Evening Becomes Acoustic
Saturday, August 23
8pm, $5

with performances by June Madrona and The Next Door Neighbors
(Olympia, WA)

plus a special acoustic set by The Year Zero
(Long Beach, CA)

June Madrona

The Next Door Neighbors (check out a rad video of the duo below!)

The Year Zero

{open} and Seven Inch Project present …

Castledoor EP Release Party
performances by Castledoor and Agent Ribbons
Saturday, Aug. 9
8pm

show+cd: $10 or just the show: $5

take a listen, then come hear them live.

theblanktapes.com
moedogdarling.com

{open} presents
the blank tapes + moe dog darling

friday, august 1
8 pm
$5

*TONS of books from 50 cents to $1 … plus 15% off our instore used books!*

Then stay for the opening reception of “Bewilder Me” from artist Justin Lovato with light refreshments and tunes courtesy DJ Salty.

From his bio …

The characters and subject matter in his paintings often tell some arcane and dark story, which is expressed through steady-handed intricate line work. Through layering of vivid color, he narrates the intriguing and amusing tales of seemingly pain-stricken, weathered, and worn individuals.

As a birthday present to America, {open} happily presents a performance from author, poet and professional firecracker DERRICK BROWN. The often irreverent and always entertaining Brown will be joined by fellow poet-performers AMBER TAMBLYN, MINDY NETIFEE and MICHAEL ROBERTS, who will celebrate their independence with readings from their respective works.

The evening will also include a live music performance and light refreshments, including a FREE D-I-Y hotfudge sundae bar!!

Door opens at 8 p.m. Like America, admission is free, but is first come, first served.

About the poets

Derrick Brown has performed extensively in the U.S. and internationally, including a recent appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is the author of poetry compilations I Love You Is Back and Born in the Year of Butterfly Knife, which won the California Independent Book Critics’ Award in 2004. Through his independent publishing imprint, Write Bloody, Brown publishes books from cutting-edge contemporary authors, poets and aritsts. More info: brownpoetry.com

Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress Amber Tamblyn is the author of Free Stallion: Poems from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. In addition to writing and performing her poetry, Tamblyn will appear in this year’s Spring Breakdown with Amy Poehler, 2009’s Beyond a Reasonable Doubt with Michael Douglas and a documentary about Jack Kerouac featuring Tom Waits. More info: rebelasylum.com

Mindy Netifee has published five chapbooks through independent small presses and a full-length collection, Sleepyhead Assassins, on Moon Tide Press. Her work, which has been featured in ISM magazine and the California Poetry Anthology, has earned her a nomination for the Pushcart Prize. Netifee was a headlining poet at 2007’s GirlFest Hawaii and was one of the inaugural performers for The Best Contemporary American Poets Series, Volume 1. More info: thecultofmindy.com

Michael Roberts was featured in Write Bloody’s first compilation, The Last American Valentine. He is the author of poetry compilation Kid Gloves and will release a second book, Workhorse Cintematographer, in 2008 on Write Bloody’s imprint. More info: thehopemeat.com

About the music

According to LA Record’s Chris Ziegler, “Iggy Pop was born in a trailer and Hank Williams died in the back of a Cadillac—in between, there was a lot of empty road to cover.” Grand Elegance is all over it. More info: myspace.com/elegancegrand

Don’t miss the next in our awesomely awesome open mic poetry series, Other People’s Poetry!

A signup sheet will be available at 6pm, with readin’ commencin’ at 8pm. Both attendance and performance are blissfully free. Join us and read sumthin you looooooooove, so we can love it too!

Wanna know what kinda things to read? Check out the rules and what was read at the last OPP!

SOUND! features a series of pieces inspired by the music of The Beatles, the Chemical Brothers, Portishead and other. In his work, Carey uses wooden discs to create a dotted texture that evokes the pop culture portraits of Roy Lichtenstein and a 3-D canvas that is reminiscent of 80s classic Lite-Bright.

In addition to the music that inspired the work, DJs Dr. Ray Le Big Mac Royale and Lady Bug will each spin a set–60s, mod, psychadelia and soul and tunes from the 80s and 90s, respectively. we hope you can join us!

Opening reception for SOUND!
saturday, may 31 // 6-9pm // free

The reception is being held in conjunction with Last Saturdays, 4th Street’s new bi-monthly art night, which will feature art receptions and extended hours at numerous shops along the street.

This 3rdThurs is a significant one for Nial Morgan (aka Deer Tear): Excepting a recent set at the Wilson High School open mike, it will be the debut performance for the 15-year-old. Using spacial drones, piano samples and signal generator tones, DeerTear creates a soundscape that, according to {open} co-owner Shea Gauer, assures him an “avant-future.”

Also on the evening’s bill is Ain Soph Aur. “Ain Soph Aur,” one of the many Hebrew names for God, translates as “the limitless light.” Fittingly, artists Sander Wolff and Carl Off (of the hop-frog kollectiv) perform along a limitless field of sound and vibration, though one could argue they are best experienced with the lights off.

“I don’t know if there is a specific intention about expressing something, or an idea,” said Wolff. “It is more about listening, creating a dialog, and allowing the moment to expand.”

Moments spent in the performance expand with an entire legion of instruments–bells, bowls, banjos, a drone unit–gently and individually played. The sounds from each are then looped, live, into the improvised performance, resulting in the nuanced evolution of the performance itself. Watch a previous performance here or listen to a room recording of their first performance here.