Interview: Christopher Appelgren
The Noisepop festival brings all kinds of up-and-coming rock acts to San Francisco for a week of musical saturation. Today’s interview subject has been sending mainly Bay Area (but also talented non-locals) acts out into the rest of the world to demonstrate what SFist has been saying from the start: the Bay Area is where it’s at. Christopher Appelgren is the owner and operator of Lookout Records. Lookout, as many an SFist will doubtlessly know, is the East Bay label where such legends as Green Day, The Queers, Op Ivy, and oh so many more got their starts.
Although Christopher is way too diplomatic to play favorites with Lookout’s current roster of artists, he does have a few tips to local artists, as well as other ideas about what to do in this fair city of ours.
SFist Interview
Name
Christopher Appelgren
Introduce yourself in one sentence
Hello, my name is Christopher and I am very happy to meet you.
Age and Occupation
I am 31 years old and I own and am the president of Lookout Records. I am also sometimes a rock performer, an artist and a businessman.
What's the best thing about running a label out of the Bay Area?
It is the most incredible place to live. Real and important culture develops here without interference, it's a great juxtaposition of lifestyles and geography and we have the respect of the rest of the world without sucking up to get it.
What's your view about the current music scene here?
The San Francisco music scene is vital, fun and varied.
What could be done to improve it?
There should be more of a connection between San Francisco and the East Bay and then furthermore the outlying cities and areas outside of the city proper. There is so much going on that together would be a powerful network of bands, venues, shows, and personalities if we could get it together.
What are some Lookout bands that we should be checking out? Any other local bands you'd recommend?
I think you should check out all the Lookout bands, local and otherwise. But aside from that, I think that The Saviors, Comets On Fire, Brilliant Red Lights, Nervous Breakdowns, Communiqué, The Monolith are all fine examples of our amazing local music scene with emphasis on rock. It's the same story that every town tries to sell you, we have the most amazing bands but San Francisco has such an incredible heritage of either being the birthplace or scene of the most revolutionary music happenings.
Home Town
Kansas City, Missouri is the place of my birth but I am a California brat from a long time back.
How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where
I've lived in the Bay Area since 1991. I moved to San Francisco in 2004 and previously was a very proud resident of North and Downtown Oakland. The East Bay is viciously cool but I am very happy to be in the city now. I walk around more, I feel like I live someplace not someplace I have to explain if I am traveling. I'm sure if any East Bay friends saw that last comment I'd get busted but it's true.
Favorite website
Currently I am checking out plathonline.com a lot because I am reading a book about Sylvia Plath.
Favorite local business
I have too many favorite local businesses, from recordstores, magazines, cafes, bars, labels etc. but one business I feel so inspired and proud of is my friend Jeffery's merchandise company, Cinder Block.
What I'm currently Reading
Her Husband by Diane Middlebrook
The Whole Equation by David Thomsson
The Story Of Philosophy
Best Deal in San Francisco
I wish I knew.
Favorite mode of transportation
My feet
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
That's difficult because I think the best is yet to come or hope against hope that's true.
Favorite local hangout
Route 101 on Van Ness
SF has the BEST
Walks
You've never lived in SF until
You're jaded enough to talk about why it's lame.
Best Burrito
El Farolito
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
The climax of On The Beach
Favorite artist to come out of the Bay Area
Robert Crumb
Favorite author to come out of the Bay Area
Philip K Dick
Place you always tell visitors to check out
I'm not a snob but my favorite places are kind of forgotten or sad and in my opinion incredibly charming and lively and you can't go a block in San Francisco without stumbling over one or two.
Favorite Bridge in the area
the old Dumbarton Bridge (seen for a moment in Harold & Maude) or ooh I like the San Mateo Bridge - it's long.
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Noodles and book browsing in Japantown? A movie? A rock show?.
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Beach Boys 8-track tapes
Tell us a San Francisco Story
I was walking to the movies with my girlfriend and kinda rough looking white 70s stretch limo pulled up next to us offering us a ride for $5. We were close to the theatre and wanted to walk so we said no, thanks. The driver offered to drive us for free and so we hopped in and he drove us the last few blocks. He ended up knowing someone at the movie theatre so he also procured free passes for us in addition to the free ride.