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

Big buzz for World Cup Buzz, THE new app

Posted on May 30, 2014 by markweiss86

1. There’s a big buzz in certain parts of South Barron Park, a part of Palo Alto, a part of South Palo Alto that I have, in previous posts likened to the Vieux Carre (a poetic and sometimes metaphorically useful … Continue reading →

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Palo Alto greenlights green lights and signs: $$$$ or #@&^

Posted on May 29, 2014 by markweiss86

Palo Alto’s Architectural Review Board unanimously approved Thursday morning (May 1, 2014) a giant green illuminated sign for the new giant building at the corner of Lytton and Alma. The building is already controversial because of its size and its … Continue reading →

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Gabi the violinist

Posted on May 29, 2014 by markweiss86

I noticed you once or twice on University Ave in Palo Alto; actually, I saw you once only, driving past, and circled again to catch another glimpse. If I had ever seen you while on foot I would have stopped … Continue reading →

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Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

Posted on May 28, 2014 by markweiss86

  I met Maya Angelou twice; first, at the Clinton Inauguration, Brian Gaul and I stood among about 10,000 others, several hundred yards from the action, “marked the mastodon” creeping through our eardrums, penetrating our senses after a while. The … Continue reading →

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Non-profit rock venue in Berkeley, more office space in Palo Alto

Posted on May 28, 2014 by markweiss86

Apropos of the news that former BGP partner David Mayeri is opening a non-profit music venue in Berkeley, re-purposing the former UC Theatre (flagship of Gary Meyer’s Landmark chain), I am re-posting this letter I wrote to City Council about … Continue reading →

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Vienna Teng ‘Level Up’ and Dan Bern ‘Ballad of Jimmy Carter’

Posted on May 27, 2014 by markweiss86

  Two pretty random A&R notes, Vienna Teng new cd and single “Level Up” video and Dan Bern, from Jonathan Demme’s documentary about Jimmy Carter, “Ballad of Jimmy Carter”. I also spied something about Greil Marcus talking about “The Manchurian … Continue reading →

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MMW v. voice of teacher, Palo Alto 7/29/96

Posted on May 27, 2014 by markweiss86

  Medeski Martin Wood 7-29-96 Cubberly Community Center (Max capacity 330, I’d say about 100 people that night*) Palo Alto, CA This is a great-sounding AUD recording of a very nice show. Source: (Mikey Perrott) Schoeps CMC6 + MK4 Genealogy: … Continue reading →

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Andrew Bernstein and the Homer Warehouse shows

Posted on May 22, 2014 by markweiss86

I snagged a copy of “California Slim: The Music, the Magic, and the Madness” a memoir by Andrew Bernstein, who knew Bill Kreutzman and Gregg Rolie growing up in Palo Alto, and also toured as part of Willie Nelson’s gang. … Continue reading →

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Alex De Grassi part of The Varsity Theatre guitar pantheon

Posted on May 22, 2014 by markweiss86

Eric Hanson, who appears most often in Plastic Alto as the baseball poet and Cleveland Indians fan, is now an agent with Baylin Artist Management in Philadelphia, an agency whose clients include Matt Haimovitz, Christopher Riley, Kaki King and Rani … Continue reading →

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Rock off with your balk-off (from Eric Hanson ‘Tribelines’ poetry archive)

Posted on May 22, 2014 by markweiss86

Game 47 – Indians 11, Tigers 10“A trickle of strangers were all that were left alivePanic in Detroit”– “Panic in Detroit” from David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane (1973)Some said this was year’s best gameShould be in some hall of fameNot because … Continue reading →

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