San Francisco 1999

Neiel Cavin
  • 5.0 (4)
  • History

Was urban culture really more vibrant and engaging before social media, Silicon Valley, and smart phones?Join host Neiel Cavin and his special guests as they recollect and reminisce in conversations about art, music, culture, collectives, and creativity in the the San Francisco Bay Area circa 1995 to 2005 and whether we agree on how things were different in the “before times.” San Francisco 1999 is on all your favorite podcast destinations and you can join the conversation at SanFran99.com

Episodes

  1. Playground Pt. 1 – Holiday Listening Sampler '98 to '02

    12/14/2025

    Playground Pt. 1 – Holiday Listening Sampler '98 to '02

    Greetings! This episode originally aired 11-28-25 as a musical interlude for the week,   Yours truly and potential guests were on holiday. So, I compiled a little mix of live recorded music from Playground. My band/project started in the late 1990s and put me and the group in the middle of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene at the turn of the millennium.   I unpublished this episode because it broke format (and felt somewhat self-indulgent). Due to popular demand though, I'm re-publishing it now for your continued Holiday listening pleasure. Thanks for the love. This is a linear progression of musical snippets of live Playground recordings from 1998 to 2002. I used to post these mp3s for free on the PlaygroundMuzik dot com website and we sold CDs at our gigs. More about Playground to come but you can find Playground (and Man From Playground aka MFP LIVE) music here: ThePlaygroundSound.com “there is a way” / “burnin” (1998): Robin Livingston (keys), Ian Herman (drums), Sam Guillisano (bass), Neiel (vocals) “creative expression” (1999): Robin Livingston, Ian Herman, Trevor Kinsel (upright bass), Swan (vox), Neil “saint Zakir” (2001): Noah Waldman (drums), Robin, Jomial Allen-Jones (bass), Neiel (sampler) “elements” (eve of 2002): JasWho? (beats), Noah (congas), Robin (keys, beats), Jomial, Neiel “the burner” (2002): Jay (beats/keys), Robin, Jomial, Neiel (vox, samples) Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    15 min
  2. JasWho? Pt. 2 – Live House Music, Soulmine Records, Dubtribe, DIY

    12/13/2025

    JasWho? Pt. 2 – Live House Music, Soulmine Records, Dubtribe, DIY

    In this episode, Part 2 of a conversation with Jason Williams a.k.a. JasWho? Jay has been foundational on the music scene of the San Francisco Bay Area since the late 1990s. Whether performing as a multi-instrumentalist in Bay Area and International music groups, performing his legendary solo live House music sets, releasing original vinyl on the label Soulmine records that he co-founded with Eileen Kaur Alden, recording and producing artists for Temple Music Group, or producing countless artists at his Berkeley recording studio, WhoVille, Jay has lived and breathed music since long before he even arrived on the SF Scene, long ago. You can currently find him running things at Temple SF nightclub, where he's been a crucial part of operations since day one. December 13, 2025 Here's JasWho's discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/182036-Jaswho The music in this episode is from his 2000 to 2003 compilations of Soulmine 12"s "Simply Raw House" Volumes 1 and 2. And also, "Colour Dreamz" Also "Go" by Playground (2003) during the segment w/ C. Peck talking about sparking the embers for the Bay Area scene today. Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    18 min
  3. JasWho? Pt. 1 – 90s Haight Ashbury, SF House Music '97

    12/06/2025

    JasWho? Pt. 1 – 90s Haight Ashbury, SF House Music '97

    In this episode, Part 1 of a conversation with Jason Williams a.k.a. JasWho? Jay has been foundational on the music scene of the San Francisco Bay Area since the late 1990s. Whether performing as a multi-instrumentalist in Bay Area and International music groups, performing his legendary solo live House music sets, releasing original vinyl on the label Soulmine records that he co-founded with Eileen Kaur Alden, recording and producing artists for Temple Music Group, or producing countless artists at his Berkeley recording studio, WhoVille, Jay has lived and breathed music since long before he even arrived on the SF Scene, long ago. You can currently find him running things at Temple SF nightclub, where he's been a crucial part of operations since day one. December 06, 2025 Here's JasWho's discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/182036-Jaswho The music in this episode is from his 2000 to 2003 compilations of Soulmine 12"s "Simply Raw House" Volumes 1 and 2. And also, "Colour Dreamz" Also "Go" by Playground (2003) during the segment w/ C. Peck talking about sparking the embers for the Bay Area scene today. Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    12 min
  4. DJ Sep – Dub Mission SF, KUSF, Elbo Room, KPFA, Rough Trade Records

    11/22/2025

    DJ Sep – Dub Mission SF, KUSF, Elbo Room, KPFA, Rough Trade Records

    11-21-25 This week's SF 1999 podcast episode features a conversation with dj/promoter/producer Sep Ghadishah a.k.a. DJ Sep, founder of the legendary Dub Mission SF, that ran every Sunday night for over 2 decades at The Elbo Room on Valencia Street in San Francisco's Mission District, and featured all of the greatest international dub/reggae/jungle djs, producers, and live acts.  DUB MISSION was one of the longest-running Reggae clubs in the world (1996-2019). This Sunday 11/23/25 you can catch Sep as part of Crucial Reggae Sundays season finale at the the Golden Gate Park Bandshell. 4:20pm. Sep is also a member of the DnB/Jungle crew, Rhythmic Remedies. She spins dub, reggae, dancehall, Jungle, DnB, and Afrobeats dance music. Sep has DJ’d in Spain, the U.K., Canada, Mexico, many cities in the U.S., and most venues in the greater Bay Area.  For years, she was also on Bay Area radio, first on the legendary college radio station, KUSF, and later on Berkeley’s public radio station, KPFA. Sep has presented and opened for a long list of reggae and electronic artists (see below), and has performed both solo and as Dub Mission Sound System with various MCs and musicians.  You can stay connected with DJ Sep via her Instagram: @dubmissionsf Go to https://djsep.com/ to find all her links, news, bio, and more. You can listen to an immense catalog of Dub Mission sets and shows, as well as DJ Sep's original productions on her Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/djsep You can also find her productions/remixes on her Bandcamp:  https://djsep.bandcamp.com/ Track IDs in the podcast episode: "Too Many Tomorrows" – DJ Sep      "Awayway Riddim" – DJ Sep "Dub Myoho" – MFP LIVE SoulSalaam Celebration of Life  WED 11/26/25 Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    23 min
  5. Gabriel Harris - African Drumming Traditions and Community in SF

    11/16/2025

    Gabriel Harris - African Drumming Traditions and Community in SF

    Happy Saturday (Yes, I promised new episodes on Fridays but here we are)! Today we feature a conversation my homie, Gabriel Harris! In the late 1980s, Gabriel began his African drumming tutelage with the legendary Babatunde Olatunji,  We'll be talking with him about that and how he found a community of dedicated students, teachers including Mabiba Baegne, and performers of African drumming and dancing traditions in San Francisco in the 1990s. Gabriel is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and son of folk music icon Joan Baez and political activist David Harris. Featured in this episode are tracks recorded with Gabriel's drum ensemble, Rhythm Village, as well as some of recent solo recordings, and a collaboration with Moses Sedler on Cello. you can find all of Gabriel Harris's music/collabs on his Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gabriel-harris-2 Website: https://gabeharris.com/ IG: @giftofgroove *New Segment Alert: SF 1999 Listener Vibes! This week feat, Chris Peck (background music: Playground Live "Go" (2003) Soulsalaam Celebration of Life 11/26 Biergarten SF 4pm Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    23 min
  6. DJ M3 – SF Underground House, Green Gorilla Lounge, The Velvet Shop San Jose, Pirate Radio

    11/08/2025

    DJ M3 – SF Underground House, Green Gorilla Lounge, The Velvet Shop San Jose, Pirate Radio

    November 7th 2025 Today's conversation is with the legendary DJ M3 "Makes Me Move," Manny Alfarez. Manny's San Francisco history is a continuum of musical successes. He is the co-owner of monarchsf.com and thegreatnorthernsf.com - two of SFs most popular dj and live music destinations. He's an internationally reknowned House Music DJ. He's one half of the House duo, Sleight of Hands. And he's the founder of Green Gorilla Lounge, which has been an integral part of the SF Underground scene since the mid-1990s. Green Gorilla Lounge continues to host celebrated functions and festivals and also exists as a thriving record label for artists such as M3 and Sleight of Hands.  https://greengorillalounge.bandcamp.com/ IG: @djm3sf track IDs:  DJ M3 – "You Don't See Me (2017 Deep Dub)" DJ M3 – "Girl Don't Mess Around - Dub" DJ M3 – "Tonite" KGWxzHAdrXIzI36lpMub Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    19 min
  7. Jeff A. Mooney – Reclaiming Collective, Sacred Rituals, Experimental Theater

    10/31/2025

    Jeff A. Mooney – Reclaiming Collective, Sacred Rituals, Experimental Theater

    This episode features a conversation with Jeffrey Alphonsus Mooney: Artist/Ritualist/Musician/Teacher/Master of Ceremonies Since the late-1980s, Jeffrey has been an integral part of the Reclaiming Collective (which began in SF) and through ritual, music, drumming, and performance art,  he teaches and facilitates self-transformation and community-connection, across the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Amongst other current endeavors, you can also experience Jeffrey on stage, as the emcee of the Joshua Tree Music Festivals. IG: @mooney.jeffrey Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    19 min
  8. Vinnie Esparza – SF Record Shops, SF Radio, SF Labels, SF DJ Nights

    10/24/2025

    Vinnie Esparza – SF Record Shops, SF Radio, SF Labels, SF DJ Nights

    A conversation with Long time SF Bay Area DJ, Vinnie Esparza about being a music director at KZSC, his Spanish Grease show on KUSF, Love N' Haight and Ubiquity record labels, Groove Merchant Records, Djaying in SF Bars and Clubs in the 1990s and early 2000s, the multi-genre music scene in SF, and a shout out to our brother Randall Kress a.k.a. DJ SoulSalaam. Vinnie and his wife (a renowned pastry chef) just opened a new bakery in Emmeryville, CA called Honey and Pearl:  https://honeyandpearl.com   IG: @honeyandpearl You can also still find Vinnie at Groove Merchant Records SF and Ameoba SF Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    23 min
  9. Jonathan Youtt Pt. 2 – Artivism, The Legacy of Community Art Spaces, and the History of CELL Space

    10/17/2025

    Jonathan Youtt Pt. 2 – Artivism, The Legacy of Community Art Spaces, and the History of CELL Space

    We are joined in conversation once again with Jonathan Youtt talking about CELL Space's history in the context of San Francisco Community Art Spaces. Moreover, and entirely relevant to current events, Jonathan reflects on the integral role that CELL Space maintained in the cross section of Art and Activism (Artivism) at the turn of the Millennium, both before and after 9/11/2001. Youtt recalls Julia Butterfly, the WTO protests, and the impact that the Patriot Act had on Community Art Spaces that supported and facilitated the gathering and organizing of youths of color. Extrapolating historically to broader political movements, Jonathan reminds that Art has always played a crucial part in peaceful (and thus lasting) revolutions. Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    20 min
  10. John Schroeder – SF Bay Warehouse Spaces: JingleTown Art Gallery

    10/10/2025

    John Schroeder – SF Bay Warehouse Spaces: JingleTown Art Gallery

    Today's guest is John Schroeder: multi-instrumentalist/composer/producer (synthesizer, sax, flute, clarinet, guitar, bass, etc), filmmaker/documentarian, writer, painter, international music educator, and one of the founders of Jingletown Gallery, an artists' warehouse space in Oakland in the late 1990s.  John shares some stories about the what and whys of the artists "warehouse movement" in the San Francisco Bay Area during the rise of the first Dot Com era. You can catch John in the band Doctor Abacus and House of Hamsa, as well you can find his music on all the platforms.  Here's his Bandcamp link: https://bandcamp.com/album/to-surf-the-solar-winds John’s IG: @johnnyschroedersaxophone Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    12 min
  11. Jonathan Youtt Pt. 1 – The Origins of CELL Space SF 1996

    10/03/2025

    Jonathan Youtt Pt. 1 – The Origins of CELL Space SF 1996

    Here we go!  Welcome to the very first episode of San Francisco 1999. Thanks for tuning in! Today we are in conversation with Jonathan Youtt, Co-Director of PLACE for Sustainable Living in Oakland, CA   “A public serving experiential learning center showcasing and fostering sustainable living practices, urban gardening & homesteading, community resiliency & preparedness, social justice, food security and artistic expression.” Jonathan also co-founded the Sustainable Living Roadshow, the Big Tadoo Puppet Crew, the Esperanza Sustainability Center, the Clean Fuel Caravan Coalition, the Mission Village Market, and CELLspace! This is just part one with Jonathan where he shares the story of how CELLspace came to be in 1996 in San Francisco.  Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    16 min
  12. San Francisco 1999 Trailer

    Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    San Francisco 1999 Trailer

    San Francisco 1999 is a show featuring conversations about Arts and Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area from roughly 1995 to 2005. Each episode, different special guests will recollect what it was like living, creating and converging in the city in the last days before smart phones, silicon valley and social media. You can follow me at IG @neiel7 and get updates about the podcast at SanFran99.com Join the conversation at SanFran99.com   IG: @Neiel7 (Neil Cavin) Theme Music: "There Is A Way" by Playground (1998)

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Was urban culture really more vibrant and engaging before social media, Silicon Valley, and smart phones?Join host Neiel Cavin and his special guests as they recollect and reminisce in conversations about art, music, culture, collectives, and creativity in the the San Francisco Bay Area circa 1995 to 2005 and whether we agree on how things were different in the “before times.” San Francisco 1999 is on all your favorite podcast destinations and you can join the conversation at SanFran99.com

Information

  • Creator
    Neiel Cavin
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 San Francisco 1999
  • Show Website
    San Francisco 1999