New this year to Outside Lands Festival 2009 in San Francisco

Yesterday, we had a chat with Outside Lands fest promoter Allen Scott of Another Planet Entertainment. At the moment, we're sitting on a huge announcement that we think will make music fans drool with excitement. Unfortunately, we have to sit on this "off the record" tidbit for a little bit longer. But believe us, it's awesome! So stay tuned.

In the meantime, we do have some info on what's new this year at OSL.

1. Last year, Radiohead was the first band ever to play in Golden Gate Park at night. Tom Petty and Jack Johnson soon followed. Previously, live music at the park was shut off at 7pm. Not sure why. Scott says it was due to some outdated city ordinances.

This year, Scott says an additional stage will offer music after dark. So, he says, an hour into Pearl Jam's set on Friday, Aug. 28, you can walk over and see Thievery Corporation; and an hour into Dave Matthews set on Sat. Aug. 29, you can go see The Mars Volta. Pretty cool stuff.

2. Also, a mind-blowing tent -- wood and glass interior -- called The Barbary was added in the back of the polo fields. This cabaret-themed mecca is a "freak show" of sorts, according to Scott. It will feature local bands, comedians, artists and more.

3. The bicycle valet was expanded this year from 3,000 to 4,000 bikes. And SF-based Bauer's charter buses -- they provide service for Google employees -- will be providing shuttle service throughout the city.

4. Scott said a goal of OSL is to offer 100 percent local vendors at the festival. Last year, 40 percent of the vendors were local. This year, Scott says 70 percent of all vendors will be from San Francisco. It's the only festival that comes close to this local angle.


By the way, do you know why it's called Outside Lands Festival? In the 19th Century, the Sunset District, East of Van Ness, was all sand dunes. It was referred to as the "Outside Lands."

Stay tuned for more!

Upcoming: Outside Lands Festival (Interview with Tenacious D and Dave Matthews)

As many of you probably know, we will be front and center at this year's Outside Lands Festival, a three day music fest featuring the likes of Pearl Jam, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, The Mars Volta, Modest Mouse, The Dead Weather, Dave Matthews Band and Tenacious D.



We'll be snapping pictures and recording the greatest Flip-ing video footage ever! In preparation of our descent down the music rabbit hole, we had the privilege of chatting with Jack Black and Kyle Glass (a Walnut Creek native) of Tenacious D, as well as none other than Dave Matthews himself.

But let's be clear about our conversation. To those who aren't privy to the inner workings of the press, please allow us to besiege a bit of disappointing and unglamorous knowledge on you fine folks. Our conversation with these gods of rock was part of a collective phone conference with publicists and other journos. What transpires is usually a muddy conversation wherein the subjects get to rant and rave and goof around while we journos can just listen and wait our turn (Example: press star 1 to get in line to ask a question). Full transcript at the end.

Nevertheless, Jack Black is hilarious, even on the phone.


On Modest Mouse:

Jack Black: We burned some mother down that night. And Modest Mouse was all up our butt

wanting to hang with us, and we’re like who are you chumps? We got to go hang with like the Mayor

of Texas. If I could turn back time, I would crawl right up their butts and create a rip in the time butt

continuum.

On plans to rock San Francisco on Aug. 30:

Jack Black: Oh. And yes, we’re going to close it out, and I just want to say one thing. If there’s any dogs barking on the day August 30 before we go on, don’t be alarmed. That’s just them sensing the earthquake of rock that’s coming. Dogs have an innate sense when a gigantic rock storm is coming. That’s all it is.

I’m seriously afraid for California because we haven’t rocked for a while. We haven’t rocked since Redding and London, and there’s so much buildup that when we let loose, it may – it may shake the foundations of the – what’s that fault line ((inaudible))?

Kyle Glass: San Andréa’s?

Jack Black: The San Andreas. And California may be shaking loose from the rest of the country. And the question is when that crack in the earth happens and it comes between your legs, where are you going? Are you going with America, or are you going to jump on California Island? You have to make a (split-cision) decision, or else you’re going down in the lava.

Download the full interview with Jack Black, Kyle Glass and Dave Matthews here.

View a video of DMB's new video Funny the Way It Is here. (Sorry, Youtube has disabled the embeds).

And keep checking back for upcoming OSL coverage!

Have a Ball Golf Tourney happening NOW in Sunnyvale!

Tourney staff checks in participants

The "Have a Ball” Golf Tourney is happening right now (July 17) at Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course, 605 Macara Ave., Sunnyvale (408) 738-3666. Get there quick to join the party!

Developed by two-time testicular cancer survivor, Bob Hammer, this appropriately-named golf tournament has raised more than $500,000 for cancer research in the past four years. Hammer started the foundation after meeting Lance Armstrong’s oncologist, who encouraged Hammer not to have surgery that would have prevented him from having children. Long story short, Josh Hammer, Bob’s naturally conceived son, is now five years old.

Photos from San Jose's OBON festival

Home Is Where the Shark Is…

A heartwarming story to start the week: A Peninsula family last week became the new owner of the Sharks Playhouse, courtesy of Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) with the support of the Sharks Foundation.

We ran a feature a few issues ago in The Wave [Vol. 09, Iss. 08] about RTP’s Dreams Happen playhouse project – where every other year, 15 pint-sized dream homes are sold or raffled off to fund the organization, which helps low-income families rehabilitate their homes and community facilities. One of the playhouses was Sharks themed, and it was this house that was raffled off for $10 a ticket.

In a poignant twist of fate, the winning ticket belonged to Will, an eight year-old twin boy who only days earlier had lost his father to a three-year battle with cancer. Will, his twin Carl, and their four-and-three-quarter year-old sister Sarah were all big Sharks fans, as was their dad, and one of the last things they did with their father before he fell sick was go to a Sharks game.

Even more fateful, the winning ticket was drawn on June 6, which would have been Will’s parents’ 11th wedding anniversary. "Winning felt like a message on our anniversary," said Will’s mom Daisy. "I can't help but think my husband had something to do with it. This is a difficult time in [the kids'] lives but now, when they look at Shark House, they will think of their dad and know good things can still happen."

To celebrate this moving story, many people were on hand to see the Sharks playhouse take up its new home last Wednesday, July 8. Crane services were donated, and dramatically hoisted the 12-foot playhouse into the backyard, while Sharks players Torry Mitchell, Joe Paveiski and Devin Setoguchi were on hand to help the kids get to know their new playhouse. Will, Carl and Sarah's father's personal hockey skates will be placed inside Shark House in his memory.

Voodoo Lounge is Swinging

You'll soon be reading our rants and raves for Voodoo Lounge in the upcoming Readers' Choice issue, out July 22. The reason is simple: the Downtown San Jose venue is making relentless efforts to bring back the live music scene to the South Bay. What better way to accomplish such a feat than by bringing the swinging? On Friday, July 10, check out Royal Crowne Revue, with support from The Pimpsticks. You can purchase advanced tix here. See ya there.

New restaurant opens in Redwood City

Tonight marks the opening of Donato Enoteca, a new restaurant in downtown Redwood City. On Friday night, we had the pleasure of sampling the traditional Italian fare and we're still drooling over the marinated lamb skewers with olives; braised wild boar (our favorite); hand-made pizzas, amazing shrimp, and a bit of the exotica with squid ink risotto. Artisan olive oils play a large part in the cuisine, which prompted a tasting sampler on the menu of multiple olive oils.

Other highlights are the more than 80 Italian wines and a stunning grappa collection, the most abundant we've ever seen in a restaurant. The open-air kitchen adds an intimate touch. It allows you to watch the talented Chef Donato Scotti work his magic. Scotti has worked at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Del l'Angelo in Italy and at La Strada in Palo Alto more recently.



Here are a few other menu items: Carpaccio di Polipo – thin-sliced fresh poached octopus with olive oil, celery root and red rock salt ($8). Foiade di Funghi – organic buckwheat pasta with mixed wild mushrooms, garlic, parsley and Grana Padano ($12); and Bigoli e Coda – braised Neiman Ranch ox tail, Sangiovese, tomato, asparagus tips and “bigoli” pasta ($14). Costoletta Alla Milanese – pounded white veal chop breaded and golden with arugula and heirloom tomato salad ($23); Orata e Crostacei – Mediterranean sea bream sautéed with prawns, mussels, clams and tomato sauce ($18).