Reuben Wu, photographer, visual artist, music producer, co-founder of the band Ladytron and long time Avantgarde collaborator is opening his latest photo exhibition at Lot 21 Thursday, May 22 6:00pm - 9:00pm. The show featuring his amazing landscape photography will run through June 25. You can get more information about opening night on Facebook. Come join us.

Continue reading "Reuben Wu: Infinite Sustain Shows at Lot 21" »

Posted by Marcus at 9:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Twelve years and going strong, St Crispin Day is coming near and it's time for you to go out and procure your shoes for the festivities and prepare for a fun night. We are looking forward to celebrating with all of you, fancy shoes, good food, lots of drinks and all.

Last year we went back to Nihon Whiskey Bar on Folsom at 14th St, and now I remember why we went there in the first place, its amazing. Their collection of over 400 malt whiskeys is the largest on the West Coast and they serve contemporary Japanese cuisine with a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese Izakaya (Japanese version of tapas). The cuisine also offers a wide array of fresh sashimi and sushi rolls.

Come hungry and thirsty and of course adorned with amazing shoes!

Hope you can come and celebrate with all of us.

Date:
October 26th, 2012, 7:30pm

Location:
Nihon Whiskey Lounge

Address:
1779 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA (map)

RSVP on Facebook

What is this all about?

Shoe making has a long history and one that is rich in tradition. Within the trade itself – among shoe and bootmakers – the legends, the traditions, and the history really begin with St. Crispin. St. Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers. Since medieval times, October 25th has been celebrated as St. Crispin's Day and the Shoemaker's Holiday. In the past, boot and shoemakers traditionally closed their shops on this day, in celebration and commemoration. Read more

While you are at it, like the St. Crispin's Day Page

Posted by Marcus at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is the latest video from Bread & Gin, a celebration of the Negroni.

Negroni

While the drink's origins are unknown, the most widely reported account is that it was invented in Florence, Italy in 1919, at Caffè Casoni, ex Caffè Giacosa, now called Caffè Cavalli. Count Camillo Negroni invented it by asking the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water. The bartender also added an orange garnish rather than the typical lemon garnish of the Americano to signify that it was a different drink. - Wikipedia: Negroni

Posted by Marcus at 4:34 PM | Permalink

The middle of October already and I am just putting together the finishing touches on this year's St. Crispin's Day shoe party. It's time for you to go out and purchase your shoes for the festivities and prepare for a fun night. We are looking forward to celebrating with all of you, fancy shoes, good food, lots of drinks and all.

We are moving the party back to the Nihon Whiskey Bar on Folsom at 14th St. Their collection of over 400 malt whiskeys is the largest on the West Coast and they serve contemporary Japanese cuisine with a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese Izakaya (Japanese version of tapas). The cuisine also offers a wide array of fresh sashimi and sushi rolls.

Hope you can come and celebrate with all of us.

Date:
October 21th, 2011, 7:30pm

Location:
Nihon Whiskey Lounge

Address:
1779 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA (map)

RSVP on Facebook

What is this all about?

Shoe making has a long history and one that is rich in tradition. Within the trade itself – among shoe and bootmakers – the legends, the traditions, and the history really begin with St. Crispin. St. Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers. Since medieval times, October 25th has been celebrated as St. Crispin's Day and the Shoemaker's Holiday. In the past, boot and shoemakers traditionally closed their shops on this day, in celebration and commemoration. Read more

While you are at it, like the St. Crispin's Day Page

Posted by Marcus at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Riding a 300 mile (500 km) unsupported ride through Italy requires some planning. Beyond route planning and hotel reservations figuring out how to bring just enough stuff with you on a road bike to get by for 4 days isn't the easiest task. Racks and panniers are out of the question as the my 85 Colnago doesn't have rack mounts and the aesthetics just don't cut it. So I have been looking at packs.

Cycling packs are mostly designed for commuting and not long distance riding. What I need is a bag that isn't too big but will allow me to carry what I need for a few days (1 pair shorts, 4 t-shirts, 4 pairs underwear, light shoes, 1 extra pair of cycling shorts, 4 pairs cycling socks, 2 jerseys, arm warmers, leg warmers, shell, Garmin and iPhone charger, paper map of Italy, some snacks and a dopp kit). It should have an aerodynamic shape, allow for strap adjustment so I can get down off of my neck, and fit closely on my back. It should have some form of waist belt so it doesn't bounce around but not too tight so it keeps me from breathing.

Incase Messenger Backpack

A design collaboration between Incase and the guys at MASH. This bag is beautifully designed with the commuter in mind. It has a faux fur lined computer compartment, spacious but probably too big main interior compartment and comfortable straps. The material is nice and smooth and gives a good aerodynamic feel. But, it doesn't have a waist belt and the shoulder straps do not allow for adjustment so the bag will rest low on your shoulders and away from your neck. I would pick it if I was commuting to work but not for a long ride. Its the perfect fixie cyclist bag

Price: $149.95

Construction: Unspecified Nylon Construction

Size and weight: 42L, weight unspecified

Holds up to a 17in MacBook Pro

Further details at Incase

Mission Workshop The Rambler Roll Top Backpack

This bag is a nice compromise between a large bag and a compact tactical pack. It starts of small and expands to double its size with out a increase in weight. The shoulder straps are comfortable and adjust for a low profile position on the shoulders. The bag is shorter and wider than the TAD FAST Pack but the materials are smooth and give off a nice aerodynamic finish. Feel like a backpack but optimized for the cyclist. You wouldn't expect anything less from these former Chrome guys.

Price: $239

Construction: Unspecified Nylon Construction

Size and Weight: 22L expands to 44L, 3.7lbs (1.67kg)

Optional Waist Belt available for $30

Further details at Mission Workshop

Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed

This bag feels like a bullet on your back. Although it is made from rough Cordura nylon, the slim shape and small size fits perfectly on your back. The shoulder straps keep it low on your shoulders and it comes a waist belts that helps keep it stable and transfers weight off of your shoulders. Big plus is that it also come with a water bladder compartment so it serves as a hydration unit as well as storage. This is the kind of bag a Navy Seal would carry on long bike ride. Triple Aught Design has been known for their urban tactical gear but this pack makes the cross-over. I would like to see made out of ripstop sail cloth for a more bike friendly aerodynamic feel but with its lower weight and smaller size I think that this is bag for me.

Price: $239

Construction: 1000 Denier DuPont Cordura

Size and Weight: 21.30L, 3.5lbs (1.58kg)

Further info at Triple Aught Design

Posted by Marcus at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So my planning for L'Eroica 2011 begins. L'Eroica is a 205 km ride through the Tuscan country side on Vintage bikes on asphalt and "Strade Bianchi", packed clay and gravel roads. I found a 1985 Colnago Master through A Bicycle Odyssey and Tony has been helping me size it and get it ready for the trip. Outfitted with Vittoria Pave's, new toe clips and 1976 Classic - Vittoria Shoes.

This jaunt in Chianti is only the start of the trip. I am planning a 400 - 450 km tour from Gaiole in Chianti through Liguria, Emilia-Romagna ending in Milano. Destinations are still in planning but hopefully I can work this all out soon. More to come.

Posted by Marcus at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

KCRW announced for their World Festival concert series that Yellow Magic Orchestra will perform at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26, 2011. This is the first LA appearance since 1979. They will be perfoming with Cibo Matto and Towa Tei.

Continue reading "YMO: Hollywood Bowl June 25" »

Posted by Marcus at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Its time again for St. Crispin's Day. Time to party with our friends and our coolest sexiest pair of shoes. New pictures, stories and participants are on their way so stay tuned. In the meantime, RSVP at Facebook.

Thanks to Orson for hosting the event again this year. www.orsonsf.com

Date:
October 24th, 2008, 8pm

Location:
Orson

Address:
508 4th St.
San Francisco, CA (map)

RSVP to Facebook

What is this all about?

Shoe making has a long history and one that is rich in tradition. Within the trade itself – among shoe and bootmakers – the legends, the traditions, and the history really begin with St. Crispin. St. Crispin is the patron saint of shoemakers. Since medieval times, October 25th has been celebrated as St. Crispin's Day and the Shoemaker's Holiday. In the past, boot and shoemakers traditionally closed their shops on this day, in celebration and commemoration.

Posted by Marcus at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Though they're one of the most important groups in the history of industrial and electronic music, Cabaret Voltaire are sometimes forgotten in the style's timeline -- perhaps because they continued recording long after other luminaries (Throbbing Gristle, Suicide, Chrome) called it quits. Also related to the fact is that CV rarely stayed in one place for long, instead moving quickly from free-form experimentalism through arty white-boy funk and on to house music in the late '80s and electronica the following decade. The band, formed by guitarist Richard H. Kirk, bassist Stephen Mallinder and tape manipulator Chris Watson, were influenced by the Dadaist movement (whence came their name) and as such, came closer to performance art than music during many of their early performances. After several years of recording with no contract, the group signed to the newly formed Rough Trade label in 1978 and began releasing records that alternated punk-influenced chargers with more experimental pieces incorporating tape loops and sampled effects.

Following Watson's departure, the remaining duo inaugurated a new contract with Some Bizzare/Virgin in 1983 by shifting their sound, away from raging industro-funk and towards a more danceable form. The singles "Sensoria" and "James Brown" hit the indie charts during 1984, and Cabaret Voltaire moved to EMI/Parlophone in 1986 for The Code. Two years later, the band traveled to Chicago to record Groovy, Laidback & Nasty with Marshall Jefferson, one of the mavericks in the new house sound blowing up in the British charts. After another break of several years, the new-electronica label Instinct released a trio of CV LPs during 1993-94, after which the band's future appeared cloudy. Kirk continued his solo career (recording as Electronic Eye, Sandoz and himself) while Mallinder moved to Australia.

— John Bush, allmusic

Posted by Marcus at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A product of the same mid-'70s Sheffield industrial music community which also gave rise to Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA emerged in 1980 from the ashes of area bands including the Studs, Block Opposite, Veer and They Must Be Russians as well as the Future, an early incarnation of the Human League. After a series of shifting lineups, a roster comprised of vocalist Adi Newton, bassist Steven Taylor, guitarist Paul Widger, saxophonist Charlie Collins and drummer Roger Quail recorded Clock DVA's debut White Souls in Black Suits, a cassette-only, improvisational release fusing metallic noise with funk and soul designs which was issued on Throbbing Gristle's Industrial label.

In 1981, the group issued Thirst, which abandoned R&B accoutrements in favor of edgy, abrasive electronic noise. Following its release, all of Clock DVA except Newton defected to form Box; after assembling a new lineup of saxophonist Paul Browse, future Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John Carruthers, bassist Dean Dennis and drummer Nick Sanderson, Newton wrangled a major-label deal with Polydor, and Clock DVA soon resurfaced with 1983's Advantage, an intense montage of dance beats, piercing feedback and jarring tape manipulations. However, Carruthers and Sanderson both exited following the LP's release; after a brief attempt to forge on as a trio, Clock DVA disbanded in late 1983.

Newton subsequently turned his focus to the Anti Group, an industrial jazz and visual arts project created in tandem with engineer Robert Baker; after a series of singles, he reformed Clock DVA in 1988 with Browse and Dennis, releasing the sample-fueled 1988 EPs The Hacker and The Act, as well as 1990's full-length Buried Dreams, on the Wax/Trax label. By 1991's Transitional Voices, Newton's Anti Group partner Baker had replaced Browse; Dennis departed soon after, leaving the remaining duo to record a staggeringly prolific amount of material including 1992's Man-Amplified, 1993's Sign, Black Words on White Paper and Virtual Reality Handbook, 1994's 150 Erotic Calibrations and 1995's Anterior.

— Jason Ankeny, allmusic

Posted by Marcus at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)