Confessions of a Recordplayer

In Deep

Tomorrow I am producing a large event luncheon in Oakland that has kept me quite busy. We have confirmed a performance by the Chorus from the Oakland School of the Arts and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown.  And its Chicken and Veggie Ravioli for lunch is anyone was wondering..  Wrapup come Tuesday.

Why I missed the Love Parade

While the rests of San Francisco was "feeling the love" I was deep in the belly of Macy's @ Union Square coordinating a team of 130 volunteers over 2 days and 4 shifts as they raise money for the 45 bay area HIV/AIDS organizations that participated in this years Macy's Passport In Store, of which I was the Volunteer Coordinator.

This was the culmination of 3 months of work.  Lots of emails, calls and meetings.
The day went super smooth as I was blessed with a wonderful helper monkey all day, Catherine from the SF LGBT Center who helped me check in volunteers all day.  All the volunteers were great and I'm sure we met our goal of raising $100,000 for the organzations.. a goal we met last year. 

This week I will be working on the Strickly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park.  From from the front lines when I get there tomrrow..

disaster benefit

Got plans Thursday?  The place to be is at Butter where we will be shaking some legs and raising money for our commrades in the gulf coast.  All proceeds will go to disaster relief - raffle money, tips, et cetera.  Myself and DJ F will be supporting Carlos Washington and the Preservation Collective as they layout funky New Orleans style jazz.  We have great raffle prizes for you to win while being generous.. an ipod shuffle, wine, music and much much more... 

And a mighty big thanks to Six Apart, Mule Design, SFist, SF Station, Music Player magazines, OM Records, Loveslap Recordings, Ginevra, Todd, Jon, Jen and everyone else who is pulling together to help make this happen.

Want to help out? Just leave a comment and we'll tell you how you can.

Youth Speaks...

At the amazing venue of the Regency Ball room last night I attend Youth Speaks "Bring the Noise" event featuring a swath of amazing spoken word artists including the one and only Saul Williams.  The tone of the event, all ages as it was, was incredibly positive with poets reaching out to inspire the young brave new voices that are reaching out to the world around them. 

One poetess who gave a list of 99 reasons to go on after November 3rd (the last presidential election). She spoke out to the power and beauty of women, to loving yourself..  she spoke to the people in Iraq and Afghanistan and Sudan..  She spoke to the men who love..  She spoke to the wonder of creativity and how important it is to always stay young in your heart. 

Saul Williams 25 minute rapid fire piece was an array of ideas and concepts speckled with references to hip hop and life.  My favorite line of his was "The heart is the philosophers stone and the music is the alchemy..." 

I wish I could repeat with justice the words ideas and dreams that echoed forcefully from the stage.  But what captured my attention and heart was the dreams that are still alive and there, now.  I left with a idea of what the young multi-cultural world of tomorrow is saying now..  the ones who are not passively waiting for the commecial to end but activley flipping the channel to find a show that fits thier beliefs and hearts.. and since they are not finding it..  they are out there making it.  That people find paper and pen and poetry is an act of humanity that is a step outside the commerical capitolist ecominic zone we all inhabit daily.  There is still hope yet...

Pay for Placement..

Mr Tom Thump was kind enough to guestlist me so I'm gonna tell you bout the show to hit this saturday.  I first was introduced to Smash on an old Fat Jazzy Grooves compilation.  Classic stuff.  Think good acid jazz... 

So who wants to be my plus one?

SATURDAY MARCH 5th, 2005 "shake that duh-donk-adunk butt!" at BudOnkaDonK!

this month with the almighty
DJ SMASH (Motown/Blue Note/Giant Step NYC) check out http//:www.djsmash.net
the original Jazz Not Jazz Master bringin' two turntables and....a hella lot other
crazy gear to rock Bdonk!!! plus saxophone by Kenny Brooks (Alphabet Soup)

with DJ TOM THUMP, DJ RASCUE +an early set from DJ CODE 3 (Wish)
NEW! FREE for the Ladies b4 10p Gentlemen: $8 b4 10p $10 after | 21+
at Milk 1840 Haight St. @ Stanyan across from Amoeba

A Creative Revolution

A group in Chicago has created a project called Creative America (the main website was not working) that feel that creative professionals are an underutilized resource in America.  You can sign up for one of thier classes to learn how to run for public office, and how to capitolize on the strengths of the creative process to solve our national problems. 

This is something I can totally support...  Anyone need a campaign staffer?

Check out me and Dave!!

Dave and I recently played the party for Six Apart, the wonderful hosts of this blog.. hard to make us out but you get the idea...  Thank G for the hookup...

One more reason to go to Burning Man this year!

ART OFF!!!  Read the Bay Guardians article on the inside story of Borg1 & Borg2's art off and the future of a democratic Burning Man!

Best City Ever Because We Have Stuff Like

Self Service DJ night
Saturday Novemeber 6th
all the time
free or $5
----/ Event Description /-----------------------------------------------
The Wheels of Steel are all yours, baby... You get 20 minutes to do whatever it is you want our decks our yours. Free admission, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon and you spinning Captain Kangaroo records. If too many of you come and play thumpy house/rave/crap the staff will commit suicide so please don't. But play whatever you want. There is a sign up sheet. You sign up, play a 20 minute slot and collect your shout-outs. It's fun. You do not have to know how to work the DJ stuff... we'll show you. It's totally easy. This Saturday. At the Odeon....

Artists For Literacy

I wanted to introduce you all to a new project I'm volunteering with called Artists for Literacy. Its a truley creative and innovative way to battle low literacy rates. The ED is an amazing women with a ton of vision and I've been have a blast working on the project. Check out the site and see all the songs that influenced books!!!