/

The series premieres tomorrow night. While I have been rather consumed with baseball as of late, I might actually have to check this out.

Gonerfest for the masses? WEIRD

Book Nerd Time

I don't tend to have much free time at work (or anytime for that matter), but with the little spare time that I do have I always make time to check out Moistworks. The contributors to the blog are all writers and their posts always tie in music.

A frequent contributor to the site is author, music critic and New Yorker editor - Ben Greenman. I just picked up his latest book yesterday, Please Step Back, which Booksmith describes as "a swirling Sixties saga of the rise and fall of Rock Foxx, whose unprecedented mixed-race/mixed gender band makes socially conscious music that takes him to the height of worldwide rock stardom. But then his music begins to darken and disappear amidst rumors of sexual debauchery and drugs and violence, even as the culture itself explodes into assassinations and riots until people ask themselves: Whatever happened to Rock Foxx?"



OOOO - I can't wait to delve into this book tonight. Greenman will also be in the city tomorrow and Friday to discuss the novel. Now I can add to my Booksmith author card collection. Sorry Georgie. You won't be flying solo any longer.

4/30: The Booksmith, San Francisco (in conversation with Oscar Villalon)
5/1: Books Inc., San Francisco (in conversation with Joel Selvin)


The Rock Foxx character in Please Step Back is fictional, but also factual, based on such stars as Sly Stone, Bobby Womack, and Curtis Mayfield.

Greenman claims the novel is supposed to come with a special bonus song with lyrics he's penned and music written by the funk legend Swamp Dogg, who also performs the track. I opened the book and to my dismay there was no Swamp Dogg track. What gives?!

Maybe at the event the author will perform the song? Just to tide ya'll over, here's one of my all-time favorite Swamp Dogg jams - The Baby Is Mine. Enjoy and I'll see you tomorrow at The Booksmith!

The Baby Is Mine - Swamp Dogg