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.
Five years is a long career for anyone in the music business, particularly for women, but Japan’s pop princess Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has reached the half-decade mark and is still going strong. She just released her first compilation album, KPP BEST, which she’s supporting with her "KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016" — and appropriately enough, she's kicking off the 2016 J-POP SUMMIT Festival this Friday at the Regency Ballroom. Also, capitalization is rampant in Japanese pop culture. Deal with it.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu started out as a Harajuku fashion model, and you’re probably familiar with the concept of the Harajuku Girl from that Gwen Stefani song whether you care to admit it or not. She’s been dismissed as “cutesy” by those glancing at her big eyes and colorful hair and costumes, and while it’s a shame that cuteness in any form can be considered a bad thing when our world is experiencing so much harsh ugliness, the waters of KPP run deeper. She once told the Sydney Guardian that she’s “attracted to a world of fantasy with a grotesque aspect to it,” and significantly, she’s not afraid to become part of the grotesquerie herself. Take the covers of KPP BEST, either the Bedroom of Madness from the 2-disc edition…
… or the soul-piercing three-disc edition. (Ask for it at whatever indie record store replaces Aquarius in your heart.)
Or, for that matter, her video release from last year, KPP MV01:
That’s not someone who’s trading on her good looks so much as she’s acknowledging that there’s a thin line between cute and creepy, then happily leaping over that line.
SF Weekly: Visuals are obviously a very big part of your image; how involved are you with the creation of your music videos? (My personal favorite is "Yumeno Hajima Ring Ring.")
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Yasutaka Nakata [of the electronica band CAPSULE] usually composes the music first, and then I start planning on the music video or performance components. I draw inspirations from his lyrics, music tempo and the overall sound and style of the track. The director gives me a basic idea and we start creating together from those concepts.
SFW: There are many "reaction videos" on YouTube of people watching your videos and reacting, often with delight, horror, or both delight and horror at the same time. When making a video, do you think in terms of how people will react, or is it about making yourself happy first and foremost?
KPP: I have always thought that adding only cute segments is not enough, so I try to make all my videos and music more unique and surprising to the audience. I want to make it beyond everyone’s expectations.
SFW: You're clearly just getting started, so what do you think your 10-year anniversary tour will be like? What do you hope to achieve between now and then?
KPP: Well, it is already 5 years since my debut, but I want to keep on going as long as my enthusiasm lasts. I want take a part in the Tokyo Olympics too!
SFW: Who are your favorite artists right now, both American and Japanese?
KPP: I admire Katy Perry. I was super excited when she had commented about me and I was able to actually meet her in person! For a Japanese artist, I love YUKI. I think both are great artists.
SFW: If there's one song you'd want to be remembered for, what would it be?
KPP: It is hard to pick one because I love all of them. But I think PON PON PON is the best known song in overseas.
Tickets for the grotesquely cute experience that is the "KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016" are available at j-pop.com/tickets.
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.'"
