JUL 2013 –
Fox Oakland Theater:
It’s no coincidence that Oakland’s Uptown renaissance coincided with the 2009 reopening of the historic Fox Theater after being shuttered and in disrepair for nearly four decades. The multimillion-dollar facelift restored the one-time movie palace (it opened in 1928) to its original glory, so now it even rivals the Art Deco Paramount Theatre just a few blocks away. The Fox is an awe-inspiring mash-up of Moorish, Indian, Deco, and Middle Eastern architectural elements that probably shouldn’t work together, but do. Since Oakland-based Another Planet Entertainment started booking the place, it has showcased hundreds of top rock, R&B, indie, electronic, folk, rap, metal, and uncategorizable acts, selling out the venue more often than not. Everyone wants to see his or her favorite band at the spacious but still intimate Fox, and artists who could pack larger venues will often take smaller paydays just to catch that special Fox vibe.