Yes, Elipsus will sing his song at BrainWash in San Francisco.

BrainWash
1122 Folsom Street, San Francisco
Saturday, August 14, 2010
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Free

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AMC theaters will help to entertain the kids this summer with some great family films. Each Tuesday morning admission is only $1.00 at most Bay Area AMC theaters!

Doors open at 9:30 AM and shows begin at 10:00 AM. Advance tickets for each week’s movie will be on sale about one week prior to the scheduled show date. All admission and concession proceeds will benefit two AMC charities, “Variety – The Children’s Charity” and the “Will Rogers Institute.”

The movies …

June 15 – Shrek The Third (PG)

June 22 – Imagine That (PG)

June 29 – Monsters vs. Aliens (PG)

July 6 – Madagascar (PG)

July 13 – Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG)

July 20 – Hotel for Dogs (PG)

July 27 – Kung Fu Panda (PG)

August 3 – The Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)

August 10 – surprise mystery title

San Francisco Theaters:

* Metreon 16
101 Fourth Street, San Francisco 94103
415-369-6201

* Van Ness 14
1000 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco 94109
415-674-4630

AMC Summer Movie Camp 2010
Tuesdays, June 15 through August 10
10:00 AM (doors open 9:30 AM)
Tickets $1.00

Also: Theaters in the South Bay

"Double Exposure" from a painting by Homer Ansley

Shot in San Francisco

Curator Pete Gowdy* and Oddball Films* will share vintage 16mm films shot in San Francisco:

San Francisco Queen of the West ~ 1947
Kodachrome Tour of the City ~ 1947
San Francisco Ageless Cable Cars ~ 1950
Kodachrome documentary cable car
Blackie, Wonder Horse, Swims Golden Gate ~ 1938 B+W
1970′s News Outtakes ~ Outrageous nightclub scenes and Mission District Lowriders
Film shot on location at Playland At The Beach
Jefferson Airplane ~Tony Bennett & Judy Garland ~ Drag Legend Charles Pierce ~ Carol Doda

Date: Friday, May 7, 2010 at 8:30PM
Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street, San Francisco
Admission: $10.00

> RSVP Only to: 415-558-8117

* Pete Gowdy (aka DJ Chas Gaudi) is host of San Francisco’s Shellac Shack, a weekly 78 rpm listening party and a DJ specializing in vintage sounds: soul, jazz, country, punk and new wave. A graduate of the Vassar College Film Program, he is an associate producer of Marc Huestis Presents, the long-running movie legend tributes at the Castro Theatre.

* Oddballball Films is the film component of Oddball Film+Video, a stock footage company providing offbeat and unusual film footage for feature films like Milk, documentaries like The Summer of Love, television programs like Mythbusters, clips for Boing Boing and web projects around the world.
Our films are almost exclusively drawn from our collection of over 50,000 16mm prints of animation, commercials, educationals, feature films, movie trailers, medical, industrial military, news out-takes and every genre in between. We’re actively working to present rarely screened genres of cinema as well as avant-garde and ethno-cultural documentaries, which expand the boundaries of cinema. Oddball Films is the largest film archive in Northern California and one of the most unusual private collections in the US. We invite you to join us in our weekly offerings of offbeat cinema.

It starts at Noon on the 9th of May; which just happens to be Mother’s Day. Leave your donation* of $10, or $5 if in costume, at the main entrance ~ Howard and New Montgomery Streets. The main entrance is near MUNI lines, and only 2 blocks from the Montgomery BART station. Thanks to the SF Bicycle Coalition for providing bike parking.

The How Weird Street Faire takes place on Howard Street between 1st Street and New Montgomery, 2nd Street between Mission and Howard, and all partial blocks of Minna St. and Natoma St. off of 2nd Street. This is Ten blocks of vendors – wares, food & drink, and non-profit organizations will be there to educate.

The Ten music stages: Symbiosis, Muti Music, Rebel Bass Collective, Tantra, Groove Garden, Non Stop Bhangra, Temple Nightclub, Opel, Opulent Temple, Strategik, Space Cowboys, Brass Tax, Le Harem, Ultraviolet Carnival, Team Infinity, Red Marines Festival, Aum Festival, Style/Clash…

How Weird Street Faire ~ Bollyweird the cosmic dance
Howard and New Montgomery Streets
San Francisco, Earth
Sunday May 9th
Noon to 8 PM
All Ages Welcome
Costumes Encouraged

*Donation of $10 or $5 if in costume ~ gets a Magic Sticker
Sticker Benefits Include:
$1 off each drink at the faire bars
$2 off How Weird @ Night
Discounts and special offers from many faire vendors…

At 7:40 PM Set a World Record for the Largest Synchronized Bollywood Dance.

Peter Friess (The Tech Museum) and Daniel N. Fenton (Team San Jose) announced that “Genghis Khan” will be the next blockbuster exhibition coming to San Jose.

“Genghis Khan’s brutality is well known, but less visible is the man whose natural leadership formed the first united Mongol nation – no small feat,” said Peter Friess, president of The Tech Museum. “Inasmuch as we carry the dark images of Genghis Khan the warlord, there is also the man who brought us passports, the pony express, printed money, hamburgers* and even pants.”

Much can be discovered about Genghis Khan (1167-1227) the ‘emperor of all emperors’ who united nomadic tribes of northeast Asia and founded the Mongol Empire and Mongolia with a visit to The Tech Museum.

More than 200 13th century artifacts from Genghis’ reign will be on display including:

Live Cultural Performers: Mongolian singers, contortionists and musicians.

Live weaponry demonstrations are featured in the exhibition.

Paiza – passports.
Large Siege Weaponry – Large crossbow and tools to conquer walled cities and castles.
Ancient Mongolian Artifacts.
Ger – A traditional nomadic dwelling – Note: One-third of the people in modern Mongolia live in a Ger.
Shaman’s Robe – Ritual dress used to channel spirits. Genghis Khan practiced shamanism and believed in supernatural powers.
Jewelry – Treasures from the ancient Mongolian capital of Karakorum.
Mongolian Noble Woman Mummy – Mummy and coffin treasures including silk and leather robes, jewelry, comb and bowl.
Mongol Weapons – Swords, leather and metal armor, mace-heads, bows and arrows, and an early firearm.
Buddhist Relics – books, statue, and artwork. Note: The Mongolian capital of Karakorum was religiously diverse.
Clothing and Adornments – Silk garments and jewelry from Karakorum and Kublai Khan’s palace.
Musical Instruments – Strings made of horse hair.

Team San Jose extends an invitation. When speaking with Dan Fenton he expressed hope that the people of San Francisco would visit The Tech and enjoy Genghis Khan.

“Genghis Khan The Exhibition” – Opens May 22 (Limited Engagement)

The Tech Museum – 201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113-2008
(408) 294-8324

Special Exhibit Hours:
Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Tickets:
Children 3 -17 ~ $15
Adults ~ $25
Special prices for seniors and college students.
Admission includes access to all the regular museum galleries.

*It is amusing that hamburgers, the name coming from the German port of Hamburg, originated in the time of Khan. The fierce Mongol horsemen (the Golden Horde) were so busy conquering the world that having to stop to light fires and eat got in their way. Raw lamb or mutton was formed into flat patties and then placed under their saddles. The horsemen could easily grab some ‘hamburger’ at any time.

Modern day Mongolia (see U.S. Department of State) lies in central Asia between Siberia on the north and China on the south and is slightly larger than Alaska.

Ger/Yurt The burning of soft coal by individual homes or “Ger” (yurt in Russian) adds to the polluted air.

Micky Rourke will star in a film about the Mongol ruler. He says: Genghis Khan Biopic ‘Not Your Stereotypical Blood and Swords‘

Genghis Khan: flickr set.

TeamSanJose on twitter

DSO

Dark Star Orchestra will recreate the sounds of the Grateful Dead (one of the most idolized bands of San Francisco music history) live on stage this Friday and Saturday in San Francisco. And if you miss them or need more they will be in Modesto on Sunday.

Rolling Stone called Dark Star Orchestra“…the most talented and accomplished tribute band out there…they’ve definitely mastered their inspiration’s vagabond nature.”

The Regency Ballroom
Fri Apr. 23 & Sat. Apr. 24
1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco
Doors at 7 Pm Concert at 8 PM – all ages
Buy Tickets

The State Theatre
307 J Street, Modesto on April 25
Doors at 6 Pm Concert at 7 PM
Buy Tickets

Check the stores for contests, giveaways, and appearances!

Participating Stores in San Francisco Include:

Amoeba ~ 1855 Haight St. (415) 831-1200 ~ see website for contest & twitter

aQuarius recOrds ~ 1055 Valencia St. (415) 647-2272 ~website

Creative Music ~ 26 Ocean Ave. (415) 334-1011 ~ website & Contest

Force of Habit Records ~ 3565 20th St. (415) 255 PUNK (7865) ~ website

Groove Merchant Records ~687 Haight St. (415) 252-5766 ~ website

Medium Rare Music ~ 2310 Market Street (415) 255-7273 ~ website

Streetlight Records ~2350 Market Street (415) 282-8000 ~ website

What Is It ?

Keep your eye out for Yeasayer in the Haight.

twitter ~ recordstoreday

Benjamin Bratt Maverick Spirit Award

It was a thrill to be front row when Cinequest presented Benjamin Bratt with the Maverick Spirit Award. We, the audience, were also entertained with a screening of “La Mission”. Benjamin and his brother worked together on “La Mission”. The film, set in the San Francisco Mission district, tells a story of intolerance and the love of family.

La Mission will be showing at the Kabuki April 16th

Tickets and Info.

Trailer “La Mission”

facebook La MISSION

Also check out the Metreon for show times.

Carlos Santana at SFO

In January of ’09 I spotted Santana at SFO near a baggage carousel. Without hesitation I walked up to him. Handing him a Metblogs card I asked, “What would you like our readers to know?’ Graciously he spent time talking with me. I learned of his commitment to children, and that Carlos and his family established “The Milagro Foundation”.

On Thursday, March 18, 2010 Mayor Gavin Newsom will present Carlos Santana with the Mayor’s Art Award: “Carlos Santana is without a doubt one of San Francisco’s most beloved icons,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “When he burst onto the scene with his extraordinary new sound he solidified San Francisco’s position as one of the main stages in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. His music transcends not only musical genres, but also cultural, geographical and political boundaries, and he has brought millions of people together through his art. He is also an artist who gives back to his community. It is my great honor to present the 2010 Mayor’s Art Award to Carlos Santana for his commitment to improving the lives of others and for his tremendous contributions to music.”

Unfortunately, the event which is sponsored by the San Francisco Examiner is private. I believe that the city missed an opportunity. By opening the event to the public some serious money could have been raised – possibly for Mr. Santana’s foundation.

Santana

The Milagro Foundation (with sound)

Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through The Hits

To read more about the lineup, download a sample mp3, see a video etc, and show times & details read more here @ the complete entry

If you’ve ever heard 1969′s epic track “The Creator Has a Master Plan” that Thomas co-wrote with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, you’d know the singer I’m talking about. Thomas was close to Babatunde Lea and is probably best known for his stint with Pharoah Saunders, but he also sang with Carlos Santana and Freddie Hubbard’s bands.

The vocal sound of Leon Thomas, who as Lea says, “colored outside the lines” with his voice, was a distinctive and unique presence in 70′s jazz. Thomas, who also toured as Santana’s vocalist in the early 70′s, had solo albums out on Bob Thiele’s infamous Flying Dutchman label, and employed techniques that took from American Indian and African vocal traditions, and was even called a jazz “yodeler”.

According to biographer Gary Graff, Lea’s heartfelt tribute was a decade in the making. He brought in Saxophonist Ernie Watts, whom he’d met in 2002 while playing in Bill Cosby’s ‘Cos of Good Music’ ensemble at a Playboy Jazz Festival. Pianist/singer Patrice Rushen is an associate from LA whom Lea had long wished to record with, while bassist Gary Brown was an old Bay Area friend with whom Lea had played with for nearly 30 years. The lynch pin, for Umbo Weti, though, is vocalist Dwight Trible, whose voice and delivery “just screams Leon Thomas,” according to Lea, and who worked with Lea on a recorded suite and soundscape for the opening of San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD). “It was a no-brainer to bring Dwight in for Umbo Weti because, his sound comes directly out of Leon and all that innovation Leon was doing.”

“My idea was to have this group that would have the spirit be able to go wherever the muse would take us,” Lea explains. “Basically, all I was asking everybody to do was play. A lot of times now things are so arranged and over-produced — throw a 16-bar solo there, an eight-bar solo here and keep it under six minutes…I wanted people to do it like Pharoah and Leon used to do it. They used to “play,” and if some of the stuff went 12 minutes, 15 minutes, longer, then fine.

Here’s a video about the new album
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0HV-8G_zRg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Download their version of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Boom Boom’

Babatunde Lea
“Boom Boom” (mp3)
from “Umbo Weti: A Tribute to Leon Thomas”
(Motema Music)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

To hear additional previews or purchase the mp3 or CD of the music visit Amazon here.

Show is $15 in adv, $20 @ Door
Thursday March 18, 2010 at 8PM
Yoshi’s, San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA