Mesh Magazine

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. 

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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

Our friends over at West Add Radio have gone against our advice and thankfully started a print magazine, WAR, which is out now. Each issue will feature interviews with bands and CD reviews from the staff of Aquarius Records.
The premier issue is out on the streets now, available at these locations in San Francisco: Pick Up At Aquarius Records, Arinell’s Pizza, Needles & Pens, Amoeba Records, Tweekin Records, Recycled Records, Bound Together Bookshop, Lost Weekend, Street Light Records (Noe Valley) Molotov’s, The Knockout, Brainwash, Elbo Room, Hemlock, Edinburgh Castle.

And these in the East Bay: Issues Zine Shop, Ameoba Records, Rasputin Records, Down At Lulu’s, RPS Collective, Mama Buzz Cafe, Moe’s Books, Saturn Records and 21 Grand.

A few months back, the band Shoplifting had its gear stolen from its van around the corner from my old apartment at 17th & Guerrero. Now, on Friday morning between 3AM-10AM, someone broke into Joe Lally of Fugazi and Capillary Action’s shared van, at Valencia & Clinton Park, a stones throw from my new apartment (I have not been named a suspect). The gear the thief(ves) made away with included:

Roland KC350 Amp with bent corner
Yamaha S03 Keyboard with cracked side
Alesis QS7 Keyboard
Sharp VLNZ50U MiniDV Recorder with 3″ Color LCD Screen (you’ll find footage from a November 15 show in Palo Alto inside)
Samsonite brown suitcase

If you see any of this gear, or have any information, e-mail capillaryaction at gmail.com.

Now, much like the Giants over the past three years, you too can fall flat on your face at AT&T Park. Today through December 1st and December 6th through December 9th, the infield at the ballpark will be covered by an ice skating rink. The rink is open from 10AM-8PM Sundays-Thursdays, and 10AM-10PM on Friday and Saturday. Tickets, including skate rental, are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 14 and under. Kind of pricey, but at least you don’t have to watch the Giants blow a three-run lead in the eighth.

Who should play Dianne Feinstein in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming movie about Harvey Milk’s assassination? My vote is for this actress:

Why?

Elvis stole the show at today’s Soapbox Derby at Bernal Speedway. Numerous daredevils headed down the hill with reckless abandon. They somehow managed to dodge the numerous obstacles, including rocks, children and dogs, on the track. Beer and champagne were flowing, BBQs were grilling and the weather was amazing. In other news, this appeared in the New York Times today:

“The reason that vajayjay has caught on, I think, is because there is a black — Southern especially — naming tradition, which is to have names like Ray Ray and Boo Boo and things like that,” Dr. McWhorter said. “It sounds warm and familiar and it almost makes the vagina feel like a little cartoon character with eyes that walks around.”
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18 years ago today, at 5:04PM, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, causing a section of the Bay Bridge and the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland to collapse and toppling houses in several Bay Area locations, including the Marina. 57 people died as a result of the quake, 40 underneath the Nimitz freeway. I was 11-years-old and playing handball in a neighbor’s driveway when we felt the ground sway and watched as a tree a couple houses down moved what looked like 30 to 40 feet. Running inside, we watched the chaos at the Giants vs. A’s World Series  on TV as they realized the magnitude of the earthquake. The aftershocks were the scariest part, and they went on for months.

Taken Friday, September 28th. 

Once again, Muni’s change machine was broken in the Van Ness station. Once again, I will send them an email and not receive a response. As an added bonus, the escalator at Powell Station was broken all weekend and today.