Oakland rapper/runner T-K.A.S.H., who will be among those running 26 miles in this Sunday's (March 25th) marathon at the Oakland Running Festival, has decided to utilize the event as a way to help bring awareness of the epidemic of gun violence in Oakland by recording the above song "Run" as heard above. "Oakland had 2000 victims of gun violence in 2011," noted T-K.A.S.H. who recorded the song as way to motivate young people to stay focused and fit, and hence maintain a more positive (IE non violent) outlook on life. The Hip-Hop Chess Federation, which is run by Adisa Banjoko, is among those sponsoring T-K.A.S.H. in the upcoming marathon. You can also sponsor him in the Marathon (as well as find out other info) by visiting the artist/activist's Facebook page. And for general info on the two day (Sat 24th & Sun 25th) Oakland Running Festival with the marathon on day two click here. 

If recently you've either been on BART near in the vicinity of the Fruitvale station or driven along 880 in East Oakland odds are you've already spotted the big wide bright new mural bearing the word "DECOLONIZE" that takes up a wide wall at 12th Street and 16th Ave. The monumental mural is the latest politically charged artwork by the Community Rejuvenation Project (CRP). To catch the eyes of  the thousands of daily commuters that pass by the piece is strategically positioned near both the freeway and the BART tracks to get the message of the monumental mural to as many people as possible. “Decolonize is a universal message to all people of the earth to reconnect to their ancestry, the earth, to their traditional medicines and knowledge, and to a global consciousness that we are all related. Everyone on the planet has indigenous roots to somewhere,” said artist Lavie Raven - one of the ten contributors to the large scale mural that is 200 feet wide and 30 feet high and took two and half days of concentrated work to complete. The other artists are CRP regulars Mike 360, Release, Beats 737, Desi, Rate, Abacus, Pancho, Yesenia, and Dora.

It's Smoothday!
Jeffrey Boozer and Christina Stork match Solid Gold '70's and '80's hits with the cool refreshments provided by the talented staff of Uptown's hip and friendly Bar ThreeFiftyfive.

Sponsored by Amoeba Music!

Tuesdays, 10pm 'til 2am
Bar ThreeFiftyfive 
355 19th St Oakland

The Secret Society Of The Sonic Six will bring their darkened disorientations to the bay area this coming week with performances in San Francisco and Oakland.  The group will be performing tracks off their next 12" release, The Pick Up, due out in Feb on 4:2:2v2, a new label out of Denmark.

Friday November 18th finds (((6))) at the Retox Lounge, a small watering hole in the Potrero Hill neighborhood.  This is the 5th anniversary of the Death Rock Dive Bar night and features locals Nezzy Idy and Headless Lizzy as well as the DRDB DJs. Make sure to head downstairs as the performance space is in the basement.






Saturday November 19th (((6))) will be visiting their gestation grounds for the first time since relocating to Los Angeles many years ago.  Katatonik is an underground monthly featuring dark experimentalists, mostly of the electronic variety. The nite is organized by the Katabatik label / soundsystem crew.  Check out the intense comps that the label has put out @ http://www.katabatik.org/kollektion/


This nite happens to be the 6th Katatonik so alignments are in place for a magikal (((6)))  evening.  Vancouver based Animal Bodies and Monsters of the Id will also be performing, along with DJ's R.M.S., Pink.Noise. and Mattreya.  The location is a tightly held secret so please contact a Katabatik representative @ contact@katabatik.org for addess specifics.  I can tell you that it's not too far from Jack London Square.

Celebrate the eco-active spirit of California that John Muir helped to establish in our great state with O Zone, September 30th, when the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will come alive with an evening of food, cocktails, music, performances, and eco-friendly activities that will inspire you to take action to save the environment. Learn how making small changes can have big consequences on conserving our natural world and discover ways to empower the adventurer/explorer/eco-pioneer in you. 

Don't miss the Mustache and Beard Contest! OMCA is in search of the "Best John Muir Beard in the Bay!" Amoeba will be on hand with all sorts of giveaways and a Beard & Mustache Photobooth!

ALSO: get down to the beats of DJ Platurn who's spinning crucial tunes before headliner The Coup performs! Catch Whiskerman in an Oak Street Plaza acoustic set! Get in the gallery for an acoustic set with Conspiracy of Beards!  

   

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