Well Austin, you should expect a spike in birth rates around June/July 2012 because tonight, the legendary,Sade will be performing at the Frank Erwin Center with John Legend playing the opening slot and somebody's gonna get pregnant. If you sit through a full Sade set and you don't want to have sex, you should probably talk to your doctor.
I'll be volunteering at the parade (9:30am-noon) and at the festival (2-4pm), so yall should holler! I'll find out Wednesday at the volunteer meeting what my assignments will be.
I have no idea who any of the performers are at the festival, but AGLPF just posted a festival mixtape, so check it:
I'm stoked for this weekend. The festival is $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. I think there's a service fee on the advance tickets, so you might as well pay at the door. I get in freeeeee.
"Sorry we're not 'Lady GooGoos' and 'Justin Bieeeeeeebers', but we use fucking profanity. This is Punk Rock. Right?"
I don't thoroughly enjoy Filter via their albums, but then again I never really gave them a try. When I heard they were going to be at Bat Fest, I consulted my iTunes and found I only had one song by them: Take a Picture. Live, however, they were pretty glorious. They engaged the crowd and got me excited to be there. Dude acted like he was 23, not 40s (which is what he is. 40s).
Not everyone was enjoying themselves, though.
Don't bring your babies to a fucking Filter concert.
People in Bat costumes, and a few live bands. It's all goin down RIGHT NOW until Midnight. I'll be there around 10 to see Filter and Bob Schneider.
DID I MENTION IT'S FREE?
KLBJFM Stage North end:
Bob Schneider & Lonelyland 11:00 - 11:59pm
Nakia - "Final eight on the voice!" 9:00 - 10:30pm
Bat Costume Contest 8:15 - 8:45pm $200 CASH PRIZE! ADAM WEST appearance
Suzanna Choffel 7:00 - 8:00pm
Akina Adderley & the Vintage Playboys 5:30 - 6:30pm
White Ghost Shivers 4:00 - 5:00pm
101XFM Stage South end:
Filter 10:30 - 11:59pm
Alpha Rev 9:00-10:00pm
The Black & White Years 7:30-8:30pm
Eyes Burn Electric 6:00-7:00pm
Indofin 4:30-5:30pm
In the midst of all the chaos of moving, I've neglected to look up when the pride festival is in Austin. Since LA, NYC, Seattle, and tons more all have their pride parades and festivals during the same weekend as SF, I had assumed ATX would be the same...
Thank goodness I was mistaken!
September 1st, you could quite possibly be my favorite ATX day of the year. We shall see.
I've signed up to volunteer at the festival!
Look at me, the little LGBT community member is finally growing into her platform heels.
This weekend is going to be fairly epic.
My own personal Nebraskan is flying in for an appearance.
I'll be wearing hardly any clothing,
The entire city of San Francisco will liquored up...
IT'S PRIDE WEEKEND, BABY!
Y'all remember last year
Here's a shocker: I'm not 21 WHAT WHAT! Who knew? Yeah ok everyone knew.
Since I cannot attend all the official Pride festivities (aside from the main event) I will not tell you about them. What I will tell you is where my Nebraskan and I will be on Friday: The Mission; and where my Nebraskan, our Mama and I will be on Saturday night: The Mission & Castro; and where my Nebraskan, our Mama, and thousands of gays will be on Sunday: Civic Center.
Know where gays won't be on Saturday?
ALICE SUMMERTHING
Really though, does this not sound like an ounce of fun?
Matt Nathanson, OneRepublic, Michelle Branch, Parachute & Andrew Allen are going to be on stage for a free show this Sunday from noon-4 in Golden Gate Park.
Riddle me this, Sarah & Vinny, why is it that Alice @97.3 puts on a decent sounding show every year the same day as Pride? Are there not enough weekends in the summer for you to choose from that you have to exclude the out and proud? Something smells fishy, and it's not my pants.
UPDATE 10:22am
Who the fuck is Sandra Bernhard and why is she headlining Pride this year?
What happened to the days of Gaga and Backstreet Boys?
Why aren't Matt Nathanson, OneRepublic, Michelle Branch, Parachute, and Andrew Allen playing at Pride? I mean, since they're already in SF and everything... Wouldn't that make more sense?
This whole situation is bugging me.
UPDATE 10:27am
Have you heard of anyone from the lineup at Pride? Cause I haven't.
11:00
BAAITS
11:05-11:50
DJ Paul Goodyear
11:50
MicahTron
12:05
Moonalice
12:20
Brenda Reed
12:30
Grand Marshals
12:50
Tales of the City
1:00
Mark Leno & Trevor Project
1:05
Bishop Flunder & the City of Refuge Choir
1:25
Butch County
1:40
Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
1:55
Foxee and Liam
2:00
Derrick Barry
2:15
Stiletto Ghetto
2:30
Kat Graham
2:45
Cheer SF
3:05
Lime
3:25
Linda Perry/Deep Dark Robot
3:50
Jessica 6
4:10
Big Freedia
4:25
Kerli
4:45
Wendy Ho
4:55
Sandra Bernhard
5:15
Luciana
5:30
Taxi Doll
5:45
RWCB
6:00
Sister Crayon
UPDATE 11:23am
Michelle Branch's new single kinda sucks.
UPDATE 11:43am
I stopped caring about anybody but OneRepublic. Thank goodness they're playing last (3:45ish). I think I can have it all: Pride Parade, Pride Festival, AND OneRepublic! Sweet.
I was dazzled by this year's Carnaval parade. Last year was a'ight, but this year was spectacular: sparkly tits, jungle-themed floats, and dogs with broken tongues.
There was a noticeable change this year, though, in the children on the floats. Maybe I just didn't take notice last year, but they seemed to be super bored. Is desensitization to blame, or was I like this at that age? (click to enlarge)
Despite the young downers, I declare a Carnaval success.
at least there was 1 little girl getting her groove on.
(I bet you were expecting a post about Bay to Breakers, huh?)
Tis the season for festivals!
Health & Harmony 2010
Yes, I realize I’m a little late on this one, what with Coachella and Bamboozle already done and over-with. In my quest for the best festival of the year (and my options among venues in San Francisco, Austin, and Chicago) I’ve compiled a spreadsheet (yes, I said spreadsheet. I'm extremely organized when it comes to the most unnecessary shit) containing all the bands I give a shit about playing at all the festivals anyone gives a shit about in the continental US. I even included Coachella and Bamboozle for comparative fun. It seems to me (out of the festivals that announced their line-ups already) those in Chicago or Manchester, TN areas are the most fortunately located. Of course if I were to consider Milwaukee, I’m 99.99% sure Summerfest will, once again, host the largest amount of attendees at any given festival this year, what with their KILLER line-ups and 2 whole weeks of festivities.
my spreadsheet of festivals
Is this all gibberish to you? I assure you, you’re not alone. Up until about an hour ago, I was under the impression that Coachella, Sasquatch, Outsidelands, SXSW, Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza were the only large-scale music festivals in the US. Goodness, I was sorely mistaken. How many of these have you never heard of before?
All Good Festival
Austin City Limits
Bamboozle
Bonnaroo
Bumbershoot
Coachella
Health & Harmony
LA Rising
Lollapalooza
Musikfest
North Coast
Outside Lands
Rocklahoma
Sasquatch
Summerfest
Sunset Strip
Treasure Island
Voodoo Experience
Wanderlust (California)
Wanderlust (Vermont)
How do they come up with all those names? There are plenty more, but those were the most, shall we say Coachella-esque of them all? Who knows if that makes any sense... So I went through each festival listed above and have selected a few winners: Bonnaroo, Summerfest, LA Rising, Lollapalooza, and North Coast. In stead of talking about the ones I’m disappointed in (Health & Harmony, ACL, Wanderlust), let’s stay positive and glorify the ones that make me consider finding myself a sugar-daddy to finance my musical rendezvous. I shall list my highlights in alphabetical order by priority (mine, of course) 1, 2, and 3. Skip to the bottom for my notes, if yall give a crap :)
Bonnaroo
June 9th-12th
Manchester, Tennessee
Bassnectar
The Black Keys
Buffalo Springfield
Florence + the Machine
Gogol Bordello
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Lewis Black
Mumford & Sons
Ratatat
Atmosphere
Eminem
LilWayne
Pretty Lights
Amos Lee
Arcade Fire
Beats Antique
Black Uhuru
Chiddy Bang
Cold War Kids
Neon Trees
NOFX
Portugal. The Man
Primus
Robyn
Scissor Sisters
The Strokes
+more
Summerfest
June 29-July 10th (closed July 4th)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Black Keys
Florence + The Machine
Goo Goo Dolls
Maroon 5
311
Britney Spears
Buckcherry
Dropkick Murphys
George Clinton
Katy Perry
Kid Rock
Meat Loaf
Alkaline Trio
Amos Lee
Ben Harper
Blue Oyster Cult
Cage the Elephant
De La Soul
Def Leppard
Finger Eleven
Fuel
Hollywood Undead
Kanye West & Kid Cudi
Los Lonely Boys
Michael Franti
Michelle Branch
Neon Trees
Owl City
Panic! at the Disco
Parachute
Rise Against
Sara Bareilles
Sick Puppies
Stephan Marley
Styx
Sugarland
Switchfoot
Taking Back Sunday
The Bravery
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Third Eye Blind
Toby Keith
+lots and lots more
LA Rising
July 30th
Los Angeles, California
Rage Against the Machine
Muse
Lauryn Hill
Rise Against
Immortal Technique
Lollapalooza
August 5th-7th
Chicago, Illinois
City & Colour
Deadmau5
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Lykke Li
Muse
Nas & Damian Marley
Ratatat
The Pretty Reckless
Atmosphere
Coldplay
Eminem
Flogging Molly
Foo Fighters
Kid Cudi
Manchester Orchestra
Pretty Lights
The Kills
Beats Antique
Cage the Elephant
Cee Lo Green
Cold War Kids
Crystal Castles
Death from Above 1979
OK GO
Portugal. The Man
+more
North Coast (line-up not fully announced yet)
September 2nd-4th
Chicago, Illinois
Bassnectar
Deadmau5
Gogol Bordello
Ratatat
Daft Punk
David Guetta
Fatboy Slim
Pretty Lights
Steve Aoki
Chemical Brothers
Common
Major Lazer
Of Montreal
It has become evident that my biggest goals this year (aside from ending world hunger) are to see The Black Keys, Gogol Bordello, and Rage Against the Machine. I’ve obviously got my favorites that keep popping up at almost every festival around this year (City & Colour, anyone? Dallas is making his rounds!), and it’s also come to my attention that there are a shit-ton of artists and bands that I have never heard of but should scope, mostly because I keep seeing their names on every festival line-up as well. Who is Skrillex? Best Coast? There were a few other bands I’m taking a mental notes of just because they have glorious names: Rad Bromance, Reptar, Disciples of Christ, The Durdens, Hot Buttered Rum, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Dangermuffin, G. Love & Special Sauce, Surgeons in Heat.
Summerfest has by far the longest list of bands I’ve ever given a shit about, a ton being from my Middle School days: Third Eye Blind, Britney Spears, Dropkick Murphys, Meat Loaf, etc. This would probably be my best and only excuse to ever want to be in Milwaukee, which I’m sure is why they’re so keen on keeping up this festival year after year. I haven’t done enough research into it to find out how it all began, but I do know that it consistently has been the largest music event in the states by attendance. Am I the only one that didn’t know it existed before today?
Bonnaroo has the largest concentration of bands I’ve been passionate about over the past year or so: Bassnectar, The Black Keys, Buffalo Springfield!!!, Florence + the Machine, Gogol Bordello, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Lewis Black (one of my favorite comedians), Mumford & Sons, and Ratatat. Man, if Rage Against the Machine were doing this festival, I’d make the trip to Tennessee for this in a heartbeat. I’d still consider it if I weren’t signing up for classes in Austin during the same weekend.
In conclusion, I probably should be moving to Chicago in stead of Austin, judging by the combination of line-ups at Lollapalooza and North Coast (and the fact that they call themselves the friggen North Coast makes me chuckle).
My calender has been filling up with activities and goings-on of San Francisco this summer, so I'll probably post events each month on here for yalls enjoyment; maybe even an events calendar widget. I won't be attending everything, but you might as well go and tell me all about it. Of course there are thousands of other events, being the beginning of summer and all, but here's the highlights:
May 1st (Sunday)
I will not be attending any of these, for I will be at the ballet in the afternoon!
Glen Park Street Fair
Last year; photo courtesy of www.glenparkfestival.com
This festival has been around since 1997 but I had never heard about it until I saw it on funcheap.com in the free section. It looks to me mine a regular ol' street festival with the normal food, community leaders in booths, flea market jewelry, and the like. Apparently they have life music, "great food" and raffle prizes... tell me how it goes? [clicks here dude]
Boat Parade
Opening Day Boat Parade
It's a friggen parade of boats! Get yourself down to Fishermen's Warf (or anywhere on the Embarcadero), get yourself some lunch/cocktails, and watch the boats float by.
How Weird street faire
Never been, but a little intrigued. The about page is much to long for me to attempt reading at this juncture, but yall are welcome to tell me the cliff notes. I'm guessing it's full of the normal SoMA freaks that make their way outa the houses once in a blue moon, in which case, I'm there! I'll probably stop by for some eats and tunes after the afternoon ballet. (look at me, all cultured n shit, goin to a ballet!) Apparently if you donate $10 you get a MAGICAL STICKER! As if getting a fucking sticker wasn't enough, it's magical? I sure hope it gives me the superpower I've always wanted: understand and speak/write in any and every language in the universe.
May 5th (Thursday)
it's a thursday, and I'm a responsible student (teehee) so I probably won't be celebrating too hard, which means I haven't really researched all the fantastic mexican events in the city. I do, however, know that FREE cab rides will be available...
Free cab rides
Yeah, that's right kids! It happened on New Years, it happened in St. Patty's day, and it'll happen again for Cinco de Mayo. Berg Injury Lawyers apparently want you to get home injury-free, so they're paying a shit-ton to cater to the bay area's need to drink and get home (without driving, duh). Deets: San Francisco: (Within city limits only) call Luxor (415) 282-4141 Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley: (Within city limits, and home to SF) call Veterans Cab (800) 281-4488 Rules
Rides available from 3pm-3am
Cabs must be requested by phone
When calling the cab, tell them Berg Injury Lawyers are picking up the tab
Rides are not guaranteed for everyone (worth a shot though)
Must be picked up at a bar/restaurant (not somebody's house) and taken straight to your house (or where you're going to sleep that night)
Maximum fare $35, you pay the difference over that
Not only is it my sister's birthday, but plenty of fun shits goin down in the mission. I'll be at Great America, so have fun without me!
Cinco de mayo @ Dolores park
10am-6pm at Dolores Park
if you don't know where that is, you don't belong there.
Plenty of booze, food, and latinos running around the mission. What else is new? This is sure to be a grand ol' time. Stop by, see what's up, eat some great food for me.
icee hot loft party
Kitsch Gallery is closing! They're planning 3 fairly large events, so at least they'll go out with a bang! Icee Hot is their first of the series, featuring fabulous DJs with beards and aliases. Go drink booze and jam till "late" for $5. Bargain!
[I'll post about the other events when I know more]
May 8th (Sunday)
Sunday streets (mission)
Sunday Streets is basically just a day where a major street is closed to traffic to promote walking, biking, and skating.
But what exactly is it? From the website:
Sunday Streets is a series of events put on by the City of San Francisco to encourage health, community and fun, inspired by similar events in cities throughout the world. A Sunday Streets event creates a large, temporary, public space by closing off stretches of a neighborhood’s streets to automobile traffic, and opening them to pedestrians, bicyclists, and activities for several hours on a predetermined Sunday.
This Sunday Streets will be held in (where else?) The Mission. I mean, really. Do I ever talk about anyplace else? Aside from Austin, of course. Valencia will be closed off (except to cross traffic on the even numbered streets) from Duboce to 24th, and 24th st will be closed from Valencia to Hampshire (except to cross traffic on major streets). Streets will be closed from 11am-4pm. Will I be there? Yeah; the fuck kinda question is that? You better be too.
May 15th (Sunday)
Gee, what on earth could be happening on this day?
Bay To breakers
This would not be a complete San Francisco summer list without Bay to Breakers, Pride, Outside Lands, and free shit. This year is the 100th anniversary of Bay to Breakers and in honor, San Francisco has the finest celebratory change planned: no booze and no floats. I've also heard no unregistered runners allowed, but I'm not entirely sure this is correct. On the subject of booze-less B2B, yeah go ahead and bring your cleverly concealed liquor in eco-friendly bottles ironically labeled "water" and the like, but be warned that this years volunteers are on the prowl for violators of the new order. Anyone caught with alcohol will be a) arrested b) fined c) cited or d) all of the above. On that note, here's a map of liquor stores along the B2B route, though some might be closed in honor of the new rules. Oh and if this is all jibberjabber to you because you've got amnesia from drunken accidents at the last B2B and don't remember wtf it is, click here. My friends and I will go dressed to the friggen 10s. That's right, 10s, not 9s. Cause thats how we roll.
This is also the anniversary of my rabbit's adoption day, and because I rescued her and nobody knows her birthday day, we'll be celebrating her 2nd birthday on this date. Happy birthday, Kitty!
May 21st (Saturday)
movie night @ duboce park
The Rock is among the 4 movies I can tolerate spending any amount of time with Nick Cage (the other 3 being Grindhouse, G-Force, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High). Have you ever been to Duboce Park? This will probably be my first trip over there, but well worth it to hear Sean Connery say "Your best? Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen." Yeah, we we we so excited.
Event is free! Movie starts when it's dark, probably around 8ish. This won't be as crowded as the Dolores Park movie night.
May 27th (Friday)
Pride night @ Great america theme park
(this will be the highlight of my month)
Robyn (that adorable chick from the '90s that sang Show Me Love) is headlining because apparently she's popular again? At least she is with all the gays in SF. Whatever. DEV IS GOING TO BE THERE! With the Cataracts, of course! Plus all the rides will be open (except the children coasters and water park, but who does those at night anyway?) and it'll be gay central! Night starts at 6pm and ends at 2am. I'm going with a special lady and a few friends. Buy tickets here or win them at various Castro parties. I believe they raffle off a ticket at Ladies Night @ Trigger every tuesday, but I could be making that up. Did I mention the event is all ages? See ya there.
How cute is Dev? She's my guilty pleasure. She could bend any straight girl.
Apparently this song came out like 3 years ago, but I just discovered it and have had it on repeat for the past week or so. Robyn is adorable.
May 28th (Saturday)
if you're not too hungover from last night...
Carnaval
Carnaval is a pretty low-key event for the Mission; unless you want it to be chaos, in which case there's plenty of booze, culture, food, and people to make it that way. Last year I brought my bunny to the parade on a harness and I was the belle of the ball. This year I'll try to make it, but no promises. The pupusas are glorious and well worth the trip. The parade starts at 10am on Bryant & 24th street, and heads down 24th to mission to 17th st. The festival goes all day along Harrison.
Other May activities
May 3rd (Tuesday) my friend Priscilla will be singing with her band Palavra at Elbo Room. The band is Brazilian and phenomenal. Show starts at 9pm at Elbo Room (Valencia between 17th & 18th). Facebook it. May 14th (Saturday) another brazilian friend (have I mentioned how many Brazilians I'm friends with?) Neto is promoting a dance event at Mist (11th st between Folsom and Harrison across the street from Slims) featuring brazilian DJs spinning brazilian beats. If you know the brazilian scene in the SF Bay Area like I do, you know it's bound to be an insane night. $10 at the door, 21+. Facebook it.
And of course the regular monthy/weekly events that are always present: Whisky Wednesdays @ Benders (19th st & S. Van Ness) every wednesday- I might actually make it to one of these... fingers crossed... haven't been in a couple months... Free Zoo Day for SF residents @ SF Zoo every 1st wednesday of the month (may 4th) - bring proof of residency Free Academy of Science Days every 3rd wednesday of the month (may 18th); and for SF residents - dependent on your zipcode, apparently... my 94134 days are may 27, 28 & 29th. Find yours here. Giants 29 games this month. I might be at the one on the 6th, so who wants to come too?
Anything else I should know about? Let us know in the comments section, por favor!
