This is the Oakland blog for people living out loud. True to the Oakbook philosophy, we’ll tell you where to go, what to do, and what’s really going down in the town and around the Bay. From parties to films, peace protests to flag football, if there's a there there, we'll blog it.
Invite us to things. We're great at parties.
If you've got events, photos, videos, announcements or general news on all the happenings in the Bay, send 'em over to Kwan Booth at kwan (at) theoakbook.com. And don't be afraid to leave a comment. Don't be shy...come over and talk to us. You just might get lucky!
As the folks over at 21 Grand continue their battle with the gods of permits and city bureaucracy, here’s another reason why this spot really needs to stay open. Tonight’s show features experimental drummer William Hooker performing a live score for “Symbol of the Unconquered,” a rarely seen 1920 silent film from filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, arguably one the greatest and most underrated directors in the first half of the last century.
Hooker, who moved to New York in 1974, remained fundamentally faithful to the aesthetic of free-jazz… starting with the double-LP Is Eternal Life (1975), a set of collaborations with other improvisers, including tenor saxophonists David Murray and David Ware. Rediscovered by Sonic Youth’s guitarist Thurston Moore for the rock audience, Hooker returned to a more abstract and free-form kind of creative improvisation. His recent work has included projects with Zeena Parkins, DJ Olive, Lee Renaldo, and Christian Marclay. Opening set by the Weasel Walter Quintet (Liz Allbee - trumpet, Aurora Josephson - voice, Jacob Lindsay - clarinets, Weasel Walter - drums, William Winant - percussion).This quintet featuring five idiosyncratic, skilled improvisers from the bay area scene creates a music that tempers microscopic detail and nuance with bloodyminded humor and chaos.
Here’s a video of Hooker scoring the film at last years’ Rhythm in the Kitchen Jazz Festival
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
So if you believe what scientists say and not the holy word from those kinda creepy creationists, all human life originated in Africa. So by grand extension that means we’re all African, right? So with this little nugget of cultural origin tucked under your arm, everyone should celebrate their heritage at Oakland’s official African Diaspora Arts and Culture Day. Started last year by local arts organization Caribelinq and officially sanctioned by da Dellums for July 17, the celebration actually runs for the next 3 days, cuz let’s be honest, Africa has a lot of culture.
Things kick off tonight at Air Lounge with a special poetry and spoken word extravaganza featuring poets from Hot Water Cornbread, music by Hairdoo and a dance performances by Traci Bartlow & The Beautiful One. Tomorrow afternoon there’s a free artist reception and shindig hosted by da Dellums down in Frank Ogawa Plaza featuring culinary and cultural presentations from throughout the African diaspora. Then Friday’s big finale is a free screening of the bad ass concert doc “Wattstax” down at the Black New World, hosted by Oakland Film Society’s David Roach and Caribelinq’s Theo Williams. That’s 3 chances to get in touch with your inner African. Don’t miss out-KwanRead the rest of this entry »
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.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
Tonight’s the second to last installment of the Temescal Street Cinema, so get over to the Bank of the West Building on Telegraph before all the fun’s gone. The featured film tonight is Runner’s High, a 2006 doc about a team of East Oakland runners who overcome some pretty daunting obstacles on the way to competing in the LA Marathon. Head over to Rowan Morrison Gallery before hand for a free drawing party then join the bike caravan over to the film.-kwan
If there’s anywhere in the country that can appreciate a good ol’ alternative family, better believe the Bay’s the spot. Two moms, two dads, shared parenting, single parenting, interracial relationships, poly relationships and just about any permutation and identification of “family” you can think of probably has a home here, and more than likely a thriving support network.
So taken in that context, Mary F. Pols’ story isn’t that out of the ordinary. But on a purely practical doody, diapers and baby formula level, it’s understandably daunting: Single, childless film critic knocking on 40’s door, looking forward to a family but not interested in going the baby momma route, meets young hot guy, screws young hot guy, then finds out she’s on her way to becoming a not quite young, but still pretty hot single mom (insert appropriately timed “Aw fuck” here). In her book “Accidentally on Purpose: A One-Night Stand, My Unplanned Parenthood, and Loving the Best Mistake I Ever Made” the Contra Costa Times writer details the ups and downs of shared parenting, generational differences (the father’s 10 years her junior) and juggling an out of the ordinary family life. She’s reading at a Great Good Place For Books tonight, and I’m sure she’d be willing to listen to any parenting tips you might want to toss her way.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
Silence the Violence 2007. Photo courtesy of Ella Baker Center.
The Silence The Violence Campaign, working together with members of Leadership Excellence and United Playaz as well the administrators from Oakland, Richmond and San Francisco have declared June 18 as the official Bay Area Silence the Violence Day. Throughout the area candlelight vigils are being held to memorialize those lost to violence in the first 6 months of 2008 while issuing an areawide call for peace.
In a press statement from the Ella Baker Center, Silence the Violence campaign director Nicole Lee said that “curbing violence is a community effort and our community is putting out a united call for peace.” The flagship event tonight at Defremery Park in West Oakland will include the vigil as well as speakers from the community and families who have been effected by violence.
There’s been a lot of talk of public safety, halting violence and Oakland’s transformation into a model city. In addition to memorializing those we’ve lost already, tonight offers a great opportunity to get out, meet people who are doing grassroots work around the issues and create a plan for action, so we don’t have to memorialize any more.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
A guitar, a mic and a head full of songs combined with a few beers and a reasonably attentive audience-it’s such a simple formula really, and that’s what makes it so damned hard to pull off.
Before the digitization of all things melodic turned everyone and their momma’s into laptop producers, the easiest way to jump into the industry was as a singer/songwriter: get a halfway decent guitar, a few heartfelt lyrics and a couple of people to listen to you and boom-you’re a musician.
But while a hand full of newbies have successfully pulled off the Joni Mitchell/Traci Chapman steez, the road to Bob Dylanhood is littered with discarded guitar cases, cried in beers and song lyrics scribbled on barroom napkins. But for singer/songwriters Emily King and Anthony David, playing tonight at Q’s lounge in Jack London Square, the road has put them on the highway to success and a possible place among the coffeeshop greats.
22 year old Emily King is a bit of a musical prodigy. After leaving school at 16 because classes were moving too slowly, the ambitious New Yorker got her GED and set out to start her own musical movement that so far has led to international acclaim and a 2007 Grammy nomination for her debut album “East Side Story”. From the beginning, King’s music-nimble guitar playing under soul, jazz and pop melodies that lives somewhere between Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones and Mary J Blige, has been drawn from her life story, independent ideology and desire to make a difference in the world. “I think music is such a revolutionary thing” she says “and that’s what it should be.”
Atlanta’s Anthony David isn’t necessarily out to start a revolution, he just wants to make some good music. “Sometimes (my music) is escapism, sometimes it’s sympathy or emotion,” he explains. “Sometimes it’s grounded in the present and some times it’s taking you away from it.” The modern day troubadour calls his style “Millennium Blues” because of the way it “all goes back to the blues. The lyrics, the music, my using everything from acoustic to hip-hop, the story telling…all of it connects through the blues like a bridge.”
A product of Atlanta’s singer songwriter and spoken word scenes, David is signed to close friend India.Arie’s Soulbird Music label and has worked with some of the ATL’s most prolific performers. When he straps on his guitar southern influences drip from his music like molasses. His guitar playing on his new album “Acey Ducey” has a relaxed, “on the front porch” ease to it, and his lyrical honesty paints a picture of a man who’s comfortable in his skin and with what he has to offer.
David’s songs are impressive without trying to impress. From the duet “Words,” that reveals his musical relationship with Arie, to the “Red Clay Chronicles,” a candid depiction of hustling and city life to “Smoke One,” an ode to kicking back with friends-David says this relaxed, no frills approach to music is the only way he’d ever think of creating.When the young revolutionary from back east meets the laid back southern crooner tonight over dueling guitars, it should be a great meeting of the musical minds as well as an instructional session on how to make this deceptively simple style sound as sweet as we all know it can.-kwan
Oakland’s Hieroglyphics are on the bill for Saturday.
UPDATE: We just got the news that Saturday’s Paid Dues concert in Berkeley has been canceled. Find on more information on refunds on the festival website.
Underground hip hop heads rejoice-your time is here. As the 3rd annual Paid Dues Festival swings through Berkeley this Saturday, so come the legions of dreadlock sporting, Mos Def quoting, 50 Cent dissing, super lyrical MC’s and bedroom DJ’s that have followed the fest’s Pied Piper call for Real Hip Hop since it’s debut 3 years ago.
Armed with backpacks full of promo mix CD’s, bottled water, fliers for the next hot open mic night and an encyclopedic knowledge of rap history, they’ll descend on the Berkeley Community Theater for an afternoon of serious rhyme saying, beat breaking and head nodding courtesy of a line up that includes Mos, Rakim, De La Soul, Gza and Oakland’s Hieroglyphics and Blackalicious. Along with the Rock the Bells festival that takes place later this summer, the case could be made that Paid Dues is one of the best things to happen to hip hop since Black Moon first started rocking backpacks in the early 90’s.
The brainchild of uber MC Murs 3:16 from the Living Legends crew, Paid Dues is a national touring festival that celebrates the non-mainstream artist. The festival name comes from the concept of Paying Your Dues-grinding and hustling your way up from the bottom of the barrel to the top spot-from carrying the DJ’s crates and sneaking in clubs through the exit door to headlining Madison Square Garden. These are the artists you usually won’t find on MTV and KMEL but who play a critical role in promoting hip hop as a culture and not just a marketing tool for high end Vodka. They’ve amassed loyal followings through independent hustling, creating buzz on sites like Myspace and Imeem and generally working their asses off to get their music to the people-from pushing their product on the BART platform during rush hour to slipping promo CD’s into copies of local weekly newspapers.
Little Brother at Paid Dues 2008
While not always the case, underground heads are usually known more for a dedication to craft than cash and lean more towards the anti capitalism, left of center side of things than most of the artists found on KMEL and the latest Billboard top 10. This tendency has led to the branding of all underground rap as “Conscious” and focused more on social justice and everyday life than spinning rims and Escalades. And while artists like the aforementioned Mos, De La and Little Brother and are active in grassroots politics and organizing endeavors, they-along with MC’s like Supernatural, GZA and Yak Ballz are just as likely spit rhymes about lyrical murder or whacked our social observations as they are to drop a track supporting the democratic presidential nominee.
Chances are, if you’re a hip hop head, backpacker, activist rapper or the like you’ve already got your ticket and are on your way to camp out overnight next to the stage. But if you’re just entering the underground then this show just might change your mind about the culture and what’s really going down in the bedroom studios and freestyle ciphers around the country.-KwanRead the rest of this entry »
What with the world ending and all, there seems to be a real need for some honest dialugue and open communication. And we’re in luck as all across the country poets are honing their deliveries, brushing up on their stage banter and sharpening their verses, preparing to bleed emotional honesty and insight all over stages and barroom floors. Yes good people, it’s qualifying time for the National Poetry Slam.
-N’er City
Following last weekend’s San Francisco finals, the Broakland Poetry Slam hosts it’s final knock down drag out, last poet standing event tonight, with the final 4 making their way to the big dance in Wisconsin in early August. The Bay has been putting it’s poetic thing down on the world stage since the first National slam started as a grudge match between Chicago and San Francisco back in 1990 (damn-NPS is almost legal drinking age-that’s a scary thought on so many levels…) and tonight’s contest brings together some of the top wordslingers currently blessed with the gift of committing 3 minutes of searing emotional honesty to memory.
-Dahled
The final 10 is made up of national slam vets including N’er City, Mark States and Dahled as well as a couple of newbies, all looking to for a spot on the bus to Madison. Come show some love for Oakland Poetry. Who knows-it just might save you from the fire and brimstone.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
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
So if you believe what scientists say and not the holy word from those kinda creepy creationists, all human life originated in Africa. So by grand extension that means we’re all African, right? So with this little nugget of cultural origin tucked under your arm, everyone should celebrate their heritage at Oakland’s official African Diaspora Arts and Culture Day. Started last year by local arts organization Caribelinq and officially sanctioned by da Dellums for July 17, the celebration actually runs for the next 3 days, cuz let’s be honest, Africa has a lot of culture.
If there’s anywhere in the country that can appreciate a good ol’ alternative family, better believe the Bay’s the spot. Two moms, two dads, shared parenting, single parenting, interracial relationships, poly relationships and just about any permutation and identification of “family” you can think of probably has a home here, and more than likely a thriving support network.
