San Francisco Voice

Although I don’t live there anymore, there is a fondness in my heart for my hometown (Tucson). There’s an area of that city that I used to spend a lot of time in – 4th Avenue – which is the haunt of Tucson’s hippie community. I used to linger there in the evenings, listening to open mic poets read their works at late night cafes. And I used to wander there during the day, picking up clothes at the thrift stores and listening to the strumming guitars of people sitting outside at sidewalk tables. When I think of this place, …read more

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One of the greatest things about music in San Francisco is that there is a diversity of genres here. If you want to hear a particular kind of music, you can find a band or musician that plays it and a venue that showcases it. We’re lucky in that. One of those genres is jazz; and one of those musicians is Marlina Teich. Not only does she play jazz in venues across the city, but she’s also the founder of an organization called Jazzheimer’s which brings this music to Alzheimer’s patients in and around San Francisco’s Western Addition. Learn more …read more

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Earthy. That’s the word that keeps coming to mind as I explore the music made by Micah Anderson. It has the rich texture of fertile soil. It has roots that stretch deep into the ground of musical influence. And it has the bright vividness of colors and smells and sensations that can only be found in nature. It is down-to-earth; earthy.
Micah Anderson is a San Jose musician who plays a version of acoustic rock that’s spiced up with a hint of blues, a dash of country and maybe even a little tiny pinch of gospel. His voice is deep and …read more

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When I was in middle school and early high school, I was drawn towards bands like Boys II Men. What can I say; I had a romantic bone inside of me that was aching to be picked. I daydreamed about growing up to enjoy candlelit dinners, rose petals strewn across large beds and passionate kisses. And I listened to the music by men who painted tales of that kind of romance. These days, I’m more inclined towards songs by female singer-songwriters with independent spirits and creative careers. But there’s a soft spot in my heart for the kind of music …read more

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I love the CD that I got from Drew Thomas. I know, that’s not a very good description for a music review. But that’s the thing about love – words can’t ever do it justice. You can’t describe the way that a person gets inside of you and presses your heart with their own pulse so that yours beats faster than it ever has before. You can’t describe the way that the right person – or the right lyrics – can know you better than you know yourself. Because it doesn’t matter what metaphors you come up with or what …read more

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You’ll have to be familiar with San Francisco’s music scene to understand why I absolutely adore Going My Way, the CD of local musician Shane Papatolicas. That’s because I can’t give a review that doesn’t mention a comparison between Shane’s music and the music of my favorite San Francisco Band, Bag of Toys. And with this CD, Shane managed to surpass the band in my eyes because of the diversity of his music. But for those of you who aren’t on the same page as me, let’s backtrack a little bit.
We’ll start with Bag of Toys. I stumbled on this …read more

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Imagine that it is the end of winter in a place that has four typical seasons. You are in your apartment, wearing fuzzy pajamas and a warm robe. Outside of your window, the wind stirs up the chill but the true harshness of winter has already subsided. You have just gotten over your winter cold, and you feel happy just to feel well. You are curled up on your favorite chair, your hands wrapped around a mug of hot tea. It’s dark tea, with a rich smoky flavor and you’ve accented it with a spill of cream and a dash …read more

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Go to Rich Sigberman’s website and you’ll learn that he does “Jazz, Pop & Abstract Artwork” and “Commercial and Architectural Illustration”. What does that mean? He’s an illustrator and artist who has done work for books and buildings all throughout the Bay Area. Much of his inspiration comes from the jazz musicians that he has loved for years. In other words, Rich gets to do what many artists only dream of doing; he makes a living from his art. And he gives you some hints as to how in his blog. But first, learn more about his work from this …read more

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The truth is that I don’t even know where to start with telling you about the art and entrepreneurship of Illyanna Maisonet. That’s because this chick (who was Mission before Mission was cool) has got so much going on and she’s doing it all well. She’s a graffiti artist, a fashion line produced, an illustrator for various projects including stuff affiliated with bands and her own upcoming ‘zine. Really, there’s not much this girl isn’t doing. And somehow, she finds the time to set goals related to using art to help latchkey kids. But I’ll let her tell you all …read more

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*painting by Ken Keegan, see his virtual art gallery for more images and information*
Ken Keegan is a San Francisco artist originally from New York. His use of color draws in your attention and creates a kind of flow to his artwork that makes it seem almost as if it is in motion. This effect is enhanced when you view his work in his virtual art gallery which is one of the best website set-ups for an artist that I’ve ever seen. In this interview, Ken tells San Fran Voice about his work and his experiences so far in San Francisco.
What …read more

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