Video: Elbo Room sound guy’s Muni B2B ride to top all others

Elbo Room sound dude Gabriel took the Muni Diaries Live stage last month with a story about cutting his SF teeth on Muni, of all places. Riding public transit can really change your perspective of what you should and shouldn’t be afraid of in life, Gabe says. And how did he learn this? By hauling the remainder of his B2B float on Muni while under the influence of Jell-O shots, of course.

There’s nothing like Bay to Breakers to create some sympathy for your fellow Muni riders. From a suburban beginning through Everclear-laden Jell-O shots aboard a pirate ship B2B float, Gabe tells us about how one Muni ride can change how you see San Francisco.

Secrets to life in San Francisco, as heard at Muni Diaries Live

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What can happen on one bus ride to really change your life in San Francisco? Last Saturday, our Muni Diaries Live storytellers told the standing room-only crowd at the Elbo Room all about the surprising interactions on Muni that can change you in small and big ways.

We started the show with Gabe Armstrong (above), who stepped out of the sound booth (he is the audio engineer at the Elbo Room) to tell his own Muni story on stage. Riding public transit can really change your perspective of what you should and shouldn’t be afraid of in life, Gabe says. And how did he learn this? By hauling the remainder of his B2B vehicle on Muni while under the influence of jello shots, of course.
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7 reasons you should go to Muni Diaries Live

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  1. Gabe Armstrong. He’s the audio engineering at the Elbo Room and has seen all the shenanigans backstage. Tonight he’ll step out of the sound booth to tell his own story.
  2. Cara Tramontano. She’s our Twitter BFF with some of the most creative Muni tweets ever. Imagine what she can do with more words.
  3. Kristee Ono. Ok. This woman ate 100 burritos in 100 days. If she’s not your San Francisco hero, I don’t even know.
  4. Satellite High. An entire hip hop album about Muni? Dreams do come true.
  5. Jerry Lee Abrams. He’s produced shows for Peaches Christ and designed lighting for a very famous wedding. We can only imagine what he’s seen.
  6. Driver Doug. Seventeen years of watching Muni riders act the fool, or sometimes acting right. He’s back with more behind the scenes stories for us tonight.
  7. Reigning Muni Haiku champ Ronn Vigh and his challenger, writer and comedian Baruch Porras-Hernandez. The battle is on: who makes better 5-7-5 magic?

Need we say more? Okay, here’s more: Get your advanced tickets to Muni Diaries Live because we have only a limited number of tickets to sell at the door.

Muni Diaries Live
Sat., Oct 10, doors: 6pm, show: 7 p.m. Tickets
Elbo Room
647 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Take Muni there: J-Church, 12, 14, 22, 33, 49, or BART: 16th or 24th St. stations

Photo by Right Angle Images

Save the Date: Muni Diaries Live is back on Oct. 10!

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Funny things happen on the way from point A to B, and we’re back to amplify the party talk at another Muni Diaries Live! Pen us in your calendar for a night of live storytelling on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Elbo Room.

For this upcoming show, you’ll hear true, hilarious Muni tales from storytellers Cara Tramontano, Jerry Lee Abram, and Kristee Ono, with a haiku faceoff between Baruch Porras-Hernandez and reigning champion Ronn Vigh. We can’t wait to hear more insider stories and wisdom from Muni Driver Doug as well as musical guest Satellite High, whose entire album is Muni-themed. How much more San Francisco cred can you get on one stage?

If you’ve never been to one of our shows before, check out the recap of past shows to get a flavor of Muni Diaries Live.

Details:

Muni Diaries Live
Sat., Oct 10, doors: 6pm, show: 7 p.m. Tickets: $16.
Elbo Room
647 Valencia Street, San Francisco
Take Muni there: J-Church, 12, 14, 22, 33, 49, or BART: 16th or 24th St stations

Photo by Kevin Wong

Did your defining San Francisco experience happen on Muni?

If you’re a transplant, do you remember what defined your San Francisco experience? Muni rider Jesse James moved to San Francisco from smalltown Thousand Oaks to attend SF State, sight unseen. And the Powell Street Muni Station and the M-Ocean View line were the settings of his defining urban moment.

“I had a family connection to a little Italian restaurant downtown called Buca di Beppo. I quickly obtained a host job and my life consisted of me going to school during the day, boarding the M train, taking the M to the Powell Street station. There was nothing more beautiful to me at that point than coming up the escalator at the Powell Street Station, and the Virgin Records megastore was glimmering in the summer sun. It was just such a symbol of darling urban life in the most suburban lens of urban life. Read more

Video: Country band sings the tragic tale of Charlie and the SFTMA

At April’s Muni Diaries Live, Mesquite and Mustard sang the tragic tale of Charlie and the SFMTA and what happens when the bus fare jumps up just a little more than you realized. Look closely: The band also has the most amazing Muni-themed shirts (and bolo tie!) west of the Mississippi.

The band also impressed all of us with some awesome fiddling, mixed in with funny (and nearly real) Muni stop announcements. Bet you never imagined this!

This performance was recorded at Muni Diaries Live at the Elbo Room on April 18, 2015. More from that night:
Muni driver Doug reveals behind-the-scene stories
SF native Yayne Abeba’s childhood on the bus

Follow Mesquite and Mustard on Twitter @mesquitemustard.

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