Friday, January 27, 2012
GZA Embarks on an Ivy League Lecture Tour
Breaking News Rachel Swan — Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 5:29 PM
And according to press flacks, he'll hit Oxford University this weekend, followed (hopefully) by MIT, NYU, and Cornell this spring. The famed Wu Tang emcee will discuss his creative process, his canonical album Liquid Swords, and, of course, "the state of hip-hop." Let's just hope he doesn't forget any lines.
New Music from Uncle Ricky
MP3s and Song Samples Rachel Swan — Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 11:42 AM
One of our favorite improbable viral video stars, Ugandan crooner Uncle Ricky (neé Ochen Kaunda), just regaled us with a new world music dance track. And it veers away from the cloying, ballad-driven, borderline campy Uncle Ricky we've come to know and love. But that's not a bad thing. Ricky sings "BeautifulNICE&lovely" in English and the Kenyan language Luo, over a syncopated dancehall beat. OK, yeah, it's still about love and courtship — Uncle Ricky is a pretty sentimental guy, after all. But we do like all the new ornamentation. See for yourself.
Moneyball 2012
Aaron Sorkin, and Sean Keane — Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:59 AM
(SCENE: The ramshackle Oakland front office’s conference room. Oakland scouts fidget nervously, staring at their own pagers rather than each other. Billy Beane bursts into the conference room waving a printout.)
Billy Beane: Guys, you’re still trying to replace Gio Gonzalez. I told you we can’t do it. We can’t do it. Now what we might be able to do is recreate him, in the field of social media.
Grady Fuson: The field of what?
Billy Beane: No one is talking about this team as contenders, but the real problem is no one is talking about this team, at all. We haven’t been a trending topic since Dallas Braden’s perfect game.
Ron Hopkins: What’s a Trending topic?
Billy Beane: Peter, get Wikipedia open for Ron. Gonzalez has 19,586 followers on Twitter. Andrew Bailey has 11,835 followers. Trevor Cahill is not on Twitter, but his Facebook fan page has 2,128 likes. What’s the total?
(He snaps his finger and points to Peter)
Peter Brand: Do you want me to speak?
Billy Beane: When I point to you, yeah. Why couldn’t Milton Bradley have been like you?
Weekender: The Top Five Events Over the Next Three Days in the East Bay
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Ninth Annual Cheshire Rock Opera
Alice's penchant for traveling through looking glasses, falling down rabbit holes, and eating psychedelic mushrooms isn't the only reason she's been a consummate pop culture muse since the Victorian age. She's also beloved simply for having a rebellious spirit. By all appearances a sweet blond in ruffly knickers and a pinafore, Alice nonetheless refused to play by societal rules. She couldn't be tamed by stiff clothing, or children's primers, or even a hostile Queen of Hearts. Thus, it's little surprise she's embraced by the underground arts community in Oakland. One of Alice's more devout local followers, a musician named Sean Lee, put together a "full-immersion" celebration of Alice in Wonderland back in 2004, complete with a costumed tea party, a dance competition, and themed songs. The event had enough fairytale cachet to draw a following and ensure real longevity. This year's ninth iteration will feature antics by Wanderlust Circus, plus a "Queen's Concert" with several musical guests, including Thee Hobo Gobbelins. It happens at Oakland Metro Operahouse (630 3rd St., Oakland) on Friday, Jan. 27. 8 p.m., $10 for those wearing Wonderland costumes, $15 for everyone else. OaklandMetro.org — Rachel Swan
Ghost Light
Jonathan Moscone's theatrical version of himself might be slightly exaggerated, but it works well for a play about a child dealing with his father's death — especially given that Jonathan's father, former San Francisco mayor George Moscone was a well-known, widely respected public figure whose career kept him somewhat estranged from his children. Ghost Light spawned from conversations between the younger Moscone, who directed, and Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone, who wrote the script. Some details may have been altered for the purpose of plot, but it hews to a fairly realistic storyline: Jonathan hears about the assassination of George Moscone first from a gelid Diane Feinstein, speaking numbly through his television screen, then from a police officer (Peter Macon), who comes knocking at the door. He has to confront that traumatic event first in therapy; then repeatedly in dreams; then in pop culture, where the term "Twinkie defense" quickly becomes common coin; and finally as an adult, such as when he was invited to consult on set for the movie Milk, which lionized fellow shooting victim-turned-LGBT-martyr Harvey Milk while underplaying his father's death. The play is dreamlike, sometimes ponderous, and often profoundly sweet, particularly as an encomium to San Francisco. Through February 19 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre (2025 Addison St., Berkeley). $14.50-$73. 510 647-2949 or BerkeleyRep.org. — Rachel Swan
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Beastie Boys Remix! — Gettin’ Intergalactic With Psymbionic
ElectroShiz — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Here we are, yet another fine track from the Dubstep.net family (Facebook link). Although they flood my Soundcloud stream and email with tons of tracks, it has been fully worth it, no question. Not only have they been introducing new tunes, but also new DJs, like Austin, Texas' Psymbionic.
His new track, fresh off the comp and released under Made in Glitch, is sucha heavy hitter! The wobbles, the rhythms — it just all comes together soo well, aaand, it's a supreme remix, executed flawlessly!
That's right, the good ol' Beastie Boys like you've never heard em before. Ironically enough, while I was at SnowGlobe, I heard Bassnectar drop a remix of "Intergalactic" to open up his set, and it was nasty - he got the whole crowd up and goin' crazy in a matter of seconds. Heavy, heavy bass and alotta energy; a great way to kick off his 2hr set. I mean, Bassnectar is known for his quality and unique remixes - definitely my favorite element of his style - but, I must say, this remix clowns on it.
Seriously, Guys: Submit to Our Erotic Short Film Competition
Ellen Cushing — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Yup, this is real — $1,500 in prizes (plus fame and glory, obvs) real. And the deadline's coming up next Wednesday, which means you've only got seven more days to, um, show your stuff. Here are all the details; plan your weekend accordingly.
Actress Cynthia Nixon Says Being Gay is a Choice for Her
Media Rachel Swan — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Sex in the City actress Cynthia Nixon went against the grain — and stirred up controversy — by telling New York Times Magazine that in her case, being gay is a choice. "I say it doesn’t matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not," Nixon said, defending her argument. She admitted to being in an awkward position, as a public figure going against the conventional wisdom that biology is destiny, a premise that many LGBT activists use to gird themselves against right wing zealots and social conservatives.
Sh** Drake and Samuel L. Jackson Say
Pics and Video Rachel Swan — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Here are our two favorite additions to the meme:
Shit Drake Says:
and
Shit Samuel L. Jackson says:
Etiquette Lessons from Ron Kristophone
Ellen Cushing, and Rachel Swan — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Editor's Note: We’re so fascinated by the cult of fandom surrounding Ryan Christopher Parks, lead singer of the indie band B. Hamilton, that we’ve invited his alter-ego to start an advice column for the clueless and the culturally ostracized. For this edition, he’s focused on etiquette.
Dear Ron Kristophone,
Like many of your readers, I am an unemployed twentysomething Berkeley graduate who is trying everything to get a job. Luck struck last Friday when I finally got a call back from a kind of “Groupon meets Arab Arms Dealer” start up in the city for an administrative assistant position! The only problem is, all my pants have giant holes in the crotch. I'm too broke to buy new ones and too unskilled to sew them. I'm afraid my balls might pop out mid interview, despite crossing my legs or diverting their attention with magic tricks. What should I do!?
Sincerely,
Sam Fistorino
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
State of the Nation Address: Raiders Hire Dennis Allen as New Head Coach
Sean Keane — Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 2:24 PM
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is now Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen. He's only 39 and was a popular head coach candidate this year after one successful year in Denver. The Bronco defense was good, but I think we have to wonder if it was Allen's coaching, or the supernatural assistance of Jesus Christ and Tim Tebow. He's gone from Jesus' favorite football team to Satan's favorite. Welcome aboard, buddy!
