When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, it’s a good core workout. If you’re sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
Colin Tilley's video for Kendrick Lamar's "Alright"
Kendrick Lamar is from Compton, but Colin Tilley, the director of the music video for Lamar's song "Alright" — which was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards and was performed by the artist at the 2016 Grammy Awards — is Berkeley-born and -raised.
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
What do bird flight patterns, Twin Peaks, and the traditional Japanese stringed instrument called the koto have in common? This weekend, they'll all come together when Other Minds celebrates its 20th anniversary as a convergence point for the outcasts, outliers,…
In what would seem to be a wholly unprecedented move, San Francisco’s own black metal deconstructionists Deafheaven are now selling the font used for their much-lauded 2013 release Sunbather. The “SUNBATHER" typeface, designed by Nick Steinhardt for the band, is…
Faith No More Friday, November 28, 2014 Amoeba Records Better than: getting trampled at a Wal Mart. Black Friday 2014 saw the auspicious return of both Star Wars and Faith No More. And both “returns” were morsels that demanded feasts…
Antemasque Le Butcherettes August 12, 2014 Great American Music Hall Better Than: Seeing The Mars Volta at 2 p.m. at some big dumb festival. Antemasque is the third iteration of the ongoing creative collaboration between vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala and…
@All Shook Down
by Alee Karim
August 14, 2014 @ 10:52 am
Of course Kanye. Of course the Flaming Lips. And, yes, of course Tom Petty (because how much longer will the Heartbreakers be around?) But for those of us plunking upwards of $100 per day on this weekend's Outside Lands music…
Melissa Etheridge's career exceeded expectations even before she was a household name. Though she wanted to sign with female-focused indie label Olivia Records, its rejection eventually led her to press on and find a home at Island, the significantly more…
The early aughts were an improbably fallow time for the metal underground: While The New York Times (and some academics) expounded at length on the intellectual virtues of doom metal, Chicago-based Pelican -- an instrumental metal quartet whose songs filled…
Trans Am Golden Void June 4, 2014 The Independent Better than: Waking the neighbors with old vinyl on a school night. Absent from the local scene for a spell, due to reasons various and sundry, Trans Am came back to…
@All Shook Down
by Alee Karim
June 5, 2014 @ 10:10 amTags: Golden Void, Trans Am
Sutekh Hexen Father Murphy Common Eider, King Eider Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Hemlock Tavern Better than: Waiting out the apocalypse alone. Gosh, it's nice out, isn't it? Having progressed from unseasonably warm to alarmingly, unflaggingly temperate for longer than any…
If you think 24 hours is a pretty poor lifespan for a robot, you'd be right -- but it is an exceptional lifespan for a human-generated live performance. 24-Hour Drone is an annual event broadcast on Foothill College's KFJC 89.7…
@All Shook Down
by Alee Karim
May 27, 2014 @ 9:27 amTags: drone, KFJC
There's nothing to recommend Fat Wreck Chords' Bayview office from the exterior. Located in a beat-up suite in a tiny industrial park, a handful of withered LPs bake behind the shuttered windows. It's hard to believe they host live music…
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
