The lovely local ladies in Von Iva are gearing up to release a brand new CD called Our Own Island. They're doing their part to heat up the chilly San Francisco summer by having a special CD release party on August 4th at 12 Galaxies (in addition to tomorrow's party at the Blank Club in San Jose). They promise a bikini bonanza (use your imagination) so risque that you have to be over 18......

SFist interviews David Hyman founder of MOG, and online music community. ...

The acclaimed French-trained Guinean contemporary circus troupe Circus Baobab makes its US debut as part of the SF Int'l Arts Festival, performing The Jumping Drum, a fable about globalization and family, complete with acrobatics, stilt-walking, and African music. 5:30 p.m., $30, Project Artaud Theater (450 Alabama, x Mariposa). They're here through Sunday, and you may find it intriguing to learn that tomorrow's performance is in French. That's them on the YouTube above. Other events:......

We go to this screening of Asian and Asian-American music videos every year! We are now the people in the audience who shout, "Chi-hui!!!!" when the SFIAAFF festival director and music video programmer Chi-hui Yang comes to the front of the theater and says we're in for a "real treat." We don't even know Chi-hui and we almost said hi to him when we saw him on the street the other day. We're stalking......

Yeah, we know. It's a Monday. And not just any Monday, but the five-year anniversary of That Day with all the attendant beating over the head that comes with it. So to cheer you up, dear readers, SFist presents to you, the Holy Grail of awesome music videos-- Journey's "Separate Ways." ...

Jason Schultz found an exciting job opportunity posted at a cafe -- Mr. Fancypants himself, Hammer (nee MC), needs dancers for a music video:Tuesday, November 22nd between 7pm - 9 pm Film Arts Foundation 145 Ninth Street #102 San Francisco, CA We are holding an audition for two Hammer music videos, which will have national distribution. The videos will be show November 29 and 30th. We are looking for 3 featured actresses age, 18-30,......

You already know that ResFest opens tomorrow at the Palace of Fine Arts. But, did you know that SFist, in conjunction with Larsen Associates (thanks, Chris!), will be giving away passes to the ResFest the rest of the week? Today's contest is for passes for you and a guest to go see Cinema Electronica (warning: sound, and it's a song that won't get out of your head) at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 23.......

SFist interviews artist Niffer Desmond ...

So we have a cousin. No, this is not some coy way of referring to the newest -ist site, Austinist(welcome!), we're talking about our actual cousin. Anyways, our cousin plays this game whenever we watch videos, called "spot the Asian." There's always one (but no more than one) Asian hip-hop dancer in any given video, for instance. Hapas Jay-Z and Foxy Brown count for half a point. And there's always Chad Hugo, or the Linkin Park DJ, or the kid who plays violin for Yellowcard.... yeah, it's kind of slim pickings on mainstream MTV -- which is why the Asian-Am Film Fest's Music Video Asia program is so key! Every year, the Asian-Am film fest selects a number of music videos featuring bands from Asia, bands with Asian-American members, and Asian video directors and production crews. (Yes, Chinese-American Joseph Kahn directed the Britney Spears Toxic video, but no, he was not featured this year.) Plus, we're always psyched every year to go to this show -- come on, watching music videos is our favorite thing to do in the world! This year's video selections ranged the map. Thoughtfully collected by program curator Chi-hui Yang, they included local SF Asian-American indie musicians, breakthrough British dance artist M.I.A., some excellently head-bobbing hip-hop from across the country and the globe, a metal band, Filipino emo, a huge array of music from Japan, and a Hives-like Swedish band with an Asian lead singer. Brief reviews after the jump....

SFist sadly notes the passing of Charles "Chuck" Johnson today. He will be truly missed by friends, family and the larger Oakland community. Mr. Johnson founded Soul Beat TV as a cable station in 1977 after many years as a succesful radio DJ and producer. Soul Beat TV was the only "100% Black-owned" television station in the country, and was a great resource for the residents of largely African-American Oakland....