Mission District

From the Front Lines of SF's Alternative Comedy Scene: Cynic Cave and King Tuff's Garett Goddard on Burger Records' Upcoming Stand-up Project

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

It was just over a year ago that George Chen and Kevin O'Shea brought stand-up comedy to Lost Weekend Video's fledgling basement theater, The Cinecave.  But within months, their monthly comedy showcase, aptly called Cynic Cave, went weekly and began selling out on the regular.

The packed houses are not without good reason: George and Kevin quickly became known for putting together line-ups that brought out the best names in local comedy, and national stars from Bobcat Goldthwait to W. Kamau Bell started stopping in for guest sets.  That very reputation has led to Cynic Cave's latest project, a compilation album with Burger Records capturing the best of the Bay Area alternative comedy scene, featuring sets from 25 local stand-ups.

We caught up with George, Kevin, and Garett Goddard (of King Tuff) about the album, getting started at Lost Weekend Video, where they see SF's scene, and Cinecave's low ceilings:

Uptown Almanac: How'd this record come about?

George: Our friend Garret has been coming by the shows regularly, not just the Saturday shows but a lot of the monthlies and one-off shows that we throw on Fridays and Sundays. We tend to hang out in the neighborhood afterward and he mentioned how he wanted to do something along the lines of the Holy Fuck album, a very influential LA show that put together its own compilation. Garret's bands have been associated with Burger Records (King Tuff) so he pitched the idea to them.

Garett: I knew that the guys at Burger were doing a cassette release of a Neil Hamburger album, so it occurred to me that maybe they'd be interested in doing a release with new and up and coming comics.  I've been attending comedy shows for years, but i'd say in the last 3 years or so a newer sensibility has been emerging amongst younger comics, more alternative venues have been springing up (most notably The Cynic Cave in the basement of Lost Weekend), and it seemed to me like a really exciting time to try and document this in SF.  The Burger guys were excited about the idea and said I should go ahead and put it together.  Since I don't know many comics personally, I asked George and Kevin to help me assemble comedians around the Bay to be recorded at their weekly show at The Cynic Cave and they pretty much got the ball rolling.

UA: There are 25 comics signed up to record for the album.  Is this going to be a double album (albums don't exist anymore, but you know…), or are you going to grab each performer's best 3 minutes?

George: The goal is 5 minute sets max. I am not sure the limitation but I believe a cassette can go to a full 60 minutes per side. In that way it actually beats the max recommended length of a CD. So no need to do a double album, just a tape deck with auto-reverse.

Garett: The most arduous task in this project will probably be editing down everything after it's recorded into a listenable 40 or 50 minute cassette release.  I'm hoping that we'll get enough good stuff that we can maybe do two releases eventually, but I think it's important to not have a comedy record that's too long.

UA: When Lost Weekend opened up Cine Cave, they talked about it being a space for screening rare, cult films.  Then within a few months, Cynic Cave came along and pretty much changed it into a comedy venue.  How'd that happen?

George: There are still cult film screenings and screenings of Downtown Abbey, old Twin Peaks, sports events, etc.  It just seemed that when we were doing a monthly Cynic Cave, our turnouts were the most consistent and we were starting to get good local word-of-mouth. I was approached by the staff about booking all the weekend shows that were comedy-related around last Thanksgiving, and I'd recently been laid off, so I had the time and bandwidth to work on that.

Kevin: It is also such an amazing venue for live performance. There are few places that feel as intimate and are comfortable to be in.

UA: Cine Cave has short ceilings and you have some tall performers. Have there been any traumatic head injuries during your shows?

Garett: I have to crawl to the bar to get beers…BUT, short ceilings are great for comedy! Part of the reason I think that comedy shows have been so successful in that room is the intimacy it fosters between the performers and the crowd, and how well the laughter reverberates in that room.  It makes a crowd of 20 seem like 60.  It's my favorite venue for live comedy in LA or SF, bar none.

Kevin: They did this amazing in covering the beams of the ceiling with pool noodles so it's virtually head hitting proof.

UA: Speaking of short ceilings, standups have a tendency to get a little recognition in San Francisco and then quickly leave town for LA or NYC—including many veterans of Cynic Cave.  Do you see this as a problem for the SF standup scene?  How can it be an asset?

Garett: That just seems to be an inevitability if your going to pursue comedy as a career.  I'm not a comic myself, but it's no secret that all of the best writing and acting jobs related to comedy are in LA or NY, and there's only so much you can do as a comic here in SF.  But that is part of what's great about SF comedy: it's where people are trying to figure their shit out, they experiment.  It's sort of a proving ground. 

Kevin: It is a problem for SF. If you love things, support them or they'll go elsewhere!

UA: In general, how do you feel the SF comedy scene is doing? What does it need right now?

Garett: I think it's really great here in SF right now, more exciting to me than the current music scene in a lot of ways.  That's the main reason I thought it should be documented.  What the scene needs is people to continue to put on more shows at alternative venues, and more people to attend the shows. A big part of my aim in doing this release is to try and make people aware of all the great comics here right now. I know plenty of musicians that go on tour and listen to Louis CK, Hannibal Burress, Sharpling and Wurster, etc. but really don't engage with the comedy scene that's happening in their own backyard for whatever reason.  I'm also hoping it will lead to more crossover with music and comedy; I've already talked to Lee at Burger about having live comedy at Burger events in the future.  Sub Pop has done plenty of comedy releases, Matador has a few, and even Kill Rock Stars just released the new Kurt Braunholer album, so there's no reason that Burger can't do the same.

UA: Finally, how and where will the album be sold? Is there an expected release date?

George: What's nice about Burger is that all their bands tour a lot, so I imagine they'll be available at house shows on tour. Otherwise, mail-order and Burger has a brick and mortar store in Orange County I believe, plus I hope that Aquarius Records across the street picks a few up.

Not sure of an exact release date or how available it ail be digitally.

Garett: I know they signed a distribution deal recently, but I can't recall who with.  But their releases are all pretty widely distributed at record stores all over the US.  But George is right, there's still a lot of DIY style promotion, distribution, and word of mouth with Burger.  Lee's constantly taking bands on tour in his own van (what other record label does that?!! right now he's in Olympia driving Red Kross around the country!) and he sets up a little merch booth at every house show and venue with all of their Burger releases.  So once it's out there, it shouldn't be to hard to find.  No release date as of yet, I would hope for December or January maybe.

—

If you want to see any of the sets recorded live (you do), $10 tickets can be purchased in person at Lost Weekend Video anytime, or you can get advanced tickets on Eventbrite. Here's the line-up:

September 7th: Alison Stevenson, Brendan Lynch, Cameron Vannini, Joe Gorman, Jules Posner, Mary Van Note, Imaginary Radio, Jesse Elias (plus visiting guests: Nate Craig, Brandie Posey & Brendan McGowan)

September 14th: Joey Devine, Kaseem Bentley, Land Smith, Natasha Muse, Ray Molina, Sad Vicious, Scott Capurro

September 21st: Sean Keane, Kelly Anneken, Kate Willett, Jesse Fernandez, Casey Ley, Anna Seregina (plus visiting guests Brock Wilbur, Xander Deveaux, Rick Wood)

September 28th: Andrew Holmgren, Miles K, Clare O’Kane, David Gborie, Caitlin Gill

Bike Share Comes to the Mission! (via Bike Theft)

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Ever since the Bay Area Bike Share roll-out plan was unveiled, Mission residents have been fussing about the program's absence in the city's residential neighborhoods.  But where's there a demand, there's someone willing to fill it, and one of our city's many bolt cutter entrepreneur's did that.

According to @SFPDBikeTheft, one such thief was spotted cruising Capp Wednesday evening with the 44-pound ride concealed with toilet paper (and what looks to be a magic wand):

SFist adds that there there “no word yet on how the thieves managed to make off with the bike in the first place;” however, Officer Friedman of @SFPDBikeTheft indicates that Bike Share users are struggling to re-dock their bikes properly.

[@SFPDBikeTheft] [SFist]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Tokyo GoGo to Become Cocktail Bar from Dalva/Beretta/Bourbon & Branch Vets

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

 

As the Twitter commentariat pointed out yesterday, it's about time for a new cocktail bar to open up around in the Mission.  And, fortunately, a team of esteemed Mission cocktail founders intend of doing just that in the former shell of Tokyo GoGo.  Alcademics has the scoop on ABV, which is slated to open January next year:

The concept is a bar that will offer about 10-15 cocktails and around the same number of small plates dishes, also priced around the same as each other (ten bucks more or less). So, like at Beretta, if you are having great drinks there you may as well order something to great eat as well. […]

The space won't be completely gutted for the rebuild, but they will make the kitchen smaller and remake the bar bigger; extending it to be the focus of the space. You shouldn't expect to too many bar design elements that they feel have become cliched, liked reclaimed wood and bare Edison bulbs. Seating will be primarily at high-top tables and shared tables in the back, to avoid that situation where people at low tables have standing bar patrons' butts in their faces. It will not be a lounge. They'll have some sort of table service and a doorman checking IDs, but not a host stand or typical restaurant reserved seating.

It's important to note they're avoiding gimmicks—not only are reclaimed wood and Edison bulbs getting the shaft, but buzzable things like barrel-aged and bottled cocktails won't be found at ABV.  But need you worry, cocktail aficionados, they'll have “great ice.” (Not that “great ice” is a gimmick or anything.)

[Alcademics] [via Eater]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Monday is Soul & Bowl Night at Mission Bowling

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

I have fond memories of disco bowl nights from high school—those air-conditioned evenings when all the cool kids would sneak beers in the parking lot and I'd just bowl.  Sure, the music was awful, because disco music is awful, and I never cracked 120.  Also the fog machine left me coughing fits and a weird desire to move to San Francisco.  But those nights were Good Times.

It seems Mission Bowling Club has gotten hip to the disco bowl phenomenon, only updated it with significantly more tolerable music.  Plus, Mission Bowling has alleviated their notorious steep prices with happy hour specials and other such discounts.  From Mission Bowling:

SOUL & BOWL is a curated soul music series that we host every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, filled with soulful jams and fantastic food, drink, and bowling specials (Free shoes rentals!).

Starting this Monday, September 2, we'll have additional specialty cocktails for the night curated by Daniel Hyatt (formerly of Roka Akor). He's crafting some great drinks like the Sam and Dave and the Juke Joint Punch. We're so excited to try them!

Additional specials include:
Templeton Rye + Tecate $7
Free shoe rentals!
Lots of dancing!

Plus, it's the last day of the Burning Man Rapture, so take full advantage.

New Central Cafe Evicted Following Role in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine"

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

New Central Cafe, the Mexican restaurant at the corner of 14th and South Van Ness forever immortalized as the exterior of Ginger's apartment in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, has already been booted out by the Sheriff's Department and their landlord.  The notice, dated June 19th, is admittedly a touch old (I don't make it to that part of the neighborhood that often and it's not like I ever ate there or whatever) and doesn't offer up any details for the reasoning, but we can only imagine some savvy owner is looking to cash in on this:

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Feast Your Eyes on the Tamale Lady's Mural

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

It was just Tuesday when we watched paint dry as Megan Wilson, Jet Martinez, and Roisin Isner started work on their latest Clarion Alley mural, honoring the Tamale Lady.  From the looks of it, they've finished [Update: Roisin writes in, “The mural isn't done yet—Megan is still painting today. Keep an eye out, because the finished mural will include info about her fundraising.]:

And here's a close-up:

Looks great!

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Jack Spade Allowed to Move Forward With Mission Store

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Wanting to capitalize on the recent influx of immaculate artisans on Valencia, Jack Spade has been pushing hard to move into the neighborhood—from getting a local bookstore kicked out of their 25-year-old home through rent increases, to aggressively demanding local businesses support their efforts, to even—as Zoning administrator Scott Sanchez told the Board of Appeals last week—misleading Sanchez in making his formula retail letter of determination, which allowed Jack Spade to initially move forward with their 16th Street expansion under false pretenses.

Given the situation, the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association was successfully able to get Jack Spade's construction permit suspended early last month.  But last night, the Board of Appeals fell one vote short of permanently overturning their building permit, allowing Jack Spade to resume construction.

Jack Spade co-leader Melissa Xides flew all the way in from New York to attend the meeting and praise Jack Spade as a community company and small business—distinguishing it from the billion-dollar enterprise which it is a subsidiary of. As quoted by Mission Local, she praised the neighborhood's gentrification and her business:

“We are a neighborhood retailer through and through, there is nothing formulaic about our stores,” said Xides. “We fell in love with the uniqueness of 16th Street…We fell in love with the food scene and gentrification that’s happening there.”

Somewhat contradictorily, Jack Spade's supporter's main arguments is that 16th Street is a rotten shithole that only a multinational business can fix—Bell Jar's Sasha Wingate complained about graffiti and feces outside her shop; skateboard badass-cum-fashion designer Benny Gold spoke about his concern for his young daughter's safety on the block.

But the real gem came during last week's Board of Appeals meeting, when pro-Jack Spade neighbor came up to the Board and began showing pictures of graffiti along 16th Street. At one point, she highlighted a sticker on a parking meter reading “BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS” and stated that we needed to clean up the neighborhood, and Jack Spade would make it happen. How ironic, the very person who wants to remove a “BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS” sticker sided with the retailer who removed Adobe Books Books Books.

VCMA members admit that their only course of action left is to put pressure on Jack Spade's CEO and management to back out. But Jack Spade's employment page is filling up with positions for their future 16th Street store, those prospects seem dim.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

SFPD Finally Busts Up Mission Street Bicycle Chop Shop

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The stolen bike chop shop under the freeway: we've all seen it, we all hate it—and they've been operating in broad daylight with impunity for years.  Fortunately, thanks to Meredith Obendorfer and @SFPDBikeTheft, the operation has been (finally) taken down.

Meredith fills us in:

On my ride to work yesterday, I saw a bicycle “chop shop” in its usual operating spot along 13th Street [at Mission], underneath the freeway. Fired up by the recent theft of my beloved mountain bike, I stopped and pulled out my phone to take a picture of the scums at work. While it was a potentially dangerous situation, I figured… if they chase me, what are they going to do, outsprint me?

I snapped a couple photos, gave the guy yelling at me the middle finger, rode away and took to the Interwebs. I tweeted out a picture, notifying @SFPDBikeTheft (which as you might now, is manned by an SFPD officer who has been advocating for SF cyclists with stolen bicycles.)

By 6pm yesterday evening, I received the following tweets in return from @SFPDBikeTheft, as well as from SFPD Mission Station, informing me that the area had been cleared up:

Pretty rad, right? I think this shows that SFPD is doing something about the recent epidemic around bicycle theft and effectively engaging with the community via social media.

Definitely rad. Thanks, Meredith!

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

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