When San Francisco's legendary movie palace the  Castro Theatre - which this weekend is celebrating its 85th year anniversary - first opened back in June of 1922 the price for a   loaf of bread was 5 cents, a newspaper cost 2 cents, and a man's haircut or alternately the cost of admission to the Castro movie theater was 25 cents.  And tomorrow morning at 11AM (Saturday 8/11)  the price of admission will be rolled back to 1922 prices when the historic theater charges only a quarter  for admission to a screening of Laurel and Hardy's "Way Out West" (see clip below) plus some classic cartoons.  This is great opportunity to see the classic comedy duo in their 1937 film on the big screen.  But it is also a great opportunity to absorb the beauty of the historic San Francisco landmark, famous for its Wurlitzer pipe organ, with the amazing interior and the Spanish Colonial Baroque facade that  was designed by Timothy L Pflueger - who also designed Oakland's Paramount Theater.

All weekend great events/movies are planned for the Castro Theatre's 85th year anniversary celebration - although not for 25cents but still, at $6 to $9 for most weekend screenings, still a lot less than going to your local multiplex.  These include Clark Gable in San Francisco followed by live music by the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble plus a screening of the \Maltese Falcon (Saturday night starting at 7PM).  And on Sunday night at 7PM Warren Lubich will play the famous Wurlitzer as accompaniement to a screenig of Phantom of the Opera., plus a screening of Laurel and Hardy's "Big Business"

Brandi Shearer, the premiere artist on the Amoeba Music record label, returns to the Living Room at 154 Ludlow Street in New York City tonight (Thursday August 9th) to kick off her Thursday nights at the Living Room in August series - at the Lower East Side (LES) location.   Brandi Shearer's anticipated new album "Close To Dark" - the first release on the new Amoeba Music record label - is slated for release in a few weeks on August 28th and tonight Shearer will be including many songs off it in her set which begins early; at 7PM. Also performing at the Living Room tonight will be Lipbone Redding (8PM) and Cresent and Frost (9PM).  There is no cover but a suggested $5 tip jar at the Living Room.  Tonight is week one of a series of shows that Brandi will be doing for the next couple of Thursdays at the Living Room including August 16th and 23rd. Also note that the singer/songwriter will be performing in Philadelphia, PA this weekend on Saturday night at the World Cafe - upstairs on a bill with the Anthony Lattanze Band- 9PM showtime.

When Brandi last performed at the Living Room a couple of months ago she played the more intimate upstairs room (Googie's Lounge) but this time round she will perform in the larger downstairs performance space. If you happen to be reading this while you are in New York City on any of the Thursdays that Brandi Shearer is playing (Aug 9, 16. 23) head for this recommended show and hang out afterwards in this cool part of town.  And  if you cannot make it any of these nights this month but have future plans on being in NYC sometime soon make a mental note of the club and the immediate LES neighborhood it is situated in as it is well worth a visit.

When I ran into aspiring young Bay Area rap star Yung Nittlz at the recent Showtime @ the Apollo Amatuer NIght tryouts at the Oakland Convention Center he was handing out his self-designed promo item - an oversized five dollar bill with his image and contact info.  What really impressed me is that Yung Nittlz, as his name implies, is young.  Very young. 13 years of age and already the freshman at Berkeley High School has taught himself to make beats, and has written and recorded two albums worth of music, set up his MySpace, and found time to perfect his computer design skills by designing things such as his Five Dolla Promo item to promote his song "Money In The Air"  that he printed out (two-sided) and cut to size at his local Copy Central.  (Note: for my full report on the Showtime at the Apollo Oakland tryouts - previewed in earlier AMOEBLOG - check out this week's San Francisco Bay Guardian).



 When I saw his cool promo item I remembered that the Luniz - or rather their label Noo  Trybe, a division of Virgin - did a similar promo item upon the release of the Oakland duo's debut album "Operation Stackola" (reached stores on July 4th 1995) and its huge hit single "I Got Five On It.'  But that was a long time ago. When 13 year old Yung Nittlz was a baby - only age one.  It was a time when labels were still making money  (as in profits, not promo funny-money), especiially rap labels or divisions, and were often extremely creative and experimental in their promo items.  Many others (especially Yay Area rappers) have used paper money as promotional material including the Conscious Daughters for their comeback album (Right).

Located on Telegraph Avenue near 66th Street in North Oakalnd, close to the Berkeley border,  is the uniique hair salon and vintage boutique Down At Lulu's - which is owned and run by the fun music-minded duo of Tina Lucchesi and Seth Bogart - two good friends who both happen to love music, fashion, hairdressing, and retro rock culture. They also clearly love what they do at Down At Lulu's which, while only a little over a year old, has won a Best of the Bay award and gained a strong clientele. The store which is located roughly midway between the White Horse pub and the Smokehouse burger joint, has an ever festive storefront window with the large glittery words GABBA GABBA HEY - a nod to one of their mutually favorite bands, the Ramones.  Inside are records (not a whole lot but carefully selected ones), cool clothing, and of course the hair styling stations.  I recently stopped by the store and caught up with Tina (Seth was away on tour with his band) who talked about Down At Lulu's, and about her's and Seth's interests and passions - especially music.

  AMOEBLOG: How would you describe Down At Lulus to someone who has never seen it?
TINA:  Hmmm !!! A John Waters, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Rock N Roll High School, the Madonna Inn Rock N Roll Burrito!

AMOEBLOG: How exactly did Down At Lulu's come into being?
TINA:  Seth and I have been pals and interested in the same sort of everything: rock'n'roll, hairdressing, the sixties and the seventies, and the eightes - fashion from those eras, as well as hamburgers, Mexican food, the Ramones, girl-groups, boys, boys, boys and men! We had the same vision I think so we decided 'Hey let's do this!"  We are both totally thrift-store maniacs but the hairdressing is our money-maker. So we thought why not combine the two and make it an all round good times and fun?  Work must be fun so why not make it that way if you can?

#    TITLE                                  VIEWS:            Date Posted:

1) The Mountain Goats (Pt 1)                   388,617                      Sept 5, 2006
2) Rodrigo Y Gabriela plays...                     14,381                     Jan 27, 2007
3) Feist at Amoeba Mushaboom               14,127                      Jan 22, 2006
4) Jamie Lidell "A little bit more"                13,281                      Feb 23, 2007
5) Against Me!   acoustic                             12,321                      Aug 2, 2006
6) The Blood Brothers                                   9,579                       Oct 10, 2006
7) DJ Cheb I Sabbah @ Berkeley               7,882                       Nov 4, 2006
8) And You Will Know Us.....Dead               6,343                       Sept 2, 2006            
9) The Mountain Goats (Part 3)                    5,993                       Sept 19, 2006
10) The Mountain Goats (Part 2)                  5,691                      Sept 12, 2006