Oakland Fairyland Gala!!!

Check it out here!

Artist Spotlight: Billy Sprague

Oakland artist Billy Sprague wears many hats in the creative field. He is a muralist, musician, installation artist, illustrator and member of a tape label collective called Sanity Muffin.  I talked with him recently about how his focus lately is moving more toward the audio than the visual. This makes sense to me since he’s been making music for two decades in bands such as Ordination of Aaron and Daredevil. These days his music takes on a more ethereal droning experimentalism that, to me, mimics his visual work.

He’s shown work all over The East Bay and SF in galleries such as Fort, Forthrite and 111 Minna. So check it out!

Mural - Europe

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Tape Loop Installation

Head Space

“I am an artist and musician based in Oakland, Ca. I explore as many mediums as I can but have recently been fixated on graphite, india ink, spraypaint and print making. Much of my work is based on dreams and the fusion of psychedelic mutated formations with imaginative natural environments.
I work in the NOW and create as I go, “mistakes” are welcomed and played off of until a desired result is achieved. Pushing ideas and techniques away from routine is very fulfilling, but I can also drift into relaxed repetitive continual motion.” – Billy Sprague via www.billysprague.com

Made in Oakland: Fiftyseven-Thirtythree

Oakland based Fiftyseven-Thirtythree is a one stop shop for sexy, political and street-smart t-shirts, hoodies and more! They just opened their first retail store at 4125 Piedmont Ave.  on the 2nd floor so swing by and check it out the next time you’re up on Piedmont!

“Oakland-based Fiftyseven-Thirtythree is proof that being street-smart and Earth-smart can go hand in hand. Producing original art that is sometimes political, sometimes sexy, and always bad ass, these sweatshop-free t-shirts and hoodies are handmade using innovative stencil, applique, and screen print techniques. Fashionistas and trendsetters can support independent artists and being green, while still keeping street cred, with Fiftyseven-Thirtythree.

(Because we all want to save the Earth, but we also want to look good while doing it.)”

Check out their ad in the East Bay Express for 20% off!!!

TONIGHT – Sunday, May 16 – Event Listing

Blake’s on Telegraph – Wonderland PD, The System Relief, Waves of Perception, Channel te Suns, IS – 6:00pm – $8/$10 – all ages

Flux53 – Deconstruction Orchestra, Josh Allen, Miguel Bernera – 8:00pm – $10

Fourth Street Shopping District, Berkeley – Jazz on 4th Street Festival – Jazz Mafia Quintet w/ Crystal Monee Hall, Fito Reinsto, Zakiya Hooker, Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble – 2:00pm-5:00pm – all ages

Freight & Salvage – Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Spring Fling: Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin, Canote Brothers – 8:00pm – $14.50/$15.50

La Pena – Cafe Rumba – 3:30pm – all ages

Paramount Theater – Oakland East Bay Symphony (classical) – Season Finale: Ode to Joy – 2:00pm Matinee $25-$65 – all ages

Rooster’s – Local Alt-Rock Bands All-Ages Night: Iron Giant – 6:30pm – $8/$10 – all ages

Shattuck Downlow – King of King’s: guest DJ’s and performers – 8:00pm – $15

Stork Club – Koreatown Northgate Culture Fest – 21+

Terminal – 3957 San Leandro –  Basheaters vs. Loach – all ages

Yoshi’s – David Grisman Quintet w/Mike Barnett (jazz,lounge) – 2:00pm/$30-$5 for kids – 7:00pm/$30

TONIGHT: Saturday, May 15 – Event Listing

924 Gilman – Phenomenauts, Bobby Joe Ebola & the Children Macnuggits, Emily’s Army, The Secretions, Unko Atama, Pillow Fights (punk) – 7:00pm – $10 – all ages

Actual Cafe – Oakland – Go Cart Mozart – 7:00pm – no cover – allages

Ashkenaz – The Canote Brothers, Puncheon Floor – 8:00pm – $15 – all ages

The Canote Brothers – photo from http://www.canote.com – click pic to follow the link.

Baltic – Jukejoint (soul, funk, r&b) – 9:30pm – $6 – 21+

Beckett’s Irish Pub – Dgiin (french gypsy folk) – 10:00pm – no cover

Cafe Trieste – Sage Trio (jazz, lounge) – 8:00pm – no cover

Cafe Van Kleef – The Bodice Rippers (jazz, lounge) – 9:00pm – no cover – 21+

Chester’s Bayview Cafe – Berkeley – Julie Larson & Friends – 7:00pm – no cover

Dan’s Bar – Pin & Battery (rock) – 9:00pm – no cover

Freight & Salvage – Lost Weekend (blues, folk) – 8:00pm – $18.50/$19.50 – all ages

Jupiter – Beep! Trio (jazz, lounge, cabaret) – 8:00pm – no cover

La Pena – Grupo Raiz in Concert (world, latin) – 8:00pm – $20/$25 – all ages

Mama Buzz Cafe – Mr. Son, Sean, Casey Jones (experimental, indie, pop) – 7:00pm – no cover

The New Parish – College Battle of the Bands: The Oregon Donor, Elements of Style, Y Luv – 7:00pm – no cover

Nomad Cafe – Club Shred: Kevin Beadles (open mic) – 6:45pm – no cover

Pine Street Bar & Grill – Jungle Rooster, Ira Walker & the Passion Pirates, Curt Krasper, Johnny Gun – 9:00pm

Red Hat – Monkey, MMFM, Explosive Sauce, Danny’s House – $5 – 21+

Red Hat Sportsbar

Red House – Walnut Creek – Apothesary, Cold Grave, Hysteria, Truth Decays, Sentinal Beast – 8:00pm – all ages

Rythmix Culteral Works – Alameda – Blue Spaghetti, Old Stock (rock) – 6:30pm – $25

The Saddle Rock – Fremont – Diablo Road (blues, folk) – 10:15pm

Shattuck Downlow – Wave Array, FUll On Flyhead, The Blank Tapes, Ashe Ryder (rock) – 9:00pm – $10 – 21+

Starry Plough – Jonathan Richman (rock, indie) – 9:00pm – $15

Stork Club – Kandi Coded, Distance From Shelter, Pan Demon, Songs for Snakes (rock) – 9:00pm – 21+

The Uptown Nightclub – Hella Gay Dance Party: DJ’s Black & GStar (DJ, dance) – 9:00pm- $7 – 21+

Hella Gay Dance Party

Victory Warehouse – Einstye, Mojo Hand, C’Mon Everybody, M.C. Meathook and the Vital ORgans, Lecherous Gaze – 8:00pm – $5 – all ages

Yoshi’s – For the Love of Mike: Leon Oakley (jazz, lounge) – 1:00pm – $20 – all ages