Confessions of a Recordplayer

Well Dressed for Halloween

China Camp trail

Saturday morning I went off for a 10 mile ride in Marin on the China camp trail with some friends.  It was a great ride, mostly single track and a breath of fresh air for a set of lungs that rarely gets out of the city..  We climbed up straight to about 800ft for 30 minutes..  The trail was a little technical with lots of roots and rocks juting across our path..  and the ever present steep cliff to our side waiting to gobble up the stray rider..     Anyone up for a ride next weekend?

Adam does Dance Class

So last night I took my first dance class ever.  It was a hiphop class in the neighborhood at a local studio.  I had been thinking about taking one for a while to get out and dance a little more since I don't make it to the clubs as much these days.. and when i do I seem to be to old or tipsy to lay out a proper jig.  So I was a little nervous, never having been to a dance class before.   It said all expireince levels welcome so I figured my 2 left feet would be welcome... 

I was the first one to show up and was greeted by a smiling and energenic Emily, the teacher.  She welcomes me and says to make myself at home, lay my things out and pick any spot on the floor I would like.  I do so..  meeting people as they come in..  Seems like a good and ecletic group..  a few guys and a few that look like they may have never taken a dance class before either.. 

We start and do a warm up.. which was a lot like what I image Dancercise class to look like.. felt a little silly but was having fun and breaking a sweat..  Then came the cruches..  man i broke a sweat. 

After we were all warmed up she started teaching us her routine.. Now, maybe i'm just behind the curve.. but this was hard.  The steps came fast and furious..  we learned 3 minutes of a routine that would be home in a Janet Jackson video..  and I was 2 steps behind half the time.  I hustled, and busted a groove..  but sadly I will never make it very far in the "So you think you can dance" contest...

Not sure if i'll make it back to that class.. might find one a little more my speed and possible a little more free form and less like Rhthym Nation. 

Lord of War Billboard Betterment

This just in from the Billboard Liberation Organization.

Festival of Found Art & Green Growing Things this weekend

There are many reason I love san francisco.. finding little nuggets like this is only part of the reason...

Check it
Come and enjoy a celebration of creative reuse and recycling at the St. Vincent de Paul Summer Festival on Saturday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

~ innovative arts and crafts from the Bay Area‚s found art scene
~ raw materials for crafty projects of your own
~ the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store
~ Habitat for Humanity ReStore (a reuse source for home improvement)
~ sale and silent auction of tropical bromeliad plants
~ home made bbq

This event is free.  Ample parking available
9235 San Leandro St. in East Oakland.

Brainsssssss

See here how I was assaulted on Saturday by Zombies down by the trolley cars in downtown San Francisco...  Just when you thought it was safe to go back out on the streets...

See more adventures of the Flash Mob Zombies at EatBrains.com

AUDIUM - A theater of sound-sculptered space.

Recently I ventured out on a Friday evening at 8:30 to Audium.  I had heard of this theater complete with 174 speakers that creates sound scapes or something.  I had no idea but thought it would be neat.  So when my cousin Alex was in town from Norfolk Va we wanted to do stuff that was super-duper cool.  Audium fits that bill.

The entire building is unique in its design visually and for audio-logical purposes.  We waited in the trapezoid shaped waiting room with soft chimes in the background.  The Audium chamber looks like your walking across the set of Logan's Run (1970's sci-fi).  Actually, since it was built in the 70's that may explain the look - but I think it has more to do with a conceptially far out purpose, the design had to match.  It's a white circular room with chairs in concentric circles  We were told that the sound would be moving around us and that the kind man who obviously would be our guide for the evening would answer questions later.

At that point all the lights went out.  ALL of them.  And the audio journey that followed was an eclectic ambient barrage of sounds and ideas that would circle and fade in and out spatially. There were 2 30 minutes sets of darkness with a quick 5 minute potty break inbetween.  It was a journey though sound, where sound was the only prevelient sense being used.. quite a unique expireince.. and one I recommend you check out some Friday or Saturday evening....   

Rocked the Pride Parade.

                                                 Dave and I were asked to provide music for the Marriage Equality of California float in the San Francisco Gay Pride parade this weekend.  A cause I firmly believe is a serious civil rights issue that permeates this great country with the stank of intolerance and bigotry.  With thus thinking and not being one to turn down an opportunity to share music with people we said yes and enthusiastically set out to create a play list that had songs about love, equality and justice and was gay enough for the festivities. 

I celebrated my friend Sue's birthday the evening before, getting home at the wee hours of 3:30am and rising at 6:30 to get the equipment on the float I was most definitely dragging.  Although from the looks of Dave and Lisa it was a wee bit early for us all.  In a haze after some coffee a bagel and a redbull we enthusiastically we set up the sound system, placed our lawn chairs on the back of the pickup truck pulling the float where would mix between the iPod and G4 Laptop to keep our large contingent grooving.  We rocked it..  hands down. 

The gay pride march this weekend commemorates a point in history (late 1960's i think) where after years of police harassment at the hands of NYC Police the customers of the Stonewall Bar in NYC (a gay bar) decided not to take it and fought back, forcing the police to take refuge in the bar and call for reinforcements.  This brave moment in history many people say marks the change from an age of accepted repression and one of a pursuit of civil rights and equality.  While it may not seem like it amongst the feather boas, drag queens, dykes on bikes and all the fabolousness that descends on the city for a weekend, is really as all of our favorite president likes to say - is freedom taking hold. 

Below is a snippet of the songs we played at the parade.  Dave and I had a lot of fun, but we both realize that this is more then fun to many.  To them, its about basic rights and acceptance of who they are.  In this day and age of warped role models brought on by a corpoate media machine inducing eating disorders, a plethora of neurosis's and reality TV - I'm proud to stand with anyone who will stand up and be themselves. 

Adam & Dave's Gay Pride Playlist.
(Not in this order, not a complete list, just highlights)

1. Going to the Chapel - Dixie Cups
2. We are Family - Sister Sledge
3. Giant - Melissa Ethridge
4. Signed, Sealed & Delivered (DJ Smash Essential Funk Mix) - Stevie Wonder
5. Express Yourself - Madonna
6. Boys & Girls - Blur
7. Rock With You - Michael Jackson
8. Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra (Married with Children Theme Song)
9. Love Cats - The Cure
10. You Started Something - Crazy Penis
11. Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie
12. Don't You Want Me Baby - Human League
13. This Love - Maroon 5
14. Let's Dance & Young Americans - David Bowie
15. Marriage (Billy Crystal Monologue) - The Princess Bride

Advertising in San Francisco

So I think the subversives have started advertising and trying to get some ideas in your head.  I like this one i saw on the wall on the way to work today.  I see this and some grafitti as a way to communicate since its too expensive to do it in the paper or on radio... 

Ever seen the "death machines ahead" sign in GG park?

Hey baby....

I wish more people took the time to draw manly looking chalk drawings of Marylin Monroe so everyone smiles as they look down at thier feet while shuffling about downtown.