Tag: bay area

August 31, 2019

Burger Boogaloo 2019: Day 2 Recap

The second day of the Burger Boogaloo (head here for day 1) brought more summer fun to Oakland’s Mosswood Park, including John Waters’ inimitable band introductions, Shannon & the Clams’ stage shenanigans, the Chats’ high-energy hijinks, and the Jesus & Mary Chain’s encore performance. Afterwards, Spain’s Hollywood Sinners and Canada’s Tommy & the Commies closed out the weekend at Eli’s Mile High Club while Wild Billy Childish & CTMF did the same at Starline Social Club. Thanks to Marc and his hardworking crew for another fantastic weekend! While we don’t know what Burger Boogaloo 2020 will bring, it might be wise to pick up some tickets now while they’re still a steal!

Swipe through for some of our favorite moments of the day, and check back soon for more photos of the many faces of the Boogaloo!

TIMMY’S ORGANISM

Despite some technical difficulties, this Detroit trio heralded the new day with their electric blend of musical mayhem and performance art—and a generous dose of Boogaloo sparkle that would last all day on those who were anywhere near the stage.

THE CHATS

We didn’t catch these Aussie upstarts on smoko the entire weekend, but they did pummel the crowd with that viral hit, “Pub Feed,” and other fist-pumping punk anthems.

DERV GORDON WITH SO WHAT

Derv caused more than a slight diversion when he and Bay Area backing band So What crushed Equals classics such as “Softly, Softly,” “Baby, Come Back,” and “Police on My Back.”

DAVILA 666

After an eight-year hiatus, these Puerto Rican punks and their special Argentinian guest (saxophonist Sergio Rotman) revived their unique brand of fuzzy, razor-edged pop and psych. Boogaloo mastermind Marc was so excited that he accidentally knocked his mom down in the pit!

MUSK

The Bay Area’s premier dirgemongers channeled the Birthday Party, the Cramps, and the Gun Club for their glorious, hair-raising performance.

THE SCIENTISTS

These Aussie post-punk legends set the afternoon on fire with “Atom Bomb Baby,” “Swampland,” and other throbbing delights.

KING TUFF

Kyle Thomas and crew performed King Tuff’s 2007 release Was Dead in its entirety, hearkening back to the very first “Burger Boogaloo” in 2011.

SHANNON & THE CLAMS

These Boogaloo veterans charmed and enchanted with dancing ghosts, mischievous apes, and their signature shimmery hipshakers.

JESUS & MARY CHAIN

The distortion devotees rose again on the second day…and aptly blew the power five songs into their set. Fortunately, they were back up within a few minutes and treated fans to a slightly different mix of old and new tracks from the night before, including “Never Understand,” “Darklands,” and “In a Hole.” Bernadette Denning, who appeared on the band’s latest album Damage and Joy, joined them again for “Just Like Honey.”

HOLLYWOOD SINNERS

Searing garage punk from Spain

TOMMY & THE COMMIES

Pogo-friendly mod-tinged punk from Canada

August 6, 2018

The Neat Neat Neat Faces of Burger Boogaloo 2018

Music aside, some of the best things about the Burger Boogaloo are catching up with local friends, reuniting with those who live far away, and making new BFFs. Here are some friendly folks we ran into while jetting between the Toxic Paradise amphitheater and Pleasure Pier stage, including one woman distributing sparkles who really made one little girl’s day. (For the music portion of the weekend, check out day 1 and day 2.)

(Thanks to Karen of Xposure Arts for the photo of Tiger Lily with Fifi!)

August 1, 2018

BURGER BOOGALOO 2018: Day 2 Recap

The second day of the Burger Boogaloo (head here for day 1) boasted punk pioneers the Damned, several reunited bands (Battleship, Gris Gris, Le Shok…the Rip Offs with the original line-up), and Firestarter’s first-ever show in the U.S. We don’t know what Marcos and the Total Trash crew have planned for next year but it’s definitely worth investing in the early-bird tickets for 2019, which are on sale now for dirt cheap! Here are some of our favorite moments of day 2. Click here for the neat neat neat faces of Burger Boogaloo!

BATTLESHIP

Ash from nearby wildfires fell from the sky as these Oakland malcontents unleashed their demons in the Toxic Paradise amphitheater.

GRIS GRIS

A cloudy sky, majestic redwoods, and kitschy stage decor formed the perfect backdrop for this Oakland four-piece’s distinctive brand of psychedelia.

SUBSONICS

These Atlantans administered primal beats and lo-fi rock’n’roll swagger.

NOBUNNY

A last-minute replacement for the Dwarves, the lovable masked maniac and his crew charmed the audience with cheeky, lo-fi garage-pop gems that were, according to John Waters, “catchier than herpes.”

THE FLAKES

This Bay Area five-piece, featuring ever-energetic Russell Quan on drums, delivered punchy garage punk.

FIRESTARTER

The former Teengenerates thrilled the crowd with their power-pop imports and an encore that included smash hits such as “Dressed in Black” and “Sex Cow.”

QUINTRON & MS. PUSSYCAT

This inventive New Orleans duo dished up quirky diversions followed by a puppet show.

THE RIP OFFS

After transforming the Pleasure Pier into a crime scene, these nylon-loving budget rockers rolled onstage on an SFPD motorcycle and bulldozed each other and the audience with classics such as “Rip Your Heart Out” and “Fed Up.”

LE SHOK

Southern Californian electropunks brutalized the Toxic Paradise before smashing all of their guitars (which we missed, alas).

GIUDA

These Roman rockers slayed (slade?) with their hand-clappin’ stompers.

THE DAMNED

Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, and company waited for the blackout, jammed out on “Neat Neat Neat,” and smashed it up, ending the night with a tribute to Steve Soto (of the Adolescents, Agent Orange), who had passed away four nights earlier.

May 31, 2016

JetLag RocknRoll: San Francisco Travel Guide

San Francisco musicians Blag Dahlia (the Dwarves), Shayde Sartin (Sonny & the Sunsets, the Fresh & Onlys), and Sammy and Helene (the Okmoniks) take you on a rocknroll tour through San Francisco, sharing their favorite sights, restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Respectively, they’ve lived in San Francisco for 30, 17, and 7 years.

DO

Step back in time with vintage arcade games and toothpick dioramas made by Alcatraz prisoners at Musée Mécanique (Pier 45), tucked amidst the touristy chaos of Fisherman’s Wharf.
Fill your pockets up with quarters for pinball-palooza at Free Gold Watch (1767 Waller Street), a silk-screening shop that’s home to dozens of machines.
Pull on your walking shoes and explore North Beach, Chinatown, the Mission, the Haight, the Richmond, the Sunset, and San Francisco’s other colorful neighborhoods.
Clamber around the ruins of the Sutro Baths (Point Lobos Ave) and dare to venture into the nearby Goonies– style cave.
Escape to the towering redwoods of Muir Woods (1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley).

EAT

Indian pizza at Zante Indian Pizza (3489 Mission Street)
~~Authentic German sausages, schnitzel, and more at Schmidt’s (2400 Folsom Street)~~
Organic California cuisine served until 1am at Nopa (560 Divisadero Street)
Artful sushi and Japanese fare at Tsunami (1306 Fulton Street)

SHOP

Thrillhouse Records (3422 Mission Street)
Rooky Ricardo’s (448 Haight Street)
Grooves (1797 Market Street)
Valencia Street (boutiques, bookstores, record stores)
Chinatown (souvenirs, firecrackers, novelty items)
Haight Street (vintage clothing, record stores, Loved to Death)

ROCK

~~Hemlock Tavern (1131 Polk Street)~~
The Knockout (3223 Mission Street)
Thee Parkside (1600 17th Street)
Bottom of the Hill (1233 17th Street)

DRINK

Smuggler’s Cove (650 Gough Street)
Gold Cane Cocktail Lounge (1569 Haight Street)
Molotov’s (582 Haight Street)

RECOMMENDED HOTEL

The stylish, mid-century Phoenix Hotel (601 Eddy Street) is where touring bands such as the Black Lips, Joan Jett, the Jesus & Mary Chain, and the Damned stay when they’re passing through town. The heated pool is a plus and often the focus of splashy events.

FEATURED BAND PERFORMANCES (in order of appearance)

The Dwarves at Thee Parkside, San Francisco
Sonny & the Sunsets at Midsummer Studios, Emeryville
The Fresh & Onlys at The Chapel, San Francisco
The Okmoniks at Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco / Stork Club, Oakland / Thee Parkside, San Francisco

At Hemlock Tavern

Ultimate Painting
The Teutonics
Hard Left
The Ogres

At The Knockout

Nobunny
Vicky & the Vengents
The Atom Age
DJ Daniel Segura
DJ Russell Quan

At Thee Parkside

Giuda
Davila 666
Traditional Fools
King Tuff
Personal & the Pizzas
Mean Jeans
The Rantouls

At Bottom of the Hill

Gooch Palms
Guantanamo Baywatch

April 20, 2016

JetLag RocknRoll: East Bay Travel Guide

East Bay musicians Shannon & the Clams, Tina Lucchesi (Trashwomen, Bobbyteens, Cyclops), and Jesse Townley (Blatz, Gr’ups, Criminals) share their favorite haunts in Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, and Albany. Collectively, Shannon & the Clams have lived in Oakland for over 30 years, while Tina has called Oakland home for 15. Jesse has been a proud Berkeley resident for nearly three decades.

DO

Catch the panoramic view from Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science (1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley).
Explore the post-apocalyptic landscape of the Albany Bulb, aka Albany landfill (1 Buchanan Street, Albany).
Spend a day at the races with $1 beer and hot dogs at Golden Gate Fields (1100 Eastshore Highway, Berkeley).
Hike through redwoods and around a funeral pyre and pyramid at Joaquin Miller Park (3590 Sanborn Drive, Oakland).
Get lost in Tilden Park‘s 2,079 acres of natural beauty.
Catch a film at one of the East Bay’s many movie theaters (Grand Lake Theatre, New Parkway Theater).
Stroll around Lake Merritt to watch some peeps, pups, and ducks.
Tune in to UC Berkeley’s radio station KALX (90.7fm).
Tool around town on a bicycle.

EAT

Japanese-style fried chicken and side dishes at Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken (380 15th Street, Oakland)
Authentic Laos/Thai/Cambodian cuisine (Tina highly recommends the rice ball salad) at Champa Garden (2102 8th Avenue, Oakland)
No-frills diner food with some vegetarian options at Broom Bush Cafe (2725 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley)
“Honest, awesome, Mexican food” at Juan’s Place (941 Carleton Street, Berkeley)

SHOP

1-2-3-4 Go! Records (420 40th Street #5, Oakland)
Stranded (4929 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland)
Amoeba Music (2455 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley)
Dave’s Record Shop (2634 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley)
Down at Lulu’s (6603 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland)
Alameda Flea Market, aka Alameda Point Antiques Fair (2700 Saratoga Street, Alameda)
San Pablo Flea Market (6100 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland)
Vintage clothing (Mercy Vintage, Pretty Penny, Empress Vintage)
Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley (Moe’s Books, Rasputin Music, Mars Mercantile, boba drinks)

ROCK

Stork Club (2330 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland)
White Horse Bar (6551 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland)
924 Gilman (924 Gilman Street, Berkeley)

DRINK

Trader Vic’s (9 Anchor Drive, Emeryville)
Forbidden Island (1304 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda)
Ruby Room (132 14th Street, Oakland)

FEATURED BAND PERFORMANCES (in order of appearance)

Shannon & the Clams at Starline Social Club, Oakland
Shannon & the Clams at Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
Tina Lucchesi with Thunderroads & Fink at Shelter, Tokyo
Cyclops at Shelter, Oakland
Cyclops at White Horse, Oakland
Blatz at 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley (footage courtesy of Shayne Stacy)

At 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, Oakland

Try the Pie
Radioactivity
Synthetic ID
California
All Dogs

Rule of Thirds at First Church of the Buzzard, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)
Healers at Life Changing Ministry, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)
Weather Warlock at The Church, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)

At Stork Club, Oakland

The Shanghais
Little Queenie
Teenage Sex

At White Horse, Oakland

The Mantles
Swiftumz

At 924 Gilman Street

Melted!
Genuine Parts
Jakob Danger
Dinosaurs
The Side Eyes

Jello Biafra at Forbidden Island, Alameda