My latest installment of When The Lights Go Down In The City is up on SFist. I'm giving away two copies of John Vanderslice's latest Emerald City and I also have short show reviews for St. Vincent at Cafe Du Nord and Rufus Wainwright at Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium last Friday.
So go read it! Please and thanks. And if you like it, click that little link at the bottom of the post that says "Recommend this".
Then watch JV's video for "Time To Go":
In perhaps what might be my proudest moment as Music Editor of SFist...
Please read MattyMatt's interview with Charo.
When Charo's publicist contacted me, I must admit I wasn't man enough to tackle interviewing Charo myself (I was too intimidated). But I didn't relent until I found the bravest SFist on our team, MattyMatt, and harangued him into accepting the challenge. He is now my hero. We can't wait to go see her at Herbst on 8/6.
Says Charo:
"Hello! I am so happy to be bringing original music of today for dancing! I am performing a new style, neosalsa and neoflamenco, because every day I want to improve myself, tomorrow when I wake up I am searching for something better. I'm going to have a bigger thing, ahead of our time, if you love dancing, you gonna wow!"
Odds and sods: Oh blogging, I've missed you.
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On Thursday night I saw a press screening of "Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus," a film by Andrew Douglas. I'm writing a review of it for SFist, but I'll tell you now that seeing it is like watching a documentary, attending a concert, sitting through a feature film and reading a short story all at the same time. It's playing at the Balboa Theatre for one week starting on July 28th. If you like writing and music that's inspired by the south, or if you came from the south, GO SEE IT!
If it's not coming to your town, the soundtrack, Music from Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus, is out now on Luaka Bop. It includes tracks from Jim White, Cat Power, The Handsome Family and more.
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Read the latest "When The Lights Go Down In The City" on SFist.com. Everyone talks about how talented Sufjan Stevens is, and I wholeheartedly concur, but can I also mention that he's a dreamboat?
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The hijinks continue on the weekly hour-long Jonathan Hair Product ™ Infomercial, a.k.a. "Blow Out." Whoever wrote the scripts for the second season is a marketing genius, because each episode is about 20% run-of-the-mill reality show, and 80% thinly-veiled advertisement for the Jonathan product line. ("Guess what guys, we're in Sephora!" cha-ching! "I've got to go tell my girlfriend I'm going to be on QVC!" cha-ching!)
The first season had its obvious sponsors, including AmEx and Lens Crafters, and this season there's a cell phone company they mention periodically. But can you be a regular viewer of the show this season and NOT have a growing hankering to head to Sephora to buy some of the wares he's been hawking? Their not-so-subliminal advertising is working on me -- I'm totally going to buy some Dirt texturizing paste. And I wonder if The Pussycat Dolls is in on the deal too? I mean, Robin is his sister, but they're getting tons of lucrative advertising during the show as well.
Yes, the show has degenerated into an infomercial. No, I cannot stop watching!
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I have a LiveJournal now too.
I'm feeling the time pinch already people!
Quick links:
Read last Thursday's "When The Lights Go Down In The City." You could enter to win the indie-tastic soundtrack to Wedding Crashers. (We're giving away a pair of tickets to see the brilliant Sufjan Stevens in my column this coming Thursday (thanks to SFist Emily). That's a scoop just for you.)
Read my review of Esthero's show last Friday at the Fillmore. It was fantastic!
Did I already link to my review of the Diamond Nights show?
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You know what's good? The Shout Out Louds' Howl Howl Gaff Gaff record. The terrible name of both band and album almost forced me to ignore it despite the fact that they are Swedes. (Maybe "howl howl gaff gaff" means something really cool in Swedish?) But I found it on Rhapsody so I checked it out and it's seriously good. I should describe it, but I'd rather eat dinner (time constraints!) Trust me, it's worth a listen. And look how cute they are. They're playing in SF next week, opening for Secret Machines and Kings of Leon at The Fillmore (7/18, 19 and 20!) so get there early if you have tickets. I have a stupid 5-shows-in-a-row schedule next week, but I just might have to double up.
Being back in the full time working world is quite a change! I need to dust off my rusty time management skills to juggle SFist duties, other writing gigs, shows, KB/dance, socializing, and everything else. Let's see how my new schedule affects how often I blog.
The holiday weekend was dedicated to BBQs -- Penn had one on Sunday at his house with tons of food and lots of cool people. My upstairs neighbors hosted yesterday's BBQ, with more great food and lots of nice new people to meet. I was chatting with Penny and fellow SFist Sam's name came up (via her Becks & Posh blog) and Blakely's name came up while talking to Jen. She must have heard us, because a little while later she and Xav showed up, which was a treat (even though we'd been to the Diamond Nights show together the night before). Jen has a line of fantastic t-shirts called Lacquer (sp?) that should be available at RAG soon. We watched the fireworks from Crystal and Emmett's cozy living room -- we've got quite a view here.
You have to check out the world's ugliest dog! [via SFist MattyMatt] This devil dog is unbelievably ugly.
Blagg strikes again: No Admitted Hipsters Found at 'Total Hipster Party'. It's funny because it's true.
Finally, in a gross self-referential display, I'm going to link to one of my own posts, but for good reason. I want you to scroll to the bottom of the comments to read about the idea that kind commenter Uncle Wendy shared about doing the Record Club online. Genius idea Uncle W, thanks for sharing!
