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

TONIGHT: Friday, May 14 – Event Listing

924 Gilman – DCOI, Bum City Saints, Short Attn Span, Side Affects, Holiday Bowl, Public Suicide (punk) – 7:30pm – $7 – all ages

924 Gilman

Ashkenaz – Native Elements, 7th Street Sound, Singjay Luv Fayh – 9:30pm – $10/$13

The Baltic (Richmond) – Reed Fromer Band – 9:30pm – $5

Beckett’s Irish Pub – Blue Diamond Fillups (roots rock) – 10:00pm – no cover

Cafe Trieste – Sweet Talk Radio – 8:00pm – no cover – all ages

Cafe Van Kleef – Damon & the Heathens – 9:00pm – no cover – 21+

Dan’s Bar – Aaron Pearson’s Copy Cat Killers – 10:00pm

Eagles Hall Alameda – Andre Theirry & Zydeco Magic – 9:00pm – $15

Freight & Salvage – Jimmy Webb (blues, folk) – 8:00pm – $30.50/$31.50

Ghost Town Gallery -Unnatural Helpers, Uzi Rash, Hobocop, Western Hymn, Street Eaters (punk, indie, rock) – 9:00pm – all ages

Hazmat/Your House/Yer Casa – Under 15 Seconds, Cht, Black America, Outlaw Dance Society, Mykee Ramen (punk) – 8:00pm – all ages

Jupiter – The Way (blues, folk, rock) – 8:00pm – no cover

La Pena – Bill Santiago (comedy) – 8:00pm – $12/$14

Mama Buzz Cafe – Nocturne: An Evening of Electronica w/ Devin, Astral Force, and Ben Thompson – 7:00pm – no cover – all ages

New Parish – Goapele (sould, funk, r&b, hiphop) – 8:00pm – $22 – all ages

Goapele

Paramount Theatre – The Oakland East Bay Symphony: Season Finale-Ode to Joy – 8:00pm – $20/$65 – all ages

Pine Street Bar & Grill - Viceroy, Counter CLockwise, XRPM, Ston Kulture – 21+

Red Hat Sports Bar – Slave Unit (punk) – 9:00pm – $5 – 21+

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

Stork Club – Death Rock Dive Bar Presents: Protea, Black Bow w/ DJ’s Minna & Death Boy (death rock, goth, punk) – 9pm – $7 – 21+

Protea - photo by Ayda Meisami

Sugar Mountain – Acts of Sedition, Street Walkers, Grace Alley – 8:00pm – all ages

Uptown Nightclub – The Bitter Honeys, Aerosolss, Joel Robinow vs. Back Water, DJ Sean Sullivan (rock,dance) – 9:00pm – $8 – 21+

Yoshi’s -David Grisman Quintet w/ Mike Barnett – 8:00pm & 10:00pm – $30

TONIGHT: Thurs, May 13 – Show Listing

21 Grand – FIG (Nels Cline, Yuka Honda duo), L.Stinkbug (Nels Cline, GE Stinson, Steuart LIebig, Scott Amendola) Scott Amendola – 8:30 – all ages

Nels Cline

Ashkenaz – Dusu, Mamacrow, Sara Tone (World, Latin, Reggae, Folk) – 8:30pm – $8/$10 – all ages

Beckett’s Irish Pub – Roger Rocha & The Goldenhearts (Gypsy, Classical, Folk)  – 10:00pm – no cover

Blake’s on Telegraph – DJ Jays-One – no cover

Cafe Van Kleef – Dr. Mojo (Blues, Folk, Country) – 9:00pm – no cover – 21+

Dan’s Bar – Spazmatic’s (80′s Rock) – 10:00pm

Era Art Bar & Lounge – Pellejo Seco (World, Latin, Reggae) – 9:30pm – $10

Fox Theater – 30 Seconds to Mars, MuteMath, Neon Trees (Rock, Pop) – 7:30pm – $29.50 – all ages

Freight & Salvage – Charlie Hunter Trio (Blues, Folk) – 8:00pm – $24.50/$25.50 – all ages

Jupiter – DJ Delon, Subtext and Dave Aju (DJ/Dance) – 8:00pm – no cover

La Pena – A Benefit for View Finders: Irie924, Upwards Movement, Ajuanna Black – 8:00pm – $25/$30 – $10 w/valid student ID – all ages

Mama Buzz Cafe – Matt Ingalls, Monica Scott, Ken Ueno, Jacob Zimmerman (Experimental, Improv) – 7:00pm – no cover – all ages

New Parish – Goapole (Soul, Funk, R&B, HipHop, Jazz) – 7:00pm – $22

Shattuck Downlow – Aceleyone & Sunspot Jonz (HipHop, Soul, Funk, R&B) – 9:00pm – $10/$15

Starry Plough – Jonathan Richman (Rock, Indie) – 9:00pm – $15

Jonathan Richman

Stork Club – New Ghosts of Oldtown, Negative Trend & Ruleta Rusa – 9:00pm – 21+

Todos Santos Plaza in Concord – Native Elements Benefit for Haiti – FREE with encouraged donation to Doctors Without Borders – all ages

Uptown Nightclub – AudioWhore – DJ/Dance Night with DJ’s Jen Schande & Zola – 9:00pm – no cover – 21+

DJ Jen Schande

Yoshi’s – Chuchito Valdes (World, Latin, Reggae) – 8:00pm – $16 – all ages

Zellerbach Hall – Sonny Rollins (Jazz, Lounge) – 8:00pm – $34/$76 -  all ages