Mesh Magazine

Tartufi is back from its massive US tour and was kind enough to file this, the third, and final installment of the road diary. Visit Tartufi’s Myspace page for more info.
Ahoy Maties!

‘Tis we! The dueling duo of the dry seas! All that we ask is a large van and a star to steer her by. And that we got friends, that we got. Last we checked in, we were headed through Indiana, riding a wicked ground harvest high and grateful to have spent some good, old-fashioned, quality time with The Pope of Yes and Ronald McDonald in the freaky ass flesh. Next we hit Cleveland where we met one of the most kind and loving zombies ever to have lived, died, lived and then died again. [See photos 1 & 2] Brian got pretty cozy with Zombie and luckily a camera was near by….but not too near…..ewwwww. Zombie love. That night we slept in the van and, thanks to The Davenport, their fine staff members and an unlimited supply of PBR, we peed a small lake directly outside the army recruiting station in the parking lot. Tartufi - trying to prevent senseless recruitment for a senseless war one pee lake at a time. Mmmmm. Fresssshhhh.

What happened next may well have been one of the best things to ever have happened to us on this tour. We met up with a band so fierce, so relentlessly rocking, so second a-hole tearing, that we were forever altered - musically and mentally - from the experience. For the better! Yes folks, we joined forces with the one, the only, LOW RED LAND! These fellas not only shred harder than Laird Hamilton on an 87 footer, they also smell freshish and are good lookin’ to boot! [See photo 3 after the jump] Aaaand we had to good fortune to be introduced to and invited to stay with Neil John’s own momma! This woman is one of the kindest, sweetest ladies we have ever had the pleasure to meet. Thanks for the mommmmmwiches Mrs. Thompson! They went down a treat.

(more…)

• Awww Damn is not good at bowling.
• Borrowed, Bought, Stolen heads to The Curiosity Shoppe.
• Berderp checks out Dirty Birds in the Lower Haight.
• What I’m Seeing visits literati Nazis in the Upper Haight.
• Hammerhead Shark Attacks an Adrian Tomine in NYC.
• Hater Tuesday gives props to Amy Winehouse for truly partying like a rock star.

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.

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.

Snoop Dogg’s Sensual Seduction video… seen on Yo! Awww Damn Raps. 

• Curbed SF  highlights new amenities at Valencia Gardens.
• Tornados in Brooklyn goes online, holiday, window shopping.
• The Bay Bridged interviews Audio Out Send.
• McCovey Chronicles grades the Giants (they ain’t passing).
• What I’m Seeing begins to look a lot like x-mas.
• Amanda Lopez is in Street World.

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