Last Wednesday, Rockit Room teamed up with Mr. Pizza Guy to bring live music and pizza to protesters participating in an occupy demonstration in the Justin Herman Plaza. Rockit Room donated a portable amp, allowing several local musicians to perform during the occupy event. Check out our photos below!
Johnny Lawrie, who found out about the occupy event only the day before, spent all day playing music and participating in protests, including a march.
Lauren Oakshott, local singer songwriter, used the amp to play a couple songs on her piano, including “Obama Get Some Balls”.
Ali Shareef, who has participated in both Oakland and San Francisco-based occupy protests, shared some of his indie rock hits with friends.
One muscian stopped to use the donated equipment and tent to shoot a music video!
Songwriters Geana and Jesse performed together in Jusitn Herman Plaza. The longtime activists are solely supported by their music.
If you think San Francisco is done celebrating New Year’s, you are wrong. In the Richmond district, several members of the Russian community will celebrate the “Old Russian New Year’s” at a live show featuring Igor and the Red Elvises, January 13. While most of us did our partying on the thirty-first, these San Francisco residents are getting ready to eat, drink, dance and listen to great music in honor of a Russian tradition.
According to Russiandogs.net, “While the world is back at work since early January, Russian New Year holidays are still under way until the Russian Old New Year, celebrated in the night from January 13th to January 14th. Though Soviet Russia has officially followed the Gregorian calendar as far back as 1918, the Russian Orthodox Church continues using the Julian calendar, which lags 13 days behind. Since Soviet Union times, when celebrating Christmas was discouraged, the New Year became a holiday most loved by the people and is always celebrated twice.
Unlike New Year and Orthodox Christmas, Old New Year is not an official holiday though it influences the whole schedule of Russian celebrations. For Russians, who do not usually celebrate western Christmas, the New Year (January 1st) is a festive day like Christmas in the western world. The president of Russia, widely broadcasted by national TV and radio, usually counts down the final seconds of the outgoing “Old Year”, and then a giant Kremlin tower clock chimes in the New Year. A New Year’s Tree (Christmas tree), called Novogodnaya Yolka, is present in each home, usually topped with a shining star and decorated with candies. Besides vodka and Russian salad, traditional foods include Champagne and Mandarin oranges.”
For the first Wednesday of the month Skratchpad takes over the Rockit Room as the local flare hits the ones and twos for an evening of beats. The artists showcase their talents with a rotating headliner. Check them out only at the Rockit Room.
Kymberlee Smith performing at the 2010 Toys for Tots benefit.
Have you ever wished to be Santa Claus? This holiday season, join in on the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tot’s foundation, by providing Christmas gifts to needy children.
Behind the scenes of the richest country in the world, poverty is a rapidly growing issue in the United States. With a 9.6% unemployment rate, and 43 million Americans living below the poverty line, many families struggle throughout the year to make ends meet. By the time the holiday season approaches, economically challenged families have very little money left over to celebrate. Imagine believing in the hope Santa Claus, and waking up Christmas morning to nothing under your tree, or no tree at all. Imagine being a parent and having to explain to your child that “Santa couldn’t make it this year.”
You may be asking yourself, how can one toy donation make a difference? Well this is the exactly what I was wondering two holiday seasons ago. Last year, Jess, along with help from the wonderful musicians that work with Loungefly Presents have came up with the idea to have a Benefit Cocktail party at The Rockit Room, where all proceeds were donated to the Toys for Tot’s foundation, whether it was a direct donation or toys themselves. It was a great success.
Whether you believe in Christmas or not, helping out the less fortunate is a great way to celebrate giving, and what could be better than a cocktail party? Nothing!
It’s that time of year again! THE 2ND ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT COCKTAIL PARTY at Rockit Room is here! Last year we raised over $500 worth of toys for the cause and this year our goal is to at least double that. For those of you who were there last year, you know the deal. For first timers, this is a benefit cocktail party where ALL PROCEEDS will go towards providing Christmas presents for underprivileged children. ENTRY IS AN UNWRAPPED TOY OR $10 DONATION. SPREAD THE WORD AND INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS (+21).
Pine tree lots, twinkling lights and the Jack Frost winds nipping at your toes mark the official yule tide season here in San Francisco. While Union Square is filled with the out of town shoppers looking for the mass produced gift, the locals will be taking to the towns most eclectic district. Clement is filled with off the grid shops unlike anywhere else in the city, and Microhood is a celebration of the small business.
“I read a study that explained for every dollar spent in a locally owned business, 60 cents is put back into the surrounding community” organizer Rodney Parker explains from his job at Seedstore. He and other coworkers not only work, but live in the area.
Seedstore and Park Life teamed up with other shops along the street to hand out freebies, coupons, and encourage the people in the neighborhood to shop locally. The Bold Italic heard of the plans to rep the neighborhood and helped to sponsor the event as part of their series of Microhood street parties.
The shops provide variety for all ages, from drink specials here at Rockit Room to free ice cream for the little ones. Many of the shops will offer discounts or specials to celebrate the gem that is Clement Street.
So step away from the online Amazon deals and support the artisans that make up the communities we love.
Rodney enthusiastically chimes, “Clement is on the grow and Microhood is a chance to get a sense of the district and what makes our community so special.”
The upstairs room gets a quick makeover for Open Mic Night.
By Jessica Graham
Last Wednesday night, Richmond district locals came in from the cold sidewalks of San Francisco and took refuge upstairs for Open Mic Night, an event that takes place weekly at Rockit Room. Small tables, chairs and a bench were placed closely near the stage, giving the room a more intimate feeling. Friends gathered chatting in between performances, giving artists a chance to tune their instruments, take their place and get in the zone.
It was my first time covering an Open Mic Night event since my good friend John Predny would play his favorite songs for friends and family over a year ago. At that time, it was a much smaller production downstairs near the entrance. He would play the guitar and bellow out powerful notes that would inevitably make their way outside, filling the ears of pedestrians walking by.
Moving to the upstairs room gave it a whole other feel and sound. The lights were dim except for the blue rays glimmering off of the stage. It’s a big room, but still had a cozy feel thanks to a crowd of friendly people, two of which were dancing with each other playfully.
I wasn’t sure how many people would be there to perform, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the sign-up sheet full, with new artists walking in the door throughout the night. The highlight of the night for me, was a thin brown-haired woman who belted out “Son of a Preacher Man”. You can see a video of her below:
If you are looking for a relaxed night with friends, full of good music and cold beers, definitely stop by for Open Mic Night. If you are an artist, take a chance, sign your name on the dotted line and get up on that stage. We’re all waiting for you.
These guys keep the Rockit Room going. They make your drinks, meet you at the door, play the music you dance to and most importantly, throw your ass on the street if you drank too much. Just kidding, we are all friendly here
Bray has a background in electronic music production and graphic design but creativity runs in his genes. His Grandmother performed often, leaving an impression on Bray. From a young age Bray found himself making others laugh and grew up with the likes of late performing genius Michael Jackson who infamously reinvented himself with each project. Similarly, Bray invests himself completely in each track and finds a different way to portray his music. “We explore visual trickery into the videos,” Bray explains of past music video “Hair” where he is singing in a saloon type bar watching a couple spit game. “I’m super involved with this newest project conceptually, but I’m fortunate to work with a lot of great people.”
Bray is preparing for yet another tour throughout Europe where he will promote his upcoming album. Expect to be wowed by the latest songs from his unreleased album Saturday night, where he will unveil the well kept secrets of his latest creative project. Bray has played in international cities the likes of Berlin, Germany and Paris, France and cannot wait to hop across the pond once more. The European crowd has allowed Bray to channel the darker side of feeling, particularly after playing the war-torn city of Sarajevo, Bosnia. “A young lady told me to be aware of my audience, because they experienced so much pain she explained ‘when we see all smiles we don’t think it’s real.’” This one word of advice has inspired Bray to put more range into the newest album.
“For me, it defines me and channeling who I am moment to moment and to channel who the listener is too,” Bray comments with raw honesty. His own creative control may be the single most important promise and record label can make to this artist, as he remains unsigned after a “handful of offers,” Bray says carefully. With this video release he ends promotion of his album @mphibian and looks forward to working with his team to “celebrate being alive and to embrace the dark side of the life and be a complete me in front of people.”
Imagine your son or daughter is diagnosed with a rare disease from birth. Your doctor tells you a liver transplant is needed, but it’s expensive. This is a true story for Lily Beth Soriano and her 2-year-old son Jaxson, who has Biliary Artesia–a congenital disease that affects the liver and gallbladder.
This Friday, November 4, Rockit Room is hosting a Charity Jam to help the Sorianos raise money for a liver transplant. The event will feature local bands Native Elements and Rendezvous, and DJ E-Train.
The $10 cover at the door will be donated to Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), in honor of Jaxson. His personal page on COTA’s Web site chronicles his journey battling Biliary Artesia.
In total, his liver transplant will cost around $1 million to $2 million dollars. Those who cannot attend the event can still donate to Jax at http://www.cotaforjaxsons.com/.
