History
Video: Bay Area Bands on Soul Train
February 18th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Music
In the wake of Don Cornelius’s passing, much has been said about the cucumber-cool Cornelius and his long-running and iconic show, Soul Train. I won’t wax poetic about the show’s societal impact and influence because it’s been done by many who can say [...]
Happy 138th Birthday to Oakland’s Gertrude Stein!
February 3rd, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Art, Featured, History
Author and art collector Gertrude Stein holds an infamous place in Oakland lore. She is the source of the often un-contectualized and misused quote, “there is no there, there,” frequently used to down Oakland. Beyond that, not many Oaklanders are too familiar with her.
Needed Perspective on Occupy Oakland from Kazu Haga
February 1st, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in 38th Notables, Featured, History
In 1968 Armory Douglass wrote a book entitled, Oakland’s Not For Burning. Douglass himself was no real authority on Oakland or it’s social movements, as he was a Yale-educated Wall Street Lawyer who tried to ice out the Printers union on behalf of the [...]
Video: Etta James Live In Oakland Backed By The Grateful Dead & Tower of Power
January 23rd, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Music
Etta James is famous for bridging a myriad of genres with her music, but this collaborative effort takes the cake. On New Years Eve of 1982 Etta James and Tower of Power’s famous horn section joined Jerry Garcia’s Grateful Dead on stage for a 30+ minute [...]
Tonight At The Theater: A Movie Classic & the Oakland Premier of Red Tails
January 20th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Events, Featured, History
There are many who long for a bygone era. A time when ladies and gentlemen stepped into the streets of a glistening downtown adorned in dresses, suits, trench coats and fedoras. An era when there was a certain air of class that made urban Oakland feel [...]
Event: What is Your Dream? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 14th, 2012 | by niema | published in Art, Events, Featured, History
Most folks love a holiday weekend. That extra day off to chill, sleep or play catch up is one that we anticipate. But we here at 38th Notes are hoping you use Monday as more of a day on than a day off. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the good [...]
Straight Outta B-Town: The Evolution of The Cataracs
January 11th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in 38th Notables, Featured, History, Music
When I was in college at UCLA, my roommate Garrett put me up on The Cataracs via their CD Technohop Volume 1. At the time they had a regional hit with The Pack called “Blueberry Afghani,” their T-Pain remix “I’m In Love With a Swisher” was buzzing, and [...]
An Evening in Oakland History: Gil Scott-Heron, Stevie Wonder & The Death of John Lennon
January 9th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Music
On December 8, 1980, Gil Scott-Heron and Stevie Wonder were in Oakland for their Hotter Than July tour, attempting to force legislation making Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday (A feat Oakland Tech High School’s class of 1981 accomplished [...]
Opinion: The New York Times Doesn’t Understand Oakland
January 7th, 2012 | by Coolhand Luke | published in 38th Notables, Featured, History
Oakland is that muhfucka, jack! While folks as near as Pleasanton and San Jo are still afraid to set foot in The Town, others around the world are being introduced to new stereotypes about Oakland; stereotypes that involve dynamite restaurants rather [...]
Mixtape: The Free Experience presents: Free Jazz Vol.1
December 20th, 2011 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Mixtape Reviews, Music
All the cool kids fancy themselves music aficionados. We all want to be on the new dopeness first and be steeped in crates of rare old school vinyl that no one this side of Medicare has ever heard. Even the most well versed music heads tend to [...]
Video: Ed Lee “2 Legit 2 Quit” Remix
October 28th, 2011 | by sean | published in Featured, History, Music
It might not be the same as Bill Clinton playing the saxophone on Saturday Night Live, but San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee got a pretty big endorsement from a lot of people who matter in the City. Brian Wilson, Ronnie Lott, Will.i.am, Biz Stone (Twitter), [...]
Sports: The Wisdom and Resilience of Bill Russell
October 20th, 2011 | by Coolhand Luke | published in Featured, History, Sports
Bill Russell is recognized by many as the greatest basketball player of all time. Of course Michael Jordan fans will rebuke, as will any others who view scoring as the number one measure of a player’s prowess, but no player dominated the game to the degree [...]
