June 18, 2009
330 Ritch
Better Than: Prom.
She's also got ambition. A candidate for state Attorney General in 2010, she hopes to bring her "smart on crime" approach--which has resulted in a marked increase in homicide clearance rates in SF compared to her predecessor, Terrence Hallinan--to one of California's most important and visible offices. And the rumor mill is already swirling with hints that her ultimate goal is the chair currently occupied by America's first black POTUS, Barack Obama (whom she was among the first to champion).
On June 29, Harris holds a fundraiser at Maxwell's in Oakland to firm up her base in her home region (she's originally from the biggity biggity O). The cost is only $30 to get in, making the event accessible to community folk as well as political muckity-mucks. And the event features a nice array of local musical talent: Martin Luther, the Kev Choice Ensemble, Fear & Fancy, and DJ D-Sharp, as well as co-host Raphael Saadiq. Who knew Harris was so hip?
Ticket info is here and you can follow Kamala on Facebook here.
With two previous dubwise takes on classic rock albums--namely, Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread, the Easy Star All Stars are carving out a rather interesting niche. Their latest addition to their oeuvre, Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band, tackles one of psychedelia's highest moments, the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's (an album so perfect in its original form, it's probably too intimidating for any normal, non-gimmicky band to cover, especially in its entirety.) Though the Easy Star treatment this time out doesn't work quite as well as with their echoing, reverbified take on Pink Floyd, Lonely Hearts Dub Band definitely has giddiness-inspiring moments, such as Luciano singing "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," and Sugar Minott voicing "When I'm Sixty-Four."
The touring version of Easy Star won't feature the top-shelf vocalists of their studio recordings, but that shouldn't stop anyone from checking out their show at Slim's on Saturday (along with Blue King Brown); there should be more than enough irie dub vibes to go around, and after a spliff or two, who cares, anyway?
33rd Frameline Film Festival: Opening Night
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
The Castro Theatre and Terra Gallery
Review and Photos by Evan James
Better than: Perishing in obscurity in the south of France.
Reeling from the shock of being asked well in advance to write about the Opening Night Gala of the 33rd San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival--alias: Frameline-- I suffered a complete collapse brought about by occupational stress, and had to spend almost an entire year soothing my nerves in the French resort town of Cap d'Antibes. I vowed never to write again, and spent my days gazing upon the placid waters of the Côte d'Azur, drooling out of the side of my mouth, weeping out of the sides of my eyes, and bartering with the local fishmongers; I even attended their fishmonger galas. While little is more pleasurable than going down to the Garoupe to see the lights of a summer evening, before long I began to pine for the galas and opening nights of America-- this great country of ours where all people are entitled to the pursuit of a room filled with strangers fighting to get to the open bar for a free plastic cup of Skyy Vodka.
Flush with party-hearty patriotism, I beat a hasty return to San Francisco on my private jet. On the way, I rang up my editor on my private telephone. "You want a gay omelette?" I said. "Well then, let's break a few gay eggs."
Now, I love the movies, especially the "talkies," so I was willing to suffer the slings and errors of press check-in at the Castro Theatre in order to see An Englishman in New York, the Opening Night film about gay writer, bon vivant, and general gadabout Quentin Crisp. After a routine retinal scan and some quick blood work, I was shown to my seat on the balcony. From my privileged perch in the loge I watched the preliminary parade of Frameline mandarins march upon the stage-- a Board of Directors bored of directing and hungry for applause. I lapsed into a kind of clapping frenzy, appreciating every volunteer, executive director, and handmaiden with all the strength of the two hands God gave me. Finally, I finished giving the entire administrative staff of the festival their quarterly review, and the movie began.
We don't remember our first birthdays being this extravagant (then again, we don't remember much about them at all). But hey, Look Out Weekend has been hosting semi-high-concept, totally-low-budget happy hours for a full year now, and they're throwing a birthday celebration tonight with bass-bombing tunes from Lazer Sword, lots of DJs, and delicious treats from Bar Crudo. It's worth the free admission for that last item alone--Crudo's yummy fish dishes are usually a little outta our price point. Add to the evening's agenda lots of drink specials (open bar for Fernet and Corralejo from 4p.m. until 5:30 p.m.) and this little soiree isn't a bad way to start off the weekend. The L.OW. party, as always, goes down at Vessel from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Fart Party (Friday)
Ok, we'll admit: we chose this one on
name alone. That's our level of humor these days. If that's your level
of humor too, head over to Needles & Pens for the release of the new Fart Party zine.
The gallery/indie store promises book signings, beer, and, um, farts
from 7 until 9:30 p.m. (after that time you need to go back to holding
it in). Free.
Improv Jazz, Swiss-Style (Friday)
From farts to French accents. Apparently saxophonist Urs Leimgruber is a big deal on the Swiss improv scene. Tonight he's joined by local drummer Gino Robair for
a performance that could produce everything from the "quiet and
textural" to the "all-out post-free-jazz fury." The event is being
hosted by Swissnex, which brings all kinds of cool Swiss sounds to this city from its HQ at 730 Montgomery St. ($7, 7:30 p.m., online registration required).
