Alphonse Berber Projects is pleased to announce it's inaugural exhibition: Kamau Amu Patton. The exhibition will bring together new site-specific light works, sculptures, prints and a single painting to create an immersive perceptual experience for visitors.
Maya Kabat, Cities and Signs 3, 16" x 16", Oil on canvas
Also, in conjunction with the Oakland Art Murmur–which is awesome and if you’ve never been, well, what the hell?!? it happens every month and it’s obscenely BARTable and RAD and, really, if you say you’ve never been because it’s in Oakland I’m going to slap you–
But if you’re not moved to hang East Bay, if you must or would like to or want to be in the city on Friday night, Cameron and Jessica would be pleased as pie to see you all at 575 Sutter St.
If you haven’t noticed, I like promoting my friends. So tell me if you’re throwing/hosting/debuting/playing/showing at some whatever event [here in the Bay] and I’ll totally talk it up. That’s how I roll.
Elizabeth Greenblatt and Annie Bacon (see sidebar)
Tonight Annie Bacon sings at Cafe Royale with the talented and lovely Elizabeth Greenblatt. The show starts at 8 and is FREE, so you have no excuse not to go. For two and a half hours, these two beauties will woo you with their talent and charm. Alone, Annie and Elizabeth have two of the most emotive, stirring, and beautiful voices you’re likely to hear, but together they are powerful, phenomenal — and you won’t be disappointed.
Heidi, Erin, Sylvia, and Jessica of the fantastic and fun (and do-wop and dirty and danceable) Hot Toddies. How cute are they?
Also tonight, KCRW and Noise Pop present ZEE AVI, the Hot Toddies, Leslie & the Badgers, and Tiny Television at 8pm at the Rickshaw Stop. Advanced tickets have already sold out, but there will be some tickets available at the door for $14.
Noise Pop 2010
ZEE AVI
Borneo’s answer to Jolie Holland and a 23-year-old with an old soul and a gorgeous voice. A huge talent in a petite frame bringing a universal message from the unlikely birthplace of Borneo, an ancient island east of Malaysia which remains an untouched, natural paradise, an apt description of her songs. “The resulting record keeps very much in tune with the Brushfire aesthetic, with a warm and cozy sound, intimate vocals, and a general feeling of calm. While her songwriting is strong and she dishes out many fine melodies and perfectly fine lyrics, the real draw is Avi’s vocals. Breathy, quiet, and sweet as spring, yet never wandering into cutesy territory, she hooks the listener in right away and never lets go.” –AllMusic.com
zeeavi.com
THE HOT TODDIES
“Four cute girls singing about being bad and horny. Could there be anything better? Casio tone keys, barbershop-style harmonies and retro-surf pop guitars soften the edge a bit, but once you decipher the silly lyrics, you’ll be the hot one.” – Owl Mag
myspace.com/thehottoddies
LESLIE & THE BADGERS
LA’s finest new altcountry act! “Canyon country bands are as common as brush fires in LA but the thing that separates this combo apart is the voice of the titular Leslie … a rounded shining thing that evokes Patsy Cline’s sass and sorrow in one swoop.” –-LA Times
myspace.com/leslieandthebadgers
TINY TELEVISION
Tiny Television frontman and founder Jeremy D’Antonio sings a particularly southwestern brand of Americana courtesy of his time in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now living in San Francisco, the singer/songwriter is joined by a community of artists in presenting a dusty array of old fashioned country and folk music. His latest, Mission Statement, is a fitting tribute of sorts to his new hometown.” –Noise Pop
myspace.com/tinytelevision
FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2010
DJ Samala is a friend of mine and she kicks ass.
Wanna go dancing Friday night? Me too. Party like it’s 1999 at Madrone Art Bar’s 4th Friday 1990s dance party. It’s high school all over again. Now with better booze, skin, and clothes.
SATURDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2010
Happy Birthday guys! and Congratulations!
I’ve mentionedthis gallery before, but (because?) Alphonse Berber is a buzz-worthy space. The curators, Cameron Jackson and Jessica Cox, have a knack for finding talented and diverse artists and the thematic shows rotate regularly. The space is Julia Morgan-designed and the floors upstairs were once doors in a convent. This place is cool as hell and this event is free.
You’re welcome.
SUNDAY28 FEBRUARY 2010
Audio Heirlooms in action
Listen to some of the most intimate stories you’ll ever hear from complete strangers.
Audio Heirlooms will celebrate their 5th anniversary by opening their audio archives for a one night “listening party” of personal narrative storytelling at its best. Join them at 7pm for an evening of food, drinks, and radio at the Mission District’s Slow Club, located at 2501 Mariposa Street.
You’ll have the chance to hear:
* Audio cameos by gold medal Olympian Scott Hamilton and the late New York Times columnist William Safire
* Behind-the-scenes moments at an AudioWedding in Tahoe
* Birthday wishes from country singers Clint Black and Brad Paisley on an AudioBirthdayCard
* The AudioChronicle of the former president of the board of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
* A local woman remembers Harvey Milk’s assasination in her AudioChronicle
* A local couple recalls the day their child was born in a AudioBaby heirloom
Since this is a party, listeners won’t have to stand around empty-handed. There will be plenty of finger food to keep grumbling stomachs from interfering with the audio. Drinks can be purchased at Slow Club’s bar and will be prepared by master mixologist Hilary Burdge. The world’s #1 pesto maker, Danny Bowien, fresh from his win at Genoa, Italy’s 2008 Pesto Championship, will provide a taste of his signature dish.
Audio Heirlooms will also be giving away gift certificates to Slow Club and Serpentine, and a free massage from Gabriel at Somatic Bodyworks. You’ll be entered to win just by walking in the door. And just to mix it up: Rupa Marya– of Rupa and the April Fishes — will treat listeners to a song between radio pieces.
*There is no cover charge. Listen and eat for free!*
So yeah, the opening reception is tonight from 6-9pm and it’s FREE, which is always fun. You can find more information on tonight’s event and the exhibit in general here. And it doesn’t say on the invitation but I’ve been to AB’s openings before and one can always find cheap wine to drink and interesting folks to watch/talk to. These are more things we like.
If you too can’t make it tonight, the show runs through March 27.
The Foundation for the Preservation of Fantastic Possibilities presents...
On Friday night you, you can have A NIGHT OF ELATION! with staged readings from the Elationists’ feature screenplay and selections from the Treasure Horde of Elationist Art. The Elationists Centennial Band will also be live in concert. Finally, who can resist Chocolate Elixir by Fearless Chocolate! Some of the great folks who make up the Elationists are good friends of mine and they will blow you away. It’s music, story telling, art, and historical fiction all fused together in a wild ride.
It all happens at the Million Fishes Art Collective Fri Feb 12, kicking off at 8pm. There is a $10-15 suggested donation, but no one turned will be turned away for lack of funds.
Visit Elationists.org for more information on these crazy kids and their crazy schemes and be sure to tell Annie Bacon “Happy Birthday!”
Feel like dancing?
Also on Friday night is the Matchmaker Mashup, presented by Brass Cowboys at the Paradise Lounge. With a bunch of great DJs and all of the proceeds benefiting AIDS Lifecycle 2010, this is a great way to feel even better shakin what your momma gave you.
Quick, said the bird... 