Two new videos to post here today. First off, our prolific local party anthem act, Wallpaper., has a funny new clip for the song "Pool Party." feat. Jacob Safari and Kid Static. The visuals show main man Eric Frederic wandering the city in flip flops and a towel, wishing "I was on top of the Standard Hotel LA getting my ugly dude on," as he told Culture of Me.
And Lemonade debuted a new hyper-color clip for "Big Weekend" on Pitchfork this morning. The nu-ravers left S.F. for N.Y. last year, but we can still stake a claim on their psychedelic groove since they started it all right off Haight St. (As for the intro to this video, don't worry, they haven't joined Blink 182--they don't have the neck tats for that one.)
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Call it globetronica if you must, but bands with a bunch of different cultural influences who mix and mash them together over uptempo, ultra-dancey beats are anything but boring. Expanding on the accordions-in-a discotheque aesthetic commonly associated with Balkan Beat Box (and other similar European globetronica groups), French-Algerian outfit Watcha Clan absolutely wowed a Rickshaw Stop crowd last night. Though the house wasn't quite packed--apparently, Watcha's critic-salivating buzz hasn't quite penetrated the West Coast yet, despite BBC and NPR kudos--the crowd smushed to the front as lead singer Sista K and her fellow Watchas took the stage (following a DJ set by the Afrolicious dudes).
July 15, 2009
At an abandoned parking lot beneath an overpass to the Bay Bridge between a field of dry weeds and the Oakland Water Treatment Plant
Review and Photos by Sam Prestianni
Better Than: Maker Faire, cousin to Burning Man
How do engineers feel cool? They get hot at the Fire Arts Festival, the Bay Area's premier showcase for exploding sculptures and all forms of fire play, second only to Burning Man.
The spectacular four-night event (which runs through Saturday) is the primary fundraiser for the Crucible, an Oakland-based non-profit that teaches flammable fun to students of all ages. Classes include both old- and new-school skills--from blacksmithing and glassblowing to light-bright electronics and kinetic machine-making--and all of these rare talents were on display at the opening night of this year's ninth annual blowout.
So you wanna be startin' something? Head over to the Madrone Lounge this Saturday, when the legendary Prince vs. Michael Jackson party makes its first official SF appearance since MJ's passing.
Fresh off of victorious stops in Seattle and Portland, this edition of PVMJ promises to be very special indeed, with a 6-hour extended version of the monthly party, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain as well as honoring Jackson's memory.
And here's a little note from PVMJ DJ Dave Paul about requests: "We will gladly take your song request, but that doesn't mean we will be able to put the song on right away and we may not even be able to play your request. All depends on the vibe of the crowd and time constraints. If you ask for a song and we inform you that we have already played that song please do not insist on us playing it again. We only play a song once in the night. There is just too much music from both Prince and Michael for us to play a song twice. If you weren't at the venue yet, outside smoking or not paying attention we are sorry but we only play a song once. Do not request anything by any other artist not associated with Prince or Michael Jackson. You're just wasting your time and ours." Word!
