7/21 House, House House Monday!!

A quick heads up for those still in party mode from the weekend or looking to start their week off with a little booty shaking-from now on, Kingman’s Lucky Lounge will hosting Soulful Vibrations, a Monday night house music session for the dancing inclined. Dj’s Imani and Rahiem Jihad will be throwing down all deep and funky so check it out if you’re in need of a quick 4/4 fix.-kwan

7/14 Monday Night Jazz Jams

Photo from www.angelawellman.com

Looking for a way to unwind after a long 1st day after the weekend? Well if you’re a Jazz head you’re in luck. If you’re a Jazz musician then grab your ax and take your pick between two funky jam sessions going down with a host of seasoned players.

First there’s trombonist Angela Wellman’s regular Monday night jam session at the New Earth Artist’s Cafe just around the corner from Lake Merritt. Wellman, founder and Executive Director of the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, is a small woman packing a big sound. The Kansas City native has been belting out tunes since she was a kid and cut her teeth in the swinging Chitlin’ Circuit clubs of her home town. Wellman’s a confident band leader and this session should be fast paced with a hint of blues.

And while Wellman’ holding things down over at the New Earth, the Jam session at the Public Conservatory is safe in the musical hands of Glen Pearson, a well respected local pianist. Pearson’s the chair of the music department over at the College of Alameda and has gained a reputation as the man pulling the strings behind the COA Jazz Big Band. He’s joined on the platform by bassist Ron Belcher, drummer Roger Myers and just maybe, you. That’s if you’ve got a musical streak and the chops to jam with the big boys. And if not, well the audience at either one of these venues is a great way to spend a Monday night.-kwan

6/16: Just Announced-Mos Def w/Zion I tonight

So while the cancellation of this past weekend’s Paid Dues festival left many underground hip hop fans screaming at the heavens, clutching their backpacks and wondering aloud “O GOD Rakim, why has thou forsaken us?!”, tonight’s just announced Mos Def show at Ruby Skye should help restore some stability to the four pillars.

Mos was added to the Paid Dues lineup at the last minute and since he’s already in town and everything, why not play a special last minute show right? Seems like the only thing to do. And to sweeten the deal, Oakland’s hip hop superheroes Zion I will be opening the night along with tunes by DJ Big Von.

But if you can’t wait any longer, snack on this delicious classic vid for Umi Says off the 1999 album “Black on Both Sides”, then get your conscious hip hop fix tonight, cuz Rock the Bells doesn’t roll into town for another 2 months.-kwan

6/9 Hubba Hubba Burlesque

Come cure those Monday Blues with a little shimmy shimmy courtesy of Hubba Hubba, the weekly Burlesque review down at the Uptown. Tonight’s show features performances by Randy Johnson, Tricksie Treat, Maple Sugar, Rusty Mahakian, Room For Cream, Calamity Lulu, Bootsy LaRue, Gretl Von Boom Boom, Isabella Minx and Gorilla X, with Kingfish and Eddie holding down the MC duties. Check the footage above of the lovely Ms. Boom Boom and her dancing goat girls for a little preview of the night’s festivities. -kwan

Photos: We Love the Town

All photos courtesy of DJ Zita

Town love? You know we’ve got it. And so do Zita and DMadness. The two Oaktown DJ’s threw down this past Friday at the latest installment of their “We Love the Town” parties- a celebration of all things soulfully musical-from the Toni’s to the Too $hort to Mistah FAB and everything in between. Kick yourself if you missed it and check back here for updates on the next party. Until then check the picks, throw on some Pointer Sisters and vibe out.-kwan

5/19: Lunada Lounge: Paradox

Open mics can be tricky things. On any night you’re just as likely to find the next Ginsberg as you are to spend the night clutching your beer and wincing as the umpteenth performance poet of the evening mangles their latest version of the Beat poetry aesthetic. Fortunately for those of us who still believe in the power of a mic and a voice, there’s Lunada.

Galeria de La Raza’a Lunada literary lounge consistently draws some of the area’s top talent with a featured performer roster ranging from spoken word to experimental guitar. Come celebrate the full moon tonight with a special sneak preview of Paradox, a new performance directed by poet Marc David Pinate, as part of La Pena Cultural Center’s Hybrid & Experimental Performance Ensemble.

According to the promos Paradox is work of metaphysical music, an “exploration into the power of performance to heal the spirit…both story and non-story, theatre and non-theatre, teaching and non-teaching, being and non-being. It is the space beyond the logical or rational where opposites coexist and simultaneous truths converge.” Got that? Story AND non story, teaching AND non teaching. Deep right? No rewarmed “Howl” over here.-kwan

5/12 U.S Youth Chess Tryouts

Every year the U.S. Youth Games brings the best young athletes from around the country to duke it out on the playing field, on the court and on the game board. The games host thousands of youth from across the nation, participating in Olympic-style competitions including Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, Bowling, Flag Football, Chess, Double Dutch Jump Rope and just about every other sport you can shake a baton at.

From July 16 to the 19th they’re bringing the rumble to Oakland and tryouts for the games are taking place thoughout the city during the month of May. Tonight it’s time for all the young grand masters and future Bobby Fischers to test their castle control over at the F.M. Smith Recreation Center. Youth age 15 and under are invited to come out and try for a place on official the Oakland team. Check the Oakland Parks and Rec website to get more info and the full tryout schedule.

5/5 Art Wrestles Pop Culture and Wins!

Still from “Head Trip”

Is Pop Culture Art? Is Art Pop Culture? Since the Andy Warhol era artists have been trying to elevate pop culture to the level of art; and since artists have uttered the words “I want to be a star” - it’s gone the other way too.

Tonight’s panel features three of the elder statesmen and leaders in San Francisco’s art and pop culture worlds as Re/Search Publication’s V.Vale, Last Gasp’s Ron Turner and “Head Trip” director John Law chew the fat on the intersection of art and pop and what happens when those lines are defined and blurred. Moderated by professional coach/social architect Michael Vav.

4/7 Anti Violence Town Hall

When the 100 Families Project was created the participants planned on using art and the resources available within individual neighborhoods to work towards a more violence peaceful Oakland. They knew they’d have to face several obstacles, but no one thought the issues in the community would come to their door with quite so much force.

On Wednesday, February 27, gunshots were fired outside the Market St. YMCA where participants in the program where gathered for their weekly dinner and planning session. Families were waiting outside when a car pulled up and opened fire. While no on was hurt in the shooting and a motive still hasn’t been determined, the very next morning another shooting occurred a few blocks away ar 32nd and San Pablo, this one fatal.

So in the spirit of the program’s focus on community involvement and dialog, the 100 Families Project, along with St. Mary’s Center and Hoover Elementary school are sponsoring a town hall and planning session tonight. The focus will be on how local residents can work together and find concrete solutions to the city’s problems with violence and community tension.

3/31: Tia Carroll and Hard Work

Bay Area singer  Tia Carroll has, as they say, pipes. This Richmond born soul and R&B singer has a voice that can creep like a scorned lover then wail like a banshee, all while keeping a firm hold over her band of funky players, aptly named Hard Work. When she plays Yoshi’s tonight, expect a lot of it.

Carroll style is drenched in the blues with sides of southern rock. She sings about cheating lovers and no good men with the best if them and often draws comparisons to Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Since playing her first gig at a backyard barbecue she’s toured the world singing with the likes of Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Patti LaBelle and Tower of Power. Last year she was awarded the New Female Blues Artist of the Year by the Bay Area Blues Society.

It’s said that Carroll came out of the womb singing, and while there’s no verification, she’s done a alot of living, loving and singing since. Check out her show tonight to see one of the area’s finest.