Also, it’s the end of the world.
The Giants just announced the signing of ex-Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand to a five-year $60 million deal. Last year Rowand hit .309 with 27 home runs 89 RBIs, 105 runs, 189 hits, and 45 doubles in 161 games, while also winning his first gold-glove. Prior to that though, he was okay at best, except for a standout year with the White Sox in 2004. Not sure what this means for my man Rajai Davis, or any of the other 700 Giants center fielders, but it does mean the Giants won’t listen to any more offers for Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum. Rowand does play hard, as evidenced in the photo above, which was taken after he made an amazing catch while running face-first into a wall. Welcome to San Francisco, now shave that goatee.
By: David Ma
Photos by: Anabella Pinon
The wonderful Sharon Jones stopped by a sold-out Bimbo’s last week, dancing, joking, singing, and simply working her ass off during an active, two-hour set. The Dap Kings showed why they were ask to back Amy Winehouse on her Back To Black album, switching rhythms and sounding more magnificent live than they normally do on record. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings more than deserved everyone’s price of admission that night. They were so, sooooo good.
I plan on talking to Ms. Jones about this sold out tour (stay tuned!), her current career, and all the recent, well-deserved attention they’ve been receiving. But for now, here are some pictures from that mighty evening.
| December 8, 2007 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
The Lightning Bug Situation is the solo project of San Francisco guitarist and songwriter Brian Miller, whose new album, A Leaf, A Stream is a beautiful collection of ethereal pop songs influenced by the birth of his daughter and intensely personal moments and recollections of himself, his family, and his friends. A CD release show is being held this Saturday at Amnesia (853 Valencia between 19th & 20th) with special guests The Antiques and The Vision of a Dying World (who will also be The Lightning Bug Situation’s backing band).
The album features recordings of people telling various anecdotes from their lives, which range from funny to nostalgic to almost disturbingly personal, as on “Hitting’s Not Very Effective When You Don’t Have Much of a Punch”, where a woman describes her abusive ex-boyfriend and her attempts to fight back. This, combined with lyrics that cover the thoughts of a new father (on “A Message To Myself After Franny Was Born”, a song driven by harmonized vocals, piano and slide guitar), the experience of putting a pet to sleep (”Topher’s Dead”), and a melancholic fan letter to a musician (”For Dave K.”), gives the album the feeling of reading someone’s diary, and all the intrigue, and at times uncomfortable-ness, that goes with it.
The crescendoing “Iraqi Man and Baby Daughter, 2007″ is a highlight of the album, reflecting the reality and personal horror of wars. It features samples of Dave Mihaly’s string quartet piece “Influences of the Invisible”. Overall, an excellent, ambitious album in its entirety, from Miller, who has played guitar with Jolie Holland for the past eight years (including on Catalpa, Escondida, and Springtime Can Kill You). (more…)
East Bay rap legend Spice 1 was shot in the chest while he slept in his car in front of his parents’ home in Hayward Monday at 9AM. He is currently recovering in the hospital, but remains in critical condition. He told police he had been asleep for about 30 minutes when he noticed a white or Hispanic male standing next to his car. After being shot, he walked into the house and called 911. Spice 1’s 1994 album
And Mesh’s 120 Minutes continues.
Locals Minipop just released this excellent video for the song “Like I Do”, directed by Andrew Huang.
Apparently Leeland Eisenberg (the man who took two people hostage with a “bomb” at a Hillary Clinton campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire) might not be crazy after all. The Associated Press reported that he spoke to CNN during the standoff:
The man told CNN his name was Lee Eisenberg and that he needed to speak with Clinton about health insurance. “Something’s got to change. Ordinary people need help,” he said.
He said he was a mental health patient who had been told he couldn’t get help without “thousands of dollars” he didn’t have. “I need help,” he said. “I tried to get help.”
CNN reported that Eisenberg was articulate and impassioned about his cause. The hostages were released without injury, and Eisenberg was strapped with what turned out to be road flares.
| December 4, 2007 | ||
| 2:00 pm | to | 6:00 pm |
Mill Valley is hosting the Love Makers Sustainable Craft Fair this Tuesday from 2PM-8PM. Handcrafted goodness from Molly of 8MM Ideas, Ashley Rose Helvey, Green Dog Designs and Christina from Borrowed, Bought, Stolen make this more than worth the trip across the Golden Gate. In addition, there will be two screen printers on hand from Remade in America, so bring down your own t-shirt and let them do their magic. It all goes down during the Mill Valley Art Walk at 1 El Paseo.
More crafty from these fine folks will also be available:
http://comfies.blogspot.com/
http://www.reginepfanz.com/
http://www.andreasuess.com/
http://www.alittlehouseintheclouds.blogspot.com/
http://www.fielddaywearables.com/ ( Trinity Cross)
www.enzogarcia.com
| December 1, 2007 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
At a Burger King in Chico, CA–maybe at all Burger Kings, I don’t really know–they had these prints by Greg Brown which featured personified fruits and vegetables in various situations, such as the two rescues seen below. I’m sure these are right up there with “Dogs Playing Poker” for those of you with taste, I thought they were pretty cool. And while I don’t think that Maria Forde drew on these for inspiration, she has created a series of Fetching Veggie Etchings, which can be seen at Little Tree Gallery (3412 - 22nd Street @ Guerrero) beginning this Saturday, December 1st. In the multimedia pieces she “gives life to a variety of under-appreciated vegetables, from kale to squash, green beans to corn.”
The show continues through December 22nd.
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