Calling all Al Heads! It's time to bust out the checkered Vans and don the aloha shirts for what could possibly be the first ever all Weird Al-themed burlesque show. Seems overdue, right? Well, finally Mr. Yankovic is getting his due on Monday, August 13th at Oakland's Uptown as The Hubba Hubba Revue and Pickles Kintaro present The Al-Stravaganza!

It doesn't matter if you are a "My Bologna" purist or just "White and Nerdy;" the hits will be dropping as fast as the clothes at this burlesque bonanza. And make sure you dress for success to enter the Weird Al look-a-like contest! Can you believe that you get all this quality entertainment for just $5! Cheap!

Hosted By Weird Kingfish & Weird "Kevin" Hancock
With: Honey Lawless,Pickles Kintaro, Lady Satan, Odessa Lil, Lola Martinet, Pearl E. Gates, Mistress Marla Spanks, and JD Limelight.

Doors 9PM -- Show 10:15PM
21 & Up w/ID

THE UPTOWN CLUB
1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland (just 1 block from 19th Street BART!)

Here are some of Al's finest moments in no particular order, so says the Amoeblog!

We have been shooting What's In My Bag? episodes for about three and a half years, but in our latest video with Numero Group founder Rob Sevier, he turns the tables on us a bit. His vision was to give our series the Numero treatment: research its history, interview some of the integral players, and compile his favorite moments and videos from the series.

Rob shadowed us for about a full day, even serving as a host in a separate WIMB with Cheech Marin. He spoke with Brently Heilbron, the host for our very first What's In My Bag? video (an impromptu shoot with Weird Al Yankovic at the end of the registers at Amoeba Hollywood). He interviewed one of the current series producers, and dug deeper into our videos with sketch comedy troupe Human Giant, musician Dave Grohl, Pinky of TV Carnage, internet video sensation Leslie Hall, comedian Neil Hamburger, hip-hop producer/MC Large Professor, and cartoonist Joe Matt. 

While recently checking out the video below by the Audio Bullys (the UK duo whose third album Higher Than The Eiffel arrives in Amoeba tomorrow) for their great 2008 single-only release "Gimme That Punk" in which they display countless classic album covers (including The Clash, The Doors, The Kinks, The Sex Pistols) it further reminded me of why I love (and miss) LPs and their glorious 12" by 12" cover art work so much. This is why I always look forward to checking out new (and always themed) LP cover art posts here by The Gone World Amoeblogger Mr Chadwick and any record or LP cover art gallery shows like the ones at very top and lower points of this blog, courtesy of Siemon Allen Records, whose current exhibit Records (South African Edition) just ended yesterday at the Johannesburg Art Fair. 

The Audio Bullys' video reminded me of another UK musical duo's video from recent years, dan le sac VS scroobius pip's 2007 video for their hit single "Thou Shalt always Kill," in which they also flip through various classic album covers as they dismiss their respective makers as being "just a band." This music video style, utilized by both this pair and the Audio Bullys, of displaying and then tossing on the ground the LP covers that are referenced in their lyrics is directly derived from the film footage of Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home album track "Subterranean Homesick Blues" in which Dylan is filmed tossing large cue cards with key words from the song's lyrics.

This Saturday is the first Saturday of the month and therefore, it is time once again for Amoeba Hollywood’s Auction, hosted by the inimitable Brently Heilbron.

Amoeba Auctions started as an on-going event to help raise money for the Gulf Coast Relief Efforts. Our auctions have included every conceivable kind of memorabilia from the entertainment world and beyond. Collectibles, promotional items, concert tickets, tour jackets, t-shirts, celebrity underwear, puzzles, toys and all kinds of swag that can make your heart go pitter-pat, have been won. And on top of that, Amoeba matches all individual donations and winning bids up to $1,000. Everybody is a winner!

There will of course be many interesting items to bid on this week, but we have one very special item to auction: An autographed copy of the classic comedy album, Weird Al Yankovic In 3-D.

Weird Al Yankovic was spotted in the Amoeba mezzanine perusing DVDs by yours truly. I mentioned it casually to Brently, who sprinted off as only a former track star and Texas State Champion can do, and I have to say Brently accosted Mr. Yankovic in the most courteous and polite manner I’ve ever seen. Weird Al gladly autographed the record even as we twisted one of his arms behind his back. Actually, he was incredibly gracious and happy to sign an album for the Amoeba Auction, personalizing it, “To the lucky highest bidder.” That can be you! Yes, you sitting at your computer! So come on down this Saturday March 1st @ 4PM. It's not everyday you get to bid on a rare chunk of vinyl, actually autographed by the artist as they shopped in Amoeba while at the same time helping the ongoing relief efforts for the Gulf Coast. Thanks, good luck and happy bidding.

Greetings from Vinylandia...


Mr. Chadwick here with a new blogspot chronicling  finds and fascinations that lie just beyond the above pictured door. Uncovering those hidden treats that flow through the vast sea of vinyl platitudes that Amoeba Hollywood attracts, as well as many of my own personal treasures.  As things progress I hope to bring you more in-depth histories of the odd and curious private press and small label houses that the City of Angels has produced, but for now we'll start with some simple entertainment... found artwork.... Specifically artwork that was spontaneously created under the "influence" of the very object within which the said art piece was unearthed...

First up a nice trio of interpretations of very famous photos of a very famous UK pop group...

Here we have a very inspired George and Paul, outlined from a white album photo...

    


By far the most effective of the trio, a very different Ringo than we are used to... John got lost somewhere along the line...or maybe his being left out was some sort of message from the artist...