Cody and Stacie at Tacos Sinaloa. Stacie is a SC indie rock alumni old friend of mine who is co-owner of cool bookstore Spectator Books in Oakland, and is also an accomplished illustrator.

This is journalist Sarah Burke at Eli’s Mile High Club, on her birthday.

Mila is a really accomplished feature film lighting designer, and musician in two really great bands. Her boyfriend Shaun (who plays in The Acharis with Mila) was the puppet host of a public access-style TV show called “Puppet News Syndicate”, where Shaun’s puppet interviewed Oakland DIY music people.

This is Shaun, describing his plans for that night’s PNS show.

Carlos worked on the show that day too, and Shannon (of Shannon and the Clams) was the guest.

Silvi was also doing puppetry that day.

Shannon

Denney

Adam broke his arm when he got into an altercation with some Richard Spencer supporters.

This was a different PNS episode, where Zoe from Oakland.Secret was the guest.

Loren (on left) had the video studio where Puppet New Syndicate was made.

Nikko’s 24hr Diner was a really good place somewhat near my home to go to late at night after a music show.

Unless I was having breakfast there, I always got the same thing at Nikko’s. It was the bacon cheeseburger, and I got the fries with it, which I dipped into a combination of mustard mixed with Tabasco sauce.

This is Tina, Loren’s wife.

Cris

This is me with old friend and recording artist on my record label, Thollem McDonas, who was playing a show at Oakland.Secret.

Thollem with Jon Axtell.

Ellen was the guitarist in noise rock band Nopes.

I started hanging out with Zoe. For a couple years Zoe was the main force behind the Oakland.Secret venue.

Loren and Tina

I became friends with Danielle at an event at Oakland.Secret, and we got along great. She had just moved to Oakland from living a couple hours north of here, and she wanted to go to DIY shows. I knew all about them, so she wanted me to take her with me to them. So we started going to shows together a lot.

Large dinner party at Sgraffito.

Claire and Silvi

My dad wanted an Oakland DIY music audience to give his presentation to about his new book, so I organized an event for him at Oakland.Secret.

Denney got a stick and poke tattoo at an Oakland house show.

I ran into Kai, who is a Santa Cruz indie rock alumni and has been working in Hawaii as tattoo artist, at a King Woman show at Eli’s Mile High Club.

Adam talking to a band on tour before a show at The Hole the band was going to play.

At Nikko’s after a show at The Hole.

Me with Kevn and Sarah at Oakland.Secret.

Angie and Danielle at The Hole.

Danielle plays harp and violin.

Doug du Fresne (of Diesel Dudes and Morning Hands) with BG from undō.

Angie and Danielle at Nikko’s after a show at The Hole.

I had lunch with Sarah a couple times, which was fun.

This was before a show that Zachary Watkins (center) was performing at. On the right is Byron Lynch, whom I got along with great, and a few months later recorded some of his solo music in my studio.

Jack

Zachary and me and Angie.

Rob Miller had recently started skating again.

Juancy Matos has an unbelievably radiant personality. I interviewed him for 3 hours for my Oakland music documentary before he moved back to Miami.

Michael with partner.

Ethan

Me with Daniel Trudeau of the band Pregnant.

The walls in Danielle’s home were paper thin, so she splurged on vinyl soundproofing material, which I spent an evening with her stapling to the walls.

This photo represents an accomplishment for me. Having a really good time going camping with these women (Danielle, her twin sister Olivia, and their housemates) helped me detach from my self-image of being a weird guy.

Angie would sometimes go with me to Nikko’s diner after a show at The Hole.

I sold a nice Tascam 424 MKIII cassette 4 track of mine to Burd, who is the frontman for SF band Hafner.

Erin has been in the Oakland music scene a long time, so I sort of see him as part of this mythical “old guard” of Oakland DIY music people still living in Oakland.

Me with Josh Redman at a show at The Hole.

Zoe with friend, at Oakland.Secret.

Austin at O.S show.

Michael and Cheryl

Parties immediately become more fun when Michael comes.

Adam

Sarah

BG and Henry

Ryan and BG

Angie at show at The Octopus Literary Saloon.

Keri and Cris

Malichi in his home.

Sean came over to look at my live footage of their band Blankie. It was cool talking with them, since they knew a lot of the old Oakland DIY music people who had moved away a long time ago.

Kat of Oakland.Secret.

This is me and guys from the Santa Rosa band OVVN, at Oakland.Secret.

Christine and I went to see the documentary on East Bay pop punk at The New Parkway, and we ran into Jon who saw it too.

Gina hand delivered to me a copy of Ötzi’s new LP I had ordered. I recorded a previously released EP for that band, which was mixed by John Dieterich, and I really like that record. All of Ötzi’s stuff I really like.

Angie and I took a walk around the lake, and ran into Kelvin.

Tiff

The guy on the left is my friend Kyle.

Artist, musician, and skateboarder Jeff Cheung at Sgraffito show.

Jeff at another Sgraffito show the next day.

Doug

I think this was the opening of the Ara Jo Zine Library.

Me and Ethan, who had beer in his mouth.

Me with Adam after the first annual Hole Fest music festival.

This is Rizzy and Ian, who run Deimos Records, which is to my knowledge the only music distribution company catering to Oakland DIY music. I was completely blown away that they came to my home and bought copies of my label’s merch for them to carry on their online store.

Patrick Tabor came over to sell me his Mackie mixer.

Maria worked at Perch, and later ran the Dildo Factory, which became the most important venue catering to the Oakland DIY music scene.

Tyler and Helena

Brontez came over to discuss doing more music recording, but it ended up being more of a fun hangout.

I took Brontez to Applebee’s so he could take advantage of their $1 margaritas special.

Ian Svenonius performed a really amazing “Escape-Ism” solo show at Oakland.Secret. I got to hang out with him before the show.

Me and Steve

Me and Angie

Hillary and Zoe

Sea, me, and Brad

I think Sea sees the same majestic traits in Denney that I see.

This is Bill, who is an important documentarian in the Oakland DIY scene. He’s published tons of his show videos on his YouTube channel.

I think Malichi was the manager of Perch cafe.

Danielle played violin and harp for Joanna’s project Prinsess, at this show at 1-2-3-4 Go!.

My friend Akiko, who is the band leader of Ötzi.

Angie changed her hair.

Theo and Michael

Theo

El Maldito visited me to watch my footage of his amazing “Cursed Chance” Chicano Theater ensemble performance performed at Oakland.Secret. The play supported his “Malditoria” card game (released at the show) he had been developing for 10 years, which examines stereotypes, stigmas and identities in Mexican-American culture.

Dawn and Julie who worked at Down at Lulu’s. I think Dawn knows more about vintage clothing than anyone else I know.