Om's Al Cisneros
Chess class? Really, did you know you could take a chess lesson? If you ever had, please let us know. At any rate today’s interview is with Al Cisneros from the band Om, who, among other things, gives chess lessons. Om’s second album will be released tomorrow. As a break-off of Sleep, Om already has a lot of fans (especially among people who like music that is best described as heavy, dense, stoner metal, and ritualistic). Cisneros wins the unofficial SFist prize for “best ever choice of best bridge” for his response to our question below. Man, we feel his pain, we can’t even tell you how much ours cost.
When was your best show ever?
The last time we played NY which was a couple of months ago. It felt to us that people were finally seeing this (Om) as its own thing rather than projecting sentiments over a band we were in ten years ago. Our friend Erica did sound and left a few people deaf.
Where are the best fans?
At the symphony. Where if you clap thinking it’s the end of the "piece" everyone stares at you like you ran over their dog. I guess you're supposed to know it’s a rest and only clap when it’s safe.
The best venue is?
There have been many we've really enjoyed playing, but as for "best" venue it isn't possible to say. One that stands out from days past is the old Limelight in NYC. It was a really old church converted to a venue. The sound system was very capable. From stage we could see the old stained glass alcoves up high. There were labyrinths below the ground level.
What's it take to get a gig in this town?
There's quite a network of enthusiastic folks here who are into making things happen, but it also takes work and the ability to not be easily discouraged.
What's your take on the music scene here?
There's a collective enthusiasm, but also an undercurrent of sometimes ruthless competition, which brings out the best in music but sometimes the worst in the musicians.
People should buy the new album because:
I don't know if they should buy it. This isn't some sales pitch thing. Buy it if you like it and can relate to it.
Official record release party for Conference of the Birds. Sat, July 29th //Bottom of the Hill//9pm, $10//Om, Asunder, DJ Solana and Black Fjord.
Name
Al Cisneros
Introduce yourself in one sentence
Greetings to you who are reading this; I am your subject/specimen - Al.
Age and Occupation
32 chess instructor
Home Town
San Francisco
How long have you lived in the Bay Area?
Lived in the Bay Area since 1981. Currently live in San Francisco, Mission Neighborhood, for the past 3 years. Why? It is where I teach chess, where the girl I love lives, and where we work from as a band. It's a very special city. There are friends here.
Favorite place to spend time online
my email account
Favorite local business
Rainbow Grocery.
What I'm currently Reading
Polgar: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games by Laszlo Polgar.
Best Deal in San Francisco
Next to which Bart station?
Favorite mode of transportation
Walking.
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Best? There are so many that to name one excludes the others.
Favorite Bay Area Stereotype
You often here about how people in the Bay Area are always in such a hurry. I think I do buy into this one. I'm a person who likes to "stop and smell the flowers" so to me, at times, I just wish people could chill a bit. You'll still get to do all the things that are important to you, and if you slow down you can go deeper and derive more from them anyway. Just chill a bit...
Favorite local hangout
The coffee shop around the corner from my bed.
SF has the BEST
high rents.
You've never lived in SF until
Your car gets towed at 3:55pm when the sign says 4:00.
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
I didn't live here in SF when he was in office, but from what I've read I think Harvey Milk was cool. He actually DID help a lot of people, as opposed to just protecting his job with rhetoric.
Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
Maybe a chessboard and some good books.
You can tell someone is a local here IF
They don't look like they checked the Nuggets box set for how to dress before they go out to the bar.
SF would be soooo much better if only
We provided people who talk to themselves out on the sidewalk someone to hear them.
Best Burrito
Los Socios...fresh habenero salsa.
Best Restaurant
3rd Street Grill.
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
Bullitt.
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area
Mark Pauline of Survival Research Laboratories. I saw one of his creations recently - it was sort of like a sound cannon powered by a V-8 automobile engine into a jet turbine. It produced the lowest, loudest continuous bass note I'd ever heard in my life.
Favorite author to come out of the bay area
Ray Carver. For a time he wrote out of the South Bay.
Place you always tell visitors to check out
The Conservatory of Flowers.
Favorite Bridge in the area
The one on the top right side of my mouth. The endodontist helped out a lot. The mess out in the Bay might be done someday. I really like to watch the cranes while I sit in traffic.
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Drive around looking for parking for the first hour and a half, then buy something at any store for the ability to use the bathroom to pee from driving around so long, then spend the last 15 minutes and the last $10.00 on gas to replace what you used looking for parking.
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
A good cd player for $10.00