Mission Mission

Sure, I can get my karaoke kicks elsewhere. And KJ Paul will find a new home for his KJ-ing. But there was something truly special about Wednesday nights at El Rio with KJ Paul. He brought every type of person into one room mid-week to belt their hearts out. There were no barriers, no stage – just a space and a microphone and everyone crowded around you.

I didn’t do karaoke before I found KJ Paul. I thought it was stupid. I thought it was scary. Then one night in 2011 I found myself in El Rio with a bunch of new friends, and I found a new confidence along with a home where we would all come together every week and not give a shit. There were also always the fixtures, who I think of as KJ Paul All-Stars. These people are pictured below and are just a few of the characters that made this night so special, whether it was with their impressive chops, their erratic dance moves, or just their natural charisma. El Rio on Wednesdays was a community of friends and strangers who all found their happy place singing along with KJ Paul, and it will be missed by many.

I got tipped off to see John Moreland last night at Thee Parkside by a friend who saw him at Stagecoach last weekend. My friend had to see him again. I’m glad I came along. His powerful and beautifully poetic lyrics melted out of him. Watching John Moreland was mesmerizing. He sang of his truths and sadness and Tulsa, OK, and of a home he no longer called home. An exciting discovery, and hopefully a musician who will continue to glow in the limelight he deserves (but doesn’t seem to want or care about). Listen to his whole new album, High on Tulsa Heat, and hear it for yourself.

[Photo by Michelle Crosby]

Timbuk2 have been pumping bags out of their Mission factory for 25 years, and tomorrow night they officially open their Factory Store to the public, on the corner of Shotwell and 20th Street. The free party starts at 6pm and features fine entertainment like a Skeeball Tournament (from Joey The Cat), a live Polka cover band called Polkalicious, local beer, drunk factory tours, raffles, discounted stuff and way more!

While this is a free event you do need to RSVP on facebook to get in, so go to the event page to do that.

Tonight at Brick and Mortar check out their monthly FREE party Wood Shoppe featuring three pretty cool Bay Area punk bands Culture Abuse, Scraper, and Never Young!

Sneaking peeks into The Shop Barbershop from inside Dirty Pigeon Clothing, at the corner of Potrero and 24th. They have been around since 2013, but I finally made my way in to see their well-designed hoodies, shirts, starter jackets and hats with cool pigeons on them.  Mission Local did a brief interview with shop owner Ron Perez, which you can check out here for more info on/photos of the shop. Or just go and visit the shop for yourself.

Tomorrow night is Wood Shoppe SF‘s 3 Year Anniversary show at Brick and Mortar! Wood Shoppe SF is a free music series held on the first Tuesday of every month, that seems to continuously be presenting the next best thing in music. Tomorrow night’s show follows in that pattern, featuring the smooth, electro-soul sounds of Astronauts, Etc, the SF debut of 90s-R&B-influenced indie-soul artist Caroline Smith, “romantic funk” with Harriet Brown, plus a DJ set by Trails and Ways. Should be a very fun night of FREE music!

Formerly the pop-up eatery within Sugarlump on 24th St, Sous Beurre Kitchen will be opening its own doors to the public this Thursday, Feb 5th. The brand new space, located at 2704 24th St, near Potrero Ave, will serve Southern French cuisine with main dishes like Dungeness Crab Bouillabaisse, Confit Pheasant Leg and Bavette Steak. The á-la-carte menu price point will be between $8-$26 according to the owner, but this may vary depending on the seasonal menu. There will also be a prix-fixe tasting menu available.

When I asked if they’ll be bringing back the popular $1 oyster Wednesdays with $4 sparkling wine like they had at Sugarlump, the answer was a potentially optimistic “maybe.” But let’s not get our hopes up just yet.

Sous Beurre Kitchen will be open for dinner Mondays-Saturdays.

[photo via SBK's facebook]

So much for sparing the air… This fire has been raging at the Sketcher’s building at the corner of Mission & 22nd street since about 6:30pm, and it’s now close to 8pm and seems to only be getting larger.

[via ABC7news]

UPDATE:

The fire appears to be centered on the building on the Northwest corner of 22nd and Mission, which houses Popeye’s.  The Sketchers building seems to be safe at the moment, thanks to the efforts of the SFFD.

UPDATE:

SF Gate reports that 6 people have been injured and that 1 person has been killed.  Besides Popeye’s, the building was also a residence for dozens of families.  The SFFD was able to rescue several people trapped there, but the fire is still raging at this time as they continue to work to contain it.

I hadn’t been out to El Rio for KJ Paul Karaoke in a few months, so when I went last night my mind was blown. KJ Paul has seriously upped his game by adding in multiple wild disco lights and a fog machine, which makes singing feel way cooler than it already is. And if you’re nice to him he may even give you the remote to blast the fog freely. So fun.

Last night I had the privilege to catch Angel Olsen‘s sold out solo show at The Chapel. I have been following her music for a while, and while her most recent album Burn Your Fire For No Witness leans more towards being a rock album with a full band (and it’s really good), her slower acoustic songs have always been my favorite, and this concert was solely those songs and possibly solo versions of new songs, too. The most enchanting part of Angel Olsen’s music is her shockingly booming and haunting voice, and you get to hear it in its full glory when it’s just her and her guitar. She sat there quite still, strumming and singing, and these explosive waves of song would sneak out of her. Props to the Chapel also for creating the beautiful, magical lighting that went with the music so perfectly. A lovely, rainy Tuesday night…