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out this week 4/5 & 4/12...cold cave...the kills...the raveonettes...
Posted by Brad Schelden, April 29, 2011 05:50pm | Post a Comment
April is turning out to be a fantastic month for music! I think some of my favorite albums of the year are probably going to be taken from this month and the next. Two of my fave bands, The Kills & The Raveonettes, both have new albums out April 5th! It is almost too much to handle at once -- too much of a good thing. It has been hard to decide which to listen to but I really have been hitting up both of these albums at least once every day; I even listened to the new Raveonettes album three times in one day! I can't get enough. The Raveonettes have already been around for 10 years, even though it seems like just yesterday that I first heard about them. Their first album, Chain Gang of Love, was released in the US in 2003. I still think they have one of the best names. They are dark and a bit spooky, like a Raven, and sometimes they sound like one of your old favorite girl groups from the 60s -- somebody with a band name that would end in "ettes." Raven in the Grave is the group's fifth album. Over the years I have liked all of their albums to varying degrees but this new album is something fantastic and I can't get the songs out of my head. There don't seem to be as many bands coming out of Denmark as there are from Sweden and Norway (where many of my favorites come from). I don't really get why. The Raveonettes are pretty much alone in being from Denmark...along with Mew and Lars from Metallica, I guess. I love this entire new album but I have my favorite tracks, of course. Here are two of them. If you have not yet fallen in love with The Raveonettes you simply should not wait any longer. The time has come...
Listen to "War In Heaven" by The Raveonettes from the album Raven in the Grave...
Listen to "Apparitions" by The Raveonettes from the album Raven in the Grave...
The Kills, another opposite-sex twosome, have been around almost as long as The Raveonettes and I love them just as much. The Kills put out their first album, Keep on Your Mean Side, in 2003 too and I have been a fan ever since. I actually forgot how much I loved their last album, Midnight Boom, until I pulled it out of my collection and listened to it again a couple weeks ago. The new and fourth album is called Blood Pressures and It is excellent! I would seriously be content with just having the new Kills and Raveonettes albums this year to listen to. They are both that good. The Kills are more bluesy and garagey sounding at times like PJ Harvey mixed up with The White Stripes. I love these guys! You probably already love them too. But if not...you need to.
Listen to "Satellite" by The Kills from the album Blood Pressures...
As if this was not enough, April 5th also brought us the amazing new album from Cold Cave. Love Comes Close came out a couple of years ago, and I loved it and still keep on loving it, but this new album is exactly what I sort of wanted from them. It's dark and gothy, new wave and synthpop, just like I like it! Cherish the Light Years has been in heavy rotation in my car for a while now. I listen to it when I am taking breaks from The Kills and The Raveonettes. Matador reissued Cold Cave's first album but this is their first true Matador release. It would be hard to figure out this band if you had never heard them before. They could easily be some darkwave or synthpop band from the 80s that you had somehow missed. Maybe they would have opened up for The Human League or Talk Talk. You will either love or hate this band -- there really is no in between. This new album sounds at times like The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie, Clan of Xymox, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and New Order. They have elements of all your (my!) favorites but somehow they make it work and create this brilliant little new-sounding masterpiece. I recommend listening to this album while driving around the city at night. Preferably in the rain. Or in your bedroom late at night. It is that kind of album. It is that kind of amazing.
Listen to "Underworld USA" by Cold Cave from new album Cherish the Light Years...
Listen to "Confetti" by Cold Cave from the new album Cherish the Light Years...
Buy the new album Cherish the Light Years by Cold Cave
We also have new albums this week from Burzum & the SF's The Sandwitches, a reissue of your favorite album from the early 90's by Material Issue, and a remixed version of Daft Punk's Tron Soundtrack. The next week is the week of some big releases as well. Awesome new albums from TV on the Radio and the Vivian Girls. New Low and Panda Bear. New Crystal Stilts!
Listen to "Last Night at the Jetty" by Panda Bear from the new album Tomboy...
Listen to "Will Do" by TV on the Radio from the new album Nine Types of Light...
also out 4/5...
Fallen by Burzum
Blood Pressures by The Kills
International Pop Overthrow: 20th Anniversary Edition by Material Issue
Sigh No More: Deluxe Edition by Mumford & Sons
Raven in the Grave by The Raveonettes
Mrs. Jones' Cookbook by The Sandwitches
Tron: Legacy Reconfigured
also out 4/12...
In Love With Oblivion by Crystal Stilts
Honeysuckle Aeons by Current 93
Salon Des Amateurs by Hauschka
Jonny by Jonny
C'Mon by Low
Tomboy by Panda Bear
Nine Types of Light by TV On the Radio
Share the Joy by Vivian Girls
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2011
Posted by Eric Brightwell, April 29, 2011 02:49pm | Post a Comment
I missed the opening date (Film Radar is my one source for all things cinematic happening in and around LA). Oh well, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival runs from April 28th till May 7th.
The festival began in 1983 as the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival back when Asian-American Cinema was first being revived after a long absence. Since then it has grown to include more films and the works of Asian Cinema and the global Asian diaspora.
Screening venues include West Hollywood's Directors Guild of America and the Laemmle's Sunset 5, and the CGV Cinemas in Wilshire Center.
To find out about film schedules and parties, click here. Have a great Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and...
Dave Chappelle at the Independent SF Tonight
Posted by The Bay Area Crew, April 29, 2011 11:44am | Post a Comment
This just in: Dave Chappelle will be performing two shows TONIGHT at the Independent in SF -- one is at 8, the other at 11. Tickets on sale today at noon! (That's in just 15 min or so!)
[Update: tickets are now sold out!]
Hip-Hop Rap Up 04:29:11: Atmosphere, Blueprint, Del, Blu, DJ Quik, Neila, Zion I & The Grouch, Sneakas, DMC 2011 + More
Posted by Billyjam, April 29, 2011 06:06am | Post a Comment
Amoeba Music Berkeley Weekly Hip-Hop Top Five Chart: 04:29:11
1) Atmosphere The Family Sign CD (Rhymesayers)
The new album from the most successful band in indie rap music expands upon the sound that they built with their live band on "To All My Friends/Blood Makes the Blade Holy." The result? The Family Sign: A series of daring and memorable songs that take their musicianship to the next level.
These guys have built their fan base from the ground up through years of constant touring, so it's always nice to see them getting the support they rightfully deserve.
2) Del Tha Funky Homosapien Golden Era CD (Council)
Bay Area favorite Del's new album is probably the best deal you'll get on a hip hop CD in 2011. The package contains three full length CDs for the price of one, setting Del's brand new unreleased recording Golden Era next to two albums previously only available in digital formats, Automatik Statik and Funk Man. The two free albums you get in the package are solid in their own right, and Golden Era continues the tradition of quality that Heiroglyphics fans have come to know Del for.
Flaming Lips at Hollywood Forever Cemetary in June
Posted by Amoebite, April 28, 2011 04:01pm | Post a Comment
Do you realize?! Wayne Coyne tweeted this photo today of posters created for what promise to be two of the most rousing shows of the summer -- The Flaming Lips playing first The Soft Bulletin and then Dark Side of the Moon at Hollywood Forever Cemetary! Tickets here.
Eric B & Rakim's 1992 Hip-Hop Classic "Don't Sweat The Technique" Revived c/o Two New Movie Soundtracks
Posted by Billyjam, April 27, 2011 07:03pm | Post a Comment
Eric B & Rakim "Don't Sweat The Technique" (1992)
Eric B & Rakim's 1992 classic hip-hop single "Don't Sweat The Technique" has been revived recently thanks to being featured in two new movies that coincidentally got released on the exact same date last month: March 18th. Both the films Limitless (starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert De Niro) and the new updated version of The Lincoln Lawyer (starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe) include the song as an integral part of their respective soundtracks and it plays within the first half hour of each new movie.
The original 1992 Eric B & Rakim release was the title track from the legendary hip-hop duo's fourth and last album together. The jazzy flavored song contains memorable, autobiographical lyrics by Rakim (considered by many to be the greatest emcee of all time): "I made my debut in '86 with a melody and a President's mix. And now I stay on target and refuse to miss. And I still make hits."
PHOEBE SNOW 1950-2011
Posted by Job O Brother, April 27, 2011 12:16pm | Post a Comment
New 12" Releases @ Amoeba Hollywood 4/27 - Agoria, Donato Dozzy, Gatto Fritto, Rick Wilhite, Argy, Tyree & More
Posted by Oliver / Matt / Jordan, April 27, 2011 11:28am | Post a Comment
Heart Beating (Remixes) 12"
What a Grand Opening on the A-side! With album releases on Fat Cat, Type, SYLVAIN CHAUVEAU is among the forward-thinking producers with a classical background who are re-inventing Chamber Music with up-to-date technologies. Wrapping up Kid A voice with strings arrangements, his beatless remix stirs the emotional elements of the original and reminds the listeners that the heart is to be handled with care. Originally from Greece, Argy Theofillis aka ARGY has made a reputation for himself with highly percussive productions for Poker Flat and Coccoon. Universally crafted for the clubbers, his "Tension mix" instinctively raises your blood pressure, pumps your heart up and condemns your legs to unstoppable footworks. This one is for the floors! JOHN ROBERTS has released last year with "Glass Eight" on Dial, one our favourite albums of 2010. Extracting a loop of violins and the vocal whispers of Kid A from the original, he delivers with his remix a modern House jewel, particularly tailored for after-party times. Speechless, indeed. Mostly recognized till now for his experimental exercises for InFiné or Shitkatapult, FRACTION proves with his remix that he's also got the muscles to turn a pop-anthem into a dance-machine. He steamrolls the original elements and releases an incredibly powerful wave infuriated by handclaps and phasers. Simply Bombastic!
Purchase Heart Beating remixes here
Gatto Fritto
Gatto Fritto 2LP
International Feel
UK music producer Gatto Fritto emerged from the suburban witchcraft and hard drug fallout of the late '90s, the bastard offspring of John Dee, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and the Parachute Regiment, with the sound of Terry Riley, the Belleville Three and Glenn Branca ringing in his ears. He put Theo Parrish on at an empty club and cleared dancefloors at Analog City. He sold secondhand records in some of London's rudest secondhand record shops and spent months arguing with Sam Weaver over which edit of "Illuminations" to release (as one-half of the terrifying MK Ultra/Afrobeat project Hungry Ghost). He caused security alerts at out-of-town airports, had psychedelic Menorcan nightmares, stitched his wounded heart back together with spite and meditation and channelled the power of a thousand broken dreams through the prism of Baby Ford, John Fahey, Holger Czukay and Stelazine.
Purchase Gatto Fritto here
Rick Wilhite
Analog Aquarium 2LP+CD
Still Music
Still Music is proud to present Analog Aquarium, the debut album by legendary Detroit house producer Rick "The Godson" Wilhite. Rick is a longtime member of Detroit's dance music scene, dating back to his time working at Buy Rite records, one of the epicenters of Detroit's 1980s techno music explosion. More recently, his own record shop, Vibes New&Rare Music, has achieved revered status amongst those in the know, acting as the heart and soul of deep dance music in the city. His love for music and records has led to a DJing career that has spanned many genres, though it is his take on deep house music that has led him to international acclaim. Drawing from Detroit's history of soul, jazz, disco, house, and techno, Rick's productions weave these sometimes disparate elements into a beautiful, cohesive whole that remains distinctly his own, just as he does with the records he plays in his DJ sets. Working with Theo Parrish, Kenny Dixon Jr. and Malik Pittman on the 3 Chairs project has grown Rick's reputation even greater. With many classic 12" releases under his own name that have been absolutely beaten to death by DJs worldwide, it is now time for Rick to leave his mark on a wider audience. While it is undoubtedly HIS album, Analog Aquarium allows Rick to explore all sides of his musical abilities with the assistance of some of his most trusted allies. The record kicks off with a hot, jazzy vocal track in collaboration with Osunlade, Theo Parrish, and Billy Love, the Jacksons-referencing "Blame It On The Boogie." "Dark Walking" sees Rick team up with fellow 3 Chair Malik Pittman to explore the deep, nasty underbelly of the 313 with menacing synth bass and warm jazz chords. The two-part jam "Muzic Gonna Save The World" is a loose, stomping string-heavy romp, bringing to mind Pharoah Sanders if the synthesizer and sampler had been his instruments of choice. "Sunshine Pt. 2" starts off pleasant enough with rolling percussion and Rick's own voice but those vibes are soon belied by the ominous strings and bells that transform the track entirely. One of the tracks from Rick's first outing on Still Music is revisited on "City Bar Opening (Basement Mix)," taking the already raw feeling to an even higher level. "Deep Horizons" begins with frenetic percussion that is eventually whittled down to a soulful groove before building the intensity back up. Rick's famous late-night sampled grooves reappear on "In The Rain," with Billy Love vibing up the place with his heartfelt vocals. On "Cosmic Jungle" and "Cosmic Soup," Rick explores outer and inner space with tripped-out sci-fi effects but without sacrificing the soul that makes his productions so personal. All in all, a fitting full-length for such a diverse musician.
Purchase Analog Aquarium here
Donato Dozzy
Acid Test 03 12"
Absurd Recordings
The third part in ABSURD RECORDINGS' ACID TEST SERIES. A spaced out, ambient acid tune recorded for the Labyrinth festival in 2010. Label mate TIN MAN remixes the track on the flipside and turns it into a dark acid journey with his added vocals. Hand painted sleeves.
Purchase Acid Test 03 here
Give It To Me Hot 12"
Citinite
Killer 4 track EP from the CITINITE label featuring DAM FUNK, LIL KENNY, JIMMY EDGAR & others doing cover songs from an obscure 80's band, SEXUAL HARRASSMENT, who was most known for their track "I NEED A FREAK."
Purchase - Give It To Me Hot here
Argy
Daze To Come 12"
ARGY absolutely kills it with this outstanding 12" on the VERSATILE label! The first tune on here sounds like an old RELIEF RECORDS or DANCE MANIA track that flips into a modern club killer. "THE DIFFERENCE" on the flip brings a classic NYC feel to the record. But cuts come with "DUB" versions.
Purchase Daze To Come here
Nuthin Wrong 12"
Mojuba Underground
Mojuba is proud to present a new little daughter to the label family called Mojuba Underground -- a new home for unforgettable, rare, obscure licensed tracks that left a huge impression during the years at the clubs. Tyree aka Tyree Cooper starts it off with "Nuthin Wrong," licensed from a classic Dance Mania 12" released in 1995. This track has the magic combination of being emotional and soulful in terms of house and straightforward, funky and kicking in terms of techno.
Purchase - Nuthin Wrong here
Jamie Woon
Lady Luck 12"
Candent Songs
This up & coming underground soul vocalist drops the gorgeously catchy 2nd single from his forthcoming sophomore album. This featured "Rising Artist" of PITCHFORK gets remixed in fine style by by ROYCE WOOD JR., HUDSON MOHAWKE (with an aces downtempo mix!), and DEBRUIT. Absolutely necessary!
Purchase Lady Luck here
Chilean Pop 12"
Having opened 2011 with the splendid debut by young and talented Ana Helder from Rosario (Argentina), Cómeme is back with its third release this year and is as usual a display of unpindownable style that demonstrates once again these musicians have a firm understanding of rhythms and dancing and, most of all, want to communicate to very different people and not just to a certain musical context. Chilean Pop is a truly special Ep that digs up Cómeme's connections in Santiago de Chile and sees some of the most beloved artists of the label remixing a couple of bands from the current and awfully exciting underground Chilean pop music scene, a real breeding ground of young music talents at the moment. A side focuses on one of the weirdest and most original bands to come out of Santiago's feverish underground music scene, Fredi Michel, a fabulous band formed in 2002 that have only recorded a few songs but have been playing for years, always accompanied by the hyper-pitched, infant voice of Andrea Guerrero and distinguished by the brilliant music sensibility of Diego Morales, one of Cómeme's precious addictions from the very beginning.
Purchase Chilean Pop here
Auto Delta Time
Inception 12"
Acoustic Division
ACT RE ACT: "Daaaaark" is the typical expression used to define ACT RE ACT. Uplifting synths, spastic Latin percussion, and a pummeling 808 bring some light for the harder moments. Ms. MINNIE: Kitty "Ms." Minnie, age 39, was caught Saturday evening sneaking a 909 into The Club and having her way with the hi-hats. She ripped it up in honor of Larry Heard before being forcefully removed by security. The whereabouts of said 909 are unknown. THE ORIGIN: A minimal bit of italo kit shoved through the hatch of a NASA shuttle (it was recorded in Houston, TX after-all) and sent around several moons of several planets. What was discovered is only now being made available for public consumption.
Purchase Inception here
Joy Of Sound Productions
Joy Of Sound 12"
Mahogani Music
Solid House tracks from Detroit on Mahogani Music.
Purchase Joy Of Sound here
Norm Talley
The Journey 12"
Third Ear Recordings
Norm Talley's The Journey has been one of the biggest dj tools over the past two years. Preparing for a European dj tour in early 2010, Scott Grooves was motivated to make a special version of Norm Talleys track to give him the edge over other djs using the original version, and to give himself a secret weapon. Made in collaboration with Kataconda, and calling themselves Panther, here is Scott's remix. Making special edits for his personal use is something Scott Grooves has always done. After the tour, Scott sent the new version to Third Ear so we could hear it. Our response was to ask Scott if we could release it. Scott has never allowed any his personal edits to be released before, so this is a first. His decision was made in part to introduce Kataconda, the other half of the Panther production team. The Journey beats are on the flip. Scott told us that djs always need beats and as The Journey's beats are quite distinctive and recognizable, it made sense to do just that.
Purchase The Journey remixes here
Ceephax Acid Crew/Unstoppable
Marcellus/EP 2
Ibex/Jericho
Bill Youngman/HH3 Sandwell Rmx
Reggie Dokes/Hi Tek Soul
Gesloten Cirkel/Mustache
Gray/Early Works Siege,
The/RANDALL FLURGENBACH'S..12"
Lance Desardi/ONLY YOU 12"
K & B/DINER CITY SOUND 3 12"
6th Borough Project/ONE NIGHT...PT 3 12"
Various/UNDERGROUND DISCIPLES VOL 1 12"
Haules Baules/HAULES BAULES O1 12"
Various/UNDERGROUND DANCE EP 12"
Various/HOUSE SOUND RECORDING 12"
Various/HOUSEVILLE OF SKYLAX 12"
Lone/EMERALD FANTASY TRACKS LP
Barry Manalogue/ANALOGUE 10"
Anyman/GENESIS 12"
Phil Weeks & Dan Ghenacia/FIRST STEP 12"
Various/ROBSOUL LIMITED SAMPLER 29 12"
Super Value/SPECIAL EDITS 15-LTJ 12"
Todd Terje/3 TRACK SAMPLER EP 12"
Cottam/SUNRISE SUNSET EP 12"
Robert Owens/I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND RMX 12"
Tomba/BRACE FOR IMPACT 12"
Soundbox Dynamic Recordings/VOL. 1 12"
Jack Beats & John B/ALL NIGHT-SKREAM 12"
S.P.Y & Kasra/SURFACE 12"
Miracles Club/LIGHT OF LOVE REMIX 12"
Poolside/DO YOU BELIEVE 12"
Kate Simko/MIND ON YOU-TEVO HOWARD 12"
Katzuma/HEADCUTS VOL. 2 12"
Al Kent/PRESENTS THE NINTH CIRCLE EP 12"
Al Kent/PRESENTS THE SOHO PLACE EP 12"
Various/MANMADE FEATURE FUNK VOL 7 12"
Starkey/PC 12" Kevin McPhee/GET IN WITH YOU 12"
DJD/HAPPINESS 12"
Esa & Mervin Granger/LUXARAMA 12"
Excision & Subvert/RUDE SYMPHONY 12"
Datsik/FIREPOWER 12"
Mark System/HOLD IT EP D12"
Mod.Civil/FUNKTIONEN PART 1 12"
WEHBBA: Dirty Pictures 12"
MOLLONO.BASS: My Hidden Playground Part 2 12"
OLDERIC & ALEX PICCINI: Mister Postman 12"
TRC: Oo Aa Ee (VIP Mix) 12"
S-X VS. RAMADANMAN: WooooGlut/Bricks 12"
MIXHELL: Antigalactic 12"
DARKO ESSER: Clean Slate 12"
RYO MURAKAMI: In Chain 12"
SEBASTIAN: Embody 12"
VA: The Bee Sides 5x7" BOX
FRANCESCO TRISTANO: Idiosynkrasia 12"
PROMMER & BARCK: The Barking Grizzle 12"
H.O.S.H.: Tour De Fonque 12"
EFDEMIN/SVEN WEISEMANN: Lohn & Brot/Slices 12"
HIGHBLOO: Time To Change 12"
RAY OKPARA: Booty EP 12"
DEETRON & RIPPERTON: Depth Frame EP 12"
PAUL WOOLFORD: Can't Do Without/Bareback 12"
REALMZ: Astral Body 12"
RE.YOU & RAMPA: Our Thing EP 12"
PINCH & LOEFAH/PINCH & ROSKA: Broken/Paranormal Activity 12"
JON MUELLER: Alphabet Of Movements LP
PATCH PARK: Not My Best Behaviour 12"
JEROEN SEARCH: Destiny 12" TR-000
Terrence Parker "Beautiful Life" 12"
April 26, 2011: Rabid
Posted by phil blankenship, April 27, 2011 09:53am | Post a Comment
Glasser at the Independent in SF this Saturday
Posted by Miss Ess, April 27, 2011 09:33am | Post a Comment
Just announced! This Saturday! Glasser will play the Independent here in SF! Come one, come all, get your tickets here! Check out the video flyer below and stay tuned for an exclusive interview with the artist herself, Miss Cameron Mesirow, here on the blog soon!
The Grammy Museum Presents: Bob Marley, Messenger Exhibit
Posted by Amoebite, April 27, 2011 09:23am | Post a Comment
On May 11, The GRAMMY Museum will debut this new exhibit focusing on Bob Marley as a private, spiritual man, as a powerful performer who used his lyrics to give a voice to the disenfranchised and as a legend who has inspired legions of fans. Bringing together more than 40 diverse artifacts, rare photographs and more, the exhibit features items from the private collection of the Marley family. More info.
Unique LA- May 7-8- California Market Center's Penthouse
UNIQUE LA is the largest 2-day independent design and art show in the USA, featuring over 300 hand-selected independent vendors all under one roof. You'll find the best indie fashion, art, stationery, home accessories, edibles and more — making it easy to discover local design and avoid the mall. Amoeba will be giving away gift certificates and prizes. More info here.
Li'l Bit #11
Here is the debut film from my nephew, Orion. It's entitled The Bossy Alien. I love it soooooo much more than Avatar.
Much Love For The Bay in the Big Apple Thanks To Andre Nickatina and Zion I & The Grouch
Bay Area hip-hop got much love in the Big Apple over this past weekend when both Andre Nickatina and Zion I & The Grouch (aka Z&G), who headlined concerts at NYC's Highline Ballroom and Knitting Factory respectively, had the packed venues loudly & appreciatively showing much love for the Bay Area.
Sunday night at the Highline, in Manhattan's Chelsea district, longtime San Francisco rapper Andre Nickatina stopped the music and led the packed house in a back-and-forth chant of "Mac Dre, Mac Dre." Throughout the rest of the excellent show, for which up-and-coming SF rapper Roach Gigz opened, he had the supercharged audience (many donning SF Giants hats) singing along to the lyrics of songs such as "Killa Whale." Two nights earlier over in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Zion I & The Grouch similarly had the packed Knitting Factory crowd (many clearly Bay Area transplants) singing along in unison to the Zion I Bay Area hip-hop anthem "The Bay."
"It's like being at a rap show in San Francisco," enthused one Andre Nicatina fan Sunday night in New York as the artist formerly known as Dre Dog launched into one of his newer songs, the title track of his recent album My Middle Name is Crime, a collaborative full-length with The Jacka (with the absent Jacka's verses played back on tape).
R.E.M.'s Short Film for "Every Day Is Yours To Win" Now Showing Online
R.E.M. have just posted the above new film on YouTube for their song "Every Day Is Yours To Win" as part of R.E.M.'s ongoing Collapse Into Now film project (in conjunction with the band's album of the same name, released last month by Warner Brothers) in which they stream a piece for just 24 hours. The Collapse Into Now album-inspired film project is a selection of short films set to the music from the new LP and each film was directed by notable artists and filmmakers, all curated & overseen by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. The list of directors includes renaissance man James Franco; filmmaker, photographer, and conceptual artist Sam Taylor-Wood; and documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles. The "Every Day Is Yours To Win" short above was directed by Jim McKay, Chris Moukarbel, and Valerie Veatch. For further info on this R.E.M. project visit REMhq.com. Pick up the new R.E.M. album Collapse Into Now online from Amoeba!
Exclusive Die Antwoord Interview - An Education in Zef
Posted by The Bay Area Crew, April 26, 2011 03:13pm | Post a Comment
"We know what we are doing in a sort of mystical way" - Ninja
Check out this exclusive interview with Die Antwoord -- Ninja and Yo-landi break down zef style, vocabulary, discuss the American reaction to their video "Evil Boy" ("We aren't anti gay, we're anti supid people."), plus there's clips of their Amoeba SF performance too! Ninja even compares zef to Lord of the Rings! This is a true education in zef!
Watch and comment on the Die Antwoord video on YouTube.
RIP, Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex
Since last evening rumors had been circulating that Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex fame had died sometime yesterday, but they could not be confirmed until a little earlier today when the Guardian UK officially announced that the British punk icon, born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said, had indeed died from an advanced form of breast cancer. She was 53 years of age and had been diagnosed with breast cancer just earlier this year. Coincidentally, today (April 26th) her comeback album, Generation Indigo, was released in the U.S. and yesterday NPR's All Things Considered did a feature on her in which reporter Robert Christgau addressed her in the past tense (but oddly also in the present tense in the same piece) which was what sparked the unconfirmed rumors yesterday. Above is video of the song that she will always be most associated with, "Oh Bondage! Up Yours."
Happy Birthday, Gunsmoke - The Greatest Radio Western of All Time
Gunsmoke was, without question, the greatest radio western of all. It debuted 59 years ago today, on April 26th, 1952. Having been exposed to juvenile westerns like The Lone Ranger and Red Ryder as well as the boring Gunsmoke TV series, for a long time I avoided the radio program. Besides, it was set in Kansas.
Then one day, I tuned in to an episode already in progress. Not knowing what it was, I didn't immediately change the station and was drawn into what sounded like a vivid, violent film noir, albeit set in 19th century Dodge City. When I realized it was Gunsmoke, I was surprised to say the least, but also hopelessly hooked.
Gunsmoke was created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston at the behest of CBS's programming chief, Hubell Robinson. His boss, CBS chairman William S. Paley, was a fan of another classic CBS program, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe. Robinson had suggested to the West Coast CBS Vice-President, Harry Ackerman, who had developed the Philip Marlowe series, to create a
"Philip Marlowe of the Old West" in the 1940s.
In 1949, Ackerman and the famed scriptwriting duo of Mort Fine and David Friedkin created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye" based on one of their Michael Shayne radio scripts, "The Crooked Wheel." It starred Michael Rye as Matt Dillon. A second audition used Howard Culver, who employed a lighter approach. CBS OKed the latter but Ackerman's contract as the star of Straight Arrow (on the Mutual Network) interfered. Gunsmoke was thus shelved until three years later, when MacDonnell and Meston discovered it whilst working on their own adult-oriented western.
The new version cast the inimitable William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell and Parley Baer as deputy Chester Proudfoot. The writers sought to create the first realistic western, one populated by sociopaths and without untarnished heroes. Stories unflinchingly depicted rape, lynchings, murder, prostitution, scalping, massacres, theft, drug addiction and more. Justice was often not served.
What made the dark tone even darker was the unrivaled sound effects department, who created the most vivid and soundscape I've ever heard on any radio program through use of subtlety and multiple layers of rich and realistic sound.
Almost immediately there was discussion about adapting the hit program for TV. MacDonnell was naturally reluctant. TV was almost always sanitized, neutered and dumbed-down almost beyond recognition. CBS didn't care. The radio cast was given a token audition out of respect although they were never serious. Though an amazing actor with a great voice, William Conrad was not traditionally photogenic. The portly Kentuckian looked old for his age. His TV replacement was the square-jawed, tall James Arness... the sort of spotless archetype the radio program so successfully avoided. The pictures taken at Knotts Berry Farm, given the fact that it was all show, make the charade all the more sad.
The TV series went on until 1975. The radio series ended in 1961, only one year before the date generally given as the death of old time radio. Lucky for those of us too young to have caught it the first time around, Gunsmoke remains popular on internet radio stations and episodes are available for purchase on CD.
Ultimate Mommie Dearest: 30th Anniversary Birthday Celebration
MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE MOMMIE DEAREST: 30th Anniversary Birthday Celebration!
With the return of "Trannie Dearest" stage pre-show featuring Peaches Christ, Heklina, Martiny and, direct from Maryland, Peaches' real-life mother Mrs. Christ!
World Premiere of a restored digital presentation of Mommie Dearest!
Peaches Christ Productions wants you to strap yourself in, scrub those floors and put on your "Sunday Best" for the "ULTIMATE MOMMIE DEAREST" at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre on May 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm. Hosted by Peaches Christ, this elaborate evening will feature "Mommie" approved events including the unveiling of a sparkling, hi-definition digital presentation of Mommie Dearest for the first time ever and exclusively for San Francisco audiences; the return of the raucously musical stage show "Trannie Dearest" starring Peaches Christ, Heklina, Martiny and direct from Maryland, Mrs. Christ -- Peaches' real "mommie;" an opportunity to show us your most fantastic (or tragic) costume creation for the "Dearest Mommie" parade and a wheelbarrow of surprises that you dare not miss! For all the details click here!
Castro Theatre, Saturday, May 7th, 8pm
featuring Peaches Christ, Heklina, Martiny and Mrs. Christ!!!
Festivities begin: 8:00pm
Band of Horses and Kings of Leon to Tour Together This Summer
Rock is back, dudes! Kings of Leon and Band of Horses will mount a massive tour together this summer! Check out the dates below -- tickets go on sale here this weekend!
July 26 - The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL
July 27 - Aaron's Lakewood Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA
July 29 - Gexa Energy Pavilion, Dallas, TX
July 30 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
Aug 02 - 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
Aug 03 - Cruzan Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL
Aug 05 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Charlotte, NC
Aug 06 - Farm Bureau Live, Virginia Beach, VA
Aug 09 - Jiffy Lube Live, Washington DC
Aug 10 - Nikon @ Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY
Aug 12 - Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NY
Aug 13 - Comcast Theatre, Hartford, CT
Aug 16 - Darien Lake PAC, Buffalo, NY
Aug 17 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Aug 19 - Comcast Center, Boston, MA
Aug 20 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga, NY
Aug 23 - DTE Energy Center, Detroit, MI
Aug 24 - Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
Aug 26 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL
Aug 27 - Verizon Wireless Music Center, Indianapolis, IN
Aug 29 - Sandstone Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS
Aug 31 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO
Sept 01 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, CO
Sept 03 - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
Sept 04 - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA
Sept 06 - Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ
Sept 08 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, CA
Sept 10 - Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Sept 12 - Key Arena, Seattle, WA
(Wherein I play with myself.)
I'm a bachelor this week – so to speak. Emotionally I am in love and committed to the boyfriend, but as he is in the Great Country of Texas for the next week, I am functioning as single. As much as I miss him, I do get to indulge in certain activities I would otherwise not.
For starters, I can safely wear wife-beaters without incurring any catty remarks about my "smacking my girlfriend around" or needing to go out and "fix my bike". I like to pair my wife-beaters with basketball shorts and hair un-brushed to the point where I look like a White Panther. A half-empty bottle of Bud Light would really complete the look, but I'm no fashion sheep.
On the runways of Paris this summer.
Speaking of alcohol, when alone I get to drink wine my most favorite way: straight from the bottle. It looks awful. It looks trashy, debaucherous, and to outside eyes would seem like a red flag signaling the starting race towards alcoholism – but I don't drink any more from a bottle than I would a glass, plus this way I get so much more oxygen with each sip, thus facilitating a burst of flavor and heightening all the complexities and subtle nuances a bottle of Charles Shaw has to offer. Also, it's one less glass to wash, which means it's greener. Drinking wine straight from the bottle helps trees and future generations of children!
Saving the planet, one case of Merlot at a time:
Because I care.
California Fool's Gold -- A San Gabriel Valley Primer
GABRIEL'S HORN DOES SOUND -- THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Invariably when one speaks or hears of "The Valley," the valley in question is the San Fernando (despite the fact that there are at least six major and loads of minor valleys in Los Angeles County). For the same reasons that I'm mildly annoyed when people refer to "THE City" or "THE Bay," the notion of "THE Valley" smacks of ignorance at best and unpleasant small-mindedness at worst. This blog entry is an introduction to the San Gabriel Valley, that great and amazing expanse of suburbs, boomburbs, exurbs and enthoburbs (any "suburb" portmanteaus I've missed?) with surprisingly significant history and variety of cultures beneath the seemingly uniform surface of bandage-colored strip malls and homes. That being said, at the time of writing, the San Fernando Valley page on Facebook has 25,519 fans whereas the San Gabriel Valley page has a mere ten.
Pendersleigh & Sons' Official Map of the San Gabriel Valley
The San Gabriel Valley is bordered by the the Verdugo Hills and San Rafael Hills to the northwest; the San Gabriel Mountains (and Angeles Forest region) to the north; The Pomona Valley and Inland Empire to the east; the Puente Hills and San Jose Hills and, on the other side, Orange County to the south; SELACO to the south west; and The Eastside and NELA to the west.
This Sunday Join in the Aftermath - An SF JPunk Showcase for Japan Relief!
Posted by Kells, April 23, 2011 01:20am | Post a Comment
Another great opportunity to donate much needed funds to the people of catastrophe-stricken northeastern Japan presents itself at Thee Parkside this Sunday in the form of Aftermath - A Citizen to Citizen Tsunami Rescue and Relief Benefit featuring various Bay Area Japanese punk and avant garde performers. Wonka once said, "a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men," and I cannot think of anyone who embodies that sentiment better than my friend Bob Nozawa (pictured below in ommpa-loompa orange) of Aftermath headlining act Ass Baboons of Venus. I caught up with him recently and asked briefly about the upcoming show, his band and their recent fund raising events for Japan.
This isn't the first benefit for Japan the Ass Baboons has played, no? Any idea on how much you've raised for the relief efforts collaboratively?
Bob Nozawa: It's the second show. The first was beyond anything we expected! Tthe final tally (including donations at the door, art and beer sales) ended up totaling around $25,000! There were so many people involved in getting that event together that it would be impossible to list them all, but I would never do that anyway because I hate lists.
What organization(s) will this benefit be donating to?
BN: This one is for Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California's Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.
Will there be any art or merch available for purchase to contribute to the funds raised at the show?
There will be some stuff, not exactly sure yet, as the guy who is organizing, Joselito Sering, is still collecting donations; he is doing an amazing job.
What are you most excited about regarding this Sunday's line up? Is there a performer in particular you are looking forward to?
Tiger Honey Pot's drummer has to play with one arm because of surgery --- they are a blast! The Basements are gonna get me sweaty; the Thunders I have never seen, but the stuff I've heard from them sounds rockin'.
I'm super excited to be finally seeing the Ass Baboons in the flesh, for the first time --- what can a long time appreciator of ABV recordings like me expect from your live show?
Don't expect anything! Our band members have all been deported! But when we started out it was just [famed Japanese comedienne] Naoko and me, so in a sense, we're getting back to where we started, except now we're old and could die at any given moment...really!
Will you be performing in the orange (orange you glad i asked?), or?
I will tie you up...
Yowza! Lastly, and this is for Japan, is there a message in the madness? What do you wish to express to those affected by the catastrophe via your performance?
It has been inspiring to see people helping each other out, anything that anyone could do is simply a gesture of support. It's less about the money than about letting people know that there are people that care and in times of great sorrow, it's always therapeutic to go bat shit crazy!
Thanks Bob, I couldn't agree more! Check out the Ass Baboons' "Naked Lady Wrestler vs. Mango Man" video below and event info following --- hope to see you there!
Do come play with madness and contribute to the support and solidarity of local artists and musicians in the on-going humanitarian aid for our fellow men, women, children, and animals in Japan coping with the aftermath of the country's most catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in recorded history.
Aftermath - A Citizen to Citizen Tsunami Rescue and Relief Benefit:
$7-$10 sliding scale cover / 8pm-2am / 21+OVER
ASS BABOONS OF VENUS
THE THUNDERS SF
TIGER HONEY POT
THE BASEMENTS
SABATINI
LIL JOE
Beaches and Royal Baths to Play Free Show at Adobe Books, SF
Free show at Adobe Books with Beaches and Royal Baths this Saturday! Don't miss it! Click here for more info.
Saturday, April 23 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Adobe Books
The Heart is Deceitful: My Favorite 80s Records
Posted by Charles Reece, April 22, 2011 11:53am | Post a Comment
Some pals were compiling top 10 lists of pop/rock albums from the 80s, so I figured why not post my list here. I promise no cultural or ideological significance, only the albums that continue to make me the most warm and fuzzy. Slayer's Reign in Blood just beat out Joy Division's Closer, but then I remembered Tom Waits, who knocked Slayer off. Otherwise, this list was already cemented in my subconscious. Ordered by the year of release:
Hazel Dickens 1935-2011
Bluegrass icon Hazel Dickens has passed away at 75. Cause of death has not yet been announced. Dickens was pro-union, a pal to the Seegers and had one of the most beautiful, classic voices around. She famously recorded several albums with Mike Seeger's wife, Alice Gerrard, some of Hazel's most highly recommended recordings. In recent years she had still been playing live and she made multiple appearances at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, including this past year's fest.
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard - "Ramblin' Woman"
Hazel Dickens - "Pretty Bird"
Hip-Hop Rap Up 04:22:11: DJ Quik, Snoop, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Blueprint, Lyrics Born, Equipto & Mike Marshall + More
Amoeba Music Hollywood Weekly Hip-Hop Top Five Chart: 04:22:11
1) DJ Quik The Book Of David (Mad Science Records)
2) Snoop Dogg Doggumentary (Priority)
3) E-40 Revenue Retrievin: Overtime Shift (EMI)
E-40 Revenue Retrivin': Graveyard Shift (EMI)
4) Wiz Khalifa Rolling Papers (Atlantic)
5) Blueprint Adventures in Counter-Culture (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Thanks to Marques at Amoeba Hollywood for this week's Hip-Hop Top Five, which features the brand new release from LA hip-hop legend and friend of Amoeba DJ Quik. His album The Book Of David on Mad Science is the artist's eighth studio album in 20 years. It was released on Tuesday this week (4/19) and the following day (4/20) the long time SoCal rapper/producer had an extremely well attended Amoeba Hollywood instore album signing party. At 7:30pm on Wednesday Marques reported that -- an hour and a half into the signing -- there were still "A lot of people...here waiting to meet Quik and get their CDs signed. He's cool," he said adding, "Looks like we are selling out of it [The Book Of David]." Indeed, and hence the new CD shot to the top of the latest Amoeba hip-hop chart.
April 21, 2011: Just Go With It
Posted by Chuck, April 21, 2011 11:06am | Post a Comment
The latest installment of the Harry Potter universe, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, gives one a distinctly sinking feeling. Not because it means there's only one more episode left, but because one begins to wonder if the films will be able to wrap up the series in a remotely satisfying way.
There's still a popcorn kind of glee in watching a Harry Potter flick, but of late it's seemed trickier for the films to capture the whimsy of the books, something present even in the later, darker chapters. Hallows, Part 1, for example, sees the appearance of Mundungus Fletcher (Mundungus being word that means "foul smelling tobacco"), one of the many fantastical character names author J.K. Rowling rolled out. The movies have just seemed to have lost the ability to have fun with them.
It's been interesting to see them evolve. As Harry has grown older, the stories have become more sinister and ditto the movies, beginning with the genius stroke of allowing Alfonso Cuarón to direct the third installment, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. That film shed the twinkly quality that Chris Columbus brought (appropriately) to the first two flicks for a darker, hipper vibe. Suddenly Harry and company wore street clothes more often and felt more like real, modern tweens. It swerved visually away from the book in the small ways that movies should, without derailing Rowling's narrative.
Save KUSF Benefit at The Eagle Starring Ty Segall, The Sandwitches, Carletta Sue Kay and Thee Oh Sees
This will be one of The Eagle's last hurrahs and is guaranteed to be a killer show! Just look at that lineup! Come out, help KUSF and simultaneously celebrate one of the last nights at a piece of real SF history.
Listen to PJ Harvey's Recent SF Show
Still teary because you missed PJ Harvey's show in SF this past week? Well, NPR's got the whole thing streaming for all of us, anywhere in the world! Click here to listen.
Kottonmouth Kings Among Those Celebrating 420 Today, April 20th
Today (4/20) the Kottonmouth Kings unveiled their weed celebratory video, "My Garden"
For marijuana activists and active cannabis smokers today, April 20th (aka 4/20), is a holiday of sorts; it's a day that is celebrated and recognized by tokers (whether medicinal or recreational) from Oaksterdam to Amsterdam and every other place around the world where the oft controversial plant is enjoyed, whether inhaled or ingested. Many of those who partake in the greenery are artists (lots of hip-hop, reggae, and rock) including the SoCal rock/rap/reggae group the Kottonmouth Kings who, in honor of 4/20, today are celebrating with the release of their video "My Garden," the relaunching of their website KottonmouthKings.com, plus playing a big concert tonight titled Ganja Dayz 420 Celebration in Pomona, CA at the Fox Theatre. They'll play two other gigs later this week too: Friday, Apr 22, at House of Blues in San Diego, and Saturday, Apr 23rd at Fremont in Las Vegas, NV.
The new video/song "My Garden" is taken from the Kottonmouth Kings' EP Legalize It which is a digital only release and prequel to their full-length studio album The Sunrise Sessions which will drop in physical and digital formats in July 19th on the band's Suburban Noize label. Other songs on the EP, which has the same title as the famous Peter Tosh pro-weed anthem, include the reggae flavored protest track "Soon Come." A little earlier this afternoon I caught up with Brad Xavier, better known by his stage name Daddy X, who is the front man for the Kottonmouth Kings and is a man who enjoys life and this holiday and what it stands for. He promised that at tonight's Pomona show, "It will be a great party, a massive celebration of freedom and positive vibes." Does he think that marijuana will ever be fully legalized in the USA? "Without a doubt," he replied. "This prohibition will come to a end and freedom will reign supreme." In honor of Daddy X's commitment to weed and the 4:20 holiday, below are videos for some of the best pro-weed anthems from a variety of artists. These include the Kottonmouth Kings' labelmates Potluck, Peter Tosh, The Toyes, The Luniz, RBL Posse, and Tha Alkaholiks.
According to "Weird Al" Yankovic, Lady GaGa Rejected his Parody of "Born This Way," but Lady GaGa Denies This
"Weird Al" Yankovic's "Perform This Way" lyrics only version (2011)
The above parody of Lady GaGa's "Born This Way" ("Perform This Way" by "Weird Al" Yankovic), which was uploaded to YouTube earlier today by "Weird Al" himself, will never officially/commercially be released because when the parody artist requested permission from Lady GaGa he was given a firm "NO." He was also given the runaround for several weeks after GaGa insisted he first supply the lyrics (which he did) and then insisted he supply the final recorded masters of the song (which he also did). Read the engaging full story on "Weird Al" Yankovic's blog under the entertaining title The GaGa Saga.
However, since the blog was published earlier today Lady GaGa jumped defend her case and denied that she had rejected the parody of her song. As reported by TMZ around noon today, "sources extremely close to the singer tell us, "There must have been a misunderstanding because [Gaga] is in no way trying to block the release of the parody..."She's busy touring and hasn't heard the song yet. Her manager hasn't had a chance to play it for her yet. She's a huge Weird Al fan." This TMZ report was news to Weird Al, who wrote a follow up blog, GaGa Update, that began with, "Well, this was been a strange day."
April 19, 2011: Soul Surfer
Posted by phil blankenship, April 19, 2011 11:52pm | Post a Comment
Record Store Day 2011 Brings Throngs to Amoeba Berkeley!
Photos by Kaitlin Layher and Ryan Stark
Words by Spenser Russell-Snyder
At 8am on Saturday, April 16th, crowds began to line up in front of the Berkeley store. They came to get their hands on the hundreds of new and exclusive records released on this year's 4th Annual Record Store Day.
In the first hour of being open, the "Broadway" aisle of the store was jam packed with people picking up 7-inches, LPs and even select 10-inches from the likes of 13th Floor Elevators, Big Star, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Grinderman, Phish, Wild Flag, The Beach Boys, as well as countless more from the hottest names in music, past and present.
But Rock 'N' Roll wasn't the only thing Amoeba Berkeley brought to Record Store Day this year. We also debuted a GIGANTIC used Jazz collection, filled with near mint original pressings from Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Jackie McLean and literally thousands more! No matter what kind of music you were into on Saturday, we had what you wanted!
Amoeba Hollywood's Hopping Record Store Day 2011
Text by Lauren Landes
Images by Pia, Courtney and Amber
Another year in the tiny history book of Record Store Day has been logged! Huzzah! April 16, 2011 marks three years and four holidays since a group of music lovers conceived and founded Record Store Day, and the nascent event looks like its cogs are just starting to build up momentum. The overflowing anticipation and excitement ought to keep us all going until next April, when an even larger quantity of releases will presumably arrive in the bins of independent record stores across the world (don't expect to find any of these delicious goodies over at a corporate retail store, though). As a record store employee, it's very exciting to see so many people line up outside my second home before the rooster has crowed just for some exclusive CD/vinyl/other releases sure to be sold out forever.
A quiet day at Amoeba is still overwhelming enough for a lot of people, and a busy day like this past Saturday creates a very unique kind of energy that makes the place feel more like festival grounds than a record store--the vinyl tents at Coachella and Bonnaroo come to mind.
If only every day could be so packed with eager music searchers and ecstatic, hourly announcements for "Fucked Up," the world might feel about thirty percent peppier at all times. Nonetheless, this is why we at Amoeba get so excited for the holiday whose theme song is the sweet sound of excited fingers peeling thin plastic off a 12" square package.
Amoeba San Francisco's Record Store Day 2011
Davey Havoc pic by Audra, all other pics by Kaitlin.
Every year Record Store Day just gets bigger and bigger, and the craziness grows! Here in SF before we opened the line was INSANE outside our doors and the first person in line had been there since 6am! That's some dedication! Even more astounding, customers were calling Friday night and asking if they could camp out for prime spots on the big day!
At 10:30am on the button, the doors were opened and people swarmed into the treasure-laden vinyl aisles of Amoeba SF. There were hoardes of people packing the rows and surrounding the 7"s. Watch an awesome video below shot by Audra of the line and the vibe before the doors were flung open!
(In which we continue paying tribute, expensive though it may be.)
Last week I shed some dark on the subject of beloved counter-culture cutie Tiny Tim, with promises to continue.
Having proved once and for all that Tiny Tim was not responsible for the Hindenburg tragedy, I'd like to explore his adolescent years and early success as an adult. Limited as I am by your computer, I will be forced to convey this with words and pictures, and without my shadow puppets and ice sculpture gardens – an unfortunate task, yes, but not insurmountable.
Tiny Tim dabbled in a few musical instruments before finally focusing on the ukulele, after failing to perceive the sarcasm of a pretty girl who told him:
"Oh yeah, ukuleles are totally the sexiest instrument. I would date any guy who played one." This high school crush of Tiny Tim's would, if true, grow up to be none other than America's sweetheart, Sylvia Plath, famous for her girl-next-door beauty and charm, her sparkling wit, and culinary skill with an oven. (Rumor has it she wrote books as well, though this is probably just factual.) While Tiny Tim never managed to secure a date with Plath, the two would grow to become lifelong people, and continue living on the same planet for the remainder of their lives – sometimes close enough to call each other on the telephone whenever they wanted. (It's an eerie coincidence that Plath would go on to give birth to two children, Frieda and Nicolas, and Tiny Tim was himself born a child.)
There Are Still Some Amazing Record Store Day Releases Available at Amoeba
Crazy busy as Record Store Day (RSD) at Amoeba Music was on Saturday -- there are still some RSD 2011 releases available for sale. But likely these remaining RSD 2011 releases will be snapped up pretty darn quickly since they are all limited edition pressings, so head over to your local Amoeba Music to get them while you can! Note these are not sold on the website; they are only in the stores.
At Amoeba Hollywood, where Amoebite Rik figured there was about "30% of the Record Store Day stock" left over as of yesterday/Sunday mid afternoon, these numerous RSD 2011 titles include such goodies as the 10" vinyl collectibles from both Adele ("Rolling In The Deep") and Bruce Springsteen ("Gotta Get The Feeling" / "Racing In The Street"), the Robbie Robertson LP How To Be Clairvoyant, and the Panda Bear Tomboy vinyl LP / /T‐Shirt bundle in blue in both medium and large. Other RSD 2011 goodies still available at the Hollywood Amoeba, where you will find the RSD releases all together in the one area right after you walk in the front door, include the Flaming Lips LP box set Heady Nuggs: The First 5 WB Records 1992 - 2002, and CDs by Jimi Hendrix ("Fire"/"Touch You") and The Decemberists (Live at Bull Moose). 12" vinyl RSD 2011 titles still available include Ray Lamontagne ("Live Fall 2010"), Lady GaGa ("Born This Way"), and Beth Ditto ("I Wrote the Book").
Note that due to the limited run on all of the RSD titles that each store has only certain titles left over. The Berkeley and San Francisco Amoebas, which don't have all the exact same titles I've listed available at Amoeba Hollywood, still do have a great many RSD 2011 titles, including the Flaming Lips LP box set and the Hendrix CD.
April 17, 2011: Win Win
Masked Vengeance: Super (2011)
Posted by Charles Reece, April 17, 2011 08:22pm | Post a Comment
In Dan Clowes' Death-Ray, the titular hero doesn't discover a greater sense of responsibility with his newfound powers (à la Peter Parker), only a fascistic resolve in settling petty grievances. James Gunn uses a similar approach in critiquing the superhero costume in Super. His heroes, The Crimson Bolt and Boltie, aren't super-powered, just a couple of individuals who wear masks and deliver vigilante justice -- in a word, sociopaths. Just like Batman, the mask is used to disguise a personal revenge motive: a drug dealer has wooed away The Bolt's wife not through some mind-control apparatus, but because the dealer is better looking and his life more enticing than the hero's secret identity as a fry cook. The film takes every right turn, mixing pathos and humor, demented fantasy and realistic violence, convention and critique into one of the best dark comedies about the depressing nature of fanboy fetishism we're likely to get. Much better than Suckerpunch.
Catch Coachella Performances Without Leaving Home
Ozomatli live at Coachella 2011
Spent the day and all your money yesterday at Amoeba during Record Store Day? Don't have the time or the money to head to Indio, CA for Coachella? If this is the case for you but you still wouldn't mind catching the last day of Coachella -- with sets by such acts as PJ Harvey, Nas & Damian Marley, Duran Duran, Jimmy Eat World, Elie Goulding or Wiz Khalifa, then check out the live webcast on the Coachella YouTube Channel which has three separate channels streaming from the big festival all weekend. At 4pm they start the live streaming but they've been repeating ("encore") live sets and interviews 24/7 since Friday. Some of the bits I 've caught over the weekend without leaving my laptop or heading to the hot desert include Lauryn Hill, Ozomatli, Arcade Fire, Erykah Badu, and an interview with Paul McCartney. The live streaming for today (the last day) begins at 4pm PST and runs through the rest of the evening. Click here.
April 16, 2011: Scre4m
Record Store Day Was "Totally Awesome, Insane, and Busy": RSD 2011 Report Pt III
Wow! What a Record Store Day 2011 at Amoeba Music! And there's still a couple of hours left. "Today has been a total and complete success. Totally awesome and insane and busy. I haven't seen anything like this before in the nine years I've worked here. It certainly seems like the biggest Record Store Day we've had, Xmas-style busy all day," said Rachael from the Hollywood Amoeba at 6:30pm this evening, when things had slowed down a bit but by no means come to a close for RSD 2011.
The same was also true for both the Berkeley and San Francisco Amoebas, where people in line earlier today included such folks as the guys from SAVE KUSF and musician Jeff Glave, who was interviewed by Audra (see video below).
At each store Amoeba shoppers lined up outside from hours before opening this morning, jockeying a spot in line to cop some of the approximately 300 exclusive and rare RSD 2011 releases. What set this year's RSD apart from previous years was not just the volume of releases but the musical diversity that appealed to a broad cross-section of Amoeba customers.
Since it was launched just three short years ago, Record Store Day (RSD) has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of both record stores and record labels participating. Beginning in 2008 the first RSD tallied 300 independent record stores across the US, including all three Amoeba Musics, among its retail participants. Back then the number of exclusive RSD 2008 releases amounted to a total of ten special edition records being released. Fast forward to this year and the number of special RSD 2011 releases was approximately 300 with approximately 1500 record stores participating -- and no longer confined to the US. There are now RSD-rocking stores in 20 countries overseas, too, in Europe, Japan, and Australia. In each of those countries today, as well as here at the three Amoeba stores, it was the special RSD 2011 releases that seemed to be the main attraction for attendees.
Creator Chris Brown Talks About the Origins of Record Store Day & Picks His Favorite RSD Releases: RSD 2011 Report Pt. II
From the size of the crowds swarming each Amoeba Music store today you would think that Record Store Day had been around forever, but the reality is that this time four years ago there was no such thing. It wasn't until 3 years ago, on the designated third Saturday in April, that the very first Record Store Day (RSD 2008) took place, with 300 independent record stores taking part in the new music day holiday. Having since snowballed to five times that size, with RSD 2011's boasting 1500 stores participating worldwide, that seems like a comparatively humble beginning for RSD.
Even more impressive is the corresponding increase in numbers of the exclusive RSD releases. This year there are over 300 RSD releases. For RSD 2008 there were less than a dozen. So how did Record Store Day grow so rapidly and how did it even come about in the first place? To find out, I tracked down the man responsible for the creation of Record Store Day in the first place: Chris Brown from Bull Moose in Portland, Maine.
Bull Moose, which began about around the same time as Amoeba Music, started out as a humble retail record store in Brunswick, Maine. In the two decades since it has expanded into ten stores and grown to become the largest retailer of new and pre-owned music, movies and video games in Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire. Two of their stores include impressive book sections.
13th Annual Los Angeles Film Noir Festival Final Week!
Posted by Mr. Chadwick, April 16, 2011 03:35pm | Post a Comment
It's hard to believe that we've reached the end of the 2011 festival! I'm so glad I was able to squeeze in as many screenings as I did. Thursday's Robert Ryan double was certainly the high point for me-- Caught has one of the most bizarre endings I've seen in any pre-1970's film.
Tonight features a Glenn Ford double alongside a visit from Mr. Ford's son, Peter. Framed is primo James M. Cain penned paranoid pulp while Mr. Soft Touch is more lighthearted fare. Sunday looks to be a great crime picture double; Cry Tough features a very young John Saxon while Down Three Dark Streets features beautiful LA locations and Broderick Crawford as an FBI agent. Wednesday closes the festival out with a couple of female led thrillers; Gaslight is an absolute classic and brought Ingrid Bergman an Oscar for her portrayal of a woman haunted by the unsolved murder of her aunt. My Name is Julia Ross ends it all with great B-movie suspense from director Joseph H. Lewis of Big Combo & Gun Crazy fame.
13th Annual Film Noir Festival @ the Egyptian Theater
All shows start at 7:30
Saturday April 16th- Frames / Mr. Soft Touch
Sunday April 17th- Cry Tough / Down These Dark Streets
Wednesday April 20th- Gaslight / My Name Is Julia Ross
Record Store Day Jumping Off in California, New York, & Ireland: RSD 2011 Report Pt I
Hours before Amoeba Music San Francisco opened its doors this morning for the highly anticipated fourth annual Record Store Day, a really long line had formed outside on the sidewalk that snaked down Haight Street in the direction of Golden Gate Park, and wrapped around the back of the store through the McDonalds parking lot and across to the next street. This long line was filled with music fans and record collectors all anxious to get their hands on many of the much coveted limited edition RSD 2011 exclusive releases that are available today and while supplies last.
To be fully prepared for when they finally got inside the store, many of these Amoeba SF shoppers had gone online to Amoeba.com and downloaded and printed out the PDF file that meticulously lists every RSD 2011 release.
Outside Amoeba Music San Francisco before doors opened for RSD 2011
As you will see in the video above, shot today by Audra, the guy who wrangled the first place in line outside Amoeba had driven three hours to San Francisco from King City, CA to secure his coveted spot at 6am this morning. Despite all the folks vying to get into the store for the limited number of releases, it has been civil and "very friendly" according to one person in line on Haight Street, who added that after all the time shared by these strangers in line this morning they had become "all neighbors and friends."
April 13, 2011: I Am Number 4
New 12" Releases @ Amoeba Hollywood 4/15 - Appleblim, Todd Terje, Instra:mental, ERP, Applehead & More
Posted by Oliver / Matt / Jordan, April 15, 2011 04:56pm | Post a Comment
Appleblim & October
NY Fizzzzz
Schmorgasbord Records
New label SCHMORGASBORD aims to bring together 2 artists from 2 different rhythmic disciplines, 4/4 and dubstep/garage/hip hop, for each release. The first result is the minimal 4/4 drum machine workout, while "FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE" is a haunting, lethargic dubstep track.
Purchase - Appleblim & October - NY Fizzzz here
Ragysh
RUNNING BACK's streak of fresh releases continues with TODD TERJE providing 3 new original productions! The title track is hypnotic tune with a big arpeggiated bass. "SNOOZE 4 LOVE" opens the flip with its synth'd out melodies and groovin rhythm. "BONYSH" ends the EP with a nice DJ tool. Tip!
Purchase Todd Terje - Ragysh here
Resolution 653
Nonplus
A debut album of retro 90's abstract techno with heavy old skool acid overtones (similar to LONE or HIEROGLYPHIC BEING) comes as only a slight surprise from this production duo associated with experimental D&B.
Purchase Instra:mental - Resolution 653 here
Evoked Potentials Part 3
Third part of the ''Evoked Potentials'' series. CONVEXTION! No need to discuss Gerard Hanson's work any further. One of the best electro/techno acts around.
Purchase ERP - Evoked Potentials Part 3 here
Applehead
Applehead De Applehead
Pre-Cert Home Entertainment
Pre-Cert Home Entertainment is a new vanity imprint releasing limited vinyl documents of contemporary musical and nonmusical material researched by Demdike Stare (Modern Love) and Andy Votel (Finders Keepers) in the north of England. Part art/part trash, this open-ended disposable archive combines a cross-section of oblique influences such as sound research libraries/VHS video culture/electronic Folkways records/sound poetry/tape manipulation/European fumetti/outsider art/field recording, to name but a few. With a continued aesthetic focus on the theatrical macabre and a stylistic nod to the folkloric/industrial landscape of the anti-label's local history, Pre-Cert aims to expand an open catalog of man-made and mechanical music and disparate archival noise. Applehead's Applehead De Applehead is Pre-Cert's latest art/trash compendium of musical and non-musical ideas constructed in homage to the historic/cultural and quasi-symbolic qualities of the Apple-form, exploring Mediterranean folklore, VHS video culture, sound poetry and electronic/mechanical sequenced pop music. With sublime references to Roman Catholicism, politics & agriculture, corruption, fairy-tales, horrotica, post-war European surrealism and fumetti/giallo crime fiction, Applehead's first LP is presented within the aesthetic context of cold Modernist-pop and Italian and Spanish horror film music featuring randomized spoken-word segments and concrète compact tape experiments. In this limited vinyl-only experiment, the semi-fictitious Applehead mirrors influences such as Franco Battiato, Suzanne Ciani, Daphne Oram, Claudio Simonetti, JP.Massiera, Jacula, Carpenter, Phillippe Besombes, late-period Amon Düül and early Jan Hammer while giving tokenistic nods to Lucio Fulci, Poe, Lautréamont and the Belgian surrealism movement. Album features artwork from Anworth Kirk. Cut at Berlin's Dubplates & Mastering. Limited to 500 copies only.
Purchase Applehead - Applehead de Applehead here
Frkwys Vol. 5
"Interested in examining the electronically-tinged savoir faire of their debut album, The Society for the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness, while also eager to document the new industrial direction in which Mirror Mirror are headed, we wrangled together a team of FRKWYS collaborators that was more born of workplace 'what if...' than a back and forth between the label and band. Fortunately, David and Ryan were on board with our candidates, all decidedly culled from a post-punk pantheon of those who were busy dubbing up and dropping out while their contemporaries jaggedly jangled and angled away. Stuart Moxham of Welsh minimalists Young Marble Giants, as well as the short-lived solo project The Gist, was first to deliver his mix of 'Love is the Law' from Society for the Advancement, which deals in the same stunningly exotic and heady pop sounds that have helped mold his celebrated career (including that undeniable YMB guitar tone). Alig Pearce of notorious agit-punks Family Fodder next submitted a disciplined dub of 'New Horizons', also from Society, complete with meditative instructions for anti-inflammatory consciousness. Rico Conning, of the eerily dubbed out, lost-in-time group The Lines, auditioned early mixes of Mirror Mirror's forthcoming album and transformed 'Oddfellows' into a blissed-out, behind-the-beat mix akin to his production for Depeche Mode and William Orbit. The final collaborative product on this record truly does serve as the bridge between Mirror Mirror's first and second albums. With a musical legacy firmly yet obscurely rooted in NYC's halcyon electronic music scene with ties to pioneering No Wave, hip hop, and electro projects (see Ike Yard, Death Comet Crew, and Dominatrix), Stuart Argabright helped craft 'Nau Sau Ser Bil Uma Rah Rab,' a thrillingly melodic six minute original track."
Purchase Frkwys v. 5 here
Versalife
Night Time Pt. 1
Clone West Coast
1st part in tryptych 'Night Time Activities.' Pure intense atmospheric techno constructed on Dutch west coast.
Purchase Versalife - Night Time Pt. 1 here
LURKA: Return/Stabiliser 10"
BAOBINGA & HYETAL: Anything For Now/Trouble 12"
GRAVIOUS/HACKMAN & BLUTO: Future Blues/WDYGOAPHAGFY 12"
Inkswell/Get To My Party 12"
Versalife/Night Time Pt 1 12"
Jesse Somfay/Bright Black Bore 12"
Splice/Den Andra Farden 12"
Mokira & Silent Servant/Time 1 12"
East Liberty Quarters/ST EP EP AS1/Solar Lifestyle EP 12"
The Exaltics/Irresistible 12"
Kool Hertz/REVIVE THE MESSAGE 12"
Justin Harris/MOON FT ARTHUR RUSSELL 12"
Ilija Rudman/THE REVEAL DLP
Stevie Wonder/DO I DO (U-TERN EDIT) 12"
Pimpsoul/LET'S DO IT EP 12"
Cosmic Boogie/SEAN P EDITS 12"
DJ Yoda/DJ YODA & FRIENDS EP 12"
Art Bleek/SUPPLIED ARTWORK EP 12"
Soul-la-das/MOVIN' & GROOVIN' 7"
Justus Kohncke/FUSSMACHINE EP 12"
Fresh/FUTURE JUNGLE EP D12"
Ill Skillz & S.P.Y/THIS IS WHY 12"
Guest Villians/TORNADO 7"
Kenny Carpenter/HEAVEN KNOWS 12"
Asian Project/DISTANT LOVE 12"
Akabu/LIFE IS SO STRANGE EP 12"
Revenge/REEKIN'STRUCTIONS EP VOL.1 12"
Steve Aoki & Sidney Samson/WAKE UP 12"
Hyetal/DIAMOND ISLANDS (BODDIKA RMX) 12"
Volta Cab/WHY YOU COME BACK HERE EP 12"
John B/RED SKY (D&B REMIXES) 12"
Kryptic Minds/CAN'T SLEEP 3LP
DJ Madd & Chris SU/NO RESPECT 12"
dEbruit/SIS SURPRIZ EP (3-D GLASSES) 12"
Orange Muse/BUMP - KENNY DOPE REMIX 12"
Dan Berkson/ANYTHING FOR YOU 12
DC La Rue/REWORKS VOL. 3 12"
Youandewan/YOUANDME (ON MY MIND) 12"
Hybrid/ORIGINAL SIN 12" Hyper/THE END 12"
Various/HOMETAPING IS FUN SAMPLER 2 12"
Avicii/SWEDE DREAMS 12"
MFSB & Killer Funk Allstars/KAY GEE 7"
London Elektricity/E... WILL KEEP ME 12"
Lowtek/WONDERKIDD 12"
Onur Engin/EDITS VOL. 3 12"
Various/FROM THE VAULTS EP PART 1 12"
Martin Buttrich/FULL CLIP REMIX 12"
Rufige Kru/TERMINATOR (S.P.Y REMIX) 12"
Nufrequency/MY ANGEL FT M. REILLY 12"
Spectrasoul/LOST DISCIPLE 12"
Shoes/EARLY YEARS VOL.2 EP 12"
Skylevel/02 12"
Peep My Record Store Day Hotlist: Snatch These Jams!
Posted by Kells, April 15, 2011 02:25pm | Post a Comment
Ahoy, mateys! Record Store Day is coming up quick on the horizon and once again the anticipation is incredible. Oh, if you could only scope the booty we've got stowed in the hold for this Saturday, a truly beautiful (and impressively hulking) bounty of vinyl treasures ripe for a-plundering. While I'm still taking it all in, here's a short list of what I've got locked in my sights for the big day tomorrow:
Os Mutantes - Everything is Possible: World Psych Classics Vol. 1 (LP)
This "best of" is a must have! I've been rocking this release on CD for years and I am just so excited to be able to finally get my paws on a deluxe vinyl edish for my collection. This is my absolute número um Record Store Day pick!
Os Mutantes - "Bat Macumba"
(*also, Luaka Bop's second volume in their World Psychedelic Classics series will also be available as a limited RSD LP -- Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information, don't miss!)
OFF! - Live at Generation Records NYC Oct. 22, 2010 (7")
OFF! - "Crawl"/"Rat Trap" live at Generation Records NYC 10/22/10
This four song live jam is probably on a lot of RSD wish lists, and rightly so. This rules and there aren't very many, so maybe, just maybe, this is the one thing really worth rolling outta bed early on a Saturday morning for. I cam pretty much guarantee it's gonna make your Saturday night.
And if that doesn't do it for you, perhaps this will: Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (10")
That's right, kids --- ten inches of pink wax with four remastered tracks from Kate Bush's Hounds of Love. This has to be this year's Record Store Day's most epically swoon-worthy release, limited to just 1,000 copies. So what if you can't get your hand in the fray for the Nirvana Hormoaning seven inch (only 300 copies? really?) or if you can't justify breaking the bank for them Flaming Lips' vinyl box sets --- this sweet baby beckons like a siren from the deep. Give in!
Lastly, I have to say that I kinda want to snatch the Daft Punk Tron ten inch picture disc, if for no other reason than tape it to the back of my pretend "grid-suit." Have a happy and safe Record Store Day y'all, hope to see you in the store and click here to find out all the happenings at the Amoebas!
Glasser's Cameron Mesirow on Creating Music
Glasser's Cameron Mesirow talks to the Creators Project about -- what else? -- her creative process, taking her music on the road and translating it live, and how anyone can be a musician these days! Check out the footage below:
She's playing Coachella tomorrow!
Back in Bag End Again: Keeping Up with the Hobbit
Production has begun on Peter Jackson's two film epic adaptation of The Hobbit and what better way to keep geeks (like me) in the know than to keep a Hobbit blog replete with photos and boss video updates:
I love how down to earth (Middle Earth!) Sir Peter is and this first look into what promises to be an unprecedented documentation of modern movie making (3D, yo!) and down-home togetherness (the Maori blessing of the set and hongi greetings portrayed in this, the first, ten minute video blog are heart-warming) the likes of which Ringers the world 'round will lap up with fervor. Keep 'em coming, Kiwis!
Read John Lennon's Angry Letter to the McCartneys Circa 1971
John Lennon wrote this blistering letter to the McCartneys in 1971, when tensions over The Beatles' breakup were still running very high. The letter goes up for auction soon, and thus it has hit the web and our eyes 40 years or so after it was written. The relationship between the two most famous songwriters ever is still fascinating, even after all this time...
It's a little hard on the eyes; for the full transcript, head here.
Hip-Hop Rap Up 04:15:11: Zion I & The Grouch, RSD, E-40, J-Rocc, Foreign Legion + More
Amoeba Music San Francisco Hip-Hop Top Ten Week Ending April 15th, 2011
1) Atmosphere The Family Sign (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
3) J-Rocc Some Cold Rock Stuff (Stones Throw Records)
4) Foreign Legion Night Moves (Quality Control)
6) E-40 Revenue Retrivin': Graveyard Shift (EMI)
8) Zion I & The Grouch are Heroes in the Healing of the Nation (Z&G Music)
9) Equipto & Michael Marshall Keep it Movin' 2 Love Changes (Solidarity Records)
California Fool's Gold -- A Verdugos Primer
THE GREEN GLEN OF GLENTIES -- THE VERDUGOS
The Verdugos region of LA County lies between the San Gabriel Mountains, the Verdugo Mountains (or Verdugo Hills) and the San Rafael Hills. The residents mostly live in the Crescenta Valley and the less-developed ranges that surround it. It includes the communities of (parts of) Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, La Tuna Canyon, (parts of) Pasadena, Sunland and Tujunga. It's surrounded by the San Fernando Valley to the west, the San Gabriel Valley to the east, Northeast LA to the south, the Mideast Side to the southwest and the Angeles Forest to the north. The inhabitants of the region are approximately 50% white, 23% Latino, 13% Asian and 8% black.
Last Sundays Fest - Sunday, April 24
Last Sundays Fest is a long running family tradition that overtakes Berkeley's Telegraph Ave. the last Sunday in April, July and August.
The street will be closed to traffic so you can enjoy live music, over 100 boutiques, 75 restaurants, crafts and much more. Stop by the Amoeba booth, say hello and spin our prize wheel! We'll be there all day with special sales and fantastic prizes! Join us!
Charlie Ahearn Talks About the Art in the Streets Exhibition Opening at MOCA This Weekend
The Art in the Streets exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (MOCA), which has an opening party on Saturday, April 16th, followed by an official run starting Sunday, April 17th through August 8th, is unique in that it is the first major museum survey of the history of graffiti and street art to be presented in the United States. And what an exhibit it promises to be, with 50 impressive installations by diverse artists from the graffiti and street art community, dating back to the seventies and including such globally known figures as Fab 5 Freddy, Lee Quiñones, Futura, Margaret Kilgallen, Swoon, Shepard Fairey, Os Gêmeos, and JR (the Paris artist whose guerrilla street photo art won him a TED award this year).
The MOCA exhibit also gives much shine to the photographers and filmmakers who've tirelessly documented graffiti and street art culture, including early graffiti documenters Martha Cooper, Henry Chalfant, and James Prigoff, with a comprehensive time-line illustrated with artwork, photography, video, and ephemera.
Fittingly, the LA exhibit will place an emphasis on the vital role that Los Angeles has played in the evolution of graffiti and street art (including special sections dedicated to cholo graffiti and Dogtown skateboard culture and featuring projects by such local artists as Mister Cartoon, SABER, REVOK, and RISK).
8th LA Harbor International Film Festival
Another day, another film festival! Today, the four day LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF) begins. From the 14th through the 17th, a selection of films will be screened at the Warner Grand Theatre (478 W. 6th Street in San Pedro).
Films in the festival are chosen based on their reflection of the character of The Harbor region. This year, picks include Treasure Island (USA, 1950), Il mare de Joe (Italy, 2009), The Joy Luck Club (USA, 1993), April Love (USA, 1957) and The Tillman Story (USA, 2010).
To purchase tickets and for more information, click here to visit the official site. It's free to all those serving now or in the past in the US military.
(In which we celebrate the birth of Tiny Tim.)
Posted by Job O Brother, April 13, 2011 09:05am | Post a Comment
This week would have seen the birthday of beloved (and truly alternative) musician Tiny Tim, who passed away in 1996 from an acute case of death.
He matters to me because I cannot think of him without feeling a lovely little warmth in my normally cold, cold heart.
Recently, the (coincidentally-named) Amoebite posted a swell interview regarding Tiny Tim, but I wanted to tackle this subject, too – particularly because I am less burdened with fact and honesty and can therefore flesh out what may be as-yet-unknown facets of the artist's life and career.
Tiny Tim, before puberty ruined everything
Tiny Tim was born Herbert Khaury on April 12, 1932, in a town just south of Duchess County called New York City (not to be confused with the song "New York City" by Hanoi Rocks). Many historical records list his parents as being people, though this is speculation, and any actual witnesses have long since not been asked.
Young Herbert was given the nickname "Tiny Tim" by locals in his neighborhood because of his habit of walking around on crutches, munching Christmas puddings and asking God to "bless them, every one." (Other nicknames were bestowed as well, such as "that cripple kid who smells like stew" or "faggot," but none of these stuck.)
Record Store Day 2011 is This Saturday! Get Details Here
Record Store Day 2011 Releases Overview by Chris Brown from Bull Moose
As vinyl increasingly becomes a more collectible, sought-after commodity, so too has Record Store Day's reputation grown. Now in its fourth year Record Store Day 2011, which is just four days away -- this Saturday, April 16th -- promises to be the best RSD to date with even more special, exclusive releases than any previous year! As outlined in the video above with Chris Brown from Bull Moose (the man responsible for creating Record Store Day in the first place), there are oodles of amazing releases, including freebies, this year. In the above clip Chris overviews a great many of the notable RSD 2011 exclusive releases. These include records in all formats (7", 10", 12", LP, colored vinyl, picture discs, and box-sets) from such artists as Ozzy Osbourne (RSD 2011's "Official Ambassador"), Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips, Beach Boys, Buck Owens, Big Star, and Fleetwood Mac. You can get a full RSD release list right here! Fleetwood Mac's latest re-release of their mega-successful 1977 album Rumours is unique because it is a Deluxe 2 LP 180 gram vinyl set that plays at 45 RPM. It has been stretched out on a double LP at 45 speed for attaining the highest playback audio quality.
Jazz LP Explosion on Record Store Day at Amoeba Berkeley
In addition to our usual Record Store Day shenanigans (over 250 exclusive RSD releases!!), Amoeba Berkeley will be unveiling a huge used jazz LP collection that we recently acquired from a private collector!
Many original pressings in excellent/near mint condition will be featured, including many late '50s/early '60s hard bop/ soul jazz/avant garde titles on Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, Pacific Jazz, Contemporary, Atlantic, and Columbia. There are also many interesting titles we don't see every day (especially in this condition) from the '70s and '80s. So, overall, something for just about any jazz aficionado to be excited about! See you at the store this Saturday!
TV on the Radio's Nine Types of Light Film
Consistent Amoeba faves TV on the Radio's brand new record Nine Types of Light is out TODAY, and they have also released a film featuring videos for all the tracks -- a "visual re-imagining of the album!" Check it out below and click here to buy Nine Types of Light at amoeba.com!
SF's Eagle Tavern to Close This Month
Pansy Division at The Eagle
In a story that's become increasingly common over the past few years, San Francisco's famous Eagle Tavern is facing closure at the end of this month due to landlord issues. The leather bar has not only been a cultural hot spot for decades, it's also a fantastic music venue, where Thursday night lineups of bands like Pansy Division, Kelley Stoltz, Carletta Sue Kay and The Fresh & Onlys bring hoardes of gay and straight fans to the bar.
Though last night there was a huge gathering of support inside The Eagle to discuss the issues at hand and find out if anything can save the bar, it heartbreakingly appears there is really nothing to be done; the landlord has decided he wants to open his own bar on the premisis.
The final Thursday night show at The Eagle will be April 28 and will include Oxbow, The Hellenes (ex- Rain Parade) and The Liar Script. No doubt it will also be a huge goodbye party for one of SF and the world's most iconic gay bars.
Despite the grim look of things, any events planned to attempt to save The Eagle will be announced here, so stay tuned, get involved, and let's all hope this can be turned around. You can also attend the Save The Eagle Press Conference today at City Hall at 12:30pm and email this letter to your supervisor in support of The Eagle staying put.
Carletta Sue Kay "Some Famous Landmarks" at The Eagle
Outside Lands 2011 Lineup
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2011
Posted by Eric Brightwell, April 12, 2011 09:42am | Post a Comment
The ninth annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) gets underway today. Tonight, as part of the Opening Night Gala, they're screening the the Los Angeles premiere of I am Kalam. In all, 22 programs of shorts, documentaries and feature length Indian films will be screened at the Arclight over the next five days. The Closing Night Gala includes a world premiere screening of Disney's Zokkomon.
For tickets and more information, click here to visit the official site.
City of Lights City of Angels - COLCOA-French Film Festival 2011
COLCOA-FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2011
Today the COLCOA-French Film Festival 2011 gets underway. For the next week, audiences will be able to catch the premiers of French films in LA at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd.
On the 18th, two films will be screened again at 7:30. Bertrand Blier is the subject of this year's director focuses and, as such, his new film, Le Bruit des glaçons, is premiering. 1979's Buffet froid is also screening.
To get the full schedule and for more information, click here to go to the official website.
So What's New With You? The Shameless Self-Promotion of Gomez Comes Alive
Posted by Gomez Comes Alive!, April 10, 2011 11:33pm | Post a Comment
A few people have wondered why I don't use the Amoeba Blog to promote myself, so here I go. I promise to return to World Music and Amoeba Hollywood on my next blog.
As a deejay I've had some great gigs recently. I have performed with the likes of Celso Piña, Very Be Careful, B-Side Players and Buyepongo. Anda! A monthly retro- Cumbia/Salsa/Merengue party that DJ's Juan Lennon, Gazooo, Mando Fever and I started three years ago is still going strong. Our Next Anda on May 7th will have DJ Nu-Mark as our guest. If you haven't heard Nu-Mark's latest mix, "Take Me With You" on the Mochilla label, you are in for a treat. It is a mixtape of Jurassic worldly proportions, to say the least.
I have a new residency at the Grand Star in Chinatown, joining the Intensified crew every second Saturday of the month. Intensified features great Reggae, Rocksteady and Latin sounds with The Lawless One and King Steady Beat. I am very happy to be joining them. Speaking of King Steady Beat, we will be releasing an all-vinyl Cumbia mixtape as The Mucho Lucho Sound System. That will be released in May. Artist Lalo Alcaraz did the artwork for the CD. He is the creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip "La Cucaracha" and it's an honor that his art will be on the CD.
On the radio side, I continue to be a part-time contributor to 90.7 KPFK's Travel Tips For Aztlan (Saturdays from 10pm to 12am), although with the frequent weekend gigs I haven't had much of a chance to contribute as of late. I did, however, get a chance to record my first set for Dublab, which you can download by going here. My set was a tribute to the Mas Exitos crew. I really miss them spinning every other Tuesday at the Verdugo. Many thanks to Frosty for letting me play on the Dublab spaceways. April 15th I will be doing a set on Kill Radio.org from 4-6pm on the show An Urban Manifesto. For more info, click here.
As a musician, I will be playing keys with the band Chicano Son on April 17th at East Side Luv. Due to the DJ gigs and the writing, I haven't been playing much music of late, so this will be fun. I do plan to record over the next few weeks, so who knows what will transpire.
Speaking of the writing, I continue to write for the Amoebblog. Los Angeles Me started as a blog about Los Angeles but I felt that there are many people that write about Los Angeles much better than I. L.A.M. now features reviews on new World Music releases and what World Music the people of Los Angeles are currently into. In the coming months I will be interviewing more World Music related artists and fans of the genre. I really love that so many people are starting to explore music from other countries that they never would have before. I also enjoy that immigrants and first generation Americans are rediscovering their roots through music.
So far 2011 has been good to me. I enjoy that at part of my income comes from writing and deejaying. I never expect to get paid for the things I love to do but I'm always pleasantly surprised when I do.
Friday April 15th
Live DJ Set on An Urban Manifesto on Kill Radio.org
4pm-6pm PST
Listen in on www.killradio.org
Sunday April 17th
Chicano Son At Eastside Luv
Boyle Heights, CA, 90033
21&Over/Free
Anda! W/ DJ Nu-Mark
Mal's Bar
2331 S. Hill St.
21 And
Post-Marxist Entertainment: Theodor Ushev's Drux Flux (2008)
I've been afflicted with sinus problems for the past few days, so my brain ain't working so well. I did, however,
discover this great animated short based on Herbert Marcuse's One-Dimensional Man.
April 9, 2011: Your Highness
Hip-Hop Rap Up 04:10:11: Zion I & The Grouch, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Blueprint, Odd Future, Del The Funky Homosapien + More
1) Zion I & The Grouch Heroes in the Healing of the Nation (Z&G Music)
Not surprisingly, the new Zion I & The Grouch album has become a major seller at Amoeba's Bay Area locations. Both Zion I & The Grouch command a huge amount of respect in the local scene, largely thanks to their work ethic and the consistent quality of their recordings. They've garnered a lot of national attention in recent years, but the Bay continues to remain their greatest supporters.
2) Pharoahe Monch W.A.R (We Are Renegades) (Duck Down)
Hot on the heels of the new Zion I & The Grouch album is the latest from Pharoahe Monch, one of the more technically talented MCs in hip-hop as far as voice and cadence go, and who has released a number of great recordings solo and in his group Organized Konfusion. This new one takes Monch back to his indie roots, pitting him against an exciting cast of producers and keeping things progressive in terms of his style and approach.
3) Lupe Fiasco Lasers (Atlantic)
Holding its major selling position from last week is Lupe's new one, which continues to receive a large amount of media attention as it walks the fine line between radio friendly pop music and conscious hip-hop.
E-40 is another Bay Area legend who's always on his grind, and his recent release of two new albums in the Revenue Retrievin series seems to indicate that he's not planning on slowing down any time soon. The Overtime Shift of the series features Bay Area favorites J-Stalin, B-Legit and The Click, as well as a guest shot from the one and only Devin the Dude. The last time E-40 put out two albums simultaneously, they both went through individual periods of selling quickly, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Revenue Retrivin': Graveyard Shift ends up on one of these lists in the near future as well.
April 8, 2011: The Adjustment Bureau & Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son
Posted by phil blankenship, April 9, 2011 09:44pm | Post a Comment
Congresswoman Donna Edwards Quotes The White Stripes on the House Floor
Posted by Billyjam, April 9, 2011 07:40pm | Post a Comment
Congresswoman Donna Edwards: "A Lesson for My Republican Colleagues c/o the White Stripes"
The White Stripes may have broken up but Meg & Jack's music will never die, especially with others constantly covering it. The latest -- and most unlikely, but most excellently utilized -- cover version of one of the Stripes' songs comes courtesy of Maryland Democrat Congresswoman Donna Edwards, who did a spoken word cover of "Effect and Cause" at an address this week on the House Floor. She directed the lyrics at Republicans when discussing the effect a government shut down would have on seniors, servicemen and women, and children. She even gave a shout out to the makers of the song after quoting it. Of course, it is only a matter of time before someone adds a beat and other effects to the Congresswoman's acapella version or does a mash-up of Edwards with the Stripes and the onslaught of YouTube remixes begins. Below a live version by the band of their song on BBC TV's Later On With Jools Holland show.
The White Stripes "Effect and Cause"
13th Annual Los Angeles Film Noir Festival Week 2
Posted by Mr. Chadwick, April 9, 2011 04:00pm | Post a Comment
We're now deep in week 2 of the 13th annual Film Noir Festival and have some great pairings to look forward to!
Tonight features a couple of classic tough guy performances from Charles McGraw and James Cagney in Loophole and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye. Sunday brings a great "women's night" with scarce films featuring Gloria Grahame, Maureen O'Hara, Susan Hayward & Jane Greer-- how much more beauty could you squeeze into a double feature?!? They Won't Believe Me is a top notch dramatic thriller produced by the trailblazing Joan Harrison, Hitchcock protege & one of only 3 female contract producers working in Hollywood during the classic noir years. A Woman's Secret is one of Nicholas Ray's most rarely screened films, making this night a must see! Female on the Beach & Hazard continue the focus on the ladies. Joan Crawford and Paulette Goddard lead with memorable performances by Jeff Chandler, Jan Sterling, Charles McGraw & Percy Hilton. These films screen on Wednesday.
Thursday provides us with a Robert Ryan double feature. Amongst the most complex players in noir, Ryan's special brand of darkness could liven up even the most hollow of films. The Max Ophuls helmed Caught features Barbara Bel Geddes of Vertigo & Dallas fame while Beware, My Lovely pairs Ryan with Ida Lupino in a taught psycho-sexual thriller. Friday rounds things out with a personal visit from actress Jeanne Cooper and a William Castle double, The Houston Story & New Orleans Uncensored. If I'm not mistaken, not a damn one of these films is available on DVD!!!
Saturday April 9th- Loophole / Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Sunday April 10th- They Won't Believe Me / A Woman's Secret
Wednesday April 13th- Female on the Beach / Hazard
Thursday April 14th- Caught / Beware, My Lovely
Friday April 15th- The Houston Story / New Orleans Uncensored
Legendary American Film Director Sidney Lumet Dies at 86
Posted by Billyjam, April 9, 2011 09:35am | Post a Comment
Excerpt from Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men (1957)
Sidney Lumet, the man responsible for such American film classics as 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verd ict, and Network, died earlier today in his New York City home, as a result of lymphoma. The famed film director was 86 years of age. Renowned for his strict preference to the streets of New York City over Hollywood studio lots for his films, during his long, illustrious career Lumet built a reputation for making films that not only entertained but also educated audiences. "While the goal of all movies is to entertain, the kind of film in which I believe goes one step further. It compels the spectator to examine one facet or another of his own conscience," the director once wrote, as reported by the New York Times.
A good example is the above clip from the director's first film, 1957's gripping courtroom drama 12 Angry Men starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb and Martin Balsam. Another is below in the form of a clip from his highly acclaimed (and oft referenced -- especially the quote, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!") 1975 film Network starring William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch. Robert Duvall, and Wesley Addy. Also immediately below is the late, great director discussing his film 12 Angry Men.
The Late, Great Sidney Lumet
Posted by Charles Reece, April 9, 2011 09:18am | Post a Comment
The opening sequence from Sidney Lumet's The Fugitive Kind. He died this morning.
California Fool's Gold -- Exploring Tustin, Orange County's City of the Trees
Posted by Eric Brightwell, April 9, 2011 01:00am | Post a Comment
Pendersleigh & Sons' Official Map of Tustin
This blog entry is about Tustin, a city in north Orange County surrounded by North Tustin to the north, Irvine to the south, Santa Ana to the west and the Santa Ana Mountains to the east. Within its borders are the distinct neighborhoods of Old Town, the hyper-planned, mixed-use Tustin Legacy and upscale, golf-centric Tustin Ranch.
To vote for other Los Angeles County communities to be covered on the blog, vote here. To vote for Los Angeles neighborhoods, vote here. To vote vote for Orange County neighborhoods and communities, vote here.
New 12" Releases @ Amoeba Hollywood 4/8 - Lone, Gemini, Maurice Donovan, In Flagranti, Fudge Fingers, + More
Posted by Oliver / Matt / Jordan, April 8, 2011 03:47pm | Post a Comment
Echolocations
R & S
A 6-track EP on clear double vinyl on one of the hottest underground electronic labels in the world is fitting for this rising superstar! This has a similar style to his "EMERALD FANTASY TRACKS" album, but with a heavier emphasis on the dancefloors of Detroit & Chicago.
Purchase Lone - Echolocations here
Robsoul
The legendary SPENCER KINCY was a huge force in 90s Chicago house music, having released a plethora of tracks on labels like CAJUAL-RELIEF, CLASSIC, etc. Here are 4 tracks originally from the CYCLO label that get a new life from this spectacular producer.
Purchase Gemini - Tribute here
Maurice Donovan
Babeh & Satisfied
Going for an old skool house vibe (right along with retro looking sleeve art), MAURICE DONOVAN (aka RAMADANMAN, PEARSON SOUND) gets out the 808 and cranks out a pair of kicking acid jams that sound like lost gems from Chicago's Hot Mix 5!
Purchase Maurice Donovan - Babeh & Satisfied here
Worse For Wear Sampler pt 1
Codek
Inspired by the culture in the 1970s & 80s in New York City, this limited edition EP with 4 tracks of their upcoming album. The title cut oozes with that old school feel while "PRELUDE TO CHAOS" is heavy on the electro. Flip it for "PECULIAR PROTAGONIST" & "LATTER-DAY METHODS."
Purchase In Flagranti - Worse For Wear pt 1 here
Fudge Fingas
Now About How
The highly anticipated debut album from FUDGE FINGAS, who has released 12"s on FIRECRACKER and PRIME NUMBERS. "A talented multi-instrumentalist who purveys a style of deep house that is hard to pin down." A mix of classic house and techno.
Purchase Fudge Fingas - Now About How here
Back And 4th 3LP
Hotflush
10 brand new tracks from the ever forward looking HOTFLUSH label that mines the depths of post-dubstep and bass music, with tracks from SEPALCURE, BOXCUTTER, BODDIKA, DBRIDGE, SCUBA, FALTY DL, SIGHA, GEORGE FITZGERALD, INCYDE, and ROSKA. Absolutelty essential!
Purchase Back & 4th here
Golden Chalk – Idjut Boys remix
Debut 12" from this new LENG act. The a-side is a mellow dubby remix from the IDJUT BOYS --not really housey at all, this is balearic all the way. The b-side "ALWAYS COMING HOME" is remixed by TUFF CITY KIDS with "fat 80s dub bass, hefty hand-claps and Linn drum fills" for the deep end of the club.
Purchase Mountaineer - Golden Chalk here
Adonis & Charles B
In 1988, CHARLES B & the legendary house music producer ADONIS dropped this track that made a huge impression on the world of dance. Over 20 years have passed & we now get a special reissue with an unreleased "EXTENDED RE-PLAY" mix plus an unreleased remix of "RECK THE JOINT" by STEVE POINDEXTER!
Purchase Adonis & Charles B - Lack of Love here
Fear Diluted
Philpot
ARTTU aka LUMP delivers 2 bangin joints on this PHILPOT 12". "RISE UP" starts with a raw warehouse style track that's got an infectious bassline and a stomping kick. "PEACE WILL FOLLOW" on the flip continues the ode to the old school with jackin' drums, another sick bassline, & hot vocal bits.
Purchase Arttu - Fear Diluted here
Chateau Flight
Chichi Devils
I:CUBE and GILB'R drop their smashing track "CHICHI DEVILS" to this limited one-sided 12". Here they get back to the basics and produce this old school sounding cut that's part EBM, part Chicago WBMX, and a small dash of euro industrial. As always, these guys deliver the goods!
Purchase Chateau Flight - Chichi Devils here
6th Borough Project
One Night In The Borough
Part one of 3 EPs from their debut album "ONE NIGHT IN THE BOROUGH" holds 4 full length cuts from the record. "FIND A WAY" opens with their classic sound followed by "IZNAE," a warehouse groove with a wobbling bassline. "IF THE FEELINGS RIGHT" is loopy downbeat, while "CHANGIN" goes old school.
Purchase 6th Borough Project - One Night In The Borough here
Julio BashmoreBATTY KNEE DANCE 12"
Skepta/AMNESIA (DUB REMIXES) 12"
Shlomi Aber/AFTER TOUCH - DJ SNEAK 12"
Lee Curtiss/CANDY FEAT MATT TOLFREY 12"
In Flagranti/WORSE FOR WEAR SMPLR 2 12"
Antiserum/ZEPHYR 12"
Various/DISCONNECTED SOUNDS 12"
Paper Crows/FOLLOW THE LEADER RMX'S 12"
Peverelist/DANCE TIL THE POLICE COME 12"
Various/HOMETAPING IS FUN SAMPLER 1 12"
Agnes/GOT THAT MUSIC IN MY MIND EP 12"
Krafty Kuts/INSANE BANGERS VOL. 11 12"
Max Essa/HEARTACHE-FEEL IT IN YOUR..12"
Jovonn/REVIVAL EP 12"
Far East Movement/2GETHER (UK MIXES) 12"
Heels Of Love/CHAIN GANG 12"
DJ Madd/PITCH BLACK 12"
Hypno/KOKO 12"
Prolix/FREEZE FRAME 12"
Ron Trent/ALTERED STATES 12"
Rampi feat. Miss Bee/FEEL IT BURN 12"
Pirahnahead/CELEBRATE FEAT ABBY B 12"
Japan Film Festival Los Angeles
Posted by Eric Brightwell, April 8, 2011 03:33pm | Post a Comment
The Japan Film Festival Los Angeles gets underway today with screenings in Hollywood, Irvine and Little Tokyo and goes until April 17th. Directors Kinshiro Ogino, Katsuhito Kobayashi, Kenji Kobayashi, Lisa Takeba, Hidetaka Inazuka and producer Shoichi Kawahara are scheduled to appear at various events. Click here to check out the website for scheduling, tickets and plot descriptions.
Kurt Vile, RTX and Carletta Sue Kay Apr 22 in SF
Posted by Miss Ess, April 8, 2011 02:44pm | Post a Comment
Oy vey, talk about a killer line-up! See more about Kurt Vile and Carletta Sue Kay and pick up tix here!
Hella Broke But Hella Fun: Foreign Legion's Marc Stretch & Prozack Turner
Trailer for Foreign Legion's Night Moves movie - the companion piece to their new album
Foreign Legion's Marc Stretch and Prozack Turner may be hella broke hip-hoppers, but that's not going to stand in their way, as confirmed by their new album Night Moves and its accompanying film. In anticipation of the release this coming Tuesday (April 12th) of the Oakland duo's new album on Quality Control, Foreign Legion have been busy pre-promoting it. They've put out The Red Eye Flight Mixtape prequel CD and are doing a series of concert dates in various cities and states. Last month they were down in Austin, TX at SXSW and in the past week they've played in both Utah and Oregon. Tonight they are back home in the Bay Area, where they will be throwing what promises to be a hella fun pre-release party for the new album. The event, in their hometown at Disco Volante on 347 14th St., will by no means be your typical rap record release party, either. Instead, it'll be a true celebratory event: a concert, plus a film screening of the ever-witty duo's new movie.
Since they formed a dozen years ago, the two emcees, Prozack Turner & Marc Stretch, have built a quite a rep not just for their lyrical & musical skills but also for their wildly creative & refreshingly fun-fueled approach to hip-hop music -- an attitude typically lacking in a genre known for taking itself way too seriously. In concert the far from self-conscious Marc and Prozack often dress up in ridiculously funny costumes, making audiences smile and laugh along as well as get their hip-hop groove on. Recent on-stage antics have included a presidential themed moment with Prozack dressing as George Washington while Stretch became Lincoln. Another one was South Park themed, with Stretch dressed as Chef (singing "Chocolate Salty Balls") and Prozack as Kenny. Playing Kyle was their DJ (for that show), DJ Ammbush from the Oakland Faders. Dublin, Ireland's DJ Flip is their most regular DJ since original Foreign Legion member DJ Design departed the group some time back.
The Violent Itch—Rewatching The Dirty Dozen
Posted by Chuck, April 8, 2011 08:30am | Post a Comment
There are certain situations—usually in Tarantino films, or any Sandra Bullock movie—where you end up pulling for people to be slaughtered wholesale. I had a chance to watch all 150 minutes of that glorious Nazi-quashing movie The Dirty Dozen again, the 1967 WWII film that stars a pantheon of iconic actors, and this became (as it's always been) the case. If you're not egging Jefferson on at the end to get those grenades down the air shafts of the gas-soaked Nazi bomb shelter to carry out massive, truly satisfying immolation, well, there's something wrong with you. Yes, Hollywood knows you know the context of WWII. But its finest directors—in this case Robert Aldrich—know even better that your mind is totally malleable and that the trick is not directing actors but in directing audience desires. Even hidden ones.
That's never truer than in this case.
The Dirty Dozen does what a good movie-watching experience does well, which is take you out of yourself (reconnects you to your closeted self?). In it we are dealt a series of derelicts, felons and military rogues—some of them already scheduled for the execution by hanging—who are given a chance to exonerate themselves by carrying out a very tall order. In other words, we're presented a band of underdogs. These guys are like Virginia Commonwealth making their run at the Final Four, only they're on their way to a Nazi raid in France and they have records. They can't possibility succeed—we're told this in as many words. It's written in Ernest Borgnine's big diabolical smile. Telly Savalas (as "Maggott") is incorrigible; Charles Bronson (as "Wladislaw") is disinterested; Donald Sutherland (as "Pinkley") too knuckleheaded. Even Jefferson—played by a just-retired Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns—has the blank-faced nothingness of the deeply psychopathic.
Somebody Called Me Australian - Music Videos Part III - The Australian Age
This blog entry is part of a series on the history of music videos in the pre-MTV era. Part I dealt with the era from 1890s-1940s. Part II covered the 1940s-1960s. This section focuses on Australia's domination of music videos, beginning in the 1970s.
Videos took off in Australia largely because the country is a dang continent and back in the day traveling across it was harder than just moving to England and getting famous there, something which many Aussie bands have done… and probably continue to do. So rather than drive through bush fires and blizzards to get from Perth to play to seven larrikins in Brisbane, music videos were increasingly used to promote bands.
Sounds Unlimited
Smith Westerns Short Film Die With Your Chin Up
Posted by Amoebite, April 7, 2011 04:21pm | Post a Comment
Rock sensations and recent Amoeba instore participants The Smith-Westerns have been captured in a film by Ray Concepcion called Die With Your Chin Up! Check it out below:
Quake City Jukebox April 15 in Berkeley
Posted by The Bay Area Crew, April 7, 2011 03:31pm | Post a Comment
Amoeba presents Quake City Jukebox! More details here!
Guerrilla Street Artist Ron English Takes Risk with Daring US/Mexico Border Art Prank
One piece in the three-part April Fool's Day on the Border art prank by Ron English
Last Friday, April 1st, guerrilla street artist Ron English was down in Texas, where he spent the early afternoon posting his art on both sides of the US/Mexican border (McAllen, TX & Reynosa, Mexico) as part of his grand scale and very risky (even by his illegal art standards) April Fool's Day on the Border art project. Since the 1980's Ron English has been risking getting arrested (many times actually getting arrested and jailed) for sniping his large scale, anti-corporate & anti-estabishment faux-advertising street art on roadside billboards, bus stop ad spaces, & various other highly visible public spaces.
Ron claims he is the first street artist to ever do something like this on the wall separating the US/Mexico. The Popaganda artist risked not only getting arrested but also the wrath of the notoriously vigilant US border patrol & Homeland Security forces. And on top of all that, the veteran street artist literally risked his own life by entering the territory of trigger happy Mexican drug thugs.
"Very close to where we were at on the Mexican side doing the billboard [was where] all those people got shot. It was scary," said English, referring to the six latest casualties in Mexico's bloody drug war who got gunned down & killed just the day before he crossed the border for his April Fool's Day on the Border stunt.
The Great Things About Dogtooth
That it was nominated for Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars has a double meaning, because the Greek film Dogtooth reinvents word meanings, too. From the first lines, we hear the three grown up children (in all senses young adults) absorbing a notion that a "sea" is a chair, and that carbine is a "beautiful white bird." These substitute meanings of common words come from their parents, a bespectacled father (played by Christos Stergioglou) and worrisome mother (Michelle Valley)—who together have quarantined their children from the outside world on a spacious compound with a swimming pool. With no idea of what lurks beyond the tall fencing, these children buy everything they're told by their parents wholesale. That is—they are promised—until the day their dogtooth falls out, which will be the indication that they're fit for the sordid world beyond. Dogteeth don't just fall out, but they don't know that. Just as they don't know what a "pussy" or a "zombie" is. They only know what is conveyed to them, and what's conveyed is protective code, lies, fables and overly simplistic notions.
If it sounds crazy, it is. Young adults imprisoned from childhood by neurotic parents smacks of the kind of experimentalism that Paul Auster's City of Glass touched on (sensory deprivation being the next step). That the movie hits on creepier chords by dint of the situational demands—incest, feline fear, airplanes falling from the sky and appearing as toys in the lawn, blindfolds, stickers as merits, the family on all fours barking like dogs—brings it at times closer to the odd goings-on in the 1970 cult classic, Girly.
April 6, 2011: Source Code
De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising Among Latest 25 Additions to Be Preserved by US Library of Congress
The sample-heavy, Prince Paul produced 1989 De La Soul debut album 3 Feet High and Rising (Tommy Boy) is among the latest 25 American recordings to be officially preserved by the Library of Congress to its registry. The latest additions to the registry (see list in full in chronological order below), announced today, also includes the recently deceased Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band's third album Trout Mask Replica (Reprise), Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man from 1968, and Steely Dan's 1977 recording Aja.
Chosen for their cultural significance by the Library of Congress, these musically & chronologically diverse American recordings date back to 1853 and range from Professor Longhair to Mort Sahl to Cylinder Recordings of Ishi (circa 1911 to 1914). The goal of the Library of Congress is to digitize recorded sound and video in formats for long-term preservation so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. The Library's criteria in choosing these recordings for its registry, which was created in 2000, include that they must be "at least ten years old" and that they are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." Of course, as with any list, there undoubtedly will be those who will complain that certain recordings were not added or that certain ones were. But I say, whoever came up with this list did an excellent job at choosing these 25. It also should be noted that, due to the high number of samples used on the De La Soul album -- at least 75 -- technically, this list includes a lot more than the 25 recordings listed.
New 12" Releases @ Amoeba Hollywood 4/5 - Inward Content, Tin Man, Skudge, Cosmin TRG, Smash TV, Four Tet & More
Inward Content
Inward Content 2LP
Meanwhile unveils Inward Content's highly-anticipated album project for 2011. Recorded specially for the label by a couple of highly-regarded Dutch producers, namely Niels Luinenburg (Delta Funktionen) and Samuel van Dijk (Mohlao) made together over the course of a two-year period. Following a string of dancefloor and critical smashes for the likes of Delsin and Ann Aimee, Niels Luinenberg has found a challenging, like-minded collaborator in Mohlao, who debuted for Meanwhile early in 2009 with his neon-lit Ambrose EP. In some ways, this double pack album could be seen as continuing the label's exploration of the "Leuwarden sound," furthering its fascination with the Netherlands crew. And while comparisons to the Conforce epic Machine Conspiracy set from 2010 are inevitable, Inward Content find themselves preoccupied with another area of techno research entirely: inner and outer space. The clue lies in the intriguing name and title: Inward Content -- somewhere in between the rich double meaning lies what is both concealed and self-evident. This is magnificent techno, no-nonsense, driving four-fours, immaculately swung rhythm. A sound informed by heritage. On "Halogen" you find yourself at home on a rain-streaked night-time drive or all day any day on the largest sound systems. The blatant ascetics of "Austere" are simply destined to detonate off concrete, bounce from brickwork. "Quantum Mechanics" transitions into "Continuum Mechanics," which takes us right around the Möbius strip with a softly-growling bass line rising in intensity, insistent, digging bass drum and ever so gradually, inside some mystical inner space, the hi-hats introduce themselves, a delight restrained for several minutes. As we progress from the haunted disembodied vocal on bass-weighted killer "Gravitational Collapse," all appears to dissolve back into itself into "Dust." All-day dance music at its best. All tracks by Niels Luinenburg and Samuel van Dijk. Mastered by Rashad at Dubplates & Mastering.
Purchase Inward Content here
Salon Records
Single from the upcoming album on Salon - "Devotion" is an ultra deep affair with Tin Man's signature vocals. Tobias Freund remixes "Love Sick" for an atmospheric acid cut. "Lost In LA" sees a brilliant remix from Antislash.
Purchase Tin Man - Devotion here
A Universal Crush 2x12"
Cosmin TRG drops his third release for Rush Hour, this time a 4-track EP. As he moves away from his dubstep/funky roots, he heads more towards 4-floor techno and house; yet, he keeps his crisp drum programming and sharp synth lines, which makes his productions sound fresh and gives them a future feel. With this release, Cosmin TRG proves that house music still can be an inspiring and amazing genre of music.
Purchase Cosmin TRG - Universal Crush here
World Wide Wet 12"
Smash TV's Holger Zilske and Kai Preussner have been in the game for quite some time, yet this is their first release on Leena. With releases in the past on labels such as BPitch Control, Diynamic and Get Physical, now they are here to present World Wide Wet! All three tracks come with the producers' high-energy dancefloor trademark, while, in spite of its suggestive title, "Eating Bullets" takes it a bit deeper and gives you some space to kick back to.
Purchase Smash TV - World Wide Wet here
Skudge
Phantom 2LP
Full length double LP from Stockholm's biggest sound, Skudge. Formed in the summer of 2009, the duo has moved out of near anonymity to become precious favorites of deep, warehouse-styled house and techno fans. Their output to date has molded together classic ideas and modern aesthetics with a keen sense of minimalism: their looped soundscapes are often bare, but never lacking, and the intersection between house and techno seems to be the point at which the duo most often find themselves. As a result, that's the area most explored on their debut album, Phantom, which conjures up exactly the sort of adjectives you should imagine, given its title. It kicks off with eerie chambers of grainy sound, synth melancholy and frosty mists that hang in a beatless air for just over three minutes. From there the thumping beats swing until the end of the album -- sometimes accompanied by a little trippy sonic color, sometimes devoid of anything but filters, echo and decay, and sometimes paired with cavernous claps, but always with a solid, ground shaking resonance and, more importantly, a noticeable analogue vitality. Although the bold forms Skudge produces are optimized for maximum dancefloor impact, there's also a deftness to their designs: sounds and vocal snippets are subtly, selectively employed to imbue each loop with an extra infectious sense of swing; or to underline a groove or accentuate an emotion. Once you enter into Phantom, you'll be in no hurry to get out the other side.
Read my exclusive interview with Skudge here!
Purchase Skudge - Phantom here
Tiger & Woods
Girls Like Boys 12"
Burning Spears
A favorite from one of their recent podcasts, TIGER & WOODS bring this mysterious disco track to a limited one-sided 12" that many have been on the hunt for. Cut and spliced, this tune carries a funky groove with choppy vocal bits and a serious bump. 500 copies with etched flipside. Tip!
Purchase Tiger & Woods - Girls Like Boys here
Mean Streets Part One 12"
Swamp 81
Extremely limited pressing on 180g vinyl with full pic sleeve! One of the most hotly tipped producers on the electronic underground graces LOEFAH's SWAMP 81 label with a lush 3 track EP of soul and downtempo sounds on the first 2 cuts, and a 3rd of retro/futuristic beats. Miss at your peril!
Purchase Falty DL - Mean Streets here
Four Tet / Caribou
Pinnacles/Ye Ye 12"
The A-side's "PINNACLES" by FOUR TET moves effortlessly along an extended house groove before the intro of some gorgeous spiritual jazz piano. "YE YE" from DAPHNI (aka CARIBOU) is a dancefloor nugget with 4/4 rhythms and dirty techno chords. Extremely limited stock!
Purchase Pinnacles here
Do You Believe 12"
This is the debut from L.A. production duo Poolside with their tune "Do You Believe?" Big piano keys, whispered vocals, a light drizzling of 303 acid served at 105 bpm over a thick summer disco groove, with remixes by Jacques Renault featuring Tiffany Roth from Midnight Magic, James Curd and Cosmic Kids. It was debuted by Aeroplane in their January 2011 mix for BBC Radio 1.
Purchase Poolside - Do You Believe here
CHRISTIAN BURKHARDT: Stopover Goa 12"
JACEK SIENKIEWICZ: On The Road Again 12"
CLAPZ II DOGZ: Clapz II Dogz EP 12"
SOLOMUN: Love Recycled EP 12"
FOG: Diggler's Romance 12"
MODESELEKTOR (FEAT. NAZIZI & ABBAS): Monkey Flip 12"
ARTTU: Fear Diluted 12"
PELE & NICO STOJAN: Belladonna 12"
JONNY ROCK: Edits 12"
HUMANDRONE: WPH Yellow 12"
NICOLAS JAAR: A Time For Us/Mi Mujer 12"
GREG PAULUS: Nightime EP 12"
VA: Various Artists #1 - 2010 12"
MARLOW/SCREEN AGE: Love Kills Slowly/What You Do To Me 12"
Snoretex/STRANGE AEONS SJU REMIX 12"
97 Upbeats/TOR (AUDIO REMIX) 12"
Rusty Egan,J Kohncke & Bottin/ATZARO 12"
Trap.Avoid/PRESENCE NICK CHACONA RMX 12"
33HZ/UNDER THE SUN PRINS THOMAS RMX 12"
Various/SUPER SOUND SINGLE VOL. 4 12"
Various/DISCO BOOGIE CLASSICS VOL 1 12"
Drop Out Orchestra/PART 1 12"
Moodymann/I CAN'T KICK THIS FEELING 12"
Double Hill/WANNA GET 12"
They Live/CANCEL STANDARD LP
DJ T/BURNING FT NICK MAURER-REDSHAPE 12"
Max Sedgely/SUPERSTRONG 12
Moodymann/IT'S 2 LATE 4 U AND ME RMX 12"
Noni/BE MY FRIEND 12"
Stanton Warriors/NEW YORK 12"
Daphni Edits/VOLUME 1 12"
Unity Love Vibe/INFO TRAC-DOOM LOOP 12"
Stac/GLORY ASHLEY BEEDLE REMIX 12"
April 4, 2011: Super
California Fool's Gold -- A Northwest Los Angeles County Primer
NORTHWEST PASSAGE -- NORTHWEST COUNTY
Pendersleigh & Sons' Official Map of Northwest Los Angeles County
Mountainous Northwest Los Angeles County is dominated by the Angeles National Forest and boasts numerous reservoirs, wilderness, and winding, scenic roads. In the northern portion there's a series of small towns located around a series of sag ponds. The southern, San Fernando Valley-adjacent towns tend to be booming suburbs by contrast. For centuries, the dramatic landscape supported the Chumash, Kitanemuk and Tataviam nations. Today, most of it is still sparsely populated in comparison to other parts of Los Angeles County. The region is surrounded by affluent Ventura County to the west, the sprawling Central Valley to the north, the somewhat post-apocalyptic desertscape of the Antelope Valley to the northeast, the fairly pristine Angeles Forest to the southeast, and the famed San Fernando Valley to the south. The overall population is approximately 67% white, 21% Latino, 6% Asian and 3% black.
Best Rebecca Black "Friday" Video Response/Remix: the "Friday [In Hell] (Cynical Mass Remix)"
Rebecca Black - Friday [In Hell] (Cynical Mass Remix)
In the recent weeks since 13 year old suburban girl Rebecca Black became the unlikely latest internet star (and target of countless trolls & haters) with her Arc Music Factory created song/video "Friday" racking up (as of today) 82,751,513 YouTube hits, there has been an onslaught of response videos, remakes and remixes. Not surprisingly, these are mostly mocking and unflattering spoofs and remakes. Some are even serious commentaries on the video that pose earnest questions like Rebecca Black: The next Justin Bieber or just a joke? But the most creative of all video remakes and remixes in my opinion (even better than Stephen Colbert with The Roots, Taylor Hicks, and Jimmy Fallon on Fallon's TV show last Friday) is the black metal styled "Friday (In Hell) Cynical Mass Remix" video above that gives the original video a brilliantly dark, disturbing treatment and the song a whole new vibe altogether.
(Wherein Spring Fever breaks.)
Posted by Job O Brother, April 4, 2011 01:12pm | Post a Comment
In my last blog I showcased some of the awful/wonderful synthpop I've been enjoying on the advent of this Spring season. Due to the thousands of letters I've gotten from my tremendous fan base, I've decided to include more.
Before I do, however, I would like to give a shout out to the website Heaven or Hell, which managed to steal a healthy chunk of my time today, which could have been spent cleaning my carpet, brushing the cats, aiding the Japanese, or giving people with terminal bone marrow cancer exfoliating foot baths and zrbts. It's amazing, isn't it, how much time can be wasted on the World Wide Web? With that said, please enjoy these videos…
Amoeba Hollywood World Music Best Sellers For March 2011
Posted by Gomez Comes Alive!, April 4, 2011 12:41am | Post a Comment
1. V/A-Cartagena! (LP & CD)
2. V/A- Brazil Bossa Beat! — Bossa Nova And The Story Of Elenco Records, Brazil (LP & CD)
3. V/A- Bossa Nova and the Rise of Brazilian Music In The 1960s (LP & CD)
4. V/A- Those Shocking Shaking Days: Indonesian Hard Psyche (LP & CD)
5. Cristian Castro -Viva El Principe (CD Only)
6. Zoe- Musica De Fondo / MTV Unplugged (CD & DVD)
7. Gloria Trevi-Gloria (CD Only)
8. Celso Piña-Sin Fecha De Caducid (CD Only)
9. Gustavo Galindo-Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar (CD Only)
10. V/A-Pomegranates (LP & CD)
In the battle of World Music compilations, Soundway Records' latest Discos Fuentes collection, Cartagena!, just outsold Soul Jazz Records' two Brazilian collections and Now-Again Records' Indonesian Psyche comp Those Shocking Shaking Days. All four compilations are available on CD and LP formats, with the vinyl matching CD sales or, in some cases, surpassing them. The later part of the top ten featured a diaspora of Latin Rock & Pop artist. For the 16-24 Latin Alternative demographic we have Zoe's MTV Unplugged. For the 55 years and older ladies we have Cristian Castro's tribute to singer Jose Jose, Viva El Principe. For the gay set we had the latest from Gloria Trevi, Gloria. For the Cumbia set we had Celso Piña and newcomer Gustavo Galindo seem to appeal to well, his extended family, who all came at different times to buy copies of Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar. Way to support your family, Galindos!
April will bring many new releases from the likes of former Heroes Del Silencio singer Enrique Bunbury, Persian fusion artist, Azam Ali, son of Fela, Femi Kuti, the legendary Cachao and Mexican rockeros Maná, who will also be signing copies of their latest release, Drama Y Luz, here at Amoeba Hollywood on April 12th. For more info, check out the Amoeba website.
Here's a list of some of the new releases coming in April:
Machito-A Man and His Music
Jose Alberto-Original
Cheo Feliciano-Cheo (reissue)
Johnny Pacheco & Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez-Tres De Cafe Y Dos De Azucar (reissue)
Sonora Poncena-Fuego En El 23 (reissue)
Hector Lavoe-Comedia (reissue)
Maná-Drama Y Luz
Azam Ali- From Night to the Edge of Day
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo- Cotonou Club
Femi Kuti-Africa for Africa
Ebo Taylor-Life Stories
Enrique Bunbury-Gran Rex
Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco-Tremendo Cache (reissue)
Cheo Feliciano-Estampa (reissue)
Orchestra Harlow-Live In Quad (reissue)
Bombino- Agadez
Olga Tañón- Ni Una Lagrima Mas
Roberto Carlos: Millon De Amigos Y Doce Mas (Roberto Carlos Tribute)
Cachao-The Last Mambo
April 1, 2011: Insidious
It's lucky 13 for us in LA as the Film Noir Foundation is offering quite an unusual batch of films this year. Last night kicked off the festival with newly struck prints of Audrey Totter in High Wall and a recently restored Anthony Mann obscurity Strangers In The Night. Tonight's offering is a prison themed double starting off with Jules Dassin classic Brute Force. Well known for its ensemble cast, it features a particularly stellar performance from Hume Cronyn as the sadistic Capt. Munsey. Paired with Brute Force is Jack Palance vehicle House of Numbers, which features vintage San Quentin locations and Tim
othy Carey of Killing of a Chinese Bookie, the Killing & World's Greatest Sinner fame.
Sunday brings a couple of unearthed gems in Whiplash and The Hunted, neither on DVD. In fact, 6 of the first 10 movies in this year's lineup are not available on DVD! Wednesday offers the murderous combination of Humphrey Bogart as a psychotic artist in the Two Mrs. Carrols & Olivia De Havilland in a dual role as twins accused of murder in The Dark Mirror. Thursday rounds out the first week with Charles McGraw as a murderer on the lam in The Threat & Joan Crawford as a gangster losing her eyesight in This Woman is Dangerous. Promised to be "Joan at her Joaniest," what more could you ask for?!
Saturday April 2nd- Brute Force / House of Numbers
Sunday April 3rd- Whiplash / The Hunted
Wednesday April 6th- The Two Mrs. Carrols / The Dark Mirror
Thursday April 7th- The Threat / This Woman Is Dangerous
Friday April 8th- Journey Into Fear / The Bribe
Whiplash Trailer (1948)
Hip-Hop Rap Up 04:02:11: Gucci Mane, Pharoahe Monch, Dub Equire, Murs & Paid Dues, DMC, Kool Moe Dee, DaVinci
1) Pharoahe Monch W.A.R.(We Are Renegades) (W.A.R. Media/Duck Down Music)
3) Lupe Fiasco Lasers (Atlantic Recording Corp).
4) Far East Movement Free Wired (Cherrytree/Interscope Records)
5) Gucci Mane Return of Mr. Zone 6 (Warner Brothers)
Last week the recently released Pharoahe Monch album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) was number three on the Amoeba chart. This week the powerful, highly recommended release by the longtime emcee & former member of legendary early 90's hip-hop crew Organized Konfusion, who is currently on tour in Europe (he plays Sommercasino in Basel, Switzerland tonight), has the number one selling hip-hop album at the Hollywood Amoeba. Thanks to Ray Ricky Rivera for the latest chart, which also includes Zion I & The Grouch's latest collab, Lupe Fiasco, Far East Movement, and Gucci Mane.
The Chambers Brothers - The First Great Black Rock Band
Posted by Joe Goldmark, April 1, 2011 05:17pm | Post a Comment
Also known as the founders of "Rock Gospel," the Chambers Brothers always went for feeling and excitement in their songs. It didn't hurt that Lester Chambers has one of the most soulful voices ever. While Sly is rightly lauded for combining funk and psychedelic sounds, it was still soul music, not rock. The unheralded Chambers Brothers put gospel soul into their unique brand of rock music.
The Brothers had been kicking around L.A. for ten years before they finally landed a slot at the Newport Folk Festival. They brought the house down, landed a deal with Columbia, went electric, and eventually had a top 10 album with The Time Has Come!
"Time Has Come Today"
"Going Uptown"
Early "People Get Ready" on Shindig with washtub bass!
"Time Has Come Today" covered by The Ramones
April Fools Flicks!
April Fools' Day (or All Fools' Day) is celebrated 1 April, as we all know. The earliest likely written reference is in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales back in 1392. In 1509, a French poet referred to a poisson d'avril, likely a reference to the holiday. John Aubrey's 1686 mention of "Fooles holy day" is the earliest explicit reference to the holiday known in England. There are various theories about its origin but they all seem specious at best.
The first film I know of that dealt with April Fools' Day was Shirley Mason's 1911 short, April Fool. Fred Walton starred in a short of the same name in the same year. 1918's Wharton film followed. In 1920, April Fool, starring Charley Chase, was released.
1924's film of the same name dealt with a newspaperman named Jimmy Jump. Hilarity ensues when the staff have difficulty distinguishing April Fools' jokes from actual events.
There's also a 1926 film of the same name, about a man who operates an umbrella business.
In 1954, April Fools movies went international with Egypt's كذبة أبريل (April Fool).
1964's April Fool, starring Saira Banu, Biswajeet and Jayant, was Bollywood's entry into the April Fools' subgenre. Hong Kong joined the fray with 出乎意料 (Unexpectedly -1975) and in 1989, Israel released Ehad B'April.
Back in the USA, Jack Lemmon co-starred with Catherine Deneuve in The April Fools (1969).
After a series of holiday-themed slasher films, the Christmas-themed Black Christmas (1974), the Halloween-themed Halloween (1978), the Valentine's-themed My Bloody Valentine (1981) and the Thanksgiving-themed Home Sweet Home (1981), three April Fools slasher films were released in 1986; April Fool's Day, Killer Party and Slaughter High. April Fool's Day was directed by Fred Walton, the very same Fred Walton who starred in the 1911 film, April Fool! (April Fools)
Years later, April Fools (2007) followed their inspiration, albeit with an "urban" twist.
Fade to Orange: Oakland East Bay Symphony World Premiere
Posted by The Bay Area Crew, April 1, 2011 10:29am | Post a Comment
Join us for an evening celebrating the height of Romanticism on Friday, April 15 at The Oakland East Bay Symphony. Beginning at 8pm, enjoy two vastly different works from two eras and regions of the world with Fade to Orange by bandleader, composer and drummer Scott Amendola.
The Los Angeles Times said, "Amendola's music is consistently engaging, both emotionally and intellectually, the product of a fertile and inventive musical imagination." More info here.
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles April 12-17
Posted by Amoebite, April 1, 2011 10:22am | Post a Comment
We're pleased to once again sponsor the Indian Film Festival running April 12-17 at Arclight Hollywood Cinemas. Featuring more than 30 feature films, documentaries and shorts, you won't want to miss this event! Look for the Amoeba booth in the courtyard on the 15th from 5-10pm. We'll be selling CDs and DVDs and DJing the night away! More info here.
12th Annual Topanga Earth Day Festival April 22-24
One of the best Earth Day celebrations we know of is the Topanga Earth Day Festival, running three days from 10am until sunset at the Topanga Community House (1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd).
Experience guest speakers, workshops, a fine art gallery, a children's area, yoga, free form dance and live music from 7Walkers featuring Bill Kreutzmann (drummer from The Grateful Dead), Prezident Brown, Lili Haydn and Truth & Salvage Co. More info here.