After busting out some incredible work for Reinventing the Wheel in ‘08 (shown above), we’re thrilled to have Encinitas-based artist Tocayo in our next event, Conspire. This upcoming event is especially fitting for Tocayo as his work is often directly influenced by music. Surrounded by a musical family while growing up in Miami, Tocayo’s passion for this art continues today in both his subject matter and his frequent visits to legendary local clubs The Belly Up and the Casbah.

The painting above depicting the Buena Vista Social Club is one of his many pieces that pay tribute to jazz. Collaborating with local DJ and fellow jazz-enthusiast Will Redd, Tocayo will be displaying several other jazz-inspired pieces many of which feature artists from the Blue Note label.

While you wait for Jan. 17 to to see Tocayo’s work at Conspire, head to South Park where his art graces the walls of El Camino.

See some of his other paintings here, plus design and surfboard art here.

Click the snazzy cover art above for a detailed track view

Amateur Hour stemmed from a conversation I had with a friend in which he sarcastically asked me, “What is this…? Amateur Hour?” I replied, “Yes, it is.” It’s become a running joke between us, and anytime we do something that we’ve never done before, we say, “What is this…?” As for the choice of music, I grew up listening to hip-hop, and I’m a sucker for heavy beats that make your head bop. This set is sure to do that, so turn up the volume and get to it!

- Dylan Jones from Subtext
subtextstore.com/blog

1. Night of the Living Basheads // Public Enemy
2. Beats to the Rhyme // Run DMC
3. The Militia // GangStarr
4. Ducky Boy // Jurassic 5
5. Squat! (feat. Mike D & Ad Rock) // De La Soul
6. If It Ain’t Rough // N.W.A.
7. Ugly People Be Quiet // DJ Cash Money & Marvelous
8. Sound of Da Police // KRS-One
9. Se Acabo (feat. Method Man) // The Beatnuts
10. Shimmy Shimmy Ya // Ol’ Dirty Bastard
11. Root Down (free zone mix) // Beastie Boys
12. Coolin’ // 2 Live Crew
13. A Day at the Races (feat. Big Daddy Kane & Percy P.) // Jurassic 5
14. Say Yeah Boy // Rodney O. & Joe Cooley
15. Don’t Stop the Rock // Freestyle
16. Children’s Story // Slick Rick
17. Red Hot // Jurassic 5
18. He Comes (feat. Ghostface) // De La Soul
19. Paid In Full // Eric B. & Rakim
20. Ghetto Superstar // Pras Michel (feat. ODB & Mya)

At our upcoming event CONSPIRE, we’re serving up soup shooters from The Pearl and meatballs from The Linkery. For your next culinary adventure, s143 personally recommends these fine San Diego eateries:

The restaurant at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma crafts true culinary delights from local and seasonal ingredients. (Try the mushroom risotto or the burger with gouda and pommes frites.) You can drink and dine poolside at this ultra-chic mid-century modern hang out. Head over on a Wednesday and catch the weekly “Dive In” movie on the big screen above the vintage oyster-shaped pool, or get a room to enjoy the intimate old school California ambiance a little longer.

The Linkery is a farm-to-table restaurant in North Park with a neighborhood feel and people with a contagious passion for their food and drink. Ask them where your meal came from. They will tell you. You’ll be tantalized by their house made sausages and revolving menu and feel good about their support for local farms, breweries, and wineries. Give the grilled green beans a try, and visit Jay’s blog to satisfy your inner foodie.

There is something humbling about small-scale works of art created by a meticulous hand. We can think of no better example than French artist Stephane Halleux’s tiny sculptures. Thanks to La Jolla’s new(ish) and highly evolved Device Gallery, some lucky locals got to experience these incredibly detailed pieces first-hand earlier this year.

Stitched leather has never looked this good.

Although most of these wee little creations are in such high-demand they never see the light of day, we hope Device will be able to bring Halleux’s work back to San Diego soon. In the meantime, check out their latest show, Reconstructed, which features both small and large pieces from several talented local and international artists and runs through Feb. 1, 2009.

Sanctuary143 is honored to present the musical musings of the inconspicuous DJ Meow Mixx with Savory Gravy, the latest mix in our Minstrel Fridays podcast. Hit play and enjoy this eclectic mix during your respective winter solstice celebrations.

1. ’49 – The Silent Comedy
2. Turn On, Burn On – Grand Ole Party
3. People Get Mad – Amy LaVere
4. Brothers In A Bind – Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects
5. Through the Roof ‘n’ Underground – Gogol Bordello
6. It’s Been Raining – Kimya Dawson
7. Top Yourself – The Raconteurs
8. All Night Diner – Modest Mouse
9. John Saw That Number – Neko Case
10. And Darling – Tegan & Sara
11. Got To Let Go – A Band of Bees
12. The Moon and the Bread – Transfer
13. Frantic Romantic – Rayleigh Scattering
14. Pigeon – Stone Gossard
15. The Mess We’re In – PJ Harvey Feat. Thom Yorke

Sandee Manuel and Keikichi Honna make the journey from Oceanside to Tijuana to check out materials for a sculptural installation in the works for the CONSPIRE event on January 17th:
Today we met the first born of our 20 baby Jesuses - he’s pretty heavy for a newborn, pale and has empty eye sockets but otherwise pretty cute.
I’ve enclosed a few pics on our trek back to The U.S.
We encountered many churro vendors, juggling kids, and men carrying large hand-woven baskets. With every basket seller Keikichi would quietly chime in “Snake Charmer.”
-sandee

It’s a tradition that started about five years ago - friends compiling mixes of songs from our favorite albums of the year and trading them with each other. It has become so personal, mailing musical interpretations of the last 365 days across the country for others to hear, to give insight as to how life has unfolded. Songs often say what you wish you could, in more perfect ways than any Hallmark card. Welcome to my 2008. I’ve got my eyes set on the new year.

- Lauren Daniels
seattlegraffiti.blogspot.com

1. New Country - The Walkmen
2. Give a Little Love - Noah and The Whale
3. Blue and Gold Print - Mates Of State
4. Last Day of Magic - The Kills
5. I’m A Lady - Santogold
6. Lately - The Helio Sequence
7. Hiphopopotamus & Rhymenoceros - Flight of the Conchords
8. Young Sensualists - Throw Me The Statue
9. Kids - MGMT
10. Dance, Dance, Dance - Lykke Li
11. Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes
12. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? - She & Him
13. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur - Sigur Ros
14. Lover’s Day - TV on the Radio
15. Old Old Fashioned - Frightened Rabbit
16. It’s Okay - Land Of Talk

Check out the SprayGraphic interview with Reinvent/CONSPIRE/San Diego based artist Acamonchi!

The mix CD is an indie rock dating ritual. If done right, you might even get laid. But you have to respect the craft, sort of like Daniel respects Karate in the Karate Kid Part II. There’s a ridiculous amount of thought that goes into it so you don’t want to screw it up. For me, this is a passion project that took up an entire day I was supposed to be working for the man. So thanks to Sanctuary143 for the distraction and I hope it scores you some action.

-Dave Brown

Holiday Matinee
www.holidaymatinee.com

1. Writer’s Block - Just Jack
2. Can’t Hold On - M.E.D.
3. Lilac Wine (Nina Simone) - THE ALBUM LEAF
4. Lose Yr Frown - The Electric Soft Parade
5. Quiet Town - Josh Rouse
6. Lady Lady - Cynty And The Monkeys
7. Chemicals - The Notwist
8. Consolation Prizes - Phoenix
9. Falling Down - Scarlett Johansson
10. Our House - Phantom Planet
11. Something to Do with My Hands - Her Space Holiday
12. Alienation - Lali Puna
13. Talk About A Girl - Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf
14. New Hampshire - Matt Pond PA
15. My Week Beats Your Year - Telefon Tel Aviv
16. West Coast - Coconut Records

From filmmaker extraordinaire Jeff Durkin of Breadtruck Films comes a rad mini-documentary of the Reinventing the Wheel show in Barrio Logan. This guy has developed a great eye and with his new camera dolly setup, he is a film-force to be reckoned with.