Good hash has always been harder to find than good bud. Over the years, most California growers with talent made their own hash and had access to the good stuff. The rest of us had to “know a dealer” who didn’t hoard all of it for themselves. Good hash seldom escapes the inner sanctum of stoner community circles. Those who have it, smoke it. And only with their closest partners or pals.
In the 1980s and ’90s weed underground, finding good hash was a real art. The growers and dealers who were talented or connected were elusive and hard to get close to. Everyone worried about narcs and getting busted. Hash often had harsher laws associated with it due to its potency—far higher than bud. Everyone was understandably more stingy when it came to hash in those days. I remember multiple occasions of having to convince my suppliers to break off a coveted piece of hash for my personal headstash. Thankfully they usually complied, but it was never an easy sell.
Today in California, consumers can buy some of the finest hash in the world in legal dispensaries if they happen to live in a town that allows them. They still need to know who the good producers are and what dispensaries carry them. It can be confusing in the age of sophisticated marketing campaigns, with mass-produced weed and hash sold as “craft.” The inside game has changed, but discerning buyers still need skills to get themselves some good hash.
HASH LOVERS This week’s extravaganza showcases some of the best hashmakers in the state. (Photo courtesy of SF Hash Week)
Enter San Francisco Hash Week to assist consumers in finding the very best hash California has to offer. The celebration coincides with the stoner holiday 710, the word “OIL” backwards, that has occurred every July 7 for the last several years in California—not to be confused with 4/20, the largest stoner event of the year on April 20. This one is more niche and for folks who truly love hash.
Founded by journalist and event producer David Downs, SF Hash Week is a seven-day hash extravaganza showcasing some of the best hashmakers in the state, and the dispensaries and cannabis consumption lounges that carry them. While this event is centered in San Francisco July 8-14—with one event at 7 Stars in the East Bay on July 9—many of the producers featured distribute all across the state. For hash lovers in other parts of California, taking a road trip to the Bay for SF Hash Week may be the cherry on top of an elevated summer.
Amazing small-batch artisan producers like Errl Hill, Fire King, Moon Valley, Kalya and Nasha Hash grace the dispensary and lounge stages during SF Hash Week. Not only that, many producers will be there to answer questions and educate folks. Other more familiar faces like Jetty Extracts, Kiva,710 Labs and Raw Garden will also showcase new drops during the week. So for those who love hash or are just curious about it, SF Hash Week is a great place to learn and experience the good stuff.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the days before lighthouses, some coastal communities used “fire beacons”—elevated structures where people tended open flames to guide sailors. In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to be like both the keeper and the flame. People will be drawn to your brightness, warmth and persistence as they navigate through their haze and fog. And surprise! You may find your own way more clearly as you tend to others’ wayfinding. Don’t underestimate the value of your steady, luminous signal. For some travelers, your presence could be the difference between drifting and docking. So burn with purpose, please. Keep your gleam strong and visible.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The ancestors of my American friend Arisa lived in Ukraine, Indonesia, the Choctaw nation and the Great Lakes region. Her new husband, Anselme, is of Japanese, Italian and French descent. Their wedding was a celebration of multicultural influences. Guests delivered toasts in five languages. Their marriage vows borrowed texts from three religious traditions. The music included a gamelan ensemble, a band that played Ukrainian folk music, and a DJ spinning Choctaw and Navajo prayers set to Indian ragas. I bring this to your attention in the hope you will seek comparable cross-fertilization in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time to weave richly diverse textures into your life.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I predict a future when women will hold half of the leadership roles, when their income and time devoted to childcare will match men’s, when women’s orgasms are as common as men’s, and when most guys know that misogyny is perilous to their health. Until the bloom of that wonderful era, I invite Geminis of all genders to invoke their tender ingenuity as they strengthen female opportunities and power. In my view, this work is always crucial to one’s maximum spiritual and psychological health—but even more so than usual in the coming weeks. Boost the feminine in every way you can imagine.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In Yoruba cosmology, ase is the sacred life force that animates the universe. It’s divine energy that can be harnessed by humans to make things happen, to speak and act with ardent intention so that words and deeds shape reality. I am pleased to report that Cancerians are extra aligned with ase these days. Your words are not casual. Your actions are not mild or minor. You have the power to speak what you mean so robustly that it has an enhanced possibility to come into being. What you command with love and clarity will carry enduring potency.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval bestiaries, unicorns were said to be fierce, wild creatures. They were very real but also hidden. Only people with pure hearts could see or commune with them. I suspect you now have the chance to glide into a potent “pure heart” phase, Leo. My fervent hope is that Leos will take this opportunity to cleanse themselves of irrelevancies and rededicate themselves to their deepest yearnings and most authentic self-expressions. If they do, they just may encounter the equivalent of a unicorn.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some Buddhist monks create mandalas on floors from colored sand. They work meticulously for days or weeks to build intricate, symmetrical masterpieces. Once their beautiful work is done, however, it typically doesn’t last long. The creators sweep it away either immediately or soon. The sand may be disposed of, perhaps poured into a river or stream. What’s the purpose of this strange practice? Most importantly, it displays a reverence for the impermanence of all things—an appreciation for beauty but not an attachment to it. I recommend you consider taking a cue from the sand mandalas in the coming weeks. Is there anything you love that you should let go of? A creation you can allow to transform into a new shape? An act of sacred relinquishing?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Glassblowers shape molten sand with breath and fire, knowing the material can only be formed while it’s hot and glowing. If they wait too long, the stuff stiffens, turns brittle and resists change. But if they push too soon, it collapses into a misshapen blob. In this spirit, Libra, I urge you to recognize which parts of your life are now just the right temperature to be reshaped. Your timing must be impeccable. Where and when will you direct the flame of your willpower? Don’t wait until the opportunity cools. Art and magic will happen with just the right amount of heat applied at just the right moment.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I have often been racked by obsessive urges that plague me until I act them out.” So says my Scorpio friend Fatima, a conceptual artist. “Fortunately,” she continues, “I have finally retrained myself to focus on creative obsessions that fuel my art rather than on anxious, trivial obsessions that disorder my life. I’d be an offensive maniac if I couldn’t use my work as an outlet for my vehement fantasy life.” I recommend Fatima’s strategy to Scorpios most of the time, but especially so in the coming days. Your imagination is even more cornucopian than usual. To harness its beautiful but unruly power, you must channel it into noble goals.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Igbo people of Nigeria have a term: ogwugwu na-adị n’ulo. It means “the medicine is in the house.” It’s the belief that healing doesn’t necessarily come from afar. It may already be here, hidden among the familiar, waiting to be acknowledged or discovered. Dear Sagittarius, your natural instinct is to look outward and afar for answers and help. But in the coming weeks, you should look close to home. What unnoticed or underestimated thing might be a cure or inspiration you’ve been overlooking? How can you find new uses for what you already have?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I invite you to celebrate the holiday known as Be Your Own Best Helper. How should you observe this potentially pivotal transformation in your relationship with yourself? Divest yourself of yearnings to have someone clean up after you and service your baseline necessities. Renounce any wishes you harbor for some special person to telepathically guess and attend to your every need. Vow that from now on, you will be an expert at taking excellent care of yourself. Do you dare to imagine what it might feel like to be your own best helper?
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the ancient practice of astronomy, the stars were considered “incorruptible.” Unlike the planets, their movements were unchanging, their lights stationary, their destinies steady and stable. We human beings are the opposite of all those descriptors, of course. There’s no use in hoping otherwise, because constancy just isn’t an option for us. The good news, Aquarius, is that you are now poised to thrive on these truths. The inevitability of change can and should be a treasured gift for you. You’re being offered chances to revise plans that do indeed need to be revised. You are being invited to let go of roles that don’t serve you. But what initially feels like a loss or sacrifice may actually be permission. Evolution is a tremendous privilege!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The axolotl is an amphibian that never outgrows its larval form. Unlike most creatures, it retains its youthful traits into adulthood. Amazingly, it can regenerate its limbs, its spinal cord and parts of its brain. Let’s make the axolotl your inspirational animal, Pisces. What part of your “youth” is worth keeping—not as immaturity, but as righteous design? Where are you being asked not to evolve past a stage, but to deepen within it? And what might be regenerated in you that seemed to have been lost? Your magic will come from being like an axolotl. Be strange. Be playful. Be ageless and original and irrepressible.
Oakland’s premiere music festival, hosted by His Majesty of Molluck, John Waters, is close at hand. The lineup this year includes: Kreayshawn (see sidebar), Shannon and the Clams, Osees, Exploding Hearts, Bratmobile and the legendary DEVO. But let’s not forget about the other aspects of our favorite festival that grease the gears of Meltdowners—like food, vendors, music for sale and all those who contribute to making it such a special event.
Proprietor and grand visionary Marc Ribak happily gave us the inside scoop on the festival. While on the brink of producing his 13th Meltdown at Mosswood Park in Oakland, he’s most definitely “feeling good!” about this year’s festival.
“All of the artists have been great to work with,” Ribak says. He admits one of his favorite rituals is seeing John Waters introduce the groups. “And who knows what they have in store? That’s the magic of Mosswood.”
Ribak shares numerous memorable Meltdown moments of yore. “Seeing Ronnie Spector giving a performance at the park’s amphitheatre,” he says. “Iggy Pop stage diving, John Waters and Traci Lords introducing the Mummies on top of a hearse. And witnessing his dear, sweet mom in her first mosh pit.”
As we all know, a family that pogos and slam-dances together, stays together.
“Mosswood is the place where we could dream things up and make them come true,” Ribak says. “It’s such a beautiful place. It looks like an amazing, fantastical painting. This is not the kind of event that would thrive at a parking lot or military base. Mosswood Park has been welcoming to our festival and our audience. The bands and our staff have made this event what it is now.”
John Waters and Marc Ribak make dreams come true at Mosswood Meltdown (pictured: Halloween 2022). (Photo courtesy of Mosswood Meltdown)
Ribak set a very high bar when he booked Niis to open this year’s festival, and it will be a tough act to follow. This is not a band to miss, for as lead singer and East Bay local Mimi SanDoe says, their influences are “across the board: the Plasmatics, Blondie, Dead Kennedys—honestly, too many to name.” This is their second Meltdown appearance since Halloween 2022.
“Every time we play here it’s always an absolute rager of a show,” says SanDoe, who actually used to work at the festival as a teen. “To be included in such an iconic festival is an honor.”
Meanwhile, Oakland-based Twompsax returns for their 10th performance, and even reunited just for Mosswood 2025—lead singer Cher Strauberry immediately said “yes” when asked to join this year.
“I’m excited to see John [Waters] again, and get some Aburaya Japanese-style fried chicken,” Strauberry says. “I love the East Bay—Twompsax is Oakland, all the way. All of our songs were written at 36th and Telegraph. The first Bratmobile 7-inch I bought was at the Berkeley Amoeba.”
Strauberry is also ready to use the stage as a platform to express herself and bring attention to the current state of affairs. “It’s a great time and a great show to be angry and trans,” she says. “I can really express myself at Mosswood. It’s great to be surrounded by people that think like you.”
While Mosswood offers a vast array of delicious delicacies, one standout is Homeslice Pizza, returning with its skull-mouthed wood-burning oven to its 11th Meltdown. For those who don’t know, Andrew Welborn of Homeslice is like the Willy Wonka of the music festival pizza scene.
“Mosswood Meltdown is a pirate ship all its own—the last flag flying in the heart of punk,” says Welborn, before fondly recalling the time Waters requested an anchovy pizza and ate it “in his most poetic manner” on stage. “We can’t wait to be a part of it!”
Welborn promises daily mystery pies, along with some Mosswood classics like the “Bonnie Rotten”—pistachio pesto and mushrooms—and the famed pickle ranch pie, a fan favorite. Pro tip: Do not miss out on a jumbo-sized Black Majik Lemonade.
Also on board the pirate ship’s grub galley are Oakland’s Aburaya, South San Francisco’s Me So Hungry Too, San Francisco’s Wooly Pig and Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream, along with Xochi the Dog and a full beer garden with libations from Alameda’s Faction Brewing, Cambio Tequila and Maker’s Mark.
The cozy vendor village hosts tents selling clothing and curiosities and, naturally, a substantial variety of tangible music for sale. Everyone’s vinyl fix will be covered with music vendors including Amoeba Berkeley, the Bay Area’s esteemed Alternative Tentacles—including selections for sale from Jello Biafra’s own personal collection—and cross-country vinyl vendor extraordinaire, Driptone’s Records.
“Mosswood rules!” says Driptone’s head, Aaron Hernandez. “Folks actually want to be there for the music and not just for the selfies. It’s a fun and respectful music-centric crowd. Everyone’s in a good mood; it’s a fucking party! It’s one of Driptone’s favorite festivals.”
One of the best parts of Mosswood Meltdown is the wide selection of pre- and after-festival events, including six official shows at Thee Stork Club and Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, and at the Knock Out in San Francisco. Expect performances from the Exploding Hearts, the Osees, and Shannon and the Clams, which will give festival-goers a second chance to see them.
Mosswood Meltdown, 11am to 10pm Sat-Sun, July 19-20, at Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster St., Oakland. mosswoodmeltdown.com
Kreayshawn, the Bay Area’s breakout star behind the viral hit “Gucci Gucci,” makes her long-awaited Mosswood Meltdown debut. Although Kreayshawn has delivered a handful of DJ gigs and single-serving performances of her hit single, this is our hometown girl’s first full live performance in quite some time.
Kreayshawn was kind enough to give the East Bay Express a few words in between her lowkey jetset life of checking out estate sales and DJing on the wing of a grounded 747 somewhere in the outskirts of Oregon. The discussion ranged from her current favorite pizza—garlic, honey and goat cheese, she swears by it—to her upcoming performance at Mosswood, where she’ll join a trifecta finale featuring Shannon and the Clams, and Bratmobile.
“I’m doing it for nostalgia,” Kreayshawn says. “It’s time. My mom had played Mosswood a few years back with her group [the Trashwomen], and it was good. I was contacted about playing, and I pretty much answered ‘yes’ on the spot.”
Knowing John Waters was on board for Mosswood was another key incentive for her joining the roster. “Cry-Baby [1990] … I LOVE Cry-baby,’ Kreayshawn says. Pink Flamingos (1972) also receives her exuberant praise.
Kreayshawn’s passion for film and keen skills behind the camera go way back. Born Natassia Gail Zolot and raised in San Francisco, she procured her first video-recording device at age 10 and never stopped creating. She moved to the East Bay in her early teens and studied film for a brief period at the Berkeley Digital Film Institute. She’s also directed several music videos, including the original version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” in 2011—her version was exchanged last minute by a live performance of the song.
Considered by many to be ahead of her time both artistically and with regards to music promotion, Kreayshawn effectively used the internet and social media to expose and promote her music directly, bypassing commercial and mass-market interference.
While she claims “nostalgia,” it really wasn’t all that long ago when Kreayshawn had the world in her pocket with her hit 2011 single, “Gucci Gucci.” Also around that time she had a Lil Wayne joint-effort remix, collab with 2 Chains, heavy representation on MTV, her songs featured in hit shows like Entourage, plus a great many other spoils to add to her already swollen resume of superstar status. But while slowing down a bit since then, she still makes music along with playing DJ gigs and perfecting her website, smile.rip—currently her main portal of expression.
Ironically, Kreayshawn describes herself as a “Lazy Libra.”
Although she “hates picking favorites,” Kreayshawn named Missy Elliot and Lil Wayne as artists she admires, along with a very respectful commendation for pioneer rapper Kool Keith, of the Ultra-Magnetic MCs, mainly for his prolific and versatile abilities. A “life-changing” moment for Kreayshawn’s career came in 2010, when she was brought on stage to perform with MIA. She also fondly recalls performing at a festival that featured a fellow Mosswood Meltdown act for this year: L’Trimm, a group she “can’t wait to see” at this year’s festival.
When Bay Area rapper LaRussell learned he was going to perform for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts late last year, he felt like he was finally accomplishing a career goal he had hoped for for most of his life.
“It was a really fulfilling experience. We got there independently, off the strength of our own work,” LaRussell said in a recent interview. “I got to bring the homies and my mom. Seeing the response from the community was huge, too.”
LaRussell Thomas, who was born in Vallejo in the ’90s and has spent his whole life in the North Bay city, is known for his socially conscious lyricism, his energetic performances and his involvement in the Vallejo community.
His business model involves running a completely independent record label called Good Compenny, where he signs up-and-coming artists from Vallejo and the surrounding Bay Area. His mission is to support musicians looking to release their work on their own terms and share it with a wider audience. LaRussell himself has even denied high-paying, plush record deals to avoid compromising his creative process.
In addition to operating the Good Compenny label, LaRussell produces live concerts in the backyard of his childhood home, where folks can hang with his family and enjoy a community meal together under a pay-what-you-wish model, allowing attendees to contribute what they can afford.
LaRussell is also popular for sharing his financial profit with his fans. He does this by sharing royalties of his music with his creative team and other supporters who are interested in investing in his merchandise, recordings and other products.
The Bay Area rapper has made quite a name for himself, with about 1.7 million followers on Instagram. In the last few years, he’s booked a slew of shows across the country—about 100 shows annually. But he always stays true to his Bay Area roots.
In the last five years he’s teamed up with local hip-hop legends including Too Short, P-Lo and E-40. Near the end of 2024 he performed at The New Parish alongside Bay Area rap veteran Richie Rich, who was once signed with Def Jam Recordings and was close with Tupac back in the day. LaRussell has since signed Rich to his label and, just last year, the pair released a song together titled, “What We Doin!?”
One of LaRussell’s favorite restaurants—and a popular brunch spot—is Momo’s Cafe. LaRussell has partnered with Momo’s in the past to offer a “pay what you want” menu for locals who might struggle to pay the full price for a meal.
Time and time again LaRussell looks for new ways to invest in his community. He wants others to see the beauty of his hometown.
“Our goal is to show both sides of Vallejo,” he said. “We’ve done these food events at the local smoothie place [and] at the sandwich spot, and we just do them at random.”
He’s even organized community events for the youth of Vallejo, putting together a school-style field day earlier this summer where kids participated in games, sports and dance.
“There were so many kids and so many families. Everyone was outside in the name of fun and community. We had pickleball, basketball, soccer and football,” LaRussell said. “It’s giving them an experience that they never had.”
LaRussell has produced 30 to 40 full-length albums since he began releasing music in 2018. The rapper published eight full-length albums this year alone, including one that features live recordings from his NPR Tiny Desk performance. He explained that the music often flows out of him, and he just tries to have fun with the process.
“I have a special project called ‘What’s It Worth to You?’ and that one will be more in-depth—it’s just me over piano, no drums or anything,” LaRussell said. “That’ll be coming in the near future, and I’m excited about it.”
Forty years ago, Aileen Moffitt taught at Prescott Elementary in Oakland. Moffitt, an Oakland native, was white, teaching in a predominantly Black school. Her background also included juggling and clowning and, mentored by African American teachers, she created a program first known as “Prescott Clowns” and today known as the Prescott Circus Theatre (PCT).
The PCT program succeeded because from the beginning it was sensitive to and respectful of the students it serves, said Executive/Artistic Director David Hunt. “It was always a grassroots approach, and caught the attention of people and organizations, such as the East Bay Community Foundation, who care about the wellbeing of children,” he said.
Skills taught include clowning, juggling, acrobatics, stilt dancing, hip-hop dance and balancing acts. But the lessons learned are so much more, Hunt said. “To see an eight-year-old step onstage and present themselves with poise and pride … building confidence is the main thing,” he said. Other benefits include the ability to work in groups “in ways they’ve never been asked to before,” he said, “working on behalf of a bigger vision.”
Participants also learn that their talent is uniquely their own, as well as how to accept the value of the others’ talents. A smaller child, one who may have been teased about their size, learns that they and only they can be at the top of a human pyramid.
Practical skills include time management, accountability and the ability to feel confident in spaces they have never been in. For example, Hunt said, the kids are tasked with loading and unloading the van for performances outside school grounds.
Over the years, other schools have requested the program. Currently, it serves eight schools besides Prescott Elementary: Bella Vista Elementary, East Oakland Pride Elementary, Esperanza Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary, La Escuelita Elementary, Montera Middle and Piedmont Avenue. A K-2 program also operates in some schools, as well as Circus Pathways for Older Youth, which serves kids in sixth grade and up.
The Oakland Unified School District salutes the PCT program with the words: “Students from 3rd to 5th grade meet for 9 hours a week after-school. Students learn circus skills such as stilts and dancing. They also receive after-school tutoring and academic support. Students perform in various events in the community, including Oakland’s Black Joy Parade…The goal is for students to expand their creativity and sense of self. The Prescott Circus has used a culturally inclusive curriculum to educate generations.”
Alumni of the program sometimes go on to careers in the arts, Hunt said. Through Prescott Circus Theatre, “they meet other artists of color, and discover a world beyond West Oakland,” he said. Many more go into education, some becoming teaching artists.
The program returns this summer for free performances. The 60-minute show, themed True Colors, Let Your True Light Shine! has three performances at the Malonga Casquelourd Theatre, July 15 and 16, and one outdoor performance at Lil’ Bobby Hutton Park on July 19.
The summer shows are a “culmination of the six-week academic program,” Hunt said. They include 32 kids, ages 8-17, “of which 80% are returning students.”
Group reservations are welcome from childcare centers, senior centers, camps and community groups for the Malonga shows. Reservations are not necessary for the outdoor show.
Wrote the PCT on Instagram: “Since 1985, Prescott Circus Theatre, its students, schools, and communities have been carrying on cultural traditions that date back [thousands] of years while reshaping and creating how circus is expressed in the United States today. We are proud to say, “WE ARE BLACK HISTORY AND WE ARE BLACK FUTURES.”
PCT shows: July 15, 11am, 1:30pm and July 16, 11am. Malonga Casquelourd Theatre, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Reservations: 510.350.7207 or prescottcircus.org/2025/05/2025summershows or in**@************us.org; July 19, 2pm, Lil’ Bobby Hutton Park at DeFremery Rec Center, 1651 Adeline St., Oakland. Reservations not necessary.
K-pop star Baekhyun takes on the Oakland Arena this week for his “Reverie” tour. At 33 years old, the powerhouse vocalist is in almost too many groups to count: the Chinese-Korean boy band Exo, its subgroup Exo-K, its subunit Exo-CBX and the supergroup SuperM. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he offers his fans a steady solo output, featuring R&B-influenced hits like “Paranoia” and “Bambi.” His latest release, The Essence of Reverie, does not miss a beat. As he told Weverse Magazine earlier this year, “I don’t think I made it to where I am today because I got lucky. I worked as hard as I could.” – ADDIE MAHMASSANI
Put on your snood—or your skintight white bell bottoms—and sashay down to Yoshi’s for a live cabaret starring Ms. Buttah and the Buttaluv Band as they musically recreate decades from the Swing Era to 1970s funk and soul. The vocal fireworks of Ms.Buttah, who has performed at the Apollo and on American Idol, are the perfect warm-up for the Fourth of July weekend. Her sultry rendition of “At Last” gives the Etta James classic version a run for its money. Don’t plan on sitting down, as the joint will definitely be jumpin’ with jitterbugging and Soul Train line dancing. – JANIS HASHE
A linchpin of the mixtape era and the architect behind Gangsta Grillz, DJ Drama helped launch titans like T.I., Jeezy and Lil Wayne, defining the gritty, swaggering pulse of 2000s hip-hop. His reach runs deep—equal parts curator, connector and kingmaker—bringing together underground upstarts and chart-topping heavyweights. Whether breaking new artists or spinning legacy heat, Drama brings the urgency of the streets and the polish of a pro. Expect a set that slides from Southern classics to contemporary chaos, a history lesson with bass. Come sweat it out in the archives. – SONYA BENNETT-BRANDT
Is there anything better than a homecoming show? How about one featuring one of the most influential Bay Area punk acts at one of the most influential punk venues of all time? This Saturday, Samiam returns to where it all started: 924 Gilman. It was 1988 and Gilman mainstay, pop-punk band Isocracy, had just broken up. Out of the ashes rose Samiam, which rode the first wave of ’90s mainstream punk with songs on MTV. Despite numerous lineup changes, touring the world and a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, Samiam continues to endure and in 2023 put out what could arguably be their strongest album to date, Stowaway. – MAT WEIR
They say it takes 10 years to become good at something. This year just so happens to be Creeping Death’s 10th anniversary as a band, and it’s safe to say these guys are definitely in the “success” category. Hailing from Texas, they blend Swedish-style death metal with American thrash for an updated version that will make anyone’s eyeballs bleed from too much headbanging. It’s demented. It’s brutal. It demands senseless moshing. It’s everything we love about American death metal, and singer Reese Alavi’s vocals can still be easily understood by the most un-metal people while remaining wrapped in metaphorical shrapnel. – MW
Who pianist Dred Scott is not: the enslaved man who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom in 1857, nor the rapper of the same name. This Dred Scott, an iconoclastic Bay Area native who moved to NYC decades ago, is an acclaimed jazz pianist who’s recorded 13 albums including his latest, Cali Mambo. This one was inspired by the Latin jazz recordings of George Shearing, and Scott, currently touring while “cobbling back together the remnants of his pre-Covid musical life,” will jam on tracks from it in his Oakland gig. Vibraphonist Tom Beckham, Latin jazz drummer Josh Jones and bassist Sam Bevan will join him in what’s sure to be an evening of Latin lace and escapades. – JH
INFO: Sat, 5:30pm, Piedmont Piano Company, 1728 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. $25-$30. 510.547.8188.
SUNDAY, JULY 6
WORLD MUSIC
BAMBA WASSOULOU GROOVE
Travel on the strings of the Malian guitars to the distant land of Mali in West Africa. At the apex of each of Bamba Wassoulou Groove’s compositions there is no downward slide, but instead a sense of being given wings and cast into a great blue sky to fly untethered. With roots in hugely popular ’70s and ’80s bands—like Super Djata Band, Ambassadors of Salif Keita and the Super Rail Band—that due to various forces dissolved, the group’s next-gen members retain Malian culture and musical traditions while storming into modern times with original songs and instrumentation and vocals that reflect contemporary influences. Bring dancing shoes, ’cause this sound is geared for moving. – LOU FANCHER
Kasher and Leggero have done a lot of cool stuff in their careers, but the best thing was getting hitched in 2015. The married couple hit the road and now bring to Yoshi’s “The Endless Honeymoon Podcast” Tour. The topics will surely range from popping out a first child in 2018; the worst things they’ve ever done to themselves, each other and anyone within shouting distance; and how to get along—or not—within a love relationship. Is life an endless honeymoon? No, but this duo can make a person a believer, or at least make someone able to laugh at colossal failure and plead for forgiveness, a second chance, and more stories from Leggero and Kasher. – LF
Oakland-born Sucker Crush writes hushed summer ballads and midnight breakup songs—music for when the party’s over but we’re still awake, scrolling old texts and replaying what we shouldn’t have said. The songwriting project of composer and multi-instrumentalist Marissa Deitz, Crush’s sound is hazy and heart-heavy, built on dreamy guitar lines, late-night synths and lingering vocals. It’s pop wilted at the edges; romantic, but never naive. Whether nursing a crush or bleeding from one, Sucker Crush turns emotional fallout into something tender, cinematic and peppered with humor: bittersweet anthems for long walks home. – SBB
INFO: Mon, 7:30pm, Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Ave., Albany. $15. 510.526.5888.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9
JAZZ
KOLUMBO
If summer were a song, it might be one by Kolumbo. The “synthedelic” tiki-jazz act hit the scene in 2022 with their debut album, Gung-Ho,and has swayed happily in the breeze since. The man behind the band’s balmy magic, Brooklyn-based keyboardist Frank LoCrasto, has toured with Cass McCombs and Fruit Bats. Growing up in landlocked Texas he was smitten by all things beach, from the scent of sunscreen to the sound of 1960s exotica. Aficionados and dilettantes alike love Kolumbo’s take on the quirky, tropical genre, which has come into full form with their second record, Sandy Legs. – AM
Published in cooperation between Pink Palace and the East Bay Express
There’s nothing better than jumping on a random chat site when you want some social interaction. While LuckyCrush has nailed the random chat market, there are plenty of LuckyCrush alternatives out there that we think are equally as good, if not better.
From random video chats to live stream shows, let us open up your online world with 10 of the best LuckyCrush alternatives.
1. Pink Palace—Overall Best LuckyCrush Alternative
Pros
Amazing Private Party mode
User-friendly layout
Supports diverse kinks and fetishes
Also includes trans chats
Cons
Heavy token dependence
Fewer gay sex cams
Price
Tokens start at $9.99 for 100 tokens
Until late last year, Pink Palace was the new kid on the block, but has now grown so big that it has become the cool kid on the block, dethroning other LuckyCrush alternatives. Pink Palace has become theNo. 1 place to enjoy video chats with interesting strangers with better features.
How does it work?
Right off the bat, the platform has a large user base that’s always active and ready to engage you in some adult naughtiness—if you catch my drift.
If you prefer private chats over the crowd-controlled public rooms, I bet Pink Palace’s bustling private rooms will knock your socks right off.
The private rooms have become a staple on the side, with a Pink Palace introducing a fantastic Private Party mode, which allows you to join several private chats simultaneously.
How about that?
That means you can create a mini chat control room and juggle between the hosts, depending on your mood and what each offers.
You can also engage the interactive sex toys in the room (most hosts have them) and give your sexy partner a ride of their life by activating powerful vibrations starting at 5 tokens for 4-second spins.
You can explore as many kinks as you want since Pink Palace caters to all kinks and fetishes. From bondage, cuckolds, sadism, roleplays, voyeurism, etc., there’s definitely something for everyone.
The best part? You get to stream all this in clear and consistent HD video quality, giving you all the vivid details of your chat partner’s features.
2. ChatRandom—Alternative to LuckyCrush for Random Video Chat
Pros
Video chat with random strangers
Android and iOS mobile app
LGBTQ+ friendly
Random video chat or voice chat
Live shows available
Cons
More men than women
Live shows cost
Price
A basic account is free
Premium subscription: $19.99 per month
ChatRandom is a great alternative to LuckCrush if you’re a gay guy. This random video chat site has a stack of men looking to connect with other random strangers.
If you’re looking for heterosexual people, you will find some here, including women, but they are few and far between.
Just like LuckyCrush, you won’t have to fill out any personal details when you use the site—in fact, you don’t even need to sign up if you don’t mind talking to random people. However, if you want something a little more customized, you’ll have to take out a premium subscription.
It won’t break the bank. For $19.99 a month, you can set your preferences and chat with people who match.
It can make for a far more enjoyable experience to do this, but if you’re strapped for cash and just want some connection with a random girl or boy, the free version definitely will suffice.
Out of all the alternatives to LuckyCrush, this is one that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
3. CamFrog—Random Chat Rooms for Dating or Casual Fun
Pros
Simple chat site to meet new friends
Discreet design
Great for mobile devices
Adult only chat rooms
Cons
You have to download a browser app
Some fake accounts
Price
Free basic account
Pro Membership: $3.33 a month
Extreme Membership: $5 a month
Gold Membership: $25 a month
If you’re interested in online dating, as well as enjoying video calls, CamFrog could be the site for you. It works like a chat site, giving you a random connection, but you can also use it to find a date.
You’ll need to upgrade your account to get the most out of it, but it’s very affordable and offers several different membership levels from as low as $3.33 a month.
Upgrading allows you to join multiple chat rooms, send VIP messages to new friends and set out exactly what you’re looking for. The site’s got a pretty seamless algorithm that pairs you up with others that you’d gel with, so you should find it easy to meet other users.
If you get on with your match, you can exchange details when you video chat and take things further.
The only downside to the site is it doesn’t cater to the LGBTQ+ community very well unless you upgrade. At such a low price, though, upgrading won’t break the bank.
Overall, we think this is a great LuckyCrush alternative. Why not give it a try?
Shagle is one of the hottest free video chat rooms that we found in our hunt for alternatives to LuckyCrush. What’s particularly interesting about this live random video chat site is there is a fairly even ratio of men to women, which is a real bonus.
Unlike some chat sites, you don’t have to spend ages clicking “next” until a woman pops up if that’s what you’re looking for.
If you choose to upgrade to a premium subscription, you’ll be able to customize your requests and filter via interest. This gives you way more opportunity to make sure you get some hot and steamy chat time.
It’s a pretty reasonable price, too; you can choose to pay $6.99 a week or $19.99 a month.
That’s not bad for a more personalized experience. For a site that has 100,000 users a day, it should be pretty easy to find new friends.
5. LiveJasmin—Premium Site for Live Video Conversation With Pro Models
Pros
Video chat with professional models
Live shows
Variety of prices
Some free chat rooms
Cons
The best models can be expensive
Payment methods are limited
Price
Credits start at $38.77 for 27.99 credits
Private shows range from 0.01 credits per minute to 9.99 credits per minute
For video calls with professional models, look no further than LiveJasmin. This premium cam site has a stack of saucy online chats and shows with some pretty affordable rates.
You’ll have to sign up to enjoy shows for longer than five minutes, but once you do, you’ll have a huge range of niches and adult video chat that you can enjoy.
If you don’t mind watching with others, you will find some free chat rooms, but be prepared to pay, as most offer private one-to-one chats and shows.
If you’re on a budget, you’ll find a handy price list on the left hand side of the site, where you can filter based on what you’re prepared to pay.
No matter what your budget is, there are always options here.
The site’s got a pretty diverse range of models to chat with, including lots of LGBTQ+ friendly models. Whether you’re looking for some fun solo time or you just want to enjoy the intimacy the shows create, this is a great LuckyCrush alternative.
6. Flirt4Free—Biggest Range of Paid and Free Webcams
Pros
Top amateur models
Huge variety of shows
Group chat, free and private shows
Diverse range of models
Cons
The best models are expensive
Too many pop-up ads on the site
Price
Free shows/chat and paid shows
Private shows: 45 cents per min to $19 per min
VIP subscription—$39.95 per month
For those of you who like to have a choice of chat rooms and shows, Flirt4Free offers plenty of variety. As well as multiple types of chat rooms, you’ll also find some pretty steamy cam shows on offer.
With a diverse selection of models to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice with who to chat with.
The live shows here have some pretty wild content, no matter whether you choose to watch a free show or you take it private. That’s what makes this such a great LuckyCrush alternative; you don’t need to pay a fortune.
You’ll find a stack of different niches that you can pick from, too, and lots of kinky content.
What we like the most about the site, though, is that it gives you 120 free credits when you sign up. That’s enough to get a taste of the site without having to dip your hand into your own pocket.
If it is for you, private shows range from 45 cents to $19 per minute, so choose wisely.
You can also opt for the VIP subscription, which gives you preferential treatment from the models and access to exclusive photos and videos.
Kik has made it onto our list of the best LuckyCrush alternatives because of its simplicity. It works as a random chat site where you can video call or text chat with people around the world.
No signup is needed; just download the browser app, and you’re good to go.
While Kik used to be a well-known site that teenagers used to make random connections with people across the world, it’s now become a well-respected site for everyone. Of course, that does mean you’ll have to be careful who you’re talking to.
The site doesn’t restrict its age enforcement other than asking for your date of birth, so just be careful who you’re sending private messages to.
Still, if you’re sensible, this is a great alternative to LuckyCrush.
With 15 million active users a month, a random chat generator that is free to use and the ability to filter by kinky group and location, you just might find that this app becomes your favorite.
8. TinyChat—Best for Group Video Chats With Random Users
Pros
Group chats for up to 12 people
Mobile optimized site
No downloads needed
Free basic account
Cons
You can’t chat one-on-one
You have to sign up
Price
Free to use
Pro membership: $4.14 per month
Extreme membership: $6.22 per month
Gold membership: $37.49 per month
If you want to have fun with a group of random strangers, TinyChat is perfect for you. Unlike the other chat sites we’ve covered in this review, this site is designed to bring together random strangers online with similar interests in a host of different group calls.
If you’re looking to make new friends or try out some steamy chat with others, you’ll be right at home here.
You will need to sign up to use the site, but the signup process isn’t intrusive, and you won’t get spammed by email.
Just create an alias and set up a second email address if you’re really worried, but we really don’t think it’s an issue.
Most of the site can be used for free, but if you want to get access to chat rooms with the hottest girls, you will need to upgrade. There’s a range of packages that you can choose from, though; expect to pay anywhere from $4.14 per month to $37.49 per month
9. ChatSpin—Enjoy Discreet Random Video Chat With People Online
Pros
Safe environment for users to chat
Free basic account
Meet strangers randomly
Simple user interface
Cons
Unlikely to meet the same people again
Some security features cost
Price
Free basic account
Premium subscription: $19.99 per month
ChatSpin is one of the chat websites that helps you chat with random people around the world. Sounds like some of the other chat websites that we’ve reviewed, doesn’t it?
But where ChatSpin is different is it has some top-notch security features that we haven’t seen anywhere else.
As well as giving the option of adding an AI facemask, helping to keep your identity schtum, this site also actively boots out abusive users, allowing you to get on and enjoy your online chat in peace.
For a random video chat site, that’s pretty unusual. Just click the report button, and the site will sort out the rest.
You might be surprised to see AdultFriendFinder in our list of LuckyCrush alternatives, but if you’ve used the dating app before, you’ll know that it has a whole different side to it from just standard dating.
This chat website has a stack of chat and cam features with some very adult shows. That’s not all, though. You’ll find a huge variety of interest groups, a “kink school” and if you’re up for it, you can also broadcast yourself.
Got your interest? Good. Out of all of the sites in our review, we think this is a great alternative to LuckyCrush.
The best LuckyCrush alternatives are Pink Palace and ChatRandom. Both of these sites offer live shows and intimate chats with amateurs and professional models.
What LuckyCrush Alternatives are Free?
All of the LuckyCrush alternatives in our review offer an element of free chats. If you want a site that is completely free, though, try outKik.
Are Online Chat Platforms Legal?
Yes, online chat platforms are legal. Just make sure that you check the age restrictions on the sites so you don’t end up having inappropriate chat with someone underage.
Top Lucky Crush Alternative Options in Conclusion
There you have it. We’ve given you some great LuckyCrush alternative sites to ponder over.
Whether you decide to go for Pink Palace and enjoy chat and live shows with professionals, or you opt for ChatSpin and talk to random strangers, we know you’ll have a great time.
If you’re still not sure, check them all out. With each offering basic free packages, you’ve nothing to lose.
I lived in between the Dimond and Laurel districts for well over a decade. Whenever I was in the mood for Mexican food, I left the neighborhood. I never fell in love with the lone taqueria there. Instead, I’d zoom down the 580 to pick up grilled fish tacos and tostadas at La Calaca Loca, scout out food trucks all around Fruitvale or relax on Picante’s patio with our giant dog after a walk around the Berkeley Marina. Are they really going to start charging folks to park there now? Boo!
When Degrees Plato opened on MacArthur Boulevard in 2017, the kitchen offered torta, taco and taquito options, but its primary identity was a brewery with a healthy list of craft beers. Then in 2021, Dominica Rice-Cisneros lit up the neighborhood when she opened Bombera. Rice-Cisneros’ dishes received multiple raves in the press, including a recent nod on the Los Angeles Times’ list of the 101 best restaurants in California. But Bombera has also become a cultural hub and gathering place. For Pride Month in June, the restaurant held a book release party with a Q&A between What Is Queer Food? author John Birdsall and Friends and Family chef Gaby Maeda.
With the arrival of Golondrinas Mexican Grill, the Laurel neighborhood now has another option for Mexican food. Located closer to the Mills College end of MacArthur and across the street from Fist of Flour’s pizza den, Golondrinas serves familiar, solid plates of food. Where Bombera delves into charred beet salads with whipped pumpkin and sesame seed butter and smoked trout tostadas, Golondrinas steadfastly takes the old-fashioned approach to comfort food.
The restaurant has moved into Michele LeProhn’s Communité Table space. The biggest alteration to the interior is what’s stocked in the deli case. All of LeProhn’s side salads have been replaced by two shelves of colorful cakes. The cashier told me they aren’t made in-house; only the flan ($6) is. Golondrinas serves tacos, but it’s not a taqueria. The menu, seeking to please every potential customer, also includes burritos, nachos, quesadillas, sandwiches, breakfast, salads, plates, soups and a kids menu. No one in the family will go hungry here.
Customers order at the front counter, the same way they did at Communité Table. While Golondrinas, like LeProhn’s business model, is also set up for food-to-go, people began filling up the tables at lunchtime. To start, the agua frescas ($4) land on the overly sweet side of the spectrum. Both the watermelon and the jamaica tasted more like artificial, rather than freshly made, concoctions. The sugar content needs to be toned way down.
A plate of nachos succeeds or fails on the quality of the chips as the vehicles carrying heaps of melted cheese. The Golondrinas nacho plate ($11 plus $2 for guacamole) definitely succeeds at finding that balance. The chips, while not homemade, were sturdy enough to hold a pile of beans and salsa together as the gooey mess traveled to the mouth. We finished the entire plate, but Picante’s dark and oily, twisty corn chips take the dish to another level. Golondrinas’ version lacks that extra something necessary to make it a must-return-to appetizer.
The kitchen’s best dishes are the entrées. The tamale plate (two for $12) offers three options to choose from. Pork, with a chocolate brown mole sauce; chicken, with a warm salsa verde; or poblano peppers, onions and queso fresco with either sauce. Both sauces add pleasant kicks of spice to the stewed meats. The pork was particularly tender and a perfect match for the mole sauce.
Three enchilada plates are also available—two with cheese or chicken (mole $15, red or green sauce $14.90), or the vegetarian option ($14.50) we tried. The tortillas were filled with long thick slices of braised zucchini and topped with a hearty salsa verde, fresh avocado and cilantro, crema, and sides of rice and black beans. With plates like these, Golondrinas adds a comforting middle ground to the neighborhood, right between a to-go taqueria and Bombera’s Bib Gourmand designation.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Greek philosopher Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That extreme statement is a foundational idea of Western philosophy. It’s hard to do! To be ceaselessly devoted to questioning yourself is a demanding assignment. But here’s the good news: I think you will find it extra liberating in the coming weeks. Blessings and luck will flow your way as you challenge your dogmas and expand your worldview. Your humble curiosity will attract just the influences you need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Recently, I brought an amazing Taurus to your attention: The German polymath Athanasius Kircher, who lived from 1601 to 1680. Once again, I will draw on his life to provide guidance for you. Though he’s relatively unknown today, he was the Leonardo da Vinci of his age—a person with a vast range of interests. His many admirers called him “Master of a Hundred Arts.” He traveled extensively and wrote 40 books that covered a wide array of subjects. For years, he curated a “cabinet of curiosities” or “wonder-room” filled with interesting and mysterious objects. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be inspired by his way of being, Taurus. Be richly miscellaneous and wildly versatile.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): How does a person become a creative genius in their field? What must they do to become the best? In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell said that one way to accomplish these goals is to devote 10,000 hours to practicing and mastering your skill set. There’s some value in that theory, though the full truth is more nuanced. Determined, focused effort that’s guided by mentors and bolstered by good feedback is more crucial than simply logging hours. Having access to essential resources is another necessity. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because I believe the coming months will be a favorable time to summon a high level of disciplined devotion as you expedite your journey toward mastery.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): There’s a story from West African tradition in which a potter listens to the raw material she has gathered from the earth. She waits for it to tell her what it wants to become. In this view, the potter is not a dictator but a midwife. I believe this is an excellent metaphor for you, Cancerian. Let’s imagine that you are both the potter and the clay. A new form is ready to emerge, but it won’t respond to force. You must attune to what wants to be born through you. Are you trying to shape your destiny too insistently, when it’s already confiding in you about its preferred shape? Surrender to the conversation.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my odd but ultimately rewarding invitation: Tune in to the nagging aches and itches that chafe at the bottom of your heart and in the back of your mind. For now, don’t try to scratch them or rub them. Simply observe them and feel them, with curiosity and reverence. Allow them to air their grievances and tell you their truths. Immerse yourself in the feelings they arouse. It may take 10 minutes, or it might take longer, but if you maintain this vigil, your aches and itches will ultimately provide you with smart guidance. They will teach you what questions you need to ask and how to go in quest for the healing answers.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Wise gardeners may plan their planting by the moon’s phases. Through study of the natural world, they understand that seeds sown at the ripe moment will flourish, while those planted at random times may be less hardy. In this spirit, I offer you the following counsel for the coming weeks: Your attention to timing will be a great asset. Before tinkering with projects or making commitments, assess the cycles at play in everything: the level of your life energy, the moods of others and the tenor of the wider world. By aligning your moves with subtle rhythms, you will optimize your ability to get exactly what you want.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In parts of Italy, grapevines were once trained not on wires or trellises, but on living trees, usually maples or poplars. The vines spiraled upward, drawing strength and structure from their tall allies. The practice kept grapes off the ground, improved air circulation and allowed for mixed land use, such as growing cereals between the rows of trees and vines. In the coming weeks, Libra, I advise you to be inspired by this phenomenon. Climb while in relationship. Who or what is your living trellis? Rather than pushing forward on your own, align with influences that offer height, grounding and steady companionship. When you spiral upward together, your fruits will be sweeter and more robust.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles, guided by instincts and cues invisible to humans. They trust they will find what they need along the way. Like them, you may soon feel called to venture beyond your comfort zone—intellectually, socially or geographically. I advise you to rely on your curiosity and adaptability. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the journey will lead you to resources and help you hadn’t anticipated. The path may be crooked. The detours could be enigmatic. But if you are committed to enjoying the expansive exploration, you’ll get what you didn’t even know you needed.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your assignment is to uncover hidden treasures. Use the metaphorical version of your peripheral vision to become aware of valuable stuff you are missing and resources you are neglecting. Here’s another way to imagine your task: There may be situations, relationships or opportunities that have not yet revealed their full power and glory. Now is a perfect moment to discern their pregnant potential. So dig deeper, Sagittarius—through reflection, research or conversation. Trust that your open-hearted, open-minded probing will guide you to unexpected gems.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” What did he mean by that? That we shouldn’t try to use words to describe and understand this complex music? Countless jazz critics, scholars and musicians might disagree with that statement. They have written millions of words analyzing the nature of jazz. In that spirit, I am urging you to devote extra energy in the coming weeks to articulating clear ideas about your best mysteries. Relish the prospect of defining what is hard to define. You can still enjoy the raw experience even as you try to get closer to explaining it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the Andean highlands there’s a concept called ayni, a venerated principle of reciprocity. “Today for you, tomorrow for me,” it says. This isn’t a transactional deal. It’s a relational expansiveness. People help and support others not because they expect an immediate return. Rather, they trust that life will ultimately find ways to repay them. I suggest you explore this approach in the coming weeks, Aquarius. Experiment with giving freely, without expectation. Conversely, have blithe faith that you will receive what you need. Now is prime time to enhance and fine-tune your web of mutual nourishment.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): How often do I, your calm, sensible counselor, provide you with a carte blanche to indulge in exuberant gratification, a free pass for exciting adventures, and a divine authorization to indulge in luxurious abundance and lavish pleasure? Not often, dear Pisces. So I advise you not to spend another minute wondering what to do next. As soon as possible, start claiming full possession of your extra blessings from the gods of joy and celebration and revelry. Here’s your meditation question: What are the best ways to express your lust for life?
Good hash has always been harder to find than good bud. Over the years, most California growers with talent made their own hash and had access to the good stuff. The rest of us had to “know a dealer” who didn’t hoard all of it for themselves. Good hash seldom escapes the inner sanctum of stoner community circles. Those...
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the days before lighthouses, some coastal communities used “fire beacons”—elevated structures where people tended open flames to guide sailors. In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to be like both the keeper and the flame. People will be drawn to your brightness, warmth and persistence as they navigate through their haze and fog....
Oakland’s premiere music festival, hosted by His Majesty of Molluck, John Waters, is close at hand. The lineup this year includes: Kreayshawn (see sidebar), Shannon and the Clams, Osees, Exploding Hearts, Bratmobile and the legendary DEVO. But let’s not forget about the other aspects of our favorite festival that grease the gears of Meltdowners—like food, vendors, music for sale...
Kreayshawn, the Bay Area’s breakout star behind the viral hit “Gucci Gucci,” makes her long-awaited Mosswood Meltdown debut. Although Kreayshawn has delivered a handful of DJ gigs and single-serving performances of her hit single, this is our hometown girl’s first full live performance in quite some time.
Kreayshawn was kind enough to give the East Bay Express a few words...
When Bay Area rapper LaRussell learned he was going to perform for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts late last year, he felt like he was finally accomplishing a career goal he had hoped for for most of his life.
“It was a really fulfilling experience. We got there independently, off the strength of our own work,” LaRussell said in a recent...
Forty years ago, Aileen Moffitt taught at Prescott Elementary in Oakland. Moffitt, an Oakland native, was white, teaching in a predominantly Black school. Her background also included juggling and clowning and, mentored by African American teachers, she created a program first known as “Prescott Clowns” and today known as the Prescott Circus Theatre (PCT).
The PCT program succeeded because from...
THURSDAY, JULY 3
POP
BAEKHYUN
K-pop star Baekhyun takes on the Oakland Arena this week for his “Reverie” tour. At 33 years old, the powerhouse vocalist is in almost too many groups to count: the Chinese-Korean boy band Exo, its subgroup Exo-K, its subunit Exo-CBX and the supergroup SuperM. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he offers his fans a steady solo...
Published in cooperation between Pink Palace and the East Bay Express
There’s nothing better than jumping on a random chat site when you want some social interaction. While LuckyCrush has nailed the random chat market, there are plenty of LuckyCrush alternatives out there that we think are equally as good, if not better.
From random video chats to live stream shows,...
I lived in between the Dimond and Laurel districts for well over a decade. Whenever I was in the mood for Mexican food, I left the neighborhood. I never fell in love with the lone taqueria there. Instead, I’d zoom down the 580 to pick up grilled fish tacos and tostadas at La Calaca Loca, scout out food trucks...
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Greek philosopher Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That extreme statement is a foundational idea of Western philosophy. It’s hard to do! To be ceaselessly devoted to questioning yourself is a demanding assignment. But here’s the good news: I think you will find it extra liberating in the coming weeks. Blessings and...
