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A Colorado Thanksgiving with Spearhead

This will be the third or fourth time the Big Tadoo Puppet Crew has opened up for Michael Franti and Spearhead’s Harvest Ball (I have a Fillmore poster from 2005’s Ball hanging in my room) and the second time they have flown the show to Colorado. BUT…. this is the first time they have flown out the WHOLE show, which includes the two pedal-powered crankies and the whole six-member cast! The family show is already sold out, so this should be a great adventure indeed (which I will probably blog about). Fly there, perform, fly back…. the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

MICHAEL FRANTI TO HOST 7TH ANNUAL HARVEST BALL IN DENVER, CO ON NOVEMBER 27TH

The harvest season is approaching and, in true tradition, Michael Franti, KBCO and AEG are set to present the 7th Annual Michael Franti & Spearhead Harvest Ball at 1st Bank Center in Broomfield (Denver), CO on Saturday, November 27th, 2010. Combining music, art and action, Michael Franti & Spearhead will perform two live shows in the spirit of sharing abundance and inspiring sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyles. Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 2nd at 10am and can be purchased by visting www.tickethorse.com. KBCO will hold a presale for interactive members on Friday, October 1st from 10am to 10pm. Please visit www.kbco.com for details.

The early afternoon show will be a Family Matinee (SOLD OUT) with kids activities including local kids bands, puppet shows, organic food samples, a kids recycled costume show, contest and parade, eco-friendly painting and much more. The fun and games will be followed by a Michael Franti & Spearhead kids concert with Special Guests The Big Tadoo Puppet Crew, Jaden, and Conscious Carnival Games. The doors for the matinee show will open at 1:00 P.M. and the show will begin at 2:00 P.M. The evening show will be a harvest celebration like no other with Michael and the band performing songs from their new album The Sound of Sunshine and some surprises for the big kids, too! The doors for the evening show will open at 7:00 P.M. and the show will begin at 8:00P.M. The Harvest Ball will also include a food drive and all attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods to the shows.

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NoMeansNo Take it to the Next Level

I feel sorry for the Canadian trio NoMeansNo. Backstage at Bottom of the Hill, which is outside where everyone was smoking, I sipped a beer and met a group of folks who are big fans of the band. They were all lamenting about the horrible technical problems NoMeansNo was having on this tour. Last night in Oakland, Bassist Rob Wright’s amp went out right at the top of the show. They took a 15 minute break to try to fix the problem. The story of drummer John Wright’s problem followed, which was a busted drum that had to be replaced for the night by an opening band’s piece. That happened in Oakland too.

I tried to encourage these big fans that maybe the show tonight in San Francisco would be perfect. No problems at all. An unease settled across several faces, and the subject changed. Before going into the opening number, Rob told the audience that “the gods are testing us!” Sure enough, his bass amp started going out at the beginning of the set. Frustration set in as they finally got the first song going on the third try. The aptly placed song was “Old,” which is what all the band’s equipment was feeling like at the current moment.
Continue reading “NoMeansNo Take it to the Next Level”

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Apr 4: Shadows at the Hot Air Music Fest

I will be performing shadows once again for the “Only Jealousy of Emer,” composed by Lou Harrison. This will be a FREE show at the SF Conservatory of Music, with donations going to the Delancey Street Foundation. We’ll perform during the 3pm to 4pm block of music, at the bottom of the hour according to the lineup on the website.

What is Hot Air Music Festival?

Hot Air Music Festival is the SF Conservatory’s first student-run contemporary music festival. With an 8-hour marathon concert, our goal is to celebrate the SF Conservatory’s connection to the new music world. Students and Alumni will play both the music of their peers, great classics of new music, and the music of our time.

When is Hot Air Music Festival?

April 4, 2010: 2:00PM – 10:00 PM @ The San Francisco Conservatory of Music: 50 Oak Street SF CA 94102

How much are tickets?

Admission is FREE (there is a suggested donation to the Delancey Street Foundation at the door)

Where will the music be?

2:00-7:00 @ Hume Concert Hall

7:00-10:00 @ Sol Recital Hall and Osher Salon

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RIDE TOO! CELLspace Benefit

If you didn’t notice the link to the page “RIDE TOO!” up on the top masthead of this site, then here’s the info in the RSS feed. All the bands just confirmed and locked down for what looks like a great night of bikes, bands, and beer! Well, there’s a bit more than that, but that’s how I keep pitching it to folks.

Two January’s ago, CELLspace needed a huge help from the community. I’d been away from CELL for a few years, doing my thang, and bikes and bands were a part of that. So I concocted RIDE! and got a nice list of bands to hop on board for the night. Turns out my captive audience, Critical Mass, was totally rained out that night. But my planted promoters got most of the ride to come to CELL, soaking wet. Then Mike Hoffman and David Sartore’s band “Bring Your Own Laser” brought a smoke machine that set the fire alarm off! Quiet a crazy night for a low-attended event. But the thing is, which still amazes me, is that the event still made $$ for CELLspace. Not a bunch, but between the beer and the lemon squares, we pulled in $150 for CELL! Amazing, so I still call it a success of mythic proportions.

If you were there, you remember and smile with nostalgia…..

So I invite you all to RIDE TOO! More of the same, but a whole lot better! (flyer jpg coming soon!)

HappyFt presents
RIDE TOO!
a benefit for CELLspace and the Florida St. Mural Project

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
8pm to 2am

CELLspace
2050 Bryant St. (b/t 19th and 20th Sts.), SF, CA

$10 to $20 sliding scale
21+ (beer and wine for sale)
Continue reading “RIDE TOO! CELLspace Benefit”

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SN: Online Radio Panel at Pirate Cat

Andy Blue from the League of Pissed Off Voters called me up yesterday to see if I had any plans last night. None, really. So he told me to stop by Pirate Cat Radio/Cafe before 7pm to sit on a panel and discuss graffiti on the League’s weekly show. All worked out nicely, so I met up with Reyes, Cuba, Chris (who co-created the new local books with Steve Rotman), Eddie, and Eclairacuda to have a one-hour talk about what’s going on in SF with graffiti and street art. The talk mostly discussed spray graffiti, so it was great to hear Chris, Cuba, and Reyes talk about what’s going on in their world. Chris has great thoughts and concepts about what’s happening. Eddie and I got to throw in some angles too. And the writers, including the always entertaining Eclair, kept things real throughout.

You can hear the discussion here. Make sure you scroll half way through the two-hour show to get to the graffiti talk.

Thanks to Andy Blue, a fan and grey-area participant of the scene, for pulling us together in what may become an ongoing dialog about the City’s Zero Graffiti stance, and how absurd that goal truly is.

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May 14 KALW Interview…

Stencil Nation on Cross Currents

Had a great bike ride over to the KALW studio near McClearen Park this morning and interviewed with Penny Nelson for Cross Currents. The engineer, a bike commuter, told me another route that sent me through the park and then down Mission St. in the Excelsior District. Found some stencils along that ride home! They posted the show early so here’s the goods. Fast forward in about 3 and a half minutes to hear my segment. About 10 minutes long total.