World Famous In San Francisco

So, I finally got around to posting some photos from MCMF. Yeah, they are kind of dark! But, my thumb isn't in most of them so I am way on top of my game with these!

I really wish I'd gotten some photos at all of the shows I went to, especially the Connie Fucking Francis/Wobbly/Total Annihilation/Fierce Antler show! This was a costumed extravaganza -- Total Anhilation dressed like it was halloween, fierce antler dressed for the gym, and the girl from CFF smears her eye shadow just right. No costumes for Wobbly though, his laptop is too academic for that!

Where are the rest of MCMF photos?

Also, is it just me or does flickr need a better way to post/share a set? Getting these up was annoying!

Hello Dear Readers! Awhile back we posted about Shameless in San Francisco. This is the concept, if you put us on your guestlist, we'll review your show and write about it on World Famous in SF! Well, we have been offered tickets to the Passionistas record release show as part of the Shameless in San Francisco campaign! We will write about every aspect of this show. You should check it out too! Say hi to us, we'll have clipboards and will be wearing glasses. We'll also be holding a microphone taping the show so we can compare our notes while listening to the Passionistas actual performance.

Here's the details!
Passionistas
Record Release
The Passionistas

June, 8 2007 at God's Boat record release with Special Guests @ Cafe Du Nord
2174 Market St., San Francisco, California 94114
Cost : Free if you are Shameless in San Francisco!

!!!****Special message from the Passionistas: "Our record God's Boat is coming out on New and Used Records. Really special guests. Sorry can't tell you yet."

We love Ashley. Her music and her voice are unbelievable.
http://www.laweekly.com/general/24-seven/dancing-in-tropical-snow/16466/

http://www.myspace.com/hardplace

Jeremy Smears is in love with this band right now. The Units were an early New Wave/Synthpunk band founded in San Francisco in 1978 and existing until 1984. Primary members were Scott Ryser and Rachel Webber.

http://www.myspace.com/warmmovingbodies

I really hate walking by this place everyday. Am I the only one?

mind bogglingly great:

HERE'S THE SUMMER AGENDA FOR LADY!!!

@KIMOS ON POLK ST.

JUNE 27 - STINKMITT!!! and ILL EASE!!

JULY 18 - TITS and THE JUDY EXPERIENCE (special guest DJ Secret Handshake aka Elton Tom!)

AUG 15 - FIERCE PERM and MON COUSIN BELGE

ADD LADY AS A FRIEND FOR MORE INFO

http://www.myspace.com/theladyparty
If you have a good band and you wanna play at Lady, you can contact them through their myspace page!

LOVE,

LADY M

What is up with boring music blogs? A quick search of the hype machine or elbo.ws reveals page after page of blogs talking about the exact same music that can be read about on pitchfork. Most of the time, and I know I'm out of step with the rest of the kids, I didn't care about it when I read it on pitchfork.

Here are two blogs out of SF which especially irk me:

www.stereoscope.fm -- why not just take this whole site down and put a link to pitchfork in its place?
www.indiebears.com -- the same could be said here, except these guys have the good sense to atleast inject their own personal stories into the mix. Hilariously, (unintentionally so?), the first thing these bears talk about is eating and the last thing they talk about is eating. Write what you know I guess...

Here's three blogs I like (one from SF, two from LA):

cobaininacoma.blogspot.com -- a radio show, music video mondays and entries about acts local to SF and LA make up for detailed reviews of the new LCD soundsystem record.
www.eggcityradio.com -- formally postpunkjunk. Apart from his prog fascination -- a cable access show, obscure album rips, themed semiweekly mixes. Fun!
www.donnalethal.com -- While this isn't really a music blog, ms. lethal is seriously funny and name checks Reid Paley, whom I don't really like but is a name I haven't heard since I left Pittsburgh.

wow, something to do in this ghost town!

this should be adequately retarded. see you there?

We never see any of you out at shows! Are you really that busy? Too shy to say hi? Or Life in the city has you so busy you forget when stuff is happening? Are we too wordy?

If you're forgetful, or don't like to read, our friend Lauren G can help you out! She's broadcasting (short) text messages full of show reminders and other timely news about the bands we're always talking about. She's got gig with this company called 80108.com and they call what she's doing a thumbcast. Isn't that cute and current and so tech savy? You thought you were hip reading a blog, but we'll show you yet!

Text SFANTIPOP to 80108 to get in on the fun.

A while ago mr. elton posted about a band we didn't love:

Excuses for Skipping (not to be confused with Kind Of Like Spitting) - there's some potential here, the drummer rules, but being an all dyke band isn't enough. Stop doing the Madonna cover now please and go practice some more.

Well, he's actually listened to the music on their myspace and liked it. O RLY? I'm still not sold, but if they do more songs that sound like early bangles then maybe! Keep trying ladies!

what can you say really, check it out!

http://www.myspace.com/deathsentencepanda

photo by Jim Newberry

Wow, thanks again to the Mission Creek Music Festival, in conjuction with Neil Martinson and SMILE! There's something to do in this town. One night only, from the Windy City! Chamber Strings. We can 't wait. Tonight Cafe du Nord! We hope it's not sold out. Also appearing, Persephonee's Bees and the Dilettantes. Ohhh! There's some history there. (Keep Mike Farrell and Kevin Junior apart from one another!)

http://www.myspace.com/thechamberstrings

Jeff Ray, what a maroon! Look what he posted on the SF Indie list!

Vincent Gallo's Backline

I need two fender showman's w/ 15" speaker cabs
you get in free.
This is for tomorrow show.
Take Care,
Jeff Ray
www.mcmf.org
(415)517-XXXX

Jeff, I've got news for you. They cost money and you can rent them here http://www.sirsf.com/Guitaramps.html...(but if anybody does have these rare and expensive amplifiers and you do lend them to Jeff/Vincent please write us and let us know, we will want to ask you how the free show was!) I have to say, it's almost kind of sweet that you'd think the humourless shrills at the SF indie list (not everyone, you know who you are!) would do anything other than self promote, list their Friday Five, and last but not least wreak psychological warfare and actually lend a visiting musician gear. The festival must be taking it's toll.

http://www.sirsf.com/Guitaramps.html
xoxo,
Elton Tom
World Famous in SF

http://www.myspace.com/totallyradd

Just a big thank you to our readers. We can't believe that in such a short time we've made some new friends through this blog. Thanks to everyone who's posted comments and written us with gossip and tips about good bands to check out.

Some of the feedback we've been getting has been pretty interesting, overall it seems like everyone thinks we need to be meaner, really go for the jugular when critiquing bands. We hear you and we'd like to say that we possess the ability to be really mean but we can't do it just for the sake of being mean, we really have to hate the band in question and believe you me we'll let it fly.

Yes, it's true. This blog was started out of spite. We were sick of sitting through the horribly long and boring Society of Rockets shows while either waiting to play or waiting for our friends to play, but hey, they are nice people, their studio recordings are pretty good, so we do not HATE them, we just really felt the need to tell them their set is too long and they need to tune so we started this blog.

Why do people do this? Why would anyone in their right mind start a band? It leads to this: paying for a practice space, gas $$$$ on the road, bad food on the road, hemorrhoids, std's, bitchy practices, crazy bandmates (i mean really crazy, need counseling now or rehab! ), crticism from guys like me, hauling heavy equipment around, dealing with sketchy promoters, small crowds, myspace spam, skipping dinner for practice, band drama, drug abuse, and worse the crazies on the SF Indie list. I really question why we do it.

It's because of the good times, the friends we make and the music we genuinely love. So again thanks to our readers. We love you,

A big thanks to Donna Lethal for adding us as a link on her awesome site.

http://www.donnalethal.com

have a great weekend and let us know about good shows we should check out.

Which SF festival has consistently scheduled shows at the LAB without telling the bands that rehearse below the venue that they need to cancel practice so they do not disrupt the performance. The "promoter" waits until the event is taking place, then send his lackeys (volunteers?) to quiet the rehearsals. This "promoter" has the bands e-mails, knows them on a first name basis, has their myspace info but for the past three years has refused to contact them in advance and ask them not to practice. Guess he doesn't realize that practice spaces cost money.

Which much loved keyboardist, who left both SF and his popular band for the L.A. life was famous in college for plugging his toilet? Seems it was a common occurrence. Worth mentioning in a gossip column? Maybe not, but from what we hear he wasn't good with a plunger to boot!

Which bassist for a L.A./S.F. based band has a serious crack problem? See the photo above as proof.

Tonight is the greatest club night in SF. Yes tonight you can catch the Clap!
read all about it at:

http://www.myspace.com/catchtheclapsf

One of San Francisco's newest and most enjoyable bands has been exposed! They want you to believe that they are young twenty somethings who have just begun to master their craft, however we here at World Famous In San Francisco have discovered the truth and are prepared to expose the Passionistas for what they really are!

The Passionistas aren't the fresh faced nubiles they'd like you to believe, in reality they are the Australian Band Air Supply. Study the two photos presented here as proof and let us know how you feel about their deception in the comments section below.

The mission creek calendar is (finally) up. Or, I guess it has been for a bit now. Whats this sonic living buisness anyway, and how is this molly chick going to every mission creek show? She's talented!

Speaking of going to shows, who's going to what?? I'm going to these this weekend:
Axolotl, The Deletist, Sheila Bosco, Lady Neigh
Fierce Antler, Total Annihilation, The Freddy McGuire Show, Connie Fucking Francis
Captain Ahab, Casy and Brian, Strength, Hard Place, Bizzart

A word of warning bands: I'm bringing my camera so you'd better look hot!

Elton Tom loves this blog, he kinda thinks its better than ours! It probably is, but keep reading ours anyway, we like our taste in music better.

Bookworms, Oaxacan, Triangle, and White Tigers (So So Many White? I dunno!).

We were there. (Some of) The Passionistas were there. Cobain in a coma was there (by default, but it counts). Were you there? More to come, but fyi The Mission Creek Music Festival is in full swing ladies.

What do you mean you have to work in the morning?

Hey kids, check out the hijinx over at cobain in a coma. Super fun!



Photo by matt irwin for dazed&confused.

Which female co-front person of a popular local band, who likes to wear extremely skimpy outfits while performing, used to be quite the chub when younger? Perhaps this explains the exhibitionism.

Which critically acclaimed local band recently had two members quit via e-mail? When one quitter had second thoughts and wanted back in, remaining members said no way. Seems the music was good but the drama bad.

Which 90's San Francisco band was approached by a well known festival to reform for this years May festivities. Seems everyone was into it, with some even agreeing to fly in from as far New York and Chicago, that is until the bands former guitarist poo-poo'd the idea. Maybe he doesn't like living in the past, (at various times he was romantically involved with not one but two gorgeous female members) or maybe he can only handle playing the festival with his latest project?

Yes, it's Apache! They rock and they're super fun. Check out their tunes on Myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/apache

We braved the rain on Thursday and went to tubesteak, it was fun. Super fun even! There were many wonderous things:

• DJ Bus Station John did his thing
  
• a sixty seven year old man showed up and showed all those kids how to dance; then he hit on us!
  
• the dance floor was packed -- we don't see that enough.
  
• mass exodus from the dance floor -- maybe it was only a rumour that the guy in the corner had coke. (ok, i made that up)
  

Anyway, we had a blast but didn't see any of you there. Whats up with that?

Also, if you didn't know, busstation john's apartment building recently burned. There's a benefit tonight at the transfer. Only five bucks, help a dj out!

Happy Friday, Emile from Mon Cousin Belge make you presents!

'Cause we're going! What did all of you do this Thursday?

Hey all you san francisco bands! Blogs are totally the way to get famous these days, didn't you know? You need to be on as many as possible and we're going to make it as easy as possible to get on ours. Put us on your guest list and Jeremy Smears, Elton Tom or our friend Dominic, the handsome gentleman pictured above, will come to your show and write about it here, on worldfamousinssf!!! We'll come even if we don't like your band and we won't heckle you any more than we would our own friend's bands!

So come on, email us!

Ashley Huizenga, keyboardist and vocalist of the L.A./S.F. band Hard Place. Vice Magazine pretty much describes her complete opposite. They got one thing right. The girl is definitely a do!

It's that time of year again. Wow the 11th Annual Mission Creek Music Festival. We're impressed, 11 years old, that's almost legal!

San Francisco needs this festival, we've been scouring the listings as of late and it's been pretty grim.

Have no fear, the MCMF is here!

We're excited about the following:

White Tigers (yay!)
Ariel Pink
Wealthy Whore Entertainment
Hard Place
Strength (yay!)
Fuckwolf (word on the street is that they are over exposed but we love them!)
Fierce Antler
Connie Fucking Francis
Borts Minorts
The Chamber Strings (yay!)
DMBQ
Vincent Gallo

The fest is in need of volunteers
Especially ones to work the shows....
Email Jeff Ray if interested...
http://www.mcmf.org

Scoff if you must but if you really think LONG AND HARD about it, it's easy to surmise that Smokey the Bear is gay.

Here are the facts:

He hangs out in the bushes

He's totally on fire

and he's big and burly, next to Dan Blocker he's the penultimate bear.

All kidding aside, Smokey was voiced by character actor Roger C. Carmel, most famous for his role as Harry Mudd on the original Star Trek TV series. In Hollwood, it was no secret Roger was gay. Rumours of his cocaine fueled parties with various L.A. rent boys abound. Roger died in 1986 of a heart attack due to an enlarged heart. I'm sure the bolivian marching powder aka booger sugar did not help. So where is this all going? Coke has made a huge comeback on the scene and we here at World Famous in SF do not like it one bit! Let's face it, people on coke have absolutely no sense of humor. R.I.P. Roger, the world lost one hell of a mustache. Special thanks to fellow native Detroiter Scott Matthews and his mind numbingly entertaining website findadeath.com for the dirt on Roger, Smokey and Hoss!

http://www.findadeath.com