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

facebook

website

Soon after Dave Rada and I became friends on facebook I learned that he had a passion for film and I asked him to tell me about his latest project:

Horror of Our Love: A Short Film
I (Dave) produced/directed/wrote and was the monster in the short film. The short film is inspired by the song Horror of Our Love by the band LUDO, they are a great bunch of guys and it’s such an amazing song. Filled with romance, horror, and comedy. I think the song goes hand in hand with the film. It’s also cool to help such a great band reach their audience in a really fun way, and we also really appreciate all their support for the film as well…

We filmed it in January, in San Jose using an all San Jose Crew…Loved filming there because the S.J. locales fit the romantic feeling of the song so well, rather than gritty L.A.!! We got to shoot at John D. Morgan Park at night, something I have always wanted to do, and we only freaked out a few of the neighbors, ha! It’s a good thing we let San Jose PD and Campbell PD know we were filming and had friend and local Detective Todd Trayer on set!! He said there were a few nervous phone calls, but nothing too bad..Whew! .

Phil Grasso was my excellent Director of Photography, Kate Melia played “Girl” and I have known her since high school. She was phenomenal to truly understand the film’s balance of romance, horror, and comedy. It was great to work with my crew, they seemed a bit hungrier and fought along side me hard, NOT against me to make the best film we could.

Since completing the short we have been accepted to film festivals all over the country.
Most Recently the Dances With Films Festival going on in L.A, in June. This is a really great film festival and we are honored to attend….

Dave Rada - Audience Choice Award

Note: ‘Horror of Our Love’ – Won the Dances With Films Audience Choice Award in L.A. !!!

If you would like to see this award wining film it is part of:

A Nightmare To Remember International Horror Film Festival
June 26th
$10
7 – 10 PM
Opera Plaza Cinema Theater
601 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 267-4893

LUDO:  the Horror of Our Love song on YouTube

LUDO: the site

Elftwin Films

Tickets available on Fandango.

Grease Sing-A-Long on facebook
Grease Sing-A-Long on twitter

Danny (John Travolta) [singing] I got chills / They’re multiplyin’ / And I’m losing control / Cause the power you’re supplying / It’s electrifyin’.

Nice to see John so young and electrifyin’!

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

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

Fortunately, you still have time familiarize yerselves with his saga, and a musical legacy that was obscured by bad business breaks, pride, and deep prejudice, the kind that was not only racial, but sexual & medical …

Almost strangled to death by the umbilical cord at birth in 1925, Jimmy Scott was soon orphaned by a car crash, along with his 9 other siblings in depression era Cleveland. If the odds against him were not bad enough, they were further stacked by a strange genetic pituitary hormonal defect known as “Kallman’s Syndrome”. This medical disorder accounts for his somewhat effeminate looks & unnaturally high singing voice. Basically Scott’s pubescent development was stunted, causing his arms to appear longer than the rest of his torso while the diminutive singer never developed facial hair.

Finding solace away from the bleak foster homes on stages, he sang in combos of the post war R&B era, notably as a featured singer with band leader Lionel Hampton, with whom he made his recorded debut in 1950 (although his name did not appear on the label). After the chart making & touring stint with Hampton ended, Scott began dividing his time between night spots in Cleveland, New York and Newark, New Jersey.

Unable to secure proper record deals, or even respect on the road from fellow musicians due to his androgynous appearance, Jimmy Scott’s show biz career was a hard road. That road hit a brick wall by the late 1960′s when tight fisted Herman Lubinsky of the Savoy label refused to release Scott from a long dormant contract, and legally prevented comeback albums for Atlantic & Ray Charles’ Tangerine label from being released purely out of spite.

Jimmy’s numerous shots at stardom had been so hampered by fiscal mismanagement & bad business dealings, it lead to failed relationships, drinking and drugging, and a career ending downward spiral that took him away from the limelight for decades, until a break finally occurred when he was well into his 60′s.

Strangely enough, it appears death is something he won’t take sitting still, and is actually the catalyst that has brought Jimmy Scott’s career back to life…

read more about the show, plus detailed info on his life & career accomplishments below the fold
more on little-jimmy-scott

Career:

Jimmy Scott tried his luck on a smattering of labels, working notably with producer Fred Mendelsohn in the early 50′s. They got some interest going with a tune released on the Roost label called “I Won’t Cry Anymore”, it eventually became a big hit, but for another larger label, called Columbia, and the singer who got the hit, was actually a white Italian guy named Tony Bennett. Other labels Scott flipped obscure sides for included Coral & Regal.

It is said that 50′s singing sensation Johnny Ray, stole the stage act after seeing “crying” Jimmy Scott perform. Ray went on to great acclaim, while Scott ended up humbly opening for the crooner who grew famous by imitating Jimmy’s heartfelt & teary eyed performances. Ray committed suicide at the peak of his career, but not before turning on a Georgia raised singer who made the 3rd generation appropriation of Scott’s shtick a big part of his stage act, that guy was James Brown….

Jimmy Scott outlived them all…but he never got the notoriety.

Even after a late career renaissance brought him to new audiences around the world, Scott copes with the fact that his type of fame is fleeting. He has duly noted this phenomena when he sang onstage in the 1990′s with the Grateful Dead to an arena crowd of thousands in his hometown of Cleveland, the local daily paper still referred to him as an “unknown female singer”.

Since the quirky career kickstart given to the 67 year old Scott after an appearance at Doc Pomus’ funeral, he has continued touring, recorded some 8 or so albums on half dozen labels since hitting retirement age, made a movie about his life called “Jimmy Scott, If You Only Knew”, and added a 5th wife in 2003 to his bio as well.

Now with his aged infirmities creeping in, ever dapper, Scott is performing while even restricted to moving around via wheelchair…

but dammit, he just won’t quit…

Music is his life, once saying “I love performing. You live with reality every day. You can’t miss it. We can try to avoid a lot of trials in life, but it’s better to overcome than avoid. That’s what music has been for me. It’s been my opportunity to overcome.”

All Hail The Tough & Tender Little Jimmy Scott whose motto is :

“It’ll work out in the end. You gotta believe” – Jimmy Scott!

Strangely enough, it appears death is something he won’t take sitting still, and is actually the catalyst that has brought Jimmy Scott’s career back to life…

By the late 70′s and early 80′s Scott was reduced to playing low rent bars and seedy nightclubs for pocket money. Eventually, some of his only gigs were occasional charity appearances at senior citizen homes. Scott’s humble menial day jobs at Bob’s Big Boy and in a Cleveland Sheraton hotel gave him a mindset that was set far from keeping abreast of the changing tastes of a fickle record buying public at the tail end of the 20th century.

In 1985, at age 60, he returned to the eastern seaboard, and for the first time in over a decade started working small clubs in New York and Harlem, perhaps getting occasional nostalgic write ups in the NY Times or Village Voice. Despite thin crowds at first, he kept at it, no matter how hopeless or slow going it seemed. Soon little bright spots would appear. Things like getting invited onstage by blues vet Ruth Brown or old friend Milt Jackson would liven up his schedule & sagging fortunes.

Scott’s subsequent shift back into the public eye ironically began to truly gather momentum at The Riverside Funeral Home on St.Patrick’s Day 1991. The sad/happy occasion was legendary rock n roll songwriter and old friend Doc Pomus’ funeral. Pomus ( aka Jerome Felder ) was a remarkable songwriter, whose library of classic early rock & roll classics include “Save The Last Dance For Me”, and “This Magic Moment”.

Said Jimmy of meeting Doc: “I met Doc Pomus when he came to see my show at the Baby Grand in Harlem around 1945 or ’46. Doc showed me how to get around on the New York Subway system, then took me home to have dinner with his mother, father, and little brother, Raoul Felder (Raoul was so stuffy, snooty, and studious at the time; he later became one of the country’s top celebrity lawyers)… bringing me home and having dinner with his family was my most cherished memory of Doc.

Ever since Jimmy had met Pomus back in the 40′s, they had stayed in touch. In fact, in 1987 Doc even wrote a letter to trade publication Billboard extolling Scott’s virtues, decrying the hard times he was going through, and warning the record industry not to sleep on a chance to catch the long overdue second coming of Little Jimmy Scott.

Now a few years later, Scott sat Shiva and was asked by Doc’s family to perform “Someone To Watch Over Me” at the funeral, along with backing from fellow old timers Dr. John on piano and Fathead Newman on sax. Scott arrived early and sat unasumedly with hands folded in the back with his 4th wife Earlene. After the colorful eulogies, Jimmy’s haunting voice overthe tinkling keys stunned the room, with many so far back they could barely see his tiny head over the crowd. The room was filled with dozens of music biz luminaries, like Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, and the aforementioned Seymour Stein of Sire who felt it was almost his spiritual duty to Doc to simply offer Scott a dignified deal.

Jimmy later told a reporter in 2000 of the bittersweet good fortune coming from his friend’s death, ” The next day, this cat from Warners comes over with a contract. It was like Doc’s hand reaching out from the grave.”

He went on to many new career highights ranging from appearing on television shows & sold out shows across the US & Europe to even performing onstage at Bill Clinton’s inaugural ball gala in DC. Said Scott in a 200 era interview of his new found glory, “…if you dance long enough, somebody hear you tapping your toe.”

A favorite of performers ranging from Billie Holiday & Dinah Washington, to Frankie Lymon & Frankie Valli. Amongst his admirers include Stevie Wonder, Bill Cosby and John Lennon, all whom knew of and expressed respect of his work. Some more of Jimmy Scott’s long list of fans and admirers have also included amongst them Red Foxx, Bill Clinton, Marvin Gaye, Ossie Davis and Amiri Baraka.

Said Quincy Jones once of the time he spent backing Jimmy,
‘Night after night, I’d be sitting back there in the trumpet section, listening to this man cry his heart out. He’d just tear you up, you could sense Jimmy taking us all to an emotional level that was high and deep at the same time…Jimmy would tear my heart out every night with his soul-penetrating style”…

Even Madonna has said “Jimmy Scott is the only singer who makes me cry,”

to get tickets for this week’s rare San Francisco performances of the legendary Jimmy Scott, click here:

There is only 1 8pm set per night, tickets are $18

http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/1122

Jimmy Scott’s Official Bio Webpage: http://www.jimmyscottofficialwebsite.org/biography.htm

Fans trade vinyl, CDs, 8-track tapes for all I know (hey, they’re making a resurgence). Admission to the main event from 10 a.m. to 3 pm is $3, but if you want to beat everyone else, get there early, and trade with the real players, show up between 6 and 10 a.m. and pay $20. All proceeds go to keeping the great station on the air.