Celebrate, relive and/or discover some highlights from the year's instores at all three Amoebas along with us right here!
Amoeba BERKELEY!
EXENE CERVENKA
The Legendary X front-woman Exene Cervenka played a captivating set of her folky solo material at Amoeba Berkeley for an adoring crowd of old and young punks alike. After performing, she signed records and chatted with the giddy fans. View more photos here.
THE MAE SHI
Los Angeles spaz-punks The Mae Shi completely wigged out on the Berkeley stage. Passing a full-sized parachute over the whole stage and crowd in the Jazz room, the band climbed on our CD racks and ran into the aisles while performing songs off their latest album, Hlllyh. View more photos here.
JAY REATARD
To celebrate his new album, Jay and his band embarked on a whistle-stop tour of West Coast indie record stores and played at all three Amoeba stores along his way! View photos from the Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood shows here.
Amoeba SAN FRANCISCO!
ELVIS COSTELLO
One Day – Two Amoebas! Celebrating his new CD, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, Elvis rocked Amoeba San Francisco with a noon show, then brought the band to Amoeba Hollywood for an evening show and signing for the fans before he disappeared into the night…Watch the video, with performance and interview footage, here.
DURAN DURAN - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Simon Le Bon and John Taylor!!! At Amoeba San Francisco!!! Talking about music and movies!!! Totally. Awesome. Watch video here.
BARRY ZITO - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
It’s not all rock stars at Amoeba. Cy Young Award winner and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher (and singer and guitarist) Barry Zito came through to talk about perfecting his jazz collection and why System of a Down gets him revved up before a game. Watch video here.
VIVIAN GIRLS - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Brooklyn’s all-girl garage band played a kick-ass set at Amoeba San Francisco. Then Cassie, Katy, and Ali went digging for LPs and 7”s and found some new (and old) treasures…Watch video here.
STEVE EARLE
After years of almost-instores, missed timing and close calls, we were extremely happy to welcome Steve Earle for shows at Amoeba San Francisco AND Hollywood! Joe Goldmark from SF sat down with Steve to discuss his friend Townes Van Zandt, his new album, and his storied career. Watch video here.
Amoeba HOLLYWOOD!
GOSSIP
Gossip visited the Hollywood store and JUST as they were about to do their sound check, the power in the store (and for blocks around) went out due to high winds. Rather than let it dampen the mood, Beth Ditto (using our intercom/phone system as her mic) told the assembled crowd of fans a ghost story and the band ended up playing an acoustic version of “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by the light of a couple lanterns and flashlights. Hands-down the most intimate, mood-lit, DIY in-store we've ever hosted. View more photos here.
OS MUTANTES
Tropicalia legends Os Mutantes performed a masterful and booty-shaking set from their new album while working in songs from their groundbreaking original album. After their show Amoeba sat down with founder and singer Sergio and ended up talking about music, UFOs and the California desert. Watch video here.
AMANDA BLANK & SPANK ROCK - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Rapper and singer Amanda Blank was joined on stage by surprise guest Spank Rock during her instore. The two went record shopping after the show and shared their picks. Watch video here.
THE MIGHTY BOOSH
The cast of the cult British TV show phenom rolled into Amoeba Hollywood on their first visit and tour of the States. They caused a Beatlemania-like frenzy with costumed fans, crying hysterics in the signing line and a birthday girl who planned to tattoo over the cast’s signatures on her, ahem, backside…Watch video here.
ESPERANZA SPALDING - INSTORE & WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
In February of this year, Esperanza had to reschedule her LA concert to join an all-star list of artists at the White House as Stevie Wonder received the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the President. We were lucky enough to have her stop in for an amazing set before she left town for that historic ceremony and show. Watch the performance video here and her What's In My Bag? video here.
ZOÉ
Used to playing stadiums in their native Mexico, Zoé graced the Amoeba stage for an intimate show for their fans – and we had our first-ever bootleg t-shirt hawkers outside the store after the show. Watch video here.
STEWART COPELAND
Musician, author and documentarian (oh, and drummer for The Police) invited Amoeba to his home recording studio for an afternoon visit. He shared tales from his recent autobiography and gave the fans a glimpse into his eclectic world. Watch video here.
AKRON/FAMILY - GREEN ROOM SESSION
The band’s timing didn’t work out for them to play an in-store while they were in town, but they accepted our invitation to come and play a few acoustic songs in the green room and sat for an interview in what turned into a whole day of amazing live music and conversation in a very intimate setting. Watch video here.
Amoeba BERKELEY!
EXENE CERVENKA
The Legendary X front-woman Exene Cervenka played a captivating set of her folky solo material at Amoeba Berkeley for an adoring crowd of old and young punks alike. After performing, she signed records and chatted with the giddy fans. View more photos here.
THE MAE SHI
Los Angeles spaz-punks The Mae Shi completely wigged out on the Berkeley stage. Passing a full-sized parachute over the whole stage and crowd in the Jazz room, the band climbed on our CD racks and ran into the aisles while performing songs off their latest album, Hlllyh. View more photos here.
JAY REATARD
To celebrate his new album, Jay and his band embarked on a whistle-stop tour of West Coast indie record stores and played at all three Amoeba stores along his way! View photos from the Berkeley, San Francisco, and Hollywood shows here.
Amoeba SAN FRANCISCO!
ELVIS COSTELLO
One Day – Two Amoebas! Celebrating his new CD, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, Elvis rocked Amoeba San Francisco with a noon show, then brought the band to Amoeba Hollywood for an evening show and signing for the fans before he disappeared into the night…Watch the video, with performance and interview footage, here.
DURAN DURAN - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Simon Le Bon and John Taylor!!! At Amoeba San Francisco!!! Talking about music and movies!!! Totally. Awesome. Watch video here.
BARRY ZITO - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
It’s not all rock stars at Amoeba. Cy Young Award winner and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher (and singer and guitarist) Barry Zito came through to talk about perfecting his jazz collection and why System of a Down gets him revved up before a game. Watch video here.
VIVIAN GIRLS - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Brooklyn’s all-girl garage band played a kick-ass set at Amoeba San Francisco. Then Cassie, Katy, and Ali went digging for LPs and 7”s and found some new (and old) treasures…Watch video here.
STEVE EARLE
After years of almost-instores, missed timing and close calls, we were extremely happy to welcome Steve Earle for shows at Amoeba San Francisco AND Hollywood! Joe Goldmark from SF sat down with Steve to discuss his friend Townes Van Zandt, his new album, and his storied career. Watch video here.
Amoeba HOLLYWOOD!
GOSSIP
Gossip visited the Hollywood store and JUST as they were about to do their sound check, the power in the store (and for blocks around) went out due to high winds. Rather than let it dampen the mood, Beth Ditto (using our intercom/phone system as her mic) told the assembled crowd of fans a ghost story and the band ended up playing an acoustic version of “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by the light of a couple lanterns and flashlights. Hands-down the most intimate, mood-lit, DIY in-store we've ever hosted. View more photos here.
OS MUTANTES
Tropicalia legends Os Mutantes performed a masterful and booty-shaking set from their new album while working in songs from their groundbreaking original album. After their show Amoeba sat down with founder and singer Sergio and ended up talking about music, UFOs and the California desert. Watch video here.
AMANDA BLANK & SPANK ROCK - WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
Rapper and singer Amanda Blank was joined on stage by surprise guest Spank Rock during her instore. The two went record shopping after the show and shared their picks. Watch video here.
THE MIGHTY BOOSH
The cast of the cult British TV show phenom rolled into Amoeba Hollywood on their first visit and tour of the States. They caused a Beatlemania-like frenzy with costumed fans, crying hysterics in the signing line and a birthday girl who planned to tattoo over the cast’s signatures on her, ahem, backside…Watch video here.
ESPERANZA SPALDING - INSTORE & WHAT'S IN MY BAG?
In February of this year, Esperanza had to reschedule her LA concert to join an all-star list of artists at the White House as Stevie Wonder received the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the President. We were lucky enough to have her stop in for an amazing set before she left town for that historic ceremony and show. Watch the performance video here and her What's In My Bag? video here.
ZOÉ
Used to playing stadiums in their native Mexico, Zoé graced the Amoeba stage for an intimate show for their fans – and we had our first-ever bootleg t-shirt hawkers outside the store after the show. Watch video here.
STEWART COPELAND
Musician, author and documentarian (oh, and drummer for The Police) invited Amoeba to his home recording studio for an afternoon visit. He shared tales from his recent autobiography and gave the fans a glimpse into his eclectic world. Watch video here.
AKRON/FAMILY - GREEN ROOM SESSION
The band’s timing didn’t work out for them to play an in-store while they were in town, but they accepted our invitation to come and play a few acoustic songs in the green room and sat for an interview in what turned into a whole day of amazing live music and conversation in a very intimate setting. Watch video here.
