The event takes place Saturday, July 17, 2010, from 7:00-10:00 pm.
"The journey starts with The Beatles in Hamburg and travels to their stroll across Abbey Road. Moving west, Bay Area bands and San Francisco's blossoming counterculture are chronicled, before showing the shattering emergence of the Punks and the spectacle of oddity provided by Glam."
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I'm heading out to my first SFAE show. Very excited.
I've been following the goings-ons of San Francisco Art Exchange for many years. I've been on their mailing list at least 5 years. I've covetted the openings and exhibitions. And once, flush during a lucrative gig in 2008, nearly flew to SF for a very special opening of the Domique Tarlé collection from the Stones at Nellcôte,
Among many other treats that I knew would lie in store, proximity to SFAE was a special attractant for me to this city.
So that night, exhausted from the week and almost bagging, I got a text from a 617 area code saying "hey my new band's playing tonight in the mission - revolution cafe 20th and Guerrero - come down." I didn't know who it was, but now I had 2 destinations--involving bands and art--so there was no refusing this night out.
SFAE was a really special time, and as I had hoped from afar. It is indeed a very special place. There were probably 200 people total there, ranging in age from a smattering of very hip late teens, to handfuls in their 20s, to people in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and even older. And what they all had in common was being very cool, and nice. It was a great gathering, somehow both low-key and energetic, with people in general good spirits.
It was exciting to see Stones, Dylan, and Beatles photos I'd never seen before--or had seen only in books or on a laptop screen--by famous photographers. I don't have a shot of it but an outtake of Between the Buttons album cover where Mick's eyeballs are completely pinned! A bunch of us stood there speculating what drugs they were on - it was literally the first time I had been with a group of strangers especially of all ages (that wasn't a concert) speaking knowledgeably about rock n roll, sharing stories, gossip (several people there said with assurance the Stones have all but set the format for the shows next year--only a few places in the US for extended engagements. NYC, Vegas, maybe one other place). Great people. Tales of meeting and hanging with Bill and Charlie, a lighting designer who was at one of their shoots, etc, many stories, much laughter.
I felt self-conscious taking pictures of these photographs. Also, most were surrounded by people, but I will be going back again. Here is me with Keith (looking very ruddy). I did not intend to pick a matching outfit!
Had a fantastic conversation with a couple, Sue and Mike, who happen to live in the exact neighborhood I hope to someday (we'll be neighbors!), who love music (Mike is a bassist) and collect art. We jived right away. I told them about the mysterious text about the band. They knew the Revolution Cafe very well and were game to give me a ride over and perhaps join me.
But first we walked over steepy steep hill over steepy steep dale to their car, and since we were within a stone's throw of a famous San Francisco landmark grande olde hotel, we scooted in there and Sue and Mike told me its history. I regretably can't remember its name, but I do know many famous touring musicians have stayed there :)
Mike gives a guided tour all the way thru the city, which was fab and fun. They told me about the massage places you can go with old fashioned "oriental baths" (not grimy bathhouses - there are only 2 decent ones left; the others are cesspools of vice and virus). Kinda scary to hear about. San Francisco does have its well-defined entrenched sketch element. I don't mind. But also not intrigued. They told me many tales of SF history. Pointed out dives and juke joints and blues rooms of yesterday and today.
I adored Revolution Cafe. The mysterious texter was the awesome lovable Altay Guvench from Maine! One birthday I ended up playing trivia and having dinner with him, John McGrath, and Tim Spalding at Ri-Ra in Portland. He's a lovely guy--super funny, smart, fine musician I'm sure tho we missed his band! But we caught 2 other sort of projects that were all friends. Altay left revolution to go to a party, and kindly invited us along, but I was tired after my long evening--still a little shy from not going out very much--and demurred for another time. Sue, Mike, and I stayed a while longer having great chats...
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