Apparently Bazaar Cafe has a lot of people who really care that it stays open and I for one, am extremely thankful for that. The main host and someone intimately involved with Bazaar, Robin Galante posted that they reached their goal of $7000 in one day and the doors will remain open come January 2nd! Hooray! I will surely be attending more shows there this year as I can and of course the open mics as often as my schedule allows. It’s truly amazing to see so many people come together so quickly to save a massively important part of the local music scene that really defines part of what makes the local vibe what it is. Thanks to everyone and please continue to support local music by visiting local open mics and original performances where you can – it’s genuinely one cool way to support your local economy and your local artists.
News
This is the main area where you’ll find anything new as I’m kind of vague with the tags!
Help Save Bazaar Cafe!
Bazaar Cafe is fondly my favorite place to play open mic and hang out in general in the city of San Francisco. I’ve been going there on and off for over a year now and I consider it to be a foundational and fundamental part of the local music scene for new and the up and coming artists from anywhere. I’ve seen people from all over the world stop in and I’ve met some incredible and inspiring artists and people in general while attending open mic or other performances. Right now, Bazaar is in financial trouble and they need some help to stay open and I’m posting this in support of them and asking that if you appreciate Bazaar, or Les, or just local original performers and artists then this is something of value you can help save.
Ix – an original isntrumental dedicated to my eldest cat.
A newer recording of one of my instrumentals.
Featured Performer: Feb 7th 2012 @ Red Devil Lounge 9PM
I’m moving up in the world! Well, not much, but getting to be a featured performer at KC’s open mic at Red Devil Lounge is awesome to say the least. I’m extremely excited to perform and share more than just 2 songs at once and get to play out with Brian Correia on drums. This should be an interesting feature for us as we haven’t played outside a few small house parties at my place – it’s our first real gig!
We go on at 9PM and get to play for 30 minutes so come out and support us please!
Brent
Too many shows lately!
I know that seems like a good problem but I seriously have been seeing a lot of live music and I’m good for it. Old bands I love when I was young and some I never really listened to but knew and went to see them just because! I think still out of the whole year so far – Soundgarden and A Perfect Circle take the cake for best overall shows, however Blues Traveler utterly kicked a huge pile of ass and I was happy to see them even though they did a 2 night bit and I just went the first.
Birthday Gig @ Bazaar Cafe 5927 California St. September 10th 7PM
I’m turning 40 and having my first solo show at Bazaar Cafe!
7PM-9:30PM September 10th.
I’m really quite excited and hope a lot of people show up. I’m going to break out a lot of music and a few songs that I haven’t played outside the walls of my apartment, so whether you like it or not, you’re sure to hear music you’ve never heard before. Come by and have some wine or a beer or some coffee or tea; have a snack and listen to live original music in one of the coolest cafes in the bay area.
Hope to see you there!
Brent
Indian village renames itself for company in show of gratitude.
I admire people like this – this guy came to the US to study on a visa and after it expired, he returned to India and started a company. His company has been successful and after a water-cooler conversation with a co-worker, he decided to help a small village by installing 15 hand water pumps so they didn’t have to trek long distances to collect unclean water.
Clean water is the most important resource in the world yet we ignore it and do not appreciate it. Diarrhea sadly is a leading killer in poor under-developed countries and that typically comes from parasites and pathogens in the water – providing clean water can cause amazing changes in areas where previously they have had little ways to produce it.
I admire people like this and it just goes to show a new class of people who don’t care about material items as much and prefer to help their fellow man out. We should all learn from this – if we all learn to help each other, wouldn’t it make the world a better place? Can anyone pose an honest and logical argument against helping people? Sure there limits to what you can do before people become dependent and we do not want to create a welfare situation but some things can be provided and hopefully the people will be left with the impression that someone helped them and they should want to help others. I hope it starts to spread like a plague.
My hat is off to you, Kunal Bahl – keep up the awesome work.
Brent
Back to Open Mics?
I’m planning to start back with the open mic stuff again. I enjoy going out more to meet the other musicians and hear what they do than to perform, but I can’t say that’s not something I don’t enjoy. We’re so fortunate to have such a vibrant and active open mic community here in San Francisco and I’ve met and heard some amazing people. I’ve been in the woodshed so to say – honing my old material and writing some now as well as taking some voice lessons aside an aggressive guitar practice schedule.
I’m a lot better than I was 4 months ago and having met a drummer really changed the game for me. I love having other people to jam with and a drummer is the first choice – now I just need a bassist/guitarist. I’d be willing to join another songwriter who can and is willing to play bass on my songs in trade for the same. I have basses and amps and everything we need including a practice space in my apartment with small limitations.
If you’re a songwriter/guitarist/bassist – talk to me! I’ll also gladly accept a straight out bass player as well – I’m not playing favorites!
First House Concert: Update
The official date for the show is:
Saturday, May 07, 2011 from 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM (PT)
Please make sure to obtain a ticket through Eventbrite, please. If you don’t have a ticket, then that’s ok since it’s a free show, however there’s only enough room for a certain number of people so I need to be precise.
Thanks!
Social Links
I have been far out of the loop on what’s popular and how to hook it all together in the social media realm. I’m going to figure out how to get the more common links up and some more items to allow better interaction with me and my social presence. Facebook, Myspace, etc… Coming Soon!
Brent Andrew Shinn 