Author Archives: markweiss86

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About markweiss86

Mark Weiss, founder of Plastic Alto blog, is a concert promoter and artist manager in Palo Alto, as Earthwise Productions, with background as journalist, advertising copywriter, book store returns desk, college radio producer, city council and commissions candidate, high school basketball player, and blogger; he also sang in local choir, fronts an Allen Ginsberg tribute Beat Hotel Rm 32 Reads 'Howl' and owns a couple musical instruments he cannot play

Two new true Ray Johnson books

Posted on June 9, 2014 by markweiss86

I’ve only seen one Ray Johnson in person, at a gallery in Carmel, and posted about that previously.   I don’t think I knew much about Ray Johnson until I read Accidental Masterpiece by Michael Kimmelman. Prompting me to post … Continue reading →

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Frida

Posted on June 9, 2014 by markweiss86

No more to say, and nothing to weep for but the Beings in the Dream, trapped in its disappearance,   sighing, screaming with it, buying and selling pieces of phantom, worshipping each other,   worshipping the God (Dog?) included in … Continue reading →

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Full Plastic Jacket

Posted on June 8, 2014 by markweiss86

Ehren Tool is in residence at Palo Alto Art Center, creating a body of ceramic work that pertains to his service to our country, as an MP, in the Gulf War. He has created more than 14,000 cups that reference … Continue reading →

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Last call at Happy Donuts

Posted on June 6, 2014 by markweiss86

I am writing this post remote from Happy Donuts, its last day, last 9 hours. 1. This is admittedly a weird place to start even a lyrical essay about the rise and fall of Palo Alto’s Happy Donuts, but I … Continue reading →

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Manos arriba for the Alvins

Posted on June 5, 2014 by markweiss86

News out of Memphis and Hayward is that blues slinger Alvin Youngblood Hart is changing his stage name to Alvin Workmaster Jr. He thinks its a better draw. edit to add: but does it come in Illinois Blues?

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Peets don’t fail me now

Posted on June 5, 2014 by markweiss86

Palo Alto, a Thursday late morning early afternoon in June — Strong coffee brings out the inner-Mencken in me, unleashing the inner-Stalin in Stephen Levy, who keeps deleting my attempts to civic-engage him [portion deleted] [portions deleted} [portions deleted}   … Continue reading →

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Dude what’s your Weissman score?

Posted on June 4, 2014 by markweiss86

I admit I had to use search-injuns to find out that there is a Tsachy Weissman (short of Itschak, or “Isaac” — maybe pronounced like “Socky”, like sock puppet) at Stanford but the Weissman Score for compression is just a … Continue reading →

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Congrats to Corey Harris on new book (on Toure) and documentary

Posted on June 4, 2014 by markweiss86

Congrats, blessings, greetings, namaste and mazel tov to Corey Harris on first, a book he has written on Ali Farka Toure and, second, a documentary about Corey’s work. The video is from “Zion Crossroads”the 2007 Telarc release that I still … Continue reading →

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Ben Goldberg Bay Area Gigs: BAGBAGs

Posted on June 3, 2014 by markweiss86

Bay Area: Friday June 6, 8 pm: Michael Coleman and Ben Goldberg play Hocus Pocus! with ROVA and Johnston/Shelton Quartet Community Music Center, 544 Capp St., SF Saturday June 7, 5:30 pm Myra Melford / Ben Goldberg duo part of Myra’s program … Continue reading →

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Siberian Front next big band out of Lagunita-Santa Teresa

Posted on June 3, 2014 by markweiss86

I spent $2 today to vote, at Tresidder, for parking. I took out the Mediterranean Special from CoHo, with hummus pita et al. And I et all. I will edit to add the name of the cross streets around Tresidder, … Continue reading →

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