FREE CONCERT CITY HALL JUNE 19th

FREE CONCERT CITY HALL JUNE 19th #SFCityHall100

Show Times:

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers plus Guests - 6–6:45

McAllister Stage

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express plus Guests – 6:45-7:30

Grove Stage

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickets plus Guests – 7:30-8:10

McAllister Stage

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express – 8-9:15

Grove Stage

Grove Stage is on Grove at Polk – right by Bill Graham Civic

Anything else? I’ve left out all the piercings, DJ set times, and light show at 9:15.

Folks, If you’re in San Francisco on June 19th (and come to think of it, even if you’re not), the Mission Express will be the House Band at a big bash for the 100th anniversary of City Hall - a big outdoor show in Civic Center Plaza in front of City Hall starting at 6 PM. For the price of free, people.

I was asked to reach out into the community and put a couple of sets of music together. To tap into San Francisco music history - and I dug deep with a sharp spade, even with my hands when necessary. Some “people” were busy, but others weren’t, and there will be a lot of talent on the stage. Maybe even a few ego collisions.

AND…Lavay Smith will be hosting a second jazz & blues stage featuring legends like Jules Broussard, Denise Perrier and Freddie Hughes. We’re totally chuffed (sorry, but I’m on the M1 typing this) to be backing original Flamin’ Groovie Roy Loney and original Beau Brummels vocalist Sal Valentino, along with many other well-knowns and lesser-knowns you’ll be happy to hear. We’ve got the Kingston Trio with original members. Kelley Stoltz singing Bobby Freeman’s “Do You Wanna Dance?” Amoray will be doing a tribute to underground disco icon Sylvester. Jorge Santana - original member and leader of Malo - will perform Mission District lowrider anthem “Sauvecito.”

We’ve also got Bill Kirchen from Commander Cody with the Red Meats, Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon, Tim Bluhm from The Mother Hips, and Andy Cabic from Vetiver. I’m even starting a rumor that I’ll be singing “Willie Mays Is Up At A Bat”. There will be a tribute to 415 Records with Translator, Romeo Void and Mark Pistel from Consolidated. We’ll re-imagine Journey with a choir and re-imagine the Dead Kennedys with a classical string octet. And yes, Jello is singing “Let’s Lynch The Landlord.” Penelope is doing the Avengers anthem “American In Me.” That’s a lot to melt down. I’m not too handy with the bullet points but I hope this gives you some kind of idea.

Oh yeah, also on board as MC is Ben Fong-Torres. There also promises to be a courtyard of carnival chaos with circus performers, magicians, stilters (is that a word?), marching bands, contortionists and much more. After dark, the DJ’s will take over. Expect light wand acrobats, a burlesque revue and an over the top light show. Plus all manner of cabaret weirdness. 100 Years of San Francisco music. A lot to sink your gums into.

There are easily 27 different San Franciscos and they all overlap. It’s impossible to include everyone’s San Francisco but we’re gonna reach for it. Also, there are no corporate sponsors. The Hellman family and the Giants are footing the bill. But if any of those drones from the Twitter tower can peel themselves away from their computer screens and want to wander over? Well, it’s a free country, right? Hope to see you there.

Catholic holiday

I’m writing this from the back bench of the van, Carsten Eckerman behind the wheel. Carsten is the kind of guy who leans over and reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out a book as thick as a New York City Yellow Pages, throws it open on his lap and within seconds finds the exact location of a hotel in Serbia. You’d need a magnifying glass as big as your face to get around that map book.

Carsten. Behind the wheel and behind the mixing board every night. I love Carsten. I spend a lot of time strapped in to my seat just looking at the back of his head. There’s something beautiful and cool about the back of his head.

The other day I woke up because the van slowed way down to pull over as we were getting shaken down by the Hungarian cops for not driving with our lights on. Thirteen Euros later, I fell asleep again, and woke up, jumped out of the van ready to run down the street. To a gig. Or an airport. Where am I? Take me to the place where people sit around doing Marlon Brando imitations. Yessir. Three weeks in to this tour and time is flying like honey. But somehow everyone has time for new nicknames. “Dr. Peaches McNuttle: Teen Detective.” “The Mountain.” “Queen Bee.” To name the more obvious ones. They’ve got one for me they won’t tell me to my face. It’s the cost to be the boss. And what can I tell you about the band? These guys (and gal who is coming to rejoin us very soon in Spain. Hopefully.) play so great these days it’s not even funny. In fact, it’s ridiculous.

A few nights back was Vienna. It was a Catholic holiday we never did get to the bottom of. Then it was Prague and Belgrade and Zagreb. And now I’m feeling a little dulled out, eating chocolate. It was a gift. [Thanks George! You’re a good man and Stephie was sad to miss you].

We do love our snacks. We have them in our contract. Also as part of the deal, I always request an English newspaper over here. Or at the very least, a paper in English. When one appears backstage, I’m delighted, though the death of the honeybee is enough to make me cry.

Vienna was at the Chelsea Club. I’m always happy to see the promoter David. Or Dah-veeed. I don’t always shoot the breeze with the promoters, but David is a character. Like Werner Herzog. I ask how it’s going and he says, “People need to overcome. Overcome their own lazy selves, bring out that laziness and bury it in ze’ earth!” I think he was referring to people who’d rather stay home than go to a gig. He asks what’s happening with me. I tell him about a box set we’re working on and he says, “Sounds ex-pen-sive.”

But with the prices we’re slashing? I think you’ll find something to take from our on-line store. Boy, see how I did that? That full circle business. Phew, I’m good! Okay, nap time.

See you at the gigs.

-CP

/ The Mission Express: Stephie Finch: (singing, organ, guitar) Kevin White: (bass guitar) Vicente Rodruquez: (drums, singing), James DePrato: (guitars)

Chuck Prophet Europe May to June 2015

GERMANY

MON MAY 18 KUNSTKULTURQUARTIER -NURENBERG, DE Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express TUES MAY 19 MILLA - MUNICHEN, DE Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

SPAIN

THURS MAY 21 MARULA - BARCELONA, ES Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express FRI MAY 22 LAS ARMAS - ZARAGOZA, ES Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express SAT MAY 23 SUPER 8 – FERROL,ES Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express SUN MAY 24 LAS IGUNA - VIGO, ES Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express MON MAY 25 EL SOL - MADRID, ES Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

UK

WED MAY 27 THE TUNNELS – BRISTOL, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express THURS MAY 28 THE GARAGE – LONDON, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express FRI MAY 29 THE ART BAR – OXFORD, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express SAT MAY 30 THE MET – BURY, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express SUN MAY 31 THE GLEE CLUB – NOTTINGHAM, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express MON JUNE 1 GREYSTONES – SHEFFIELD, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express TUES JUNE 2 BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB – LEEDS, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express WED JUNE 3 VOODOO ROOMS – EDINBURGH, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express THUR JUNE 4 THE CLUNY – NEWCASTLE,UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express FRI JUNE 5 THE CELLARS – SOUTHAMPTON, UK Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

HOLLAND

SAT JUNE 6 BITTERZOET - AMSTERDAM,NL - Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

USA

THURS JUL 30 SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERT SERIES - WINDSOR, CA - Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express

SOLO US DATES:

FRI OCT 9 DARYL’S HOUSE - PAWLING, NY -Chuck Prophet solo SAT OCT 10 THE PARLOR ROOM - NORTHAMPTON, MA - Chuck Prophet solo SUN OCT 11 CLUB PASSIM - CAMBRIDGE, MA - Chuck Prophet solo THURS OCT 15 TIN ANGEL - PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-2802 - Chuck Prophet solo FRI OCT 16 NORTH SHORE POINT HOUSE CONCERTS - NORFOLK, VA 23505 Chuck Prophet solo SAT OCT 17 PRIVATE - WASHINGTON, DC - Chuck Prophet solo