Dancing at the end of the world: Oakland Underground, part 2

One of the coolest things about Oakland’s DIY culture of the early 2000s is that we did so much with so little. With no corporate sponsorships or major funding, scrappy groups of artists and musicians were able to create a thriving scene built on creativity, resourcefulness (dumpster diving!), and the determined ambition to turn bizarre fantasies into tangible reality. This episode features two stories that exemplify the weird brilliance that made this era so special.

The first segment is about how Jhon Benson bought a steel-plated AC Transit bus from an Oakland Police officer and turned it into a veggie oil-fueled party on wheels. Like a Gen X Ken Kesey, Benson loaded his bus up with a motley crew of pranksters (and some random strangers) who brought music, comedy, and myriad shenanigans to scenic vistas, highway underpasses and even cemeteries throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

The second segment is about Lobot, one of the largest and longest running live/work artist warehouses & DIY galleries of the early millennium. Former residents Sabrina Sierra and Ben Valis share stories of an Armageddon party, “the night of 1000 punks,” unexpected visits from the FBI, and how Lobot temporarily transformed into a free spa for sex workers. They also discuss several of the unglamorous aspects of living at Lobot, like how the space evolved politically amidst the gentrification of West Oakland and what it was like to share a shower with 15 people.

To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/dancing-at-the-end-of-the-world/

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