The rise of the “Rapping Teacher
June 13, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
It all started back at University of California, Davis, where Chris Lau earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish with an end goal of becoming a Spanish teacher at a high school or college level. One of Lau’s fraternity brothers urged him to write a rap verse for an upcoming party and Lau accepted t...
“Rocketman” outshines “Bohemian Rhapsody”
By Tia Wilson,
June 12, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Elton John’s music has been gracing our speakers since 1969. Everyone knows the hits, “Bennie and the Jets,” “Rocketman,” and “Tiny Dancer.” These hits and more only scratch the surface of what is John’s extensive songbook. Now, his story is being immortalized in the film “Rocketman...
Why do we go to music festivals?
By Ethan Alonzo,
June 5, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Meet me under the electric sky. What sounds like a password to a speakeasy-themed bar means much more to those who attend the Electric Daisy Carnival or EDC. Music festivals have been part of United States’ entertainment history since Fantasy Fair, the first music festival in 1967. After Fan...
Pilipinx Consciousness Night “Showtime”
May 2, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICOLE NOOL | THE PIONEER PASA of CSUEB presents the 47th Pilipinx Consciousness Night “Showtime”.
CSU East Bay’s Refuge dance recital
May 2, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ | THE PIONEER California State University, East Bay’s Theatre and Dance Department presents “Refuge”, a site-specific performance related to the struggles of homelessness, food insecurity, and various crisis situations. The cast has partnered with Pioneers fo...
Midsommar will continue horror film renaissance
By Eric Parker,
May 2, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Film studio A24 recently released the trailer for their next feature film, “Midsommar” from acclaimed director Ari Aster. With this film, the studio continues the emerging trend of “smart horror” that began in the last decade. Aster’s previous film, 2018’s “Hereditary,” was met with criti...
Movies cause interest in comic books
By Ethan Alonzo,
April 25, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Excelsior. With great power comes great responsibility. Trust me, true believer. These sayings were some of the many catchphrases coined by the great Stan Lee before his passing in November of 2018. Lee was among the greatest comic book writers that ever were, and the films created from those bo...
First Thursday the new First Friday
April 17, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
The beginning of a new month can mean many different things. First and foremost rent is due, but the first Thursday and Friday of each month bring two events that highlight Oakland culture and arts. Many people know of First Friday, a large event that shuts down Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to...
Porter Robinson to rename musical festival
By Marcel Penaranda,
April 17, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Grammy-nominated electronic dance music producer Porter Robinson and live music promoter Goldenvoice received backlash from local event organizers after their announcement of the new music festival called Multiverse Festival. Robinson and Goldenvoice were under fire after announcing Multiverse Festiva...
Low ticket sales stunt local music scene
By Eric Parker,
March 7, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
Many alternative musical artists that set out on tour in the past several years have had a tendency to avoid the San Francisco Bay Area due to the high risk of lowering their tour “grade” or quality assessment, making it harder for them to be booked for future tours. The San Francisco Bay Area...
Art, Representation, and Skateboarding
By TJ Porreca Sarah Williams-Cain,
January 25, 2019
Filed under Arts & Life
A look at the Bay Area’s first queer skate collective, Unity Skateboarding Gabriel Ramirez flashed a sheepish smile and laughed with his friend “Smalls” as they posed with their skateboards in front of the Unity Press workspace where their love for skateboarding coincides with their involvement in t...
Playboi Carti SOMO Village performance
November 15, 2018
Filed under Arts & Life
Atlanta based rapper Playboi Carti performed at the SOMO Village in Rohnert Park on Friday 11/9. The show was almost cancelled due to the air quality conditions from the Butte fire, which is about 3 hours away from Rohnert Park. The air quality on the night of the show was documented at 184 on the air-...
