So Sylvie

Art for Home's Sake: Housing Works Art Auction

Ending tomorrow (I received the press release  a tad late)! 

"Bid on more than 50 generously donated pieces of art by world renowned artists."

 

KATE HARDING ~ Meramec Caverns, Stage Curtain...

 

"Proceeds from Design on a Dime Art Auction will benefit Housing Works’ newest supportive housing development, the Hull Street Residence. Hull Street is a from-the-ground-up housing development project that will transform a vacant 6,000 sq ft. lot into a beautiful and safe home for 30 single, formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS."

 

MICHAEL PUTLAND ~ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

 

 

RIRKRIT TIRAVANIJA ~ Untitled 2014

 

ROSS BLECKNER ~ Untitled

 

DAVID W BULLANDAY ~ Spring Storm, Tennessee

 

CHRIS HONDROS ~ Untitled

 

BANKSY ~ Napalm

 

Flamin' Groovies ~ Cookin' at the Crepe Place, Santa Cruz

I don't know how my blog turned into a music blog. I will be mixing in the other arts again (je vous promets), but some of these musical notes just beg to be shared. Marcel and I passed some wild time with the Flamin' Groovies yesterday, and I did a goodly amount of time travelling (set list below). 

 

"One of America's most influential cult bands, the Flamin' Groovies came out of the San Francisco area in 1965 playing greasy, bluesy rock & roll dashed with British Invasion panache in an era dominated by hippie culture."   ~ Music Bloodline

 

 

We sure cut a rug. Dancing and singing and shouting 'til we were hoarse. Fun night!!! 

 

 

 

Santa Cruz was the first stop on their US-Euro tour in support of their soon-to-be-released EP "End of the World". They'll be playing tonight in San Francisco at The Great American Music Hall.

 

 

Merci beaucoup guys!

Stay tuned for Marcel's interview with the band :)

 

Founding member and guitarist Cyril Jordan's site, and guitarist Chris Wilson's site (lots of fun history on Chris's).

 

 

 

Sneek peek off the new EP:

 

Special thanks to Adam for continuing to bring amazing music to the Crepe Place. Mwah!

 

Lovely Painful Melancholia!

My years of the late 1970s into the early 1980s were drenched in these two songs. I played them 'til the grooves were worn down.

 

 

(see pinky finger on the mic)

 

 

 

 

 "Tonight's lunar eclipse means that in the next few days you'll have extra power to wake yourself up out of any trance you might be in or to come to attention about some automaton-like part of your psyche. It's a good time to outwit and wriggle free from a bad habit; to deprogram a negative behavior pattern and substitute a positive one." ~ Brezsny, Free Will Astrology

 

 

 

"All of creation is conspiring to shower us with blessings. Life is crazily in love with us ~ brazenly and innocently in love with us. The universe always gives us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. The winds and the tides are on our side, forever and ever, amen. The fire and the rain are scheming to steal our impossible pain. The sun and the moon and the stars remember our real names, and our ancestors pray for us while we're dreaming. We have guardian angels and thousands of teachers, provocateurs with designs to unleash us, helpers and saviors we can't even imagine, brothers and sisters who want us to blossom. Thanks to them, from whom the blissful blessings flow, we are waking up."

~ Rob Brezsny

 

 

Neutral Milk Hotel Show at the Fox Theater in Oakland

Read Marcel's review of the Neutral Milk Hotel show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, April 10, 2014

 

 

 

Interior shots of The Fox...

 

 

A couple of favorite spots for coffee and tasty food near the Fox Theater ...

 

For the finest cup of coffee, served with attention to the smallest detail, head across the street to Duende at 468 19th Street. Housed in the tile-clad Oakland Floral Depot Building - a stunning example of Art Deco architecture - it's a peaceful getaway right in the heart of the hub-bub. Lots of beautiful artisan touches, salvaged materials and large-scale art work. If you have time to spend you can have a satisfying Basque inspired dinner here - "Creative Soulful Food".

 

A large scale assemblage at Duende

 

 

 

 

 

If you want the most flavorful burrito ever, go to Xolo, also in the Oakland Floral Building, at 1916 Telegraph Avenue. The taqueria is named after "the hairless dogs that Frida Kahlo used to keep."  They also serve a vegan pozole and on Fridays and Saturdays Birria (goat, not so easy to find). The interior is dressed in traditional bold colors with sweet vintage touches and a wall devoted to Luche Libre (wrestling) posters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The secluded back patio:

 

It's always fun to go to a show with Marcel. There were other bands in the audience who recognized him and came over to say "Hi" and shake his hand. So sweet. Now that the concert season is upon us, look for him at a live venue near you :)

 

Groovy Tuesday

I'm making an effort to bring back certain dated terms from my upbringing in San Francisco in the psychedelic 60s.

Far-out! 

 

I remember when the song Ruby Tuesday came out in 1967 (yes, I'm that old). It made me swoon. I played the 45 over and over.

 

 

"According to [Keith] Richards's autobiography,"Life", the song was written about his girlfriend Linda Keith. Linda had taken up with Jimi Hendrix and had got involved with drugs. She left Richards and he tried to get her back. He eventually went to her parents and told them she was going down a dark path. Linda's father went to New York to collect her, and by order of court she was grounded. Richards reports that Linda regarded this as a betrayal, and they did not speak again for many years. According to Richards's autobiography, Linda Keith survived, brought up a family, and now lives in New Orleans"

 

 

I love the way the song is composed, Bill Wyman and Keith Richards play the double bass together - ! -  Bill presses down the strings while Keith drags a bow across them. The sounds of the lilting recorder played by Brian Jones and Charlie (same birthday as me) Watts'  fills on the snare drum are indelible. It's sweet to see Keith at the keyboard in that video, and Mick's wide-eyed response to the adoration from the crowd is precious. What a gas. Right on!

 

Maudlin Music Monday!

 One of my favorite Johnny Cash songs, sung by the best female singer, hands down: 

 

"I go out to a party and for a little fun, but I find a darkened corner, "cause I still miss someone."

 

Ahhhh.

 

I have something extra special for Tuesday, then I promise I will get back to some interior intrigue.