Self-described "flower-punk" rockers the Black Lips, whose live shows are a thing of legend, are doing an instore concert at the Berkeley Amoeba Music Friday Feb 8th, at 6:30PM.

And my strong advice is, if at all possible, get yer ass over to the Telegraph Ave. store for this great opportunity to see this amazing Atlanta, GA band up close and personal deliver (for free) their familiar yet totally unique sound - a raw supercharged blend of retro garage rcok, punk, blues, country, and more.

Their live shows have become a thing of legend because of their raw energy onstage and their crazy unpredictable rock'n'roll behavior  which to date has included such things as band members kissing, getting naked, vomiting, and urinating - to name but a few of their bad boy antics - all of which have rightfully earned the Black Lips' live shows such a reputation that some fans just show up to witness whatever wildness might unfold.

But considering they will be performing in a store maybe they will tone it down. But then maybe not. They don't even know.  But what is sure is that the music will be kick ass. So  just be sure show up at Amoeba Berkeley at 6:30PM (earlier to get a good spot).

 For more info and specific details of their Berkeley show click here.  Meantime check the three live Black Lips concert clips below - all from the past year - including at a house party in Austin during the SXSW (poor audio but great energy), in Tijuana, Mexico, and at an instore at another record store (Criminal Records in ATL) this time last year.

    MARTY DOWERS
    AMOEBA MUSIC, BERKELEY:


AMOEBLOG: How did you end up working at Amoeba Music, Berkeley and what is your job there?

MARTY:   I was working at a record store in Hawaii and wanting to move back to the Bay.  My sister inquired as to if Amoeba or Rasputins were hiring. Turned out they both were. I never heard back from Rasputins, but Marc (Weinstein)  said come on out for an interview. This was just as the San Francisco store was opening -- so some of the Berkeley buyers moved over there, and there was a spot for me.


AMOEBLOG What makes working at Amoeba different to other jobs you've had?                          

MARTY:  I've been in the 'industry' since 1980, but always wholesale -- one stops, rack jobbers. The store in Hawaii was the first retail job. Going from that little store front shop to Amoeba was quite an experience. Amoeba has become an institution!

 
AMOEBLOG: Best place to  grab a bite nearby Amoeba Berkeley?

MARTY:  Good luck. Where's the Japanese ramen?


AMOEBLOG:  What's the best record of all time?

MARTY: (laughing)  Obviously that's a very difficult question. It depends on mood, genre, etc. But how about this :  Who's That Lady (from '64) by the Isley Brothers.- a perfect single!

 HARLEY

Harley  - a Black Labrador Retriever is almost four years old. She is best pals with Lori who works as manager at the Berkeley Amoeba Music store.  The two start everyday by going up to Lake Chabot for an invigorating morning walk/run.  "My other dog Cody passed away and someone who worked at Amoeba put me in touch with someone whose dog had just had a litter. All seven of the litter were girls" recalled Lori.  "Organic dairy farmers out in Cloverdale  - so we went out there and saw her at 4 weeks and then at again at  7 weeks old when we picked her up."  Lori notes that Harley has a good "dog friend" in a fellow AmoebaDog. "I share an office with Naomi and Harley and Liebchen (scroll down to see her profile) get along really well together," she smiled. 





KAHLESS

Kahless (rhymes with Payless) is an Australian Cattle dog breed and is the best friend of Paul Vasquez who works in the world music section of Amoeba Music Hollywood. Recently Paul recalled that fateful day three years ago when he and Kahless first crossed paths. "It was one afternoon  in April 2004, I was looking for a dog at the animal shelter in Pomona. I looked at plenty of animals, but none of them really caught my eye.  On the way out, I saw a picture on a bulletin board of a dog with beautiful eyes and super crazy spots. I looked to my left, and there he was in his little cell. I went to him and knelt down to see his reaction. No barking, no weirdness, just eye contact and a wagging tail. All of a sudden he put one of his paws through the bars onto my knee. That was it. I chose him and he chose me. We've been best friends ever since."

With estimated CD sales of two to one (two Kayne to every one Fitty) at Amoeba Music Hollywood and most other music outlets across the country yesterday it seems that Fitty literally is 50 Cent to every Kayne "dollar bill" West - in terms of sales of the long-feuding artists' highly anticipated and publicized new full-length releases. As San Francisco Amoebite and AMOEBLOGGER Brad Schelden outlined in his "Coming Out Today 9/11" AMOEBLOG yesterday the latest round in the ongoing battle between Kayne West and 50 Cent (aka Fitty) would manifest itself at cash registers this week upon the release of each high-profile rapper's new album: Kayne West's "Graduation" and 50 Cent's "Curtis." 

And according to Tuesday's retail sales figures from each of the three Amoeba Music outlets plus online sales figures released by iTunes and Amazon.com it is clear that West's new release greatly outsold Fitty's.  "In terms of sales here yesterday it was pretty much two to one in Kayne's favor," said Amoeba Music Hollywood hip-hop department's John Liu, adding that, "There was definitely a buzz about the two new releases, no doubt generated by all the recent media attention." Meanwhile at Amoeba  Music San Francisco, according to the Haight Street store's hip-hop buyer Luis, the ratio of sales yesterday was even greater in Kayne's favor. It was four to one, indicating that maybe Fitty should perhaps consider changing his name to 25 Cent or Quarta' for short.

AMOEBLOG:   How long have you worked at Amoeba Music Berkeley and what exactly is your job there?
 
DEAN SANTOMIERI:   I started working in the record business in 1971 when I dropped out of SUNY Buffalo. I moved to the Bay Area in 1975, and although I thought I was through with the record business, unemployment was high and my friend Ivy got me a job at Tower Records in Berkeley.   In November 1990, I visited Marc (one of the Amoeba owners) the first weekend Amoeba opened and he offered me a job. I thought about it over the weekend then gave my two employers, Tower and Revolver Records, notice and started two weeks later. This would be late November or early December 1990. A year later I took a job running the Media Center at the California College of Arts, but continued to work Saturdays at Amoeba. In 1996, I left CCA and went back to Amoeba full time. I am a buyer and I work in the classical department. Most of my time is spent helping customers and pricing used CDs.

 

AMOEBLOG:   What makes working at Amoeba unique compared to other jobs you've had?                

DEAN SANTOMIERI:      I could say many things, but Amoeba’s generosity in accommodating its employees stands out, for example, many of us are touring musicians and are graciously given time off. But the lengths to which the owners, managers and Amoeba employees have gone to help each other in time of need is what I find most unique about Amoeba. It is also what makes me most proud about working here. We live in a time when the escalating cost of health care, salaries and pensions have caused companies to drastically reduce or eliminate benefits, but what the Amoeba family has done for Dax Pierson (Amoebite pictured above who was in a serious auto accident while on tour with his band) and others is unlike anything I have ever seen.