STS9 Great Cycle Spectacles

sound tribe sector 9 returns to the beautiful fox theatre in oakland this weekend for two blazing shows that are sure to please the eyes & ears. the great cycle spectacles have already graced denver & chicago, now it's time for the bay area to have its turn. i've heard only good things about the new visual display & light show that sts9 has brought on tour for this special run of mayan calendar inspired gatherings. if you haven't made plans for 4.20/4.21, then i suggest you score a ticket to one of the nights. sector 9 fans will also have the opportunity to see two different opening acts. the first night will showcase nosaj thing, while night two will host mimosa.
if you happen to arrive at the revamped theatre district a bit early i recommend stopping in at cafe van kleef for one of the best fresh squeezed fruit cocktails in oaksterdam. i'm super stoked for this weekend, not only will i have the chance to dance all night long, all night, but i'll also be hanging with some of my favorite people. anytime you have a good sized crew, primed for a weekend of shredding, you know it's going to be fun. so whether you want to get your groove on, get totally lost in the music or just have a good time in an amazing place, i encourage those of you without weekend plans to check out the possibilities that exist. here's a little sample to feast on...



have a great 4.20 weekend, maybe we'll see you there... enjoy!

~eightychoices

Record Store Day

it's damn near record store day again & i couldn't be more excited! the complete list came out recently which began to stoke my audiophile fire. initial favorites that made my wish list are... the carolina chocolate drops & run dmc each performing the hip-hop classic you be illin', which will be pressed on coke bottle green vinyl; the white stripes busting out the must have classics, hand springs & red death at 6:14, cleverly pressed on swirled black & red vinyl. both of these limited releases are 7" records, as well as record store day exclusives. hopefully i'll be able to get my hands on these two special gems. other releases worth mentioning: arcade fire, marco benevento, the black angels, mastodon & feist, ed sharpe & the magnetic zero.

if you live north of golden gate check out the last record store, it's a vinyl junkies best friend. here's to record store day & it's emphasis on local business, not to mention the gluttony of music!

Enjoy

~eightychoices

Terrapin Crossroads

phil lesh & friends have been busting out plenty of familiar tunes at his new digs in marin, playfully called Terrapin Crossroads. it's located in san rafael & has had both a soft opening (which i find to be both hilarious & interesting), as well as a run of 12 shows which has brought in an array of phenomenal musicians. some of those who have shown up thus far include phil's son grahame, bob weir, jackie greene, jeff chimenti, joe russo, john kadlecik, jimmy herring & chris robinson. next up to appear are the likes of larry cambell & warren haynes. quite a list of names if i do say so myself?

these particular events are steeply priced & will hopefully give way to more affordable shows in the future. if you live in the bay area check out this intimate new venue's upcoming events, it's sure to please those with an interest in the grateful dead or others who just have a fondness for american music & the artists who create it. i wish phil & his family the best in this new endeavor. after all, one could argue that the dead were a san rafael outfit, as much as they were a san francisco band. cheers to live music & its rich history. thanks northern california for nurturing an atmosphere that perpetuates creativity & a freedom to have such fun.

be well

~eightychoices

Leap Year

do ya thing. when you have an extra day it doesn't always feel very extra. so here's a little something for you. leave it up to Murdoc, 3000 & james murphy to drop a new track in collaboration with converse sneakers... thanks for keeping it out there Gorillaz.

take a chance, have some fun, do your thing; here's to leap year 2012, the year of the dragon.

~eightychoices

Wilco live at the Fox

Wilco was amazing. they were simply on point in every facet of the show. the Fox theatre was beautiful as always and the band was smoking! i couldn't have asked for a better sample from their amazing library of tracks. the stage was both ghostlike & technologically comfortable. i really dug the lighting, it was in & on the the tied cloth that hung over their cacophony of sound & intrigue. they have once again distanced them selves from the rest of modern american music. Here's a quick taste of the show.

setlist:

Poor Places, Art of Almost, I Might*, Muzzle of Bees*, Via Chicago*, Kid Smoke (slightly rearranged), One Wing, How to Fight Loneliness, Born Alone, California Stars*, Impossible Germany, Whole Love*, Pot Kettle Black*, Hate It Here*, Theologians, Can't Stand It, Heavy Metal Drummer, Dawned On Me, Hummingbird

encore:

Shot In the Arm, Wilco (the song), Passenger Side*, Kingpin*, Monday, Outta Mind (Outta Sight)*, Casino Queen*, Hoodoo Voodoo

some observations worth noting; i loved that Tweedy wore a hat throughout the night. it reminded me of the singer/song writers from yester year. Jeff's banter was top notch for this show, as it often times can be. he mentioned how the set was created once the band had absorbed the aesthetic of the theater, "we're going to play our beautiful tracks & then, when we're ready, we'll rock." they certainly did just that! i encourage everyone who loves live music to see this show. i know it's early in the year but this may end up being the best tour of 2012. if you do catch a Wilco show, peep their merch, it's rad. those songs with an * are personal favorites that absolutely shredded.

~eightychoices

state of the union 2012

last night president obama gave his state of the union address. i won't get into the potentially positive & negative aspects of his speech, as interpreted by this committee of one. instead, here is my favorite direct quote. it was really a two or three paragraph statement prefaced by the personal journey of his grandparents. i liked this when i heard it, maybe you will too.

" – the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by. Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them."

i'll let you digest the thoughts of our president. ultimately what was said sounds good & right. hopefully he can direct us toward that promise. but i wouldn't hold your breath.

~eightychoices